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
The Moody Blues’ ‘Days of Future Passed’: Album Rewind
It was a new concept: a rock band would play its new songs, read some poems and be backed up by an orchestra. Today it’s considered a landmark recording.
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The Beatles’ White Album: Facts and Trivia
At the same time they were maturing, they were leaving behind the Beatles. Here are some fascinating details on all 30 tracks on their ’68 masterpiece.
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Elton John’s ‘Madman Across the Water’ Revisited
He was everywhere in 1971 but still hadn’t quite found his way. Then he released the first album that defined his singular gifts.
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‘Astral Weeks’: Van Morrison’s Masterpiece @ 50
A “feverish poetic intensity persists” throughout the cycle of songs that comprise Morrison’s 1968 work, even as those songs shift in pace and tone.
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Argent’s Masterful, Underrated Debut: From Z to A
Out of the ashes of the Zombies came their keyboardist’s new band, Argent. Their debut album is one of rock’s most underrated of all time.
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Moody Blues ‘Lost Chord’ 50th Anniv. Box Review
If you’ve been listening to this music on a scratchy vinyl LP for the last 50 years, you’re bound to find the surround-sound version to be a real trip.
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The Ramones’ ‘Road to Ruin’ Deluxe Edition: Review
Today, all four of the group’s original members are dead but the music lives on, and it’s a good deal better than many listeners realized in 1978.
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John Lennon’s ‘Imagine Ultimate Collection’: Review
The original 10-track 1971 album has been expanded for this release to include…well, more than you could have possibly imagined.
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Van Halen’s Debut Album @40: A Turning Point for Rock
It didn’t sound at first listen like something to change the course of rock music, but they opened doors for any number of rock acts.
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‘Who’s Next’: Plan B Yields a Career Blockbuster
Born from the ashes of an abandoned project Pete Townshend called ‘Lifehouse,’ the band’s 1971 masterwork triumphed through songcraft and performance.
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