"Cher" is an impressive rock album featuring strong vocal performances and great production. Cher beautifully commands this record, even growling through some of the tracks. The record features a re-worked, "rock version" of the classic "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", the emotionally charged "Give Our Love A Fightin' Chance" and lyrically, themes of love, prostitution, and heartbreak are touched on. Produced by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, ... read more

Madonna's strongest project in the last 15 years, "Confessions on a Dance Floor" is a dance masterpiece. Influenced by the likes of Donna Summer, ABBA and the Bee Gees - the record is cohesive and highly disco-infused. Lyrically, Madonna sings of themes not strange to her; love, betrayal and religion. The album contains some of Madonna's strongest songs and only falters due to two or three tracks.

Favorite Tracks: Sorry, Hung Up, Get Together, Forbidden Love & How High.

"MDNA" is one of the weakest projects Madonna has ever released. Tracks like "I Don't Give A", "I'm A Sinner" & "Some Girls" make this record actually painful to listen to. Except for the last three tracks on the album - everything else is very forgettable; granted "Girl Gone Wild" is a decent track and "Gang Bang" along with "I'm Addicted" are catchy songs however, they are not memorable nor stand-outs from Madonna's ... read more

Conceptually, Lady Gaga's "ARTPOP" attempts to fuse Andy Warhol's pop art, Greek mythology and popular culture into a "celebration and a poetic musical journey". The record has multiple flaws; from its chaotic ambiance to over-produced, congested tracks to straight up dreadful tracks. However, it does have redeeming qualities from Gaga's vocal delivery to lyrics surrounding feminism, sex, and fame and some great tracks such as "ARTPOP" and "Aura". ... read more

Sia is a force of nature in "1000 Forms of Fear"; with soul-baring, vulnerable lyrics and vocals and stunningly haunting melodies in tracks like "Dressed In Black", "Big Girls Cry" and "Cellophane". The Australian singer sings of devotion, loneliness, drug addiction, mental illness & domestic abuse. "1000 Forms of Fear" features production credits from Greg Kurstin and Diplo and was completely written by Sia herself. With this record, Sia ... read more

"Ultraviolence" was the perfect embodiment of Lana Del Rey prior to "Lust for Life"; gloomy, destructive & melancholic. This 2014 release, however, aside from being a fantastic psychedelic rock record, it was also a statement - following the attempted character assasination Del Rey suffered after "Born to Die", she didn't quit instead she fought back and returned defiant and irreverent. The songwriting on "Ultraviolence" offers an honest, raw, and at ... read more

Nina Simone's "Wild Is the Wind" is an absolute work of genius; heartfelt, honest, raw, powerful and gentle. Simone is a force of nature throughout this record delivering a brilliant vocal performance and emotive lyrics dealing with racial inequality, abuse, romance and heartache. Nina Simone was one of the most gifted artists of the 20th century and "Wild Is the Wind" is a perfect testament to that. The record also contains two of the all-time great Simone songs - ... read more

"I Never Learn" captures Lykke Li at her most defenseless and gloomy. Li's vocal performance throughout the record can be best described as that of an alluring, fatalistic siren. Lyrically, the artist's approach is quite dark; during the piercing "Just Like A Dream", Lykke begs her lover to stay with her and to "lie with me one last time". She uses words like "poison" and "cancer" to describe love during "Gunshot" and shows her ... read more

In a few words "The Dreaming" is purposefully chaotic, powerful and unconventional to say the least. Kate Bush's fourth studio album is unwavering in its conviction and execution, perhaps Bush's furthest departure from mainstream music. The record touches on themes of religion, war, isolation and the abuse of natives on the record's title track. Bush delivers a magnificent and wonderfully strange record with lyrically heavy songs.

Favorite Tracks: Pull Out The Pin, Night Of The ... read more

"Led Zeppelin II" is predominantly heavy metal with rock and blues elements and showcases a certain growth in comparison to the band's first record in terms of instrumentation. The band's second effort opens up with "Whole Lotta Love", a stand-out both musically and in terms of success for Led Zeppelin. Some of the themes the band touches on include love, sex and groupies.

Favorite Tracks: Whole Lotta Love, Thank You, Ramble On & The Lemon Song.

