1995 Deep Dive: Top 25 Songs

      Since I had 80 songs on my preliminary list, I had to narrow it down by setting a limit of one song per band. So, technically this isn't really my Top 25, but it's an amazing collection of songs. I would like to shout out some songs that weren't on albums from my Top 25 and that missed this list: "Stars" by Hum, "Geek Stink Breath" and "Brain Stew" by Green Day, "Waydown" by Catherine Wheel, "Hey Man Nice Shot" by Filter, "Boy Racer" by Morrissey, and "Black Steel" by Tricky. Sorry in advance for already revealing my Top 3 during the week. Peace.

25. CONNECTION - ELASTICA

     I love this song and its homage to Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba". I was also surprised how good this whole album is. It almost made the list.

24. LAUGH TRACK - CHAVEZ

     This was a great rediscovery. Love the combination of lo-fi and walls of guitar. 

23. WAKE UP BOO! - THE BOO RADLEYS

     If you like the idea of George Michael doing Northern Soul this track is for you. Super fun.

22. MY FRIENDS - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

     I slept on this album when it was released, mostly because I'm not a Dave Navarro fan. However, this song is stunning and Navarro's playing is great. 

21. JEALOUSY - NATALIE MERCHANT

     This song is exquisite. Natalie Merchant is the Carole King of the 90's.

20. ZERO - THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

     "Save your prayers for when you're really gonna need 'em". 

19. SICK OF MYSELF - MATTHEW SWEET

     Textbook definition of power pop.

18. LUMP - PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

     "She totally confused all the passing piranhas". 

17. TOM COURTNEY - YO LA TENGO

     I'm not a huge fan of the band, but this song is fun. It makes multiple references to the Beatles' movie HELP! 

16. WHEN YOU DISCOVER - BUFFALO TOM

     The lyrics are delightfully vicious.

15. KENNEL DISTRICT - PAVEMENT

     The textbook definition of Slacker Rock. The intro is quite Guided by Voices-esque.

14. BURGER CHRIST - DEAD HOT WORKSHOP

     This was the biggest challenge for sticking to one song per band. I also love "River Otis". However, the lyrics are tremendous on this track. "And on the screen of my TV something's telling me, don't ever come clean". 

13. HARNESSED IN SLUMS - ARCHERS OF LOAF

     "You let me down for the second time straight".

12. SPLAT - BAILTER SPACE

     Love these guys. Probably my second favorite Flying Nun band. 

11. RAINMAKER - SPARKLEHORSE

     The most conventional 90's rocker on this album. 

10. NAME - GOO GOO DOLLS

     "Grew up way too fast. Now there's nothing to believe and reruns all become our history. A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio and I won't tell no one your name".

9. ROUTE - SON VOLT

     "Standing in the neutral zone livin' on sleep deprivation".

8. CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA - OASIS

     "Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball".

7. OH, GEORGE - FOO FIGHTERS

     The chord progressions are sublime. So is the George Harrison style guitar solo.

6. BOX FULL OF LETTERS - WILCO

     "I wish I had a lot of answers, cuz that's the way it should be. For all these questions bein' directed at me".

5. ABANDONED HOSPITAL SHIP - THE FLAMING LIPS

     Come for the fragile beauty, stay for Ronald Jones' guitar pyrotechnics.

4. GAME OF PRICKS - GUIDED BY VOICES

     "I never asked for the truth, but you owe that to me". This was my gateway to obsession.

3. THE BENDS - RADIOHEAD

     I'm committed to learning this song on guitar. "Where do we go from here? The words are coming out all weird. Where are you now when I need you?"

2. UNDERGROUND - BEN FOLDS FIVE

     I may be insane, but this might be the "21st Century Schizoid Man" of the 90's. Musical genius. "Well there's got to be something else. Let me tell you something else". 

1. SPARKY'S DREAM - TEENAGE FANCLUB

     I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is my favorite song of all time.

1995 Deep Dive: Part Five

      On one hand, my 1995 Top 5 is an anti-climax. My 1995 Mt.Rushmore remains unchanged and number 5 is probably obvious at this point. On the other hand, the Top 4 albums in this dive are Top 20 all time. As I mentioned before, they are 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. So, once more for the record...

5. Oasis - ( What's the Story ) Morning Glory? ( 5 Stars )

     Oasis are a polarizing band. Their recent Rock Hall nominations and upcoming reunion tour have only served to exacerbate the divide. But it takes an entrenched hater to deny Morning Glory is a near perfect album. Every track is a stadium sing-along. I don't need to list them all. How does a band follow-up one of the most successful debut albums ever, with songs like "Supersonic" and "Live Forever"? They write "Champagne Supernova", "Wonderwall", and "Don't Look Back in Anger". No sophomore slump for the Fighting Gallaghers. There's also no denying Noel Gallagher is a gifted songwriter. If you don't believe me, check out his High Flying Birds albums. 

4. Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix ( 5 Stars )

     My all time favorite song is "Sparky's Dream". It is power pop perfection. Not far behind are tracks like, "About You", "Discolite", and "Don't Look Back". Teenage Fanclub had three singer-songwriters. I tend to like the Gerard Love songs best. Unfortunately, he's no longer in the band. They had a tremendous run of albums from Bandwagonesque in 1991, to Songs of Northern Britain in 1997, but for me, Grand Prix is  nearly flawless. 

3. Son Volt - Trace ( 5 Stars )

     What haven't I already said about Trace? I named one of my dogs after it, Jay Farrar is one of my favorite singers, it's my favorite alt-country record, etc. Any other year it's probably Number One. 

2. Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot ( 5 Stars )

     Eerily, I'm writing this on March 6th, which is the 15th anniversary of Mark Linkous committing suicide. I didn't realize until I saw a Facebook post about it in my feed. No album in my collection moves me more than Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, with its fragile beauty and makeshift soundscapes. Only a tormented soul could have penned this collection of Southern Gothic tales that are more like literature than songs. This is Mark Linkous at his most raw and vulnerable. I get goosebumps every listen. 

1. Radiohead - The Bends ( 5 Stars )

     The greatest guitar album of all time. One could argue it's the last great guitar album. I had to amend my Mt. Rushmore of guitarists to Alex Lifeson, Tony Iommi, Pete Townshend, and Johnny Greenwood. The difficulty of this post is I've already written quite a bit about these records because I cherish them. The Bends is a masterpiece. The title track is my third favorite song of 1995. Speaking of which, I will publish a Top 25 Songs list, but probably not until Sunday. I haven't had time to cut down my list of 80 songs yet. I decided it would be a lazy, dick move to just post a list of 80 songs. Wish me luck. You already know the Top 3. Peace.

     

1995 Deep Dive: Part Four

     I love this Top Ten. Let's get right to albums 6-10. 

10. Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds Five ( 4.5 Stars )

     Ben Folds is in my Top 5 pianists, and I consider Ben Folds Five the Bill Evans Trio of rock. If you're not familiar, the band's name is ironic as there are only three members; Ben Folds, Robert Sledge on bass, and Darren Jessee on drums. Their genius level songwriting is fully formed on this debut. "Underground" is a masterpiece and my second favorite song of 1995. I will put a video at the end of this post. It's too hard to explain its brilliance. The musicianship is insane. Sledge does things with the bass that I didn't know were possible. Folds clever lyrics, musical references, and singular playing style are jaw dropping. Other highlights include "Jackson Cannery", "Philosophy", "Sports & Wine", and "Best Imitation of Myself". And the closer, "Boxing", is epic. 

9. Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters ( 4.5 Stars )

     Despite everything that's happened over the past 30 years, the Foo Fighters debut (essentially a Dave Grohl solo album) is fantastic. Grohl emerged from the ashes of Nirvana with an album that has, possibly, the greatest 1-2-3 punch on a debut album; "This Is a Call", "I'll Stick Around", and "Big Me". Throw in "Alone + Easy Target" and it's four. And we still haven't even gotten to my favorite track, "Oh, George". It's apparently an homage to George Harrison, because he plays a solo in that guitar style. Even the cover of the album is perfect. Sadly, I've only seen them live once after they became a bloated arena act. It was a drunken sausage fest, and they played a ten minute version of "Monkey Wrench", and NOTHING from this album. WTF Grohl. 

8. The Flaming Lips - Clouds Taste Metallic ( 4.5 Stars )

     This is the second, and final, album with my favorite lineup of The Flaming Lips; Wayne Coyne, Ronald Jones on guitar, Michael Ivins on bass, and Steven Drozd on drums. While Clouds is just a notch below their other album, Transmissions From the Satellite Heart, it's still spectacular. The opener, "Abandoned Hospital Ship", is a Top 5 Lips track for me and features a blistering solo by Ronald Jones. Steven Drozd's bombastic drumming is all over Clouds. Even on toned down songs like "Placebo Headwound". Every track on Clouds is great, except for one turd in the punchbowl, "Brainville". The other highlight is "Lightning Strikes the Postman". It's a beautiful, fuzzed out mess with the closing line, "And it's hard to read the writing through the flames". "When You Smile" and "Kim's Watermelon Gun" ain't bad either. 

7. Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes ( 4.5 Stars )

     "The club is open". You're probably tired of me going on about these guys, but I can't help it. Alien Lanes is a treasure trove of lo-fi nuggets. "Game of Pricks" was my entry point to GbV. There are so many classics; "Watch Me Jumpstart", "My Valuable Hunting Knife", "Motor Away", "The Closer You Are", "Blimps Go 90", "My Son Cool", "Striped White Jets" and that's just the Robert Pollard tunes. There are also the Tobin Sprout gems "A Good Flying Bird" and "Little Whirl". I had to give it 4.5 Stars because it's just a notch below Bee Thousand and Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, which are both 5 Stars. 

6. Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo ( 5 Stars )

     Don't laugh at me. The Goo Goo Dolls run of A Boy Named Goo, Dizzy Up the Girl, and Gutterflower is flawless. Except, I'm not a fan of "Iris". Every song on A Boy Named Goo is a dinger, with the possible exception of "Slave Girl". I even love the Robby Takac songs. This album contains their breakthrough hits, "Naked" and "Name". They are clearly the highlights of the album, "Name" being my favorite. The lyrics really hit. "All the dreams you never thought you'd lose got tossed along the way". Peace.

1995 Deep Dive: Part Three

      Albums 11-15 feature a couple more under the radar selections, then it's all heavy hitters and Sound Mind favorites the rest of the way. For the record, my Mt. Rushmore didn't change much. 

15. Bailter Space - Wammo ( 4.5 Stars )

     Wammo was released on both Flying Nun and Matador. I first discovered these guys from a Matador comp that featured the song "Splat". This track not only got me hooked on Bailter Space, but also sent me down the Flying Nun rabbit hole. Wammo leads off with the fuzzed out jangle of "Untied" and the aforementioned "Splat". "Colours" locks in on an exquisite, psychedelic grove and rides it out. The guitar and drum interplay on "Retro" predates "There, There" by Radiohead. Bottom line, this is a Top 5 guitar album of all time. Honestly, it should be higher, but 1995 is loaded. 

14. Pavement - Wowee Zowee ( 4.5 Stars )

     Hey look, another Matador record. I published an entire series of posts on Pavement's albums, so I've talked about Wowee Zowee before. I still maintain my assessment that this album is an exercise in co-opting, and improving upon the sounds of other bands. The opening track, "We Dance" out-Bowies David Bowie. However, there are tracks like the fantastic "Rattled By the Rush" that are quintessential Pavement. The highlight, for me, is "Kennel District". I didn't go back and look at my old post on Wowee Zowee, but if you're interested it's in here somewhere. 

13. The Boo Radleys - Wake Up! ( 4.5 Stars )

     This is a tremendous album by a band that is virtually unknown in the States. The single, "Wake Up Boo!", is an up-tempo, sunshine pop, Northern Soul extravaganza. They have a fun video for the track "It's Lulu" where Lulu is "reading books from school" and it's a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, from which the band's name is derived. If you love great vocals, guitars, and horns this album is right in your wheelhouse. 

12. Wilco - A.M. ( 4.5 Stars )

     Wilco's debut album, A.M., is the favorite Wilco album of Uncle Tupelo fans and the least favorite of Wilco fans. So, it's my favorite. That's not to say it's Uncle Tupelo 2.0, but it retains some of that musical DNA. "Box Full of Letters" is a perfect pop composition. I also like to imagine it would be Franz Kafka's favorite song. "I just can't find the time to write my mind the way I want it to read". "Passenger Side" is a poignant, yet hilarious track about a guy whose license is suspended and has to bum rides off the only sober person he knows. A.M. has the perfect amount of Jeff Tweedy looking back... and looking forward to make this a great record. 

11. Blur - The Great Escape ( 4.5 Stars )

     I've mentioned this before, but The Kinks, XTC, and Blur are the preeminent bands at writing songs that capture every day British life. At least that's my perception from America. It seems to ring true. Love it or hate it, Blur have a unique, art school style of song construction. Damon Albarn has a keen eye and a singular talk-singing approach. The Great Escape isn't as immediate as Parklife or 1997's self-titled album, but it rewards repeat listens. There's a lot to take in at one go. At the time, going up against What's the Story by Oasis, The Great Escape was probably quite a challenge for the record buying public. And Graham Coxon is a sneaky great guitarist. Peace. 

     

   

 

1995 Deep Dive: Part Two

      This group of albums from 16 to 20 are all under the radar picks that I had forgotten about until doing this dive. Now they are back on my radar and I love them. 

20. Chavez - Gone Glimmering ( 4.5 Stars )

     Back in 2006, I was obsessed with the Matador records label; mostly due to Guided by Voices and Pavement. At that point, I bought the Chavez compilation, Better Days Will Haunt You, which was on Matador. It contained their albums Gone Glimmering and Ride the Fader, as well as B-sides and other odds and ends. They were kind of GbV adjacent. Their sound was lo-fi, but with walls of guitar. At some point, I got rid of it because I rarely listened to it. Now I could kick myself, because Gone Glimmering is tremendous. The tracks "Laugh Track" and "Pentagram Ring" are stellar. Once I'm done with this dive I'm going to stream that compilation and look into tracking it down again. This is why I don't like purging my collection. 

19. Dead Hot Workshop - 1001 ( 4.5 Stars )

     These guys came out of the same scene in Tuscon, Arizona as The Refreshments and Gin Blossoms. There is considerable crossover between the sound of Dead Hot Workshop and The Refreshments. In fact, Dead Hot Workshop is name-checked in a Refreshments song. 1001 is a solid set of swaggering Southwest Americana. The standout tracks are "River Otis" and "Burger Christ". I'm not sure why Dead Hot Workshop never broke through like those other bands, but it could be argued they were the best of them. 

18. Superchunk - Here's Where the Strings Come In ( 4.5 Stars )

     This is probably the best Superchunk album. It features the classic lineup of Mac McCaughan on vocals and guitar, Laura Ballance on bass, Jim Wilbur on guitar, and drummer to the stars Jon Wurster. Unfortunately, Mac and Laura are better known for starting the Merge record label than being in Superchunk. This album is a perfect merging of their early punkier sound and the more polished indie rock they would soon explore. The highlight is "Detroit has a Skyline". Who knew?

17. The Presidents of the United States of America ( 4.5 Stars )

     I wish I could've ranked this album higher because it is so fun. Right from the opening track, "Kitty", you know you're in for a bonkers experience. Of course everyone of a certain age knows "Lump" and "Peaches". Those videos were in constant rotation in 1995. "Lump lingered last in line for brains and the one she got was sorta rotten and insane". One of my favorite tracks is the prophetic and self-deprecating "We're Not Gonna Make It". And their cover of "Kick Out the Jams" is phenomenal. They done kicked 'em out!

16. Swervedriver - Ejector Seat Reservation ( 4.5 Stars )

     Swervedriver are similar to Stone Temple Pilots in the sense they were both lumped into music scenes they weren't actually part of; shoegaze and grunge respectively. They are both just great rock bands. The key to Swervrdriver's sound is the two guitar attack of singer Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge. This album is a solid follow-up to 1993's brilliant Mezcal Head; with tracks like "The Other Jesus", "Son of Jaguar E", and "Last Day on Earth". It's also a testament to 1995 that this is only my 6th favorite Britpop album of the year. Crazy, but true. Peace.

1995 Deep Dive: Part One

      1995 may not be the deepest year for great albums, but it's possibly my favorite year at the top. I have 36 albums rated at 4 Stars or higher. So, I had to leave 11 out of my Top 25. I had 14 records vying for the last three spots. The final cuts were Green Day, Archers of Loaf, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Silverchair, Elastica, Tricky, The Verve, Matthew Sweet, Yo La Tengo, Hum, and Morrissey. My song list is currently sitting at 80. I might attempt to get it down to 25 for a list, but that seems to be a daunting task. My 21-25 is a disparate set of artists. The bottom three were the only first-time-listens of this dive to make the list. 

25. Natalie Merchant - Tigerlily ( 4 Stars )

     I've loved Natalie Merchant's voice since the first time I heard "Like The Weather" by 10,000 Maniacs. Admittedly, I don't own any of her solo albums and had never listened to Tigerlily in its entirety. Bad call on my part because this is a perfect Sunday morning chill record. The singles, "Wonder", Carnival", and "Jealousy" are all stunning pieces of songcraft. The album cuts are wonderful and vibe-y, as well. In the past, when I would reflect on my favorite singers, Natalie Merchant never came to mind. Visiting this album for the first time has changed that calculus. She's a treasure. 

24. Supergrass - I Should Coco ( 4 Stars )

     You would think with my love of 90's Britpop that I would have listened to Supergrass before this dive. Turns out, I had heard the track, "Alright", and never knew it was them. I would say it's an outlier on this album, but no two songs are really the same. It's a diverse, high quality release. My favorite pocket is in the middle of the album, "Alright", "Lose It", and "Lenny". "Lenny" features some intricate, rhythm section gymnastics. Easily, the best track on the album. I think what put me off Supergrass back in the day was the horrible album cover for I Should Coco. But, Gaz Coombes seems like a fun front-man. I will probably check out more of their albums. 

23. Primus - Tales From the Punchbowl ( 4 Stars )

     Obviously, I was familiar with the notorious track, "Winona's Big Brown Beaver", before this dive. However, I had never listened to any other Primus, despite Geddy Lee being a huge fan and friend of bassist Les Claypool. It's a bold move to open an album with a bonkers, seven minute song called, "Professor Nutter's House of Treats", but it's delightful, yet technically complex. Primus are a prime candidate for a deep dive. I'm not sure why I've never gotten around to them. It seems like they'd be right in the wheelhouse of a music nerd. The only things keeping Tales From the Punchbowl from being a 5 Star album are 1) it's unrelentingly goofy, 2) it's too one note, and 3) it's quite noodle-y in spots. That said, it's a fun listen and the musicianship is off the charts. 

