Happy 2026! It’s Jade, your buddy on the airwaves every weekday from 3-7pm. I hope you are feeling great in the New Year: keeping those resolutions, cleaning the slate, and giving yourself a fresh start.
I’ve been taking these first couple of days to look back. Don’t worry, the nostalgia is all for your benefit, because some great albums are celebrating their 30th and 40th anniversaries this year. I’ve pulled out a couple of my favorites for you to help you remember the sounds of those years.
Let’s look at the best of 1996 first. Grunge angst was turning into alt rock (Matchbox 20 and Counting Crows), some pioneering electronica sounds hit the scene (DJ Shadow and Tool), and there was a viral dance hit that we’ll be ignoring (*cough* “Macarena” *cough*).
- Beck – Odelay: Took samples from movies, party rock, country, and hip hop.
- Weezer – Pinkerton: Say what you will about how their adolescent angst has aged, but the alt rocker’s second album was all about the darker side of love and fame and is now a classic.
- Fugees – The Score: A BIG win for hip hop and R&B in 1996 and it introduced the world to Lauryn Hill.
- Semisonic – The Great Divide: Debut record from local favorites.
- Fiona Apple – Tidal: A debut that instantly connected with the indie crowd looking for their voice
What’s turning 40 this year? Well, 1986 was a standout year for metal (Slayer and Metallica) and hip hop, which made their mark commercially and showed staying power (Run-DMC). The Stones put out one of my least favorite records, but pop had some big hits with Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet and Madonna’s True Blue. Here are some of my favorites:
- Paul Simon – Graceland: Inspired and detailed, feels overwhelming and deeply personal at the same time.
- R.E.M. – Life’s Rich Pageant: The optimism (and hopeful cynicism) helped it become a breakthrough album for the band.
- New Order – Brotherhood: Meshing guitar rock with dance music
- Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill: Changing the sound of hip hop for the mainstream, a little jokey, a little alternative, and perfect for the party.
- Peter Gabriel – So: He was already a star before this album came out, but it blended his perfect melodies, quirky sensibilities, and love of world music into something that satisfies from “Sledgehammer” to “Big Time” to “In Your Eyes”
What are your favorite albums from 1986 and 1996? Share your memories and stories connected to the albums and I’ll use them to highlight the albums during Breaking KQRS (weekdays from 6-7pm) as we highlight the album anniversaries this year. Email me your picks at Jade@92KQRS.com or hit me up on most socials @jade_ontheradio
Stay sweet, keep it loud, and here’s to a rocking 2026!
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