Album Rewinds
Given the test of time and the wisdom of hindsight, how do significant albums from the past sound and play today? Our critics take a second look from a fresh perspective
Psychedelic Furs’ ‘Talk Talk Talk’: More Than Just ‘Pretty in Pink’
With its raw energy and Richard Butler’s distinctive, darkly romantic vocals, the 1981 album pushed the band beyond its initial post-punk sound.
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Manassas: Stephen Stills’ Finest (Solo) Hour
Stills’ third full-length as leader showcased a collaborative ensemble flexible enough to cover a broad stylistic palette.
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‘Katy Lied’ @ 50—Steely Dan Retreats to the Studio
Stepping off the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium stage on July 5, 1974, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen closed the books on Steely Dan as a live band. An earlier tour had left both exhausted and Fagen’s voice shredded, prompting an
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Willie Nelson ‘Stardust’: Reimagining the American Songbook
His record label was reluctant to issue it, but the album defied expectations and revived interest in the classic songwriting of the mid-20th century.
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Deep Purple ‘Machine Head’: Rockin’ in Montreux
The 1972 album, cut by their classic lineup, made them big stars, and they soon toured the world. And there was much more to it than “Smoke on the Water.”
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On the Menu: ‘Breakfast in America’ From Supertramp
The band had enjoyed steady growth with their first 5 albums. That all changed in 1979 with this blockbuster release which became one of the year’s top sellers.
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ZZ Top ‘Eliminator’: Hot-Rods, TV Dinners and Sharp-Dressed Men
The music is stellar, and the LP became a massive hit, selling 10 million copies and staying on the Billboard album chart for three years.
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Neil Young ‘Harvest’: Keep Me Searching
Partnering with a new band he called the Stray Gators, Young recorded one of his most popular albums of all-time, and it gave him his only #1 single.
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Thin Lizzy ‘Live and Dangerous’: When Anything Might Happen—And Did
The Irish rockers’ concert album hits us again and again, and we like it. At its close, you feel like you should take a breather.
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The Who’s ‘Face Dances’: After Tragedy, Transition
Somehow, after Keith Moon’s death, they were able to direct their energy into a fine studio effort that explored new and varied styles.
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