22. Buffalo Tom - Sleepy Eyed ( 4.5 Stars )

     Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom is a huge fan of the Rolling Stones. He has written two books on the band; "Rocks Off" and a 33 1/3 book about Exile on Main Street. I met him at the Rock Hal when he did a presentation on the Stones and he signed my copies of those books. I also told him that Sleepy Eyed was one of my favorite albums and he seemed a little surprised for some reason. Probably because he was talking to fans of The Stones, and not Buffalo Tom. Anyhow, Sleepy Eyed is my favorite Buffalo Tom album and "When You Discover" is my favorite track. The opening line is fantastic, "Come back when you're done looking down on everyone. Ain't it hard when you discover that you're dumb". What I like, on Sleepy Eyed, is that the songs are tighter and punchier than on their previous albums. The songwriting is the focus, rather than the distortion. Other highlights include, "Tangerine", "Summer", "Clobbered", and "Sundress". 

21. The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness ( 4.5 Stars )

     Speaking of Exile on Main Street, this would be a 5 Star album if it wasn't a bloated double album. Having said that, it's still great. It's just not Siamese Dream. I love the tracks, "Zero", "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", and "Muzzle". And while I appreciate "Tonight, Tonight" and "1979", I've heard them WAY too many times. The classic lineup of The Smashing Pumpkins was an amazing collection of musicians and it's a shame they couldn't co-exist in a band. Despite all the crap he gets, I think Billy Corgan is a gifted songwriter and guitarist. There's a lot to love on Mellon Collie, it's just too much. It's a testament to the strength of 1995 that this is only my 21st favorite album of the year. Peace.

     

Doves - Constellations For the Lonely ( 2025 )

     Is it selfish to have expectations, and desires of your favorite artists. I've railed in the past at RUSH fans who were angry with Neil Peart for having the audacity to not want to be in a touring rock band anymore, even after giving them 40 years of brilliant music. They complained he wouldn't interact with the fans or put on a fake, dog and pony show for them. Yet, I'm having difficulty extending the same grace to Doves' Jimi Goodwin. I've never seen them live and probably never will. Doves released The Universal Want in 2020, after an eleven year hiatus and promptly cancelled their upcoming tour because Jimi wasn't mentally up to performing. Fast forward to last year, Doves announced on social media they had finished recording a new album. Surely they were ready to get back in the game. Maybe they would tour the States. But no. Late last year, the band announced a few "intimate" shows, and that Jimi would not be performing with them. They have since added more shows, but Jimi isn't going to tour due to mental health issues. So, even if they eventually come to the States for some dates I probably won't go see them.

     I went back and listened to The Universal Want again and it sounds like a band making a return to form after eleven years. I've streamed Constellations For the Lonely a few times and I get a sense of closure. It sounds like a career bookend; a Lost Souls 2.0. Musically, that's not a bad thing. I quite like it so far, but there are no bombastic rockers like "Prisoners" or "Broken Eyes" from their previous record. It's a sparse album about trying to cope in these unsettling times. Of the 10 tracks, Jimi takes the lead vocal on six. The guitars are atmospheric and the drums minimal. On the album closer, "Southern Bell", when Jimi asks "are these our last days" or "the last stand in our story" does he mean the World or the band. 

     Constellations For the Lonely is full of cryptic references to this being their last record, but I will never say never. As a fan, I wish they had recorded  more than six studio albums in 25 years, but the music they have given us has made this life more enjoyable. I will always remember being up in the middle of the night with my daughter, turning on MTV 2, and seeing the video for "Catch the Sun". I've been a die-hard ever since. I hope Jimi can find peace with himself. I'm trying to accept the fact he doesn't owe me or fans of the band anything else. We're all just trying to cope. Peace.

The Verlaines - Some Disenchanted Evening ( 1990 )

      Record Store Day 2025 will be here on April 12th and, like the past few, there is a reissue from The Verlaines to look forward to. In recent years, they have reissued Bird Dog (1987) and Way Out Where (1993). In 2021, they released a live album, Live at the Windsor Castle, 1986. This year, The Verlaines will be reissuing their 1990 album, Some Disenchanted Evening, on seaweed green vinyl. It's limited to 750 copies and mostly a regional release, so hopefully my record store can get it in stock. 

     Of all the Flying Nun bands from New Zealand, The Verlaines are the most musically challenging and my personal favorite. Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Graeme Downes is a music professor and genius level composer. His chord structures and rhythmic decisions are unconventional and an acquired taste. Their compilation album, Juvenalia (1987), is a great entry point and mostly features the classic lineup of Downes, Jane Dodd on bass, and Robbie Yeats on drums. Jane Dodd was the secret weapon of those early records, but by 1990 she was replaced by Mike Stoodley. He does a fine job, but it's a hard ask to follow Jane Dodd. 

     Some Disenchanted Evening isn't just the title of this album, it's its raison d'etre. Disenchantment is the overarching theme of this set of songs. The opening track is "Jesus What a Jerk". Other titles include, "We're All Gonna Die", "Whatever You Run Into" and "Damn Shame". Musically, this record would be classified as jangly Chamber pop. However, it's less jangly and bass-driven than their previous work. Downes is more front and center with his quirky vocal range, most notably on the track, "Anniversary". His lyrics are a bit depressing, but also fantastically literate and tinged with dark humor. The album closer, "It Was" is a stark, heart-breaking songs about a "dreamer" who was a "monumental failure". It's just Downes singing and a piano. The final line is, "He should have had the sense to keep his dreams to himself". 

     While disenchantment lurks in every song, it's not a completely depressing listen. "The Funniest Thing" is upbeat and sounds like classic Verlaines. "Jesus What a Jerk" is a rapid-fire rocker. The song isn't actually about Jesus. It's a commentary on a character who is a jerk. Jesus, is just an expletive. "This Train" is the most bass heavy track on Some Disenchanted Evening and rocks quite a bit. It's been great that these reissues have been coming out every year. It's almost impossible to find albums by The Verlaines in the wilds of American record stores. I love this band. Peace.

Rock Hall Fan Vote

      Something that I've long suspected about myself has finally become apparent...I'm an elitist. I'm grateful that the Rock Hall fan vote was decisive in getting RUSH inducted in 2013, but I can no longer condone a  bunch of cretins with no taste in music holding any sway over which artists get inducted going forward. Today, I finally got around to actually participating in the fan vote, and after casting my lot with Oasis, The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Bad Company, and Chubby Checker I saw the results to date. It was appalling. It left me questioning the integrity of the election. 

     The nominating committee certainly must have known if they placed Phish up for nomination their fanatical base of hippies and band nerds would come out in full force to vote. And predictably, they are in first place by a wide margin with 101,157 votes. Second place is Billy Idol with 58, 673. What's more damning is all told there haven't even been 700,00 votes cast in the first week. Apparently, the Great Unwashed aren't excited about this class. 

     From my perspective, three artists I voted for are in the top 7; Soundgarden (3rd Place), Bad Company (5th Place), and Chubby Checker (7th place). What's depressing is The White Stripes would be in last place with 31,055 votes, if it weren't for the nomination of an unknown Mexican band, Mana, who only have 12,177 votes. Oasis isn't much ahead of them with 32,445. Unfortunately, Oasis are like the baseball player who was an asshole to the media, then wonders why they didn't get voted into the Hall of Fame by those very same media members. I was hoping with the reunion tour they might have a better chance this time, but apparently not. I still think The White Stripes will get in eventually, because they were always critic's darlings and Jack White is a major figure in 21st Century music, both as an artist and record label owner. I have my fingers crossed that they will be inducted next time the ceremony is in Cleveland. 

     I'm being slightly facetious about the fan vote, but only slightly. It seems nobody really cares, except the rabid fanbases of certain types of bands, like RUSH, KISS, and Phish. Otherwise, it's a popularity contest based on commercial success and nostalgia. And it's a cop-out for the committee. But hey, it's only Rock 'n' Roll. Peace.

     

     

Should It Stay or Should It Go

     There's a thin line between collecting and hoarding. I relate to the internet meme that says, "It's not hoarding if it's records". My collection is mostly curated, other than albums I've inherited that are still in my possession. Many of those are great records that I intend to keep. However, we are likely to be moving in the next few months and my music collection is currently over 2200 items. We plan on downsizing, so the reality is some of it has to go.

     I'm painfully aware that many people have larger collections and never do a purge. At heart, I'm a record buyer, not a seller. I have a weird dream of starting a foundation whose purpose is to collect a copy of every album ever recorded. I take pride in the size and value of my collection. It's all cataloged on Discogs, right down to the exact pressing. The original concept of Sound Mind was to be a living will for my collection, because I had no intention of stopping or selling and I'm going to die some day. 

     If I'm being honest with myself, I don't need much of my collection anymore. Records are the only physical media I listen to. I don't own a CD player and none of our cars have one either. The only device I have for playing CDs is my Blu Ray player, and I never do. I can't even remember the last time I played anything on the Blu Ray player. Therefore, all my music videos are unnecessary as well. As long as there's an internet, You Tube, and I have a laptop I don't really "need" those formats. Having said that, I'm still going to keep most of them, but there are some that I will never listen to again that could go. 

     My records are another story, even though they are the hardest and heaviest to move. I've had a love affair with this format for fifty years. Sure, I still have some duplicates, but they are mostly different pressings, so not actually duplicates. I could purge some more of the inherited albums. I could purge some records that realistically I will never listen to again. But maybe my kids will after I'm gone. 

     I've spent countless hours cataloging my collection and if I get rid of a bunch of it, I will have to go through Discogs again and delete them. That's a depressing thought. Depressing because it's a lot of work, and depressing because I will have to watch my collection shrink one piece at a time. If I take them to the record store, I will probably exchange them for credit and buy more records...but not as many. 

     Unfortunately for my wife, the vast majority of my records are coming with us if we have to move. I could never get rid of them. Maybe, I will write some posts about the fate of specific records in my collection as I go through this process. I'm currently going through my list of 1995 albums for that deep dive. I'm about twenty in, so it will be a few weeks away, depending on life events. If we move, it will probably put a kink in my posting. Wish me luck. Peace.

