The Cellar - View Single Post - The Great Musical Taste Black Hole I Endured

Undertoad · 05-14-2006, 03:02 AM

I swear I am slowly developing a post based on many dwellar's common lament that the "good music" did not happen during years XXXX.... where XXXX varies.

During those times when one feels there is "no good music" it only means one forgot to look or did not know where to look.

1984-86 was awesome. You were clearly looking in some of the right places with the 4ad stuff! Here's what you missed or forgot:

REM's golden age: 1983 Murmur, 1984 Reckoning, 1985 Fables, 1986 Life's Rich Pageant, 1987 Reckoning. Changed everything.

Pretty much the entire Smiths lifespan was during this time period and defines it for a lot of people. 1984 Smiths, 1985 Meat is Murder, 1986 The Queen is Dead. 1985's "How Soon Is Now?" is the song of the decade and contains the most original, instantly-recognizable guitar riff of the decade. The Smiths define the changeover between baby-boomers and GenX. If you like the Smiths you are NOT a baby boomer, no matter when you were born. Rock radio did not play them At All.

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire (1984) - not their peak, but pretty close to it.

Killing Joke - Night Time (1985) - with "Eighties", the song that defined the decade.

Yes - 90125 - pretty much was 1984 for me.

The Church - 1986's Heyday pretty much changed everything for me.

Psychedelic Furs Mirror Moves (1984) was their commercial turn with "Heaven" and "Ghost in You", and it left us in awe.

Talk Talk quit commercial-land to put out the mind-bogglingly brilliant The Colour of Spring (1985), which I failed to understand at first. I gave it away and this was the last CD I ever just gave away. I think I re-purchased it.

Dire Straits went from somewhat popular to massively popular with Brothers In Arms (1985).

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions's Rattlesnakes (1985) is a personal fav.

The dBs Like This (1984), sadly, fails once again to make them stars. Similarly, Cypress (1984) and Big Plans for Everybody (1986) do not turn Let's Active into a household term, as the jangly guitar revolution seems to stall outside of REM.

Depeche Mode's Some Great Reward (1984) refined electropop into something harder and richer with "People are People" and "Blasphemous Rumors" and "Somebody". Their greatness cannot be denied. Two years later, "Black Celebration" makes life even safer for goths.

XTC's awesome Skylarking (1986) is still a yearly springtime favorite of mine.

Thomas Dolby's second album The Flat Earth (1984) was really excellent, despite not really having a big hit.

Echo and the Bunnymen finished the first go-around with Ocean Rain (1984).

New Order's Low-Life (1985) becomes their first US release. A year later is "Brotherhood" ("Bizarre Love Triangle") and during this time Peter Hook learns to completely rip off the Cure's approach to bass (or so R. Smith complained).

OMD's Junk Culture (1984) is the end of the band's height of popularity, but a lot of people danced to "Tesla Girls".

You've already mentioned them but the stunning originality of Cocteau Twins' Treasure (1984) took all our breaths away.

Bryan Ferry's first post-Roxy Music album is Boys and Girls (1985) and it is most excellent.

Had they appeared a decade earlier, the Smithereens' second album Especially For You (1986) with "Blood and Roses" would have made them megastars, instead of merely those rockin' Jersey guys with the great sound who made a bunch of great radio-ready records.

It is sad to say, and I hesitate to say it, but there was this phenomenon in 1984 called Frankie Goes to Hollywood... and for a summer you could legitimately say that "Relax" was a ton of fun. The pounding beat caught everyone's attention. This strange thing happened where everyone suddenly learned that the song was about gay fetish sex but continued to dance to it anyway.

Tears for Fears' Songs From the Big Chair (1985) provided the least annoying radio hits of the day: "Shout", "Head over Heels/Broken", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". Awesome!

INXS' popularity was ensured during this period. "I Send a Message", "Original Sin", "What You Need"... 1984-85.

Joe Jackson decided to go full-out jazzy with Body and Soul (1985) including "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)".

Kate Bush's Hounds of Love (1985) is considered her best by many fans.

1984 founds Red Hot Chili Peppers. "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" kicks everyone's ass although it would still be a long time until they reach their peak.

