Tag: Pop
-
Roy Orbison ‘In Dreams’ (1963)
One thing I’ve always loved about Roy Orbison is how he completely cut against the grain for traditional country-pop music of the 1960’s. The man didn’t have a publicist nor did he have the traditional arrangements that defined the era. While his peers leaned on swagger and raw energy, Orbison carved out a space defined…
Written by
·
-
Sheryl Crow ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’ (1993)
Tuesday Night Music Club has a lot of simple charms to it. Take the music itself— it’s unpolished and throws a lot of different genres together, like alternative rock, country, pop, and more. This was Crow’s debut album and introduced her knack for blending pop hooks with a laidback country twang and a touch of…
Written by
·
-
David McCallum ‘Music: A Bit More of Me’ (1967)
Before most folks knew him as the cool, unflappable Ducky on NCIS (which was probably your mom’s favorite show for a brief run there), David McCallum was quietly crafting some surprisingly smooth grooves of his own. His 1967 album Music: A Bit More of Me shows the Scottish actor’s deep affection for lush orchestration and…
Written by
·
-
Eddie Murphy ‘How Could It Be’ (1985)
Eddie Murphy’s fearless stand-up, unforgettable Saturday Night Live sketches, and his ability to bring humor, charm, and swagger to every role he played is infamous. But not many people have any idea Eddie Murphy was actually a pretty damn solid musician as well. And in 1985 at the height of his fame as one of…
Written by
·
-
Lana Del Rey ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell’ (2019)
I’ve always understood how Lana Del Rey could be beloved by so many but never understood why she was so beloved if that makes sense. The cinematic qualities of her music, classic Americana nostalgic undertones, and romantic sentimentality of her music felt incredibly compelling at face value. But there was always something that felt sort…
Written by
·
-
Lily Allen ‘Alright, Still’ (2006)
I’ve long been a sucker for British hip hop (here’s me waxing poetic about Mike Skinner of The Streets) and while Lily Allen isn’t exactly hip hop, her brand of pop certainly has a lot of nods towards the genre whether it be the musical instrumentation or the bounce of the beat. Allen has got…
Written by
·
-
Rick Astley ‘Hold Me In Your Arms’ (1988)
Internet memes aside I’ve always been a massive fan of Rick Astley. For the sake of being succinct, here’s what I shared when I wrote about his smash hit album Whenever You Need Somebody: For people in my generation Rick Astley is pretty much exclusively known for nothing more than “Rickrolling”, which is basically the…
Written by
·
-
Thompson Twins ‘Into The Gap’ (1984)
The Thompson Twins crystallized their new-wave trance pop vision with Into The Gap. It was the album the trio would forever be known for and saw them hit both their commercial and creative zenith in one fell swoop. Known for their sleek synth-pop sheen, the group blended Tom Bailey’s knack for indelible hooks with Alannah…
Written by
·
-
Bananarama ‘Bananarama’ (1984)
Doesn’t get more 80’s than this. Bad ass band name, bad ass perms, bad ass single (“Cruel Summer” is so good), and just a damn good time all around. Is it just me or is the instrumentation of “Cruel Summer” this incredible mix of 80’s synth-rock with the West Coast G-Funk that Dr. Dre would…
Written by
·
-
Jill Sobule ‘Jill Sobule’ (1995)
Known for her contribution to the iconic 90’s comedy Clueless, Jill Sobule was a songwriter who focused on ironic story-driven character studies very much in line with the songwriting craft that dominated the 90’s. Quirky and irreverent. Bold and unique. It’s what defined her work until her unfortunate passing earlier this year. Standout Songs: “I…
Written by
·
-
Vanessa Carlton ‘Be Not Nobody’ (2002)
