Why ‘Brothers’ Was the Best Showcase of Black Keys’ Genre-Jumping Genius
‘Brothers,’ released on May 18, 2010, stands as the Black Keys’ best-ever attempt at hybridizing black music into modern rock.
On Second Thought
Paul McCartney’s clunky ‘McCartney II’ couldn’t tap into new-wave zeitgeist
Paul McCartney’s synthy solo effort ‘McCartney II,’ released on May 16, 1980, didn’t pass for innovation back then – and it doesn’t today, either.
Danny Seraphine and Bill Champlin Defend ‘Chicago 17’: ‘Biggest Album We Ever Had’
‘Chicago 17,’ released on May 14, 1984, was a multi-million-selling smash. And Danny Seraphine and Bill Champlin aren’t about to apologize for it.
Past the Big Hits, Dire Straits’ ‘Brothers in Arms’ Offered Moving Examination of War
Released on May 13, 1985, Dire Straits’ ‘Brothers in Arms’ likely surprises return visitors with its depth of intellect and emotion.
Agree with it or not, we need political records like Neil Young’s Living With War
‘Living with War,’ released on May 8, 2006, once more found Neil Young sandblasting away at the problems he saw with America.
Adrian Belew’s Mr. Music Head was more than ‘Oh Daddy’ : ‘Don’t think I’ve played it again’
“Oh Daddy” got Adrian Belew a solo deal with Atlantic, who released ‘Mr. Music Head’ on April 28, 1989. The worry was that he’d be forever saddled with it.
Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers boasts an underrated complexity
The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sticky Fingers,’ released on April 23, 1971, might just be better – shhhhh! – than the far-more-heralded album that followed it.
Tommy Roe – Greatest Hits (1993): On Second Thought
Tommy Roe created pure and natural pop rock songs that were fun to sing along with, dance to, or simply make people feel good.
David Bowie’s Let’s Dance illustrated the durability of Chic’s hitmaking sound
Credit David Bowie for understanding how to cast his latest iteration. But also Chic for having the goods to make that nascent vision a reality.
Fleetwood Mac’s overlong Say You Will sorely missed Christine McVie
Christine McVie’s absence from ‘Say You Will,’ released this week in 2003, left Fleetwood Mac critically unbalanced. They could have used an editor, too.
