Write a review of an album that changed your life.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

Many of us grew up in a time when record albums were the popular music medium. We didn't download songs from Amazon or iTunes, we went to our local record shop or department store and bought records. If you liked a particular song, there were 45 rpm singles. If you were really into the band or artist, you would likely seek out their latest album on a 33 & 1/3 rpm album.

Many of us also have a band or group that we encountered at a young and impressionable age which had a lasting and profound influence over the remainder of our lives. An album that in hearing for the first time, changed the way you saw the world, the way saw music, the way you saw yourself. An album that was a true life-altering event, an album that changed your life.

I invite you to write a review of that album, how it made you feel and how it changed your life.

For me, that band was Black Sabbath and the album was Master of Reality. Here's my review.

*****

Artist or Group: Black Sabbath

Album: Master of Reality

Release Date: July, 1971

I heard Master of Reality for the first time when I was twelve years old. To call that experience life-changing would be an understatement. Prior to hearing this album, I had only been exposed to the standard 70's AM radio mix of Country, Rock and Pop music. Though there was still some good music being created, in the mid 70's, music was already beginning to devolve from art and personal expression into entertainment and product. Even at the age of twelve years, I could sense this hollow shallowness creeping into music. Hearing Master of Reality completely shattered this! Master of Reality- raw, dark, dangerous. It was powerful magic. It was angry and yet at the same time, it was hopeful. It was the embodiment of everything that I instinctively knew was missing from the music that I grew up with. My eyes were opened to the true power of music. It was in that moment that I began to create the core of a belief that solidified itself decades later: Music is the voice of the soul. It's the one thing that we as humans can do that sets us apart from other life on the planet. It's true that birds sing but they do so for the same reason that dogs bark or crickets chirp, it's in their nature. Humans sing to express emotions- to communicate thoughts and feelings that are beyond words. To give voice to the soul.
 

Thanks for your indulgence, I look forward to reading your album reviews and insights.

David G.

[oldscool]

For me it would be Stevie Ray Vaughan. The first time I heard his music I was just floored. It made such an impression on me that I remember where I was and what I was doing at the time. I was in the kitchen with my old 70s component stereo system blasting out the local rock FM station when Texas Flood came on. I stopped in my tracks and didn't move until the song was over. I thought "who is this guy and where did he come from". Although I have never been a fan of the man himself or his lifestyle and habits, I have been a huge fan of his music ever since.
Some of the most powerful and astounding blues guitar playing I have ever heard and I have heard a LOT of blues music in my life.

 

Edited February 19, 2022 by oldscool

[afx]

I became aware of Genesis my sophomore year in high school.  And Then There Were Three was released (their first album after Peter Gabriel had left).  Follow You Follow Me was in heavy rotation on the radio.  I bought the album and enjoyed it.  You could say that is the album that changed my life except that I can’t remember when the last time I listened to itJ. It started me on lifetime appreciation of Genesis, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins.  

My best friend at the time became a fan and we began exploring their back catalog together. I saw them live that same year.  Each exposure only increased my enjoyment of their music.

By ’82 I was in college and Peter Gabriel’s Security was released so I bought it on cassette. This is the album that changed my life. I would listen to it in my car when I traveled home for the weekend. 

My favorite way to listen to the album is by myself.   I want to focus fully on the music with no distractions. The album starts with a slow pulse drawing me in from the first note.  The album is full of emotion and intensity.  And the percussion is off the chart, a key ingredient for any great album in my opinion.

The opening track:

 

[cobraman]

For a long time my best friend and I were mostly Motown fans. A guy at work told me to give something different a listen. It was 'Blootshot, by J. Geils band. I bought the album on the way home from work and we were blown away. We were hooked. I always have the CD in my truck.  Wammer Jammer baby, can you dig it ?

Edited February 19, 2022 by cobraman
left a portion out

[Mike C.]

The first album that took me from a kid who had no idea about music to a youngster that first discovered what rock n roll was was hands down Led Zeppelins first album. 

