Dire Straits – Making Movies: One of the fun things about listening to old records for the first time is making connections that don’t exist, like hearing how “Romeo and Juliet” could be the origin story of the couple in Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” The songs on side A are long but they constantly evolve, with instrumentalists who advance the… Read more »
Madonna – Confessions II: At its best—on tracks like “I Feel so Free” and “Love Without Words” along with the overall arrangements and production—Confessions II focuses on the sacred spirit that lives on the dancefloor. At its worst, this is the same surface-level provocation that Madonna’s been churning out for her whole career. She had a chance to deeply explore… Read more »
Madonna – Confessions II: I remember the moment in 1998 on the NJ Turnpike when I took Ray of Light out of my CD player and had to refrain from throwing it out the window. She broke my casual fandom with one incredibly half-assed attempt at spiritual insight. Over nearly 30 years, I’ve occasionally noticed her flaccid attempts at provocation,… Read more »
DJ Plead – Please: DJ Plead created a late-night vibe that feels more like a soundtrack than a club record. A lot of writers seem to focus on his Lebanese heritage, but his Middle Eastern roots are a subtle whisper behind his foundation in Western electronic dance music. While each song portrays a complete thought, I wish he’d expanded more… Read more »