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.
#9: A Day to Remember – Common Courtesy
Release Date: October 8, 2013
When I first heard the album: October 2013
Why I loved it then: As I said when I covered The Dangerous Summer’s Golden Record, I was very reluctant to include any newer albums in this list due to concerns about recency bias. That said, this album absolutely deserves its spot in the top ten of this list. Common Courtesy seemed like it would never be released. A Day to Remember has had chronic, well-publicized issues with their record label. Put simply, they were not being appreciated for the work they have done and were taken advantage of. So the guys decided to make the album on their own. Common Courtesy is the fruit of that labor. And let me tell you, it’s pretty fantastic. A Day to Remember is known for their distinguishable balance of pop punk and hardcore sensibilities. This album is no different, but what makes this album stand out to this overgrown pop punk kid is that ADTR also shows how good they could be if they were a straight up pop punk band. At a time when I needed something good to listen to, this did the trick.
Why I still love it now: The albums that affect you the most are the ones that you can relate to immediately. I heard this album during one of the most trying seasons of my life. I was laid off from one job, and the job I got thereafter was so much of a nightmare that walking away and having nothing was my best option. My friends were absent and my love life fell apart. I felt beaten up and underappreciated. I felt that no matter how hard I worked, I wasn’t getting what I deserved. Fortunately for me, A Day to Remember was in that same place at that point in time. The album also showed me that no matter how angry you are and how beaten up you are, you can use those things to fuel you and put forth the best work you’ve ever done. The lyrics of “I'm Already Gone” were particularly poignant as one long term pursuit ended and another began. This album helped bring me through one of the most difficult times in my life, and for that I am thankful.
Lingering Lyric: “And I, I'm already gone/ I'm already something to someone that I don't know/ When will I know?/ And I, I'm out making rounds/ On every side of town/ That I've been through, that I know/ To find my reason to come back home."
Top Tracks: City of Ocala, Right Back at It Again, Best of Me, I'm Already Gone, I Surrender, I Remember
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
20. ZOEgirl - Life
19. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
18. Anberlin - Blueprints for the Black Market
17. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
16. Rise Against - The Sufferer & the Witness
15. We the Kings - We the Kings
14. Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue
13. New Found Glory - Nothing Gold Can Stay
12. The Graduate - Anhedonia
11. Hawk Nelson - Letter to the President
10. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
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