Massive Attack’s ‘Blue Lines’ Changed Everything
Massive Attack provided the first truly viable British response to the then-rising—and stubbornly indigenous—sensibilities of American hip-hop culture.
Pop Past
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PUP Supercharged Their Career and Pop-Punk 10 Years Ago
How a supposed death sentence, PUP’s The Dream Is Over, ignited today’s pop-punk torchbearers 10 years ago.
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Talk Talk’s Lost Chapter: ‘The Colour of Spring’ at 40
With its organic instrumentation and ecological visual and lyrical sensibility, Talk Talk’s third album was a holistic concept rooted in the natural world.
The 20 Most Memorable Songs of 1991
So much remarkable music was released in 1991 that it’s difficult to choose just 20 memorable songs of 1991 without a few omissions.
Elton John’s Best Album ‘Captain Fantastic’ Is 50
A well-curated reissue celebrates Elton John’s best album, Captain Fantastic, a half-century after its release.
Blondie Went Genre Crazy on Their Comeback ‘No Exit’
Fueled by the international hit “Maria”, 1999’s No Exit brought Blondie back to life. The record has an admirable sense of adventure.
Chubby Checker’s Unexpected Journey Into Psychedelia
Chequered! is an obscure, long-out-of-print “psychedelic” album from 1971 by the most unlikely musician: Chubby Checker, the man behind the 1960 hit “The Twist”.
Wolf Parade’s 2005 Debut Is Still a Revelation
Montreal band Wolf Parade’s haphazard formation and instant momentum yielded their most captivating work, including what would become their defining anthem.
The Brilliant Eartha Kitt Is “Miss Kitt” to You
Eartha Kitt’s best recordings from the 1950s represent the bedrock of her career and deliver a charming respite from a world in turmoil. Miss Kitt, to You is a revelation.
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“Only Dogs Have Their Day”: Son Volt’s ‘Trace’ at 30
Thirty years later, we can finally hear the songs that Son Volt’s Jay Farrar wrote without the alt-country baggage critics perpetuated to the point of cliché.
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Constantines’ ‘Tournament of Hearts’ Is Their Secret Success
Constantines are Canadian, but they understand the death of the American Dream, with their quiet, dignified stories of working-class struggles.
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Bruce Springsteen’s Extraordinary ‘Born to Run’ at 50
Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run is one of the great rock albums; it showcases youthful idealism’s shortcomings while keeping one enraptured with its false promises.