TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 28, 2023 7:35:37 GMT 1
53 The Ocean Blue - Cerulean
As mentioned in 1989, this is a new band to me in 2023 and I think this second record is even better. So many influences C86 indie, Postcard records, there is Aztec Camera all over this and also Tears For Fears. But of course on this record you can't help spotting Stone Roses as well but I think that is more of a shared origin in that C86 sound. I wish I had spent more time finding myself musically in 1991 rather than buying up the record store bargain bins so I could have as much music to play at parties as possible. Sometimes you just need music for yourself. The Ocean Blue could have been that. Those acts do exist and we will get to them. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 28, 2023 7:28:30 GMT 1
54 Seal - Seal
And now to someone who was unavoidable in 1991. Think it was just contrariness why I never bought these songs at the time as they are all pretty much killer, pun kinda intended. But i did inherit all lot of old jukebox singles from a gay bar of all places, some great stuff and with that I got 'Killer', 'Crazy' and 'The Beginning' so did pretty well., that was only a year or two later Think I got about 100 singles, still have them all, a massive haul of the best SAW as well. But yes this album is excellent, produced by the brilliant Trevor Horn. The record reached #1 in the UK and #27 in the US. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 28, 2023 7:21:17 GMT 1
55 Love and Money - Dogs in the Traffic
Another band who were just no longer on my radar in 1991 after loving their second record so much. I did though know the singles from their third record and they are great and to be honest so is the whole album, really wish I had bought this and had 30 years with it. Ok it i snot quite as consistent but there are so many highs and it actually gets better as it goes on. It sold to their loyal fans and reached #41 in the UK. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 13:19:16 GMT 1
56 Lenny Kravitz - Mama Said
His second studio album and although I did like some of his songs before this, this record is where he delivered and lived up to the hype. Yes a super strong second album does not happen often but with tracks like "Always on the Run" and "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", his soingwriting has levelled up. Yes he is still very much a sum of his influences but when your influences are people like Jimi Hendrix and Prince, I am not complaining. The record reached #8 in the UK and #39 in the US. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 13:14:38 GMT 1
57 The Mock Turtles - Two SidesTheir second album and now chart stars after 'Can You Dig It?' charted highly in its new rerecorded for. 'Strings and Flowers' also returns in rerecorded form/ The whole album is shinier and just what you want in top darw baggy. My favourite track is probably 'And Then She Smiles' which is so good, why it wasn't top 20 as well I will never know. To be honest the whole 'Turtle Soup, 'Two Sides' thing is very confusing and it confused the public as well as this record failed to chart. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 13:09:47 GMT 1
58 Huey Lewis and The News - Hard at Play
So much goodwill was lost after their previous album, I was ready to be done with them. 'Small World' didn't make my top 100 and was lucky to be on the also-rans. This was their sixth album and thankfully they're making great music again. The two singles "Couple Days Off" and "It Hit Me Like a Hammer." especially is the Huey we love, very much in the 'Fore' vein. The album itself though goes more back to their early 80s sound and is heavier on the guitars than they have been for maybe 10 years. Did not expect to like it as much as I did, I was hopeful as I did like both the singles. The record id ok but damage has been done, it reached #27 in the US and #39 in the UK. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 13:03:54 GMT 1
59 Prince & The New Power Generation - Diamonds and Pearls
His thirteenth album and I think a real return to form, my favourite record since 'Sign o' the Times'. So many big songs on this record and I must admit my favourites are the slow ones "Diamonds and Pearls" and "Money Don't Matter 2 Night". The other singles are great as well but maybe a bit I dunno corny. Corny in a good way just you kinda grin and go 'Aww that Prince, he is cheeky!!' . But yeh it is a very good album. It reached #2 in the UK and #3 in the US and has sold around 6 million worldwide. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 12:57:37 GMT 1
60 808 State - ex:el
The third studio album from the Manchester group and their real breakthrough. Their third album was fine, it missed my top 100 but this is a step-up in every way. 808 State mix so many sounds on this record from ambient, indie, heavy metal and of course ravey house. Great guests on this as well, like Bernard Sumner and Björk, before she goes dance herself. My favourites are "Cubik" and "In Yer Face" but the whole album is superb. It reached #4 in the UK. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 12:51:15 GMT 1
61 Rush - Roll the Bones
The fourteenth album from the Canadian band. Not a lot to say on this, it is again pretty solid, best track is the opener "Dreamline". Wikipedia says this is a return to commercial success but as far as I can see they hadn't gone anywhere. BUt it is true, it is their highest charter in the US for many years reaching #3 and #11 in the UK but for a band like Rush it just depends on what is out at the same time where it lands in the chart, they will always have a large core fanbase first week. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 8:06:40 GMT 1
62 Katydids - Shangri-La
Another band I overlooked at the time, I took a chance on this one, shame I missed their debut in 1990 as if it is as good as this, it would easily have made the top 100 in that year. I will go back and listen. They were an English jangle pop indie band who were tipped for big things, look who else was on the 1989 NME's tip list. Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, The Charlatans, The Mock Turtles, Ride and The Popinjays Yep some big successes. I think the reason they failed is they fall in between different camps. I would say they sound like a cross between All About Eve and Texas. Just skimmed their debut and yes very similiar throw in River City People and you will get the vibe. Not indie enough and not mainstream enough. Anyway, Susie has a great vocal and they are a great little band. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 7:50:45 GMT 1
