My Top 10 Favorite Albums of All Time (Part 5 of 5)

Here's a recap of everything up to this point::

#10. ...And Miles to Go Before We Sleep - Vertigo
#9. Nirvana - Nirvana
#8. By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
#7. Seasons - Sevendust
#6. This is the Warning - Dead Letter Circus
#5. Themata - Karnivool
#4. We Cracked the Sky - Sugar Glyder
#3. Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
#2. Start Something - Lostprophets

#1. Make Yourself - Incubus
First off, I think it's kind of interesting that both of my favorite albums (Make Yourself and Start Something) have titles that are two-word, inspiring commands. But anyway, Incubus is by far my favorite band of all time, and in my mind, none of their albums exemplifies what they stand for more than Make Yourself. It was their breakout album, and for good reason. Hits like "Stellar," "Drive," "Pardon Me," and "I Miss You" drove this album to be one of the most successful albums at the close of the last millennium. I literally love every song. It just has to be heard in full to be truly appreciated. If you've never heard of this CD before, you absolutely must check it out. There's a song on there for lovers of all types of music.

"Drive" is without a doubt my favorite song of all time. It's probably mostly due to the nostalgia factor of it for me, but it's just like no matter how many times I listen to this song, it never gets old.

"Pardon Me" is another personal favorite. It's a lot more typical of the nu-metal tendencies of the time period.

"The Warmth" is a track that most people probably haven't heard of though, so I thought I'd mention it since it's one of my favorites, too. It's just a really good song to listen to when you need a lift or some reassurance.

My Top 10 Favorite Albums of All Time (Part 4 of 5)

Here's a recap of parts 1, 2, and 3:

#10. ...And Miles to Go Before We Sleep - Vertigo
#9. Nirvana - Nirvana
#8. By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
#7. Seasons - Sevendust
#6. This is the Warning - Dead Letter Circus
#5. Themata - Karnivool
#4. We Cracked the Sky - Sugar Glyder

#3. Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
Linkin Park is just amazing. The fact that they were able to make themselves stand out among all the rest of that massive wave of nu-metal bands in the 90s is a respectable feat in itself, and even today they remain a powerhouse in the music industry. Hybrid Theory just kind of speaks for itself. It's angry, it's brash, and it's awesome.  Combining the hip-hop style of Mike Shinoda with Chester's aggressive vocals gives this band the ability to transcend genres and reach out to a really wide range of people. In addition to all this, the lyrical substance in the majority of their songs is compelling, with "A Place for My Head" being the track in my mind as I type this.

#2. Start Something - Lostprophets
I love every single one of Lostprophets' albums, but Start Something always has and always will blow my mind listening through it. I first heard "To Hell We Ride" on Need for Speed: Underground for the Gamecube way back in the day, so I have that game to thank for that at least. Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins is an incredibly talented individual, yet he sings in a way that is still very accessible and easy to sing along to. This whole album is just genius and it's hard for me to pick a favorite track on it. "Last Train Home" is one that most people have heard of, but "I Don't Know," "We Still Kill the Old Way," and "Last Summer" are all incredible, too. If I absolutely had to pick a favorite from this album though, it'd have to be the title track, "Start Something."

My Top 10 Favorite Albums of All Time (Part 3 of 5)

Here's a recap of parts 1 and 2:

#10. ...And Miles to Go Before We Sleep - Vertigo
#9. Nirvana - Nirvana
#8. By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
#7. Seasons - Sevendust
#6. This is the Warning - Dead Letter Circus

#5. Themata - Karnivool
Karnivool is by far one of the best bands to come around in recent years, in my opinion. Again, this is another Aussie progressive metal band that's just now starting to gain a following here in the US due to the release of their newest album, Sound Awake. However, as a whole, I enjoyed Themata a tiny bit more. It's just a bit more varied and addictive. Musically, they're reminiscent of Tool, mostly due to odd rhythms and melodies throughout, but Ian Kenny's vocals allow for a clear distinction to be made between the two bands. Kenny is capable of incredible highs and his vocal phrasings add a beautiful clarity to the chaotic harmony of the rest of their music. They're incredibly interesting to listen to, and are definitely worth checking out if you are just looking for something new. You will find something you like by them.

#4. We Cracked the Sky - Sugar Glyder
The Charlotte-based rockers in Sugar Glyder are easily my favorite live band. Every time they come to town, they actually remember my group of friends and I, and that's just awesome to me. They meet all these different people on the road, and they're always completely chill and eager to talk to the fans that always come out to support them. They're starting to get a pretty huge following, and I can see these guys (and girl) making it really big. They've most certainly got what it takes.

My Top 10 Favorite Albums of All Time (Part 2 of 5)

To recap up to this point, here's the results of part 1:

#10. ...And Miles to Go Before We Sleep - Vertigo
#9. Nirvana - Nirvana
#8. By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers

#7. Seasons - Sevendust
I first heard Sevendust's music while working after hours at an ice cream shop oddly enough. Some time passed before I actually got into their stuff, but eventually my uncle told me they were coming to town and that we needed to go see them. He was right. Sevendust is absolutely one of the best hard rock live acts out there. Seasons has more of a poppy edge to it than most of their other albums, and you gotta love the catchy hooks that each song on this album has. It's quite amazing.

#6. This is the Warning - Dead Letter Circus
I actually have YouTube to thank for finding out about these Aussie rockers (They came up in the related videos section when I was looking up a Karnivool music video). Once I heard "Big" I was completely blown away. The range of Kim Benzie's voice is astonishing and Luke Williams is one of my favorite drummers. They released 2 versions of this CD. The US release had several of their songs from earlier EPs that are a very welcome addition and some of my favorite tracks on the album, so make sure to pick that release up if you're thinking about buying the album. I'd also just like to add that these guys are some of the coolest musicians I've had the pleasure of meeting. I went to see them with some friends when they came over here on their first US tour with Animals as Leaders, and after their set they chilled at their merch table and talked with us for a good hour. Really awesome people.

My Top 10 Favorite Albums of All Time (Part 1 of 5)

I'm a huge fan of Progressive Rock/Metal, as will be evident by the end of this list. Most of my favorite bands formed in the 90s and are still out there making great music.

For the sake of keeping things fresh, I've limited myself to only listing my favorite CD from each individual band (otherwise Incubus would probably take up more than half the list). Anyway, here goes...

#10. ...And Miles to Go Before We Sleep - Vertigo
Vertigo was a small band based in the Morristown/Knoxville area in Tennessee. However, the group is now disbanded sadly. Lead singer Lindsey Stamey went on to become a member of Oh No Fiasco! (which is also a great band worth checking out). But, back to the album now, every track is just solid, well-written, and thoroughly immersible. The swelling, atmospheric effect this album creates with each song is something that has highly influenced me as a musician in my own recordings, and for this reason, it will forever hold a special place in my mind. "Progression" was easily the most captivating song I ever had the pleasure of witnessing them play live.

#9. Nirvana - Nirvana
Nirvana's self-titled, black-covered album is by far the best compilation of their songs out there. Kurt Cobain was arguably the best songwriter of the 90s and he was one of the reasons I began writing my own songs in the first place. "Heart-Shaped Box," "Dumb," and of course, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" are just a few of my favorites. RIP Kurt. I am forever grateful for your inspiration.

#8. By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Nearly all of the Chili Peppers' albums are genius, but this album has several of my absolute favorite songs by them.  "Venice Queen," "Minor Thing," and "By the Way" are all classics and incredibly fun to drum along to. Chad Smith is just a beast. As a side note, I really miss the influence of John Frusciante in their newer stuff. Please, come back, John.