1. Good Charlotte: Good Charlotte
Why? Well for some reason I was like OBSESSED with Good Charlotte when I was in high school (at least the first few years I was there). This album was one that I played over and over and over. We had two copies... I don't really remember why. Anyway, they played Motivation Proclamation during some anti-drug film we watched, and I was all "Dude, that's my band!" No one knew who the hell I was talking about. We saw Good Charlotte at the first Warped Tour I had been to, and they were amazing. Just a wonderful album. Even though a lot of folks I hung with were into "real punk" or whatever they wanted to call it, I was into this pop punk album and didn't care what others had to say about it. I've grown out of Good Charlotte, but I wouldn't mind seeing them live again.
2. Emotion Is Dead: The Juliana Theory
Why? This is another band I was really into when I was in high school. Emotion Is Dead will probably ALWAYS remain the best album by The Juliana Theory. I remember they toured here back in the day, and I really wanted to go, but I ended up not getting to. We went to Steak Kountry the next day (yeah that's what was up), and some chick saw me in my Juliana Theory shirt. She told me that she had gone to that show the night before, and it was so amazing. I was very sad for the rest of dinner. :) Anyway, Into The Dark is my all-time favorite The Juliana Theory song, and I even used part of the lyrics to come up with my uber cool AIM screen name (but AIM is also so 2000, so that fits with the high school theme I have going here). This album is one that my sister even loves. I'm pretty sure she has it in her car right now.
3. Celebrity: *NSYNC
Why? Hey there... I'm the girl who was obsessed with Lance Bass (yeah who knew he was gay???). I had posters of *NSYNC all over my room. Hell, I even had a Lance Bass fansite... don't judge me. We saw *NSYNC live at Texas Stadium. I really thought Lance was singing to me the entire time. Wow, to be a freshman in high school again. But this album... this one came out in 2001. I believe I was home sick that day... not sure but I can recall being at home and chilling in my room. My dad went out and got it for me. That's a trooper right there. I used to play this CD all the time at track meets. I'd listen to it before I had to run or long jump. And I remember other folks on my track team borrowing it from me when we were at meets too. Gone was my song. I actually put that on a playlist I did for KISS FM a few years ago. Won me an iPod shuffle and dinner at Texas Land & Cattle. So thank you *NSYNC. Now where is my Lance Bass marionette doll?
4. A Jackknife To A Swan: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Why? Technically I believe this album came out AFTER I graduated from high school, and technically I don't even really own it... but I'm still putting it on my list because... it's my list! See here's the thing... the first Warped Tour I went to was 2002's Warped Tour. This was right after I graduated from high school, but since the Bosstones shaped my high school years, I'll keep it on the list. I was big into ska during high school. Yes, you may not think this considering I liked *NSYNC, but honestly I liked different types of music in high school. This album right here was great because there were so many catchy songs on it. And the lyric "To be king you don't need a castle" from Everybody's Better is one of my all-time favorite quotes. That song is also one of my all-time favorite songs. And when I went to Warped Tour, not only did I see The Mighty Mighty Bosstones live, but I met Dicky Barrett (the lead singer). He was legit... one of the nicest band guys I have ever met in my life.
5. Rancid: Rancid
Why? First, if you don't know who Rancid is... what's your problem? Anyway back in high school I was into so many different types of music. I liked a lot of pop punk music, and a lot of those bands said they turned to Rancid for inspiration. Rancid definitely does not sound like any of those bands, but I can definitely see why they would turn to such a rad band for inspiration. This album is not the best Rancid album, but it is the one that came out in 2000... while I was still in high school. I was big into Let's Go and ...And Out Comes The Wolves... albums that came out in the 90s. They really shaped my high school years too. I won't put them on this list because they didn't come out anywhere near the time I was in high school, and I'm trying to keep that theme going. But Rancid albums in general shaped my high school experience. There are so many songs on that album... I love it. Albums with like 8-10 songs always piss me off... but this album had like 20 or 22 songs on it. So intense!
