An in-depth look at one album. Part of the Spotlight series run by Group Therapy.
Nothing from Donuts will ever be performed at a concert. Time is the donut of the heart. The track “Lightworks” samples electronic pioneer Raymond Scott, who composed music for Looney Tunes and built some of the earliest synthesizers. His most … Continue reading Album Spotlight: J Dilla – Donuts
Christmastime is here again/Ain’t been round since you know when… —The Beatles Did you know that the Beatles recorded a Christmas album? They did. Unfortunately, it wasn’t filled with their covers of songs like Good King Wenceslas and Rudolph The … Continue reading Album Spotlight: The Beatles Christmas Album
The Beastie Boys’ landmark sophomore album Paul’s Boutique is a bit hard for me to write about. It is a dizzying album that I’ve lived with for so long, yet I still feel like I have yet to unlock all … Continue reading Album Spotlight: Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
I like noise. I like big-ass vicious noise that makes my head spin. I wanna feel it whipping through me like a f*cking jolt. We’re so dilapidated and crushed by our pathetic existence we need it like a fix. – … Continue reading Album Spotlight: The Jesus and Mary Chain – Psychocandy (1985)
The debut album by one-half of the Spacemen 3 songwriters (Jason Pierce, AKA J Spaceman), Lazer Guided Melodies continues and deepens his old band’s investigations into contemplative, despairing, or ecstatic states. As with their forbears in the Velvet Underground, those … Continue reading Album Spotlight: Spiritualized – Lazer Guided Melodies (1992 – 61 min.)
The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me The seventh studio LP by English rock band The Cure, and the one that broke them in the U.S. (reaching the Billboard top 40), 1987’s Kiss Me (x3) is a sprawling … Continue reading Album Spotlight: The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
Summer, 1979. Paul McCartney is in his home studio in Scotland, perhaps depressed, admittedly discouraged. His musical group isn’t working out the way he’d like. Their last album hasn’t been well received by the critics. Perhaps it’s time to move … Continue reading Album Spotlight: Paul McCartney – McCartney II
The Stone Roses (1989) were and are Ian Brown – lead vocals, percussion, bongos; John Squire – guitar, backing vocals; Reni (Alan Wren) – drums, percussion, backing vocals; Mani (Gary Mounfield) – bass guitar. Album produced by John Leckie. This … Continue reading Album Spotlight: The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
Album: Knock Knock Artist: Smog Released 1/12/99 Knock Knock, the seventh album from Smog (AKA Bill Callahan), ranked #233 on our Album Poll. I think only two of us voted for this. In fact, that other person’s inclusion of Knock … Continue reading Album Club: Smog – Knock Knock
