|
User
Reviews 85
Approval 97%
Soundoffs 189
News Articles 14
Band Edits + Tags 6,645
Album Edits 12,097
Album Ratings 15726
Objectivity 73%
Last Active 07-27-22 7:57 am
Joined 12-20-10
Review Comments 854
| Discovolante's Best of: 1980
So because of a bit of stir craziness and insomnia, I decided to compile my 20 favorite albums from the years 1980 through 2003, with this being the first one: 1980! This is, of course, in my opinion, and you're likely not to agree with a good amount (especially later on), but... meh, whatever lol. Oh, and no Japanese bands on these since that could be something else entirely. From the beginning of the year to the end, via the Sputnik release calendar. | | 1 |  | Basement 5
1965-1980
Although bands like Bad Brains and Death get credit for being the earliest black punk bands, a band that gets glossed over and is practically unknown is Basement 5. Hailing from London, the four piece released only four singles and one album, "1965-1980", which is still as striking as it was upon release. High caliber political commentary during a turbulent period in London, Basement 5 mixes high octane loud, yet intelligent punk with reggae tinges sprinkled throughout. | | 2 |  | Androids of Mu
Blood Robots
Perhaps the most baffling and batshit crazy entry of the year, Androids of Mu were an all-female arthouse post punk band that never went beyond very, very limited cult success, but have since become fodder for avant-garde underground enthusiasts. Their sole album, "Blood Robots", is a new wave nightmare of an album with keyboard blips and sound effects going off at random and at times shrill vocals, making for an album that can be pretty challenging to get through for the everyday guy. But if you're one of the 5% who enjoy that kinda thing (like me), then you'll definitely dig the beautiful sci-fi monstrosity that is "Blood Robots". | | 3 |  | Poison Girls
Chappaquiddick Bridge
While not as much of acquired taste as Androids of Mu, Poison Girls were from the same artsy anarcho-punk subgenre, and was fronted by the charismatic Vi Subversa, who was already in her 40s when the band formed with no previous band experience. Laced with surrealistic lyrics and a mad band, Vi and the Poison Girls hit their peak with their 1980 debut "Chappaquiddick Bridge", which nicely encapsulates the lucid anarchist insanity that was Poison Girls with little filler. | | 4 |  | X
Los Angeles
X was a band that teetered on the border of becoming mainstream superstars, but ultimately failed to, eventually losing their cutting edge sound and becoming just another cult name. Despite that, however, X's first album "Los Angeles" is a total masterpiece that is as out of the box as early pure American punk got, with elements of very early alternative rock and organy protopunk like elements blended into the mix. The dual vocals of the cooler and collected John Doe and the more frantic Exene Cervenca create a unique dynamic that plays perfectly off of the tense musicianship of the band. Despite how you may feel about their later albums (especially their country era), one would be absolutely hard pressed not to give "Los Angeles" its dues. | | 5 |  | Lydia Lunch
Queen of Siam
From the same realm as X, Lydia Lunch is... well, Lydia Lunch, one of the most polarizing artists in modern music history. Either you will hate her immensely, or you'll love her. Naturally, I'm of the latter, and her most notable solo effort is the avant-garde classic "Queen of Siam". It's an intricate complex album with a contrasting mix of tracks like the haunting, unhinged hazy cover of "Gloomy Sunday", the no wave dancerama "Atomic Bongos", the creeping avant-jazz track "A Cruise to the Moon" and the dadaist psychobabble semi-interlude "Carnival Fat Man". | | 6 |  | Adam and the Ants
Kings of the Wild Frontier
Something a bit more consumer friendly than the previous entries, "Kings of the Wild Frontier" is the second album effort of the post-punk-glam hybrid Adam and the Ants, and is unarguably their finest as well. With a keen focus on percussion and killer pop grooves, every track on "Kings of the Wild Frontier" is a standout, making it one of the very best albums of not only the year, but of the decade, in my opinion. | | 7 |  | Young Marble Giants
Colossal Youth
Young Marble Giants were a short lived Welsh band active from 1978 through 1980 that had an incredibly unique sound that I've never really heard before: stripped down punk. That is what their one and only album, "Colossal Youth", is from start to finish. No drums, just a guitar, bass and female vocals from Alison Station, who would eventually become somewhat of a cult figure in her own right. Not an album that you listen to a lot, but rather one you have to be in the mood for. | | 8 |  | The Pop Group
For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?
