Many people have songs or albums that they can't live without and lose their mind over. So here is part one of 10 albums I think you need to listen to and add to your playlists.

Stone Temple Pilots - Tiny Music… (9.4/10) Personal Rating

Tiny Music is STP’s 3rd Studio album written by lead singer Scott Weiland. Released from Atlantic Records on March 26, 1996, it has been praised for influencing modern day pop hooks and experimental post grunge ballads. The first notable song “Pop’s Love Suicide,” is full of sludge-like guitar riffs, jazz-like drum fills, and to top it off, an extremely catchy hook.

This song fades into the heavily distorted heartbreaker, “Tumble in The Rough.” The high-end tom drums add a nice refreshing boost of energy to the track and pickup as the song comes to a conclusion. Next is the biggest hit on the album, “Big Bang Baby,” that has a super catchy melody and guitar riff that sits underneath the strained vocals of Weiland. Next is a slow-down with “And So I Know,” with an acoustic and percussion based sound.

The pace is picked up with “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart.” The second single put out is a speedy remorse track that shows how little Weiland cares what happens since he lost his love. In this song he goes back to his signature megaphone effect used in STP’s previous records, “Core” and “Purple.”

“Art School Girl” is next up and is my absolute favorite track on the album. Weiland talks about how he has had odd and flakey relationships and parties he has gone to. The guitar riff is so straightforward and the hook is super catchy so that when the drums come in, it always gives me goosebumps.

The album slows down for the remaining tracks such as “Adhesive,” “Ride the Cliche,” “Daisy,” and “Seven Caged Tigers.” All four of these tracks are so well put together and really make this closing a masterpiece.

Full Track list

1. Press Play

2. Pop’s Love Suicide

3. Tumble in the Rough

4. Big Bang Baby

5. Lady Picture Show

6. And So I Know

7. Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart

8. Art School Girl

9. Adhesive

10. Ride the Cliche

11. Daisy

12. Seven Caged Tigers

Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind (8.8/10) Personal Rating

Self Titled is Third Eye Blind’s first studio album written by Stephan Jenkins and released April 8, 1997. This album is praised for being one of the best albums in this genre because of its writing and storytelling. Starting with the intro, “Losing a Whole Year,” this track is about losing the one you love and realizing they never cared. The drums and hook are the defining base of this song while also having a mellow guitar being played.

“Narcolepsy” is about how all he can dream about is that person and how they make those drowsed sequences of sleep into nightmares. This song is very heavy and the guitar uses high amounts of distortion and treble.

Their biggest hit to this day, “Semi-Charmed Life” has been heard in movies, commercials, and even in musical toothbrushes. This track talks about a crippling addiction, and how it has caused his loved one to leave him behind. It is also discussed how he wants something else to help him get through life other than drugs. This song peaked at #17 in 1998 on Billboard when released.

The 3rd biggest song on this album is “Jumper” which is slower than the previous tracks. This song talks about suicidal thoughts and how if you step back from that ledge you can cut back all the lies that you were living in. This is a very acoustic based track and adds to that slow quality and seriousness to it.

“Graduate” is the awakening of these thoughts that can change your life and makes you ask what can I do to better myself. The heavy guitar and messy drums add a powerful backing behind this song. Their 2nd biggest hit, “How’s It Going to Be,” takes on the point of an “ego turnaround” and displays how it feels to be healing and accepting to the idea of help.

Side B isn't as strong or hard hitting but the storyline and song structure on Side A makes this too good to overlook.

Full Tracklist

1. Losing a Whole Year 8. Burning Man

2. Narcolepsy 9. Good for You

3. Semi-Charmed Life 10. London

4. Jumper 11. I Want You

5. Graduate 12. The Background

6. How’s It Going to Be 13. Motorcycle Drive By

7. Thanks Alot 14. God of Wine

Three (3) - Dark Days Coming (9.7/10) Personal Rating

Dark Days Coming is Three’s only full length release under DISCHORD Records on November 1, 1989. Three is led by legendary frontman Ian Mackaye who had left his punk band Minor Threat due to creative differences. The album starts with the fresh sounding “Empathy,” a new wave post punk track talking about how he would like to see the world from your eyes and understand the way you feel. The Drums play a big role in how the track is structured and bring that fresh feeling throughout the track.

“Swan Street” is a depressive post punk song that talks about how Ian struggles to find himself and fails to recognize his actions. This song switches from an acoustic intro to a thrashing garage rock in the second half. This song is in my top 50 songs of all time.

Next, “Buy Me A River” is a song about how Ian wants to buy that home-like feeling and feel comfortable as he lives on. This song has a big stadium rock influence in its hook and chorus.

“Domino Days” follows as it explains how mental illness is a struggle, and how it can lead you down the wrong path. And how substances can topple your dreams like dominos. This song is post punk and the guitar really rips into you as you listen. “Dodger” is my favorite song on the album due to the emotion you can hear coming from Mackaye as he layers himself on the chorus. This song has a big speed metal influence and definite punk influence as we heard on Minor Threat’s song “Straight Edge.”

“International” is a runner up for my favorite song on the album. This song's chorus and hook makes it one of the best songs written in the mid 80’s and definitely is one of Mackaye’s best works. “Pious & Blind” talks about how one may be blind to their own sense of being and how drugs are not an outlet and will lead to death.

