“Show of Strength”, Echo and the Bunnymen-Heaven up Here—NPA

This way: Show of Strength

Near Perfect Album

Here is a royal gem. Heaven Up Here is the second album by the English band Echo & the Bunnymen, released on 30 May 1981. The songs "A Promise" and "Over the Wall" were released as singles. Recorded at Rockfield Studios near Monmouth in Wales, Heaven Up Here was co-produced by Hugh Jones and the band. An album generally well received by fans in the United Kingdom and by critics, Heaven Up Here won the "Best Dressed LP" and "Best Album" awards at the 1981 NME Awards. The album has also been listed at number 463 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. 

[Spotify] Show of Strength

[Spotify, album] Heaven up Here 

“Too Much on My Mind”, The Kinks

This way: Too Much on My Mind

Here's a great one from a near perfect LP to be sure Face to Face. This is from 1966 when The Kinks were pouring out the hits. They always followed there own path.  

[Spotify] Too Much on My Mind

“I'll Take You In My Car”, The Buddyrevelles

This way: I'll Take You In My Car

The Buddyrevelles are an American indie rock band that is based in Chicago, Illinois. Band members include Aaron Grant on guitars and lead vocals, Scott Hoch on bass and background vocals, and Dan Reinholdt on drums.

The Buddyrevelles formed in 1997 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where they recorded their first album, September, November, which was released by Motorcoat Records. The album received a very strong review from Pitchfork Media, including a 9.1 rating. The review said that "the band sounds like a cross between Chicago post-rock, the best Galaxie 500 material, and the hope of a better future." They subsequently relocated to Chicago, where they recorded their second album, American Matador, released in 2000 also on the Motorcoat label. Pitchfork again reviewed the album positively, giving it an 8.0 rating and calling it "a true step forward for an already excellent band." It also received a glowing review from Rolling Stone. After an extended hiatus, the band resurfaced in 2007 with a new album, Don't Quit on Solitaire Records. They produced a video for the song "I Dream of Rodney" from the album, which won the "best video" award at the 5th annual Sprockets Film Festival in Athens, Georgia. 

[Spotify] I'll Take You In My Car

“Just Like You Said It Would B”, Sinéad O'Conner, RIP

This way: Just Like You Said It Would B

Sad news of the death of Sinéad O'Conner, truly one of the greats. She stood up to the powers and fought the good fight. Often paying a high price. Music? She created some great music. So many good songs. Here is one that doesnt often show up on her list of great ones, a favorite of mine.

[Spotify] Just Like You Said It Would B

“Independence Day”, Palehound

This way: Independence Day

Palehound is an American band fronted by El Kempner who have released three albums, Dry Food (2015), A Place I'll Always Go (2017) and Black Friday (2019); as well as the Bent Nail EP (2013) and a number of 7" singles. The release of the band’s fourth album, Eye on the Bat, is scheduled for July 14, 2023. Initially a solo project, the band currently features Kempner on vocals/guitar, Zoë Brecher on drums and Larz Brogan on bass. In 2015 the band received the Boston Music Award as new artist of the year. 

[Spotify] Independence Day

“Back to This”, Alaska Reid

This way: Back to This

Alaska Reid (born 1996), is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is known for her electronic and country-tinged indie rock sound and narrative-driven lyrical content. She is also known for her collaborations with boyfriend A. G. Cook. 

She initially began releasing music with her band Alyeska in 2015, releasing an EP titled Crush in April 2017.

She began releasing solo material in 2019 with her debut single "Quake". She released her first full-length released titled Big Bunny in December 2020, under Terrible Records. Her debut album Disenchanter is slated for release on 14 July via Luminelle Recordings.

[Spotify] Back to This

“Possession”, Elvis Costello-Get Happy!!—NPA

This way: Possession

Near Perfect Album

Plenty of LPs to chose from here, but this one stands out to me. 20 songs on one record? Bargain . . . Get Happy!! is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his third with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation). It was released on 15 February 1980 through F-Beat Records in the United Kingdom and Columbia Records in the United States. Produced by Nick Lowe and engineered by Roger Béchirian, the sessions began in London but moved to the Netherlands after Costello found the material derivative of his previous album Armed Forces (1979). The sessions were problematic but amassed a large number of songs; the final album contains 20 tracks across a single LP.

[Spotify] Possession

[Spotify, album] Get Happy!! 

