07-20-2016, 05:58 PM
1991.
Like 1966, 1971, 1977, 1984 and other years, this is sometimes cited as one of those pivotal moments in rock music history: not merely for the number of important albums released then, but because it indicated a significant change in the pop culture landscape. Trends that had been circulating under the surface suddenly achieved mainstream popularity. Everything that was thought a certainty was sort of turned upside down. This was the year that Generation X had truly arrived on the scene. In fact, I believe it was the first year the term “Generation X” was used, in reference to this new post-Baby Boomer group, and there was definitely a feeling that a torch was being passed.
And what kind of world did we Gen Xers find in 1991? This was the year the Soviet Union dissolved, and the Cold War that had cast a fearful shadow over the world for decades was over. Captialism and the American way had triumphed, seemingly. And yet...1991 also saw war in the Gulf, and an economic recession. No abatement of the inner city crime wave fueled by poverty and crack cocaine. And a highly publicized incident of police brutality. So...we Gen Xers, on the one hand, were optimistic, looking forward to a new world, ready to take life by the horns--and ready to party, but we were also rather uneasy. Because we knew there was decay underneath the glossy surface, as the American Dream (and by extention the promise of Western Civilization) was presented to us. And all these feelings were reflected in our art and our music.
Like 1966, 1971, 1977, 1984 and other years, this is sometimes cited as one of those pivotal moments in rock music history: not merely for the number of important albums released then, but because it indicated a significant change in the pop culture landscape. Trends that had been circulating under the surface suddenly achieved mainstream popularity. Everything that was thought a certainty was sort of turned upside down. This was the year that Generation X had truly arrived on the scene. In fact, I believe it was the first year the term “Generation X” was used, in reference to this new post-Baby Boomer group, and there was definitely a feeling that a torch was being passed.
And what kind of world did we Gen Xers find in 1991? This was the year the Soviet Union dissolved, and the Cold War that had cast a fearful shadow over the world for decades was over. Captialism and the American way had triumphed, seemingly. And yet...1991 also saw war in the Gulf, and an economic recession. No abatement of the inner city crime wave fueled by poverty and crack cocaine. And a highly publicized incident of police brutality. So...we Gen Xers, on the one hand, were optimistic, looking forward to a new world, ready to take life by the horns--and ready to party, but we were also rather uneasy. Because we knew there was decay underneath the glossy surface, as the American Dream (and by extention the promise of Western Civilization) was presented to us. And all these feelings were reflected in our art and our music.