We are delighted to announce that the Albumism family continues to expand with the key addition of Brandon Ousley. With an expansive knowledge of and impassioned appreciation for music, Brandon is a welcome addition who bolsters our continued content development. “Being a music enthusiast that specializes deeply in the hemispheres of soul, jazz, and funk, I am always drawn toward ‘the album’ as an integral part of the musical experience,” Brandon explains. “Every album presents a narrative, inviting the listener to explore, interrogate, and investigate its several journeys.”

We look forward to Brandon’s contributions and perspectives in the future, and encourage the Albumism community to check out his great work, including his debut articles: a stellar revisiting of Aretha Franklin’s classic, Curtis Mayfield produced 1976 album Sparkle, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, and a primer on De La Soul’s new single “Pain” featuring Snoop Dogg.

More about Brandon:

Brandon Ousley is a budding writer, blogger, media creator/personality, and photographer. A Chicagoan and Roosevelt University graduate, he currently holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, specializing in communications and black studies. He has written for Roosevelt University’s own Torch newspaper for five years, along with co-producing and writing award-winning media pieces for the university as well. In 2014, Ousley had the distinction of directing and producing Leo Burnett Chicago’s Mosaic award-winning promotional video for their ‘Medley’ event. He has done radio work for Roosevelt University’s student-ran WRBC radio station and has interned for Chicago’s black-owned, talk radio station WVON-1690 AM. His deep appreciation for music ranges across several decades and genres, but most favorably from the soul, jazz, and funk realm. Follow Brandon on Twitter via @brandonousley.

Brandon’s 5 Favorite Albums of All Time:

Jamiroquai’s ‘Travelling Without Moving’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary

Three decades on and despite loads of unwarranted criticism, Jamiroquai’s terrific third studio album still sounds as fresh and invigorating as ever.

Bob Dylan’s ‘Modern Times’ Turns 20 | Album Anniversary

‘Modern Times’ mourns a musical idiom by giving it another good try, because if it’s in your bones, that’s how you grieve stuff anyway.

The Roots’ ‘Game Theory’ Turns 20 | Album Anniversary

The Roots’ seventh studio affair is the disquieted soundtrack to learning you’re in a game engineered for you to lose—a first-person shooter with your weapons removed.