Truth (the) - Playground

Name: The Truth
Album: Playground
Year: 1985
Style: Jangly Pop
Similar Bands: Hall & Oates, Dire Straits, ABC, Tears for Fears, China Crisis, Howard Jones, Spandau Ballet, Style Council, JoBoxer
"One-Word" Review: pub rock with a smooth new car smell facelift
Based Out Of: UK
Label: IRS, MCA

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Playground (1985)

1. Spread A Little Sunshine 3:35
2. Exception of Love 3:07 (single)
3. So Many Things 2:52
4. Always On My Mind 4:02
5. I'm In Tune 2:44 /
6. Playground 3:22 (single)
7. Solution 3:25
8. It's A Miracle 5:18
9. Thursday Club 3:35
10. You Play With My Emotions 4:15

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Dennis Greaves - Guitar, Vox (Nine Below Zero, NHS Voices, The Co-Operative, Perfect Crime, Gwyn Ashton, Steve Marriott, Squeeze, Glenn Tilbrook & the Fluffers)
• Mick Lister - Guitar, Vox (The Stowaways, Perfect Crime, Moody Marsden, Jamai, The Beat, Tony Hadley)
• Chris Skornia - Keys (Fabulous Poodles, The Boyfriends, The Cane, The Planets, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Overtures)
• Allan Fielder - Drums (The Climb)
• Richard Parfitt - Bass (60ft Dolls, Blood Brothers, McAlmont & Butler, Lene Marlin, Duffy, David Sinclair Trio, Martin Carr)
• Carolyn Lovell - Cello (Flesh For Lulu)
• Dennis Weinreich - Producer
• Hein Hoven - Producer
• Trevor Hallesy - Engineer
• Dave Powell - Thanks @ Konk Studios
• H.T Murkowski - Photos

Unknown-ness: I had never heard of this band. I found 2 of their records in a dollar box, but decided on this one after simply reading it was a better / more popular record...but did not hear it at all. With a 1985 date, I assume this is smoothly produced pop with a bunch of synth effects in place of typical instruments.

Album Review: It is one part jangly pop, but also has a bit of a blue-collar pub rock edge, if only a small bit, underneath the mid-80's overproduction sheen. They possess standard nasally British vocals, and some Blue-Eyed, Mod-revival pop experimentation on a couple of the tracks with synthesized horns.

This is their first album, three years after Greaves and Lister formed the band and a handful of non-album singles. Two more albums followed, with the middle one being the big hit in the US (Weapons of Love), with some songs being featured in the 1987 sci-fi film The Hidden. They were on track to follow in the Jam's footsteps, but ended up coming off without their power and drive, and ended up succumbing to the era's Miami Vice soundtrack bands in the states, and never recovered back home. You can hear it quite clearly on the track "Is There a Solution," which is musically great until the Phil Collins like vocals and chorus hit.

Stand Out Track: Exception of Love

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System (the) - The Pleasure Seekers

Name: The System
Album: The Pleasure Seekers
Year: 1985
Style: Synth, R&B, 
Similar Bands: Stevie B, Color Me Badd, Nu Shooz, Scritti Politti, Generationals, Billy Ocean
"One-Word" Review:80's synth pop club floor scene
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Mirage, Atlantic, Warner

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

The Pleasure Seekers (1985)

1. The Pleasure Seekers 4:39 (single)
2. It Takes 2 4:12
3. Big City Beat 3:25
4. Love Won't Wait For Lovin' 4:47 /
5. This is For You 4:57 (single)
6. My Radio Rocks 3:43
7. Did In By A Friend 3:11
8. I Don't Run From Danger 4:45

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Mic Murphy - Vox, Produced, Wrote, Arranged (Kleeer, Flowchart, Sass, Howard Johnson, Lenny White, Chaka Khan, Howard Jones, Nona Hendryx, Natural Selection, Tom Jones, Mtume, more)
• David Frank - Keys, Produced, Wrote, Arranged (Kleeer, Orch on the Half Shell, Linear, Carole Davis, Rick James, Mtume, Robert Palmer, Scritti Politti, Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood, Billy Squire, Billy Idol, Nona Hendryx, Aztec Camera, Ashford & Simpson, Phoebe Snow, Natalie Cole, Sheena Easton, Vanessa Williams, Marc Anthony, Eric Clapton, Michael McDonald, Katy Sagal, Dionne Farris, Notorious BIG, 98 degrees, Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, Vitamin C, O-Town, Victoria Beckham, S Club, Pussycat Dolls, Jordin Sparks, Brie Larson more)
• Paul Pesco - Guitar (Madonna, Hall & Oates, John Blackwell Project, Dave Weckl, C+C Music Factory, Joan Baez, Chaka Khan, Norma Jean, Michael Bolton, Force MDs, Eddie Murphy, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, George Benson, Pointer Sisters, Sheena Easton, Jellybean, Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, Fat Boys, Gregory Hines, Stephanie Mills, Don Johnson, Cyndi Lauper  more
• Audrey Wheeler - Vox (Unlimited Touch, Blue Moderne, Jellybean, Robin Gibb, Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys, Debbie Harry, Jermaie Stewart, Boogie Boys, Little Steven, Blow Monkeys, Melba Moore, Billy Ocean, Millie Jackson, Donny Osmond, George Benson, Eddie Murphy more)
• Denise Chaplin - Vox
• Jimmy Maelen - Percussion (Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Alice Cooper, John Lennon, The Jacksons, Talking Heads, Ambergris, Shobizz, Hollywood Vampires, Latin Dimension, BJ Thomas, more)
• Tom Lord-Alge - Engineer, Mixing
• Chris Lord-Alge - Mixing
• Acar Key - Assistant
• Dennis King - Mastering
• Bob Defrin - Art Direction
• Steve Fraser - Mic's hair
• Roy Volkmann - Photos

Unknown-ness: I have heard of this band; only saw their name on a sleeveless 45, but never heard anything by them. From the cover, it looks like it will have a Fun Boy Three vibe, so even though it is 85- which is apparent by the clothes, I'm going to guess it is on the tail end of new wave, but dancey.

Album Review: The album has a computer-generated 80's radio friendly r&b dance sound...everything sounds synthetic, and the beats have lots of 80's Casio effects processed in. The style has been adopted by some of the current Caribbean-yacht rock synth bands of today, but it also sounds like late 80's Stevie B Miami dance music.

This was basically a duo, hiring session musicians to fill in the rest, but were at the forefront of using synth as the spotlight sound. They gained notoriety for having their music in film & TV, on Miami Vice, Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop, and they were in Real Genius. They worked with Scritti Politti, Phil Collins and Chaka Khan and their songs were used by musicians like Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG. They went back & forth being together and splitting apart as a duo, and have their own recording studio.


