Vinyl Vault

Silver Apples Still Sparkle

By Brian Castleberry
July 12th, 2009

In 1968, far from the long-hair tent, artists like the Velvet Underground and the often-forgotten Silver Apples were pushing the envelope of rock music in artier, and far more dangerous, directions.

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Vinyl Vault

The Waterboys Fisherman’s Blues

By Douglas Newman
June 9th, 2009

Fisherman’s Blues, released in 1988, divided Waterboys’ fans into two camps: one that embraced the band’s foray into a more traditional Irish sound, and one that was hoping for more “Big Music” anthems.

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Vinyl Vault

Yo La Tengo’s Heart Beats as One

By Douglas Newman
May 17th, 2009

Yo La Tengo can dazzle with simple pop tunes or attack with feedback-laden ragers. Like Sonic Youth with a sweet tooth, the band commands both ends of the volume spectrum. Their sprawling 1997 album, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, introduced them to a wider audience and stands as the trio’s magnum opus.

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Vinyl Vault

When the Teaser Met the Firecat:
Looking Back at a Cat Stevens’ Classic

By Douglas Newman
April 27th, 2009

Although best known for yielding three top 40 hits, Teaser and the Firecat hides some lesser known treasures among its ten songs. It’s also the pinnacle of Cat Stevens’ chart and artistic successes, capping off an incredible three album run that includes Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman.

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Vinyl Vault

Tim Buckley Happy Sad

By Douglas Newman
April 22nd, 2009

The elder Buckley dazzles with 1969’s Happy Sad, a collection of jazz-inflected songs featuring octave leaping vocal flights and stellar contributions from guitarist Lee Underwood and vibraphonist David Friedman.

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Vinyl Vault

Can You Seen the Real Me?
A Look Back at Quadrophenia

By JBev
April 15th, 2009

Following the stunning one-two punch of Tommy and Who’s Next, The Who completed their remarkable run at the top of the rock world with 1973’s Quadrophenia.

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Vinyl Vault

Radiohead Reissue: OK Computer

By JBev
April 9th, 2009

The expectations had been raised by their first two albums, but no one could have predicted that OK Computer, Radiohead’s third album, would go down as one of the greatest albums of all time. Now being re-released with an additional disc of odds and ends, here is a look back at Radiohead’s 1997 magnum opus.

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Vinyl Vault

Radiohead Reissue: The Bends

By JBev
April 1st, 2009

They had one-hit wonder written all over them. But Radiohead was determined not to be defined by “Creep,” and they responded in 1995 with The Bends, a searing combination of crunching guitars, moody atmospherics, and glorious drama.

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