Come Follow Me on the Great Rock Journey
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@JERK:
Ten bands from/mostly in the 80's I'm most excited about (not counting U2 because I already know them inside and out).
1. The Smiths
…Listening to This Charming Man always makes me happy.
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@JERK:
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Zephos/1978__rock_album_rankings__work_in_progress_
Mad props at putting The Police at number 2. You gonna do more of their albums? (particularly Ghost in the Machine?)
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Of course, I love The Police, all five of those albums were among the first I put down for their respective year planners and all received imediate permanent status (no saving for later).
All the more reason because RYM doesn't give them their dues do I need to.
Bu only one more major Wire album = :sad:
But at least I finally get to process Metal Box, Unknown Pleasure and Y in a proper list. Alongside Fear of Music, Reggatta de Blanc and The Wall too….wow...79's gonna own.
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Where's Devo in '78? That was a pretty major release.
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Where's Devo in '78? That was a pretty major release.
I really want to get to Devo asap (the first three albums), but they just weren't able to make it in this time. They were among the very first I put on the next cycle.
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Ah, that's good to know. I figured they had to be in mind, considering your tastes, so I was surprised to see them missing, haha.
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Oh yeah, and I officially decided to include Prince on these lists. Just not his very first album since it was like purely Funk.
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Yo, Zephos, you mind taking a special request for 1980? I would like to see a review of the first Wipers album, Is This Real?. Vastly underrated band and one of the finest moments of punk, in my mind.
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Sorry, 80' is heavily booked.
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Aw, man. I guess it figures. Tons of great punk and metal there
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Because I was asked to
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Zephos/1979__rock_album_rankings__work_in_progress_
The list goes on.
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Woo! Love seeing B-52s on there! That and Police making number three. But dang, lots of 5s this time around. I guess 1979 was a great year for music.
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Next stop, THE EIGHTIES.
BRING ON GUNS.
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Alright, first off I want to ask a question to everyone here about the 80's.
Now, Holy…Wagomu, music scholars that you are I'd like if you could refrain from joining this if you could.
Everyone else...what is your image of music in the 80's? Rock in particular? What prejudices or stereotypes of it do you have?
General question, because I'm facing down the first of three heavily neglected or at least written off decades (80's, 90's and 00's) relative to the hugely known and lauded first two (70's and 60's).It's interesting that I know I can personally say this early piece of it...late 70's spilling into the first few years of the 80's as they do....is easily preferable to me to 60's boomer rock, the supposed unassailable classic years.
How do yall feel?
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Tough question. I was born in 1988, so it's not like I was able to really experience the 80's first-hand (though I'm sure the same could be said for most of us). However, if I had to describe music in the 80's I guess I would say it was, much like the decade itself, freaky and crazy. More specifically, I think this was a decade in which music became a lot more experimental. You get the rise of New Wave, post-punk, glam metal, thrash metal, (as well as the birth of alt. rock) and then of course you had Michael Jackson who, alone, was probably enough to set the tone for the entire decade.
Of course, there's much more to it than just the King of Pop. As I've said before, I absolutely adore Duran Duran, who brought their own unique and vibrant style to the industry. Their lyrics didn't make any sense, but that was kinda the point and they were damn fun to listen to. Then of coures, there are plenty of other awesome bands like INXS, Whitesnake, Huey Lewis and the News, Poison, Guns n' Roses, who all made their fair contributions. But, come to think of it, it was also a pretty angry decade, with bands such as Motley Crue, Metallica, Twisted Sister and Slayer, just to name a few. Twisted Sister, in particular, would sing about rebellion and rising up against "the man" (and, interestingly enough, Dee Snider would crossdress. So yeah…).
So yeah, it was freaky, crazy, experimental, angry, wild, and absolutely fantastic.
Of course, I'm not sure how much of this is prejudice or just ignorance on my part.
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I was born in 88 too, in fact if anything that's what I'm addressing. We became pop culture aware roughly….around the time the Latin Pop explosion and all that? Late 90's?
The 80's is something we learned second hand, so we have been fed information by others through their biases, and generally it's my impression that at best the 80's were just a goofy fun decade for music, and at worst...as so often I hear....a nuclear wasteland for music particularly serious stuff like rock.It gets a bad rep most of the time. So it seems.
I want to hear people reflect on what they've been told, what their perception has been shaped by.
I want to know this as I actually wade out into the decade and...find the truth.
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I really enjoy the 80s, largely because I grew up listening to it thanks to family members. I dunno why, there's just this sound to it… like... before things went digital, but when the technology of its time was good enough to produce clear sound, but there's still... I dunno how to explain it. It's the same reason I love 16-bit games though. The technology didn't suck but it wasn't at the level today, but they still made kickass games working with what they had.
Or something like that.
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@Monkey:
I was born in 88 too, in fact if anything that's what I'm addressing. We became pop culture aware roughly….around the time the Latin Pop explosion and all that? Late 90's?
