- N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton
The legendary cultural icon that is Straight Outta Compton is an absolute album for anyone in their 20s for a few reasons. The most obvious reason is that it’s album what it’s like to be Black in America and it’s makes you aware of the privileges you may not have been aware of your entire life. This album is an album for 20s because it teaches you that society needs to be more inclusive and that you should be humble as you enter you go through your formative years.
- Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over the Sea
Yes, the bible of the all the hipsters is an album for your 20s. I think one of the main lessons we can take from this album is that art should be accessible and not overly pretentious. The reason why is because any beginner/intermediate guitar player can pick up a guitar and play along with this album. I’m not joking, most of the songs are just the chords GECD.
On top of this it’s a heartbreaking album about the tragedy of the holocaust and how it’s a piece of art that reminds us that ethnic and religious cleansing is not a solution.
Disclaimer: Don’t let listen to this album for too long or you may go a bit mad from all the surreal images in the lyrics oh no too laaaaaaaaaaate.
- Daft Punk – Discovery
Ok, you’ve got your street cred for being a hipster showing that you’ve listened to Neutral Milk Hotel. It’s time to have a bit of fun and show that life isn’t all misery and that you can have some fun.
- Jefferson Aeroplane – Surrealistic Pillow
At some point during your 20s that childlike naivety will leave and you’ll realise the world can be nastaaaay. This line in Surrealistic Pillow will then hit differently: “When the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies.”
- Talking Head – Speaking in Tongues
There are too many good songs on this that are just about letting go of the stress of what the future holds. Nobody knows where we’re going. Kate Bush once said in an interview “you’re just this little thing doing your best” and that’s enough! The song on this album that will make you feel like that the most is This Must be the Place and rightly so.