There is something so special about closing off the end of the year and the start of something new. Brand new goals, mindsets, and aspirations we all see ourselves in. Each year brings a new element to life, and we all continue to grow and shape ourselves as each year passes.
What makes it even more enjoyable is the new discoveries of music or even songs from the past that we now begin to associate with something special, even if we listened to that same song multiple times prior, it just takes one experience to make it sentimental.
I find myself going into my own archive of albums that I have always had saved in my phone. Though these albums have been around longer than my existence, I almost feel that these albums connect to a place I find myself in now. The lyrics are almost perfect in understanding emotions, mentality, and moving forward while leaving behind what is no longer meant for you.
Let these older great albums be part of your new year's listening adventure
Alas, I've condensed the list to just three albums that have kick-started my 2026 as I grow as an individual, navigating the world as we know it!
Meddle (1971), Pink Floyd
Possibly my favorite album by the one and only, Pink Floyd, I can say it speaks from a place of optimism in life. Accepting what it is and what it should be, it's one of those gentle reminders to enjoy what is around you and not worry about what is not.
Sometimes, that's all it ever is anyway, just stepping back and loving what is around you. One of their more psychedelic yet relaxing albums, the meaning strives much deeper beyond human thought.
The most popular track is "Echoes" for a number of reasons. It tells a story of striving for that human connection, isolation, and finding that deeper meaning to life. Besides the track being well over 20 minutes long, the lyrical content is truly rich in the vastness of existence well beyond comprehension, followed by a beautiful solo done by no other than guitar hero, David Gilmour.
What I love most about this album is that it's done so perfectly right, it's borderline emotional. I often wonder how an album could be so perfect and make me feel every emotion at once. An album about just experiencing life for the desire of human connection, formulating it as a dream-like journey that is surreal and raw in its core.
Meddle truly captures the beauty behind life, which is why it was the perfect album as an introduction to 2026. It is the musical version of human expression through the phases of life. It makes you reflect on all the people who made you smile, grow, and accept you for who you've become.
Each song feels like a dream, but also takes you to a place you've never been, but feels all too familiar. That would be the perfect works of Pink Floyd, and everyone should take that dream ride at least once in their life, and maybe 2026 is that year.
Even if it's to their live performance of "Echoes" in Pompeii from 1972...
Axis: Bold As Love (1967), The Jimi Hendrix Experience
My hero when it comes to all things music and creativity goes to the one and only Jimi Hendrix. He is one artist who will never fail to amuse the soul or give me the feeling of dusting myself off and keep pushing forward.
His lyrics were not just personal, but magical, as his delivery was beyond psychedelic; it was him just being vulnerable lyrically that made sense to every listener. He treated the guitar as if it were an extension of himself that everyone who surrounded him was a part of. It was revolutionary, really, as he was so expressive, raw, and innovative.
Hendrix had me hooked the second I heard his sound, even more so, his album, Axis: Bold As Love, was an album directed towards the heart. It was dripping in funky blues, while being so emotionally lyrical that you almost wondered how one person could be so open about their feelings so nonchalantly.
His voice was smooth, yet he didn't have to be loud or aggressive for anyone to hear him.
His music was so graceful and effortless in this album that entering 2026 made me realize it was okay to "fly on" as Hendrix would say. It's almost unbelievable what he was capable of during this era, yet it reveals the transformative nature of love that is also part of the human experience.
I suggest that his album was a reflection of overcoming internal conflicts surrounding parts of life we wish we had more control over. Wishing something could've been different or how we as people could've been different in a situation, but accepting things for what they are at the end and moving on from it.
What seems easy in thought can be difficult in actuality, as he expresses throughout the album, conveying it as if it were just one long story from start to finish. At the end of it all, the axis is portrayed as ourselves and how love in whatever context can be a shift of strength or change depending on our mindset.
Led Zeppelin II (1969), Led Zeppelin
As my favorite album of all time, I will not talk about Led Zeppelin II or Led Zeppelin in general. The fiery concept of rocking the late '60s forever has me locked in. The sound is heavy, it's got lyrics of psychedelic mania, but an introduction of heavy rock, it is everything and so much more.
Down to the masterpiece of every song recorded, it was quintessential to heavy metal, and gives a rocking start to a new year if we're being honest. I can envision myself driving around with the volume all the way up, with the windows down, imagining how lovely it would've been to see Zeppelin in their prime.
For me, this album is beyond whatever definition could be found. It is, in my eyes, the perfect album of being with your friends, gaining confidence in yourself, loving the life you have, and giving yourself what you deserve. Just for any reason at all, hearing Robert Plant's voice makes you feel like a rockstar and that you can totally wear the band shirt and know more than just three main songs.
The album's entirety is just about going through the hoops of life, whether it is heartbreak or just being with people you enjoy; it is, by all means, authentic in its creation.
What makes me admire Zeppelin is that they, as a group, admitted the chaos behind the album, as some of their recordings were done on tour for this album, and it was just a little all over the place. Yet, that is true to life, as some things can be so spontaneous and all over the place, you just have to learn to abide by it.
Sometimes that itself is the lesson, that though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea, as Robert Plant says. That in itself is okay, and going into a new year, it's important to accept that we as people won't always have the answer and we will learn along the way, even if it involves some unplanned events.