Music is a huge part of my life. For as long as I can remember, I was either singing some stupid song, humming along to something in the shower or picking up my flute and just playing to my heart's content. Even before I was instrumentally musical, I acted in musicals and sang in my school and church's choirs.
As every young girl does, I, of course, was a N'SYNC and Backstreet Boys lover in my day. This was almost by no fault of my own -- my sisters constantly listened to them and the radio played them all day. But when it came to choosing my own music tastes, I really didn't have a clue for a while.
Many kids go through stressful and live changing events during their young lives and that's what makes them who they are today. I was no exception. Whether they were big events or just moments that just really stood out to me -- there was an album to accompany me during those times.
I find that even to this day, these albums speak to me on an extremely nostalgic level and I feel myself even getting borderline emotional when I think of them. These are those albums:
1. "Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 1: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness" by Coheed and Cambria (2005)
This is the first album that I ever picked up and listened to on my own. At a time, Coheed and Cambria were my brother's favorite band. I really looked up to my brother and I still do -- and I really wanted to relate to him in many ways. I got into wrestling, gothic clothing style and obviously music.
Even to this day, this album speaks to me. Every time I've seen songs from this album played live -- tears ensue. Not only because of the fond memories I have attached to it, but because it's just that damn good.
Song to listen to: "The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut" by Coheed and Cambria
2. "Don't You Fake It" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (2006)
Recently, my grandfather died. He was a large influence on my life. So was this album. What's the connection? One day, my grandpa handed me a magazine and said: "Choose four CDs that you want and I'll order them for you." This album by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus was one of those.
With songs like their ever-popular "Face Down", the connection to this album goes deeper into songs that are less known by the band. At that point in my life, this was like one of my first ventures into the "emo" genre which basically changed the course of my life forever. 10 years later, I'm still emo, still loving my grandpa and still listening to this album.
Song to listen to: "Misery Loves Its Company" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
3. "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" by Panic! At The Disco (2006)
I've talked about this album before on The Odyssey, but it's just that good that I need to mention it a million times more. This album not only spawned my love for many artists that I still enjoy, but I could easily say that this album shaped a lot of things about me. My theatricality is just one of the things I could attribute to Fever.
This was another album that my brother showed me and I instantly took a liking to it and I still bump it years later -- much to my brother's now annoyance.
Song to listen to: "There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Figured It Out Yet" by Panic! At The Disco
4. "Vessel" by Twenty One Pilots (2013)
I was in college when this album came out and going through a hard time to boot. My parents were just freshly separated and I was contemplating dropping out just a semester before I found this album. I wasn't finding myself in college like everyone makes it out to be.
Then, I found this album by Twenty One Pilots. Basically changed my outlook on everything I had been going through up until then, and I'm totally thankful to be a proud member of the Skeleton Clique three years after this album came out.
Song to listen to: "Semi Automatic" by Twenty One Pilots
5. "Saosin" by Saosin (2006)
After becoming acclimated with the "emo" genre from listening to RJA, I don't even know how I came across this album. But, I'm glad I did. There is just something about this album by Saosin that drew me to it the moment I heard the first note. Years later, I find myself coming back to this album -- still knowing all of the words just like I did when I was in middle school.
I've made many friends because of this album alone and have listened to so many artists because of it too, which in definition may make this album one of my biggest personal influences. And it does hurt that the lyrics are always going to be extremely relatable.
Song to listen to: "Finding Home" by Saosin
