The 1986 Listening Post - Talk Talk - The Color of Spring

Talk Talk - The Color of Spring

#78/1245

March 1 1986

Talk Talk

The Color of Spring

Genre: New Wave

5 out of 5

Highlights:

Happiness is Easy

I Don’t Believe in You

April 5th

Time It’s Time

Within 30 seconds of the opening track (and reinforced throughout that song) one thing came to mind:

Without a doubt, Radiohead are Talk Talk fans. They must be. Listen to “Happiness is Easy” and tel me that’s not “15 Steps” from In Rainbows. 

So, as I often do, I googled “Talk Talk The Colour of Spring Radiohead. 

Sho nuff: From NME, “And so it follows that Radiohead are massive fans; in conversation with Elbow’s Guy Garvey on BBC 6Music, the band’s go-to producer Nigel Godrich called ‘Spirit of Eden’ producer Phil Brown “a father figure to my generation of engineers”.

This is not the previous Talk Talk. This is something different…more delicate but also with more heft. Either TT anticipate the coming sounds from Britain or influenced them in a way heretofore unrecognized by me. 

But also, the more experimental gleeps and ambient ponderings of latter day REM, which, without the rock and roll force of nature that was Bill Berry, fell under Stipe’s control. It’s no wonder, as their teeth grew, they were referred to, often, as the American Radiohead. 

Guarantee Stipe had this album. (Elbow, too)

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-colour-of-spring/696811651

The 1986 Listening Post - Expando Brain - Mother of God, It's...

Expando Brain - Mother of God, It's...

#571 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

1986 Housekeeping

Expando Brain

Mother of God, It’s….

Genre: More Melodic Massachussetts Jangle Punk!

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Happy Part

Bored

Metal

Circle

You know what I hear here? The snot of The Dead Milkmen. But also the melodic punk that’s coming down the pike really soon. Or like a poppy Sonic Youth explosion of noisy guitars but with fun vocals. 

What happened to these guys? They were excellent. 

22 minutes of your life. Worth it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVXFPeh9Lw8

The 1986 Listening Post - David Knopfler - Cut the Wire

David Knopfler - Cut the Wire

#574

1986 Housekeeping

David Knopfler

Cut the Wire

Genre: The Frank Stallone of Rock

3 out of 5

Frank Stallone. The only acting quality he has is the ability to know the difference between “Action” and “Cut”. In between he can hit the marks and say the words and sound somewhat like a human being. 

But you would never confuse him for anything than a xerox copy of a xerox copy of his brother. 

And that is David Knopfler. It sounds like what you think Mark Knopfler songs sound like but they are all just Mark Knopfoffs. 

(I did enjoy the Floydian rantings of “The Hurting”, tho.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peeYpvp2Wrw&list=OLAK5uy_mdFLYn1r0ygqc1JzabCvJumuMlLHNDQ_M&index=3

The 1986 Listening Post - Virginia Wolf - Virginia Wolf

Virginia Wolf - Virginia Wolf

#573

1986 Housekeeping

Virginia Wolf

Virginia Wolf

Genre: The worst kind of music of the 80s

2.75 out of 5

This is a crushing disappointment. Not because of the music. The music is 80s crap And, yes, I made it through. But because with a name like Virginia Wolf I had my hopes up that this would be some 4AD post-rock experimental goth thing and, instead what I got was the type of MOR synth rock that is every damned soda commercial of the era. 

How were they not a massive success? This is EXACTLY what passed for hit making in 1986. Listen to “Take a Chance” and tell me that you don’t hear every 80s cliche in there. 

Here’s another band produced by Roger Taylor, proving again that he has no business behind the knobs and features Jason Bonham on drums. 

