It might have been fourteen twelve years ago, but 1992 was pretty great. I had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to voting against President Bush in my first brush with the election process. I also had a lot of music to enjoy, with great albums being released by The Cure (“Wish”), Morrissey (“Your Arsenal”), Sonic Youth (“Dirty”) and The Beastie Boys (“Check Your Head”).

Fast forward to 2004. A President Bush is again facing re-election. And four of the last five albums I have purchased have been by The Cure (“The Cure”), Morrissey (“You Are The Quarry”), Sonic Youth (“Sonic Nurse”) and the Beastie Boys (“To The 5 Boroughs”).

What is going on here? Considering the state of the music industry, I never would have thought that four of my favorite 1992 artists would release albums in 2004. And considering that all are pushing their mid-40s (two of the Beasties excluded), no one seems like they are cashing in on their past achievements to make a quick buck.

What’s next? New albums from Slowdive, The Sundays, Ride or Pop Will Eat Itself? Probably not…but it can’t hurt to hope.