Album- Heavier Things
Artist- John Mayer
Release- September 2003
Notes- This album is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of all time. The impact of much of the work on this record rings loud and true for many, including myself, and reminds me to take a look at things a little closer in a more subjective form.

Favorite Song- Split Screen Sadness

"And I don’t where you went when you left me but says here in the water you must be gone by now...I can tell somehow.
One hand on the trigger of the telephone wonderin' when the call comes.
Will you say it’s all right? You got your heart right?
Maybe I’ll sleep inside my coat and wait on your porch ‘til you come back home, alright...
I can’t find a fight. We share the sadness...split screen sadness...
Two wrongs make it all alright tonight."

"'All you need is love' is a lie 'cause we had a love but we still said goodbye.
Now we’re tired battered fighters.
And it stings when it nobody’s fault cause there's nothing to blame at the drop of your name, it’s only the air you took...
And the breath you left...
So maybe I’ll sleep inside my coat and wait on your porch 'til you come back home, alright...
I can’t find the fight...
So I’ll check the weather wherever you are cause I wanna know if you can see the stars tonight...might be my only right..."

"I called... because... I just... need to feel you on the line.
Don’t hang up this time.
And I know well it’s me who called it over but I still wish you'd fought me ‘til Your dying day. Don’t let me get away.
Cause I can’t wait to figure out what’s wrong with me so I can say 'this is the way that I used to be'...
There’s no substitute for time...oh for the sadness..."

Album- Room for Squares
Artist- John Mayer
Release- September 2001
Notes- It took me a little bit of time to catch on to the music of John Mayer, but after really listening to what was going on, I began to hear many musical styles contrasting each other. I found it to be a really creative way of mixing things up, and I really began to listen to the music. What I found after purchasing the album was a great emotional setting of thoughts and feelings. Though John Mayer will be the first to admit that he's not the most deep and creative thinker ever, his music would make you think different.

Favorite Song- Why, Georgia?

"So what, so I've got a smile on, but it's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head...
Don't believe me when I say I've got it down...
Everybody is just a stranger but that's the danger in going my own way.
I guess it's the price I have to pay.
Still, 'everything happens for a reason' is no reason not to ask myself...
Am I living it right?"

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Album- Come Away With Me
Artist- Norah Jones
Release- February 2002
Notes- There is a distinct feel in all of the music on this album that has hit the pop world by surprise. Listeners all over the nation are getting a taste of wonderful music, and they don't know what hit them. I love the feel of folk, blues, and jazz, and I feel all of these on this outstanding album. There are many songs on here that one might find sad and depressing, and I agree with this generalization to a point, but I find the music also very soothing and satisfying, not matter when I listen to it.

Favorite Song- Lonestar

"Lonestar where are you out tonight?
This feeling I'm trying to fight...
It's dark and I think that I would give anything...
...for you to shine down on me..."

"How far you are, I just don't know...
The distance I'm willing to go...
I pick up a stone that I cast to the sky...
...hoping for some kind of sign."

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Album- Burning for Buddy- A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich
Release- October 1994
Notes- An album dedicated to one of the best big band drummers ever, in my opinion, Buddy Rich is honored my numerous jazz icons- horn players and drummers, in this energy filled album of Buddy Rich Big Band classics. There's never a dull moment when listening to this album.
Favorite Song- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

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Album- US Songs
Artist- Elliott
Release- August 1998
Notes- I saw this band for the first time in San Antonio back in 1997 when they played with Less Than Jake and Goldfinger. Both LTJ and Goldfinfer were more ska and punk bands, where as Elliott was truly what EMO was all about. Their emotional base and work melted within the rock was on a perfect balance, and I found their work mesmerizing to an extent. I listen to them often still.

Favorite Song- Miracle

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Album- Still Life (Talking)
Artist- Pat Metheny Group
Release- October 1990
Notes- When it comes to free-flowing laid back music that can calm me down no matter what, this album is it. The smooth and modern feel of Pat Metheny's guitar work and piano work of the legendary Lyle Mays is the perfect solution to any days stress. Creative free-feeling styles and interesting and different soloing styles make this one my favorite albums of all time. The feel of the tunes In Her Family and (It's Just) Talk pretty much take me to another dimension, which is really something to say about a song.

