Smack dab in the middle of Ronald Reagan’s Presidency, Tom Petty wanted to remind the world that even though he had moved to California in the mid 70’s to pursue a music career, he was born a rebel in Gainesville, Florida who grew up with a southern accent.

The sixth installment of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers was released on March 26th, 1985. Southern Accents showcases Petty coming to grips with his southern heritage. This album dives into the complexities that arise when sharing the pride you have in your homeland with outsiders who will not always appreciate your culture. Taking in this collection of songs feels akin to enjoying a conversation with the rocker himself.

No Doubt was dripping with talent, creativity, and attitude. Trying to put the Anaheim band in a genre box was as difficult as trying to pin a simple label on David Bowie. They used horns, keyboards, guitars, pianos, drums, bass, vocals, and spirit to express themselves. No Doubt could be classified as Ska, Punk, Alternative, Pop, depending on who you ask. But regardless of whichever distinction you choose, the term “unique” must accompany said description.

In October of 1995, No Doubt invited the world on a tour through a Tragic Kingdom. Armed with a myriad of songs; some pumped with adrenaline, others sprouting sun beams, and a few dripping with emotion, Gwen Stefani and the lads were primed to catapult into the music stratosphere.

In April of 1993, the Bay Area trio known as Green Day made the jump to the big leagues when they signed with Warner Brothers. The band was ready to unleash their sound under the backing of a major label They wanted to harness their live energy on an album and share it with the world. What followed was one of the most important albums of the 1990s and the record that finally launched punk rock out from the underground doldrums and into the bright lights of mainstream music.

Dookie premiered on February 1st, 1994 under WB’s Reprise Records. At the time, it acted as a fresh way to introduce punk rock to a starving clientele who received some morsels of the genre through other artists. In the years that followed, the record would serve as a significant influence for the upcoming rendition of rock bands. And for people searching for a punch from the alternative neighborhood, well, Green Day’s Dookie has always been more than happy to supply the fist.