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.
Pop Past
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.
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.
10 Years Later Demi Lovato’s ‘Unbroken’ Is Still Some of Their Best Work
Even as Unbroken remains some of Demi Lovato’s best work, the artist would come to outgrow the sounds they experimented with on their third album.
How the Beach Boys Went Political in the Early ’70s
For a brief period in the early ’70s, the Beach Boys went political and gained relevance in the tumult of the “Me Decade”. If only it had lasted.
Mariah Carey’s ‘Glitter’ Is One of the Best Dance-Pop Albums of the Last 20 Years
A smart, loving paean to 1980s dance-pop, post-disco, synthpop, and pop-funk, Mariah Carey’s Glitter is a brilliant work of genius released 20 years ago.
Diana Ross’ Grand Pop Comeback with 1991’s ‘The Force Behind the Power’
What The Force Behind the Power did, more than any other album, is re-establish Diana Ross as a major global recording star 30 years ago.
Diana Ross Bid for Independence with ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ 40 Years Ago
Why Do Fools Fall in Love started Diana Ross’ tenure at RCA with a considerable commercial bang after she left Motown Records in a bid for musical independence.
R.E.M.’s ‘New Adventures in Hi-Fi’ Looks Back While Always Moving Forward
R.E.M.’s New Adventures in Hi-Fi was released 25 years ago and was a deviation for the band. By writing and recording during an arduous tour, they rose to the occasion.