Ocean Rain
Echo and the Bunnymen
1984
Tracks
1. Silver
2. Nocturnal Me
3. Crystal Days
4. Yo Yo Man
5. Thorn of Crowns
6. Killing Moon
7. Seven Seas
8. My Kingdom
9. Ocean Rain
I wasn't able to find this album in its entirety on YouTube, but I did watch live versions of all the tracks, which I think still counts. I am going to assume that Ian McCulloch's voice didn't crack quite as much on the studio version, but who knows. Perhaps "Nocturnal Me" was meant to be a painful experience.
That being said, I did enjoy this album. Sure, it's a bit pretentious, but "Killing Moon" and "Crystal Days" made it worth it. While it was a bit gothic for my tastes, I am still ultimately pleased with this entry.
RATING: 3/5
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
Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
1984
Tracks
1. Mick's Blessings
2. Whole Point Of No Return
3. Me Ship Came In
4. Blue Cafe
5. Paris Match
6. My Ever Changing Moods
7. Dropping Bombs On The White House
8. Gospel
9. Strength Of Your Nature
10. You're The Best Thing
11. Here's One That Got Away
12. Headstart For Happiness
13. Council Meetin'
Perhaps it's my advancing age, but I did not dislike this jazz album as much as I usually do. It was upbeat and cheery, and I only wish that Studio Council had stuck to its strengths. A few of their tracks really grated; I kept checking to see how much more of "Strength of Your Nature" I had to endure. Would it have killed them to write a few more lines in that song?
Still, it was an experiment and I appreciate what they were trying to do with blending so many genres. But maybe stay away from hip hop...or whatever that song was.
RATING: 3/5
Let It Be
The Replacements
1984
Tracks
1. I Will Dare
2. Favorite Thing
3. We're Comin' Out
4. Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
5. Androgynous
6. Black Diamond
7. Unsatisfied
8. Seen Your Video
9. Gary's Got a Boner
10. Sixteen Blue
11. Answering Machine
Well, that was a mixed bag. Predictably, I did not find the song "Gary's Got a Boner" to be particularly enjoyable. But other tracks, such as "I Will Dare" really blew me away, and I was surprised that I hadn't heard it before.
Still, the unevenness of this album prevents it from ever being a favorite. I would only recommend "Androgynous," "I Will Dare," and "Black Diamond." Everything else is skippable.
Apologies for the short review, but I am trying to catch up on quite a few writing assignments today. Next up, The Style Council! Uh oh.
RATING: 4/5
Purple Rain
Prince
1984
Tracks
1. Let's Go Crazy
2. Take Me With U
3. Beautiful Ones
4. Computer Blue
5. Darling Nikki
6. When Doves Cry
7. I Would Die 4 U
8. Baby I'm A Star
9. Purple Rain
I have never seen Purple Rain and after listening to "Darling Nikki" I'm not sure I want to. But this album on its own is quite good, even if I still don't fully grasp the allure of Prince.
It's a bit amusing that Justin Timberlake performed "I Would Die 4 U" as a tribute to Prince during the Super Bowl when Prince had pretty much said the notion of forcing yourself on dead musicians disgusted him. Poor misunderstood Prince.
Anyway, a smart, catchy album, but I will happily avoid seeing this man's acting chops.
RATING: 4/5
1984
Van Halen
1984
Tracks
1. 1984
2. Jump
3. Panama
4. Top Jimmy
5. Drop Dead Legs
6. Hot For Teacher
7. I'll Wait
8. Girl Gone Bad
9. House Of Pain
Once again, I am in a period of convalescence and once again I find myself turning to the albums for comfort. Sometimes this has disastrous results, because some of these albums have the power to transform budding headaches into full blown migraines (see Minor Threat). Fortunately, this album was a complete delight.
Like most people, I was familiar with many of the songs on this album. Still, listening to the full album at once allows you to appreciate how brilliant and cohesive it really is. Now obviously this album heavily reflects the male experience, but I found it enlightening rather than alienating.
Next up: Prince!
RATING: 4/5
Out of Step
Minor Threat
1984
Tracks
1. Betray
2. It Follows
3. Think Again
4. Look Back and Laugh
5. Sob Story
6. No Reason
7. Little Friend
8. Out of Step
9. Cashing In
Note to self: do not listen to hardcore punk when you are battling a headache. This album is only 20 minutes, which is perhaps the only nice thing I can say about it. It offers the very worst of punk: unintelligible lyrics that are screeched at maximum volume.
Now, I know I am not being particularly objective here, considering my crankiness. But I can't think of a worst criticism of an album than it makes sick people feel worse. Next up: Van Halen!
RATING: 2/5
