673. Behaviour

Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
1990

Tracks
1. Being Boring
2. This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave
3. To Face the Truth
4. How Can You Expect to be Taken Seriously?
5. Only the Wind
6. My October Symphony
7. So Hard
8. Nervously
9. The End of the World
10. Jealousy

I remember the previous Pet Shop Boys album on the List was a rather unimpressive but harmless affair. This was definitely an improvement, in terms of lyrical quality and music.

That being said, synthpop hasn't exactly aged gracefully as a genre. Still, I enjoyed the more introspective lyrics and really enjoyed "Jealousy" and "Being Boring" in particular. 

So not an especially memorable album but still rather enjoyable. In other words, a solid 3. 
RATING: 3/5

672. Sex Packets

Sex Packets
Digital Underground
1990

Tracks
1. Humpty Dance
2. Way We Swing
3. Rhymin' On The Funk
4. New Jazz (One)
5. Underwater Rimes
6. Gutfest '89
7. Danger Zone
8. Freaks Of The Industry
9. Doowutchyalike
10. Packet Prelude
11. Sex Packets
12. Street Scene
13. Packet Man
14. Packet Reprise

So that was pretty strange. It began as pretty standard hip hop fare. I can have sex with any woman I want, don't try to match my rhymes, I swear my penis isn't that small, etc. Then we transition into this strange concept where you can buy sex packets, which are pills you can take to have sex with whoever is on the cover of the packet (which includes Black virgins, sisters, and Chinese girls). 

I guess it is meant to be a parody of all the hip hop songs that glorify selling drugs. I am not a huge fan of novelty albums; they tend to wear out their welcome pretty quickly, and this was over an hour. 

For that reason, I enjoyed the first half of the album more than the latter half. The first idiot that came up with the idea of having a woman moan in the background while they rapped about "hitting it" must have been enormously pleased with himself.

RATING: 2/5

671. Rust in Peace

Rust in Peace
Megadeth
1990

Tracks
1. Holy Wars...the Punishment Due
2. Hangar 18
3. Take No Prisoners
4. Five Magics
5. Poison Was The Cure
6. Lucretia
7. Tornado Of Souls
8. Dawn Patrol
9. Rust In Peace...Polaris

I had convinced myself that metal had died in the 1980s, apparently we have to endure the death throes of this genre for a little longer, with yet another Megadeth album.

So it doesn't feel like Megadeth is doing anything different here, but I suppose it would be enjoyable enough for any metal fan. Even if the album cover looks like it's from a terrible 80s Atari game.

Entirely skippable unless you're a metalhead. 

RATING: 2/5

670. Bossanova

Bossanova
Pixies
1990

Tracks
1. Cecilia Ann
2. Velouria
3. Is She Weird
4. All Over The World
5. Down To The Well
6. Blown Away
7. Stormy Weather
8. Rock Music
9. Allison
10. Ana
11. Dig For Fire
12. Happening
13. Hang Wire
14. Havalina

This isn't an opinion that often gets asked to the dance, but I actually liked this album better than the previous two Pixies albums. The individual tracks stood out to me on this album, with "Stormy Weather" and "Is She Weird" among my favorites.

I've heard this album described as less polished than their previous albums, but I don't think polish is necessarily such a good thing in music, particularly with the kind of music the Pixies play. 

After a somewhat shaky start, the 90s continue to impress. 

RATING: 4/5

669. Violator

Violator
Depeche Mode
1990

Tracks
1. World in My Eyes
2. Sweetest Perfection
3. Personal Jesus
4. Halo
5. Waiting for the Night
6. Enjoy the Silence
7. Policy of Truth
8. Blue Dress
9. Clean

Violator? I hardly know her!

Ahem. Anyway, we are happily continuing our streak of good albums as this was very enjoyable. I've always associated synthpop with tackiness, which isn't always a bad thing; sometimes that can be quite fun. But this was sophisticated synthpop, which isn't the easiest thing to achieve.

So a solid and unique entry on the List, and I am digging the 90s more and more.

