As I loaded the dishwasher last night, finishing off my final Natty Light of a Friday evening, I decided to tell my Alexa to play 3 Doors Down's "The Better Life" album. It played, start to finish, as I drank beer, cleaned my kitchen, and eventually just relaxed on a barstool listening to the last few tracks. It was, at fewest, the 100th time I've listened to that album from start to finish since I bought it (via the Columbia Record Club because I was THAT GUY) in high school. I got to thinking about the albums that for whatever reasons - love, nostalgia, etc - I can't help but listen to from beginning to end over and over again. I'm not talking about albums that are new and I'm experiencing start to finish for the first time or even those albums that everyone knows are all time classics, worthy of enjoying and savoring as a whole. These are albums that hold a special little place in my heart. Let me tell you about them, in no particular order...
The Better Life - 3 Doors Down
A favorite of mine since high school and the album that started the whole list. It rocks, has some catchy hooks, and perfectly encapsulates the late 90's in all it's angsty glory.
Dizzy Up The Girl - Goo Goo Dolls
One of my first favorite albums, every song on here is great. From huge hits like Iris, Slide, and Black Balloon, to personal favorites like Broadway, Amigone, and Hate This Place, this was the album that got me into my first favorite band and is still totally listenable every time I want to be transported back to 8th grade. (The band's prior album, "A Boy Named Goo," is pretty listenable too.)
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Perhaps the greatest album ever recorded, literally every song on it is great and I may have legit broke my record player by playing this vinyl alone. Besides the eponymous Born to Run, the album includes my all-time favorite song Thunder Road, along with Tenth Avenue Freezeout, Jungleland, Backstreets, and do I really need to go on? This album rules.
Some Mad Hope - Matt Nathanson
My extended album renaissance of the summer of 2009 was punctuated by my purchase of this album on a whim. Initially only a fan of Car Crash, once I listened to this whole album I was addicted to the heartfelt lyrics and simple guitar hooks. Detroit Waves, Gone, Wedding Dress, To The Beat of Our Noisy Hearts, are all addictive and excellent.
Hell Freezes Over - The Eagles
I was initially averse to including any greatest hits or live albums on this list but this one is slightly different and unique enough to warrant inclusion. Four new songs for the reformed Eagles open up the album followed by selections from the band's MTV live session, in somewhat stripped down arrangements. Hotel California is a standout, along with so many great moments like the iconic "this is how it all got started..." into Take It Easy, "we never broke up, we just took a 14 year vacation," and awesome renditions of I Can't Tell You Why and Don Henley's New York Minute.
The Foundation - Zac Brown Band
The first album from the band that singlehandedly opened my eyes to country music features the iconic ode to weekend drinking Chicken Fried along with love songs like Whatever It Is and a cover of Ray LaMontagne's Jolene, along with tailgate-ready anthems like Toes, Different Kind of Fine, and the absurdly wacky Sic Em On A Chicken.
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Completely and utterly epic is this album that launched Coldplay from purveyors of ballads and piano forward breakup songs to uniquely mixed period music interspersed with dance waves and emotional lyrics. I get that there are people who can't stand Coldplay but this album is outstanding and deserves a spot in everyone's collection.
Only By Night - Kings of Leon
For about 6 months I listened to this album constantly, blasting anthems like Sex on Fire and Crawl along with so many amazingly mixed stuff like Closer, Notion, and Revelry. This an expertly made album. Other stuff by Kings of Leon is good but in a different way. This album is perfect in every way. Although I do admit that Use Somebody was way overplayed...and Kings of Leon are a horrible live band
Listener Supported - Dave Matthews Band
I had to include SOMETHING from my all time favorite band on this list and I actually opted for this live album from early in their careers. The DMB live experience is really what makes the band and this show includes all of the best live songs from the era (The Stone; #41; Two Step) from major hits (Crash Into Me; Stay) to covers (All Along the Watchtower; Long Black Veil) to unreleased rarities (#36; Granny.) Listen to this album and see if you come closer "getting" DMB.
Room For Squares - John Mayer
This album dropped at the perfect time in my life and I listened to it incessantly between my junior and senior year of high school. No Such Thing was a huge hit and a great song that I can still listen to. Love Song For No One, Neon, and St. Patricks Day are great unknown songs and even some of the other sort-of overplayed radio hits on the album (Your Body Is A Wonderland, Why Georgia) are still listenable.
Before we sign off, some honorable mentions...
Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
Good, rocking, but occasionally a bit too "scream-based"
The Eminem Show - Eminem
Half of the songs are good and half are bad but the good stuff was great and struck all the right nerves with a high school senior who thought life was kinda tough.
Busted Stuff - Dave Matthews Band
My favorite DMB studio album at the moment (this changes regularly,) probably because it sounds like an underproduced collection of live jams.
Christmas in the Aire - Mannheim Steamroller
My all-time favorite Christmas album features the group's signature renditions of holiday classics and unknown traditional carols. Their first Christmas album is outstanding but this is the one my family wore out when I was a kid.
