Leonard Cohen's sparse vision vs John Simon's orchestral arrangement: Producer overruled artist on Songs of Leonard CohenMusic linernotes album music
Undercurrent vs Intermodulation: Intermodulation holds its own as a quieter but equally conversational sequelMusic linernotes album music
KRS-One before vs after Scott La Rock's murder: From battle rapper to the TeacherMusic linernotes album music
Tricky's solo work vs Massive Attack: Maxinquaye was his escape from feeling boxed inMusic linernotes album music
Pink Floyd vs The Beatles: Piper and Sgt. Pepper's were recorded simultaneously at Abbey RoadMusic linernotes album music
John Cale vs Nico's earlier sound: Cale's modern classical arrangements transformed The Marble IndexMusic linernotes album music
Fritz Reiner's 1954 vs 1962 Also sprach Zarathustra: 1962 wins for sound qualityMusic linernotes album music
WWA vs Capitol: WWA handled UK releases, Capitol handled US/Canada releases for Gentle Giant until CivilianMusic linernotes album music
Karajan's 1962 Beethoven cycle vs other Beethoven cycles: Still the benchmark after selling 1 million sets in a decadeMusic linernotes album music
YMO US version vs Japanese original: Al Schmitt mix drops "Acrobat" for a punchier soundMusic linernotes album music
Curtis Mayfield's Super Fly soundtrack vs the film Super Fly: Soundtrack offers critical counterpoint to film's neutral portrayalMusic linernotes album music
Music for Nine Post Cards vs standard album release: Museum piece turned commercial hitMusic linernotes album music
Fennesz vs Ryoji Ikeda: Opposite ends of electronic music meet in the middleMusic linernotes album music
Switched-On Bach vs traditional classical recordings: Proved the Moog could play classicalMusic linernotes album music
Archie Shepp's free jazz vs In the Tradition: In the Tradition proves he could swing on standards tooMusic linernotes album music
Virgin's Dukes of Stratosphear vs XTC: The Dukes were a fictional 60s band, but they were really XTC in disguiseMusic linernotes album music
The Dukes of Stratosphear's 25 O'Clock vs XTC's The Big Express: The side project beat the main act in salesMusic linernotes album music
Butch Vig vs Andy Wallace: Vig built the sound, Wallace made it radio-readyMusic linernotes album music
SST Records vs Enigma Records: Sonic Youth left SST over payment concerns after SisterMusic linernotes album music
Giant Steps rhythm section vs Miles Davis rhythm section on "Naima": A rare switch that gave the ballad a softer, more relaxed feelMusic linernotes album music
Jacques Brel vs Scott Walker: Brel's influence defined Walker's early solo soundMusic linernotes album music
Jazz in Silhouette vs other Sun Ra albums: The most accessible entry point into his catalogMusic linernotes album music
Cluster's kosmische jams vs pop songs on Zuckerzeit: Cluster traded extended kosmische jams for short, rhythmic pop tracksMusic linernotes album music
Aguirre soundtrack vs actual film score: Only 2 of 9 tracks are from the filmMusic linernotes album music
John Wesley Harding vs The Basement Tapes: Dylan chose fresh material over his legendary demosMusic linernotes album music
Revolver vs Rubber Soul: Revolver pushed studio technology further than any Beatles album before itMusic linernotes album music
Tommy vs later rock operas: Tommy set the standard and still defines the formatMusic linernotes album music
Beastie Boys Def Jam vs Capitol: Creative differences with Rick Rubin drove them off Def JamMusic linernotes album music
Brothers in Arms vs On Every Street: Brothers in Arms overshadows its follow-upMusic linernotes album music
Music for Films vs Music for Airports: Music for Films was Eno's rehearsal for the landmarkMusic linernotes album music
Channel Orange vs Blonde: Blonde breaks free from R&B into genre-blending avant-soulMusic linernotes album music
Original Leathür version vs Elektra reissue: Two very different productions of Too Fast for LoveMusic linernotes album music
