City of Refuge/Standing In My Shoes - John Fahey and Leo Kottke
Country/Folk, review by Gary Kamiya
John Fahey's "City of Refuge" offers tonal noodlings that could have been done better by an autistic monkey, leaving acoustic steel-string guitar virtuosity to be picked up by Fahey protege Leo Kottke on the smart and understated "Standing in my Shoes." (05/20/97)

Quartet - Pat Metheny Group
Jazz/R&B, review by Gary Kamiya
A dazzlingly eclectic CD by guitar master Pat Metheny (11/27/96)

In From the Storm/Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix tributes
Pop/Rock, review by Bill Kisliuk
Two new tribute albums aim to channel Jimi Hendrix. (1/27/96)

2001: A Space Odyssey:" The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists
Soundtracks, review by Joshua Klein
Classic movie music: New takes on "Psycho" and "2001." (11/8/96)

"The Drop" - Brian Eno
Pop/Rock, review by Joshua Klein
No doubt "The Drop" will sound to some like aural wallpaper peeling. But for those willing to invest the time to get to the bottom of Eno's theory, it may be his most satisfying release since 1982's epochal "On Land." (08/13/97)

Sounds of the Satellites - Laika
Pop/Rock, review by Josh Klein
A longtime staple of England's trendsetting indie label Too Pure (who introduced us to PJ Harvey and Stereolab, among others), Laika is still breaking ground in electronic music with "Sound of the Satellites," offering a taste of things to come. (05/23/97)

"Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space," - Spiritualized
Pop/Rock, review by Joshua Klein
With "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space," the third album by Spiritualized, leader Jason Pierce continues his quest for the ultimate musical high. Building upon the heady mix of Suicide, the Velvet Underground and '60s garage rock mined by Pierce's old band, Spacemen 3, Spiritualized incorporates additional elements of blues and gospel, giving the music an even more overt spiritual nature.(08/11/97)

Dots and Loops - Stereolab
Pop/Rock, review by Joshua Klein
On their latest release, "Dots and Loops," England's prolific smart-poppers have found use for things long ago dismissed or discounted as outmoded: antiquated analog synthesizers, cheesy cocktail jazz, crusty Krautrock, even hand-me-down Marxist ideology (09/23/97)

Viva la Vega - Suzanne Vega
Pop/Rock, review by Joshua Klein
Suzanne Vega escapes the folk-rock label with the streamlined, stylish cacaphony of "Nine Objects of Desire."
Text-only version. (9/9/96)

Dan Bern - Dan Bern
Pop/Rock, review by Lori Leivobich
Singer-Songwriter Dan Bern may sound like and even sing about Bob Dylan on his self-titled debut EP -- but that doesn't mean he's not sick of the comparison. Lori Leibovich talks to Bern about what it's like to be anointed the new folk king. (07/04/97)

Dilate - Ani DiFranco
Pop, review by Lori Leibovich
Ani DiFranco is making it the hard way -- on her own. (6/3/96)

Living in Clip - Ani DiFranco
Country/Folk, review by Lori Leibovich
With more than two hours of live music, the double cd "Living in Clip" is a perfect introduction to the powerfully sexy voice and dynamic onstage aura of indie queen/feminist folkie Ani DiFranco. (05/21/97)

Like Swimming - Morphine
Pop/Rock, review by Lori Leibovich
The rock band without a guitar serves up more of the same steamy mood music on "Like Swimming -- now they just need to figure out something else to do. (04/01/97)

Revival - Gillian Welch
Country/folk, review by Lori Leibovich
Country-folk neo-traditionalist Gillian Welch's dazzling debut. (4/22/96)

Surrender to the Night - Trans Am
Pop/Rock, review by Robert Levine
Beyond Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Trans Am heads prog rock's second wave. (01/23/97)

Emancipation - Prince
Pop/Rock, review by Patrick Macias
Prince's 3-CD set flaunts his new family values. (11/25/96)

The Sound of Lies - Jayhawks
Pop/Rock, review by Jon Maples
When Jayhawks co-founder Mark Olson took a hike late in 1995, it appeared that the band was history. But after a year hiatus, the remaining members pulled together and produced "Sound of Lies," an album that suggests the band's bold new direction. (06/05/97)

