Opposite to the warming techniques employed for the electronica found on ‘Ray of Light’ (1998), ‘Music’ fostered Madonna’s interest in juxtaposing organic and inorganic sounds.
Read moreKid in the Street: Remembering Justin Townes Earle
Photo: Joshua Black Wilkins | Courtesy of New West Records
All of the late singer-songwriter’s music seemed to come from some lonely place inside of him, some torn-out hole that could never be filled.
Read moreDubstar’s ‘Make It Better’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective & Interview
“It is an anomaly in the Dubstar story,” Chris WIlkie says of the duo’s third studio LP. “I noticed that when I listened back to it, it has more attitude and definitely occupies its own space.”
Read moreJohn Mellencamp’s ‘Scarecrow’ Turns 35 | Anniversary Retrospective
In 1985, the Indiana-bred singer-songwriter was an artist in transition from Cougar to Mellencamp, and ‘Scarecrow’ was the album through which he truly came into his own.
Read moreArcade Fire’s ‘The Suburbs’ Turns 10 | Anniversary Retrospective
In acknowledging that between childhood and adulthood, we dream of future and past, Arcade Fire’s third album searches in earnest to make sense of the present.
Read moreBumpy Knuckles’ ‘Industry Shakedown’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective
Bumpy Knuckles’ second official studio affair stands the test of time as the strongest album in the lengthy discography of one of hip-hop’s most unique and talented characters.
Read moreDiana Ross’ Eponymous Debut Solo Album ‘Diana Ross’ Turns 50 | Anniversary Retrospective
While the public may have assumed that Ross’ star power would carry her to an easy victory, she wanted more than “easy” and yearned to make an artistic statement while finding commercial triumph.
Read moreCarly Simon’s ‘Come Upstairs’ Turns 40 | Anniversary Retrospective
Simon’s ninth studio affair reinforced that alternating between rich character studies and complex renderings of events in her own life was something she had gotten down to an exact science.
Read morePaula Abdul’s ‘Head Over Heels’ Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective
With her third studio affair, Abdul reached the apex of her artistic power. So it was unfortunate then that the record never found the commercial audience it deserved.
Read moreMariah Carey’s Eponymous Debut Album ‘Mariah Carey’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
Expertly smithed and played by Carey’s collaborative network and a supporting cast of the best session musicians, all eleven tracks on her debut LP are vibrant, crisp, and varied in tempo.
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