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161. | Salem |
King Night |
2010 |
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One of the very few truly original records of the last few years. A mixture of doomed euphoria and uplifting despair, as
paradox as this may sound. Is this the final nail in electronic music's coffin?
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162. | The Breeders |
Mountain Battles |
2008 |
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Among the many unexpected great comebacks of the 00s (Kate Bush, Portishead) this was the must
pleasurable. Those who expected some more cannonballs might have been disappointed but the rest
appreciated what they got instead.
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163. | Lemonheads |
It's A Shame About Ray |
1992 Review |
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From an European point of view this sounds like the quintessential American
indie album. Sitting on a porch, watching the trucks pass by, strumming some
songs on the acoustic guitar ...
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164. | Dexy's Midnight Runners |
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels |
1980 |
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Rarely has a band displayed such a range of styles in what was only a 3 album
and 5 year career. This, their brass heavy soul album is their best. |
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165. | The Sundays |
Reading, Writing And Arithmetics |
1990 |
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Nearly everyone bought this one back then but nowadays
hardly anyone still cares about it. Which is a shame because this impressionistic sound painting is
still a joy to listen to.
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Yet another gem from the vast cannon of the Throwing Muses/Pixies family. Bubblegum
pop this was called and, yes, that's exactly what it is.
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167. | Chapterhouse |
Whirlpool |
1991 |
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The EP as an art form has long lost its significance. But to the genre wildly
known as 'Shoegazing' it was absolutely vital as many of those acts sadly didn't
manage to come up with a proper album. But not so Chapterhouse.
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168. | Dead Can Dance |
Aion |
1990 |
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Although this drew an arc from medieval to modern times and incorporated the visions
of two very distinct songwriters it nonetheless added up to a fascinating coherent whole.
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169. | Blondie |
Eat To The Beat |
1979 |
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This album was an early chance to see how pop music in the 80's would sound. And there's a
direct line to be drawn from its standout track Atomic to 80's classic Blue Monday.
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170. | Kreisky |
Blick auf die Alpen |
2014 |
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I always thought that there should be at least one entry in this list with German vocals.
And then, finally, after a long wait, this worthy contender arrived.
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171. | Antony And The Johnsons |
The Crying Light |
2009 |
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Although not as easy going and varied as his breakthrough second album this could prove
to be his masterpiece in the long run. Just listen how his voice floats like a feather
over the subtle but nevertheless powerful arrangements.
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172. | Orange Juice |
You Can't Hide Your Love Forever |
1982 |
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Descriptions of this band usually contain adjectives like influential,
groundbreaking or seminal. And if they don't, they certainly are incomplete.
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173. | Depeche Mode |
Speak & Spell |
1981 |
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The German version with 'Dreaming Of Me' on it of course. One of the few nearly
flawless efforts of the first wave of synthipop. The two Yazoo albums that
followed have also aged remarkably well.
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174. | Beirut |
Gulag Orkestar |
2006 |
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The trumpet as a lead instrument is hopelessly underappreciated in pop music. So thank God
for Zach Condon and his dreamed up European journey.
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175. | Bloc Party |
A Weekend In The City |
2007 |
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Way better than their debut although hardly anyone got it at the time.
Ditching all those post rock clichés and replacing them with a more personal
approach was exactly the right move.
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176. | Happy Mondays |
Pills'N'Thrills'N' Bellyaches |
1990 |
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It was always clear that in the long run this band would be remembered much more for their
excesses than for their recorded output. That's a shame because as dated as those baggy beats
might sound they still groove as hell.
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177. | Teenage Fanclub |
Bandwagonesque |
1991 |
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In an innovation competition this lot would certainly finish last. But that was
never really the point of this band. Instead: simple lyrics, simple melodies.
But great effect.
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178. | My Bloody Valentine |
mbv |
2013 |
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The giant expectations had always lead to an initial disappointment.
But we wouldn't want to live without this album, would we?
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179. | Johnny Cash |
American III: Solitary Man |
2000 |
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It's the singer not the song. This saying has rarely been more fitting than for this collection
of (mainly) cover versions. And hey, Mr. Cash even manages to make a U2 song sound cool.
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180. | Slint |
Spiderland |
1991 |
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Contrary to the other landmark guitar albums released in the same year ( Loveless, Nevermind )
this album remained more or less unnoticed for nearly a decade. Unbelievable.
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