Tag: The 1980’s
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Kate Bush ‘Hounds of Love’ (1985)
Hounds of Love is a perfect example of when artistic ambition meets the pop music framework. Showcasing her chameleonic vocal range—from guttural growls to ethereal whispers—Bush pushed the boundaries of pop with lush, experimental production and deeply evocative storytelling. But where it gets really special is the prog-rock concept album nature of it all (which…
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The D.O.C. ‘No One Can Do It Better’ (1989)
An album titled No One Can Do It Better from an artist relatively unknown to the mainstream might sound like typical hip-hop bravado, but in this case, the claim holds weight. The D.O.C. is one of the most iconic “what could have been” stories in hip-hop history. Before releasing his debut in 1989, he was…
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D.O.A. ‘Hardcore ’81’ (1981)
D.O.A.’s Hardcore ’81 not only helped define a genre but gave it a name—it was the first record to explicitly use “hardcore” to describe the raw, aggressive offshoot of punk rock. Hailing from Canada’s underground scene, D.O.A. blended the fury of classic punk rock a la The Ramones with the muscle of 1970’s rock ‘n’…
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Nirvana ‘Bleach’ (1989)
Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and an evolving roster of drummers (Dave Grohl wouldn’t join the band until 1991’s Nevermind) came together to distill raw, unpolished essence of the Pac Northwest’s burgeoning grunge scene with their debut album Bleach, setting the stage for a sound that would eventually change a generation. Recorded in a modest session…
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Quiet Riot ‘Metal Health’ (1983)
Quiet Riot’s Metal Health was a milestone for heavy metal music, becoming the first metal album to top the Billboard 200 and selling over 10 million copies worldwide. The album’s explosive success was propelled by their raucous cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize,” which turned into an anthem for headbangers everywhere. But beneath…
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Beastie Boys ‘Licensed To Ill’ (1986)
Once a hardcore punk band, the trio of Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock brought their raw, chaotic energy into the world of rap, trading guitars for turntables without losing an ounce of their rebellious spirit. Their debut album Licensed To Ill is pretty much a masterclass in blending irreverence with innovation, marking one of the…
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Misfits ‘Walk Among Us’ (1982)
Walk Among Us marked the Misfits’ official album debut (although it was actually the third record they had recorded). A curious blend of 1950s pop sensibilities and blistering punk energy, the album reimagined doo-wop harmonies and rockabilly-inspired melodies through the chaotic, snarling lens of punk rock. Misfits have always had a knack for crafting infectious…
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Dag Nasty ‘Can I Say’ (1984)
Emerging from the vibrant hardcore punk scene of Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980s Dag Nasty was a band that bridged the visceral intensity of their peers with melodic sensibilities. Formed by guitarist Brian Baker—who was already a hardcore legend from his days with Minor Threat—Dag Nasty’s sound on their first-full length 1986 debut Can I…
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The Pogues ‘If I Should Fall from Grace with God’ (1988)
Blending traditional Irish folk instrumentation with the snarling energy of punk, The Pogues breakthrough album If I Should Fall from Grace with God was both a rebellious anthem and a love letter to their Celtic roots. The album’s lead single “Fairytale of New York” became an instant holiday classic the moment it was released. With…
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Bon Jovi ‘Slippery When Wet’ (1986)
Fueled by massive anthems like “You Give Love a Bad Name”, “Wanted Dead or Alive”, and the timeless drunk karaoke favorite “Livin’ on a Prayer”, Slippery When Wet rocketed the New Jersey group to global superstardom. Produced by Bruce Fairbairn and polished to a shimmering, radio-ready perfection, Slippery When Wet bridged the gap between glam…
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Poison ‘Open Up And Say…Ahh!’ (1988)
Open Up and Say…Ahh! is the glittering embodiment of 1980s glam rock excess, a loud, brash, and unapologetically fun album that catapulted the band to superstardom. Released in 1988, it’s a neon-lit time capsule of hair-metal anthems that continue to define that era when people think of glam rock today. The album drips with over-the-top…
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Bad Brains ‘Bad Brains’ (1982)
Bad Brains stood out from their early 80’s hardcore punk peers in nearly every single– here was four Rastafarian black men playing fusing punk rock and reggae while staying grounded with their “Positive Mental Attitude” in their native Washington DC, drawing a stark contrast to the primarily white male bands with angry screeds against the…
