875. Talvin Singh - OK

Release Date: 1998
Label: Island

This album was not OK.

Rating: 3/10

868. Pulp - This is Hardcore

Release Date: 1998
Label: Island

I own this one already

Rating: 9/10

802. Pulp - Different Class

Release Date: 1995
Label: Island

I have this one, obvs.

Rating: 10/10

745. PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me

Release Date: 1993
Label: Island

I own this.

Rating: 9/10

723. Tom Waits - Bone Machine

Release Date: 1992
Label: Island

I remember finding Tom Waits's 70s albums 'difficult' before being immediately impressed by his two 80s offerings. This one falls somewhere between the two. There are moments of pure brilliance - 'Dirt In The Ground' and 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up' are especially good, but it didn't move me like the previous two.

Rating: 7/10

702. U2- Achtung Baby

Release Date: 1991
Label: Island

My initial exposure to U2 came in the form of a couple of songs on the mid 90s Now albums, namely 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me' and 'Discoteque'. Neither were terrible, but they didn't make me want to explore them any further. Then they realeased the likes of 'Beautiful Day' and 'Vertigo' around the turn of the millenium and I actively chose to avoid them. Their early stuff, including this, is much better.

Rating: 8/10

689. Julian Cope - Peggy Suicide

Release Date: 1991
Label: Island

Julian Cope's seventh solo album is a must-have for fans of his previous band, the Teardrop Explodes. I really enjoyed this album.

Rating: 9/10

627. Dagmar Krause - Tank Battles: The Songs of Hans Eissler

Release Date: 1988
Label: Island

This isn't on Spotify.

609. U2 - The Joshua Tree

Release Date: 1987
Label: Island

Despite being top heavy, this is another very good album from Dublin's finest (+ Bono)

Rating: 8/10

606. The Triffids - Calenture

Release Date: 1987
Label:Island

 I've never heard of the Triffids before this, but it seems Bad Seeds' Martyn Casey was their bassist so they get points for that. They also get marks for a very good album.

Rating: 8/10

559. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

Release Date: 1985
Label: Island

Much like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits has evolved from me wondering why he is so revered as I listened through his 70s phase, to wondering if I'd given him enough of a chance as we progress through the 80s. Along with Swordfishtrombones this is another great album.

Rating: 9/10

528. U2- War

Release Date: 1983
Label: Island

First of all, let's get one thing straight: Bono is an idiot. Nothing will alter this fact, even if I do decide I like some of U2's albums. Like now.

Rating: 9/10

520. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones

Release Date: 1983
Label: Island

Finally, after a couple of 'difficult' Tom Waits albums, I've finally found an album of his I like. The voice is still as rough as it always is, but this time it seems to work with the music and material given. It's probably no coincidence that this is often considered his best album.

Rating: 9/10

493. Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club

Release Date: 1981
Label: Island

What a fantastic record. The band start of well with their choice of name, but from the very first bars of 'Wordy Rappinghood', you know you're on to a winner.

Rating: 10/10

476. Steve Winwood - Arc of a Diver

Release Date: 1980
Label: Island

Former member of the Spencer Tracy Group and Google favourites, Traffic, Steve Winwood returns to provide his best Phil Collins impression. Or rather, it seems Phil Collins solo career was probably inspired by this album.

Rating: 4/10

442. The Slits - Cut

Release Date: 1979
Label: Island

The one thing that you'll notice with punk, compared to earlier musical fashions, is the prominence of females alongside males. For every Johnny Rotten, there is a Siouxsie Sioux. For every Billy Idol there's a Poly Styrene. The Slits were a group who sound like they'd never picked up an instrument until they went into the recording studio. But you know what? It fucking works.

Rating: 9/10

441. Marianne Faithfull - Broken English

Release Date: 1979
Label: Island

Forget mars bars, Marianne Faithfull needs a bar of soap to suck on. This is not an album you'll want to play in front of your children, or Mary Whitehouse. It is strange listening to an album where she can actually sing a bit; these days cigarettes etc have done for her voice what the Manchester Ship Canal did for employment in Liverpool. It's a good album, but not essential in my book.

Rating: 6/10

381. John Martyn - One World

Release Date: 1977
Label: Island

In the middle of the punk scene, John Martyn decided to release this brilliant album. Compared to 'Solid Air', it is less folksy and benefits from poppier arrangements.

Rating: 8/10

372. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus

Release Date: 1977
Label: Island

This is another album I already known and contains many of Bob Marley's best known  songs - especially on the second half of the album.

Rating: 9/10

334. Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey

 

Release Date: 1975
Label: Island

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican National Hero, and Rastafari movement prophet. This is who the album is named after, and loosely about. Driving home from work last night, I enjoyed many of the songs from this album. It wasn't as good as Bob Marley, but nothing is likely to be - it's perhaps more political and more focused on Jamican history.

Rating: 7/10