RATING: 4/5

668. Shake Your Money Maker

Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
1990

Tracks
1. Twice As Hard
2. Jealous Again
3. Sister Luck
4. Could I've Been So Blind
5. Seeing Things
6. Hard To Handle
7. Thick 'n' Thin
8. She Talks To Angels
9. Struttin' Blues
10. Stare It Cold

I expected the Listmakers to make us suffer after presenting us with such a good album yesterday, so as not to disturb the equilibrium. However, this was also a decent album, and maybe I am wrong about the Listmakers sinister proclivities. 

This felt like a bit of a throwback to the Stones era of hard rock and I was here for it. Maybe it wasn't the most unique sound, but not every album has to turn a genre on its ear. I didn't feel like there was a bad track in the entire album, which is a unique enough experience for me.

Recommended.

RATING: 4/5

667. The La's

The La's
The La's
1990

Tracks
1. Son Of A Gun
2. I Can't Sleep
3. Timeless Melody
4. Liberty Ship
5. There She Goes
6. Doledrum
7. Feelin'
8. Way Out
9. I.O.U.
10. Freedom Song
11. Failure
12. Looking Glass

I absolutely love this album and am fairly devastated that this is the only album that The La's ever made. I guess it's better to quit while you are ahead, but damn. 

Most people are probably familiar with "There She Goes" but honestly, there is not a bad track in this entire album. It seems clear to me that they were influenced by REM and XTC, but they have their own distinct sound that sets them apart. 

This is the first 90s album that has really blown me away. Highly recommended.

RATING: 5/5

666. World Clique

World Clique
Deee-Lite
1990

Tracks
1. Good Beat
2. Power Of Love
3. Try Me On...I'm Very You
4. Smile On
5. What Is Love
6. World Clique
7. ESP
8. Groove Is In The Heart
9. Who Was That
10. Deep Ending

We've reached the devil's entry, which is actually not that devilish at all, but light-hearted and fun. Regardless, we are two-thirds of the way through this journey! It seems like only yesterday that I was...shit, never mind, that was literally a decade ago.

I'm discovering that dance music really isn't my thing and this was no exception. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but it felt dated and didn't leave much of an impression.

Probably skippable, but certainly not the worst thing to appear on this List.

RATING: 2/5

665. En Tact

En Tact
The Shamen
1990

Tracks
1. Move Any Mountain
2. Human NRG (Massey)
3. Possible Worlds
4. Omega Amigo
5. Evil Is Even [Edit]
6. Hyperreal Orbit
7. Lightspan
8. Make It Mine
9. Oxygen Restriction
10. Hear Me
11. 666 Edit
12. Make It Minimal
13. Hyperreal Selector
14. Lightspan Soundwave
15. Progen 91 (I.R.P. In the Land of Oz)

Ugh, another rave album which would only be interesting if you were attending an actual rave. As is, this is just another boring electronica album.

This probably says more about me than the album, but at one point in listening to this, I fleetingly forgot I was playing music and my stomach dropped, thinking the sounds being emitted from my speakers meant my laptop was broken. 

So entirely skippable, and I hope the presence of this and 808 state doesn't indicate an upswing in the amount of electronica we have to endure.

RATING: 2/5

664. Heaven or Las Vegas

Heaven or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
1990

Tracks
1. Cherry Coloured Funk
2. Pitch the Baby
3. Iceblink Luck
4. Fifty Fifty Clown
5. Heaven or Las Vegas
6. I Wear Your Ring
7. Fotzepolitic
8. Wolf in the Breast
9. River Road and Rail
10. Frou Frou Foxes in the Midsummer Fires

Welcome to the 90s! I anticipate an improvement in quality of albums starting now. I'm not entirely sure why I feel this way, and it's entirely possible that some boy bands might join forces with a country metal group to prove me wrong. I'm going to remain optimistic, though.

So our induction into this decade is the Cocteau Twins, and I've never gelled with this group very well. They are a little too ethereal for my tastes, and I have a hard time grasping it. But it's different, and doesn't overstay its welcome.

This album doesn't exactly scream the 90s, but it's still a decent start to the decade.