Stand Out Track: The Pleasure Seekers

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Robotiks (the) - Man and Machine

Name:The Robotiks
Album: Man and Machine
Year: 1985
Style: Synth, Electronic Reggae, Dub
Similar Bands: Manuel Gottsching, Mad Professor, King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry
"One-Word" Review: Jazzy Synth House Reggae
Based Out Of: London, UK
Label: Ariwa Sound

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Man and Machine (1985)

1. Man and Machine 3:36
2. Dubbing in Harmony 3:26
3. San Remo 6:05
4. Test Tube Mix 4:29
5. Recharge 3:42/
6. Mystic Robotik 3:39
7. Shooting Star 4:38
8. Positive Logic 3:59
9. Dub De Goeblin 3:27
10. It All Started Under a Coconut Tree 3:51

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Mad Professor (Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser) - Producer, Vox (Anti-Social Workers, Sergeant Pepper, Lost Cherrees, Perry Farrell, Dubital, The Nomad, Professor Skank, Ranking Ann, Ben Zephaniah, Johnny Clarke, Jah Shaka, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Kofi. Bob Andy, Clementine, Massive Attack so many)
• Preacher - Vox, Bass, Piano (Sane Inmates, Rosie Gaines, Twinkle Brothere, Ranking Ann, Mad Professor, Sergeant Pepper, Johnny Clarke. Jah Shaka, Alvin Dread., Wild Bunch, Addis Rockers, Sandra Cross, Macka B, Kendell Smith, Kofi, Champion Doug Veitch, Lee Scratch Perry, Nitty Gritty, Junio Delgado, Mr Palmer the Ninja, Sister Audrey, U-Roy, John McLean, Tippa Irie, Peter Hunningale, Luciano, Susan Cadogan, Joseph Cotton, Daddy Freddie, Tex Johnson)
• Michael Walters - Vox (Macka B)
• Robotics - Drums
• Black Steel (Errol Nicholson) - Bass, Guitars, Piano (Klearview Harmonix, Peter Culture, Mad Professor, Sandra Cross, Dr. Alimantado, Johnny Clarke, Aisha, Barry Biggs, Kofi, Dennis Brown, Twinkle Bros, KLF, U-Roy, Kevin Eastwood, Moody Boys, Intense, Thriller Jenna, Sade, Gregory Isaacs, Earl Sixteen, Kingpin, Macka B, Nolan Irie, Paulette Tajah, Yabby You, Workshy, Unitone Rockers, Tucker Rainbow, John McLean, Della Grant, more)
• Jeffrey Beckford - Guitar (Mad Professor, Sandra Cross, Nitty Gritty, U-Roy, Bert Martin, John McLean, Macka B, Aisha, Madelaine, Luciano)
• Cleveland Neunie - Piano (Ranking Ann, Mad Professor, Sandra Cross, Johnny Clarke, Nitty Gritty, Bert Martin, Madelaine, Susan Cadogan, Joseph Cotton, Daddy Freddie)
• Roger - Horns (Mad Professor, Macka B, Sandra Cross, Lee "Scratch" Perry)
• Patrick - Horns (Mad Professor, Macka B, Sandra Cross, Lee "Scratch" Perry)
• George Wilkins - Harmonica (Peter Culture, Mad Professor, Long Tall Texans)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. But from the straight line cover of a military force taking on a robot attack, i imagine it is some sort of futuristic electro hard core or political minded indie punk with synthesizers. 

Album Review: So i was way out of my league when I put this record on. It reminds me a little of Manuel Gottsching with the synthetic repetitive house/techno sound, with the big exception is that this album has a chill reggae dub vibe. It is mostly instrumental, and the repetitive hooks and grooves are slow and deliberate. I've read they are the house band for their label, Ariwa, and support artist like Lee "Scratch" Perry. Mad Professor is by far the biggest name related to this band, and he is one of the pioneers bringing dub into the digital age, which is more than apparent on this album.

Stand Out Track: Man and Machine

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Red 7 - s/t

Name:Red 7
Album: s/t
Year:1985
Style: Power Pop, New Wave

Similar Bands: Journey, Code Blue, Police
"One-Word" Review: Futuristic Radio Power Pop
Based Out Of: San Fran, CA
Label: MCA 

Cover, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Red 7 (1985)

1. Relentless 3:58 (single)
2. Heartbeat 4:17 (single)
3. No Sorry 3:24 (single)
4. Less Than Perfect 4:12
5. The Way 5:09 (single) /
6. This Dark Hour 4:37
7. Questions and Answers 4:09
8. Let Me Use You 3:35
9. Shades of Grey 4:12
10. Can't Much Anymore 5:02

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Mike Rutherford - Producer, Bass, Choir (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics, Anon all credits)
• Don Gehman - Co-Producer, Mixing, Engineer
• Andy Prieboy - Music, Lyrics (Wall of Voodoo)
• Michael Becker - Music, Keys Backing Vox (Eye Protection, Stevan Pasero, Christopher Bock)
• Gene Stashuk - Music, Lyrics, Guitar, Lead Vox (euGENE WENDELL, Mike + the Mechanics, Ronnie Montrose, Isley Brothers, Toni Childs, The Unspoken Word, Bonnie Raitt)
• Paul Revelli - Drums, Backing Vox (Elvis Costello, Chuck Prophet, Bey Paule Band, Joe Lewis Walker, RX, Markus James, Anthony Paule, Cat McLean, Rusty Zinn, Sista Monicam Red House Painters, Chris Michie, Maria Muldaur, Go Go Market, Mark Hummel, John Vanderslice, Tom Heyman, Angela Strehli, Bill Cutler, Elvin Bishop, Might Mike Schermer Band, Blues Broads, Frank Bey, Anthony Paule, Sammy Hagar, Bill Kirchen, Austin De Lone, Nancy Wright )
• Bonnie Spark - Lyrics
• David Tickle - Engineer, Fairlight Programming, Choir (U2, Eric Johnson, Lost At Last)
• Geoff Callingham - Asst Engineer, Choir (Genesis)
• Ian Morace - Asst Engineer
• Peter Smith - Asst Engineer
• Greg Edward - Engineer
• Greg Dorman - Asst Engineer
• Julian Stoll - Asst Engineer
• Greg Fulgintini - Mastering
• Anne Wenzel-Banks - Choir
• Samantha Clayden - Choir
• Clare Newman - Choir
• Caroline Garnett - Choir
• Andy Barclay - Choir
• Dale Newman - Choir (Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett)
• Jeff Adamoff - Art Direction
• Marty Cohen - Direction, MGMT

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. This was one of the first TSM albums i got, so finally getting to the later letters. Per the promo sticker four of the first five tracks were potential singles. I like the sleek logoed "7," looking like a racing stripe, pasted on the black background. Simple, clean design, futuristic and mysterious with a little dangerous intensity. The band photo on the back, layered over the same logo gives a cold, archaic feel. I'm hoping the music taps into the future electronic aspects of the artwork, and this is a fun synth heavy new wave album.

Album Review: This is a very weird album. On one hand, there are a lot of fun time signatures and driving songs with keys and cold war synth effects. But on the other hand, the guitar and vocals are like a typical greasy, back alley Miami Vice power pop band of the 80's. Point in fact, their single "Heartbeat" found its way to be on Miami Vice (as well as 1986's film Manhunter).  And "Less Than Perfect" is featured in one of my favorite childhood films, Explorers. But back to the band: imagine Steve Perry fronting the Residents on the song "No Sorry" or occasionally sounding like Devo on "Let Me Use You" - but i would not classify that as their overall sound. "This Dark Hour" has a strong Police vibe. Mike Rutherford was a big help to the band on their first record, and he would have produced their second if it were not for his touring schedule with Genesis- a decision forced by MCA that ultimately led to the demise of the band under the forced misguided pressure from the label and production team. 

