Computerwelt and Remain In Light, both from 1981, set a standard for what music would become. They’re the future before the future had arrived - looping arrangements, repeating sounds, aiming for a very “assembled” type of music.

And yet, they’re captivating for me for being so far removed from what modern music has become at the same time. These albums aren’t assembled in a DAW, they’re entirely crafted in the analogue world, almost perfect but imperfect. They’re great albums from a songwriting perspective anyway, but I always wonder if the fact they spawn from this exact moment in time is what makes them so perfect for me.

The other is The Sophtware Slump by Grandaddy. This one is harder to explain, if you try to break it down it isn’t hugely experimental, influential, groundbreaking or even that popular in the wider sense. But something about it is so utterly of its time and timeless at the same time.

And, maybe it’s just the people I know, but I have friends and family who remember and cherish this album. You could play someone certain tracks and they might enjoy them, but something about putting all the tracks together and listening to the album just creates that classic special journey.

Interested in what other albums have special meaning for people, even if they’re not entirely sure why.

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[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Speaking of David Byrne (yes, Remain in Light is brilliant), Uh-Oh is such a masterpiece. Catchy upbeat tunes, with some of the darkest most cynical lyrics, while being very progressive at the same time (the opening track is a celebration of being transgender - in 1992!). I've listened to it thousands of times and am still not tired of it. Sometimes I'll listen just for George Porter Jr's bass lines.

[–] remington@beehaw.org 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

IMO there are too many to list here. Some honorable mentions are R.E.M. - Murmur, The Stone Roses, The Cure - The Head on the Door.

[–] GoOnASteamTrain@lemmy.ml 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Automatic for the people and Murmur for me are two R.E.M albums I'd want anywhere at any time, so special :)

[–] remington@beehaw.org 0 points 9 months ago

Yeah. Automatic is an incredible album.

[–] Zozano@aussie.zone 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Artist: Of Mice and Men

Album: The Flood

Genre: Metalcore

Year: 2011

Why I love it:

This album is fucking angry. Other bands/albums are heavier, but none feel as fucking pissed. Even The Calm intro song doesn't sound as calm as it should, it feels off...

The into song it leads into, The Storm, is so personal, and you can hear Austin's (the singer) voice break from getting choked up during the recording.

It somehow keeps it up throughout the album, it feels so polished and raw at the same time.

[–] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Highway Companion.

Its not Tom Petty's finest. Noted. But that doesn't matter for me. I was going through alot at the time. I came back from tour 2 in Afghanistan, was struggling to cope with what I'd been through and just lost. I would get in my wrangler, take the doors and top off, and just drive. For hours. The album had released for about a year but times were so messesld up for me that I missed releases or concerts for most music I used to listen to. I was just checked out from the things I loved. So one day when I saw this at the PX I grabbed it. It just hit me at the right time.

It was the only thing I'd play on those drives. Things got better for me and this was the album that was part of that experience. First to recognizing the ills I'd been a part of. Then to healing and buddhism. To trying to be a better human, accepting my past, and building a now that was beyond my self. 20 years later, I still use this when I'm needing to reconnect with the world and myself. Now it's while I am biking or walking, but its the mood and the lack of a destination that make the setting. It really and truly lived up to its name for me, a highway companion on l the freeway that is my life.

[–] HexagonSun@lemmy.zip 0 points 9 months ago

Thanks so much for sharing that

[–] knokelmaat@beehaw.org 0 points 9 months ago

A very different vibe, but

A Grand Don't Come For Free - The Streets

The songs on this album are all good, but as a whole, this is one of my favorite albums ever. I'm not even really into this genre (rap / hiphop...) but the story it tells and the way it delivers is so human and recognizable that it is ingrained in my soul forever.

Life, falling in and out of love, friends, doubts, it is all delivered in such a pure and honest way. The final song is just the cherry on top and has one of the biggest catharsis moments in any music.