975. Want One

Want One
Rufus Wainwright
2003

Tracks
1. Oh What A World
2. I Don't Know What It Is
3. Vicious World
4. Movies Of Myself
5. Pretty Things
6. Go Or Go Ahead
7. Vibrate
8. 14th Street
9. Natasha
10. Harvester Of Hearts
11. Beautiful Child
12. Want
13. 11:11
14. Dinner At Eight

I was only familiar with a couple songs that Rufus Wainwright had covered, so I was pleased to explore more of his work. Wainwright is clearly a very emotionally intelligent songwriter, and there wasn't a bad song on the album. 

I could how his voice might grate for some people, but I really enjoyed it and thought it suited his songs well. Each track was unique but still paid tribute to the central mood of the album. My favorite song is probably "I Don't Know What It Is" but it's a really tough call.

A fairly heavy and emotional album, so gird your loins.

RATING: 4/5

956. Stripped

Stripped
Christina Aguilera
2002

Tracks
1. Stripped Intro
2. Can't Hold Us Down (featuring Lil' Kim)
3. Walk Away
4. Fighter
5. Primer Amor Interlude
6. Infatuation
7. Loves Embrace Interlude
8. Loving Me 4 Me
9. Impossible
10. Underappreciated
11. Beautiful
12. Make Over
13. Cruz
14. Soar
15. Get Mine, Get Yours
16. Dirrty
17. Stripped Pt. 2
18. The Voice Within
19. I'm OK
20. Keep On Singin' My Song

I really didn't expect a Christina Aguilera album to show up here. But the Listmakers are hip, dammit, although thankfully they protected us from her "Genie in a Bottle" phase.

The only song I was familiar with was "Fighter" which is still a banger. After listening to the entire album, that is still probably my favorite. Her vocals aren't quite as annoying as Mariah Carey's, but she has that same tendency towards unnecessary vocal runs and obnoxious inflections. And this album was much too long to have to put up with that.

That being said, it was still an enjoyable collection of songs, and she clearly has more to say than she was previously given credit for. 

RATING: 3/5

948. Come Away With Me

Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
2002

Tracks
1. Don't Know Why
2. Seven Years
3. Cold Cold Heart
4. Feelin' The Same Way
5. Come Away With Me
6. Shoot The Moon
7. Turn Me On
8. Lonestar
9. I've Got To See You Again
10. Painter Song
11. One Flight Down
12. Nightingale
13. The Long Day Is Over
14. The Nearness Of You

I had never heard of Norah Jones before, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I turned on this album. I was pleasantly surprised to hear some really pleasing pop music, although the songs were pretty hit or miss.

In the hits column, we have "Feelin' The Same Way" and "The Nearness of You." The misses weren't quite so bad, they just passed by without leaving much of an impression. 

I think a lot of female singers have imitated this in the intervening years, with not as good results. So maybe not essential listening but enjoyable nonetheless.

RATING: 3/5

925. Punishing Kiss

Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper

2000

Tracks
1. Little Water Song
2. Case Continues
3. Passionate Fight
4. Die Dreigroschenoper (Tango Ballad)
5. Couldn't You Keep That To Yourself
6. Streets Of Berlin
7. Part You Throw Away
8. Split
9. Punishing Kiss
10. Purple Avenue
11. You Were Meant For Me
12. Scope J

Well, it certainly sounds like an interesting album. This is a collaboration between the Divine Comedy and Ute Lemper. They decided to reinterpret songs from Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, The Divine Comedy, Tom Waits, Scott Walker, and Phillip Glass, giving them a more German feel.

So the concept is interesting enough, but I'm not sure the execution was entirely there. The Nick Cave cover was pretty good, but I felt like the Elvis Costello covers drained all the life out of the song. The Tom Waits' songs worked well too, but I thought the Scott Walker covers were fairly dull.

In the end, a mixed bag, but it was a cool idea.

RATING: 3/5

849. A Short Album About Love

A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
1997

Tracks
1. In Pursuit of Happiness
2. Everybody Knows (except you)
3. Someone
4. If...
5. If I Were You (i'd Be Through With Me)
6. Timewatching
7. I'm All You Need

I guess not a lot of people have heard of The Divine Comedy, which is a shame, because they are better than many of the better known artists on this List. 

