726. Ministry - Psalm 69

Release Date: 1992
Labe: Sire

Terrible.

Rating: 2/10

717. k.d. lang - Ingenue

Release Date: 1992
Label: Sire

I really like the first kd lang album included in this book, and this is probably just as good.

Rating: 9/10

694. Ice T - O.G. Original Gangster

Release Date: 1991
Label: Sire

All these rap artists confuse me with those frozen water names. Ice T, Ice Cube, Ice Doggy Dogg. How am I supposed to remember which one was in NWA and which one isn't? Once again, an album that generally passed me by. It wasn't awful though the cover does look like it was made on Microsoft Paint.

Rating: 6/10

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

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

485. Brian Eno and David Byrne - My Life In The Bush of Ghosts

Release Date: 1981
Labe: Sire

I really like what I've heard by Brian Eno and David Byrne so far in this book. I didn't this time.

Rating: 5/10

477. The Pretenders - The Pretenders

Release Date: 1980
Label: Sire

I have this one.

Rating: 8/10

470. The Undertones - Hypnotised

Release Date: 1980
Label: Sire

Even though this album doesn't have a hit as big as 'Teenage Kicks', it is still a very very good album by Derry's finest. The Undertones are clearly masters of the three minute punk/pop song.

Rating: 9/10

467. Talking Heads - Remain in Light

Release Date: 1980
Label: Sire

I bought this album last year on a whim. I can't say I've heard enough to give an accurate score, but that's not going to stop me

Rating: 9/10

438. The Undertones - The Undertones

 

Release Date: 1979
Label: Sire

This was a fine, fine album - probably one of the best punk ones I've heard so far. Every song could've been a possible single, and it's perhaps ironic that their biggest hit, 'Teenage Kicks' wasn't included on the original release. Having said that I'm not sure if I need to get this as I have every song already (though 1 or 2 are different versions) on a two-disc compilation set.

Rating: 9/10

435. Talking Heads - Fear of Music

Release Date: 1979
Label: Sire

Following on from their first two records, 'Fear of Music' is a slight disappointment by the band's high standards. It is still an album worth listening to, but its quality doesn't seem to be as apparent as, say, their debut.

Rating: 7/10

413. Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food

Release Date: 1978
Label: Sire

Although not as immediate as their debut album, this is another very record from Talking Heads. David Byrne's vocals are, of course, identifiable; but there is now an emphasis on the rhythm.

Rating: 8/10

382. Talking Heads - 77

Release Date: 1977
Label: Sire

This album starts with one of the best songs I've heard, carries on along the same trajectory. The only song I was familiar with before hand was 'Psycho Killer' - which is brilliant, and that isn't even the best song on the album,

Rating: 10/10

364. Ramones - Ramones

Release Date: 1976
Label: Sire

Is this the start of punk?! Perhaps it's another rip in the t-shirt. The Ramones debut album comes and goes like a Tommy Cooper quip. It's short, sharp and stunning. The music is chaotic, the vocals mumbled and the attitude is perfect. Saying that, I dont need to get it because I already own most of the songs. Also, they get deducted a point because I don't know who is who.

Rating: 7/10