Red
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Post by Red on Aug 18, 2017 22:10:02 GMT -5
43
The Sisters of Mercy - MoreWhen Was It #1?: December 15th, 1990-January 12th, 1991HEY, NOW, HEY NOW, NOW...here's the lone Alt #1 for The Sisters of Mercy. Even if this chart did go back to the beginning of 1988 and accommodate for "This Corrosion", it peaked at #5, so it wouldn't have gotten a review...which is a shame, because there's a chance that "This Corrosion" could have gotten to the five-star plateau before "Enjoy the Silence" broke that barrier. (Then again, I KNOW "Beds Are Burning" would have been a five-star song, so...) But I'm rambling, and this isn't about "This Corrosion". This is about "More", the last #1 of 1990 and the first #1 of 1991. If you're looking for great songs by The Sisters of Mercy, all you have to do is look for the songs that Jim Steinman produced...which is limited to "This Corrosion" and "More". I'm okay with this, because both of those songs are great. "More" is the lesser of the two Andrew Eldritch/Jim Steinman collaborations, but it's still powerful and sweeping in all of the ways you'd expect from a Jim Steinman-produced track.
****/*****
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Harx
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Post by Harx on Aug 19, 2017 12:29:34 GMT -5
You actually made me check out and discover "This Corrosion" today by mentioning it, thanks :) I have already discovered couple of new songs I like a lot thanks to this thread.
This is an interesting thread, keep up the good work!
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Red
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Post by Red on Aug 23, 2017 20:04:34 GMT -5
44
Happy Mondays - Kinky AfroWhen Was It #1?: January 19th, 1991I didn't realize just how prevalent the "Madchester" or baggy sound was on Alt radio pre-Nirvana until I started doing these reviews. That, more than any other sound, is the most common sound I've encountered so far. What's most interesting is that the bands I associate most with the sound (The Stone Roses and EMF) didn't have a #1 Alt hit. Granted, Happy Mondays wee an important band, helping to popularize the baggy sound, but they're still not the first band I associate with that sound. Either way, here we are, and Happy Mondays had a #1 Alt hit with the oddest song name I've encountered so far: "Kinky Afro". I beg your pardon? There are many words that I may use to describe an afro...but kinky is not one of them. But I digress. The song itself is pretty much representative of the Madchester/baggy sound, and it's alright, but it doesn't really stand out amongst the growing pack of baggy sound songs.
**1/2/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Aug 23, 2017 20:06:21 GMT -5
45
Sting - All This TimeWhen Was It #1?: January 26th-February 2nd, 1991Your eyes do not deceive you. STING had a #1 Alt hit. Post-Police Sting. Instrumentally, this song doesn't do a lot for me. There are better solo Sting songs, let alone much better Police songs that I could listen to instead. I was ready to write this song off as a nothing song...but I noticed that the lyrics were definitely not playing along with the seemingly cheery and uplifting music. As it turns out, "All This Time" alludes to the death of Sting's father. Well then. That does help to raise my estimation of this song. The difference between a song like this and a song like, say, R.E.M.'s "Stand" is that "All This Time" actually has interesting lyrical content going for it that helps to elevate an average song. Sometimes, lyrics can save an otherwise unremarkable song.
***1/4/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Aug 23, 2017 20:08:14 GMT -5
46
Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right NowWhen Was It #1?: February 9th-March 9th, 1991Hey, it's unpopular opinion time! Okay, maybe this isn't an entirely unpopular opinion, because I don't hear a TON of people still talking about this song, but I don't think that "Right Here, Right Now" has aged very well at all. For its time, "Right Here, Right Now" definitely worked, as it was one of the biggest hits of 1991, both on the Alt chart and on the Hot 100. With how big of a hit it was, I thought that it would hold up remarkably well, and...it doesn't. "Right Here, Right Now" is a great example of something being released at the right place and at the right time. Post-Nirvana, this song just sticks out like a sore thumb. Pre-Nirvana...this song can be a big hit. Nirvana really did change the game, and, in cases like this song, I'd say that they changed things for the better.
