January 4, 2024 by A.S. Van Dorston

A transitional year sees innovations in post-hardcore/industrial/punk, early grunge, hip hop and metal.

1989 was a transitional year. In the mainstream, rock music was about as unfashionable as it is today, with the charts being dominated by Madonna, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Cher, Garth Brooks, Michael Bolton and Milli Vanilli. Only Queen and Aerosmith had albums that made the top ten for the year, with Motley Crue, Tom Petty and Skid Row just outside it. A good number of bands in the indie/alt scene were making concerted pushes with major label albums to try to crossover to the mainstream, including Pixies, XTC, The Mighty Lemondrops, Camper Van Beethoven, The Cult, Soundgarden, Eleventh Dream Day, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Ministry, Throwing Muses, The Psychedelic Furs, New Order, Love And Rockets, Hoodoo Gurus, Screaming Blue Messiahs, The Godfathers, even Naked Raygun. The only bands to have much commercial success was the top seller of the Lucky 13, The Cure at #39 overall for the year. Nine Inch Nails also made the top 40. Not even Beastie Boys sold very well. Looking at it from that perspective, with most of the above bands having passed their peak, it looks pretty dismal compared to say, 1986.

That said, these artists did reach the top 10 of the British charts for at least a week: New Order, Elvis Costello, The Cult, Pixies, Simple Minds, The Cure, The The, Queen, Neneh Cherry, Tom Petty, The Pogues, Alice Cooper, Tears For Fears, Marillion and Kate Bush.

However, the underground scenes of post-punk, post-industrial metal, death metal, dream pop, ambient pop were bubbling up and more than make up for the lackluster charts with groundbreaking creativity that will fuel innovation and creative energy into the 90s. Fugazi and NoMeansNo would show how it’s possible to be uncompromising, stay independent and charge affordable prices for shows and be successful. Godflesh and Beastie Boys pioneered new sounds while Melvins, Nirvana and Pixies gave glimpses of the near future. So even a slightly off year is still a good year for new music.

Genre

Ambient Pop & Sophisti-Pop were quietly brewing up some pretty influential albums from The Blue Nile, Julee Cruise and A.R. Kane, sowing the seeds for Trip Hop and Post-Rock.

Comeback

In the 80s, six years and two disappointing albums seemed like a big deal, a career-ending sort of thing. But Lou Reed proved he could bounce back fully invigorated on New York. If only he’d gone on to collaborate with tourmates The Feelies. Similarly Black Sabbath made a good album after the same time period lull.

Debut

The Lucky 13 had four stellar debuts from Fugazi, The New Christs, Godflesh and Nirvana. Three would make significant, and very different cultural impacts on the following decade. Bubbling under were De La Soul, Bitch Magnet, Mudhoney, Slint, Buffalo Tom and The Stone Roses.

Memoriam

Vincent Crame (45, Arthur Brown/Atomic Rooster), John Cipollina (45, Quicksilver Messenger Service), Pete de Freitas (27, Echo & the Bunnymen), Irving Berlin, Woody Shaw, Perez prado, King Tubby, Roy Eldridge. Also Salvador Dali, John Cassavetes, Mel Blanc, Laurence Olivier, Raul Seixas.

Underrated

I had friends who were fans of legendary underground down under garage punkers Radio Birdman, but no one seemed to know about Rob Younger’s new band, The New Christs. To be fair it was released only on Australian label Citadel. Not that they were all that new, having issued singles most of the decade, but it was certainly one of the coolest albums of the year. Also Garage Noir as a genre tag should have taken off.

Disappointment

It’s hard to limit to just one. Despite still making the Lucky 13, I was pretty savagely disappointed by the Pixies’ second album. Hey, I was 19/20 and very passionate. Runner up was H.R.’s homophobic lyrics on Bad Brains’ “Don’t Blow No Bubbles.” Or perhaps XTC’s gaudy, busy production on Oranges and Lemons. New Order, Elvis Costello.

Surprise

Just like how death metal re-calibrated the amount of speed and intensity I could handle the previous year, I did not see Godflesh coming. Like a sneak attack from a steamroller, I SHOULD have heard it coming, having seen Head of David live, but no. I was taken by surprise.

Fester’s Lucky 13 – The Best Albums of 1989

1. Fugazi – 13 Songs (Dischord)

Technically 13 Songs is a compilation of Fugazi’s first two EPs. But it was also their first CD release, the same year as Margin Walker EP. I stopped buying vinyl records for the most part in 1985, so as far as I was concerned, this was their debut album, and an amazing one at that.

2. The New Christs – Distemper (Citadel)

The New Christs album featured in the previous year’s Lucky 13, Divine Rights (1988) was a singles compilation, but a great one up there with Singles Going Steady. The long-time coming debut album Distemper (1989) is without a doubt their masterpiece, the culmination of everything they learned making the singles into a cohesive, fiery album, screwing down the seething anger into a boiling menace. “No Way On Earth” and “Another Sin” kick off the album with tight, terse rockers, but the album progressively gets more unhinged as Younger battles with his emotional demons, with the anguished dirges “The March,” “Afterburn” and “Bed Of Nails” influencing the next generation of bands like The Drones, The Volcanics and Hits. “Circus Of Sour” seems to confront the distorted circus monster of the cover from his childhood nightmares. The epic “Disconnected” wraps up the album with the suitably mixed feelings of closure and ennui. This album deserves to be enshrined and worshipped as one of the all-time greats. It’s still available direct from Citadel. Shortly after its release, the band disintegrated during a European tour, which contributed to this album’s lost classic status.

3. NoMeansNo – Wrong (Alternative Tentacles)

Fugazi wasn’t the only post-hardcore art punk band pushing boundaries and setting pristine examples for integrity. Canada’s NoMeansNo was at it since 1980, saying no to big labels and expensive concert tickets. Their fourth full length has them both at their most experimental, and fiercest. More people need to hear this highwater mark.

4. Godflesh – Streetcleaner (Earache)

Justin Broadrick’s quest for the ultimate heavy sounds began with the grindcore of Napalm Death and industrial rock of Head of David, and continued with Fall Of Because, essentially an early prototype for Godflesh. After an impressive EP, the debut landed on earth like a fallen moon, crushing everything under it. I saw this played at the radio station on the metal show alongside Death and Carcass. It featured on my post-punk show, and others’ industrial rock. Everyone who heard it was in awe of it’s power. 30 years later it’s still melting brains.

5. The Cure – Disintegration (Elektra)

For some reason, The Cure’s Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987) is known as the sprawling double album, but Disintegration not, despite the fact that, at 1:12:12, it’s just a minute shorter. Blame it on the confusing CD era. While I still favor Pornography (1982) and even Faith (1981), this is unsurprisingly considered by most as the band’s peak, as it’s a perfect balance of gloomy and gorgeous, pop and dirge. Goth and dream pop are bonus add-ons to their venerable post-punk, but on the strength of the trio of singles “Pictures of You,” “Lovesong” and “Fascination Street,” The Cure has transcended genre and become their own stadium-filling brand.

