Treble’s Best Albums of the ’80s: Part Two
1986
10. New Order — Brotherhood (Factory – Qwest)
Brotherhood was a natural progression from Low-Life in that it still had the imperfect vocal styles of Bernard Sumner, the easily recognizable bassline from Peter Hook, the jangly guitars and danceable keyboards, but it took everything a step farther. Layered vocals abounded for one, and the textures more closely mimicked bands like Echo & the Bunnymen and Aztec Camera rather than those of, say the Human League or the Pet Shop Boys. In most songs, the guitar is much more of a presence than the synthesizer, leaving the dance floor, for the most part, behind for a more traditional ‘band’ sound. – Terrance Terich
9. Run-DMC — Raising Hell (Profile)
Run-DMC weren’t the first, or the biggest selling, or even the most legendary hip-hop act in history. They were merely the best at what they did, and for that, made rap into a million selling genre. Crossover rock singles, lyrical product placement, goofball joke raps, hardcore beats—all of these can be found on Raising Hell, the band’s best of a handful of great albums, a concept that still hadn’t quite been put into practice on a large scale by most of their peers. It’s hard to find a phenomenon in hip-hop music today that doesn’t at some point intersect with Raising Hell, and that most certainly includes staying flossy. – Jeff Terich
8. Billy Bragg — Talking With the Taxman About Poetry (Go! Discs)
Now, the record would be a more than deserving entry on a number of lists – Best Albums to Listen to in a Pub, Best Album to Piss Off Your Parents With, Album You Listen to That Is Most Likely to Hurt Your Chances of Getting Elected to the House of Commons – and it also certainly warrants a prominent spot on the Best Albums of the ’80s list. Bragg chose to use more ornate productions for Taxman than before, enlisting horns, the layered guitars of Johnny Marr, and the voice of Kirsty MacColl; but, of course, no percussion. – Tyler Agnew
7. R.E.M. — Life’s Rich Pageant (I.R.S.)
As far as history, there were always whispers of the atrocities perpetrated on Native Americans, the fact that no one really `discovers’ another country with indigenous people, and the various conspiracy theories revolving around nearly ever aspect of American history, but it was never taught. R.E.M.’s Life’s Rich Pageant was the social studies book I always wanted, political, historical and rocking. – Terrance Terich
6. Depeche Mode — Black Celebration (Mute – Sire)
They say that the only certainties in life are death and taxes, and hopefully some sex here and there. On Depeche Mode’s Black Celebration, the band covers two of the three things in life outlined above, though it tends more toward the shadowy aspects of said topics. For all the love and sex out there, there’s that desperation for connection; and for all those reminders of how alive you feel, there’s that cold reminder that nothing’s going to last and that death is everywhere. With all its questions of lust and time, the dozen songs on Black Celebration are the dark clouds that overtake the silver lining. – Hubert Vigilla
5. Beastie Boys — Licensed to Ill (Def Jam)
Four and three and two and one (What up!)/ And when I’m on the mic/the suckers run (Word!)/ Down with Ad Rock and Mike D. and you ain’t/ And I got more juice than Picasso got paint/ Got rhymes that are rough and rhymes that are slick/ I’m not surprised you’re on my dick / I got money in the bank/I can still get high/ That’s why your girlfriend thinks that I’m so fly/ I’ve got money and juice/twin sisters in my bed/ Their father had envy so I shot him in the head/ Girls with boyfriends are the kind I like/ I’ll steal your honey like I stole your bike/ Walking down the block with the fresh fly threads /Beastie Boys fly the biggest heads
I think that says it all. – Anna Gazdowicz
4. Paul Simon — Graceland (Warner Bros.)
As principal songwriter, Simon had no trouble reaching success in a solo career. But it wasn’t until 1985, the same year he took part in the USA for Africa project, that Simon became aware of African music. Given an album called Gumboots, Simon was introduced to the street music of South Africa. Further exploration led him to various other African rhythms, bands and styles, inspiring him in a way he had never been before. Using these acts, particularly Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Youssou N’Dour, and the Boyoyo Boys Band, among others, Simon created Graceland, a world pop album that both entertained and educated. – Terrance Terich
3.Sonic Youth — EVOL (Blast First – SST)
On my first listen to this, well, I listened to various songs from the album over a two year period, trying to con myself into “appreciation” of the thing, but still more desperate to listen to whatever killer tune from “average” major-indie record I’d heard this week…quite probably “Teen Age Riot.” Suffice to say, as Sonic Youth starting points go, you’re best to plump for Daydream Nation, not least to indulge in aforementioned activity (feel used…there’s daylight outside). This is a brilliant record though, the sort that surreptitiously creeps through the ear hole disguised as a transcendental moment. By then, the problem will be finding schedule time to relax with EVOL. – Thomas Lee
2. XTC — Skylarking (Geffen)
With this album, XTC pushed their creative boundaries while harking back to traditional subject material – the appreciation of greenery and seasonal change, and the richness of life when it’s appreciated in the context of beauteous surroundings. Musically it’s a pageant of fully employed synths and percussion, of contemporary-sounding rock and classical melody, fused to give this album a timeless feel. – Chris Griffiths
1.The Smiths — The Queen is Dead (Rough Trade – Sire)
With three albums under their belts, a worldwide following, cult status, and money flowing in, the Smiths could have easily just phoned in the next album. Instead, they recorded and released The Queen is Dead. I remember hearing my local radio station talking about the fact that they had the new single to play, “Bigmouth Strikes Again”. Thank goodness I didn’t actually hear the song on the radio first. – Terrance Terich
Personal Best
Peter Gabriel – So (Geffen)
After seventeen years of fronting prog rock heroes Genesis and releasing four self-titled solo albums, Peter Gabriel started Real World, a label and entity that would explore the combinations of world music and evolving technology. The first project that Gabriel completed after Real World’s formation would end up to be his signature work, So. The album would end up to be the perfect conglomeration; slow burning love songs alongside busy pop tracks, African drums alongside modern synthesizers, traditional songwriting to go along with state of the art videos. Although his first four albums would yield spectacular songs and a few hits, it would take So and its legacy to make Peter Gabriel a superstar. – Terrance Terich