RATING: 3/5

663. Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
1989

Tracks
1. Straight Outta Compton
2. Fuck Tha Police
3. Gangsta Gangsta
4. If It Ain't Ruff
5. Parental Discretion Iz Advised
6. 8 Ball
7. Something Like That
8. Express Yourself
9. Compton's N The House
10. I Ain't Tha 1
11. Dopeman
12. Quiet On Tha Set
13. Something 2 Dance 2

The movie Straight Outta Compton is on the 1001 movie list, and I think will be the next entry I tackle. That, ladies and gents, is synergy for you. 

So this is the kind of music my mother would have forbidden my brother to listen to when we were younger. I guess we are officially in the phase of rap where women are all "bitches" and the rappers are susceptible to fits of testosterone. Fortunately, there were some good tracks in there that contained more meaningful messages; Fuck Tha Police really says it all, doesn't it?

And with that, we are officially done with the 80s. Praise Farore.

RATING: 2/5

662. Done By The Forces of Nature

Done By The Forces of Nature
Jungle Brothers
1989

Tracks
1. Beyond This World
2. Feeling Alright
3. Sunshine
4. What U Waitin' 4
5. U Make Me Sweat
6. Acknowledge Your Own History
7. Belly Dancin' Dina
8. Good Newz Comin'
9. Done By The Forces Of Nature
10. Beeds On A String
11. Tribe Vibes
12. J Beez Comin' Through
13. Black Woman
14. In Dayz 2 Come
15. Doin' Our Own Dang
16. Kool Accordin' 2 A Jungle Brother

I wasn't able to get in here yesterday and share my thoughts, but happy belated Juneteenth! I felt like we were going through a phase where every other album was a heavy metal album. Now I feel like the same thing is happening with rap albums. That's definitely an improvement, in my opinion, as I much prefer this genre.

Apparently, nobody can put together a decent rap album without heavy uses of samples. That's okay, though, because the samples are used particularly well in this album. Of course, they were nowhere near as cheerful as De La Soul, but I enjoyed this one more.

Only one more album until we are done with the 80s!

RATING: 4/5

661. Rhythm Nation 1814

Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
1989

Tracks
1. Rhythm Nation
2. State Of The World
3. Knowledge
4. Miss You Much
5. Love Will Never Do (Without You)
6. Livin' In A World (They Didn't Make)
7. Alright
8. Escapade
9. Black Cat
10. Lonely
11. Come Back To Me
12. Someday Is Tonight

Well that certainly hit close to home. Not that racism is ever irrelevant, but it was particularly powerful right now. I feel like when artists tackle political subjects it can come across as grating and preachy, but Jackson manages these conversations in her music very well.

This is probably because the songs are so damn catchy. I particularly enjoyed "Alright" and "Miss You Much." "Black Cat" was also great, and produced by somebody named Jellybean, which earns it extra points. And unlike some of the previous recent entries on the List, it doesn't scream "the 80s." It just softly whispers "the 80s."

Definitely the superior of the Jacksons.

RATING: 4/5

660. 3 Feet High and Rising

3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
1989

Tracks
1. Intro
2. Magic Number
3. Change in Speak
4. Cool Breeze on the Rocks
5. Can U Keep a Secret
6. Jenifa (Taught Me)
7. Ghetto Thang
8. Transmitting Live from Mars
9. Eye Know
10. Take It Off
11. Little Bit of Soap
12. Tread Water
13. Potholes In My Lawn
14. Say No Go
15. Do as De La Does
16. Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)
17. De La Orgee
18. Buddy
19. Description
20. Me Myself and I
21. This is a Recording 4 living in a Fulltime Era (LIFE)
22. I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)
23. DAISY Age
24. Plug Tunin' (Are You Ready for This Version)

Well, it's interesting to hear what rap would sound like if the people making it were actually happy. I'd like to see a similar experiment with punk music, but that could be all kinds of scary.

The sampling in this album was well done, and the tracks were varied (maybe a little too varied). I think 67 minutes was too much and there were a few songs that could have been eliminated without damaging the album's quality (De La Orgee, anybody?).

So a different kind of entry, but its sound is still firmly entrenched in the 80s. 

