Musically challenged
From Bellaventa and about fourteen other people:
Think of 20 albums, CDs, LPs (if you’re over 40), that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life. Dug into your soul. Music that brought you to life when you heard it. Royally affected you, kicked you in the wazoo, literally socked you in the gut, is what I mean. Then when you finish, tag 15 others, including me. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill.
I know it said music, but there are also comedy albums that have affected me, so I decided to incorporate those, too. In no specific order, here's my list.
1. U2 – Achtung Baby
2. Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine
3. Guns N Roses – Appetite for Destruction
4. Nirvana – Nevermind
5. Bill Cosby – Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow…Right!
6. Radiohead – Pablo Honey
7. Madonna – Like a Virgin
8. Madonna – Like a Prayer
9. Cyndi Lauper – She's So Unusual
10. Cyndi Lauper – True Colors
11. Steven Wright – I Have a Pony
12. Weird Al Yankovic – Dare to be Stupid
13. Weird Al Yankovic – Off the Deep End
14. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
15. Johnny Cash – The Legend of Johnny Cash
16. Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vols. I & II
17. Toad the Wet Sprocket – Fear
18. Alanis Morrisette – Jagged Little Pill
19. Hole – Live Through This
20. REM – Out of Time
I think if these were the only albums I had, I could listen to them forever without complaint. How about you? What's on your list?
Posted in 
The Marshall Mathers LP has to be in my top 20 also (as is Jagged Little Pill). Whenever I am angry on the inside, that cd helps me a fuckton!
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damn, those are some great choices!
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Many fine choices! It has been so long since I've listened to Toad the Wet Sprocket – about time to revisit it!
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Oh – and I'll work on my list, but my mind's a little too fuzzy tonight to think straight. But I'll get back to you on that. I think we'll have some crossover…
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I think Eminem music in general is great when you're angry.
I'll have to steal this too.
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ha I'm totally stealing this
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Great list! I'd have to add;
Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes
Sarah McLachlan – Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
The Smiths – Singles
Ben Folds – Rockin' the Suburbs
Goo Goo Dolls – A Boy Named Goo
Meh, I love your list but I should probably make my own. I keep thinking of more.
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Guns and Roses – Appetite for Destruction…good choice.
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Considering this list, I suppose #21 is Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice.
Your iPhone must hate you when you listen to music.
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We have some similar tastes in music (Weird Al aside), although I preferred Dulcinea to Fear myself.
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18 of those 20 would never be in my tops, and the other two are maybes (comedy albums). But your true colors are shining through, that's the reason I love you. Now don't be afraid!
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At least your number 1 is the right choice.
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I might have to do this, too.
Some of your choices, I agree with, and others, no way. That's the beauty of the world, though, huh?!
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I like the early Radiohead choice. As much as I like their new stuff, their older stuff will always reign supreme for me. I'm a fan of The Bends.
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Hilly, yup. Me too. And "Stan" is excellent.
Hello, thanks!
Robin, I loved that album in high school and it is still amazing.
Ashleigh, his other albums are pretty good, too.
Amanda, I figured you would.
RebTurtle, I used to like Tori Amos's old stuff, but I haven't listened to it in a while.
Robin, thanks – too bad Chinese Democracy sucked.
NYCWD, what exactly does that mean? You don't agree with my choices? Fucker.
SciFi Dad, that's a good album, too, but Fear was the one that I obsessed over.
Whall, none of them would make your list?
Chris Livingston, you don't agree with my other choices?
Sybil, which ones are "no way" for you?
Kapgar, The Bends and OK Computer are also favorites of mine.
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#2, definitely.
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Everything by Slayer and the Steven Wright album too.
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Excellent choices all. I don't know that I could do this; I'm more affected by individual songs than entire albums. But for sure there be songs from almost all of these albums on my list.
Love that you added comedy albums. I grew up with some obscure, old ones that still play in my head at times.
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Specifically:
U2 – Achtung, Baby
(we already had that discussion)
Madonna – Like A Prayer
Cyndi Lauper – True Colors
But, again- I guess if you loved them, that's the point! For all your talk of Avril, though, I am surprised she isn't on your list! (But she wouldn't be on mine, either!)
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great list- I gotta think about mine…
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Neverending White Lights – Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
Anything by The Police or Sting, Sarah McLachlan, The Smiths and Morrissey
Pearl Jam – Ten
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger & Superunknown (oh hai, I'm stuck in the 90's)
Some of yours would be on my list too:
U2 – Achtung Baby
Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine
Nirvana – Nevermind
Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vols. I & II
REM – Out of Time
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I love all of those music albums. I just realized that aside from U2, Madonna, & Cyndi Lauper, none of them are on my iPod. And I think I lost the CDs or they were stolen by my moochie friends/siblings. Off to download… (and Weird Al? Not funny.)