I had no idea what rock n roll was before that and it was a fluke because I ended up with a box of my older cousins records. Also in that box was Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Bowie, Doors, Woodstock and so on.  Then in high school a friend gave me the vinyl, 3 record set of the Clash - Sandinista and it was I was blown away with this barrage of great music that was very new to me.

After high school, we had just gotten cable tv and like any other kid I was watching MTV when this band from Scotland comes on called the Jesus and Mary Chain (Psycho Candy) and my jaw hit the floor. I was instantly hooked. 

Then I started to listen to a lot of collage radio (WPRB Princeton mainly) and discovered a little band from Boston called the Pixies that had just recorded Surfer Rosa and I haven't ever looked back.

 

[cobraman]

52 minutes ago, cobraman said:

For a long time my best friend and I were mostly Motown fans. A guy at work told me to give something different a listen. It was 'Blootshot, by J. Geils band. I bought the album on the way home from work and we were blown away. We were hooked. I always have the CD in my truck.  Wammer Jammer baby, can you dig it ?

I should have mention that time is on The Morning After album . Bloodshot is the first one I had by J Geils . 

[David G.]

2 hours ago, oldscool said:

For me it would be Stevie Ray Vaughan. The first time I heard his music I was just floored. It made such an impression on me that I remember where I was and what I was doing at the time. I was in the kitchen with my old 70s component stereo system blasting out the local rock FM station when Texas Flood came on. I stopped in my tracks and didn't move until the song was over. I thought "who is this guy and where did he come from". Although I have never been a fan of the man himself or his lifestyle and habits, I have been a huge fan of his music ever since.
Some of the most powerful and astounding blues guitar playing I have ever heard and I have heard a LOT of blues music in my life.

 

Stevie is one of my all-time favorites too. Ironically his best album (IMHO) The Sky Is Crying,  was released after he died.

It's a shame he died as young as he did. We can only imagine where his skills would have taken him.

1 hour ago, afx said:

I became aware of Genesis my sophomore year in high school.  And Then There Were Three was released (their first album after Peter Gabriel had left).  Follow You Follow Me was in heavy rotation on the radio.  I bought the album and enjoyed it.  You could say that is the album that changed my life except that I can’t remember when the last time I listened to itJ. It started me on lifetime appreciation of Genesis, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins.  

My best friend at the time became a fan and we began exploring their back catalog together. I saw them live that same year.  Each exposure only increased my enjoyment of their music.

By ’82 I was in college and Peter Gabriel’s Security was released so I bought it on cassette. This is the album that changed my life. I would listen to it in my car when I traveled home for the weekend. 

My favorite way to listen to the album is by myself.   I want to focus fully on the music with no distractions. The album starts with a slow pulse drawing me in from the first note.  The album is full of emotion and intensity.  And the percussion is off the chart, a key ingredient for any great album in my opinion.

The opening track:

 

This is amazing!

I haven't heard this until now. It really draws one in in a way similar to The Wall by Pink Floyd.

I'm going to have to get a copy of this, thanks for sharing it.

 

David G.

[afx]

40 minutes ago, David G. said:

Stevie is one of my all-time favorites too. Ironically his best album (IMHO) The Sky Is Crying,  was released after he died.

It's a shame he died as young as he did. We can only imagine where his skills would have taken him.

This is amazing!

I haven't heard this until now. It really draws one in in a way similar to The Wall by Pink Floyd.

I'm going to have to get a copy of this, thanks for sharing it.

 

David G.

Another of my favorite tracks.

 

[1972coronet]

While there have been quite a few albums which blew me away over the years --many of which I'd considered mentioning here-- I have boiled down my choice to:

Notorious Byrd Brothers 

15.01.1968 release date

Mono mix beats the stereo mix.

While I've heard the same track from the album that virtually everyone is familiar with ( I Wasn't Born To Follow ) , it wasn't until years later that I bought the album which has that (fantastic) song on it. Initially, I had --and still have-- the stereo mix from c.1997; it features the album plus bonus tracks / alternate mixes / demos. As soon as I found the mono mix --limited issue-- for a reasonable price, I grabbed it.

