The 1985 Listening Post - Destruction - Infernal Overkill

Destruction - Infernal Overkill

#172

May 25 1985

Destruction

Infernal Overkill

Genre: Thrash Metal

2 out of 5

Here’s what I’ve learned: There is a hardcore fanbase for this stuff that will swallow it up as long as its out there. How else can we explain that Destruction is releasing their 14th album THIS year?

There is nothing new here. Nothing exciting. Angry growly vocals over speed metal shredding. 

The shredding is sharp and intense enough to get through Parmigiano-Reggiano, though.

If that’s all you wanna hear, Destruction provides that in spades. If you like, I dunno, songs, you will not find much of that here.

For me the best example of all this is “Bestial Invasion”. Not a song. Lyrics that are worthless. Intense guitar mania. 

Next. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/infernal-overkill/1234092172

The 1985 Listening Post - Jimmy Barnes - For the Working Man

Jimmy Barnes - For the Working Man

#171

May 22 1985

Jimmy Barnes

For the Working Class Man

Genre: Rock

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

I’d Die to Be with You Tonight

No Second Prize

Boys Cry Out for War

Thick Skinned

Paradise 

I really loved that last Cold Chisel record. For me it was a helluva discovery. A band whose name I’d heard for decades and, when I finally gave them a shot, they really paid off. 

Barnes comes out of the gate with his best John Mellencamp impression. The heartland rock pedigree here is strong, the only thing missing is a John Fogerty cover. Is he Bryan Adams?  Is that what he wants to be? 

Steve Van Zandt, Jonathan Cain, Tony Carey…all contribute tunes to this thing. Kim Carnes does backup vox. Tommy Thayer. Waddy Wachtel. Charlie Sexton. They all play on this thing. It’s a cornucopia of who’s who to help Jimmy break through. 

He doesn’t, obviously, but it’s not for lack of trying. 

And, to be honest, I can’t figure out why. Is it Jimmy? Is it his screech? That doesn’t make sense for the era. This is right in that mid 80s heartland rock wheelhouse. 

If you were anxiously waiting between Bruce records (years) or disappointments with the subdued nature or balladry of Mellencamp or Adams or you were just annoyed by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, this would’ve been right up your alley. It’s right up mine. 

Solid.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/for-the-working-class-man/778183044

The 1985 Listening Post - Joe Walsh - The Confessor

Joe Walsh - The Confessor

#170

May 21 1985

Joe Walsh

The Confessor

Genre: Rock

2.5 out of 5 

Highlights:

The Confessor

Rosewood Bitters

Oh man, this is one uninspired record. I don’t even know how they finished it. How did everyone not fall asleep during each song?

While the title track isn’t bad (it just keeps the methodical, super stoner pacing) it comes soooooo late that I’m already angry. Start with side two and then pass on side one completely. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-confessor/256606149

The 1985 Listening Post - Divinyls - What a Life!

Divinyls - What a Life!

#169

May 20 1985

Divinyls

What a Life!

Genre: New Wave

3.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Don’t You Go Walking

Good Die Young

Guillotine Day

The opening track, “Pleasure and Plain”, written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman(!!!) sounds like something they had rolling around in a drawer and tossed off one evening to a band desperately seeking out a follow-up hit. (And one that requires it involve a sexual component)

It’s dull. 

Which is a shame cuz what follows is a band stepping into the void left by Pat Benatar’s decision to “grow up” and, instead of embracing that, they stick to what they *think* will sell records. 

This is the sound of a band being trying to desperately live up to one song that never suggested they would achieve anything more. 

They didn’t hear, either. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-a-life/1352252783

The 1985 Listening Post - John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band - Tough All Over

John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band - Tough All Over

#168

May 20 1985

John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band

Tough All Over

Genre: Heartland Rock

3.25 out of 5

Highlights:

C-I-T-Y

When the question was asked in the movie, Eddie and the Crusiers, “What ever happened to Eddie and the Cruisers?” I never expected that 30 years later I would be asking…what ever happened to John Cafferty?

Yeah yeah, he ripped off Bruce’s sound. But about 20 years later so would Arcade Fire and The Hold Steady and they were praised for it. (But boy does he bite hard on Bruce on “Tex-Mex”)

Sure, JC&tBBB sound more like John Parr and Jackson Browne and REO Speedwagon and, well, every other “heartland” band but they weren’t castigated nearly as hard as JC was. 

This is the follow up to the soundtrack album and, although they tried to distance themselves, it hung around their neck like an albatross. Even kids like me wouldn’t give them the time of day.

Do I sound remorseful? Maybe. Is this any good? It’s completely serviceable second rate Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes stuff. The kind of band that would do well at a fair or Beer and BBQ Festival in July.

