Three essential albums you should be listening to for the new year

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There’s a unique feeling that comes with both finishing one year and beginning the next. It’s a time for fresh goals, a renewed outlook, and imagining what we want to achieve. Each year adds something new to our lives, helping us learn and become who we want to be.

It’s amazing how a song, even one you’ve heard before, can suddenly become meaningful. A single experience can transform a familiar tune into something special and create a lasting memory.

Lately, I’ve been digging through old music albums I’ve had saved on my phone forever. It’s weird, these songs feel super relevant to what I’m going through right now, even though they’re older than me! The lyrics just get how I’m feeling – like they understand dealing with emotions, changing my mindset, and letting go of things that aren’t serving me anymore. It’s honestly really helping me move forward.

Let these older great albums be part of your new year’s listening adventure

I’ve narrowed down the albums that really defined the start of 2026 for me, as I’ve been growing and figuring things out. There are just three of them!

Meddle (1971), Pink Floyd

This is probably my favorite Pink Floyd album. It feels optimistic and encourages you to accept life as it is, focusing on enjoying the present moment instead of worrying about things you can’t control.

Often, simply appreciating your surroundings is enough. This album is both trippy and calming, and its message explores ideas that go beyond everyday thinking.

“Echoes” is the band’s most beloved song, and it’s easy to see why. It explores universal themes like the search for connection, the feeling of loneliness, and the quest for meaning in life. Beyond its impressive length—over 20 minutes—the song features profound lyrics about the mysteries of existence, culminating in a stunning guitar solo by David Gilmour.

This album is incredibly moving – it’s almost overwhelming how perfectly it captures emotion. It makes you feel everything all at once, and it’s amazing to think how an album can achieve that. It’s a beautiful exploration of life and the longing for connection, presented like a surreal and deeply honest dream.

As a huge fan, I think Meddle perfectly embodies the beauty of life, and it felt like the ideal album to kick off 2026. It’s like a musical journey through all the stages of being human, and it really makes me think about all the people who’ve helped me become who I am today – the ones who made me happy, helped me grow, and loved me for who I am.

Pink Floyd’s music is dreamlike and transports you to strangely familiar places. Experiencing it is something everyone should do, and 2026 might be the perfect time to start that journey.

Even if it’s to their live performance of “Echoes” in Pompeii from 1972…

Axis: Bold As Love (1967), The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Jimi Hendrix is my biggest inspiration when it comes to music and creativity. His music always lifts my spirits and motivates me to keep going, even when things get tough.

His songwriting wasn’t just deeply personal; it felt almost otherworldly, with a delivery that went beyond anything typical. What truly connected with people was his honest and open vulnerability. When he played guitar, it felt like an extension of himself, and he included everyone around him in the experience. It was a truly groundbreaking style – incredibly expressive, raw, and new.

I was captivated by Jimi Hendrix from the moment I first heard his music, and his album, Axis: Bold As Love, truly resonated with me. It was full of groovy blues, but also incredibly heartfelt and poetic – it felt amazing that someone could express so much emotion with such ease.

His voice was smooth, yet he didn’t have to be loud or aggressive for anyone to hear him.

This album’s music felt so smooth and natural that as I entered 2026, I understood what Hendrix meant by ‘fly on’ – it was a signal to keep moving forward. Considering what he achieved during this time, it’s amazing, and it really highlights how powerfully love can change us, which is a fundamental part of being human.

I believe his album explores the process of dealing with inner struggles related to life’s uncertainties. It seems to be about wishing things had turned out differently – perhaps wanting to have acted differently ourselves – but ultimately accepting reality and finding a way to move forward.

The album explores how things that seem simple in theory can be surprisingly challenging in reality, presented as a cohesive, ongoing narrative. Ultimately, it suggests that we are the central point, and how love – in any form – can either empower or transform us, depending on our perspective.

Led Zeppelin II (1969), Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin II is my all-time favorite album, and it’s hard for me to be objective about it. It perfectly captures the energy of late 60s rock, with a powerful sound, psychedelic lyrics, and a groundbreaking heavy rock edge. It’s more than just an album—it’s a complete experience.

This song is a true heavy metal classic, and it’s the perfect way to kick off a new year. It makes me want to drive with the windows down, blasting the music and imagining what it would have been like to see Led Zeppelin at their best.

This album is truly special – it defies simple description. To me, it perfectly captures the feeling of being with friends, finding self-assurance, appreciating life, and treating yourself well. There’s something about Robert Plant’s voice that just makes you feel empowered, like you can confidently embrace your inner rockstar – even if you only know a few songs!

This album really feels like life, you know? It’s all about dealing with tough times like breakups, but also appreciating the good times with the people you love. And honestly, it feels super genuine – like the artist really poured their heart into it. As a gamer, I appreciate that authenticity!

What I love about Led Zeppelin is their honesty about the messy process of making their album. A lot of it was recorded while they were touring, so it wasn’t perfectly organized. But that actually feels real – life is often spontaneous and unpredictable, and you just have to accept that.

Often, the most important thing we learn is that it’s okay for things to change. As Robert Plant put it, even if our path takes unexpected turns, we’ll eventually reach our goals. Heading into a new year, it’s good to remember that we don’t need to have all the answers, and that learning—even through surprises—is a natural part of life.

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2026-01-12 14:01