Thursday, January 18, 2018

The Archeological Music Dig.

968.
That's the number.
I didn't know what it would be when I started but that's where it came out.

968.

Albums.

I don't know how long in minutes or hours but I know that I started this listening project in 2015 and only just finished today.

So, what is this?

I was a teenager in 1978. I turned 13. It's in those teen years that we develop our musical tastes. What speaks to us. What we relate to. We become possessive of bands that we "discover" and think they are "sell outs" when they become popular and sell millions of records.

Life was different in the days between 1978 and 1982. Not just for me. Every teenager goes through changes and those stories are unique and boring and I'm not going to write my autobiography here.
Life was different for us growing up in that era inasmuch as we had some access to new music or popular music but it was from varied and, sometimes, veiled places. It was just plain hard to hear new music, underground music, different music. Not like it is today. On our phones. And I'm thrilled about that. I LOVE the access we have today. But it was not the same back in the old days....

First there was, of course, top 40 radio. I didn't JUST listen to WNBC in the afternoon to hear the hits of the day. I put my boxy tape recorder next to the speaker on my Technics stereo, held down PLAY & RECORD and just walked away, making sure to return in either 30 minutes or 45, depending on what length tapes I had lying around. Then I would listen back, over and over, and decide, with great and delicate precision, which song represented the album I would fork over cash to own.

When I was just a little older I discovered Trouser Press. This was after a dalliance with CREEM (which seemed to pander to the stadium rock that already had legions of fans) and Rolling Stone, which was fun in 77 when it featured Star Wars on the cover (and an interview with George Lucas where he said that there would be NINE movies in total! 3 sequels followed by 3 prequels where Mark Hamill would play his own father and then 3 sequels to the original 3 where Mark would play the older Luke. It was a glorious idea. I never forgot it. Unless I imagined it.)
No. Trouser Press was the one for me. One issue (I don't recall which) and I was hooked. I subscribed so I could get my "flexi-disk" singles. The first one I got was Adam & the Ants "A.N.T.S." to the tune of YMCA! And it was in the back of TP that I heard of bands like Romeo Void and X. Although X was written about in Time in 1981 along with The Blasters as having the Album of the Year. But I had already discovered them so it was vindication. And, since X never really got out of cult status I never had to call them sell-outs. Bands I had never heard of plus stores. Stores! Like Trash & Vaudeville in that mysterious "Greenwich Village" in NY. And Sounds records. And what were "Beatle Boots", anyway? And somewhere, I just knew it, in the caverns of the lower part of Manhattan, I would find an import copy of Adam & the Ants' "Dirk Wears White Sox". (I did and my father could not believe I would spent $14 on a record!)
Later, in the confines of the unfinished attic I had converted into my bedroom I would listen, deep into the night, to college radio. Where "The Kid" on WFMU played the entire album of Martin Briley's "Fear of the Unknown", an album upon mentioning it, caused Robbie Rist to run to his van and show proof that it was among his favorite "rekkids".  The Kid let me come in an spin a couple records once. He promised me an entire show but, when I arrived, platters in tow, he had forgotten that he did that and let me sit and spin ONE record. His. David Bowie's "Andy Warhol". A resentment of Bowie festered throughout my life because of that event.
But that's where I heard R.E.M.'s "1,000,000" for the first time. And all of Gary Numan's "The Pleasure Principle", an artist I had already fallen in love with because my friend and crush, Toby, loved Gary. And turned me on to him, Human Sexual Response and The Dickies.
My buddy, Pete and I would go to the record store in Maine on our way to the Pizza Parlor to play Defender, or on the way back and we would chug through the new releases. His faves were Ozzy Osbourne (We went to see him in concert at the Bangor State Fair. I stood 3 people from the stage and Randy Rhodes looked right at me! Def Leppard opened...when the drummer still had both arms!), Van Halen, Sammy Hagar. He got The Stray Cats album when I picked up Elvis Costello's "Imperial Bedroom". I picked up Dead Kennedys "Plastic Surgery Disasters" when he was air guitaring to Iron Maiden. (We both air guitared to that, actually. It's where I developed my air guitar chops)
I could go on and on. But the point is that I loved music. But, who could listen to it all?

Me. Now.

Thanks to streaming and some rudimentary Wikipediaing, I compiled a list of as many Rock albums released during 1978-1982, those teen years and got to listening.
I created a spreadsheet to catalog release dates along with links to Allmusic reviews, Pitchfork, if they reviewed the album, and my own blog, www.septenary.blogspot.com, if I covered it in a Listening Post.
Anal. I know. But, who would expect anything less from an obsessive compulsive project such as this?

