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Post by greendemon on May 20, 2023 16:43:32 GMT 1
I mean all teenagers were d*cks about music in my experience, me included I was such a little snob!! I'm still on the fence about whether I like Sleep Token but honestly I still think they are maybe the most exciting thing to happen to the metal world for a long time, if you've watched more of Finn's videos you'll know one of the points he makes repeatedly - which I agree with - is that the rock and especially metal scenes are in danger of stagnating because a lot of promotion and money still goes to the big legacy acts rather than upcoming acts. The minute a newer band with metal elements gets a modicum of success, the community gatekeepers go 'oh they're not really metal, they don't count'. Too soon to say if Sleep Token will have that kind of staying power but I guarantee there are kids hearing this album who will go on to become metalheads as a result. 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. Not much at all - except that now it's not cool to like Metallica any more lol. 72 Seasons is a long way from being their best album but from some of the comments you'd think it was utter trash. Sorry, rant over, I'll let you carry on with your thread now
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Post by smokeyb on May 20, 2023 22:33:05 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 I own 10 PSB's albums,so you might say I really like them, and yet I only bought this on vinyl 5 years ago, but I'm glad I did, so many great songs on it, brilliant.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 21, 2023 8:44:55 GMT 1
Oh forgot to do a summary of the top 10
2 Scottish acts 1 Australian 3 English 3 US 1 Norwegian
We have 2 debut albums, 3 acts that have been in the top 10 before and 1 act making their debut on the list as I never knew this wasn't their debut album, might have to go back and add it later.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 21, 2023 9:11:57 GMT 1
10 Lloyd Cole and The Commotions - Easy Pieces
A second consecutive album in the top 10 for the band with their 2nd album. There really is not much between them in quality, only difference is I would say this album is a bit more accessible and poppier. The singles are all incredible, "Cut Me Down", "Brand New Friend" and "Lost Weekend". "Brand New Friend" is special to me as it was playing when my youngest was born literally, so it will always have that connection for me. The record was a big hit as well, reaching #5 in the UK.
4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 21, 2023 9:20:25 GMT 1
9 INXS - Listen Like Thieves
They just keep getting bigger and better, and their fifth album is the first to make my top 10 of the year. I still wasn't a proper fan yet, but they were really grabbing my attention, loved all the singles of this record and could not understand why they were still not massive here. I just think BBC radio had so much of a stranglehold on what people heard and until they were reluctantly forced to start playlisting them, they were never going to break here. "What You Need" and "Listen Like Thieves" both could have been daytime radio songs on Radio 1 but no, they were left to DJ picks or evening shows. I actually prefer "Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)" but I know that is a more niche single. Anyway, their second-best album in their whole catalogue, and it will take something incredible to better it. The record reached #11 in the US and #48 in the UK, I guess that's a start.
4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 21, 2023 9:27:50 GMT 1
8 Mr. Mister - Welcome to the Real World
Their second album, their debut was released in 1984 and I missed it, will give it a spin and add it later. Mr Mister were one of the bands that really kicked off my love of AOR, through shows like Casey Kasems Top 10, Entertainment USA and of course No Limits. Mr Mister were on all three with their killer duo of singles epic ballad "Broken Wings" and one of the ultimate power ballads "Kyrie". Is it weird I prefer "Kyrie" I think not it has electric production and a chorus that still gives me chills, just makes me feel good whenever I hear it and it has a little edge which if Mr Mister added more of, they would have been a 5/5 band. The rest of the album is great as well but of course those two songs tower above much else as the masterpieces they are. The record was a US #1 and #6 in the UK and sold over 1 million copies.
4.5/5
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Post by Earl Purple on May 21, 2023 10:48:52 GMT 1
I wonder who the Norwegian act in the top 10 might be... (I thought they might be there..)
Meat Is Murder has a "concept" lyrical theme about it - it's all about violence in various forms that has taken an "acceptable" form, or at least did at the time in Morrissey's generation growing up. So in school with "The Headmaster Ritual", at home with "Barbarism Begins At Home" and towards animals with "Meat Is Murder". Of course that isn't the whole album but it was what struck me at the time.
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Good Old Days
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Sielos grožio niekas nepavogs, kol širdy jaunystė gros.