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George Michael ‘Faith’ (1987)
After rising to fame as the lead singer of Wham!, George Michael left the teenybopper persona behind in a bold transformation from pop heartthrob to serious musician– Faith sees Michael writing and producing all the songs while also playing many of the instruments himself. It’s the quintessential debut solo album that showcases Michael’s versatility across…
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The Replacements ‘Tim’ (1985)
By 1985 Minneapolis-based The Replacements had carved out a space in the punk rock underground, but Tim marked their shift toward a sound that began to explore the roomier horizon of alternative rock. With their ragged guitars and Westerberg’s soulful voice, The Replacements blended punk’s sharp edge with a melodic sensibility that gave them a…
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Descendents ‘Milo Goes To College’ (1982)
Milo Goes to College by the Descendents is widely celebrated as a punk essential, landing on critics best-of punk rock lists from industry luminaries like Spin and Rolling Stone. Critics praise its punchy, fast-paced tracks that capture teenage angst with humor and honesty– it was effectively the blueprint for modern pop punk as we know…
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The Gun Club ‘Fire of Love’ (1981)
The Gun Club’s Fire of Love is raw and visceral, a unique blend of the ferocity of punk rock with a distinctive Southern gothic blues rock edge. Released in 1981 off the heels of the punk rock explosion in the UK, Fire of Love captures the chaotic spirit of the early 80s punk scene but…
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Adolescents ‘Adolescents’ (1981)
Emerging from Fullerton, California, in 1980, Adolescents carved a significant niche within the punk rock movement, helping to shape its sound and ethos during a transformative period. With their self-titled debut album the band blended melodic hooks with raw, energetic instrumentation, setting a template that would influence countless punk bands in the years to come.…
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Stevie Ray Vaughan ‘Texas Flood’ (1983)
In the heart of Texas, under the blazing sun, there lived a man named Stevie Ray Vaughan. He may have walked and talked like a man, but by all accounts he was a sorcerer from another dimension, whose fingers danced upon his ridiculously heavy strings as if they were alive. Legends whispered that he was…
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Sonic Youth ‘Daydream Nation’ (1988)
There are few bands who truly redefined a specific genre of music. Sonic Youth is certainly one of them. Emerging from the American underground in the mid-80’s, the band’s inventive use of alternate tunings, dissonance, and feedback was combined with the intensity of hardcore punk and further imbued with the performance art aesthetic of New…
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The Smiths ‘The Smiths’ (1984)
The Smiths have been an Indie Rock touchstone since forming in 1982 in Manchester, England, and have had a profound impact on alternative music and the culture surrounding it. Their jangly guitars, melancholic melodies, and introspective lyrics helped define the “sad boy” genre with Morrissey’s grim outlook on life. The Smiths frontman has a distinct…
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Jane’s Addiction ‘Nothing’s Shocking’ (1988)
Jane’s Addiction played a pivotal role in defining the grunge sound of the early ’90s, melding elements of punk rock, heavy metal, and alternative music in a way that influenced countless bands. Their debut album Nothing’s Shocking showcased an eclectic mix of styles, characterized by Perry Farrell’s ethereal vocals and a fusion of gritty guitar…
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Hall & Oates ‘Private Eyes’ (1981)
Hall & Oates’ Private Eyes epitomizes the duo’s signature yacht rock sound—a smooth blend of pop, rock, and soul that captures the essence of early ’80s radio. The album features some of their most iconic tracks, including the title song “Private Eyes” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” both of which showcase…
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Dan Hartman ‘I Can Dream About You’ (1984)
I Can Dream About You is a quintessential 80’s album that perfectly captures the era’s vibrant energy and cheesy earnestness. Blending pop, rock, and synth elements, Hartman’s powerful voice cascades over arrangements whose bias for danceability hides some pretty excellent melodic choices. If you close your eyes and listen closely you can hear the influence…
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Big Daddy Kane ‘Long Live The Kane’ (1988)
Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live the Kane is a seminal album in the golden age of hip-hop. It has the distinction of also being one of the most sampled albums from that era– legendary MC’s like Nas, Beastie Boys, The Notorious B.I.G., and MF Doom have all sampled beats and lyrics from this album, with…
