Record Recap

On This Day: The Weeknd’s Drearily Hedonistic Debut Project, “House of Balloons”

The project has become a landmark in 2010s R&B — a dynamic showcase of The Weeknd’s insecurities about love and coping dive into the maximums of hedonism.
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Record Recap: 50th Anniversary Of “Tago Mago” by CAN

The widespread influence of “Tago Mago” is reflected in the subsequent records of musicians who were inspired by the record’s creative exploration.
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Record Recap: In Memoriam of Chick Corea, Trailblazer of Jazz Fusion

Corea was a highly lauded pioneer of jazz fusion — a genre that reinterprets jazz music by using alternative inspirations like rock, metal or Latin music.
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Record Recap: In Memoriam of SOPHIE, Pop Pioneer and Barrier Breaker

While the loss of such an icon is insurmountably hard to grasp, SOPHIE’s lasting impact on the industry will be felt for years to come.
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On This Day: Celebrating 50 Years of Carole King’s “Tapestry”

No. 25 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” “Tapestry” has long since taken its rightful place at the heart of the American soft-rock canon.
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On This Day: “Donuts,” J Dilla’s Parting Gift

James Dewitt Yancey, better known as J Dilla, released his album “Donuts” just three days before his passing on Feb. 10, 2006.
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On This Day: The Best And The Worst Of The National Anthem

The national anthem has had its share of musical and sociopolitical controversies throughout the years.
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Record Recap: How Good Of A Guitarist Was Kurt Cobain?

Cobain’s unique sound was at times met with criticism, especially given his slurred, non-virtuosic style.    
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Record Recap: In Memoriam of MF DOOM, “Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Rapper”

Being the perfect fictional anti-hero of rap, DOOM consistently maintained a villainous shroud of mystery, while audiences could only stand back and watch him flex his rapping superpowers.
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On This Day: “1984” and Van Halen’s Jump into Superstardom

“1984” is an important body of work for modern listeners as a timestamp in the evolution of rock music — the birth of hedonistic rock with pop appeal.
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Record Recap: What To Expect With Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy”

Given Drake’s success with his stylistic charisma, the naming of his next album hints at the project being symbolic of a victory lap filled with allusions to his previous work.
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Record Recap: In Memoriam of Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen was not only one of the most innovative and unique guitarists of all time, but a musical inventor and a pioneer in guitar construction and technology.
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