Music was always a huge part of my life growing up. I was never ever up on the trends of the era. Most likely I was way behind the curve. Fridays I would come home from school to an empty house. I never questioned where my parents were, until now. Where were they on Fridays? Whatever, not important. As soon as I would get home I turned on MTV and watched the Top 20 videos of the week. (You see, kids, back in my day MTV played Music Videos) This is where I would try to get the slightest grasp of what the cool kids were listening to. A lot of Dr. Dre if I am not mistaken.

I don’t know why I told you that story. It has nothing to do with this post. Sorry.

Keep in mind, I am no music expert. I know what I like and if you disagree, that’s fine. Here is my list of…

The Top Albums of My Generation As Far As I See It.

Weezer: The Blue Album (1994)

“Buddy Holly” was the flagship of this album. At least that is the song MTV played to no end. But, I can’t remember an album before this that brought so much enjoyment. It was loud, upbeat, and covered topics that were way over my 6th grade head. But, I had the cassette tape and I wore the thing out in my Sony Walkman riding the bus for field trips and Football games. I’ll pull it up on Spotify today and it still brings all the power and glory of 21 years ago.

Weezer: The Green Album (2001)

No, this list is not going to be a tribute to Weezer. They are just an unstoppable band when it comes to putting out memorable albums. Personally we are taking a jump from 6th grade to College Freshman. Completely different person listening to this music, but again, it played a part in my history. The Blue Album was the soundtrack of middle school field trips and The Green Album was the soundtrack of late night beer fests with the Cross Country team. “Simple Pages” being the track I always remember. “Photograph” with it’s loud screeching in the beginning that was just a little too loud when I played it on the College Radio Station. And, “Island In The Sun” which I never ever liked, but couldn’t argue that it didn’t fit in with the album as a whole.

Dave Matthews Band: Under The Table And Dreaming (1994)

No, I will not bow down to the establishment that Dave Matthews sucks! This has never been the case, and in my opinion, never will be the case. When you talk about the most influential albums for those who attended high school in the 90’s this album has to come up. Under The Table And Dreaming was a break from the razor blade depressing grunge of the early 90’s. (not that there is anything wrong with Nirvana, STP, and Alice In Chains) But I think America’s youth needed a change to more uplifting music that didn’t make you want to stop showering. Dave was the cool younger uncle to the Grateful Dead grandfather of the Jam Band Family. “What Would You Say”, “Satellite”, “The Best of What’s Around”, “Ants Marching”, and eight other tracks just as memorable. The songs were good and it was the first CD I had that I could put on repeat and listen to over and over for a whole weekend and never want to stop. It planted a seed that made Dave Matthews one of the top Summer concert ticket must haves for decades after.

Blues Traveler: four (1994)

This album was released just two weeks before the previous album. Same style of music but completely different. While not as much of a juggernaut as Under The Table And Dreaming, four could hold its own. “Run-Around” and “Hook” were the only singles from the album that gained any real popularity. But the popularity they found was grand. If your city’s Top 40 station wasn’t playing “What Would You Say” they were paying ‘Run-Around”. And interestingly Blues Traveler front-man John Popper played harmonica on both those songs. The band was never as big as Dave Matthews, but the two of them formed a symbiotic relationship that gave them both strength and stability in the mid 90’s. And who didn’t have a poster of the album cover hanging in their room?

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This list will be continued in the very near future. But be sure to tune in. Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel