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
‘Smiley Smile’: The Beach Boys Album That Wasn’t Supposed to Be
Their followup to ‘Pet Sounds’ was a quick replacement for an abandoned masterpiece-to-be. Some fans didn’t love it, but in time its reputation has grown.
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Cheap Trick ‘In Color’: The LP That Put Them on the Map
Cheap Trick broke musical and lyrical boundaries, even defying the look of a rock band with a couple of rock stars and a couple of nerds.
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Mott the Hoople ‘All the Young Dudes’ Generated Some Hoopla
The album, with its Bowie-written title track, emphasized the band’s bravado, and helped lay the foundation for the ’70s glam movement.
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R.E.M.’s ‘Document’: Not the End of the World, But the End of an Era
The Georgia band’s fifth studio album was the mark of a group spreading its wings, but also leaving something behind.
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Aerosmith ‘Permanent Vacation’: A Rejuvenation
They’d lost their way as the ’80s lumbered along. Then, the Boston rockers remembered just who Aerosmith was. We take a look back at their classic comeback
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Warren Zevon’s Recovery Through ‘Sentimental Hygiene’
The 1987 album signaled more than a bid for a career reset. Now sober and focused, and with help from R.E.M., he was clearly back on track.
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The Kinks’ Masterful ‘Everybody’s in Show-Biz’
The Kinks returned to America in 1972 after a ban to become the arena rock band they deserved to be.
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Emmylou Harris’ ‘Luxury Liner’: Outside The Lines
Influenced by Gram Parsons and using some of the best musicians and songwriters in the business, the singer created a country-rock smash with the 1976 album.
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Elvis Costello and the Attractions’ Exceptional ‘Imperial Bedroom’
The 1982 album is generally considered one of his best, with 15 exceptional songs and some of the best work by the band.
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Rod Stewart ‘Gasoline Alley’—His Unequaled, Magical Masterpiece
His second solo album showcased an artist who excelled at both rollicking rock ‘n’ roll and tender, emotive ballads.
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