My 10 All Time Favorite Albums

10. The Beach Boys - SMiLE (1967)

The only reason this isn't #1 is because it's not technically an album. This was Brian Wilson's follow up to Pet Sounds, an attempt to out-do the Beatles' Revolver and Sgt Pepper. Long story short, he crumbled under the pressure and this album was never completed. After months of anticipation and buildup with quotes such as this one from Dennis Wilson: "Smile is so good it makes Pet Sounds suck." This would have been the ultimate album, possibly the best of all time. It consisted of 3 medleys, a total of around 17 songs, weaved together as a rock opera.

Instead, the project was scrapped. The Beatles had Brian Wilson outnumbered 4 against 1. Even some in his own band lined up against him. Wilson then went into a deep depression and refused to get out of bed for nearly 2 years. The Beach Boys and Wilson would never fully recover. All we are left with are bootlegs scotch taped together only giving us a taste of what this album could have been. Even with what we're left with, it is the most innovative music I have ever heard given the era it was created.

9. For The Crown - Blueprint

This is kind of an interesting choice, the only of it's genre in my list. In fact, they were for the most part the only hardcore band that I really got into. There was just something about them that struck a chord with me, somehow creating melodic hardcore without losing it's "in your face" feel. I have never heard a hardcore album quite like it and I don't think I ever will. The energy they had at their shows is only comparable to what Set Your Goals had during their pre-Mutiny years. Unfortunately, this album was released just months before they broke up and they never saw the success that could have been. The Bay Area hardcore scene has never been the same since they called it quits in 2003.

8. MxPx - Ever Passing Moment

I might as well get the interesting choices out of the way. For whatever reason, this album has stuck with me since I first heard it freshman year of high school. Although I don't listen to it much anymore, it is still one of the best pop-punk albums I have heard. This was released right before the big pop-punk explosion thanks to Blink 182. This album is very Blink-ish, obviously heavily influenced by Dude Ranch and Enema of the State. This band's only downfall with me is that they could very easily be classified as Christian-punk. Many of their lyrics are very faith-based. Not really my thing, but I've always paid more attention to music and melody than lyrics.

7. +44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating

This album doesn't really need much explaining. If you know me, you know why this album made this list. It basically defined my style during the 00's. Mark Hoppus has been one of my heroes probably for the last 10 years. If it wasn't for +44, I'm not sure if I ever would have gotten into the Matches which is a story in itself. Hell, I may not have ever gotten into Pet Sounds either, as Mark would always comment how before he writes an album, he always goes back to listen to Pet Sounds for inspiration.

I don't think I had ever anticipated an album's release more than this. The reason it's not higher on my list is the fact that I don't think, musically, it was anything that moving. I did appreciate hearing Mark and Travis work together for the first time without the Tom influence, especially during a very interesting point in their lives. Although Blink is back together, I wouldn't mind another album or two from them since Tom is continuing AVA anyway. Maybe make it their ambitious side project like it was meant to be.

6. The Matches - A Band in Hope

I really believe that this may be one of the most ambitious albums ever released by a Bay Area "pop-punk" group. I say that because, as ambitious as Decomposer was, they attempted to get even more original, or weird you could say despite how poorly Decomposer did sales-wise. There are some creative gems on this including Darkness Rising, From 24C, and Proctor Rd that blew my mind. It's too bad that they never made it "big time." These guys are as original and creative as it gets in their genre, if you can put them in one, and it's a shame that the mainstream music industry doesn't reward more bands like these. We would have access to a whole lot of better music than most of the bullshit we have now.

5. Green Day - Dookie

This album really speaks for itself. If you are a pop-punk fan, this should be your bible. This album was released in 1994, and the amount of albums that are created nearly 2 decades later still try to replicate this sound. And they're from the East Bay to put the cherry on top.

4. The Matches - Decomposer

I had a really hard time deciding where to place this and A Band in Hope. They very easily could switch spots. But I decided to put this one at #4 because this is the album that got me into them. I don't really think I can put into words how much the Matches have influenced me in so many aspects. However this wasn't an album that I loved the first time I listened to it. It really took me probably close to a year before I really appreciated it from beginning to end. I really miss this band, RIP. But Maniac is coming...