The title of this album is fairly self explanatory. It's a short album, clocking in at only 30 minutes. But it does a lot in that time period. Maybe it's not the most memorable album, but the songs are catchy and enjoyable.

It reminds me of a Scott Walker album on the List many moons ago, Pretty good, and doesn't overstay its welcome.

RATING: 4/5

740. Whatever

Whatever
Aimee Mann
1993

Tracks
1. I Should've Known
2. Fifty Years After The Fair
3. 4th Of July
4. Could've Been Anyone
5. Put Me On Top
6. Stupid Thing
7. Say Anything
8. Jacob Marley's Chain
9. Mr. Harris
10. I Could Hurt You Now
11. I Know There's A Word
12. I've Had It
13. Way Back When

I am loving this trend of fabulous female singer/songwriters. Aimee Mann isn't as caustic as Liz Phair, or as weird as Bjork, or as cool as P.J. Harvey, but I still really enjoyed this.

Mann is a very talented lyricist, and her arrangements are amazing. Actually the whole album has really impressive production quality. It almost doesn't need it, because the lyrics are so good, but the songs are very polished, without being too shiny.

We are on a really great batch of albums right now, I hope it continues. At least until I finish cleaning out my closet. 

RATING: 4/5

717. Ingenue

Ingenue
k.d. lang
1992

Tracks
1. Save Me
2. Mind Of Love
3. Miss Chatelaine
4. Wash Me Clean
5. So It Shall Be
6. Still Thrives This Love
7. Seasons Of Hollow Soul
8. Outside Myself
9. Tear Of Love's Recall
10. Constant Craving

k.d. lang came out as a lesbian the same year this was released, and had to face a picket line outside the Grammies (where she won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). Good for you k.d. I hope she did a victory lap outside after winning.

k.d has an amazing voice and is a fantastic songwriter to boot. I feel like it is impossible not to make a comparison to Joni Mitchell here, in terms of talent and style. Every song is pretty slow and melodic. I would have preferred some jauntier tunes sprinkled in there; I felt like I had been lulled into a stupor after listening to this.

It was interesting to see her move away from country to a more cabaret-esque feel. And, as always, it was nice to get a woman on the List. 

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

640. Like a Prayer

Like a Prayer
Madonna
1989

Tracks
1. Like a Prayer
2. Express Yourself
3. Love Song
4. Till Death Do Us Part
5. Promise to Try
6. Cherish
7. Dear Jessie
8. Oh Father
9. Keep It Together
10. Spanish Eyes
11. Act of Contrition

I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. Like most people, I was familiar with a couple of the songs, but I thought those were the stand out tracks, and that the rest would be rather generic 80s pop.

The line between spirituality and love was blurred here, and I enjoyed every minute of it (well, except "Act of Contrition," that was just weird). I loved how cohesive it was, how intimate it was, and how she pulled gospel influences into many of the songs. Also, her music video for "Like a Prayer" pissed off the Vatican, and that's always fun.

See, it's possible to find a good pop album in the 80s. Not probable, of course, but possible.

RATING: 5/5

607. Bad

Bad
Michael Jackson
1987

Tracks
1. Bad
2. Way You Make Me Feel
3. Speed Demon
4. Liberian Girl
5. Just Good Friends
6. Another Part Of Me
7. Man In The Mirror
8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
9. Dirty Diana
10. Smooth Criminal
11. Leave Me Alone

I remember listening to "Man in the Mirror" on the school bus in the morning in middle school, vowing that I too, would change my ways (I never did, by the way, I still like reading and ignoring everybody). It's still a great song, making it a rarity on this album.

So this is an improvement from Thriller, I suppose, although the track "Dirty Diana" feels like a new low. It's a song about a dirty groupie and is an angry jab at women in general. Of course, I have grown accustomed to that in heavy metal music, but I expect better from my pop brothers. But then there are great songs like "Smooth Criminal" that sound fresh and unexpected even now, at the end of the world.

I can't get over all the annoying noises that come out of this man's mouth (I know I am setting myself up for a burn here, but I'll allow it to stand). I wish he was able to tolerate a pause or beat without having to do his high pitched scoffing. And in general, he really bums me out and I wish he had received the help he so clearly needed.

