My Life In Records

Probably one of the most terrifying albums to listen to as a youngster, mainly because of Adam Jones' menacing guitar tone. It sends shivers down one's spine. It is an album that has one unifying sound that makes it a whole rather then just a bunch of individual songs. You either love or hate Tool and it always seemed like the 'forbidden music' to put on at a social gathering.....but we did it anyways.

Okay I’m skipping uncool early teen crap but this is honestly the first record I ever obsessed about. It was shamefully overlooked back then but I’m pretty sure I listened to this on a daily basis for the best part of three years. Although that 90’s guitar band sound has dated, this album still stands - every song sounds like a single (in a good way, there are fantastic vocal melodies by Cormac Battle). Production by GGGarth Richardson is great/meaty. Artwork concept is genius too and....they are Irish to boot.

There was a period of my life when I listened to this album pretty much once a day, and I would have been able to sing pretty much every part on the album a capella. It also basically taught me to play guitar solos, even though I never play solos now. It's truly a perfect album. Every single song was almost precision-engineered, incredibly well thought out and laboured over, until it was perfect.

I know there's a ban on the word 'seminal' but it must be broken here. If ever there was an inspirational album it is TNT. The first time I heard it, I just thought everything I do musically has to sound like this from now on. There was no reasoning involved. Tortoise were one of the first to be given the infamously vague 'post rock' label, which has no meaning, but they were something different. Much more intelligent and special, and there had been nothing before like it....Except their previous albums obviously. Also, the revival of the twangy tremolo guitar from the Morricone western days is not something to complain about.

"Cus this music can put a human being into a trance-like state...”: the clue is in the first 15 seconds really. It was about 3am one night I decided to try out a Mogwai record I bought on a whim. Holy fuck it hit me. I had never heard anything so dynamic/textural/raw and by 12 minutes into ‘Mogwai Fear Satan’ it was pretty clear I’d have to listen from scratch over and over - there and then. It’s by no means a perfect record (‘With Portfolio’/’Radar Maker’ don’t do much for me) but hearing ‘Tracy’, ‘Like Herod’ and ‘R U Still In 2 It?’ to this day still sends me off into my own little world. G’wan the ‘Gwai. (Must be noted this album also gave me my love for Arab Strap and Guitar Boost Pedals set to selfish volumes)

It may seem clichéd, but this album really changed my perception of genres. I had been more of a traditionalist music fan when I was younger, and dance seemed quite evil to me. Here, however was an artist that quite gracefully blended the classical and dance elements. And she has always been an innovator when it came to sounds and song writing processes, and always really influential for me.

Couldn’t leave this off the list. Not only is it a fantastic dark record it’s also very inspiring because of how daring it was. How that band went from ‘Pop is Dead’ to ‘Optimistic’ is remarkable and that school of thought has definitely shaped what we do in our band. It’s ten thousand times better than that In Rainbows thing.

This has to be in my top three albums of all time. The musicianship here is of the highest standard. You will find nothing like this anywhere else. Like Tortoise, they blend jazz elements with 'rock' so seamlessly, hence creating something so new and fresh. If you want PROPER melodies, not lame pop catchy ones, listen to this (although these are extremely catchy). A ten piece Norwegian band blaring wind, brass and guitars with serious grooves made from both the organic and electronic... I couldn't ask for more.

Dammit Elis already picked What We Must so my vote is for Elephant Eyelash. First three times I heard it: hated it. A complete schizophrenic oddball masterpiece that I guess is like a fucked up Pet Sounds.Some of the best lyrics you’ll hear: “All the people who taught me card tricks are dying...” Always reminds me of working in Tower Records and the first few months of Halves’ rehearsals – myself and Elis trying to recite the songs off drunkenly (Tim isn’t a fan but we love him nonetheless).

This is just a triumph of the big dramatic production. He has done it well before with the last album, but this gives his sound a new slant with lots of electronic elements mixed with the more traditional and orchestral instruments. It was worth the wait, I think. Also, All Delighted People EP (The EP that was released online just before this album) is worth having, it has sparser production, but the title track is brilliant.