In the era of streaming and playlists, this week Music Twitter still insisted upon asking what honestly feels like an old fashioned question: What are seven albums that define you?
A riff on the classic ranking your desert island discs formula, it induced a full-on office meltdown when posed to the editorial team. We love a meme, but no one wants to choose between Kanye records. Or Avril Lavigne ones, for that matter.
Still, we tried our best, and like to think the brutal honesty present here (Shrek soundtrack; The Essential Bob Dylan) is indicative of our music critic credibility, rather than lack thereof.
Below, in no particular order, the PAPER team's painstaking, Gwen Stefani-heavy lists. Don't judge too harshly!
Pure Heroine - Lorde Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj Rodeo - Travis Scott Teenage Dream - Katy Perry The 1975 - The 1975 Product - SOPHIE Disneymania 3 - Various Artists
Beauty Killer - Jeffree Star Gay Dog Food - Mykki Blanco Born This Way - Lady Gaga L.A.M.B. - Gwen Stefani Celebrity Skin - Hole Arular - M.I.A. You Love You - Semi Precious Weapons
Under My Skin - Avril Lavigne The Essential Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan Chuck - Sum 41 Music From the Motion Picture Juno - Various Artists The Year of Hibernation - Youth Lagoon Bury Me at Makeout Creek - Mitski CTRL - SZA
Spice - Spice Girls Graduation - Kanye West Kala - M.I.A. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do - Major Lazer Santigold - Santigold Under Construction - Missy Elliott
The Flying Club Cup - Beirut Blond - Frank Ocean Treats - Sleigh Bells Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! - The Rolling Stones Chronicle: the 20 Greatest Hits - Creedence Clearwater Revival Dying Is Your Latest Fashion - Escape the Fate The Velvet Underground & Nico -The Velvet Underground & Nico
Let Go - Avril Lavigne Carrie & Lowell - Sufjan Stevens The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do - Fiona Apple The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan Yeezus - Kanye West
CTRL - SZA Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morisette Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen Saves the World - MUNA L.A.M.B. - Gwen Stefani Melodrama - Lorde Autobiography - Ashlee Simpson
American Life - Madonna Exile In Guyville - Liz Phair With Teeth - Nine Inch Nails Tasty - Kelis Aaliyah - Aaliyah Yeezus - Kanye West Blackout - Britney Spears
David Waxman Pres. Ultra Electro - Various Artists Manners - Passion Pit Worlds - Porter Robinson Platform - Holly Herndon PC Music Vol. 1 - Various Artists The Suburbs - Arcade Fire Yeezus - Kanye West
Is This It - The Strokes Let go - Avril Lavigne The Stylistics (Debut Album) - The Stylistics Rumours - Fleetwood Mac Blackout - Britney Spears Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson It's Not Me, It's You - Lily Allen
Shrek 1 Soundtrack - Various Artists Chelsea Girl - Nico Let Go - Avril Lavigne Anniemal - Annie Born To Die - Lana Del Rey Back to Black - Amy Winehouse Rubber Soul - The Beatles
Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette Cold World: The Sideline Story - J. Cole 1975 - 1975 blink-182 - blink-182 good kid, m.A.A.d city - Kendrick Lamar Frank - Amy Winehouse Light Me Up - The Pretty Reckless
Metamorphosis - Hilary Duff Lungs - Florence + the Machine Fearless - Taylor Swift Revolution - Miranda Lambert Under My Skin - Avril Lavigne Body Talk - Robyn Melodrama - Lorde
