Sound Affects
The Jam
1980
Tracks
1. Pretty Green
2. Monday
3. But I'm Different Now
4. Set The House Ablaze
5. Start
6. That's Entertainment
7. Dreamtime
8. Man in the Corner Shop
9. Music for the Last Couple
10. Boy About Town
11. Scrape Away
This album felt like a throwback and I loved every minute of it. Uh oh. I am lamenting that music isn't as good as it was "back in the old days." I'm apparently one of those people now.
It is hard not to like this album, as it is catchy as hell. "That's Entertainment" is probably the best known track from this album and rightfully so, as it is by far the highlight of the album. That's not to say the other tracks are bad, but none stand out so clearly. "Monday" also impressed me lyrically and it was actually quite sweet. I'm glad we are done with punk and I can start referring to things as sweet again.
So an easy five stars and hopefully an indication of Brit pop to come.
RATING: 5/5
Hypnotised
The Undertones
1980
Tracks
1. More Songs About Chocolate And Girls
2. There Goes Norman
3. Hypnotised
4. See That Girl
5. Whizz Kids
6. Under The Boardwalk
7. Way Girls Talk
8. Hard Luck
9. My Perfect Cousin
10. Boys Will Be Boys
11. Tearproof
12. Wednesday Week
13. Nine Times Out Of Ten
14. Girls That Don't Talk
15. What's With Terry
I'm really loving the Undertones and I hope this isn't the last we see of them. Once again, we get an album with great hooks, great melodies, and great cover art. Well, the first two things were true at least.
Yeah, so I loved this album. Maybe this isn't the deepest, most progressive album on the list but it is still a lot of fun. Lyrically, it is not overly impressive. I am not even sure what half of the songs mean, but I don't get the feeling anything was going over my head (although I am so short I probably wouldn't even notice). I know I usually say I need intelligent lyrics to enjoy an album, but I still ended up liking this. All of the albums have been rather dark lately; it was fun to cut loose.
Next up: The Jam!
RATING: 4/5
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
1980
Tracks
1. Prowler
2. Sanctuary
3. Remember Tomorrow
4. Running Free
5. Phantom Of The Opera
6. Transylvania
7. Strange World
8. Charlotte The Harlot
9. Iron Maiden
I was convinced that Iron Maiden and Iron Butterfly were the same band, which is probably a musical sin that some believe should be punishable by death. I found that I much prefer Iron Maiden on all counts, except maybe when it comes to cover art.
I have always thought that heavy metal was fun, but didn't come with much substance. I am pleased to report that a more thoughtful heavy metal does, in fact, exist. "Remember Tomorrow" was particularly poetic. Of course, the machoism returned with songs like "Iron Maiden" but I did enjoy the brief respites from the testosterone outpourings.
Far more melodic than I would believed from seeing the cover art. Tomorrow: more Undertones!
RATING: 4/5
