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Neil Diamond
The Very Best of Neil Diamond
Columbia/Legacy
by David Chiu
There has to be something special about an artist whose popularity still remains high into his sixth decade of music. That certainly applies to Neil Diamond, whose body of work traces back to the era of ’60s Brill Building pop music. View full article »
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Pink Floyd
Animals
The Final Cut
A Momentary Lapse of Reason
Capitol/EMI
By David Chiu
No doubt that Pink Floyd’s legend can be attributed to the mammoth success and popularity of hit records such as The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall. But during the period from Dark Side to The Division Bell, Floyd also made records that perhaps weren’t as popular, critically-acclaimed or commercially huge than the aforementioned albums, but in retrospect are underrated and deserve another listen. With Animals, The Final Cut and A Momentary Lapse of Reason—which were recently reissued individually and as part of the Discovery boxed set, this is a good time to look back on them. View full article »
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Paul Simon
Graceland
The Rhythm of the Saints
Songwriter
Columbia/Legacy
by David Chiu
Paul Simon’s career flourished a second time in the ’80s, this time through his exploration of world music. View full article »
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Kate Bush
50 Words for Snow
Fish People/Anti
By David Chiu
For an artist who is notorious for taking years to make albums, Kate Bush delivered not one but two records within a calendar year! The first one, Director’s Cut, a reworking of songs from The Sensual World and The Red Shoes, came out earlier this year; this latest one, 50 Words For Snow, is her first collection of all-new material since 2005’s Aerial. View full article »
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Rolling Stones
Some Girls Deluxe Edition
Rolling StonesUME
By David Chiu
Some Girls, the Stones’ 1978 album, ranks up there as being one of the band’s superlative efforts. At that point, the band was still soldiering on 16 years into their career–and rather then letting disco surpass them, the Stones incorporated that style into two of their most memorable songs from the record: “Miss You” and “Shattered”. View full article »
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Elvis Presley
Young Man with the Big Beat
RCA/Legacy
By David Chiu
Sometimes an artist’s career can be measured in the dominance he or she had in one year: Michael Jackson in 1983, Madonna in 1985 or Nirvana and Pearl Jam in 1992. But they can never measure up the phenomenal year that Elvis Presley had in 1956, which this new boxed set focuses on. View full article »
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The Beach Boys
The Smile Sessions
Capitol/EMI
By David Chiu
For Beach Boys fans, the Smile album has been well known and talked about as legend, but whose music was never issued or given the proper treatment for release. That was the case for 44 years until now with The Smile Sessions, which collects and arranges the innovative music that was abandoned from that era into one whole piece. View full article »
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R.E.M.
Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011
Warner Bros.
By David Chiu
Sadly, one of the greatest bands of the last 30 years has recently folded. But unlike other groups, R.E.M. did it on their own terms and on top. View full article »
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Billy Joel
Piano Man (Legacy Edition)
Columbia/Legacy
By David Chiu
Piano Man, Billy Joel’s 1973 album, is best known for its two songs, the title track and “Captain Jack,” but it wasn’t a commercial seller compared to his subsequent hit releases. View full article »
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U2
Achtung Baby: Deluxe Edition
Island/UME
By David Chiu
U2 did a 180 from the sound of The Joshua Tree in the form of Achtung Baby, released in 1991. It saw U2 embracing electronic textures, resulting in songs that had attitude and kick. View full article »
