Something I found on Kroc's blog ages ago, saved, but never did. So here 'goes!
Instructions: Pick 5 albums that have had a great impact on your life and talk about a special memory from one song off those albums. Then tag 5 friends.
Franz Schubert: Winterreise, D.911 (Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Baritone | Gerald Moore, Piano).
I bought this one when I was 14, actually. One of my online friends had told me how great the piece was, so I went into town and bought the CD. I listened to it that evening, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing, really. It's one of the most amazing pieces of music I've ever heard. It's such a deep, emotional, personal piece that it drew tears from me at certain points. Basically, it changed my life. I started listening to more and more Schubert, and my music became more and more influenced by him. He’s been one of the biggest ever influences on my music, really. Along with Tallis, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Debussy and Howells. Whenever I listen to any of the 24 songs that the cycle is made up of, I can remember sitting next to the stereo six years ago, with the words booklet in my hand, thinking that this was the most incredible music I’d ever heard. I don’t think I ever thanked said online friend enough, actually, so if you’re reading this, cheers! =P
Herbert Howells: Requiem, etc (Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge).
I got this last year, actually. Discovering Howells was a major turning point for me, as big as the Winterreise influence, I think. I went to an organ recital in September 2005, and the performer played some of the Six Pieces for Organ (including the famous Paean). I was really taken with them, actually, so I found this CD in town a few days later, bought it, and I was really impressed by what I heard. His harmonies are absolutely gorgeous, they really are. Particularly in the Requiem, the music seems to flow through the air as if it always existed, you know?
Rufus Wainwright: Poses.
Got this album last year too, actually, for less than a tenner, which was great. Alan (Kroco) had sent me some Rufus Wainwright songs over MSN, and I really liked ‘em, so I went into town to try to find one of his albums. I found Poses, bought it, and listened to it at home. I loved it so much… I must have listened to it hundreds and hundreds of times. Among many things, it reminds me of the many lengthy convos Alan and I have had about music, which are always fun. Not only did he get me into Rufus Wainwright, but thanks to him, I like Sufjan Stevens, Men Without Hats, Jamiroquai and NIN too. Thank you Kroco! =P
Def Leppard: Best Of (2CD) .
Got this one just before last Christmas. I was over at Mike’s place in Maidstone for a few days in what scaled down from a full-scale meet up (all five of us) to just Mike and me. So, we were looking around in HMV, and Mike showed me a Def Leppard Best Of CD, which was relatively reasonable, if I recall. So, I got it, since I quite liked the few tracks I had heard the day before. And, sure enough, I found myself listening to Def Leppard again and again. The song Heaven Is actually reminds me of the bit of messing about we did with Sock Puppets (don’t ask =P) Mike’s the one who introduced me to Def Leppard, as well as Katie Melua, Rob Dougan, Deep Purple, Motley Crue and Stone Roses. We seem to share a liking for AWESOME myoosic. =P
Nena - Alles Gute: Die Singles (1982-2002) .
Got this one online, just a few months ago, in fact. I absolutely love ‘80s music, actually. Nena are a band that aren’t really known outside of Germany for anything other than 99 Luftballons ('99 Red Balloons' in English). However, they’ve actually got some great songs on this, like Feuer Und Flamme(I’m all for it, or something like that) , Haus Der Drei Sonnen (House of the three suns) and Nur Geträumt (Only dreamt it). I’m absolutely in love with this band at the moment. They’re almost as good as Men Without Hats! =P