All this is from memory, except the dates which I confirmed on allmusic.

05-14-2006, 03:02 AM	#9
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I swear I am slowly developing a post based on many dwellar's common lament that the "good music" did not happen during years XXXX.... where XXXX varies. During those times when one feels there is "no good music" it only means one forgot to look or did not know where to look. 1984-86 was awesome. You were clearly looking in some of the right places with the 4ad stuff! Here's what you missed or forgot: REM's golden age: 1983 Murmur, 1984 Reckoning, 1985 Fables, 1986 Life's Rich Pageant, 1987 Reckoning. Changed everything. Pretty much the entire Smiths lifespan was during this time period and defines it for a lot of people. 1984 Smiths, 1985 Meat is Murder, 1986 The Queen is Dead. 1985's "How Soon Is Now?" is the song of the decade and contains the most original, instantly-recognizable guitar riff of the decade. The Smiths define the changeover between baby-boomers and GenX. If you like the Smiths you are NOT a baby boomer, no matter when you were born. Rock radio did not play them At All. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire (1984) - not their peak, but pretty close to it. Killing Joke - Night Time (1985) - with "Eighties", the song that defined the decade. Yes - 90125 - pretty much was 1984 for me. The Church - 1986's Heyday pretty much changed everything for me. Psychedelic Furs Mirror Moves (1984) was their commercial turn with "Heaven" and "Ghost in You", and it left us in awe. Talk Talk quit commercial-land to put out the mind-bogglingly brilliant The Colour of Spring (1985), which I failed to understand at first. I gave it away and this was the last CD I ever just gave away. I think I re-purchased it. Dire Straits went from somewhat popular to massively popular with Brothers In Arms (1985). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions's Rattlesnakes (1985) is a personal fav. The dBs Like This (1984), sadly, fails once again to make them stars. Similarly, Cypress (1984) and Big Plans for Everybody (1986) do not turn Let's Active into a household term, as the jangly guitar revolution seems to stall outside of REM. Depeche Mode's Some Great Reward (1984) refined electropop into something harder and richer with "People are People" and "Blasphemous Rumors" and "Somebody". Their greatness cannot be denied. Two years later, "Black Celebration" makes life even safer for goths. XTC's awesome Skylarking (1986) is still a yearly springtime favorite of mine. Thomas Dolby's second album The Flat Earth (1984) was really excellent, despite not really having a big hit. Echo and the Bunnymen finished the first go-around with Ocean Rain (1984). New Order's Low-Life (1985) becomes their first US release. A year later is "Brotherhood" ("Bizarre Love Triangle") and during this time Peter Hook learns to completely rip off the Cure's approach to bass (or so R. Smith complained). OMD's Junk Culture (1984) is the end of the band's height of popularity, but a lot of people danced to "Tesla Girls". You've already mentioned them but the stunning originality of Cocteau Twins' Treasure (1984) took all our breaths away. Bryan Ferry's first post-Roxy Music album is Boys and Girls (1985) and it is most excellent. Had they appeared a decade earlier, the Smithereens' second album Especially For You (1986) with "Blood and Roses" would have made them megastars, instead of merely those rockin' Jersey guys with the great sound who made a bunch of great radio-ready records. It is sad to say, and I hesitate to say it, but there was this phenomenon in 1984 called Frankie Goes to Hollywood... and for a summer you could legitimately say that "Relax" was a ton of fun. The pounding beat caught everyone's attention. This strange thing happened where everyone suddenly learned that the song was about gay fetish sex but continued to dance to it anyway. Tears for Fears' Songs From the Big Chair (1985) provided the least annoying radio hits of the day: "Shout", "Head over Heels/Broken", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". Awesome! INXS' popularity was ensured during this period. "I Send a Message", "Original Sin", "What You Need"... 1984-85. Joe Jackson decided to go full-out jazzy with Body and Soul (1985) including "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)". Kate Bush's Hounds of Love (1985) is considered her best by many fans. 1984 founds Red Hot Chili Peppers. "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" kicks everyone's ass although it would still be a long time until they reach their peak. All this is from memory, except the dates which I confirmed on allmusic.