Island Records

Alternative Rock Rock 

Manifest Density: Local H’s ‘As Good As Dead’ Turns 30

April 30, 2026May 1, 2026 Kara Tucker 0 Comments 1996, As Good As Dead, Eddie Vedder, Illinois, Island Records, Joe Bosso, Joe Daniels, Local H., Nirvana, Scott Lucas, Zion

Looking back on the American power duo’s sophomore classic

Read more

Folk Pop Rock 

‘Findout’ About Yusuf/Cat Stevens

November 4, 2025November 3, 2025 Ron Hart 0 Comments 2025, Cat on the Road to Findout, Cat Stevens, Cat-O-Log Records, Island Records, Yusuf Islam, Yusuf/Cat Stevens

A new collection covers his entire recorded output for the very first time

Read more

Art Pop Rock 

Such a Crumbling Beauty: Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs Turns 40

September 30, 2025October 1, 2025 Dan Weiss 0 Comments 1985, 40th Anniversary, Clap Hands, Downtown Train, Hal Willner, Island Records, Kathleen Brennan, Kurt Weill, Rain Dogs, Rod Stewart, Swordfishtrombones, Tom Waits, Trevor Horn

Looking back on a vagabond masterpiece

Read more

Alternative Rock Pop Remembrance Rock 

Marianne Faithfull: ‘Every Record I Make Is A Trauma For Me’

January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 Gillian G. Gaar 0 Comments A Secret Life, Andrew Loog Oldham, Broken English, Island Records, Keith Richards, Kurt Cobain, Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger, RIP, The Rolling Stones

Revisit a 1995 interview with the late British pop legend

Read more

Alternative Rock Rock Soundtracks and Film Scores 

Silver and Gold: U2’s Rattle and Hum at 35

October 10, 2023February 19, 2024 Lee Zimmerman 0 Comments 1988, 35th Anniversary, Adam Clayton, Angel of Harlem, B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Bono, Desire, Island Records, Larry Mullen Jr., Paramount, Rattle and Hum, The Edge, U2, When Love Comes To Town

Reflecting on the Irish band’s polarizing double album

Read more

Blues Experimental Rock 

Tom Waits Celebrates 40 Years of Swordfishtrombones with New Reissues

September 1, 2023September 1, 2023 Ron Hart 1 Comment 1983, 40th Anniversary, Frank's Wild Years, Island Records, Kathleen Brennan, Rain Dogs, Reissues, Swordfishtrombones, Tom Waits

Also available today are remastered editions of Rain Dogs and Frank’s Wild Years

Read more

Alternative Rock Dance Rock Electronic Irish Rock 

The Wanderer: U2’s Zooropa at 30

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 Joe Gross 1 Comment 1993, 30th Anniversary, Achtung Baby, Adam Clayton, Bono, Island Records, Johnny Cash, Larry Mullen Jr., Lemon, Numb, The Edge, U2, Zooropa

Looking back on the band’s weirdest album

Read more

Records 

ALBUMS: May 2023 In Review

May 31, 2023May 31, 2023 Kara Tucker 0 Comments 2023, bar italia, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Island Records, Matador Records, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, Sparks, The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte, Tracey Denim, Warner Music

Digging the new works of Sparks, bar italia and Brandy Clark this month

Read more

Folk Psychedelics Rock 

May You Never: John Martyn’s Solid Air Turns 50

February 26, 2023February 26, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1973, 50th anniversary, Island Records, John Martyn, Skip James, Solid Air

The Scottish troubadour fused funk, jazz and more into his tender, trippy psych-folk stew

Read more

Rock 

Tragic Magic: Traffic’s Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory at 50

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 Lee Zimmerman 0 Comments 1973, David Hood, Island Records, Jim Capaldi, Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory, Steve Winwood, Traffic

Revisiting the English band’s subdued sixth album

Read more

Art Pop Electronic Glam New Wave Rock 

How Eno Altered Reality On Before And After Science

December 27, 2022December 29, 2022 Jim Allen 1 Comment 1977, 45th Anniversary, Before And After Science, Brian Eno, Cluster, ECM, Harmonia, Island Records, Jon Hassell, Mick Karn, Moebius

The album that bridged Art Rock and New Wave turns 45

Read more

etc. Experimental Noise Rock 

The Earth Died Screaming: Bone Machine Turns 30

September 6, 2022September 6, 2022 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1992, 30th Anniversary, Bone Machine, David Hidalgo, Island Records, Keith Richards, Larry Taylor, Les Claypool, Los Lobos, Tom Waits

Looking back on Tom Waits’s most visceral sack of gold

Read more

Dub/Reggae Soundtracks and Film Scores 

You’ll Succeed At Last: The Harder They Come at 50

July 7, 2022February 19, 2024 Lee Zimmerman 0 Comments 1972, 50th anniversary, Island Records, Jamaica, Jimmy Cliff, Kingston, The Harder They Come, The Melodians, Toots and the Maytals

Jimmy Cliff’s most essential album can still be considered the best reggae has to offer even 50 years on

Read more

Folk Rock 

Roll Over Vaughn Williams: Henry the Human Fly at 50

April 12, 2022April 12, 2022 Lee Zimmerman 0 Comments 1972, Henry The Human Fly, Island Records, Richard Thompson

Consider the solo debut of Richard Thompson a vital part of his template

Read more

Folk 

Open Wide The Hymns You Hide: Pink Moon Turns 50

February 25, 2022February 25, 2022 Kara Tucker 0 Comments 1972, 50th anniversary, Bryter Layter, FIve Leaves Left, Island Records, Nick Drake, Pink Moon, Volkswagen

A half-century later, Nick Drake’s third LP continues to reveal new layers of a British folk icon gone too soon

Read more