The 1981 Listening Post - Hot Tip - Stop All Motion

 Hot Tip - Stop All Motion

#558

1981 Housekeeping

Hot Tip

Stop All Motion

Genre: Canadian Power Pop

3.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Teach Me Something

Friends

Maybe I should just devote this page to this genre since it’s the only one that seems to pushing any of my buttons lately. The pandemic has made me restless and bored. Filled malaise one day and joyful the next. That’s no way to live. But some of this post-rock depression shit or technosturbation is truly annoying and depressing to have to muddle through. While some of you get to listen to classic records of the era, that’s a blast. I love(d) revisiting them. But, man, the rest of the dregs are dregful. 

Here’s a sweet little power pop gem that there is no way in hell I would have ever heard. I’m entirely sure my life would be fine without it. But it’s nice to give a spin, in the same way that Bay City Rollers are. 

This is what I wish the 10cc would have been more like. It’s got a bit of that Great White North Special Sauce (Maple Syrup, maybe?) I can’t help but feel like some of it sounds like watered down Tubes. At least that’s what “Hard to Be Me” reminds me of. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/stop-all-motion/303913005

The 1981 Listening Post - Barnes & Barnes - Spazchow

 Barnes & Barnes - Spazchow

#557
November 1981

Barnes & Barnes

Spazchow

Genre: Weird

2.25 out of 5

Highlights:

I Need You

Yeah, they didn’t write the opener, “I Need You” but boy oh boy does it set the tone. 

If Voobaha was their appropriation of The Residents’ aesthetic, this one doubles down on the malaise and antipathy and misanthropy and you know what? We are not better off for it. “Love Tap” should be ominous but I feel like that, along with “Cats” are just sad attempts to get on the Demento show. 

“Where’s the Water” is some storytelling attempt but I lost the plot of a guy drawing…not drowning…? I thought about going back and listening again but I realized I didn’t care.

What a downturn from that first one, guys. The most egregious thing? It’s boring. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/spazchow/159740519

The 1981 Listening Post - U2 - October

 U2 - October

#556

By Chris Kouzes

October 12 1981

U2

October

Genre: Rock

Allen’s Rating: 2 out of 5

Chris’ Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Gloria

October

Scarlet

Before the Yellow And Black that is Stryper released their debut album in 1984, there was only one predominant Christian Rock Band and that band released their God Album (per Bono) two years prior. Not really, but there are some religious overtones lyrically and there certainly was plenty of discussion when this was released. Oh, and the fact that “Gloria,” the big single from it has some lyrics in Latin translating to “Glory in You, Lord / Glory, exalt [Him]." But hindsight, for the most part this is a “college rock” album through and through.

Coming off a pretty great debut album and a phenomenal single in “I Will Follow,” it was going to be tough for the band to do even better. They tried, and came close, but ultimately it’s not as good as “Boy.” Maybe it was a classic case of being on the road promoting the hell out of their first album and then trying to rush to record the follow up. There’s also the story of Bono losing all the lyrics he had just prior to the recording and had to pull them together in the 11th hour. Regardless, it’s still a pretty decent album with some great songs that paved the way to better albums. 

“Gloria” is pretty fantastic. Big, bold and very U2. I’m sure you’re all very aware of this song. The next song, “I Fall Down” is also great. Lots of interesting production tricks (thank you Steve Lillywhite) with Edge adding various background vocals and piano throughout. Looking at those first four albums before they blasted to the stratosphere with “Joshua Tree,” this is a great overlooked track. Other standouts include the piano-based title track with Edge dominating musically. This really is his band and this album is lets us in on that fact really for the first time. “October,” the song, really conveys the fall in its starkness. I’m also partial to the last two tracks, “Scarlet” and “Is That All?” “Scarlet” initially sounds like a perfect b-side as it’s a bit off kilter and more adventurous than the other tracks. But then it pulls itself together very nicely and ends up strong. “Is That All?” is familiar having an early version of it being tacked on as an intro to “The Electric Co.” live. But it’s got a cool riff and nice way to end the album. 

But all the other songs in the middle are fine, but nothing I feel were compelling much. I suppose you have to write your share of these to hone your songwriting craft. So while they serve a purpose, I don’t think I’ve ever (or will ever) feel I need to listen to these again. 

