Unfortified Castle

Dire Straits don't directly echo the music implied by their story, but they embody it just enough to tell a convincing and memorable tale.

A J.S. Bach-inspired structure yields a unique and iconic recording.

A lighter entry early in the Cranberries' discography kept me in the right mood when I heard it for the first time today. Thank you,...

Blondie's Moroder-produced movie soundtrack anthem presents the state of pop at a sonic inflection point — a sound people still love today.

Between its beat and its lyrics, Ryan Riback's retouching of Starley's dance-pop number is one of my favorite productions from the late 10s.

In Olivia Rodrigo's smash summer hit, I hear what may be an inflection point for pop music in terms of sound and the business of crediting.

Alabama Shakes strike a beautiful balance between the deeply personal and the globally applicable in the narrative of their debut single.

Gorgon City utilize mediated repetition — particularly of a single element — to create and reinforce their track's titular aura.

Sia presents a tale of self-reckoning, but also acceptance and ultimately confidence that she can at least healthfully keep her pain inside.

Nor does 'unique' or another similar adjective. 10cc's masterpiece merits so many more words, given its story, sound, and lasting impact.

Gabriel's vocal and instrumental arc work in lock step to form a marvelously complete, love-centered narrative.

Jakob Dylan and company paint the end of youthful innocence as a time for reaffirming oneself and continuing to move forward.

The path between Talking Heads and Mariah Carey is surprisingly straight. And oh, isn't it fitting to talk about Mariah today of all days?

...well, I'm writing about this song and band for the first time, but the theme of love and desire is nothing new for me or music at large.

A quarter-century after its release, Björk's ethereal dream sequence song still sounds like it's ahead of our current musical era.

Why does it feel like so few songs even remotely touch on the theme of working through relationships?

Alan Parsons and company tenderly embrace this fact in a song that can soundtrack the end of many things.

In reinterpreting Roberta Flack's soul classic, Lauryn Hill does the heavy lifting, but she's also never alone.

Mark Ronson and Camila Cabello combine for an anthem of post-heartbreak grief and processing.

It sounds like a lot of tracks from its era, but its creators' attention to detail and its dramatic but relatable lyrics make it stand out.