Your top 3 most important/influential albums :)

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Mechanical Animals is great, you are aware of the story behind the trilogy Antichrist Superstar-M.A.-Holy Wood I assume? The albums are each a chapter in a story.

I adore A Perfect Circle. Brena is one of the greatest lovesongs of all time. Love The Hollow, Magdalena, Three Libras, Orestes, ... too. I wish Maynard would ditch that silly Puscifer thing and focus on Tool and APC instead.



My top 3... Not an easy one but here goes:

1. THE GOD MACHINE - Scenes from the second storey

The intensity, the complexity of the music, how familiar the lyrics sound, the layers of sound and noise structures that makes you discover something new each time you listen to it... This album equals perfection and it motivated me to go perform myself (with poetry, but it did inspire me enough to overcome stage fears). Tracks that stand out: Purity, Dream Machine, I've seen the Man, Out, Ego, It's all over

2. ORPHANED LAND - Mabool

Conceptually one of the most daring and brilliant albums ever, the balance between metal and Middle Eastern music is perfect, the story is very metaphorically but the complexity makes it more interesting to dig into the meaning of this album. Orphaned Land was one of the reasons why I got interested in Israel, and by now (years later) it's my big dream to move to Israel. In a way, Orphaned Land was the first flirt of what became a serious fascination with Israel that has never faded ever since. Also, I study Hebrew, and this bands' songs in Hebrew have made me realise how beautiful this language really is. No surprise that in general I like their songs sung in Hebrew and Arabic best, although a lot of their English language songs are amazing too.

3. ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - Ocean Rain

The album is as pure, mysterious, dark yet sparkling as the picture on the sleeve. The album is bombastic without going too far, dark new-wave like songs occur amidst more poppy songs and more orchestral songs, the lyrics of some songs are highly poetic too, and the title track is an absolute highlight that sounds even better live than on record.

Hmmm...

There is Stain by Living Colour.
It was their third album, and it was their last album before their mid-90s break-up (they have since reformed and released new material). At the time, it was arguably their darkest and most experimental piece of work. It features a lot of angry riffs, distorting sound effects, and generally pessimistic lyrics. I don't like every track on it, but I find it's an album that has a distinct theme and feel from start to finish. I love it, and it really resonated with me when I was going through my more apathetic period.

Then there's Everybody Got Their Something by Nikka Costa. It has a couple of optimistic songs on it, like the title track, there are also a couple of darker songs. I like Nikka's voice in general, though I know it's an acquired taste. I played this album a lot after I felt I was at the end of the road and didn't know what the heck to do next with my life.

I may think of a third album some time later. Can't figure it out right now.

Tough one, but here goes.

1. Faith No More - Angel Dust

When FNM released The Real Thing way back in 1989, it caused something of a stir with it's eclectic mix of metal, alternative, hip hop, funk and jazz. But at times there was a cartoonish element that endeared them to so many fans. Angel Dust rejected that aesthetic and ventured into even surreal and often darker territories. Mike Patton cut his hair and his vocals veer from lazy in "RV" to demented screams in "Jizzlobber" and even at times life-affirming in "Land of Sunshine" with "Here's how to order!" putting a smile on my face. It's an album that stuck by my side when I was going through a tough college transfer 9 years ago, and I still love it to this day.

2. Ministry - Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs

This is one album that simply seethes with creative anger. Guaranteed headache with every track, from the ear-splitting assault of "NWO" to the zany and manic pummelling of "Jesus Built My Hotrod, there's literally no let up at all. I love the audio samples on several songs, it just makes this masterpiece of audio napalm that little bit better.

3. Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse

Mikael Akerfeld and the band may have gone down the more progressive path these days, but 2 decades ago, they were hitting their collective stride. Adding a tragic concept of a man that dies and becomes a ghost, they add natural progression of the seasons to their prog/death sound and are backed up by Akerfeldt's roaring and clean vocals. The riffs and solos are out of this world and the acoustic moments send a chill down my spine. The lyrics embody the tragic theme of the concept and even throw in 2 covers of 2 classic metal tracks. Whenever I feel in a dark mood or want to daydream, i listen to this masterpiece of early Opeth.

The album that started everything for me was Nimrod By Green Day
It introduced me to the world of Music beyond 50's and 60's Music. I became a Green Day fanatic right then.

1. Omens by Jack Hardy
This little known folk singer was the first individual to really get me into music and Omens I still believe is the best example of the sheer intellectual, romantic, and pure human nature of his music. His lyrics still recall a seemingly impossible well of emotion and history to me.
2. Zoot Suit Riot by Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Traveling along similar lines perhaps to the folk music I started out with. This Swing album reveled a life a joy and upbeat attitude all the while addressing some interesting and serious issues. The song Master and Slave has become almost an anthem playing the background of my mind when I find the corporate bourgeoisie acting up.
3. Nevermind by Nirvana
Nirvana in general has become the angry voice of my twenties. Kurt's lyrics bordering between meaning and pointlessness seem at times a decent reflection of startling decay my generation has observed the American Dream go through. Drain You from the Nevermind album has become also become indicative of my experience with relationships at this time in my life.

I have so albums that I like, that's it's hard to pick 3. But I'll give it a shot.

Pink -- Misundastood
This was one of my favorites, when I was in my early 20s or so. More upbeat songs, like "Get this Party Started," got me in the mood to exercise, which is not always an easy thing to get motivated to do. I also liked "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" (not to be confused with Aretha Franklin's song), because it was a song of female empowerment. It was also about expecting respect from men, since so many of them treat women like sex objects. "18 Wheeler" inspired confidence: "You can throw me out the window/I'll just get back up/You can hit me with your 18-wheeler truck/And I won't give a f----/You can run me like a slave/I'll just go underground/You can hit me with your 18-wheeler, but you can't keep me down." I loved that! "Just Like a Pill" and "My Vietnam" helped me get through some tough times.

The Essential Journey (blue cover)
I think the name says it all -- ESSENTIAL! A must-have for all classic rock enthusiasts.

The Stranger -- Billy Joel
My boyfriend bought the gift set for me for Christmas, a couple of years ago. It's cool -- it comes with a CD of the original album, a concert CD, and a concert DVD. But, more important, it's the songs. Our song, "Just the Way You Are," is on it. Because we love each other just the way we are. "The Stranger" is something I can relate to, especially since I had such a hard time growing up and trying to make friends, which is still hard. "Vienna" is much more of a quiet, reflective song. It also makes you actually feel like you're in Vienna, whether you've been there or not (I haven't). I also love "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," especially since my boyfriend and I like to go out for Italian sometimes! It's also a feel-good song, especially the lyric, "Things are OK with me these days..."

Well, that's my top 3.

I really liked "Dear Diary" off that album.

I liked "Dear Diary" too, especially since I used to keep diaries. I also liked "Don't Let Me Get Me," which reminded me of how hard it was for me trying to socialize in school. It was a song about being different, about not being accepted, for not fitting in, which I could relate to.