*Laurie Anderson - Big Science. 1982 Warner Bros. (LP) With the two below (Dec). I do have some history with this album. Going back, once again, to early college. During Chemistry Lab 101, our young professor assistant (the same guy who basically told us when we catch on fire - not if...) enjoyed playing a cassette tape of this album during our lab sessions. I was very intrigued by the music, except... it was the absolute wrong setting. Laurie Anderson is anything but background music for lab work. So it came across as annoying, primarily because we were focused on the task at hand. So we begged him to stop playing the cassette... It's been 37 years since that event, and I'm hearing Big Science for the first time on an attentive listen. Well, I did my best anyway. As one reviewer noted, it must be considered absurd that she was a commercial success during this period. There is nothing catchy about Big Science. This is one-of-a-kind music that's for sure. Here are the genres RYM associates with only this album: Art Pop, Experimental, Spoken Word, Minimal Synth, Electronic, Post-Minimalism. I'm sure I could add some more. Overall I found the album alluring, though maybe not satisfying. But it's highly unique and would require a mindset change to appreciate further. I keep albums like that.
*Missing Persons - Rhyme & Reason. 1984 Capitol (LP). With the B-52's (Dec). For whatever reason, I find myself enjoying Missing Persons more than others of this ilk. It's a heavily synthesized mid 80s sound, but the melodies are solid, and the musicianship is a few cuts above the rest. Of course they all played with Zappa, so that could be one reason... I've actually never seen or heard this record before (1984 was early college, so I had even less to do with anything associated with New Wave). I was surprised, perhaps disappointed, that it's only a $5 record even in mint shape. But the good news is - I'm keeping it anyway!
The B-52's. 1979 Warner Bros. (LP). Thrift shop find (Dec). I have a story for you on The B-52's. The best part of a blog is that I have a captive audience. And the best part for you is... you don't have to read it. Ha! So... in 1998, I was a consultant for a large ERP software company, and my gig in those days was as a DBA - when I still had real applicable skills and didn't rust my brain out in "leadership". Specifically performance and tuning was my specialty. Since many of our clients had serious performance issues, I was in high demand nationwide, flying coast to coast to get them back on track. And when said company had their annual User's Conference, I was asked to run a one hour session on the topic. Because the topic was so popular, we would get one of the large auditoriums in the Moscone Center (ah forgot to mention that the conference was in San Francisco). We had over 1,000 people in attendance, standing room only. Now for an introvert like me, that's quite daunting. However, when a room is that big, it's actually more like doing radio (which I had already done for three years) - basically talking into the abyss. All the same, introverts like me (we're not shy by the way - common misconception - it's that we give off lots of energy, and thus are completely drained by people being around us, especially extroverts) - are massively exhausted after such an event. And it was at the end of day. And it's a conference. Meaning... I need a drink. Bad. And free drinks are everywhere of course. Wine please. Next glass. Next glass. Next... You get the idea. One of the other interesting aspects to these conferences is their ability to bring in top music acts. Maybe not currently top, but at one point they were. I've seen Jefferson Airplane, Tower of Power, and many others this way. Of course the software companies were (and are) super wealthy, and so they could offer up quite the event purse to any band willing to "sell out" to Corporate America. And on this night in November - as the evening carried on, and I'm bombed out of my mind - there's the The B-52's! I didn't really know them that well, but certainly remember them from my high school days of the early 80s. But given the state I was in, they were the perfect antidote. High energy concert, and a helluva lot of fun. I can still image it perfectly. Of course I was right in front of them (not my natural state, I must say). Good times. Oh, the album you ask? It's OK - decent I guess. Kind of campy really, and not much impact at home listening to the stereo, even with the trusty craft beer by my side. But I think The B-52's are more for the live setting. That's their element.
999 - The Biggest Prize in Sport. 1980 Polydor (LP). With The Sunset Bombers (Nov). Like many budget bin albums, I bought it primarily for resale. Sometimes I listen to them, and sometimes I just scan the album and move to the sale box (and don't bother to rate). Ah, let's try this one - it's tagged punk rock on RYM. But it's not my definition of punk. Pretty harmless stuff. In this way I was more reminded of The Clash. Side 1 was better than I thought it would be, with some pretty good songs and guitar work. Side 2 was monotonous in contrast. Not bad, but just not my thing.
The Sunset Bombers - Sunset Bombers. 1978 Ariola (LP). From a local store (Nov). In the late 70s, one could tell the music tide was changing to a more aggressive, simplistic rock. Egged on by the music media, the day of complex, thought provoking rock, was coming to a close. Their primary argument: That's not what rock music is. As if such a declaration was etched on a tablet from On High. I'm sure this album was met with critical acclaim... and little sales. It's super boring and all the songs sound the same. It does possess good energy though. Features one of the guys who went on to The Knack, who honestly weren't much better, but had one great track to propel them to fame and fortune.
Living Dolls - Emotional Parade. 1986 Fine Line (EP). From a Denver area record store (Nov). Four track EP from Seattle based group. The music here is definitely New Wave, and it's a bit late in the game for this kind of sound. Good for what it is though, but not lighting my fire.
*Pulling Faces - Dance of Ghosts. 1987 Wea (Ireland). Excellent thrift shop find (Oct). I was pleasantly surprised by the contents - a fine mix of 80s new wave... and hard rock! Sort of like The Slapp 45 I wrote about here not long ago. Definitely holding onto this one.
*The Police - Ghost in the Machine. 1981 A&M (LP). Thrift shop find (Oct). This is the point where I start to really enjoy The Police. Focusing on nothing more than Sting's excellent bass work opens a lot of doors for appreciating this title. One of those iconic albums that define the term "80's music".
*Duran Duran - Rio. 1982 Capitol (LP). One of those albums that define my high school years, or the latter part of them. I was favorable to Duran Duran even back then, but didn't go so far as to buy their albums. I was still a metal head getting into progressive and electronic. Duran Duran were for the boys who "played for the other team" (don't make me explain). About 5 years ago, I went to a rare garage sale (there was a brief period in 2015 that allowed me to do what I do every week now) and this lady had tons of CDs. And this was in the stack. And it brought back a flood of memories. So now the LP found its way to a thrift (Oct). And I'm enjoying it even more now. They have an edge on them, with great guitar and superb songwriting. I hope to find others by the band. They have proven to be elusive so far. Certainly this is the first copy I've found in two years of doing this. Of course I could just go to a record shop and pay a few dollars more. But that's no fun.
* - Keeping for the collection
