| Author | Message | ||
     Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 579 Registered: 01-2005 |
Another new month, another year to review. Please feel free to express your favorites for the year as they are now, not the way you felt back in 1985! 1. Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians - Fegmania! 2. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy 3. Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good 4. The Replacements - Tim 5. R.E.M - Fables of the Reconstruction 6. The Velvet Underground - VU 7. The Waterboys - This Is The Sea 8. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love 9. The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace 10 Emmylou Harris - The Ballad of Sally Rose 11.The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy and The Lash 12. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs 13. The Dream Academy - The Dream Academy 14. Everything But The Girl - Love Not Money 15. Mekons - Fear and Whiskey 16. Euryhmics - Be Yourself Tonight 17. Talking Heads - Little Creatures 18. Katrina and The Waves 19. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms 20. Til Tuesday - Voices Carry | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 624 Registered: 08-2004 |
Meat Is Murder, surely, Michael. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1357 Registered: 04-2005 |
A very U.S.-centric year for me, I guess: Husker Du - Flip Your Wig Velvet Underground - VU Talking Heads - Little Creatures Husker Du - New Day Rising R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction Tom Waits - Rain Dogs Replacements - Tim Mekons - Fear and Whiskey Marti Jones - Unsophisticated Time New Order - Low-Life Hate to admit that I find "Psychocandy" unlistenable now, so it's omitted though it's more groundbreaking and significant than most of my list. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1453 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thought it was a shit year, save for Pale Fountains - Across the kitchen Table Del Amitri - Del Amitri The Smiths - Meat is Murder I was playing loads of Parliament and bootsy, so that kept me a tickin. I mean bloody hell, Ashford and Simpson, rolid as a sock, purlease!!! n,n,n,n,n,nine, nineteen. oh dear. Was Gazza numan hanging around too? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 577 Registered: 08-2006 |
Looking at it now, I think 1985 was maybe one of my favorite years of the '80s. If for no other reason, it produced one of my favorite records of all time. To wit: 1. Franco and Rochereau - "Omona Wapi" 2. The Velvet Underground - "VU" 3. Husker Du - "New Day Rising" 4. The Mekons - "Fear and Whiskey" 5. The Pogues - "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash" 6. The Replacements - "Tim" 7. The Minutemen - "Three Way Tie for Last" 8. The Blasters - "Hard Line" 9. Husker Du - "Flip Your Wig" 10. Marshall Crenshaw - "Downtown" | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1876 Registered: 03-2006 |
1. Marshall Crenshaw - Downtown 2. The Blasters - Hard Line 3. Talking Heads - Little Creatures 4. The Waterboys - This Is the Sea 5. Richard Thompson - Across a Crowded Room 6. Suzanne Vega - s/t 7. Jason & the Nashville Scorchers - Lost & Found 8. Tom fuckin' Waits - Rain Dogs 9. Lone Justice - s/t 10. Golden Palominos - Visions of Excess | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 62 Registered: 01-2007 |
There are only 3 albums still worth listening to Raindogs, Rum etc and This Nations Saving Grace. Actually some good LP mentioned but not the best by some great artists e.g. Smiths,Prefab, Waterboys who did better lps | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 580 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jerry, My Smiths collection is pretty sad, consisting of "The Smiths" and "Rank". I know, I know, I should have "Meat Is Murder" and "The Queen is Dead". I need to pick up those as well as "Downtown" by Marshall Crenshaw. A guy that used to sit in the next cube over from me at work went to high school with MC. I had This Mortal Coil's "It'll End In Tears" way up on this list, as I bought it in 1985. Then I checked it out and realized it was released in 1984. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1151 Registered: 03-2005 |
Apartments -- The Evening Visits . . . Lloyd Cole & the Commotions -- Easy Pieces The Fall -- This Nation's Saving Grace Felt -- Ignite the Seven Cannons Paul Kelly -- Post Pale Fountains -- . . . From Across a Kitchen Table I discovered the Fall one year later and all of the rest much more recently. Honorable mentions I used to listen to a lot back then: Cocteau Twins -- Pink Opaque, but this is really an antho, and also Tiny Dynamine/Echoes in a Shallow Bay, not an actual album Green on Red -- Gas, Food, Lodging Prince -- Around the World in a Day. The only Prince I ever bought. Richard Thompson -- Across a Crowded Room. This one probably merits some new listens. Suzanne Vega -- (untitled) Stuff I listened to when it was new and only admit to now because I'm a masochist: Fine Young Cannibals PIL -- Compact Disc. PIL's "Post-TLC Reformation." Talking Heads -- Little Creatures. It was clear even then that the slide had begun. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1877 Registered: 03-2006 |
Randy, me likee the Lloyd Cole and the Paul Kelly discs, too. I forgot thems. Thinking about it, though, I realize I need to amend my list and stick in the Prefab Sprout at spot #9, and the Pogues at #10, in lieu of those discs I had posted. As those two represent the absolute best of those two artists, I must needs include them! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1455 Registered: 05-2005 |