**/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Aug 23, 2017 20:11:16 GMT -5
47
R.E.M. - Losing My ReligionWhen Was It #1?: March 16th-May 4th, 1991You want to know how I know "Right Here, Right Now" hasn't aged very well? Just take a look at the song that followed it at the top. Here's a song that has aged remarkably well. Is it little surprise that it's an R.E.M. song? And it's not just any old R.E.M. song, it's THE R.E.M. song, one of the biggest and most recognizable Alt hits of all time. It's hard to talk about "Losing My Religion" and add anything to the conversation, to be honest. It's a song that has seemingly been covered in every possibly angle.
All I can really do is look at this song from a personal angle, as it's one of the first alt songs I vividly remember listening to. This would be shortly after I fell in love with "Good Vibrations" (NOT THE MARKY MARK VERSION, GREEN, GOD) and before my fascination with Korn began. Most of the songs that I enjoyed before 1999 were pop songs, oldies, or country songs. "Losing My Religion" was different. Sure, it got played on pop stations, but it's not a pop song. It's decidedly alternative, with different instruments than I was accustomed to. Young Red definitely couldn't comprehend what he was listening to. Sure, it was catchy and memorable, but I sure as hell didn't know what to think about this song with mandolins. Current Day Red has no such issues with comprehension. "Losing My Religion" is absolutely deserving of its status as an all-time classic of alternative rock. Is it overplayed? Sure. But that has barely done anything to lessen its power.
****3/4/*****
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sadchild
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Post by sadchild on Aug 29, 2017 14:21:00 GMT -5
The Cure - Never Enough
I had the single. Loved this song and it's non-LP B-side "Harold And Joe" (which is the polar opposite of "Never Enough", oddly enough).
The Replacements - Merry Go Round
Interesting tidbit about this album in your review that I never knew, thanks!
Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
I remember being at my girlfriend's grandmother's house, bored. So I asked if I could put MTV on. This video came on and there's Perry in drag stuffing merch up his dress. After a minute or two, my gf's grandmother suddenly stands up and says, "I won't have this trash on in my house!" and abruptly changes the channel. I still chuckle to this day about that.
The Sisters of Mercy - More
I had the single. Great song and great non-LP B-side "You Could Be The One" too.
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 1, 2017 13:17:29 GMT -5
48
Simple Minds - See the LightsWhen Was It #1?: May 11th-May 18th, 1991Hey, I get to talk about the band behind one of my random favorite pop songs of the 80's! In the 90's, no less! The funny thing is that Simple Minds are actually a pretty big deal even just beyond "Don't You (Forget About Me)". They were only big in the US for a couple of years, but in the UK, they were big deals, notching top ten hits as far along as 1995. "See the Lights" was not one of those top ten hits (#20), but it *was* the first Simple Minds song to do well in the US since their heyday here, culminating in the band's lone #1 Alt hit. I was expecting something much more of the times and something to help keep a band like Simple Minds relevant. Instead, what I got was decidedly more timeless. I mean, this probably wouldn't have been a huge hit in certain periods of time, but it's a song that has aged pretty well. Having said that, I feel like the reason this song has aged as well as it has is because of what I'm reminded of when I listen to the song: U2. Simple Minds were definitely more than just a U2 rip-off band, but I can't shake the feeling that they were influenced big time by Bono here. It's a good song, though. Imagine that: I like a song that sounds like U2!