RATING: 3/5

659. Club Classic Vol. 1

Club Classic Vol. 1
Soul II Soul
1989

Tracks
1. Keep on Movin'
2. Fairplay
3. Holdin' on Bambeleda
4. Feeling Free
5. African Dance
6. Dance
7. Feel Free
8. Happiness
9. Back to Life
10. Jazzie's Groove

This was a fabulous blend of genres and proves that dance music doesn't have to be electronica that can only be enjoyed with copious amounts of drugs. This was a mix of funk, R & B, rap, reggae, dance, and it worked well.

I particularly enjoyed the different vocals on this album, and it was interesting getting an acapella track. I usually associate acapella with groups of white women named the "Pitch Slaps" or something else equally cringey, but this was actually really cool.

So a solid entry, even if I am eager to be finished with the 80s.

RATING: 4/5

658. Repeater

Repeater
Fugazi
1989 

Tracks

1. Turnover
2. Repeater
3. Brendan No 1
4. Merchandise
5. Blueprint
6. Sieve Fisted Find
7. Greed
8. Two Beats Off
9. Styrofoam
10. Reprovisional
11. Shut The Door

It's cool that we have seen so many phases of the punk genre. Of course, I don't particularly like punk but it's still interesting. As a genre, it seems to evolve much quicker than other styles of music do, and people are constantly shaking up the formula.

I suppose this is post hardcore, which I found much more enjoyable than good ole-fashioned hardcore, because this bears a stronger resemblance to music. Naturally, it still has its moments of angry shouting that I don't really connect with, but there a few catchier tracks in there as well.

So in the end, not my style, but still a quality album.

RATING: 3/5

657. Nick of Time

Nick of Time
Bonnie Raitt
1989

Tracks
1. Nick Of Time
2. Thing Called Love
3. Love Letters
4. Cry On My Shoulder
5. Real Man
6. Nobody's Girl
7. Have A Heart
8. Too Soon To Tell
9. I Will Not Be Denied
10. I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again
11. Road's My Middle Name

Well, we are back to country and apparently women can't sing country unless they have the requisite large hairdo (that's where they keep their talent!). This isn't my favorite genre and I found it a bit of chore to get through.

So this album touches on familiar themes, e.g. musing about the kind of man you want and why the previous man isn't up to snuff. I still don't really understand what a "Real Man" is based on the song. According to Bonnie, a real man is somebody that doesn't buy you things. There are plenty of those around, girl, you must not be looking very hard.

That being said, there were a few catchy songs in there and she's a great vocalist. 

RATING: 3/5

656. Doolittle

Doolittle
The Pixies
1989

Tracks
1. Debaser
2. Tame
3. Wave Of Mutilation
4. I Bleed
5. Here Comes Your Man
6. Dead
7. Monkey Gone To Heaven
8. Mr Grieves
9. Crackity Jones
10. La La Love You
11. No. 13 Baby
12. There Goes My Gun
13. Hey
14. Silver
15. Gouge Away

Well, I prayed and made my offerings to the 1001 Gods that something would arrive to end our rut of so-so albums. Thankfully, my pleas were answered although a quick scan of the upcoming entries makes me think this is a very temporary respite. 

As with Surfer Rosa, the Pixies once again deliver something that sounds like a throwback in some ways, but is also remarkably fresh and timeless. I don't really feel like they've evolved much from their previous album, but that's okay, they are still producing quality music.

A solid, and welcome entry on the List.

RATING: 4/5

655. Pump

Pump
Aerosmith
1989

Tracks
1. Young Lust
2. F.I.N.E.
3. Going Down/ Love In An Elevator
4. Monkey On My Back
5. Water Song/ Janie's Got A Gun
6. Dulcimer Stomp/ The Other Side
7. My Girl
8. Don't Get Mad, Get Even
9. Hoodoo / Voodoo Medicine Man
10. What It Takes/Hidden Instrumental

After the last couple of albums, it's nice to have some lighter fare. I don't mean this is a particularly good album, but it's not very demanding and a welcome break from obscure entires that only music critics like (or pretend to like). 

