Release Date: 1990
Label: Mute
Rating: 9/10
Sunday 23 September 2018
Friday 14 September 2018
666. Deee-lite - World Clique
Release Date: 1990
Label: Elektra
I've always disliked 'Groove is in the Heart', but this album wasn't actually that bad.
Rating: 6/10
665. The Shamen - En-tact
Release Date: 1990
Label: One Little Indian
For better or worse there are no songs that sound like Ebeneezer Goode on this album.
Rating: 4/10
664. Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
Release Date: 1990
Label: 4AD
I really enjoyed this one. A brilliant start to the new decade.
Rating: 10/10
1980s Update
I trawled through the albums released in the 1980s in relatively quick fashion. Starting with the beginnings of the new romantic phase and ending at the birth of Gangsta rap. On the way I discovered a few gems (Tom Tom Club, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, kd lang), and more than one clunker (Napalm Death, Metallica).
663. NWA - Straight Outta Compton
Release Date: 1988
Label: Ruthless
Don't worry, I own this one already.
Rating: 8/10
Wednesday 12 September 2018
662. Jungle Brothers - Done By The Forces of Nature
Label: Warner Bros
There were songs on this record I really enjoyed - 'Acklowledge Your Own History' and 'Doing Your Own Dang' but others left me a little underwhelmed.
Rating: 5/10
661. Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Release Date: 1989
Label: A&M
In the 1980s, the Jacksons were the most famous family in the US since the Kennedys in the 1960s. In the 1990s it was The Simpsons by the way. There were elements through this album which reminded me of a song from the 90s, but I can't remember the name of that song.
Rating: 6/10
660. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
Release Date: 1989
Label: Tommy Boy
Annoyingly, this is another album that's not on Spotify. It doesn't even seem to be available to buy either.
Tuesday 11 September 2018
656. Pixies - Doolittle
Release Date: 1989
Label: 4AD
This is another album I already own and love.
Rating: 10/10
655. Aerosmith - Pump
Release Date: 1989
Label: Geffen
This is the first Aerosmith album I've enjoyed all the way through.
Rating: 8/10
654. Barry Adamson - Moss Side Story
Release Date: 1989
Label: Mute
Based - possibly - on another musical, Barry Adamson's soundtrack tells the story of two rival gangs from Moss Side, Manchester. The Crewcuts and the Crewcats. Fortunately, the whole premise is fictional and Moss Side has a reputation for peace and tranquility.
Rating: 6/10
Monday 10 September 2018
653. Coldcut - What's That Noise?
Release Date: 1989
Label: Tommy Boy
This album isn't available on Spotfy either. There's a lot of this happening recently.
652. 808 State - 90
Release Date: 1989
Label: ZTT
I think this may be the first 'dance' album in the book, though whether it is the first ever is unlikely (even if we allow for the fact the book isn't completely chronological). Thirty years later it sounds a little dated, but there is no denying there are some great tracks on here - especially Pacific 202
Rating: 7/10
651. The Cure - Disintegration
Release Date: 1989
Label: Fiction
This is an album I already own
Rating: 7/10
650. Kate Bush - The Sensual World
Release Date: 1989
Label: EMI
I have enjoyed almost everything Kate Bush has released. Sometimes I find it a challenge, but it always rewards,
Rating: 9/10
649. Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck - Djam Leeli
Release Date: 1989
Label: Mango
Musically I thought this was beautiful, but for once I couldn't get my head around the vocals.
Rating: 6/10
Sunday 9 September 2018
647. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Release Date: 1989
Label: Silvertone
One of the most significant albums of the last thirty years, and one I already own.
Rating: 10/10
646. John Zorn - Spy v Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman
Release Date: 1989
Label: Elektra
This wasn't on Spotify either
644. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Release Date: 1989
Label: Capitol
This is an album I already own
Rating: 8/10
641. Queen Latifah - All Hail The Queen
Release Date: 1989
Label: Tommy Boy
The first female hip-hop artist in the book.
Rating: 7/10
640. Madonna - Like a Prayer
Release Date: 1989
Label: Sire
This is the first essential Madonna album on the list. With its cover playing tribute to an album I can't think of. This is where young Madonna reaches her artistic and creative peak.