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EPMD ‘Strictly Business’ (1988)
From the opening note of EPMD’s Strictly Business it’s clear what Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith are here to do– deliver memorable hooks over soulful samples with a confident, no-frills approach that captures the spirit of late 80’s hip-hop. The production is crisp and funky. The vocal delivery is smooth and measured. The bass lines…
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Slick Rick ‘The Great Adventures of Slick Rick’ (1988)
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick is, in a word, surprisingly obscene. When you think of the Golden Age of Hip Hop of the 1980’s you typically think of smooth flows with a bit of braggadocious spirit, some strong political statements a la Public Enemy, or something a bit cheesy like MC Hammer or Vanilla…
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Nine Inch Nails ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ (1989)
In the early 1990s, a seismic shift rippled through the music world when the enigmatic Trent Reznor emerged from the industrial underground with a sound that would forever alter the landscape of industrial music. Their debut album Pretty Hate Machine was a visceral exploration of pain, alienation, and existential dread. It blended the mechanical rhythms…
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Ozzy Osbourne ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ (1980)
It was the spring of 1980 and the legendary Ozzy Osbourne was in the midst of a decade-long bender of epic proportions. Jettisoned from his former band Black Sabbath, the wayward frontman was at somewhat of a career and personal crossroads– his musical longevity was uncertain considering the massive amounts of cocaine and alcohol he…
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Madonna ‘Like A Virgin’ (1984)
You’d be hard pressed to list a pop culture moment as iconic as Madonna’s 1984 performance at the VMA’s that saw her writhing on the ground in a white wedding dress while singing “Like a Virgin.” It was a career-defining performance, one that thrust her headfirst into the world of controversy she’s been known for…
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Slayer ‘Show No Mercy’ (1983)
In the damp, dimly lit corners of Los Angeles in 1983, four young men carved their path into heavy metal history with the release of Show No Mercy. The album was completely self-financed, with lead singer Tom Araya using the life savings he earned as a respiratory therapist and guitarist Kerry King’s father chipping in…
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LL Cool J ‘Radio’ (1985)
LL Cool J’s Radio remains a seminal work in the history of hip-hop. At the time of its release it was a bold declaration of LL’s lyrical prowess and Rick Rubin’s innovative production techniques, defining an era with its raw lo-fi beats, LL’s charismatic flow, and the blend of old school and new school hip…
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Prefab Sprout ‘From Langley Park To Memphis’ (1988)
Shiny and glittery, Prefab Sprout’s third album From Langley Park To Memphis is a trip down memory lane into the world of late 80’s sophisti-pop. This entire album is a colorful collection of immaculately produced New Wave pop songs that sparkle at every turn, a catchy and fun ride that makes you want to tuck…
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Bertie Higgins ‘Just Another Day In Paradise’ (1982)
I was legitimately obsessed for Bertie Higgins song “Key Largo” about five years ago, around the time my first child was born. And when I say obsessed I mean obsessed– I played it about three times a day for an entire calendar month and it ended up on my Spotify Wrapped at the end of…
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Chris Isaak ‘Heart Shaped World’ (1989)
Chris Isaak’s blend of moody rockabilly drenched in reverb and magic dust is a haunting blend. Heart Shaped World features a sort of expertise for uncanny world-building that is immediately gripping the moment you first hear it. It sounds like a live concert put on by a 50’s rock and roll band taking place in…
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The Whispers ‘Love For Love’ (1982)
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is over-produced and opulent R&B from the 80’s that blends smooth jazz with the upbeat funk that took great inspiration from albums like Parliament’s 1975 magnum opus Mothership Connection and went on to inspire one of the greatest contemporary pop funk albums in Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic. The Whispers…
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Oingo Boingo ‘Dead Man’s Party’ (1985)
Oingo Boingo’s 1985 album Dead Man’s Party is a unique experience from start to finish, capturing the eccentric nature of the band and all of their quirky provocativeness. I’ve been running a ton during 2024 (my New Year resolution is to hit a Vo2 Max over 50) and this album is a slam dunk pick…
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