The 25 Albums Which Altered My Trajectory

I've seen it going around - the old 'top 25 albums which changed your life' list. I must admit, at first I was very reluctant to form a list of my own (although I have enjoyed reading some others). For one, the task at hand seemed awfully stressful; only twenty-five? Honestly? But the more I thought of the music, the more the list just seemed to form with ease. The mind attaches music with memories in such a beautiful way. There were the albums which made an impact on me as a person; the music which has made an impact on my own music; and of course the music I have a certain nostalgia for.

So here lies my list, in no particular order.

1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love (1968). I said no particular order, but Hendrix's 'Axis: Bold As Love' is my number one for good reason. It's been about 5 or 6 years now, and I continue to discover just how much of an impact this music had on me. Every time I pick up the guitar; the way it's held in my hand, the thumb on the fret, that all stems from spending extreme time with this album. Had I not heard Jimi's beautifully lush guitar playing (those precise R&B fills and that tone so textured, you can almost feel the nickel-wound strings) along with Jimi's exceptional songwriting on tunes like "Castles Made of Sand", "Little Wing", and "One Rainy Wish", I would have no reason to be writing this blog. I remember the song I first became enamored with was "Spanish Castle Magic". For a young boy falling head over heels for the guitar, "Spanish Castle Magic" delivered everything I craved. However, it is the title track, "Bold As Love" which moves me the most, still giving me goosebumps and chills each time I hear it. Turn off the lights. Turn up "Bold As Love", and listen to music like you never have before. I am in forever debt to Jimi Hendrix.

2. Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde (1966)

3. D'Angelo - Voodoo (2000). This is my Pet Sounds

4. Weezer - Weezer (1994)

5. The Beatles - Help! (1965) A very early favorite

6. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York (1994)

7. Prince - Purple Rain (1984)

8. Radiohead - Amnesiac (2001). This album was my introduction to the genius of Radiohead, specifically "Pyramid Song" which I heard for the first time in 2006. I knew of Radiohead, but I did not know of Radiohead. They always seemed slightly out of my reach, like the band that your cool older cousin's friend loved. Well, after an incredibly jolting, and equally refreshing introduction to their music, I got ahold of as much Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood as I could.

9. Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994). Wait that's a guy singing?

10. Derek and the Dominos - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)

11. Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings (1936)

12. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly (1972)

13. Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home (1965)

14. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Texas Flood (1983). Tone for days

15. Jimmy Smith - Dot Com Blues (2001)

16. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1969)

17. Sam Cooke - The Best of Sam Cooke (2002)

18. Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto - Getz Au Go Go (1964). The sound of vacation.

19. Mose Allison - The Presitge Collection (1991)

20. Otis Redding - The Very Best of Otis Redding (1992)

21. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders (1993)

22. Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971)

23. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1964)

24. R.E.M. - Automatic For The People (1992)

25. Nick Drake - Pink Moon (1972). I wish someone turned me on to this album a long time ago.