TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 13, 2023 7:37:40 GMT 1
I have finished all my listening, just a couple of latecomers who will just have to go in next time. 70 Band Of Susans - Hope Against Hope
One of my finds of the competition, I had heard of them Band of Susans are one of those bands that you can't think of the name without hearing it in a John Peel voice. And yes they are a John Peel type band but also much more accessible than I expected, think of Husker Du if they went shoegaze, oh but with female vocals of course. I have heard the follow-up and this one is better, it is heading more towards Sonic Youth but this one was great. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 13, 2023 7:45:18 GMT 1
69 'Til Tuesday - Everything's Different Now
Their third album and I hadn't heard any of this one at all. It really did not deserve to flop, it is pretty amazing. It is like a best of 80s album combined with the new alternative coming through, this shoudl have been big but unforunately the mainstream were still not quite raedy for this sound in 1988. Highlights for me are "(Believed You Were) Lucky" and "Crash and Burn" which is so 1992, just too soon Although I guess there is no killer single compared to the previous albums. This will be their last album as a band but don't worry we will have plenty Aimee Mann to look forward to ever since. The record reached #124 in the US 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 13, 2023 7:55:09 GMT 1
68 Tanita Tikaram - Ancient Heart
A debut album from the British pop/folk singer and Tanita was certainly a chnage from all the US pop singers and SAW products that were in the chart. Very ahead of her time dressing how she wanted at 19, with I am sure record company pressure and she did not get enough credit for that. Not every woman had to be Sinitta Anyway with her look she also had an unique voice which I was not sold on at first "Good Tradition" did not land with me at first but then we had "Twist in My Sobriety", wow what a song and like hardly anything else in the charts at the time. I really enjoy the album now, I had a strong feeling I would. We needed more singers like her in 1988 charts that was for sure. The record reached #3iin the UK and topped the charst in many countries and also reached #59 in the US which was a surprise. 4/5
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Post by Earl Purple on Jul 13, 2023 9:22:30 GMT 1
Tanita Tikaram was more like the British equivalent of Tracy Chapman who may well be on your list too. Whilst both had some success in the singles chart they both sold a lot more albums than singles.
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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 Jul 13, 2023 10:45:43 GMT 1
What about Kylie's debut ? Will come or too cheesy for you ?
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 13, 2023 11:39:24 GMT 1
What about Kylie's debut ? Will come or too cheesy for you ? No don’t mind cheese just think it is pretty weak on side two,gets very samey, love the singles , it got 3/5 just didn’t make the cut. It is the same issue with even the best PWL acts, the albums have gems but a lot of samey filler. I loved Kylie then as I was a big Neighbours fan and of course she was cute and just a few of years older than me. But as we were about 2 years behind on the show screenings, we seemed much closer in age. The 12” version of ‘Got To Be Certain’ was amazing, loved that. She is very likely to be at least a just under in 1990.
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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 Jul 13, 2023 12:07:00 GMT 1
My favourite her album is "Enjoy Yourself".
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 13, 2023 13:00:29 GMT 1
My favourite her album is "Enjoy Yourself". It is better but a 3.5 is needed to get even into my bubbling under for 1989 it is another 3/5. Like c'mon my #130 is Shakespear's Sister that is how crammed 1989 is!
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 8:09:20 GMT 1
67 John Farnham - Age of Reason
His thirteenth album and a quick follow-up to his comeback success. And really there is so great shocks, if you loved 'Whispering Jack', you will love this as well but maybe not quite as much. It is the definition of a solid album, nothing will make you go wow and nothing needcs skipped. It is just really good pop rock. Sadly the rest of the world went back to not knowing who he was but in Austrelia he is massive, with both a number one album and single with the title track. Still some success in Scandinavia though. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 8:20:43 GMT 1
66 Metallica - ...And Justice for All
There will never be a lot of metal in these lists certainly not in the 80s but Metallica are very much the exception. This is their fourth album and their lowest placed on my list since their debut. For me, it is a bit of a change of sound much fewer of the more prog/classical influences on 'Master Of Puppets' and back to being aggressive and more punky. Saying that there are some masterpieces here, the singles "Harvester of Sorrow" is one of their heaviest singles, it is just so infectious, the riffs are amazing and it is just catchy, I don't know why I think that. Then we have 'One' arguably their best single in their whole career. 'One' was the track that made me really think ok heavy metal fans, there really is something to this band, you were right! I will never tire of 'One' it is the perfect metal song! Not many give me goosebumps it always does. And that video! The record reached #4 in the UK and #6 in the US and has sold over 11 million worldwide, nearly 10 of those in the US alone. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 8:28:33 GMT 1
65 Melissa Etheridge - Melissa Etheridge
