Before continuing with the list, I need to give you all a little of my history, as it is a cornerstone of a lost of the rest of this process. As I have stated in other places on these boards before, I was a severely abused child. The abuse lasted throughout most of my childhood, and obviously was a very central part of my growing up. I only state this now so that on most of the rest of this list, I don't have to repeat myself, but will simply refer to the experience as "my childhood."
Subterannea- I.Q.- A stellar concept album by one of my favorite artist. Throughout I.Q.'s first five albums, I always felt that lead singer Nichols was singing to me, comforting me, securing me, and guiding me. Maybe with the exception of Pete Townshend, no other musician has owned my heart and soul like him. Even though I've listened to the album religiously for 13 years, I'm still a touch unsure as to the story line, but the music is haunting and beautiful, and the lyrics are unparralleled.
Without the darkness in my soul, with arms to call my own,
I face the future unafraid, and I won't be alone
There's a place, where all my dreaming,
will free me from what I became,
and I know no one can reach me,
every time, you speak my name, you speak my name.
Nowhere was ever safe for all of us,
No one contender cared about, getting out,
Tied now, behind the hungry fire, meant for us,
scattered like dust and finally free,
Held together by fear, I can't be the same, to much has changed,
Undeniably real and it's better left unsaid,
All the love you said was nothing, found a rhinestone, not a diamond,
I never wanted this, left alive, and laid to rest.
These words helped me in my recovery from the events of my childhood, spoke to me, soothed me. It is one of those albums I listen to religiously. learning new things each time.
*puts Subterranea in stereo*
Images and Words- duh!!- Another appearance from DTF's house band, and another album fucked up when I joined DTF. It's amazing how you can interpet things one way way for almost twenty years, and find out you were completely wrong. Anyways, I'm going to stick with my initial feelings on this one. Besides being my introduction to my favorite band, this album held many moments of hope and beauty for me. I'll single out two songs, Surrounded and Learning to live. Surrounded, to me, was the eternal search for the supreme light to wrap around yourself, as a blanket of strenght to help shield oneself against the battles that may lie ahead. It ws also about showing the personal strength for such battles...
I know it's easier, to walk away, than look it in the eye, blah blah blah you know the rest.
Learning to live, TO ME, was the struggle to move on from great tragedy or suffering. When the album came out, I was emerging from very dark times, and the song provided much needed hope to me. To this day, this is still my most listened to DT album.
Brave- Marrilion- The first of two albums that changed me forever. There was a time in my late teens, early twenties, when I was that little girl up on the bridge, deciding whether to jump, and free myself from a lot of pain and suffering.(I'm very cool now, don't call the suicide hotlines). Brave gave me a sense of understanding, a sense of solace, in some very dark days. The struggle that the girl goes through in the album so much reflected my own, it gave me a template to study myself, and induce lifesaving changes. I owe much to this album.
Waiting to be recognized, quiet applause will do, they shower you with flowers when they bury you.