     

2025 Rock Hall Nominees

      It's been a while since I've done one of these. Before I dive into these nominees, let me say a couple things. I've come a long way from the early days of Sound Mind when I constantly complained about who was or wasn't in the Rock Hall. People are passionate about music and they like what they like. No nominating committee can please everyone. Having said that, would it kill them to nominate Midnight Oil. The committee has a blind spot for artists from Oceania, like Midnight Oil, Crowded House, or any of the Flying Nun bands. At this point, I'd settle for The Wiggles. 

     I live in Cleveland and I love visiting the actual Rock Hall museum. None of my complaints are with the museum. I'm excited that it's going to be expanded. Maybe this will allow them to have permanent displays for every act that has been inducted. As far as this year's nominees, I think it's a strong list considering they are running out of artists who are qualified AND deserving of induction. Here are your nominees in alphabetical order.

BAD COMPANY

     Bad Company is arguably a Top 5 debut album. The original lineup was a certified Super Group. Paul Rodgers is a Rock Hall level front man. "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" is one of my favorite songs. Did the band have a Hall of Fame career? Probably not. Have other artists gotten in on the strength of one album? Yes. I feel what holds Bad Company back is they weren't influential. They wouldn't get my vote, but they do have some merit.

THE BLACK CROWES

     I don't get The Black Crowes. They did have some commercial success, but clearly aren't a Hall of Fame worthy group. Only one band with fighting brothers deserves induction this year and it ain't these guys. Plus, their big hit, "Hard to Handle", is a cover song. 

MARIAH CAREY

     This year, there are surprisingly only two female artists nominated. Mariah Carey has been nominated multiple times and will eventually get in. This is probably her year, because at least one of the two women is going to be inducted. Her style of histrionic singing isn't my thing, but you can't fight city hall. 

CHUBBY CHECKER

     I was surprised Chubby Checker isn't already in the Rock Hall. He's before my time and I haven't really explored his catalog, but he's obviously one of the pioneers of rock music. Open the door and let him in. 

JOE COCKER

     I was also surprised Joe Cocker hasn't already been inducted. He doesn't do much for me. His success has come mostly from covering songs by The Beatles. He certainly hasn't had a Hall of Fame career.

BILLY IDOL

     Neither has Billy Idol. I mean, he was fun in the 80's, but come on. He is primarily known for covering "Mony, Mony", which is a wedding reception staple. I enjoy "Dancing With Myself" and "White Wedding", but the rest of his catalog isn't great. Pass. 

JOY DIVISION / NEW ORDER

     During my 1980 dive, I listened to Closer by Joy Division and it was horrible. What little I know of New Order, they were alright, but not Hall of Fame caliber. I'm also not a fan of combining two bands for a nomination. I get why they did it, but I disagree with their approach.

CYNDI LAUPER

     It's cool that she just wants to have fun, and she found some medication for her skin problems, but she's not worthy of induction to the Rock Hall. 

MANA

     Until today, I'd never heard of Mana. I had to look up their wiki page. This may shock you, but I admire the committee for this nomination. The vast majority of artists in the Rock Hall are either from North America or the U.K. Rock 'n' Roll is a worldwide music form. There are hundreds of tremendous non-English speaking artists from the past 70 years who should be considered. I haven't listened to Mana yet, but they've sold 25 million albums. This nomination will spur me to give them a listen in the near future. Hopefully, the committee will expand their scope to Asia, as well. There were many bands that formed in Asia after the British Invasion. Unfortunately, they'll probably only consider K Pop groups twenty years from now.

OASIS

     Don't let Liam's big mouth get in the way of inducting Oasis. This needs to happen. 

OUTKAST

     All I know about Outkast is "Hey Ya", which is a great song. We've long passed the days of arguing about hip hop acts being inducted into the Rock Hall, so I'm agnostic about Outkast. I'm ill-informed and therefore have no opinion. I'm sure they're deserving.

PHISH

     No thanks...next.

SOUNDGARDEN

     Soundgarden should be a no-brainer for Rock Hall induction. It's unfortunate that Chris Cornell is no longer with us. He was an amazing front man. And the rest of the band were tremendous, as well. Their three album run from 1991 to 1996 is stellar. 

THE WHITE STRIPES

     Can you imagine a Rock Hall class of The White Stripes, Oasis, and Soundgarden? I know it won't happen, but I can dream. The fan voting let me down with The White Stripes in the past, so now the committee needs to do their job and put them in. Easily, the most important band of the 2000's. I'd also love to see Jack and Meg reunite. Peace.

John Lennon: Double Fantasy ( 1980 )

      Let me give you a peak behind the curtain. When I work on these deep dives, like the 1980 albums, I tend to burn out after about 60. I start out with an ambitious list of records I know, records I'm curious about, records that are critically acclaimed, and records I've never heard of. But, about 60 albums in I've mostly locked in my Top 25 and just want to get going on my posts and move on with my life. The first phase of my burn out consists of listening to the first minute of the first few songs of an album. If nothing grabs me I don't bother rating it or listening to the rest of it. The final phase is when I arbitrarily decided the remaining albums on the list aren't going to crack the Top 25, so why bother. This is where Double Fantasy landed for the 1980 dive. After I published my songs list, it dawned on me that I hadn't included any John Lennon songs. Surely, "Watching the Wheels" should have made the cut. Since I haven't listened to Double Fantasy in decades, I decided to give it a spin. 

     Before I get to the album, let me preface what I'm going to say. John Lennon was, and still is, my favorite member of The Beatles. His development as a songwriter was more advanced than anyone else in the band. His songs were more surreal and acerbic. Even when he was kind of mailing it in at the end his songs were fantastic. However, I started buying records and really listening to music in 1974, so I knew The Beatles as solo artists before I knew The Beatles as a band. As a solo artist, John was good, but not great. His songs tended to be either angry or reflective. And I could go the rest of my life without ever hearing "Imagine" again. So, when I got into The Beatles, "discovering" this John Lennon was an epiphany. Sadly, this was 1978 and in two years John Lennon would be murdered in New York City shortly after the release of Double Fantasy. This led to a revival of John's solo catalog, as well as The Beatles. At the time, there was considerable good will for John's musical legacy. I listened to Double Fantasy on the regular...skipping the Yoko songs, of course. Sorry, I was that guy. But in reality, that's why I didn't bother listening to this album  for the dive; it's half Yoko Ono. There was no way it would make the cut. So, today I decided to listen to the whole thing with an open mind and see what "2025 Me" thinks. 

     Let me start with the John Lennon tracks. To be charitable, he was coming off a five year hiatus from music to focus on being a father to Sean. The songs are either about looking back or looking forward. The only poignancy comes from the fact that he was soon to be robbed of his future. These are songs Lennon had to get out of his system in order to move on with his life. Maybe his next album would have been a contemporary masterpiece. We'll never know. However, his songs on Double fantasy are fine, middle-of-the-road pop tunes. While they are important "personal" documents, they are a step back musically and creatively. 

     The Yoko tracks are more complicated. Yoko was, and is, a divisive individual. Most of her songs on Double Fantasy are quite contemporary and relevant in 1980. The compositions are interesting and the lyrics are incisive. Unfortunately, she's the wrong vessel. Those tracks could never have been appreciated at that time. She's the weird woman that skulked around in the shadows of the Let it Be sessions and broke up The Beatles. And she sounds like a porpoise on a couple of these tracks. It is notable, on Double Fantasy, that Yoko's songwriting is more advanced and contemporary than John's. It's a reversal of the dynamic in The Beatles. 

     So, for me Double Fantasy is a 3.5 Star album and I probably wouldn't add any of the tracks to my song list. I'm glad I gave it another listen with an open mind and can acknowledge Yoko's contribution wasn't just John letting his wife put some songs on "his" album. Now I can move on from 1980 with a clean conscience. Peace.

Guided by Voices: Universe Room ( 2025 )

      It seems crazy, but it's been seven months since the last Guided by Voices album. I've been looking forward to the release of Universe Room since I saw the band at The Grog Shop last July. This lineup of Guided by Voices is a live juggernaut. Since I ranked their entire discography last year, I felt an obligation to add their new album. I will continue to do so as long as this incarnation of the band stays together. 

     Unfortunately, Universe Room doesn't break any new ground. Once again, Doug Gillard and Kevin March are doing most of the heavy lifting. The closest they come to capturing the energy of their live shows is the track, "The Great Man". However, there are no songs from Universe Room that I would add to the essential Guided by Voices canon. It's still a good, solid record, but they have many releases that I would return to before this one. In fairness, I have only streamed it a few times. I've yet to listen to my physical copy of the record on my system. There are a couple songs that are borderline canonical. "Fly Religion" is a propulsive jam and probably Pollard's best performance on the album. There's a run of three one-minute tracks, the last of which, "Independent Animal" is a concise, up-tempo rocker. This is followed by the hilariously titled songs, "19th Man to Fly an Airplane" and "Elfin Flower With Knees". "FranCisco" is a bizarre, Spanish number. 

     At this point, I would rate Universe Room at 3.5 Stars and place it behind their previous album, Strut of Kings in my ranking. I fully expect Uncle Bob to release at least one more album this year. Hopefully, it will be more focused and energetic, especially the vocals and lyrics. I'd also like to see bassist Mark Shue featured more in the mix. He's a fantastic player, and great in a live setting. Peace.

