TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 19, 2023 11:18:21 GMT 1
Ok I haven't been well getting better so let's do this 25 Killing Joke - Night Time
Their fifth album and their biggest seller, thanks to arguably their best single 'Love Like Blood'. I think it is although your regular Killing Joke fan probably thought it was too new wave commercial. The whole record is in fact accepted as their most accessible, and I can well believe that, glad that the rest of the album kept the standard up, especially the song "Eighties" which is now famous for its influence on Nirvana. The record peaked #11 in the UK. If this isn't their best record of the 80s I will be shocked. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 19, 2023 11:26:14 GMT 1
24 Hüsker Dü - Flip Your Wig
The band finally deliver the album that we knew they could make, dial down the noise, turn up the songs. It is a method that is still use to this day, just heard an interview with Bring Me The Horizon's keyboardist and songwriter and that is what they did and look how well that went for them. Sadly no 'Amo' like breakthrough for Husker Du but their fourth album was their best-selling and most supported by radio."Makes No Sense at All" was their first killer Grade A single, and they were majorly supported by non College radio stations for the first time. The record still did not chart, although it delivered them a UK#1 in the Indie Chart. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 19, 2023 11:34:17 GMT 1
23 The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
Well I need to be real nice about this album on this day. RIP Andy Rourke, your contribution to rock will not ever be forgotten. I will say this is the first time I have heard this album, I know shocking, so I am sure it could rise up future lists. Their second album feels very like a Morrissey album, his politics and views are in full view and is probably the hardest listen out of all the official studio albums. But it just sounds so good, the band are way better than their debut and there is never a dull moment, although I am not a fan of "Meat Is Murder" so to compensate this version of the album has "How Soon Is Now?" on it, so that brings it back to near 5/5 status. In summary, I don't think this will ever be my favourite Smiths album, but I am glad I finally heard it. The record peaked #1 in the UK and #110 in the US. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 19, 2023 11:42:03 GMT 1
22 The Dream Academy - The Dream Academy
With a loose connection to The Smiths, we come to a new Alt pop band from London. This was their debut album and featured their most famous song, the amazing "Life in a Northern Town". Nothing else of the record was a big success, but it deserved to be, this album is just gorgeous, and I loved it all the way through. The random Smiths connection is their next most successful song was their cover of "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Love John Hughes movies but just never got what was so brilliant about it, great soundtrack though. Also having success in the US, the album peaked #20 there and #58 in the UK. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 19, 2023 11:49:08 GMT 1
21 Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
Until this year I was pretty much your average only like the hits Marillion follower, but now I love them so much more, although I have heard the next record in full a few times and not so keen, but it will still do pretty good I suspect. This was their third album and regarded as their mainstream breakthrough, thanks to the monster hit power ballad "Kayleigh" but don't be fooled they haven't turned into Mr Mister or Foreigner. This record is as prog and concept and their past releases but everything about it is just next level. Fish will never sound better and lyrically I feel he has been chasing this album for the last 30 odd years. It is the essential Marillion record, they will have their moments after this both with or without Fish, but this is the peak. It reached #1 in the UK and #47 in the US 4.5/5
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Post by greendemon on May 19, 2023 14:52:21 GMT 1
For a while Meat Is Murder was my favourite Smiths album - it's probably their most polished record, and if you can look past Morrissey's proselytising (that title track, ye gads!) the quality of the musicianship and songwriting on a lot of the tracks is the best they've ever done. 'Well I Wonder' might have one of my favourite Morrissey vocal performances. That said the album is a bit too weighed down with self-importance and really The Queen Is Dead is a much more enjoyable listen.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 19, 2023 19:21:24 GMT 1
You will be happy with the next album 20 Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Their fifth album and their most famous and biggest seller. Outwith the top 10, it is one of the albums I was most familiar with, and my views of it haven't changed much since I first heard it back in 1986. Think it was also the first CD I ever heard as well. It is not a perfect album, Side A is pretty close though, Side B does kind of merge into one for me until 'Brothers In Arms' but it always sounds great just the songs get a bit samey. So for me, it is still their best album, and it deserved to be a huge hit. And it was #1 all over the world with 30 million total sales. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 19, 2023 19:30:10 GMT 1