You can see a lot of seeds developing here that cause you to love or hate U2. As mentioned, Edge is a pretty talented guy. Larry Mullen Jr. is an above average drummer who throws out some interesting patterns and fills. I’ve said it billion times, I’m not sure if there’s a luckier guy in music than Adam Clayton. Outside of his work on “Gloria,” a more boring bassist I’ve yet to hear. And Bono isn’t over the top (yet), but you can feel it a bit coming. I’ve had one encounter with Bono and he was super cool to me, so you won’t find me shitting on the guy. 

This is far from a bad record. But of the first four, it’s definitely my least favorite. But what I’ve give for the guys to write a few songs again as good as the highlights here…

https://open.spotify.com/album/59O7CFxLYBBKYtrO61LyqF?si=UrBcoK4xTBuaxb6GYVhcFA

The 1981 Listening Post - The Professionals - I Didn't See It Coming

 The Professionals - I Didn't See It Coming

#555

November 1981

The Professionals

I Didn’t See it Coming

Genre: Rock

4 out of 5

Highlights:

The Magnificent

Payola

Little Boys

Couple things: I really loved Steve Jones’ radio show in Los Angeles. Jonesy’s Jukebox was a terrific show, filled with stories and anecdotes and terrific music choices. I think he went to Sirius or something but I don’t have that anymore and, besides, I can curate my own playlists using profiles and algorithms and it’s just fine. 

The other things is, while I never HEARD The Professionals until this project I, of course, heard OF The Professionals because whoever their PR person was was determined to let the world know that they were actually talented musicians, as opposed to that lunkhead Sid Vicious or the reprobate that is John Lydon. 

What I was not really expecting was an album full of what is essentially Power Pop. It’s NOT punk. It may FEEL like punk but it’s only that way in the same way that latter day Clash was, which was NOT punk. 

It starts off with a bit of a bang but by the end of Side One it feels like I’m listening to a 1976 era KISS record.

Let’s turn this sucker over…

Ok. This is more like it. “Little Boys” is a Power Rock banger. Not a single, sure, but a mid-concert staple. Everyone knows the words and Cook is a pile driver feeding your amygdala with snare drum amphetamines. 

Ultimately I can see why they went nowhere. There’s not enough snot to be punk nor enough charisma to be charming. 

This review brought to you by caps lock. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-complete/1443142057

The 1981 Listening Post - Jerry Harrison - The Red and the Black

 Jerry Harrison - The Red and the Black

#554

November 1981

Jerry Harrison

The Red and the Black

Genre: David? Where’s David!?!? DAVID!?!?

4 out of 5

Highlights:

Slink

This album along with Violent Femmes’ Blind Leading the Naked proves one thing: Talking Heads were more than just David Byrne. 

Sure. Tom Tom Club. Whatever. Harrison is all over the Remain in Light/Stop Making Sense sound here and I’m loving the rhythms. 

But he can’t sing. 

Neither can David but what David brings is skittish paranoia-singing and that’s what this needs. 

Other than that, the music is spot on TH. Can only wonder what it would have been like if David was singing. 

Aha! If you ever wondered what Talking Heads would sound like if Lou Reed or Jim Steinman fronted them, it’s soooooorta like this. But not really, I’m just riffing. 

Once I got past the vocals and just let it wash over I sort of fell under it’s spell. Harrison is a long way from The Modern Lovers here but we are all made better for that. I would put this record in rotation with Nonagon Infinity, believe it or not. 

But “No More Reruns” is pretty terrible. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-red-and-the-black/40459079

The 1981 Listening Post - Minutemen - The Punch Line

 Minutemen - The Punch Line

#553

November 1 1981

By Tom Mott

Minutemen

The Punch Line

Genre: Funky Econo-Punk

Allen’s Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Tom’s Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Highlights

Search

The Struggle

The Punch Line

Static

I owned this. I didn't know it. I had the cassette "My First Bells" which was a 1985 compilation of their first five EPs and LPs. I never had the foggiest idea where one EP or LP ended and the next began. It was a pleasing ongoing shmear of brief, noisy, funky, shouted or half-sung songs. I couldn't name a single track but I liked it and for part of a college summer or winter break it was part of my life, experienced in 10-15 minute spurts as I drove to friends' houses or ran quick errands.