1980 Deep Dive: Songs Playlist

      During the 1980 deep dive, I kept a "tight" list of the best songs and it currently stands at 64. As I sit here trying to cut it down or rank it I realize it's not possible. I briefly considered making a 64 song March Madness bracket, but that's too much work. So, my lazy solution is to just list them all as a Sound Mind 1980 Playlist. Most of these tracks were discussed during the dive, but several are from albums that didn't make the cut. If Spotify wasn't The Devil, I would make an actual playlist, but they are, so I won't. Peace.

* Turn It On Again - Genesis

* What I Like About You - The Romantics

* When I Look in Your Eyes - The Romantics

* The Spirit of Radio - RUSH

* Freewill - RUSH

* Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath

* I Got You - Split Enz

* Rough Boys - Pete Townshend

* Let My Love Open the Door - Pete Townshend

* I Wanna Destroy You - The Soft Boys

* Ant Music - Adam and the Ants

* I Don't Remember - Peter Gabriel

* Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel

* Police on My Back - The Clash

* Ace of Spades - Motorhead

* Once in a Lifetime - The Talking Heads

* Everybody Wants Some - Van Halen

* Respectable Street - XTC

* Mystery Achievement - The Pretenders

* I Will Follow - U2

* Girl U Want - DEVO

* Freedom of Choice - DEVO

* Whip It - DEVO

* My Mistake - The Kingbees

* Private Idaho - The B-52's

* Ashes to Ashes - Bowie

* Fashion - Bowie

* Boulevard - Jackson Browne

* You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

* Kiss on My List - Hall & Oates

* M - The Cure

* Play For Today - The Cure

* New Face in Hell - The Fall

* Late in the Evening - Paul Simon

* Breakdown Dead Ahead - Boz Scaggs

* Mirror in the Bathroom - The English Beat

* Babylon Sisters - Steely Dan

* Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan

* Time Out of Mind - Steely Dan

* Breakin' the Law - Judas Priest

* Living After Midnight - Judas Priest

* Pulling Mussels From a Shell - Squeeze

* Tempus Fugit - YES

* Stop This Game - Cheap Trick

* Worriers - The Records

* Take it On the Run - REO Speedwagon

* Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon

* Someone Tonight - REO Speedwagon

* Out in the Street - Springsteen

* The River - Springsteen

* Cadillac Ranch - Springsteen

* Fool For Your Loving - Whitesnake

* Helicopter Spies - Swell Maps

* Driven to Tears - The Police

* When the World Is Running Down - The Police

* Don't stand So Close To Me - The Police

* De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - The Police

* Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

* Love Stinks - J Geils Band

* Rock Brigade - Def Leppard

* Expresso Love - Dire Straits

* Solid Rock - Dire Straits

* Skateaway - Dire Straits

* Alabama Getaway - The Grateful Dead

1980 Deep Dive: Part Five

      My Top 5 albums for 1980 are from a cosmopolitan group of artists. Two from the U.K., one American band, a Canadian group and a mixed nations act. They are all 5 Star bangers. If you've been paying attention, you know two of the five. Just a reminder, there are new albums coming out by GbV, Doves, Inhaler, and HENGE that will be getting posts. Also, the next deep dive will be 1995, which is loaded at the top...but is it deep? 

5. B-52's - Wild Planet ( 5 Stars )

     SURPRISE! Wild Planet is the delightfully bonkers follow-up to the B-52's delightfully bonkers self-titled debut album. It's no exaggeration to proclaim The B-52's the most fun, kitschy band of all-time. Certainly, the first two albums are. Back in the day, I had a double cassette of these two albums. Yes, that used to be a thing. I also had one for the first two albums by The Cars. You've got Fred Schneider's unhinged shout singing, the lusciously dissonant harmonies of Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, and the blistering surf guitar of Ricky Wilson. Throw in the most inspired and surrealistic space-age lyrics and you have a 5 Star party. Wild Planet is one of those albums where Side Two is the killer side. "Devil in My Car", "Quiche Lorraine", the insanely manic "Strobe Light", and "53 Miles West of Venus". And I've yet to mention the 10/10 single, "Private Idaho". Get out of the state you're in and listen to Wild Planet immediately.

4. The Pretenders - The Pretenders ( 5 Stars )

     Unlike DEVO, Chrissie Hynde had to leave Akron and go to the U.K. to find a band. The result was the 5 Star debut album from The Pretenders. This record has it all and it's held together by Chrissie Hynde's raspy, sultry vocals and the punky, Kinks inspired playing. They even perform a cover of The Kinks "Stop Your Sobbing". They come right out of the gate with the snotty track ,"Precious". "Up the Neck" and "Brass in Pocket" are fantastic vehicles for Chrissie's singing. "Tattooed Lover Boys" is a raved up, sassy rocker. The highlight is the album closer, "Mystery Achievement". The opening groove with the fat bass and insistent drums is tremendous. The guitars are muscular and the lyrics are whip smart. 

3. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) ( 5 Stars )

     I'm not a fan of Bowie's Berlin albums, so for me Scary Monsters is a triumphant return to form. Yet, it's also a step forward with songs like the hit single, "Fashion". Franz Ferdinand owes their career to the "Talk to me, don't talk to me" section of "Fashion". The opener, "It's No Game No.1". features great vocals by Bowie and guitar freak outs by Carlos Alomar. His playing is the secret weapon of this album. I love the title track, which presages Bowie's Tin Machine project. The obvious highlight is "Ashes to Ashes". It's a magnificent performance and beautiful songwriting. It's also a sequel to "Space Oddity". The bookend, "It's No Game No. 2" is another highlight. It's a song for winding down the night...and the album.

2. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell ( 5 Stars )

     No offense to Ozzy, but Heaven and Hell may be my favorite Sabbath album. I love Dio. Tony Iommi is at the peak of his dark guitar powers. In recent years, Bill Ward has risen quite a bit in my drummer rankings. What Dio brings to Black Sabbath is gravitas and drama. Heaven and Hell grabs you by he throat right from the opening track, "Neon Knights" and never lets go. "Children of the Sea" is a cinematic, virtuoso piece. The highlight is the title track, which closes Side One. "The lover of life's not the sinner. The ending is just the beginning. The closer you get to the meaning, the sooner you know that you're dreaming". It also has one of my favorite Iommi solos. I don't remember if I had him on my guitarist Mt. Rushmore, but he's certainly on it now. While Side Two is a slight step down, it's still amazing. Black Sabbath invented metal, and on Heaven and Hell, they perfected it. Everybody can stop now. Please, for the love of God.

1. RUSH - Permanent Waves ( 5 Stars )

     No surprise here. I just did their discography. This is a perfect record that could only be topped by another RUSH album. What else can I say about RUSH, or this record. Geddy, Alex, and Neil were the best at what they did. I've spent countless hours air drumming to Permanent Waves over the past 45 years. I wrote an essay on "Jacob's Ladder" when I was in college and the professor said, "I've heard RUSH are pretentious". Certainly, they aren't for everyone, but I can't imagine a life without Permanent Waves in it. "The shifting shafts of shining weave the fabric of their dreams". Pretentious, my ass. Peace. 

     

1980 Deep Dive: Part Four

      When I look at my 6-10 albums, it strikes me as a group of surprise picks. I didn't have any of them pegged for the Top 25, except for one that was originally on my 1980 Mt. Rushmore that fell off during this dive. This is probably the most controversial group of albums, as well. I have six 5 Star albums for 1980, so the first of them will be revealed here. 

10. The Teardrop Explodes - Kilimanjaro ( 4.5 Stars )

     I actually picked up this album over a decade ago because I'd heard a lot about Julian Cope, but didn't own anything by him. For some reason, it never clicked with me at the time and I gave it to my friend Dave when he opened his record store. When I listened to it again for this dive, I wanted to kick myself. Turns out, it was the second most interesting album I listened to for 1980. The music is quite sophisticated and Cope's vocals are penetrating. Kilimanjaro could be higher than #10, but it's lacking in standout tracks. However, there's no drop off in quality throughout the whole record. 

9. The Cure - Seventeen Seconds ( 4.5 Stars )

     An album by The Cure, with no big hits, in my Top 10 is a shocking turn of events. This was the most interesting listen of this dive. I'm not a fan and I only know a handful of their songs. Seventeen Seconds opens innocently enough with a two minute instrumental, then Robert Smith busts in about a minute into the track, "Play For Today". I was taken completely off guard. I was used to the Robert Smith who sings "Just Like Heaven" and "Friday I'm in Love". His vocals were so commanding and the guitars, insistent. What a great song. I think what turns some people off from Seventeen Seconds is the same thing that makes it intriguing for me. There's quite a bit of atmospherics and menace, and not as much Robert Smith singing love songs as the average fan of The Cure would probably like. I'm not familiar with their catalog, so I may be off base. "A Forest" was apparently a minor hit and it's fine. However, the following track, "M", is the standout for me. As you might guess, it's jangly and up-tempo. Seventeen Seconds was truly a pleasant surprise.

8. Ozzy Osborne - Blizzard of Ozz ( 4.5 Stars )

     Blizzard of Ozz was originally on my 1980 Mt. Rushmore, and I still love it, but it was passed by some better albums during this dive. The one-two punch of "I Don't Know" and "Crazy Train" is undeniably great. And the guitar wizardry of the late Randy Rhoads is worth the price of admission on its own. However, after "Crazy Train", the quality does drop off. I would argue his follow-up album, "Diary of a Madman" is better and more consistent. This is still a 4.5 record though. It gives Black Sabbath's 1980 album, Heaven and Hell, which features Ozzy's replacement Ronnie James Dio, a run for its money. 

