Retrospecticus: The Rolling Stones

I believe it was Sir Michael Phillip Jagger who once said, “When I turn 33, I’ll retire. That’s the time when a man has to dedicate himself to other things. I don’t want to be a rock star all my life.” Well, Jagger turned 33 fifty years ago, and the Rolling Stones released their 25th UK studio album (depending on how you count it) last Friday.

Formed 64 years ago, the band who debuted as “The Rollin’ Stones” at the Marquee Club for a crowd of just over a hundred has gone on to sell over 250 million records, win four Grammy Awards (plus a Lifetime Achievement Award), and, in 2006, play to an estimated 1.5 million people at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Even today, the Stones roll on.

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Colin’s Favorite Albums of Spring 2026

Traditionally, this is around the time of year that a plentiful bounty of worthwhile albums tend to come out, just in time for summer roadtrips, barbecues, and declarations of jam status. It’s hard to tell exactly if this will be true of the next few weeks, but there are certainly some promising releases from premier pop stars and veteran rockers alike coming out, including what looks to be a pretty great one that was just released today.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before Spring turns to Summer, I thought it would be worth looking back at the last few months, which I’m not sure saw an amazing stretch of albums that really grabbed me. However, there were a few Spring standouts I found myself coming back to, even if there were probably more mildly pleasing albums than all-out stunners to come out during Spring 2026. Here are those albums that stuck out to me, even if they ultimately leave me eagerly looking to see what the rest of the warmer months bring.

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Colin’s Favorite Albums of Winter 2026

Well, it’s a new year and I’m not getting any younger. It’s always hard to know when exactly the right time is to start digging into new albums and trying to make sense of what’s worth listening to. Especially when I often find myself listening to new albums just for the sake of turning the page on the previous year and trying to embrace the new sounds of the future. During a lot of my year-end music coverage of 2025, I talked about how it was a little harder to get as much joy out of music as I had in years past, but so far I’m not feeling quite that way about 2026, even if the world’s just as much of a mess as ever. Either way, I’ve already found plenty of albums to keep me chugging along through the frigidly cold months of this East Coast Winter. Luckily, it’s officially Spring and now we can all actually turn a new leaf, since turning a new leaf on a year doesn’t mean much when you’re stuck inside clinging to your proverbial radiator.

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C.A.T: Gorillaz

Gorillaz – Gorillaz (2001)

This month, Gorillaz released their ninth album, The Mountain to glowing reviews, the band is already in midst of a world tour, and a few weeks ago made their first ever appearance on SNL. Not bad for a band that sort of doesn’t exist.

What you might not know is that today, yes TODAY marks the 25th Anniversary of the band’s debut self-titled album. Twenty-five years. Christ. It feels like yesterday I was watching the “Clint Eastwood” video on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block. But no, that was the Summer of 2001. Now I’m an old-ass man. The future is comin’ on.

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Obsessong: Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind this Time)

A few weeks ago, I was putting together a Valentine’s playlist on Spotify for my partner. The theme was sexy songs of the ’70s, you know, Barry White, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, the usual suspects. But what was my first thought as I started adding songs? “Well, I gotta lead it off with the Delfonics.”

Led by singer and songwriter William “Poogie” Hart, alongside his brother Wilbert and Randy Cain, the Delfonics worked closely with Philly soul architect Thom Bell to craft the most elegant and emotionally devastating soul music of the era. Their run of hits; “La-La (Means I Love You),” “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love),” and, “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” are all bonafide classics. But when it came to my playlist, only one song came out on top.

Song: “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind this Time?)
Album: The Delfonics
Year: 1970
Written by: Thom Bell and William Hart

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C.A.T: Can’t Get Enough

Barry White – Can’t Get Enough (1974)

Welcome to a special “Wuv Week” edition of “Classic Album Tuesdays” where it’s time to “take off that brassiere dear”, for Mr. Barry White.

Now there are a lot of sexy albums I could have picked: Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On, Voodoo by D’Angelo, and how many children have been conceived by the mere sight of Herbie Mann’s Push Push album cover?

But when I think of sexy music, there is one figure who towers, about 6 ‘4”, to be exact, over the rest: Barry White. Known as “The Maestro” for his work as a producer and conductor, or by his less flattering moniker “The Walrus of Love,” Barry White was one of the preeminent soul singer-songwriters of his era. A two-time Grammy winner, he scored 20 gold and 10 platinum singles, led the 40-piece Love Unlimited Orchestra, and sold over 100 million records worldwide before his untimely death at 58 in 2003.

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John’s Top Ten Albums of 2025

Most of my year in music was spent paying tribute (via my ears) to my fallen rock and roll heroes. Ozzy, Brian Wilson, Ace Frehley, Sly Stone, Rick Davies–OH HOLD ON GARTH HUDSON DIED?!? WHAT THE FUCK? All the way back in January too. How did I not hear about this? Damn dude, all the members of The Band are dead.

Anyways, this means I didn’t devote a lot of time to new music. At least not a lot of new music. I listened to my number one album on this list like fifty bajillion times. Which is why it’s number one.

I didn’t see any trends worth following this year. It feels like pop music is back in hibernation after having a banner year in 2024. Everyone’s back to hating Taylor Swift like the old days. Let’s see… KPop Demon Hunters. That was cool right? This list goes out to the demons!–I mean, the demon hunters. Fuck. I’m still so mad about Garth Hudson.

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