Because of Strummer’s untimely death 10 months prior to the album’s release, many of the tracks are first takes that give ‘Streetcore’ a richness and sincerity that emanate throughout.
Read moreHi-Tension’s Eponymous Debut Album ‘Hi-Tension’ Turns 45 | Album Anniversary
While the album is wholly convincing, it represents the birth of a movement created by young, inexperienced artists with a world of cynicism and a racist industry designed to thwart them at every turn.
Read moreDavid Bowie’s ‘Pin Ups’ Turns 50 | Album Anniversary
‘Pin Ups’ doesn’t have the gravity of Bowie’s more original albums, but acts as an interesting historical layover on the way to a more avant garde sound after his prolific classic pop period.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello’s Debut Album ‘Plantation Lullabies’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary
‘Plantation Lullabies’ is defiant hip-hop, soul fused with jazz, queer sexuality, androgyny as femininity, and fearless, boundless Blackness—converted to an audible format.
Read moreErick Sermon’s Debut Solo Album ‘No Pressure’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary
‘No Pressure’ was the start of a long and fruitful solo career and earned Sermon as much acclaim as his own man than as half of EPMD.
Read moreCherrelle’s ‘Affair’ Turns 35 | Album Anniversary
‘Affair’ is a rich, conceptual journey in synth-funk and soul, traversing the life cycle of an extramarital dalliance from meet-cute to heartache and back.
Read moreAmy Winehouse’s Debut Album ‘Frank’ Turns 20 | Album Anniversary
Everything completely changed for Winehouse after the release of her jazz-imbued debut LP, both for the better and the worse.
Read moreNone Too Fragile: Pearl Jam’s ‘Vs.’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary
With the hefty weight of expectations in the wake of their breakthrough debut LP ‘Ten’ (1991), Pearl Jam released their follow-up effort, an intriguing yet imperfect affair overall.
Read moreThe Cardigans’ ‘Gran Turismo’ Turns 25 | Album Anniversary
On their fourth album, The Cardigans whipped up heavy and stormy modern rock and electronic aesthetics—a departure from the overall sweet-faced vibes of their initial records.
Read moreChaos Dream: Idlewild’s Debut Album ‘Hope Is Important’ Turns 25 | Album Anniversary
What is most apparent in listening to Idlewild’s full-length debut way back in 1998 and even twenty-five-plus years on, is that it was always intended as a launching point for the band.
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