593. Music for the Masses

Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
1987

Tracks
1. Never Let Me Down Again
2. Things You Said
3. Strangelove
4. Sacred
5. Little 15
6. Behind The Wheel
7. I Want You Now
8. To Have And To Hold
9. Nothing
10. Pimpf

I had a delightful Sunday morning reading in bed (Complicity by Iain Banks) and listening to Depeche Mode. An odd pairing, but it turned out to work. Much like Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger fanfiction.

I feel like I associate the 80s with a distinctive sound that we are now (thankfully) moving away from. This was a synthpop album but with very little cheese. In fact, the lyrics were surprisingly thoughtful. I didn't know what to make of the title, I feel like music people in general have contempt for the "masses" so wasn't sure if we were going to be served trashy trash, but this didn't feel trashy. I guess it's more of a joke, because this isn't a very commercial album, and they don't believe the masses have the cerebral ability to "get" this album. In any case, it's worthy of an eye roll.

I hope everybody's Easter was filled with more chocolate than mine was. 

RATING: 4/5

563. Don't Stand Me Down

Don't Stand Me Down
Dexy's Midnight Runners
1985

Tracks
1. Kevin Rowland's 13th Time
2. Occasional Flicker
3. This is What She's Like
4. My National Pride (Formerly Knowledge of Beauty)
5. One of Those Things
6. Reminisce (part 2)
7. I Love You (Listen to This)
8. Waltz

If you love Dexy's Midnight Runners, you will love this album. Probably an obvious point, but who wouldn't want to listen to their favorite band have a casual jam session that is interspersed with chit chat and banter? For the rest of us, who are fairly indifferent to this band, it is merely okay.

This album has two very good tracks: "This is What She's Like" and "My National Pride." "My National Pride" wasn't even in the original version, but it was released later as part of a director's cut. Of course, because self indulgence is a timeless vice, each song on this album is roughly ten minutes long. Unnecessary, and not at all shocking that this was a commercial flop.

But I did enjoy parts of it, and here on this blog we take what we can get. It's our official slogan.

RATING: 3/5

531. Colour By Numbers

Colour By Numbers
The Culture Club
1983

Tracks
1. Karma Chameleon 
2. It's A Miracle 
3. Black Money 
4. Changing Every Day 
5. That's The Way (I'm Only Trying To Help You) 
6. Church Of The Poison Mind 
7. Miss Me Blind 
8. Mister Man 
9. Stormkeeper 
10. Victims

This is the final album of 1983 and what a way to go. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a five star album on our...ears. Ahem. Is this thing on?

This album is absolutely brilliant, starting from the opening track. You will be hard pressed to get some of these melodies out of your head, particularly "Karma Chameleon" and "Church of the Poison Mind." It just doesn't get better than the Culture Club; I wish more people would talk about them. 

Anyway, say goodbye to 1983, which was truly the best (this and The Blue Nile) and the worst (Meat Puppets) of times. Happy holidays!

RATING: 5/5

505. Pelican West

Pelican West
Haircut One Hundred
1982

Tracks
1. Favourite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl) 
2. Love Plus One
3. Lemon Firebrigade 
4. Marine Boy 
5. Milk Film 
6. Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle) 
7. Fantastic Day
8. Baked Beans 
9. Snow Girl 
10. Love's Got Me In Triangles 
11. Surprise Me Again 
12. Calling Captain Autumn

After the first song, I was all prepared to give this a five star review.  Unfortunately, it kind of petered out and I was quite happy when it was over.   I accidentally listened to the 2016 rerelease, which didn't help matters.  The thinking seemed to be "let's make the forgettable songs longer!"

On the other hand, I have listened to so many truly terrible albums on this List that I probably shouldn't complain, considering how decent the first half was.  The second half isn't horrible, but it just sounds like generic cheesy 80s music.

Kate Bush is up next!  I am excited to listen to a female artist!

RATING: 3/5

502. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
Simple Minds
1982

Tracks
1. Someone Somewhere In Summertime 
2. Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel 
3. Promised You A Miracle 
4. Big Sleep 
5. Somebody Up There Likes You 
6. New Gold Dream (81 82 83 84) 
7. Glittering Prize 
8. Hunter And The Hunted 
9. King Is White And In The Crowd

Happy New Year everybody!  Like most movie fans, I can easily identify Simple Minds from their Breakfast Club heyday.  However, I was unfamiliar with their other work and man, have I been missing out.

When I think of early 80s music I tend to jump to the worst of the worst (think "Mickey"). But this is really what should be remembered from this decade: danceable synth pop.  Does anyone do it better than Simple Minds?  I guess I will find out.

Let's enjoy this music while we can.  A band called Orange Juice is coming up!  That can't be good.

RATING: 4/5

501. Too-Rye-Ay

Too-Rye-Ay
Dexy's Midnight Runners
1982

Tracks
1. Celtic Soul Brothers
2. Let's Make This Precious 
3. All In All (This One Last Wild Waltz)
4. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
5. Old
6. Plan B 
7. I'll Show You
8. Liars A To E
9. Until I Believe In My Soul
10. Come On Eileen

We are officially more than half way done with this journey!  It took me five years to get to this point, which means I should be done with this project by 2021.  Wow.  That's not at all disheartening.


I was very impressed by Dexys' previous album, but I confess I haven't given them a lot of thought since then. It's like when you have a great first date but you never follow up on it.  That's a thing that happens to people, right?