Rating: 9/10
639. New Order - Technique
Release Date: 1989
Label: Factory
I was a bit disappointed with Low Life, but this album is much more to my taste. Mind you, the other one is supposed to be better so what do I know? All my pre-existing prejudices have been slightly modified.
Rating: 8/10
638. John Lee Hooker - The Healer
Release Date: 1989
Label: Chameleon
This album wasn't on Spotify, but I'm sure there are better albums out there that are if you wanted to explore John Lee Hooker.
636. Faith No More - The Real Thing
Release Date: 1988
Label: Slash
This album is perhaps the first example of rap-metal we've come across, and from that we may eventually get to Limp Bizkit. Having said that, the album isn't as bad as what will happen in the future and I was fairly content to listen to it all the way through.
Rating: 6/10
635. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back
Release Date: 1988
Label: Def Jam
Chuck D is arguably the greatest rapper of the 1980s. Arguments could of course be made for Rakim or Morris Minor and the Majors. This album is generally considered to be one of the greatest rap albums of all time, and it's very easy to see why.
Rating: 10/10
Friday 7 September 2018
634. Jane's Addiciton - Nothing's Shocking
Release Date: 1988
Label: Warner Bros
Due to a technical error I actually listened to this album before the next one. That's all I have to say on the matter.
Rating: 4/10
633. Dwight Yoakam - Buneas Noches from a Lonely Room
Release Date: 1988
Label: Reprise
I wasn't particularly bothered by this album. It was fine, but there wasn't anything memorable to come from it.
Rating: 5/10
Thursday 6 September 2018
632. Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good
Release Date: 1988
Label: One Little Indian
The Sugarcubes were the band that begat Bjork, and for that we must always be grateful. Funnily enough I wasn't expecting this album to be as good as it was.
Rating: 9/10
631. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Release Date: 1988
Label: Enigma
I may have said this before but Sonic Youth are possibly my favourite 80s discovery. Daydream Nation is arguably their best album and it is every bit as good as I hoped it would be. It's a double-album which never outstays its welcome
Rating: 10/10
630. Morrissey - Viva Hate
Release Date: 1988
Label: HMV
Following the demise of the Smiths, Morrissey was the obvious choice to venture out on his own in search of a solo career. 'Viva Hate' has both great songs, and not so great songs.
Rating 7/10
629. American Music Club - California
Release Date: 1988
Label: Frontier
Another album not on Spotify
Wednesday 5 September 2018
628. k.d. lang - Shadowland
Release Date: 1988
Label: Sire
After listening to this album I can only conclude that k.d. lang has one of the finest voices in music. This was a delight to listen to from start to finish
Rating: 10/10
627. Dagmar Krause - Tank Battles: The Songs of Hans Eissler
Release Date: 1988
Label: Island
This isn't on Spotify.
626. Dinosaur Jr - Bug
Label: SST
Unfortunately this album isn't as good as the band's previous offering in the book. The band are good at what they do, but there are parts of the album which feel pointless and unlistenable.
Rating: 6/10
625. Metallica - And Justice for All
Release Date: 1988
Label: Elektra
There is no reason to buy this album (assuming you have ears that is.)
Rating: 3/10
Tuesday 4 September 2018
624. Pixies - Surfer Rosa
Release Date: 1988
Label: 4AD
I've owned Doolittle for a few years now, and this is equally as good. In fact I'm surprised I've not listened to it sooner.
Rating: 9/10
623. My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything
Release Date: 1988
Label: Creation
Sometimes you just have to admit that you don't share your musical tastes with all the critics and tastemakers. I've heard MBV's second album - Loveless - is the most important album in their canon, so hopefully we'll have better luck there.
Rating: 4/10
622. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
Release Date: 1988
Label: Elektra
I can imagine this was the kind of album that sold loads of copies when it first came out, and then found it's way into the charity shops of the world soon afterwards.
Rating: 5/10
621. Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions
Release Date: 1988
Label: Latent
Recorded (possibly) around one solitary microphone in the middle of a room, this is a pleasant enough country record which falls short of being worth buying.
Rating: 6/10
620. Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane
Release Date: 1988
Label: Beggars Banquet
This is one of those albums that grows on you like a similie. It's described as a record about love and heartache. Perhaps if there was a little more variety, it would be worth more.
Rating: 7/10
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