nova-writes

[nova-writes]

10 Albums That Made A Lasting Impression During Your Teenage Years

I lived my Teen years (13-19) right in the middle of the Aughts, 2002 through 2008. That was an interesting time for music. Emo revival was just starting and Hardcore bands of the 90′s were starting to figure out what came next for them. I’m sure pop music was doing interesting things, but I was adamantly opposed to pop music as teenage, so there won’t be much of that.

The only Rule™ for this list (because lists need rules), is to use only one Album per Artist/Band. I will also try to go chronologically, but if you’re playing along at home, you make your list however you want. The “Chronogality” (that’s a world, don’t look it up) might get a bit skewed because, as I previously mentioned, I tended to shy away from popular music, so some of the albums didn’t come out during this time frame, it’s just when I discovered them.

On with the list!

2002

Gorillaz - S/T (2001)

Okay, so right out the gate I’m cheating. The brainchild of musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett came out just before I was a teen in 2001. But the virtual band consisting of 2-D, Murdoc, Russel, and Noodle illustrated by Hewlett was one of the first bands I discovered for myself. And I didn’t discover it until it had been out for a while.

Largely to do with their interactive flash animated website and bizarre music videos, their music and artistic style largely influenced my own art and led me to discover Tank Girl, Hewletts comic book series.

You might be thinking “Didn’t they say they didn’t listen to pop music? Their first pick is a pop group, what’s going on here?” To which I remind you I said there wouldn’t be much of that, not none at all. This was also “Phase 1″ of the Gorillaz master plan, entitled Celebrity Take Down, so that resonated with me. Also, the Gorillaz may enjoy some commercial success, but at this point they were still largely an indie group, collaborating with Hip Hop artists, producers, and indie rappers (Kid Koala, Dan the Automator, and Del the Funky Homosapien respectively). Also, revisiting this album later on led me to discover Del’s other project Deltron 3030.

2003

AFI - Sing the Sorrow (2003)

2003 was the year I discovered the color black, and I’ve never worn another color since (exaggeration, but not by much). This is also when I started to struggle with depression and other feelings and the goth-punk songs written by singer Davey Havok, bassist Hunter Burgan, guitarist Jade Puget, and drummer Adam Carson spoke to my early teen angst.

My introduction to AFI came from seeing the video for Girls Not Grey on the music channel Fuse (formally Much Music). I then probably pirated the music, because it was the 00′s, but I did also eventually buy a copy of the Album. This was also the first commercially successful for harcore-group-turned-goth band AFireInside.

AFI was the group that bonded my first real best friend and I together. We were both obsessed with the album, and we were determined to start a band (which we did and it was terrible). Together we worked our way through their back catalog and eventually discovered punk and hardcore music.

Minor Threat - Out of Step (1983)

After listening to Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes by AFI and learning of the existence of Hardcore music, it wasn’t long before I discovered the “Big Three” of 80′s hardcore punk music: Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat.

The icon art of Raymond Pettibon for Black Flag is still something that influences my art and Bad Brains influences many of my favorite bands and I appreciate them much more today, but Minor Threat’s anger is something that really resonated with me at the time. They definitely shaped the sound of the next band I was in, which was only a little better of an attempt than my first band.

Strangely enough, the Straight Edge mentality that is extremely prevalent throughout Minor Threats music never really took hold on me, but their other messages were clear to me, we’re outsiders and we’re taking a stand for what we believe in.

2004

My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004)

After my band broke up, I got pretty sick of the monotony of 80’s hardcore music (get over it, it’s boring). I was still pretty goth, even if I was a hardcore kid, so the second album by MCR was the perfect pop-punk answer to my jaded hardcore sensibilities, with Gerard Way’s long black hair and makeup, guitarist Frank Iero & bassist Mikey Way’s emo-hair, and lead guitarist Ray Toro & drummer Matt Pelissier’s heavy riffs and fast tempo playing.

Three Cheers remains one of my favorite guilty pleasure albums. I got made fun of a lot by my hardcore friends and ex-bandmates for liking them, but my lifelong friend Nyk and I would drive around (with my newly acquired license) and sing along to “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” at the top of our lungs. Sorry about outing you, Nyk.

The Blood Brothers - Crimes (2004)

After cleansing my hardcore pallet with emo music, I discovered The Blood Brothers seminal album Crimes. It was a perfect mix of the hardcore music I had started my teens with and the more theatrical emo music. Jordan Blilie’s soulful crooning and shrill scream and Johnny Whitney, whose voice has been described as “a child being tortured”, battle over lead vocal duties with Cody Votolato, Mark Gajadhar, and Morgan Henderson rounding out the instrumentalists (they all play multiple instruments), The Blood Brothers are a force to be reckoned with.

I didn’t know hardcore music could sound like this. I learned people called it “post-hardcore” usually lower case like that. The Blood Brothers and the label they were on, Three One G, led me to many other bands that I loved.

I’m pretty proud to say that between 2004 and 2007 when they broke up, I never missed a show when they came to town. Their live performances were extremely energetic. You could feel the electricity in the air.