Track Listing (bonus et al. tracks listed afterward):

• 1.) Artificial Energy
• 2.) Goin' Back
• 3.) Natural Harmony
• 4) Draft Morning
• 5.) Wasn't Born to Follow
• 6.) Get to You
• 7.) Change is now
• 8.) Old John Robertson
• 9.) Tribal Gathering
• 10.) Dolphins' Smile
• 11.) Space Odyssey
• _____________________
• Moog Raga
• Universal Mind Decoder (demo of Change is Now)
• Bound to Fall (instrumental)
• Triad (Jefferson Airplane recorded a slightly different version on Crown Of Creation)
• Goin' Back (early demo, sans harmonies; no pedal steel guitar, just a celesta accompaniment)
• Draft Morning (extended version with alternate ending)
• Universal Mind Decoder (demo of Change is Now)/ radio commercial by producer Gary Usher/ in-studio fight between Michael Clarke and David Crosby

Starting off with a song about speed and its effects upon its user, before radically-shifting to a wonderful, mellow, yet sombre song about youth. Then, back again to an MDA-influenced piece about love; transition to a piece about being drafted, as the character ponders his direction and moral introspective. This blends into the song which most are familiar with from Easy Rider -- a dynamite track with lots of panning and other effects: interplay of Clarence White's Bluegrass picking and Red Rhodes' pedal steel playing. Next track starts with a slamming door before the vocals begin to romanticise a return trip to London; abruptly ending segue to a C&W song with a baroque middle part with spatial panning -- another abrupt change to Crosby's recollection of a Love-In at Griffith Park in early 1967 (a song whose instrumental accompaniment influenced The Stooges 1969) and a screaming guitar outro-fade-into a lovely, dreamy, peaceful marine life sailling song. The final piece is an exhibition of the then-new Moog synthesiser with a Sea Chanty cadence whose lyrics are influenced by The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke (think: 2001: a Space Odyssey).

Notorious Byrd Brothers is a fitting title to an album with its combination of Psychedelia, C&W, Bluegrass, Folk, and early electronic effects -- the band's experimental peak... and the end of the original lineup of the band (Crosby was fired in October 1967; Michael Clarke quit, then returned to finish the album, then split upon its completion; even Gene Clark returned briefly before leaving again, just as he'd done in early 1966. This left the band with only Jim "Roger" McGuinn and Chris Hillman.

[Snake45]

Mine would have to be either Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced? or the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. 

[Bronzekeg]

deep purple machine head, ritchie blackmore fan ever since.

[Classicgas]

It's 1974, and I hear this song on the radio,  Ballroom Blitz, by a band called Sweet.  I love it. I get it, the b side is even better,  a tune called Restless.  Fast forward to 1975, they release another song,  Fox On The Run. I'm hooked.  B side is Burn On The Flame. I picked up the album the a side songs were from, a album called Desolation Boulevard.  I'm hooked on this band. 3 of the 4 members are passed on now. In my opinion Sweet was perhaps the most under rated band of the 70s. Very talented musicians. 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Not exactly life-changing, but Floyd's "A Momentary Lack of Reason" kinda helped me work through the demise of an unfortunate relationship with a beautiful woman who had, apparently, no use for the concepts of monogamy and honesty. 

Lyrics to "One Slip" , a constant reminder to look very carefully before I leap in the future.

A restless eye across a weary room
A glazed look and I was on the road to ruin
The music played and played as we whirled without end
No hint, no word her honour to defend

I will, I will she sighed to my request
And then she tossed her mane while my resolve was put to the test
Then drowned in desire, our souls on fire
I lead the way to the funeral pyre
And without a thought of the consequence
I gave in to my decadence

One slip, and down the hole we fall
It seems to take no time at all
A momentary lapse of reason
That binds a life for life
A small regret, you won't forget,
There'll be no sleep in here tonight

Was it love, or was it the idea of being in love?
Or was it the hand of fate, that seemed to fit just like a glove?
The moment slipped by and soon the seeds were sown
The year grew late and neither one wanted to remain alone

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/p/pinkfloydlyrics/momentarylapseofreasonlyrics.html

Of course a lot of critics who live to hear themselves pontificate about stuff they're incapable of creating and probably don't understand anyway hated the album, but that's OK by me. 