7. Steely Dan - Gaucho ( 4.5 Stars )

     1980's Gaucho would be Steely Dan's last album for 20 years and it's close to a masterpiece. The grooves are exquisite and the backing vocals in the chorus of "Babylon Sisters" are the definition of smooth. "Hey Nineteen" is a marvelous, funky jam about not being able to relate to a younger woman. The nature of Steely Dan's sound makes them a "band" that people either love or hate. I love their blend of rock, funk, soul, and jazz. The character sketches are outlandish. I'm also a sucker for some tasty sax and the title track features one of my favorites, Tom Scott. My favorite tracks are the slinky "Time Out of Mind", and "My Rival". The production is immaculate and there are more top notch musicians on Gaucho than I can name. This should probably be 5 Stars. My bad.

6. The Romantics - The Romantics ( 5 Stars )

     Cue the controversy. Sorry, but this is the greatest album of the 1979-81 Power Pop revival. When they hit that D5 chord at the beginning of "When I Look in Your Eyes" it's all over. The next track, "Tell It to Carrie" is pop perfection. "First in Line" is a raved up, Bo Didley-esque stomper. Side Two opens with the greatest song of this genre, "What I Like About You". I have to do those hand claps at the beginning every time. Every song on this album is brilliantly crafted. It's crazy that they put out another record in 1980 and it's God awful. This one is a 10/10. Peace.

     

     

1980 Deep Dive: Part Three

      Once again, my 11-15 includes four bands from the U.K. Must have been something in the air in 1980. The one outlier is an American legend. The U.K. bands aren't too bad, either. By the way, I have a gigantic songs list for 1980, so I haven't figured out what to do about that yet. Stay tuned.

15. XTC - Black Sea ( 4.5 Stars )

     If you weren't alive in the 80's, it's hard to explain the perception that the world was always one international crisis away from nuclear war. On Black Sea, XTC turned their satirical eyes to this threat with tracks like "Generals and Majors" and "Living Through Another Cuba". The latter with blunt lyrics like, "Russia and America are at each other's throats, but don't cry. Get on your knees and pray, and while you're down there, kiss your arse goodbye". They even "took the piss" on the song "Sgt. Rock", with the line, "Get the expert on mademoiselles, he could defuse any bombshell". However, there are also several quirky tunes about English life, such as, "Towers of London" and the brilliant lead track, "Respectable Street". Hugh Padgham and Steve Lillywhite were working on this album the same year they produced Peter Gabriel's third album. Nice work, if you can get it. 

14. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The River ( 4.5 Stars )

     When I was listening to this again, I had forgotten how many amazing songs are on this album. Many critics complain that it's a double album that should have been cut down to a single album. I've never been that guy, except for Exile on Main Street. I don't know what you would cut from The River. I would list all the good tracks, but it's almost all 20 songs. My least favorite is probably the big hit, "Hungry Heart". So, that's a good sign for the rest of the record. The highlights, for me, are the title track, "Out in the Street", and "Cadillac Ranch". "The River" may be the most devastating, hopeless song ever written. I'm not a huge Springsteen fan, but that three album run of Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and The River is pretty, pretty good. 

13. U2 - Boy ( 4.5 Stars )

     Those early days of U2 were great. "I Will Follow" was a revelation. And guess what, Steve Lillywhite also produced Boy. Crazy! Bono was so earnest and passionate on those early U2 albums. They spent four years developing their sound before recording this debut and it shows. The Edge already has his signature guitar style. I don't know if there's a band that has pulled off a run like U2, from Boy to How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Amazing. 

12. Echo and the Bunnymen - Crocodiles ( 4.5 Stars )

     In the 80's, I was mostly into hard rock and metal and didn't have much use for bands like Echo and the Bunnymen. I'm still not really a big fan of their big hit, "The Killing Moon". When YouTube channel, Tastes Like Music, did a discography for Echo I decided to at least check out their debut, Crocodiles. I was stunned by how much it rocked. The first thing that caught my ear was the propulsive drumming of Pete de Freitas. Then I was struck by Ian McCulloch's commanding vocals. It was nothing like "The Killing Moon". Apparently, I need to add Echo to the list of bands I need to deep dive. Maybe "The Killing Moon" is an outlier in their catalog. If they have more songs like "Going Up" and "Stars are Stars" I'm down. 

11. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta ( 4.5 Stars )

     Barely missing the Top 10 are The Police. This is another album that was huge in 1980. The Lolita inspired "Don't Stand So Close to Me", and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" were on the radio all day (when "Another One Bites the Dust" wasn't). My favorites are the minor hits, "Driven to Tears" and "When the World is Running Down". I've also grown to love the droning, rhythmically fascinating track, "Voices Inside My Head". Zenyatta Mondatta is probably The Police's most successful merger of Sting's iconic vocals, Andy Summer's atmospheric guitars and the manic drumming of Stuart Copeland. When I say "successful", I mean musically. "Synchronicity" was obviously their most commercially successful record. One of my college roommates was always trying to convince me that The Police were a better band than RUSH. The notion seemed preposterous to me in 1983, but with the passing of time, I can appreciate his position more. But he was still wrong. Peace.

     

     

1980 Deep Dive: Part Two

      My 16-20 group features four bands from the U.K., again, and one from Australia. That was probably a spoiler. All these artists are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so that's something. Let's do this thing.

20. Judas Priest - British Steel ( 4.5 Stars )

     When I began to pencil in my Top 25 for 1980, British Steel was going to be #25. As I thought about it more, I decided to move it up the list. This was an important album in the history of Heavy Metal, particularly the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. If I were to make a Mt. Rushmore of Heavy Metal vocalists, it would be Rob Halford, Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy and Bruce Dickinson. In the 80's, I was all about Heavy Metal and Prog, I felt like I needed to "keep it real" to 1980. British Steel featured the metal classics, "Breakin' the Law" and "Living After Midnight". Hard to top that. Screaming for Vengeance is still my favorite Priest album, but this is a close second.

19. Queen - The Game ( 4.5 Stars )

     In 1980, this album was everywhere, due largely to their massive hit single, "Another One Bites the Dust". However, this whole album is great. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is my favorite. "Don't Try Suicide" may be a little cringe in 2025, but I liked it quite a bit back in the day. "Save Me" is one of those bombastic Freddie Mercury showcases that every Queen album seems to have. Love it. 

18. Dire Straits - Making Movies ( 4.5 Stars )

     I played the shit out of this record. The songwriting is beautiful and Mark Knopfler's guitar playing is exquisite. "Tunnel of Love", "Romeo and Juliet", "Skateaway", "Expresso Love", and "Solid Rock" are all 10/10 songs. The other two tracks keep it from being a 5 Star album, but it's pretty close regardless. "Romeo and Juliet", in particular, is a brilliant, modern update to the Shakespeare play. The melody and dynamics are cinematic. "Skateaway" was the only minor hit from Making Movies and it always disappointed me that Brothers in Arms would become their huge hit album when this is far superior (as were the debut and Communique). It's cool, but a little surprising, that they were inducted into the Rock Hall. 

17. Genesis - Duke ( 4.5 Stars )

     Duke was an important transitional album, both for the band and Phil Collins. Genesis was standing on the doorstep of international superstardom while Collins' marriage was dissolving. And that is the theme of Duke. This is a great Genesis record. There's still some prog element, but also some tight hit singles. "Misunderstanding" is the big hit, but my favorite, and possibly my favorite song of the 80's, is "Turn it On Again". I'm a sucker for a good count-in. "All I need is a TV show, that and a radio". The album opener, "Behind the Lines", is an excellent mashup of prog-pop. Phil Collins is in top form on vocals and Rutherford and Banks are great at blending their prog chops with a pop sensibility. 

16. AC/DC - Back in Black ( 4.5 Stars )

     I hadn't intended to put Back in Black on my list. These songs are constantly on the radio to this day. I forced myself to listen to the whole album again and I was Mutt Lange-d. You have to be a dickhead to deny this is a great rock album. I can only take Brian Johnson on Back in Black and For Those About to Rock, but that's good enough. This was a huge comeback album following the death of original lead singer, Bon Scott. And they came out swinging with hard rock staples like, "Hell's Bells", "Back in Black", "Shoot to Thrill", "You Shook Me All Night Long", "Have a Drink on Me", and "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution". If I were being objective this would probably be much higher on the list. "1980 Me" wants to punch "2025 Me" in the face. And who can blame him. Peace.

1980 Deep Dive: Part One

      While I was compiling my listening list for 1980 albums, it seemed little a loaded year. As I revisited many of this records many hadn't aged well. I thought albums by REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Pete Townshend, and Journey would surely make the cut. The beloved Talking heads album, Remain in Light, didn't make the list. Even the Paul Simon soundtrack album for One Trick Pony that I rated 4.5 Stars just last year got dropped to a low 4.0. However, I do have a very solid Top 25. Every album is 4.5 or 5 Stars. Interestingly, 18 of the 25 artists are from the U.K. My 21-25 is the most unusual group of acts on the list.

25. Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier ( 4.5 Stars )

     "So, unplug the jukebox and do us all a favor. This music's lost its taste, so try another flavor. ANTMUSIC". The first time I ever saw or heard of Adam and the Ants was their appearance on American Bandstand. Last night I looked it up on YouTube and it was as mind blowing as when I was a teen. The most striking things were the visual impact of Adam Ant and his Native American / Pirate aesthetic and the two drummer Burundi beats. Kings of the Wild Frontier isn't just an album, it's a manifesto. The "Ant" motif appears in several tracks; including the title track. "Kings of the Wild Frontier" also features the line, "I feel beneath the White there is a Redskin suffering from centuries of taming". This combined with Adam's face paint, and the track "The Human Beings" where he just repeatedly lists off the Native American tribes Blackfoot, Pawnee, Cheyenne, Crow, Apache and Arapaho; illustrate a fascination with their history. The music is infectious, angular, and rhythmically unique. Even the album cuts are great. 

