890. The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

Release Date: 1999
Label: Warner Bros

I have this.

Rating: 9/10

765. Elvis Costello - Brutal Youth

Release Date: 1994
Label: Warner Bros

I don't think we've had an Elvis Costello album in a while, and I'm surprised we've got one now. His previous albums were brilliant, but life has moved on since 1979 and I don't see the need for this one.

Rating: 5/10

719. REM - Automatic For The People

Release Date: 1992
Label: Warner Bros

I own this one already.

Rating: 9/10

693. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Release Date: 1991
Label: Warner Bros

When I was in school a few of my friends seemed to be obsessed with the latest RHCP album (Californiacation). In my mind, that was supposed to be a comeback album and the most important release since this, Red Hot, Hot Blood, Chilli Sex, Peppers Magik. I've grown up thinking the band weren't really much to get excited about, but I thought this was pretty good.

Rating: 8/10

678. Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual

Release Date: 1990
Label: Warner Bros.

Having been unimpressed by their previous album, I thought this one was slightly better, though the cover (left) is slightly disturbing. Dave Navarro's solo on Three Days (which is the best song on the album) was once voted as the 100th greatest guitar solo.

Rating: 5/10

662. Jungle Brothers - Done By The Forces of Nature

Release Date: 1989
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

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

618. REM - Green

Release Date: 1988
Label: Warner Bros

Green is the major label debut for  REM and unfortunately it isn't as good as their indie releases. They will improve, and there are a few good songs on this, but this isn't worth buying overall.

Rating: 6/10

602. Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shaka Zulu

Release Date: 1987
Label: Warner Bros

LBM were 'discovered' by Paul Simon whilst hanging around Elvis's Graceland residence. African music was clearly still a novelty in the 80s.

Rating: 4/10

596. Husker Du - Warehouse: Songs and Stories

Release Date: 1987
Label: Warner Bros

Rating: 6/10

578. Paul Simon - Graceland

Release Date: 1986
Label: Warner Bros

After being disappointed by Paul Simon's two solo offerings thus far, it was good to know that 'Graceland' deserves the plaudits it has often recieved. I was worried it may have dated, but it doesn't seem to have done.

Rating: 9/10

549. A-ha - Hunting High and Low

Release Date: 1985
Label: Warner Bros

Named after Alan Patridge's well known catchphrase, A-ha were the finest Norweigen import since the last good thing to come out of Norway - and perhaps the best looking. This may be the the band's finest hour, the album has both 'Take On Me' and 'The Sun Always Shines On TV' (not a good thing), but it doesn't really matter in the long run.

Rating: 6/10

538. Prince - Purple Rain

Release Date: 1984
Label: Warner Bros

I've listened to so many of these albums recently, that sometimes I don't have the energy to write a proper review. It actually rained whilst this was on though. It wasn't purple.

Rating: 9/10

537. Van Halen - 1984

Release Date: 1984
Label: Warner Bros

As the soundtrack to Orwell's dystopian novel, this album makes no sense whatsoever. I have read the book a number of times, and nowhere in my copy does it make references to Winston Smith fancying his teacher.

Rating: 7/10

526. ZZ Top - Eliminator

Release Date: 1983
Label: Warner Bros

Until Zzz get a record deal, ZZ Top will always be the final band in the filing system. They are perhaps the right the side of novelty. They know what they're good at, and they stick to it. Here you'll find a number of well known tracks - 'Sharped Dressed Man' being the most obvious.

Rating: 6/10

524. Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones

Release Date: 1983
Label: Warner Bros

'Hearts and Bones' is the sixth studio album from Paul Simon and was a commercial failure at the time of release. Suffice to say I'm not entirely sure why they've decided to include it in this book.

Rating: 5/10

504. Donald Fagen - The Nightfly

Release Date: 1982
Label: Warner Bros

As one half of Steely Dan, Donald Fagen knows (he doesn't) I'm usually a fan of his work. Although, this does not necessarily mean I will be a fan of his solo work. Lyrically it is always interesting, but musically it's dated somewhat.

Rating: 6/10

497. Prince - 1999

Release Date: 1982
Label: Warner Bros

Seventeen years ahead of its time, Prince's futuristic '1999' was the album that propelled him into international stardom. At over an hour long, its synth and drum machine arrangements were to influence generations of musicans to come.

Rating: 8/10

447. Fleetwood Mac - Tusk

Release Date: 1979
Label: Warner Bros

Considering I'm such a fan of 'Rumours' is a wonder why I've never really considered buying another Fleetwood Mac album. This is going to change.

Rating: 9/10

431. The B-52's - The B-52's

Release Date: 1979
Label: Warner Bros.

New Wave Comedy! I wanted to like this album more than I did. I love 'Love Shack' (which isn't on this album) and I think 'Rock Lobster' (which is) is one of most original compositions this side of Narnia. Unfortunately the kitschness just didn't work for me.

Rating: 6/10