Albums That Changed My Life: Michael Craver (Seahaven)
This week's slice of "Albums That Changed My Life" goodness comes from Michael Craver of Seahaven!The band are currently gearing up for their first nationwide tour of 2012 with Man Overboard, in support of their stunning debut album, "Winter Forever", which is out now through Run For Cover Records. If you haven't heard it yet, make sure it's your number one priority of the day!
AFI - Sing The SorrowFirst thing I should mention is that this is my favorite record ever. From the songs, to the art direction, the production and the overall time period for this band, I cannot name a record that has resonated with me more than this one. I consider it a direct influence to the style of guitar playing that I have adapted now. Jade's [Puget, lead guitar] riffs on this are so intricate and melodic, but some of the saddest I have ever heard. I'm equally in love with the b-sides from this one too. This record came out when I was in the 6th grade and completely shaped my youth to come as I shifted from adolescence into a young adult.
Weezer - Blue AlbumThis is a record that I have to consider as a building block for me. It's packed full of radio hits that I grew up listening to. Weezer is the first band I can remember hearing as a child and identifying with their sound. It made sense to me before I even knew that music could do that. I guess it's the reason I love melodic, catchy music and probably a huge reason that I write the kind of music that I do now. Thank you Rivers Cuomo [lead vocals/guitar].
Bayside - S/TThis record is very special to me because it basically represents my high school experience. I got this record the summer before my first year of high school and it just felt like it was something I could always count on to relate to or make me feel comfortable as I entered that awkward high school, coming of age phase. It's great because whenever I listen to this one, I immediately feel 15 again. Every song on this one is special to me in some individual way.
Circa Survive - On Letting GoThis record is special to me in a couple different ways. The first being that this is the record I was in love with around the time that I got my first real girlfriend. I was in the 10th grade and didn't drive yet, so I would put this album on and ride my bike 30 minutes across town to and from her house pretty much everyday that summer. When I think of my first "love" I immediately remember how this was basically the soundtrack for it. Since then, I have come to really really appreciate the production on this. I remember being amazed by how clean and atmospheric it sounded but it wasn't until a couple years ago that I looked into who recorded it and discovered that Brian McTernan also produced a handful of other records that I love. Since then, it has set a standard for how I listen to production on records.