Now a singer many of you may not know and I was happy to dig deeper into her music for this project. This was her debut album and it was another I discovered when I worked in Virgin Megastore. I think she should have been a big star. You would describe her music as heartland rock or country rock. Dunno Janis Joplin meets Neil Young?? This was her second attempt at a debut, the first was scrapped for being too glossy, I can imagine. This more stripped back sound gave her a #22 in the US and #3 in Australia. The record sold over 2 million in the States. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 8:35:58 GMT 1
64 Survivor - Too Hot to Sleep
Ok it is maybe 1988, but we are still seeing Survivor on the lists with their 7th album and 6th entry. But it will be their last as the band split up until the 00s when they make a reunion record. And although I had heard nothing from this album before, I was really happy that they were still great. Unfortunately for them, they were maybe starting to look like dinosaurs and the record flopped, reaching just #187 in the US. Good on for them for sticking to their guns as they could have gone more hair metal, they had a great run. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 8:42:46 GMT 1
63 Climie Fisher - Everything
Now we have some perfect pop from the duo from England. 1988 and this list will see quite a few pop acts that appeal to teenagers doing really well but are still bands, no doubt helped by Bros. You will not see them here! This has so many great songs "Love Changes (Everything)" of course but the best is the original mix of 'Rise To The Occasion' please everyone doesn't listen to the remix in 2023, it was already cringe by 1989. I do have this on vinyl, although never bought anything by them at the time, they were a nearly act for me, just outside my favourites but still really liked them. The record reached #14 in the UK and #120 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 8:53:18 GMT 1
62 The Del Lords - Based on a True Story
Now a band if you know them, you will get a massive gold star. A band from New York City I discovered on Radio 1 on their Saturday afternoon show. If you like bands like Hooters, Black Keys and now Rolling Coastal Blackout Fever, this band will be for you. This was their third album and I missed the chance to check out their other stuff. I had to include this as I also have this on vinyl and the power-pop single 'Cheyenne' is just magnificent. I will play the previous album "Johnny Comes Marching Home" this weekend. That album and their next will struggle though when they don't have 25 years of listening behind them. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 9:01:33 GMT 1
61 Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
Staying in a similar vein we have the debut and breakthrough album from the Dallas, Texas. Sometimes a song comes along while different from anything else around, you know it is going to be huge and that is "What I Am". There is more to them that that single though covering many sounds from alt rock, jangle pop but mostly folk rock. Edie just has an unique voice that you can't help listening to, just so likeable. A big hit in the US especially, the record reached #4 and #26 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 15, 2023 9:03:33 GMT 1
The next album is both sublime and ridiculous. Going to play a sublime one now! Back later.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 17, 2023 7:25:39 GMT 1
60 The Sugarcubes -Life's Too Good
The debut album from the band who brought us Bjork. If you have not heard anything from them apart from 'Birthday', it is quite an experience. Einar is one of those voices that can annoy and sometimes really works but I do prefer when he just keeps his mouth shut. As I said there are so many sounds here but it is at its best when Bjork is allowed to land and just make gorgeous music, on 'Birthday' of course which is by far the best song on this record although 'Cold Sweat' is really good as well. The record reached '#4 in the UK and #54 in the US which is quite incredible. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 17, 2023 7:36:41 GMT 1
59 Throwing Muses - House Tornado
The second album from the indie rock band and this one did way better than I expected considering I knew none of the songs but Throwing Muses are one of the bands that introduced that 90s female fronted indie rock sound so of course I would enjoy this one, especially as it is less experimental and introspective than their debut. This one didn't chart but they will soon. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 17, 2023 7:49:42 GMT 1
58 Living Colour - VividThe 80s was a strange time, not sure if others had the same experience but we were let to believe that Living Colour was an oddity. This of course was completely wrong why wouldn't black artists make funk metal and unknown to me at the time, they pretty much invented rock n roll. Most of that stuff is lost in a pre internet world. Living Colour were a great band full stop. And this is probably their best album. Their debut album let by the awesome "Cult of Personality" which I bought at the time. Just an immense funk metal song and winner of many awards at the time. That maybe is the best moment but the rest of the album is totally solid, doing what Red Hot Chili Peppers will do in a few years time, when they are pretty rubbish right now. Yes they deserve the credit, this is the first essential funk metal/ alt rock album. The record reached #6 in the US and was double platinum there, it never charted here which I am surprised about, do we blame metal "gate keepers" who think music started with Black Sabbath, maybe. 4/5
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Post by Earl Purple on Jul 17, 2023 9:52:50 GMT 1
I don't have 1988 down as a strong year for albums, with most of my favourite albums of that year having already come up in your 1987 list as that's when they were actually released.
In the big scheme of music, my top year for singles ever is 1978 and my top year for albums ever is 1995. But that may simply be my habits of the time, as obviously I missed loads of albums in the earlier years.
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