Original Features

These intriguing outside projects explored areas of their songcraft that might have gone forever undiscovered.

Big returns, genre moves and records by reliable legends mark the year's best.

"One minute he was there and the next he was gone," the bassist's friend recalled.

From reworked traditional songs to drunken laments to that Christmas favorite.

On Nov. 29, 1988, Guns N' Roses unleashed 'GN'R Lies.'

Perfect for a year-end playlist.

Perfect for a year-end playlist.

Some are bad poetry, while others spark head-scratching confusion. Still others are just plain wrong.

The last GN'R album with Slash and Duff.

There's nothing guilty about these pleasures.

Their first No. 1 album.

Six decades after his assassination in Dallas, a look at songs with references to the fallen president of the United States.

It was the year that many of the decade's musical trends began to solidify.

Cinematic contributions from some of rock's biggest stars.

Some are smart, some are funny. Some even rise to the level of poetry. And some are about getting loaded.

End strong and leave them wanting more.

Sure, you could listen to that classic LP again. Or you could give some of these records a spin.

It's not easy capturing lightning in a bottle twice in a row.

Their main aptitude is often plainly obvious. The others, not so much.

Including predictions on who could get nominated, and how the Hall will respond following a year of controversy.