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Post by Good Old Days on May 21, 2023 12:49:38 GMT 1
I wonder who the Norwegian act in the top 10 might be... (I thought they might be there..) I wanted to say Tindrum, but their debut album was recorded only in 1988.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 21, 2023 14:23:10 GMT 1
7 Tears for Fears - Songs From the Big Chair
This one is not much of a surprise, but I actually had it higher on my initial list. This was their second album and their bestseller. I do prefer their debut even though this album is stuffed full of brilliant songs as well. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was spoiled for me, when it was already overplayed, and then they made the "Everybody Wants to Run the World" version and that still hurts the song a little for me, all this time has passed, and it is still not back to being a favourite. As said early, a huge hit, it reached #1 in the US and #2 in the UK and has sold over 9 million worldwide.
4.6/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 21, 2023 14:34:27 GMT 1
6 a-ha - Hunting High and Low
Of course it's them. Their debut album and the record that I have heard more out of than anything else in this list. I do now have it on vinyl but it was my sister who played this constantly when it was out and even though it wasn't cool to admit, it was a great record. Now I go even further to say it is one of the albums of the year and very close to being a perfect pop/rock album. I actually think we got it right in the UK "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is better than "Take On Me", and "Train of Thought" is in the same league. This album would be bigger here than anywhere outwith their native Norway and they would become a very successful band. In the UK it went to #2 and #15 in the US, where there seems to be this myth they are one hit wonders, "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." reached #20.
4.5/5
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Post by greendemon on May 21, 2023 15:05:27 GMT 1
Not surprised to see those two so high.
I don't actually have the A-ha album but agree on 'The Sun Always Shines On TV', I think that one's always been my favourite. (I also really love their Bond theme!)
And of course TFF, I don't go back to the album much these days but 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' will never not be one of my favourite 80s pop songs. (Side note but I even enjoy Lorde's cover, though not as much as the original of course.)
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Post by smokeyb on May 21, 2023 22:07:01 GMT 1
7 Tears for Fears - Songs From the Big Chair
This one is not much of a surprise, but I actually had it higher on my initial list. This was their second album and their bestseller. I do prefer their debut even though this album is stuffed full of brilliant songs as well. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was spoiled for me, when it was already overplayed, and then they made the "Everybody Wants to Run the World" version and that still hurts the song a little for me, all this time has passed, and it is still not back to being a favourite. As said early, a huge hit, it reached #1 in the US and #2 in the UK and has sold over 9 million worldwide.
4.6/5
I have all their albums, one of my favourites from the decade,love every track on it. TFF can do no wrong with me.
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Post by smokeyb on May 21, 2023 22:09:30 GMT 1
6 a-ha - Hunting High and Low
Of course it's them. Their debut album and the record that I have heard more out of than anything else in this list. I do now have it on vinyl but it was my sister who played this constantly when it was out and even though it wasn't cool to admit, it was a great record. Now I go even further to say it is one of the albums of the year and very close to being a perfect pop/rock album. I actually think we got it right in the UK "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is better than "Take On Me", and "Train of Thought" is in the same league. This album would be bigger here than anywhere outwith their native Norway and they would become a very successful band. In the UK it went to #2 and #15 in the US, where there seems to be this myth they are one hit wonders, "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." reached #20.
4.5/5 The only album I own by them, but it is a cracker. I bought this on vinyl when it first came out.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 22, 2023 7:30:30 GMT 1
5 Simple Minds - Once Upon a Time
Their seventh album and a bit of a shift in sound, even though they left "Don't You (Forget About Me)" of this album, it's influence on their sound is very much here. This is the most anthemic they have been yet and it is their ultimate stadium record and sadly things take a bit of a dip after this one. This is the record that introduced me to the band and I own it on LP and it is just banger after banger "All the Things She Said", "Ghost Dancing", "Alive and Kicking" and "Sanctify Yourself", who needs the 'Breakfast Club' hit. The record reached #1 in the UK and #1 in the US and has sold over 2 million worldwide.
4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 22, 2023 7:44:33 GMT 1
4 The Bible - Walking the Ghost Back Home
This is their debut album and we start the story of one of the unluckiest bands of the 80s, if it could go wrong for them, it did. After two indie hits including a first top 75 appearance for 'Graceland'. Who knows was it the name or the Paul Simon album but whatever reason 'Graceland' missed the top 40 again. That's all this album would have needed to bring it to mainstream attention, sadly the band never managed to get their 'Mary's Prayer' moment. This record is just sophisto-pop gorgeousness at its best but in many ways I actually think the follow-up is even better, we will see how it competes with other releases when we get to it. The album reached #10 in the UK indie chart.