6. Melvins – Ozma (Boner)

While RYM tags Melvins’ second full-length as sludge metal, doom and grunge, the band defies categories. There were no words really to neatly describe the Melvins, because they were blazing trails, and also they were a freakin’ mess. Rhythms were unpredictable, switching from a slow trudge to explosive ferocity with no warning. King Buzzo’s vocals sounded like Bobcat Goldthwait having a breakdown. And while they would test fans’ patience with drones and other indulgences in the future, Ozma was also a really fun rock album.

7. Nirvana – Bleach (Sub Pop)

Mudhoney was still my favorite Sub Pop band when Nirvana released their debut on June 15. I had it on a tape along with The Fluid and Cat Butt, and had no special expectations for them. However, their nice, chonky low-end sound influenced by their mates the Melvins got my attention, and Kurt’s voice held it. Come November, Mudhoney’s debut full-length failed to meet expectations, and Nirvana became the best band on the roster.

8. Pixies – Doolittle (Elektra)

I seemed to be in a minority thinking that the Pixies would never top Surfer Rosa (1988), but it goes to show how great they were that they could lose some of the untethered feral beauty of their debut but still multiply their fanbase with a batch of unforgettable songs. What they lost from moving on from the Steve Albini-assisted explosive noise rock, they gained in shimmering beauty worthy of the best bands on the 4AD label. The secret weapon wasn’t Kim Deal, who’s best work would come with the Breeders, but Joey Santiago’s surf noir guitar licks.

9. Blue Nile – Hats (Virgin)

I suspected the post-adult contemporary sophisti-pop of The Blue Nile was what “adulting” sounded like. Not quite. Adult live would never live up to the elegantly stylish and lush perfection of this meticulously recorded sophomore release, which the band spent five years on. In the 1980s, that’s a long time. RIYL: Robert Wyatt, John Cale, Tears For Fears, Talk Talk, Sade.

10. Breathless – Chasing Promises (Tenor Vossa)

Despite the fact that singer/keyboardist Dominic Appleton appeared on This Mortal Coil’s Filigree And Shadow (1986) and Blood (1991), Breathless are truly obscure. It seems the reason is that they released all seven of their albums themselves on their Tenor Vossa label. Running your own label isn’t always a bad choice if you do it right, like Dischord or Merge. But from the quality of their music it’s clear that had they signed to, say, 4AD, they could easily have been at least as successful as Cocteau Twins. The band has never released a weak album, including their most recent, See Those Colours Fly (2022). Schoolmates Appleton and guitarist Gary Mundy played together in A Cruel Memory before forming Breathless in the early 80s, rooted in the sweeping, anthem-like qualities of Echo & the Bunnymen and lush, darkly atmospheric stylings of The Chameleons. Their debut The Glass Bead Game (1985) sees them emerged fully formed and firing on all cylinders, while Chasing Promises (1989) is a fan favorite amongst their tiny cult audience. RIYL: Comsat Angels, Cocteau Twins, The Cure.

11. Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique (Capitol)

I was not a big fan of the Beastie Boys’ debut album. No matter how ironic their intentions in supposedly satirizing misogynist frat lout culture, they also inevitably embodied and promoted it. I engineered my life to stay far away from the douchebros. And yet, I did like hip hop, and the band’s growth on their second album was undeniable. The Dust Brothers had amassed a dense collection of sample heavy music, and when they were set to work with the band, they offered to strip it down so they could rhyme over it more easily. To their credit, they said leave the the complexity in, they’ll work until it works. And man, did it work, pushing the genre forward into new territory. Somehow, despite featuring several hundred samples and even several Beatles snippets, they were able to afford to license everything, or at least not get sued into oblivion. That situation quickly changed so most other artists did not have that opportunity to use such a dense, sample-heavy patchwork. So whether they deserved it or not, Beastie Boys’ landmark album was one of a kind.

12. The The – Mind Bomb (Epic)

I loved Matt Johnson’s first two albums as The The so much, it was puzzling why his third left me cold at first. Perhaps I was distracted by the fact that Johnny Marr joined forces with him, but there was no sign of his signature jangle riffs. This is smooth, sophisticated art pop with lyrics that still snap at your fingers, and continued to grow on me in subsequent decades.

13. New Model Army – Thunder & Consolation (Capitol)

Considered by some as the new Clash, a title New Model Army at least deserves more than The Alarm, they released their masterpiece with their fourth album. Lead by legendary producer Tom Dowd (tons of jazz greats, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Cream, Allman Brothers), they balance their punk fury with anthemic folk rock. This should have been good enough to achieve close to U2 level success, but alas, it stalled at mere Waterboys level. Bloodied but unbowed, they persisted with an impressive string of consistently great albums, their sixteenth, Unbroken, due January 24.