“Old Time Feeling”, S.G. Goodman

This way: Old Time Feeling

S.G. Goodman is an American singer-songwriter. Goodman is from Hickman, Kentucky. The Southern Baptist church played a central role in her childhood in Kentucky. Goodman began performing by singing in church. Her father was a farmer. She has played rhythm guitar since she was 15.

Prior to her solo career, Goodman was part of the band The Savage Radley. Her debut album, Old Time Feeling, was co-produced by Jim James of My Morning Jacket. The album has been described as Americana, folk, country, and rock. She is signed to Verve Forecast Records. In 2021, she, as a solo artist, was inter alia part of the Newport Folk Festival in July. 

[Spotify] Old Time Feeling

“Definitely Clean”, The Dream Syndicate

This way: Definitely Clean

The Days of Wine and Roses originally released in 1982 gets the expanded treatment here. 4 discs worth or extras . . . . The Dream Syndicate is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1981 to 1989, and reunited since 2012. The band is associated with neo-psychedelia and the Paisley Underground music movement; of the bands in that movement, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Dream Syndicate "rocked with the highest degree of unbridled passion and conviction." Though never commercially successful, the band met with considerable acclaim, especially for its songwriting and guitar playing. Bandleader Steve Wynn reformed the band in 2012, and a fifth studio album was released in February 2017. 

[Spotify] Definitely Clean

“White Devil”, James White and the Blacks

This way: White Devil

When that saxophone screeches like so . . . James Chance and the Contortions (initially known simply as Contortions, a spin-off group is called James White and the Blacks) was a musical group led by saxophonist and vocalist James Chance, formed in 1977. They were a central act of New York City's downtown no wave music scene in the late 1970s, and were featured on the influential compilation No New York (1978). 

Their first recording, credited solely as Contortions, was on the 1978 compilation, No New York, produced by Brian Eno. The following year, two albums were issued almost simultaneously on ZE Records; Buy and Off White under the moniker James White and the Blacks. The same musicians recorded both records, though none are credited on the album cover. The Contortions appeared in Rosa von Praunheim's film Das Todesmagazin in 1979.

[Spotify] White Devil

“Get”, Blurt

This way: Get

Blurt was founded in 1979 in Stroud, Gloucestershire by poet, saxophonist and puppeteer Ted Milton along with Milton's brother Jake, formerly of psychedelic group Quintessence, on drums and Peter Creese on guitar. After three albums Creese left the band to be replaced by Herman Martin on synthesizers who, after a year of constant touring left the band, and was replaced by Steve Eagles, former member of Satan's Rats, The Photos and Bang Bang Machine.

Shortly thereafter Jake Milton left to be replaced by Nic Murcott, who was subsequently replaced by Paul Wigens. Eagles was replaced by Chris Vine as guitarist from 1990 to 1994, and returned to the band following Vine's departure. Wigens was briefly replaced by Charles Hayward between May and October 2001 before returning to the band, before departing the band for good in 2005. His replacement was Bob Leith (of Cardiacs), who stayed with the band until 2008, at which time he was replaced by the band's current drummer David Aylward.

Most of Blurt's compositions feature simple, repetitive, minimalistic guitar and/or saxophone phrases, but they can also explore more abstract musical territories, often serving as an atmospheric backdrop for Ted Milton's existentialist poetry.  

[Spotify] Get

“Tiny Spark”, Brendan Benson

This way: Tiny Spark

Brendan Benson (born November 14, 1970) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released eight solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs.

One Mississippi

Benson was born in Royal Oak, Michigan. His debut album, One Mississippi, was released in 1996 on Virgin Records. The album, which features several contributions from Jason Falkner, failed to sell in sufficient numbers and Benson was subsequently dropped by Virgin.

Lapalco

In 2002, the follow-up to One Mississippi was released, Lapalco. Again, the critical plaudits poured in, but this time the record enjoyed a certain degree of commercial success, selling more than three times as many copies as One Mississippi.

The song "Good To Me" from this album appeared on the British show Teachers during series three and was included on the series soundtrack; it was also covered by The White Stripes for the B-side of the single Seven Nation Army. The song "Tiny Spark" featured on an episode from the fourth series of Teachers, as well as in the feature films Along Came Polly, and World's Greatest Dad.

[Spotify] Tiny Spark

“Smithers-Jones”, The Jam-Setting Sons—NPA

This way: Smithers-Jones

Near Perfect Album

So many greats to choose from on this LP with a band that definitely has more than one NPS. Setting Sons is the fourth studio album by the English rock band the Jam, released on 16 November 1979 by Polydor Records. It reached No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart upon the first week of release, continuing the commercial (and critical) favour that had begun with their previous album All Mod Cons. 

