Words by Ray Cobra//Photo by Jeremy Messmore

Sometimes the hardest part about writing anything is the opening paragraph. I can say that is not the case here. Jordan Sloan, I have learned over the years, is one of the hardest working musicians in Columbus. At any given time, he very well could be in 4 or 5 bands. Not only that, but he will be doing something different in each one. After seeing him play two sets once, I joked with him that I was going to book a show with only bands he was in, just for my amusement, just to see how tired he would be after playing four sets. You know, that would be cool to see. LOL!!! Just joking.

Anyways, over the past few years, I have come to enjoy his posts on social media about music. Our conversations are always top-notch, and its people like him are why I first started doing these. It gives us music nerds a chance to just geek out about music. When it comes to nu-metal, he is my go-to guy. I don’t think anyone loves/enjoys/appreciatea that genre the way he does. To hear him get excited about bands that I saw 20 years ago is great. I absolutely love it. And if you don’t believe me, just chat with him or listen to his newest band ZoneZero. You will instantly be transported to the year 2000. Be prepared!!!!!

I can talk all day, but this is about Jordan, so here are his Five Albums. He chose Five Albums that shaped his taste in music.

5. Rollins Band – “Life Time” (1987)

First up on my list is Life Time by Rollins Band. I had always admired Henry Rollins growing up after getting into Black Flag through friends at school, but it wasn’t until later in my high school career that I truly discovered the greatness that is the first Rollins Band record. To me, this is the prog rocker’s essential punk record, with its big musical sections and incredible songwriting, all accompanied by insightful and real-world lyrics by the man himself: Henry goddamn Rollins. This record is a staple in my CD collection to this day.

4. KMFDM – “Symbols” (1997)

Next up, KMFDM’s Symbols album. There’s not much to talk about with this record, other than the fact that I think it’s one of the best industrial records of the 90’s. KMFDM is a special band for me, not because of lyrics or any “deep meaning,” I just love industrial music and I think that almost no band does it better. Since 1984, they’ve been consistently making solid records, and they cannot be stopped. KMFDM is a drug against war.

3. Nothingface – “Violence” (2000)

I could sit here and write you an entire book about why I love this record, but I was asked to keep it short and sweet! I got into really heavy music when I was in 6^th grade, and it wasn’t until then that I realized that I had heard this band on the Freddy Vs. Jason soundtrack, with their song “Ether.” I then dug into their back catalog with Pacifier, An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity, and then finally landing on Violence, which I fell in love with from the first notes of “Make Your Own Bones.” This band means the world to me, Matt Holt is one of the reasons I wanted to be a frontman, and may he rest in peace. “Into the sun, return as nothing.”

2. Talk Talk – “Laughing Stock” (1991)

Unlike the records listed so far, this record is the epitome of pure calm and serenity. Talk Talk was known in the 80’s as more of a new wave band, being the originators of the song “It’s My Life” (later covered by No Doubt), but as the 80’s came to a close, they found themselves experimenting more and more with different styles like jazz and post-rock. In 1991, they released their final record, Laughing Stock, and what pulled me in about this record was their use of silence and the rise-and-fall songwriting style they put into this album. Pure joy and bliss, all in the duration of 43 minutes and 29 seconds.

1.       Slipknot – “Slipknot” (1999)

At last, we come to a close with my favorite record ever put to tape. I was shown Slipknot by my friend David when I was in 6^th grade when he lent me a copy of Iowa to check out. Up until then I was strictly a fan of Queen and Metallica and all sorts of classic rock, so I wasn’t accustomed to this sonic assault I was experiencing. I loved it, and I was hooked, but I needed more. I asked him to show me more music by them, so he told me to listen to their first album. “The whole thing I think is (sic)” repeated over and over, and then I was smacked in the face with the opening to (SIC), and you couldn’t wipe the grin off of my face. For the next hour, I would fall deeply in love with this album that satisfied my love for both heavy music and horror, which then also cemented Slipknot into my life as my favorite band of all time, now, and forever.