Stand Out Track: No Sorry, Let Me Use You

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Rave Ups (The) - Town + Country

Name: The Rave Ups
Album: Town + Country
Year: 1985
Style: Americana Country, Alt-Country
Similar Bands: Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven, Thorns, Uncle Tupelo, Del Fuegos, Blasters, Wire Train, BoDeans, Lone Justice
"One-Word" Review: Twangy Brooding Alt-Country
Based Out Of: Pittsburgh, Pa / LA, CA
Label: Fun Stuff Records

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Liner Notes, Record

Town + Country (1985)

1. Positively Lost Me 5:10 (single)
2. Remember (Newman's Lovesong) 2:53
3. Better World 4:42
4. Class Tramp 3:29
5. In My Gremlin 2:10 /
6. Radio 5:12
7. By The Way 3:25
8. Not Where You're At (But Where you Will Be) 3:43
9. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere 4:31 (Bob Dylan cover)
10. Rave-Up/Shut Up 1:50

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Stephen Barnlard - Producer
• Clyde Kaplan - Recording Engineer
• Russell Nathan Castillo - Mixing Engineer
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering
• Terrmeister - Editing
• Robert Fusfield - Art Direction
• Jimmer Podrasky - Vox, Guitar (Lovin' Miserys, Jimmer)
• Terry Wilson - Guitar, Vox (Springfield, MO All Star Band, The Dog People, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, J. Wunderle, Jimmer, Flat Creek, Giorgio Moroder, Amii Stewart, Big Trouble, Kenny Loggins, Skeletons, )
• Tom Blatnik - Bass (Dancing Hoods, Lonsome Strangers, Whittier)
• Timothy Jimenez. - Drums (Jimmer)
• Sneaky Pete Kleinow - Pedal Steel Guitar (Burrito Bros, Burrito Delux, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon, Sir Raleigh & The Cupons, Flying Burrito Bros, Grease Band, John Braden, Lynn Blessing, Joe Cocker, Dillard & Clark, Denny Brooks, Bill Cowsill, Eve, Carp, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Hedge & Donna Capers, Mother Hen, Marc Ellington, Bob Gibson, Daniel Moore, Potter St. Cloud, Don Everly, Burton & Cunico, Billy Joel, Little Feet, Cherokee, Helen reddy, Al Kooper, Barry McGuire & The Dr., Byrds, Joni Mitchelle, Crazy Horse, Little Richard, Jackson Browne, Frank Zappa, Martin Mull, Bee Gees, Yoko Ono, John Lennon  more)

Unknown-ness: I never heard of this band. Just from the cover + band name, i imagine this to be a mid 80's jangle pop band, where the name is full of energy, but the cover looks like middle america, and the back band photo on the railroad tracks with pastel highlighted clothing furthers the working man's band, complete with bolo tie and the 80's fad Pretty in Pink Duckie hat.

Album Review: So rather than jangle pop, this midwestern (Pittsburgh might as well be the midwest), this college rock band accents heavily on the slide country guitar, and american working class mentality. Aside from looking like extras from Pretty in Pink a year before its release (Podrasky was dating & had a child with Molly Ringwalks older sister, Beth), they actually were in the film (as well as Beverly Hills 90210, where Podrasky had a brief relationship with Shannon Doherty). They also touch on Roots Rock and Rockabilly ("In My Gremlin"), and their moody "Radio" reminds me of James in parts. There have been a couple incarnations of the band, as members gathered and fell off as Podrasky moved from Pitts to LA back to Pitts and then back to LA. This main and steadiest version is the band happened after Podrasky's second move LA where he worked in the mailroom of A&M records along  with the other 3 members.

Stand Out Track: By The Way

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Primitons - s/t

Name: Primitons
Album: s/t
Year: 1985
Style: Jangle Pop, College Radio
Similar Bands: Game Theory, REM, Let's Active
"One-Word" Review: Airy Distant Jangle Pop
Based Out Of: Birmingham, AL
Label: Throbbing Lobster

Cover, Record

Back, Record, Lyric Sheet

Primitons (1985)

1. All My Friends 2:16
2. Five Lines 4:41
3. Seeing is Believing 3:35
4. She Sleeps 4:10 / 
5. You'll Never Know 3:43
6. Stars 3:34
7. City People 3:43

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Mitch Easter - Producer, Mixing, Guitar (Grover, Lets Active, Rittenhouse Square, Shalini, Orange Humble Band, Sneakers, Cosmopolitans, Kimberley Rew, X-Teens, Game Theory, Bandola, Loud Family, Helium, Windbreakers, The 6ths, Shalini, Coronet Blue  lots of credits)
• Brad Dorset - Vox, Bass, Guitar, Piano
• Leif Bondarenko - Drums, Percussion, Accordion (Jim Bob and the Leisure Suits, Bucket Fillers, J. Willoughby & Touwncriers, Walton Smith, Sugarcane Jane)
• Mots Roden - Vox, Guitar, Organ (Jim Bob and the Leisure Suits, Carnival Season)
• Stephanie Truelove Wright - Lyrics (Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires)
• Garri Meighen - Vox
• LaDonna Smith - Accordion (Trans-Idio, Vario 20, Ron Pate's Debonairs, Transcendprovisation, Andrea Centazzo, Blue Denim Deals Without the Arms, Gino Robair, Valentina Ponomareva, Eugene Chadbourne, John Zorn, Free Music Communion, Toner, Return From Earth, Wally Shoup, Rotcod Zzaj, Little Red Rocket, Misha Feigin, Shiva's Quintessence, Jasper Lee, Ramble Tamble)
• Greg Calbi - Mastering
• Fernande Bonkarenko - Jacket Design
• Richard Mock - Cover Illustration
• Grady Turner - Back Design
• Rachel Dobson - Insert Illustrations
• Sue Davidson - Typesetting

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them. But with the wood cut-like print cover art, i'm getting a sense of Cowpunk or roots music. Los Lobos comes to mind. The album is produced by Mitch Easter, and it is on the Boston indie label Throbbing Lobster, so it might be jangley. The Picasso copied band portrait is a nice touch on the back. 

Album Review: Jangle pop is the name of the game on this record...the meandering bass and lofty vocal melodies make a perfect fit for the strummey guitar style. These Alabama gents fell right into the Southern Jangle-Pop scene, a few miles inland from Atlanta, but still roped into the same fitting sub-genre as REM, if only a little more straight ahead rocking. They have a fourth member, but she is a non-performing lyricist, whom would build songs out of bits and ideas Roden brought to her. Their name is short for Primitive Tones, they only produced two (barely) full lengths, and an ep between 1984-1990.

Stand Out Track: All My Friends, Stars

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Phantom, Rocker & Slick - s/t

Name: Phantom, Rocker & Slick
Album: s/t
Year: 1985
Style: Rockabilly, Arena Rock, Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Love & Rockets, Primal Scream, INXS, Wolfgang Press, Cramps, Blasters, Gin Blossoms
"One-Word" Review: Dirty Grimy Small-Time Arena Rock.
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: EMI, Capitol

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Phantom, Rocker & Slick (1985)

1. What You Want 4:28 (single)
2. My Mistake 3:20 (single)
3. Hollywood Distractions 4:18
4. No Regrets 4:01
5. Well Kept Secret 4:17 /
6. Men Without Shame 6:20 (single)
7. Runnin' From the Hounds 3:50
8. Time Is On My Hands 3:27
9. Sing For Your Supper 4:10
10. Lonely Actions 3:37

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Steve Thompson - Producer
• Michael Barbiero - Producer, Engineer
• Peter Doell - Asst Engineer
• Alex Haas - Asst Engineer
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Slim Jim Phantom (James McDonnell) - Drums, Vox (Stray Cats, Drain Bramaged, Dead Men Walking, The Head Cat, 13cats, Bill Wyman, Carl Perkins, Steve Salas, Peter Golding, Brian Setzer, Conny, Gilby Clarke, Ramones, Levi Dexter, Micke Finell, Katmen, Glen Matlock, Swing Cats)
• Lee Rocker - Vox, Bass (Stray Cats, Los Rebeldes, Mystery Train, Michael Ubaldini, Carl Perkins, Dave Edmunds, Scotty Moore, DJ Fontana, Ringo Starr, Swing Cats, Wanda Jackson, Micke Finell, Rich Shapiro)
• Earl Slick - Guitars, Vox (David Bowie, John Lennon, Silver Condor, Dirty White Boy, Little Caesar, New York Dolls, Yardbirds, Sleepy People, Tracks, Leo Sayer, Ian Hunter, Tonio K, Carmen Maki, Danny Spanos, Peter Mclan, Yoko Ono, Tim Curry, Graham Brazier, Jimmy Destri, Lisa Bade, Billy Thorpe, John Waite, Strange Advance, Belouis Some, Jim Diamond, Randy Bishop, Bill Bergman, Jacques Dutronc, James Freud, Junkyard, Joe Cocker, Henry Lee Summer, Tomohisa Kawazoe, Doro, David Coverdale, Joey McIntyre, Box of Frogs, Mick Jagger, Chris Catena, Janice Grace, Billie Rainbird, Anik Jean, Sarah Fimm, Dean Batstone, Game Theory, Jerry Gaskill, Lisa Ronson, Glen Matlock, Whitesnake, Rooftop Screamers, Carmine Appice)
• Keith Richards - Guitar (Rolling Stones, Blues Incorporated, X-Pensive Winos, Little Boy Blue & Blue Boys, Nanker Phelge, Dirty Mac, First Barbarians, Glimmer Twins, lots of credits )
• Nicky Hopkins - Piano (Rolling Stones, Kinks, The Who, Cliff Bennett & Rebel Rousers, Climax Blues Band, Cyril Davies, Jeff Beck, Lord Sutch & Heavy Friends, Neil Christian & Crusaders, Night, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Soul Survivor, Sweet Thursday, Terry & the Pirates, Immediate All-Stars, Jerry Garcia Band, The Sessions credits)
• Carlos Alomar - Vox (Bowie, Listen My Brother, The Band, Harlem Experiment, Iggy Pop, Patti Labelle, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, Simple Minds, Belouis Some, Soda Stereo, Cousin Ice, hen-Gee & Evil E, Raphael, Kenny Barron, ben E King, Luther, Jimmy Owens, Imperials, Jimmi Destri, Innocence in Danger, Ayuo Takahashi, Debbie Harry, Arcadia, Robin Clark, Pretenders, Yukihior Takahashi, Paul King, Julia Fordham, Fabio Concato, Julien Cierc, Debbie Gibson, Jellybean, Yukiko Ito, Cyndi Lauper, Bee Gees, FUN, Kurtis Mantronik, Tin Machine, Prefab Sprout, David Morales, Raphael, Scissor Sisters, Scott Chasolen, Alicia Keys, Brandon Flowers, Mark Ronson, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Carly Simon, Jennifer Rush)
• Diva Gray - Vox (Change, Chic, Lemon, Harlettes, Roy Buchanan, Love Symphony Orch, Teresa Wiater, T.Life, David Spinozza, Major Harris, Phyllis Hyman, Joe Thomas, Meco, James Montgomery, Ray Barretto, Atlantic Family, Jimmy Ponder, Garland Jeffreys, Sambu Soul, Gregg Diamond, Norma Jean, Richard T. Bear, Kiss, Ramona brooks, Duke Jupiter, Euclid Beach Band, Felix Cavaliere, Samantha Sand, Kikio, Roundtree, NYC band, Spyro Gyrsa, B.Baker Chocolate Co, Gotham, Markena Shaw, Toru Oki Blues Band, Herbie Mann, Paul Evans, Bette Midler, Wilbert Longmire, Sister Sledge, John Tropea, Ray Gomez, Cousin Ice, Rhetta Hughes, Wilbert Longmire, George Benson, Marshall Tucker Band, Steely Dan, Leon Bryant, David Sanborn, Silence, High Fashion, Roberta Flack, Weather Girls, Junior, Marcus Miller, Damaris, Peabo Bryson, Talking Heads, Paul Habara, Brian Setzer, David Bowie, Steps Ahead, Ann Anello, Ronnie Spector, Cindy Valentine, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Scritti Politti, Myleka, Jorn Hoel, Linda Eder, Andreas Vollenweider, Charlie Sexton, Grace Jones, Natasha's Brother, Julien Clerc, Maggie's Dream, Hen-Gee & Evil-E, Debbie Gibson, Judy Collins, Marc Cohn, Tony Verderosa, Dr, John, John Tropea, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Spin Doctors, BB King, Patricia Kiss, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, Horii Katsumi, Elton John, Jewel, Natalie Cole, Herbie Mann, Janis Siegel, Marilyn, R,. Kelly, Elaine Elias, Kiss, Joe Lynn Turner, Surtek Collective, Jennifer Rush)
• Robin Clark - Vox (Chic, Don Cooper, Danny Cox, Robin Kenyatta, Esther Phillips, Gary Glitter, Linda Lewis, David Bowie, Roger Moon, Peabo Bryson, Roy Buchanan, Brecker Bros band, Average White Band, Ringo Starr, Atlantic Family, Bette Midler, Tommy James, Leon Bryant, Firefly, Melba Moore, Change, Garland Jeffreys, Silence, High Fashion, Irene Cara, France Joli, Fonzi Thornton, Weather Girls, Luther Vandross, Melissa Manchester, George Benson, Innocence in Danger, Teddy Pendergrass, Marcus Miller, Belouis Some, Simple Minds, Masayoshi Takanaka, Ben E King, Aztec Camera, Julia Fordham, Sheena Easton, Charlie Sexton, Linda Eder, D'Atra Kicks, Lou Gramm, James Freud, Michael Bolton, India, Debbie Gibson, Hen-Gee & Evil E, Jellybean, Toshinobu Kubota, Grayson Hugh, Billy Squire, Jon Lucien, Al Green, Foreigner, David Lee Roth, Repercussions, Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, BeBe Winans, Veronica, Earl Slick, New Rising Sons, Natalie Cole, Kathy Troccoli, Full Moon, Laura Nyro, David Morales, Scissor Sisters, Frankie Valli, Leona Lewis, Jennifer Rush)
• Dave LeBolt - Strings (Spy, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Itamar, Richie Havens, Steve Hackett, Citi, Bonnie Tyler, Martin Briley, Julian Lennon, Foreigner, Stevie Nicks, Aldo Nova, Carly Simon, Belouis Some, Power Station, Aretha Franklin, Cutting Crew, Chris Spedding, Alphaville, Chaka Khan, Karen Kamon, David Van Tieghem, Eddie Rabbit, Sheena Easton, D'Atra Hicks, Laurie Anderson, Tom Kimmel, Beggars &Thieves, Dionne Warwick, Donny Osmond, Roberta Flack, Sinead O'Connor, Peter Noone, Expose, Turtle Island String, Paul McCartney, Braids, Steve Hackett, Jennifer Rush)
• Jim Maelen - Percussion Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Alice Cooper, John Lennon, The Jacksons, Talking Heads, The Velons, Ambergirls, Doobie Brothers, Shobizz, Hollywood Vampires, Latin Dimension more)
• Glenn Palmer - Wardrobe
• Rich Modica - Guitar Tech
• The Block - Band Assistant
• Eric Gardner - Mgmt
• Henry Marquez - Art Direction
• Gavin Cochrane - Photography
• Tom Nikosey - Logo Art

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, or these three artists based on their names. They are an interesting looking bunch, spanning the artistic look from Rockabilly to Punk to Glam to Goth to Powerpop. Looking at them, i expect the music to be something like Poison, to be honest. They look older, so this may be a supergroup of seasoned musicians I just don't know about. But i do know one thing, the fonts chosen for their name on the sleeve and back look awful, like horrendous clip art..although 1985 did not have computer clip art, so maybe they paved they way for what is terrible-looking now.