Spotify Mix | Tidal

Fugazi – 13 Songs (Dischord) | USA | Bandcamp
The New Christs – Distemper (Citadel) | Australia
NoMeansNo – Wrong (Alternative Tentacles) | Canada | Bandcamp
The Cure – Disintegration (Elektra) | UK
Godflesh – Streetcleaner (Mosh/Earache) | UK | Bandcamp
Melvins – Ozma (Boner) | USA
Nirvana – Bleach (Sub Pop) | USA | Bandcamp
Pixies – Doolittle (Elektra) | USA
Breathless – Chasing Promises (Tenor Vossa) | UK
Passion Fodder – Woke Up This Morning (Beggars Banquet) | France
Death Of Samantha – Come All Ye Faithless (Homestead) | USA
The Blue Nile – Hats (A&M/Virgin) | UK
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – Queen Elvis (A&M) | UK
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique (Capitol) | USA
The The – Mind Bomb (Epic) | UK
New Model Army – Thunder & Consolation (Capitol) | UK
The Wedding Present – Bizarro (RCA) | UK
Caspar Brötzmann Massaker – Black Axis (Marat/Southern Lord) | Germany | Bandcamp
Felt – Me And A Monkey On The Moon (Cherry Red) | UK | Bandcamp
Coroner – No More Color (Noise) | Switzerland | Bandcamp
Bitch Magnet – Umber (Communion) | USA | Bandcamp
Cosmic Psychos – Go The Hack (Sub Pop) | Australia
De La Soul – Three Feet And Rising (Tommy Boy) | USA | Bandcamp
My Dad Is Dead – The Taller You Are, The Shorter You Get (Homestead) | USA | Bandcamp
Voivod – Nothingface (Mechanic) | Canada
Bad Brains – Quickness (Caroline) | USA | Bandcamp
Naked Raygun – Understand? (Caroline/Quarterstick) | USA | Bandcamp
The Pastels – Sittin’ Pretty (Homestead) | UK
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Shahen-Shah (Real World) | Pakistan | Bandcamp
Peter Murphy – Deep (Beggars Banquet) | UK
Bored! – Negative Waves (Bang!) | Australia
Buffalo Tom – Buffalo Tom (SST) | USA
Kate Bush – The Sensual World (EMI) | UK
Candlemass – Tales Of Creation (Music For Nations) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – In Step (Epic) | USA
Mudhoney – Mudhoney (Sub Pop) | USA | Bandcamp
Tommy Keene – Based on Happy Times (Geffen) | USA
Ozric Tentacles – Pungent Effulgent (Dovetail) | UK | Bandcamp
Hugo Largo – Mettle (Opal) | USA
And Also The Trees – Farewell To The Shade (Reflex) | UK | Bandcamp
Slint – Tweez (Jill) | USA | Bandcamp
Einstürzende Neubauten – Haus der Luege (Rough Trade/Thirsty Ear) | Germany
Camper Van Beethoven – Key Lime Pie (Virgin) | USA
God – For Lovers Only (Au-Go-Go) | Australia
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (Silvertone) | UK
Lowlife – Godhead (Nightshift) | UK | Bandcamp
The Mighty Lemon Drops – Laughter (Sire) | UK
Crime & The City Solution – The Bride Ship (Mute) | Australia
New Order – Technique (Qwest/WB) | UK
Kreator – Extreme Agression (Epic) | Germany
Adrian Borland and the Citizens – Alexandria (SPV) | UK
Couch Flambeau – Ghostride (It’s Only A Record) | USA | Bandcamp
The Reivers – End of the Day (Capitol) | USA
F/i – Paradise Out Here (Human/Lexicon Devil) | USA
The Telescopes – Taste (What Goes On) | UK | Bandcamp
The Smithereens – 11 (Enigma) | USA
The Band of Holy Joy – Manic, Magic, Majestic (Rough Trade) | UK | Bandcamp
Morbid Angel – Altars Of Madness (Earache) | USA | Bandcamp
The Fuzztones – Creatures That Time Forgot (Music Maniac) | USA
Asylum Party – Borderline (Lively Art) | France
Ian McCulloch – Candleland (Sire) | UK
Tragic Mulatto – Hot Man Pussy (Alternative Tentacles) | USA
Dog Faced Hermans – Every Day Timebomb (DemonRadge) | Netherlands | Bandcamp
Julee Cruise – Floating Into the Night (WB) | USA
Blurt – The Kenny Rogers Greatest Hit/Take 2 (V.I.S.A.) | UK
A.C. Marias – One of Our Girls (Mute) | UK
Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire (Fire) | UK | Bandcamp
Metal Church – Blessing In Disguise (Elektra) | USA
Eleventh Dream Day – Beet (Atlantic) | USA
Bullet Lavolta – The Gift (Taang! ) | USA
Ministry – The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (Sire) | USA
XTC – Oranges And Lemons (Geffen) | UK
The Cult – Sonic Temple (Sire) | UK
Soundgarden – Louder Than Love (A&M) | USA
Andy Pawlak – Shoebox Full Of Secrets (Fontana) | UK
Running Wild – Death Or Glory (EMI/Noise) | Germany
Madonna – Like A Prayer (Sire) | USA
A.R. Kane – i (Rough Trade) | UK
The Young Gods – L’Eau Rouge (Red Water) (Play It Again Sam ) | Switzerland
Chemistry Set – The Incomplete Fabulous Stinking (Green Monkey) | USA | Bandcamp
Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine (TVT/Halo) | USA
Raw Power – Mine to Kill (Multimedia Attack) | Italy
Annihilator – Alice In Hell (Roadrunner) | Canada
The Jesus And Mary Chain – Automatic (WB) | UK
The Ocean Blue – The Ocean Blue (Sire) | USA
Bonfire – Point Blank (MSA) | Germany
The Ex – Joggers & Smoggers (Ex) | Netherlands | Bandcamp
The Steppes – Enquire Within (Voxx/Music Maniac) | USA
Spiral Jetty – Dogstar (Absolute A-Go-Go) | USA
The Cynics – Rock ‘n’ Roll (Get Hip) | USA | Bandcamp
Negativland – Helter Stupid (SST) | USA
The Crystal Set – Umbrella (Red Eye) | Australia
The Rainyard – A Thousand Days (Pretty Olivia) | Australia | Bandcamp
Flesh For Lulu – Plastic Fantastic (Beggars Banquet) | UK
Kitchens Of Distinction – Love is Hell (One Little Indian) | UK
Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 – Beasts Of No Nation (Universal) | Nigeria | Bandcamp
UT – Griller (Blast First) | USA
Patricio Rey y Sus Redonditos de Ricota – Bang Bang! Estás liquidado (Del Cielito) | Argentina
Sheila Chandra – Roots and Wings (Narada) | UK/India
Close Lobsters – Headache Rhetoric (Fire) | UK

See full list here.

Breakdown: Genre Lists

As always, you can deep dive any of these these genres with the list search. While previously I had limited an album to one genre list, it didn’t accurately reflect the multi-genre nature of many of these albums. So this year an album will show up in multiple lists. I have a widget that automatically pulls from the database, so as albums are added and moved around in the future, this will reflect it.

Psych

Those who overlook the Midwest do so at their own risk. F/i formed in Milwaukee in 1981 as an electronic project influenced by early Cluster, Tangerine Dream, and industrial like Throbbing Gristle and SPK, they released a series of cassettes. By the time they released their first LP, Why Not Now? … Alan! (1987) they had evolved into a full-blown space rock band with amp shredding guitar noise and cosmic synth swoops. Their third albums sees them at a peak. The band reunited in 2005 and recorded Blanga, as well as remastering and reissuing the early albums on Lexicon Devil in 2006, adding two bonus tracks from their vast archives, “Satellite Surfer” and “Five Crowns of the Saxon King.” Australia’s Sorcerer records has put the first two on Bandcamp, and hopefully will do the same with this one and Blue Star (1990). RIYL: Hawkwind, Amon Düül, Causa Sui, Cluster.

The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (Silvertone) | UK
F/i – Paradise Out Here (Human/Lexicon Devil) | USA
The Telescopes – Taste (What Goes On) | UK | Bandcamp
Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire (Fire) | UK | Bandcamp
The Steppes – Enquire Within (Voxx/Music Maniac) | USA
Kitchens Of Distinction – Love is Hell (One Little Indian) | UK
Outskirts Of Infinity – Scenes From the Dreams of Angels (Infinity) | UK
The Psychedelic Furs – Book Of Days (Columbia) | UK
Nick Riff – From the Heart of Oblivion (Delerium) | USA
Galaxie 500 – On Fire (Rough Trade/Ryko) | USA | Bandcamp
The Telescopes – 7th# Disaster EP (Cheree) | UK | Bandcamp
Outskirts Of Infinity – Stoned Crazy (Infinity) | UK
Screaming Trees – Buzz Factory (SST) | USA

Psych Pop & Prog Pop

Not to be confused with the British band of the same name and same era, Chemistry Set formed in Seattle in 1984 and released just an EP in 1988 and a handful of singles, including “Underground” on the famous Sub Pop 200 compilation, then promptly broke up. Green Monkey compiled most of their material on this collection, unearthing a potent mix of psych pop, jangle and fuzzed out grunge. It’s too band they didn’t stick together, they could have at least gotten the level of success as Screaming Trees. | Bandcamp

Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – Queen Elvis (A&M) | UK
The Fuzztones – Creatures That Time Forgot (Music Maniac) | USA
XTC – Oranges And Lemons (Geffen) | UK
Chemistry Set – The Incomplete Fabulous Stinking (Green Monkey) | USA | Bandcamp
The Steppes – Enquire Within (Voxx/Music Maniac) | USA
The Crystal Set – Umbrella (Red Eye) | Australia
Paul Roland – Duel (New Rose) | UK | Bandcamp
Union Carbide Productions – Financially Dissatisfied, Philosophically Trying (Radium) | Sweden
Television Personalities – Privilege (Fire) | UK | Bandcamp
Tyrnaround – Succeeds When Daylight Fails (PolyEster) | UK
The Deep Freeze Mice – The Tender Yellow Ponies of Insomnia (Cordelia) | UK
Tears For Fears – The Seeds Of Love (Fontana) | UK
Marshmallow Overcoat – Try On (Skyclad) | USA

Noir (Folk, Garage, Psych, Punk, Surf)

It was no easy task matching Eleventh Dream Day’s absolutely scorching debut Prairie School Freakout (1988), and basically they didn’t. The major label debut sands down the rough edges in a subtle but still noticeable manner, making the guitars more beefy but less unruly. And the sprawling Gun Club/Crazy Horse epic jams are reigned in. In hindsight, the compromises done for Atlantic were a waste of time, as they never caught on to a wider audience. They went back to making excellent indie albums a couple times a decade and playing occasional shows mostly in their hometown of Chicago. But in retrospect, they’ve rarely matched the best songs here, which make up just over half the album.

The New Christs – Distemper (Citadel) | Australia
Crime & The City Solution – The Bride Ship (Mute) | Australia
Eleventh Dream Day – Beet (Atlantic) | USA
Dead Moon – Unknown Passage (Tombstone/Music Maniac) | USA | Bandcamp
Snatches Of Pink – Dead Men (Dog Gone) | USA | Bandcamp
Stone By Stone – I Pass For Human (SST) | USA

Prog

Prog wasn’t on a lot of people’s radar in 1989, but there was some very interesting crossover happening with metal bands. Case in point, Montreal’s Voivod, who evolved from early speed metal in 1982 to thrash, to a trilogy of wildly creative fusions of technical thrash and avant-garde metal, prog on Killing Technology (1987) and Dimension Hatröss (1988), and on their latest, even some post-punk and post-hardcore. Down in Austin, Watchtower was doing similarly impressive things, but wouldn’t get much credit until long after their sole two albums were released.

Voivod – Nothingface (Mechanic) | Canada
Savatage – Gutter Ballet (Atlantic) | USA
It Bites – Eat Me in Saint Louis (Virgin) | UK
King Diamond – Conspiracy (Roadrunner) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Watchtower – Control And Resistance (Noise) | USA
Toxik – Think This (Roadrunner) | USA
Cardiacs – On Land And In The Sea (Alphabet) | UK | Bandcamp
Fates Warning – Perfect Symmetry (Metal Blade) | USA | Bandcamp
Mekong Delta – Principles Of Doubt (Aaarrg) | Germany
Devil Doll – The Girl Who Was… Death (Hurdy Gurdy) | Slovenia
Kenso – Sparta (Crime) | Japan
Marillion – Seasons End (EMI) | UK
Joe Satriani – Flying in a Blue Dream (Relativity) | USA

Punk & Post-Punk

Post-Punk was mutating in fascinating ways in 1989, and given that the top six from this list were also in the overall Lucky 13, I was all in. My Dad Is Dead started as a one man project by Chapel Hill via Cleveland’s Mark Edwards as a morose, Joy Division influenced tribute to his deceased father. His vocals, songwriting, arrangements and recording improved with every album, and his fifth, a double album, is Edwards at his peak, adding diverse elements like jangle pop, with an assist from Chris Burgess (bass, production) of Prisonshake. A remixed version with bonus tracks was reissued in 2014, sounding better than ever. 30 years later, it’s charms continue to unfold.

Fugazi – 13 Songs (Dischord) | USA | Bandcamp
The New Christs – Distemper (Citadel) | Australia
NoMeansNo – Wrong (Alternative Tentacles) | Canada | Bandcamp
The Cure – Disintegration (Elektra) | UK
Melvins – Ozma (Boner) | USA
Nirvana – Bleach (Sub Pop) | USA | Bandcamp
Breathless – Chasing Promises (Tenor Vossa) | UK
Passion Fodder – Woke Up This Morning (Beggars Banquet) | France
Death Of Samantha – Come All Ye Faithless (Homestead) | USA
New Model Army – Thunder & Consolation (Capitol) | UK
Bitch Magnet – Umber (Communion) | USA | Bandcamp
My Dad Is Dead – The Taller You Are, The Shorter You Get (Homestead) | USA | Bandcamp
Bad Brains – Quickness (Caroline) | USA | Bandcamp

Garage Rock

When Mudhoney released the Superfuzz Bigmuff EP in 1988, they were clearly the frontrunners in Seattle’s indie garage rock scene, which would only later be referred to as grunge. Compared to that, their debut full length was actually a big disappointment. It lacked the explosive power and originality of the EP, instead relying too much on Stooges influences, and even plagiarizing Blue Cheer (“Magnolia Caboose Babyshit” is an uncredited cover of “Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger”). Nevertheless, compared to their later even more uninspired albums, this at least reminds us of what could have been. Garage punkers Bored! from the small but feisty Geelong scene in Australia (a book was just released about it, just $215) demonstrate what SHOULD have been. They too had a promising EP in 1988, and their scorching debut was much more satisfying. With five entries in the top ten Australia was kicking all kinds of ass.

The New Christs – Distemper (Citadel) | Australia
Pixies – Doolittle (Elektra) | USA
Death Of Samantha – Come All Ye Faithless (Homestead) | USA
Cosmic Psychos – Go The Hack (Sub Pop) | Australia
Bored! – Negative Waves (Bang!) | Australia
Mudhoney – Mudhoney (Sub Pop) | USA | Bandcamp
God – For Lovers Only (Au-Go-Go) | Australia
Crime & The City Solution – The Bride Ship (Mute) | Australia
The Fuzztones – Creatures That Time Forgot (Music Maniac) | USA
Eleventh Dream Day – Beet (Atlantic) | USA
The Steppes – Enquire Within (Voxx/Music Maniac) | USA
The Cynics – Rock ‘n’ Roll (Get Hip) | USA | Bandcamp
feedtime – Suction (Aberrant) | Australia | Bandcamp

Hard Rock

My favorite albums by The Cult are Love (1985) and Electric (1987), but the fan favorite appears to be their fourth album, produced by Bob Rock. It took me a while to get on board with it, but when I saw The Cult perform Love in it’s entirety a decade ago, the tracks from Sonic Temple were a fun encore. If ever an album should have pushed them into mainstream stardom it would have been this. But the end of the 80s was a weird time of transition, as heavy metal was evolving into death metal, technical trash and dozens of other extreme subgenres, glam rock making way for alt rock (Jane’s Addiction were kind of both) and grunge. They got some spins on MTV with “Fire Woman,” “Edie (Ciao Baby)” and “Sun King,” and were at least able to headline medium sized venues if not stadiums.

