25 Albums that Changed My Life

Think of 25 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world. When you finish, tag others, including me. Tag, you're it!

Note: I should note that most are not my favorite albums by these bands, instead many are the first I heard of them.  I limited myself to one album per band (those who know me well know that 5 or so bands have 3+ albums I could not live without). Also, I did the list in a rough chronological order, since each influenced the next. And I left off all compilations (they were my true introduction to most of this, but too confusing for here)

1. Bad Religion - Process of Belief This was the first album I liked every single song on. It opened up my world, I did not know that was possible before this.
2. Good Riddance - A Comprehensive Guide to modern Rebellion I probably listened to this every day in 2D and 3D art, as well as through the halls sophomore year. This epitomizes my journey in raising a social conscious.
3. Dashboard Confessional - Places You Have Come to fear the most My first "emo" album, it opened a whole new genre to me.
4. Rise Against - Revolutions Per Minute I listened to this for basically an entire summer, their follow up was the first album I remember waiting to come out, and I followed every development for nearly a year. They only recently lost "favorite band status" but held it nearly 5 years
5. Anti-Flag - Mobilize This explains my politics better than words.  To listen is to understand me.
6. Alkaline Trio - From Here To Infirmary Angst ridden, defines my "black period" of high school.
7. The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving Quite easily my favorite album of all time.
8. NOFX - War on Errorism Again explains my poltics, and my love of Chomsky and Zinn.
9. Propagandhi - Today's Empires Tomorrows Ashes Introduced me to a bunch of great books (through liner notes) and thinkers.
10. Justin Sane - Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Justice Got me through a lot, especially after I became the black sheep of my family. "We Found A Place" and "Thanks For the Letter" probably saved my life.
11. The Format - Interventions and Lullabies This help heal the wounds in my family, it was the first CD I could play in the car on trips and not worry about swearing.
12.Goldfinger - Open Your Eyes Only later did I realize how big an impact this had on me, along with a couple other things this led to my veganism.
13. Brand New - Deja Entendu When I went vegan, this was my soundtrack. I had health issues (palpitations, obesity) before and those first couple weeks I felt on top of the world.  Even now, more than 5 years later I feel invincible. That feeling is why I never went back to meat or dairy.
14. The Rocket Summer - Calendar Days This became "our" album, by "our" band, with "our" song. He even agreed to sing a concert for us. As great as this one is (second best love album ever to Melee's Devils and Angels), I still can't listen to it without a pain in my heart, maybe that will pass one day.
15. Say Anything - ...Is a real boy I live my life by "Admit It!"
16. The Faint - Danse Macabre My introduction to dance punk. And dancing in general, thanks Ty.
17. Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground My introduction to the "boy wonder" and what truly great lyricism and orchestration can do.
18. Sage Francis - Sick of Waging War This showed me that hip-hop and rap are not interchangeable. Hip-hop still knew its roots.
19. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism Blame this one for getting me into more mellow Indie Rock, with smooth voices.
20. Bayside - The Walking Wounded I tried to make another mix of love songs and later realized that most of them were about her mental illness. Only after our breakup did this make sense to me, I was not happy and my subconscious was telling me. If only I had paid attention in February.
21. Silverstein - Arrivals and Departures I had a difficult go in the "after" period. Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon ain't got nothing on this as a break up album.
22. Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me This album felt like it was written for me. Especially "Conversation".
23. Bloc Party - Intimacy My favorite electronic album. The only knock I have with this is the tracklist, it is THAT good.
24. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound Amazingly I did not like this the first time, but after relisten (and 50 or so more), I have come to realize that this is among my all time favorites. Plus its just so damn nostalgic and beautiful.
25. Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War While I had heard this earlier it and loved it, it made the list due to my repeated listens while at the Inauguration. From now on when I think or hear about President Obama, this will be playing in my head.