30 albums that changed my life

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March 26, 2012 by Benji

On May 23rd, 2012 I am turning 30 years old, or as my wife says “he is finally freaking 30!” As I think about what that means, I have been reflecting about the people, places and things that have shaped me.  I want to share some of those things with you. Music is obviously an important part of my life, so I decided to start with the 30 albums that changed my life. The way I picked these albums was that they changed the way I thought and felt about music. These are the albums that are ingrained in my head, and I love every note.  I couldn’t put them in order of importance; that would be impossible, so I went with alphabetical. Also, there were a number of bands that I wanted to put multiple albums up for but decided not to do so because I wanted diversity. The Grateful Dead is the only exception. I felt that the diversity between the two albums I chose proved my point.  Let me know your thoughts, I would love to hear what you think of anything I am introducing you.

• Allman Bros – Live at the Fillmore East – They taught me what listening to the other people in the band is like. They play intricate musical parts, and then all move in different directions together.
• Blind Faith (then again as the deluxe edition) – This is one of the albums I learned to play bass to.
• Blues Traveler – Four – Harmonica solos; nuff said.
• Bob Dylan – Desire – Like Neil Young , there are too many songs that have moved me. But this album spoke to me completely the first time I heard it. It’s ingrained in my mind.
• Brett Dennen – Hope for the Hopeless – great music, great song writing. Wonderful modern love songs.
• Disco Biscuits – Senor Boombox – I didn’t get their live material, until I heard what they did in the studio, then it all made sense!
• Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape – I listened to this album hundreds of times on the way to and from school. It captured me every time.
• Gov’t Mule – Dose – When I heard Allen Woody play bass, I was ready to learn how to play. Thorazine Shuffle is a song I wish I had written.
• Grateful Dead – Terrapin Station – The day I heard this album for the first time I listened to it on repeat for about a week. The movement, the instrumentals, the vocals… it highlights the width of their musical capabilities. It’s all perfect.
• Grateful Dead – Workingman’s Dead – This album is perfect for the opposite reason. It’s simple, acoustic and classic.
• Green Day – Dookie – This was the first album I ever bought.
• Jay Z – MTV Unplugged – I was a fan of some R & B / Rap, but this album reminded me that there are real musicians involved in that genre. Jay Z and The Roots KILL it at this show. No flash and flare, just great music.
• Jimi Hendrix – Blues – This is not his well-known material… but it’s the buttery blues Jimi loved!
• Muddy Mississippi Waters – Live – Another Album I learned to play the bass to. This blues moves me every time I hear it.
• Pearl Jam – Ten – This album was the calling card of my high school years. Every song made me wave my fists.
• Peter Himmelman – Skin – Not a  well-known album. This is a well written concept album that is extremely emotional. It hits me every time I hear it.
• Phish – Junta – This is their 1st album. It’s their  1st that I heard. I was never the same after hearing this album.
• Pink Floyd – Animals – This is not the album people think of when they think of Floyd, but it’s spectacular! Every note is well thought out and intentional. Don’t listen to the songs… listen to the album!
• Rage Against the Machine – I was pretty angry when this album came out. This album helped me vocalize with a little bit of eloquence (and head banging).
• Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet – Like Working Man’s Dead, this album showcases the band’s ability to write great, simple, acoustic music. By far my favorite Stones album.
• Rush – Exit Stage Left – Do I really need to explain this one?
• Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream – This was some of the first grunge music I heard. It was like getting kicked in the head… I loved it!
• String Cheese Incident – Carnival 99 – SCI’s version on Take 5 on this album is life changing. The rest of the album compliments it perfectly.
• The Band – Before the Flood – The Band and Dylan doing their thing the way they love it.
• The Eels – Daisies of the Galaxy – I needed happy music at this point in my life. That’s why this album was written by Mr. E . we were on the same page at the time period.
• The Who – Tommy – I assume this is on everyone’s top list.
• Umphreys McGee – Local Band Does Oklahoma – This album introduces their fusion of their Shredding Rock and Jamtronica – I am a junkie for it! Also the 1st album I heard from them.
• Wes Montgomery – the Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery – Wes’s octave plays, and solo styles introduced me to a jazz form that enthralled me.  D-Natural Blues may be the best Jazz song ever written.
• Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti – This album has music, instrumentals, solos, movement and passion. All the Zeppelin albums have that. PG is different. It was like they sold their souls again to get a fresh batch of inspiration.

* Neil Young –there is no one album, but songs like Cortez, Beautiful Bluebird, from Hank to Hendrix, Needle and the Damage Done, Down by the River and so many others did it for me. Truth is, it’s the Neil Young Discography!

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