And that's my essay.   

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[David G.]

On 2/19/2022 at 11:33 AM, Bronzekeg said:

deep purple machine head, ritchie blackmore fan ever since.

I agree! Every song on that LP is great but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Lazy 

David G.

[David G.]

18 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Not exactly life-changing, but Floyd's "A Momentary Lack of Reason" kinda helped me work through the demise of an unfortunate relationship with a beautiful woman who had, apparently, no use for the concepts of monogamy and honesty. 

Lyrics to "One Slip" , a constant reminder to look very carefully before I leap in the future.

A restless eye across a weary room
A glazed look and I was on the road to ruin
The music played and played as we whirled without end
No hint, no word her honour to defend

I will, I will she sighed to my request
And then she tossed her mane while my resolve was put to the test
Then drowned in desire, our souls on fire
I lead the way to the funeral pyre
And without a thought of the consequence
I gave in to my decadence

One slip, and down the hole we fall
It seems to take no time at all
A momentary lapse of reason
That binds a life for life
A small regret, you won't forget,
There'll be no sleep in here tonight

Was it love, or was it the idea of being in love?
Or was it the hand of fate, that seemed to fit just like a glove?
The moment slipped by and soon the seeds were sown
The year grew late and neither one wanted to remain alone

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/p/pinkfloydlyrics/momentarylapseofreasonlyrics.html

Of course a lot of critics who live to hear themselves pontificate about stuff they're incapable of creating and probably don't understand anyway hated the album, but that's OK by me. 

And that's my essay.   

 

My wife and I saw them in concert when they toured this album in '87. Absolutely brilliant show.

An unfortunate story but it's good that you were able to get through it. Pink Floyd's music has always had a deep psychological resonance with me too.

David G.

Edited February 21, 2022 by David G.
typo

[TonyK]

I've read through this and thought about my situation and thought about it some more and finally decided to contribute.

Yes has been my favorite band since way back and Genesis is right there too. The story is that I had a job in high school and a fellow worker found out I was a huge Yes fan and suggested I listen to Genesis but I hadn't even heard of them. Went to the store to look at albums and the cover of Genesis Live captured my interest. First time I bought an album without ever hearing a song. Took it home and I'd say the first note of "Watcher of the Skies" hooked me. I guess it changed my life because I started buying the albums previously released before this one and bought every one since. The Duke album was special to me as the theme of it connected to my own life then as I was going through a divorce and I could relate to it so much.

Yes and Genesis have ties to each other with band members playing together through the years and that added to more enjoyment of the music. I would buy the solo albums as well as the spinoff bands that came about. I've always liked this type of orchestrated rock as it never gets old for me. The early albums are as fresh today as they were back then.

[afx]

From the Trespass Album (remaster):

Edited February 21, 2022 by afx

[Snake45]

Elvis Costello's My Aim Is True and Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town got me through a rough period of my life....

[iamsuperdan]

There are a couple of important ones for me.

 

Album one.

Faith No More - The Real Thing.

Growing up, I was surrounded by music. Thanks to my parents, I was introduced at an early age to all types of music. From my mum it was The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Engelbert Humperdinck. From my dad, LED Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton. I was exposed to everything, so had a wide range of tastes.

But then in the late 80s metal entered the picture, and it just wasn’t cool to admit to like music that wasn’t metal. So I kept it hidden that I liked pop music, and new wave, and whatever else I listened to.

