Great question! Not sure I can list 12 that I would really classify as "life-changing", but here are the ones that come to mind immediately:
1. Jeff Buckley, Grace
2. The Clash, London Calling
3. The Clash, Sandinista
4. Stevie Wonder, Talking Book (really a tie between Talking Book and Inner Visions)
5. Peter Tosh, Equal RIghts
6. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation Of Millions...
7. NWA, Straight Outta Compton
8. The Frames, Fitzcarraldo
9. Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here
10. Billie Holiday, Compiliation
11. Otis Redding, Compilation
12. Radiohead, OK Computer
13. Hole, Live Through This (although, and I know this is blasphemy, but I really consider it a brilliant collaboration between Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, as opposed to an album Courtney wrote on her own. I think Kurt wrote a LOT of it!) But this album got me through the Bar Exam and a few other milestones so I can't leave it off.
Look at that, I'm surprised I got to 13 and actually there were a few others I had to weigh so I guess I could've gone to 20. I like the question.
Would be interesting to know (for those who didn't already say it) WHY those albums were life-changing, and what life-changing even means, because I'm sure it's a bit different for each of us. Even on my list, those albums are lifechanging for different reasons.
Ok I just HAVE to add more and I'm not seeing an edit option (did that change? my computer just screwed up on this site?) but must add these, still of the same weight and influence in my life as all the others:
14. Ani DiFranco, Living in Clip
15. Pink Floyd, The Wall
16. Radiohead, The Bends
17. Jeff Buckley, Live at Sin-e
18. The Clash, Combat Rock
19. Talking Heads, Compilation (or if I must pick, Remain In Light)
20. INXS, Listen Like Thieves (not so much influential because of the album, so much as seeing them live on this tour led to a number of crazy and "life-shaping" experiences)
MArillion - Misplaced Childhood (Never has an album had such a profound effect on me, it isn't even my favourite one, but when it came out , it was just so very important to where and who I was) Phillip Glass - Powwaqatsi (who knew classical music could be so good) Mike Oldfield - Tubular bells (simply amazing, watching now how he made it, makes it even more amazing) Ry Cooder - Paris, Texas (Who knew a movie soundtrack could be this haunting and this effective, One of my all time favourite pieces of music) ELP - Works part 2 (fanfare for the common man, need I say more Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin ii (no words can describe its brilliance) Son House - Father of the Delta Blues (started my love affair with the blues) Queen - Queen 2 (first vinyl I ever purchased, and what an incredible album it is) Primal Scream - Screamadelica (lovely lovely electronica, full of soul, gospel, and block rocking beats Genesis - Foxtrot (great album) Scott Hardkiss - Yes (both beautiful in its music and in the way it is mixed, emotionally charged dance music) This mortal coil - in filgree and shadow (beautifully haunting and melancholic, Lisa Gerrard the Cocteau twins and the rest of 4AD records all writing and playing, so gorgeous in its execution, so poignant and emotional)
When I first read the title of the post, I thought it said 15 albums, so I'm picking 15 because this is just about impossible.
David Bowie - ChangesBowie/Labyrinth Soundtrack. My parents made me watch Labyrinth as a kid, which led to my Bowie obession, and lifetime love of music. My all time favorite, he is all I listened to for years until discovering PJ. Literally, I didn't listen to anyone else.
Hole - Live Through This. My favorite album of all time. I don't care what anyone says. This album makes me feel good about being a girl. Such a powerful, dark, and incredible record.
PJ - Ten. I don't think this needs explaining here:)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Best of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. I fucking love Nick Cave. How I didn't discover him immediately after David Bowie is beyong me. I'll just stop there before I start babbling and a third Nick Cave thread forms on the 10C boards...
The Carpenters - The Carpenters. My favorite to listen to on Vinyl. There is no other way. Thank You, Karen and Richard Carpenter, and Burt Bacharach.
Temple of the Dog - PJ and Soundgarden. YES. There are few things more impressive than Chris Cornell's lyrics and vocals on TOTD. How is he good looking too?
MJ - Thriller. I can't say anything about it that hasn't been said before.
The Velvet Underground and Nico. GUH. I don't want to believe Lou Reed is gone.
Nirvana - In Utero. I love it so much, but can't listen to it very often because it's so depressing, and makes me wish Kurt was still around.
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes/Boys For Pele. I couldn't choose between the two. Both so wrenching, raw, and unique.
Jeff Buckley - Grace. Quite possibly the most beautiful album ever. I probably had it in my stereo for a year after I bought it.
PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. Such an optimistic, positive album, without pretension, and she plays almost every instrument on it. She won the Mercury prize for a reason. I have a girl crush on her voice. And her. So sexy.
Depeche Mode - Violator. Depeche Mode's Thriller. 9 nearly perfect songs. Dave Gahan is so underrated.
Kanye West - My Dark Twisted Beautiful Fantasy. The album that made me truly understand the power of Rap. Say what you want about Kanye, This album floors me.