Of equal interest to discovering if the stuff I already loved, the music that formed me and informed me, still held up, there was the archeology of the entire affair. Would I discover music that I might have missed? Would there be something I might've loved that went unheard? Might I have newfound affection for music I had disregarded or dismissed back then?

The answers to those questions are resounded Yeses.

I liked Punk less than I thought I remembered. Anything outside of what I already knew was grating. Annoying.

But the Post-Punk, The Pop Group, Killing Joke, Throbbing Gristle, Joy Division, John Foxx, Captain Beefheart and The Residents all surprised me, excited me, made me wonder if I would've loved it back then or if I had to be the person I am now.

I waited 30+ years to listen to Glenn Branca's The Ascension, even though I'd read about it and loved him in theory. It was worth the wait. Brilliant.

Anvil? I thought they were a joke. Turns out they shred.
Demon? I never heard of them. Too bad. I would've probably air guitared to them as well.
I heard the name Mink Deville but never gave the Springsteen-esque guy much due. Too bad.
And Bobb Trimble? Who knew? Almost no one since he only released two albums and only about 500 copies of each.
Saxon, Willy Nile & Young Marble Giants. The Ruts, Magnum, New England.
Great stuff.

And there's a lot, a LOT, of bad stuff out there. I won't go down the list but I will say that The Beach Boys...Rick Derringer....Cocteau Twins...I will never forgive you for that time you took for me.

Oh. And regardless of Pitchfork, I fucking HATE The Raincoats.

Anyway.

Here's the top 210 albums. The first 59 are 5 star records. The rest got 4.5.

In addition, I listed "Heart Songs" or "Starred Tracks", which is how you let Apple Music or Spotify learn what you like and profile you.

If you want the entire spreadsheet, complete with links, let me know and I will send you a link.