And then I discovered The Real Thing. This album was metal. But it was also rap, and jazz. And I loved it. I wore out two cassettes, and have two CD versions. I even have a couple of version on vinyl, even though I don't have a record player! I can still sing along to every track, and can play pretty much all of the guitar parts. This album more than any other took me out of my shell, and this is when I stopped hiding what I listened to, and really just put it out there that I listen to everything. This album also really helped me with what I wrote in my bands. No more trying to write to fit the flavour of the day. If I wrote something thrashy, or poppy, or mellow, or whatever, I just wrote it and presented it to the band. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Album two.

Depeche Mode - Songs Of Faith And Devotion.

Start to finish, one of the best albums ever created. Ever.

That period around 1996 was not a great one for me. There were some good points, but in a very short period, I lost two grandparents and the family dog we had since I was in grade 5. I was a few years out of high school, and was not involved with most of my friends from that era, just sort of drifted out my life. I was thinking about how much I really didn’t enjoy high school at all, and was still sort of aimless when it came to my future. Yeah, I was going to university, and yes I had friends, but I was just not in a great place.

But there was one person I was very close with, and she turned me on to Depeche Mode, and in particular, Songs Of Faith And Devotion. I had been aware of DM, but had never really bothered to listen. The album fit my general frame of mind. It was dark and moody, very retrospective. I think it also helps that SOFAD marked a departure for DM, as it was their first real guitar driven album, made it easier for me to get behind.

Our relationship was never like THAT, but a lot of the meaning of this album for me is centered around the time we had spent together. The correlation between this album and that relationship is more of an overall feeling than a true soundtrack, but the are definitely some lyrical themes that nailed the importance of this to me.

And even though that relationship unfortunately faded and disappeared, this album didn’t and I still listen to it (and DM in general) constantly.

The lyrics now mean more as well. I’ve come to realize that I don’t need to have lived a particularly hard life to relate to the words in a song like Walking In My Shoes. The reality is that my experience in any situation is different than anyone else’s. And maybe in the grand scheme of things I haven’t had a tough life, but it still resonates. Condemnation follows the theme a little, and echoes where I've been since then. At this point in my life, I am who I am, I’m comfortable with the decisions I’ve made, and I accept the consequences of those decisions. Being honest should never require an apology.

 

Wow, deep or what. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, iamsuperdan said:

...Being honest should never require an apology.

Excellent...though it often requires uncommon courage.    

Edited February 22, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[afx]

On 2/19/2022 at 9:00 AM, afx said:

I became aware of Genesis my sophomore year in high school.  And Then There Were Three was released (their first album after Peter Gabriel had left).  Follow You Follow Me was in heavy rotation on the radio.  I bought the album and enjoyed it.  You could say that is the album that changed my life except that I can’t remember when the last time I listened to itJ. It started me on lifetime appreciation of Genesis, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins.  

My best friend at the time became a fan and we began exploring their back catalog together. I saw them live that same year.  Each exposure only increased my enjoyment of their music.

By ’82 I was in college and Peter Gabriel’s Security was released so I bought it on cassette. This is the album that changed my life. I would listen to it in my car when I traveled home for the weekend. 

My favorite way to listen to the album is by myself.   I want to focus fully on the music with no distractions. The album starts with a slow pulse drawing me in from the first note.  The album is full of emotion and intensity.  And the percussion is off the chart, a key ingredient for any great album in my opinion.

The opening track:

 

Les Claypool of Primus likes PG's Security as well.

 

[Mike C.]

The Beat - Wha'ppen? . Known as the English beat here in the states because of legal reasons. I remember constantly listing to this album back in the 80s. there are so many great tracks on this one and the production is really good. This album definitely altered the coarse of my life's musical journey. I still go back and listen to it today.

 

[Mike C.]

The First Six Cocteau Twins albums. They are not for everybody but give them a chance and they may change your life too. Made me realize there is music outside of the Rock N Roll box.

 

[Mike C.]

The Style Council - Confessions of a Pop Group. Whole album is great but this masterpiece particularly helped get me through a bad breakup. 

 

[Mike C.]

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless.  After I discovered their first major release Isn't Anything I picked up the last MBV record and it was another one of those albums that made me want to start a band.