RATING: 3/5

595. Faith

Faith
George Michael
1987

Tracks
1. Faith
2. Father Figure
3. I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 & 2)
4. One More Try
5. Hard Day
6. Hand To Mouth
7. Look At Your Hands
8. Monkey
9. Kissing A Fool
10. Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Remix)
11. A Last Request (I Want Your Sex) (Part 3)

After Sisters of Mercy, I would have welcomed a three star album. Instead, we get a solid five star entry. Thank Zeus for George Michael.

This is a fantastic album that is wonderfully strange in some places. I looked up who the female singer in "Hard Day" was only to discover that it was George Michael. I guess every male pop star in the 1980s has a feminine alter ego in their repertoire. I usually don't like ballads so much, but "One More Try" was genuinely moving. 

 The only thing preventing this album from being 5 stars is a pesky little song called "Monkey." Still a great album, but skip that track.

RATING: 4/5

585. So

So
Peter Gabriel
1986

Tracks
1. Red Rain
2. Sledgehammer
3. Don't Give Up
4. That Voice Again
5. In Your Eyes
6. Mercy Street
7. Big Time
8. We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)
9. This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)

It is the last album of 1986! Someday, we will escape the land of synthpop and cheesy guitar solos. I know I often make milestones out of molehills, but I'm still excited about this one. I am eager to see what the Book pretends 90s music was like.

Peter Gabriel immediately brings to mind Say Anything, but the whole album is pretty cinematic in a way. A lot of these tracks feel like they could play when characters are staring in the rain at restaurant they visited with their significant other before the rainy times. 

This makes it very fun, and it was a great album to read to, which is what I spent my delightful Saturday morning doing. So far, quarantine isn't so bad.

RATING: 4/5

580. Skylarking

Skylarking
XTC
1986

Tracks
1. Summer's Cauldron
2. Grass
3. Meeting Place
4. That's Really Super Supergirl
5. Ballet For A Rainy Day
6. 1000 Umbrellas
7. Season Cycle
8. Earn Enough For Us
9. Big Day
10. Another Satellite
11. Mermaid Smiled
12. Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
13. Dying
14. Sacrificial Bonfire




I was really looking forward to this album, as XTC never fails to deliver. I wasn't disappointed, and they managed to create an enjoyable and cohesive album. 

How fun is "That's Really Super Supergirl"? It was nerdy and sweet, which are not two adjectives that bandy about a lot on this List. The other tracks are great too; "Earn Enough for Us" has been a favorite of mine for years.

While other albums from this decade are firmly situated in the 80s, this sounds like something that could have been released yesterday. If the a worldwide pandemic wasn't unfolding, that is.

RATING: 4/5

564. Cupid and Psyche '85

Cupid and Psyche '85
Scritti Politti
1985

Tracks
1. Word Girl
2. Small Talk
3. Absolute
4. Little Knowledge
5. Don't Work That Hard
6. Perfect Way
7. Lover To Fall
8. Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
9. Hypnotize

This was a very generic 80s pop album. It is likely so generic because it was influential and I've heard a lot of shitty imitations of it. But it hasn't aged well, and bands like Aha have, so I feel justified in giving this a low rating.

Also, what an annoying name for a band. Our suffering was worth it, though, because Elvis Costello is next!

RATING: 2/5

552. Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
1985

Tracks
1. Faron Young
2. Bonny
3. Appetite
4. When Love Breaks Down
5. Goodbye Lucille #1
6. Hallelujah
7. Moving The River
8. Horsin' Around
9. Desire As
10. Blueberry Pies
11. When The Angels

I had never heard of this band before, but the band name is just the kind of British nonsense that I love. Now that the pop movement in the 80s has been effectively soaked in cheese, we have bands coming along that are attempting more "serious" pop. I suspect that Prefab Sprout is one of these bands.

So I laughed in places that I probably wasn't supposed to (I'm sorry, but parts of "Appetite" were too much for me). Still, I enjoyed this album for the most part, although I am not sure any of the tunes will stick with me.

There are some pretty bad albums coming up, so let's savor the small victories.

RATING: 3/5

550. Songs From the Big Chair

Songs From the Big Chair
Tears For Fears
1985



Tracks
1. Shout 
2. The Working Hour 
3. Everybody Wants To Rule The World 
4. Mothers Talk 
5. I Believe 
6. Broken 
7. Head Over Heels / Broken 
8. Listen

80s pop is now in full swing and I have to say, this is a huge step up from A-ha (although don't get me wrong, A-ha is really fun). This album has obviously passed the test of time, as most of these tracks are instantly recognizable.