¨Rejection” is a mild paced track that just has a repeating chorus throughout the song. ¨Dark Days Coming¨ is the self-titled track that talks about rebelling against people and not letting them take control of you. ¨Don't Walk Away¨ has some of the best writing on the album and really helps close out this experimental post punk album.

Full Tracklist

1. Empathy 6. International

2. Swann Street 7. Pious & Blind

3. Buy Me a River 8. Rejection

4. Domino Days 9. Dark Days Coming

5. Dodger 10. Don´t Walk Away

The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (10/10)

Siamese Dream is The Smashing Pumpkins second full length studio album released July 27, 1993. Led by the brilliant Billy Corgan, The Pumpkins have created one of the best if not the best album of all time, starting with “Cherub Rock” and its whisper-like vocals and fuzzy guitar riffs puts this track in a class of its own.

“Quiet” is a fast paced heartbreak song that has very quick drum counts and a fixated guitar scale that processes differently in people's ears due to the dual sounding pedal they use.

“Today” has one of the most heavy and gruesome guitar drops of all time. The way it surrounds you when listening with earbuds puts you in a different world. The fuzzy nature of the track makes it very calming and gives it a very distinct sound. ”Hummer” is a heavy song that is on the longer side but delivers a beautiful array of guitar playing that really is different from other tracks from the album. “Rocket” is a shoegaze track that involves many guitar pedals to make the sounds. The solo at the end along with the ending scramble really shows emotion in the song.

“Disarm” is the least successful single off of this album due to its slower acoustic style. This style shows up frequently on their third studio album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.” This song definitely sent them in the right direction because it fits on the album so well.

“Soma” is an acoustic and studio mix that brings a sense of warmth as you listen. Being as sad as the song is, it makes for a good reality check for yourself. The topics discussed in the song make this one of the best songs out of the 1990’s. “Geek U.S.A.” is my second favorite song on this album due to its faster pace and punchy guitar. This is also my favorite Billy Corgan vocal performance. It also has a slowdown bridge that makes the fast transition so good.

“Mayonaise” is the saddest song on the album and the most beautiful song. This song has you asking yourself how did Billy Corgan make his guitar sound like it's crying? The way the instruments are being played and used for this song is remarkable.

“Spaceboy” is probably my least favorite song but I still listen to it when it's on. It was made with 2 string sections from an orchestra that really adds depth to the track. I also enjoy the way the song was written and worded.

“Silver***k” is the longest track on the album and in all of its 8 minutes and 43 seconds show why it is a musical masterpiece and my favorite song on the album. The way the drums are put together with the opening guitar riff and then blend together makes me get lost in the song. I love how they repeat and distort the guitar as the song ends. It's probably one of my favorite guitar examples to date.

“Sweet Sweet'' is the most catchy song on the album and has a very lowkey mood to the album and helps lead to the closing song, “Luna,” which is a slower song and talks on topics of love and figuring yourself out.

Full Tracklist

1. Cherub Rock 8. Geek U.S.A.

2. Quiet 9. Mayonaise

3. Today 10. Spaceboy

4. Hummer 11. Silver***k

5. Rocket 12. Sweet Sweet

6. Disarm 13. Luna

7. Soma

Fugazi - 13 Songs (10/10)

Fugazi was formed in Washington D.C. by Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto in 1986. Fugazi is one of my favorite bands ever and it has one of my favorite vocalists, Ian Mackaye. This classic album starts off with “Waiting Room” which has one of my favorite basslines. Ians songwriting and vocal performances are flawless and bring so much energy to the track.

“Bulldog Front” has the tendency to get me really excited and pumped up due to how the guitar builds on the hook and how Guy's voice just leads the whole song to another level of greatness.

“Bad Mouth” is the breakout single of the album and I can totally see the reason why. This song is a whole different type of song and how creative Mackaye got writing this song really inspires me. The guitar fill between the hook and the verse really is the icing on the cake.

“Burning” is my third favorite on the album behind “Suggestion” and “Give Me The Cure” at the top. This track is really put together well. It’s catchy, loud, and very detailed all the way down to the first note of the bass. “Give Me The Cure” is my favorite song on this entire album because of how Mackaye and Picciotto bring the chorus together over one of my favorite guitar riffs of all time.

“Suggestion” has some of the best written out guitar features from the late 80’s. It is also pieced together by Mackaye as he sings the hook and chorus. “Glue Man” is the most unique track and I'm a huge fan of the guitar and drums on this song. This definitely showcases Guy’s creativity. “Margin Walker” is a great display of how a unique guitar player can change the dynamic of a song.

“And The Same” is one of the most overlooked and underrated songs on this album. Mackaye’s vocal performance and writing shine bright on this track and helps start out strong on side B.

“Burning Too” speaks on political issues and how the world is burning too. Mackaye and Picciotto’s back and forth chorus is so well done and really makes this a meaningful track. “Provisional” is a slowdown in pace as we reach the end of the album. The songwriting is great, but it is way too short.

“Lockdown” has a very good structure and was executed perfectly. The Guitar matches well with Picciotto’s strained voice. “Promises” is an amazing closer to this album. Mackaye experimented successfully with vocal layering and it works very well with the main bassline.

Full Tracklist

1. Waiting Room 8. Margin Walker

2. Bulldog Front 9. And The Same

3. Bad Mouth 10. Burning Too

4. Burning 11. Provisional

5. Give Me The Cure 12. Lockdown

6. Suggestion 13. Promises

7. Glue Man