The sole single from Setting Sons, "The Eton Rifles", became the group's first top 10 UK hit, peaking at No. 3. 

[Spotify] Smithers-Jones

[alt version] Smithers-Jones

[Spotify, album] Setting Sons 

“Life”, Johnny Hunter

This way: Life

Sydney band Johnny Hunter first emerged on the music scene in 2018 after four mates got together in Wollongong. In just two years, the group which consists of Gerry Thompson on drums, Xander Burgess on guitar, bass guitarist Nick Cerone and vocalist Nick Hutt, have quickly become known as one of Sydney’s most iconic punk-rock live acts. We spoke to the band’s vocalist, Nick Hutt, ahead of the release of their brand new EP Early Trauma about some of the band’s most memorable performances, what it’s like to be a musician in the midst of a global pandemic, playing at Yours and Owls and what we can expect from their new music.   

[Spotify] Life

“Navigator”, The Pogues

This way: Navigator

“Take your pick and your shovel and the bold dynamite, For to shift a few tons of this earthly delight”

Rum Sodomy & the Lash is the second studio album by the London-based folk punk band The Pogues, released on 5 August 1985. The album reached number 13 on the UK charts. The track "A Pair of Brown Eyes", based on an older Irish tune, reached number 72 on the UK singles chart. "The Old Main Drag" later appeared on the soundtrack to the film My Own Private Idaho.

The album's title is taken from a quotation attributed[3] to Winston Churchill: "Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy, and the lash." The title was suggested by drummer Andrew Ranken, who said "it seemed to sum up life in our band".

Elvis Costello, whose manager Jake Riviera approached the band, was originally employed to produce two songs for a single, "A Pair of Brown Eyes" and "Sally MacLennane", but after recording at Elephant Studios in Wapping was extended Costello agreed to record the entire album. Chevron later said, "The Pogues needed, more than anything, not to be not so much as produced as facilitated. Recording the band as live as possible, but with a great deal of natural acoustic presence in the instruments - was quite a revolutionary thing to do 1985." Costello said, "I saw my task was to capture them in their dilapidated glory before some more professional producer fucked them up."  

[Spotify] Navigator

“Necrophones”, Lungfish

This way: Necrophones

Lungfish is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Baltimore, Maryland. All of their music has been released by the Washington, D.C. punk label Dischord, except for their first album.

As of 2005, Lungfish's lineup consisted of Daniel Higgs (vocals, occasional guitar), Asa Osborne (guitar), Sean Meadows (bass), and Mitchell Feldstein (drums). Two previous bass players were John Chriest and Nathan Bell. 

Daniel Higgs sang in the 1980s hardcore/punk band Reptile House, and has released numerous solo works under his own name and also Cone of Light. He has recently made numerous solo performances, usually with the long-necked banjo and jaw harp (his recent albums document this as well: 2006's Ancestral Songs and 2007's Metempsychotic Melodies). In 2011, Higgs also collaborated with Swedish band Skull Defekts on the album Peer Amid (Thrill Jockey). Since 2015, Higgs has released two full-length albums in Fountainsun, a duo with Fumie Ishii.  

[Spotify] Necrophones

“sotd_a10”, Link to Spotify playlists

This way to spot: a10

Here it is, playlist 10 . . . . 7 hours plus of . . . 

Please enjoy responsibly, 

Thanks a million,

—brENDan, screaming

Pure pop drivel for those masses

also:

playlist 9: Sotd playlist #9

playlist 8: Sotd playlist #8

playlist 7: sotd playlist #7

playlist 6: sotd playlist #6

playlist 5: sotd playlist #5

playlist 4: sotd playlist #4

playlist 3: sotd playlist #3

playlist 2: sotd playlist #2

playlist 1: sotd playlist #1

“You Tore Me Down”, Flamin’ Groovies

This way: You Tore Me Down

This song is beyond fantastic. Flamin' Groovies is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965, originally co-led by Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan. After the Groovies released three albums, on Epic (Supersnazz) and Kama Sutra (Flamingo and Teenage Head), Loney left the band in 1971. He was replaced as co-leader by Chris Wilson, and the band's emphasis shifted more toward British Invasion power pop. 

