Articles by: Tom Johnson

How David Bowie’s ‘Reality’ Stood Out For What It Was Not

How David Bowie’s ‘Reality’ Stood Out For What It Was Not

Released 20 years ago this month, the Top 5 U.K. smash album ‘Reality’ found David Bowie doing something unusual.

Metallica’s ‘St. Anger’ Was Always Much Better Than They Said

Metallica’s ‘St. Anger’ Was Always Much Better Than They Said

Metallica divided its fanbase 20 years ago with ‘St. Anger.’ But if you give the LP an honest second chance, it might offer surprising new revelations.

How King Crimson Defined an Unsettled Post-9/11 Landscape on ‘Power to Believe’

How King Crimson Defined an Unsettled Post-9/11 Landscape on ‘Power to Believe’

Released 20 years ago this week, King Crimson’s turbulent ‘Power to Believe’ felt like an innocent’s view of war as it started right before his eyes.

Why Neutral Milk Hotel’s ‘In an Aeroplane Over the Sea’ Still Very Much Matters

Why Neutral Milk Hotel’s ‘In an Aeroplane Over the Sea’ Still Very Much Matters

Released 25 years ago today, Neutral Milk Hotel’s ‘In an Aeroplane Over the Sea’ is still magical, inexplicable and a fresh alternative to everything else out there.

Why ‘Celebration Day’ Provided the Perfect Farewell for Led Zeppelin

Why ‘Celebration Day’ Provided the Perfect Farewell for Led Zeppelin

Remember when Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” was fresh to you? That’s how it felt 10 years ago today on ‘Celebration Day.’

Why Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’ Struggled to Overcome Its Pre-Release Hype

Why Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’ Struggled to Overcome Its Pre-Release Hype

Radiohead self-released ‘In Rainbows’ 15 years ago this week after an annoying promo campaign that nearly ruined the album for me.

On the Trail of Everything Bob Mould Ever Released With Sugar

On the Trail of Everything Bob Mould Ever Released With Sugar

Bob Mould’s post-Husker Du band Sugar debuted 30 years ago today with ‘Copper Blue,’ then soon vanished. Here’s where to find everything they recorded.

Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’ Came Along at Just the Right Time

Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’ Came Along at Just the Right Time

I picked up Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’ after its release 35 years ago today because I loved ‘Pyromania.’ That began a years-long stint of daily listening.

How ‘Live: Oy Vey, Baby’ Reminded Us That We Never Deserved Tin Machine

How ‘Live: Oy Vey, Baby’ Reminded Us That We Never Deserved Tin Machine

Tin Machine closed out their underrated career 30 years ago this week with a live LP that was once again thrillingly rough, angular and always quirky.

How I Finally Came to Love Crowded House’s Underrated ‘Time On Earth’

How I Finally Came to Love Crowded House’s Underrated ‘Time On Earth’

Crowded House issued ‘Time On Earth’ 15 years ago today, and the LP didn’t immediately click with me – then, it suddenly and completely did.