24. Peter Gabriel - Melt ( 4.5 Stars )

     Peter Gabriel's third self-titled solo album, is commonly referred to as Melt due to the photo on the cover. It is a 4.0 because it features the incredible tracks "I Don't Remember" and "Games Without Frontiers". The rest of the album is solid, paranoid Gabriel fare. There are also appearances from Phil Collins, Robert Fripp and Kate Bush; most notably on the track, "No Self Control". Not too shabby. Throw in contributions from XTC's Dave Gregory, The Jam's Paul Weller and Tony Levin, as well as production from Hugh Padgham and Steve Lillywhite and you have an art rock masterpiece. 

23. The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight ( 4.5 Stars )

     One of the most iconic songs of the 80's underground is The Soft Boys "I Wanna Destroy You". I love the line, "And when I have destroyed you I'll come picking at your bone. And you won't have a single atom left to call your own". The track "Kingdom of Love" sounds like a late 60's, psychedelic garage rocker. I haven't checked out much Robyn Hitchcock over the years. I didn't really care for his 1984 solo album. I own the first two albums from The Soft Boys and I don't recall liking 1979's A Can of Bees, but Underwater Moonlight is a banger. It's also Robert Pollard approved.

22. DEVO - Freedom of Choice ( 4.5 Stars )

     Everybody loves Akron, Ohio's very own, DEVO. They're actually from Kent, but close enough. Their third album, Freedom of Choice is tremendous. It opens with the delightful new wave classic, "Girl U Want". "Look at you with your mouth watering. Look at you with your mind spinning. Why don't you just admit it." And who can forget the first time they saw the bonkers video for "Whip It". My favorite song is the title track. The lyrics are fantastic. "In ancient Rome, there was a poem, about a dog, who found two bones, he picked at one, he licked the other, he went in circles, he dropped dead. Freedom of choice is what you've got. Freedom from choice is what you want." The other standout track here is the rocker, "Gates of Steel". If you enjoy twitchy, paranoid whimsy this is the record for you. 

21. The Fall - Grotesque ( 4.5 Stars )

     When Yard Act's first album came out in 2022, I wasn't too familiar with The Fall. So, I didn't really understand the comparisons. After listening to a couple albums by The Fall for these dives, now I understand. James Smith and Mark E. Smith have a very similar North of England talk singing delivery. Grotesque is much more lo-fi than anything by Yard Act...in a good way. Mark E. Smith's machine gun rantings about the government, sex, and Northern England are hilarious, yet acerbically biting. "New Face in Hell" is a subversive masterwork. The bizarrely titled track, "C 'n' C-S Mithering" is a screed about the music industry that name checks "Big A&M Herb". "The Container Drivers" is the most straight forward, Mancabilly rocker on Grotesque. "N.W.R.A" (North Will Rise Again) is a nine minute diatribe about Mark E. Smith's hometown, Manchester, that repeats the same riff for all nine minutes. There are far too many genius lyrics on Grotesque to document in this post. You'll have to check it out yourself. Peace.

     

     

     

RUSH - Top 50 Songs

     Compiling this list wasn't too difficult. The problem is ranking them. I will do my best, but it could change every day. Before I reveal the list, I would like to address something that I couldn't do five years ago. On January 7, 2020, Neil Ellwood Peart passed away from cancer. At the time, it was such devastating news. I had considered coming on Sound Mind to share my feelings, but I just couldn't do it. Consider this list my tribute to a great lyricist and an amazing individual. I will include my favorite lyric for each song, except the instrumentals. Peace.

50. STICK IT OUT ( Counterparts )

     Trust to your instincts

49. DRIVEN ( Test for Echo )

     The road unwinds towards me. What was there is gone. The road unwinds before me and I go riding on.

48. CARAVAN ( Clockwork Angels )

     I can't stop thinking big.

47. THE MAIN MONKEY BUSINESS ( Snakes and Arrows )

     Instrumental

46. GHOST RIDER ( Vapor Trails )

     There's a shadow on the road behind. There's a shadow on the road ahead.

45. SPINDRIFT ( Snakes and Arrows )

     Where are the words to answer you?

44. EARTHSHINE ( Vapor Trails )

     Pale facsimile, like others see when they look in my direction.

43. LOCK AND KEY ( Hold Your Fire )

     No reward for resistance. No assistance, no applause.

42. BU2B ( Clockwork Angels )

     Blind men in the market buying what we're sold.

41. TIME STAND STILL ( Hold Your Fire )

     I turn my back to the wind to catch my breath before I start off again.

40. ONE LITTLE VICTORY ( Vapor Trail )

     The greatest act can be one little victory.

39. DISTANT EARLY WARNING ( Grace Under Pressure )

     The world weighs on my shoulders, but what am I to do?

38. THE ANARCHIST ( Clockwork Angels )

     A missing part of me that grows around me like a cage.

37. BIG MONEY ( Power Windows )

     It's the fool on television getting paid to play the fool.

36. FORCE TEN ( Hold Your Fire )

     We can move with savage grace to the rhythms of the night.

35. SECRET TOUCH ( Vapor Trails )

     The way out is the way in.

34. ALIEN SHORE ( Counterparts )

     Color and culture, language and race, just variations on a theme.

33. HEADLONG FLIGHT ( Clockwork Angels )

     I wish that I could live it all again.

32. BY-TOR AND THE SNOW DOG ( Fly By Night )

     Tobes of Hades, lit by flickering torchlit

31. THE TREES ( Hemispheres )

     And the trees are all kept equal with hatchet, ax, and saw.

30. CHEMISTRY ( Signals )

     Electricity? Biology? Seems to me it's Chemistry.

29. CAMERA EYE ( Moving Pictures )

     I feel the sense of possibilities.

28. NATURAL SCIENCE ( Permanent Waves )

     Living in their pools they soon forget about the sea.

27. XANADU ( A Farewell to Kings )

     Time has passed me by, stars stopped in the sky.

26. CLOSER TO THE HEART ( A Farewell to Kings )

     You can be the captain and I will draw the chart. Sailing into destiny closer to the Heart.

25. DREAMLINE (Roll the Bones )

     We are young, wandering the face of the Earth.   

24 CYGNUS X-1 PART ONE ( A Farewell to Kings )

     Sound and fury drowns my heart. Every nerve is torn apart.

23. ANTHEM ( Fly By Night)

     Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind. A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind.

22. AFTERIMAGE ( Grace Under Pressure )

     Suddenly you were gone from all the lives you left your mark upon.

21. FAR CRY ( Snakes and Arrows )

     One day I'm ahead of the wheel and the next it's rolling over me.

20. A FAREWELL TO KINGS ( A Farewell to Kings )

     Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise

19. FLY BY NIGHT ( Fly By Night )

     My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend.

18. BASTILLE DAY ( Caress of Steel )

     See them bow their heads to die, as we would bow as they rode by. 

17. CIRCUMSTANCES ( Hemispheres )

     All the same,  take our chances, laughed at by time.

16. JACOB'S LADDER ( Permanent Waves )

     The shifting shafts of shining weave the fabric of their dreams.

15. THE PASS ( Presto )

     All of us get lost in the darkness. Dreamers learn to steer by the stars.

14. BETWEEN SUN AND MOON ( Counterparts )

     We just need a break from the headlong race.

13. MIDDLETOWN DREAMS ( Power Windows )

     Dreams flow across the heartland feeding on the fires. Dreams transport desires. Drive you when you're down. Dreams transport the ones who need to get out of town.

12. BETWEEN THE WHEELS ( Grace Under Pressure )

     Wheels can take you around, wheels can cut you down.

11. FREEWILL ( Permanent Waves )

     If you chose not to decide you still have made a choice. 

10. RED BARCHETTA ( Moving Pictures )

     Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I've got a desperate plan.

9. SUBDIVISIONS ( Signals )

     Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone.

8. WORKING MAN ( RUSH )

     It seems to me I could live my life a lot better than I think I am.

7. YYZ ( Moving Pictures )

     Instrumental

6. TOM SAWYER ( Moving Pictures )

     No, his mind is not for rent to any God or government

5. THE SPIRIT OF RADIO ( Permanent Waves )

     One likes to believe in the freedom of music

4. 2112 ( 2112 )

     We have assumed control, we have assumed control, we have assumed control.

3. LA VILLA STRANGIATO ( Hemispheres )

     Instrumental

2. ANALOG KID ( Signals )

     Too many hands on my time. Too many feelings. Too many things on my mind. When I leave I don't know what I'm hoping to find and when I leave I don't know what I'm leaving behind.

1. LIMELIGHT ( Moving Pictures )

     Living in the limelight, the universal dream for those who wish to seem. For those who wish to be, must put aside the alienation, get on with the fascination, the real relation, the underlying theme.

     

     

RUSH Discography: Part Four

4. Clockwork Angels ( 4.5 )

3. Signals ( 4.5 )

2. Permanent Waves ( 5.0 )

1. Moving Pictures ( 5.0 )

     Leave it to RUSH to release an epic, Steampunk concept album, almost 40 years into their career. Later, Neil Peart would team up with sci-fi author Kevin Anderson to create Clockwork Angels novels and graphic novels based on this album. It was almost unheard of for a band at their age to still be recording at top form. This usually turns into the boring singer-songwriter phase of a band. But, Clockwork Angels is a dynamic hard rock album that still features their signature musicianship. I don't know if they knew this would be their final studio album, but it seems likely. It stands as one last statement by the band to cement their legacy. The last refrain of their final song, "The Garden", is "It's a measure of a life". That sounds like closure. Yet, they waited another three years to officially disband. It's crazy that it was almost 10 years ago. 