2005

Modern Life Is War - My Love, My Way (2003)

In 2005 MLIW released the album Witness, which is a fantastic album and I contemplated putting it on here instead, but in anticipation of the new album coming out I listened My Love fairly constantly. My hardcore friends were already fans of Modern Life, but it wasn’t until 2005 that I discovered them.

It’s hard to say how important My Love, My Way is to me without sounding cliche, but this album honestly saved my life. I had been struggling with my depression and Jeff Eaton told me it’s okay, I am too, but we’ll get through this. I’ll let the lyrics speak for themselves.

“We’ve been to the edge and we know what it’s like to want to die, and that’s something we won’t glorify. We’ll leave those miserable times behind. How far can I go? I’m rising from the depths of my own hell. I don’t need another tragic tale, I need the strength to walk the other way. I found conviction in my ever changing mind. I grew up tied down and bleeding on the inside, but I know I was a victim of my own device, and I want to live to see a brand new life.”

Modern Life Is War is another band that I went to every show I could. Even driving to Marshalltown, Iowa to see their Farewell Show. Their breakup didn’t last long as they got back together in 2013 to release another album and play more shows. They are still going strong now.

2006

Tegan and Sara - So Jealous (2006)

Sisters Sara and Tegan Quinn playing heartfelt indie songs about break-ups is exactly what I needed in 2006 when my first serious partner dumped me. Even listening to it now as I write this, it’s bringing up memories of feeling heartbroken and that every song is specifically about you.

Where do you go with your broken heart in tow? How do you know when to let go? Where does the good go??

Everyone who has experienced love and a hard break-up should listen to this album. Do that and tell me it’s not perfect.

Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica (2000)

2006-2007 was my senior year of high school, and I was lucky enough to have a pretty incredible art program at my school. I had teachers who were actually working artists and forced us as students to create better and better art. They treated us like artists and it was the first time I felt like an adult was giving me any respect.

My studio art teacher was a huge fan of Modest Mouse and would play their music during class. This was the golden age of the iPod, so I soon had Good News For People Who Love Bad News and The Moon & Antarctica and listened to it even while not in class. It was also one of the first Vinyl albums I ever bought.

Twangy guitars playing over Isaac Brock’s strange voice singing about the concept of being an asshole and that everyone has the capability of fucking you over. What’s not to love? And the deeply critical song “A Different City” about the escapism of moving away and the terrifying reality of failing. A great song to listen to when you’re making your plans to move out on your own for the first time.

2007

Against Me! - Searching For A Former Clarity (2005)

After graduating high school with limited interest in attending college, my parents bought me a laptop as incentive to apply. I did and went for about one semester before dropping out, but now I had my own computer, so that was a pretty good trade off.

I ended up putting three AM! Albums and one Mischief Brew album on my computer and I listened to them constantly. I didn’t have internet access at my house during 2007 so that was the only music I had. Against Me! became my favorite band. Laura Jane Grace’s take on punk-rock and anarchy shaped my worldview.

I didn’t realize then why Laura’s music was so important to me beyond the anarchist politics until years later in 2012 when she came out as a transgender woman. In 2007 I was starting to understand where so much of my depression was coming from. So listening to Against Me! songs about dealing with the same issues and feeling was a great feeling of commiseration.

Looking back now, the songs only make more sense. Even if I didn’t know it at the time Against Me! was speaking to me about deeply personal issues, even if subconsciously.

2008

the Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride (2008)

The album that introduced me to the Mountain Goats! I’m really not that cool, so I don’t really know about awesome people like John Darnielle and how he’s been writing music since I was 5. But I heared the song Heretic Pride on the indie radio station and instantly fell in love with them.

Heretic Pride is not my favorite Mountain Goats album (that would be Tallahassee) but it’s the first one I heard at 19 years old and their literary songs have made me strive to make my own writing better.

It’s also the album that I tried to show to my future partner (we started dating in 2009) to try and impress her. She, of course, was a fan already because she’s much cooler than I am. She then proceeded to show me the extensive discography of the Mountain Goats (15 albums) and the rest of the Modest Mouse catalog just for good measure.

Well, there’s my 10 Albums. There are a few more I would like to add if I could pick more than ten. Like Dumby by Portishead, De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta, and Pass The Flask by The Bled all squished in there somewhere. But I won’t cheat and have a list of 13 albums. That would be wrong...

[nova-writes]

I need to write every day

Monday: If I don't write it down, then maybe it didn't happen..? Things keep changing. What I wrote yesterday doesn't seem to make sense with the events of today. They don't even make sense with the events of yesterday. What did I write? Now I can't even find it, but there's the vague ghost of a memory. Of what I wrote. Maybe even if I write it down, it didn't happen. I wrote about the new guy. At work, there's a new guy. Except, today he's not new. I have labeled him the new guy in my head. You know how you give people labels in your head? Red glasses girl. Boss man. Smoking guy. And when there's someone new, you label him the new guy. Well, in my head he's the new guy. I felt it when I saw him today. But everyone else seems sure that he's been there all along. Just as long as anyone else has who isn't a new person. Once you're not new anymore, you're no longer labeled as such. And now it doesn't feel right anymore. He both is and isn't the new guy. But he must be new. I'm trying to remember last week, oh were did I put last week's journal? All of my writings seem to be misplaced. I can't remember him being there last week, but I also don't remember him not being there. Tuesday: John, the not-new-new-guy, seems to know and like everyone and everyone seems to know and like him. I'm still trying to figure out why his presence is awkward for me. He must not be new. He was employee of the month last month, but I swear some one else was employee of the month. I can't seem to remember who it was? Was it me? No, if it were me I would know that. I'd be able to remember that. He speaks to everyone like they are old friends. Speaks to them as if he has the knowledge of their lives because he was there with them, living it. He even speaks to me this way and I reciprocate because I know John. I know his birthday is coming up and that last year I got him a book. The book was meaningful because it was a favorite author of his. I knew this because I know John. Yet, he still is new. He feels new. Wednesday: John's birthday is right around the corner! I can't wait to give him his gift, a Stephen King novel. It has become a tradition between us for me to get him a new King novel. It started such a long time ago. I'm not even sure how long I've been getting him SK books, he must have quite a few. Granted, it's only one a year, but he's got to have at least a dozen by now. This week seems to be dragging on, but I think it's just the anticipation of the party this weekend that's making it seem to be forever. Thursday: Today at work was so boring. I swear, this company could use some new blood. Its just the five of us day in and day out. Darice, Tammy, Franklin, Marla, and me. All day, every day. And the work load is beginning to be too much! I swear, if corporate doesn't approve more people,i,may just quit. I don't normally read my previous journals, but apparently we had a new guy on Monday? Must have been a temp. Didn't leave much of an impression, though. I can't even recall him being there, much less his name. I don't think he was there the rest of the week. I can't find my other journals for this week, but I'm sure I would remember it was just the other day. Friday: We are finally making some waves over here! Which is a good thing because Franklin and I have been busting our asses. Started out with one small building and the two of us, but we're finally hearing back from the corporate office and they want to expand our team. I guess we're gonna bring on one guy from the other team, I think his name is Thomas, and we get to hire up to three people our selves. A great way to end the weekend! Especially going into this weekend, because it's my birthday. I got myself the new Stephen King book, so I'm excited to get into that. And I got a nice not from corporate today too. "Great job, John. Keep up the good work!"

[nova-writes]

Patient 011435

"I don't know how long it's been since I last saw the sun. They came in and put up sheets, duck taped to the windows. They taped the door jams shut, so no light could slip through the cracks. They told me, whatever you do, don't take off the tape. Not that I could if I wanted to. Not with these mittens strapped onto my hands. Not with this muzzle over my mouth. They have been feeding me. A steady diet of some grey liquid they call 'meal replacement' and the pills they call 'supplements'. I'm beginning to suspect they're not supplements at all, but something much more nefarious. They don't know that I've found a way to write, even with the mittens they so cleverly designed. Don't know I've been documenting their every move. Trying to find the motive. Trying to figure them out, while they continue to do their 'studies'. Ever since I came to this place, they get so excited when they make a breakthrough. As if they could learn anything I didn't want them to know. They don't know I've been holding out. Don't know about the stinger. Even with all their poking and prodding and scanning and searching, they can't see what's right in front of their faces. I think I've had enough of this place. This Earth. The next time they come in, the next time they lean too close when feeding me, they'll learn just how important it is to examine more closely. But then it won't matter. I'll be long from this place. Just need to get back to my ship." Note: The patient is still suffering delusions of being an extra terrestrial species. Despite intensive therapy and a regiment of high dosage antipsychotics, patient seems to slipping further into the delusion. Will have to ask the orderlies to be more careful when feeding the patient, as one seems to have suffered a bite that cause infection.

[nova-writes]

You had another dream last night. You know how dangerous it can be to dream. You know the dire consequences of unregistered dream time. Your dreams, prophetic though they are, are still dreams while they’re in your head. As long as you never sleep, outside of the mandated induced coma, things will be just fine. We know what you’re thinking, how am I supposed to stay awake between bimonthly chemically induced comas?, and the answer is simple: lot’s of loud randomly timed alarms, uppers! (not downers), and, let’s not forget, nightly ritual séance complete with candied tarantula. If you or someone you love is still succumbing to sleep, try repeatedly jabbing them in the thigh with a dull fork. Or perhaps, using clothes pins or staples, affix their eyelids to their foreheads. You know, like they do in the animated moving pictures you insist play on the blank wall in your home. We will be monitoring all 43 homes in the area who are known trouble makers. You know who you are. All UFO sightings will be ignored for the next five days. Five and a half. Make it six to twelve. We’ll let you know when we expect the next UFO flyby and then you can report your sightings. The UFOs have nothing to do with the change in sleep schedules.