-->
1/18/1978Warren ZevonExcitable Boy5
2/10/1978Van HalenVan Halen5
3/17/1978Elvis Costello & the AttractionsThis Year's Model5
6/6/1978The CarsThe Cars5
6/9/1978The Rolling StonesSome Girls5
9/21/1978The RamonesRoad to Ruin5
10/9/1978Judas PriestHell Bent for Leather5
6/2/1978Bruce SpringsteenDarkness on the Edge of Town5
1/5/1979Elvis Costello & the AttractionsArmed Forces5
3/5/1979Joe JacksonLook Sharp!5
6/15/1979Joy DivisionUnknown Pleasures5
11/23/1979The JamSetting Sons5
10/19/1979Tom Petty & the HeartbreakersDamn the Torpedoes5
9/7/1979Gary Numan & Tubeway ArmyThe Pleasure Principle5
10/5/1979Joe JacksonI'm the Man5
10/19/1979MadnessOne Step Beyond...5
11/30/1979Pink FloydThe Wall5
1/1/1979The RutsThe Crack5
4/1/1979Gary Numan & Tubeway ArmyReplicas5
10/9/1979The Boomtown RatsThe Fine Art of Surfacing5
1/4/1980The RomanticsThe Romantics5
1/14/1980RushPermanent Waves5
3/10/1980Billy JoelGlass Houses5
4/22/1980The CureSeventeen Seconds5
4/1/1980XexGroup:Xex5
4/25/1980Black SabbathHeaven and Hell5
4/1/1980The FeeliesCrazy Rhythms5
4/1/1980X Los Angeles5
10/17/1980Bruce SpringsteenThe River5
6/30/1980QueenThe Game5
7/11/1980UltravoxVienna5
7/25/1980AC/DCBack in Black5
7/1/1980The VaporsNew Clear Days5
1/1/1980Human Sexual ResponseFig. 145
9/5/1980Gary NumanTelekon5
9/12/1980David BowieScary Monsters (and Super Creeps)5
9/20/1980Ozzy OsbourneBlizzard of Ozz5
10/8/1980Talking HeadsRemain in Light5
10/1/1980The ResidentsCommercial Album5
10/1/1980RockpileSeconds of Pleasure5
11/3/1980Adam & The AntsKings of the Wild Frontier5
1/7/1980PretendersPretenders5
1/23/1981Elvis CostelloTrust5
2/13/1981Phil CollinsFace Value5
2/21/1981Rick SpringfieldWorking Class Dog5
5/15/1981SqueezeEast Side Story5
5/1/1981XWild Gift5
6/1/1981Joe JacksonJoe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive5
7/8/1981The Go Go'sBeauty and the Beat5
7/1/1981Romeo VoidIt's a Condition5
11/1/1981Glenn BrancaThe Ascension5
3/15/1982Richard & Linda ThompsonShoot Out the Lights5
4/19/1982Laurie AndersonBig Science5
6/1/1982Roxy MusicAvalon5
6/1/1982Stray CatsBuilt for Speed5
7/2/1982Elvis Costello & The AttractionsImperial Bedroom5
11/1/1982Donald FaganThe Nightfly5
7/2/1982X Under the Big Black Sun5
2/10/1978Judas PriestStained Class4.5
3/1/1978Nick LoweJesus of Cool4.5
3/1/1978The RutlesThe Rutles4.5
5/1/1978Cheap TrickHeaven Tonight4.5
5/19/1978KraftwerkThe Man-Machine4.5
6/1/1978The Boomtown RatsA Tonic for the Troops4.5
7/21/1978The RezillosCan't Stand the Rezillos4.5
8/28/1978DevoAre We Not Men? We Are Devo!4.5
10/13/1978Billy Joel52nd Street4.5
11/2/1978The PoliceOutlandos d'Amour4.5
11/10/1978QueenJazz4.5
11/24/1978Gary Numan & Tubeway ArmyTubeway Army4.5
6/1/1978The DickiesThe Incredible Shrinking Dickies4.5
5/5/1978AC/DCPowerage4.5
10/1/1978Captain Beefheart & The Magic BandShiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)4.5
8/1/1978MagnumKingdom of Madness4.5
1/1/1978New EnglandNew England4.5
10/13/1978Southside Johnny & The Asbury JukesHearts of Stone4.5
1/1/1978Big StarThird4.5
3/1/1979Graham ParkerSqueezing Out Sparks4.5
6/9/1979Nick LoweLabour of Lust4.5
7/27/1979AC/DCHighway to Hell4.5
9/25/1979Gang of FourEntertainment!4.5
10/19/1979The SpecialsThe Specials4.5
12/14/1979The ClashLondon Calling4.5
2/1/1979Tangerine DreamForce Majeure4.5
3/27/1979Ian HunterYou're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic4.5
3/29/2979SupertrampBreakfast In America4.5
3/30/1979TriumphJust a Game4.5
4/5/1979JourneyEvolution4.5
4/13/1979Thin LizzyBlack Rose: A Rock Legend4.5
4/20/1979The Pop GroupY 4.5
4/1/1979BlackfootStrikes4.5
6/9/1979Dave EdmundsRepeat When Necessary4.5
6/11/1979The KnackGet the Knack4.5
8/1/1979Van MorrisonInto the Music4.5
9/17/1979Frank ZappaJoe's Garage Act 14.5
11/19/1979Frank ZappaJoe's Garage Acts 2 & 34.5
10/30/1979Adam and the AntsDirk Wears White Sox4.5
9/1/1979The ResidentsEskimo4.5
11/1/1979Simple MindsReel to Reel Cacophony4.5
12/1/1979Throbbing Gristle20 Jazz Funk Greats4.5
1/1/1979The RochesThe Roches4.5
5/8/1979The CureThree Imaginary Boys4.5
3/3/1979Frank ZappaSheik Yerbouti4.5
5/17/1979Patti Smith GroupWave4.5
5/21/1979SaxonSaxon4.5
