Another strong year - no surprise at the #1 choice, Elvis Costello makes the list twice (and rightly so), Hüsker Dü and R.E.M. continue their streak as critics’ darlings, two absolute classics of old-school hip hop - it’s an embarrassment of riches. Personally, my choice was between a number of albums that I listened to religiously at the time - Blood & Chocolate, Lifes Rich Pageant, Candy Apple Grey - but in the end I had to go with Psychocandy, one of the best debuts ever and as much a soundtrack to the era for me as anything else on the list. Happy voting.
The only real quibble I have with the list is Robert Cray - bland and boring; Prince’s Parade should have made the top 15 instead, IMO (Parade was better than the Janet Jackson album, as well).
Well said. A great list…
Mine’s the first vote for the excellent, if misogynistic (or at least a tad caddish), Licensed to Ill. Second and third place, respectively, to Psychocandy and Raising Hell.
Preach!
I’m going with Psychocandy, but the Beastie Boys are very, very close, but that’s not my favorite album of theirs (I’m willing to vote for any of the next two, but it depends on the competition.)
I may end up being the only one, but Blood & Chocolate for me. Better than King of America and the last uniformly excellent EC album IMHO ( well, I do have a sneaking affection for 2002’s When I Was Cruel ). Though he has certainly produced many scattered gems since then.
Psychocandy would probably be my #2.
ETA: Honestly I also like Graceland a whole lot - it’s a beautifully produced and very lush album. But the whole Los Lobos’ contretemps and related douchebaggery has kinda soured me on it a bit.
Gah, this was the year I moved to Edinburgh and started university, and consequently a big one for me music-wise.
From the list there are three albums I love to this day: Life’s Rich Pageant, Candy Apple Grey and Psychocandy. I’ve already given REM and the Huskers a vote in previous years, so the Mary Chain get this years vote. It came out in late 1985 in the UK, and it had a huge, huge impact on my peer group at high school, and was the gateway album for many of us to The Velvet Underground and other such delights. Ah, good times.
Now then, list compilers of the Village Voice, where the hell is The Smiths, The Queen Is Dead?
Psychocandy for me, too.
Good call! It came in at #30 on the list - way too low, really.
Nobody wants to talk about Graceland yet?
I think it’s just a masterful album from “The Boy in the Bubble” to “All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints” (though I could do without “I Know What I Know”), with great musicianship and arrangements and, controversy notwithstanding, left an indelible mark on folk/world/rock music scene.
Every time I listen to the album I get lost in a mood.
*The Mississippi Delta, was shining like a National guitar . . . *
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain
She looked me over and I guess she thought I was all right
All right in a sort of a limited way for an off-night
Graceland it is. That was easy.
Giving it up for Mekons. Brilliant album from a band that’s criminally under-known in the US.
Finally, the damnable critics gave me some good choices.
I went wit Peter Gabriel, though there may well be some other 1986 albums I like more.
No argument from me.
You mean like how it’s a wonderful exercise in blacklegging?
Peter Gabriel for me.
Had to look this one up; it looks like it translates to ‘scabbing’ in American.
First I’d heard of it. Feel free to educate us.
Graceland: it proved that Simon was not a has-been. He tapped into world music rhythms, when few others were doing so. Not only that, he made them into songs that resonated on the pop charts. Great lyrics and production. I have no idea what others are talking about as far as controversy, nor do I care at this late date.
I Knew Psychocandy was coming, nothing else on that list even comes close. Probably the only thing released that year that could replace it for me would be Sonic Youth’s EVOL.