A challenge and a prize

So Ben hooked me up with a sweet sound system in the kitchen and I essentially have an endless supply of music at my fingertips while I'm cooking, cleaning, or just spending time in my favorite room in the house. Being married to a computer guy with access to unbelievable amounts of music, I now have access to a music collection that would knock your socks off. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning, playing with my new toy until I just can't anymore, and loving every minute of it.

At the same time, I've been thinking about music, its impact on my life, and the weird way that certain songs (or even albums in their entirety) can bring me back to places and times in my past that were both pleasant and not so pleasant. The Breeders' "Pod" album, for example, brings me back to a night when I was still in high school where a bunch of my friends crammed into another friend's bedroom and just spent time talking and enjoying the company of one another. We stayed up all night listening to that album over and over and over again. I love the way that the first few notes of that album brings me back to that night and sends the most vivid memories swirling around in my brain. There are many albums like this.

And so I've started compiling a list of the most influential albums in my life. Man, that's tough. Never one to step away from a challenge, I'm still working on it, although I'm struggling. I get a top ten list assembled, one or two selections away from completion, and then five more pop into my head and I have to start all over again. Positioning is another issue. What makes one album sit at the #2 slot as opposed to the #3 slot is a mystery, and I'm trying to think long and hard about it before my list is complete.

And so, dear P&B readers, I invite you to participate in this challenge of mine. Make up a list of your top five albums of all time. Albums that have influenced you, albums you feel should be a part of everyone's collection. Leave your list in the comments section of this post and I'll choose a list at random (we'll let Lola do that). The selected list will win a prize (we'll pick a winner on the 14th). Are you up to it? Don't be shy! I'm interested to see what you come up with, although I have a feeling some of you are going to remind me of albums I've totally forgotten about and I'll be at square one all over again!

Have fun!