Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane
Favorite Tracks: Harder To Breathe, This Love, Shiver, She Will Be Loved, Tangled, The Sun, Must Get Out, Sunday Morning, Secret, Through With You, Not Coming Home, Sweetest Goodbye
(Released June 25, 2002)
On their debut album, Maroon 5 permiates the “it factor” that made them must-see in their early era. While their pop songwriting sensibility has always been there, it’s pairing with the funky, blue eyed soul of their early days truly made this band standout amongst their peers. Despite not being an instant success, the quality of these tunes ensured that they would continue bubbling around until their inevitable ascent into superstardom.
Post Malone - Austin
Favorite Tracks: Don’t Understand, Something Real, Chemical, Mourning, Too Cool, Sign Me Up, Socialite, Overdrive, Speedometer, Hold My Breath, Enough Is Enough, Landmine, Laugh It Off
(Released July 28, 2023)
Here on his fifth record, Austin Post fully abandons high profile guest features and Hip-Hop sensibilities to make stadium pop guitar songs; balancing the peppy, upbeat, sing along inducing, summer pop Melodie’s with some of his most self loathing lyrics to date. Somehow it all works for him, and he’s going to kill these songs on tour.
Travis Scott - Utopia
Favorite Tracks: Thank God, Modern Jam, My Eyes, God's Country, Sirens, Meltdown, Delresto (Echoes), Topia Twins, Circus Maximus, Parasail, Lost Forever, Looove, K-Pop, Telekinesis, Til Further Notice
(Released July 28, 2023)
It's been five years since the last Travis Scott album and the time in between has been filled with tragedy and hardship. What we find here is a still talented, boundary pushing, innovator of his craft taking new risks production styles and vocal effects to create something new, find his place in music once more, and learn from the mistakes and harsh realities of his past.
Common - Be
Favorite Tracks: Be (Intro), The Corner, GO!, Faithful, Testify, Love Is..., The Food - Live, They Say
(Released May 24, 2005)
Once a promising conscious MC from the legendary Chicago music scene, Common's 2002 album "Electric Circus" was critically panned and he needed a strong comeback. By partnering with Chicago's burgeoning superstar rapper and super producer Kanye West, he crafted a modern hip hop classic that not only reestablished his career, but also helped to establish West's new label GOOD Music. This project alongside labelmate John Legend's "Get Lifted" gave the label seven Grammy wins from it's first two releases. A great foundation for what would become a defining hip-hop posse of the 2010s.
Alvvays - Antisocialites
Favorite Tracks: In Undertow, Dreams Tonite, Plimsoll Punks, Your Type, Not My Baby, Lollipop (Ode To Jim), Saved By A Waif, Forget About Life
(Released September 8, 2017)
Everything I loved about Alvvays's 2014 self titled debut was amplified and improved here on their sophomore effort. Their sound is nostalgic yet refreshing. Like a modern take on the best tracks of the Go-Go's or Katrina and the Waves while still having a post 2010 alternative sensibility. Several standout tracks can be found here and so far into this Canadian band's career, they can proudly claim to have a discography with no duds.
Fergie - The Dutchess
Favorite Tracks: Fergalicious, Clumsy, All That I Got (The Make Up Song), London Bridge, Glamorous, Here I Come, Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal), Finally
(Released September 13, 2006)
With all due respect to Apl.de.ap and Taboo, the Black Eyed Peas hitmaking formula consisted on Will.i.am production and Fergie taking lead. So it only made sense to capitalize on their huge 03-06 run by putting out a Fergie solo album. This thing had the charts in a chokehold. Hit after hit after hit. It would only build Fergie's star and make the next Black Eyed Peas albums send them to new stratospheres.
Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Favorite Tracks: The World At Large, Float On, Ocean Breathes Salty, Bukowski, The View, The Good Times Are Killing Me
(Released April 6, 2004)
On this record Modest Mouse were able to capture the increasingly familiar adult feeling of being somewhat sparkly and celebratory, but doing so in a melancholy manner. This album feels like an explanation of daily reality and all of its struggles while trying to remain upbeat despite these unfortunate circumstances. As lead singer Isaac Brock sings on "The View", "If life's not beautiful without the painm Well I just would rather never ever even see beauty again."
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
Favorite Tracks: Excursions, Buggin Out, Rap Promoter, Butter, Check The Rhime, Jazz (We've Got), Scenario
(Released September 24, 1991)
Of all the New York hip-hop artists coming to prominence in the early 90s, Tribe found a lane that was uniquely their own with their use of jazz samples over drum breaks, effectively making the jazz rap sound and ushering a style of conscious hip hop built around social commentary and humorous word play. Along with other members of Native Tongues, like De La Soul and Queen Latifa, they created an entire sound that laid the groundwork for good natured, progressive rap in the years to come.
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Favorite Tracks: Slow Burn, Lonely Weekend, Butterflies, Oh What A World, Mother, Space Cowboy, Velvet Elvis, High Horse, Golden Hour Rainbow
(Released March 30, 2018)
On her fourth studio album, Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves incorporated a pop influenced songwriting approach that led to one of the most accessible, cross-over into critical and commercial successes Country music has seen in years. A pioneer of the Y'allternative movement, this album sent Kacey to new heights and reinvigorated widespread outside interest into a typically niche genre.
