Domingo 4 Mai 2014, 9h:42
I was born on January 5th, 1984. After the initial depression of turning 30 passed, I came to accept my own mortality and soon noticed I had become more retrospective. I guess when there's less to look forward to, you tend to look at all that's passed with more interest. Now that I've got done cataloguing my record collection (all 1200+ of them), I got interested in exactly what great albums had been released during my 30 years on this Earth? And therein lies the idea of this piece and the ones that will follow it - I will pick 5 albums from my collection per year starting with 1984 and well, write something about them. Hey, I've got nothing better to do so here we go.
But first - Criteria:
A. I must own a physical copy of the record in question.
B. Compilations, archival releases, EPs and live albums should be avoided if possible.
C. No more than one release per artist per year.
Albums will be presented in alphabetical order by artist.
Obviously I have no memories of my own from this year and all album purchases have come later on. I suspect it will be much the same case well into the 1990s. Anyhoo, right off the bat this seemed like a difficult year to start off. Not that well represented on my record shelves but still a couple handfuls to pick from.
I'm not really happy with the mixing of this album. Granted, it's a punk release but it just sounds so muddy. On the other hand, coupled with the recorded material the production only adds to the schizophrenic and claustrophobic mood. Even though it's not the record I spin most often, My War deserves to be listed as there's a bunch of good songs here. The A-side is more in the vein of their earlier material, while side B is bordering on sludge territory. Not their easiest release to get into but a whole lot of fun if you give it time. Songs to check out: My War, Beat My Head Against The Wall, Nothing Left Inside
Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime
Double dose of punk for 1984, though the Minutemen are nowhere near as abrasive as Black Flag. 43-45 songs depending on the release with nearly all of them well below the 3 minute mark in length. Possibly best known today as including the song that would become the theme for Jackass ("Corona"). Double Nickels is all over the place and a wonderful album. Despite the length, you won't get bored listening to it.
I am already breaking my own rules as this is a live album. However I think the exception is acceptable as the material is wholly unique. During this time Tangerine Dream were still largely improvising their live sets instead of playing a selection of old favorites. This epic slab of progressive elecronic rock is an essential release in the TD discography. While I have not quite memorized even half of it, I wouldn't consider that a bad thing as it keeps surprising me every time I put it on. This right here is 80 minutes of synth-fuelled bliss. Get the Esoteric Recordings 2011 reissue for the complete experience as some of the earlier releases do not include all of the material.
The quintessential Trouble album. None of their subsequent releases hit quite as hard. Just listen to the opening track "The Tempter", it leaves an immediate impression. A doom metal classic, yet hardly slow and plodding like the genre has become known as. Could be the perfect gateway album if you're into classic heavy metal or even thrash. Just listening to Psalm 9 right now, I can't help but kick myself for letting it stay on the shelf for such extended periods of time. Each time you hear something new like the subtle keyboard in "Victim Of The Insane". And there's a kickass cover of Cream's "Tales Of Brave Ulysses".
Scott Walker - Climate Of Hunter
"This is how you disappear" - what a great opening line. The beginning of Scott Walker's rebirth, though you might trace it back to the Walker Brothers album Nightflights 6 years earlier. While a noticeable departure from his earlier material, Climate Of Hunter is still quite easy to approach compared to what came after it. F*ck it, I love Scott Walker. Everything he's ever done. Either it speaks to you or it doesn't. I can't even compare him to anyone else. Try "Track Three" if you're unfamiliar. Mark Knopfler fans may be interested to know the man plays guitars on track 8. And if anyone knows Mark Isham, he's on trumpet on tracks 2 & 3.
That's it. Five albums from 1984 well worth my money. Quite possibly well worth your money too. Check them out.