19 The Adventures - Theodore and FriendsThe debut album from the Northern Irish band and I never went back and bought this at the time and I really wish I did. I got into The Adventures through 'Broken Land' and bought that album and the follow-up but soon after I heard both 'Send My Heart' and 'Feel the Raindrops' and I went, OMG I know those songs they are brilliant but I never knew who did them and as I said I never bought this record. Now over thirty years later, I finally listen to this album in full and I love it. Is it better than 'The Sea Of Love' I am not sure we will see when I play it again in a few weeks but if not it is very close. I love AOR but for me as a teenager what is called Jangle Pop was my favourite genre especially from 1987 and this is one of the best examples. Sadly just like for me, the album went by unnoticed by the British public and although it scored a few minor hits the album never charted. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 8:11:33 GMT 1
18 New Order - Low-Life
Their third album and their steady run of top 20 appearances continues and like the previous two, it is the first time hearing many of these tracks and again no disappointment. They were just so good but it would take me 2 more years to realise that properly. What is even more crazy is I own every album from 'Technique' onwards when clearing all of these so far have been better for the most part than their 90s and 00s releases. I though 'Substance' was enough and yes it is brilliant, but it still only scratched the surface of 80s New Order. The record reached #7 in the UK and #94 in the US. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 8:22:38 GMT 1
17 Propaganda - A Secret WishThis might be one of the surprises in the top 20, but not if you know what kinda of newer music I like now with a 80s influence. I did have high hopes with this German synth-pop band, I love all the singles especially the brilliant "Duel" and "p:Machinery". In fact this whole record is amazing, and will definitely return to it. You1 can hear so many bands that are influenced by this record most obviously Chvrches but it is a bit darker even industrial sounding in places as you might expect from a band from West Germany in 1985. The record reached #16 in the UK 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 9:03:14 GMT 1
16 'Til Tuesday - Voices Carry
Another debut album and from one of my more recent new wave discoveries. I knew Aimee Mann from her solo 90s singles and her guest with Rush on 'Time Stands Still' but her original band past me by until I heard 'Voices Carry' on Yahoo/Dotmusic and I instantly loved it That song is now one of my favourites of the year, but I have checked out the album before as well, and it is just brilliant as well. The record reached #19 in the US. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 15:36:22 GMT 1
15 The Cure - The Head on the Door
This was the era where I started to really like them. This was their sixth album and the big hit of this record was 'In Between Days' which I still think is one of their best pop songs. The whole album is much more uplifting than any record they have done before but without giving up their goth sound, quite a trick and I think this album gets the balance spot on whereas some later records maybe lent too far towards pop. This is just a great Cure record, not much more to say, not a classic but no duds either. The record reached #7 in the UK and #59 in the US. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 15:47:32 GMT 1
14 Pet Shop Boys - Please
How to get banned from Haven, I admit I have never heard a Pet Shop Boys album but I do have about 15 singles on various formats including two 7" from this album. So this was going to be interesting and considering this has 4 brilliant singles, I thought It would be safe to assume this would be excellent, and it was. Just can't fault it all, 'West End Girls; and 'Suburbia' are both timeless and even deep cuts like 'Why Don't We Live Together?' are banging pop anthems. The only reason this is not getting 5 stars is their albums that I love still to come that don't deserve 5/5 so I couldn't give them that, but the whole top 15 are brilliant. This was a #3 in the UK and #7 in the US and sold 3 million worldwide. Although I haven't heard it yet either, I have a feeling that 'Actually' will do even better. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 15:53:40 GMT 1
13 Pat Benatar - Seven the Hard Way
The Haven Factor acts just keep coming, and its her sixth album. This is an album that is quite extreme for her, it contains two of my favourite songs in her whole catalogue 'Sex as a Weapon' and 'Invincible (Theme From "The Legend of Billie Jean")' but then we have three or four tracks in the middle that are just a little lacking. But can fandom and the best tracks make up for that, yes they can, but I have maybe rated this a little highly. Not one of her most successful albums either, reaching #28 in the US and #69 in the UK. I still love it though. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 16:02:58 GMT 1
12 The Cult - Love
In 1985 you have to realise I didn't like heavy music at all, I despised metal fans thought they were all d*cks, hated how they thought anything outwith their narrow sphere was just sh*t, and you were an 'insert slur' for liking anything that's not metal especially pop music. Turns out I wasn't wrong, this seems to be a trait that the Punk Rock MBA still talks about today. But anyway I did eventually find metal I liked but the heaviest band I liked in 1985 were this one. Another record I heard at my cousin's I played it like mad. I already knew 'She Sells Sanctuary' as they even played that at village discos but there were so many other great songs as well like 'Rain' and 'Love' although there is nothing weak on this album at all. So ironic I am typing this while listening to Sleep Token hehe. Anyway this was their second album and their breakthrough record, reaching #4 in the UK and #87 in the US 4.5/5
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Post by raliverpool on May 20, 2023 16:10:07 GMT 1
14 Pet Shop Boys - Please