That's the strength and weakness here. 18 tracks, 15 minutes. Experienced more as a complete thing, like a 15-minute prog-rock song made up of 18 individual frantic blasts. Hard to know which song is which or find something to sing along to.

But I mean, come on. A fifteen minute LP with 18 songs! Step aside, Residents! You, with your eyeballs and high-falutin' Commercial Album of one-minute songs. The Minutemen jam econo with 41-second songs and you KNOW they're wearing cheap flannel shirts from K-Mart and drinking cheap beer and playing on "stages" the same height as their audiences.

I like the sound. A lot. An AllMusic user described it as "The Byrds having an epileptic seizure." I'd say more like Love than the Byrds, but yeah. More like Da Capo Love too, not Forever Changes Love -- the polish isn't there yet that would appear on Double Nickels on the Dime, which is their sprawling White Album.

I can't give it a full 5. X, The Clash, Violent Femmes -- they get 5s because you can sing/shout along. With the Minutemen, you just nod or vibrate or smile or something and think "yeah, man!" and "wow, they're tight!"

Funky like early Red Hot Chili Peppers but without the 'tude. More like spiritual brothers to the Meat Puppets. But Meat Puppets are muddy guitars or intricate delicate guitars and desert psychedelics, whereas Minutemen are anchored by Mike Watt's muscular funky bass and George Hurley's machine gun drumming. Both bands have a similar "prog rock" approach to punk: super-tight, super-fast, quick time changes, intricate instrument lines. And similar lead singers with defiantly untrained voices who are happy to be making music and happy to wait for you to come around to them. (The cover to Meat Puppets II looks an awful lot like this cover as well!)

This is cool. I just listened to it four times in a row in an hour. Strong whiffs of Fugazi here too. DIY!

https://open.spotify.com/album/3nRg0CgSxbpXVd3yyujVN4?si=rce5n344RCqI2a8MesXfiA

The 1981 Listening Post - Dramatis - For Future Reference

Dramatis - For Future Reference 

#552

November 1981

Dramatis

For Future Reference

Genre: The Bow Wow Wow of SynthWave

When Gary Numan left Tubeway Army to be a monster success musician and mediocre pilot the rest of the guys put together Dramatis, got Gary to sing on a track and made a go of it. 

What’s weird is all the other members of the band are listed as “backing vocals” with Gary on one track, “Love Needs No Disguise” but right at the open it sounds like someone trying to BE Gary Numan and failing hard.

What they are trying to do is recreate Gary’s early success but they aren’t as interesting or dystopian as he is. 

So what we ultimately get is watered down Numan. And it should surprise no one that not only is this only available on YouTube, but it’s through Gary’s channel and the comments are turned off, cuz if those comments were turned on…

“No One Lives Forever” is slightly intriguing to me but only because the backing vocals sound like the pirate stuff Adam Ant was doing the year before.

The singles I “Love Needs No Disguise” on which Gary sings lead. It’s ominous and moody and while Gary had no hand in writing it it sure sounds like it fell off Dance. It’s not good enough to have been a part of that record but that’s what it sounds like. 

The second side includes a most interesting curio in “Turn”. It starts off with a new-classical piano and then veers into latter day Yes epic prog with twists and turns and guitars that seem to want to emulate Brian May’s Star Fleet Project. I can’t Highlight it, but if you wanna see what it’s about, you should.

Ultimately this album would be pretty interesting as a Twyla Tharp dance piece, especially “Take Me Home”, which is hauntingly lovely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPk4Yvzj28M&list=PLjIuADMrDKIZ9FBTZOWG96LaRUGQSsP_C

The 1981 Listening Post - The Meteors - In Heaven

The Meteors - In Heaven

#551

November 25 1981

The Meteors

In Heaven

Genre: Psychobilly

Highlights:

Earwigs in My Brain

This album opens with a cover. And you know how I feel about that.

Thing is, that cover is also live and you KNOW how I feel about that. 

Thing Thing is…that cover is “In Heaven” by Peter Ivers and David Lynch and if you know know how I feel about that, I FUCKING LOVE THAT!!

Eraserhead, from which the song comes, is one of my top 10 films of all time. So, good job guys. 

But there’s also “Get Off My Cloud” and it’s boring. 

