Stephen Malkmus’ Slacker-Pop Solo Debut Was Released 20 Years Ago
Stephen Malkmus’ first post-Pavement release is filled with buoyant, playful songs that see him bask in the glow of unencumbered creative opportunity.
All Things Reconsidered
Kylie Minogue Celebrated a Massive Comeback with ‘Fever’ 20 Years Ago
With Fever, Kylie Minogue came to the rescue after 9/11 by offering enough irresistible ear candy to make people forget about their troubles.
2001’s ‘Victoria Beckham’ Found Former Spice Girl Seeking Solo Stardom and Glittery Celebrity
Twenty years on, Victoria Beckham is a fascinating chronicle of the intersection between celebrity culture and pop music.
Rebbie Jackson Bid for Pop Stardom in the Midst of 1980s Jacksonmania
Rebbie was the first of the Jackson sisters to find solo success, scoring a gold record out of the gate with Centipede. When she released Reaction in 1986, she was no longer the most successful Jackson sister.
Elton John’s ‘Songs From the West Coast’ at 20 Years Old
Elton John revisited his past to record the acclaimed Songs from the West Coast in 2001. The album began a late-career revival that continues to this day.
All Things Reconsidered/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/My Favorite Thing/PopMatters Picks/Television
’70s TV Horror/Mystery ‘Kolchak: The Night Stalker’ Keeps Crawling from Its Grave
Horror-mystery TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker has a sour take on society that hasn’t dated since the ’70s; hence, its eternal afterlife.
Metallica’s Black Album Turns 30 with a Remastered and Expanded Edition
Metallica took a huge risk on their fifth album, unsure and a little worried where it might take them, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fountains of Wayne’s Power Poptastic Debut Turns 25
Fountains of Wayne’s debut LP reasserts how sturdy the formula of a catchy chorus and distorted guitars can be when a group has the songwriting to back it up.
Universal Songs? Interpreting Stevie Wonder’s ‘Songs in the Key of Life’
Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life is 45 years old. It’s a towering masterpiece in the histories of soul, pop, American music, and Black music worldwide.
The Lasting Legacy of Weezer’s Now-Beloved Commercial Flop ‘Pinkerton’
Weezer’s Pinkerton was released 25 years ago today and it was a critical and commercial flop. But in the intervening years, it’s become a beloved emo rock classic.
Janet Jackson Attempted a Restart with ’20 Y.O.’ 15 Years Ago
Janet Jackson’s 20 Y.O. became emblematic of the excesses of sexism, misogyny, and racism when looking at the reach of powerful, successful white men.