First Albums

Paste has an interesting round-up of first album purchases by several different artists, like members of Deer Tick. The list reveals the influence of Green Day's Dookie and Nirvana, which is of no surprise for these musicians who are mostly 20-somethings. Nirvana is now twenty plus years old, and Green Day came out 18 years ago. They both are still played quite a bit on (DC!) radio and they still sound like they could have come out a year ago.

I remember getting REM's "Out of Time" and U2's Achtung Baby when I started high school, maybe Sophomore year.  But earlier, I mostly had the typical Debbie Gibson, Janet Jackson, and even a NKOTB album.  It was only later in high school that I discovered most of the alt-indie rock that I started to get into more. But it's an interesting question: what music has influenced you? More than anything, it was growing up with Michael Jackson, Madonna, hair bands, etc. 80s music, which I was old enough to remember.  Cindi Lauper.  INXS.  Some of which I still listen to today.