Bullet Lavolta – The Gift (Taang! ) | USA
The Cult – Sonic Temple (Sire) | UK
Soundgarden – Louder Than Love (A&M) | USA
Bonfire – Point Blank (MSA) | Germany
Patricio Rey y Sus Redonditos de Ricota – Bang Bang! Estás liquidado (Del Cielito) | Argentina
Faith No More – The Real Thing (Slash) | USA
It Bites – Eat Me in Saint Louis (Virgin) | UK
The Fuzztones – In Heat (Beggars Banquet) | USA
D.A.D. – No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims (WB) | Denmark
Skid Row – Skid Row (Atlantic) | USA
Alice Cooper – Trash (Epic) | USA
Kingdom Come – In Your Face (Polydor) | Germany
Tesla – The Great Radio Controversy (Geffen) | USA

Heavy Metal

Black Sabbath’s popularity kind of hit a nadir in the late 80s with two of their least rated albums, Seventh Star (1986, originally meant to be an Iommi solo album) and The Eternal Idol (1987). Their fourteenth album didn’t fare much better commercially, partly due to having one of the least iconic singers, Tony Martin. While he’s not as strong a personality as Ozzy or Dio, he did a fine job, and in hindsight this album is grossly underrated. Along with Dehumanizer (1992), it’s one of the essential late period Sabbath albums, and arguably much better than Ozzy Osbourne’s solo albums from that period.

Bubbling under: Titan Force, Lizzy Borden, X, Scanner, Viper, Anthem, Heavens Gate, Rage. | More.

Voivod – Nothingface (Mechanic) | Canada
Candlemass – Tales Of Creation (Music For Nations) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Metal Church – Blessing In Disguise (Elektra) | USA
Running Wild – Death Or Glory (EMI/Noise) | Germany
Bonfire – Point Blank (MSA) | Germany
Overkill – The Years Of Decay (Megaforce/Atlantic) | USA
Savatage – Gutter Ballet (Atlantic) | USA
Helstar – Nosferatu (Metal Blade/Roadracer) | USA
Cloven Hoof – A Sultans Ransom (HR) | UK
Fifth Angel – Time Will Tell (Epic) | USA
Rigor Mortis – Freaks EP (Metal Blade) | USA
Black Sabbath – Headless Cross (I.R.S.) | UK
King Diamond – Conspiracy (Roadrunner) | Denmark | Bandcamp

Power Metal, Epic Adventure & Symphonic/Dark Romance Metal

Heavy metal runs deep in the veins of German bands to the point that power metal flourished and never went away. Running Wild, formed way back in 1976 as Granite Hearts, take Helloween’s place as the top power metal band, adding pirate themes to their flavor. The band is active to this day, having released at least 17 albums. Death or Glory, their fifth, is one of their best.

Metal Church – Blessing In Disguise (Elektra) | USA
Running Wild – Death Or Glory (EMI/Noise) | Germany
Savatage – Gutter Ballet (Atlantic) | USA
Helstar – Nosferatu (Metal Blade/Roadracer) | USA
Cloven Hoof – A Sultans Ransom (HR) | UK
Fifth Angel – Time Will Tell (Epic) | USA
Titan Force – Titan Force (U.S. Metal) | USA
Shok Paris – Concrete Killers (I.R.S.) | USA
Blind Guardian – Follow The Blind (No Remorese) | Germany | Bandcamp
Lizzy Borden – Master Of Disguise (Metal Blade) | USA
X – Blue Blood (Siren Song) | Japan
Scanner – Terminal Earth (Noise) | Germany
Viper – Theatre of Fate (Eldorado) | Brazil

Metal

For the second year in a row, Coroner tops this list with their precise, Swiss technical thrash metal, reaching the peak of their powers. This would continue through Mental Vortex (1991) which introduced more prog. Tampa, Florida’s Morbid Angel of course made an even bigger impact on the extreme metal scene with their hugely influential death metal debut, Altars of Madness.

Bubbling under: Kreator, Mekong Delta, Overkill, Sepultura, Terrorizer, Exodus, Paradox, Pestilence, Testament, Obituary, Fates Warning, Sabbat, Sodom, Nuclear Assault. | More.

Coroner – No More Color (Noise) | Switzerland | Bandcamp
Kreator – Extreme Agression (Epic) | Germany
Morbid Angel – Altars Of Madness (Earache) | USA | Bandcamp
Annihilator – Alice In Hell (Roadrunner) | Canada
Repulsion – Horrified (Necrosis) | USA | Bandcamp
Devastation – Signs of Life (Combat) | USA
Dead Horse – Horsecore: An Unrelated Story That’s Time Consuming (Relapse) | USA | Bandcamp
Autopsy – Severed Survival (Peaceville) | USA | Bandcamp
Bolt Thrower – Realm Of Chaos (Earache) | UK | Bandcamp
Carcass – Symphonies Of Sickness (Earache) | UK | Bandcamp
Atheist – Piece Of Time (Metal Blade) | USA | Bandcamp
Sepultura – Beneath The Remains (Roadrunner) | Brazil
Onslaught – In Search of Sanity (London) | UK

Avant, Experimental, Post-Rock, Modern Classical, Drone

When I started my radio show Dr. Fester’s Bucket O’ Nasties in 1988, I described it as pre-punk, punk, post-punk and post-industrial waysties. I thought I just made the latter category up, but leave it to Einstürzende Neubauten to make it real by adding more electronics to their brutal scrap metal experiments for their most accessible, and arguably best album yet.

Caspar Brötzmann Massaker – Black Axis (Marat/Southern Lord) | Germany | Bandcamp
Slint – Tweez (Jill) | USA | Bandcamp
Einstürzende Neubauten – Haus der Luege (Rough Trade/Thirsty Ear) | Germany
Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire (Fire) | UK | Bandcamp
The Ex – Joggers & Smoggers (Ex) | Netherlands | Bandcamp
John Cale – Words for the Dying (Opal) | UK | Bandcamp
The Ophelias – The Big O (Rough Trade) | USA
Swans – The Burning World (MCA) | USA
Oxbow – Fuckfest (Hydra Head) | USA | Bandcamp

Industrial, Noise, Math Rock, Art Punk

While Melbourne’s Cosmic Psychos was primarily a garage punk band, noise rock was a key element that would, along with the Scientists, be a big influence on the Seattle grune scene. So it makes sense that Sub Pop would pick up their second, and probably best album. Obviously, even more than the mighty Godflesh and even Ministry, Nine Inch Nails would take the industrial world by storm with their debut, which mixed industrial rock, synthpop and The The influenced songs with the angst turned to 11. But I preferred the much more wild and edgy Tragic Mulatto from San Francisco, who’s potent mix of noise, post-hardcore, art punk and free jazz seemed to point to the future. I was wrong, they would be forgotten after their third album, but I still prefer them over NIN.

As mentioned in the 1988 Lucky 13, Caspar Brötzmann Massaker, who topped last year’s list, would improve on second album Black Axis. They just got a lot more competition in 1989.