Honorable mentions: The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead. This should be on here. Same with Louder Than Bombs. Seriously The Cure - Staring at the Sea. Dark, perfect singles. REM - Monster. This turned me into an REM fan. So different than anything else they ever did. I have like 3 copies of it if anyone wants one, lol Great Pop Music: (Madonna - The Immaculate Collection. The title is legit; Perfection. Janet Jackson - Janet./Rhythm Nation. I can't choose. Both sexy, confident, socially conscious. Beyonce should thank her everyday. Kylie Minogue - X. Completely rules.
Labyrinth was soooo cheesy. But, entertaining and the music was awesome! :-bd
The Beavis and Butthead Experience- (1 of 4 of my first cd's I ever got for Christmas. the other 3 being Pearl Jam Vs., Aerosmith Get A Grip, and Ted Nugent Ted Nugent)
Nirvana- MTV Unplugged (remember listening to this album with headphones on in the dentist's office having surgery with laughing gas, while sniffing on raspberry lip balm, getting "high" for the first time!)
Grateful Dead- Aoxomoxoa (my first dead album, loved Dupree's diamond blues, and experimenting with pot at this time)
Pearl Jam- Live On Two Legs (Never listened to bands and never followed bands until I heard "the longest title in the Pearl Jam catalogue" on this album.)
Pink Floyd- Dark Side Of The Moon (listened to this and watched The Wizard of Oz with my first girlfriend in high school. She taught me a lot about love...)
The Beatles- White album (again with my first girlfriend. she taught me what "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" meant.)
Bob Dylan- Greatest Hits (really good album. one of only a few greatest hits I have, but one of the best IMO)
Red Hot Chili Peppers- Californication (senior year, high school. this was my soundtrack that year. over and over again in my first car.)
Pearl Jam- Binaural (first album I bought on release date. it was a big deal. also remember getting in trouble with my future wife, and telling her "... she's reached my heart,... in thin air" man, we listened to that over and over again and she loved it!)
The Black Keys- The Big Come Up & The White Stripes- White Blood Cells (both at the same time. began listening to "new" music after them. trying "new" music just to try it because of how great these 2 were.)
My Morning Jacket- Z (sort of stumbled on this, just before Pearl Jam Avocado tour when MMJ opened for PJ. really liked them live and playing "it makes no difference" with eddie v.)
Comments
14. Ani DiFranco, Living in Clip
15. Pink Floyd, The Wall
16. Radiohead, The Bends
17. Jeff Buckley, Live at Sin-e
18. The Clash, Combat Rock
19. Talking Heads, Compilation (or if I must pick, Remain In Light)
20. INXS, Listen Like Thieves (not so much influential because of the album, so much as seeing them live on this tour led to a number of crazy and "life-shaping" experiences)
Still can think of more! But must stop there.
Phillip Glass - Powwaqatsi (who knew classical music could be so good)
Mike Oldfield - Tubular bells (simply amazing, watching now how he made it, makes it even more amazing)
Ry Cooder - Paris, Texas (Who knew a movie soundtrack could be this haunting and this effective, One of my all time favourite pieces of music)
ELP - Works part 2 (fanfare for the common man, need I say more
Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin ii (no words can describe its brilliance)
Son House - Father of the Delta Blues (started my love affair with the blues)
Queen - Queen 2 (first vinyl I ever purchased, and what an incredible album it is)
Primal Scream - Screamadelica (lovely lovely electronica, full of soul, gospel, and block rocking beats
Genesis - Foxtrot (great album)
Scott Hardkiss - Yes (both beautiful in its music and in the way it is mixed, emotionally charged dance music)
This mortal coil - in filgree and shadow (beautifully haunting and melancholic, Lisa Gerrard the Cocteau twins and the rest of 4AD records all writing and playing, so gorgeous in its execution, so poignant and emotional)
:-bd
Nirvana- MTV Unplugged (remember listening to this album with headphones on in the dentist's office having surgery with laughing gas, while sniffing on raspberry lip balm, getting "high" for the first time!)
Grateful Dead- Aoxomoxoa (my first dead album, loved Dupree's diamond blues, and experimenting with pot at this time)
Pearl Jam- Live On Two Legs (Never listened to bands and never followed bands until I heard "the longest title in the Pearl Jam catalogue" on this album.)
Pink Floyd- Dark Side Of The Moon (listened to this and watched The Wizard of Oz with my first girlfriend in high school. She taught me a lot about love...)
The Beatles- White album (again with my first girlfriend. she taught me what "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" meant.)
Bob Dylan- Greatest Hits (really good album. one of only a few greatest hits I have, but one of the best IMO)
Red Hot Chili Peppers- Californication (senior year, high school. this was my soundtrack that year. over and over again in my first car.)
Pearl Jam- Binaural (first album I bought on release date. it was a big deal. also remember getting in trouble with my future wife, and telling her "... she's reached my heart,... in thin air" man, we listened to that over and over again and she loved it!)
The Black Keys- The Big Come Up & The White Stripes- White Blood Cells (both at the same time. began listening to "new" music after them. trying "new" music just to try it because of how great these 2 were.)
My Morning Jacket- Z (sort of stumbled on this, just before Pearl Jam Avocado tour when MMJ opened for PJ. really liked them live and playing "it makes no difference" with eddie v.)
The Cult, Love
REM, Murmur
Nirvana, Nevermind
AC/DC, Back in Black