ANNIVERSARIES: 'Superunknown'

SOUNDGARDEN
Superunknown
[A&M] 

For rock bands there’s something almost mythical about fourth albums. Album number 4 has been for many, the great artistic pinnacle or the blockbuster. And in this particular case it happens to be both.

Debuting at #1, going on to sell 5 million copies and widely acclaimed as one of the top hard rock records of the ‘90s, it represents the fruit of all the musical strands the band had been weaving. It is, without a doubt, the band’s artistic high point.

On a personal note, this has been a staple of my musical diet since its release—to this day, I listen to it on a regular basis as if it had been released mere days ago. Wish Cornell were still with us to celebrate this milestone in the band’s history, but…well, you know.

Released March 8, 1994.

MILESTONES: 'Collapse Into Now'

REM
Collapse Into Now
[Warner Bros]

Their fifteenth album was the last on their contract and their final one overall. And yet for a band wanting to go out with a bang, recording their swan song in a series of recording studios (Berlin, Nashville, New Orleans; demos in Portland, OR) with various guest artists (including Lenny Kaye, Patti Smith and Eddie Vedder), its songs were never performed live. Make of that what you will. (Music videos were filmed for each song for promotional purposes.)

A Top 5 album in both the US and UK it is, along with 2008’s Accelerate [Warner Bros], the best critically received record of their 5-album post-Bill Berry stint. But perhaps more importantly, it neatly ties up, both sonically and chronologically, the 30-year recording career that began with the release of the “Radio Free Europe” single in 1981.

Released March 7, 2011.

ANNIVERSARIES: 'Feel Good Lost'

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE
Feel Good Lost
[Arts & Crafts]

One of the privileged few who have gone thru the reverse sophomore slump—their second album, the Juno Award-winning ‘You Forgot It In People’ [Arts & Crafts-2002] was their critical and commercial breakthrough and set the stage for members Leslie Feist and Emily Haines to become stars in their native Canada—this beloved collective started out as a 2-man operation on their debut album.

Before the group swelled to around a dozen or so members and became an indie rock powerhouse, Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew put together dreamy, mostly instrumental soundscapes that can be as effective a soundtrack for late night seduction as a sober Sunday morning.

Released March 6, 2001.

ANNIVERSARIES: 'The Land of Pure Imagination'

ROGER JOSEPH MANNING JR.
The Land of Pure Imagination
[Cordless]

After years of beefing up the ole resume with the likes of Air, Beck, and his own Imperial Drag, Moog Cookbook and the beloved Jellyfish, this multi-instrumentalist decided to finally go solo with impressive results. The spirit of the latter San Francisco retro-popsters is quite prevalent throughout this disc, especially the occasionally child-like, Saturday morning vibe of Spilt Milk [Charisma-1993].

But without the input and participation of co-leader Andy Sturmer—who brought a bit more of a rock and roll attitude to the proceedings—it would be a little off the mark to suggest that this is what the third Jellyfish album would’ve sounded like, but it comes mighty close. Unfortunately, despite superb songs with appealing melodies, addictive choruses and first-rate playing, the album can at times make one long for a bit more oomph, while in other spots it veers dangerously close to Burt Bacharach territory. 

That said, fans of Ben Folds, Todd Rundgren’s classic period (1970-72), and of course Jellyfish, will find very little to dislike about Manning’s initial solo outing.

(Note: Completists might want to seek out the Japanese version—released there as 'Solid State Warrior'—which shares the bulk of the songs on the US version but differs on three tracks. Then again, the deluxe US version adds the three songs from the Japanese version as bonus tracks.)

Highlights: “Too Late For Us Now”, “Wish It Would Rain”, “You Were Right”, the title track. 

Originally released March 5, 2005.

MILESTONES: 'Master of Puppets'

METALLICA
Master of Puppets
[Elektra]

35 years ago, they made their last album with the late, great Cliff Burton (who died in a bus accident in Europe on the tour promoting the album); it was their first to go gold (without the aid of radio or MTV, a feat unimaginable at the time) and eventually sold six million copies. It was also deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" to warrant induction in the National Recording Registry by the United States Library of Congress, becoming the first metal album to be honored in this fashion. Quite apropos for a hands down, metal masterpiece that decades later is still as intense, powerful and transcendent as it was when it debuted. And, quite likely, will always be. Damn.

Which is why despite all the infighting amongst the band faithful all these years, they still love this one unanimously. As it should be.

(On a personal note, it was the first of their albums I ever heard, and to this day, “Battery” not only remains my fave song of theirs, but it rocks even harder every time.)

Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest rock albums of all time, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest metal albums ever made. Not too shabby for a bunch of kids from SF. Yeah...

Released March 3, 1986.

ANNIVERSARIES: 'Frampton'

PETER FRAMPTON
Frampton
[A&M] 

By the mid '70s, the former Humble Pie guitarist was slowly building a solo career that, nonetheless, grew with each subsequent album. So when his fourth release, which came at a crucial time in his career, showed some commercial legs, the powers that be sensed a breakthrough on the horizon and decided that some of the shows on this album’s tour be recorded for a live record. The bet paid off: Frampton Comes Alive! [A&M-1976] was a massive seller and made its namesake a household name and a ‘70s icon. Nevertheless, the album that preceded it was a big part of its success, as it is the home of “Show Me The Way” and “Baby, I Love Your Way” (both hit singles in their FCA! versions) as well as fan favorites “Penny for Your Thoughts” and “(I'll Give You) Money”.

Released March 3, 1975.

ANNIVERSARIES: 'Stain'

LIVING COLOUR
Stain
[Epic]

Album number three—and first with bassist Doug Wimbush—was thisclose to being the band’s last, seeing as they broke up after its tour. They managed to reunite a decade later, with a new album,

but this one was out of print for yet another decade over some legal wrangling. Basically, it’s not been smooth sailing for a record that was darker, harder and more intense than their previous output, and the object of quite a few negative reviews along the way.

A challenging listen indeed, but a rewarding one depending on your frame of mind and willingness to experience both the album and the band in a new light. 

Released March 2, 1993.

ANNIVERSARIES: 'A Wizard, A True Star'

TODD RUNDGREN
A Wizard, A True Star
[Bearsville]

His third album, Something/Anything? [Bearsville-1972], was acknowledged as a ‘70s landmark from the get-go and made him a star. But he didn’t want to be, in his words, “the male Carole King”, so he embarked on what many considered a radical shift in his music, beginning with this one the following year.

Truth be told, he didn’t so much change course as much he made his detours more colorful and insular than before, accentuating some elements of his musical past (ballads, Philly soul, rockers, show tunes) and adding others (prog, psychedelia), while a putting together a similar but more adventurous sprawl than that of his previous album.

It proved a bit much for his fanbase, however, half of which the Runt estimates he lost with this album, leading to soft numbers sales-wise and a rollercoaster of a relationship with the audience that continues to this day. But in the end, the quest was fruitful artistically: the likes of Daft Punk, Hot Chip, and Tame Impala have sung its praises and consider it an influence; and at its best it’s quite simply a breathtaking achievement.
Released March 2, 1973

ANNIVERSARIES: 'Dark Side of The Moon'

PINK FLOYD
Dark Side of the Moon
[Harvest]

What is left to be said about this legendary and ubiquitous collection of songs? The vision of its creators, the majesty of its music, the reach of its influence, and the gargantuan sales numbers have all been repeatedly covered in much detail, so... 

On a personal note, it is not only my favorite of theirs but I truly love this record more and more as the years go by. 

Released March 1, 1973.