TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 9, 2023 7:12:02 GMT 1
81 The Someloves - Something or Other
Who? Honestly I hadn't heard of them either but I trusted the description and review from RYM posters and yes this is a gem alright. This was the one and only album from the Australian band. A side project for a locally well known Australian garage band called The Stems. This though is jangle pop gorgeousness think Aztec Camera, The Go Betweens, The Church. The song 'Know You Now' is brilliant and would probably have been a top 10 hit in my chart if I had known about it. The record reached #80 in Australia. 4/5 Bonus video time
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 10, 2023 6:49:34 GMT 1
80 Signal - Loud & Clear
AOR is still hanging on in 1989 and this was a real gem. This was their one and only album and fronted by Mark Free ex of King Kobra. He is a great vocalist and I really enjoyed this album on first listen. Just one of the last great examples of this genre at its peak. Not much more to say about this short-lived LA band. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 10, 2023 6:58:31 GMT 1
79 The Replacements - Don't Tell a Soul
The sixth album from the US rock band and it is a solid entry in their catalogue, not their best and not their worst, if you already love the band, then you will be into this as well. Although it is probably their most mainstream album but I am ok with that. This was their highest charting album though, reaching #57 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 10, 2023 7:09:52 GMT 1
78 Wendy & Lisa - Fruit at the Bottom
Their second album and the odd thing was the more popular they got, the less I liked them. I enjoyed their debut so much because it didn't sound like Prince, this record does. Although it is very much the 'Around the World in a Day' version, though. This album is maybe more consistent, and those three singles that kick off the album are all really good. So yes I am still a fan. The record reached #45 in the UK and #119 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 10, 2023 7:24:19 GMT 1
77 Concrete Blonde - Free
The second album from the California rock band and it is a step up from their debut. Concrete Blonde should really be making an impact now but they are still a cult band. It is a very enjoyable rock record but like maybe Jane's Addiction, possibly their closest contemporary, they are still a bit too weird for the mainstream. The record reached #148 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 10, 2023 7:32:05 GMT 1
76 The Wedding Present - Bizarro
Here is a record that will make one person happy. Their second album, and I will be surprised if there is a future album, I will like as much as this one. Two of their best singles on this 'Brassneck' and 'Kennedy;' but the issue with Wedding Present is always David Gedge, and I am really not a fan of his voice, sometimes it really works other times it is just too annoying. This was their debut album for a major and their second-biggest hit reaching #22 in the UK. 4/5
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 10, 2023 7:51:58 GMT 1
Good to see the London Boys in there. It's brilliant!
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Post by Earl Purple on Aug 10, 2023 9:45:35 GMT 1
Good to see the Wedding Present in there: their 2nd "official" album after George Best because Tommy is officially only a "compilation".
Gedge's voice is ok but sometimes it depends on the production and whether his voice is lost a bit behind the guitars which I found happened at times.
For me Seamonsters is among my least favourite Wedding Present albums but among WP fans it's often the favourite choice. Watusi is heading in the "pop" direction, actually full of some great songs like Swimming Pools And Movie Stars, and of course there will be Cinerama for a few years in the late 90s early 00s, which is actually the same band as the post-2004 Wedding Present as David Gedge simply renamed the current Cinerama line-up (as in 2004) to the Wedding Present.
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Post by greendemon on Aug 10, 2023 10:26:42 GMT 1
Can't complain about the low placement of Cyndi here; 'A Night To Remember' has never been my fave.