From there it’s a muddled mess of poorly produced wannabe psychobilly. But…the thing thing thing is…this, according to cursory research, is the first time the term “psychobilly” was used to describe an album. And, if I’m really not mistaken, this band used the term to describe themselves. 

And what it sounds like is standard Cramps-esque rockabilly but with a gravelly voiced crazy person at the helm. He’s the psycho, they’re the billy.

Um…yay?

I really wish the whole thing was a whole lot better.

Thing thing thing thing is…

It’s not. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/30BVv0lFidc52hnkJvwMqS?si=3iUkuPObTbm-7AOPsk9Q7g

The 1981 Listening Post - The Romantics - Strictly Personal

 The Romantics - Strictly Personal

#550

By Chris Roberts

October 1981

The Romantics

Strictly Personal

Genre: Power Pop, or as we call it in California, Power Soda.

Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5

Chris’ Rating: 2.75 of 5

Highlights:

Why’d You Leave Me

I grew up in L.A., but during Summer vacations in the early 80s, my parents would stick me on a plane and send me to my grandparents in Minneapolis. Sometimes I’d go to the Minnesota State Fair with my cousins. We ate donuts and corn dogs while watching lazy muskies at the bottom of a manmade pool. When we could go alone, we saw live music and heard more while sweating in line for the Tilt-O-Whirl or the Scrambler. Cousin Andy liked Journey but was scared of harder stuff like the Scorpions. Cousin Dale, a little older than us, liked Devo and Rush, but was more interested in chasing after sunburnt girls with perms.

I’ve never heard this album before, but The Romantics Strictly Personal reminds me of all this. This is rock best heard while eating fried foods and staring at game fish in the hot sun. It’s spinning and trying not to barf. It’s music that neither Andy nor Dale would object to. It’s got a little edge, a little growl, but don’t worry… the Romantics have short hair and ties. 

But outside of a trip down memory lane, I don’t have much use for Strictly Personal. Perhaps it’s the coastal elite in me, but the band sounds like a zero-proof, zero calories version of The Replacements, at best. Really, it’s The Romantics at their worst. The guitar has muscle, but the rest is a rock template left on autopilot. Little connects. “Bop” is the “less words” version of “C’mon Girl (Work It Out With Me).” “No One Like You” and “Can’t Get Over You” sound like royalty free songs they found by searching “rock” on Google. Worse, the lyrics for “Look at Her” and “She’s Hot” were pulled from a Playboy For Kids sticker sheet. “Why’d You Leave Me,” a more Nuggety version of The Smithereens “Blood and Roses,” was the only song that really stood out after a couple listens.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0AJFYKb6SgBEBaHmoAft6S?si=GP-Vy0weSDyWNA-NKvaS4g

The 1981 Listening Post - The Wigs - File Under: Pop Vocal

 The Wigs - File Under: Pop Vocal

#549

November 1981 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

The Wigs

File Under: Pop Vocal

Genre: neu-Power Pop

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Susie’s Got a Problem

First Time

Tijuana

Blood

You Say Ono

Requisite 80s cover:

“Mony Mony” The first time I ever heard this song was in a night club in Nashville on a road trip. I was unaware of the “Get laid, get fucked” element. That made me hate the song.

This version makes me love it all over again. And it’s perfectly situated as the Side Two opener. In case you forgot that this is a party band. Excellent!

There was a Power Pop renaissance in the early aughts. Bands like Martin Luther Lennon. The Wonderments. Wonderboy. The Masticators. Just delicious stuff.

One really stood out to me (among many) was Chewy Marble. The lead singer/bassist, Derek Anderson, would go on to front The Andersons and play for The Bangles.

He’s terrific.

Not that the lead vox for The Wigs sound like Derek. Just that the band reminds me of his early band. Maybe I’m crazy and pining for that era but…this doesn’t sound like the Power Pop that harkens back to the Raspberries, et al. Instead it harkens forward to that time where I got to see and play with the best of the best on the scene. 

So this album is kind of weird. It belongs in a later era but it’s of the time of the Spongetones and bands like that. And that makes it so delicious. 

The Bassist (a friend of a few Listening Posters) would go on to be one of The New Monkees. Good for him. He deserves whatever success would come his way because this album is a freaking treat. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/file-under-pop-vocal/304409520