don't you dare back down, you've come too close now.

This weekend was Florida Music Festival, which left me running around Orlando with very little down time. Being at a music conference made me think about a few things, one of which being "what exactly got me in to music?".


Band: Bryan Adams
Album(s): (Everything I Do) I Do For You [Single]
Released in: 1991

I still to this day have this on cassette. I must've listened to it a half million times.


Band: Boys II Men
Album(s): II
Released in: 1994.

No joke. The singles I remember buying were Boys II Men, and the first CD single I remember buying was "One Sweet Day" with them and Mariah Carey. (I also had a bunch of her singles early on. I jumped on my bed singing to them. Oh yeah.) Also reminiscent of this time period was All-4-One's self titled album. I'd bet my last penny that I know the majority if not all of the words to each song on the aforementioned CDs, to this day.


Band: That Dog
Album(s): Totally Crushed Out
Released in: 1994

My dad bought me this CD when I was in Elementary School. A distant relative is the lead vocalist for TD, so I became fascinated. Definitely not appropriate for a kid in Elementary School, but by the time my dad figured it out, I already loved it (not to mention I'm sure I didn't understand it).


Band: Green Day
Album(s): Dookie, Nimrod
Released in: 1994, 1997

I remember loving the hidden track on Dookie at a young age, only to turn it back on a few years later to be mortified at my new found understanding of the song. I remember borrowing someone's copy of Nimrod on a summer camp trip when I was 12 or 13, and attaching myself to every word in every song.


Band: Blink 182
Album(s): Enema Of The State
Released in: 1999

This CD brings back so much middle school nostalgia for me. Blink 182 was the first band I ever really... danced?... to. I remember being at a party in 6th grade and jumping up and down the songs on this CD.


Band: (A) New Found Glory
Album(s): Nothing Gold Can Stay, Self Titled
Released in: 1999, 2000

New Found Glory will forever be in my heart as the band that changed me the most. I finally turned off the 'Nsync, Backstreet and Britney, and opened my ears to something new. The first real concert I went to (discounting Billy Joel/Elton John and local shows) was Buzz Bake Sale 2001 to see them play. I left with bruised ribs from manning my post at the front of the crowd, and I still smiled for four days after. Being 14 was awesome.


Band: Lit
Album(s): A Place In The Sun, Atomic
Released in: 1999, 2001

These albums will forever rest among my top favorite albums. Atomic is one of the only albums I've bought more than once (I admittedly have THREE copies of ANFG's Nothing Gold Can Stay). This band never lets me down.


Band: The Get Up Kids
Album(s): Red Letter Day/Woodson EP, Something To Write Home About
Released in: 2001, 1999.

I bought the Red Letter Day/Woodson EP at my first Warped Tour from some random kid. I had only heard three TGUK songs at that point in time, but I loved them (and had my parent's money to spend), so my yellow-haired 14 year old self purchased the CD. I think it was $5. Shortly after, I bought Something To Write Home About. I fell in love.


Band: The Ataris
Album(s): A bit of End Is Forever mixed with some So Long, Astoria.
Released in: 2001, 2003

The Ataris were the first 'big' band I hung out with, and it changed my life. So Long Astoria is a perfectly crafted album. Basically, Chris Roe is the man.


Band: The Starting Line
Album(s): Say It Like You Mean It
Released in: 2002

This album is so crucial to my generation's discography. Kenny Vasoli put emotion in to perfectly written lines. It captured me.


Band: Finch
Album(s): What It Is To Burn
Released in: 2002

This CD opened my ears. There's no filler on the album, just straight up goodness.


Band: Something Corporate
Album(s): Leaving Through The Window
Released in: 2002

I downloaded "Punk Rock Princess" and "Hurricane" when I found out SoCo was playing a show with New Found Glory. The band took me by complete surprise. LTTW painted perfect pictures in my little mind.


Band: The Used
Album(s): The Used
Released in: 2002

If you know me at all, you've heard my Bert McCracken story. I met him and he (pretty literally) saved my life when I was 15. This CD kept the things he taught me echoing in my ears for a long time.


Band: Unsung Zeros
Album(s): Moments From Mourning
Released in: 2002

I didn't want to like this band before I listened to them (guys, don't kill me for admitting that!). I don't know why, probably because they stole headliner spots over my friend's bands... but I finally saw them play and 'Postcards Home' grabbed me tight. I love Unsung Zeros. I love the raw emotion that Josh could always put in to songs, and I'm really glad to know these guys because they are all incredibly talented.


Band: Brand New
Album(s): Deja Entendu
Released in: 2003

I loved Jesse Lacey circa 2003. I loved his spirit when he played and how in love with what he was doing he seemed. I wish I could see that in more people... I wish I could still see it in him.


Band: Taking Back Sunday
Album(s): Tell All Your Friends
Released in: 2003

Self explanatory. This album is key.


Band: Copeland
Album(s): Beneath Medicine Tree
Released in: 2003

Aaron Marsh NEVER disappoints me. I'm pretty sure talent oozes out of his pores.


Band: Mae
Album(s): Destination: Beautiful
Released in: 2003

In High School, I had one of the coolest best friends. One day, he made me buy this album. It was unlike anything I had heard at that time. I still love it just the same.


Band: Dashboard Confessional
Album(s): A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar
Released in: 2003

C'mon. Seriously. I get so bummed with people who don't like DC. This CD screams of my insane early teen years and the insane nights and array of friends that represent them.



Honorable mentions: Sugarcult's Start Static. Glassjaw's Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence. Ace Troubleshooter's Madness of the Crowd. Good Charlotte's Self Titled. Limp Bizkit's Significant Other (OH, COME ON. You loved it too). Weezer's Blue Album. Yellowcard's Ocean Avenue. Josie and the Pussycats soundtrack.

... I think it is safe to say that 2002 and 2003 were full of some pretty influential music in my life.

I'm going to have to make another one of these, one day, with which singles changed me.
All of these albums are beginning to end perfection in my eyes... not only for the music itself, but for what it represents to me; memories, struggles, learning experiences.

What albums and artists got you to love music?
-sm.