41 posts
Classic Album
We look back at how the Pet Shop Boys’ second album was informed by Thatcherism, a 60s singer living in a hotel, Catholicism… and ZZ Top. By Oliver Hurley All…
Classic Album: The La’s
A timeless classic that inspired a thousand imitators but left its creator claiming it sounds like “a snake with a broken back”, The La’s is a much-mythologised debut album. We…
Classic Album: Madonna – Like A Virgin
Madonna began 1984 proclaiming she wanted to rule the pop world. After enlisting Nile Rodgers to help elevate her from the clubs of New York, by the year’s end she was…
Classic Album: George Michael – Faith
Shedding his past, George Michael ditched the fun and sunshine of Wham!, looked inwards for inspiration and bared all in order to create his first true masterpiece… By Mark Lindores…
Classic Album: Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring
After starting life as one of many bands cynically marketed by record companies to cash in on the New Romantic scene, on third studio album The Colour Of Spring Talk…
Classic Album: The Sundays – Reading, Writing & Arithmetic
Mixing the feathery whimsy of the Cocteau Twins and the jangling melodicism of The Smiths, The Sundays were tipped for huge stardom. Only problem was: they weren’t ready to play the pop…
Classic Album: Vienna – Ultravox
John Foxx was out, Midge Ure was in, breathing new life into the self-confessed ‘broken band’. European both in its title and Influences, Ultravox’s changing of the guard resulted in…
Classic Album: Raising Hell – Run-DMC
Run-DMC’S Raising Hell was meant to take hip-hop “back to the streets”, yet became a massive crossover that united b-boys and rock and pop fans alike. It remains one of…
Classic Album: Control – Janet Jackson
Emerging from the shadow of her big brothers, Janet’s third album saw her present a set of anthems on which she displayed independence, strength and self-worth. Boasting Jam and Lewis’…
Classic Album: Parallel Lines – Blondie
Forsaking their punk sound but not their attitude, Blondie teamed up with hitmaker Mike Chapman for their third album which earned them global success thanks to a string of hits…