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

507. Rip It Up

Rip It Up
Orange Juice
1982

Tracks
1. Rip It Up
2. Mud In Your Eye
3. Breakfast Time
4. Flesh Of My Flesh
5. Hokoyo
6. Million Pleading Faces
7. Turn Away
8. I Can't Help Myself
9. Louise Louise
10. Tenterhooks

Why do I keep listening to the rereleases of these albums?  It's always worse than the original.  It's like movie reboots and sequels.  Why can't they leave well enough alone?  Instead they had to include this extra strange track where the band jokes about touching kids?  Considering the next album on this List, this might be a case of ominous foreshadowing.

Other than that, this was a perfectly respectable album.  Perhaps a little generic and forgettable, but enjoyable nonetheless.  With some notable exceptions, there haven't been a lot of risk taking albums lately.  Child molestation references outside.

Still worth listening to, but don't expect to be wowed.

RATING: 3/5

506. The Dreaming

The Dreaming
Kate Bush
1982

Tracks
1. Sat In Your Lap
2. There Goes A Tenner 
3. Pull Out The Pin 
4. Suspended In Gaffa 
5. Leave It Open 
6. Dreamin' 
7. Night Of The Swallow 
8. All The Love 
9. Houdini 
10. Get Out Of My House 

Well, I knew I would like this, as I have always had fun with angsty women.  Speaking of which, I have gotten into Camp Cope lately, which is a band that I am sure was heavily influenced by Kate Bush.

Anyway, I love unusual female voices (I miss the days when Nico was on this blog) so this was quite enjoyable for me.  More than that, her lyrics were very poetic and beautiful.  I will say that I enjoyed brooding Kate more than angry Kate; I just felt that melancholy suited her voice better.  

One more album to go before Thriller.  Hold onto your butts. 

RATING: 4/5

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

504. The Nightfly

The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
1982

Tracks
1. IGY 
2. Green Flower Street 
3. Ruby Baby 
4. Maxine 
5. New Frontier 
6. Nightfly 
7. Goodbye Look 
8. Walk Between Raindrops 

Perhaps I am just getting soft in my old age, but we have had some great albums lately.  I probably just jinxed myself.  In fact, I just checked and Thriller is coming up.  So definitely a jinx.

So this was a fun album that was surprisingly catchy.  I would never have expected to enjoy a jazz fusion album, so this came as a very pleasant surprise.  Of course, there was a decent amount of cheese, but thankfully, I'm not lactose intolerant.

Next up, Haircut One Hundred.  I wish I could get through one day without hearing about that band...

RATING: 4/5

503. Rise and Fall

Rise and Fall
Madness
1982

Tracks
1. Rise And Fall
2. Tomorrow's Just Another Day
3. Blue Skinned Beast
4. Primrose Hill
5. Mr Speaker Gets The Word
6. Sunday Morning
7. Our House
8. Tiptoes
9. New Delhi
10. That Face
11. Calling Cards
12. Are You Coming (With Me)
13. Madness (It's All In The Mind)

I lived in London in 2015 and miss it every day.  I spend a lot of time pining for those days so this album was a perfect fit.

The only song I had heard off this album before was "Our House."  It was probably the best song, mostly because it perfectly captured the mood of the album.  Nostalgic but still lots of fun.  I might have actually mistaken this for a Kinks album if the vocals weren't so unique.

There have been lots of great albums lately.  I hope they keep it up!

RATING: 5/5

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