Here Are 22 Albums For All You 22-Year-Olds

The Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs

You Need It Because: There are love songs, and then there are love songs like “Love Is Like Jazz”, “The Book Of Love”, and “Papa Was A Rodeo” that reveal the many lesser-understood faces of that infamous four-letter word.

 

Nada Surf – The Weight Is A Gift

You Need It Because: “To find someone you love, you gotta be someone you love.”

 

NaS – Illmatic

You Need It Because: Just like jazz, you need to have a basic understanding of good rap and hip-hop, and this is the absolute place to start.

 

The National – Alligator

You Need It Because: Any National album will do (and Boxer might be the better album), but Alligator perfectly captures that time when you’re arrogant and insecure at the same time and when you’re coming to terms with the fact that you can’t drink or smoke as much as you used to.

 

Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

You Need It Because: In addition to giving you ultimate hipster street cred (a lo-fi folk rock opera inspired by Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl), this is one of the most brilliant albums ever made. Even if you don’t agree (and there’s a good chance you won’t), you’re better off pretending that you love it.

 

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack

You Need It Because: You need to know the musical heritage of nearly everything that you listen to.

 

Songs: Ohia – Magnolia Electric Co.

You Need It Because: There is a specific kind of loneliness that follows all of us throughout our lives, regardless of how happy and healthy we may think ourselves to be – either we learn to deal with it, or we give in. Also, Jason Molina is the indie Neil Young and should be a part of your collection anyways.