8/10/1979The RadiatorsGhostown4.5
1/1/1979SkySky4.5
1/18/1980John FoxxMetamatic4.5
1/28/1980J. Geils BandLove Stinks4.5
2/4/1980The RamonesEnd of the Century4.5
2/15/1980NazarethMalice in Wonderland4.5
2/1/1980SqueezeArgybargy4.5
2/1/1980Young Marble GiantsColossal Youth4.5
2/1/1980Willie NileWillie Nile4.5
1/1/1980Teenage HeadFrantic City4.5
4/21/1980Pete TownshendEmpty Glass4.5
5/23/1980Peter GabrielPeter Gariel (Melt)4.5
5/1/1980The English BeatI Just Can't Stop It4.5
5/1/1980Tangerine DreamTangram4.5
8/4/1980The Fabulous ThunderbirdsWhat's the Word4.5
6/28/1980The Soft BoysUnderwater Moonlight4.5
6/30/1980GirlschoolDemolition4.5
7/18/1980Echo & the BunnymenCrocodiles4.5
7/29/1980Daryl Hall & John OatesVoices4.5
8/1/1980Siouxie Sioux & the BansheesKaleidoscope4.5
8/5/1980Pat BenatarCrimes of Passion4.5
9/1/1980SaxonStrong Arm of the Law4.5
9/2/1980Dead KennedysFresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables4.5
9/12/1980Simple MIndsEmpires and Dance4.5
9/24/1980UtopiaDeface the Music4.5
9/29/1980Stevie WonderHotter than July4.5
10/17/1980Dire StraitsMaking Movies4.5
10/20/1980U2Boy4.5
10/1/1980New EnglandExplorer Suite4.5
11/8/1980MotorheadAce of Spades4.5
11/17/1980The FallGrotesque4.5
11/21/1980REO SpeedwagonHi Infidelity4.5
11/28/1980The JamSound Affects4.5
11/19/1980BlondieAutoamerican4.5
11/1/1980YelloSolid Pleasure4.5
1/1/1980Blue AngelBlue Angel4.5
1/1/1980Bobb Trimble Iron Curtain Innocence4.5
5/23/1980Graham ParkerThe Up Escalator4.5
1/1/1980Mink DeVilleLe Chat Bleu4.5
10/5/1980Killing JokeKilling Joke4.5
1/12/1981April WineThe Nature of the Beast4.5
2/12/1981RushMoving Pictures4.5
3/13/1981SladeWe'll Bring the House Down4.5
4/6/1981Roger TaylorFun in Space4.5
4/13/1981Billy SquierDon't Say No4.5
5/15/1981The Moody BluesLong Distance Voyager4.5
5/30/1981Echo & the BunneymenHeaven Up Here4.5
5/1/1981PlasmaticsBeyond the Valley of 19844.5
5/10/1981KraftwerkComputer World4.5
5/22/1981Jean Michel JarreMagnetic Fields4.5
5/5/1981The UndertonesPositive Touch4.5
6/6/1981Siouxie & the BansheesJu Ju4.5
7/2/1981Foreigner44.5
7/31/1981JourneyEscape4.5
7/31/1981Eddie RabbittStep by Step4.5
7/1/1981DemonNight of the Demon4.5
9/18/1981GenesisAbacab4.5
9/21/1981TriumphAllied Forces4.5
9/1/1981KixKix4.5
9/1/1981Hall & OatesPrivate Eyes4.5
10/16/1981The Human LeagueDare4.5
10/26/1981J. Geils BandFreeze Frame4.5
10/1/1981Mink DeVilleCoup de Grace4.5
10/1/1981Bow Wow WowSee Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah4.5
11/4/1981Black SabbathMob Rules4.5
11/7/1981Ozzy OsbourneDiary of a Madman4.5
11/8/1981Orchestral Maneuvers in the DarkArchitecture & Morality4.5
11/9/1981Men At WorkBusiness As Usual4.5
11/1/1981The SoundFrom the Lion's Mouth4.5
12/1/1981The BlastersThe Blasters4.5
12/1/1981David Byrne The Catherine Wheel4.5
1/1/1981Martin BrileyFear of the Unknown4.5
2/12/1982XTCEnglish Settlement4.5
3/22/1982Iron MaidenThe Number of the Beast4.5
3/23/1982Rick SpringfieldSuccess Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet4.5
3/29/1982ScorpionsBlackout4.5
4/19/1982Jethro TullThe Broadsword and the Beast4.5
4/19/1982MotorheadIron Fist4.5
4/28/1982Marshall CrenshawMarshall Crenshaw4.5
9/1/1982Uriah HeepAbominog4.5
3/29/1982SparksAngst in My Pants4.5
4/30/1982A Flock of SeagullsA Flock of Seagulls4.5
5/16/1982FearThe Record4.5
7/17/1982Judas PriestScreaming for Vengeance4.5
8/20/1982YazUpstairs at Eric's4.5
8/24/1982R.E.M.Chronic Town4.5
8/1/1982Hughes/ThrallHughes/Thrall4.5
8/1/1982DemonThe Unexpected Guest4.5
9/13/1982Kate BushThe Dreaming4.5
9/17/1982Phil LynottThe Phil Lynott Album4.5
11/1/1982Dead KennedysPlastic Surgery Disasters4.5
11/20/1982WhitesnakeSaints & Sinners4.5
11/1/1982VenomBlack Metal4.5
4/15/1982AnvilMetal on Metal4.5
1/1/1982Mission of BurmaVs4.5
6/14/1982Pete TownshendAll the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes4.5
1/1/1982The English BeatSpecial Beat Service4.5
10/1/1982MadnessThe Rise & Fall4.5
9/13/1982Simple MindsNew Gold Dream4.5
6/17/1982The PoliceSynchronicity4.5
3/8/1982The FallHex Enduction Hour4.5
3/15/1982Graham ParkerAnother Grey Area4.5
1/1/1982TriumphNever Surrender4.5
12/1/1982VenomBlack Metal4.5

No comments: