Though Ms. Houston’s breakthrough 1985 debut album was a tough act to follow, her second LP found her in the midst of true vocalizing and her artistic prime.
Read moreEphraim Lewis’ Debut Album ‘Skin’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
In truth, Lewis’ only studio affair is far from perfect. But there is enough here to reinforce the void that existed following his tragic, untimely demise less than two years after the record’s arrival.
Read moreAretha Franklin’s ‘Amazing Grace’ Turns 50 | Anniversary Retrospective
Franklin’s performance is nothing short of astounding, and the accompaniment of Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir brings the album to near perfection.
Read moreLL Cool J’s ‘Bigger and Deffer’ Turns 35 | Anniversary Retrospective
‘Bigger and Deffer’ harkens back to a time when emcees were cocky because they were great at what they did, and the music was better off for it.
Read moreHerbie Hancock’s Debut Album ‘Takin’ Off’ Turns 60 | Anniversary Retrospective
Hancock's debut album 'Takin' Off' features a stellar ensemble whose collaborative musical camaraderie balances sophistication, class, and accessibility with funky and blues-rooted grooves.
Read moreRoxy Music’s ‘Avalon’ Turns 40 | Anniversary Retrospective
The musical journey Roxy Music had taken led them to this crowned jewel of their catalog. ‘Avalon’ is more than just a great album—it's a mood.
Read moreThe Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band’ Turns 55 | Anniversary Retrospective
The Fab Four’s in-studio experimentation pervades their eighth studio LP, which has remained a blueprint for other acts to study and learn from for decades.
Read moreThe Cure’s ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’ Turns 35 | Anniversary Retrospective
In part because of its collective songwriting approach, the band’s seventh studio affair demonstrates their diverse aesthetic in spades.
Read moreGemma Hayes’ Debut Album ‘Night On My Side’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective
Hayes’ inaugural LP is a gorgeous mélange of melodies, tones and flourishes that can’t help but seduce the listener’s sensibilities with each subsequent listen.
Read moreEl-P’s ‘Cancer 4 Cure’ Turns 10 | Anniversary Retrospective
EL-P’s third studio affair became a cathartic experience, where he exorcised the pain that his past brought him, allowing him to re-start with a clean slate.
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