Hey! New Music Mama Mari here, and by way of introduction, I give you the 9 albums that made me the hot mess that I am today. This was taken in part from a post I wrote a few years back but has since been updated. In order, chronologically, by the year I was rocked by them:
Van Halen / Van Halen (late 1970s)
My brother, like many of his kind in the late 70s, had a serious VH fixation. I remember this album for its awesome artwork (which launched my mad crush on David Lee Roth) and the ripping sound of “Running with the Devil” that kind of scared me. And yes, I did cry when VH broke up, and I despise Van Hagar.
Led Zeppelin IV / Led Zeppelin (1980s)
If you lived through the 80s, you’ve likely been to a house party/kegger where there were 2 guys playing “Stairway” on their acoustic guitars. This is an amazing album (and you need to see the album to fully appreciate the total package), and I remember searching the local record store for it. I didn’t know which one it was as there are no words on the dust jacket and I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of the store staff. I still own this one on vinyl, and although my favorite songs are not on it, it is a must-hear classic.
The Wall / Pink Floyd (1980s)
This one makes me feel like the original emo kid. I love this album (though I’m more on Dark Side of the Moon lately), and I listened to this repeatedly until I wore out my cassette and bought the CD. I kept a lovingly and painstakingly hand-written notebook of lyrics to every song on this album and I went through a time when my poems (oh yes; I went there) were very reminiscent of Roger Waters. “One of My Turns” defines me like no other song (“ … I’ve got a little black book with my poems in … “) and I’ve seen the movie several times (own that, too) and think it’s a brilliant discourse on how a person can be warped by their circumstances.
Master of Puppets / Metallica (late 1980s)
My gateway to metal. This was technically part of the speed metal surge, but I don’t really consider Metallica to be speed metal. I’ve always been a fan of old-school metal (Sabbath, etc) but this was new; full of angst, anger, heavy-pounding drums and heavier guitars all tempered by really smart, sharp and meaningful lyrics.
In high school, the emo kids were listening to the Cure, which sounded like pop to me. They should have plugged into this.
Appetite for Destruction / Guns & Roses (late 1980s)
Total breath of fresh air. Music in the 80s was not all good and by this time, hard rock had been distorted by uber-poppy hair bands; there was room for greatness & that’s where this album came in. One of the best records ever made, period.
Shake Your Moneymaker / The Black Crowes (1991)
Totally one of those perfect place at the perfect time albums for me. I was ready to fly, transitioning from Midwestern factory worker into … something else, but I wasn’t sure what. I listened to this blues infused with hope while driving around in my electric blue Sunbird with the hot pink pinstripes (my awesome Impala had died a hideous death the previous winter at the hands of a nice woman who ran a stop sign). I was wondering what I was doing with my life and “Seeing Things for the First Time” opened my eyes. Within a few months, I had sold the car and joined the air force. The rest of my life happened then.
Nevermind / Nirvana (1992)
Wow. I was a total hair-band lover, worked with a bunch of hard-rock-loving guys and we all loved music and finding new music and old music, listening to it and talking about it. Grunge came around and there was a new kid on the block. I loved this CD and still love it today. What a waste that Kurt Cobain is not around anymore; he had a great talent. I love Dave Grohl, but when I listen to the Foo Fighters I want to love them but get a little sad because I miss Nirvana.
Back to Black / Amy Winehouse (2007)
Oh the irony of Amy Winehouse. This heroin-addled dirty bird brought such a freshness to the music scene when she dropped this CD. This blue eyed soul singer from England who writes from her gut about her loves, losses and mistakes and coined the term “fuckery” (brilliant) is a force to be sure. I’m ready for the follow-up.
Rancid / Let the Dominoes Fall (2010)
I’ve always had a few Rancid songs in my collection, rough little gems that moved me. When I found this CD it was like magic. I immersed myself in Rancid and found my new, true love. This CD is amazing, period. Tim Armstrong is an amazing lyricist and I’m hooked.
And there you have it, some of the many works of sonic brilliance that have moved me through the years.
So glad you’re on board!! (You had me at Van Halen.)
Melisa´s last blog ..Germany Is Obviously Full of Green Thumbs
Every bit as kick as as I expected! Welcome to the family, Mari!
Excellent choices, Mari! I could have written this myself – minus the brother part, because I don’t have a brother – but yeah…RAWK!
Belle´s last blog ..Alive & Kicking
I love these albums, too — even if you are a “hot mess,” you’re one with great taste in music. And the reference to the “electric blue Sunbird with the hot pink pinstripes” had me rolling. Thanks for a great post!
First off.. it took me about 30 minutes to read this article. Why? In all honesty I’d been deluding myself about VH/VH… yes I could have sworn it was an 80s LP… In fact I recall spending endless hours ignoring all variety of teachers bend on educating me, in order to doodle the VH all over my Peachy folders. So I Googled the release date.. and it’s official. I’m freaking OLDER THAN DIRT! So thanks to that shattered delusion I was forced to walk away, hit the bottle, and come back more composed. And what did I find??? I’m musical half sister! Dude really.. The Floyd, The Crowes AND the divine Miss CrackHouse (I LAHOVE Amy) in one play list!!!! Heavenly <—get the stairway reference..do ya.. huh? huh?
*sigh*
I’ve found my tribe!
So happy to be here, music mamas RAWK to 11!
Mari´s last blog ..Im not dead yet
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[...] and Flow) recalls a Shake Your Money Maker-era Black Crowes (which I flove & wrote about here), this is a disc that does not disappoint, clear through the bonus tracks (that you should spring [...]