TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 15, 2023 20:47:50 GMT 1
49 River City People - Say Something Good
The debut album from the London folk rock band. Fronted by Siobhan Maher, who was first known for her TV work, I knew her as kids Tv presenter. If you have never heard them before think Texas meets The Pretenders and that gives you a pretty good idea. This album is excellent with so many great songs like "(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?", "Walking On Ice", "Carry the Blame" and "When I Was Young". Although they are most famous for their non album cover ""California Dreamin'". I saw the band live in 1989 one of the first gigs I went to in Edinburgh and check this, i was at a signing session for the band and I was asked if I was going to their gig, and I said I couldn't afford it and Siobhan gave me two free tickets A bit of an oof moment. Sadly I was kind of inbetween girlfriends and none of my mates fancied it, so had to go on my own It was too short notice to get any of my Uni classmates to go, nevermind. Anyway the album did pretty well and reached #23 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 15, 2023 20:55:48 GMT 1
48 Marillion - Seasons End
Marillion are back with a 5th album and a new frontman. Steve Hogarth ex singer of short-lived sophisto pop band 'How We Live'. I loved their single 'All the Time in the World' and his vocals so was really looking forward to this. And yes I loved them the songs were so good especially "Easter", this might even be a 4.5 if I had played it more. Lynne was a Marillion fan when I met her and I was a little dismissive of them, I didn't really get prog at the time but they always had some great singles. It is weird to think that Steve Hogarth has been frontman of Marillion for 5 times longer than Fish was, for two generations he is the Marillion frontman they know, crazy that. The record reached #7 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 15, 2023 21:03:23 GMT 1
47 Skid Row - Skid Row
One of the biggest new metal bands to break through in 1989. This was their debut album and they merged the sounds of hair metal with Guns N Roses, and fronted by Sebastian Bach, who you could not deny was just the most incredible looking man in rock. If any of you watch The Punk Rock MBA, you will know Finn's feelings on Seb But they were not just a pretty boy band, they really rocked and had some excellent songs including "Youth Gone Wild", "Sweet Little Sister" and the two power ballad "I Remember You" and their most famous song "18 and Life". I did buy this on vinyl but think my sister nicked it, my fault for not taking it to Skye with me. Anyway a huge success it reached #6 in the US and #30 in the Uk and sold over 5 million in the USA alone. A shame for them that their stardom is going to be a little shortlived.... 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 15, 2023 21:12:45 GMT 1
46 10,000 Maniacs - Blind Man's Zoo
The fourth album from the folk pop band and my 2nd favourite of their albums but this one does include my favourite song in their catalogue "Trouble Me" which was their biggest hit in the US. I just loved Natalie Merchant's voice so much and I still try and check out her solo stuff even if it isn't quite the same. The album has mixed reviews but I think more as a case of the old biting female, annoying male critics' thing which we know was far too prevalent in the 80s and 90s. Musically it is just as gorgeous an album as 'In My Tribe' even if it is a bit more political and angry. Another successful album though, reaching #18 in the UK and #13 in the US where it sold over a million. 4/5
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Post by greendemon on Aug 15, 2023 22:33:15 GMT 1
47 Skid Row - Skid Row
One of the biggest new metal bands to break through in 1989. This was their debut album and they merged the sounds of hair metal with Guns N Roses, and fronted by Sebastian Bach, who you could not deny was just the most incredible looking man in rock. If any of you watch The Punk Rock MBA, you will know Finn's feelings on Seb Andy Biersack > Sebastian Bach Great album.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 16, 2023 7:27:24 GMT 1
45 Simple Minds - Street Fighting Years
I could be wrong but I think this is the first Simple Minds album to miss the top 40. This was their eighth album and by far their most political, in fact until now they really haven't touched them. So Jim Kerr goes full Bono on this one and there are some really good songs on this like "This Is Your Land" and "Belfast Child", the rest though is either quite ordinary or super generic like "Kick It In". I am judging this harshly and Simple Minds have been so excellent up until now, and it is still better than 90% of the music out there especially in 1989 but does anyone want them doing a 7 and half minute cover of Peter Ganriel's 'Biko' The record was still huge here, with their first and only number one single and a chart topping album. It reached #70 in the US. 4/5 (lucky to get that)
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 16, 2023 7:32:56 GMT 1
44 Danny Wilson - Bebop Moptop
Another Scottish band is back with their second album and overall I think this is a stronger album than their debut. Of course, nothing can touch 'Mary's Prayer'. Even though this is much longer than their debut, it still keeps the consistency up going to pop, jazz, sophists=pop and other sounds. It is just a more fun and inventive record than the debut especially the big hit "The Second Summer of Love". The slightly bigger success of this record was sadly not enough to keep them together, and they split shortly after. It reached '24 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 16, 2023 7:37:37 GMT 1
43 Strangeways - Walk in the Fire
Here we go again with another Scottish band. They just cannot stop being brilliant the best American rock AOR band who are not American continue to release underrated gems of albums. Is this labum as brilliant as 'Native Sons' not quite but is so near to make no difference, this is prime AOR and it has no business being this good in 1989 and coming from Glasgow. Thinking this is too low. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 16, 2023 7:49:31 GMT 1
42 Stevie Nicks - The Other Side of the Mirror