Bubbling under: The Ex, Cardiacs, Matrimony, Helios Creed, Arcwelder, Halo of Flies, feedtime, Membranes, Primus, Bailter Space, Die Kreuzen, Nice Strong Arm, Oxbow. | More

NoMeansNo – Wrong (Alternative Tentacles) | Canada | Bandcamp
Godflesh – Streetcleaner (Mosh/Earache) | UK | Bandcamp
Nirvana – Bleach (Sub Pop) | USA | Bandcamp
Death Of Samantha – Come All Ye Faithless (Homestead) | USA
Caspar Brötzmann Massaker – Black Axis (Marat/Southern Lord) | Germany | Bandcamp
Bitch Magnet – Umber (Communion) | USA | Bandcamp
Cosmic Psychos – Go The Hack (Sub Pop) | Australia
Mudhoney – Mudhoney (Sub Pop) | USA | Bandcamp
Slint – Tweez (Jill) | USA | Bandcamp
Einstürzende Neubauten – Haus der Luege (Rough Trade/Thirsty Ear) | Germany
Couch Flambeau – Ghostride (It’s Only A Record) | USA | Bandcamp
The Telescopes – Taste (What Goes On) | UK | Bandcamp
Tragic Mulatto – Hot Man Pussy (Alternative Tentacles) | USA

Dream Pop & Shoegaze

After My Bloody Valentine made a heavy impact the previous year, you’d think shoegaze would have taken off. However my favorite in this category was French post-punk/coldwave band Asylum Party, who’s second album features some early dream pop elements as well as a touch of goth. Deanwell Global Music issued a remastered vinyl reissue in 2018, but still no digital files.

The Cure – Disintegration (Elektra) | UK
Breathless – Chasing Promises (Tenor Vossa) | UK
Hugo Largo – Mettle (Opal) | USA
Lowlife – Godhead (Nightshift) | UK | Bandcamp
The Telescopes – Taste (What Goes On) | UK | Bandcamp
Asylum Party – Borderline (Lively Art) | France
Julee Cruise – Floating Into the Night (WB) | USA
A.C. Marias – One of Our Girls (Mute) | UK
Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire (Fire) | UK | Bandcamp
A.R. Kane – i (Rough Trade) | UK
The Ocean Blue – The Ocean Blue (Sire) | USA
Kitchens Of Distinction – Love is Hell (One Little Indian) | UK
The Charlottes – LoveHappy (Subway) | UK

Ambient, Art Pop Goth, New Age & Sophisti-Pop

In the 80s, and perhaps in perpetuity in the music world, bigger and better is always expected, or at least hoped for. Kate Bush’s sixth album followed up her most acclaimed album, Hounds of Love (1985), and was considered by most a disappointment. But in retrospect, the problem was with the listeners, not the artist. Bush was 30 years old and accomplished exactly what she set out for, an atmospheric album that explores lush sound textures and sensuality. The album includes her early mentor David Gilmour, the spectral Bulgarian Trio Bulgarka on backing vocals, and Celtic and Middle Eastern sounds. Nothing that could soundtrack a climactic scene in Stranger Things, but most certainly has provided the background for other types of, uh, climaxes.

I was a massive fan of When Iowa native Julee Cruise was employed by soundtrack composer Angelo Badalamenti as a talent scout, she was at the right place at the right time to contribute music to David Lynch’s Twin Peaks franchise. Initially dismissed as just trendy elevator music, her debut album was more than that, becoming a well-studied influence of ambient pop, dream pop and ethereal wave, with plenty of dramatic surprises within the soothing textures.

Bubbling under: Love And Rockets, Tears For Fears, Microdisney, Nona Hendryx, The Beautiful South, Devil Doll, Peter Gabriel, Howard Jones, Danny Wilson, China Crisis, Swans, The Creatures. | More.

The Cure – Disintegration (Elektra) | UK
The Blue Nile – Hats (A&M/Virgin) | UK
The The – Mind Bomb (Epic) | UK
Peter Murphy – Deep (Beggars Banquet) | UK
Kate Bush – The Sensual World (EMI) | UK
Hugo Largo – Mettle (Opal) | USA
And Also The Trees – Farewell To The Shade (Reflex) | UK | Bandcamp
Lowlife – Godhead (Nightshift) | UK | Bandcamp
The Band of Holy Joy – Manic, Magic, Majestic (Rough Trade) | UK | Bandcamp
Julee Cruise – Floating Into the Night (WB) | USA
A.C. Marias – One of Our Girls (Mute) | UK
XTC – Oranges And Lemons (Geffen) | UK
Andy Pawlak – Shoebox Full Of Secrets (Fontana) | UK

Indie Pop & Jangle Pop

The breathless rush of their debut album, George Best (1987) and a slew of singles collected on Tommy (1988), The Wedding Present seemed primed to continue the British dominance of the post-punk/jangle pop/psych of the likes of Buzzcocks, The Jam and The Smiths. Using Steve Albini on four of the tracks and some prickly noise rock guitar, they threw some fans for a loop that may have hindered any mainstream crossover potential. Nevertheless, it’s a great album, and is a lot more fun than much of the Britpop that would follow.

One of my random vivid memories from 30 years ago was running into my old freshman floormate at Motor Oil Cafe/Speedboat Gallery. He had a sweet set up, bringing in his own furniture and even an expresso machine. We’d listen to things like Felt and Monochrome Set. He raved to me about the new British band The Stone Roses. I liked his previous recommendations, so I quickly sought it out, only to be underwhelmed. I liked the psych and jangle pop bits, but they had become the figureheads of one of the worst new developments in music at the time, Baggy. Nevertheless I’ve reluctantly returned to it to glean why it would inspire such rapid devotion, and it mostly holds up as a good indie pop album, even though the band hit a wall trying to follow it up.

Bubbling under: The Windbreakers, The Brilliant Corners, The Lilac Time, Throwing Muses, Miracle Legion, Love Tractor, McCarthy, Green. | Mo r e.

Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – Queen Elvis (A&M) | UK
The Wedding Present – Bizarro (RCA) | UK
Felt – Me And A Monkey On The Moon (Cherry Red) | UK | Bandcamp
My Dad Is Dead – The Taller You Are, The Shorter You Get (Homestead) | USA | Bandcamp
The Pastels – Sittin’ Pretty (Homestead) | UK
Tommy Keene – Based on Happy Times (Geffen) | USA
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (Silvertone) | UK
Lowlife – Godhead (Nightshift) | UK | Bandcamp
The Mighty Lemon Drops – Laughter (Sire) | UK
Adrian Borland and the Citizens – Alexandria (SPV) | UK
The Reivers – End of the Day (Capitol) | USA
The Smithereens – 11 (Enigma) | USA
The Band of Holy Joy – Manic, Magic, Majestic (Rough Trade) | UK | Bandcamp