Quartet - Bill Frisell
Jazz/R&B, review by James Marcus
Bill Frisell's grainy, elegant jazz emanates straight from the national unconscious. (5/20/96)

Colossal Head - Los Lobos
Pop/Rock, review by James Marcus
Los Lobos gets wild and crazy on "Colossal Head." (4/22/96)

Chaos and Disorder - Prince
Pop/Rock, review by James Marcus
Prince says Warner Bros. has "enslaved" him, but with "Chaos and Disorder" he's doing his best work in years. (7/22/96)

New Moon Daughter - Cassandra Wilson
Jazz/R&B, review by James Marcus
Cassandra Wilson's subtle, offbeat "New Moon Daughter" is a worthy successor to "Blue Light 'Til Dawn," the quirky album that won Wilson an audience outside the jazz ghetto. (3/9/96)

The End Of Summer - Dar Williams
Pop/Rock, review by Steve Matteo
On "The End of Summer" Dar Williams proves to be one of the best-kept secrets of the singer-songwriter genre. Much like Roseanne Cash and Amy Rigby, Dar Williams writes refreshingly unadorned and honest portrayals of women over 30 facing life in the '90s with wisdom, humor and unpretentious introspection. (08/05/97)

Michael Tilson Thomas
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
If classical music is going to survive in the modern culture it has to appeal to new audiences, and Michael Tilson Thomas has demonstrated some encouraging success with that challenge. His Mahler, Copland and Prokofiev discs have all been on Billboard's Best Seller list, and the Prokofiev won a Grammy this year for best orchestral performance. (07/02/97)

Au Théâtre Champs-Elysées - Michel Petrucciani
Disques Dreyfus, review by Doug McLennan
Pianist Michel Petrucciani understands that having ugly in your pocket helps you appreciate beauty, and on the live recording of his 1994 concert "Au Théâtre Champs-Elysées," he offers fortunately only a little bit of the former and a lot of the latter.(06/18/97)

Hans Pfitzner's "Palestrina" - Performed by The Royal Opera
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
The late composer Hans Pfitzner has always served as the ideal relief pitcher for summer music festivals, but his music was the main attraction at this year's Lincoln Center Festival, where the Royal Opera performed the much-hyped "Palestrina." (07/30/97)

"Phaethon" by Christopher Rouse - Christoph Eschenbach conducting the Houston Symphony
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
Composer Christopher Rouse has lost a number of friends to death in recent years, and he has tried to translate his grief into his music -- he dedicated the second movement of this symphony to the late composer Stephen Albert, and "Phaethon" to the Challenger astronauts who died. (05/22/97)

Waltzes, Nocturnes And Mazurkas - Byron Janis Plays Chopin
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
After a 34-year hiatus, pianist Byron Janis returns to recording and proves that while every pianist plays Chopin, there are still few who express him so eloquently. (06/03/97)

Art of Noise: The Drum And Bass Collection - Various Artists
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Art of Noise tribute: Like monkeys screwing with the sequencer. (01/15/97)

Whatever and Ever Amen - Ben Folds Five
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Even without the success of their new album, "Whatever and Ever Amen," Ben Folds Five's fresh, distinctive rock sound is enough reason to see them live -- although maybe not in New York. (05/01/97)

Earthling - David Bowie
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Ground Control to Major Tom: David Bowie goes techno on "Earthling," gets lost in space. (2/11/97)

Songs of Innocence and Experience - Billy Bragg
Pop, review by Gavin McNett
On his new "William Bloke," Billy Bragg, the loveable socialist folksinger, finally merges his political and personal sides.
Text-only version. (9/2/96)

Blur - Blur
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
With the Brit-crits on their case, Blur goes American-eclectic -- and sounds suspiciously like a bald-faced caricature of the Amerindie style (3/20/96)

The Pawn Shop Years - Buick MacKane
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Buick Mackane's "Pawn Shop Years": A virtuoso performance disguised as mondo-trasho slop by under-the-hill veteran Alejandro Escovedo. (2/28/96)

Unchained - Johnny Cash
Country/Folk, review by Gavin McNett
Essential work by the master. (11/7/96)

The vision thing - Counting Crows
Pop, review by Gavin McNett
Counting Crows play it safe on their long-awaited second album.
Text-only version. (10/21/96)