Shock someone who is definitely not from Scotland. Her fourth album and quite a bit different from her last few solo albums. This is really feeding of the renewed fame and success of Fleetwood Mac, with a bunch of songs that sound like her picks for 'Tango On The Night' but didn't get on. That is nothing about the quality, we know certain members had more influence on the song picks than others. We start with "Rooms on Fire" which is arguably her best solo single ever and maybe her best vocal since 'Dreams' Yes that is high praise, 'Gypsy' is awesome too, but it was still a little coke affected, ok a lot. Saying all that though, I prefer her previous three albums overall, I love how they are more pop or electronic or whatever. This record, however great it is, just isn't interesting enough, it does descent into Fleetwood Mac b sides or cast-offs, after me saying it was better than that and often it is. This also could be the last time we see her in the upper echelons of my lists. The record reached #3 in the UK and #10 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 16, 2023 7:58:21 GMT 1
41 Diesel Park West - Shakespeare Alabama
The debut album from the alt-rock band from Leicester. Where on earth do you place them in 1989. Diesel Park West were signed to Food who will go on to break many of the best alternative acts of the early 90s, 'Food' were to me a sign of quality. DPW just didn't fit in yet. This debut album is a brilliant early example of what will be called Brit Rock, think of bands like Stereophonics especially and you have their sound. A string of strong singles were met with general indifference, and they remained a cult band. "When The Hoodoo Comes", "Like Princes Do" and their finest moment the R.E.M influenced "All the Myths on Sunday". The album peaked at #5 in the UK. 4/5
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Post by greendemon on Aug 16, 2023 9:35:07 GMT 1
I am glad it's not just me who likes 'Belfast Child' on here. I seem to recall that when they were knocked out of Haven Factor, I'd said I was waiting for that one to be used and the overwhelming response seemed to be 'lol no'
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 16, 2023 9:39:51 GMT 1
I am glad it's not just me who likes 'Belfast Child' on here. I seem to recall that when they were knocked out of Haven Factor, I'd said I was waiting for that one to be used and the overwhelming response seemed to be 'lol no' I am a rejuvenated Simple Minds fan. ‘Belfast Child’ was still the start of their decline even if it is pretty great, for most of the 90s Simple Minds are not good thankfully they turn it round in the 00s and later.
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Post by greendemon on Aug 16, 2023 9:41:21 GMT 1
It is very U2 (and not just because of the theme) which is possibly why I like it. It was the first song of theirs I knew; I didn't discover their big 80s hits until much later.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 17, 2023 7:57:46 GMT 1
Ok I am now on holiday hurrah, so let's go. Want to finish this before I am on phone/iPad only for some time. 40 FM - Tough It Out
Their second studio album and for many this is their best record. It is by far their most successful and spawned 3 top 75 hits. It is much more mainstream rock than AOR but that is fine as it made it one of the last great UK rock albums of the 80s. It is just banger after banger."Everytime I Think of You", "Bad Luck" and my favourite "Someday (You'll Come Running)". The record peaked #34 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 17, 2023 8:14:42 GMT 1
39 Prefab Sprout - Protest SongsThis is a weird one, I didn't get this album at the time, and although I did buy it, just didn't come back to it. This album was meant to released after 'Steve Macqueen' but was shelved and sneaked out a few years later. Listening to it today after hearing the rest of their catalogue this year, it stands up very well. A more acoustic sound but it is just as gorgeous as anything else they do. So it became their fourth album and it reached #18 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 17, 2023 8:25:53 GMT 1
38 Alannah Myles - Alannah Myles
The debut album from the Canadian singer-songwriter, and of course she is most famous as a one hit wonder for her international hit 'Black Velvet'. But don't write her off, this album is damn good. In fact it is one of mate's all-time favourite records. If you like Sheryl Crow for example you will like this. The album was a big success as well though reaching #3 in the UK and #5 in the US and top charts all over the world. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 17, 2023 8:48:03 GMT 1
37 John Cougar Mellencamp - Big Daddy
The tenth album from him and I think it is a bit of a drop in quality from his previous four albums, two of which were close to perfection. It just lacks the hooks, it is all very well done of course especially side one but it just doesn't stand out. Even the hit "Pop Singer" is a very lazy track. I will always enjoy listening to him even if is brand-new stuff is decent, but some of the magic seems to have gone on this one. The record reached #7 in the UK and #25 in the UK. The album still over 1 million in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 17, 2023 8:54:59 GMT 1
36 The Darling Buds - Pop Said...
The debut album from the indie pop band and it is very much in the same vein as The Primitives. Very similar and they have the songs as well. So many catchy songs "Burst", "Let's Go Round There", "You've Got to Choose", "Big Head", "Shame on You" and best of all "Hit the Ground". A very underrated band as they are more part of the C86 scene with Madchester kicking in, but it was great that they had some success. The record reached #23 in the UK. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 18, 2023 16:29:33 GMT 1
35 The 4 of Us - Songs for the Tempted
Now a debut album from a rock band from Northern Ireland. Not sure how well known they were, but this was their debut album which was very successful there with the top 10 hit 'Mary'. The other singles also got some airplay in the UK especially "Drag My Bad Name Down" but they never managed to get a top 75 hit with this album. This was a really great album and it is unique. This record failed to chart, but their 2nd album will do better. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on Aug 18, 2023 16:36:08 GMT 1
34 Erasure - Wild!
The duo's run of excellent albums continues with their fourth album. Not my favourite of the last three but as usual it has so many classic songs "Drama!", "Blue Savannah", "You Surround Me" and "Star". I think the more chill tracks are the best on this one, which is maybe why they called it 'Wild!'. Another huge hit as well a Uk #1 and #57 in the UK. 4/5
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