Bringing It All Back:
My Music of the 90s

Anyone else feel that most music today is just not what it used to be? I'm sure every maturing generation says that in an attempt to hold onto the music of their past. Sure, there are artists today that don't fit the "mold" of terrible music; unfortunately however, there is an overwhelming majority of...well, crap.


Music is powerful. It has the ability to motivate, spark memories, bring people together, and inspire. It is a comfort to those who may have little else. I believe it is all of this that drives us to defend and compare it to the opinions of others. Music has the ability to "bring it all back."

I found my musical niche in the 90s. Influenced by my Dad's own tastes in music, I grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Who, Neil Young, among others. My interest in these musicians flowed naturally into my budding interest in what I consider the supergroups of the 90s.

I remember hearing Pearl Jam's "Even Flow" on the radio early in the fall of 1992, just as I was beginning high school. I knew nothing about them. Then, soon after, my Dad brought home their first album Ten. He said he heard a song called "Jeremy" on a jukebox somewhere and that I should give it a listen. He proceeded to blast the CD, head down the basement to his drum room, strap on the headphones wired from our den's stereo, and then drum along with the music. That experience sealed the deal for me. I was hooked from that day on. (He still hasn't forgotten the fact that I stole that CD from him!)

Naturally then, through reading magazines, listening to the radio, and talking with friends at school, I learned of the other artists that would open my eyes to a whole new world of music...Nirvana, U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, The Cranberries, Soundgarden, Beck, The Lemonheads, Blind Melon...and those are just a few. These were the artists that would be played at school dances...blasted on the car radios as people left school...discussed over lunch...copied on tape and traded...jammed to with friends who played guitar. That was my life in music of the 90s.

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So, recently, I got to thinking about the various songs I would compile on one CD if I were to make my own mix of music that brings it all back for me. And, guess what? I did just that. Picking and choosing songs from iTunes, I've made a list of 25. This was not an easy task because there are loads of songs I could add, but for sake of time (and space on 1 CD), I've limited myself to 25 (for now!). I am actually going to burn these to CD, so I am not including songs from albums I have in their entirety or albums that my sister has in Maryland! (And, actually, some of these songs I have only on cassette!!)...Well, anyway, here's my list:

1. Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
2. Hey Man, Nice Shot - Filter
3. Take a Picture - Filter
4. Bound for the Floor - Local H
5. Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
6. 21st Digital Boy - Bad Religion
7. Cult of Personality - Living Colour
8. I Will Remember You - Sarah McLachlan
9. Girlfriend - Matthew Sweet
10. Change - Blind Melon
11. No Rain - Blind Melon
12. Galaxie - Blind Melon
13. Brick - Ben Folds Five
14. Closer to Fine - Indigo Girls
15. Least Complicated - Indigo Girls
16. Jane Says - Jane's Addiction
17. Been Caught Stealing - Jane's Addiction
18. The Distance - Cake
19. I Will Survive - Cake
20. Bulls on Parade - Rage Against the Machine
21. Guerilla Radio - Rage
22. People of the Sun - Rage
23. Freedom - Rage
24. Killing in the Name - Rage
25. Testify - Rage


So, what brings it all back for you? And, feel free to comment on my list of 25.