Screwball’s Debut Album ‘Y2K: The Album’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective

February 7, 2020 Ben Pedroche

With this much talent driving the sound, and four decent emcees on top, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Screwball’s debut album should have been bigger than it was.

Kelis’ Debut Album ‘Kaleidoscope’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective

December 5, 2019 Quentin Harrison

The wild, weird and wonderful energy of ‘Kaleidoscope’ predicated what was to be the enduring blueprint for every Kelis record moving forward: no rules and raw ambition.

Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin’ Turns 35 | 10 Fast Facts

November 10, 2019 Justin Chadwick

Upon its initial release, ‘Like A Virgin’ challenged the listener to contemplate not just Madonna’s overt sexuality, but also his or her own feelings about the thin line between sexual freedom and repression.

Eric Clapton’s ‘Journeyman’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective

November 5, 2019 Steven Ovadia

The success of the album is due to its structure, which is a mix of Clapton looking back to his influences, as well as acknowledging where he was at the time.

Freddie Foxxx’s Debut Album ‘Freddie Foxxx Is Here’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective

October 31, 2019 Ben Pedroche

‘Freddie Foxxx Is Here’ can be included among the list of forgettable debut albums by artists who afterwards went on to reinvent themselves and finally find their feet.

Fried’s Eponymous Debut Album ‘Fried’ Turns 15 | Anniversary Retrospective

August 28, 2019 Patrick Corcoran

Despite its slight concessions to modernity, ‘Fried’ resolutely refuses to be dragged away from a distinctly unfashionable, yet always stylish soul sound.

Capital D’s ‘Insomnia’ Turns 15 | Anniversary Retrospective

August 23, 2019 Jesse Ducker

One of the few great hip-hop albums to deal with the state of America post-September 11th, ‘Insomnia’ also cements Capital D’s rightful status as one of Chicago’s greatest emcees.

Mase’s ‘Welcome Back’ Turns 15 | Anniversary Retrospective

August 23, 2019 Daryl McIntosh

For those of us who at least loosely followed Mase during his musical hiatus, we accepted that the former prince of the Bad Boy empire would never return to hip-hop.

‘Violator: The Album’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective

August 9, 2019 Daryl McIntosh

The late hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty is missed by an entire community and remembered as we listen to this exciting ensemble collaboration that helped close out the final summer of the ‘90s.

I Wasn't Born to Follow: The ‘Easy Rider’ Soundtrack Turns 50 | Anniversary Retrospective

July 13, 2019 Stephen Lee Naish

There are many ways in which Dennis Hopper’s film ‘Easy Rider’ still resonates five decades later, not least of which is its music’s enduring influence on the art of curating film soundtracks.

The Cardigans’ ‘First Band on the Moon’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary

So much more than their massive hit “Lovefool,” The Cardigans’ terrific third LP reflected the band’s evolving confidence and musical maturation at the time.

Mariah Carey’s ‘Glitter’ Turns 25 | Album Anniversary

Instead of the disproportionate attention paid to the commercial performance of ‘Glitter,’ the focus should actually rest on Carey’s continued desire to marry pop, R&B, and hip-hop genres for the masses.

CeCe Peniston’s ‘I’m Movin’ On’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary

After early career success like Peniston’s, many artists would rather sell their souls than chance to change the formula, even if they have to create work they don’t love. Peniston refused.