The 80's is something we learned second hand, so we have been fed information by others through their biases,Too true. I have to say I owe quite a bit of my musical taste to my mom, who would play her B-52s, Duran Duran, Korn, Stone Temple Pilots, Harvey Danger, and other albums in the car (yeah, it wasn't just the 80's). Naturally, I developed my own musical tastes later on, but I didn't really actively start listening to music until well into my teen years.
and generally it's my impression that at best the 80's were just a goofy fun decade for music, and at worst…as so often I hear....a nuclear wasteland for music particularly serious stuff like rock.
Really? I don't get that impression at all. I friggin' love the 80's. Goofy? Fun? Yes, perhaps, but it's also raw, energetic, and crazy as hell.
But your mileage may vary.
It gets a bad rep most of the time. So it seems.
Not with me.
I want to hear people reflect on what they've been told, what their perception has been shaped by.
What I've been told? Well, to be honest, I never really asked about it nor has anyone really gone out of their way to tell me. As I said, I owe quite a bit to my mom as far as musical tastes, but beyond that, not much else. I've seen a few MTV and VH1 specials where they count down the best rock songs and all that jazz, and they naturally give a good amount of respect to the 80's. All I know is I like what I like and a fair amount of what I like did come from the 80's.
I want to know this as I actually wade out into the decade and…find the truth.
Well, that's probably about all I can tell ya, but at the end of the day what really matters is what you think (not to patronize or anything).
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I'm…..honestly having the hardest time with the 'how do you view 80s music' question. If anything, I mostly see pop music, but that's mostly because I love pop music as a genre.
I like rock, but I've never been amongst the people who names their favorite rock bands and the songs they play. I'm much more of an individual song person, unless it comes to pop music (where I can name several Elton John or Billy Joel songs no problem).
The late 90s and early 00s, I did go through a rock phase, but mostly with the rock music of that era. Even today, the closest thing to a rock band that I like lately is Rise Against (sorry, buttrock), and I only like two of their songs.
Sorry for the sucky response.
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Well I'm listening to Sandinista now…..jesus it will never get more taxing than this on these lists...
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I'm an early 90s nigga, but I love 80s music, especially, especially and I mean, especially 80s Metal music.
Fuck yes!
80s music is awesome and I honestly do not know why.
Hell… I even like listening to 80s pop music. -
The 80's = Glam/Hair metal. And Iron Maiden. Oh, and Metallica. And Helloween.
Not a bad decade, I'd say.
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Definitely some great reviews there. Glad you're delving into hardcore punk. I think you're going to love Plastic Surgery Disasters by the Dead Kennedys. Better production and a tighter sound. And yes, Jello's voice is very unique in general, but the band's sound is also pretty unique. There really aren't a lot of punk bands with surf influences. Also nice to see Bauhaus' debut up there. I'm a big fan of that album and tend to go to it automatically for my goth rock fix.
A few things to be considered in revised versions of the list (*s on priorities):
Circle Jerks - Group Sex* (largely considered the first hardcore punk album)
Wipers - Is This Real?
Motörhead - Ace of Spades* (come on, man! It's completely classic!)
Saxon - Wheels of Steel
Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations*
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell* (Dio's Black Sabbath debut!)
Agent Orange - Living in Darkness (The other surf punk band I know)Also, you had better go through Black Flag's Damaged for 1981!
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Yeah, I'm putting off the metal so that I can properly ease into it, I need to finish my 70's metal before I do the 80's. Deep Purple, Motorhead, Judas Priest etc. That will take awhile.
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@Monkey:
Everyone else…what is your image of music in the 80's? Rock in particular? What prejudices or stereotypes of it do you have?
General question, because I'm facing down the first of three heavily neglected or at least written off decades (80's, 90's and 00's) relative to the hugely known and lauded first two (70's and 60's).I grew up in the 80's but my parent's influence meant I spent it mostly listening to music from the 60's and 70's. And my female teenage cousin meant I was exposed to stuff like New Kids on the Block. And me being a stupid cartoon enthused child, meant my own personal music was mostly cartoon mush. So even though I grew up then, most of my actual experience with the 80's music comes from after the fact, and I haven't made anywhere near as exhaustive an attempt as you're making to be exposed to it all. I tend to find one group I like and then hunt down their entire discography for a year.
Elton John and Meatloaf did nothing but crap in the 80's, I can tell you that much, but neither of those are exactly rock. Bonnie Tyler had two big hit songs and a bunch of stuff that no one has ever heard. Queen wasn't bad then, but their best stuff was in the 70's, (My personal favorite is News of the World) and at the end in the 90's. David Bowie was ever changing. Phil Collins hit in the 80's. He mostly only had one kind of song that he did over and over though, or so it feels. Sting went solo and did some great stuff.
My range is randomly limited, and mostly to softer stuff, and not necessarily in the categories you're interested in.
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Just curious, how are you categorizing Tom Waits? (if you've actually even listened to him) He's a favorite of mine but has dabbled in so many different types of music I find it really hard to brand him. I've seen him thrown in with the rock group before but never really gave it much thought.
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Yet another solid list you've got over there. Have you ever listened to the Minutemen before? Because if not, you're in for a real treat with Double Nickels on the Dime. It's also fun seeing all of the goth rock in there, since I've just been getting back into it, myself. Hell, I just played Monitor by Siousxie on the latest edition of my variety radio show (along with songs by Bauhaus, The Cure and Adam and the Ants).
