TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 14:18:42 GMT 1
So into the top 40 and it is mostly an indie batch with just one exception, we can thank The Chart Show for introducing me to pretty much all of it. 40 Dinosaur Jr - Bug
Their third album and their best by far up to this point. They really have stepped out of the indie grunge/alt rock scene with this one. Everything is better the songs, the production, the playing and their first original classic 'Freak Scene' which I have on 7", I bet it is worth a few bob. but even with the rave reviews this album had at the time, they are only going to get better. Sadly though 'Bug' was still not a charting album for them but that is about to change. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 14:24:56 GMT 1
39 Martika - Martika
I said there was an exception coming, the debut album from the latest mall pop princess. Martika really stood out from the pop pack as her production was so different, there was nothing else like 'Toy Soldiers' out there and even the other singles were all a bit different, although I guess you could see Madonna, Prince and even Kim Wilde influences. It is just a brilliant pop album and unlike certain other pop singers, she actually makes covers her own and brilliant, such as "I Feel the Earth Move". The record did really well reaching #11 in the UK and #15 in the US. I suspect, though, her follow-up could do even better. I have not got to it yet in 1990. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 14:30:37 GMT 1
38 Happy Mondays - Bummed
If you were one of the few people already into Happy Mondays in 1988 well does for being ahead of the curve."Lazyitis" was probably my introduction to the band and it did not really hint at what was to come, that really took W.F.L especially the brilliant Vince Clarke remix to show they were a band to watch. I never actually got round to hearing this record until 1991 and although it maybe i snot as killer no filler as their next record, it is very solid and has some lost classics like "Mad Cyril". The album would eventually be a hit reaching #59 in the UK although it did reach #2 on the indie chart in 1988. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 14:36:54 GMT 1
37 Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Another band from the US underground release their most accessible album yet, well accessible is still maybe not the word for Sonic Youth but it certainly is much more melodic and song driven than anything they have released before. In the same way as My Bloody valentine are on 'Loveless'. This record, their fifth album is as highly revered as that record as it is the number one album for 1988 on Rate Your Music. Not sure it is my favourite Sonic Youth album, think it probably comes in 3rd place for me. It really is quite hard to define or explain this album, all I will say if you are a fan of alternative music, you need to hear this at least once. The record reached #90 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 14:41:03 GMT 1
36 Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll
One of two albums I own by the band although I never got it until the mid 90s. This is their fifth album and their is a lot of debate over which is their best album but I think it has to be this. I still think that the music on the EPs beat most of their album stuff but if you want an album from them before they go a bit more pop, this is the one to get. Quite a short album and it washes over you like a dream like 99% of their music with only "Carolyn's Fingers" sticking out with its more single based sound. The record reached #15 in the UK and #109 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 14:49:59 GMT 1
35 The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane
Ok strictly speaking Go-betweens are no longer indie but close enough. One of the things I have done this year, is listen to their whole back catalogue up to this point, as I was wondering is this their best? Is it just hipsters who suggest other records? Well c'mon it is the best there is no debate, although i have really liked all of them apart from 'Spring Hill fair' which was a bit meh. "Streets of Your Town" is a total classic and I have heard it more on movies and tv shows over the last few years than I did when it was out. I feel if that song had came out in 1986, it would have charted here much higher but the chart landscape had changed a lot in 2 years and it could not quite do it. The rest of the album is nearly as good especially "Love Goes On", "Quiet Heart" and "Was There Anything I Could Do?". Even in their native Australia the record only reached #48, their most successful but it did get to #81 here, also their biggest success. 4/5
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jul 23, 2023 15:24:35 GMT 1
I love Martika so much! Mainly for 'Toy soldiers', which is an absolutely outstandingly brilliant pop ballad, but the rest of the album is good too.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 24, 2023 7:37:13 GMT 1
34 Hue and Cry - Remote
Their second album and there isn't much between this and their debut but I think it is a better album overall, although 'Labour Of Love' is still their best song. The thing about this record is you had no idea what was going to be a hit. "Ordinary Angel" was the correct first single but it missed the top 40 and then "Looking for Linda" was huge. It is a very odd song but it has a killer chorus and that is all it takes sometimes. Also I think we all have had an encounter similar to that song at a point in our lives which resonated it with the public. Generally though it is more of the same jazz pop with Pat Kane's distinctive vocals, it's not for everyone. This was their biggest seller and reached #10 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 24, 2023 7:51:16 GMT 1
33 My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything
The debut album from the Irish shoegaze band, although this album is not shoegaze in the sense it will become. It is much more varied with noise rock, punk,C86 and more traditional MBV sounds like "Sueisfine" and "(When You Wake) You're Still in a Dream" which is my favourite track. But there are Cocteau moments like "Lose My Breath" and "All I Need" as well as tracks that were the template for Ride's sound like "Nothing Much to Lose" and "You Never Should". And the centrepiece, the noise rock indie dancefloor filler "Feed Me with Your Kiss". When you break it down you really appreciate this album more. For me it is not as good as their EPs and certainly not 'Loveless' but there is enough there to see the signs of them taking a genre to a new place. The album was an indie chart number one and reached #22 in the UK. 4/5 so nearly 4.5
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Post by PurpleCareBear on Jul 24, 2023 20:10:40 GMT 1
Vixen - I bought vinyl Cryin' when it was a new single, thinking it was going to be a big hit. I'd not heard of them before. Or since.
Bangles - Something To Believe In, I'll Set You Free & Be With You are my top 3 Bangles songs and they're all here!