Was there a Microdisney album out around this time? Clock? | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 203 Registered: 05-2005 |
I am incredulous to think that you don't have "Meat is Murder" Michael!! Ignor the tide of public opinion - Meat is Murder is BY FAR the best Smiths album and should be purchased pronto!!! It's perfect. That Joke...., How Soon.., Meat.., Headmaster...MAGNIFICENT!!!! Nearly as good as the Beatles...cue Kevin!!! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1456 Registered: 05-2005 |
Geoff You are right, it is an incredible album. One of the greatest albums of all time IMHO. You know, I never got Little Creatures, guess I never will. In the same way as say, people never got Adventure after Marquee Moon. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 177 Registered: 07-2006 |
hounds of love, psychocandy, around the world in a day, meat is murder, be yourself tonight. i really like a few tracks of fables (green grow the rushes), but it's probably my least listened to rem album. of the good lot anyway... i also love abc's how to be a zillionaire, which i think was 85 too. never cared for low life that much....even though i love perfect kiss, love vigilantes, subculture (definitely preferable to the 12") and face up. the rest i could take or leave. apart from power, corruption and lies (on a good day), new order only started making really excellent LPs with technique. and then only the one after it was before the bleah that was get ready and whatever that other thing was called. one of my favourite bands to this day nonetheless! i'd also put the pink opaque up there (comp or otherwise) as aikea guinea was probably the best thing they ever did. just blinding... | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1457 Registered: 05-2005 |
lowlife was pretty good on all accounts, love the rawness and the sleeve! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1152 Registered: 03-2005 |
Joe, you're right. "Aikea Guinea" IS the best thing the Cocteaus ever did. Lucky Jeff is in Italia right now or else he'd be able to tell us if Microdisney's "Clock Came Down the Stairs" is from 1985. I still haven't heard the whole album but I keep a sharp eye on eBay. And I forgot about "Psychocandy" being a 1985 album. If you haven't, get "Adventure" Spence. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 581 Registered: 01-2005 |
Spence, I waited until after Little Creatures to skip a Talking Heads album, as I never bought True Stories, although I did see the movie in a theater. I'll second Randy on getting Adventure. Speaking of Television, from the Verlaine list: "After the scheduled show at the Summer stage in New York, Richard (Llloyd) will be severing his ties with Television, after 34 years." | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1880 Registered: 03-2006 |
There are obviously dissenting opinions out there, but I still think "Little Creatures" is pretty swell, still like a lot of the songs from it. Sure it sounds different - they made a conscious decision to move away from polyphony and syncopation, but the important thing to me was that the songs were there. A lot of them still have resonance, like "And She Was" and "Road to Nowhere"... Now "True Stories"...that, to me, was where they really lost the plot, started phoning it in, etc. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1458 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy I love Adventure, had it about 20 years ago, its wonderful. I'm glad I saw television 2 years ago in London, they were, as you'd expect, awesome. Ref the Talking Heads Little Creatures, I dunno, I sorta know without having to think about it when to me, bands have lost it, or the company has influenced the band. Money influences, look at the last REM album. I knew it then and I think its stayed with me ever since. LC and Meat is Murder are complete polar opposites, MIM is untouchable, its hard to put it down. Artistically its so sincere its untrue! Don't get me started on True Stories, it starts with the shit over and ends with me leavin the vinyl perched alongside a boiling hot radioator!!! | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1881 Registered: 03-2006 |
I dunno, Spence. I have to pretty much discount your money influence theory about Little Creatures - it really doesn't ring true, I don't think. If they were trying to be more commercial, if it was "money influenced", they sure picked a funny direction to go in, as where they went was so diametrically opposed to the funky shit they were previously doin' that was selling out of the box. If anything it was a radical departure from what was actually working really well for them. I think it was a completely admirable attempt to keep it fresh and not get stale. But that's alright - different strokes, yadda yadda. I don't really get MIM, and found it quite easy to put down - it just seems kind of po-faced and whiny. None of the songs really seemed to stick. And honestly, I'm probaby not really on board with the Smiths - though I do like some of their songs, it just doesn't seem as indelible or hooky as, say, the music of our heroes, the lads from Brisbane. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1359 Registered: 04-2005 |
