The link between New York and hip-hop cannot be overstated. The city has served as a breeding ground for many of the genre’s most influential artists and its ever-evolving sounds. Of the many aspiring MCs, a young and hungry Nasty Nas emerged. A Brooklyn native and Queensbridge grown, Nas used his surroundings as backdrop for the game changing debut Illmatic. Throughout the years, many homages have been paid to East Coast street life, but none have been as guttural and cutthroat as ... read more

Fiona Apple has always been an artist who embodies quality vs. quantity. From a young age, Apple was a music prodigy. Through the exploration of her piano, she would transcribe jazz standards and in turn original compositions came to form. The result: Tidal, her full-length debut released at the staggering age of eighteen. A fact only more dumbfounding given the lyrical content and themes across the record. Apple’s vulnerability, expressed through emotionally-charged ballads showcased a ... read more

Despite a revolving door of lineups (customary to King Crimson), there has remained one constant. Longest-tenured and founding member, Robert Fripp, one of progressive rock’s most indispensable figures. A classically trained guitarist, Fripp’s steadfast exploration of his instrument is the backbone of King Crimson’s sound. And the ‘74 inception of the band’s Red is without a doubt their most disconsolate work. Inspired by the insurgence of heavy metal, the ... read more

As the years went by in the 70s, a burgeoning punk scene out of New York converged to a single point: CBGB. The now defunct convert music club whose initial acronym-driven stylings (Country, Bluegrass and Blues) quickly deviated into the cradle of new wave and punk rock. And one of its early patrons, the newly-formed Television became a staple at the legendary club. Their foundational debut Marquee Moon laid the blueprint for post-punk, new wave and varying shades of rock to follow. Propelled ... read more

Indie pop phenoms Matthew Lewin and Mica Tenenbaum crank the fantastical dial all the way up in the endlessly cheerful Imaginal Disk. After years spent exploring through a series of EPs, mini mixes and eventual full-length debut, Magdalena Bay refined their sound. So for the follow-up the only logical choice was by doubling down. And the duo struck gold on all fronts. Lead single “Death & Romance” forecasts a new frontier for pop. Its cloud nine-inducing piano and throttling ... read more

Hopping between the homes of his band, then girlfriend and his own, Elliott Smith’s emotionally-destructive Either/Or’s recording process was as transient as the music it entails. From one makeshift studio to another, Elliott wrote and played all the parts. Despite its rudimentary inception and hardware limitations, Smith crafted a lo-fi opus wallowing in hushed heart-stricken melodies, delicate acoustic arrangements and brutally honest songwriting. And to no one’s surprise, ... read more

A proven maestro of vocal jazz, the High Priestess of Soul immerses herself in a watertight eleven tracks of blues elegance. Until this point, Nina Simone’s success was built upon spotlit piano arrangements commanded by an unmistakable vocal prowess. One that from any moment can serenade all within its trajectory and on a dime come bellowing down with the fury of hell itself. And of course the latter was justified given the African American experience in 60’s America. “Strange ... read more

Kendrick Lamar had already cemented himself as hip-hop’s most prolific visionary, so when the unmatchable To Pimp a Butterfly was unleashed to the masses, the only person left to challenge was himself. And challenge he did: a feat rather improbable; improving upon the equally-groundbreaking autobiographical good kid, m.A.A.d city, however, To Pimp a Butterfly sees Lamar at the peak of his artistic powers. Alongside him, a perfectly-handpicked ensemble of guest performers and producers, ... read more

Björk’s rise into stardom and its ensuing bouts with the media including a high profile stalking case, made the already reserved popstar a recluse all together. Björk uprooted herself from her home studio and decamped to Spain, a decision which would go on to define her career. Already a pioneer of radical music expression, once again Björk metamorphosed. Behind all of its grandiose orchestration, diverse instrumental palette and cutting-edge beats, Homogenic’s true ... read more

When it comes to unrelenting and cutthroat expressivity in their music, System of a Down pulls no punches, and Toxicity is the group’s harshest offering. Its sardonic opener, “Prison Song” features the scornful tandem of Serj and Daron playfully tearing down the U.S. institution. Exposing bigwigs’ corruptive tactics through the clever injections of drug-related case studies. In fact, the record’s opening leg plays like a ferocious State of the Union address, each ... read more