More than two decades after its 2002 release Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” endures as one of the most instantly recognizable piano-driven pop songs of the 21st century, its opening riff as culturally sticky as any guitar lick of its era. Built on a buoyant classical-inspired piano motif, warm strings, and Carlton’s earnest, yearning vocal,…
Written by
·
-
Glen Campbell ‘Southern Nights’ (1977)
In many ways Southern Nights served as Glen Campbell’s mainstream follow-up to the success of the impeccable Rhinestone Cowboy, especially since it arrived at the peak of his crossover influence in early 1977. Produced by Campbell alongside Gary Klein (a figure instrumental in broadening country’s reach into mainstream pop) this release blended Campbell’s guitar virtuosity…
Written by
·
-
Moby ‘Play’ (1999)
Play is one of those album that remains a cultural touchstone considering how it redefined how musicians made money through their music. Up until the spring of 1999 it was a pretty straightforward math problem– artists recorded music, sold music, and toured on that music. But Play was different in that it was the first…
Written by
·
-
The Beach Boys ‘L.A. (Light Album)’ (1979)
Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys just passed away this week so I thought it fitting to listen to The Beach Boys almost universally panned album L.A. (Light Album). This is a far jump from the sheer brilliance of Wilson’s 1966 magnum opus Pet Sounds, and for good reason. In the late 1970s The Beach…
Written by
·
-
Adam Lambert ‘For Your Entertainment’ (2009)
I vividly remember watching Adam Lambert during his run on American Idol in 2009. My mom and I watched that show almost religiously during high school and I carried on that tradition during my college years. The dude was absolutely dynamite in all of the best ways— impeccable vocal range, quality song choices, and a…
Written by
·
-
WILLOW ’empathogen’ (2024)
I was in downtown Palo Alto last night for a Thai cooking class with my mom at Sur La Table. It was a great time, and as we were exiting the store we realized we were a block away from the Coldplay concert at Stanford Stadium and had to juggle our way through all the…
Written by
·
-
Faith Hill ‘Faith’ (1998)
I had the opportunity to catch Faith Hill perform live alongside Tim McGraw a few years back during their 2017 Soul2Soul tour. And with all due respect to Tim (whom I absolutely adore) the term “better half” could never have been more appropriate during that show. Faith absolutely crushed every single song she sang that…
Written by
·
-
The Band CAMINO ‘tryhard’ (2019)
I remember hearing the opening guitar riff of “Daphne Blue” for the first time a few years ago and being totally blown away how fricking gorgeous it sounded. The hazy distortion, the reverb, the sweet delays, all vintage 80’s fare meets modern pop production until everything sounds massive. It was one of those songs that…
Written by
·
-
Vitamin C ‘Vitamin C’ (1999)
Vitamin C’s “Graduation (Friends Forever)” is one of those songs that has stuck with me ever since I heard it. I think the first time I heard it must have been my 8th grade graduation (of course!) and I’ve played it at numerous events since as sort of a sentimental tongue in cheek nod to…
Written by
·
-
Neil Diamond ‘Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show’ (1969)
If you’ve been to a sporting event or wedding in the past 20 years you’re probably pretty familiar with “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. The song frankly needs no introduction. But what you probably don’t know about that song is that it actually didn’t have a home on the original pressing of Brother Love’s Travelling…
Written by
·
-
Portugal. The Man ‘Woodstock’ (2017)
Portugal. The Man’s album Woodstock emerged from a creative reset after discovering a 1969 ticket stub. Featuring slick production and punchy grooves, the band went global with the success of hit single “Feel It Still”.