Maybe "Meat is Murder" appeals more to people in the UK and "Little Creatures" more to those of us in the U.S.? I find "MIM" to be the least appealing thing the Smiths did, and the title track is the height of the self-righteousness that turns some people off of Morrissey. I've been a vegan and am pretty close to one now (eat fish occasionally), but that song makes me want to eat a huge, bloody cheeseburger just to spite Morrissey's point of view, which is as subtle as a sharp blow to the head with a hammer. I prefer him when he's wrapped up in his self-absorbed misery, not when he's playing social commentator. And "Little Creatures" doesn't sound like any kind of commercial move to me either--the T. Heads were doing pretty well sales-wise before it, "Speaking in Tongues" sold a lot--it was just a change of direction. They'd taken the funk/African-influenced stuff about as far as they could, so a return to the stripped-down T. Heads sound (but with some new influences, including country and gospel) seemed like a reasonable move. I agree completely, though, that it was their last gasp, as "True Stories" continued on in the same vein with worse songs and much less spirit. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1459 Registered: 05-2005 |
lk I disagree. Only a year and a half or so the beautiful Speaking in Tongues was released. It didn't spawn a hit. Not like Road to Nowhwhere. LC did. That's where my money theory comes in. Plus, I found LC just, well, dull. Re MIM Kurt, your opinion granted, however, artistically and for its originality, noone an touch it, in these parts its the Pet Sounds of the SMiths Back catalogue. Th UK / US thing is probably right yep. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1360 Registered: 04-2005 |
I wonder how Brian Wilson would feel about that comparison? Or Morrissey, for that matter?  | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1460 Registered: 05-2005 |
who cares but for the habitual music lover! | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1884 Registered: 03-2006 |
Spence, as I always say, different strokes. Chalk it up to my doubtless weird sense of what's commercial, but it's harder for me to imagine shaking my tail feather to Road to Nowhere than Burning Down the House. Admittedly, danceability doesn't necessarily equal commercial appeal, but I guess in my twisted world it does! I, honestly, didn't realize either, that MIM is the gem in the Smiths catalogue. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 582 Registered: 08-2006 |
I also wonder about that US/UK divide. I see it manifested on this board from time to time. But I think Kurt is right, Spence, to point out that MIM doesn't get much love on these shores. "The Queen Is Dead" is much more highly regarded (didn't goddamn Spin magazine name it the Best Album of All Time back in the '90s?) and lots of folks I know stick with "Louder Than Bombs" as their representative Smiths CD. I love the Smiths but, like the Jam, there's a distinct Englishness to them that keeps them an "alternative" band over here. My only problem with "Little Creatures" is that I seriously overdosed on it back in the day, much like "Born In the USA." Not only did I play it a lot, the radio did, too. I think that period was about the last time the radio and I loved the same albums. No chance of overdosing on my faves now. Not with Avril Lavigne clogging up airtime. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1154 Registered: 03-2005 |
Hmmm. In Los Angeles Moz is a huge hero with Latinos. He's like Elvis to them. And I'm not kidding either. They have full-time Moz impersonators. I don't think there's a pat US/UK distinction. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 204 Registered: 05-2005 |
Now I know I'm getting off the track a bit more here, but there are a couple of other examples of great bands albums that the U.S. and U.K. fans rate differently. What about The Cocteau Twins - U.S. fans seem to rate Heaven or Los Vegas as the peak and yet it is the only Cocteaus I have yet to get on C.D. Ditto Ride. I LOVE Carnival of Light and yet everyone who says they're Ride fans say that they hate it and prefer Nowhere, which to my mind was promising but not THAT great. | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 63 Registered: 01-2007 |
Getting on this TH/smiths thread a bit late, I think Little Creatures is more commercial in tat it got wider airtime etc but it is not a Talking Heads album you go back to and love. MIM is great but for me I prefer the 1st one and Queen is dead (partly as it flows beautifully form ech track to the next) | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 64 Registered: 01-2007 |
And why is Raindogs not so popular on this board? For me that was the real revolutionary exeprimental lp of that year.Psychocandy I loved at the time but rarely gone back too | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 626 Registered: 08-2004 |
Little Creatures is merely OK. There's a few good songs/moments on there but overall it's lacking.Chris Frantz ceased to be an inventive drummer. I actually prefer True Stories to LC. As for Meat Is Murder it's a lot more vital than the debut. Soundwise it's perfection. There are also more styles on there than any of the other 3 LP's. Well the title track, didn't they always end on a sour note. I Won't Share You is the closest to a pop song when it comes to album closers. While on a Smiths tangent anyone seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4kBr5WWi BM Am I wrong or is that the guy who played Ian Curtis in 24hr PP in the vid? | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 178 Registered: 07-2006 |
meat is murder is a bit of a tough one with smiths fans. i actually love it (i want the one i can't have is a favourite from way back), but i definitely prefer the debut....i know i know the production leaves a bit to be desired, but the tracks themselves are brilliant. strangeways is my #1...albeit, i can rarely make it through death at one's elbow. geoff you should definitely get your hands on heaven or las vegas. no, i wouldn't say it's their best but it's a whole other thing (succinct enough?) which hange together remarkably well. can also definitely see why carnival of light was bigger with the uk fan base. the first two were unreal, but nevertheless timely with other uk bands of the time. give me going blank again any day, but tracks like crown of creation make carnival a worthy counterpart. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 583 Registered: 08-2006 |