Blur - The Ballad of Darren
Favorite Tracks: The Ballad, St. Charles Square, Barbaric, Russian Strings,The Narcissist, Goodbye Albert, Far Away Island, The Heights
(Released July 21, 2023)
Comeback albums shouldn't be this good. Blur's heyday as one of the most important bands of the Britpop movement has long passed and since been overshadowed by Damon Albarn's other musical endeavor Gorillaz, but here we see the boys all come back together and show us all how to age gracefully in music. You can hear in the structure and composition of these songs how much fun they are having. In addition, hearing songs with more lyricism showing where these guys are now after such long, storied careers as well as much time apart. It's a refreshing take on one of the most talented bands to ever come from the British music scene.
Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
Favorite Tracks: Harmony Hall, Bambina, This Life, Big Blue, How Long?, Unbearably White, Married In A Gold Rush, Sympathy, Sunflower, Flower Moon, 2021, Stranger
(Released May 3, 2019)
It's always interesting to see how bands will adapt after losing a key member. The intricately detailed precision of indie super producer Rostam Batmanglij seemingly also departed the band in favor of a more laid back, jam band approach. It's a fun display of growth. These are the ivy league kids from the late 2000s making indie pop with African drums and pretentious lyrics. These are fathers in their mid-late thirties jamming out over mellow spring time sonics with guest appearances from Danielle Haim and Steve Lacy all throughout. The band seemingly reinvigorated themselves after a six year hiatus by chilling out.
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Favorite Tracks: 3 Peat, Mr. Carter, A Milli, Got Money, Comfortable, Dr. Carter, Phone Home, Tie My Hands, Mrs. Officer, Let The Beat Build, Lollipop, La La,
(Released June 10, 2008)
Any native New Orleanian already knew by the start of the 2000s that Lil Wayne was the best kept secret in Hip Hop. Years of maturity through smashing every mixtape and guest appearance he could get his hands on led to this grand coronation as a globally acknowledged Best Rapper Alive. This album is a victory lap for everything he accomplished leading up to this moment, and here at age 25 he had already cemented himself as an all time great in Hip-Hop history.
Beach House - Depression Cherry
Favorite Tracks: Levitation, Sparks, Space Song, Beyond Love, PPP, Wildflower
(Released August 28, 2015)
This album was my introduction to Beach House. The first of two albums they released in 2015, it peaked my interest enough to make me dive deeper into their discography and discover what I consider to be a singular presence within the space of dream pop. No one else does it better or executes it in a way that is so uniquely their own. 9 tracks of easy listening that can take your mind to new places with their experimental and adventurous, yet serene and dreamlike atmosphere.
Bobby Brown - Don’t Be Cruel
Favorite Tracks: Don't Be Cruel, My Prerogative, Roni, Rock Wit'cha, Every Little Step, I'll Be Good To You, All Day All Night
(Released June 20, 1988)
What Bobby Brown did in the late 80s set the stage for so many male pop stars that followed. Unlike Michael Jackson, when he left New Edition, it wasn't like he was leaving his brother. These were his childhood best friends, but his desire to be a main attraction pop star could not be contained, and when given the opportunity to work alongside L.A. Reid and Babyface, he did not drop the ball. Every edgy-street approved R&B singer owes their career to this album. Every boyband member who left to achieve solo success making content aimed at adults owes their career to this album. This was the blueprint. A landmark moment in R&B.
Barbie: The Album
Favorite Tracks: Pink, Dance The Night, Barbie World, Speed Drive, Journey To The Real World, Hey Blondie, Home, What Was I Made For?, Forever & Again, Silver Platter, Angel
(Released July 21, 2023)
Some of the biggest names in pop music come together to soundtrack what is sure to be the biggest blockbuster of the summer.
Kanye West - Graduation
Favorite Tracks: Good Morning, Champion, Stronger, I Wonder, Good Life, Can't Tell Me Nothing, Barry Bonds, Drunk and Hot Girls, Flashing Lights, Everything I Am, The Glory, Homecoming, Big Brother, Good Night, Bittersweet Poetry
(Released September 11, 2007)
This album is the reason anyone who makes music, makes music.
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
Favorite Tracks: Bad Romance, Alejandro, Monster, Dance In the Dark, Telephone, So Happy I Could Die, Just Dance, LoveGame, Paparazzi, Poker Face, Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say), Summerboy
(Released November 18, 2009)
I remember when Lady Gaga first came on the scene. "Just Dance" ushered in an entire era of pop music. "Poker Face", "LoveGame". It was hit after hit. The meat dress... The VMA performance of "Paparazzi". It was iconic moment after iconic moment. Then on the deluxe she had "Bad Romance", "Alejandro", and "Telephone". That's a career worth of hits on just her first album. Not many have dominated in such a fashion ever in pop music history. I wish I appreciated the moment more. We may never see anything like it again.