-The Get Up Kids - Something To Write Home About
This is probably my favorite album of all time. I used to sit in my room and listen to this cd over and over. I would search online for live videos of them playing because I was only lucky enough to catch them live in person a couple times. Every song is amazing in my eyes. It's probably one of the only cds I can sit and listen to without having any doubt in my mind that I will want to listen to the next song completely. It never gets old and always hits me the same way. I still get goosebumps when listening to certain songs. It has the perfect combination of upbeat and slow songs. From the first pick slide in "Holiday" to the last tom hit and the sticks hitting the floor at the end of "I'll Catch You", this cd is a masterpiece. The recording quality is good for the time it was recorded and it doesn't sound all super produced. It's got that raw indie feel to it and it's mixed exactly the way this band should sound. I didn't like much of the stuff released after this other than the live cd but this cd alone makes The Get Up Kids one of my favorite bands of all time.
-New Found Glory - Nothing Gold Can Stay/Self Titled/Sticks and Stones/Catalyst/Coming Home
New Found Glory is easily my favorite band of all time. I've been there since the beginning to watch them grow musically and its amazing to see this hometown band blow up to be as successful as they are. They released an EP first which wasn't that great but still good. Then Nothing Gold Can Stay was released on Eulogy and then rereleased soon after on Drive Thru. Depending on which copy you have, you either hear the clip from "The Outsiders" or just straight into "Hit Or Miss". To this day, "Hit Or Miss" is still one of my favorite songs. Its so catchy as well as the rest of the cd. The recording quality isn't great but the music makes up for it. I still get goosebumps when the whole band comes in during "Broken Sound". After that they released the cover EP From The Screen To Your Stereo. Its an amazing cd but its all covers. Soon after they released the Self Titled full length which was their first major label debut on MCA. The first song on the cd is "Better Off Dead" which is my favorite song on the cd. It's fast and catchy and starts the cd off perfectly. The next song is "Dressed To Kill" which had Rachel Lee Cook in the video which makes the song that much better. The re-recording of "Hit Or Miss" is amazing as well as the rest of the cd. They released Sticks and Stones next. "My Friends Over You" was an amazing video and went to number 1 on TRL putting them on the National Map. The rest of the cd continues on with the catchy pop punk that they are known for but some maturity starts to show. Catalyst was released a couple years later. The single for "All Downhill From Here" came out like a month before the actual cd so you know a band is big time when that happens. This cd showed a lot of growth and different influences. The first song on the cd is a fast hardcore song. They also released a single for "I Don't Wanna Know" which was a ballad which was not normal from them but they pulled it off and its an amazing song. The rest of the cd is just as good. A couple years later they released Coming Home. This album is way different than all the rest. It's more rock than pop punk and shows a lot of maturity in the writing. It's still amazing. "Oxygen", "Coming Home", and "Connected" are my favorite songs on the cd. They also released a live DVD which is amazing and seeing them live is just as good everytime. This band will never get old.
-The Starting Line - With Hopes Of Starting Over/Say It Like You Mean It/Based On A True Story/Direction
Another one of my favorite bands that I couldn't narrow down the cds. With Hopes Of Starting Over was the first thing I heard from them which was the first EP. "Threes A Charm", "Greg's Last Day", and "Saddest Girl Story" are some of my favorite songs by them and they were all on the first 5 song EP. They waited a while and then released Say It like You Mean It on Drive Thru/MCA. "Best Of Me" was the song that they closed with every time I saw them live and they closed with it at the last show earlier this year. The rest of the cd is amazing catchy pop punk. After that they released an acoustic EP. "Lasting Impressions" is my favorite song off that. Soon after they released Based On A True Story. More catchy pop punk but with a lot more maturity in the writing. "Surprise, Surprise" and "The B List" are my favorite songs off this cd. The final release they put out before the so called "break" they are taking was Direction. This cd is amazing from start to finish. Theres only one song I don't really care for on the cd. But I can still listen to it without wanting to change it. I can't even pick out one song without pointing out the others cause they are all so good. I'm very upset this band is on a break or whatever. I'm gonna miss seeing them live.
-Number One Fan - Compromises
I discovered this band years ago before they ever toured south. It was right after they released compromises with the original pressing. We were playing in Wisconsin and they came on after us. Me and Brett couldn't take them seriously at first cause they seemed like such an All American Rejects rip-off. It turned out to be the total opposite. They surprised us by being the best band we saw on the whole tour. By far the best discovery I've ever made with any of my bands on tour. After watching them play we hung out with the band and actually went to a movie, I think Terminator 3, and ended up becoming close with some of the guys. I caught them every time they came down this way as well as once in New Jersey while I was up there recording. They were amazing guys and such a talented band. This cd is amazing from start to finish. This band was as well.
-Ceremony - Violence Violence
I love this band and this cd because its pretty much all of the early releases put onto a full length. It's artistic, fast, pissed, and over in 20 minutes. The lyrics are ones that stick in your head. Live, they are amazing. I can't even describe it. Its just wow.
