@cass_1053rock
Does it make you feel old when somebody tells you that such and such an album is turning 25 years old? Or is that just me? I love looking back at the albums that shaped my youth. In this case, the year was 1995. I was just 12 years old and had no idea the music that I was listening to would stand the test of time.
It was the year the Smashing Pumpkins came out with their album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.” I received that album on double TAPE. Yes, I still only had a tape player that year, although I’m pretty sure I got my first CD player not too long after. It was released back on Oct. 24, 1995. The album spawned the hits “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” “1979,” “Zero” and “Tonight, Tonight.” It earned the band seven Grammy nominations and was certified diamond -with more than 10 million units sold.
Remember school dances where you’d be sitting on those hard, wooden chairs waiting for your crush to come and ask you to dance? Well, it didn’t happen to me, but I remember watching all my friends dance with their crushes to Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova.” I’m pretty sure the DJ played that song two or three times that night. The album “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” made Oasis a crossover success. It’s one of the U.K.’s best selling albums of all time – having sold more than 5.1 million copies.
The Foo Fighters released their self-titled debut album 25 years ago. Frontman Dave Grohl wrote and recorded the entire album himself. You’ll most likely remember the track “Big Me,” probably more so for the music video. It featured a parody of Mentos, where the band filmed a commercial for “Footos” the “Fresh Fighter.” The band has had huge success in the rock ‘n’ roll world over the past couple of decades. The Foo Fighters are currently working on their 10th studio album – tentatively due out later this year.
October was a big month for music back in ’95. Not only did it feature iconic albums from Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis, but it also boasted No Doubt’s third studio album “Tragic Kingdom.” The album is still one of my favourites to listen to – bringing ska punk to the mainstream. From “Spiderwebs,” to “Just a Girl” to “Don’t Speak,” Gwen Stefani’s voice was unlike any other. No Doubt became one of the ’90s biggest bands, while singer Gwen Stefani is now a solo star and TV figure thanks to her stint as a judge on “The Voice.”
Other albums that turn a quarter century this year include AC/DC’s “Ballbreaker,” the Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ “One Hot Minute,” and Marilyn Manson’s “Smells Like Children.” While we may not plug the tapes in our cassette player or put CDs in our car stereo, we can still bring back the nostalgia of 1995 with the touch of a button thanks to streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify. Here’s to 25 years of music that helped define a generation.
Cassie Donnelly is the morning show co-host at 105.3 ROCK. You can reach her on twitter @cass_1053rock.
