Our unique series, “5 Albums That Changed My Life”, chronicles 5 albums from a selected member of a band or music industry person, that are immensely important to the individual. Plenty of musicians have chosen some rather eclectic albums – lead guitarist/backing vocalist Jimmy Beattie of Seasons After stopped by to issue 5 albums that have had a huge influence on him. Check out his choices after the jump. The band’s most recent album, Calamity Scars and Memoirs, is a solid rock album that doesn’t lack in heaviness, energy – or hooks.
“5 Albums That Changed My Life” by Jimmy Beattie
Like most people, it’s really hard to narrow my choice to 5 albums that have changed my life..but I can definitely think of 5 that effected my life and changed the game for me as a musician.
I grew up in an old farm house in southern Illinois. I never had cable or Internet so I didn’t get any exposure to new music. It was more the old stuff..and how ahead of its own time it was.
1. Aerosmith – Big Ones (13 yrs old)
I loved Aerosmith from the first listen. Killer, out of the box guitar work and songwriting. Steven Tylers insane vocal style and the lyrics. The horns section. The first album I got to hear was a best of (Big Ones) lucky me really. That album still influences my writing in its own ways.
2. Pantera – Official Live: 101 Proof (16 years old)
Another best of that I was lucky to hear was 101 proof. Damn! That’s all I knew to say. The intensity and originality that Pantera brought was unprecedented and undeniable. The whole band stood out, both as individual musicians and as a unified force. That began my decent into madness.
3. Slipknot – Slipknot and Mudvayne – LD 50 (18 years old)
So…I have to lump these albums together. They both had huge impacts on me at the same time in my life. Slipknot had these super heavy riffs and extremely sick, balls out drum rhythms. Corey Taylor’s brilliant lyrics and blatant disregard for what anyone else thinks about his views. I loved the brutal truth that they delivered
On the other side of the same coin there was LD50. A different approach at modern metal than I’d ever heard. The rhythm section really drove the boat. Very precise drum patterns and bass riffs that seemed to really stand out front. The guitar took a back seat and provided more of an ambience, only really having a dominant role in full on chug sections. They made amazing use of their instruments in that they were a 3 piece that created a very full sound. Chad Greys stories of inner demons and outer struggles was also brilliantly done.
4. Dream Theater – Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory (19 years old)
I was way in to Vai, Malmsteen, Johnson, basically any bad ass that I knew of, I loved. A friend of mine knowing this, called me over to his house and sat me down to watch Dream Theater, Scenes from a memory. It completely blew my mind! It was the most outrageous and beautiful use of musical knowledge I had ever encountered. I watched the entire performance including extra tracks. It was like 3 hours of ‘blow yo mind’. It completely stretched the boundaries of what I knew was possible yet again..it put me into overdrive on my personal goals as a musician.
5. Seasons After – Through Tomorrow
I would have to say that the album that has changed my life the most is Seasons After, Through Tomorrow…I know…sounds cheesy to say that but it’s true. Because of it , I’ve been all over the country, met some of my heroes, and played for bigger crowds than I had ever realistically dreamed lol. It’s allowed me to continue to create with my “brothers at arms” and try to live out our dream.
Other albums that have heavily impacted me are Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Steve Vai, Passion and Warfare, Guthrie Govan, Erotic Cakes, and Metallica, And Justice for All..to name a few lol. Gotta love music!
