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.
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