Music albums that affected you deeply?

[Trevor]

For me there are three:

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour by The Moody Blues
War of The Worlds by Jeff Wayne
The Wall* by Pink Floyd

* Banned in South Africa, incidentally. 

[Mofo Rising]

It's fairly unknown, one of the albums put out on Trent Reznor's fledgling label Nothing Records.

Prick a self-titled album by the band Prick, which was pretty much one guy named Kevin McMahon.

The rest of that story never petered out to anything. I gather the band was dropped, and nothing good ever happened for that guy.

I found the album in high school, and it became the soundtrack to some very formative experiences. I love that album, although it is virtually unknown. I can't listen to it without being transported to an alternate mindset; it means a lot to me.

[FatFreddysCat]

Why is "The Wall" banned in South Africa? 

[HappyGilmore]

BloodSugarSexMagik by Red Hot Chili Peppers


Dirt by Alice in Chains


The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails

[Trevor]

Why is "The Wall" banned in South Africa? 

In 1980, students involved in class boycotts and protests were using the "We don't need no education" refrain as their rallying cry ~ the result: the album was banned. Not anymore though.

[voltron]

Swans' "Swans Are Dead" was like a religious experience for me. Totally devastating. Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut" is another one that really stuck with me. Soooo depressing, even though I know most Floyd fans hate that one. Talk Talk's "Laughing Stock" is utterly amazing - a genre unto itself. Quite possibly one of the most soulful, beautiful pieces of music ever made.

[JaseSF]

R.E.M.: Document, Green, Automatic For the People and Reveal but mostly Green
Midnight Oil: Diesel and Dust
Living Colour: Vivid and Time's Up
Unity: You Are One
Uniform Choice: Screaming For Change
Minor Threat: Complete Discography

[zombie no.one]

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Dinosaur Jr - Green Mind
Joni Mitchell - Clouds

[Leah]

Sublime- Sublime
if you know already, this is my childhood album that I will always cherish.

[FatFreddysCat]

Why is "The Wall" banned in South Africa? 

In 1980, students involved in class boycotts and protests were using the "We don't need no education" refrain as their rallying cry ~ the result: the album was banned. Not anymore though.

Interesting. You learn something new every day around here!

[Flick James]

Hmmm. Different times of my life.

Pink Floyd The Wall was a big one when I was in my late teens/early 20's. I was a dark, brooding young man and so that album fit me well. To be quite honest, however, with the exception of a few songs, I really don't like that album now. Almost every Pink Floyd album other than that one is more agreeable to me.

Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello is another one. Same general time period. That album was like a cathartic release for my f**ked up relationships with women. I think Costello felt the same way. It is arguably his darkest album from a thematic aspect, yet he considers it one of his most positive, which was wierd to me when I first heard him say that. But it makes sense now, because the album probably served the same exorcism-like effect for him that it did for me. I still love the album.

Sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH005P1NvcA

[tracy]

This was a very important album for me personally....those mop-topped lads from Liverpool were really beginning to expand and experiment with their sound and performances here. Past were the days of "Love Me Do" and dress suits.