***1/2/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 1, 2017 13:19:44 GMT -5
49
Elvis Costello - The Other Side of SummerWhen Was It #1?: May 25th-June 15th, 1991It's not too hard to understand what Elvis Costello is going for on his second (and final) Alt #1, "The Other Side of Summer". It has a Beach Boys "sound of the summer" kind of vibe, with a Phil Spector-inspired production. While it would be easy to write this off as "Oh, hey, Elvis Costello is doing a Beach Boys-like song", you expect there to be more to it than that when Elvis Costello is involved, and that's the case on "The Other Side of Summer". Much like his first Alt #1, "Veronica", "The Other Side of Summer" is more than meets the eye, bitter warts and all. What really stands out to me song, though is that, if this song is any indication, Elvis Costello was definitely not a fan of John Lennon's "Imagine". "Was it a millionaire who said 'imagine no possessions'?" Elvis, tell us how you REALLY feel. I don't think that this song is as strong as "Veronica", but I appreciate what it was going for all the same.
***1/4/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 1, 2017 13:22:40 GMT -5
50
Electronic - Get the MessageWhen Was It #1?: June 22nd-June 29th, 1991Imagine the reaction that I had when I first heard about Electronic, because, I mean, LOOK AT THE GUYS INVOLVED ON THIS PROJECT: The founder and singer of New Order and the legendary guitarist of The Smiths?! Sign me up! "Get the Message" is not quite the song that I was expecting to hear was their only Alt #1. "Getting Away With It", I thought, would have been a more fitting lone Alt #1, or "Disappointed". But one listen to "Get the Message" explains a lot of the reason why this was a popular song at this particular point in time. Guess what? IT'S ANOTHER MADCHESTER SONG. Man, the Madchester scene was huge around this time on Alt radio. At least they perform the "Madchester" sound pretty well. This was a song that was liked by one noted critic enough that he claimed that "New Order can now split up" because of the greatness of this song, a song that Johnny Marr himself has repeatedly claimed is "the best song I've written". To that, I say...uh, buddy, you co-wrote "How Soon Is Now" and "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", so that's just not true. And also, I don't get it. The song is not a bad one, to be sure, and it's one of the better "Madchester" songs I've listened to for this project, but the best song Johnny Marr has a songwriting credit on? Not a chance.
***/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 1, 2017 13:26:23 GMT -5
51
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kiss Them for MeWhen Was It #1?: July 6th-August 3rd, 1991Seems like I've been writing these reviews up until I get to a song that's a clear highlight for me, and boy, is that true for "Kiss Them for Me". Siouxsie Sioux tends to have a hypnotizing effect, and nowhere is that more clear than on their biggest US hit. Comparing "Kiss Them for Me" to their other Alt #1, "Peek-a-Boo", is next to impossible, as they might as well be two different bands performing two different kinds of songs, with the only thing helping to link the songs together being the constant presence of Siouxsie Sioux. "Peek-a-Boo" is more off the wall, more chaotic, more unbalanced, whereas "Kiss Them for Me" is decidedly tighter, more focused, and MUCH more straightforward. I love both songs, but even though "Peek-a-Boo" fascinates me in its oddness, "Kiss Them for Me" always felt like the better song, not because it's easier to understand and easier to digest, but because it's just such a precise and well-made song. "Peek-a-Boo", for how much it entrances me every time I listen to it, is a bit of a disjointed mess. That's part of the reason why I love the song so much, but it can also work against the song, too, especially if you're not a big fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees like I am. "Kiss Them for Me" has no such issues. There's nothing that feels out of place or particularly odd. It's just an extremely well-made, ahead of its time pop song that continues to impress today.
