Gateways to musical addiction

After listening to new releases from Say Anything, Cobra Starship and Coheed and Cambria this week, I couldn’t help but revel in the sheer awesomeness of new music that October has brought for punk/emo/not-quite-indie fans. October has brought even more great new albums to the absolutepunk.net sort than chubby girls in sexy cop/nurse/pirate costumes. Aside from the above, new records by Thrice, Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day and Thursday will be released before Thursday.\nI started to contemplate the origins of my love for these genres. I’ve spent the last few days thinking and decided the best way for anyone to retrace his musical-affection lineage is “gateway records” – those that created such an awe-inspiring experience that led to someone’s genre of choice. \nHere are my top three:\nBlink 182, “Enema of the State” – For any “emo kid” in my demographic, this has to be one of the albums that started it all. This was Blink’s first big mainstream success, and to a sixth-grade me who had listened solely to the radio, it was the greatest thing ever. The chords are simple, the lyrics are relatable and the videos are hilarious. I’ve listened to this album so much that I believe I’ve had at least three copies of it, and many of its tracks still make it onto my play lists. “Enema” was the first time I had really heard the words pop-punk, and little did I know that it would become my favorite type of music.\nBrand New, “Deja Entendu” – If “Enema” birthed millions of emo kids, then Brand New’s masterpiece was the catalyst for our maturity. “Deja” saw BN revolutionize their sound, as they went from pop-punk to indie. The lyrics are clever and witty, yet just relatable enough for the growing intellect of a high school sophomore. Each time I listen now, I can still remember exactly what I was doing when I first listened; every song leads to a special story. By the time “Deja” was released, I was still just listening to pop-punk like The Starting Line or Midtown. But after this, I sought more mature, diverse music that I could now relate to as well. \nFall Out Boy, “Take This To Your Grave” – Even though “Deja” extended my tastes in 2003, I was still interested in pop-punk when I stumbled upon a band from Chicago on purevolume.com, and for some reason, Fall Out Boy’s simple emo just stuck with me. “Grave” was like the new “Enema,” only with more bite. But I think I’ll remember it more for what it did for my interest in music, because after finding FOB online, I spent more time searching the Internet to find new bands, something I’ve continued to do. “Grave” made FOB my favorite band and made me want to be a music journalist. It really was a gateway drug. Now I’m addicted to music.\nThis is my musical lineage. Ever thought about yours? If not, take some time, figure out what music changed your life and maybe revisit the albums again if you’ve lost touch.