Frank, put me down as a "Rain Dogs" fan. If I'd done a list of 15 instead of 10 it'd definitely make the cut. Randy, that's funny about the Latino love for Moz. I haven't seen the same here in Chicago, but I haven't seen him perform here either. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2005 |
Shame I couldn't locate my moth-eaten Meat is Murder tshirt, to wear when I was passing through Rockhampton, the Beef capital of Australia! | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1886 Registered: 03-2006 |
I'm a big, raving Tom Waits fan and Rain Dogs is probably my fave single record by him, that is, if I were forced at gunpoint to choose. But I haven't, so I have, and listen to, them all. Rain Dogs is best, though, and, in a single disc, demonstrates everything about TW that is great. Randy speak truth about Moz in LA. Haven't seen the phenomenon up close, but there's been a lot written about it. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 583 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kurt, I'm right with you now regarding being a vegan who eats fish. I gave up meat 3 weeks ago. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1461 Registered: 05-2005 |
All I can say is ref MIM, is that I was at Art School when it cam eout and the people I would hang arond with loved it. I don't think it was tought with Smiths fans and non fans at all. Its looked upon wiothi9n the SMith fanbase as a milestone, as Jerry says, its perfection, its vital you have it. What I would say is, that if i were to send fans to an album to get them into The Smiths, Louder or World are equally great introductions. But they are compliations over time, not a proper studio LP. | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 91 Registered: 05-2005 |
I personally fall on the Smiths with Hatful of Hollow. It's "How soon is now" that killed me. But MIM was also an important record. | ||
| David Gagen Member Username: David_g Post Number: 57 Registered: 02-2007 |
I agree LK, Rain Dogs is my fav. The clanking percussion, Tom's growl and the brilliant songs is, to these ears, perfectly combined in this CD. Its the one I recommend to friends who haven't heard Tom W. Just checked my album/cd collection. Didn't buy much in 1985. Only got Empire Burlesque - Dylan Raindogs - TOm Waits Steve MacQueen - Prefab Sprout Across A Crowded Room - RT Post - Paul Kelly I might be out on my own here, but I thought it was a very ordinary year for new music. I think I was still totally pre-occupied with all the stuff from 1975 to 1982 stuff that I bought and dodn't listen to enough. That period was my obsession for a while, and didn't really appreciate the new stuff that was happeing. Not till the Pixies anyway! | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 587 Registered: 08-2006 |
David, '85 has great memories for me because it was when American indie music finally started to hit its stride. Between, I dunno, '82 and '87, bands like The Replacements, Husker Du, the Minutemen, the Meat Puppets, Black Flag, the Blasters, etc., etc. released a series of good-to-great albums (IMO), and to a young college student, it was just an amazingly exciting time. I can see that if that scene didn't float your boat, '85 might seem kinda so-so, although even if you take those groups out of the mix, any year that the Pogues, Tom Waits and the Mekons release career-defining albums can't be all bad! I kinda forgot about "Empire Burlesque." I still think that's probably Bob's best album from that uninspired patch he hit in the '80s. I get a rush hearing him wheeze and whine amidst that aggressive '80s production. And I still love "Tight Connection" unapologetically. Fire up the Dylanettes and cue the synth! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 585 Registered: 01-2005 |
I have very fond memories of 1985 as it was the year I discovered Robyn Hitchcock after reading reviews of and buying a vinyl copy of Fegmania! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1552 Registered: 05-2005 |
Rum, Sodomy & The Lash - The Pogues Fables Of The Reconstruction - REM Meat Is Murder - The Smiths Tim - The Replacements Don't Stand Me Down - Dexys Midnight Runners Low Life - New Order Flip Your Wig - Husker Du VU - The Velvet Underground Rain Dogs - Tom Waits Yet another woeful year from that dullest of decades, once more the thing for me was that only The Pogues from my list made one their career best albums, the others while good albums are only just that. The Jesus and Mary Chain have always been awful, Talking Heads should have split up after Remain in Light and Meat is Murder is half brilliant and half "Smiths by Numbers",which is still pretty great admittedly, although the title track is the worst thing they ever did. I feel no great urge to play any of these albums today, maybe Fables.... at a push | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 589 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kevin, I tend to like the even numbered years years of the 80's a lot more than the odd numbered years. Although 1987 had some decent albums. I'll agree with you on 1985 not being up to par and woefull if you compare it to 1986 or 1988. However, 1984 is coming up June to review, and it's one of my all time favorites. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1470 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kev How could I forget Don't Stand me Down. An all time classic! Jesus! I played it all the time, from ' 85 to '88, heavy heavy rotation. never got bored wit hit. i remember seeing Al Archer from Dexys a round this time, in his group The Blue Ox Babes. they really sounded like this period Dexys. Which, is funny, as kev later admitted that the Cletic period Ddexys wa really Al Archer's sound and not his. The Blue Ox Babes were fantastic, thers is an album out there. When I worked at Virgin Records, the drummer used to come in and but tons of twelve inches of their latest release, he didn't know I knew who he was.! If anyone buys it now, Don't Stand me Down, i highly recommend it, its also got a DVD of some videos from the time, Rowland is awesome in it, on This is what she's like, he does a great walk/move on top of a tall building in new york. pure genius!! I know the scumbags form Moseley too, they are just up the road from here! http://youtube.com/watch?v=6-avJdGnHe0 | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 594 Registered: 08-2006 |
Spence, don't know if you saw it, but there's a fairly extensive article about the Smiths in the Observer: 329811001-102280%2C00.html,http://observ er.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329811001-102 280,00.html Be warned that the above link is not posting correctly. Cut out everything before "http" and it should work. Why does that happen with Guardian urls all the time? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 557 Registered: 10-2004 |
Sorry, I realize this thread died a few weeks ago, but bear with me; I just can't resist these best of lists. Besides, looking over this list after compiling it, I'd say '85 was a darn good year for music. A lot of personal favorites listed here. 1. Smiths - Meat is Murder (loathe the title track, but I think the remainder of the album is among their best ever work). 2. Microdisney - Clock Comes Down the Stairs (Randy, this came out at the tail end of '85) 3. Felt - Ignite the Seven Canons 4. Cocteau Twins - Pink Opaque (Like Randy said, it's a comp, but an amazingly good one) 5. Pale Fountains - From Across the Kitchen Table 6. The Cure - Head on the Door 7. Love and Rockets - 7th Dream of Teenage Heaven 8. Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen 9. Dif Juz - Extractions 10. Lloyd Cole - Easy Pieces (a wonderful yet underrated album) 11. Style Council - Internationalists (Our favorite Shop in the UK) An incredible album, side 2 is a scorcher. I prefer the US version because it drops a mediocre instrumental in favor of "Shout to the Top." 12. The Sound - Heads and Hearts 13. The Church - Heyday (I may get crucified for saying this, but I think this was the Church's last genuinely great album) 14. The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace 15. Killing Joke - Night Time 16. Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock (I know it's an EP, so sue me) 17. Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal 18. Apartments - The Evening Visits... 19. Chameleons - What Does Anything Mean? Basically? 20. Robyn Hitchcock - Fegmania 21. Pogues - Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 558 Registered: 10-2004 |
Oh, and to counter the strange theories posited up above about Little Creatures and Meat is Murder - I'm from the US and hold MIM as one of my all time favorites - a beautiful, insanely catchy masterpiece IMHO (although like I said above, I detest the title track), while I've never been a fan of LC at all. I guess there's always an exception! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1592 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff, I need to listen to Meat is Murder tonight to see if time has changed my opinion on it. I listed it in my albums of 1985, but only, unlike your good self, because I thought it was a crap year. Ive always thought MIM was their nadir(albeit still a good album overall), for me SHWC, followed by TQID are their highpoints. Time for 1982 methinks, or have we done that? | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 214 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff - Crucified no - that's me every time I mention the Beatles!! - but as a HUGE Church fan I now think Heyday sounds really thin in songs and production. I rank the texturally more complex later albums of Preist=Aura, Sometime Anywhere and Hologram of Baal higher than Heyday. Along a like theme, Strangeways for me was, and still is, the most disappointing Smiths album. For me, Morrissey was becoming a caricature of himself and Johnny Marr's melodies didn't sparkle in quite the same manner as before. In fact I think this was the beginning of the end of BOTH of their talents sad to say! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1595 Registered: 05-2005 |
Talk about timimg Geoff, reading a few articles in the monthly UK mags recently (including a big Smiths retro piece in Uncut) and to a man the Smiths agree that Strangeways is their masterpiece. And like I say above, I agree. They were really branching out musically, and this only hints at where they could have went in the future - oh well!! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1532 Registered: 05-2005 |
Strrangeways was too slick for me. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 644 Registered: 08-2004 |
Skimming over this thread I haven't seen Grace Jones Slave To The Rhythm. Basically the same tune spread over 8 tracks. Trevor Horn's last hurrah until the noisefest of Tatu, not. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1458 Registered: 05-2005 |