****3/4/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 1, 2017 13:35:48 GMT -5
I have thought about the possibility of doing "previews" for the next update, but I've usually decided against it, because, really, you guys can just look up the Alt #1 list for yourselves and ruin the suspense. But the next update...it's going to warrant a preview. It's a pretty big one, literally and figuratively, as I will be posting seven reviews in the next update. Why? Well... What's On Tap: - The biggest song on Alt radio in 1991..and it's not what you think it is - The third (and last) #1 hit for an early Alt radio staple - The first ever #1 for the artist with the most #1s on the format - Not one, but TWO #1s for one of the biggest bands of all time, one of them being the longest-reigning #1 hit in the history of the Alt format up until this point - If that wasn't enough, oh, you know, just one of the most important songs of all time and a song that changed the landscape of rock music forever
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 5, 2017 21:16:07 GMT -5
Here we go, guys...the biggest update yet. Let's do this. 52
Big Audio Dynamite II - RushWhen Was It #1?: August 10th-August 31st, 1991The first song of this latest update is none other than the biggest Alternative chart hit of 1991. It's...it's definitely a song, that's for sure. "Rush" is actually pretty interesting because of all of the songs it samples. Did you catch the "Baba O'Riley" keyboard? Or the "Child in Time" organ intro? Or Mick Jones quoting "Rapper's Delight"? This is one hell of a hodgepodge of music. I'll give "Rush" this: It's definitely not a boring song. It's a bit all over the place, though, and while I can appreciate when an artist decides to throw ideas at the wall and see what sticks, "Rush" would have benefited a little from scaling things back and focusing on the tight main groove. My favorite thing about this song, though, is the band itself. You see, this isn't Big Audio Dynamite, from the #1 Alt hit "Just Play Music". This is Big Audio Dynamite II, so named because Mick Jones was the only original band member remaining by 1990. Seriously, have I mentioned lately that I love rock and roll?
***1/4/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 5, 2017 21:18:30 GMT -5
53
The Psychedelic Furs - Until She ComesWhen Was It #1?: September 7th-September 14th, 1991Speaking of bands with early Alt #1 hits, the Furs are back!...and they're about to leave. The third and final Alt #1 for the early alt staples, "Until She Comes" is a nice little song, though it's not one that I find to be particularly memorable, outside of the lyrical content, which weaves a fascinating little tale about drug addiction. What's more interesting about this song is what it represents, as this was the last Furs #1 (and one of their last singles, period) before their hiatus soon after this song went to #1. To the credit of the Psychedelic Furs, they got out at exactly the right time. They couldn't have possibly foreseen the sea change that was coming, but the writing was already on the wall, and it was time to bid everyone adieu. Thankfully, the Furs reunited and continue to tour to this day.
***1/4/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 5, 2017 21:20:31 GMT -5
54
Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians - So You Think You're In LoveWhen Was It #1?: September 21st-October 19th, 1991Whoa, Robyn Hitchcock out of nowhere! The lone #1 Alt hit for a college rock staple, "So You Think You're In Love" is a nice little alt rock tune, one that, honestly, would have done pretty well post-Nirvana, though perhaps not a month-plus long #1 hit. I'm just kind of fascinated that Robyn Hitchcock had a #1 hit on Alt. I swear, I've been doing this project on and off for years, and I've followed the Alt chart for many, many more years, but I did not know that Robyn Hitchcock had a #1 Alt hit. Boy, you can tell that I have a lot to say about THIS song, don't you? Don't think I will have much of an issue talking about the next song, though...
***/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 5, 2017 21:22:32 GMT -5
55
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It AwayWhen Was It #1?: October 26th-November 2nd, 1991One year after Jane's Addiction saw big Alt success with "Stop!" and "Been Caught Stealing", finally, we begin to see the aftemath of that success around the end of 1991. It's tough to remember a time when the Red Hot Chili Peppers weren't an omnipresent force on alt radio, but there was a time where they weren't pumping out #1 hits on the regular. Would "Give It Away" have been a #1 Alt hit without Jane's Addiction paving the way? It's hard to say. But I can tell you that the Jane's Addiction songs certainly made it easier for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to get a #1 hit, and "Give It Away" is their very first, the first of a (still) record 13 #1s for the Peppers. There's really not all that much to say about "Give It Away" that hasn't already said by people better at reviewing music than me. This funky, catchy as all hell machine of a song is a big deal not just because it helped to put the Peppers on the national map, but it also further helped harder, edgier rock find its place on the format, eventually leading to a sonic boom that would come soon after, and the rest of the musical landscape changing forever in the process. But I'm getting ahead of myself...though it is kind of crazy that two of the most important Alt acts of all time had their very first #1 hit in the same year.
