Tag Archives: Decades 1996

by

Song of the Day #6,417: ‘Wheelz of Steel’ – OutKast

Concluding a look at notable albums of 1996…

Regular readers know I struggle to enjoy most rap music. I’m not proud of that fact, knowing the musical, cultural, and societal relevance of the genre, but my ears like what they like.

One of the few exceptions is OutKast, the Atlanta-based duo who rank among the most acclaimed and successful hip-hop acts in history. I have enjoyed everything I’ve heard from them, including the two albums I know quite well — 2000’s Stankonia and 2004’s Album of the Year-winning Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,416: ‘Lovefool’ – The Cardigans

Continuing a look at notable albums of 1996…

For U.S. listeners, the Swedish alt-rock band The Cardigans are a one-hit wonder. That hit was ‘Lovefool,’ a jaunty battle cry for desperate jilted lovers everywhere.

‘Lovefool’ reached the U.S. charts thanks to its inclusion on the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and earned critical praise as well as commercial success. But it first appeared on the band’s third album, titled First Band on the Moon.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,415: ‘Killing Me Softly’ – Fugees

Continuing a look at notable albums of 1996…

The hip-hop group Fugees released only two albums before splitting up, but the second release — 1996’s The Score — was a groundbreaking international smash. The album helped define the alternative hip-hop sound of the 90s.

Combining socially conscious rap with soulful R&B, the album skips between genres so deftly that it ended up creating a new one.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,413: ‘El Scorcho’ – Weezer

This week I’ll write about a handful of critically acclaimed and/or commercially successful 1996 albums I’ve managed not to hear over the past 30 years.

First up is Weezer’s Pinkerton, the Los Angeles band’s second album and one that has grown a tremendous cult following over the years. This album was a follow-up to the band’s 1994 self-titled smash hit and was seen at the time as a letdown.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,410: ‘Mayfly’ – Belle and Sebastian

Concluding a countdown of my favorite albums of 1996…

#1 – If You’re Feeling Sinister – Belle and Sebastian

Before I get to my best album of 1996, I want to mention Belle and Sebastian’s debut album, Tigermilk, which came out earlier the same year. That great release would easily have a spot in my top ten but I decided to leave room for other artists.

It’s remarkable that the Scottish septet recorded both that album and If You’re Feeling Sinister in the span of a few months. Talk about a burst of creative genius. I love those productive early years in a band’s history when classic songs just pour out.

Continue reading →