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.
#24: The Lumineers – The Lumineers
Release Date: April 3, 2012
When I first heard the album: December 2012
Why I loved it then: 2012 was an odd period of my life, at least as it pertained to music. For the most part, I eschewed my traditional brand of pop punk for something more mature and refined. I’m not sure if this happened because of what was going on in my life or because 2012’s pop punk catalog was limited, but I found myself listening to bands like Mumford & Sons, fun., and The Lumineers (and really enjoying it). This album particularly hit with me because it was emotional without being pretentious. They just put feelings out there in hopes that anyone who listened could relate. I certainly could. By late 2012, I was feeling productive but world-weary as well. I heard Stubborn Love, and it resonated with me more than any song did that year. I listened to the rest of the album and fell in love.
Why I still love it now: Despite what my mom would have you think, “Ho Hey” is not the greatest song ever made. That said, The Lumineers do what they do very well. Their brand of folk rock is a throwback, and a good one at that. There are a few tracks that stand out above the rest of the album, and they’re a great listen when I’m in more of a pensive mood.
Lingering Lyric: “It’s better to feel pain than nothing at all/The opposite of love’s indifference”
Top Tracks: Stubborn Love, Flapper Girl, Morning Song
Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
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