Retrospective Albums of the Year: 1995

As I mentioned earlier, 2025 is the 30th year of this list, so to commemorate I'm going to squeeze in an extra post which hearkens back to the inception of this annual tradition. 

I've been compiling a list of at least my ten favorite albums of the year since 1996. It's part ritual, part obligation, but still is something I find enjoyable. 

You could argue that, although this is the 30th year, next year is actually the 30th anniversary of the list since it started in 1996. But 1995 was really the year the idea for this list was conceived, as I basically had a top 7 in my head that year. So, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit my 1995 list with the benefit of a little hindsight, although each of the original top 7 I still consider worthy.  

10. Space Needle - Voyager

One of two albums in this top ten by artists who were and still are friends of mine, this was Space Needle's debut and remains frontman Jud Ehrbar's best work, in my opinion. 



9. Varnaline - Man of Sin

My awareness of most of the music that appears on this list I owe to the brainchild  behind this band, who grew up on the other side of the apple orchard from me. 



8. Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball

The first of three albums on this list that I didn't hear until a year or two later, this one has really grown on my since. 



7. Radiohead  - The Bends

You've probably heard of this band. 



6. Palace Music - Viva Last Blues

Will Oldham's discography is pretty extensive, and there are quite a few of his albums that are much more critically acclaimed, but this is easily my favorite. 



5. Blue Mountain - Dog Days

I would honestly say that Blue Mountain hasn't aged as well as some of my other alt-country favorites, but this is still easily their best album. 



4. Wilco - A.M.

Not quite as impressive a debut as his Son Volt counterpart, but Jeff Tweedy's career certainly benefited from his break from Jay Farrar. 

3. Whiskeytown - Faithless Street

This would be the highest ranking album that wouldn't have made my list back in 1995, as I didn't get turned onto Whiskeytown until two years later when I read an article in No Depression magazine that described them as Country and Westerberg.

2. The Jayhawks - Tomorrow the Green Grass

I had been a fan of The Jayhawks for a couple years when this album came out, but it blew me away almost as much as the next album on this list. There's really no match for the harmonies of Gary Louris and Mark Olson in their primes.  



1. Son Volt - Trace

I can still remember how excited I was to hear this album for the first time after obsessing over all four Uncle Tupelo albums for at least several months prior. It might sound strange, but I was also thrilled at the opportunity to use a urinal next to Son Volt drummer Mike Heidorn during their show at Bogie's in Albany that year.