Hmm. I'd do either Music For The Masses or Violator by Depeche Mode. Or Replicas by Gary Numan/Tubeway Army. Or Maxinquaye by Tricky. All of which make me sound like I'm very broody.

Drums & Wires by XTC? I forget which album they did before the stage fright kicked in. Or Tallahassee by The Mountain Goats. Probably not really influential enough, either of those, but I'm dreaming here.

OR... August And Everything After by Counting Crows. But I'd secretly hate myself for writing about Adam Duritz.