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‘Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, the Monkees, and Turning Mayhem into Miracles’ (2015): Books

Bobby Hart rose to fame with Tommy Boyce as part of the songwriting team behind the Monkees. But there was more to the story.

Toto, "Angela" from Toto (1978): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “Angela” from Toto (1978): Toto Tuesdays

“Angela,” a song of shifting moods and layered musical complexity, puts the exclamation point on Toto’s bold debut album.

Vinyl

James Cotton, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark Jr. + others – Muddy Waters 100 (2015)

The forthcoming centennial tribute ‘Muddy Waters 100’ finds a series of guest stars adding new dimension to his stirring blues legacy.

Vinyl

Dire Straits’ typically overlooked Communique is an understated gem

Dire Straits’ ‘Communique,’ released on June 15, 1979, caught my ear much later – but it only confirmed Mark Knopfler’s genius.

In defense of Roger Waters' oft-derided, over-the-top Radio K.A.O.S.

In defense of Roger Waters’ oft-derided, over-the-top Radio K.A.O.S.

Roger Waters’ ‘Radio K.A.O.S,’ released on June 15, 1987, was defined by a tangled narrative and plasticine production. Here’s why we like it, anyway.

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The Jangle Band – “Kill the Lovers / This Soul is Not For Sale” (2015): One Track Mind

The Jangle Band certainly does emphasize the jangle on a pitch-perfect power pop single featuring Joe Algeri and others.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' gritty Mojo was more than just the blues

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ gritty Mojo was more than just the blues

Released on June 15, 2010, Tom Petty’s ‘Mojo’ built off a rootsy foundation, extending their reign as the most sophisticated garage band in America.

Vinyl

Heartless Bastards – Restless Ones (2015)

There’s a gutsy musical experientation surrounding ‘Restless Ones,’ but the perfect Heartless Bastards album is still yet to be made.

Paul McCartney says the Beatles used Motown as a template – for what not to do

Paul McCartney says the Beatles used Motown as a template – for what not to do

The Beatles covered a few Motown cuts, but that doesn’t mean they fashioned themselves after Detroit’s hitmaking juggernaut. In fact, quite the opposite.

Vinyl

The Knack – ‘Normal as the Next Guy’ (2001; 2015 reissue)

‘Normal as the Next Guy’ should have – once again – been more than enough to hot-wire a comeback for the Knack. So what went wrong this time?