1996 was a fun year for music. It's the first time the internet influenced what I was listening to. There was an online service, can't recall what it was called, but it was an album ranking service. After you ranked albums, it would provide you with recommendations on new music. I discovered a lot of new music this way. That service would become the backbone of most systems today that do rankings. It was started by some students at MIT as they were developing algorithms for making recommendations, etc.
20. Napolean by Ani DiFranco
Like many men of a certain age, I was introduced to Ani DiFranco by a female friend. This was the best album I think DiFranco ever made, and this is a great song.
19. Slow Like Honey by Fiona Apple
I really liked this song and got to see Fiona Apple open for Tori Amos in Philadelphia when this album came out.
18. Forget the Flowers by Wilco
My friend Eric would introduce me to Wilco and my wife and I played this album to death in 1998.
17. When I Fall by Barenaked Ladies
This is one of the albums that was recommended by the online service I was talking about. It's a really good album.
16. Follow You Down by Gin Blossoms
What can you say it's the Gin Blossoms.
15. You're Making Me High by Toni Braxton
I don't know why exactly but I really liked this song when it came out. I hadn't heard it in years until doing this list and I was reminded how much I like it.
14. Violaine by Cocteau Twins
This is such a good song. I have no idea what she's saying as with any Cocteau Twins song, but somehow it works no matter what mood I'm in.
13. Mirrorball by Everything But the Girl
This was their first step toward electronic dance music and I loved it. Great lyrics as usual.
12. Blood Roses by Tori Amos
Like I said I saw her on this tour. It was great.
11. Lovefool by The Cardigans
Doesn't everyone love this song?
10. Killing Me Softly With His Song by Fugees
What a great way to splash onto the big stage. This is so 1996.
9. First Taste by Fiona Apple
I think this is the best song Fiona Apple ever did. I know that this is not something shared by many, but I really like this song.
8. This Is Where It Ends by Barenaked Ladies
I played this album to death in 1996. These songs have held up very well.
7. Walking Wounded by Everything But the Girl
They really knocked it out of the park with this album and this was my favorite song off of this album when I first heard it.
6. Plus Profound by Hooverphonic
It would be another 10 years before I would discover this song.
5. Caught a Lite Sneeze by Tori Amos
Classic Tori Amos this is. I've watched many versions of her doing this song live on YouTube and they are all great. But the one she did on tour back in 1996 is by far the best out there if you can find it. Her and a guy on electric guitar. He's just making haunting sounds on the guitar as texture to the song. So good.
4. Before Today by Everything But the Girl
Like I said I really thought they knocked it out of the park with this album. Such a good song.
3. Red-Eyed and Blue by Wilco
I find this song to be something so special.
2. Untouchable Face by Ani DiFranco
Just a great song. I love it when DiFranco is doing personal stuff in her music and this just nails so much of the anger we all feel at times in our 20's around relationships.
1. Good Cop, Bad Cop by Everything But the Girl
This was my song of the year back in 1996. I fell in love with this song the more I listened to this album, and I still play it a lot today.
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