Ceres' Tom Lanyon Reveals The 6 Albums That Changed His Life

Just last week, local heroes of folk-punk Ceres dropped their second full-length album Drag It Down On You. The album was a hard-earned achievement from the band, who chipped away at the record over a period of more than two-years.

Over that time, their fanbase grew exponentially. They proved their mettle in a live arena time and time again, whether it was alongside Violent Soho, Luca Brasi or The Smith Street Band.

With an album as personal and accessible as Drag It Down…, the band have aimed to form a strong connection with their fanbase, and considering the subject matter of surviving as an adult, it’s shaping up to be one of those albums that can change a fan’s life.

Now, frontman Tom Lanyon has given us a list of albums that had a similar effect on him…

Holly Throsby – Under The Town

Holly Throsby, and this record in particular, taught me you don’t need to be loud to be crushing. Songs like On Longing and Come Visit just turn on you right at their ends, and can completely rattle you in the softest way. I think Only A Rake might be one of my all time favourite songs — melancholy poured into three minutes and fifty-six seconds.

https://youtu.be/bxxJEy4QhR4?list=PLEJp26ba5_pB4wV_VnnD_VOHD0Ubv0BLn

Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring

When I first heard this record, I remember thinking that I’d stumbled upon a recorded version of my own mind. It’s so frantic, claustrophobic, sometimes sad and always creative. It was definitely like nothing I’d ever heard before. We were lucky enough to have Tom Bromley from Los Campesinos! produce Drag It Down On You — my very own small and humble version of Romance Is Boring.

Xiu Xiu – Fabulous Muscles

I Luv The Valley, Oh! still blows my mind. This record taught me to be yourself. It’s frighteningly weird at some points, and shockingly honest at others. Hyper-creative, scary stuff that completely flipped what I thought a song and a song’s production could be. I could only dream of making a record like this.

Saves The Day – Stay What You Are

Probably my first foray into whatever-wave emo. A gateway record of sorts, I suppose. It was almost punk, almost indie and mostly sappy — but damn it, it was great. It never tipped too far into the trappings of bands that preceded and were inspired by this record. I guess a lot of people owe a lot to Stay What You Are.

Sigur Rós – Takk…

A lesson in slow release. In taking your time and easing into things. That the pay off is worth it. Glosoli was the fist song I heard off Takk… and man, it opened my eyes. What a song. What a record. Where you don’t have to rely on cheap lyrics to get an emotional punch to the guts.

Blink-182 – Dude Ranch

I know. But in this great future, you can’t forget your past. This record started it all for me, and as cliché as it seems, really did change my life. I knew, as I assume did every 11 year old kid, that this was where I wanted to end up. I wanted to play guitar. I wanted to write songs. I wanted a band. And all these years later, here we are.