     One of the greatest three album runs in the history of rock music is Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, and Signals. On any given day I could have these albums in any different order. For the official purposes of this post I put Moving Pictures at number one. It's empirically their greatest achievement. Side One is 10/10; "Tom Sawyer", "Red Barchetta", "YYZ" and "Limelight". Side Two isn't chopped liver either. Signals may be Neil's best songwriting album. In my previous post, I said Grace Under Pressure was the first RUSH album I bought when it came out. As I think back, it must have been Permanent Waves. I clearly remember when "The Spirit of Radio" was all over the radio and picking up that album. I'm an old man, it's hard to recall things. The 80's was when RUSH transitioned from side-long prog epics to more concise rock tracks. However, that didn't stop them from recording mini-epics, like "Natural Science", "Jacob's Ladder", and "The Camera Eye". It's this era of RUSH that eventually got them inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When I started Sound Mind, they still hadn't been inducted and I spewed quite a bit of vitriol about that fact. Looking back, it was just a matter of time. There could not be a Rock Hall without RUSH. 

     Tomorrow I will post my top RUSH songs list. As I began to compile the essential tracks, it became obvious that if I wanted a career spanning list it would have to be 40-50 songs. Apologies in advance. As an appetizer, I give to you RUSH's studio instrumental tracks ranked, and their 5 Worst Songs. Peace.

INSTRUMENTALS

1. La Villa Strangiato ( Hemispheres )

2. YYZ ( Moving Pictures )

3. The Main Monkey Business ( Snakes and Arrows )

4. Malignant Narcissism ( Snakes and Arrows )

5. Limbo ( Test For Echo )

6. Hope ( Snakes and Arrows )

7. Where's My Thing ( Roll the Bones )

8. Leave That Thing Alone ( Counterparts )

WORST 5

1. Dog Years ( Test For Echo )

2. Tai Shan ( Hold Your Fire )

3. I Think I'm Going Bald ( Caress of Steel )

4. Twilight Zone ( 2112 )

5. Tears ( 2112 )

I WAS AT THIS SHOW!

RUSH Discography: Part Three

9. Grace Under Pressure ( 3.5 )

8. Vapor Trails ( 3.5 )

7. A Farewell to Kings ( 4.0 )

6. Hemispheres ( 4.0 )

5. Snakes and Arrows ( 4.0 )

     Grace Under Pressure was the first RUSH album I bought when it was newly released. That seems crazy. but it's true. I remember the sense of foreboding I had watching Friday Night Videos in 1984. It was two videos in particular; "Jump" by Van Halen and "Distant Early Warning" by RUSH. In fairness, RUSH had used keyboards quite a bit on previous releases, but it was becoming more pronounced. Then, seeing Eddie Van Halen playing keyboards put me over the edge. GUP is a good album, though. I like "Distant Early Warning" and the album cuts, "Afterimage" and "Between the Wheels". RUSH lost some fans who jumped on the bandwagon during Moving Pictures, but many of us stuck it out. 

     Vapor Trails is a complicated album. It was their return album after Neil's five year hiatus and the recording process wasn't smooth. The mix was murky and flat. Later, they remixed it and put out a reissue, which sounds great. The lead single was "One Little Victory", which features an insanely complex drum intro by Neil. Presumably, this was meant to show he was back at top form. Mission accomplished. Vapor Trails also marks a return to a muscular guitar, bass and drum sound. I saw them back-to-back nights in Detroit on this tour. Those shows were electric. The tour would be immortalized on the live release RUSH in Rio. 

     After another five-year recording hiatus, RUSH released Snakes and Arrows. The lead single, "Far Cry" was their best rocker in years. The whole album is rock solid, but lacks the high points that would raise it to 4.5 or 5 Stars. It does demonstrate that RUSH were still a vital, relevant band 30+ years into their career. Not many recording artists can say that. 

     I consider A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres to be the Rubber Soul and Revolver for RUSH. These albums marked RUSH's full on prog rock era. They were released a year apart and are 1a and 1b to each other. The culmination of these records is the brilliantly inspired instrumental track, "La Villa Strangiato". They also wrote a two part epic, "Cygnus X-1", that closed out A Farewell to Kings and opened Hemispheres. Throw in tracks like, "Closer to the Heart", "Circumstances", "Xanadu" and "The Trees" and RUSH had finally found themselves. But, as Neil once said, "Changes aren't permanent, but change is". Peace.

RUSH Discography: Part Two

14. 2112 ( 3.0 )

13. Counterparts ( 3.5 )

12. Power Windows ( 3.5 )

11. RUSH ( 3.5 )

10. Fly By Night ( 3.5 )

     I'm not a strong proponent of rating albums. My personal policy is when rating a discography I rate the albums against the other releases in the band's catalog. When I look at my scores for these RUSH albums, they seem harsh. I love this band. Why are these ratings so low? I'm trying to rank them by the standards of the band. It's possible these scores could be higher if they were compared to other releases from the same year. For the purposes of this exercise, I will have to live with these ratings.

     I posted about 2112 back in the day. I'm that guy who loves the Side One 2112 epic and dislikes all of Side Two. Nothing has changed there. However, Side One was RUSH's greatest achievement to that point in their career. It is a masterpiece and bought the band its artistic freedom from the label. It's arguably the most important record in their catalog. I personally own multiple formats of 2112. I still can't stand Side Two. 

     The only time I've ever gone to a midnight release was to buy Counterparts. The midnight release was actually for Pearl Jam's Vs., but Counterparts also came out the same day. At this point, RUSH was trying to Grunge their sound up, so I guess that was appropriate. I rarely listen to Counterparts, but it's my favorite of the 90's era. "Between Sun and Moon" is one of the best deep cuts in their discography. Musically, it's a strong album, but the songwriting isn't stellar. 

     The most difficult RUSH album to assess is Power Windows. I remember being disappointed when it came out. The lead single was "Big Money". It's a good track, but still too keyboard heavy. My favorite track is another deep cut, "Middletown Dreams". While I've warmed to Power Windows over the years, it was a divisive period for the band. They took almost as much in-coming for the mullets and skinny ties as they did for the kimonos. I'm solidly on Team Lifeson when it comes to the place of guitars and keyboards in RUSH. However, Geddy Lee is an immensely talented musical visionary and who am I to begrudge him exploring synths. After all, it was 1985 and keyboards ruled music. Even Eddie Van Halen was seduced. 

     I struggled with numbers 10 and 11. Part of me likes the Led Zeppelin influence on the debut more than Fly By Night's prog rock beginnings. In the end (pun intended), I couldn't rank the album that didn't have Neil Peart on it over the first album he appeared on. It seems blasphemous. So I didn't. That's not very objective, but music is a subjective topic. Peace.

RUSH Discography: Part One

      Alright, let's try something new. I'm going to post a five part RUSH discography. Four posts will rank their 19 studio albums and the fifth will be a top 20 songs list. Since 19 is an odd number, I will rank 5 albums at a time for three posts, then a final four. For this series, I'm going to reveal the rankings up front, then have a free form discussion of that group of albums. If this works out, I may attempt this with other discographies. By the way, if anyone is interested in my album rankings in general, I have a Rate Your Music account under tompaine88. If you would like to request a discography or propose a topic, my email is soundmindblog@gmail.com. 

19. Hold Your Fire ( 2.5 )

18. Caress of Steel ( 2.5 )

17. Test For Echo ( 3.0 )

16. Presto ( 3.0 )

15. Roll the Bones ( 3.0 )

     Typically, when discographies are ranked, the newer releases are rated poorly and the early albums get rave reviews. With RUSH, I'm all over the place. They had a long career with different phases. For instance, they had a controversial keyboard phase that culminated with 1987's Hold Your Fire, my lowest rated RUSH album. While I didn't have a huge problem with this era, Hold Your Fire was a bridge too far and Alex Lifeson finally put his foot down. 

     This marked a major transition for the band. They left Mercury for Atlantic and the guitars were coming back. However, the first Atlantic release, 1989's Presto, was a mixed bag. It rocked more than Hold Your Fire, but the songs were quite uneven. My favorite song on Presto is the down-tempo number "The Pass", which is a song Neil Peart wrote about suicide. The big single was "Show Don't Tell" and it featured some muscular guitar parts, but otherwise the tracks on Presto are weak. I did see them live, for the first time, on this tour, so that's something.

     At the dawn of the Grunge Era, RUSH released 1991's Roll the Bones. The first single, "Dreamline", is one of RUSH's best songs. However, the title track has that goofy rap section and detracts from the album. Roll the Bones was a slight improvement over Presto, but this was a difficult transitional period for the band. Their "Grunge" Era ended with 1997's Test For Echo, which included RUSH's worst song, "Dog Years". I saw them for the second time on this tour. Unfortunately, after this album, Neil's daughter died in a car accident and his wife died of cancer. He got on a motorcycle and disappeared for five years. You can read the story in his book, Ghost Rider. 

     I should also address my other 2.5 Star RUSH album, Caress of Steel. Although it's not very good, apart from "Bastille Day", it was an important transitional record that led to 2112. It's here where they attempt a side-long epic for the first time. RUSH had an unusual start. Neil Peart wasn't on the debut album, but joined right before the tour. He took over songwriting on the next album, Fly By Night, and they had some modest success. Caress of Steel was a step back and the record label was threatening to drop them. Defying demands for a hit from Mercury, they recorded 2112, with another side-long epic, and it was a huge success. RUSH had secured their artistic freedom. 

     It's a testament to RUSH that their fans have stuck with them through the transitions from the 70's to the MTV era, and then through the keyboard era to the Grunge era. They have always been a musician's band and virtuoso players. This has created a dedicated fan base that has survived the end of the band. I am one of them. Peace.