20 albums.

Think of 20 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world.

1. Concert in the Park, Simon and Garfunkel
This was the soundtrack to Sunday mornings. The 6 of us squished into the Olds, heading to Holy Cross.
2. The Joshua Tree, U2
The first album of which I anxiously awaited the release date. I stayed up until midnight to hear BLM play it in it's entirety. I didn't love it at first, but it grew on me. When I went to see my Fabulous Uncle, he took me to Joshua Tree National Park (National Monument when he took me, yes Carrie) and showed me THE tree. Amazing.
3. Green, REM
REM is my band from high school. I loved all their albums... until the 90s. Then they made me mad.
4. Welcome Home, 'Til Tuesday
My sister and her best friend and I listened to this album a lot. I played it for Mike the summer after we met. It was the first time he'd ever heard of them. It was not the last time I introduced him to something new.
5. Home, BoDeans
I found this band somehow-- I think through my friend Cathy? When I moved here I said something about it being good work, to which Nicky replied 'if you can get it'. I knew I'd found a fellow fan. I first met Normie and Alicia riding to see the BoDeans with Nicky and Devon.
6. The Breakfast Club Soundtrack, various artists
We quoted this movie, a lot. Truth be told, still do.
7. Essential, Divinyls
This band came to me through Tom. I instantly fell in love.
8. Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes
The Official soundtrack to One Act Festivals. In Southern Maine in the 80s, anyway.
9. Staring at the Sea: the Singles, The Cure
This bridged One Acts in high school and freshman year of college.
10. The Innocents, Erasure
I learned of Erasure through my friend who was also involved in Theater UMF. I had a crush on him, but I figured out later he was gay. I think I really just liked him because he wasn't pushy and liked good music.
11. Upstairs at Eric's, Yaz
Julie, my fellow RA, turned me onto Yaz. I found out later that Vince Clark was also a member of Depeche Mode (who makes the list of significant songs but not albums) and Erasure. I love it when I'm consistent.
12. Greatest Hits, james
Kiya mentioned hearing a james song in the X Files Lightening Boy episode. Dave knew the band, so then I needed to. Another one of instant love. Now the kids love them, too.
13. Mutiny, Too Much Joy
This is the soundtrack to doing the nursery in our first house.
14. Stunt, Barenaked Ladies
The first BNL show we saw... which lead us to the next 2 albums. BNL is to my transition to parenthood what REM was to high schoool. Those years of not sleeping come rushing back when I hear these songs.
15. Lost and Gone Forever, Guster
The kids first rock concert included Guster, Ben Folds, and Rufus Wainwright. Another band linked to parenthood-- and the good and bad it brought into our world.
16. All You Need Is Live!, Cowboy Mouth
A great live band. I was singing Let It Go in my head while the maternity nurse was putting on the relaxing yoga music during Cate's delivery. I needed something with a lot more energy to get the job done!
17. Wonderlick, Wonderlick
The parent band, Too Much Joy, is WB's all time favorite. I prefer the mature version. (For the record, Girly is entering the Hearts and Stars phase...)
18. Who The Hell Is John Eddie?, John Eddie
When I think about Mike and Katie dating, I think John Eddie. Debbie and Rick, too. But not them dating :)
19. Hot Fuss, The Killers
The kids loved this album too. All These Things That I've Done means we're in the van, headed somewhere.
20. Boys and Girls in America, The Hold Steady
My newest craze. They're all about dangerous sex and drugs-- totally opposite me-- but something about the storytelling mixed with the raw, straight up sound makes my day. One of my students took my advice and gave 'em a listen. The cycle continues...