SCAD Radio has always been a hub for music, and more! As the years have grown the staff has been ever-changing. This year is no different. With a new staff and much more new content on the way, as the new content director, this is a great time to share my tastes with everyone and reflect on albums that have resonated with me throughout my life: the abums that defined me.

1. Help- The Beatles

The first album on the list is Help by the Beatles. This album was the first one that sparked my love for music. A classic rock album that, as a kid, was one of the first albums I listened to. It sparked my love for the genre. My parents had the CD, and whenever I was young, I would listen to it and jam out to it in the car. I loved the earworms and the rock compositions. It was so feel-good, and I think I liked it because it reflected my personality well and my carefree nature. Although I listen to other albums now, I will always come back to the Beatles because their music is timeless, and this album especially will always have a soft spot in my heart.

Favorite Tracks: ‘Yesterday’, ‘Ticket to Ride’, ‘Help’, ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’, ‘The Night Before’

2. Ain’t That Good News- Sam Cooke

My favorite genre has slowly become soul music, but it wasn’t always that way. In 2017, I started listening to individual one-off songs. It wasn’t until between 2020-2021 that I really started listening to soul albums more because I wanted to listen to more music and not the same tracks I had constantly been listening to. Two of my favorite soul songs for the longest time and still are “A Change is Gonna Come” and “Bring it on Home to Me” are both by Sam Cooke, so I wanted to listen to more of him. I loved how powerful and meaningful his voice delivered these emotional and poignant lyrics. I came across this album, which reinvigorated my love for soul music, and it instantly became my favorite genre, shaping what I listen to for a long time to come.

Favorite Tracks: ‘Meet Me at Mary’s Place’, ‘Tennessee Waltz’, ‘A Change is Gonna Come’,

3. The Stranger Billie Joel

The Stranger is one of the first albums I remember listening to all the way through in one sitting and got me interested in listening to albums alone and songs cohesively together. Although there wasn’t a whole lot besides perhaps sound tying these songs together in an enjoyable pop-rock palette, sonically it was enjoyable. The title track of this album especially tells a beautiful story, and some of the themes on the album are great. I personally love the track ‘Vienna’, and its idea of old age not being something to dread.

Favorite Tracks: ‘Movin Out’ (Anthony’s Song)’, ‘Vienna’, ‘Only the Good Die Young’,

3. Nurture- Porter Robinson

This album is unique in the fact that it is the newest compared to the others on this list. However, this album changed a lot of my outlook on life, and it isn’t an exaggeration to say this album changed my life for the better. While everyone was still locked down due to the pandemic early last year, I know many people suffered from loneliness and depression. It was hard for me as well to be away from socializing and being away from friends. On top of that, I was suffering from a creative block and a lack of motivation. As that was happening, musician Porter Robinson was getting out of a creative block and finally released an album after several years. It could not have come at a more perfect time. Although sad at the time, the album filled me with hope and inspiration, and the two sides across the album of chaos and comfort coming together to a resolution at the end invigorated me. I could not relate more to his predicaments. It will stay as one of my favorite albums ever due to not just the emotional impact but the amazing composition as well. You can check out my review of it here.

Favorite Tracks: ‘Something Comforting’, ‘Look at The Sky’, ‘Mirrors’, ‘Wind Tempos’, ‘Musician’, ‘Sweet Time’, ‘Lifelike’

4. Child of Light- Coeur De Pirate

As a Game Development major, this list would not be complete without one of my favorite games and one of my favorite game soundtracks, Child of Light by Quebecois composer and singer-songwriter, Coeur De Pirate. This album defined my music listening because it inspired me to look more into neo-classical and get inspired by the types of sound I would love to have in the games I make too. This album also changed my view on how music complements games. Like the game, the whole album conceptually tells a beautiful story, rising, fighting, falling, and then a resolution. Interestingly, the final song is the only one with lyrics, and that makes the album more poignant. The beautiful instrumentals are solemn yet hopeful, and they give me a lot of inspiration.

Favorite Tracks: ‘Pilgrims on A Long Journey’, ‘Aurora’s Theme’, ‘Jupiter’s Lightning’, ‘Bolmus Populi’, ‘Hymn of the Light’, ‘Off To Sleep’

5. To Pimp A Butterfly- Kendrick Lamar

I love hip hop now, but I used to not listen to as many albums because I had always delved into single tracks. Then I was introduced to the world of conscious hip hop and concept albums. I vividly remember some of the first concept albums, such as Dark Side of the Moon, that I listened to and I was enamored. I love this album because it talks about Kendrick Lamar’s struggles and poignant themes in a lyrically sound and sonically well-produced way. Everything flows in an amazing way, and all the lyrics feel like poetry. The overall sound of G-Funk and Jazz Rap inspired me to delve deep into those genres and have become some of my favorites.

Favorite Tracks: ‘Wesley’s Theory’, ‘King Kunta’, ‘For Sale’, ‘These Walls’, ‘Institutionalized’

To check out who’s who and learn more about our new staff: “Meet the Staff”