Favorite Music

This list is in no particular order. It is not a list of albums I think have influenced the evolution of music the most, it’s a list of albums that influence me the most. This is the music that most touches my soul. – Nick

Dark Little Rooms “Foolish Beauty” – I love this album! It is completely written and recorded by my friend Scott Crowder. This is the kind of record you play when you are alone and want to engage in the music being heard. It’s headphone music.  It is captivating with layer upon layer of musical creativity. You cannot take it all in during one listen. Every time you listen to the album, you pick up on more and more. A local review in Bootleg magazine used words like these to describe the album: creative expression, organic, experimental, complex, not easily forgotten, multi-layered, surprisingly stark, positively difficult, challenging to the ear, moody and reflective.

MUTEMATH “Mutemath” - Maybe the best word to describe this band is “colorful”. They are not afraid to experiment with all kinds of ideas, and they are good at it! This whole album is just dripping with creativity! I’d like to call it “ear candy”! It’s very energetic, and I find that when I listen to it, I just can’t help but get excited. There is passion behind the music, and the melodies are fresh without growing old with several repeat listens. Mutemath have truly raised the bar. Also, their live DVD, Flesh And Bones: Electric Fun, is incredible! Amazing live band!

Radiohead “In Rainbows“ – By now, Radiohead’s place in this world is pretty well known. Their influence in the alternative music scene is undeniable. They have redefined the box, and now, as veterans of the art, their challenge is to keep that box interesting. With In Rainbows, the band has achieved that goal! It is a beautiful album, a perfected combination of their own created atmosphere of sound from OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief. In many ways, it is their most accessible album to date, but don’t call it a sellout, because it is far from that! I relate it to the best of Jackson Pollock’s paintings. It’s abstract art. It’s beautiful. It’s both simple and complex at the same time. And the album is incomplete without the so called bonus disc that goes along with it!

Gorillaz “Demon Days” - It wasn’t until I saw this album reinterpreted in it’s live form that I truly came to appreciate it. It cannot be tied down or pigeonholed in to any one particular genre. It borrows elements from all across the board and molds them into quite the masterpiece! It’s Electronic, R&B, Alternative, Rock, Gospel, Orchestra and World music. It can be quite cartoonish and comical, and it can be very deep and thought provoking. Gorillaz is fronted by Damon Albarn (of Blur), and is the highlight of his career thus far. If you like the album, I can’t recommend enough that you should see the DVD Gorillaz-Demon Days Live.

The National “Boxer” - I should first mention that this album must go hand in hand with it’s predecessor, Alligator. These two albums together create a powerhouse of beautiful alternative rock. Sure, Boxer may be a dark, mellow, low key album, but it is driven by drum beats that are truly unique. One review I read said that the drums “chisel the melody”, and that couldn’t be more true. The rest of the music is made up of a perfect mixture of piano, guitar, bass, strings, horns, and Matt Berninger’s low, baritone voice. Boxer manages to be dark and sad without being gloomy or depressing. And if Boxer is too mellow for your liking, Alligator will probably make up for it, as it has a little more energy and driving rock songs.

PJ Harvey “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea” - PJ Harvey can rock with the best of them! Her songs are edgy and her voice is amazing! Previously to this album, her music was dark, maybe even gothic, and heavy. On Stories, PJ brightens up and shines, while still keeping her edge. The music is more layered and atmospheric than before, and there are some really beautiful songs in addition to the driving rock songs. Some of the stand out tracks to me are A Place Called Home, One Line, This Mess We’re In (duet with Thome Yorke of Radiohead), You Said Something, Kamikaze, and This Is Love. These recordings sound so good! I love the mix in this album. There are many days when I listen to this album, and I could swear it must be the best thing ever recorded!

Coldplay “A Rush Of Blood To The Head” – When I first heard Clocks, I thought I had heard the best song ever written. I love all of Coldplay’s albums. However, this one transformed how I look at music. The music is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. It’s one of those albums that will stick with me my whole life. It’s one of those albums that I feel. It entrances me. With this album, and with Parachutes before it, Coldplay made a huge impact on popular music, so much so that by the time they put out X&Y the bands music didn’t sound all that fresh anymore. X&Y was a great album, but Viva La Vida was a welcome change in style for the band, and probably my second favorite. Rush Of Blood was not only fresh for the time, it has held its ground and stands high above its peers.

My Morning Jacket “Z” - Bold, Ambitious & Powerful! My Morning Jacket do not hold back on this one. This is one of those gems that I just don’t know how I previously lived without. I’ll admit that I didn’t get this record at first. I owned it for several months before I really gave it a serious listen, and when it hit me, it felt Good! This album grabs hold of everything in me. There is no holding my attention while this is playing! MMJ moved farther from their alt country sound and embraced more of an indie/alternative rock direction. Many of the songs start off subtle and build into something truly epic! The keys and guitars complement each other wonderfully (as well as Jim James powerful vocals. Many of the songs have a wonderful beat. My favorite songs are It Beats 4 U, Gideon, Off The Record, Anytime & Lay Low. Also, the Okonokos DVD shows off this bands incredible live energy and tallent.

Wilco “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” - Repeatedly considered a classic on the Indie market, Jeff Tweedy (and company) created his masterpiece with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Let the labels come as they may: creative, experimental, artsy, indie rock, alt country, pop, rock, light, heavy, quiet, noisy, warm, cold, subtle, in your face….all are true, and all make this album what it is. Listening to this record is an experience, and an enjoyable one at that! Every song was well written and well executed. It’s a record that makes you want to sing along. The songs are catchy without being to simple. You don’t get sick of it after a few listens. It only gets better with time!

MORE TO COME…