Hand It Over - Dinosaur Jr.
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Joe Mascis, the Greatest Living Burnout, may still be playing with the old high school band, but he parlays his genuinely epic slackness into an oeuvre of remarkable consistency on "Hand it Over." (03/28/97)

Casanova - Divine Comedy
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Divine Comedy's adult-pop album "Casanova" is a big-ticket, technicolor Alfa Romeo ride through a landscape of antique Eurochic, moody sensuality and unfiltered cigarettes. (10/21/97)

Cowboy - Erasure
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
On "Cowboy," synthpop duo Erasure makes every song seem like an offhand gesture -- even while continuing, against the trend, to do things the hard way. (05/05/97)

Moss Elixir - Robyn Hitchcock
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Perfect pop songs from pervert-creepy, acid-damaged, hyperlucid eccentric Robyn Hitchcock.

All Mod Cons/Sound Affects - The Jam
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Two stunning re-issues dust off one of the punk era's most heroic bands.
Plus: The Undertones' irresistible teenage kicks. (7/29/96)

Everybody Wnats Some - Van Halen
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
The "Everybody Wants Some" collection drives home the point that it wasn't David Lee Roth's personality alone, but chemistry and -- above all -- songs that drove the 'Halen engine. (10/27/97)

Rebel Music - Fela Kuti
Pop/Rock, review by Milo Miles
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of Nigeria, usually called just Fela, was the first African rock star and still the grandest. He died on August 3 at age 58 of AIDS, after a long career battling giant enemies he made look small. (08/06/97)

Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition -Jon Nakamatsu, Gold Medalist
Classical review by Douglas McLennan
Imagine the shock in classical music circles last summer when the last contestant left onstage at the Cliburn Competition was a young American who had never been to music school -- at last, here's a performer who understands music of our time from his heart rather than his head (11/10/97)

Forever: The Judy Collins Anthology -Judy Collins
Pop/Rock review by Gavin Mcnett
There's no clearer soprano in popular music, nor is there a singer who can enunciate so crisply with so much warmth. The thing to do with "Forever" is just to sit back and let the Voice wash over you (11/20/97)

Smoke Follows Beauty - The Leaving Trains
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
They have no ambition and they'll never amount to squat. (01/28/97)

Ice Pick Slim - The MC5
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Will the real MC5 please stand up -- and kick out the jams! (01/20/97)

"The Horrible Truth About Burma" - Mission of Burma
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
Mission of Burma is one of those seminal rock band one hears about who never got their due until after they were gone, but now Rykodisc's new box-set is proof -- music really was better 15 years ago. (07/28/97)

The Fat of The Land - The Prodigy
Pop/Rock, review by BY Gavin McNett
With "Fat of the Land," the Prodigy proves they're a rock band now, though still a techno-flavored one, with enough hip-hop accents and wiggy wibble noises to make them commercial radio format-busters.(07/11/97)

The Aeroplane Flies High - The Smashing Pumpkins
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
New Smashing Pumpkins: Smells like 5-CD hubris (12/3/96)

Police Academy - Strontium 90
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett Strontium 90 was, by any sane standards, an unremarkable example of a bad sort of thing. But in the end -- and buried in every track of "Police Academy" is a hint of it -- glory would get her hooks into the boys who would later become known as The Police. (09/10/97)

A retrospective - The Undertones
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
The Undertones' irresistible teenage kicks. (7/29/96)

We Will Fall: The Iggy Pop Tribute - Various Artists
Pop/Rock, review by Gavin McNett
If tribute albums are the standardized fitness test of the rock academy, then Joan Jett, 7-Year Bitch, and Monster Magnet prove they're in top shape on "We Will Fall: The Iggy Pop Tribute." (09/29/97)

Forever's A Long, Long Time - Orquestra Was
Jazz/R&B, review by Milo Miles
Producer, multi-instrumentalist and former Was (Not Was) ringleader Don Was rejoins some of the old crew to transform Hank Williams and play some post-mod workouts. (04/25/97)

The Coming - Busta Rhymes
Rap/Hip-Hop, review by Milo Miles
The Fugees, Busta Rhymes and Positive Black Soul take black music back from the gangstas. (5/13/96)

Bug Music - Don Byron
Jazz/R&B, review by Milo Miles
Wacky jazz CD inspired by The Flintstones (11/13/96)