****1/2/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 5, 2017 21:24:44 GMT -5
56
U2 - The FlyWhen Was It #1?: November 9th-November 16th, 1991This run of Alt #1s that we're in right now played a bigger hand in the shape of the Alternative radio format over the next five years than at any other point in the early 90's. Of course U2 would play a big role in shaping the future. Surprise! Like U2 were going anywhere any time soon. And man, did U2 come out guns blazing with their first two singles off of Achtung Baby. "The Fly" was a game changer for U2, especially when compared to what this followed. Rattle & Hum definitely had some highlights, but this is an entirely different beast when compared to the songs from that album. It's darker, edgier, and it showed that U2 were more than capable of changing with the times and not showing their age any time soon. Things would only get better for them, however...
****1/4/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 5, 2017 21:28:40 GMT -5
57
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen SpiritWhen Was It #1?: November 23rd, 1991We've been waiting to get to this point for over 50 reviews, but, finally, here it is: The single most important song to ever hit #1 on the Alt radio chart. It's not hyperbole to say that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is one of the most important songs ever released. Music in general, not just rock music, was in an odd, stationary place when "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was unleashed. It was in desperate need of a shakeup, something to help it escape from the duldrums that it was noticably struggling with. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" isn't just a fantastic song. It was also released at *exactly* the right time, the rare instance of a song truly being there at the right place, at the right time. I mean, I can't stress enough just how much of a refreshing change of pace "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was. Look at where rock was at this point in time: Hair metal was in its dying embers, the Madchester scene was...well, it wasn't bad, but it was just kind of "there", and the likes of Jane's Addiction, R.E.M., and U2 were few and far between. Rock music was in need of a chance to start over, a restart, a bonafide demolition of the current state of rock music. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was that demolition.
This song weaves its magic from the very beginning with its singular riff and its titanic main instrumental, with Dave Grohl pounding the drums into submission. Kurt Cobain joins the festivities, sounding like so many people were at the time: Bored, fed up with the state of things. The song builds, and it builds, and it further builds...and then WHAM, that chorus kicks in. And holy shit, what a chorus it is. Hitting all of the right notes, furious and downright destructive in its precision and its power, and soaring into the air and unable to come back down, it's one of the few choruses in any song that I can say is 100% perfect. Every note that this song hits is precise and exactly as intended.
Look, let's not beat around the bush here. Even without the historical importance, even without the sea change that this song inspired, and even with how overplayed and omnipresent the song has been since its release, the song itself has lost none of its power. It remains one of the most kickass songs of all time. This is a ***** song, without question. Depeche Mode, you've got some company. Fair warning: They might be a little unruly and disruptive.
*****/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 5, 2017 21:31:18 GMT -5
58
U2 - Mysterious WaysWhen Was It #1?: November 30th, 1991-January 25th, 1992So, how do you possibly follow the most important song to ever hit #1 on the Alt radio format? How about with the last #1 Alt song of 1991, the first #1 Alt song of 1992, and, up until this point, the single biggest Alt #1 of all time? Achtung Baby was a massive album for U2, not just in commercial performance, but also for what it represented. It showed that U2 was capable of changing things up, and, even better, capable of helping to shape the music to come. U2 were never followers. U2 were always leaders, and others were forced to follow the path they set. Many bands would follow in U2's footsteps and try to implement dance elements, to mixed results, but very few were able to make the transition quite like U2 themselves, and "Mysterious Ways" is the best example of that. This song just sounds cool, with a tight groove, a fuzzy production, and Bono soaring in with his vocals as only he can on the chorus. I love U2, and I do like some of their songs more (yes, they do have some ***** songs, surprise), but they've never sounded this cool before and they would never sound this cool again.