6. All Killer No Filler: Sum 41
Why? Um, Sum 41 basically rocked my face off when I was a junior in high school. I remember listening to this album nonstop when I was getting ready for junior prom. It was always found in my car's CD player. I had a huge crush on Dave (Brownsound), and I was very disappointed when he was no longer a part of the band. Anywho, hey kiddos, remember the music video for Fat Lip? Yeah, that was awesome. And the lyrics... even better. The doctor said my mom should have had an abortion... wow... just wow. And thank you very much SingStar for making my dream come true. You can actually sing Fat Lip on one of the SingStars. Definitely the choice song for me when I play that game.
7. The Marshall Mathers LP: Eminem
Why? Um hi there... this list wouldn't be complete without this Eminem album. I had already owned The Slim Shady LP (My Name Is was one of those songs that just ruled my life). My parents really didn't want me to own it because of the language and everything, but whatever... I went out and bought it anyway. I would listen to this CD on the way to and from basketball games. I also remember I had just gotten a CD player in my car, and I was jamming out to this CD when I backed my car into a truck after a basketball game. Whoops. My dad was threatening to take that CD player out of my car. He blamed my wreck on that. Yeah, I really don't think Slim Shady caused me to get in a parked car accident, but what ya gonna do? Anywho, this is one of those CDs that not only shaped my high school life, but it shaped my rap life too. After hearing Em rap, I had someone to look up to. And... I also remember that Eminem would be played on rap stations, alternative stations, and Top 40 stations... so that's what's up. Oh and PS: For a bonus, I'm going to include The Slim Shady LP here too... because both CDs were so amazing, it's hard to just put one down.
8. Return of Saturn: No Doubt
Why? Alright, this definitely isn't the greatest No Doubt CD ever. In fact, most people I know either didn't go out and buy this, or they don't find the appeal in it. Yeah but come on... New is on this CD. New is one of my favorite No Doubt songs. It was in the movie Go!, and Go! is one of my favorite movies... so that was somewhat of a perk. Gems like Ex-Girlfriend, Simple Kind of Life, and Bathwater are all found on this CD. So anyway, I remember I bought this CD at Hastings when we actually had a Hastings. I think my dad told us we could each get one CD, and this is the one I chose. I also remember I had to do some project for Health class over a song and what it meant to me... and I chose Simple Kind of Life. Why we would be doing a project like that for Health, I really don't know. But I do know that I actually enjoyed doing it.
9. Americana: The Offspring
Why? Pretty Fly For a White Guy should be all I have to say. But since I want to expand on why I chose this album, I'll tell you even more about the radness that is Americana. The Offspring has always been one of those bands that people just enjoy listening to. I could be hanging with my friends, and if I had an Offspring album on me... I'd put it on and everyone would sing along. This album was one of those albums that people just enjoyed when you put it on. I would listen to it all the time freshman year when I was in Biology class. I had my Discman and my Americana CD, and I was good to go. Why Don't You Get A Job? was also on this CD, and hello... that song is pure greatness. In fact, I'm sure it will be stuck in my head now that I've thought about it. Oh snap, and Feelings is on that CD... such a good cover song of such a lame song.
10. Hello Nasty: Beastie Boys
Why? This album came out the July before I started high school (so I'm including it on this list). I remember I bought it while on vacation for the summer when we were in Alabama. The Beastie Boys are always thinking outside the box, putting out great music, and just doing their thing. This album was one I listened to from beginning to end over and over and over. This is definitely THE FIRST album that really got me wanting to rap. See, I'd turn on Intergalactic and rap it like 6 million times in a row while in my room. I learned every word and would just go off on it. Whenever we go somewhere where they have karaoke, I always look to see if they have Intergalactic (but sadly they never do). That would be my ultimate karaoke song. Just so you know, Body Movin' and The MCs and One DJ are both on this CD... which makes it even radder. Ahhh... ultimate Beastie Boys album... well in my eyes at least. I know some folks like old old school Beasties, but my favorite is this album right here.