The album just feels more mature than A-ha, like it is interested in more than providing a catchy tune. I am not sure it always succeeds, given the lyrical quality, but hey, at least it tries.

Someday, I'll be able to sing "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" without starting out too low, thus becoming inaudible by the word "world." Today is not that day.

RATING: 4/5

541. Private Dancer

Private Dancer
Tina Turner
1984

Tracks
1. I Might Have Been Queen 
2. What's Love Got To Do With It 
3. Show Some Respect 
4. I Can't Stand The Rain 
5. Private Dancer 
6. Let's Stay Together 
7. Better Be Good To Me 
8. Steel Claw 
9. Help

I was sort of dreading listening to this album, not because I hate Tina Turner, but because if I hear a few chords of "What's Love Got To Do With It," it is guaranteed to be stuck in my bed for the next week and a half. Oh well, my cat will just have to get over it.

Anyway, there is no denying that Turner has an amazing voice. Other than that, I was not too impressed by this album. I found the "Help" cover to be rather unnecessary, with the other tracks being fairly unremarkable. Even my untrained musical ear could tell that she relied way too heavily on synth. 

Her vocals are the only thing that saves this album from complete 80s drudgery. 

RATING: 3/5

524. Hearts and Bones

Hearts and Bones
Paul Simon
1983

Tracks
1. Allergies 
2. Hearts and Bones 
3. When Numbers Get Serious 
4. Think Too Much 
5. Song About the Moon 
6. Think Too Much 
7. Train in the Distance 
8. Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War
9. Cars Are Cars
10. Late Great Johnny Ace

What a mixed bag this was.  On the one hand, you have some decent songs like "Allergies" and "Hearts and Bones." And then you have songs like "Cars Are Cars" that make me doubt whether Simon should have dropped his other half.  Apparently, Garfunkel worked of the songs with Simon. My guess is he heard the Car song and decided to distance himself from the project.

It's a strange choice for the List, as I think this album is considered the lowest point of Simon's career.  I am convinced that the Listmakers periodically like to torture us with bad music so their other picks seem better.  That would explain so much.

RATING: 3/5

508. Thriller

Thriller
Michael Jackson
1982

Tracks
1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
2. Baby Be Mine
3. Girl Is Mine
4. Thriller
5. Beat It
6. Billie Jean
7. Human Nature
8. PYT (Pretty Young Thing)
9. Lady In My Life

With so many obscure albums on The List, we finally reach one that everyone has heard of.  And it's a lot worse than the obscure albums.

I just read that this is the best selling album of all time, which is definitely surprising.  I am not saying there are no good songs.  I've always like "Human Nature" and well...that's about it for this album.  "PYT" just creeps me out in hindsight,  "Thriller" is cheesy as fuck (although I am sure some would argue that's what is fun about it), and I find "Billie Jean" to be...upsetting.  

I know a lot of my Michael Jackson related revulsion comes from what came out in later years.  But even disregarding that, the childlike voice is creepy.  Definitely skippable.

RATING: 2/5

495. The Visitors

The Visitors
ABBA
1981

Tracks
1. Visitors 
2. Head Over Heels 
3. When All Is Said And Done 
4. Soldiers 
5. I Let The Music Speak 
6. One Of Us 
7. Two For The Price Of One
8. Slipping Through My Fingers
9. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room 

ABBA is so horribly overexposed that I can't tell if my dislike of them is warranted or simply a result of fatigue.  The Listmakers must be huge ABBAs fans, as I haven't been able to escape them in my movie blog either.  I half expect the 1001 book list to squeeze them in somehow.  Thankfully, I hadn't heard a lot of the songs in this album so I was able to extract some novelty from this experience.

So far it hasn't seemed like any eighties band is intent on wowing us with their vocal talents.  I miss hearing truly unique voices, like Nico or Joan Baez.  The vocals on this whetted my appetite for the exceptional a little bit, but for the most part, there wasn't anything particular memorable about this album.

Hey, it could be worse.  There are albums on this List that have made me want to abandon this project in its entirety.  This was kind of forgettable, but not unpleasant.

RATING: 3/5