Santigold's debut record is a stunning and eclectic body of work encompassing multiple genres including new wave, rock, pop and electronic elements. Lyrically, Santigold sings of power, fame, finding herself, and love - mainly. On "Santigold", the artist co-produces the record herself along with Diplo and Switch. A strong, cohesive and unique debut record.

Favorite Tracks: You'll Find A Way, I'm A Lady, L.E.S. Artistes, Shove It & My Superman.

Sky Ferreira showcases her immense talent with "Night Time, My Time" after co-writing every track on the record and being its executive producer. Mainly indie rock with synth-pop elements; throughout the album Ferreira sings about love, insecurities, self-worth and even incorporates "Twin Peaks" references. "Night Time, My Time" is a gorgeous rock-influenced, angst sprinkled masterpiece.

Favorite Tracks: Heavy Metal Heart, Love In Stereo, I Blame Myself, I Will ... read more

One of Madonna's most personal bodies of work, "Bedtime Stories" is compelling and cohesive. Mainly pop & R&B inclined, the record is almost completely made up of ballads. Lyrically, Madonna sings of love, sadness, and herself - mainly her image. An immediate stand-out both sonically and lyrically is "Human Nature", in which in true Madonna fashion she reminds her detractors: "I'm not your bitch, don't hang your shit on me".

Favorite Tracks: Human Nature, ... read more

The Doors' 1967 self-titled debut is a masterpiece; containing psychedelic rock, blues, and folk elements. The band's lyrical content is atmospheric, full of imagery and touches on drug use, heartache, and yes - even soul food. There is a dichotomous element to the Doors' songwriting, a combination of straightforward tracks like "Take It as It Comes" and more complex, ambiguous tracks like the nearly 12-minute epic "The End". All these elements come together to generate one ... read more

"Utopia" is a soothing avant-garde record with heavy flute instrumentation and it's fauna oriented, aesthetically. Björk creates a world in which the listener expects to see tree creatures, fairies and nymphs flying about and iridescent fish jumping in and out of a clear stream. Lyrically, the artist sings of love and does so beautifully and melodically. The record does have some flaws including a few tracks that are average but overall, "Utopia" is a strong album from ... read more

"In Utero" starts out strong and remains on the offensive until the end. The record is naturally an alternative rock + grunge fusion lyrically discussing worship-like devotion on "Heart-Shaped Box", homophobia in "All Apologies", and fearlessly as well as ironically rape in "Rape Me". Cobain also sings of Frances Farmer, a 1930s actress tortured, raped and abused while being held against her will at a mental institution in the haunting "Frances ... read more

Weyes Blood's "Titanic Rising" is her fourth studio album and a great one too. Discussing themes of modern dating, technology, purpose, meaning and love - the artist crafts a subtle, sonically dreamy world that submerges the listener into it. An alternative baroque pop record; it features soft, stripped-down instrumentation for the most part. Co-produced by Weyes Blood herself and Foxygen's Jonathan Rado and containing magical vocal performances, "Titanic Rising" is one of ... read more

"FROOT" is a truly remarkable record and Marina and the Diamonds' best work to date. Soul-baring, raw, emotional and unreservedly unapologetic. All in all, the record is an introspective piece examining themes of loneliness, love, devotion and human nature. "FROOT" opens up with Marina almost choked up to admit that "...I've been desperately alone" and continues to almost cry out in solace that "...finally, I have found a way to be happy" during ... read more

Billie Eilish's debut record "When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" is fun, cohesive and blends multiple genres. Produced by Eilish's brother Finneas and co-written by the siblings, the record touches on troubles of adolescence and sonically places much importance on the use of synthesizers and amplified bass. For the most part, "When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" contains quality material, although, it does falter at times because of tracks like "i love you" ... read more

Chelsea Wolfe's sixth studio album "Birth of Violence" is a bewitching, atmospheric work of gloom. Written entirely by Wolfe herself and incorporating dark, metal elements with folk production - "Birth of Violence" is a very cohesive and hypnotic project. Cohesive, however, at times to its own detriment, mainly because of a very monotone delivery.

Favorite Tracks: Preface to a Dream Play, Birth of Violence, Little Grave, When Anger Turns to Honey & Deranged for Rock ... read more