The Journey

I thought it might be useful to start by describing how my journey began. My love for music started at an early age. Some of my earliest memories involve listening to my parents records as well as WLS on my Big Bird radio. Both my mother and father love music and I don’t recall too many occasions when there wasn’t music playing in our house. Music has been a key element throughout my entire life, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to reflect on 20 albums that have had the biggest impact. That impact could have been good or bad, but these albums, in some way played a key role in my musical journey.

1 – American Graffiti Soundtrack/Various

According to my mom, I wore out my father’s copy of this double album when I was a little kid. To this day, the movie is one of my all time favorites and I still love the songs found on this soundtrack.

2 – Grease Soundtrack/Various

If you grew up when I did, Grease was definitely the word. I never got my own copy of this soundtrack until I was an adult, but I distinctly remember sneaking into my sister’s room to borrow her cassette.

3 – Thriller/Michael Jackson

 

I was 8 years old when this album was released and it was impossible to escape. Sure, The King of Pop was a freakshow, but this was the first album in my lifetime that was an absolute sensation.

4 – Kilroy Was Here/Styx

Released the same year as Thriller, this is the album where I started to explore the rock side of things. Mr. Roboto is totally lame, yet irresistible, but there are some gems on this album.

5 – 1984/Van Halen

 

This was my introduction to Van Halen as well as heavy metal. More importantly, it was my introduction to the greatest frontman ever, Diamond David Lee Roth. Panama kicks just as much ass today as it did 25 years ago (can you believe that!).

6 – Out Of The Cellar/Ratt

Ratt was the first band that I truly fell in love with. I still think that this is one of the best album covers of all time. Since its release I have probably owned at least 3 copies of this album. Sure, Stephen Pearcy has an awful voice, but somehow it all worked. This band ooozed cool and I still listen to this album on a very regular basis.

7 – Stay Hungry/Twisted Sister

 

Their time in the limelight was brief, but man these guys were hugely popular when this album was released. Their videos had a lot to do with that, but this album kicks ass. Remembered largely for the albums two singles and anthems, it’s the other songs that really help this album stand up in 2009.

8 – Animalize/KISS

Ratt may have been my first love, but compared to these guys it was just a crush. I saw an add for the album that included a shot from the video for Heaven’s On Fire. The second I saw Paul Stanley jump through a ring of fire I had to have this album. Being a KISS fan, in many ways, has defined a large portion of my life. As much as I loved this album in 1984, I now find the second half of the album difficult to listen to.

9 – Unmasked/KISS

This is the album that unfortunately taught me that your heroes can and will undoubtedly let you down. While I didn’t purchase this album upon its initial release, because of #8 I started buying everything with a KISS logo. I remember being completely deflated when I listened to this album. Oddly, Unmasked has crept in and grown on me over the years. Call me an apologist.

10 – Pyromania/Def Leppard

I’ll never forget watching Friday Night Videos on NBC (cable hadn’t made it to Naperville yet) and it seemed like the only two bands they played were Def Leppard and ZZ Top. Lucky for me, I loved both. Pyromania is like the perfect drug. How can you argue with how exceptional this album is? The opening riff to Photograph is amazing and I could listen to that song all day long. The rest of the album kicks ass as well.

11 – Theatre Of Pain/Motley Crue

Nikki Sixx might hate this album, but it’s the one that got me hooked on everyone’s favorite scum bags. If I wasn’t so terrified of needles, I’d consider having this album cover tattooed somewhere on my body. It’s a gorgeous cover and I still love the album.

12 – Rocks/Aerosmith

Permanent Vacation was my first Aerosmith album, but this is the one that left me speechless. They were truly dialed in (and tuned up) on this album. The guitar solo on Rats In The Cellar is mind boggling.

13 – Appetite For Destruction/Guns N’ Roses

Released in 1987 at the peak of hair metal’s popularity, this album proved that there was substance on the Sunset Strip. I wasn’t immediately hooked, but once I heard the opening chords to Paradise City I was a fan for life.

14 – MC94/Motley Crue (Corabi Crue)

This album proved to me that life does indeed go on. I couldn’t comprehend Motley without Vince Neil. Then I heard this album. If I could keep just one album for the rest of my life, this just might be the one. Crazy? Perhaps, but even crazier is when people call this grunge. At the end of the day I prefer my Motley Crue with Vince Neil, but this is one of heavy metals unspoken gems.

15 – The Dirty Boogie/The Brian Setzer Orchestra

One of my favorite albums of the 90’s, Brian Setzer proved to me that there is life beyond metal. A completely underrated guitarist, on this album Setzer is the definition of cool.

16 – Buckcherry/Buckcherry

Long before Crazy Bitch, this bands debut album was released in 1999 and restored my faith in heavy metal/hard rock. In 1999 I was totally amazed that someone could still write a riff like Lit Up.

17 – Spend The Night/The Donnas

In the New Millenium no album has received more of my attention than this one. Loaded with cool riffs and catchy choruses I could listen to this album every day.

18 – Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack/Various

I love the movie, so it stands to reason that I love the songs as well (since they were such a huge part of the movie). Sure, disco isn’t really “music”, but man are these some kick ass, fun tunes.

19 – Greatest Hits/Journey

If you ever forget how huge these guys were, simply put on this album and you’ll instantly be reminded. I am not typically the biggest fan of greatest hits packages, although I seem to own a lot of them. This one isn’t just about the songs, though, it’s the soundtrack of a generation.

20 – Livin’ It Up/Sammy Hagar

Music’s most durable personality released his greatest album at a point in his career when the good stuff is typically gone. Sammy is a genius because every time I hear this album I feel like uncorking a bottle of his tequila. This album is 100% fun.

Three’s A Charm

So, this is my third shot at a blog. Technically, it’s my fourth if you count the one I share with my wife. I don’ think too many people followed the first two, so I don’t think anyone will be too upset.

I’ve learned a few things along the way. My first blog was primarily about 80′s hair bands and the majority of the content consisted of album reviews. My second blog attempted to broaden horizons a bit. The focus expanded to music beyond those 80′s hair bands and the content was a tad more editorial. What I learned is that I truly enjoy writing album reviews. I also learned that the music that means the most to me is and always will be the music I grew up with. So why the change to a new blog? Why not revert back to my original blog about hair bands? While much of the content may be about those bands, I don’t want to limit my blog to one decade or genre of music. I want the freedom to discuss any genre of music. I also learned something interesting about album reviews. I think you really need to “live” with an album for a while before you can truly write an honest review. Some albums don’t hold up over time while others take a while to grow on you. Either way, I’ve found that reviewing an album as soon as it’s released may not yield the most accurate results.

I’m also a bit of an organizational freak (just ask my wife). Rather than re-tool one of my first two blogs, I wanted to start fresh. That being said, a lot of the content will come from my first two blogs, but there will be plenty of new posts as well. I’m hoping that all of the content offers a perspective of music that many of you can relate to. Let’s get started, shall we?