Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
1983
Tracks
1. Underground
2. Shore Leave
3. Dave The Butcher
4. Johnsburg, Illinois
5. 16 Shells From A 30.6
6. Town With No Cheer
7. In The Neighbourhood
8. Just Another Sucker On The Vine
9. Frank's Wild Years
10. Swordfishtrombone
11. Down, Down, Down
12. Soldier's Things
13. Gin Soaked Boy
14. Trouble Braids
15. Rainbirds
Well that was a lot odder than I expected. Many moons ago I reviewed Heart Attack and Vine and, understandably, fell in love with it. By 1983, Waits had left Asylum for Island Records; perhaps the new label allowed him to do whatever he wanted for the first time. This album is a lot more experimental than his previous work; I almost didn't recognize him.
I can't say I was 100% behind all of his creative decisions. I wish he had stuck to more conventional instruments (even Waits can't make bagpipes work). However, I did like how eclectic this album was, while still remaining strangely coherent.
RATING: 3/5
Soul Mining
The The
1983
Tracks
1. I've Been Waiting for Tomorrow (All My Life)
2. This is the Day
3. The Sinking Feeling
4. Uncertain Smile
5. The Twilight Hour
6. Soul Mining
7. Giant
8. Perfect
Once again, I was greatly confused by which version to listen to, as this album has approximately a thousand rereleases (or you know...five). I ended up choosing US 1983 version, which is fortunate, as "Perfect" was easily the best song on this album (and wasn't included in the UK release).
This album is somewhat dated, although in the best way possible. I feel like it really captures the British spirit at the time (this is just a conjecture though; I wasn't there). Overall, a great album and I hope The The is featured more on this List. Sorry for making fun of your name earlier.
RATING: 4/5
Murmur
R.E.M.
1983
Tracks
1. Radio Free Europe
2. Pilgrimage
3. Laughing
4. Talk About the Passion
5. Moral Kiosk
6. Perfect Circle
7. Catapult
8. Sitting Still
9. 9-9
10. Shaking Through
11. We Walk
12. West of the Fields
This is another album that's quality is slightly diluted over time; I am sure this would have sounded quite original at the time. As is, the experience is rather generic now, although "Radio Free Europe" still stands out as a great song.
Of course, I am pretty sure the songwriters admitted that "Radio Free Europe," at least, was mostly babbling and wasn't intended to make any sense at all. I tend to prize lyrical quality above all else, but I guess when you have a good enough beat it doesn't matter (I Am The Walrus, anyone?).
Next up: The The. I am already wowed by this band's creativity.
RATING: 3/5
