Author Archives: tacopepper

     When Lady Gaga first emerged on the scene, my first reaction was that she was much more style than substance.  It took more attention and actually attending a live concert (seeing Gaga from the seemingly sterile corporate luxury box was an interesting contrast) for me to fully appreciate what an incredibly talented performer sheContinue reading “Lady Gaga “Born This Way” (2011)”

     There are several megastars of the 2010s, to include Taylor Swift, Drake, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, or Ed “She-heer-an”, as my friend Bobby would say, but none sold records quite like Adele Adkins, known simply as Adele.  Starting with her first album “19”, she has established a trend of naming each album forContinue reading “Adele “21” (2011)”

     The next album from Kanye West proves to be another unexpected masterpiece in my eyes, with “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”.  Like many of us who are a few steps or more away from modern hip-hop, Kanye remains a difficult person to appreciate, and my skepticism certainly carried over to his music, but evenContinue reading “Kanye West “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (2010)”

     I feel like “Recovery”, the next Eminem album on the journey, probably flew a bit under the radar, even as it was the #1 selling album of 2010.  It doesn’t have a signature song like some of his earlier albums, but it is another strong effort and as best as he can, he attemptsContinue reading “Eminem “Recovery” (2010)”

     Not surprisingly, this journey has led us to the first really big album success from Taylor Swift, her second record overall, “Fearless”.  I have always respected Taylor Swift for her creative control and integrity as a songwriter and performer, and unexpectedly, that’s where this blog is going to ultimately take me.  When she originallyContinue reading “Taylor Swift “Fearless” (2008)”

     By 2008, the world of hip-hop had taken on a mainstage role in popular music, and it retains its dominant force to this day.  The best-selling album of 2008 was “Tha Carter III”, the latest in a series of self-titled albums from Lil Wayne, aka Wayne Carter, a highly successful rapper from New Orleans. Continue reading “Lil Wayne “Tha Carter III” (2008)”

     Since the death of John Bonham in 1980 and the dissolution of Led Zeppelin, all of us Zeppelin fans have wondered and waited what comes next from Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones.  After the Page-Plant experiment of the mid 1990s came to a close, Plant retreated to his low-key and low-fiContinue reading “Robert Plant & Alison Krauss “Raising Sand” (2007)”

     I have referenced the title track from today’s album by Amy Winehouse, “Back to Black”, on several occasions.  I have stated that I think this song is one of the greatest captures of the emotion of devastating sadness that I have ever heard, driven by the choice of her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend/future husband to go backContinue reading “Amy Winehouse “Back to Black” (2006)”

    With all of the continuing expansion of musical sounds and styles, I was surprised, but not shocked, to learn that the #1 selling album of 2006 was the soundtrack album to the Disney Original Movie, “High School Musical”.  As a parent, I was caught between the early years of Disney musicals and the futureContinue reading “Various Artists “Soundtrack: High School Musical” (2006)”

     I was reminded today how far out of touch I was with “Top 40” pop music by the year 2005.  The #1 selling album of 2005 was “The Emancipation of Mimi”, considered to be a comeback album by hit machine Mariah Carey.  There are several singles that charted high, and obviously this record wasContinue reading “Mariah Carey “The Emancipation of Mimi” (2005)”