Album Review: The music is part sleazy arena rock and part hard country rock, but not necessarily rockabilly. maybe a good comparison would be if the Rolling Stones and INXS cross-bred and left the baby to a rich family in the American mid-west. The band was a result of The Stray Cats breaking up, as Phantom & Rocker were both Cats. Slick had been a guitarist for both Bowie and Lennon. On top of that pedigree, Keith Richards plays guitar on the track "My Mistake" and Nicky Hopkins (Who, Kinks, Stones) plays piano on 2 tracks. They only had 2 albums, this one doing well, but the second, Cover Girl, failing.

Stand Out Track: Hollywood Distractions 

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Spotify full album

wolfgangs

Spirit of Nine

altopedia

rue morgue Tomb's Jukebox

many fantastic colors

Otto's Chemical Lounge - Spillover

Name: Otto's Chemical Lounge
Album: Spillover
Year:1985
Style: Garage Psych Rock
Similar Bands: Husker Du, Meat Puppets, Soul Asylum, MC5, Cows, Butthole Surfers
"One-Word" Review: Freak Out Psych-Sludge Rock
Based Out Of: Minneapolis, MN
Label: Homestead Records, Dutch East India Trading, LSR Records

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Spillover (1985)

1. Masturbation 1:45
2. Spillout 2:32
3. Shine 2:19
4. Shakin' All Over 2:22 (cover Johnny Kidd & the Pirates)/
5. Duquette Stomp 2:21
6. Departure Blues 3:48
7. Slow Death 2:49 (Cover: Flaming Groovies)
8. Me and My Mind 2:14

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Paul Osby - Writer, Guitar, Vox, Producer (Todlachen, Blue Hippos)
• Dale T Nelson - Lead Vox (Hearsemen, Sheepherders, The Little Ones, Noble Mice)
• Al Schroeter - Bass (Blue Hippos, Junkboat, Patches & Gretchen, Germaine Gemberling)
• John Anglim - Drums (Bludgeon, Halo of Flies, H*O*F, Lydia Lunch, Haze XXL)
• Grant Hart - Producer, Vox (Husker Du, Noble Mice, Nova Mobb, Yanomamos, The Strangemen, Sugar, DYS, Haze XXL, H*O*F, Arsenal, Patti Smith, Melvins, Superdrag)
• Terry Katzman - Producer, Engineer, Percussion, Vox (Cerveza Muscular)
• Steve Fjelstad - Engineer

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them, but the band name reminds me of Ned's Atomic Dustbin, so i was into seeing what this was all about. Looks low budget and maybe a little psych, just from their logo and name. It doesn't look like anyone in the band is names Otto.

Album Review: The songs on here are gritty and dirty, unrefined and raw. A fuzzy noise version of MC5, and early Soul Asylum (fellow Minneapolitans). The vocals feel like an afterthought, and are mixed low in the production. The band continues to play on occasion in the twin cities (2020). Their first single came out on Husker Du's label, Reflex. So Husker Du's Grant Hart was one of the producers for this album, but their Du connection goes back to Osby's earlier band Todlachen, who also recorded with Bob Mould for Reflex Records, but it was never was released.

Stand Out Track: Shine

Links:

Youtube full album

Discogs

Allmusic

first-avenue

facebook

punk vault

band to band

Rate Your Music

MN Punk

83 poster

Loudness - Thunder in the East

Name: Loudness
Album: Thunder in the East
Year: 1985
Style: Hair Metal
Similar Bands: Judas Priest, Dio, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue
"One-Word" Review: Hyper Hair Drive
Based Out Of: Japan
Label: ATCO, Atlantic, Warner

Cover, Lyrics, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Thunder in the East (1985)

1. Crazy Nights 4:04 (single)
2. Like Hell 3:44
3. Heavy Chains 4:18
4. Get Away 3:55
5. We Could Be Together 4:35 /
6. Run For Your Life 3:48
7. Clockwork Toy 3:55
8. No Way Out 4:01
9. The Lines Are Down 4:57
10. Never Change Your Mind 4:09

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Minoru Niihara - Vox, Lyrics (Earthshaker, Ded Chaplin, Sly, X.Y.Z.->A, Honjoh Misako, She-Ja, Powergod,Fumihiko Kitsutaka,)
• Akira Takasaki - Music, Guitar (Lazy, JI-ZO, Tuska20, Tusk of Jaguar, Honjoh Misako, Buddha Brand, Tomoko Aran, Mass Mental?, Mari Hamada, JAM Project, Hironbu Kageyama, Animetal The Second, Koshi Inaba, Amorphis, Ayasa )
• Masayoshi Yamashita - Bass (Blood Circus, M.T. Fuji, Akira Takasaki, Honjoh Misako, Paul Raymond Project, Higuchi Project Team, Animetal The Second)
• Munetaka Higuchi - Drums (Lazy, Sly, Blood Circus, Higuchi Project Team, Honjoh Misako, Hamada Mari, Rock'n Roll Standard Club Band, JAM Project, Rica Matsumoto)
• Max Norman - Producer
• Bill Freesh - Engineer
• Ray Leonard - Asst Engineer
• Tosi Nakashita - Mgmt
• Masumi Sasaki - Mgmt
• Danny O'Donovan - Co-Mgmt
• George Azuma - Supervisor
• Mikio Shimizu - Director
• Hiroyuki Munekiyo - Director
• Akira Ohmachi - Guitar Tech
• Masaharu Nakajima - Drum Tech
• Barry Levine - Photography
• Jeff Wilkinson - Art Director
• Paul Cooper - Exec Producer
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Loudness, but it is quite obvious that this is japanese hair metal. No ifs, ands or butts.  The name Loudness is a little too on the nose, i'm not sure if its a parody of metal, if it's like a disclaimer for a culture where metal is not first nature, or it's their best guess at what an American metal band should be named & look like. In any case, they are all in on the look and hair.

Album Review: While the pictures and artwork flaunts their Japanese culture in the western hair metal culture, there is no hint of the band being from Japan when it comes to the music. It is chugging, raging, melodic scream-singing, with the typical power ballad moments added in, where the singer occasionally sounds like Steve Perry. Of course i'm very naive to what was going on in Japan's culture, as Japanese Metal was on the rise in 1981, when Loudness began. This is their fifth album overall, second in English (after re-recording album 4 in English) and reached #74 in US charts. It was the first Japanese heavy metal artist to be signed to an international record deal. But as popularity swayed their musical direction, their next album moved away from metal to a more commercial glam-metal sound, losing them some of their fanbase. Although denied visa/entry for a tour by the awful US president in 2017, they are slated to come back stateside in 2020.

