The other day my 16 year old brother (see photo right to get a visual of our relationship) asked me what two albums he should get his two girl friends for their birthday. Now, when graced with such a question one can only begin to reminisce back to their old 16/17 year old days. Times have changed, and my personal favorite albums when I was at that age probably won't have the same effect on 17 year old girls today. There are some exceptions though. After serious deliberation of what two albums these girls should hear, most likely two albums they've never heard of (especially coming from my hometown), but more importantly two albums that would change their lives for the better and hopefully open new doors of music for them, I concluded on:RADIOHEAD | IN RAINBOWS
This album is without a doubt a love album. It's their most straight forward work yet. Thom Yorke says the lyrics are about "that anonymous fear thing, sitting in traffic, thinking...". Teenage girls love to drive, so why not give them that good ole contemplative soundtrack they desire but can't seem to find on pop radio stations. Instead of Taylor Swift, give a girl "All I Need" or "House of Cards". Instead of Miley Cyrus, show her "Reckoner". Let her hear how haunting a tambourine can be. If there's one productive thing Twilight has done to our world, it's put Radiohead on preteen girls' iPods ("15 Step" is played during the credits of the first Twilight and Thom Yorke's "Hearing Damage" is featured on the New Moon soundtrack). This album changed my life when I was 17, I know history can repeat itself.
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE | YOU FORGOT IT IN PEOPLE
Now, I didn't know this album when I was 17, but it still hits home. Kota, my co dj, told me that when she was 17, she made a playlist about being 17 and discovered "Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl". The lyrics are what do it. They somehow turned nostalgia into a song, leaving you absorbed in memories. From start to finish, this album is filled with emotions. There is nothing stagnant about this album. And that's why I love it.
After some serious pondering, I began to make a list of more albums for a seventeen year old's listening pleasure. With that being said, inspired by the Broken Social Scene song "Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl", I give you
ALBUMS FOR A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE | MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION
Only good things can come from listening to this album. You either get it, or you don't. If you do, your world expands. If you don't, you can't help but wonder what else is out there.
ARCADE FIRE | FUNERAL
People should know what's going on right above us. Canada has some pretty good things to offer. After "Where The Wild Things" came out, I saw Arcade Fire on just about every girl's iPod I looked through. People who hear Arcade Fire tend to enjoy it which is why more people should hear it. "Wake Up" would be my go to song for this album because it is just that good. But as far as build ups and hardcore jam sessions in cars go, "Une Annee Sans Lumiere" takes the cake.
500 DAYS OF SUMMER | VARIOUS ARTISTS
I'm not a fan of romantic comedies. Really not a fan. But this one I like. Maybe it's The Smiths, Wolfmother, Regina Spektor, The Temper Trap or a Pixies cover of "Here Comes Your Man" that does it. If there's one way to show a girl good music, put awesome bands in a romantic comedy soundtrack.
KINGS OF LEON | AHA SHAKE HEARTBREAK
Gosh I miss the cocaine days of Kings of Leon. This album was written about all types of girls: taper jean girls, girls who drink milk, girls who cause erectile dysfunction and even transvestites. It's common sense to give a girl this album. Trust me.
DR. DOG | FATE
Let a girl know there are adorable short men with suspenders who bounce around and sing about being in and out of love. She'll dig it. And then afterwards, she'll require Dr. Dog to be a prerequisite in a guy's library before he can ask her out.
THE DODOS | VISITER
It's folk pop. I think. Everything is straight forward on this album, but done rather exceptionally well. There needs to be more female drummers. Hopefully the crisp off-beat percussion on here will do some inspiration.
NICK DRAKE | PINK MOON
Hide all her Jack Johnson or John Mayer and give her Nick Drake. Tell her he was only 22 when he recorded this. Tell her this is from the 1970s. Tell her he was such an introvert he recorded his album while facing a wall. Tell her he was a rather attractive gentlemen. Tell her Heath Ledger was obsessed with him. Let her listen to his guitar picking. Let her hear his words of wisdom. If you do this, you'll see a change. She'll be outside more, appreciate life more, and maybe, just maybe...hide those Jack Johnson and John Mayer albums forever.
Here are some of my personal favorite albums back when I was 17:
THE YARDIBRDS | Rave Up
KINGS OF LEON | Youth & Young Manhood
LED ZEPPELIN | Physical Graffiti
THE SUBWAYS | Young For Eternity
THE VINES | Winning Days
PAOLO NUTINI | These Streets
BECK | Guero
MARIE ANTOINETTE SOUNDTRACK | Various Artists
DEATH PROOF SOUNDTRACK | Various Artists
ONCE SOUNDTRACK | Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
JUNO SOUNDTRACK | Various Artists
THICKER THAN WATER SOUNDTRACK | Various Artists
SCRUBS SOUNDTRACK | Various Artists
THE BLACK KEYS | Magic Potion
TV ON THE RADIO | Dear Science
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND | The Velvet Underground & Nico
T. REX | Electric Warrior
MODEST MOUSE | We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
SUFJAN STEVENS | Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State
WHITE STRIPES | Icky Thump
RADIOHEAD | In Rainbows
SONIC YOUTH | Rather Ripped
SPOON | Gimme Fiction
GIRL TALK | Feed The Animals
