649. Djam Leelii

Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck
1989

Tracks
1. Lam Tooro
2. Loodo
3. Muudo Hormo
4. Salminanam
5. Maacina Tooro
6. Djam Leelii
7. Bibbe Leydy
8. Sehilam
9. Kettodee

As I was jamming along to this album, it occurred to me that I have absolutely no idea what they are saying, and they could very well be saying terribly offensive things as I am proclaiming how much I love this. 

But I suppose music transcends language, so I don't think it is too important that I don't understand the lyrics. Instead, I was just swept along for the ride and was able to enjoy every second of it.

I like hearing from other countries, considering how anglocentric this List is. A fun break from some of the more overproduced albums on the List.

RATING: 4/5

648. Raw Like Sushi

Raw Like Sushi

Neneh Cherry

1989

Tracks

1. Buffalo Stance
2. Manchild
3. Kisses On The Wind
4. Inna City Mamma
5. Next Generation
6. Love Ghetto
7. Heart
8. Phoney Ladies
9. Outre Risque Locomotive
10. So Here I Come

It's nice to see the List branching out to include some other nationalities other than English/American. We've been stuck in Manchester too long. That being said, can we all agree that Swedish music is rough?

I think it is pretty essential that a rapper be good at dishing out burns. Neneh Cherry is not. I thought Heart was incredibly cringey. "Chocolates, bananas, doughnuts, and salami/ Ain't gonna fit 'cause you're full of bologna." Weirdly enough, I'd rather listen to Queen Latifah's self-aggrandizing than Cherry tearing down other women for "stealing her man." Oh, honey.

Tomorrow, we travel to Senegal!

RATING: 2/5

647. The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
1989

Tracks
1. I Wanna Be Adored
2. She Bangs The Drums
3. Waterfall
4. Don't Stop
5. Bye Bye Bad Man
6. Elizabeth My Dear
7. Song For My Sugar Spun Sister
8. Made Of Stone
9. Shoot You Down
10. This Is The One
11. I Am The Resurrection

So this is an odd entry on the List. People either seem to think this is the best album of all time, or they've never heard of it. There's also the third sect that seems to think it is the most overrated album of all time. In other words, we are all upset about the amount of coverage this album gets.

In my opinion, this was a really good album. Maybe not the best album of all time, but it doesn't need to be. All of these songs are very catchy and are a fun throwback to the Byrds/Beatles era. Ian Brown's vocals were especially impressive.

An excellent album that never drags. It was particularly welcome after yesterday's jazz punk ordeal. Next up, Swedish rap. Hmm...

RATING: 5/5

646. Spy vs. Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman

Spy vs. Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
1989

Tracks
1. WRU
2. Chronology
3. Word For Bird
4. Good Old Days
5. Disguise
6. Enfant
7. Rejoicing
8. Blues Connotation
9. C And D
10. Chippie
11. Peace Warriors
12. Ecars
13. Feet Music
14. Broadway Blues
15. Space Church
16. Zig Zag
17. Mob Job

What happens when you combine jazz and punk? Nothing good, apparently, although I probably could have told you that before I listened to forty minutes of this headache inducing album.

This is one of those albums that I think is only present on this List because it fused some genres together that nobody else ever did (for good reason), so it is the only one of its kind. So Listmakers, you got me. I guess technically this is the best jazz punk album I've ever heard. 

Not every genre has to breed for Nayru's sake. The 80s and I might not be parting on the best terms.

RATING: 1/5

645. L'Eau Rouge

L'Eau Rouge
The Young Gods
1989

Tracks
1. La Fille De La Mort
2. Rue Des Tempetes
3. L'Eau Rouge
4. Charlotte
5. Longue Route
6. Crier Les Chiens
7. Ville Notre
8. Les Enfants
9. L'Amourir
10. Pas Mal

It's even harder to care about Swiss industrial music than usual, with every insane thing happening right now in my country. But the beat goes on, so let's see what the Young Gods have gifted us with today.

The lyrics are a mix of German, French, and English, and the album mostly consists of orchestral loops. I don't find experimental albums very enjoyable to listen to; even when you like them, they never seem to graduate past "novelties." So this isn't the worst novelty album I have ever heard, but I didn't find it terribly interesting either.

As a side note to my readers, please feel free to reach out (privately or publicly) if you need somebody to talk to. You have an ally in me.:) #BLM

RATING: 2/5

644. Paul's Boutique

Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
1989

Tracks
1. To All The Girls
2. Shake Your Rump
3. Johnny Ryall
4. Egg Man
5. High Plains Drifter
6. Sounds Of Science
7. Three Minute Rule
8. Hey Ladies
9. Five Piece Chicken Dinner
10. Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun
11. Car Thief
12. What Comes Around
13. Shadrach
14. Ask For Janice
15. B Boy Bouillabaisse

It's always fun to reach an album that doesn't take itself too seriously, especially with what we have looming on the horizon (Swiss industrial music, heaven help us). I didn't think this was as good as Licensed to Ill, but I still had fun with this one.

Okay, so it's a little obnoxious. Actually, it's more than a little obnoxious, particularly with tracks like Five Piece Chicken Dinner. Still, it's interesting spotting all of the sampling and some of the lyrics are quite funny.

This reminds me of a creative writing class I took in college, where we had to write found poems. They can turn out pretty cool, although they are never as satisfying as pieces you created all yourself. 

RATING: 3/5

643. fROMOHIO

fROMOHIO
fIREHOSE
1989

Tracks
1. Riddle of the Eighties
2. In My Mind
3. Whisperin' While Hollerin'
4. Vastopol
5. Mas Cojones
6. What Gets Heard
7. Let the Drummer Have Some
8. Liberty for Our Friend
9. Time with You
10. If'n
11. Some Things
12. Understanding
13. 'Nuf That Shit, George
14. Softest Hammer

fIREHOSE is not the first band/artist to insist on audacious grammar, and unfortunately, probably won't be the last. It feels unnecessary to me; like you are trying to distract from your own talent. I might just be trying to justify my own grammar-mania though.

In any upper case (HA!), this was very good. I liked the folk influences, and it didn't overstay its welcome. I was actually disappointed when it ended so quickly, it is just a little over 30 minutes. But I think the length is part of the reason for its punchiness, so I won't complain too much.

Tomorrow I am going to start my Monday morning off with a Beastie Boys album and it will be delicious. 

RATING: 3/5