****3/4/*****
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Green Baron
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Post by Green Baron on Sept 6, 2017 23:46:15 GMT -5
(yes, they do have some ***** songs, surprise) and here I was thinking of which five-letter profanity you were trying to censor
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Web
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Post by Web on Sept 7, 2017 0:06:25 GMT -5
glad you dig "Mysterious Ways", might be my favorite U2 song. And yeah, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is such a landmark song that I feel like rock is in need of a modern version of now. Perhaps it's not possible due to the fractured streaming audience and rock's reduced presence on the charts but maybe a surprise is coming down the line...(and no, not another awful, discordant folk-hop surprise)
Love reading these writeups!
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sadchild
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Post by sadchild on Sept 22, 2017 10:59:09 GMT -5
Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians - So You Think You're In Love
These guys can't sing. Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right NowI think it holds up. I still love it. And it's b-side "Move Me" is great too. I've never dug anything from them aside from those 2 songs though. And what an ugly album cover! REM - Losing My ReligionDefinitely one of my fav songs of all time. But totally agree that it's been very overplayed, so I tend to avoid it when possible. Big Audio Dynamite II - RushAbsolutely love this song, especially the breakdown in the middle. So much fun! The b-side "City Lights" is a great chill-out song too. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It AwayI fell instantly head-over-heels with RHCP when Steve Tyler hosted Hard 60 on MTV and had them play "Fight Like A Brave". A couple months later, Mother's Milk came out and I got hooked even harder. Blood Sugar Sex Magick was the beginning of the end of my RHCP fanboy days, though. When it first dropped, I was lukewarm to it. I can dig it, but man it's repetitive. This album was their first step downward, in my opinion. U2 - The Fly U2 - Mysterious WaysA fantastic album. "The Fly" is the worst song on it (not a bad song, but the one I'm most likely to skip sometimes). And "Mysterious Ways" is the most overplayed track from it. BTW this is barely a U2 album in my opinion. Forget Bono, Larry and Adam. This album has its amazing sound thanks to Flood, Eno, Lanois and Lillywhite. I wish I could find the quote where Flood said something like, "There are things on this album that the band members probably still don't know are on there." Nirvana - Smells Like Teen SpiritYes fantastic. One of my fav songs of all time. But EVERY SINGLE FROM THIS ALBUM was overplayed so much, I had to avoid the album for TWENTY YEARS to be able to begin enjoying it again. And even still, I have to skip "Come As You Are". And I disagree with the idea that 'Music in general, not just rock music, was in an odd, stationary place when "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was unleashed. It was in desperate need of a shakeup, something to help it escape from the doldrums that it was noticeably struggling with.' I think the music was already very exciting before late '91. Cure, Faith No More, Depeche Mode, RHCP, NIN and many many others had shaken up rock and pop already. I was already riding the new music revolution wave when bands like Nirvana & Pearl Jam (often credited for suddenly changing the course of history) took the ongoing rock shake-up to the next level.