Maybe that’s where they are…

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tough-all-over/285325389

The 1985 Listening Post - Frank Tovey - Snakes and Ladders

Frank Tovey - Snakes and Ladders

#167

May 20 1985

Frank Tovey (Fad Gadget)

Snakes and Ladders

Genre: Synth Rock

2.75 out of 5

Highlights:

The Cutting Edge

Snakes and Ladders

Somewhere in the Venn diagram of Sparks, Gary Numan, New Order and Dead or Alive (with a touch of Wall of Voodoo)is this album by Frank (Fad Gadget) Tovey. What that means is it’s New Wave dance music with an uncompromising British/Nasal vocal and attitudinal lyrics that add up to very little. 

It’s nowhere near as bad as last year’s Gadget offering but it’s already dated by the time it’s released. 

This doesn’t really reward the listener as it goes on but it reminds me that “New Wave” is all but dead and the “80s” are about 1979-1984.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/snakes-and-ladders/826524909

The 1985 Listening Post - Robert Plant - Shaken n Stirred

Robert Plant - Shaken n Stirred

#166

May 20 1985

Robert Plant

Shaken n’ Stirred

4.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Hip to Hoo

Kallalou Kallalou

Pink and Black

Little By Little

In what sounds like a desperate attempt to undo the croonerism of The Honeydrippers, Plant seems to have doubled down on “pop” and aimed directly for the New Wave radio heart. But it’s not just that…he’s dancing in various tropes, from world music influence to dance to pop and, whoever is handling the production is taking Plant into the late 20th century. This is the most interesting he’s been to me in…well…ever.

In a way, this is what Robert Palmer has been trying to do for a decade and failing at most of the time. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shaken-n-stirred-remastered/254185309

The 1985 Listening Post - Savatage - Power of the Night

Savatage - Power of the Night

#165

May 20 1985

Savatage

Power of the Night

Genre: Stupid Metal

1.25 out of 5

Lowlights:

Hard for Love

Skull Session

Stuck On You

This band has a great name. But their songs make Spinal Tap sound highbrow. 

Juvenile and crass, when KISS has more nuance, you are doing it wrong.

The singer is angry and demonic and then, suddenly, shrieks like a Diorites impersonator. The chukka chukka is straight out of the Motley Crue facebook. 

I couldn’t wait for this to be over. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/power-of-the-night/300996478

The 1985 Listening Post - Night Ranger - 7 Wishes

Night Ranger - 7 Wishes

#164

May 20 1985

Night Ranger

7 Wishes

Genre: Arena Rock

4 out of 5

Highlights:

Four in the Morning

Sentimental Street

This Boy Needs to Rock

Not much to say here. Night Ranger has been one of the most fun discoveries for me on this journey. Like some, I thought they were one and done. “Sister Christian” and that’s it. But, if you want big ass guitar solos and pounding rhythms with soaring rock vocals, Ranger delivers. Over and over. How they aren’t mentioned in the same breath with Van Halen as guitar gods of the 80s is beyond me. 

This is their third solid set in a row. 

I bet the best of playlist is killer. 

The 1985 Listening Post - Stryper - Soldiers Under Command

Stryper - Soldiers Under Command

#163

May 15 1985

Stryper

Soldiers Under Command

Genre: Glam Rock

4.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Makes Me Wanna Sing

The Rock that Makes Me Roll

“We are the soldiers under God's command

We hold His two-edged sword within our hands

We're not ashamed to stand up for what's right

We win without sin, it's not by our might

And we're fighting all the sin

And the good book, it says we'll win!”

We are paying the price for 80s religion today. When, instead of preaching anything that their bible wrote, a new legion of Christians redefined themselves as victim warriors, took over whole communities (like mine) and warped everything they had originally stood for into something judgmental and hateful. Now we have women marching in the streets in Handmaid’s Tales outfits because of a generation that was raised to use religion as a cudgel for wedge issues. 

I don’t think Stryper is to blame. But I think they are a culprit. This sound is immediate and powerful, these guys can play and I’m absolutely sure they converted a few or gave cover to some for whom religion might not have turned them into “warriors” but just nice, soft people who helped the poor and minded their own business and tried to be good people. 

Listen to “Makes Me Wanna Sing”. This isn’t “Jesus is my Friend”. This isn’t “Jesus Christ Superstar”. This is Cock Rock. It’s brilliant in it’s approach and in its indoctrinating prowess. 

And that closing version of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” is really the linchpin that seals the entire deal. It’s the Christian Rock “God Save the Queen”, except the latter was a show closer and Stryper’s serves another purpose: to invigorate and inspire Jesus’ followers. And it’s fucking works, man. 

I wish I could hate it. But I don’t. And I also can’t hate it for it’s modus operandi. It’s a big win for the Jesus Christ 80s Marketing Department. 

Dammit. 

The Glam Metal of “Together Forever” is infectious, like Bay City Rollers on PEDs. And fuck me, Michael Sweet can sing. Holy…Heaven?

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/soldiers-under-command/27243599