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Novermber
List-Best
Records that Took Me More Than a Year to "Get"
1. Love-Forever
Changes
OK,
I know this one's a bit obvious, but this one really took a long
time. I know this is on every hipster's "Best Of" list,
but something just didn't click with this one. And then all of a
sudden, I realized what Arthur Lee was going for here, with his
twisted song stuctures and no choruses. This has been made much
better by the remastered version which warmed the sound up
nicely.
2. The
Moles-Untune the Sky
This is
a real odd one. I had a feeling it was great the first time I
heard it, but I knew it would take several listens before it
really set in. This is classic warped post-punk garage psych. It
may be Richard Davies' crowning moment, which is saying something
considering his output with Cardinal and his solo stuff.
3. The
Boo Radley-Giant Steps
This
super-ambitious monster is the consumate album. Yes, its got hits,
but it has all the required chill-out, come down moments that
makes an entire disc listenable. I sadly believe that the Radleys
will go down as one of the most underappreciated but greatest
bands of the 90's.
4. The
Soft Boys-Underwater Moonlight
The
Boy's conventional masterpiece, this one is still revealing
different angles. You can especially appreciate this one if you
realize how out of place it was at the time of its release.
5.
Suede-Dog Man Star
After
getting used to Suede as the kings of the Britpop single, this
one seemed to fall a little flat. But after several spins, you
find out that the tunes are wonderful epics, not bloated pomp
pieces.
October List-Top Five Albums of the Eighties
1. The Stone Roses-The Stones Roses
The
reason I participate in modern music, period. Without them, I
would have stayed in my high school Led Zeppelin stage
forever. This album is all that a classic should be: new,
cool, cocky, beautiful, and tough.
2. REM-Murmur
This
album haunts me as much today as it did when my dad played it on
the turntable in ’83 when I was nine. My generation starts
here.
3. Jesus and Mary
Chain-Psychocandy
The blissful
marrige of noise, garage rock, and bubblegum pop.
4. XTC-Skylarking
Put
together two nutcase geniuses in the same room and you get this,
a quirk-pop masterpiece.
5. REM-Reckoning
Not as
timeless as Murmur, but still a fascinating
listen. Side one is wonderful, full of the great bridges
that make REM so good.
