While not his biggest commercial hit, the legend of Jay-Z’s debut LP has grown over the last quarter-century, as its themes have helped shape many of his albums that came afterwards.
Read moreBeyoncé’s ‘4’ Turns 10 | Anniversary Retrospective
Balancing creative control, self-expression and commercial accessibility was an important lesson for Beyoncé to learn so that she could be remembered as more than just a modern day hitmaker.
Read moreJoni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’ Turns 50 | Anniversary Retrospective
The music industry is traditionally loath to put women in control of their sound and image, but Mitchell was very much in control of shaping her fourth studio affair.
Read moreGuster’s ‘Ganging Up On The Sun’ Turns 15 | Anniversary Retrospective
The band’s fifth studio album is kind of a mess…in the best possible way. Full of unexpected transitions, it’s unique in their repertoire because it has no overarching aesthetic sensibility.
Read moreBob Dylan’s ‘Blonde on Blonde’ Turns 55 | Anniversary Retrospective
Dylan has recorded all manner of music in the 55 years since his seventh studio LP was released, but he has rarely sounded as confident and self-assured as he did on this album.
Read more3rd Bass’ Second & Final Studio Album ‘Derelicts of Dialect’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
While their debut LP ‘The Cactus Album’ (1989) was a solid introduction, 3rd Bass recorded ‘Derelicts of Dialect’ with a notably heightened sense of purpose and focus.
Read moreBeck’s ‘Odelay’ Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective
The kaleidoscopic ‘Odelay’ forced listeners and the music industry at large to look beyond the ubiquity of “Loser” and recognize Beck as a true musical visionary.
Read moreBon Iver’s Eponymous Second Album ‘Bon Iver’ Turns 10 | Anniversary Retrospective
Bon Iver’s second studio affair is a record about stillness, regardless of what the lyrics say. Musically, the band paints this vivid of a picture.
Read moreThe Smiths’ ‘The Queen Is Dead’ Turns 35 | Anniversary Retrospective
Terry Nelson revisits The Smiths’ watershed album and examines why, relative to other long players of the same era, it still resonates so profoundly today.
Read moreChaka Khan’s ‘Destiny’ Turns 35 | Anniversary Retrospective
‘Destiny’ is full of saturated colors, big brawny beats, exaggerated flourishes, skyscraper-tall pop-rock, and Khan’s voice dwarfs them all.
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