10 Essential Albums of My Life
Rules: Only 1 album per artist.
Cracked Rear View - Hootie & The Blowfish
I named my dog after this band. I’ve listened to it well over 100 times front to back. I’ve seen them live in 2007 and again in 2024. They’ve still got it and I will not hear otherwise.
Favorite song: Not Even The Trees
Honorable Mention: Hannah Jane
Every Kingdom - Ben Howard
Probably THE album that turned my favorite genre into singer-songwriter/acoustic, and it got me through some lonely times in my 20s, trying to figure life out post-college.
Favorite song: Old Pine
Honorable Mention: The Fear
Darkness On The Edge of Town - Bruce Springsteen
A Jersey boy like myself absolutely has to have a Springsteen album on here, and it was difficult to settle on one. Apologies to Born to Run, Greetings from Asbury Park, The River, and The Rising.
Favorite song: Badlands
Honorable Mention: Prove It All Night
Take The Sadness Out of Saturday Night - Bleachers
Pure euphoria from almost every song on this album. Jack Antonoff delivers with incredible production and songwriting. Possibly the most fun band I’ve ever seen live, too.
Favorite song: Chinatown
Honorable Mention: How Dare You Want More
Mescalito - Ryan Bingham
Bingham was described to me by a musically-inclined friend as “modern day Johnny Cash” - and I still think that fits. Raspy, soulful, unapologetic Americana.
Favorite song: Southside of Heaven
Honorable Mention: Sunrise
American Heartbreak - Zach Bryan
Peak Zach Bryan in my opinion. 34 songs, ranging widely in tone and message. Some of his best songwriting and the easter egg on this album is the 34th track, “This Road I Know” - more a poem than song. I go back and listen to it often.
Favorite song: Highway Boys
Honorable Mention: Darling
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ - 50 Cent
Hudson County high school basketball in the year 2004 - on the bus, in lay-up lines, you could not escape it. While my dreams of becoming an NBA basketball player abruptly ended in this timeframe, I’ll always look back fondly.
Favorite song: If I Can’t
Honorable Mention: Patiently Waiting
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
My mom’s favorite band growing up. They’re one of those artists where there’s truly never a bad time to throw it on the speaker and just relax and feel positive. Timeless.
Favorite song: The Chain
Honorable Mention: Dreams
Willy and the Poor Boys - Creedence Clearwater Revival
For a shameless coastal cowboy, this album (and all CCR) is straight sugar candy. Best enjoyed driving on some open highway.
Favorite song: It Came Out Of The Sky
Honorable Mention: Cotton Fields
The Avett Brothers - I and Love And You
Possibly my favorite songwriters of all-time. “Laundry Room” crescendos with one of the best jams/jubilees you'll ever hear. A highlight of every live show I go see of theirs.
Favorite song: Laundry Room
Honorable Mention: Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise
