Andrew Martone

Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted & Black is a Masterpiece

January 24, 2017

Young, Gifted & Black: The Queen On The Throne 45 years ago Aretha Franklin was at her peak. 3 major events mark this era: First, her show stopping 1971 performances at the Fillmore West in San Francisco helped expose her to a brand new audience. Second, her game-changing 1972 gospel album Amazing Grace redefined the gospel genre, and helped bring

Music·Then

Is Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” An Undercover LGBT Anthem?

Introduction Before I get started on “Ain’t No Way”, I want to address a few things (in case this crosses Miss Franklin’s eyes). The intention of this piece is not gossip. No malice is intended in these words. I’m simply working off information I’ve learned, and a theory I came up with as

Where Are You Christmas? Mariah Carey’s Unsung Holiday Classic

Faith Hill’s “Where Are You Christmas?” To some, it’s ‘that song from

Me. I Am Misunderstood… The Elusive Chronicles of Mariah’s 14th studio album

Introduction In 2014, Mariah Carey released her fourteenth studio album, Me. I

Review: ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’ by Mary J. Blige

February 21, 2022

Featured·Mary J. Blige·Music·Now·Reviews

For a while there, there was an upward trend in the life and catalog of Mary J. Blige. She seemed to transcend her biggest demons on No More Drama, find love on Love & Life, and begin navigating the pains of life beyond love on The Breakthrough and Growing Pains.

Review: ‘Night Call’ by Years & Years

February 1, 2022

Featured·Reviews

Have you ever listened to a record and truly felt seen? Like the lyrics are telling stories you’ve lived, experiences akin to your own, and fully and completely could represent you? For gay men, there’s historically been a lack of that in popular music. To supplement, we gravitate towards grandiose

Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black Turns 50

January 24, 2022

Aretha Franklin·Featured·In Depth·Retrospectives·Then

I was around 8 or 9 when I got my copy of Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black. It arrived via one of the storied, long-defunct CD clubs (some do still exist but now exclusively push DVDs). For those who weren’t attune to those clubs, they would send alluring catalogs

Review: Magic by Nas

January 11, 2022

Music·Reviews

Since 2020, Nas has forged a winning partnership with producer Hit-Boy, and unleashed two stellar albums, Kings Disease (which earned Nas his first-ever Grammy Award) and Kings Disease II. “KDIII on the way, this just to feed the buzz,” Nas reassuringly declares in the middle of “Ugly,” track 3 of

Playlist: 97 Minutes of Christmas, Vol. 5

December 16, 2021

Music·Playlists

This Christmas season, the staff of THE 97 will be sharing their favorite holiday songs via our new 97 Minutes of Christmas Playlist series. Each playlist contains 1 hour and 37~ minutes of Christmas jams personally curated by the staff writer. VOLUME 5, CURATED BY ANDREW How do you boil Christmas

Review: Madonna’s Madame X Tour Film Misses The Mark

October 12, 2021

Featured·Music·Reviews

“Artists are here to disturb the peace,” concludes a James Baldwin quote projected during the extensive opening sequence of Madonna’s Madame X tour. It accompanies a typing silhouette of Madame X herself, and a brilliantly choreographed dancer who falls to a cacophony of gunshots. It’s a strong (and long) opening

The Fugees Reunite in New York City For The First Time in 15 Years

September 23, 2021

Featured·Now·Reviews

It was surreal to be at Pier 17 watching Wyclef Jean, Pras, and Ms. Lauryn Hill, AKA the Fugees, standing shoulder-to-shoulder on stage for the first time in 15 years. The trio announced their reunion less than 48 hours prior to taking the stage at what was initially a secret

Janet Jackson’s 20 Y.O. – Retrospective Review

September 20, 2021

Featured·Janet Jackson·Music·Reviews·Then

“I want to have fun” Janet Jackson says on the introduction to 2006’s 20 Y.O. The album’s album cover reflects that sentiment. It’s the third consecutive Janet Jackson album to feature a beaming Jackson on the cover. These jovial covers contrast the quad of classics that all feature a more serious

Aretha Franklin’s Love All The Hurt Away

August 20, 2021

Aretha Franklin·Featured·In Depth·Music·Retrospectives

By 1981, Aretha Franklin was finding her musical footing again. The 70’s had started strong for Aretha, producing some of the most significant work of her career, but they ended dismally. After departing Atlantic Records for Clive Davis’ Arista Records at the turn of the decade, Aretha opted for a

Concert Review: Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett Take A Final Bow

August 6, 2021

Lady Gaga·Music·Reviews

A few songs into Lady Gaga’s set the question began to loom: where was Tony Bennett? This was his 95th birthday show after all, but these two last-minute shows (August 3rd & 5th, and announced just two weeks before taking place) at Radio City Music Hall were billed ominously as

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Andrew Martone

Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted & Black is a Masterpiece

Is Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” An Undercover LGBT Anthem?

Where Are You Christmas? Mariah Carey’s Unsung Holiday Classic

Me. I Am Misunderstood… The Elusive Chronicles of Mariah’s 14th studio album

Review: ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’ by Mary J. Blige

Review: ‘Night Call’ by Years & Years

Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black Turns 50

Review: Magic by Nas

Playlist: 97 Minutes of Christmas, Vol. 5

Review: Madonna’s Madame X Tour Film Misses The Mark

The Fugees Reunite in New York City For The First Time in 15 Years

Janet Jackson’s 20 Y.O. – Retrospective Review

Aretha Franklin’s Love All The Hurt Away

Concert Review: Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett Take A Final Bow

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