The year began in Virginia and ended in Tennessee. My friend Brian, who was born there, summed it up: Harrisonburg is a rest stop on the road of life, it’s a nice place to stop and take a leak, but you’ve got to move on. 1996 was a time of upheaval in my life. In September, I moved to Nashville. Before I moved, I spent a week there to find an apartment. I spent more time hitting on a friend’s girlfriend than looking for a place to live.

It was the year of a Presidential election, Bill Clinton won. The Macarena captured the hearts of a whole generation. The Olympics came to Atlanta, someone set off a bomb. The Beatles put out that horrible song. I Should be Shot was released as a limited edition cassette. Two of my nephews were born in 1996.

It seems that in the mid 1990’s, digital, multitrack, hard drive recording came on line. R.E.M. called their 1996 album New Adventures in Hi-Fi. It’s the last album with Bill Berry. It took a few listens before I could start to understand it. It’s a throwback to the early albums where you can’t make out half of the lyrics.

Leave • R.E.M.

Okay. The album is called Nine Objects of Desire, but there are twelve songs. What gives? I recently heard a few songs in a vehicle with a prominent subwoofer. Amazing. My introduction to this album was “Caramel” on a mix CD. I thought it was about a woman contemplating infidelity; but, apparently, it’s about having a crush on a friend. I have my ideas of what “Thin Man” is about.

Thin Man • Suzanne Vega

Robin and I saw David Byrne perform in 1994 and on the Feelings tour in 1996. At the first show, we were a couple. At the second show, she was using me to make her boyfriend jealous. Hell, I didn’t mind. (I saw Lyle Lovett and Michael Bolton under the same pretense.)

At both performances, we stood right at the front of the stage, in the same spot. Both times, my gaze was trained on his eyes. Every time he looked in my direction, there I was…glaring at him. We made a special connection, but I later came to the conclusion that it was very rude of me to do that.

Burnt by the Sun • David Byrne

All this Useless Beauty has some of Elvis Costello’s most pretentious lyrics. That’s why I like it. It was produced by Geoff Emerick—the engineer for the Beatles. He skillfully made use of the revolution in recording technology. The sonic landscape is almost as interesting as the songwriting. This nugget from the title track, “The calendar fades almost all barricades to a pale compromise,” hits a little too close to home.

At the Other End of the Telescope • Elvis Costello and the Attractions

If pressed, I would have to say that Cocteau Twins are my favorite band. Elizabeth Fraser has the voice of an angel and a very clever way of crafting lyrics. Robin Guthrie’s effects processing is as beautiful as his guitar playing. 1996’s Milk & Kisses turned out to be their last. This song is like a tall glass of ice water on a hot summer afternoon.

Calfskin Smack • Cocteau Twins

I know that I’m giving too much free advertising to major label artists. I imagine that most punks would consider it a sin to listen to an album that is as colorful as a kaleidoscope if kaleidoscopes were made of sound. I enjoy music by popular artists, but I still believe in much of the punk rock ideology. I wouldn’t be the person I am without it.

Apologies to Patti Smith.