Everyone has music that made their high school experience unique. Decades later, I will look back on the following ten albums and know I couldn’t have made it through high school without them.

1. Gemini by Wild Nothing— Wild Nothing’s dreamy sound accompanied me on my walks home every afternoon of sophomore year. Jack Tatum doesn’t only write all of the music, but he plays every instrument on Wild Nothing’s albums and layers them on top of one another, which really adds to the band’s dimension.
2. Coexist by The xx— The xx’s atmospheric guitar and minimalist lyrics help me concentrate on homework since the band’s sound is so calming.
3. Deja Entendu and The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me by Brand New— These two albums are timeless and a perfect introduction into pop-punk for people who haven’t yet explored the genre. I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve tweeted Brand New lyrics or doodled them in the margins of my notebooks in class.
4. Good Kid, M.a.a.d. City by Kendrick Lamar— This one’s got to be my “senioritis” album. Kendrick’s lyrical storytelling is a go-to while driving to Chipotle for study-lunch. He’s unlike other rappers, because he really is a poet. Good Kid, M.a.a.d. City should be appreciated by all people who love writing, whether they like rap or not.
5. Rhymes Above Par by Autsin Rapbaum— Austin Citrenbaum, a.k.a. Austin Rapbaum, hails from the Lower Merion suburb of Philadelphia. I learned about his music through one of my best friends, who happens to be his sister, and I’ve been addicted to his 2013 album ever since. Austin includes a lot of unique sounds in his songs as well as really thoughtful lyrics, which is sometimes hard to find in the rap genre. This album sounds great through earphones while hanging out in study hall.
6. (iii) by Crystal Castles— (iii) is probably the most bizarre thing you’ll ever listen to. The lyrics are unintelligible. The lack of melody and macabre synths kind of give me a headache. Nevertheless, there’s something very interesting about this album. Since lead singer Alice Glass’s singing makes sounds like she’s having a panic attack in the recording studio, I looked up the album’s lyrics and read them online. It turns out that these songs are hidden poems with “themes of oppression: religious, societal, governmental,” according to Pitchfork.com. If you’re looking for an album with depth, Crystal Castles, though it may be disturbing, is right up your alley. The band’s strangeness will keep you entertained on long, boring college tour road trips.
7. Wildlife by La Dispute— In fifteen years, when I look back on high school, this will be the album that immediately comes to mind. I don’t think I’ve ever loved any band like I love La Dispute. Aside from the poetic lyrics, La Dispute’s musical composition on this album is intricately composed and beautifully executed. On every track of Wildlife, the drum and bass are completely in lock, ebbing and flowing perfectly with each other. A sometimes delicate and sometimes heavy guitar adds another appealing layer, and the meaning behind it all distinguishes this band as my favorite. This band always sounds best blasted through earphones in the VHS hallways, drowning out all other noises.
8. Cope by Manchester Orchestra— Throughout all of high school, Manchester Orchestra has consistently been one of my favorite bands. Cope is one of those albums that ties together really well. All the songs flow into each other and have a unifying grungy vibe. MO’s live shows are full of energy and mosh pits, and their May 2014 show at Terminal5 in New York City was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
9. These Four Walls by We Were Promised Jetpacks— Lead singer Adam Thompson’s thick Scottish brogue sets We Were Promised Jetpacks apart from other post-punk indie bands. This album sounds the best on cozy snow days or on a plane during winter break. It’s perfect for cold days, since Thompson’s voice has a warm texture and always makes me want to wear a sweater for some reason.
10. Tidal by Fiona Apple—Feeling angsty? You’re in high school, so you probably are. In which case, Fiona Apple is perfect for you. I first got into this album in sixth grade, and it’s stayed with me all these years and Fiona has definitely shaped who I am. Tidal is the quintessential misanthropy-tinted feminist manifesto album. Though this album may be a year older than me, and I’ve loved it for over six years, I still find its lyrics interesting and I still relate to the songs. Listening to Fiona always reminds me that no matter how angry high school makes me, I will never truly be as livid as she is on this album.