Also, since you have interest in seeing the transformation to grunge, be sure to hit up these bands (if you aren't planning on doing so already): The Melvins (probably the biggest influence), the Swans, Flipper, the U-Men, The Butthole Surfers, Meat Puppets and Hüsker Dü. I assume you're already going to go through Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., the Pixies and Fugazi. I think those guys are all at the crux of the transformation, though.
Things missing from '81 that I want to see:
Adolescents - Adolescents
D.O.A. - Hardcore '81
Crass - Penis Envy
Discharge - Why?
Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad (I thought for sure this would be up there)
Venom - Welcome to Hell (extremely influential. EXTREMELY. I know you're not doing metal now, but definitely keep this in mind, especially if you want to understand extreme metal)
Rush - Moving Pictures (love it or hate it, it is all too iconic)
Wipers - Youth of America (I really want you to listen to these guys' first three albums) -
Ooh, 1982, Asia's debut.
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And Meat Puppets, Sonic Youth, Husker Du (though I'm skipping their debut), Cocteau Twins, Bad Brains… gonna be the real 80's from here on out and not just late 70's leftovers.
Judging by how it's going so far I can't wait to go around telling people the 80's is my favorite decade for rock lol.
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You doing Diver Down or you just putting Van Halen off until 1984?
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Yeah I'll do Diver Down, I'm doing all the Roth Halen albums, and maybe doing the first Van Hagar one, though that's totally forfeit if I think of anything better for 85'.
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The first Van Hagar album honestly isn't so bad ('Dreams' is completely badass.)
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@Monkey:
And Meat Puppets, Sonic Youth, Husker Du (though I'm skipping their debut), Cocteau Twins, Bad Brains… gonna be the real 80's from here on out and not just late 70's leftovers.
Judging by how it's going so far I can't wait to go around telling people the 80's is my favorite decade for rock lol.
Just imagine how much you'll love the 80s if you can get into extreme metal, haha.
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checks what else came out in 1982
Damn man, if only you were doing a country list, some good shit came out that year. George Strait, Alabama, Waylon Jennings, god_damn_.
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aww it's too bad, I was looking forward to seeing what you think of Moving Pictures by Rush
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…So the Thriller review is coming later?
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I'm doing it right now.
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Originally posted by Zephos
It's Thriller.Damn right son .
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Hoo boy, '83 is gonna be great. Todd in the Shadows was right, that really was a great year for music. That's the year that gave us…
-Beat it
-Karma Chameleon
-The Reflex
-Let's Dance
-Every Breath You Take
-Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
-Metal Health
-Sharp Dressed Man
-Uptown Girl
-Owner of a Lonely Heart
-Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
-Mr. Roboto
-I Want a New Drug
-Girls Just Wanna Have FunOh, and not to mention the debut of Weird Al Yankovic. You should be in for a real treat MK.
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This is also the year of Holy Diver, Pyromania, another great Alabama record, and one of the better 80's Johnny Cash albums (It's got a real nice Bruce Springsteen cover.)
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Good coverage of 83. I knew you would like Plastic Surgery Disasters more. I'm with you, the writing on there is so much more solid than Fresh Fruit's. I'm really enjoying your punk coverage in general. It's a really misunderstood genre, so it's really great to see you diving in at the right points and and clearing up some misconceptions. I hope you do some amount of emo coverage in the future (Rites of Spring, Moss Icon, Gray Matter, Orchid and Cap'n Jazz at least).
There were only a few things missing in my mind:
Fear - The Record
Flipper - Generic
Discharge - Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing
MDC - Millions of Dead Cops
Wipers - Over the Edge (the last Wipers album worthy of note. I'm really happy with your coverage of them. I have no idea how they got buried)Omitting the metal cuts for now of course.
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1983 was also the year that The Crossing by Big Country came out though it's one that usually falls under the radar for most people since the band has an unfair reputation as a one hit wonder.
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Also, '83 marks the debut of Metallica. Any chance you'll be touching on them Zeph?
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I'm doing a metal run through next time.
Wipers - Over the Edge
This came out in 83', not 82', I have it planned.
And seriously, seriously, Youth of America is beyond amazing.
Everyone here who isn't in the know, be enlightened now.
And yeah, there's some stuff that'll be in 83' that many of you might not be very familiar with. But as a hip-hop fan are essential rock trips to be made by me. Dance-Punk groups Liquid Liquid and ESG.
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Ah, you're right. My archives just have that album labeled wrong, haha.
I'm hoping to see The Chameleons' debut, D.R.I.'s debut (an important link in the crossover between punk and metal) and the Subhumans debut (less important, more of a personal love). I trust you've got Sonic Youth's and the Minutemen's sophomore releases, since you did cover their debuts.
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Dance-Punk rules.
I need to indulge my ear for electronic/dance music one day. I grew up listening to a couple dance music radio shows from NYU, namely beatsinspace, so much amazing stuff. I think that's what also slowly and surely made me a late 70's/early 80's fanatic because they played a lot of stuff from those times.
Wagomu you go to school in Albany right? You should tune in.cool song