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Stone Temple Pilots (Album of the Day)
San Diego quartet Stone Temple Pilots were among the most successful alternative rock groups of the 1990s, emerging in the post-grunge era to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide. Now STP is back with a highly anticipated self-titled album - the first with new lead singer Jeff Gutt. Produced by the band's Dean and Robert DeLeo, the set features a dozen originals including lead single "Meadow," which proved a Top 10 hit at rock radio. "Never Enough" channels the gritty guitars and swaggering rhythms perfected on CORE (1992), PURPLE (1994) and NO. 4 (1999), while "Roll Me Under" glides along a nimble bass line before slamming into a chorus powered by Gutt's baritone. While true to the group's past, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS is also a thrilling look forward.
Meteora (Album of the Day)
Alternative metal band Linkin Park shot out of the gate in 2000 with HYBRID THEORY, which sold over 10 million copies. Following a remix album, the band's hybrid of hard rock and rap returned in full force three years after their debut with METEORA. Led by the intense interplay of vocalists Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda, the album's 13 tightly wound tracks include such MTV and radio favorites as “Somewhere I Belong,” “Breaking The Habit” and “Numb,” all of which crossed over to pop chart success. Bennington was born on this day in 1976, and we'll remember the late singer and songwriter with the 7x platinum METEORA.
The Judy Collins Concert (Album of the Day)
With a crystalline voice and a keen ear for material, Judy Collins rose quickly in the 1960s folk scene, and THE JUDY COLLINS CONCERT marked a turning point in her career. Recorded at New York City's Town Hall on this day in 1964, the Elektra collection saw her graduate from folk clubs to a theater setting for the first time, and the singer made the most of it. Rather than rehashing tracks from her three preceding studio albums, Collins and her two accompanists focus on recent songs by such writers as Tom Paxton, Billy Edd Wheeler and Fred Neil. With stirring versions of “Medgar Evers Lullaby” and Dylan's “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” underlining civil rights struggles, THE JUDY COLLINS CONCERT is a snapshot of the era, though one whose grace and beauty remain timeless.
Viva Hate (Album of the Day)
Thirty years ago, Morrissey released his solo debut, VIVA HATE. Issued less than a year after The Smiths' studio swan song, the album bears some similarity to the Manchester quartet's shimmering music, with longtime engineer/producer Stephen Street at the helm (both Street and The Durutti Column's Vini Reilly helped fill the compositional and instrumental roles vacated by Johnny Marr). Featuring an outstanding set of songs, including “Suedehead,” “Hairdresser On Fire” and “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” the collection went to No.1 on the U.K. album chart. Morrissey remains one of alternative rock's most distinctive voices, and VIVA HATE remains one of his best.
Van Halen II (Album of the Day)
Treading similar ground as their debut but with even greater confidence, Van Halen's second album was released on this day in 1979. With producer Ted Templeman back behind the boards, the SoCal quartet serves up 10 hard rock anthems with deceptive ease, including “Beautiful Girls,” “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” and the irresistible “Dance the Night Away.” Eddie Van Halen's fretwork is dazzling throughout (in particular on acoustic instrumental “Spanish Fly”), and frontman David Lee Roth's humor and energy give the collection appeal far beyond headbangers. A Top 10 hit that eventually went 5x platinum, VAN HALEN II is a near-perfect party record.
How The West Was Won (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
HOW THE WEST WAS WON highlights the best performances from Led Zeppelin's legendary concerts at the Los Angeles Forum and Long Beach Arena on June 25 and 27, 1972. Originally released in 2003, the celebrated live album was sequenced to replicate a single concert from beginning to end, and captures the band at the height of its formidable powers. Standouts include a 25-plus minute version of "Dazed And Confused" and a 21-minute medley based around "Whole Lotta Love." The performances also introduced songs from the quartet's HOUSES OF THE HOLY album, which would be released nine months after these shows. Now available, a 3-CD/4-LP/DVD Deluxe Edition of HOW THE WEST WAS WON features audio remastered by guitarist Jimmy Page along with a book filled with rare and previously unpublished photos.
Wonderland (Album of the Day)
After auspicious but brief stints with Depeche Mode and Yaz, keyboardist Vince Clarke teamed with singer Andy Bell to form Erasure, a partnership still ongoing today. The duo's distinctive 1986 debut, WONDERLAND, showcases their dance-friendly synth-pop at its poppiest, with bright vocals, rousing choruses and hooks to burn. Produced by Flood, the Sire set spun off such singles as "Heavenly Action,” "Who Needs Love (Like That)" and “Oh L'Amour”; the latter two songs would each reach the U.K. Top 20 years after their original release. Though they may have gone on to scale even greater heights, the gloriously upbeat WONDERLAND is a pretty wonderful beginning for Erasure.
Shine (Album of the Day)
Estelle Swaray was dealing discs at a London hip-hop emporium when her co-workers suggested she might be better off making records than selling them. The British singer took the advice, and though her debut album wasn't a smash, it caught the ear of John Legend, who signed Estelle to his Homeschool label for her follow-up, SHINE. Featuring production from the likes of Wyclef Jean, will.i.am and Mark Ronson, the 2008 album is an ideal showcase for Estelle's singing, rapping and songwriting skills, and its “American Boy” (featuring vocals from Kanye West) topped the U.K. singles chart before racking up a pair of Grammy nominations. From dancehall ("Magnificent") to balladry ("Substitute Lover") to rap ("More Than Friends"), the versatility displayed on SHINE marks Estelle as a leading light of post-millennial R&B.
Good God's Urge (Album of the Day)
Following the dissolution of Los Angeles alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, vocalist Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins launched Porno For Pyros. The group's second and final studio album, GOOD GOD'S URGE, shows the quartet in a mellower mood than on their debut, though the laid-back vibes are offset at times by such powerful tracks as radio hit “Tahitian Moon.” Other highlights include “Freeway” (featuring Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), “100 Ways” (with Mike Watt of The Minutemen on bass) and “Porpoise Head” (featuring most of Love & Rockets). GOOD GOD'S URGE reached the Top 20 on Billboard's album chart, and we'll give the collection another spin now to celebrate Perry Farrell's birthday.
Crossroads (Album of the Day)
Tracy Chapman followed her star-making self-titled debut a year later with CROSSROADS. Given the singer-songwriter's previous success, the 1989 Elektra collection was cut in Hollywood with some pretty impressive SoCal musical guests, including guitarist Danny Kortchmar, drummer Russ Kunkel and Neil Young. But as before, Chapman's considerable appeal lies in her heartfelt performances and incisive lyrics, and from such songs as “Subcity,” the Nelson Mandela-themed “Freedom Now” and the titular Modern Rock hit, these 10 originals do not disappoint. Tracy Chapman was born in this day in 1964, and we'll wish her a happy birthday with the platinum-certified CROSSROADS.