27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #20: ZOEgirl - Life

As I quickly approach my 27th birthday (an age, coincidentally, that many musicians met their own mortality), I have been thinking about the role that music has played in my life. I have not played an instrument for nearly sixteen years and have never been in a band, but I would still consider myself an audiophile. The 26000 songs on my hard drive would agree with me as well.

Because of all those things, I thought it would be as good a time as any to compile my list of the 27 albums that most shaped these first 27 years of my life. Starting Friday January 31, I will be posting one album from the list every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until we reach #1 just before my birthday.

Let me make one thing abundantly clear: I am not saying that these are the 27 greatest albums of all time. I am not so arrogant to believe that my personal opinion is the definitive voice on music. I like what I like. Hopefully you will be able to unearth some gems from my list. If not, that is alright. These songs and albums are important to me regardless of anyone’s opinions of them.

#20: ZOEgirl – Life
Release Date: November 20, 2001
When I first heard the album: December 2001

Why I loved it then: Yes, this might be the most shocking inclusion to the list. A Christian girl band? Seriously, Jakob? Yeah, seriously. My musical tastes had not fully grown into what they eventually became, so I listened to a lot of random stuff during this period. Quite honestly, the positive message of this album helped me get through a very difficult freshman year of high school. I listened to this album every morning before school for two months, and it helped calm my spirit. For that time of my life, it was exactly what I needed, and I am not ashamed to admit it.

Why I still love it now: No, I do not listen to this album often (in fact, before I listened to it in its entirety for the purposes of this post, I had probably not listened to it in a number of years), but it brings me back to a different time and place, a much easier time and place. Full disclosure: I had THE biggest crush on Chrissy Conway (now Katina) when I was 14-15 and even dedicated an edition of Inside the Mind of Jakob Duehr to her. I actually went to a ZOEgirl show in 2002 and met the girls at an autograph signing in 2003. Don’t believe me? Here’s the proof.



Lingering Lyric: “Even if the stars fell like rain/Even if tomorrow never came/Even if the world I know should crumble/Nothing's gonna stand in my way”
Top Tracks: With All of My Heart, Even If, Waiting, Here and Now

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight