Top Five Tuesday – Albums

I was having a conversation with my friend Javi at work today. He was interested in knowing which rapper I enjoyed more- Notorious or 2Pac. I didn’t feel like I could give him an answer because on any given day my opinion on the matter was subject to change. I think that’s the nature of my top five lists. Subject to change.

These albums that I’ll mention today are my favorite albums that I chose today. It’d be difficult to put them in any order, so I’ll just alphabetize them by artist. Here we go.

Help – The Beatles
This album is one of the first that I can recall listening to straight through. I grew up in a world where secular music was considered evil. I had up until this point listened to the radio or watched mtv to get a quick fix of music. It was my sophomore year of high school at my Aunt Ginger’s house that I fell in love with this album. I copied a cassette of the album from her cd and never looked back.
Recommended – I Need You and It’s Only Love

Plans – Death Cab For Cutie
I was introduced to Death Cab by my friend Stefani way before they were cool. I had no idea they’d one day release an album that would literally change the way that I look at the world.

I think the best description I have heard of this album is from DCFC’s drummer Jason McGerr – “if Transatlanticism was an inhale, Plans is the exhale.”There is a line in the song What Sarah Said that goes “And it came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to Father Time.” This album manages to be loving, passionate, ruthless, cruel, matter of fact and profound all at once. There’s more truth in this handful of songs than I heard in countless sermons growing up.
Recommended – Crooked Teeth and What Sarah Said

Mockingbird – Derek Webb
I can’t remember if it was my good friend Mikey or Rebekah Mosqueda who first recommended Mockingbird to me, but either way, I’m glad they did.
One of the few reasons that I’m still willing to sometimes identify myself with christianity. This album destroyed the mindless acceptance of my faith that brought me from my preteen years to my early twenties. It allowed me to deconstruct my faith piece by piece and really start to examine the mechanics of my worldview. I ended up delving into pacifism, learned to find truth, beauty and light everywhere I looked, and started down a road that took me to my current political standing of anarchist. This album saved me from myself.
Recommended – A King, A Kingdom and A New Law

Stay What You Are – Saves The Day
I have a slight obsession with Saves the Day. My brother John introduced me to them at some point while I was in high school. I don’t have a favorite STD album, I love them all. This just happens do be the first one that I heard. This album is without a doubt their most popular, and it’s not hard to understand why. There’s plenty of energy, disgustingly good lyrics, wonderful imagery and the songs are super infectious and will leave you coming back for more.
Recommended – Certain Tragedy and Firefly

North – Something Corporate
Every bit as wonderful as the rest of the albums on this list. I’d say it’s impossible to put this album on and not listen to it from start to finish. Impossible. Every track on it is absolutely fantastic. There is absolutely no reason at all that you shouldn’t love this entire thing. None whatsoever. Get on it.

Recommended – As You Sleep and Ruthless