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Troy
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I have learned I will rise & you'll see me return Being what I am Theres no other Troy For me 2 burn
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Post by Troy on Sept 23, 2017 19:47:34 GMT -5
4 years down, only 26 more to go
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Red
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officially straighter than a ruler
T-E-C-H-N-O-L-O-G-Y, it's the ultimate
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Post by Red on Sept 23, 2017 21:23:58 GMT -5
Wanted to address one post in particular before we got into the next update, which...may or may not be coming tonight, depending on if PB continues to not work. Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians - So You Think You're In Love
These guys can't sing. Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right NowI think it holds up. I still love it. And it's b-side "Move Me" is great too. I've never dug anything from them aside from those 2 songs though. And what an ugly album cover! REM - Losing My ReligionDefinitely one of my fav songs of all time. But totally agree that it's been very overplayed, so I tend to avoid it when possible. Big Audio Dynamite II - RushAbsolutely love this song, especially the breakdown in the middle. So much fun! The b-side "City Lights" is a great chill-out song too. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It AwayI fell instantly head-over-heels with RHCP when Steve Tyler hosted Hard 60 on MTV and had them play "Fight Like A Brave". A couple months later, Mother's Milk came out and I got hooked even harder. Blood Sugar Sex Magick was the beginning of the end of my RHCP fanboy days, though. When it first dropped, I was lukewarm to it. I can dig it, but man it's repetitive. This album was their first step downward, in my opinion. U2 - The Fly U2 - Mysterious WaysA fantastic album. "The Fly" is the worst song on it (not a bad song, but the one I'm most likely to skip sometimes). And "Mysterious Ways" is the most overplayed track from it. BTW this is barely a U2 album in my opinion. Forget Bono, Larry and Adam. This album has its amazing sound thanks to Flood, Eno, Lanois and Lillywhite. I wish I could find the quote where Flood said something like, "There are things on this album that the band members probably still don't know are on there." Nirvana - Smells Like Teen SpiritYes fantastic. One of my fav songs of all time. But EVERY SINGLE FROM THIS ALBUM was overplayed so much, I had to avoid the album for TWENTY YEARS to be able to begin enjoying it again. And even still, I have to skip "Come As You Are". And I disagree with the idea that 'Music in general, not just rock music, was in an odd, stationary place when "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was unleashed. It was in desperate need of a shakeup, something to help it escape from the doldrums that it was noticeably struggling with.' I think the music was already very exciting before late '91. Cure, Faith No More, Depeche Mode, RHCP, NIN and many many others had shaken up rock and pop already. I was already riding the new music revolution wave when bands like Nirvana & Pearl Jam (often credited for suddenly changing the course of history) took the ongoing rock shake-up to the next level. First off, loved reading through this post. Interesting that you think that BSSM was a step down for RHCP, because I'd argue that the 90's were their single best period, though I suppose I do agree that BSSM isn't my favorite RHCP album. ( Californication, on the other hand...that's my RHCP album.) I also agree that "The Fly" is not the best off of Achtung, but man, "Mysterious Ways" is close. Now, let's talk about Nirvana. Obviously, not the song itself, we're both in agreement about the song. I wouldn't necessarily say that rock music IN GENERAL was in a bad place, as there were definitely strong bands and artists making strong music. But the majority of rock music that was popular at the time was just not all that great. Alt radio was in an okay place (though there were still some styles that may have needed to go on the chopping block, styles which Nirvana helped to make unpopular in short time), but the rock that was getting mainstream attention...I mean, Nelson had one of the biggest hits of 1990, just one year before "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I may have a soft spot for "Talk Dirty to Me", but Poison were still hitmakers (with inferior songs) right before the Nirvana bomb was unleashed. Rock music, especially in terms of crossing over to the mainstream, absolutely needed Nirvana, without question.
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 23, 2017 21:37:52 GMT -5
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Talking Heads - Sax and ViolinsWhen Was It #1?: February 1st, 1992Hey, new update! And this is...an interesting way to start said update, with the very last single release of one of the most important bands of their kind...and also their only Alt #1. Talking Heads always played by the beat of their own drum, and that's definitely the case on "Sax and Violins". (GET IT? "Sax and Violins" SOUNDS LIKE "Sex and Violence"! Glad to be of assistance.) Even in 1992, Talking Heads didn't really feel like a lot of bands and artists hitting #1 at the time, and even if some songs sound a little similar to "Sax and Violins", it's not like Talking Heads were the ones doing the copying. "Sax and Violins" has one thing going for it: A strong bass line, which stands out even among all the sounds being portrayed in this song. Not my favorite Talking Heads song, but it has its charms. And hey, if nothing else, Talking Heads are never, ever boring.