Never been one to shy away from being oddities, The Pop Group is one of the most abrasive and technically sound bands to emerge from the first wave of post-punk. Along with their 1979 debut "Y", "For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?" is one of the heaviest albums in the subgenre in terms of how out there and piercing it can be. But goddamn is it great. | | 9 |  | The Skids
Days in Europa
The Skids were was a band that were huge in the UK in the early 80s, but never made it anywhere else. Their finest moment yet, "Days in Europa", is a glistening, fun album that makes The Skids true pop punk pioneers, alongside much more well known bands like Buzzcocks, although the new wave elements intertwined makes these guys a truly unique listen. | | 10 |  | The Cure
Seventeen Seconds
As a fan of The Cure for nearly 20 years (yes, I know that's peanuts compared to a lot of their other fans out there), I've always felt "Seventeen Seconds" was their most underrated effort, alongside its follow-up "Faith". I love its minimalistic bleakness which, granted, is far from the darkness that would come in the form of "Pornography", but its bareboned approach is so effective to me in making it a timeless album in my eyes. | | 11 |  | Berlin
Information
While Berlin are remembered primarily for their sleek poppy 1983 single "The Metro", they were originally a band with actually a lot more attitude going for them, as evidenced on their 1980 debut "Information". It comes across like a less commercial take on Blondie, with a lot more of a snotty punk attitude. While opinions may vary on this one, I actually really enjoy it, and I actually champion it against their poppy 1982 breakthrough "Pleasure Victim". | | 12 |  | AC/DC
Back In Black
Man, now this brings back memories. I remember listening to AC/DC with my 3rd grade buddy semi-heavily for a bit. Yeah man, solid album. | | 13 |  | Dead Kennedys
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
I really don't think Dead Kennedys need much of an intro, especially their "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" album, which is widely considered to be one of the greatest punk albums ever. Of course this is on my list. | | 14 |  | The B-52s
Wild Planet
I made the mistake a lot of people make taking The B-52s at face value (aka hearing "Love Shack" and instantly hating them), but when digging into their catalog a few years ago, I came across some amazing stuff that is pretty underrated in a general consensus. Case-in-point, their brilliant sophomoric effort "Wild Planet", which is an amazing album that teeters on avant-garde and mainstream party music absolutely brilliantly, much like their previous self-titled album. An album that definitely deserves a far greater legacy than it has. | | 15 |  | Circle Jerks
Group Sex
A short, balls-to-the-wall release, "Group Sex" is both vicious and rather unorthodox, making it one of the best and iconic hardcore albums ever. | | 16 |  | Plasmatics
New Hope for the Wretched
Plasmatics were a band that never exactly were sweethearts of critics, but goddamn if they didn't kick ass. They were also one of the first real shock rock bands, as they donned bizarre costumes and their rowdy shows often got them banned from venues. Their first album, "New Hope for the Wretched", is probably their most punk-influenced effort, although there is still a solid heavy metal sound as well, with fan favorites like "Butcher Baby" and "Corruption" adding to its cult-like legacy. A trailblazing and sadly underappreciated effort that was way ahead of its time. | | 17 |  | Prince
Dirty Mind
As a Prince fanboy, I'm well aware at how groundbreaking of a release "Dirty Mind" was not for him, but for music in general. Having a sound that comes across at times like R&B fused with punk and new wave, "Dirty Mind" is Prince at his most confrontational and in-your-face. I mean, how else could you describe an album as bold as one with tracks like "Head" and "Sister" (which follow each other on the album, by the way), sung by a dude in a flasher jacket and a speedo? Fuckin brilliance. | | 18 |  | Yello
Solid Pleasure
Electropop oddities Yello are known for one thing and one thing only by the masses: "Oh Yeah". But their music goes way deeper than that, especially on their 1980 debut "Solid Pleasure", which was originally released on the Ralph Records label, home to the gods of avant-garde The Residents. With that kind of company, you get a pretty good idea on what to expect... well, at least you think so. Arthouse new wave electro boogie for the people. | | 19 |  | The Residents
Commercial Album
Speaking of the gods of avant-garde, in 1980, The Residents released one of their best and ambitious efforts yet (which is saying something since virtually everything The Residents do is pretty damn ambitious). Consisting of 40 tracks which are more like ditties, the premise of Commercial Album was for the band to explore pop music, take the best parts of them and put them out on record... in minute long bites. Yup, each song is a little over a minute long, but every one of them is like a miniature delight, with some of them being some of the most well known and beloved tracks from the band. Not to mention, beloved music icons like Andy Partridge, Brian Eno and David Byrne all helped out on the album in some way. A true avant-garde masterpiece. | | 20 |  | Motorhead
Ace of Spades
And here's another obvious choice to end this "best of" year. | |
Titan
07.26.21 | not really | discovolante
07.26.21 | Oh yes really. | SandwichBubble
07.26.21 | Quality picks for the most part. 2 sounds right up my alley, will check. | discovolante
07.26.21 | Yeah man, Androids of Mu is a keeper. | widowslaugh123
07.26.21 | Amazing list dude
The ones I know are amazing and the ones I don’t sound extremely interesting | Dewinged
07.26.21 | 2, 3 and 5 sound right up my alley | SandwichBubble
07.26.21 | I will co-sign for 3 and 5, both are amazing post-punk albums. | kkarron
07.26.21 | Always love a shoutout to Yello. They were a lot more influential on the electronic scene than people think. | WeepingBanana
07.26.21 | You’d probably like Modern Warfare based on this list. Dayglo Shadows Delivered came out in 1980 but all their stuff rules | WeepingBanana
07.26.21 | Also, list needs Swell Maps | WeepingBanana
07.26.21 | Also Dicks - Hate the Police | ReturnToRock
07.26.21 | Me reading this list:
'Wait, where's Back in...oh, *there* it is. Carry on...' |
|
