Thursday, August 26, 2010

"In Honor Of..." (Part II)

After books, my second great love and probably the most influential factor in my life, was and is music.

Growing up my Mom, my Dad and My Step-Dad were always playing a variety of music. The styles ranged from Tchaikovsky, to Carly Simon, to Ozzy Osborne. Probably the most musically diverse was (and is) my Dad. I remember traveling all around the country with him and as we drove he would play all kinds of music. Much of it was from obscure bands or at least compared to the more "popular" music but I was exposed to the Police, R.E.M. and even Metallica through my Dad's collection.

At that time, music was only a part of the background. It was fun to sing along and try to decipher lyrics but its full impact didn't hit me until I was like 9 or 10...

I remember finding a copy of Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Bank by The Beatles in the floorboard of my Step-Dad's car. It was in those moments of my first listening that music reached into the depths of me and touched my soul. The album took me to new heights and pulled me down into heartache. Never had I experienced an emotional roller coaster like the one Lennon, McCarthy, Starr and Harrison took me on that day. It was the Beatles who made me fall in love with music.

From that point on the affair has only blossomed, the power of music never ceasing to incite my passions. While my tastes are diverse and I believe that music is music, each style unique and possessing the ability to speak to me in many different ways. I take pleasure from listening to Al Green, Guns'N'Roses and Dr. Dre. Johnny Cash inspires me as much as Korn or NOFX. Of course, I have my favorites so, if anyone cares here are my 10 favorite albums, 10 favorite songs and 10 favorite artists in no particular order. Maybe someone discovers something new or opens the door to something unexpected.

10 Favorite Albums:

* Radiohead - OK Computer
* Nirvana - In Utero
* Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
* Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
* Alice in Chains - Dirt
* Deftones - White Pony
* Tool - Aenima
* Mudvayne - The End of All Things to Come
* The Beatles - Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
* Sublime - 40oz. to Freedom

10 Favorite Songs:

* "Lithium" - Nirvana
* "Disamrm" - Smashing Pumpkins
* "Nutshell" - Alice in Chains
* "Landslide" - Fleetwood Mac
* "High & Dry" - Radiohead
* "Passenger" - Deftones
* "Changes" - David Bowie
* "Hurt" - Nine Inch Nails
* "My Life" - The Beatles
* "Tourniquet" - Marilyn Manson

10 Favorite Artists

* Nirvana
* Radiohead
* Alice in Chains
* Tool/ A Perfect Circle
* Deftones
* Smashing Pumpkins
* The Beatles
* Nine Inch Nails
* Jim Morrison/ The Doors
* Sublime

4 comments:

  1. You like a variety! Music has always been a big part of my life, as I play a couple instruments. Daniel, I don't know how much access you have to the outside world, but did you know Alice in Chains has a new leader singer and album - and it's amazing?

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  2. This post fits right in with the best of/favorites posts many of us have been doing in the last few months.

    I'm certainly familiar with all of the artists, but there are some albums and songs that I'm not sure of since I don't listen to about half of these.

    Now I probably listen to classical more than anything, although at the moment I'm listening to a best of compilation of music by the Scorpions, a group I'd never really listened to much in the past.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  3. DANIEL ~
    I found it odd (or interesting) that while Jim Morrison and The Doors made your Top Ten list of favorite Performers, none of their songs or albums made it into your Top Ten in those categories.

    I'm thinking that all of my Top Ten performers would also have a song or album on my Top Ten Songs or Albums list. Hmmm...

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  4. How can you not be open to all sorts of music since we were around Dad. He has more CD's than anyone!

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