After experimenting with electronic music and writing darker and more abrasive songs throughout the 90s, U2 returned to form with the soaring 'Beautiful Day.'
The posthumously-released ‘From A Basement On The Hill’ is Elliott Smith’s boldest record. Arriving in the shadow of his death, the album glows with life.
Lorde’s debut album, ‘Pure Heroine’, is full of pop songs that play like critiques of pop songs. Its dark, minimalist sound recalibrated pop music.
With ‘Pinkerton’, a disillusioned Rivers Cuomo steered Weezer to its most essential album, but the band would never be the same afterwards.
Former music photographer and close friend of Elliott Smith, JJ Gonson looks back on her time in the songwriter’s orbit, and on other artists she captured on camera.
With ‘EMOTION’, Carly Rae Jepsen proved she was more than just her smash single but a full-fledged pop star with a devoted audience.
T. Rex followed up their seminal ‘Electric Warrior’ with ‘The Slider’, another glam rock classic that’s every bit as great as its predecessor.
The best Elliott Smith songs reflect his ability to wring beauty out of life’s traumas. Even during his short lifetime, his prolific output still endures.
Neil Young released five albums for Geffen in the 80s. Though they surprised critics and fans at the time, they proved his refusal to rest on his artistic laurels.
At once a surrender and a farewell to adolescent emotions, ‘Melodrama’ renders Lorde’s fears and desires as vividly detailed as her portrait on the album’s cover.
‘How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful’ is about as stripped down as Florence + The Machine can get, and its songs are among the band’s most hopeful.
Loaded with geeky humour and gigantic guitar riffs, the best Weezer songs are among the most formidable and colourful in alternative rock.
Produced by the late Hal Willner, ‘Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films’ remains a spellbinding listen.
The final album Elliott Smith completed in his lifetime, ‘Figure 8’ saw the formerly lo-fi songwriter go pop, to dazzling effect.
Setting a new benchmark for live recordings, the best ‘MTV Unplugged’ performances remain cultural touchstones that shone a new light on classic songs.
