"29" by Gin Blossoms

Easily one of my favorite records of the 90s, "New Miserable Experience," put the Arizona band Gin Blossoms on the map. The record sold over 4 million copies and spawned four top 40 singles in 1993 and 1994: "Hey Jealousy" (#25), "Found Out About You" (#25), "Until I Fall Away" (#21), and "Allison Road" (#24). Tragically, founding member Doug Hopkins, who wrote their first two hits, fell into trouble with drinking and depression, ultimately getting fired from the band and committing suicide just as they made it big.

The title of the band's follow-up effort in 1996, "Congratulations, I'm Sorry," was inspired by the band's mixed blessings of commercial success and losing Hopkins. It sold 2 million copies and yielded them two more huge hits, "Follow You Down" (#9) and "Til I Hear It From You" (#11). "As Long As It Matters" was also released, but stalled at #75 and marked the end of the band's charting career. They broke up in 1997 but got back together in 2006 and released two more records since then.

"29" is a masterfully melancholy song about adulting. Just another cut that proves how much of a masterpiece "New Miserable Experience" was. Here's a great article about the record, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.