That being said, this music still isn't really my thing. There were a couple stand out tracks, such as "Janie's Got a Gun" but for the most part, it felt like pretty standard cock rock music.

Hopefully, the Pixies can deliver a really good album tomorrow, because we are in another rut of so-so entries here.

RATING: 3/5

654. Moss Side Story

Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
1989



Tracks
1. On the Wrong Side of Relaxation
2. Under Wraps
3. Central Control
4. Round Up the Usual Suspects
5. Sounds From The Big House
6. Suck On The Honey Of Love
7. Everything Happens To Me
8. The Swinging Detective
9. Autodestruction
10. Intensive Care
11. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
12. Free at Last
13. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
14. Chocolate Milk Shake
15. The Man With The Golden Arm

Guys, do you think we should check on the Listmakers? Are they okay?

So after the weirdness that was Coldcuts, we are treated to this oddity. It's a concept album for a noir movie...that doesn't exist. It did make sense when I read the reasoning for it. Apparently Barry Adamson wanted to compose music for films, so hoped this would attract the interest of filmmakers. Why someone's spec has to be included on the List, though, is a mystery that we would need a nonexistent detective to solve.

Why choose noir if you are going to design an imaginary soundtrack? That seems so odd to me. Is the score really the fun part of a film noir? A different genre, I think, would have been much more interesting.

RATING: 2/5

653. What's That Noise?

What's That Noise?
Coldcut
1989




Tracks
1. People Hold On
2. Fat (Party And Bullshit)
3. I'm In Deep
4. My Telephone
5. Reportage
6. Which Doctor
7. Stop This Crazy Thing
8. No Connection
9. Smoke 1
10. Doctorin' The House
11. What's That Noise

I am running a wee bit behind on reviews, mostly for work related reasons. I found time to fit this irritating album in somewhere, which did nothing to improve my mood or stress levels.

I didn't have high hopes for an album that acknowledged it is just noise anyway. I felt like this album had no direction or cohesion to it. I suppose that was the point; they wanted to mix a lot of different sounds and artists, but the result was underwhelming.

Entirely skippable.

RATING: 2/5

652. 808:90

808:90
808 State
1989

Tracks
1. Magical Dream
2. Ancodia
3. Cobra Bora
4. Pacific 202
5. Donkey Doctor
6. 808080808
7. Sunrise
8. Fat Shadow

I would guess this album is included not because it is enjoyable to listen to, because it is historical in some way. Probably because it captured the sound of rave parties in some city in Europe during the 80s. Unfortunately, I don't really care.

Now it just sounds like music some sexy robots would listen to on the planet Zorp. Very boring and forgettable.

And so, 1989 continues to be a mixed bag that would be confiscated by airport security. 

RATING: 2/5

651. Disintegration

Disintegration
The Cure
1989

Tracks
1. Plainsong
2. Pictures Of You
3. Closedown
4. Love Song
5. Last Dance
6. Lullaby
7. Fascination Street
8. Prayers For Rain
9. The Same Deep Water As You
10. Disintegration
11. Homesick
12. Untitled

I have to make this quick as I am in a perpetual state of running behind-ness today. I don't have much to say about the Cure in any case. They are awesome, they always sound fresh, and this might be their best album yet.

I liked the approach they had of starting out with lighter fare and gradually evolving into more complex songs. Recommended, and we can all be on our way!

RATING: 4/5

650. Sensual World

Sensual World
Kate Bush
1989

Tracks
1. Sensual World
2. Love and Anger
3. Fog
4. Reaching Out
5. Heads We're Dancing
6. Deeper Understanding
7. Between a Man and a Woman
8. Never Be Mine
9. Rocket's Tail
10. This Woman's Work

And we are back to English artists! That's okay, though, because I like Kate Bush. She's a wonderful weirdo, like the UK's version of Bjork. 

I love untangling her lyrics. "Deeper Understanding" could have been really cheesy and dated now, but Bush's unique lyrics and haunting vocals give it a timeless quality. Actually, by Kate Bush standards this album was a fairly normal pop experience. Maybe she was holding back a little bit.

Happy 650 everybody!

RATING: 4/5