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Awesome choices, one of which (GnR) is on my Top Nine list.
The Marshal Mathers LP is one album that instantly grew on me. I'm not much of rap/hip-hop fan, but Eminem pulled out a great album.
The Bends and OK Computer are Radiohead favorites of mine. Although, In Rainbows has grown on me a lot since it came out over a year ago.
Jagged Little Pill… one of the few Glenn Ballard produced albums I actually like.
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Robin, that album got me through some tough shit in high school.
Grant, Slayer? Really?
Finn, which obscure ones?
Sybil, I love her music, and Britney's, too, but they've never been influential on me. Pink and No Doubt, though, should also have been on this list.
Christie, cool!
Karen, I was contemplating Pearl Jam – it's probably in my top 25.
Faiqa, Weird Al is a genius.
Marty, I'm not usually one for rap, either, but it definitely grew on me, too.
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My favorite was one by a comedy troupe from the sixties (I can't remember their name) called "The First Family." It was about JFK, Jackie and the kids while they were in the White House. I think I learned more about history, etc. from that album than I did in school.
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Yeah, I was surprised no Avril or Gwen either, since they're the TWO artists you said I HAD to add to my mp3 player. :sexytime:
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I being 50 something and at the tail end of the baby bommer generation would put together a different list.
1. Iron Butterfly – In La Gadda La Vida
2. Led Zepplein – Gratest Hits
3. The Beatles – Sargent Peppers
4. The Beatles – Helter Skelter
5. The Doors – LA Women
6. Lynard Skinard – Free Bird
Just to name a few…
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That list is pretty awesome. I wouldn't have Cindi Lauper on mine though. And I might not have some others from that list in the top 20, but they are all great.
Also, I love the Bill Cosby and Steven Wright, but no Richard Pryor?
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Also, I know you've done some posts about comedians in the past. But, I think a top 20 comedians post should be next. I wonder how many, if any, current stand up comedians would be in the top 10?
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I don't know what I can say about 30% of your list being either Cyndi Lauper or Weird Al or Madonna.
I do like the NIN, Nirvana, Hole and Johnny Cash picks though.
That's something.
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I'm too lazy to make a list of 15 albums, though I will put in another vote for albums by the Police and the Beatles. My musical tastes might run a little different, but I really liked Pat McGee Band, Barenaked Ladies, Guster, Ani DiFranco, Seal, and Aerosmith.
I personally wouldn't include Cyndi Lauper on my list. She's ok, but not "must listen to" good.
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I only have three albums that I say actually "changed" me (or changed my taste in music at least): Tim by The Replacements, Rain Dogs by Tom Waits, and Shoot Out The LIghts by Richard and Linda Thompson. Those are the only three that consistently make my "all time best-of" list. Everything else is debatable.
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Nice list. And Bossy's list? She notices you don't ask for 45s, or 78 RPM Gramophone recordings.
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I'll play!
1. Sign O' The Times-Prince
2. Purple Rain-Prince
3. Jagged Little Pill-Alanis Morrisette
(this album is great when I am raging!)
4. Appetite for Destruction-G'n'R
5. Greatest Hits Vol.2-The Eagles
6. Journey Greatest Hits-Journey
7. The Immaculate Collection-Madonna
8. Synchronicity-The Police
9. Cross Road-Bon Jovi
10. Classic Queen-Queen
11. Live At The Whisky-Kansas
12. Licensed to Ill-Beastie Boys
13. Back in Black-AC/DC
14. Hysteria-Def Leppard
15. Big Ones-Aerosmith
16. Echoes-Pink Floyd
17. Kick-INXS
18. The Road Home-Heart
19. Diva-Annie Lennox
(seriously..go listen to the track "Cold")
20. Music Bank-Alice in Chains
Another piece falls into place, eh? :boobs2:
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I'm with you on 2 and 18. Another album I could never get tired of is Live's "Throwing Copper." LOVE that CD.
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Finn, I learned a ton about politics from MAD Magazine, so I know what you mean.
Tug, oh, they're definitely fun to listen to, but Avril never inspired me or affected my life.
Celtic Dragon, I don't like The Beatles, but I agree with your others.
Jay, his comedy was funny, but not in the same way. And I think I will totally do a top 20 comedians post now. Thanks for the idea.
BE Earl, Madonna's music is awesome! And Weird Al is so smart – it really comes out in what he does, but most people just dismiss it.
Johnny, the Police are good, too, and I love Ani DiFranco.
Kathy, I've never heard any of those albums.
Bossy, well, it does say LPs above!
Stephanie, I see we have a few in common. Back in Black is in my top 30, probably. And Annie Lennox is pretty awesome.
Heather, oh, me too. Lightning Crashes is an amazing son.
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