Written by
·
-
Jackie Wilson ‘Higher and Higher’ (1967)
I was introduced to Jackie Wilson via Van Morrison’s song “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)”. When an artist like Van Morrison is writing and dedicating a song to you, safe to say that you’ve made a pretty big impact in the music industry. And it’s easy to understand why after just…
Written by
·
-
Steely Dan ‘Gaucho’ (1980)
For all intents and purposes Walter Becker and Donald Fagen from Steely Dan were psychopaths. These dudes completely redefined what the word meticulous means during their grueling studio sessions, displaying an obsession with perfectionism that basically dragged everyone involved along with them down into a never-ending rabbit hole. The recording of Gaucho is probably the…
Written by
·
-
Toni Braxton ‘Toni Braxton’ (1993)
1990s R&B was built on a foundation of deep sultry grooves and powerhouse vocal performances. The genre often featured slow-burning ballads and mid-tempo jams that highlighted the rollercoaster ride found in romance. And damn is that production style iconic– lush, polished tracks using warm synth pads, deep basslines, and crisp drum programming that put every…
Written by
·
-
Aqua ‘Aquarium’ (1997)
Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” has experienced a bit of a renaissance in the past two years ever since the 2023 film featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling took over pop culture for an entire summer, and while I’m about 18 months late to really capitalize on the film’s notoriety to drive some traffic to my humble…
Written by
·
-
Kenny Loggins ‘Keep The Fire’ (1979)
Kenny Loggins’ Keep The Fire is a prime example of the smooth, radio-friendly sound that defined the yacht rock genre, blending polished production, breezy melodies, and Loggins’ signature sweet vocals. It was an album that solidified Loggins as one of the era’s defining artists, effortlessly straddling pop and soft rock with a touch of funk.…
Written by
·
-
Saturday Night Fever ‘Original Soundtrack’ (1977)
Few acts have navigated pop music’s shifting tides with the chameleonic brilliance of the Bee Gees, a trio whose harmonies could cut through the thickest disco fog or glide over baroque balladry with equal finesse. Rising from the shadow of the Beatles in the ’60s to become the glittering architects of the ’70s dancefloor, their…
Written by
·
-
The Beatles ‘Please Please Me’ (1963)
The Beatles’ debut album Please Please Me marked a seismic moment in rock and roll history. It basically flipped rock and roll upside down. Released in 1963 the album was a mix of spirited covers and original compositions that was actually a rarity at the time. Self-contained rock bands who could write their own songs…
Written by
·
-
Steely Dan ‘Can’t Buy A Thrill’ (1972)
Steely Dan’s lead singer Donald Fagen’s obsession with songwriting is the stuff of legend, a tireless pursuit of the perfect chord progression and lyric that helped define the sound of 70s rock. Known for his meticulous perfectionism in the studio, Fagen approached music like an alchemist, blending elements from jazz, rock, and pop to create…
Written by
·
-
Fitz and The Tantrums ‘More Than Just A Dream’ (2013)
I wouldn’t call Fitz and The Tantrums a guilty pleasure because I don’t feel guilty for liking them, but I do recognize the fact that their brand of pop meets 70’s disco soul is a little heavy on the cheese factor. But damn do I ever enjoy flipping them on whenever I’m in the mood…
Written by
·
-
Pulp ‘Different Class’ (1995)
Different Class is a cornerstone of 1990’s Britpop, synth-pop theatrics combined with razor-sharp lyricism that at one point put them in the same stratosphere as the legendary Oasis. Released in 1995, the album examined themes of sex and social class through a lens that was biting and witty in a way our friends across the…
Written by
·
-
Elton John ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)
By the early 1970s Elton John was already a cultural phenomenon. His self-titled debut and Honky Chateau had already accelerated his rise from London’s pub scene to international superstardom. All of the elements that made him one of the defining artists of the past 50 years were beginning to truly bloom– his flamboyant stage presence,…
Written by
·
-
Various Artists ‘A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector’ (1963)
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector is one of the most enduring holiday albums of all time, showcasing Phil Spector’s pioneering “Wall of Sound” production. Recorded at the height of Spector’s illustrious career, the album was a dazzling collaboration with his roster of talented artists, including Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, and…
Written by
·
-
*NSYNC ‘Home For Christmas’ (1998)
Released at the height of the boy band craze, *NSYNC’s 1998 holiday album Home for Christmas was a glittering addition to the genre that dominated the late ’90s. I never loved *NSYNC as much as I did the Backstreet Boys, but it’s impossible not to get a little giddy every time I hear Timberlake and…
Written by
·
-
The Jackson 5 ‘Christmas Album’ (1970)
Fronted by a precocious 11-year-old Michael Jackson, whose voice carried a blend of innocence and soul far beyond his years, The Jackson 5 quickly became a pop phenomenon in the early 70’s with hits like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There” showcasing their boundless talent that made eventually make Michael pop music’s…
Written by
·
-
Yma Sumac ‘Voice Of The Xtaby’ (1950)
Yma Sumac was a Peruvian soprano with an astonishing five-octave vocal range, and in the early 1950’s she was nothing short of a phenomenon– she reshaped the landscape of world music in the mid-20th century, bringing her talent to the masses, and her debut album Voice of the Xtabay sold over a million records in…
Written by
·