3. Blink 182 - Dude Ranch

It's amazing to see how many pop-punk albums are in my top 10 considering I don't really listen to that style much anymore. But hands down this is my favorite pop-punk album of all time. From the first time I listened to it, to this very day, this album does it for me every time. It brings back memories of happy, innocent, fun, exciting teenage years, which may be part of why I love it. Although this was released 3 years after Dookie, it is still one of the monumental pieces of pop-punk today.

2. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

One of the best albums of all time. Probably the best. This album was created as an answer to The Beach Boys Pet Sounds. Sir George Martin himself said "If it wasn't for Pet Sounds, Sgt Pepper would never had happened." To this day, there has been nothing even close to rival the innovation or the impact it had on music. And I don't think there ever will. We've now gone over 40 years since this album has been released and we have unfortunately done nothing but regressed.

1. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

It's intersting to me to see the domino effect that these very difference artists and albums had on me as I make this list. Obviously, this was the album I was referring to in my introduction. Brian Wilson is just an amazing songwriter and producer, one of the best ever. Only rivaled by the Beatles. This album completely changed the way I view music. Anything I had heard before might as well had been thrown out the window. I'm not sure if I have gone back to anything I had listened to before since hearing it. Very few exceptions. I mean, this album got me into the Beatles for Christ sake. What else needs to be said?

#1 and 2 probably deserve a better caption than what I gave them but I am just exhausted from making this. David, I understand why it is taking you so long to make your list. Here are a few other albums worth noting that nearly made the list: Beatles - Revolver, Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, Fighting Riley - Prelude to an End, Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American, Gunsmoke - Ultraviolet Catastrophe, Set Your Goals - Mutiny

The (only) Album

When I saw my friend post that he was going to compile his top 10 favorite albums of all time, I thought there is no way I could ever make my own list. There are just too many albums that I like, too many I haven't heard. It's just almost impossible to rank them let alone choosing just 10. But the idea intrigued me so much that it's all I've been thinking about. And David, sorry I beat you to the punch but you were taking just way too long. But first, a note about The Album:

When I first started to be able to buy my own music, it was the beginning of the "file sharing" age. I had bought probably a couple dozen albums before I discovered the phenomenon. I admit, I had bought the majority of the albums due to a song or two that I had come across on MTV or the radio. I would always go straight to whatever track that I knew and, if I was lucky, get to like a few of the others. Once I had started to tap into this wonderful technology of being able to create your own mix on a CD-R, and download songs for free, I basically completely stopped buying music. There was no need for me to buy Enema of the State when I can just download What's My Age Again and All the Small Things for free. I probably went 4 years without buying a single album with the exception of a few local band demos.

Then something changed. And thank Christ it did. What exactly led to it, I'm not quite sure. Maturity, knowledge, experience, the FCC, a combination, who knows. But as soon as I tore off the packaging and stuck that circular piece of plastic into my stereo and the sound of those ethereal guitars hit my ear drums, my perspective of music completely changed. I hate to sound so emotastic but it also changed my life. (see #1)

Ever since, I no longer judge music or a band by listening to just one song. I have to listen to the whole CD, starting with track 1, and play it all the way through to the end to really understand the artist and their music. Only the really good musicians understand the importance of the album and are able to manipulate the styles and the structures of each song to piece them together for a larger being. It's almost like putting together an audio puzzle.

Now, I don't even remember the last time I downloaded a song for free. I very rarely even download albums off iTunes. I appreciate the thought and time that went into creating the tangible piece you pay for. Unfortunately, with technology being what it is, the importance of "The Album" in the mainstream market is diminishing. I do love my iPod, but I feel the younger generation is missing out on the greater whole thanks to it's capabilities. Shuffle, 2 songs per artist, custom playlists, etc.

With that being said, this list is not a necessarily what I think are the best albums of all time. A couple of them are, but these are just my personal favorites.

Ego Death

Due to unpopular demand, I give you 50 Altered States. 50 states of what is altered? I do not know. It's not even an original title. According to many, nothing is original anymore, which is why I proceeded with caution before creating this travesty. As much as I completely disagree with the assumption that artistically speaking, there are no new or original ideas that can be conceived anymore, I prove myself wrong with this very blog.

Don't get me wrong, I really did want to make a blog. I have many opinions that I want to share with (apparently very few) those who care. I am a very critical person which will be the driving force behind my subjects. Yet I am just as critical of myself as I am of everyone and everything. Follow me as I continue the fight with my biggest critic.