Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #6
Sean Murphy6. Cranes, Population 4 (1997) Cranes should have been huge for the same reason they could never be huge: they were too original, eccentric and off-putting to reach a mass…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #7
7. Living Colour, Stain (1993) Even though Living Colour is still making excellent music today, they are mostly remembered as the band who did “Cult of Personality” two decades and…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #8
8. Fantômas, Fantômas (1999) This one is a bit of a stretch; it may even be cheating a little bit to include it since it’s not (necessarily) dismissed. On the…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #9
9. The Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) Stupid title. Silly cover. Blatant attempt to steal some thunder from The Beatles, who were possibly at the height of their…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #10
10. Kiss: Dynasty (1979) Okay, let’s get this one out of the way right up front. It’s not necessarily that this album is better than average (it’s not), it’s that…
July 7: When The Two Sevens Clash (Revisited)
July 7, 1977: When the two sevens clash. You can, and should, appreciate Culture's masterpiece all days of the year, but on July 7 you better recognize. I wrote about…
The Doors: America’s Star-Spangled Band (Revisited)
The 4th of July presents an at least two irresistible reasons to talk about The Doors. One: Jim Morrison took his last bath on July 3, 1971 in Paris. R.I.P.…
Blessed Blackness & Holiday Fireworks from the Godfather of Soul
On this most American of weekends, it seems appropriate --if not obligatory-- to celebrate the most American of geniuses. It does not get any more American than James Brown, does…
The Boss, The Big Man and the Best Rock Song of the ’70s (Revisited)
When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band... The rest was history, wasn't it? I am, of course, quoting from "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", the second…
Four Albums and a Film: The Best Summer Entertainment*
The Congos - Heart of the Congos (1977) Great art knows no seasons. Nevertheless, some music is made for—or at least can be fully appreciated during—specific times of the year.…