Paula Abdul - Fab album, every bit of it. 'Next To You' always been my fav of hers. *Re-reads thethorne saying that the non singles are ''run-of-the-mill'' and then faints*
Breathe - I bought the cassette album from a bargain bin in the early '90s. I can't remember what I thought of it, so probably not much. Cassettes were on their way out so maybe it didn't get the 'plays' it deserved.
Martika - I love everything on this album. I've always thought '...Tarzan' would've been an obvious hit if given the chance to have been a single.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 25, 2023 7:28:24 GMT 1
32 Steve Earle - Copperhead Road
His third album and the one that really defines his sound from now one. Steve Earle describes it as Heavey Metal meets Bluegrass, it really isn't quite that but it is the heaviest sounding country album that I probably have ever heard. The title is a total classic and one of my favourite country rock songs ever. The whole album is really good though. It was a hit record in both UK and US reaching #42 here and #56 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 25, 2023 7:40:13 GMT 1
31 Van Halen - OU812
This is quite an important album in my life in that, I was given a copy by the rock kids in my class, finally I was in with them. This was their eighth album and second with Sammy Hagar as vocalist. In many ways I think it is better than their previous album especially production, it is just so well constructed. Also there are just enough classic and great songs to rate it among their best. It does seem to be not so liked by the fans mind you. The record was a US #1 selling over 4 million and #12 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 25, 2023 7:49:11 GMT 1
30 The Primitives - Lovely
The long awaited debut album from the indie pop band. Already quite well-known thanks to their succession of indie hits most famous 'Thru The Flowers'. This is their first major album and follows their monster hit 'Crash' which is still a radio classic and featured in movies and shows all the time. That song does tower over the record but the rest is quite excellent 60s tinged indie pop as they have been making for the last two years. Really liked this band at the time especially Tracy herself The record reached #6 in the UK and 106 in the US. 4/5
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Good Old Days
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Post by Good Old Days on Jul 25, 2023 13:21:23 GMT 1
Primitives (some chartruns in "Gražios Dainos") : - Crash (3-2-2-1-1-1-2-2-3-8-11-15-18-18) - Out Of Reach (6-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-11-12-13-13-14-17) - Way Behind Me (5-4-4-3-2-1-1-2-5-7-10-11-15-16-20)
"Thru The Flowers" was peaked only at # 17.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 25, 2023 13:25:22 GMT 1
Don't think they ever had a number one in my chart but 5 top 10s last being "Earth Thing" in 1991
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 26, 2023 6:58:07 GMT 1
29 U2 - Rattle and Hum
I wasn't sure if to include this but I thought I should, although I have marked it down a bit due to the live tracks. I could not leave it out as it was a significant album in my life and the one that finally made me a fan oddly enough. Basically a girl I was with played the video on repeat so it was a bit of a soundtrack, and it will always be attached to that period. Also it does have some of their best songs 'Desire', 'Angel Of Harlem' and the contender for best song in their whole catalogue "All I Want Is You". The record reached #1 in many countries and has sold over 14 million worldwide. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 26, 2023 7:09:44 GMT 1
28 The Pursuit of Happiness - Love Junk
The debut album from the Canadian power pop /college rock band. This album was hyped up by YouTubers I watch and I have always thought they would be a band Id enjoy as I am sure I have liked some of their stuff that I heard a long time ago. It did not disappoint, one of the finds of the whole project and my 2nd favourite never heard before album of 1988. Yes that is true, I have heard the whole top 27 before some many many times apart from 1 album. That is what we are dealing with in 1988. Anyway this is a brilliant album and I really enjoyed all of it. If you love bands like Weezer or Fountains Of Wayne, you can see what an influence this record had on them. "She's So Young" a song I have never heard before will now go straight into my top 40 songs of 1989, it is that good!! 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 26, 2023 7:21:25 GMT 1
27 Magnum - Wings of Heaven
The seventh album from the English rock band and their most successful. Not expected but really happy that Magnum finally got attention from the mainstream and onto things like Top of The Pops. I am not sure if this is my favourite I think I still prefer 'Vigilante' it is just more complex and interesting. Magnum are much more pop now, could you have imagined them doing a song like "Start Talking Love" a few years ago but it seems the gatekeepers were fine with that. Also it was their biggest ever hit, not surprising. But the first single "Days of No Trust" was more classic Magnum so well done that one reaching #32. The record peaked #5 in the UK. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 26, 2023 7:31:21 GMT 1
26 The House of Love - The House of Love
The original self-titled album, which was released as an indie on Creation. Not to be confused with their Fontana release in 1990. And yes that album is even better but this is brilliant as well. Led by one of their best ever songs "Christine" and later issues include the even better lost classic "Destroy the Heart". Also many issues had the original version of "Shine On" as well, This was when we thought House Of Love were going to be the next big thing but although it didn't hurt them too much, they were about to be upstaged by what was going on in Manchester. Misery indie rock was on borrowed time and would have to wait a few years to come back to the fore, hallo The Verve. This album did not chart although it must have made the indie top 10 but have no stats. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 27, 2023 7:48:46 GMT 1
25 The Smithereens - Green Thoughts
The second album from the US rock band and this one is even better than their debut. I would have so loved this in 1988 if I had heard it then. I wonder now if I would be treasuring this as much as the other album with 'Green' in the title from this year. It does tread a very similar path to R.E.M and in many ways it is more accessible than they were at this point. "Only a Memory" should have been a much bigger hit in the US and gave them some recognition in the UK. The record did chart as an Indie hit here, reaching #7 and #60 in the YS. 4.5/5
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