63 Velvet Crush - In the Presence of Greatness
I bought so much indie and alternative singles in 1991, much of it landfill but somehow unless I am very mistaken, I never owned anything buy Velvet Crush. For so many reasons this was quite bizarre, they were on Creation records which was maybe not my favourite label yet but was getting close to it. They were very much hyped by the music press as well. And they must have been played on Radio 1. I guess they were the wrong band at the wrong time as listening to this now, it is so good. To make it even more ridiculous, they sound like how Ride will next year, this is 'Going Blank Again' without the shoegaze. Maybe it was due to them being a US power pop band, did UK bands get favoured in radio at the time, I suspect they did. It was all Carter, Neds and Jesus Jones. This is essentially a US Brit Pop band. Btw we will be seeing this a lot on these lists, Brit Pop coming from other countries before the so-called defining Brit Pop albums are released. Honestly Scandi-pop deserved the crown first as we will see. Anyway, this album did not chart and is very much a forgotten gem. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 7:40:22 GMT 1
64 John Mellencamp - Whenever We Wanted
Another of my list veterans and his 11th album. Similar to Eddie Money, this was no longer the music I was exposed to or listened to in the early 90s. I will buy a future 90s single along the way but I had never heard anything off this album before this year. Slightly unfair that this is just one place above Eddie as it is a much stronger record just suffers a little as it is all new to me. His 80s records have so much nostalgia and magic for me. I can see this growing on me a lot I especially like 'Love and Happiness' and 'Last Chance'. So for now it is my least favourite since his 1980 record but it is just as consistent and lacking any weak tracks as his previous five albums. Unlike Eddie his star is no way fading, the record reached #17 in the US and sold over 1 million copies. It got to #39 here. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 27, 2023 7:30:32 GMT 1
65 Eddie Money - Right Here
Up to the eighth album from the AOR rocker now and we are into unknown territory. The single 'Walk On Water' of his previous album is the last song I know of his until his last released single in 2019 'Brand New Day' which came out around his passing. This album is fine, it has everything you expect from an Eddie Money record just lacking a bit in bangers and very derivative. The hits have dried up and this record was on purchased by his hardcore fans reaching just #160 in the US. His weakest album so far but I still give it a low. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 26, 2023 17:34:15 GMT 1
Yeh 86TVs just missed my chart, I only knew it was them as I caught an interview on Radio 1 Missed your chart? It's a Top 100 isn't it? My main chart is a 75 now. It was in but got pushed back out two weeks in a row. It was my number one bubbler.
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 26, 2023 13:17:41 GMT 1
Yeh 86TVs just missed my chart, I only knew it was them as I caught an interview on Radio 1
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 26, 2023 8:03:09 GMT 1
Coming up next three stalwarts of my 80s lists and two new bands...
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 26, 2023 8:02:17 GMT 1
66 The Field Mice - For Keeps
My favourite Sarah Records band and their last and best album especially if you bought the re-issue which I did. Moving even further into to synth pop, they are like New Order's cute little brother. A sound they will perfect on the track "Missing the Moon" which is right up there with my favourite New Order songs, they nail it. The whole record is great though, especially the first few tracks. They really deserved to be a bigger band but it is brilliant that Sarah Records music is so well regarded today on sites like RYM when certain music press Melody Maker, hated it. So this is the first. 4/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 26, 2023 7:56:07 GMT 1
67 Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie - Hammer and Tongs
The second album from the Scottish band. This was a difficult one. I bought it at the time and played it so much. The singles are pretty strong if not near the debut level. But there was something about it in 2023 that stopped me giving it a 4/5. I think it is the production, it sounds very muddy in places and these songs are so much more alive, erm live. Side one is much stronger than side 2 and Shirley is wasted on these songs especially on 'Love Child'. Think I will stick with 'Blacker Than Black' on a playlist than returning to the whole record. 3.5/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 26, 2023 7:50:52 GMT 1
68 Morrissey - Kill Uncle
The second solo album from him and for most of the 90s I did struggle with his solo stuff. First track 'Our Frank' is a perfect start, not a classic but a genuine highlight. It is very hard to judge, nobody can review a Morrisey album on one listen, the songs need to get under your skin so all I can say is, I can see the potential for really enjoying this album. Solid maybe, lacking a bit of his usual magic for sure. It reached #8 in the UK and #52 in the US. 3.5/5
|
|
TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,613
|
Post by TheThorne on Sept 26, 2023 7:44:26 GMT 1
69 Paris Angels - Sundew
The debut album from the Manchester band, they did record a follow up but was never officially released. The track 'Perfume(All On You)' has been very much part of the Madchester scene for the last 2 years. One of the absolute best club tracks in the scene. That carries across to all their music, I think of them as a singles band, 12" club versions especially. There is nothing bad on this record, its production is very much of its time, and it doesn't have the same timeless quality as say 'Pill And Thrills...' But one review says it all 'Any album with "Perfume" needs a high rating, I don't care what the rest of the album is like!'. it is one of the songs of the early 90s probably in my top 10 for the first half of the decade. The album didn't chart though. 3.5/5
|
|