***1/2/*****
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Green Baron
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Post by Green Baron on Sept 23, 2017 21:40:40 GMT -5
I didn't get that Violins was supposed to sound like Violence, I thought it was just supposed to be Sex and Violins. I think my memory of that is due to the Rednex album titled Sex and Violins, that had Cotton-Eye Joe on it.
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 23, 2017 21:44:38 GMT -5
Let us never speak of that Rednex album cover again. 60
Lou Reed - What's Good (The Thesis)When Was It #1?: February 8th-22nd, 1992As I was going to post the latest update, I realized that I completely forgot about a song. This is, honestly, the first time this has ever happened. And the worst part is that it's a song that I knew before starting this thread...and it's a song by an icon. What am I even doing? But anyway, Lou Reed. We've already reviewed a song of hit for this thread, but this is the Lou Reed #1 that I was actually well familiar with before this thread, "What's Good". Is it one of Lou's best songs? Probably not, no, especially when you factor in Velvet Underground material. But I kind of admire how Lou Reed was able to get this kind of song to #1 on the Alt chart in 1992. All power to him. It's definitely not a bad song, either.
***1/2/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 23, 2017 21:47:00 GMT -5
61
The Sugarcubes - HitWhen Was It #1?: February 29th-March 28th, 1992Ready for a mindblowing stat...or, at the very least, one that blew my mind? This is the only Alt #1 to feature Björk. Not even her debut album, fittingly titled Debut had a #1 hit, though it did come close with her breakthrough "Human Behaviour". Not even one solo #1. But The Sugarcubes have one! Seems odd at first...until you listen to the song and consider the music climate of the time. When listening to "Hit", it's not hard to understand why it became a...well, hit. It's a song that was destined to do well at the time, as it actually seems to meld a couple of styles together that were very popular at the time, even post-Nirvana. There's a bit of Madchester in this (not a lot, but a bit), and there's also a surprising amount of Jane's Addiction (particularly "Been Caught Stealing") in "Hit". Of course, none of those styles or songs have Björk, who is one of the singular presences in all of music, and she's the reason to keep coming back to The Sugarcubes and to "Hit".
***3/4/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 23, 2017 21:49:18 GMT -5
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U2 - OneWhen Was It #1?: April 4th, 1992The next song is the biggest Alt hit of 1992. It spent a single week at #1, but it was the longest-charting song in the top 20, spending 15 weeks there, which was just enough to give a long-awaited year-end #1 to one of the biggest bands of their era. Welcome to the top, U2. And speaking of spending one week at #1...it's "One". I find it oddly hilarious that "One" spent just one week at #1. It's like the radio stations entered a pact to ensure that a song titled "One" would only get one week at the top. What interests me is how this song has had a ton of staying power over the years, more than seemingly every other U2 song from this period of time...though maybe that's not TOO surprising, given that "One" is a pretty universal song and the kind of slower tempo U2 song that has stood the test of time before (and would continue to stand the test of time with future releases). Is it my favorite U2 song? Nah. I wouldn't even say that it's one of my ten favorite songs of theirs. But "One" has stuck around for a reason: It's just a really nice song.
****/*****
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Red
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Post by Red on Sept 23, 2017 21:52:49 GMT -5
63
The Cure - HighWhen Was It #1?: April 11th-May 2nd, 1992Now, you want to talk about songs that ARE among my favorites from a band or artist? Look no further than the next #1. This was a really good era, single-wise, for The Cure. They would have not one, but two #1s from their 1992 album Wish, and "High" was the first. We'll get to the other one soon enough, and I love that song, too (spoiler), but man, something about "High" just wins me over from the first second. It's just a gorgeous little pop song, something these guys have always been just so damn good at. It's lovely and intoxicating in all of the right ways, and it does not overstay its welcome, doing all that it needs to do in three minutes and thirty seconds (and, fittingly, the next Cure #1 would also have a similar length). Seriously, I can't go on enough about how much I love "High". One of my absolute favorite Cure songs.
****3/4/*****
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