Albums That Are 30 Years Old in 2026 -Pick # 18

Great album

Day 14 so today, a band similar to Spock's Beard in that they were at the forefront of a third wave of prog in the 90s. For me, I'm aware my ardour has cooled in recent years, despite being totally all in in on them for such a long period and their quality, if somewhat predictable, homage in the form of retro prog, as well as providing prog with one of its best bassists in recent years (INMO) although he doesn't feature on this album. These days I prefer their singer's own band although here he is only a guest on a couple of tracks.

Flower Kings- Retropolis. Not their best, still finding their feet as band after Roine's solo album that spawned the name. Decent, but yet, here the obsessions with filling up as much of a CD as they can is already displayed as an Achille's heel. But compared to much else in this year, despite reservations, it makes the list. What came next began to mark them out as special

Day 1 Shawn Colvin- A Few Small Repairs

Day 2 Tori Amos- Boys for Pele

Day 3 Asia- Arena

Day 4 TEN- X/Name of the Rose

Day 5 Mike Oldfield- Voyager

Day 6 Suede- Coming Up

Day 7 Morcheeba- Who Can You Trust?

Day 8 Eels- Beautiful Freak

Day 9 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Murder Ballads

Day 10 Black Crowes- Three Snakes and One Charm

Day 11 Tool- Aenima

Day 12 Spock's Beard- Beware of Darkness

Day 13 Ulver- Kveldssanger

18. Martin Barre–"The Meeting"
His second solo album. He doesn't sing on this one, but has guest singers on a couple tracks. I prefer his debut solo album, but this is decent blues-infused rock. Not a bad album when you're driving.

18. Dark Funeral – The Secrets of the Black Arts

18. Bush – Razorblade Suitcase

Their second album has a few really great songs on it, but it doesn’t quite reach the debut Sixteen Stone. Still, a good listen.

Greetings and good day, Pete. Another SoT selection for the listening list. Personal pick today? The third studio album by this Canadian rock band released June 12, 1996, in Canada [not until 1997 in the U.S. but what the heck, counting it for this list] on the Murderrecords label [The Enclave label in the U.S.]: One Chord To Another by Sloan. The release schedule is further confused by being the first album of the band to be released in Japan. Those seeking the full story of release should consult Wikipedia or other reference sources. The album debuted at #15 on The Record's Canadian Albums Chart and certified gold in Canada In November 1966. Wikipedia notes It remains Sloan's best-selling album. Three singles released – The Good in Everyone; Everything You've Done Wrong; and The Lines You Amend. The players? Jay Ferguson on vocals, rhythm guitar, & bass guitar; Chris Murphy on vocals, bass guitar, & drums; Patrick Pentland on vocals & lead guitar; Andrew Scott on vocals, drums, &rhythm guitar. The 12 tracks on the original album are all credited to Sloan though each member has a somewhat distinct style and tone to his compositional style. Sloan is a band that found by following recommendations made to me from the (currently huge) online retailer named for the river in South America. This was early in their time and recommendations that come from their algorithms frequently found a way into my purchases. Wikipedia currently classifies this in the alternative rock/indie rock/power pop category. Won't dispute that but maybe not so poppy as that might imply. The band has never enjoyed widespead popularity in the States which reminds me of a review by Adria Young of Vice magazine : "In 1997, American label, The Enclave, released One Chord. It wasn’t a huge hit, sadly. Sloan was out-nerded by Weezer, too clean to compete with The Smashing Pumpkins and worse bands were making shi++ier (but somehow more popular) ballads." Edited the last adjective hopefully avoiding censorship. So once again, no metal or hard rock here, but an album proving Sloan's depth as a band or songwriters and musicians. Highly enjoyable and recommended. Thanks, Pete.

Skunk Anansie – Stoosh
The second studio album from the English hard rock/metal band, fronted by the formidable force that is Deborah Anne Dyer a.k.a Skin, standout tracks include "Infidelity (Only You)" "Twisted (Everyday Hurts)" "Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)" and "All I Want" it went platinum in the UK and triple platinum in Italy, sadly it did little business in the US.

18. Iced Earth The Dark Saga

19. Therion Theli

20. Manowar Louder Than Hell

21. Michael Schenker Group Writen in the Sand

22. Misfits Static Age

23. Rush Test for Echo

24. Bad Company Stories Told & Untold

25. Mark Knopfler Golden Heart

26. Deep Purple Purpendicular

27. Ministry Filth Pig

28. Accept Predator

29. ZZ Top Rhythmeen

30. Pearl Jam No Code

31. Bad Religion The Gray Race

pick # 18. grateful dead – dick‘s picks 4: fillmore east, ny, 2/13-14/70

#18: Yngwie Malmsteen: Inspiration

My #18 was actually a surprise to me, because it’s been a while since I listened to the whole thing, I usually only listened to one song and had it in a bunch of playlists and used it for several mixtapes. The album is “Blend”, the sixth studio album by the BoDeans. Well, it’s just BoDeans. An American rock band that includes roots rock, alternative rock, and “heartland rock” (think Mellencamp).

Their biggest hit that you might have heard is “Closer To Free” that was the theme song to the TV show “Party of Five”, and was on the previous album, “Go Slow Down” in ‘93. I had heard some of their other singles, but the song that got my attention was “Forever Young (The Wild Ones)” that a friend put on a mixtape that she made for me. Bought that album, but the other songs didn’t really grab me.

Then in ‘96/‘97 when I was working in a wedding studio, four of the photographers there loved the BoDeans and played them constantly. I actually got a little sick of them and resentful, because I didn’t get to play Tesla and Queensryche and the like. But I got a promo copy of “Blend” from a friend in the music business, and absolutely loved “The Understanding”, the opening track and the one I mentioned at the beginning that I put on almost everyone’s mixtape. It was one of my anthems during those years:
“I’m losing ground standing up to you
But I understand more than I want to
Stand more than I choose
Under these eyes I’m busted but I’m understanding you”.

The rest of the album is mostly rockers, never really slows more than mid-tempo, about love, friendship, parenthood. Other favorites are “Heart of Miracle”, “Hurt By Love” and “Hey Pretty Girl”.

Song grades and album score (system courtesy of Andy Mudrock):
The Understanding: A+
Heart of a Miracle: A+
Count On Me: A
Can’t Stop Thinking: A-
Hurt By Love: A+
Hey Pretty Girl: A+
All I Ever Wanted: B
Do What You Want: A-
Red Roses: B-
Lullabye: C
Overall Score: 9.9000 B+

18. BoDeans — Blend
19. George Strait — Blue Clear Sky
20. Hootie & The Blowfish — Fairweather Johnson
21. Stir — Stir
22. The Wallflowers — Bringing Down the Horse
23. Toby Keith — Blue Moon
24. The Violet Burning — the violet burning
25. Mr. Big — Hey Man
26. Todd Snider — Step Right Up
27. Zakk Wylde — Book of Shadows
28. Chantal Kreviazuk — Under These Rocks and Stones
29. Screaming Trees — Dust
30. REO Speedwagon — Building the Bridge
31. Better Than Ezra — Friction, Baby