Seconds of Pleasure was the culmination of work by the Nick Lowe (Cruel to Be Kind) and Dave Edmunds (I Hear you Knockin') session band. Despite playing on many Lowe and Edmunds records, Rockpile only released this one album under their own name. Featuring both original compositions and covers, Seconds of Pleasure unleashed a brand of Welsh rockabilly matched by none.
1981: Computerwelt - Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk's 1981 classic is a sure sign of the world's optimism concerning the future of computers. With songs like "Pocket Calculator" and "Computer Love" we can imagine Louis Skolnick and Gilbert Lowe oscillating wildly...and frankly.... what could be better than that?
1982: Pornography - The Cure
Pornography is one of the 3 best cure albums (imo). It starts off dark and gets darker. Each of the songs are long enough to let the listener to sink into some sort of a trance. A great accompaniment to 3 Imaginary Boys and The Head on the Door.
1983: Holy Diver - Dio
Dio hit home with this one. "Stand Up and Shout " "Holy Diver," "Rainbow in the Dark." This record is ALL that 80's metal could ever hope to be. We lost Dio way too soon and this is as good of a remembrance as any. That being said, the "Holy Diver" music video may be one of the silliest ones in MTV history.
1984: Ocean Rain - Echo and the Bunnymen
One of the BEST albums ever made. Ian and the boys are able to bounce back and forth between upbeat, albeit reverb soaked, songs and songs in the complete opposite direction. Sadly Echo never had the commercial success that many of their "Post Punk" contemporaries. Luckily Donnie Darko introduced many younger listeners to their biggest hit, "The Killing Moon," which can be found on this record. Overall, I would say that the title track is my favourite, followed closely by "Nocturnal Me." This album will not let you down.
1985: Tim - The Replacements
A great alternative album. Remembered mostly for "Bastards of Young," Tim is a nice angsty album with some good guitar work. My favourite track is "Waitress in the Sky."
1986: The Queen is Dead - The Smiths
The Smiths' crowning achievement is most certainly The Queen is Dead. From start to finish, the band delivers finely crafted music by Johnny Marr and haunting lyrics by the great Morrissey. Despite all of the songs having some sort of bizarre basis, most listeners are able to identify with what the narrator (Mozz) is singing about. This album is perfect. Everybody deserves to hear this album at least once.
1987: Darklands - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Another great new wave record. The Jesus and Mary chain was able to pull off the reverb fueled sound of The Bunnymen while being able to keep the lyrics a "little" more positive. "Happy When it Rains" is a classic and all of the other songs hold up just as well. It has always puzzled by why these guys were not able to maintain the same longevity as some of their counterparts.
1988: Surfer Rosa - The Pixies
Surfer Rosa is another great one. Produced by Steve Albini (of Big Black fame), this record harnesses the raw sound of The Pixies, (i.e. "Bone Machine"). Thanks to Ablini's concept of having an album with a lot of studio banter we get some pretty funny, but slightly forced, commentary between band mates (Buy me a soda?). I rather like "Gigantic" and "Broken Face."
1989: Bleach - Nirvana
Not much going on in 1989. It was more or less a toss up between this and The Pogues. This is my favourite of the Nirvana albums. It's nice and heavy and showcases Cobain and Novoselic's talent for playing fast and loud (Grohl didn't play on this one). "Negative Creep" is certainly a great song to listen to before playing hockey or anything else that requires you to beat the crap out of other people. I just wonder how Cobain didn't permanently lose his voice singing on this album.
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