Anyway, this was wonderful.  This is truly like nothing I have heard before.  I might be wrong about this, but it seems like they have created their very own genre.  You don't get more original than that.  I hope to see more of them in the future.

RATING: 4/5

499. Imperial Bedroom

Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
1982

Tracks
1. Beyond Belief 
2. Tear Before Bedtime 
3. Shabby Doll 
4. The Long Honeymoon 
5. Man Out Of Time 
6. Almost Blue 
7. ...And In Every Home 
8. The Loved Ones
9. Human Hands 
10. Kid About It 
11. Little Savage 
12. Boy With A Problem 
13. Pidgin English 
14. You Little Fool 
15. Town Cryer

Since Tuesday I have been in a state of mourning that not even Elvis Costello could cure.
Normally I would make some cringeworthy pun, considering the next entry is a Cure album.   But alas, my heart is too heavy.  Check out my movie blog if my misery is at all interesting to you.

As frequent readers may know, I adore Costello.  This album is a bit more experimental than his previous endeavors, but he is always able to remain accessible. This is probably due to his lyrics.  I particularly enjoyed "Man Out of Time," which was delightfully British.

Stay tuned for the big 500!

RATING: 5/5

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

455. Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
1980

Tracks
1. Burn It Down
2. Tell Me When My Lights Turn Green
3. The Teams That Meet In Caffs
4. I'm Just Looking
5. Geno
6. Seven Days Too Long
7. I Couldn't Help It If I Tried
8. Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply
9. Keep It
10. Love Part One
11. There, There My Dear

Yesterday's album didn't exactly mark an auspicious start to the eighties.  I wish this had been our first album of the decade, as it is absolutely fantastic and definitely a more promising beginning than Adam and the Ants.

I had never heard of this band before, although apparently "Geno" was a big hit.  I expected it to sound familiar, but it didn't.  My ignorance frightens even me sometimes.  Anyway, "Geno" wasn't the best song on the album.  I much preferred "Seven Days Too Long."  It is nice that this band didn't feel like they were too good to include a love song.  I also enjoyed "I Couldn't Help It If I Tried," which was about...I'm not quite sure.  Catchy, though.

A great album and it's official: the term "new wave" no longer scares me.

RATING: 4/5

454. Kings of the Wild Frontier

Kings of the Wild Frontier
Adam And The Ants
1980

Tracks
1. Dog Eat Dog
2. Ant Music
3. Feed Me To The Lions
4. Los Rancheros
5. Ants Invasion
6. Killer In The Home
7. Kings Of The Wild Frontier
8. Magnificent Five
9. Don't Be Square (Be There)
10. Jolly Roger
11. Making History
12. Human Beings

Welcome to the 1980s, everyone!  I am actually quite nervous to enter the 80s musical scene...you don't exactly hear lovely things.  Of course, if everyone else hates 80s music, I might enjoy it.   Some of you have been kind enough to inform me I have no taste.  Perhaps its absence will come in handy!

So this was...strange.  I was quite familiar with the Adam and the Ants legacy, but hadn't heard any of their songs.  I am not sure I missed much.  I suppose it wasn't that bad, but I am not sure I know what the point was.  It seemed like inserted the song "Jolly Roger" simply so their costumes would make sense.  I guess the band wanted to make some sort of statement (mostly related to fashion) and the actual music is just secondary.  The music isn't good enough to stand on its own.

I don't necessarily think this was a bad album, but I do think it's sort of a "I guess you had to be there" kind of situation.

RATING: 3/5

440. The Quiet Life

The Quiet Life
Japan
1979

Tracks
1. Quiet Life
2. Fall In Love With Me
3. Despair
4. In Vogue
5. Halloween
6. All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Alien
8. Other Side Of Life

I might jinx us here, but we are officially on a streak of amazing albums.  Look at me, getting cocky.  This album wasn't quite as good as yesterday's, but a four star album is nothing to sneeze (or do something equally gross) at.

Synth pop isn't exactly my thing and I expected to be overwhelmed at the band's pretension.  Especially given their...image.  But the music was actually very tangible and easy to tap into.  I have to give it four stars because it does falter toward the end.  Still, the beginning more than makes up for it.

I always sort of loathe the expression "ahead of their time" but the description kind of fits here.  Tomorrow: Broken English.

RATING: 4/5

418. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Devo
1978

Tracks
1. Uncontrollable Urge 
2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
3. Praying Hands 
4. Space Junk 
5. Mongoloid 
6. Jocko Homo 
7. Too Much Paranoias
8. Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy 
9. Come Back Jonee 
10. Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')
11. Shrivel Up

What a snappy title this album has.  Thankfully, it recovers from its titular flow problems.  Recently, it's like the musicians are trying to make us lower our expectations by wrecking first impressions (I'm looking at the cover of Siembra when I say that).  Maybe it's a good strategy, because I actually really enjoyed this, despite the fact that the term "new wave" makes me skittish.

Lately all my favorite songs have been covers.  At least Devo had an interesting take on "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."  Still, at least the cover was about something as harmless as a meaningless existence.  "Mongoloid" took a turn for the offensive, as you could have probably surmised from its title.  The lyrics were"Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid.  One chromosome too many."  What reason could you have for writing a song like that?  Trying to get a reaction?  That kind of thought process usually makes me lose respect for artists.

Still, enjoyable enough and actually was over faster than I would have liked.  And that's a statement I very rarely make.

RATING: 3/5