544. Rattlesnakes

Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
1984

Tracks
1. Perfect Skin 
2. Speedboat 
3. Rattlesnakes 
4. Down On Mission Street 
5. Forest Fire 
6. Charlotte Street 
7. 2cv 
8. Four Flights Up 
9. Patience 
10. Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? 

We continue our streak of decent to superb albums with "Rattlesnakes." I will once again demonstrate my musical ignorance by admitting that I had never heard of Lloyd Cole before. I really liked my first foray into his music and I hope he is represented on the List again.

All of the songs were fairly catchy and Lloyd Cole has a pretty unique voice that manages to be soft and powerful at the same time. I particularly enjoyed "Patience" and "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?" Damn, we haven't had good love songs like that in awhile. They warm my shriveled heart.

RATING: 4/5

543. Double Nickels on the Dime

Double Nickels on the Dime
The Minutemen
1984

Tracks
1. D.'s Car Jam/Anxious Mo-Fo 
2. Theatre Is The Life Of You 
3. Viet Nam 
4. Cohesion 
5. It's Expected I'm Gone 
6. #1 Hit Song 
7. Two Beads At The End 
8. Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth 
9. Don't Look Now 
10. Shit From An Old Notebook 
11. Nature Without Man 
12. One Reporter's Opinion 
13. Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing 
14. Maybe Partying Will Help 
15. Toadies 
16. Retreat 
17. Big Foist 
18. God Bows To Math 
19. Corona 
20. Glory Of Man 
21. Take 5 D. 
22. My Heart And The Real World 
23. History Lesson 
24. You Need The Glory 
25. Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts 
26. West Germany 
27. Politics Of Time 
28. Themselves 
29. Please Don't Be Gentle With Me 
30. Nothing Indeed 
31. No Exchange 
32. There Ain't Shit On T.V. Tonight 
33. This Ain't No Picnic 
34. Spillage 
35. Untitled Song For Latin America 
36. Jesus And Tequila 
37. June 16th 
38. Storm In My House 
39. Martin's Story 
40. Dr. Wu 
41. World According To Nouns 
42. Love Dance 
43. Three Car Jam

Thankfully, this album is not as long as it seems, as some of the songs don't even reach the two minute mark. Perhaps this is the reason for the band's name. As far as nicknames go, it seems rather cruel.

This band has a really great sense of humor, but that didn't exactly translate into music I enjoyed listening to. Sometimes it's hard to articulate why you don't like a certain album and if I knew how, I probably wouldn't have so many haters. I would be a beach somewhere, drinking mai tais and dissing Queen.

Anyway, a perfectly acceptable album, and maybe good for a few laughs. Otherwise, can easily be skipped.

RATING: 3/5

542. Ocean Rain

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

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

540. Cafe Bleu

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

539. Let It Be

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

538. Purple Rain

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