LouderThanTen

11 Most Influential Albums of All Time (to me)

Dec0301:36

While design may be my first passion, music is a very close second. For many of us, it influences the way we live, the way we think, our social and political views, and even the trends we subscribe to. It’s silly for me to think what my life would be like without music because it is such a huge part of me and a major influence on my life and my design. If there was no music, there would probably be no Travis.

Although I only listen to a few of these bands still, they are still the albums that made me what I am today:

MC Hammer — Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em

This was the first album I ever owned. I got it for my ninth birthday in 1991 and wore the cassette out. Love for music begins.

Public Enemy — Fear of a Black Planet

Hammer was a gateway musician that turned me towards more controversial artists like Ice T, NWA, and of course, Public Enemy. I was only 9 or 10 years old when I started listening to these artists despite my parent’s strict profanity rules. My friends and I would sneak these albums and blast them while the ‘rents were away. It was the desperation, the questioning of authority, and passion in the lyrics that kept us listening. Fear of a Black Planet was the first album that truly spoke to me and taught me that we still live in a world of intolerance. I owe many of my social ideals today to Chuck D and the crew.

Guns ‘n Roses — Appetite For Destruction

I started listening to G’n’R about the same time as Public Enemy and Ice T. It was my first foray into the world of rock and was even more forbidden by my parents for its vulgarity. I thought it was awesome then and I still think it’s awesome now.

Nirvana — In Utero

Nirvana’s In Utero was the first compact disc I ever owned. This album in particular was a very special release for me and introduced me to the more current brand of rock and roll. These guys got me into such acts as Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins, and Soundgarden. It was this thirst for raw, dirty, power rock that turned me into a metal head just in time for junior high (middle school for you non-Albertans).

Metallica — The Black Album

Bands like Black Sabbath, Pantera, Slayer, and Metallica provided much of the soundtrack to my early teen years. The energy and the darkness of it all was tremendously compelling for a young, shy, awkward kid in suburbia. Music had become the most important thing in my life and it was this point when I got my first set of drums and started my first band with my buddies. We were 11 years old, the band name was Disillusion, and we only played (or at least attempted to play) Enter Sandman by Metallica over and over for about three months. Years of annoying my family and my neighbours on the drums commence.

NOFX — Heavy Petting Zoo

Heavy Petting Zoo blew my mind in grade nine. By then I was getting tired of the metal and was introduced to NOFX by my buddy Ben. The album combined all of the elements that I loved about nearly every band I’d loved before. It had the political and social agendas of Public Enemy, the rawness of Nirvana, the power of and speed of the metal, plus the vulgarity every 15 year old boy can’t get enough of. After borrowing the cd for a couple days I bought it from Ben for five bucks. Enter the punk years.

Various Artists — Survival of the Fattest

This iconic Fat Wreck Chords release was probably my most listened to album in high school. It combined so many fantastic songs by artists that would soon become favourites. This album had everything. The politically charged rock of Propaghandi, the hilarious covers by Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies and Hi-Standard, the breakneck speed of Strung Out. The whole album was a very positive experience that laughed at the absurdity of racism and homophobia all while keeping a slight element of potty humour. At the time this is where music began and ended for me and where many of my social and political stances still remain today.

Hot Water Music — A Flight and a Crash

Hot Water Music is still one of my favorite bands today (not to mention current incarnations The Draft and Chuck Ragan) and A Flight and a Crash is still one of my favorite albums of all time. I got into HWM shortly after high school and was blown away by the musicianship, the passion, and the more grown-up brand of post hardcore they offered. My first real band, Racing Home, was heavily influenced by these guys and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing their incredible live show on a few occasions.

Neil Diamond — Pretty well anything

What can I say? There are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don’t. Our tour van in Racing Home had Neil silhouettes on the side. Need I say more?

Fela Kuti — Best of the Black President

This is a relatively recent influence introduced to me by my fellow band-mates in Lynn Olagundoye and the Guerrilla Funk Allstars. While it took me a little while to really appreciate Fela, this is one artist that seldom leaves my playlist. Fela was an incredibly influential Nigerian musician from the 60’s to the early 90’s at one point having up to 80 band members. He created Afrobeat which can be described as a trance-like combination of jazz with traditional African music. The songs are long, but full of energy and incredibly addictive …and Tony Allen’s drumming blows my mind.

Racing Home — Finding Comfort in the Familiar

How could I have a list of my most influential bands without listing my own? I played drums in Racing Home from May 2002 until May 2005 and was one of two original members that lived and died with the band. Finding Comfort in the Familiar was our first and only full length album and is one of my proudest achievements to date. The album itself was a little rushed in recording (hey we were financing this ourselves), but overall it is one of the most gratifying things I have ever had my hand in creating. Aside from the music, I designed most of our merch, the website, the album art, and the band signage and identity. These were the days that I knew design was something I needed to do.

*All album images except Racing Home care of Wikipedia.

I’d like to hear what your influential albums were. List away in the comments!