Album Reviews Posts
Read Mike Joseph's reviews of all the 50 for 50 albums.
Jan. 21, 2026
More Than a Fugee: Why Lauryn Hill Was Always the Trio’s True North
Group dynamics are always a tricky thing. Even if a collective is set up with the intention of being a democracy, there will always be some kind of imbalance. Someone’s gonna get more lead vocals, someone’s gonna get more production cred…
Jan. 13, 2026
More Than Just 'Truly': Why Lionel Richie’s Debut Matters in the Year of Thriller
1982 was a transformative year for music in many ways. The second British Invasion exploded, thanks to new, fresh acts like The Human League, Yazoo and Duran Duran. Rap music planted its flag with two era-defining singles, “The Message” …
Jan. 5, 2026
How New Edition’s 'Heart Break' Redefined R&B and the New Jack Swing Era
The members of New Edition found themselves at a series of crossroads when the Heart Break album was conceived and recorded in 1988. After making their debut in 1983 with “Candy Girl”, the group had established themselves as one of the m…