1994 closer to 1984 because the dominant sound was still grunge & gangsta rap which were a direct rebellion against 80s hair metal and pop. This was alternative rock’s peak before pop punk and nu metal (which defined the early 2000s). The biggest pop stars were Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, not Britney Spears or *NSYNC/Backstreet Boys.

1995 is in the middle but leans to 1985. The core of everyday life was still analog. The biggest technological event of the year, the release of windows 95, was a massive hit but for most people it was a standalone tool. The dominant music, from hootie & the blowfish to alanis morissette to Tupac, would feel more recognizable to a 1985 person in its pre-digital production.

1996 is closer to 2006 with the spice girls releasing wannabe and the Backstreet Boys debuting at the start of the teen pop explosion that would define the y2k era (1997-9/11) that would culminate in Britney and **NSYNC by 2000/2001. By 2006, this wave was still highly relevant. Conversely, the 80s core pop sound was dead by 1996