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
Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s Debut: Of Rivers and Cowgirls
The 1969 album’s streamlined band sound offered a direct connection to his emerging power as a live musician, and launched a career-long partnership.
Read More
Steely Dan ‘The Royal Scam’: Rock on a Grand Scale
The 1976 LP proved divisive, augmenting the leaner ensemble core of prior albums with more aggressive ensemble arrangements.
Read More
The Guess Who’s ‘American Woman’ Album: Distant Roads Are Calling
The Canadian band had been scoring with ballads like “These Eyes” and “Laughing.” Now they wanted to rock. The 1970 album introduced a new Guess Who.
Read More
Paul Simon ‘There Goes Rhymin’ Simon’: American Tunes
With classic songs such as “American Tune,” “Kodachrome” and “Loves Me Like a Rock,” his third solo album sealed his reputation as a major solo artist.
Read More
John Fogerty’s ‘Blue Ridge Rangers’: One-Man Band
With CCR having called it a day, he entered the studio alone and put together an album’s worth of tributes to his country, gospel and bluegrass heroes.
Read More
‘Electric Mud’: When Muddy Waters Went Psychedelic
While the album would find itself the object of critical scorn, it served its purpose: introducing a new generation to blues.
Read More
J. Geils Band’s ‘Live—Blow Your Face Out’ Revisited
It wasn’t their first live album, but ‘Blow Your Face Out’ took the band’s manic rock ‘n’ soul energy to another level entirely.
Read More
Bill Withers, ‘Live at Carnegie Hall’: Soul Preachin’
He’d never even planned for a career in music. Before long, he found himself on stage at one of the most prestigious performance venues in the world.
Read More
Roger Daltrey and His 1973 Solo Debut: Doing A Favor
He wasn’t even planning on recording a solo album. But one thing led to another and soon The Who’s lead singer found himself with 10 songs of his own.
Read More
Dr. John’s ‘Gumbo’: A New Orleans Master’s Thesis
For the sessions, instead of his own new material, he breathed authentic life into lively new versions of hometown classics.
Read More