Music Monday: Eminem & System Of A Down

So today marks the first of a week-long set of artists that produced some of my favorite albums -- they just didn't make it into my top 50 for various reasons.

The first two days I have had to combine artists and then some of my favorites will be featured solo. And today's pairing is two of the weirdest and strangest music I listened to "back in the day." Still, I ate these cds up at the time, so they have to be featured.

Eminem:

I had to put Eminem on here because I grew up with him. I never went as far as dying my hair to look like him, but I fit right into his demographic. Ya know, the white kids that liked rap, but weren't really supposed to? It was kind of different for me also because growing up in the south, the majority of music is either country or rap. I think Eminem fit me because as the years went on (and as the countdown will drastically show) I started favoring more alternative rock and I guess you could describe him as alternative rap.

Whatever you want to say about him, his presence can't be denied. I don't know for certain, but I read somewhere he was one of the top 3 selling artists of the past decade. And I was one of his biggest customers. His first cd came out while I was still at the age that I had to buy "parental advisory" cds, but I later got a copy of the uncensored versions. And man, I felt so cool. I think the only releases I didn't care for were his last two ("Relapse" and "Encore") but his first three were amazing for me.

The Slim Shady LP



The Marshall Mathers LP



The Eminem Show




System Of A Down:

I forgot to mention that I heard of Eminem and got into him from a friend. Well, the same thing happened with System Of A Down, just a different friend. At first, I HATED them. I've never been a huge fan of the crazy/screaming stuff, but over the years I've come to tolerate and, for certain artists, even embrace it. Over time, I began to respect SOAD and the music they were making.

They were the first band that I kind of got into them late and then went back. I began to take notice after I saw the video for "Chop Suey!" and thought it was amazing. My friend began to play them out and I noticed I was getting into their music as a way to connect. However, it's when I was either during my last years of high school or during my early years of college that they released "Mezmerize" followed by "Hypnotize" and I loved the concept that they did with the two albums.

They've gone on an indefinite hiatus, but I hope, creative wise, they get back together at some point.

Self Titled:



Toxicity:



Steal This Album!:



Mezmerize:



Hypnotize: