Dogstar

52nd Street

Billy Joel ·1978

"this is my first record... I remember trying to figure out who Billy Joel was from this picture and being confused 'cause he's holding a trumpet and I thought he was a piano player and then hearing the song 'Honesty' and realizing that is a very honest song like his emotion and everything so that song stuck with me."

#1 Record

Big Star ·1972

"it's kind of an odd title for a record, number one record. I think they got a lot of stuff for that, but this came out in 1972, which makes no sense 'cause it sounds like it came out last week or it came out in the '80s or it came out in the '90s or it came out in early 2000s. But this is one of the most beautiful records I've ever heard in my entire life."

Damn the Torpedoes

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers ·1979

"Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a lot of albums used to be like where you put it on and you don't skip songs. This is one where you play all the way; I think every song is unbelievable. I think they were at their prime right here as a band."

The Kink Kronikles

The Kinks ·1972

"To me, this was one of the greatest records I've ever heard, and I think they're just a brilliant band that wrote brilliant songs."

Pyromania

Def Leppard ·1983

"I learned every note on this album, Pyromania. You don't need to skip any songs; this is Mutt Lange at his best producing and writing. A big part of my guitar playing right here."

Power, Corruption & Lies

New Order ·1983

"Power, Corruption & Lies, it's a fantastic record."

Moving Pictures

Rush ·1981

"I have Rush Moving Pictures which I wore out. What this album did for me, I think it helped me advance in a sense where once I learned the guitar parts on some of these songs... my world literally opened up."

Songs from the Big Chair

Tears for Fears ·1985

"This album, Tears for Fears' Songs from the Big Chair, has everything—emotion, passion, songwriting, production, heavy metal, pop, classical—everything is on this album. When I realized you could do all that in one album, it liberated me and allowed me to just be who I am today."