I know you've all been hanging out for my top 15 (can't think of 20) from 1985, the year I turned 18 and finished high school. 1 Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love 2 R.E.M. - Fables Of The Reconstruction 3 Dexys Midnight Runners - Don't Stand Me Down 4 Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen 5 The Waterboys - This Is The Sea 6 The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & The Lash 7 Big Audio Dynamite - This Is Big Audio Dynamite 8 Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising 9 The Jesus And Mary Chain - Psychocandy 10 The Replacements - Tim 11 Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega 12 Prince - Around The World In A Day 13 Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Easy Pieces 14 Misplaced Childhood - Marillion 15 Green on Red - Gas, Food, Lodging | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1598 Registered: 05-2005 |
Ok, listened to Meat Is Murder today and thought it sounded fantastic, apart from the title track. For today at least Well I Wonder is my fave Smiths song. I havent played MIM in years, and its funny how the mind can play tricks, but was How Soon Is Now on the original vinyl copy? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1388 Registered: 04-2005 |
I don't think "How Soon is Now" was on the original UK vinyl, Kev, but it was on the U.S. release, which must have come out later. They probably didn't think they could sell the album in the U.S. without the recognizable college radio "hit." "MIM" begs the question for me of: how often does it happen that there's one song on an album so bad that it turns you off the rest of it? I'll have to dig out my copy of "MIM" and play everything but the title track, THEN reassess what I think of the album as a whole. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 194 Registered: 07-2006 |
i really like the title track. just a quick one...how many vegetarians do we have round these parts at the moment? judgement free area - promise! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1203 Registered: 03-2005 |
Total carnivore here <<<<<<<. I know. It's not what you asked. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 216 Registered: 05-2005 |
How soon is now was on the Auz version of MIM too. I remember being disappointed at the first Smiths album apart from the singles and going into the shop, holding MIM in my hot little hands and going "Nah" and putting it back. I was at Uni with no job and I had to be extra careful with my purchases. They had the single off it (How Soon Is now) on the front counter and I remember asking them to give it a whirl. After 5 seconds of tremelo and then THAT slide line I was RUNNING back to the album to buy it! I had it playing in someones dorm room at Uni that afternoon and everyone walking by kept commenting "that's great!...who's that?". I'm no vego, though have had numerous friends who are or were. Yes, yes, I worry about inflicting suffering and , yes, yes, veges take less water to grow than livestock, but I have a horrible feeling I'd get even thinner than I am and would have to watch every protein intake meticulously so I wouldn't be deficient and get some horrible nutritional disease! Laziness and gutlessness I guess!! By the way, did any of you people see the Smiths live?(Lucky bastards!) | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 262 Registered: 04-2005 |
Geoff, Saw the Smiths live twice: at Coasters in Edinburgh around the first LP time, when Morrisay appeared to have an entire rhododendron bush in his back pocket. They were awesome. I remember knowing most of the songs, not because of having the LP, but because of having watched the Smiths BBC2 concert so many times: it was incredible that a band that had only released 2 singles were given a whole 'In Concert' programme by the Beeb! The second time was at the Caley Palais (Queen is Dead time?), but for me the fire had gone a little by then. I rate the early stuff (first 2 singles, first LP + all those radio versions) much more than what came after. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1535 Registered: 05-2005 |
I remember lying in my friend's back garden, 1984, sun bathing, listening to the first Smiths album on cassette. Like Andrew says, I knew of the songs from peel and the BBC2 concert. I remember this time well. I was waiting to do my exams, and looking forward to going to Art College. The Smiths were really important to me up to this point, as Orange Juice a big fave at the time, were in bits, Malcolm leaving to join Aztec etc, and the Smiths were still there and alive. I needed The Smiths and consequently although depressing in parts, the fist album for me was a necessity, and great, although would be quickly eclipsed by the sheer quality of output that followed on its heels, and very rapidly. From December '83 me and my pal Cabby used to og to the school disco dressed as Edwyn Collins and MORRISSEY, and we used to nick the old flowers from the graveyard bins and plant them in our back pocket, (Andrew's right it was if Morrissey increased the evergreens displayed in his arse pocket for each photo shoot!) roll on down the drive at school and enter the school hall disco, where everyone would oook at us as if we had 5 heads. We looked at everyone else as if they had 10 heads, in fact theyhad Nike trainers, Lyle and Scott golfing jumpers and were ready to beat us up, only my pal Cabby, although onlyuin his second year atchool was already the 'cock' of the school, so no one messed with us. The Smiths were played heavily I seem to remember, as was Orange Juice and Lloyd Cole. Good ol days!... | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1389 Registered: 04-2005 |