Did YOU know that Jason Bonham was in a mediocre 80s band before hooking up with Jimmy Page to trade in on his name? I didn’t. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/virginia-wolf/267998434

The 1986 Listening Post - Spiral Jetty - Tour of Homes

Spiral Jetty - Tour of Homes

#572 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

1986 Housekeeping

Spiral Jetty

Tour of Homes

Genre: Children of The Feelies

4.75 out of 5

Highlights:

I Swear

Andy’s Attic

Going to Marseilles

East of Berlin

Another one! Another amazing hidden gem that no one heard of. This time out of New Brunswick, NJ and produced by some of The Feelies guys, which is why they sound angularly jangly and epileptic. But, dammit if it isn’t infectious and pogo-able. While they sound like they worship at the altar of Crazy Rhythms that’s fine with me because I love that album and I always wanted more of it so this is like a follow up to that record in a way that The Good Earth wasn’t. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZygoVPgLps

The 1986 Listening Post - Swing Set - Life Speeds Up

Swing Set - Life Speeds Up

#570

1986 Housekeeping

Swing Set

Life Speeds Up

Genre:  Melodic Pop Rock

3.75 out of 5

Highlights:
Blackout

Laying Low

The first track was actually included in the soundtrack to Stranger Things which says a LOT about the music supervisor, Nora Felder. I mean, how long has she been sitting on that one? 

It’s been a while since I heard some quality melodic pop rock but this works. 

Hard to really highlight many but anywhere you land its something worthwhile. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD11ky3Ikzk

0:00 Blackout

4:32 Laying Low

8:02 Runaway

11:01 The Dance

16:13 Victim

19:15 Walking In The Night

23:46 Lost Track

27:03 I'm On Fire

31:16 Rain On Our Parade

The 1986 Listening Post - Christmas - In Exelsior Dayglo

Christmas - In Exelsior Dayglo

#569 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

1986 Housekeeping

Christmas

In Exelsior Dayglo

Genre: I can’t define this. 

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Big Plans

Dig We Must!

Fish Eye Sandwich

I think these guys are from Boston, which suggests that there really needs to be a book written about the vast amount of terrific and weird stuff to come out of Beantown in the 70s-80s. Is it garage? Is it post-punk? Is it art-rock?
It’s all of that and more. Imagine if Wall of Voodoo and B-52s went to a party and got in a three way with early XTC. And then The Replacements showed up with more alcohol. 

This record is rambunctious and ramshackle. I sort of love it. 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmbsUU_oRTU

The 1986 Listening Post - Breaking Circus - The Ice Machine

Breaking Circus - The Ice Machine

#568 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

1986 Housekeeping

Breaking Circus

The Ice Machine

Genre: Post-punk

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Song of the South

Took a Hammering

Swept Blood

By 1986, as we’ve seen, styles are all over the place. I don’t know if this is the 10 years later response to The Sex Pistols’ success but it sure feels like “Anyone can and should do it” is in full effect.

Breaking Circus put out one record. This one. It’s darkly post-punk and moody and edgy and goth and alternative and pounding and, well, the kind of thing I can be a sucker for when it’s done well. It defies actual simile description and that’s a great thing. 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhKUck0sKRg&list=PLlvn8uktX5LtpRS_0oYmhLgBdRSr6Lrfa  (Missing 3 tracks - Ancient Axes, Laid So Low, and Walter)

The 1986 Listening Post - Kilkenny Cats - Hands Down

Kilkenny Cats - Hands Down

#567

1986 Housekeeping

Kilkenny Cats

Hands Down

Genre: Garage

2.25 out of 5

Out of Athens, GA…I see this band compared to REM all over the place but, honestly, aren’t they an Iggy and the Stooges wannabe band?

Oh, wait. Second song. Oh, there it is…

This whole album is what it sounds like if you try to make your own murmur. (Listen to “Tatterman” for the perfect example)

It’s shitty REM cover band writes it’s own songs, rides the Athens signing wave, flops.

Next.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Unu1u5Q5M&list=PLlvn8uktX5LuZ9eQBfLxwvFArBovw-MGu

The 1986 Listening Post - Tactics - Blue and White Future Whale

Tactics - Blue and White Future Whale

#566

November 1986

Tactics

Blue and White Future Whale

Genre: Post-Rock

3.75 out of 5

Highlights:
Absolutely

Binoculars

As we move forward we might not be delving as deeply into the releases from the land down under that never made it to our shores save for a the occasional import bin in Bleecker Bob’s but until then, we are still listening to all that could be unearthed from that area. 

