September 29, 2005 by A.S. Van Dorston

At the time I was in college, I was more into Sonic Youth, Fugazi, The Pixies, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Jesus Lizard, Slint, My Bloody Valentine, The Breeders, Massive Attack, Talk Talk, Tom Waits and PJ Harvey, Bark Psychosis, Spiritualized, Seam… I suppose I subjectively associated the bands below as high school music that’s meant to be outgrown, even though their early albums were favorites at one point. I didn’t feel they spoke to me anymore. But I wonder if maybe my prejudices have kept me from enjoying some truly great albums. Anyone have convincing arguments for or against?

New Order * Technique (Qwest) 89
I picked up a used copy 12 years after the fact and was again intensely underwhelmed. Not quite a piece of shit, but nothing near the majesty of their singles, Power, Corruption and Lies and Low Life. Am I missing something?

The Cure * Disintegration (Elektra) 89
I taped it from a roommate a couple years later, but it never sunk in. I didn’t dislike it, but it just felt totally redundant.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds * The Good Son (Mute) 90
Many believed he found his true songwriter voice here. Sounded to me like he lost his balls in Brazil. I don’t mind Leonard Cohen, but that doesn’t mean Cave should sound like him. I finally got this about 13 years later, and it sounds decent in the context of his other singer-songwriter type stuff, but still doesn’t compare to Your Funeralâ€¦My Trial.

Depeche Mode * Violator (Sire) 90
I can’t stand “Personal Jesus,” so I haven’t gotten around to a reappraisal yet. My mom liked them during that era, f’chrissakes.

Julian Cope * Peggy Suicide (Island) 91
I loved Teardrop Explodes and his first couple mad hatter solo albums, but I had long ago written him off as a delusional, smug acid casualty. Then suddenly he’s making “genius” albums. Really? I don’t hear it. I mean, I appreciate his self-reinvention as some sort of environmentalist scholar-shaman, but I just don’t hear any great songs. Maybe I’m distracted by that brittle production from the 80s that had not yet been completely shed.

U2 * Achtung Baby (Island) 91
I was so over U2 after Joshua Tree, and their new decadent, ironic persona was even more ridiculous than their messianic phase. They paid homage (ripped off) KMFDM in a big way, and not long after that album, KMFDM performed a sneering cover of “Mysterious Ways” as the seven foot tall Sascha Konietzko tossed off his overcoat to reveal him wearing nothing but women’s panties, as he proceeded to fondle himself. I like a few songs okay, but this album’s stature grows every year seemingly, and I still think it’s a crock of shit. I get that the ideas are supposed to be groundbreaking, but I just don’t like it.

R.E.M. * Automatic For The People (WB) 92
I can understand the mainstream success â€“ it’s easy to understand the vocals and completely cloying. But how could old fans possibly like anything after Document?

XTC * Nonsuch (Geffen) 92
There are many split opinions of course. I like Skylarking which is often considered their best, but I prefer Drums And Wires. A significant number of people claim this is their best, which shocks me. Oranges and Lemons turned me off for good, and I didn’t bother listening to this until last month. I didn’t like it. The fussy arrangements might have some sort of intricacy and workmanship, but I don’t hear any full blooded great songs anymore.