5 albums that shaped my musical journey

Music has always been a significant part of my life, and these albums have profoundly influenced my development as a musician. I would say they are the epitome of timelessness, innovation, and meticulous attention to detail. From the arrangements to the production, the sheer complexity is remarkable, and yet it all sounds so effortlessly easy on the ear. Each element stands out and has its own importance, yet seamlessly blends into the bigger picture. 

Dark Side of the Moon /Pink Floyd
My dad introduced me to Pink Floyd when I was a child. Initially, the music didn’t resonate with me, but I would always hear it blaring through his speakers over the years. Eventually, Dark Side of the Moon became one of those albums I know by heart—every section, every soundscape. For me, this album is the greatest of all time in every sense: the storytelling, the sonic journey it takes you through, and the sheer fact that they created something so groundbreaking in the early ’70s that still cannot be mimicked. The idea of a narrative-driven concept album that ebbs and flows was etched into my mind after delving deep into this record.

Hybrid Theory /Linkin Park
Linkin Park was my gateway into the world of rock, as it was for many others of my generation. I vividly remember borrowing the Meteora cassette from a classmate back in 2007, and it blew my mind. Once I got into that world, Hybrid Theory became the album that had a significant impact on me. I’m still old-school in that I like to listen to records from start to finish, and Hybrid Theory is one of those albums with no “skippable” songs. It was extremely influential in shaping my sound and approach to music.

Avial /Avial
To this day, Avial’s self-titled album is the most played in my Apple Music library. A friend introduced me to it back in 2009, and I instantly fell in love with it. As a regional alt-rock album from South India in the 2000s, Avial truly raised the bar in terms of production, composition, and creativity. Even now, I discover hidden gems I hadn’t noticed before. Avial remains my biggest influence as a musician, setting the standard for what can be achieved in music.

10,000 Days /Tool
The sheer complexity and primal sound of 10,000 Days is as gripping now as it was when I first experienced it. “Right in Two” was my introduction to Tool, and the more I explored their music, the deeper I fell in love with their genius. The abstract grooves, raw guitar and bass parts, and Maynard James Keenan’s intricate lyrics and melodies create a sonic rollercoaster that somehow makes perfect sense amidst the chaos.

In Absentia /Porcupine Tree
I discovered In Absentia during my early college years, and it completely changed my perspective on music. “Trains” was the first song I heard, as my band decided to cover it. The production quality of this album was unlike anything I had encountered before. The fact that I got to work with Tim Palmer, the genius mix engineer from In Absentia, on my own album was like living a dream—a surreal experience that brought my journey full circle.

I often find myself extremely critical when I listen to music, but with these five, I genuinely cannot find a thing I would change. Each time I listen to them, even after so many years, I hear something new.

These albums, I would think, in some way altered the course of music and became milestones in their respective eras due to the impact they had at their respective times. They serve as a constant source of inspiration—a benchmark for how an album should sound. Truly timeless works of art.