Stand Out Track: Clockwork Toy

Links:

Wiki

Facebook

website

cancelled tour due to trump

spinditty

allmusic

metal archives

Niihara Interview 2018

discogs

antiwar songs

skullznbones

artists worldwide

Lifeboat - s/t

Name: Lifeboat
Album: s/t
Year: 1985
Style: Janglepop, college radio
Similar Bands: REM, Thomas Dolby, Talking Heads, Let's Active!, Pixies, Gang of Four, Jonathan Richman,
"One-Word" Review: Smart-poppy-jangly-post-punk
Based Out Of: Boston, MA
Label: Dolphin Records

 Cover & Record

Record & Back

Lifeboat (1985)

1. Bully Up 3:13
2. Family Town 3:17 /
3. Queen For A Day 4:04
4. Ruling Class Kids 2:31
5. Twelve Hour Drive 2:59
6. Let's Get Excited! 3:27

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Paul Gibson - Drums (Do It Now Foundation, Saracen)
• Bob Kendall - Bass, Vox (Tackle Box, Blood Oranges, Brothers Kendall, Tanya Donelly)
• Greg Kendall - Guitar, Keys, Vox (Tackle Box, Jonathan Richman, Mission of Burma, Human Sexual Response, Neighborhoods, Bob Lawton's Boots, Arms Akimbo, Tuffskins, Brothers Kendall)
• Gary Smith Guitar, Keys Vox, Cover  (Phoenix TV Trio, John Clay, Connells, Kenny Blue Ray, Throwing Muses, Walkabouts, Billy Bragg, Juliana Hatfield, Chris Harford, Ringo, Tackle Box, Natalie Merchant, Bulls Gap)
• Steve Gronback - Producer, Engineer
• Bob Pfeifer - Producer
• Jim Toth - Engineer
• Gordon Hookailo - Remixing
• Greg Calbi - Mastering
• Paul Robicheau - Back Photo
• Bob Lawton - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of lifeboat, and there is not much to go on by the dark artwork with yellow lettering. The front is Noah's Ark (thus, lifeboat), and the back is a band photo, barely visable. The album reminds me a little of Die Kreuzen, and it's emptiness could mean that is is harder than most Jangle pop that was coming out of Boston (mgmt) or Chapel Hill (label). I'm still going to lean toward Jangle pop for my guess.

Album Review: There are hints of Talking Heads, Pixies, and REM on this mini-LP. It is college radio jangly, but it is clean in production, and doesn't rely on tedious repetitive hooks that define the bottom rungs of college radio popularity. Then there are definite British new wave characteristics, with snotty nasally vocals surrounded by synths, reminding me of Thomas Dolby or Flock of Seagulls (on "Ruling Class Kids"). "Twelve Hour Drive" features chants and angular music similar to Gang Of Four, until the Farfisa keys come in, making it a less abrasive track. Apparently brothers Bob & Greg have had success in scoring films as well. Gary Smith owns Fort Apache Studios.

Stand Out Track: Bully Up, Ruling Class Kids, Twelve Hour Drive

Links:
Willfully Obscure
Blurt Schoolkids Records Greg Kendall
Dagger Zine Greg Kendall (same interview as above)
Bobkendall.com
Discogs
Full Album Youtube

Cryin' Out Loud - Live It Up

Name: Cryin' Out Loud
Album: Live It Up
Year: 1985
Style: Reggae influenced New Wave
Similar Bands: Police, English Beat, Specials
"One-Word" Review: Brassless Powerpop Ska
Based Out Of: Hoboken, NJ
Label: Golda Bowlfish Records

Cover & Record

Record & Back

Live it Up (1985)

1. The Distance 2:53
2. Live It Up 4:20 /
3. Fire 4:30
4. Pounding Heart 4:26

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Don Brody - Guitar, Vox, Words & Music (Screaming Urge, the Marys, Connie Sharar)
• Todd Novak - Lead Guitar
• Christopher Johns - Drums, Backing Vox
• Dan Acker - Bass, Backing Vox (the Dragsters)
• Glenn M. Taylor - Engineering, Producer
• Charles Evelyn - Album Design
• Jeffrey Kane - Photography

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but they also (like the Philisteens) look like a typical new Wave Band, however, there is a chance that they could be more jangley college pop, since it is a 1985 record, and markered over as a radio station's copy.

Album Review: They are a very Police inspired reggae-new Wave band. All of their songs have the repetitive & rhythmically strummed chords/ They do not have quite the energy of ska, and there is no brass. But they are considered to be part of the NYC Ska contingent, with their own variation on the genre. Singer Don Brody was a survivor of polio in his youth, and learned to play guitar while bedridden. He passed away at 44 in his sleep in Dec'97.

Stand Out Track: The Distance

Links:
Discogs
Tribute
Marco on the Bass
Tone & Wave
PSU article from '86
Don Brody rememberance 

Spikes (the) - 6 Sharp Cuts

Name: The Spikes
Album: 6 Sharp Cuts
Year: 1985
Style: Blusey Garage Psych Rock
Similar Bands: Doors, Black Rebel Motor Cycle, Animal Bag, Guided By Voices
"One-Word" Review: Stumbley Acid Rock
Based Out Of: Australia
Label: Big Time Records, Greasy Pop Records

 Cover, Record

Back, Record

6 Sharp Cuts (1985)

1. Flashback to Acid Beach 5:29
2. Ain't No Friend of Mine 2:48
3. Bloodmud 4:54 /
4. Romance 3:14
5. Scars & Angels 3:45
6. Hollywood 6:58

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Ian List - Vox, Guitar, Bass (The Assassins, Dagoes, The UV's)
• Greg Swanborough - Drums, Harmonies
• Doug Thomas - Guitar, Casualty Vox (The Dagoes, The Assassins, The UVs, Contrapunctus, Vinyl)
• James Tizard - Bass, Lead Guitar
• Bob Allan - Producer
• Gayle Hutchison - Cover Concept & Art

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but I love the artwork, the color scheme, the patterns and angles. It just looks like it is going to be a great slice of new wave / art rock.

Album Review: This Australian band takes inspiration from classic psych rock and the Doors, but I'm not into their result, as it feels to fall flat...its fair to say this is not my go to genre, either. They were an important band in Australian Music Culture, if nothing more for the fact that Doug Thomas ran a the Greasy Pop record label that put their section of South Australia (Adelaide) on the map, particularly with a compilation called "An Oasis in a Desert of Noise".

Stand Out Track: Ain't No Friend of Mine

Links:
Discogs
Adelaide Music
Greasy pop Records Wiki
South Aus. Memory
Rate Your Music
Facebook
Adelaide Review: Greasy Pop

Turbines - Last Dance Before Highway

Name: Turbines

Album: Last Dance Before Highway

Year: 1985

Style: Garage, Surf

Similar Bands: Gringo Star, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, B-52's

One Word Review: New England surfboard with spurs.

Based Out Of: Boston, MA

Label: Big Time Records America

 Last Dance Before Highway - Cover & Record

Last Dance Before Highway - Back & Record

Last Dance Before Highway (1985)

1. Skull & Crossbones 2:17
2. That's the Way 3:21
3. Highway 51 1:57
4. Slop 3:34 /
5. Wah-Hey 2:38
6. Throw It Down 2:44
7. Rock in My Pocket 3:37
8. Hangin' Tough 2:57

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:
Jack Hickey - Rhythm & Lead Guitar (Lyres, DMZ)

John Hovorka - Vox, Guitar (2x4's)

Fred Nazzaro - Drums, (The Titanics)

David Shibler - Bass (Charlie Pickett & Eggs, UZI)

Brent Robin - Cover Design

Wayne Podworny - Band Photos

Fred Giannelli - Producer (Psychic TV)

Mark LeMaire - Mix Engineer

Rob Dimit - Engineer

Jeff Whitehead - Engineer

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. Based on the logo and cover, I imagine it has some energy to it, and is seeded in new wave. Possibly rockabilly based on the band image on the back. 1985 is not a reliable year, but the angular highway lines on the artwork, and the yellow relief are potential positive signs.

Album Review: Classified as a rust-belt obsessed twangy garage rock band, the Turbines had a total of 2 albums, and never made it in popularity outside of the Boston area, despite having blurb album reviews in both Spin & Billboard magazines. The whole album has the surf guitars turned up above the vocals, giving it an almost live feel, and the vocals come off as a little drunk, perhaps.Or at least like a sloppy Pulp Fiction Soundtrack contribution

“Skull & Crossbones” is a cover from a 1956 b-side from a singer named Sparkle Moore. It starts off with deep, nasally vocals with an echo, and twangy surf rock guitar. The melody is like a deconstructed “Hound Dog.” The vocals are not really sung, but forcefully and slightly melodically spoken.

“That's the Way” feels like a Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet song at the beginning. The art-like vocals are like a deeper Fred Schneider from B-52’s, which is not far off in genera with the guitar centric songs. There is a fake-ending, and the song repeats for about another minute.

“Highway 51” is the cover of the Curtis Jones, made famous by Bob Dylan. It sounds like it is right out of Pulp Fiction, almost 10 years later.

“Slop” is a shuffling, train chugging song, with percussion baring most of the weight to carry the song along. The surf guitar fills in sections solo, and rings out behind the chorus. A harmonica is added into the mix toward the middle.

“Wah-Hey” was a single. The song starts with an echoing bass line that carries the basic melody that the vocals follow. The chorus is a build-up of the “Wah”…and is punctuated with the “hey!” from the background singers. There is a little Devo in the bass line.

“Throw It Down” carries with it a strong punk tempo (sounding a lot like Violent Femmes Prove My Love) and style filtered through the surf-tinted instruments. It has a great energy and staggered vocals that sounds like an almost live production, as the vocals are mixed far behind the instrument (minus the fade out at the end).

“Rock in My Pocket” is slightly- and I mean slightly- slower tempo, but it is generally more of the same.

“Hangin' Tough” has an “I Fought the Law” melody to it in the verse, yet again, filtered through extra loud surf guitars. The chorus does not continue the familiar melody, but takes the song in its own direction, albeit, not as catchy.

Stand Out Track: Throw It Down

Links:

Discogs

Amazon

Rate Your Music

Hyped to Death

Down Underground

Spin

Metal Snowball (Hovorka Discog)

Vinyl 301

Billboard 11/2/85

Gleaming Spires - Welcoming a New Ice Age

Name: Gleaming Spires

Album: Welcoming a New Ice Age

Year: 1985

Style: New Wave

Similar Bands: Devo, Squeeze, Violent Femmes, Sparks, Talking Heads, INXS, A's, Alarm, Big Country.

One Word Review: Eccentric Sound-Scapes

Based Out Of: LA, CA

Label: Tabb Records

 Welcoming a New Ice Age: Cover, Liner Notes, Record

 Welcoming a New Ice Age: Cover, Liner Notes, Record

Welcoming a New Ice Age: Credits Close-up
Welcoming a New Ice Age (1985)

1. Bigger than Life 3:10
2. The Things I Have Done to Out Love 3:58
3. Blowing Up My Life 3:46
4. What's Coming Next 3:15
5. Unprotected 3:12
6. Harm 5:38/
7. Mercy 3:51
8. Welcoming A New Ice Age 4:24
9. Tearaway 4:39
10. No One Coming Over 2:33
11. Your Secret Room 3:45

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:
Les Bohem - Vox, Bass, Guitar, Synth (Bates Motel, Sparks, Steve Gillette)
David Kendrick - Drums, Percussion (Bates Motel, Sparks, Devo, Visiting Kids)
Bob Haag - Guitars, Backing Vox (Bates Motel, Sparks)
Jimbo Goodwin - Keys (Sparks, The Call, Tommy Mandell, Sam Phillips, Mark Heard)
Greg Penny - Synth, Guitars, Backing Vox, Production (4-3-1, KD Lang, Martini Ranch, Poperetta, Lisa Nemzo, Eddi Reader)
Bobby Moore (Horns of Desire) - Sax (& The Rhythm Aces, Detroit Spinners, Stylistics, Count Basie & His Orchestra)
Donna Wylie (Horns of Desire) - Trumpets
Katia Empkowicz Penny (Passionettes) - Backing Vox
Patty Foley (Passionettes) - Backing Vox
Beau Wesley (Passionettes) - Backing Vox
The Happy Boy (Passionettes) - Backing Vox
The Party God (Passionettes) - Backing Vox
Fanny Penny (Passionettes) - Backing Vox
Jonathan Gold - Cello (Human Hands, Savage Republic Johanna Went)
Campbell Naismith - Bagpipes
Coolwhip - Mixing
Rick Butz - Recording
John Golden - Mastering
Bill Allen - Photography
Endre Bohem - Photo Bar Patron
Peter Turner - Photo Bar Patron
Karen Smythe - Photo Bar Patron
Mr Penguin - Photo Bar Patron
Frank the Bartender - Photo Bar Patron

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band. But i like the name...sounds like it may be an interesting, edgy new wave band. Coupled with the new wave fashions in the cover art, and the map-like drawling & descriptions on the sleeve, there is a lot of focus on a band personality that seems exciting and timely. Hoping for some energetic fun new wave music here.

Album Review: The Gleaming Spires, or the heart of the band, at the very least, were the backing band for Sparks in the early 80’s. They have songs in films like The last American Virgin and Revenge of the Nerds, and David Kendrick went on to be in Devo.

“Bigger than Life” is light, starting off feeling like an INXS song. It features horns in the background of the chorus, creating an in-your-face pop sound, further emphasizing the INXS comparison, and a little Joe Jackson. It has a little blue-collar A’s feel, too. The end is a good-feeling, happy fade out, with all the instruments coming together bombastically.

“The Things I Have Done to Out Love” is a little more cold and barren as the song starts, reminding me of the Alarm. The build to the chorus gains a little pop, side-to-side swagger. The drums really stand out as the main driving force, produced with a slight echo.

“Blowing Up My Life” takes it down to a keyboard synth slow dance. It is sentimental, and feels like middle school. It is kind of a sleepy song, stripped down of dense production, sounding a little unfinished and reflective. Toward the end, backing vocals join to repeat the title in chorus.

“What's Coming Next” fades in with an anxious new wave bouncy rhythm, reminding me a little of Devo…it is a little sinister in tone, with quick angular Buzzcocks-style chord changes paired with the catchy hook. The instrumental section is peppered with horns, giving it a vibrant urgent importance. The song is a continuous, never-let-down controlled sprint.

“Unprotected” starts with theatrical vocals only, reminding me of Sparks. A pulsing keyboard is added, and the song fully enters into theatrical-musical realm, as a minimal accompanied vocal display, again, much like Sparks. The chorus is an emotional uttering of the song title, rising up in disappearing hope and the feeling of forlorn.

