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
Warren Zevon’s Hard-Boiled Asylum Debut: Rock Noir
With production by Jackson Browne and great songs like “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” and “Hasten Down the Wind,” the 1976 LP is an unsung classic.
Read MoreTodd Rundgren ‘Something/Anything?’: An Extravagant Opus
As its title suggests, the ambitious, far-reaching 1972 double album provided early proof that the possibilities were endless.
Read MoreThe David Crosby Solo Debut—Well Worth Remembering
For the 1971 release, Croz gathered a superb supporting cast, one that featured the communal contributions of friends and fellow travelers.
Read MoreBlack Sabbath’s Debut LP: Where Metal Began
Every defining characteristic of the British band’s self-titled debut would become a hallmark of the oft-maligned heavy metal genre.
Read MoreElvis Costello & The Attractions ‘Trust’: A Dark Masterwork
The album, Costello’s fifth overall, captures the quartet at a potent but troubled peak, its title a loaded, ironic signifier
Read MoreThe 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. American Woman introduced a new Guess Who
Read More‘Pearl’–Janis Joplin’s Last Hurrah
‘Pearl’ remains Janis Joplin’s most fully realized record, fronting the best band she would ever lead on her strongest set of material.
Read MoreThe Sprawling ‘London Calling’ From The Clash
The 2-LP set was one of the best albums of its time, and marked the evolution of the UK quartet from punk heroes to great rock band
Read MoreSteely Dan’s ‘Gaucho’: Perfection and Chaos
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s quest for the perfect groove proved a key denominator across the 1980 album.
Read MoreCheap Trick’s ‘Heaven Tonight’: They Just Seemed a Little Weird
Nearly every song on ‘Heaven Tonight’ might have been a single—even if the overall sound was still a little left-of-center.
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