This is a page depicting some of the albums that have had a big influence on my music.
Axis: Bold as Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience -
This album always seemed to be the red-headed stepchild of Hendrix's music. However, I always found this to be the most appealing, and the best reflection of Jimi's true character as I perceived it. This was the album that really got me into Jimi Hendrix. When I first began to listen to this album, it sounded like nothing I had ever heard of. All of a sudden, I felt a connection to music which I had never felt on the level that I felt with this album. My favorite track on this album is the title track, Bold as Love. This was the first Jimi Hendrix song I ever learned how to play. The song taught me the right way to incorporate lead playing into rhythm guitar.
Continuum by John Mayer -
Widely considered as John Mayer's magnum opus, Continuum was the album that first turned me onto his work. Songs such as "I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)", "Vultures", and "Belief" were some of my favorites. The underlying groove in his music, complemented with bluesy guitar playing, soulful vocals, and craftily written lyrics, was all extremely appealing to me. One extremely valuable thing I got out of this album; however, was my discovery of Jimi Hendrix. John Mayer covered "Bold As Love" and I originally thought it was his song. Once I learned that it was not his song, I began to further explore Jimi Hendrix's album "Axis Bold as Love" which quickly became my favorite Hendrix album, and one of my favorite albums of all time.
Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan -
The first album I ever heard by Stevie Ray Vaughan, and still my favorite. The final track on the album, "Lenny" is bar none my favorite piece of guitar work ever. The way that piece moved me has never been done by any other song. Other tracks on the album, such as his cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Tell Me", "Rude Mood", and the title track "Texas Flood" were all masterful guitar works that continued to fuel my love for blues music. I will never forget the first time I listened to "Lenny."
Room for Squares by John Mayer -
This was the last album I ever discovered by John Mayer, and ironically enough his first. What I love about this album is the vunerability in his songwriting and vocals. Although this album creates controversy in the music world (since it's filled with pop tunes) it has been a huge influence on my songwriting. John Mayer's brilliant way of incorporating jazz chords (major 9ths especially) into acoustic pop I found to be pretty revolutionary, and have used this in my writing a lot.
Brown Sugar by D'Angelo -
This album I discovered at the beginning of my senior year, and it immediately jumped into my top 20 favorite albums. I really enjoy how complex a lot of the music is; however, it is still extremely easy to listen to. I also really like the way D'Angelo stacks the vocals on this album on-top of each other to make his voice sound kind of like a synth. I also really enjoyed how the music revolves around a central groove rather than a chorus or a hook.
Allen Stone by Allen Stone -
This album is one of my favorites because it takes soul music and makes it available for a pop audience. The vocal work alone on this album is worth the purchase; however, the songwriting on the album is brilliant as well. Another thing I really enjoy about this album is that all of the songs seem to really encompass Allen Stone's identity, as a quirky soul singer who doesn't take himself too seriously.
What's Going on by Marvin Gaye -
I looked into this album upon my teacher, Mr. McCready's, suggestion. I immediately fell in love with this album and began to listen to it all the time. I can't pick a favorite track off this album, but my some of my favorites are definitely "What's Going On", "Chained", "Inner City Blues", and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)."
