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Records that made you reassess your music beliefs

I have just stopped listening to Tony Williams Lifetime's Emergency and was as intrigued and absorbed by the music as the first time I heard this record. This was one record that truly changed my conception of what music was supposed to be. Just curious, what records altered your state of mind (in their own right, that is, without, er... "help") We're not talking about your five best or the ones you'd take with you to a deserted island. Indeed, some of them you may not have liked right away or still find awkward, but they may have broken seals, opened gates,... you get the gist. Try to limit it to, say, a half dozen to single out the real mind-benders (any style or category).

To me, they were - more or less in historical order:

Ten Years After, "Watt": my first TYA, indeed, one of my very first records. I always found it had "something" more than any TYA before or thereafter. Until that time, rock had meant Purple, Sabbath, Earring etc. From that time on I belonged to not even a handful of guys with different tastes than the rest of class.

Yes, "Fragile": now this is one I would take to the island with me even today. So different, yet one I loved instantly. Made me ready for Crimson, Floyd, the Canterbury lot and beyond.

Weather Report, "Sweetnighter": a serendipitous discovery, I taped this inadvertedly and was fascinated from the first notes. The advent of jazz to me. Sure, I'd heard big band stuff on the radio before, but that had never remotely inspired me. With this, I had really left my class mates' orbit.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, "Pictures at an Exhibition": I didn't know what to make of this first. Were these the guys that had done "Lucky Man"? Purists may abstain, but in the end this record led the way to classical music (and wouldn't you know it, still with Russian bias). Later, I had the opportunity to witness ELP's spectacular virtuosity live (together with Zappa, one of the best two concerts ever).

Tony Williams Lifetime, "Emergency": fascinating though not my favourite from the start. It took getting used to but this one pushed my "jazz-limit" considerably. Another electric one, but without this, I would not have made it to jazz in all its shapes and colors from bop to contemporary.

Captain Beefheart, "Trout Mask Replica": wasn't prepared for this shocking experience. I had heard the Captain with Zappa with great pleasure, this however was startling! To be honest, I hated the record. What it said, though, was: just let it in, you're never finished there is more to dicover. Lots of more or less bizarre stuff afterwards, but this was the eye-opener.

Don't we have the best of all hobbies!
karelfd

Showing 2 responses by larajs

larajs
25 posts
 
This is a cool thread. Why has nobody posted anything in over a year?! Reading the start made me smile. The confusion of 21st century word-reduction. However, I don’t think you need to be old in order to listen to and appreciate the records mentioned. A lot of the music I listen to was recorded before I was born, but it still manages to blow me away!
Records that made me reassess my music beliefs... well, here are some:

4 Way Street – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: I always feel like I’m actually there when I’m listening to this record. It has a charmingly familiar atmosphere which manages to touch your feelings in a very special way. At least it does with me. It’s soothing in an almost transcendental way.

Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain – Yann Tiersen: I know some might say « it’s just a soundtrack », but I think it’s so much more! I love listening to Yann Tiersen’s creations. Definitely one of the things I’d take to a deserted island. Love the piano on “Comptine d'un autre été: l'après midi »

Get Behind Me Satan & White Blood Cell – The White Stripes: In my opinion these two records are like a breath of fresh air. The raw and minimalistic style plus the way they recorded the music creates a very individual atmosphere.

The Big Lebowski – Various Artists: Yes, I know it’s another soundtrack, but this is another one I’d take to the island with me. It’s a great mix! Bob Dylan, Captain Beefheart, Yma Sumac (amazing voice!), Nina Simone, etc. It’s an extraordinary soundtrack and record!

Z – My Morning Jacket: An alternative, psychedelic, folk rock album with a very experimental jam-session-touch to it. One of my favourites which reminds me of a new interpretation of the psychedelic 60s : )

Debut – Björk: The first time I listened to this record was at a friend’s house and it was unlike any record I had ever heard. I know it is not everybody’s cup of tea, but I think it is worth trying it. Btw, the track “Venus as a boy” is in Luc Besson’s film “Léon:The Professional” ;-)

Dark side of the moon – Pink Floyd: One of the all-time greatest with an especially intriguing listening experience. Whilst listening to this you tend to forget where you are, because the music just grips you. Phenomenal! Another one for the island.

Horses – Patti Smith: This is the first Patti Smith album I ever listened to and the first one I bought as well. It captured my full attention from the first second onward. Classic!

Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike – Gogol Bordello: Gogol Bordello is a band that came as a complete surprise to me. The first time I saw them was at a festival in Switzerland and the people in the audience became their adoring slaves. In my opinion one of the greatest and diverse punk records ever made. A great mélange of punk and gypsy music with an occult touch to it. Amazing! This band definitely made me reassess my music beliefs!

And for something completely different... Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and Dvořák’s 9th Symphony also blew my mind. I’m not all that into classical music really (maybe, because I’ve never spent all that much time looking into what there is...), but these two are great! Hope they also count as records : )

Okay, this is far too long. Sorry! Seems I can’t stop talking (or writing) about music. For all the music geeks out there, I can absolutely recommend www.last.fm! It’s amazing and broadens your horizon of artists more than you’d expect. At least it did (and still does!) for me. You should check it out!

Love & Peace!
larajs
25 posts
 
Just listened to Ten Years After "Watt". Cool sound! Although it's from 1970 (golly, that's 39 years ago!), it's got an amazing feeling to it. Okay, 'although' sounds a bit negative come to think of it... but I hope you know what I mean :)
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