#315Albums is a list of 315 albums that appear on both the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, as well as the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book, edited by Robert Dimery. At its best, it is a representation of some of the greatest music ever released; at its worst, it is a journey through the history of music that the majority see as important, influential, and/or relevant. If nothing else, these albums are worth experiencing at least once to get a better understanding of music, which is why we are working to complete all #315Albums.
No. 055
“The masterpiece that followed Marvin Gaye’s awakening revolutionized black music. From its rich, string-suffused grooves, to its boundless sense of possibility, What’s Going On is the Sgt. Pepper of soul.”
Artist: Marvin Gaye
Album: What’s Going On
Released: 1971
Label: Motown
Rolling Stones Ranking: 6
Coming in to this album, the only thing I really knew about Marvin Gaye was that he was the one you listen to in order to get in “the mood”. I have fond memories of an episode of King of Queens where “Let’s Get It On” becomes the bane of Doug’s existence, and that’s about the extent of my knowledge of the man. That said, I was super impressed with What’s Going On. Gaye’s voice is excellent, and the powerful lyrics really helped drive the music home. This is one I was happy to hit play on multiple times before writing up my thoughts. It has a catchy soul that’s given me a whole new appreciation for Marvin Gaye. I can’t wait to hear what else he has to offer.
Cinefessions’ #315Albums Rating: 75%
Image and quote courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine.
Branden has been a film fan since he was young, roaming the halls of Blockbuster Video, trying to find the grossest, scariest looking VHS covers to rent and watch alone in the basement. It wasn’t until recently, though, that Branden started seeking out the classics of cinema, and began to develop his true passion for the art form. Branden approaches each film with the unique perspective of having studied the art from the inside, having both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in acting. He has been a film critic since 2010, and has previously written for Inside Pulse Movies, We Love Cult, and Diehard Gamefan. His biggest achievement as a film critic, to date, has been founding Cinefessions and turning it from a personal blog to a true film website, housing hundreds of film and television reviews, and dozens of podcasts.