Joe, I'm a vegetarian except for eating fish occasionally. I used to be vegan, but it was too hard to maintain. So it's not like I'm totally alienated by the subject matter of "Meat is Murder." It's just so preachy and heavy-handed, and the sizzling noises make it grotesque. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1959 Registered: 03-2006 |
I'm a carnivore. I have a lot of empathy with the vegans of the world and love all the little furry and feathery critters, it's just that they taste so danged good (the critters, not the vegans)! In fact, as I'm going to a barbecue this afternoon, I'll no doubt be chowing down on some cow! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 559 Registered: 10-2004 |
I love Strangeways just as much as any of the other Smiths albums. For me, it's a masterpiece. "A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours" and "Stop Me if You Think that You've Heard This One Before" are two of my favorite songs, not just in the Smiths' canon, but favorite songs ever in the history of pop music. As someone mentioned above, "How Soon is Now" was on the US version of MiM. I didn't even realize for several years after buying it that it was merely tacked on, that it was never intended to be apart of MiM. But at the same time (and purists will take me to task here) it did seem to fit in with record in a strange but satisfying way. As for the vegetarian question, I was a vegetarian from the time I was 13 until about 18-ish. I got my copy of MiM right before I turned 13. When I first heard the song MiM at the impressionable age of 12, I think I appreciated its uncompromising stance, but later grew to find its naivety and lack of subtlety cringe-inducing: basically, Morrissey means well, but the melodrama is just too laughable, too much self-parody to take seriously. But one thing has remained consistent: I have always felt that musically it is a crap song that slightly mars an otherwise flawless, stellar album. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 196 Registered: 07-2006 |
i'm inclined to agree....musically, it is weaker track on there but i maintain the simplicity of the "do you know how animals die?" lyric is an exceptionally inspired one in that it expresses the sadness behind people's decision to not eat meat, rather than the angry preachiness we're generally typified by. not around here obviously; you're all lovely gents. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1543 Registered: 05-2005 |
Ref MIM the track, yes it was sorta the least song you listened to off the album, but BY CHRIST! it was wonderful PR for The Smiths and veggie's at the time. EVERYONE was on about that album in some shape or form because of the title of the album and THAT song. MAybe it did its job, it was a throw away, with the focus on it generating publicity - end of? People were upset and flabberghasted that they even had the title on the guy's helmet!! I heard MOZZER play it live a few years ago, it was shit. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1460 Registered: 05-2005 |
I've never been a vegetarian; and in fact that may be one of the things that put me off The Smiths in the 80s. If cows didn't want us to eat them they wouldn't be so tasty. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1544 Registered: 05-2005 |
Depends what you heard first by The Smiths, I first heard This Charming Man, you're then hooked for lfe, if the first thing u ever heard by The Smiths was MIM or were upset by their (Mozer's) veg stance, tough shit mate, like u said you misssed out on a lot Padraig!! | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 197 Registered: 07-2006 |
i've just listened to it three and a half times (it's time for bed) for the first time in a long while and i think it's a fucking unbelievable record. shame about how soon is now being on there...anyone who's spent any time in indie discos in the past 20 years never needs to hear it again. especially infuriating considering it shouldn't be on the bloody buggery cd to begin with! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 620 Registered: 01-2005 |
I'm a vegan who eats fish as well, a pescetarian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescetarian I went to my niece's Memorial Day party on Sunday and I brought some salmon for the barbie that I split with my younger sister, as beef burgers and hot digs are a no-no. I just finished some sushi for lunch here at work. | ||
| Elizabeth Robinson Member Username: Liz_the_new_listener Post Number: 102 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hi, Joe - I'm a pescetarian (so my eating habits do have a name!) My sister can't believe I don't eat meat, and even asks 'Well, what do you think they flavor soy burgers and other meat substitutes with? Or do they really taste like the real thing?' Ah, well, it's the principle of the thing. I don't care whether they taste exactly like what I've given up - are they tasty? Are they edible? (some veggie cheese is plastic with salt, food coloring and spices added and won't melt in a blast furnace.) | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1390 Registered: 04-2005 |
That's funny--I have friends who are vegan activists and I've told them I'm basically vegan except for occasional fish, but they never mentioned the term pescetarian (sounds more like a religion, doesn't it?). So it's the first I've heard of it. Well, nice to know that I'm not alone in the "pesce" (pesky?) club. Elizabeth, they're probably unhealthy as anything, but Boca meat analogs sure are tasty by any standards. I have yet to taste a really good vegan cheese substitute though, so vegan pizzas tend to be dreary affairs. I wonder what Morrissey eats? My favorite dismissive review of him of all time (which I've probably posted before) was some critic who wrote: "There's nothing wrong with Morrissey that can't be solved by him getting laid and eating a cheeseburger." | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1969 Registered: 03-2006 |
