James Brown – ‘Live’ at the Apollo
Some live albums capture a great performance. Others redefine what a live album can be. James Brown’s Live at the Apollo belongs firmly in…
Read More »
– R&B
Beyonce – BEYONCE
By 2013, Beyoncé had already achieved almost everything a pop superstar could hope for. She had dominated the charts as a member of Destiny’s…
Read More »
Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE
Some albums announce the arrival of a major talent. Others redefine the possibilities of an entire genre. Frank Ocean’s channel ORANGE accomplished both. Released…
Read More »
Adele – 21
Heartbreak has inspired countless great albums, but few have captured its emotional highs and devastating lows as completely as Adele’s 21. Released in 2011,…
Read More »
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Every so often, an album arrives that feels completely out of step with its era in the best possible way. In the mid-2000s, mainstream…
Read More »
Justin Timberlake – Justified
Leaving one of the biggest boy bands in the world is always a gamble. Success as part of a group rarely guarantees success as…
Read More »
Destiny’s Child – Survivor
Few pop groups have ever faced as much public turmoil at the height of their success as Destiny’s Child. Lineup changes, lawsuits, media scrutiny,…
Read More »
Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Solo albums from members of successful groups often struggle to escape the shadow of their previous work. Lauryn Hill accomplished the opposite. Following the…
Read More »
Michael Jackson – Bad
Following the biggest-selling album in history is an impossible task. After Thriller rewrote the record books and transformed Michael Jackson into the world’s biggest…
Read More »
Michael Jackson – Off the Wall
Long before Thriller became the biggest-selling album of all time, Michael Jackson made the record that truly announced his arrival as an adult artist.…
Read More »
Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life
Every generation has a handful of albums that transcend the boundaries of genre and become cultural landmarks. Songs in the Key of Life is…
Read More »
Curtis Mayfield – Superfly
Movie soundtracks often exist to support the story on screen, but every once in a while an album becomes larger than the film it…
Read More »
Sly & The Family Stone – Stand!
By 1969, popular music was becoming increasingly fragmented. Rock, soul, funk, psychedelic music, and rhythm and blues were all evolving in different directions, each…
Read More »