10 Albums Turning 20 In 2019
The crown jewels from the end of the millenium.
2019 has been a pretty stellar year for music.
Many interesting bands have come out of the woodwork, showing where the medium can go in the next decade. Still, it's time that remains the real test for new artists.
How will these albums hold up in 5 years? 10 years? 50 years? As the year comes to a close, let's take a look back at 10 albums that have withstood the test of time... 20 years' worth.
All of the records on this list have a common theme as well; they had something to prove upon release. Whether it be to management or to their fellow musicians, these bands had many of the odds stacked against them when they released these records.
With the benefit of hindsight, it's inspiring that these artists did not have to sacrifice their artistry to put out a successful album.
These are the highlights from that far-off year of 1999. While phrases like "da bomb" and "Boo-ya" may not have survived the '90s, this is the music that doesn't have to rely on that timestamp to kick ass.
10. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Echo
Tom Petty has been one of the most recognizable voices of classic rock. Many critics like to praise Petty's fantastic songwriting and interesting soundscapes (including yours truly.) But that doesn't mean everything has been golden.
At the end of the '90s, Tom Petty seemed down and out. After coming off of a lackluster soundtrack album, Petty and his wife abruptly separated. Amid all this, Howie Epstein, the Heartbreakers' bass player, was strung out on drugs and losing his battle with heroin addiction. Petty began to turn to drugs as well, later describing this period as one of the lowest points in his life.
What came out of all the tumult was Echo, one of Petty's most emotional releases. Each song seems to centered around different characters going through their own internal struggles. Songs like "Room at the Top" stand out as some of the most heart-wrenching songs Petty would write given his personal struggles.
It's the portrait of a broken man picking up the pieces of his life, not sure of where to go after he's lost the most important person he's ever known. By no means a feel-good record, but a record with a ton of haunted beauty.