Albums That Changed My Life: Jenna McDougall (Tonight Alive)
This week's slice of "Albums That Changed My Life" goodness comes from Tonight Alive vocalist Jenna McDougall!The band are currently spending their summer across the country on this year's Warped Tour. If you haven't had a chance to check them out yet or missed them in your town, never fear! Tonight Alive have already announced plans to return later this year on a soon-to-be-announced tour in the fall.
Missy Higgins - The Sound of White'The Sound Of White' was an album I started listening to when I was 12 and haven't stopped listening to since. It's both simple and beautiful but above everything else it's real. Listening to and learning the songs from 'The Sound of White' was my introduction into songwriting and performing with an acoustic guitar. 'Scar' was one of the singles released off the album and one that all my friends knew so I found myself playing it pretty often but my real favorites are 'All For Believing', 'Don't Ever', 'Nightminds', 'The Special Two', 'This is How it Goes', 'The Sound of White' and 'They Weren't There'. This album and the songs listed in particular impacted my life in a big way and I will never love, admire or idolize Missy Higgins less than the way I did when I was 12 years old.
Brand New - Deja EntenduI was introduced to Brand New at age 14. I remember the very first time I put 'Deja Entendu' into my CD player in my bedroom like it was yesterday. It was the evening after a school day and a friend had burnt me the CD. I listened to and loved 'Tautou', skipped '..Gloria..' and fell head over heals for 'The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows'. It may seem strange but that was the first song that ever made me emotional because I'd never heard people screaming or yelling in music before. It was also the first time my Mum ever told me to shut my door. My affair with Brand New was instant and still remains strong. 'Deja Entendu' inspired me to find refuge and comfort in music that got my feelings out. It's also an album that I associate with my alone time which I really like. Some of my favorite tracks from the album are 'Play Crack the Sky', 'Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis', 'Guernica', 'Good to Know That if I Ever Need Attention..' and 'The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot'.
Good Charlotte - S/TAs a child of new generation pop punk it may seem sad that my first introduction to the genre was Avril Lavigne's first record in 2002; which don't get me wrong is an album that I love and know every word to but she's not exactly a punk veteran let alone respected. It was actually Good Charlotte's self titled record that stole my heart and sold it to pop punk in 2005. I was in my first year of high school when a friend lent me the album (along with Fall Out Boy's 'From Under the Cork Tree' and a burnt mix of Blink songs) that started (what I thought was) my rebellious/punk phase. I went to an all girls Anglican school where I was one of few students into anything besides boys and lip gloss let alone music at the time. Songs like 'Little Things', 'East Coast Anthem', 'Festival Song' and 'I Heard You' got me through my first year of high school making me feel cool and accepted despite being a total outcast. I loved Good Charlotte for making me feel not only accepted but happy and will always loved them for bringing aggressive and honest music into my life and inspiring me to write music.
Jack's Mannequin - Everything In Transit'Everything in Transit' by Jack's Mannequin in my mind, is an album that will stand the test of time. Not because it was revolutionary or because it changed the world but because to me, there's nothing like music that can make you feel the same way as the first time you heard it. I think I can associate every song on that record with a really special memory from my growing up. It was less about the huge, significant points in my life but more of the everyday motions of walking with my dog through my neighborhood, or between classes at school. This was an album I listened to either only on my iPod or with friends and I think that's something that's always given those songs a feeling of endearment and familiarity for me. The lyrics throughout the album create the most perfect images of beautiful places and beautiful feelings, and it always leaves me feeling really inspired and enlightened. I've been obsessed with the idea of feeling free and being liberated for along as I can remember and to this day 'Everything in Transit' is an album I can put on, close my eyes to and feel free in my own right. It reminds me of sneaking out, talking the night away with my best friends and not caring about anything. It makes me feel scared and excited all at once. I guess it will always bring out my inner bright eyed, big dreamed, 'the world is still a big place' teenager in me. Andrew McMahon is probably my favorite songwriter in the whole world come to think of it.