If Pretty Hate Machine hinted at the onset of insanity, then The Downward Spiral is the head-first plunge into a fractured mind. During his time as assistant engineer, Trent Reznor would increasingly use studio downtime to hone his recording craftsmanship. Thus creating the Nine Inch Nails moniker and its signature nihilistic sound. And their second full-length release would become Reznor’s most depravity-induced work to date. Abrasive programming and cleverly-picked samples add to the ... read more

The everlasting charm of Björk is difficult to pinpoint. Of course there’s the eccentric outfits and that unmistakable voice. But, nobody approaches a love song quite like her. Balancing a divine blend of nature’s intrinsic beauties and the fragilities of humanity, she is able to craft haunting numbers. These lyrical themes became a standard in her previous works. However, the recording of Björk’s fourth album coinciding with a soon-to-be long-term relationship ... read more

Charging up their ferocity through their equally fierce fanatics as fuel on its opening track, Metallica use that power surge to forge a near hour of unrelenting, white-knuckled thrash fury. Master of Puppets sees the group raise the stakes both in terms of lyrical focus and compositional savviness. Much ink is spilled (or in some cases blood) on the combustive exhibitions of deception, manipulation and lunacy. Feelings which one will succumb to once greeted by the clutches of life-sucking ... read more

Few records catch the spirit of an ever-growing perturbed and distant population quite like Radiohead’s landmark OK Computer. In its dozen tracks, there’s a sense of seismic exploration. Sci-fi programming and haunting guitar resonances give birth to a sound of harrowing futurism. And to accompany it an equally desolate universe; one which awaits its “next World War”. A proposition made on the near-death to triumphant rebirth opener. Similarly, “Lucky” ... read more

As Radiohead’s approach to creating music grew increasingly adventurous, their means of distribution as well defied industry standard. In Rainbows would mark the group’s first full-length release after the expiration with EMI and with no major label backing them, Radiohead turned to their fans. Prior to the physical release, the band’s website offered an alternative method of purchase. Simply asking website-goers to name their price. They’d be given a downloaded copy ... read more

At the turn of the 90’s, rock was ready for a reformation. Like the decades that came before, there would be a group or solo artist who would both shake up the trajectory of popular music and foretold what was to come. Nirvana quickly became that defining act and their rebellious anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, personified the era of distorted angst. And as the trio's leader, Kurt Cobain didn’t hold back any punches. His in-your-face vocality and distinctive writing ... read more

Colorfully arranged, daringly experimental and wildly captivating, Hot Rats soars. Its unmatched sound is a testament to the boundary-pushing force Frank Zappa was. Alongside him, an ensemble of talented studio musicians including a pair of familiar faces from his time in The Mothers of Invention. Multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood, playing various keys and woodwinds and Captain Beefheart who lends the sole vocals on “Willie The Pimp”. Its opening moments punctuated by grimy violin ... read more

As the voice of his generation and face of the folk resurgence, Bob Dylan quickly became a counterculture icon, but his career-crossover to electric leanings with an accompanying band earned the folk hero an inauspicious reception. The pivot would pay off in spades as Dylan’s most acclaimed work came post embracing the amplifier. And Highway 61 Revisited is often cited as his best. Its lead single, that of supreme stature, is but a select few to sit among the top of popular music. The ... read more

A seminal record in the prog rock canon. In a genre epitomized by highly touted classics, many can trace their lineage to this 1969 tour de force. Tightly interlacing classical, jazz and folk inspirations alongside radical experimentation for its time (and to this day), King Crimson in their first efforts created an indelible mark in music history. Its opening track, “21st Century Schizoid Man”, a scathing takedown of the Vietnam War (one of many during its time), resembles that of ... read more

“The magic carpet waits for you” Jimi Hendrix irresistibly offers in Electric Ladyland’s opening moments. And what awaits on the other side is a spaced-out universe of bluesy and acid-laced bliss. The guitar-wielding wizardry is instantly felt through the acrobatic “Crosstown Traffic” which segues into the prophetic “Voodoo Chile”. Spurred by a late night jam session composed of Hendrix, bandmate Mitch Mitchell, Steve Winwood and Jefferson Airplane ... read more