I Dreamed A Dream – Susan Boyle – 2009 Claimed Sales: 14m First listen?: Yes Format Listened?: Apple Music Some people like to save the best for last, I think it was Vanessa Williams who told us to do that. It seems I like to save Susan Boyle for last, by far the album I was most dreading to listen … Continue reading
Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson – 2004 Claimed Sales: 15m First listen?: No Format Listened?: Apple Music The original American Idol I’m not sure there’s any pop singer of the last few decades as instantly likable as Kelly Clarkson. She has an infectious personality, why America and eventually the rest of the world fell in love with her so quickly, but … Continue reading
American Idiot – Green Day– 2004 Claimed Sales: 16m First listen?: No Format Listened?: Apple Music Released over a decade after their breakthrough album Dookie, American Idiot marked a somewhat return to worldwide success for Green Day. Much like Dookie, a lot of the songs here are quick sharp bursts and punk rock energy, She’s A Rebel a clear … Continue reading
Fallen – Evanescence– 2003 Claimed Sales: 17m First listen?: No Format Listened?: Apple Music It’s strange to imagine the time where the worldwide general public became obsessed with a Nu Metal, gothic, operatic rock band from Arkansas, but one listen to lead single Bring Me To Life and I’m taken right back to 2003. It’s a spectacular rock song, … Continue reading
Let Go – Avril Lavigne – 2003 Claimed Sales: 16m First listen?: No Format Listened?: Apple Music If there’s one song that sums up the ‘Skater’ era of popular music the best it’s surely the aptly named Sk8er Boi. ‘He was a boy, she was a girl can I make it anymore obvious?’ is such a brilliantly simple opening lyric … Continue reading
The Eminem Show – Eminem – 2002 Claimed Sales: 20m First listen?: Yes Format Listened?: Apple Music It has surprised me that in the 4 years of doing these blog series I have only covered one Eminem album, my reaction there wasn’t too positive and it’s important to note first off that most of my problems with The … Continue reading
Missundaztood – P!nk – 2001 Claimed Sales: 13m First listen?: No Format Listened?: Apple Music Listen to most of the songs on P!nk’s breakthrough international album, Missundaztood side by side with last year’s Beautiful Trauma and you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. The fact that her second and seventh studio albums sound so similar is a testament … Continue reading
Laundry Service – Shakira – 2001 Claimed Sales: 13m First listen?: Yes Format Listened?: Apple Music Shakira was already well established as one of Latin music’s brightest stars by the time that her first English language single Whenever Wherever was released. She had won a Grammy award, scored a series of #1 Latin hits and was on the verge of … Continue reading
Take Off Your Pants and Jacket – Blink-182 – 2001 Claimed Sales: 14m First listen?: Yes Format Listened?: Apple Music Blink-182 are one of those bands that I am aware of, know people who grew up loving them, could probably name a couple of songs from, but have never felt any urge to listen to before this series. American ‘Pop … Continue reading
Black & Blue – Backstreet Boys – 2000 Claimed Sales: 24m First listen?: Yes Format Listened?: Apple Music Let’s start with addressing the elephant in the room first off. The official album artwork for Black & Blue, an album that sold 1.6 million copies in a single week in the US; an album that was the follow up to … Continue reading
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