Keepers - Guy Clark
Country, review by Milo Miles
On Guy Clark's first live album of his 22-year career, the Texas songwriter reclaims his own often-covered tunes, highlighting a voice that's richer with dry, dusty creaks than ever. (04/07/97)

Eric Dolphy: The Complete Prestige Recordings - Eric Dolphy
Jazz/R&B, review by Milo Miles
A magnificent, new 9-CD box set by Eric Dolphy, jazz's classic modernist. (1/13/96)

The Score - The Fugees
Rap/Hip-Hop, review by Milo Miles
The Fugees, Busta Rhymes and Positive Black Soul take black music back from the gangstas. (5/13/96)

Ready... Set... Shango! - The Charlie Hunter Quartet
Jazz/R&B, review by Milo Miles
Charlie Hunter brings jazz guitar into the '90s, without apology. (6/24/96)

"The Real Mr. Heartache: The Little Darlin' Years" - Johnny Paycheck
Country, review by Milo Miles
The best of Johnny Paycheck: White trash alcoholic mayhem (1/7/97)

Ubu Roi - Pere Ubu
Pop/Rock, review by Milo Miles
One of America's most eccentric rock bands, Pere Ubu, comes in from the nuclear freeze.
Text-only version. (9/16/96)

Salaam - Positive Black Soul
Rap/Hip-Hop, review by Milo Miles
The Fugees, Busta Rhymes and Positive Black Soul take black music back from the gangstas. (5/13/96)

One More Time - Real McCoy
Pop/Rock, review by Michael Ullman
Cynics might expect from this pop trio all the anguish, tragedy and fury of Barbie and Ken dolls dancing to a house beat -- but even cynics will find that wind-up camp works on Real McCoy's "One More Time." (05/14/97)

SaxEmble - SaxEmble
Jazz/R&B, review by Milo Miles
Sax appeal for the acid-jazzers, neoboppers and moldy figs (12/6/96)

The Basement Tapes - Sebadoh and Scrawl
Pop/Rock, review by Milo Miles
Persistence pays off for two veteran indie rockers, Sebadoh and Scrawl.
Text-only version. (9/23/96)

Songs in the Key of Springfield - The Simpsons
Soundtracks/Compilations, review by Milo Miles
With its mix of satire, rip-offs and wickedly dark lyrics, "Songs in the Key of Springfield" fine excuse to immerse yourself in the Simpsons universe. (03/31/97)

68 Million Shades - Spring Heel Jack
Pop/Rock, review by Milo Miles
Spring Heel Jack: Non-stop drum 'n' bass head trip (02/03/97)

Lost Highway Original Soundtrack - Various Artists
Pop/Rock, review by Milo Miles
A chain of snarls and murmurs that entertains even as it signals the no-turning-back normalization of a fine movie-music weirdo, David Lynch. (3/24/97)

"When We Were Kings" - Original Soundtrack
Soundtracks, review by Milo Miles
A knockout soundtrack to the Ali-Foreman documentary "When We Were Kings" (2/14/97)

Mixing it up - The concert for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame
Pop/Rock, review by Joyce Millman
The concert for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame showcases rock's wide-ranging family.
Text-only version. (9/2/96)

All This Useless Beauty - Elvis Costello and The Attractions
Pop, review by Joyce Millman
Mr. Costello records the songs he wrote for his favorite singers — because they won't. (5/13/96)

Live from 6A: Great Musical Performances from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien"
Soundtrack review by Joyce Millman
Gone are the days when one late night talk show so clearly dominated the scene that the host could exclude entire categories of musical guests on personal whim -- which is why the two new compilations of music from Letterman's current CBS gig, "Late Show," and O'Brien's "Late Night" are pretty much interchangeable. (11/06/97)

Live on Letterman: Music from "The Late Show"
Soundtrack review by Joyce Millman
Gone are the days when one late night talk show so clearly dominated the scene that the host could exclude entire categories of musical guests on personal whim -- which is why the two new compilations of music from Letterman's current CBS gig, "Late Show," and O'Brien's "Late Night" are pretty much interchangeable. (11/06/97)

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of "Evita" - Madonna
Soundtracks, review by Joyce Millman
You must love her. You MUST. (11/14/96)