Harvest Moon vs Harvest: Harvest Moon is the sequel Harvest deserved, twenty years laterMusic linernotes album music
Exposé vs other Miami freestyle acts: Exposé rode the wave harder than mostMusic linernotes album music
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan vs Peter Gabriel: Qawwali and Western rock can coexist without one overpowering the otherMusic linernotes album music
US version vs UK version of Are You Experienced: US swapped album tracks for hit singlesMusic linernotes album music
Speak & Spell vs later Depeche Mode albums: Vince Clarke's only album is brighter, the rest are darkerMusic linernotes album music
Rushent's remixes vs standard extended remixes: Rushent rebuilt the songs instead of just extending themMusic linernotes album music
Mamma Mia 2 soundtrack vs Mamma Mia 1 soundtrack: The sequel outperformed the original on the chartsMusic linernotes album music
Billie Eilish's What Was I Made For vs Nicki Minaj's Barbie World: Eilish's song won the Oscar, Minaj's was the bigger hitMusic linernotes album music
American Beauty vs Workingman's Dead: Two sides of the same 1970 folk-rock coinMusic linernotes album music
Come On Die Young vs Young Team: Mogwai traded explosions for slow-burn atmosphericsMusic linernotes album music
Brian Jones era vs Mick Taylor era: Let It Bleed captures the Stones' dramatic transition between guitaristsMusic linernotes album music
Gould's 1955 vs 1981 Goldberg Variations: A pianist's self-reinvention from speed to contemplationMusic linernotes album music
Tracey Thorn's A Distant Shore vs Everything but the Girl: Raw solo debut vs polished jazz-popMusic linernotes album music
The Plugged Nickel recordings vs later Miles Davis studio albums: The Plugged Nickel shows where Miles was headingMusic linernotes album music
Modest Prestige contract vs full studio budget: Modest contract gave Cookin' its live feelMusic linernotes album music
Communiqué vs Dire Straits' debut: European success matched, American reception coolerMusic linernotes album music
Keith Jarrett vs Jan Garbarek: Belonging pairs piano with Nordic saxophoneMusic linernotes album music
Acoustic Neil Young vs punk-influenced Neil Young: In the Wings captures the pivot, not the extremesMusic linernotes album music
Nightporter vs Weather Report's earlier sound: Nightporter is the contemplative sideMusic linernotes album music
Thelonious Monk vs Horace Silver on Bags' Groove: Two different piano sessions, two different vibesMusic linernotes album music
'Blue in Green' on Portrait in Jazz vs Kind of Blue: Disputed authorship, same haunting melodyMusic linernotes album music
Takács vs Juilliard vs Emerson Quartets: Which Bartók cycle is definitive?Music linernotes album music
Dummy vs (What's the Story) Morning Glory? vs Different Class: Trip hop's Mercury win over Britpop giantsMusic linernotes album music
Beethoven's middle quartets vs Op. 18 quartets: Middle quartets are longer, bolder, and more complexMusic linernotes album music
Waltz for Debby vs Sunday at the Village Vanguard: Same engagement, different focusMusic linernotes album music
John Gilmore vs Marshall Allen: Both anchored Sun Ra's Arkestra on Space Is the PlaceMusic linernotes album music
Beck's Sea Change vs Beck's earlier work: Sea Change is Beck without the samples and without the ironyMusic linernotes album music
Oneohtrix Point Never's earlier drone work vs Replica: Replica marks a shift from analog drones to sampled TV broadcastsMusic linernotes album music
Music Has the Right to Children vs Geogaddi: Geogaddi is darker and more unsettlingMusic linernotes album music
Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi vs Head Hunters: Avant-garde jazz loses to funk fusionMusic linernotes album music
Andreas Hohmann vs Klaus Dinger on Kraftwerk's debut: Two drummers, two different vibesMusic linernotes album music
Crescent vs Ascension/Meditations: Coltrane's melodic calm before the free-jazz stormMusic linernotes album music