Definitely many exceptions to the rule,but I think there are quite a few acts from this generation who have something to say when they're young, and something to say when they're old - but in the middle they are just keeping their hand in and trying to make some money. I mean, Bowie is the paradigm here, but I'm sure there are others - Dylan maybe.
― Zelda Zonk, Friday, 22 April 2022 02:53 (two years ago) link
J Geils Band
― OG Bob Sacamano (will), Friday, 22 April 2022 02:53 (two years ago) link
oooh Yes
― OG Bob Sacamano (will), Friday, 22 April 2022 02:57 (two years ago) link
J. Geils Band crapped out in ‘85, they didn’t have a totally awesome’80s
― Josefa, Friday, 22 April 2022 03:08 (two years ago) link
Kool & the Gang
― Josefa, Friday, 22 April 2022 03:12 (two years ago) link
This period seems to be the time when most of these artists have strayed their farthest into what is most recognisably ‘80s’; generally, the furthest distance from their signature sound or production, with the fallout being that most return to a more recognisable, ‘rootsier’ sound and image by the very late 80s (to the extent that many are deemed comebacks)
― Master of Treacle, Friday, 22 April 2022 03:34 (two years ago) link
SparksRoky Erickson had a couple of great recordsRobert Wyatt released “Shipbuilding”
― Chris L, Friday, 22 April 2022 10:26 (two years ago) link
Interesting that some of these artists had a pretty successful early 80s— Mac with Tug of War, Stones with Tattoo You, Elton had some big singles. I don’t know if Infidels was a hit, but it was viewed as a comeback. Dylan was an odd case—entering his canonization phase (box set, closing act at Live Aid) while making some of his worst albums.
― Chappies banging dustbin lids together (President Keyes), Friday, 22 April 2022 10:59 (two years ago) link
getting worried that alfred’s been in an accident or something
― mookieproof,
Traveling!
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 April 2022 11:38 (two years ago) link
And you guys are fucking crazy.
Dirty Work is the Stones' last great album, marred by a zealous Lillywhite mix and a few ill-chosen instrumental parts played by sessioneers. Peak Richards-Wood guitar cross talk, peak Richards balladry ("Sleep Tonight"), peak Jagger lyrics.
Marred by the same problems, Press to Play is McCartney creating his own pot-created parallel universe. Not as many peaks as Dirty Work, but "Stranglehold," "Good Times/Feel the Sun," and, my god, the utterly daft "Press" (check out those Linda backup vocals) are marvelous.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 April 2022 11:41 (two years ago) link
Tina Turner's Private Dancer is pretty great - but there's the toe-curling duet with Bowie to balance it out!
― Zelda Zonk, Thursday
That's on the live album.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 April 2022 11:42 (two years ago) link
And, yeah, 1986 was a pretty great pop year by my reckoning.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 April 2022 11:44 (two years ago) link
The first record I flashed on when I saw this thread was Mistrial.
Almost included this, but then I saw that the reviews were actually pretty decent.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Friday, 22 April 2022 15:08 (two years ago) link
and it's not a bad Lou Reed record
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 April 2022 15:22 (two years ago) link
"The Original Wrapper" is OK.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 22 April 2022 15:30 (two years ago) link
"Tell It To Your Heart," "I Remember You," too.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 April 2022 15:50 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 4 May 2022 00:01 (two years ago) link
anyone calling press to play a nadir never listened to off the ground
― ✖, Wednesday, 4 May 2022 00:20 (two years ago) link
otm
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 4 May 2022 00:21 (two years ago) link
Leather Jackets is quite obviously the worst piece of shit: a disgraceful full frontal assault on one's frontal lobe, an example of an artist, reeling from addiction, using instinct and craft, he thinks, to get him through contractual obligation.
Check out our listening thread: Mama Can't Buy You Love: The Official ILM Track-By-Track ELTON JOHN 1978-1988 Listening Thread
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 4 May 2022 00:24 (two years ago) link
What about Joni? Dog Eat Dog or Wild Things Run Fast?
― Cow_Art, Wednesday, 4 May 2022 03:23 (two years ago) link
82 and 85, respectively.
(those are nowhere near as bad as some of the ones in this poll tho. hoo boy, alfred really otm.)
― Let's disco dance, Hammurabi! (Austin), Wednesday, 4 May 2022 03:36 (two years ago) link
“Good Friends” on Dog Eat Dog isn’t bad.
― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 4 May 2022 14:02 (two years ago) link
The former has the haunting "Chinese Café / Unchained Melody" too.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 4 May 2022 14:27 (two years ago) link
WTRF bores me more than DED
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 4 May 2022 14:30 (two years ago) link
I heard both Dog Eat Dog and Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm when I was a teenager, it took a couple of decades for me to hear the depths in some of the songs. Of course, there's a lot of sonic garishness on those records too.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 4 May 2022 14:32 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 5 May 2022 00:01 (two years ago) link
TBH I haven’t heard Leather Jackets or Landing on Water. Can’t recall a thing about Knocked Out Loaded, but I do recall Press to Play being better than its reputation, and Dirty Work is actually a pretty good ugly rock & roll record marred by some below-average songwriting (but sonically it’s kind of a hoot).
― war mice (hardcore dilettante), Thursday, 5 May 2022 00:13 (two years ago) link
The Landing On Water track posted above is the first song I've heard from it, despite being a big Neil fan. Those drums sound so weird! What's the deal with that? Are they just mixed too loud and recorded badly?
― Cow_Art, Thursday, 5 May 2022 03:21 (two years ago) link