Black Flag’s ‘Damaged’ and the Hardcore Hope of “Rise Above”
Black Flag’s Damaged is a valuable document of the past as well as a prophetic testimony to the values of present and future hardcore punk music.
All Things Reconsidered
‘Street Hassle’: The Ethics, Attitude, and Sound of Lou Reed
On Street Hassle, Lou Reed shaped a thrilling poetic narrative focused through the prism of 1970s New York, using three chords, punk energy, street language, and Samurai ethics.
The Legendary Waves Behind Fiona Apple’s Grand Debut ‘Tidal’
Using the spirals of poetry and jazz that formed her, Fiona Apple’s Tidal established the 18-year-old as an honest and revolutionary voice in music.
Depeche Mode’s ‘Songs of Faith and Devotion’ at 30
While 1993’s Songs of Faith and Devotion is rightfully recognized as one of Depeche Mode’s best, the experience came close to being their last as a group.
Liza Minnelli Hung Up Her Feather Boa and Sequins for ‘Gently’
Gently is, in Liza Minnelli’s own words, a “make-out” album. The 1996 record reaches for the kind of rueful, ruminative romance found in a smoky bar.
Jayne Mansfield Outsmarts the “Dumb Blonde” Role In Steinbeck Adaptation ‘The Wayward Bus’
Jayne Mansfield’s dramatic performance in the John Steinbeck-adapted drama The Wayward Bus disproves the notion that she was only capable of playing a “dumb blonde”.
Maggie, What Have We Done: Pink Floyd’s ‘The Final Cut’ at 40
The final album of the Roger Waters Pink Floyd era is a difficult, challenging meditation on war and death. The Final Cut is undeniably ambitious and moving.
Tom Waits’ ‘Closing Time’ and the Myth of the Eponymous Debut Album
Tom Waits’ Closing Time serves as the “Swim at Your Own Risk” sign hanging above his musical swimming pool. There’s a whole world waiting beneath that water.
Headlong Into the Dirty ’70s with the Rolling Stones’ ‘Goats Head Soup’
Is the Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup an underappreciated classic or a reckless work marking their descent into a misunderstood and chaotic era – and should we care?
Céline Dion’s ‘Falling Into You’ Was a Triumph of 1990s High Camp Pop Art
Falling Into You could only be made by an artist like Céline Dion, who knows that whatever she puts out will be slammed by critics but adored by her audience.
Reconsidering Pearl Jam’s ‘Yield’ 25 Years On
Pearl Jam’s Yield is a rare album resonating as an instant classic from its first spin, with memorable and diverse songs demanding full listening.
Revisiting Jellyfish’s Pop Masterpiece ‘Spilt Milk’ 30 Years On
Spilt Milk is one of the great accomplishments of pop history: a colossus that bestrides pop music and crushed Jellyfish, the band that made it.
