40 songs for 40 years of life; 1976-2016

I sit here on the evening of my 40th birthday and a couple hours ago I began brainstorming on this post. As I just wrote my "Best of 1986" post this year, and the music from then to now I am mostly familiar with, the decade that got me excited to research was the first of my life, 1976-1985. It is funny to think about how oblivious to music at the time. I definitely want to flesh this out more at some point, but for now I'll let the list stand alone. (As usual with all my lists, no repeat artists; too many great musicians to recognize!)

1976: Led Zeppelin- Nobody's Fault But Mine

1977: Fleetwood Mac- Second Hand News

1978: REO Speedwagon- Time for Me to Fly

1979: Pink Floyd- Comfortably Numb

1980: Talking Heads- Once In A Lifetime

1981: The Police- Invisible Sun

1982: Dexys Midnight Runners- Come On Eileen

1983: Def Leppard- Photograph

1984: Echo & The Bunnymen- The Killing Moon

1985: Tears for Fears- Head Over Heels

1986: R.E.M.- I Believe

1987: U2- I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

1988: The Church- Under the Milky Way

1989: The Connells- Motel

1990: The 77's- Love Without Dreams

1991: Toad the Wet Sprocket- All I Want

1992: Adam Again- River On Fire

1993: Smashing Pumpkins- Mayonaise

1994: Poor Old Lu- My World Falls Down

1995: Sixpence None the Richer- Love, Salvation, the Fear of Death

1996: The Violet Burning- Low

1997: Mineral- Gloria

1998: Sunny Day Real Estate- How it Feels to Be Something On

1999: Jimmy Eat World- For Me This is Heaven

2000: Elliott- Calm Americans

2001: Death Cab for Cutie- Why'd You Want to Live Here?

2002: The Gloria Record- Good Morning, Providence

2003: Nada Surf- Inside of Love

2004: Lovedrug- Down Towards the Healing

2005: Sufjan Stevens- Chicago

2006: Brandtson- Earthquakes and Sharks

2007: The New Pornographers- Challengers

2008: Mates of State- The Re-arranger

2009: Thrice- The Weight

2010: Arcade Fire- City With No Children

2011: The Belle Brigade- Losers

2012: Cat Power- 3, 6, 9

2013: Tegan & Sara- I'm Not Your Hero

2014: Luxury- You Must Change Your Life

2015: Wolf Alice- Silk

2016: David Bazan- Trouble With Boys

Me in 1979; what was I listening to?