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Album- The Downward Spiral
Artist- Nine Inch Nails
Release- March 1994
Notes- There is a form of dark music in the world that allows us a chance to release all feelings of emotional anger, which has usually crept up and hidden itself deep inside one's soul. I found the music of Trent Reznor to be a form of expression that I could never come up with myself. I have never known of anyone else in the world who could be so angry, yet put together such intricate and sometimes beautiful songs. His works are not happy, and probably never will. Relating issues that really piss me off (for lack of a better way of saying it) is no problem, and I can easily relate thoughts with the words of his music. I could say that all of his albums have hit me in different and worthwhile ways despite it's harsh truths and thoughts, but I list this album as an important one because it's the one that got me into collecting NIN works.

Favorite Song- Hurt

"...beneath the stain of time the feeling disappears.
You are someone else, I am still right here.
What have I become- my sweetest friend.
Everyone I know goes away in the end.
You could have it all, my empire of dirt.
I will let you down, I will make you hurt.
If I could start again a million miles away...
I would keep myself, I would find a way..."

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Album- August and Everything After
Artist- Counting Crows
Release- September 1993
Notes- This is probably one of the most influential albums on my life. I have listened to this album non-stop since 1994, to be completly honest with you. The words of so many of the tracks on here have helped me through things, and have put a face on the issues before me. The music is wonderful, and the words are beautiful all the way around. Adam Duritz is one of my favorite guys in the world to listen to, with his original "from the heart" lyrics. It really is amazing to me how this album has stayed on my most-played list for almost ten years.

Favorite Song- Anna Begins

"The time when kindness falls like rain, it washes me away,
and Anna Begins to change my mind.
And everytime she sneezes I believe it's love and Oh Lord, I'm not ready for this sort of thing...

She's talking in her sleep, it's keeping me awake,
and Anna Begins to toss and turn,
and every word is nonsense but I understand, and Oh Lord, I'm not ready for this sort of thing...

Her kindness bangs a gong, it's moving me along,
and Anna Begins to fade away.
It's chasing me away...she disappears and Oh Lord, I'm not ready for this sort of thing..."

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Album- Grave Dancers Union
Artist- Soul Asylum
Release- October 1992
Notes- This was one of the first CD's I ever owned. I bought it out of impulse in 1993 because of one the more popular tracks they released from the album- Runaway Train. However, upon listening to the whole album, I found the works to be very well done, with much personal feeling tied into each track on the recording. Dave Pirner is a really great writter, and I his emotional deposits into the music are well worth his time. Though the band has faded over time, this album has not.

Favorite Song- Leave Without a Trace

"I tried to dance at a funeral New Orleans style.
I joined the Grave Dancer's Union, I had to file.
Trying to do the right thing, play it straight.
The right thing changes from state to state.
Don't forget to take your mace...
if you're out walking late.
I liked to see your face.
You left without a trace.
You leave without a trace..."

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Album- Rockin' the Suburbs
Artist- Ben Folds
Release- September 2001
Notes- Ben Folds tells a complete story with each song that he writes. It was apparent in his work when he was with his old band, but it became even more apparent with his solo album, in which he recorded most of the tracks himself. One wonders where his inspiration comes from, really. Wherever it may come from, this album offers a variety of thoughts and stories that I think prompt everyone to think and look at their lives, perhaps even question some of your actions and everyday behavior.

Favorite Song- Still Fighting It

"It was pain, sunny days and rain.
I knew you'd feel the same things..."
Everybody knows it hurts to grow up...
and everybody does, it's so weird to be back here.
Let me tell you what, the years go on and ee're still fighting it...
we're still fighting it...
and you're so much like me...I'm sorry..."

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Album- Throwing Copper
Artist- Live
Release- April 1994
Notes- The band Live has been churning out inspirational lyrics for over 15 years as a band- so inspirational that for some time, even Christian bookstores and music stores were selling their work. Live eventually shed off that classification, despite the fact that their songs did indeed encourage people to change their terrible ways on this particular album. Their later work spread off into a stranger more unmapped area of the musical world. This album provided great rock with great words, and I listened to it non-stop until I had the album stolen from me in 2001. If I had money, I'd buy it again. MP3's will have to do for now...

Favorite Song- I Alone

"It's easier not to be wise and measure these things by your brains.
I sank into Eden with you alone in the church by and by.
I'll read to you here, save your eyes, you'll need them, your boat is at sea.
Your anchor is up, you've been swept away and the greatest of teachers won't hesitate to leave you there, by yourself, chained to fate..."

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Album- The Colour and the Shape
Artist- Foo Fighters
Release- May 1997
Notes- Rock has often left me wondering why I listened to it for so long, or at least that's the way I felt for quite some time until this album came around while I was still living in San Antonio. Dave Grohl is a master of balancing the perfect sound of rock, appealing to all genres and ages. The anger of rock eases my mind at times, but when I'm thinking too much, his artful usage of words does the job as well.