How to get banned from Haven, I admit I have never heard a Pet Shop Boys album but I do have about 15 singles on various formats including two 7" from this album. So this was going to be interesting and considering this has 4 brilliant singles, I thought It would be safe to assume this would be excellent, and it was. Just can't fault it all, 'West End Girls; and 'Suburbia' are both timeless and even deep cuts like 'Why Don't We Live Together?' are banging pop anthems. The only reason this is not getting 5 stars is their albums that I love still to come that don't deserve 5/5 so I couldn't give them that, but the whole top 15 are brilliant. This was a #3 in the UK and #7 in the US and sold 3 million worldwide. Although I haven't heard it yet either, I have a feeling that 'Actually' will do even better. 4.5/5 A great debut album "Later Tonight" is my favourite non single cut, but I'm fairly sure it was not released until the Spring of 1986.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 16:13:53 GMT 1
So who just misses the top 10 11 The Outfield - Play Deep
Their debut album was always going to be high. 'Your Love' is my 3rd most played song on Spotify ever which is mental for a song that I had all but forgotten it existed until 20 years ago or so. But this is not just a one hit album, you also have big songs like "Say It Isn't So", "All the Love" and "Everytime You Cry". The whole record is brilliant though and to think the only song I owned by them until recently was a single from their 1989 album. So underrated the UK really should have given them more attention, although I blame the BBC as I know Radio Luxembourg was a big supporter that's probably where I heard all these songs initially. The record reached #9 in the US. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 16:18:56 GMT 1
14 Pet Shop Boys - Please
How to get banned from Haven, I admit I have never heard a Pet Shop Boys album but I do have about 15 singles on various formats including two 7" from this album. So this was going to be interesting and considering this has 4 brilliant singles, I thought It would be safe to assume this would be excellent, and it was. Just can't fault it all, 'West End Girls; and 'Suburbia' are both timeless and even deep cuts like 'Why Don't We Live Together?' are banging pop anthems. The only reason this is not getting 5 stars is their albums that I love still to come that don't deserve 5/5 so I couldn't give them that, but the whole top 15 are brilliant. This was a #3 in the UK and #7 in the US and sold 3 million worldwide. Although I haven't heard it yet either, I have a feeling that 'Actually' will do even better. 4.5/5 A great debut album "Later Tonight" is my favourite non single cut, but I'm fairly sure it was not released until the Spring of 1986. erm yes where did I see 1985, even the screen where I get the album cover from says 24 March 1986. Annoying as it may have made my top 10 in 1986 certainly higher than 14, well I can't change this now but will change the list after I post 1986. Blame my eyesight. Thanks for spotting.
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Post by greendemon on May 20, 2023 16:25:30 GMT 1
12 The Cult - Love
In 1985 you have to realise I didn't like heavy music at all, I despised metal fans thought they were all d*cks, hated how they thought anything outwith their narrow sphere was just sh*t, and you were an 'insert slur' for liking anything that's not metal especially pop music. Turns out I wasn't wrong, this seems to be a trait that the Punk Rock MBA still talks about today. But anyway I did eventually find metal I liked but the heaviest band I liked in 1985 were this one. The vast majority of metal fans I know are lovely and quite chill about music but my goodness the elitism of a select few continues to give them all a bad name. No other genre of music that I know of is as obsessed with endless categorisation and sub-categorisation, which I suspect is the root of it. Anyway this is a great album You say that, on the metal reddit people who posted about the new Sleep Token album yesterday had their posts deleted because Sleep Token don't count as metal somehow
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 20, 2023 16:29:30 GMT 1
12 The Cult - Love
In 1985 you have to realise I didn't like heavy music at all, I despised metal fans thought they were all d*cks, hated how they thought anything outwith their narrow sphere was just sh*t, and you were an 'insert slur' for liking anything that's not metal especially pop music. Turns out I wasn't wrong, this seems to be a trait that the Punk Rock MBA still talks about today. But anyway I did eventually find metal I liked but the heaviest band I liked in 1985 were this one. The vast majority of metal fans I know are lovely and quite chill about music but my goodness the elitism of a select few continues to give them all a bad name. No other category of music that I know of is as obsessed with endless categorisation and sub-categorisation. Anyway this is a great album You say that, on the metal reddit people who posted about the new Sleep Token album yesterday had their posts deleted because Sleep Token don't count as metal somehow Oh btw I was only talking about teenage metal fans at school, I had plenty cool metal friends and people at Uni and beyond. Just talking as 14 year old me. Yes ironic was maybe the wrong word as I know Sleep Token are going through that right now but in 20 years time, they will be hailed as saviours of metal like Linkin Park and even Limp Bizkit are now. It is actually bad to diss Limp Bizkit now lol, the metal elite hated them in 1999 Also you have to remember when I was at school it was all about the big 4 Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax. Megadeth and also Iron Maiden. Not much as changed in the metal elite.
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