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.
Pop Past
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.
Van Halen Debuted in the 1970s But Represented the Best of the 1980s
The 1980s began on 10 February 1978, with the release of Van Halen’s self-titled debut album, now celebrating its 45th anniversary.
Louis Jordan Straddled Two Epochs in American Popular Music
Louis Jordan’s style and innovation helped American popular music transition from one global sound juggernaut to the next, moving from big-band swing jazz to rock ‘n’ roll.
Madonna Unveiled Her Pop Masterpiece ‘Ray of Light’ 25 Years Ago
Madonna’s Ray of Light and dance music are unfairly underrated and dismissed, primarily due to being the cultural product of queerness and centered on femininity.
