Old Music Time

Every generation has it’s own soundtrack. The Silent Generation (people born in the ’20s and ’30s) had big band and swing. Baby Boomers (born in the ’40s and ’50s) had rock and soul. Generation X (born in the ’60s and ’70s) had grunge and hip-hop. On this edition of All Songs Considered, we look back at the defining music of those generations and ask what the soundtrack is for the current generation, Generation Y (or Millennials). Bob Boilen talks with Carrie Brownstein (Monitor Mix blogger and former guitarist for Sleater-Kinney), Stephen Thompson (editor for NPR’s Song of the Day), and Amy Phillips (senior editor with Pitchforkmedia.com) about the most memorable music of the past 40 years.

The Sound of a Generation

Nirvana
Album: Nevermind
Song: Lithium

Beck
Album: Odelay
Song: Where It’s At

Public Enemy
Album: Fear of a Black Planet
Song: Fight the Power

Buzzcocks
Album: Operator’s Manual
Song: Sixteen

The Byrds
Album: Sweetheart of the Rodeo [Bonus Tracks]
Song: You Ain’t Going Nowhere

Soulja Boy Tell Em
Album: Souljaboytellem.com
Song: Crank That (Soulja Boy)

M.I.A.
Album: Arular
Song: Bucky Done Gun

Kelly Clarkson
Album: Breakaway [Bonus CD]
Song: Since U Been Gone

Okkervil River
Album: The Stage Names
Song: Plus Ones