On Second Thought

Why That Self-Titled 1994 Album Is the Best Motley Crue You Never Heard

Why That Self-Titled 1994 Album Is the Best Motley Crue You Never Heard

Released 30 years ago, ‘Motley Crue’ is actually their heaviest and most mature record – mature, of course, being a relative term.

Why Joe Jackson’s Retro ‘Body and Soul’ Said So Much About His Future

Why Joe Jackson’s Retro ‘Body and Soul’ Said So Much About His Future

Released 40 years ago today, the daring ‘Body and Soul’ put to bed forever the idea that Joe Jackson was just another punk.

Luckless UK’s Underrated ‘Danger Money’ Arrived Just as Prog Fell Apart

Luckless UK’s Underrated ‘Danger Money’ Arrived Just as Prog Fell Apart

Released 45 years ago this month, UK’s trio-led sophomore effort ‘Danger Money’ is past due for a reevaluation.

Why Aerosmith Finally Broke Through With ‘Get Your Wings’

Why Aerosmith Finally Broke Through With ‘Get Your Wings’

Aerosmith’s debut may have sparked comparisons to the Rolling Stones, but ‘Get Your Wings’ arrived 50 years ago with a different approach.

Why You Shouldn’t Overlook the Doobie Brothers’ ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’

Why You Shouldn’t Overlook the Doobie Brothers’ ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’

Released 50 years ago this month, ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’ found the Doobie Brothers at a near-peak of their early-era powers.

How Rudolph Stole the Show on ‘The Temptations Christmas Card’

How Rudolph Stole the Show on ‘The Temptations Christmas Card’

This album will always be defined by its lead-off moment, as the Temptations take a kid’s song and transform it into a funked-out Yuletide hoot.

Why Todd Rundgren’s ‘Back to the Bars’ Remains So Powerful

Why Todd Rundgren’s ‘Back to the Bars’ Remains So Powerful

Let’s take one more warped spin through ‘Back to the Bars,’ an album Todd Rundgren released 45 years ago that still feels brand new.

How Boston Said Goodbye to Brad Delp on ‘Life Love and Hope’

How Boston Said Goodbye to Brad Delp on ‘Life Love and Hope’

‘Life Love and Hope’ arrived 10 years ago this week with what appears to be Boston’s last studio recordings featuring late frontman Brad Delp.

How ‘Let It Be … Naked’ Led to Our New Understanding of the Beatles’ End

How ‘Let It Be … Naked’ Led to Our New Understanding of the Beatles’ End

Released 20 years ago today, ‘Let It Be … Naked’ cleared the way for a larger reclamation project. The Beatles’ split would be completely reevaluated.

How Yes Backed Themselves Into a Sleek New Platinum-Selling Era With ‘90125’

How Yes Backed Themselves Into a Sleek New Platinum-Selling Era With ‘90125’

Released 40 years ago this week, ‘90125’ reshaped Yes as a modernized best-selling ’80s band. That wasn’t a bad thing.