"Hits" and "Misses" - Joni Mitchell
Country/Folk, review by Joyce Millman
Both sides of the greatest confessional singer-songwriter of our time. (11/4/96)

Dedicated to the One I Love - Linda Ronstadt
Pop/Rock, review by Joyce Millman
Linda Ronstadt joins a generation of rockers with a brand new reason to sing "Baby I Love You." (6/10/96)

Live From Uncle Sam's Back Yard - Paul Geremia
Folk, review by John Milward
If your idea of a solo singer-guitarist is an earnest guitar-strumming folkie or a rocker trading in his Les Paul for a plugged-in Ovation on MTV's "Unplugged," your ears will be opened by the musical intricacy of Paul Geremia's performance on "Live From Uncle Sam's Backyard." (10/06/97)

Homogenic - Björk
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
With her fourth album, "Homogenic," Björk combines the warmth of Iceland's String Octet with Mark Bell's programmed beats on the same songs, provoking shave-headed DJs to swoon and conservatory-trained musicians to party like it's 1899. (10/02/97)

Fly Stereophonic - Lida Husik
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
Lida Husik's music is clearly the sum of her inspirations: '60s psychedelia, '70s sci-fi movies, and '90s indie-rock. It doesn't sound like a promising combination, but Husik compresses these elements into three-minute confections that sound like pop hits from another galaxy on "Fly Stereophonic." (07/08/97)

Other Songs - Ron Sexsmith
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
With his tremulous voice and hushed melodies, Ron Sexsmith proves he knows all about love's rough patches, but that he's stuck it out -- a course with its own mix of sacrifice and reward. (06/23/97)

Middle of Nowhere - Hanson
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
Looking at the teen stars of Hanson and Radish as well, as 16-year-old blues prodigy Jonny Lang, it's clear that the youth of these teen idols is supposed to grab our attention -- but they'll be damned if they're confined by it. (06/06/97)

So Long, So Wrong - Alison Krauss
Country/Folk, review by Keith Moerer
Bluegrass belle Alison Krauss returns to tradition on "So Long, So Wrong," a slightly defensive statement of purity that should win back those moldy figs who've abandoned her. (04/03/97)

Telegram - Björk
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
Björk remix: Studio wizards turn sexy Nordic pixie into robot (01/13/97)

Razorblade Suitcase - Bush
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
Pothead poetry for teen seductions. (11/19/96)

Times Like This - Slim Dunlap
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
Ex-Replacements guitarist's minor-league masterpiece. (12/11/96)

Anthology - Al Green
Jazz/R&B, review by Keith Moerer
Al Green's "Anthology": Heaven on earth (2/12/97)

Don't Look Back - John Lee Hooker
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
John Lee Hooker no match for Van Morrison's bloated ego (3/11/97)

Hommage a Piazzolla - Gidon Kremer
DiMeola Plays Piazzolla - Al DiMeola
Jazz/R&B, review by Keith Moerer
Tango 'til you drop: Two CDs pay tribute to Astor Piazzola. (11/22/96)

Lie to Me - Jonny Lang
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
Looking at the teen stars of Hanson and Radish as well, as 16-year-old blues prodigy Jonny Lang, it's clear that the youth of these teen idols is supposed to grab our attention -- but they'll be damned if they're confined by it. (06/06/97)

Restraining Bolt - Radish
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
Looking at the teen stars of Hanson and Radish as well, as 16-year-old blues prodigy Jonny Lang, it's clear that the youth of these teen idols is supposed to grab our attention -- but they'll be damned if they're confined by it. (06/06/97)

K - Kula Shaker
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
They'll feel dumb when hash wears off. (11/26/96)

The Screaming End: The Best of Gene Vincent & his Blue Caps - Gene Vincent
Pop/Rock, review by Keith Moerer
More dangerous than Elvis: The king of rockabilly lust. (01/21/97)

Chant d'Amour: Melodies Francaises By Cecilia Bartoli
Classical, review by Andrew O'Hehir
Unmitigated Gaul: Cecilia Bartoli tackles French art songs. (12/13/96)

Egyptology - World Party
Pop/Rock, review by Richard Overton
A lone musician that refers to himself as World Party, Welshman Karl Wallinger sifts through the ashes of his musical ancestors on "Egyptology." (06/26/97)