Throwing Copper - Live
I stole this album off my friend Erik in middle school and still have it. Sorry Erik. But I Alone, All Over You, and Shit Towne are all favorites of mine.
Cracked Rear View - Hootie & The Blowfish
The first album for, like, half of my generation, this album is catchy, classic 90's pop, from a guy who went on to be a pretty big country star. Like, legit, does it get more 90's than Hootie and the friggin Blowfish?
The Better Life - 3 Doors Down
A favorite of mine since high school and the album that started the whole list. It rocks, has some catchy hooks, and perfectly encapsulates the late 90's in all it's angsty glory.
Dizzy Up The Girl - Goo Goo Dolls
One of my first favorite albums, every song on here is great. From huge hits like Iris, Slide, and Black Balloon, to personal favorites like Broadway, Amigone, and Hate This Place, this was the album that got me into my first favorite band and is still totally listenable every time I want to be transported back to 8th grade. (The band's prior album, "A Boy Named Goo," is pretty listenable too.)
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Perhaps the greatest album ever recorded, literally every song on it is great and I may have legit broke my record player by playing this vinyl alone. Besides the eponymous Born to Run, the album includes my all-time favorite song Thunder Road, along with Tenth Avenue Freezeout, Jungleland, Backstreets, and do I really need to go on? This album rules.
Some Mad Hope - Matt Nathanson
My extended album renaissance of the summer of 2009 was punctuated by my purchase of this album on a whim. Initially only a fan of Car Crash, once I listened to this whole album I was addicted to the heartfelt lyrics and simple guitar hooks. Detroit Waves, Gone, Wedding Dress, To The Beat of Our Noisy Hearts, are all addictive and excellent.
Hell Freezes Over - The Eagles
I was initially averse to including any greatest hits or live albums on this list but this one is slightly different and unique enough to warrant inclusion. Four new songs for the reformed Eagles open up the album followed by selections from the band's MTV live session, in somewhat stripped down arrangements. Hotel California is a standout, along with so many great moments like the iconic "this is how it all got started..." into Take It Easy, "we never broke up, we just took a 14 year vacation," and awesome renditions of I Can't Tell You Why and Don Henley's New York Minute.
The Foundation - Zac Brown Band
The first album from the band that singlehandedly opened my eyes to country music features the iconic ode to weekend drinking Chicken Fried along with love songs like Whatever It Is and a cover of Ray LaMontagne's Jolene, along with tailgate-ready anthems like Toes, Different Kind of Fine, and the absurdly wacky Sic Em On A Chicken.
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Completely and utterly epic is this album that launched Coldplay from purveyors of ballads and piano forward breakup songs to uniquely mixed period music interspersed with dance waves and emotional lyrics. I get that there are people who can't stand Coldplay but this album is outstanding and deserves a spot in everyone's collection.
Only By Night - Kings of Leon
For about 6 months I listened to this album constantly, blasting anthems like Sex on Fire and Crawl along with so many amazingly mixed stuff like Closer, Notion, and Revelry. This an expertly made album. Other stuff by Kings of Leon is good but in a different way. This album is perfect in every way. Although I do admit that Use Somebody was way overplayed...and Kings of Leon are a horrible live band
Listener Supported - Dave Matthews Band
I had to include SOMETHING from my all time favorite band on this list and I actually opted for this live album from early in their careers. The DMB live experience is really what makes the band and this show includes all of the best live songs from the era (The Stone; #41; Two Step) from major hits (Crash Into Me; Stay) to covers (All Along the Watchtower; Long Black Veil) to unreleased rarities (#36; Granny.) Listen to this album and see if you come closer "getting" DMB.
Room For Squares - John Mayer
This album dropped at the perfect time in my life and I listened to it incessantly between my junior and senior year of high school. No Such Thing was a huge hit and a great song that I can still listen to. Love Song For No One, Neon, and St. Patricks Day are great unknown songs and even some of the other sort-of overplayed radio hits on the album (Your Body Is A Wonderland, Why Georgia) are still listenable.
Before we sign off, some honorable mentions...
Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
Good, rocking, but occasionally a bit too "scream-based"
The Eminem Show - Eminem
Half of the songs are good and half are bad but the good stuff was great and struck all the right nerves with a high school senior who thought life was kinda tough.
Busted Stuff - Dave Matthews Band
My favorite DMB studio album at the moment (this changes regularly,) probably because it sounds like an underproduced collection of live jams.
Christmas in the Aire - Mannheim Steamroller
My all-time favorite Christmas album features the group's signature renditions of holiday classics and unknown traditional carols. Their first Christmas album is outstanding but this is the one my family wore out when I was a kid.
Throwing Copper - Live
I stole this album off my friend Erik in middle school and still have it. Sorry Erik. But I Alone, All Over You, and Shit Towne are all favorites of mine.
Cracked Rear View - Hootie & The Blowfish
The first album for, like, half of my generation, this album is catchy, classic 90's pop, from a guy who went on to be a pretty big country star. Like, legit, does it get more 90's than Hootie and the friggin Blowfish?
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