Albums that Made Me
Growing up, my parents didn’t really play music at home. This meant that my music education came from two places: recording the Top 40 off the radio on a Sunday afternoon, and stealing my sister's punk CDs. My music taste pretty much still fits in those two categories: punk, pop-punk, and pop. Oh, and soundtracks. Basically, if I can sing along to it, if I can dance to it, and if the lyrics mean something, then I will probably like it. I thought it would be tough to make a list of five albums I love, but in fact cutting my list back to just five was the hard part! So, with that, let's get into the five albums that made me!
…And Out Come The Wolves, Rancid.
Starting off strong with an album that I “borrowed” so often from my sister she ended up just letting me have it. This is, in my opinion, Rancid’s best album. Full of songs that you can’t help but dance to, and lyrics that hit me everytime I hear them, this album really made me fall in love with punk as a genre. You can hear the love for the music in each song, as well as dealing with many emotional and painful topics such as addiction, loss and breaking up with a partner.
I saw Rancid on their most recent tour last year, and even 30 years after this album came out, their set was still full of hits from this classic.
Top songs: Time Bomb, Ruby Soho and The Wars End
Blackout, Dropkick Murphys.
I couldn’t make this list without an album from Dropkick Murphys. Picking just one was tough though! I think DKM are the band I’ve seen the most live. I’m not sure exactly, but it’s been more than 10 times at least, including a couple times where I have been lucky enough to get up on stage with the band! Dropkick Murphys became more of a household name with their song I’m Shipping Up To Boston featured on the 2006 movie, The Departed. Regardless of the popularity of that song, Blackout remains my favourite album. I love the Irish folk inspiration, the ‘working man’ support and again, every song I can sing along to!
Top songs: Worker’s Song, Fields of Athenry and The Dirty Glass
American Idiot, Green Day
Yet another one where I had to include the band, but picking just one album was tough! I was going to go with Nimrod; Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) is one of my all time favourite songs. But, I saw Green Day on tour for American Idiot, and that experience has really stuck with me. Green Day is much more pop-punk, with most people having heard of them or know their music. I love that they keep the political undertones that punk is known for- and American Idiot is an album that really sums up their political feelings. I also love how this album tells a story- if you listen to it through in order.
Top songs: Jesus of Suburbia, Wake Me Up When September Ends and Whatsername
Power to Play, McFly
I used to like McFly as a teen, but I probably wouldn’t have classed them as a top band of mine. However, when the members started doing more on socials and reality TV, I started to love them, for themselves and their personalities. So when they released Power to Play, an album that was four friends making music that they love, rather than to sell records- I was sold, and am now unashamedly a mega-fan. I love that this is an album that the band have clearly wanted to make for years. The songs are mature, addressing what it is like to be a 30-something- you have Honey I’m Home that is written with a spouse in mind, compared to I’m Fine, that speaks to me as someone in their 30s without the marriage and kids!
Top Songs: Where Did All the Guitars Go?, I’m Fine, and Forever’s Not Enough
The Greatest Showman soundtrack, cast
Ok, we need a story-time here. I used to work as a travel agent, and in the travel industry January is the busiest time. It was common for someone to come in on their day off, just to close that sale. Because January was so intense, in my store we used to have a song or album that we played every morning to pump us up and get us energized for the day ahead. In January 2018, that album was The Greatest Showman, specifically This Is Me. This album reminds me of so many amazing times with friends. I still use This Is Me to hype myself up- it has been the song I’ve listened to before every interview in the last 6 years, before speaking at conferences, before going into important meetings- anything where I need a boost of confidence.
Top Songs: This is Me, Rewrite the Stars, The Other Side
Honorable Mentions (because picking just 5 was HARD!)
Divide, Ed Sheeran- another STA Travel January album that has great memories for me
Enema Of The State or Take Off Your Pants And Jacket , Blink 182. Can’t pick between these two
The War on Errorism, NOFX- another very political punk album that I love
Fight The Good Fight, The Interrupters- female vocalist and punk? Yes please!
Across the Universe soundtrack- some of the best versions of Beatles songs ever. I said what I said!
Hot Fuss, The Killers - I’m that age where every night included at least one play of Mr Brightside, so this has to be here!
Californication, Red Hot Chili Peppers- Scar Tissue and Californication on the same album? It’s always going to be a hit!
Nevermind, Nirvana - the pain in Kurt Cobain's voice always gets me, so it has to be on here.
Pennybridge Pioneers, Millencolin- a 2000’s classic, this was on repeat in my school years.
From Here to Infirmary, Alkaline Trio- because I had to be that emo kid that liked bands the other emo kids hadn’t heard of.
