Top 10 Albums That Made Me Want to Be in a Band: BALLYHOO!
Howi Spangler, frontman of Maryland’s Ballyhoo! gave PWV his “Top 10 Albums that made made me want to be in a band” so please enjoy!
1. Green Day – “Dookie”: This is the album that defines my musical approach. The straight forward energy and melodic guitars and vocals course through my veins to this day. I love that band.
2. Sublime – “40 Oz to Freedom”: Brad Nowell’s voice was (and still is) amazing. The way he mixed Punk and Reggae, although it wasn’t a new concept thanks to bands like The Clash, it was still original in it’s own way. I think I sing any one of these songs at least once a day.
3. Goldfinger (Self-titled): I heard “Here in Your Bedroom” on the radio in ’96 and bought the album 2 days later. This is the band that turned me on to Ska and Reggae. I immediately started mixing those sounds into my pop-punk stuff.
Side note: I got to sing “Mable” with Feldy a few years back….he probably doesn’t remember, but I had a blast!
4. The Suicide Machines – “Destruction by Definition”: Again, I heard “No Face” on the radio and lost my shit. I used to rock the album in my ’83 Ford Fairmont when taking my friends around town to find places to skate.
5. 311 – “Grassroots”: The Blue Album is what got me into 311 but then I went back and found this gem. Raw as fuck. Funky reggae and rock. This album just makes you bob your head from start to finish. Now we get to do shows with them and it feels great!
6. Incubus – “Make Yourself”: My favorite Incubus album. Many will argue that S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is their best work, but I like their more poppy stuff. It’s still a heavy record but I think they really came into their own here. Brandon’s voice blew me away.
7. Reel Big Fish – “Turn the Radio Off”: Ska Punk at it’s finest. I bumped this album everyday when I was 16. All the songs were fun and I wanted to sing along.
8. Bob Marley – “Survival”: My favorite Marley album. I don’t quite know what it is about it. It feels like a soundtrack to anyone’s life. You can relate it to yourself in many ways. “So Much Trouble in the World” is so dope.
9. Green Day -“Kerplunk”: I swear I lived on Christie Road as a teenager.
10. Nirvana – “Nevermind”: And finally how could this album NOT be on my list? Simple pop songs with dark, punk energy. Kurt was a genius and I’m sad that he is gone. I can only imagine the extensive catalogue we might have today if he were still around. This album is all killer front to back.
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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