-Blink 182 - The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show
I picked the live cd because its got a mixture of all the albums before it plus a big reason why I liked this band so much, the live show. They put on such a good show and Travis Barker is one of the best drummers out there. You can't deny it. Shut up Camilo. This band influenced me a lot musically and was one of the first bands that got me into punk along with NFG. Watching Travis play drums made me want to play more and become a better drummer. Dude Ranch is a classic album with amazing catchy songs. "Dammit" will always be that song that I heard and was like what the fuck is this, its awesome. Enema Of The State showed a lot more maturity in writing and the recording quality was a lot better. Even though all the music they wrote was pretty simple, it was catchy and you could tell they were all talented musicians. They will always be one of my favorite bands.
-Have Heart - The Things We Carry
I get goosebumps at the beginning of "Watch Me Sink" every time I hear it. From the way it comes in after the first song, the guitar riff is so good, its so powerful and full of emotion. This band is so meaningful and the lyrics are all amazing. All the songs are amazing on this cd. "Unbreakable", "Armed With A Mind", which is part of where we got the name for our blog, "Something More Than Ink", and "Watch Me Rise" are all songs that are amazing and have such strong meanings behind the lyrics. Pat Flynn has so much to say and I sit there and take it all in. This band is one of my favorites and will be for a very long time. I have the damn cover tattooed on my shoulder I liked this cd so much.
-Paramore - All We Know Is Falling
Now everyone knows that a big reason this band became as big as they did is cause the singer is mad cute. But the music is pretty good as well. I think if they dropped the dumb costumes and all the bull shit and kept to the music they'd still be one of my favorite bands. The first cd was really well done. Overtime they've kinda faded out on me but whenever one of the songs comes on shuffle I'll sit there and listen to it. Still a cd worth mentioning.
-Still Crossed - Love And Betrayal
This band was only around for a short period of time and only released one album but it was amazing. A fast melodic straight edge band with talented musicians and a good message. I still love this band and I'm pissed I only got to see them live once.
-Saves The Day - Through Being Cool
Old school pop punk band that never got old. This cd was amazing. Its fast and catchy and it was before they became more of an indie band. I think everyone likes old STD better than new STD and this cd is one of the main reasons why.
-Fenix TX - Self Titled
I saw this band with Blink 182 years ago and they stuck after that. Straight up pop punk that was catchy and fun. Both releases were amazing but the self titled is good all the way through.
-Midtown - Save The World, Lose The Girl
From the first line of this cd you feel the energy. Everyone knows it when it comes on. This is the only release I liked from them. It was good all the way through and didn't get boring. I don't know what happened after. They became a completely different band and it fell apart. Members are now in Senses Fail, which is a fail, sorry, and Cobra Starship, Garbage. Either way at least we still have this cd to look back on and remember when they wrote good music.
-Guns Up! - Outlive
This cd is good all the way through. I like the way the songs are written. I like a lot of the parts they throw in there that are surprising. Its not always predictable hardcore and I like that. It sucks that they had to break up but thats usually how it goes. Good bands never last forever.
-Boyz II Men - Legacy
Yeah thats right, I like Boyz II Men. I wasn't always into pop punk and hardcore. I had a romantic little thug in me before that. Elementary school was all about the R & B. The greatest hits cd Legacy has all the hits. All the panty droppers. So much emotion in their voices. You know the girl isn't gonna turn them down after they sing like that.
-MxPx - Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo
One of the old school pop punk bands that used to be on repeat all the time. Fast and melodic. Always catchy. Another big one of the bands that got me into punk.
-Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy Up The Girl
This was one of the first rock cds that I bought and it was a big reason I started to get into rock music in the first place. I saw the video for "Iris" on VH1 and was hooked. If it wasn't for that song I might not be who I am today. Seriously. "Black Ballon" is also one of my favorite songs of all time.
-The Ataris - Blue Skies, Broken Hearts, Next 12 Exits
This album was so good. Its got all the heartbreak pop punk anthems on it. "San Dimas High School Football Rules" is such an amazing song. The rest of the cd is really good also.
-Comeback Kid - Turn It Around
One of the first hardcore cds I got into. I didn't like the dudes voice at first. But then it grew on me and actually became one of my favorite singers in hardcore. "All In A Year" is my favorite song on this cd and probably one of my favorite songs of all time. There are a lot of lyrics on this cd that stick in your head. Wake The Dead was really good too but I like this album a lot better. Lets not talk about Broadcasting, the way I see it thats just a different band. Comeback Kid ended when the original singer left.
-Dashboard Confessional - Unplugged
All the Dashboard albums are good, thats why I just picked the unplugged cd. Its got a mixture of the first couple albums on it and it shows off Mike Marsh's drumming a lot more than the cds do. I love seeing them live cause you can catch all the extra stuff he does that makes the band so much better. I remember seeing Dashboard before they blew up at North Community Park with NFG, Junction 18, and Where Fear And Weapons Meet. Good times.
The rest of the albums on my list are ones that could've easily made the list but there are just too many. Also some of them are too new to call them all time favorites but I see the potential of it happening over time. But I couldn't go without mentioning them.
