Psonic Psunspot is the best collection of 60s psychedelia ever recorded in the mid-80s. The members of XTC, working under the pseudonym Dukes of Stratosphear basically channeled some of their musical influences from the 60s and delivered 10 outstanding replicas that easily stand alongside XTC's best work. Psunspot is actually XTC's second venture back in … Continue reading “Psonic Psunspot” by Dukes of Stratosphere / XTC (No. 41)
Month: August 2016
“Life’s Rich Pageant” by R.E.M. (No. 42)
It's almost by accident that I wound up being a big fan of R.E.M. A happy accident, I might add. Earlier in this series I talked about my early obsession with Robyn Hitchcock. Not long after I became a big fan of Robyn Hitchcock, a friend of mine turned up with tickets to R.E.M.'s Green … Continue reading “Life’s Rich Pageant” by R.E.M. (No. 42)
“O, You Sinners” by Eliza Rickman (No. 43)
A few years ago, I went to see Welcome to Night Vale, expecting to be moderately amused. Instead, I was blown away by the WtNV cast, and their supporting musical act Eliza Rickman. At first I was thinking "well, this lady with the toy piano should be interesting." And then… she sang. Having almost no … Continue reading “O, You Sinners” by Eliza Rickman (No. 43)
“Rust Never Sleeps” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (No. 44)
Rust Never Sleeps is another album I experienced mostly through radio until I was in my late 20s. Experienced piecemeal, the songs are great. Pulled together, and given the dichotomy of the first and final tracks, it's even better. Neil Young & Crazy Horse have a strong track record, but this is the one I'd … Continue reading “Rust Never Sleeps” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (No. 44)
“Pretty Hate Machine” by Nine Inch Nails (No. 45)
When I wrote about Hallucination Engine by Material I alluded to two albums on this list being purchased solely on the strength of a review. Nine Inch Nails' debut, Pretty Hate Machine is the other, and it was love at first listen. The first few seconds of "Head Like a Hole" grabbed me, sort of … Continue reading “Pretty Hate Machine” by Nine Inch Nails (No. 45)
“Vs.” by Pearl Jam (No. 46)
Pearl Jam's Vs. hits all the sweet spots for me as a fan of the band. All the band's metaphorical engines are firing at full, and there's not a wasted track on the album. You certainly can't credit MTV for this album's success – the band decided not to create videos for the album, and … Continue reading “Vs.” by Pearl Jam (No. 46)
“Wings Over America” by Paul McCartney & Wings (No. 47)
Wings live album Wings Over America is another one of those albums that I pretty much wore out the cassette tape. Thank goodness for CDs and being able to play something hundreds of times without wearing out the media! As a rule, I'm not a big consumer of live albums, but I'll make a big … Continue reading “Wings Over America” by Paul McCartney & Wings (No. 47)
“Little Earthquakes” by Tori Amos (No. 48)
What's not to love about Tori Amos' debut album, Little Earthquakes? Amos' command of the piano, her lovely and haunting voice, and the incredibly well-written songs make for an incredibly compelling package. If you've never listened to Amos before, you realize with "Crucify" that you're not in for a standard pop record. Her voice, her … Continue reading “Little Earthquakes” by Tori Amos (No. 48)
“Purple Rain” by Prince & The Revolution (No. 49)
As I pulled together my list of my 100 albums, I definitely wrestled with a few of the choices. Where to rank certain albums, whether to include an album or not, and whether I can exclude certain albums or groups. Ultimately I've left off a lot of albums that I recognize as great albums, but … Continue reading “Purple Rain” by Prince & The Revolution (No. 49)
“The Queen is Dead” by The Smiths (No. 50)
The Smiths didn't last long, but they left behind an amazing legacy and incredible impact. By the time the band recorded The Queen is Dead they were already fraying at the seams, but it didn't diminish their ability to create amazing tunes. "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" is Morrissey at his lyrical best, or worst, telling off … Continue reading “The Queen is Dead” by The Smiths (No. 50)