4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 22, 2023 7:59:17 GMT 1
3 Hooters - Nervous Night
Who saw this coming? Their second album and the highest placed album on the list I don't own but I do have their 'Best Of' which features four of these tracks. I thought I heard The Hooters first with 'Satellite' that turned out to not be true, when I heard 'And We Danced' again on DotMusic/Yahoo, I felt I had found a part of me that had been missing. How could I love a song so much but completely forget it, well guess that was the pre personal chart me. Once I was able to on legal Napster soon after this, I caught up on the rest of their catalogue and are now one of my favourite bands. I love all their albums from this point but 'Nervous Night' for me is their best, a mix of crazy pop songs, heartland rock, radio anthems just a party of an album. So many brilliant songs "And We Danced", "Where Do the Children Go" and "Day by Day" and also back are "All You Zombies" of course and "Hanging on a Heartbeat" from their debut.'Nervous Night' reached #12 in the US.
4.5/5 (I am just not giving out those 5s in this year)
BTW The Hooters have a new album out this week called 'Rocking & Swing' their first since 2007, haven't played it yet but it is supposed to hark back to this record.
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Post by TheThorne on May 22, 2023 13:15:25 GMT 1
ok Top 2 and one of these was guessed as my top album, not quite 2. Heart - Heart
Such an important record to me. The three big songs on this record had such a huge effect on my taste in music and they were the first band, I would consider myself a fan of and the first band that was mine, that I saw live. Ok it turns out they were not a new band at all, but to 99% of the UK population they were and even then, this record will not be a hit until after their next record. 'These Dreams' is the song that made them stars again in the US going to #1 but only #62 here until its re-issue where it got to #8. But anyway I talk about that enough, look at the other singles "What About Love", "Never", "Nothin' at All" and "If Looks Could Kill" and more than just about any album from the 80s, I can still sing the hook from every song, I can't even do that with my number one. A perfect album and I will say yes it's better than 'Bad Animals' but it is very very close. The album reached #1 in the US and #19 in the UK eventually. the album sold over 5 million in the US.
5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 22, 2023 13:27:59 GMT 1
So what can possibly be better than such an important record to me. My Number One Album of 1985Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen
Their second album and not one I bought at the time, in a rare back catalogue purchase didn't do them much in the early 90s, I bought this album after 'Jordan:The Comeback' as I knew it had some really good songs on it. That was an understatement, this album blew away their two more recent albums, Side One is perfection, from the XTC influence of 'Faron Young' to one of the song of the years 'When Love Breaks Down'. But really there is not a bad track on it and ok, there is maybe one track that can't stand on its own 'Blueberry Pies' but by the time you get to that you are in such a fantastic place, you let it pass, I was already used to Paddy's occasional off beat tunes from the afore mentioned 'Jordan..'. I may not have played it as much as my number two in total but I have played it more often in recent years. The record peaked #21 in the UK and #178 in the US.
5/5
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Post by smokeyb on May 22, 2023 21:31:48 GMT 1
5 Simple Minds - Once Upon a Time
Their seventh album and a bit of a shift in sound, even though they left "Don't You (Forget About Me)" of this album, it's influence on their sound is very much here. This is the most anthemic they have been yet and it is their ultimate stadium record and sadly things take a bit of a dip after this one. This is the record that introduced me to the band and I own it on LP and it is just banger after banger "All the Things She Said", "Ghost Dancing", "Alive and Kicking" and "Sanctify Yourself", who needs the 'Breakfast Club' hit. The record reached #1 in the UK and #1 in the US and has sold over 2 million worldwide.
4.5/5 I expected this high on your list, I remember buying this on release, so many great tracks.
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Post by smokeyb on May 22, 2023 21:38:05 GMT 1
So what can possibly be better than such an important record to me. My Number One Album of 1985Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen
Their second album and not one I bought at the time, in a rare back catalogue purchase didn't do them much in the early 90s, I bought this album after 'Jordan:The Comeback' as I knew it had some really good songs on it. That was an understatement, this album blew away their two more recent albums, Side One is perfection, from the XTC influence of 'Faron Young' to one of the song of the years 'When Love Breaks Down'. But really there is not a bad track on it and ok, there is maybe one track that can't stand on its own 'Blueberry Pies' but by the time you get to that you are in such a fantastic place, you let it pass, I was already used to Paddy's occasional off beat tunes from the afore mentioned 'Jordan..'. I may not have played it as much as my number two in total but I have played it more often in recent years. The record peaked #21 in the UK and #178 in the US.
5/5
I have 2 albums plus a greatest hits collection, one of my favourite bands from the 80's, they should have been much bigger than they were, so many great songs, cannot fault it being your top album. I wonder if their next LP will turn up in 1988?
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