Favorite Song- February Stars

"I'm hanging on here until I'm gone.
I'm right where I belong just hanging on.
Even though I pass this time alone,
somewhere so unknown, it heals the soul.
You ask for walls, I'll build them higher.
We'll lie in shadows of them all.
I'd stand but they're much too tall, and I fall...
February Stars...
Floating in the dark...
Temporary scars...
February Stars..."

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Album- The Division Bell
Artist- Pink Floyd
Release- April 1994
Notes- Pink Floyd has long been a standard in musical expression for a handful of decades, and this more modern cut was no less of a piece of expression than other famous albums, such as The Wall. Life lessons can be learned and achieved listening to some of this wisdom. Just recently, as I walked a long path to no where wondering what I needed to do next in my life, I pondered the words of the songs on this album, and found great comfort in them. Though I have much distance left to travel on that road, this album and it's contents stirred me enough to do what I had to do.

Favorite Song- Poles Apart

"Did you know...it was all going to go so wrong for you?
And did you see it was all going to be so right for me?
Why did we tell you then you were always the golden boy...
and that you'd never lose that light in your eyes...

Hey you...did you ever realize what you'd become?
And did you see that it wasn't only me you were running from?
Did you know all the time but it never bothered you anyway...
Leading the blind while I stared out the steel in your eyes...

The rain fell slow, down on all the roofs of uncertainty...
I thought of you and the years and all the sadness fell away from me...
And did you know...I never thought that you'd lose that light in your eyes..."

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Album- Something to Write Home About
Artist- Get Up Kids
Release- September 1999
Notes- EMO has been making more of a move into the mainstay of modern music, and it's good to see, really. I would've never had a clue as to what EMO really was, however, Jeremy Middleton tuned me into it, and I was pretty much hooked after that. The emotional ride throughout this kind of music is similar to living day to day, as I think I do. The thoughts of this style of music are everything I think about, and this band, which I initially didn't like that much, has grown on me over the last few years. Their unrefined sound and song writting has pulled me in.

Favorite Song- Valentine

"Two days I wait for calls to come through.
Tonight for me translates to yesterday to you.
Bend and you wave...you’re barely away.
I wish I could say tonight when you bend and wave goodbye...
you’d take me with you...

Will you be my Valentine if I’m a world away?
Apologies are breaking me.
Constants aren’t so constant anymore..."

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Album- The Great Divide
Artist- Willie Nelson
Release- January 2002
Notes- Willie Nelson is of course a classic in the country would, and with this album, he's working on pulling in some of the pop world, too. The album is produced by the same guy that does all of Matchbox 20's albums, and some of the songs are written by him and Rob Thomas of MB20. I enjoy everything on here, and the song Mendocino County Line is amoung a small group on songs that I find most beautiful in the world.

Favorite Song- Mendocino County Line

"I spent time with an angel just passing through.
Now all that's left is this image of you..."

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Album- The Great Kai and JJ
Artist- JJ Johnson and Kai Winding
Re-release- May 1997
Notes- The jazz trombone never sounded better than on this simple album of trombone work between two of the finest trombone players in the world. JJ is an icon for all trombone players and performers. Kai Winding easily hangs with JJ on this recording, and it is a treat to listen to this album over and over again. The two combine perfect sound and warm tone to produce one of best jazz albums ever. As a trombone player, this album is a cornerstone of how I want to play and sound someday.

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Album- In This Life
Artist- Collin Raye
Release- January 1992
Notes- One of the strongest voices in country music throughout the 90's was that of Collin Raye. He has a way to pulling you in with his voice, coupled with the fine tunes he sings. He has always been somewhat of an emotional guy, singing about topics ranging from life to love to spirituality. The one song that struck me when I was high school as being an incredible expression of love and strong feelings and desire has always stuck in my mind...

Favorite Song- That Was a River

"The love we've had before can never change this one.
We're not imprisoned by the past we've brought along.
It's just you and me, one ship in the night.
There are no boundaries, there is no wind in sight..."

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Album- Yourself or Someone Like You
Artist- Matchbox 20
Release- October 1996
Notes- Anger and sadness are really what this band is all about, and though one might say that's not a reason to like a band's music, I say that everyone feels these emotions on a regular basis, and what a better way to understand these emotions than to listen to words written about them.

Favorite Song- Kody

"I've seen a lot of good things die and I'm in an overemotional way..."

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