Albums:
1. Postcard C.V. (Senseless Things) – They were way ahead of their time and extremely young and naive, but I was a devoted fan. This is the perfect debut album – ten concise pop-punk treatments on teen angst.
2. Overdosed On (Chemical People) – Still the tightest, fastest band ever. Catchy tunes – perverted lyrics – singing drummer/3piece – what more do you want?
3. Earthquake Weather (Joe Strummer) – For years I considered this album a guilty pleasure; compared to The Clash, I was unsure that it was any good at all. It’s an eccentric mix of funk, dub and world music and some of it doesn’t work at all, but in my old age I’m determined that it’s Strummer’s best work. Get to know ‘Earthquake Weather’ and it’ll serve you well.
4. Doolittle (Pixies) – What can you say about the best album by the best band? Other than it should be #1 on my list.
5. Love Is A Battlefield of Wounded Hearts (Hard-Ons) – First studio album from the Australian singing-drummer/3piece (see a trend here?) Pop-punk perfection.
6. The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses) – Psychedelic Marvin Gaye and jangly anthemic pop from a bunch of Manchester hooligans seemed impossibly brilliant when this was released. Though ‘I Am The Resurrection’ is probably the weakest song on the album, the improvised jam at the end (3:37 onwards) is truly remarkable.
7. Automatic (The Jesus And Mary Chain) – A concentrated pop album from the Scottish doomlords – the only thing with a drum machine that I could tolerate at the time!
8. Paul’s Boutique (The Beastie Boys) – I was definitely not a fan of the Beastie Boys when this album came out, but I could not resist The Dust Brothers incredible beats. Between this album and Young MC’s debut they blew their load – but what a money shot!
9. Bizarro (The Wedding Present) – Jokingly referred to as Smiths fans second favourite band, The Wedding Present are a strange bunch – if you can stand Gedge’s vocals and the frenetic barrage of shrill guitars you might understand why their songs are up there with Morrissey’s.
10. Energy (Operation Ivy) – One of those albums that just sounds like nothing else before it. A strange hybrid of The Specials, the Clash and Bad Brains – they had a weird funky style and solid message of interracial “UNITY!!!” The first time I’d heard of ‘Skatepunk’.
Notable misses:
Songs:
1. Fools Gold 9:53 (The Stone Roses) – To fans of their debut album, this 12” single seemed a mind-blowing left-turn. I love the restraint in the performances on this track. After this, every band had drum loops and wah-wah – welcome to Madchester!
2. Monkey Gone To Heaven (Pixies) – There’s not a bad song on this album – and ‘Silver’ is one of the most incredible tracks imaginable – but the riffs and lyrics on Monkey Gone To Heaven are irresistible.
3. Awkward Kid (Mega City Four) – This single is in the tradition of frail sensitive Buzzcocks songs or Mick Jones’ Clash B-Sides – fragile and emotive, heavy-on-the-heart.
4. Too Much Kissing (Senseless Things) – Last track on ‘Postcard C.V.’ and played at the end of every show – classic song.
5. Last Of The Famous International Playboys (Morrissey) – 1989 saw a bunch of good singles from Mozzer – this is the funniest one.
6. Pet Semetary (Ramones) – A surprise return to form for Ramones, thanks to Stephen King’s rubbish horror novel.
7. Dizzy’s Goatee (Joe Strummer) -The strung-out Strummer was only loosely involved in this album’s creation, but with lyrics this intense and vocals this bare we get him at his most authentic.
8. You Surround Me (Erasure) – It doesn’t get much gayer than this band and this song. Always had a huge admiration for Vince Clark’s production and Andy Bell’s vocal style.
9. Get Wet (Hard-Ons) – marrying sexual perversion with melancholy pop. There are 6 chords in this song, but they could’ve done it with two.
10. UV Ray (The Jesus And Mary Chain) – The dark track from a great pop album – Ministry and Nine Inch Nails were listening.
Notable misses:
Epic (Faith No More)
About A Girl (Nirvana)
Music Corner w/ Archive 