Reminds me of the comedian, it was probably Bobcat Goldthwait, who said he'd quit eating meat when kd lang quit eating p***y. I'm guessing neither one has changed their habits - that'd be my guess. Morrisey, not that he's fat, but he doesn't seem to have missed too many Boca burgers. Also, if the root word, "pesce", means fish, is that the meaning of the great actor from "Goodfellas", Joe Pesci's, name? Is he, in fact, "Joe Fishy"? That would be oddly perfect. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 625 Registered: 01-2005 |
Elizabeth and Kurt, we have musician company as well, as Robyn Hitchcock is also a pescetarian. As far a Boca type burgers made of soy, I get Amy's. They come in about 4 different flavors, and I cook them in a frying pan with olive oil. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1391 Registered: 04-2005 |
I didn't know that about Hitchcock, Michael--interesting. Given how often he sings about fish, I thought maybe he has a soft spot for them in his heart and doesn't eat them. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 202 Registered: 07-2006 |
it's true LK....pesce is "fish" in italian. so pesci would mean "fishes" as it is the plural form. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1393 Registered: 04-2005 |
I dare you to go up to Joe Pesci, LK, and call him "Fishface" or "Fish Boy." Kiss your kneecaps goodbye! | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 623 Registered: 08-2006 |
Sounds like a mob name - Joey Fishes. Although the whole fishes/organized-crime thing didn't work out so well for Luca Brazzi. I wonder if one of Pesci's ancestors got deep-sixed. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 627 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kurt, RH: "Some things go in, some things go out. Next time 'round I'll be a trout!" I though Jane Siberry would be another fish song person, but apart from singing and talking about grouper fish on her second album, she left the field wide open for Robyn. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1466 Registered: 05-2005 |
I thought pescetarian was what you yanks called Anglicans? | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 204 Registered: 07-2006 |
the other night i was with someone who made reference to "gladys knight and the fish". i thought it was exceptionally funny. the other thing that comes to mind is the simpsons....when troy mcclure marries selma to escape the rumours about his escapades "with the fish" in his bizarro apartment.... "is this a sham marriage?" "sure baby, is that a problemo?" | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1970 Registered: 03-2006 |
In keeping with a prevalent theme on this thread, you can vote here for sexiest vegetarian: http://www.goveg.com/feat/sexiestveg2007 / I'm lobbying for Forest Whitaker. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 626 Registered: 08-2006 |
(Sort of) in keeping with our current theme, anyone see the latest insanity from Bush, Inc.? Apparently, there's this meat producer who wants to test their entire heard for Mad Cow disease. Good idea, right? No, say the wing-nuts. Why? Because if this one company does it, everyone's going to have to, because people will naturally buy beef that's labelled as having been tested. And that's a bad idea... why? Because, silly, widespread testing will lead to false positives, which will harm the industry. No mention of real positives, which cause your brain to rot, resulting in an agonizing and all-around unpretty death. Obviously, the worry for those of us who still eat meat isn't just Mad Cow. It's Mad Government. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 627 Registered: 08-2006 |
Oh, and how do we get Kurt on that "sexiest vegetarians" list? | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1971 Registered: 03-2006 |
Looking at the candidates, maybe he can take Kenny Loggins' place. Now, I'm hetero, but I'm pretty sure he ain't sexy. Also, of all the people on that list who inspire the "You're a vegetarian? No shit" reaction, Kenny leads the pack. Talk about someone who looks like they could stand to eat some red meat! Now, on the other hand, Forest Whitaker? That's surprising. The only decent musical artists I noticed on the list were Emmylou and Chrissie H., who I, of course, pretty much worship. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1395 Registered: 04-2005 |
Nellie McKay and Fiona Apple aren't so bad, LK. And Rob, I'm far too wan and sickly to make that list, though if Weird Al can be on it, I guess anyone can. One of my vegan friends met Alicia Silverstone at some vegetarian convention in LA and said she was really nice. And the friend got a hug from her at the end. So there are benefits to veganism... | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 630 Registered: 01-2005 |
Rob, Bush is safe, he doesn't show any signs of having a brain to rot. I think he has a mother board that's inside his head with link access by the coal, oil, medical, military/industrial complex industries. I guess the farming industry has just been granted access now as well. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 208 Registered: 07-2006 |
alicia was on the view right after rosie and elizabeth had their spat. she blanked elizabeth on live tv and then went on to comment that "she couldn't breathe" on account of the tension. best fake sick day ever! i wish i could be a bigger man and vote for someone like morrissey over jared leto, sadly i'm not. |