-Barriers Now Bridges - Here Goes Everything
-Trash Talk - Walking Disease
-American Me - Heat
-Verse - Aggression
-Figure Four - Suffering The Loss
-Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down
-Home Grown - Kings Of Pop
-John Mayer - Where The Light Is (Live In Los Angeles)
-Living With Lions - Dude Manor/Make Your Mark
-Mayday Parade - A Lesson In Romantics
-The Movielife - Forty Hour Train Back To Penn
-Park - No Signal
-Poison The Well - The Opposite Of December
-Recover - Rodeo And Picasso
-Reggie And The Full Effect - Greatest Hits 84-87/Promotional Copy
-Until The End - Blood In The Ink
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The Following is a list of 20 CD's that not only have my favorite songs on them..but have also changed the way i live, think and feel.These CD's are in no order and there are tons of honorable mentions but we will get to those at some point in the life of this blog just not today.
1. Righteous Jams - Rage Of Discipline
Front to back start to finish from layout to liner notes this cd really paved the way for me in my life for the edge to be stronger than ever, Joey C will forever be one of my Fav front men.
2 Saves the Day - Through Being Cool
Loved this band from Cant Slow Down and bought this cd on the first day, i had never heard anything like it before and really havent heard anything like it since.
3 Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
Nothing to say about this,forever changed my life
4 John Mayer - Room for Squares
Have loved every song this guy have played but still have to show my love for the cd that actually got me into him.
5 Metallica - Master of Puppets
So Heavy,one of the first cds i got into as a young teenager and forever made me love heavy music.
6 Blacklsited - Our Youth is Wasted
wow i heard this out of nowhere and remember having to pre order this record the same night i loved this band so much..so glad the label ripped off half the dudes that ordered this as well as the cold world st7" and Think i Care 10"..Fuck that shit.
7 Down to Nothing - Save it For The Birds
Found out about this band from their demo, saw them at their first FL show ever and have just loved everything this band has done since then..made me love the edge even more than i thought i could and makes me wanna sing about it in bands for the rest of my life.
8 Have Heart - Demo 2004
Things we Carry is a great cd and i love it but i find myself listening to the demo much more, not as melodic, dont get me wrong i am still down. Edge
9 New Found Glory - Nothing Gold Can Stay
Love this CD so much.
10 Sara Bareilles - Little Voice
I Can listen to this CD everyday on repeat and not get tired of her voice or piano playing, if that doesnt mean i love it i dunno what does.
11 The Starting Line - Direction
loved this band since the beginning..i love all their cds but i really love the way they went with their music the slow rock pop heavy melodic goodness..LOVE it
12 The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel
This CD got me BACK into this band..love this cd
13 MxPx - Live AT THE SHOW
Before i ever heard a cd from this band i saw them live..like 9 fucking years ago and every time i listen to this cd im right back where i was in 7th grade and love it..makes me so happy
14 The Get up Kids - Something to Write Home About
Probably the first indie band i ever listened to and Def stuck, Wish this band was still around..got to see them live like 3 times i love it
15 Midtown - Save the World Lose the Girl
One of the bands that made want to be involved with playing music the rest of my life
16 The Descendents - Everything Sux
Took me to a different place in punk rock and i loved it, this is the cd that got me into this band and i am so glad for it, happy fast funny music.
17 Colbie Calliat - CoCo
Another cd i can listen to over and over..its a classic. Great voice and guitar writing(Help by one of my Hon0rable Mentions Jason Reeves)
18 Cold World - No Omega
Their Anthology CD, Love wih this band does..sounds lame but fuck off
19 Fall Out Boy - Take this to Your Grave
SO MUCH POP PUNK..every song is my favorite..love this cd
20 No Warning - Ill Blood
Used to love the edge but sold out..still love this cd though, You caught the mosh at one show and it was No Warning.
Hon9rable Mentions, Up And Coming and Potentials.
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlantacisim/ The Photo Album (Greatness)
Lights - EP (Hot shit, lots of this girl coming up i bet you)
Desperate Measures - Never Enough Time (Classic)
Cro Mags - Age of Quarrel(Classic)
Jason Reeves - The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache (up and coming dude eventually hopefully)
Drug Test - Needle in Your Neck(Love the edge)
LET DOWN - anything by this band (LOVE THE FUCKING EDGE DAMN)
Mae - Destination Beautiful (Potentially there forever)
John Mayer - Where the Light is(New but cant stop listening to this dude, CAN NOT EXPRESS ENOUGH LOVE FOR THIS GUY, hope very much he doesnt retire)
American Football - American Football(Classic)
Stop and Think - Both Demos (Classic)
Trapped Under Ice - Stay Cold (up and coming for sure)
The Wrong Side - Of the Grave (Boston Edge forever)
American Nightmare - Background Music (love this band but too much drama for me)
Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape(forever in my heart)
Meltdown - Random(band has a demo and 2 7 inches..need the discog cd to come out already..all rule equally)