“Harm” gets more funky with buzzy synth and a deep tribal bellowing and bass. Oingo Boingo + Devo + Residents -like in song style and vocal style. The notes are not always on key, creating an itchy feeling, like something is out of sorts, just needing to be set right- which musically is a great way to push a song along. To add to the uncomfortableness of the song, they add a neurotically played violin. The vocal chorus adds in with a clear, catchy melody. The song grows, combined elements, venturing into late-XTC epic song-scaping territory, with elements of both the Talking Heads and Violent Femmes.

“Mercy” starts side two with a much more straight forward new wave song. Power chords and short building vocals segments fit together to create a perfect pop template. It feels a little Big Country-ish with the style of synth employed.

“Welcoming A New Ice Age” continues the windswept, tundra-esq songscape, with crystalline, echoing xylophone backing effects and soaring guitars. As this was a big style of the 80’s it never had quite a perfect fit as with the title and theme of this song. The drum beat keeps the whole song upbeat, and peppy.

“Tearaway” is a sedated synth track that feels like it could be from twin peaks at the first measure. The backing flute synth breaks out of the Badalamenti style, and takes us to another thematic Sparks-like slow song. There is a backing vocal that is robotic and synth-pitch processed, buried behind the lead vocals, that sings the title over and over on cue.

“No One Coming Over” starts as straight forward jangle pop, with some odd synth elements. Including more layered robotic vocals when the title is sung. The song is slightly devious, and lends itself to the Sparks Catalogue pretty easily, if only separated by the spot light on the overly jangly guitar. The bass line reminds me of an Oingo Boingo song, “Pictures of You” but all the sinister tone is sapped out by the rest of the song.

“Your Secret Room” is a very different style from the rest of the songs on the album…there is a county /acoustic sound to the track. From the first line, it sounds like the Violent Femmes, with near-exact tonal inflection of Gordon Gano’s style. Female harmonizing backing vocals are very apparent here, which enhances the country appeal, and they use bagpipes to end the song, which also end the album in solo form. 

Stand Out Track: What's Coming Next

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Dangerous Minds
IMDB
Trouser Press
Futureismo

Wire Train - Between Two Worlds

Name: Wire Train

Album: Between Two Worlds

Year: 1985

Style: Alternative, Jangle, New Wave

Similar Bands: Aztec Camera, Trashcan Sinatras, Dramarama, The Alarm, Waterboys, Psychedelic Furs

One Word Review: Tedious Poetic Landscape Ramblings

Based Out Of: San Francisco, CA

Label: 415 Records, Columbia, CBS

 Between Two Worlds: Cover, Notes, Record

Between Two Worlds: Back, Liner Sleeve, Record

Between Two Worlds (1985)

1. Last Perfect Thing 3:52
2. Skills of Summer 4:03
3. When She Was A Girl 4:29
4. God on Our Side 4:29
5. Love, Love 3:15 /
6. I Will 4:21
7. No Pretties 4:25
8. The Ocean 4:05
9. Two Persons 2:54
10. Home 3:35

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

Kurt Herr - Vox, Guitar (The Renegades)

Kevin Hunter Vox, Guitar (The Renegades, Snot Puppies, Sheryl Crow, Bellanova, Sad Affair, Billy Idol, Simple Minds )

Brian MacLeod - Drums & Breath (Sleepers, Sheryl Crow, Group 87, Toy Matinee, Scrantones, Pink, Bangles, Kaviar, Steel Dragon, Dramarama, Paul Westerberg, Rosanna Cash, Wolf & Wolf, Grace Slick, DiVinyls, Jefferson Starship, Dream Academy)

Anders Rundblad - Bass, Vox (The Renegades, Sheryl Crow, Gary T'To Band, Motvind, Andy Prieboy, Chuck Prophet)

Peter Paul Skrepek - Guitar (The Renegades)

Peter Maunu - Producer, Vox, Guitar, Keys (Bernie Krause, LA Express, Group 87, Mark Isham, Patrick O'Hearn)

Dodie Shoemaker - Artwork/Cover

Greg Calbi - Mastering

Trudy Fisher - Photography

Micharl Frondeli - Remix

Ron Macleod - Sampler
Irma Maunu Kocian - Production Coordinator

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band. But it looks like it will be terrible. I've never been a fan of the tedious looking, blurry album covers, that seem to evoke a meandering song style that is void of hooks, and just drones on for longer than each song should last. The songs are more about a melancholy atmosphere than actual energetic or exciting production. 1986 does nothing to stray my thinking otherwise. 

Album Review:  Wire Train was active from the mid 80’s through early 90’s, putting out 5 major-label albums worth of music, six if you count the rejected album they self-released. They had some localized popularity, and even had a song make it into the Point Break film. Many of the band members went on to form the backing back to Sheryl Crow, and the drummer was part of the music collective that performed the opening credits to the American Office TV show.

“Last Perfect Thing” jams right into it with a pounding drum. Anthemic guitars play in support, only to be subdued to landscape-jangle pop once the vocals begin. The vocals are poetic as they overlap the minimal jangly music, reminding me of a subdued John Easdale of Dramarama. The chorus is a little more dynamic, incorporating the anthemic guitars back into the melody.

“Skills of Summer” starts with a jangly guitar, and glides into the dreamy, synth soundscape. The vocals sound wind-blown, and still have a poetic cadence. The urgency is raised in the chorus, but does not come off as threatening or urgent. The song ends with a more urgent refrain of the title, sung in the round.

“When She Was A Girl” has echoing, cave dripping synth chimes to start out the song. The guitars also sound grandious, echoing in there meandering, jangly loops. The song tries to build some momentum in the bridge, but the chorus pauses to suck the life out of the song…but not necessarily in a bad way, but in a reflective way. The bass is mixed to the front of the song as the song fades out the instrumental ending.

“God on Our Side” is a Bob Dylan cover. It kicks in to form a steady, upbeat rock tempo, under-laid with the jangle guitars, sounding much like the Alarm and other landscape-rock bands.

“Love, Love” begins with an echoing power pop guitar hook, and a rocking drum beat. Although there is still an echoing behind the vocals, reminding me of the Psych Furs, it is a very straightforward progressive rock song. Nearing the end, the song feels like it winds down, shedding musical layers to become a limping, reflective section, but it changes direction quickly, back into the catchy chorus.

“I Will” begins with slow jangly guitar strums, and then soars off with guitars to landscape rock land. The chorus has a guitar sound and hook that is relevant in the emo scene from a few years back. The song has a nice build to it, which is capitalized in the chorus.

“No Pretties” starts with quiet, swirling synth, and then the lead guitar starts in with a sad, reflective section. The song is gloomy and dark, taking me back to a Psych Furs comparison.

“The Ocean” has the same gloomy elements, but is recorded with a driving pace. Sterile, crystal, synth notes echo beneath the verse. The chorus is very good, however, with the way a supporting vocal sings Our Tears, as if in the round, on top of the lead vocals. It has very good timing, and makes a fun, interesting melody even better. It reminds me a little of EMF, actually, when it comes to the style of breathy, emotional vocals.

“Two Persons” sounds a lot like a Graham Parker or Elvis Costello song, anxious nasally vocals, and a thumping bass and drum beat. The guitar even sounds like it could be Elvis. The instrumental breakdown is back to the anthemic guitar sound, but it can be forgiven since the rest of the song is a great, driving ball of energy. The vocals are rushed through, and sound like they are just tumbling out of the singer’s mouth.

“Home” slows things down to a high school slow dance. The jangly guitar consists of slow chords and a bit of a waltz tempo, with a little of the song “Hallelujah’s” melody in the bass. 

Stand Out Track: Two Persons

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