It vacillates between lush psychedelic pop and the more bizarre, with tracks like “Absolutely” reminding me of Human Sexual Response and Talking Heads.

File Under: Equity Waiver Avant Garde Theater Show Music. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUmErgCkiMs&list=PLlvn8uktX5Lvbtj2Io6dBhW9ppmbzB8tc

The 1986 Listening Post - Vardis - Vigilante

Vardis - Vigilante

#565 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

1986 Housekeeping

Vardis

Vigilante

Genre: Glam Metal

4.25 out of 5

Highlights:

All the World’s Eyes

I Must Be Mad

Radio Active

Another is a long series of bands that didn’t penetrate the mainstream ecosystem but still managed to exist and put out records that, tbh, don’t suck. 

In fact, if you like The Darkness this is right your alley. IOW, bombast and boogietastic, adoring of Zeppelin but also of all the glammers. I wonder if this band could have toured with Slade? That would have been a fun bill. 

This sound is straight out of 1975. And I totally dig it. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/vigilante/842689401

The 1986 Listening Post - Gary Numan - Strange Charm

Gary Numan - Strange Charm

#564

November 1986

Gary Numan

Strange Charm

Genre: Is he really still doing this???

2 out of 5

The opening track "My Breathing" is as haunting as any of Gary's mid-80s output. The sax is, in this song, relegated to ethereal backing sounds and flows nicely in the mix of this decidedly mid-east influenced track.

But as Strange Charm plods along, with it's non-existent variations on the electro-funk theme one thing is very certain: Gary Numan has run out of ideas. From the repetitive droning of "I Can't Stop" to the blatant attempt at pop relevancy of "Need", I am finding my patience with Mr. Numan wearing oh so very thin. The album which started off so promising just devolves into run of the mill Numan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XQvyAOiwlc&list=PLBJ7ztNazTVCXrHbXxdgO2ufbVtt4UNzp

The 1986 Listening Post - Front Line Assembly - Total Terror

Front Line Assembly - Total Terror

#563

1986 Housekeeping

Front Line Assembly

Total Terror

Genre: Jean Michel Xerox Machine

2.5 out of 5

The second release in one year by the Canadian progenitors of the Industrial movement. This is the other cassette album. 

These guys wanna be Jean Michel Jarre (See “Black Fluid”) but they aren’t original enough and, dammit, just let Jarre do it. Okay?

They actually find the beat on “Seeing is Believing”, capturing their inner Joy Division but, that’s really all it is. 

Carbon. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/complete-total-terror/205526407

The 1986 Listening Post - KMFDM - What Do You Know, Deutschland?

KMFDM - What Do You Know, Deutschland?

#562

December 1986

KMFDM

What Do You Know, Deutschland?

Genre: German Industrial

2 out of 5

This is much less interesting but also more adventurous than the previous KMFDM. The title track could almost be a hit…if Laibach recorded it. 

They seem to build everything around a pounding drum and sampled vocals and, I guess, maybe that was ground breaking 30 years ago but it’s kind of droll and pedestrian today. 

Nah. It was dull back then, too. 

We don’t need to be covering this in the future. Just because it is available today doesn’t mean any one of us would have had access to it 30+ years ago. 

Fare thee well, KMFDM. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/what-do-you-know-deutschland/413132177

The 1986 Listening Post - The Mentors - Up the Dose

The Mentors - Up the Dose

#561

December 1986

The Mentors

Up the Dose

Genre: Jerry Springer Show

1.25 out of 5

Some fairly competent musicians get together and combine punk and thrash metal and then shove misogynist and homophobic lyrics on top of it with the voice of a locker room lunkhead who has the mentality of a 4th grader and the sex drive of a 14 year old. 

