Lay Your Hands On Me – Bon Jovi
I agree with all of the talk about Jon being our best buddy back in the day. I remember my mom dropping off me and my little brother at this show at Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, LA (we were 14 and 12). The drums seemed to pound on and on forever and then this big organ sound of keyboards hailed a massive fireworks-filled rock entrance. I was converted right there – my religion was music. It could save me, it can save anybody. I knew I would never be the same after that show and that was the first cassette tape that I played until it broke.

Pearl Jam – Even Flow
As a counterpoint to Nirvana, or maybe the other side of the coin, Pearl Jam made this amazing layered CD that you could just play over and over. I remember that intro with the note sliding and maybe it subconsciously pulled on my steel guitar roots. This was high school for me – cruising a small town and cranking music till you couldn’t hear yourself think.

Public Enemy – Fight the Power
One of the earlier commenters said that it was amazing that music like this could reach them before the internet. I felt that way about rap music in my small East Texas town. I remember watching Do the Right Thing and listening to Public Enemy – I had never heard anybody that talked like Chuck D. I found so much great music through this and now I agree with the earlier comments about Outkast – that is now one of my daughter’s favorite CD’s.

Avett Brothers – Do You Love Him
I had this CD given to me by a friend and I was working in the workshop with it on for months. It hit me so raw and amazing. I fell in love with the screaming and dissonance and just couldn’t get enough. I later told my friend how much I appreciated it and he confessed that he couldn’t stand it – he gave it to me cause he knew I would like it.

James Brown – Try Me
I got a greatest hits cd of James Brown and it must have stayed in my cd player for a month. I was obsessed. This guy just had such an amazing energy. It was burned into my college years brain with Jimi and the Doors and Stevie Ray. I found these guys and couldn’t get enough of them. I know that all of us have those rock school moments when we find somebody and just have to know everything about them.
That’s when they become part of our “autobiographical” collection and we are forever changed.

This alt country stuff is like punk without most of the bullshit, can’t wait to see Tim Barry when the revival tour heads to Australia!

I saw Frank Turner on the Revival Tour and was blow away so I made sure to see him the next time round. It was an off night on his tour opening for The Offspring and there was maybe 50 people with 3 opening bands. Frank was last and the three openers were not good but everyone stayed around. The set was solo and towards the end he played Photosynthesis. I think the all 50 people knew the words to that one and he stopped in the middle to address the crowd. I wish I could quote it but the in general he was just thankful and amazed that even though he was from England and had never played Baltimore that song had made it to us.

FRANK TURNER! great to see him mentioned. now, I only recently listened to that album (unfortunately about a couple of weeks AFTER he played my town), but I was blown away!
(and I love Micah’s album. yet another one I have to thank 9B for!)

Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska (album)
I used to make fun of my ex-husband for being a Bruce Springsteen fan. I guess I just remembered the cheesy stuff that come out on the radio. I inherited that album along with many others when my mother passed away. The first time I listened to it I was blown away. I guess I owe my ex an apology (but he owes me a few so were even).

Centro-matic – Take a rake
While I was in graduate school getting my master’s degree in mathematics, we would have the incredibly stressful exams that would require hours and hours of memorizing long crazy proofs, definitions, etc. Before every exam I would listen to this song, even if I had to sneak out of class and sit in the bathroom. Something about the build up at the end would put me in the right mindset for doing math. I graduated with 3.9 and aced every test I took after listening to it. I think I owe Will Johnson an honorary math degree.

Widespread Panic – C. Brown
I grew to become the person I am through 3 years of following this band. They made me reaize how much I love music and that I will do pretty much anything for a live show. This was the first song that really got me. And it’s pretty sweet that at the end of the song Charlie pulls out a gun and shoots Lucy. I mean she was the first true “bitch” that I encountered as a child. She deserved it.

Frank Turner – Love Ire & Song
If any song would make you change the way you look at life, this would be it. It makes you want to get up off your ass and fight for what you believe in.

Drive-by Truckers – One of these days
This was the band that made me transition from Jam music to whatever it is you would call the music I listen to now. It was a breath of fresh air after seeing the same band over and over again. It was also one of the reasons that my boyfriend and I got together. When we realized we were both trucker’s fans, it pretty much cemented the deal.

I have to add an honorable mention.
Micah Schnabel – When the stage lights go dim (album)
His songwriting still amazes me every time I hear that album and I swear I’ve listened to it a hundred times. One of these days I’m going to convince him of how good he really is. He is one of the most humble musicians I have ever met.

There was a period in high school where anything that wasn’t recorded by Bob Dylan wasn’t worth listening to.

Bruce Springsteen “Atlantic City”

Same as the Dylan thing, only it was just with Nebraska. 10 songs on repeat, 24 hours a day.

Wilco “Ashes of American Flags”

Ironically, it was YHF that turned me on to alt. country music (and modern music in general). Still one of my favorite records. Before Wilco, it was strictly Dylan, Young, the Stones, and the Band for me.

American Gun “Little Sister”

This is the band that turned me on to local music in general. I thought local bands in Columbia, SC couldn’t possibly be making good music. American Gun kicked my ass on that one.

Lucero “Nights Like These”

Anyone that’s ever been there can understand this song. I was at that point when I first heard this song. Favorite band. Ever.

I’ve had the Nirvana debate so many times it’s not even funny.