Is the "life-changing album" dead?

I was driving home from work the other day when To Zion from Lauren Hill's The Miseducation of Lauren Hill came on my iPod. I lit up with excitement, partly because I haven't heard that song in so long, but also because it brought me back to a time in my life when an album was able to educate me far more than any textbook could. There are a handful of albums that I can honestly say made me become a more interesting, cultured and wiser person. These are albums that changed my life...

As mentioned above, The Miseducation of Lauren Hill by Lauren Hill. I'm not saying that I consider this to be the best album of my life, but I remember being really intrigued by certain songs on this album and feeling like I was learning something about life by listening to it. To Zion, Ex-Factor, Doo Wop (That Thing), Every Ghetto, Every City and Everything is Everything really stand out here. The album has an amazing production value (listen to how many times Hill records a new track over herself) and some really great stories. Favorite track - To Zion


Santana's Supernatural. This CD was really different than any music I had ever listened to. I remember being fascinated by Santana's guitar playing and even more interested in his choice of musical partners. Many have tried to replicate the format of this album, including Santana himself, but none live up to this piece of art. Favorite track - The Calling (featuring Eric Clapton.)


Blue by Third Eye Blind. I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but I bought this album solely because I liked the cover art. I had heard of the obvious Third Eye Blind hits like Semi-Charmed Life and Jumper, but was never enough of a fan to pick up their first album. After purchasing Blue and loving it, I went back and bought everything Third Eye Blind that I could find. Favorite track - Wounded.


Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn. I actually had to stop listening to this album for a while because it was so good it was painful to listen to, if that makes sense. Lynn's raw voice and even more raw storytelling is absolutely amazing. I watched Coal Miner's Daughter after I purchased this album, which only made me appreciate Loretta Lynn more. Favorite Track - Portland Oregon and Little Red Shoes.


The Messenger by Edwin McCain. There's a lot on this album that I don't like, actually, but the good songs outweigh the bad. This CD taught me what good songwriting was all about. It would be nice to see an Edwin McCain comeback, wouldn't it? Favorite track - Beautiful Life and Sign on the Door.


Sheryl Crow by Sheryl Crow. What can I say about this album that I haven't already said. This CD came out when I was a freshman in high school and I'll never forget how much smarter, grown-up and appreciative of music I felt after each listen. I actually think The Globe Sessions is Crow's masterpiece, but this album is a close second. This album started my undying love for all that is Sheryl Crow. Favorite Track - They're all amazing, but if I had to pick one, I'd say Maybe Angels.


So you'll notice that most of these albums are from the late ninety's. I don't know if it's because I am more grown-up now or what, but I can't think of an album that has come out in the past five years that has truly affected me like the one's mentioned above. Sure, there have been some great albums since then (Come Away With Me by Norah Jones, Taking the Long Way by The Dixie Chicks, Nothing Left To Lose by Mat Kearney, The Inside by Moses Mayfield to name only a few) but nothing to truly rock my world. Hopefully the next life-altering album is just around the corner.