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Post by Earl Purple on Aug 10, 2023 13:58:34 GMT 1
82 The B-53s - Cosmic Thing
There's been some "inflation" in Haven over the last couple of days. First Level 43 appearing on the charts in 1991 and now the B-53s
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 11, 2023 18:17:12 GMT 1
75 Primal Scream - Primal Scream
The second album from the Scottish indie band and I think this is a much better record than many critics think. It is very hard when your next record is groundbreaking, when it wasn't that much to do with you, but the more guitar based sounds of Primal Scream that are here are sounds we will hear for the next 30 years, 'Moving On Up' even is not a huge departure from this album. Some really great songs here, especially "I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have" which was the template 'Loaded' took from. This album did not chart though but after this they have an unbroken run of top 12 albums 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 11, 2023 18:25:36 GMT 1
74 Screaming Trees - Buzz Factory
The early grunge/alt rock bands are having mixed success with their pre breakthrough albums but Screaming Trees are already an excellent band, 3 years before I hear anything by them. This album seems to be the fan's choice and it is my favourite of the three albums preceding Sweet Oblivion'.Hard for me to judge it better than 'Dust' as I have loved that album for so long but it is pretty near. What it lacks in anthems it makes up for sonically, this is dirtier and more underground but still accessible. Maybe think of this as their 'Bleach' to 'Sweet Oblivion's 'Nevermind'. This album didn't chart, but looking at their discography they were not as popular as I thought even in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 11, 2023 18:30:28 GMT 1
73 Lemonheads - Lick
Another US band set for greatness in the 90s and this is now sounding like the band we know, yes it is still punkier and noiser but those Evan Dando vocals are getting more chances to shine through. This also delivers their first essential cover, their version of Suzanne Vega's 'Luka' and odd choice for the indie dancefloor but it has had its moment although its no 'Different Drum' or 'Mrs Robinson' in that respect but it is a great one to mosh to. It also shows that the band have some way to go songwriting wise but we know that they get there. And another album that failed to chart. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 11, 2023 18:37:46 GMT 1
72 Frazier Chorus - Sue
So much going on in the indie/rock underground right now but still interesting things happening in the more pop orientated side. Frazier Chorus were a band from Brighton and they had quite an unusual sound. Maybe a more introverted Pet Shop Boys or Carter if they had been to public school and didn't get into politics or have anything to really complain about. But I think the best description is they are a Chart Show band, that quirky band who have one song you like and never hear from again, see Banderas or The Blessing or Laidback. In fact 'Bakerman' is a good point of reference for this band's sound. Gentle pop with witty lyrics about the mundane most famous for the single Dream Kitchen" but they have plenty more gentle bangers and deserved to get more success. Shock we actually have a charting album in this batch, it raeched #56 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 11, 2023 18:42:41 GMT 1
71 The Psychedelic Furs - Book of Days
After all those new bands, we come back to one that has been with us since the start pf this project. I was not sure if we would have a big frop in quality but no, they are still doing great stuff. Two singles "Should God Forget" and "House" and they are both really superb, although I don't think I heard them at the time and they both did good in the US. Another solid record and their sixth on the list which reached #74 in the UK and #138 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 12, 2023 6:53:49 GMT 1
70 Giant - Last of the Runaways
The debut album from the AOR/Hard Rock band from Nashville. Another band who lasted a lot longer than I though, this is the only record I ever knew about. It is a rather fine record with notable for the hit single "I'll See You in My Dreams" but the whole thing is really solid, a better than you would expect for a debut album in this genre in 1989. Even though it had two US hits, it doesn't look like the record charted but maybe I just can't find that info. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 12, 2023 7:09:16 GMT 1
69 Soundgarden - Louder Than Love
The second album from the metal grunge band. And ok I found stuff I liked on the debut but this is more the sound of Soundgarden I love. This album is so good, ok there are a couple of misses and the singles will get better but if you love grunge at all, this is one of the best pre 'Nevermind' albums. The record reached #108 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 12, 2023 7:19:54 GMT 1
68 Kate Bush - The Sensual World
The sixth album from her and the renaissance continues, how quickly I have gone from pretty much dismissing her bar a couple of songs, to quite liking her, to really enjoying most of their music. Thank you 'Haven Factor' and thank you 'Tastes Like Music'. This record is kind of a concept album and it just flows so well, songs that I was not interested in on their own "This Woman's Work" especially, just work so much better in the album format. So I am a convert. This reached #2 in the UK and #43 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 12, 2023 7:28:28 GMT 1
67 Cher - Heart of Stone
Crazy to say but this is her 19th album and it is another rocker. Stuffed full of power ballads and anthems written by all the best in the business right now, Diane Warren, Desmond Child, oh and Michael Bolton. The first seven tracks are all fantastic, then it really falls off a cliff, the dreadful duet with Peter Cetera cost this record maybe 20 places. But I still would say this is her best rock album. The record reached #7 in the UK and #10 in the US where it sold over 3 million. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 12, 2023 7:48:20 GMT 1
66 Neil Young - Freedom
I have not been including Neil Young as his stuff i snot on Spotify and I don't own it either but I could not bypass this record. Then I remembered, I can use YouTube Music. This was the start of his big comeback, as he was taken up by grunge fans as their Godfather. 'Harvest' is still by far one of the best I have heard but this is one of his essential albums as well. 'Rockin' in the Free World' was the song that really brought him to my attention, although I always loved 'Heart Of Gold' but never really knew who he was then. This was his 17th album, the first in a run of great albums throughout the 90s. The record reached #17 in the UK and #35 in the US. 4/5
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