There's a current trend on Instagram (@KMMReviews if you want to follow me) where people are outlaying the 9 albums that changed their life, it's a pretty cool trend and I feel like I already know so much about these people just from what they're picking. I'm seeing Black Sabbath albums a lot which is quite surprising and then there's a ton of Beatles and Stones which is unsurprising. I've already done my Instagram post but here's a more in-depth explanation of my 9...
Tame Impala – Currents
This album changed my life for so
many reasons, the main one being that it’s the reason this blog exists. The
first time I listened to Currents I was blown away, I was constantly searching
for new music and I stumbled across Tame Impala, I understand that they were
already very famous but I’d never really ventured into this genre. Kevin
Parker’s knack for creating funk induced heaven is something I haven’t pulled
away from ever since.
So after hearing ‘The Less I Know The Better’ I loaded up
Spotify and immediately put on the album, songs like ‘I’m A Man’ and 'Let It Happen' really blew me away which led to me exploring their back catalogue. But I felt
such a strong pull towards the album I wanted to write about it, so I started
KMMReviews and it’s all been uphill from there. So thank you Tame Impala for
inspiring me to do this.
Cabbage – Young, Dumb & Full of…
I saw something on
Instagram the other day, from a person who was incredibly salty about the 9
albums that changed my life trend. They said that an album can’t introduce or
make you a fan of a genre. I completely, wholeheartedly disagree. Cabbage’s
collection of EPs made me a fan of punk, they taught me that it was about wit,
humour and truth. That it isn’t all just ‘viva la revolution’ some of it is
just poking fun at the obscurities of society. This is one of my favourite
albums of all time and it made me realise and understand punk and for that I
will never forget this album.
Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m
Not
An album that introduced me to one of my favourite artists of all time,
and admittedly I jumped on the Arctic Monkeys bandwagon SO late! AM was just
about to be released and I was really digging the singles so I thought I’d
check out their earlier stuff, but what I found was so different! Arctic
Monkeys are one of the most polarising, genre-defying bands of the past 20
years and it’s quite clear in their discography. We’re just waiting for album
6, and lord knows if that’s ever going to happen.
Depeche Mode – Violator
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A life changer in the fact that it
introduced me to synth-pop and contains one of my favourite songs of all time,
‘Enjoy The Silence’. Violator is one of the most complete, wholesome records
I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. It’s quite clear that the
drug-fuelled dark state that Depeche Mode were stuck in at the time led to some
of their greatest, darkest music but unfortunately also meant their health
deteriorated. There’s a few classics on this record though including ‘Personal
Jesus’ and ‘Sweetest Perfection’. Depeche Mode are now one of my favourite bands, and my
most-owned artist on vinyl. So if anyone has any Depeche Mode records they’re
thinking of getting rid of then I’m your guy!
The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
When I first listened to
this album I’d never really heard anything like it, the music was so happy and
joyous yet the lyrics were polarizing and depressing. It was something that
confused me upon first listen, as Morrissey introduced me to astounding irony
and sarcasm with punk-like undertones and a clear distaste for the monarchy. Whilst I don’t share their views on the monarchy, I barely
even care about it, it’s needless to say that this album is perfect. It’s
rightfully took its place as a classic and it’s some of the best work to ever
come out of the 80s. Which was the real beginning of my delve into 80s music,
synth-pop, classic rock etc… A life changer in that aspect.
Oasis – Definitely Maybe
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I can’t help but feel that this
album defined my late teens, when I first learned to drive I had this CD in my
car and it didn’t leave for about a year so I’d listen to it every day to and
from college. There isn’t a song on here I don’t like, and every song takes me
back to different times in my life. Some things good, some things bad.
Shakermaker isn’t the greatest song but it’s listenable, and I’ve heard worse.
This was a decade defying album and some 20 years later it defined a decade for
me as well. This album is much better than What’s The Story don’t @ me.
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
If I had to pick a favourite album of
all time then it would definitely be this. I just can’t pick a fault with this
album, I genuinely adore everything about it. As for the reason it changed my
life, well, how could your favourite album not change your life it shapes your
music taste and moulds you into a different person. There was a period of time
where I was borderline obsessive over this album, listening to it at least once
a day. Also, who doesn’t love playing air piano to ‘Runaway’, one of the most
beautifully inspiring songs ive ever heard.
David Bowie – Hunky Dory
Hunky Dory made me a Bowie fan,
it was the first album of his I ever listened to and it was the first album I
listened to after the tragic news of his death. For me, this album is textbook
Bowie it contains some of his biggest hits and some of the more obscure tracks.
I very nearly put Ziggy Stardust in this place, but if I had to take one to a
desert island it would be Hunky Dory. A classic by all accounts, music that
could never be recreated.
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City
This was the
first concept album I ever really inwardly digested and understood. I felt a
deep compassion for the characters during the album from the outright
bragadocious ‘Backseat Freestyle’ to the emotional ‘Real’ this was Kendrick
stamping his mark on the game, showing that there was a new kid on the block
and looking back now it’s easy to see how he’s become the megastar he is.
Lyricism, beats, flow it’s all on show here and I’ll fight for it’s right to be
placed above To Pimp A Butterfly any day. (I do prefer TPAB just in case you
come for me with pitchforks).