Discovolante's Best of: 1985
From the beginning of the year to the end, via the Sputnik release calendar. |
| 1 |  | Dukkulisur
i Lettum Leik
On their one and only full length album "i Lettum Leik", Icelandic greats Dukkulisur further prove just how they got their reputation as being one of the most groundbreaking bands the country has ever known. Quality solid AOR-pop all around. |
| 2 |  | Nico
Camera Obscura
Thought of in a generally much better light than "Drama of Exile", Nico's unwitting finale "Camera Obscura" in indeed of epic proportions. It's a cold, goth-industrial album with Nico's cutting vocals whisking through the briskness, like a cold wind on a freezing winter night. A grand piece, and possibly my personal favorite of hers. |
| 3 |  | The Gymslips
Evil Eye
On their final release, The Gymslips unleash their full potential by going all in to the dark side, releasing their most popular release, "Evil Eye", in the process. The main track is total goth post-punk goodness with a killer bleak atmosphere, with heavy synths abound. An absolute early goth gem, and one of the surprisingly effective music changes as well in the 80s underground London music scene. |
| 4 |  | Rites of Spring
Rites of Spring
One of the godfathers of emo, Rites of Spring's sole full length remains a blistering effort which is in-your-face and totally uncompromising. Amazing stuff that was lightyears ahead of the game. |
| 5 |  | Mantronix
Mantronix: The Album
The first album of NYC electro-hop group Mantronix was an album that pioneered the bridging of electronica and hip hop, with the opening track, "Bassline", often being cited as one of the all time greatest songs in the genre. |
| 6 |  | Whipping Boy (CA)
The Third Secret of Fatima
Fronted by the dynamic Eugene Robinson (who would later be known for his work with Oxbow), Whipping Boy was an underground hardcore band that released only three albums and one EP before calling it a day. Their shining achievement is on their sophomoric "The Third Secret of Fatima", which is notable for its melodic slight hard rock edge. An absolutely fresh take on the hardcore sound. |
| 7 |  | Skeletal Family
Futile Combat
Although already releasing an album beforehand, cult goth band Skeletal Family hit their stride in 1985 with their second album "Futile Combat". It's a solid traditional post-punk offering, having one of the best tracks of the 80s goth post-punk flood, "Promised Land", as well as throwing a few curveballs for the hell of it, with the oddest being the bouncy track "What Happened". A fantastic, at times otherworldly album. |
| 8 |  | The Dead Milkmen
Big Lizard in My Backyard
The Dead Milkmen were really one of the first bands to take the piss out of punk, creating several classic albums in the vein of comedy punk. In 1985, they made their debut with the release of the classic "Big Lizard in My Backyard", which is widely regarded amongst critics and their fanbase to be one of their utmost best albums. An album that helped pave the way for other comedic punk bands to come for the next decade. |
| 9 |  | Sonic Youth
Bad Moon Rising
"Bad Moon Rising" was really the most sensible direction for the band to go after the mindfuck that was "Sex is Confusion". Capped off with the Lydia Lunch duet "Death Valley '69", "Bad Moon Rising" is definitely one of the most unique and odd albums of 1985, and an album that you soon won't forget upon listening. |
| 10 |  | Strawberry Switchblade
Strawberry Switchblade
Coming and going with hardly a whimper in their home country of Scotland, Strawberry Switchblade were a duo that pioneered goth pop, with their only album being one of the biggest cult successes of the time period, although that reappraisal came long after they dissolved. |
| 11 |  | Camper Van Beethoven
Telephone Free Landslide Victory
A band that pioneered modern alternative rock, Camper Van Beethoven have long been a favorite of college radio stations, probably since this very album. It's a trippy, enjoyable listen that is chockful of absurdist lyrics and playful songs. Another album that sounds like it's about a decade younger than it is. |
| 12 |  | Overkill
Feel the Fire
Despite their long running career, Overkill has never really gotten the credit they deserve of being one of the first, and best, thrash bands ever. And unlike a lot of thrash bands, even one of my personal favorites Anthrax, Overkill came out of the gates swinging with their 1985 debut "Feel the Fire", which is as solid as mid 80s thrash can get. |
| 13 |  | Prince
Around the World in a Day
One of the biggest middle fingers to the faces of the masses, Prince quite literally struck gold with 1984's "Purple Rain" album and movie, and returned in 1985 with "Around the World in a Day". Instead of having the lush silky pop feel of "Purple Rain", "Around the World in a Day" was a lot more experimental, most notably taking influences from psychedelia in particular. Even though critics were divided on it, the album has thankfully been declared one of Prince's best amongst his fanbase. And I dare you to listen to "The Ladder" without getting misty eyed. |
| 14 |  | Dead Kennedys
Frankenchrist
It has always been a heavily disputed album amongst their catalog, but the balls of the Dead Kennedys is still very much intact on "Frankenchrist", and while it may be a bit more... unorthodox than their previous works (and that's saying something since they never really were an "orthodox" band), it's still definitely among the best albums of the year. |
| 15 |  | Weird Al Yankovic
Dare To Be Stupid
"Dare to Be Stupid" was Weird Al really coming into his own, creating far more originals than on his previous albums. One of the best comedy albums, in my opinion. |
| 16 |  | The Cure
The Head on the Door
A goddamn classic from start to finish, period, that saw The Cure come back into who they were, while updating their sound and keeping it fresh. Easily one of their best albums. |
| 17 |  | The Jets
The Jets
The Jets were a family band from Minneapolis, similar to The Jackson 5 and DeBarge. They had incredible potential, reaching their climax in 1985 with their self-titled debut. It's incredibly well produced with ridiculously catchy earworms, and if you take it for what it is, it's a ridiculously well done pop record. A feat they would unfortunately never seize again. |
| 18 |  | Oingo Boingo
Dead Man's Party
"Dead Man's Party" would be Oingo Boingo's official introduction to the pop world, and it's not half bad at all. Still maintaining a macabre sense of humor and a fragment of their original wackiness, it is an interesting foray into the slightly more mainstream accessible Oingo Boingo. |
| 19 |  | Anthrax
Spreading the Disease
Another early thrash classic which, like Overkill's "Feel the Fire", is as great as mid 80s thrash can be. |
| 20 |  | Float Up CP
Kill Me in the Morning
Float Up CP (a name that is a god awful choice in retrospect, indeed) was the succession of Rip Rig and Panic, and it manages to keep a lot of the insanity of Rip Rig and Panic intact with a very slightly more approachable pop influence added this time around. Float Up CP only released one album, "Kill Me in the Morning", which is a dizzying array that is just as boggling as their stuff as RR+P, although perhaps only more hallucinogenic. |
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