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American Idiot (Album of the Day)
The phenomenally successful DOOKIE proved that the members of Green Day knew how to write great songs, but rock history is littered with groups who made a big initial splash and then vanished. AMERICAN IDIOT proved that the Bay Area pop-punk trio was a band headed for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Of course the 2004 collection has the requisite catchy singles: “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,” “Holiday,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Jesus Of Suburbia” and the title track. And it was a big hit, reaching No.1 on the U.K. album chart and following suit in the U.S. But this Who-like rock opera is much more than the sum of its parts; AMERICAN IDIOT engages the post-9/11 political and cultural landscape with surprising insight and passion. But don't be an American idiot today – make sure to vote before the polls close!
Clouds Taste Metallic (Album of the Day)
“She Don't Use Jelly” may have put The Flaming Lips on the alternative music map, but CLOUDS TASTE METALLIC took Oklahoma's most fearless freaks into uncharted territory. The 1995 Warner Bros. collection serves as a bridge between the group's indie rock roots and the more ambitious studio experimentation of THE SOFT BULLETIN. As titles like “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles” or “This Here Giraffe” suggest, the lyrics are rather surreal, but frontman Wayne Coyne makes them sound personal and even joyful. The instrumental palette is over the top as well, though in the service of strong melodies, and features plenty of fine guitar work by Ronald Jones, who would leave the band the following year. The set's critical reputation has risen steadily since its release 25 years ago today, and CLOUDS TASTE METALLIC stands as one of The Flaming Lips' very best.
Giant Steps (60th Anniversary Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
John Coltrane’s GIANT STEPS - the influential jazz saxophonist’s first album with Atlantic Records - continues to astound and inspire listeners six decades after its release. Cut in 1959 at Atlantic Studios in New York City, the collection is a landmark in modern jazz improvisation famed for its use of third-related chord movements, which are now known as “Coltrane changes.” Several compositions on the album have become jazz standards, including the ballad “Naima” (named for Coltrane's wife) and the title track. Now available as a 180-gram double-LP set and as a double-CD set, GIANT STEPS: 60th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION includes a newly remastered version of the original recording plus eight alternate takes.
Live At Donington (Album of the Day)
Released more than two decades after it was recorded, Whitesnake's LIVE AT DONINGTON 1990 was worth the wait. The concert collection captures the heavy metal band's headlining gig at the Monsters of Rock festival at England's Castle Donington on August 18, 1990, and the crowd-pleasing performance is packed with hits from the group's multi-platinum catalog. Steve Vai joins Whitesnake here, and the guitar hero is in fine form on such favorites as “Slide it In,” “Is This Love,” “Still of the Night” and “Here I Go Again.” Band founder and frontman David Coverdale produced this 2-CD/1-DVD release, providing superior sound to the much-bootlegged show, and we'll fire up LIVE AT DONINGTON 1990 now to wish the man a happy birthday.
Damn Yankees (Album of the Day)
Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger and drummer Michael Cartellone joined forces as Damn Yankees at the end of the 1980s to immediate success. The hard rock supergroup's self-titled Warner Bros. debut reached the Billboard Top 20 and eventually double-platinum sales status, thanks to a marathon tour and such radio-friendly originals as “High Enough,” “Come Again” and “Coming of Age.” Producer Ron Nevison balances the foursome's talents perfectly on the 1990 collection, which offers nods to the members' previous work while affording each a chance to try new things. Everyone sounds committed and energized on the powerful DAMN YANKEES, a record that any arena rock aficionado should hear.
Hamilton Cast Recording (Album of the Day)
A hip-hop take on our Founding Fathers hardly sounds like a guaranteed hit, but Hamilton: An American Musical became the toast of Broadway upon its premiere in 2015, and the original cast recording proved just as revolutionary. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who originated the role of Alexander Hamilton onstage, penned all the songs on this double-disc set, couching historical insight in arrangements that mix rap, R&B and pop with more traditional show tunes. With Questlove and Black Thought of the Roots lending production assistance, the Grammy-winning set is as accessible as it is ambitious and its 6x platinum sales make it the most successful cast album ever. HAMILTON: ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING was released five years ago today, and it's already become a musical milestone of the new millennium.
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (Album of the Day)
Most of the members of Panic! At The Disco were still in high school when Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz heard their demos and signed the Las Vegas band to his label. They graduated with a cross-country van ride to College Park, Maryland's SOMD! Studio to record A FEVER YOU CAN'T SWEAT OUT with producer Matt Squire. The music that emerged from those intense few weeks displays alternative, dance and baroque influences, all held together by guitarist Ryan Ross' intricate, self-aware lyrics. Single “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” took off, winning MTV's Video of the Year award and helping boost the collection to double-platinum sales status. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, A FEVER YOU CAN'T SWEAT OUT was named one of the greatest emo albums of all time by Rolling Stone, and we're hard-pressed to argue with that.
Upon The Wings Of Music (Album of the Day)
Both Frank Zappa and the Mahavishnu Orchestra put Jean-Luc Ponty's talents to use on their records, but it's on his solo albums for Atlantic that the French-born violinist truly soars. From 1975, UPON THE WINGS OF MUSIC was the first of these, and it's a terrific showcase for both Ponty and his band (which included future R&B hitmakers Patrice Rushen and Ray Parker Jr. on keyboards and guitar, respectively). Highlighted by such songs as “Question with No Answer,” “Polyfolk Dance” and the title track, these eight originals offer funk-tinged jazz fusion that's consistently engaging; as a producer, Ponty's adventurous combination of acoustic and electric textures is as impressive as his instrumental skills. We'll let UPON THE WINGS OF MUSIC take flight again now to wish Jean-Luc a happy birthday.
New York (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
Lou Reed struck a chord with critics and fans alike more than 30 years ago with NEW YORK, his Sire Records debut and 15th solo studio album overall. Packed with incredible songs like “Busload Of Faith,” “Halloween Parade” and “Dirty Blvd.” (a #1 hit on the Modern Rock chart), the collection captures the legendary singer-songwriter-poet in exceptional form. Its raw sound and evocative lyrics would go on to earn Reed a gold record and a Grammy nomination. Now available as a 3-CD/1-DVD/2-LP set, NEW YORK: DELUXE EDITION includes a newly remastered version of the 1989 classic, 26 unreleased studio and live recordings of album tracks from the Lou Reed Archive, as well as the DVD-debut of a long-out-of-print concert video from the accompanying tour.
Southpaw Grammar (Album of the Day)
Released 25 years ago today, SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR came at the end of Morrissey's tenure on Warner Bros. and got little promotion, but its strengths are clear in hindsight. While the performer's lyrical wit and distinctive vocals remain impressive, the set allows the band to shine as well; singles “The Boy Racer” and “Dagenham Dave” make excellent use of guitarists Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer, while drummer Spencer James Cobrin is elsewhere afforded a solo. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album also features a pair of extended songs including “The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils,” with a surprisingly effective classical music sample. The collection's title and original cover photo reflect Morrissey's fascination with boxing, and SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR does indeed pack a punch.