468. Closer

Closer
Joy Division
1980

Tracks
1. Atrocity Exhibition
2. Isolation
3. Passover
4. Colony
5. Means To An End
6. Heart And Soul
7. Twenty Four Hours
8. Eternal
9. Decades

First The Talking Heads and now Joy Division.  My prayers have been answered and we are finally free from our mediocre streak of albums. I have high hopes for the immediate future as well; we have Tom Waits and the Undertones on deck.

It is hard to know if this album would hold the same power if it hadn't been for Ian Curtis' suicide shortly after they had finished recording.  It is definitely darker and more gothic than Unknown Pleasures and it gets even more depressing when you think about it in context.  I wouldn't exactly call it a pleasure to listen to, but it is certainly atmospheric.

Definitely one to listen to before you die.  I like the sound we are moving towards.  It is just as emotional as punk music but much more sophisticated. 

RATING: 4/5 

467. Remain In Light

Remain In Light
Talking Heads
1980

Tracks
1. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
2. Crosseyed And Painless
3. The Great Curve
4. Once In A Lifetime
5. Houses In Motion
6. Seen And Not Seen
7. Listening Wind
8. The Overload

This is the Talking Heads album I have been waiting for, the one that finally made me understand the hype.  I previously enjoyed their past albums, but I still didn't feel the need to worship on my knees like I was expected to.  Now I am ready to worship or, at the very least, provide the ritual sacrifice.

I loved this album, with my favorite song being "Once In A Lifetime."  Apparently, that is the Talking Heads' biggest hit, although I had never heard it before.  Really, there is not a bad song on the album.  I loved how cohesive the whole thing was, while still managing to be experimental.

Anyway, we hit a rough patch with an albums lately, so hopefully, this is a turning point.   The best thing I have heard in awhile.

RATING: 5/5

466. Group Sex

Group Sex
Circle Jerks
1980

Tracks
1. Deny Everything 
2. I Just Want Some Skank 
3. Beverly Hills 
4. Operation 
5. Back Against The Wall 
6. Wasted 
7. Behind The Door 
8. World Up My Ass
9. Paid Vacation 
10. Don't Care 
11. Live Fast Die Young
12. What's Your Problem 
13. Group Sex 
14. Red Tape

This is probably one of the shortest albums on the List.  Usually they clock in at around 40 minutes, but this album was a little more than 15 minutes.  But hey, I am not complaining as I don't exactly want to dwell on hardcore punk.

So each song is about a minute, although the first track is only 26 seconds.   All punk songs are fairly manic, but this album took it to the next level.  I suppose the style appeals to people who are into punk music.  But as this album is completely devoid of hooks, lyrical quality, or memorable songs.  Do I have to quote any of the lyrics here?  I think you can well imagine what the words to a song titled "I Just Want Some Skank" would be.

Are we back to pure punk?  I thought we had moved on to post punk.  In any case, I wouldn't call this album a complete waste of time, as it is so short.  But I suppose if the best thing you can say about something is that it was short, there isn't much quality there.

RATING: 2/5

465. British Steel

British Steel

Judas Priest

1980

Tracks

1. Rapid Fire
2. Metal Gods
3. Breaking The Law
4. Grinder
5. United
6. You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise
7. Living After Midnight
8. Rage
9. Steeler

Is every album on this List going forward heavy metal?  Where are our quieter artists, our Joni Mitchells and Carole Kings?  I guess this is the trend now but I really wish some songwriters with a bit more talent will come along soon.

So not much else to say about this album.  We can tell from the track listing that this album is not for someone like me, who owns a "Reading is Sexy" t-shirt with a picture of Jane Austen on it.  Usually, I can find a few stanzas that I like in at least one of the songs, but no such luck here.

We are in a bit of a slump, but hopefully, we will get out of it with Group Sex, a fine solution to any problem.

RATING: 2/5

464. Killing Joke

Killing Joke
Killing Joke
1980

Tracks
1. Requiem
2. War Dance
3. Tomorrow's World
4. Bloodsport 
5. Wait
6. Complications 
7. So 36
8. Primitive

According to the Wikipedia page, this album influenced Nirvana and Marilyn Manson.  This is why it is so hard to review older albums; what sounded fresh in 1980 sounds tired now.  To me, this sounded like literally a hundred albums I have already listened to, which limited my enjoyment factor.

Still, it was original for the time and I suppose that makes it worth listening to.  "Wardance" is certainly the most intelligent of the songs, with lyrics like "The atmosphere's strange out on town, Music for pleasure, it's not music anymore.  Music to dance to, music to move.  This is music to march to."

So an album that deserves its place on the List, but not one that left much of an impression on me.  Thankfully, it did for other people.

RATING: 3/5

463. Ace of Spades

Ace of Spades
Motorhead
1980

Tracks
1. Ace Of Spades
2. Love Me Like A Reptile
3. Shoot You In The Back
4. Live To Win
5. Fast And Loose
6. We Are The Road Crew
7. Fire Fire
8. Jailbait
9. Dance
10. Bite The Bullet
11. Chase Is Better Than The Catch
12. Hammer

I have done a lot of posts today and only have to write about Motorhead before I am free to pursue my other hobbies, like reading and doing jigsaw puzzles.  Fellas, leave your numbers in the comments.

Once again, I wait a tad bit too long in between listening to this album and writing about it.  Forgive me if I don't go into specifics.  I am not a huge fan of heavy metal (see above regarding jigsaw puzzles) but this was actually a lot better than I expected.  I didn't feel like this band was over gimmicky, which I feared from the cover.  It was rather repetitive, but it still was an enjoyable album.

Sorry for the short review, but I am eager to be done with writing for today.

RATING: 3/5

462. Crocodiles

Crocodiles
Echo and The Bunnymen
1980

Tracks
1. Going Up
2. Do It Clean 
3. Stars Are Stars 
4. Pride 
5. Monkeys 
6. Crocodiles 
7. Rescue 
8. Villiers Terrace
9. Read It in Books 
10. Pictures on My Wall 
11. All That Jazz 
12. Happy Death Men

I spent a very enjoyable morning in bed with a mug of hot chocolate, listening to this album and finishing Ian McEwan's Black Dogs.  It is rather odd that I am so cheerful now, as both works could hardly be described as uplifting.

This album sounded quite similar to Seventeen Seconds from yesterday; perhaps this was a bit angrier.  I think I enjoyed this one slightly more, as I found the lyrics to be more accessible and poetic.  My favorite line came from "Stars Are Stars": "I caught that falling star, it cut my hands to pieces."  I appreciate that they are trying to communicating quintessential punk messages with more artistic flair.

Up next: Motorhead.  That sounds intimidating.

RATING: 4/5

461. Seventeen Seconds

Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
1980

Tracks
1. Reflection
2. Play For Today
3. Secrets
4. In Your House
5. Three
6. Final Sound
7. Forest
8. M
9. At Night
10. Seventeen Seconds

This might make some music fans cringe (if this blog didn't make them drop dead already) but my only previous experience of the Cure was "Friday I'm In Love."  I was eager to hear more of their music.  This certainly wasn't what I was expecting, although that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

This is a very gloomy album.  In lesser hands, it could have been slightly over the top and ridiculous.  However, it came across very well here and I will be interested to explore more gothic rock.  That being said, I am a lyric person.  As you could probably tell from the cover, it seems that everything about this album is intended to be vague.  I wish I could have gotten a firmer grasp on this band.  Maybe my inability to really access this album is half the allure.

I am definitely intrigued by The Cure, but I don't think any of these songs are making the iPod cut.

RATING: 3/5

460. Underwater Moonlight

Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
1980

Tracks
1. I Wanna Destroy You
2. Kingdom Of Love
3. Positive Vibrations
4. I Got The Hots
5. Insanely Jealous
6. Tonight
7. You'll Have To Go Sideways
8. Old Pervert
9. Queen Of Eyes
10. Underwater Moonlight

As I am constantly behind on my writing, I keep waiting too long in between listening to an album and posting about it.   Consequently, the specifics of the album kind of fade from my memory.  Good thing I am keeping a record of progress, as most of these albums don't stick in my mind.

I have mixed feelings about this one.  Truly, the tracks were hit and miss.  Among the hits were "I Wanna Destroy You" and "Insanely Jealous."  The second half of the album definitely dipped in quality.  I felt like "Old Pervert" was there solely to remind people that they have punk roots and can be just as gross as their ancestors.  Lyrically, it didn't match the rest of the album.

Anyway, it was a perfectly fine way to pass thirty five minutes, but ultimately, I didn't spot any element original enough to warrant the album's inclusion on the List.

RATING: 4/5