Global, Reggae, Dub & Afrobeat

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party started releasing cassettes of his traditional Qawwali music with his uncle Mubarak Ali Khan in 1973. Somewhere in the process of releasing 50 of these he became the most revered singer of this style, and thanks to Peter Gabriel’s Real World label, he finally was introduced to Western audiences with a well recorded introduction to his music. He would soon experiment with non-traditional instruments, synths and arrangements on subsequent audiences to appeal to white audiences, with varying success. For those looking for a pretty authentic representation, this Shahen-Shah (Brightest Star) and the double Love & Devotion (1992) set are the places to start.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Shahen-Shah (Real World) | Pakistan | Bandcamp
Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 – Beasts Of No Nation (Universal) | Nigeria | Bandcamp
Sheila Chandra – Roots and Wings (Narada) | UK/India
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens – Paris – Soweto (Polydor) | South Africa
Peter Gabriel – Passion (Geffen) | UK | Bandcamp
Youssou N’Dour – The Lion (Virgin) | Senegal
Mano Negra – Puta’s Fever (Virgin) | France
Material – Seven Souls (Virgin) | USA | Bandcamp
Diblo Dibala With Loketo – Super Soukous (Shanachie) | Congo
Maleem Mahmoud Ghania – Mahmoud Guinia (Tichkaphone) | Morocco
David Byrne – Rei Mono (Luaka Bop) | USA
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force – No Cause For Alarm? (Polydor) | Nigeria
Pandit Ravi Shankar – Pandit Ravi Shankar (Ocora) | India

Synthpop & Electropop

The late 80s were mostly dismal years for synthpop. Sure, Depeche Mode had become global stars, but in general the style was out of fashion outside of various horrid dance fads that I don’t have the stomach to revisit right now. The early minimal synth (characterized by a “bleak and naive aesthetic” per RYM) cassette debut by Sweden’s Art Fact, in contrast, is charming as hell.

The Blue Nile – Hats (A&M/Virgin) | UK
New Order – Technique (Qwest/WB) | UK
Madonna – Like A Prayer (Sire) | USA
Xymox – Twist of Shadows (Wing) | Germany
Laurie Anderson – Strange Angels (WB) | USA
Art Fact – In Fact (Sing Your Life!) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Stan Ridgway – Mosquitos (Geffen) | USA
Swing Out Sister – Kaleidoscope World (Fontana) | UK
Erasure – Wild! (Mute) | UK
Severed Heads – Rotund for Success (Nettwerk) | Australia
Howard Jones – Cross That Line (Elektra) | UK
Wang Chung – The Warmer Side of Cool (Geffen) | UK
Swing Out Sister – Kaleidoscope World (Fontana) | UK

R&B, Soul & Funk

Nona Hendryx’s solo albums since 1977 have been surprisingly experimental, having come from the straightforward group Labelle. Here fifth album offers a pioneering hybrid of pop soul and art pop, while pointing forward to future trends in ambient pop. It’s her most adventurous and best album. 28 years later she would record an album of amazing Captain Beefheart covers with Gary Lucas!. I love the thought of her listening to Beefheart back in her Labelle days.

Nona Hendryx – Skindiver (Private) | USA
The Beautiful South – Welcome To The Beautiful South (Go!) | UK
Lenny Kravitz – Let Love Rule (Virgin) | USA
Lisa Stansfield – Affection (Arista) | USA
The Neville Brothers – Yellow Moon (A&M) | USA
Danny Wilson – Bebop Moptop (Virgin) | UK
China Crisis – Diary Of A Hollow Horse (Virgin) | UK
Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814 (A&M) | USA
Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (Virgin) | UK
Fine Young Cannibals – The Raw & The Cooked (I.R.S.) | UK
Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One (Ten) | UK
Simply Red – A New Flame (Elektra) | UK
Todd Rundgren – Nearly Human (WB) | USA

Pop Rock, Dance-Pop

Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – Queen Elvis (A&M, 1989) | UK
The The – Mind Bomb (Epic, 1989) | UK
The Mighty Lemon Drops – Laughter (Sire, 1989) | UK
New Order – Technique (Qwest/WB, 1989) | UK
The Reivers – End of the Day (Capitol, 1989) | USA

Hip Hop & Rap

The explosion of colorful, psychedelic creativity of De La Soul’s debut makes me a bit wistful of what could have been. Rather than progress from there, as good as their subsequent albums may have been, they seemed to retreat into a more defensive posture as they were constrained by expectations. Because how dare they be joyous and irreverent.

Bubbling under: Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Ice-T, L.L. Cool J, Too $hort. | More.

Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique (Capitol) | USA
De La Soul – Three Feet And Rising (Tommy Boy) | USA | Bandcamp
Boogie Down Productions – Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop (Jive) | USA
Meat Beat Manifesto – Storm the Studio (Wax Trax!) | UK | Bandcamp
The Jungle Brothers – Done By The Forces Of Nature (WB) | USA
Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (Virgin) | UK
Queen Latifah – All Hail the Queen (Tommy Boy) | USA
Biz Markie – The Biz Never Sleeps (Cold Chillin’) | USA
EPMD – Unfinished Business (Sleeping Bag/Fresh) | USA
Gang Starr – No More Mr. Nice Guy (Chrysalis) | USA
D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – And in This Corner (Jive) | USA
3rd Bass – The Cactus Album (Def Jam) | USA
Big Daddy Kane – It’s a Big Daddy Thing (Cold Chillin’) | USA

Folk & Americana

Proof that Creeper wasn’t the first to do a rock opera about vampires. It’s hard to nail down exactly what the prolific Paul Roland specializes in, but suffice to say that folk rock is one of the elements on this album, his fourth. His gothy, theatrical art rock also has had one-time labelmate Robyn Hitchcock describe him as the male Kate Bush. Male and way more underground and ignored, unjustly.

New Model Army – Thunder & Consolation (Capitol) | UK
Felt – Me And A Monkey On The Moon (Cherry Red) | UK | Bandcamp
Camper Van Beethoven – Key Lime Pie (Virgin) | USA
Paul Roland – Duel (New Rose) | UK | Bandcamp
Souled American – Flubber (Rough Trade ) | USA | Bandcamp
Miracle Legion – Me And Mr. Ray (Rough Trade) | USA | Bandcamp
The Alarm – Change (I.R.S.) | UK
Jayhawks – Blue Earth (Twin/Tone) | USA
The Pogues – Peace and Love (Island) | Ireland
Tom Petty – Full Moon Fever (MCA) | USA
Mekons – The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll (A&M) | USA
Chris Isaak – Heart Shaped World (Reprise) | USA
Tracy Chapman – Crossroads (Elektra) | USA

Country, Country Blues/Psych/Rock/Soul

On my very limited budget as a kid through college years, I depended heavily on filling boxes of blank tapes for my music. I didn’t know much about Miracle Legion from New Haven, CT, but I taped it at the radio station to get better acquainted. It was stolen from the studio when I stepped out, and probably at least fifteen years passed before I got around to finally hearing it. By then it already had become a kind of folky jangle pop cult classic, for good reason.

Souled American – Flubber (Rough Trade ) | USA | Bandcamp
Miracle Legion – Me And Mr. Ray (Rough Trade) | USA | Bandcamp
Jayhawks – Blue Earth (Twin/Tone) | USA
Tom Petty – Full Moon Fever (MCA) | USA
Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ – Mystery Road (Island) | USA
Giant Sand – Long Stem Rant (Homestead) | USA
Neil Young – Freedom (Reprise) | Canada

Jazz, Jazz Fusion

I didn’t listen to a ton of current jazz at the time, but one artist I was well into was John Zorn. From his adventurous avant-garde takes on Spaghetti Westerns (The Big Gundown, 1986) and film noir soundtracks (Spillaine, 1987) to his incredible Naked City (1990) project that incorporates grindcore metal and brutal prog, he was the most exciting artist for me. This album is a tribute to the great Ornette Coleman that skips the traditional and also veers into grindcore territory at times.