 This is GG Allin territory and I’m glad no one talks about these guys anymore. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/up-the-dose/266958530

The 1986 Listening Post - Joe Satriani - Not of the Earth

Joe Satriani - Not of the Earth

#558

December 18 1986

Joe Satriani

Not of This Earth

Genre: I think this is actually early Math Rock

3.5 out of 5 

Highlights:

Hordes of Locusts

Ultimately, this record is fine but kinda dull. No? I mean I can appreciate it, I guess. It’s very sophisticated but also super antiseptic and uninteresting. 

Satriani is a guitarist. I got it. Next. 

From the Wikipedia entry:

“The album uses electronic drums rather than acoustic drums. The title track utilizes a unique compositional technique described by Satriani as pitch axis theory, which consists of shifting modes underneath a pedal tone (in this case, E). "The Enigmatic" uses the enigmatic scale.^”

https://music.apple.com/us/album/not-of-this-earth/192812554

The 1986 Listening Post - Chris Isaak - Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak - Chris Isaak

#560

December 1986

Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak

Genre: Dust Bowl Power Pop

3 out of 5 (cuz, fuck this boring, derivative, unimaginative, one-note guy already)

Highlights:

Wild Love

This might sound crazy but that first track “You Owe Me Some Kind of Love”,  reminds me of a Partridge Family tune is sung in a California dust bowl. Listen to it and tell me it doesn’t have David Cassidy all over it. 

How did this guy become famous? He has so little to offer here... again. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/chris-isaak/414503872

The 1986 Listening Post - The Didjits - Fizzjob

The Didjits - Fizzjob

#559

December 31 1986

The Didjits

Fizzjob

Genre: Punk

2 out of 5

Can you tell I’m getting tired? Almost 600 records is a lot. Did you know there was this much stuff released in 1986? I didn’t. 

This one is short. It’s 20 minutes. And that’s about 17 minutes too long. 

This kind of punk is over. These guys didn’t get the memo. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/fizzjob/1120170082

The 1986 Listening Post - Kraftwerk - Techno Pop

Kraftwerk - Techno Pop

#557

December 16 1986

Kraftwerk

Techno Pop

Genre: Kraftwerk

2.75 out of 5

It took me four days to get back to this after the first two tracks. It’s not bad, it’s just banal. 

My favorite thing about Kraftwerk is that it’s the favorite band of a guy I worked with once. A man who has exemplary taste in music and started his own vinyl label of techno music and, while he was in the bathroom I asked the table at dinner to just follow my lead. When I saw him returning I started talking about a band that was “derivative” and basically stealing ideas from Bowie and Numan. He looked around, trying to figure out what we were talking about. Then I mentioned that they were German and wrote music about ridiculous things like “the autobahn”. 

He nearly jumped across the table. 

That was fun. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/techno-pop-remastered/830083406

The 1986 Listening Post - The Big Picture - Homeless House

The Big Picture - Homeless House

#556

1986 Housekeeping

The Big Picture

Homeless House

Genre: Children of Stipe & Buck

3.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Poison Town

A band from the same area as The Windbreakers and the the same wheelhouse as REM it’s mind boggling that, at that era, something like this wouldn’t break through.

Alas, all the elements are here. The melodies, the musicianship, the jangle, the frilly bass, even the vocals are warm and inviting. 

In 20 years I will fall in love with a band called Nightmare of You and they are the heirs to this record. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Z5jMULDgU

The 1986 Listening Post - I Can Crawl - Desert

I Can Crawl - Desert

#555 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

1986 Housekeeping

I Can Crawl

Desert

Genre: I forgot this sound existed

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Abandon

Knight of the Long Knives

Walk on the Water

If Only

Seriously. I am so glad I had to play this on YouTube because it was there that I saw the comment that reminded me of who these guys hew closest to: The Sound. Remember The Sound?? It’s a lot like that and a bit like Echo and U2 and even The Chameleons. 

If you like that sort of thing, these guys were doing it, too. 

I hate that this is YouTube only cuz I would put “If Only” on a playlist and dance to that thing all the damned time. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXFeUdfebck