Top 5 Albums That Changed The Way You Hear Music

[Niles Crane]

Five. We'll definitely have to limit this thread to five albums each. By the way, this isn't a discussion of your favourite albums, but what ones were a turning point in your perception of music. So without further ado, here are mine in no particular order.

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

Before my music class in school had us learn about The Beatles (what awesome teachers), I listened to nothing but Tchaikovsky and Mozart. Sgt. Pepper's was the first album I bought and I am extremely thankful for it.

2. Procol Harum - Procol Harum

I had always thought of progressive rock bands as being too pretentious but this changed that. They are honestly one of the most underrated bands in history and I just can't get over the wonderful music arrangement, Brooker's voice and Reid's lyrics.

3. Close to the Edge - Yes

While I was certainly not a stranger to progressive rock by this time, I had never really thought of songs as being anything more than just songs. But Close to the Edge, along with the rest of Yes taught me otherwise. After this album, I don't think I have ever listened to music without looking for its core idea or message, like the ones I was exposed to with Yes.

4. Disraeli Gears - Cream

Well... It did teach me that Eric Clapton isn't an old geezer and really knew how to rock out in his youth. It's an amazing album and was my first introduction to blues-rock, which would allow me to enjoy Clapton's later projects.

5. The Doors - The Doors

My introduction to one of the best bands of the late 60s. It was also the beginning of my transition away from the poppy music of The Beatles and into much harder sounds.

[Moosferatu]

I can only think of one.

Pink Floyd - The Wall

[Garbarsardar]

1. Joy Division-Closer.

For more see here.

2. Neu!-Neu!2

The music of tomorrow, yesterday. When the rest of the world was :wub: in pompous orchestrations and guitar solos back in 1973, Neu! used a drum machine. And it worked so much as to be copied by everyone since.

3. The Residents-The Third Reich 'n Roll

The ultimate ironic review of pop history. Irreverent, funny and audacious.

4. Kronos Quartet- Black Angels.

And you think you knew classical music. Doom. A Sigh (Istvan Marta) is a composition for cello and submachine gun featuring recorded interview with Transylvanian peasants while their villages are demolished by Ceausesku

5. Miles Davis-Ascenseur pour l'échafaud.

A sensational moment of Jazz and beyond.

[Osceola]

Nirvana - Whatever the one is with the drowning baby on it.

Who doesn't love "Smells like Teen Spirit"?

[Panzerbear]

Nirvana - Whatever the one is with the drowning baby on it.

its Nirvana "Nevermind". and it wasnt a drowning baby, it was a baby swimming towards a dollar bill with a fish hook .

[vizi]

Numero Uno

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#2

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#3

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#4

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#5

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Honorable Mentions

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[The Super Pope]

Tubular Bells:- I now listen to each individual instrument in a piece after hearing this.

Nevermind the Bollocks:- Got me into punk

London Calling:- Moved me away from Pistols style punk, moved me towards reggae

One Step Beyond:- Got me into ska

Tommy:- Got me intrested in mod music, changed my view of late 60s/ early 70s rock (sort of)

[Stalins Ghost]

No particular order:

Alice in Chains - Dirt: Sheer quality of song writing and production. One of the finest alternative metal will ever bring us.

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream: For a long time my all time favourite album. Flawless production, consistency and excellence.

Rage Against the Machine - Self Titled: Probably the first album I ever liked

The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath: Superb; for me better than De-loused in the Comatorium (though I know many will likely contest that). Virtuousity, complexity, intelligence, consistency and balance.

Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV: This is honestly how I believe the future of music should be on so many levels.

[bomberboy]

Here's mine in no order.

Closer- Joy Division
Unkown Pleasures- Joy Division
Never Mind the Bollocks- Sex Pistols
Employment- Kaiser chiefs
Power, Corruption and Lies- New Order

[God]

Bad Religion ~ Against the Grain
While far from my favourite albums now, Bad Religion really started my interest in music past just listening to what my friends listened to.

Ulver ~ Bergtatt
Showed me that black metal is not just tuneless noise.

Van der Graaf Generator ~ Godbluff
Took me ages to 'get' this, but was the start of my journey into progressive music and more obscure/underrated bands.

King Crimson ~ In the Court of the Crimson King
It's just genius. Nothing else to add.

Psychotic Waltz ~ Into the Everflow
Like In the Court..., but METAL

[Dayman]

5. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
What started my path into finding new music and broadening my horizons past the alt rock that I listened to every day on the radio.
4. Good News For People Who Love Bad News by Modest Mouse
This album was the first I ever listened to that didn't have a mainstream sound.
3. Chutes Too Narrow by The Shins
Started me on my journey to indie rock.
2. Powerslave by Iron Maiden
Opened me up to metal.
1. Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly
Opened me up to other forms of music besides rock (although being rock itself).

[Kubelwagen]

I swear you made this thread before, Octy.

Start with Adore from Smashing Pumpkins. Made me branch out from non-kiddie music back in '92 or whenever it was released.

David Bowie's greatest hits--made me appreciate older music

Linkin Park's first--yeah it sucks now but then it was a gateway to all sorts of better stuff

Of Montreal's Sunlandic Twins-my first foray into obscure/electronica indie

Daft Punk--Homework... made me go on a kick for all sorts of music with beeps in it

[tco]

5. Love, intro to the Beetles enough said.

4. Stomp'in Room Only. My first country rock album and if you like flutes and guitars then this is it. Also got me into good country rock.

3. [QUOTE]Good News For People Who Love Bad News by Modest Mouse
This album was the first I ever listened to that didn't have a mainstream sound./QUOTE] Me Too, now I have a lot of Modest Mouse albums. It also introduced me to of some of the craziest lyrics I know.

2. The Joshua Tree. A great album on so many levels. I consider it my favorite album of all time and it will probably say there.

1. Green Day International Superhits. My very first album and really got my interested on rock and roll. Plus it was good.

[johnny5000]

Mission of Burma - Vs.
Aphex Twin - Come to Daddy
The Clash- Combat Rock (not their best, but it was the first one I was exposed to when I was about 5 years old)
Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

[God]

Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

I don't get that album at all. Everyone seems to love it but I can't stand it, I can't see what all the fuss is about...

Mission of Burma are great though.

[Dayman]

I don't get that album at all. Everyone seems to love it but I can't stand it, I can't see what all the fuss is about...

Mission of Burma are great though.

Listen to Holland, 1945.

[God]

Listen to Holland, 1945.

I've listened to the whole album 3 times. I can't see anything remotely likeable about it. I'm tempted to dismiss it as 'the most overrated album ever', but it's so popular with people with (according to me) good taste, I feel that I'm missing something in it.

[johnny5000]

I've listened to the whole album 3 times. I can't see anything remotely likeable about it. I'm tempted to dismiss it as 'the most overrated album ever', but it's so popular with people with (according to me) good taste, I feel that I'm missing something in it.

If you don't like it, you don't like it. I don't really know how to explain why I do like it, I just do. I like the lyrics, even though they don't make much literal sense in most cases, they still evoke vivid imagery. And I like the music and the lo-fi sound.


All that said, I don't think I'd put it in my 5 favorite albums, but it did change the way I listened to music, which is why it made my list. One of my friends gave it to me, and after listening to it, I began to explore similar bands and my musical tastes shifted in a huge way.

[Dayman]

It's a bit overrated but it's a solid album.

[Lord Rahl]

In no particular order,

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

Every song is so much different than the others, they are so weird, and there are so many different sounds that come from this album, that it made me think differently about The Beatles in general and all rock.

The Wall - Pink Floyd

The first rock opera I ever listened to. I felt like I wasn't listening to music. It felt like instead that I was listening to a story that was happening.

Dracula - Kronos Quartet

Composed by Philip Glass, it was the first minimalist music I'd heard and now I love minimalist classical music. I used to think that the less notes you work with, the less quality of a song you would get, but Philip Glass changed that.

Close to the Edge - Yes

Probably my first dive into progressive rock. The album was recommended to me and ever since then the album has been in my top picks for rock. The songs are long and epic with changing moods and complex time signatures. And who doesn't like 7/8?

Birth of Cool - Miles Davis

The first jazz album I bought. It IS so cool.

And there are so many other albums to...