John Zorn – Spy Vs. Spy (Nonesuch) | USA
The Lounge Lizards – Voice of Chunk (Milan) | USA
Allan Holdsworth – Secrets (Intima) | USA
Tim Berne – Tim Berne’s Fractured Fairy Tales (JMT) | USA
Henry Threadgill Sextet – Rag, Bush and All (Arista Novus) | USA
Don Pullen – New Beginnings (Blue Note) | USA
The Necks – Sex (Fish Of Milk) | Australia | Bandcamp
Pat Metheny Group – Letter From Home (Geffen) | USA

Non-Metal For Metalheads

Steve Albini’s project R*pem@n had a terrible name, but did spark some rewarding directions in noise rock, post-hardcore and math rock. Over in Chapel Hill, Bitch Magnet took those ingredients and honed them down to something more precise, with finely tuned dynamics and a touch of melody. With Slint and Bastro exploring similar sounds, something interesting was definitely brewing.

Squirrel Bait were a huge favorite on my early Bucket O’ Nasties radio shows, and I was gutted when they broke up. However from the ashes of the Louisville, KY band arose something strange and unique, largely instrumental noise rock with occasional spoken words and shouting. Slint’s debut may have been formative, but the new direction would be hugely influential. Interestingly, some of the lower end guitar tones and chord shapes resembled some of Godflesh’s material from the same time. Something was in the air, which would eventually form into post-rock and post-metal.

Son of legendary free jazz saxophonist Peter, Caspar Brötzmann Massaker’s free jazz guitar playing came of age in the Berlin post-punk/goth scene, with an impressively sprawling, largely improvised second album that’s just about as powerful as Einstürzende Neubauten’s post-industrial music.

NoMeansNo – Wrong (Alternative Tentacles) | Canada | Bandcamp
Caspar Brötzmann Massaker – Black Axis (Marat/Southern Lord) | Germany | Bandcamp
Bitch Magnet – Umber (Communion) | USA | Bandcamp
Slint – Tweez (Jill) | USA | Bandcamp
Einstürzende Neubauten – Haus der Luege (Rough Trade/Thirsty Ear) | Germany
Ministry – The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (Sire) | USA
Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine (TVT/Halo) | USA
The Ex – Joggers & Smoggers (Ex) | Netherlands | Bandcamp
Chris & Cosey – Allotropy (Staalplaat) | UK
Helios Creed – The Last Laugh (Amphetamine Reptile) | USA
Bastro – Diablo Guapo (Homestead) | USA
Helios Creed – Superior Catholic Finger (Subterranean) | USA
Primus – Suck on This (Caroline) | USA

Labels

Virgin (11)
Enigma (9)
Rough Trade (9)
WB (9)
Flying Nun (8)
SST (7)
Sire (7)
Creation (6)
Touch and Go (5)
A&M (5)
American (5)
4AD (4)
Sub Pop (4)

Singles

Nah.

Videos

Shows

Many of the bands I saw that year were friends playing on campus or basement house parties.

The Feelies (The Orpheum)
Fugazi (7th St. Entry)
Nirvana (Uptown Bar)
The Pixies (7th St. Entry)
Eleventh Dream Day (7th St. Entry)
NoMeansNo (Speedboat Gallery)
Naked Raygun (7th St. Entry)
Lou Reed (The Orpheum)
Walt Mink
Soul Asylum (First Avenue)
Run Westy Run (U of MN)
Bone Club (7th St. Entry)
The Draghounds

Movies

This was a particularly great year for movies, full of all-time favorites. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is one of my top three from one of the best directors, Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, Time Bandits, Brazil). Amazing surrealist humor, an unhinged cameo from Robin Williams, and Uma Thurman, who would haunt my 19 year-old brain, for, well, decades. I love Meet the Feebles nearly as much, though most people I’ve shared it with are traumatized. It really needs a blu ray remaster though, as the sound on my DVD is terrible.

The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen – Terry Gilliam (fantasy/comedy)
Meet The Feebles – Peter Jackson (comedy)
Say Anything – Cameron Crowe (comedy/romance)
When Harry Met Sally – Rob Reiner (comedy/romance)
Sex, Lies & Videotape – Steven Soderbergh (drama)
Heathers – Michael Lehmann (black comedy)
The Nightmare Before Christmas – Tim Burton (drama)
The Unbelievable Truth – Hal Hartley (drama)
Drugstore Cowboy – Gus Van Sant (drama)
Jésus de Montréal – Denys Arcand (drama)
New York Stories – Various (drama)
Kiki’s Delivery Service – Hayao Miyazaki (anime)
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover – Peter Greenaway (black comedy)

Bubbling under: How To Get Ahead In Advertising, My Left Foot, Metropolitan, Earth Girls Are Easy, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Mystery Train, Santa Sangre, Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser,

Television

I was in college and watched almost zero TV that year, with the exception of MTV’s 120 Minutes, hosted at the time by Dave Kendall.

Books

As a kid I was a voracious reader of sci fi and fantasy, but college somehow rewired my brain and I mostly lost my taste for it beyond those with comedic elements. Too much post-structuralist theory perhaps broke my brain. Nevertheless, Dan Simmons’ brooding, harrowing Hyperion got under my skin, and that goddam Shrike. I was never able to follow up on the sequels, but it still haunts me.

Dan Simmons – Hyperion (scifi)
Umberto Eco – Foucault’s Pendulum (literary)
Judith Butler – Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (post-structuralist theory)
Terry Pratchett – Guards! Guards! (Discworld #8) (fantasy comedy)
Grant Naylor – Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers (scifi comedy)
Laura Esquivel – Like Water for Chocolate (magical realism)
Anne Rice – The Mummy (Ramses the Damned #1) (horror)
Katherine Dunn – Geek Love (horror fantasy)
Amy Tan – The Joy Luck Club (historical fiction)
R.A. Salvatore – Streams of Silver (fantasy)
John Irving – A Prayer for Owen Meany (literary)
Stephen King – The Dark Half (horror)
Madeleine L’Engle – An Acceptable Time (Time Quintet #5) (fantasy)

Bubbling under: David Eddings – Sorceress of Darshiva, Kazuo Ishiguro – The Remains of the Day, Clive Barker – The Great and Secret Show, Orson Scott Card – The Abyss, Octavia E. Butler – Imago, Isabel Allende – The Stories of Eva Luna, Carl Hiassen – Skin Tight, Anne McCaffrey – The Renegades of Pern, Isaac Asimov – Nemesis, Slavoj Zizek – The Sublime Oject of Ideology.

Posted in: Bandcamp, Books, Features, Film, Listicles, Lucky 13, News, Rants, Reissues, Reviews, TV, Videos/Singles

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