The band signed to United Artists Records in 1972, releasing just three more singles until 1976. The Groovies then signed to Sire Records and released three albums between 1976 and 1979, Shake Some Action, Flamin' Groovies Now (both produced by Dave Edmunds at Rockfield Studios in Wales) and Jumpin' in the Night. The 1976 album's title track "Shake Some Action" (also released as a single) became a power pop anthem and is revered by many, including Greil Marcus in his book, The History of Rock and Roll in Ten Songs. Wilson left the band in 1981, and the band continued in various forms, including the release of three more albums, before breaking up in 1991. After a couple of limited reunions with different lineups, the 1970s nucleus of Jordan, Wilson, and Alexander reformed the group in 2013, and the band's first post-reunion album, Fantastic Plastic, was released in 2017. Alexander left the reformed band in 2017, and in 2019 Wilson went on hiatus.

In addition to the band's role in the advancement of power pop, the Flamin' Groovies have also been called one of the forerunners of punk rock.

[Spotify] You Tore Me Down

“Dancing Barefoot”, Patti Smith

This way: Dancing Barefoot

"Dancing Barefoot" is a rock song written by Patti Smith and Ivan Král, and released as a second single from the Patti Smith Group's 1979 album Wave. According to the album sleeve, the song was dedicated to women such as Amedeo Modigliani's mistress Jeanne Hébuterne. 

Wave is the fourth and final studio album by the Patti Smith Group. It was released on May 17, 1979, by Arista Records. Produced by Todd Rundgren, the album continued the band's move towards more radio-friendly mainstream pop rock sound. Wave garnered a mixed reception from music critics and was less successful than its predecessor, Easter (1978). However, the songs "Frederick" and "Dancing Barefoot" both received commercial airplay. In 2010, the song ranked number 331 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

[Spotify] Dancing Barefoot

“Natural’s Not in It”, Gang of Four-Entertainment!—NPA

This way: Natural’s Not in It (Peel)

Near Perfect Album

Political dance music, we were so blown away by this LP, SO FANTASTIC. Entertainment! is the debut album by English post-punk band Gang of Four. It was released in September 1979 through EMI Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in North America. Stylistically, it draws heavily on punk rock but also incorporates the influence of funk, dance music, reggae and dub. Its lyrics and artwork reflected the band's left-wing political concerns. It would be an influential release in the burgeoning post-punk movement.

[Spotify] Natural’s Not in It

[Spotify, album] Entertainment! 

“Not too Soon”, Throwing Muses

This way: Not too Soon

Throwing Muses are an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects.

The group was originally fronted by two stepsisters, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly, who both wrote the group's songs. Throwing Muses are known for performing music with shifting tempos, creative chord progressions, unorthodox song structures, and surreal lyrics. The group was set apart from other contemporary acts by Hersh's stark, candid writing style; Donelly's pop stylings and vocal harmonies; and David Narcizo's unusual drumming techniques eschewing use of cymbals. 

[Spotify] Not too Soon

“Jenny Put the Kettle On”, Nora Brown

This way: Jenny Put the Kettle On

Nora plays traditional music with a focus on Southern Appalachian banjo and guitar playing.  Along with mentors in the northeast like the late John Cohen she also has traveled and learned directly from master musicians including Alice Gerrard, George Gibson and the late Lee Sexton and Art Rosenbaum. 

[Spotify] Jenny Put the Kettle On

“Lux Radio Theatre”, Youth Lagoon

This way: Lux Radio Theatre

Trevor Powers (born March 18, 1989) is an American musician from Boise, Idaho. Powers was initially active as Youth Lagoon from 2010 to 2016, after which he announced that he was retiring from the project. He returned to music with a new self-titled project in May 2018. In 2022 he took Youth Lagoon out of retirement with the announcement of a new album Heaven Is a Junkyard. Powers' music has been described as electronic and experimental with elements of pop. 

[Spotify] Lux Radio Theatre

“Till the Wheels Fall Off”, L7

This way: Till the Wheels Fall Off

L7 is an American all-female rock band founded in Los Angeles, California, first active from 1985 to 2001 and re-formed in 2014. Their longest standing lineup consists of Suzi Gardner (guitars, vocals), Donita Sparks (vocals, guitars), Jennifer Finch (bass, vocals), and Dee Plakas (drums, vocals). L7 has released seven studio albums and has toured widely in the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, and South America. "Pretend We're Dead" was heavily played on US alternative radio and entered the top 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in 1992.

Due to their sound and image, L7 is often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and as an all-female band, L7 have, at times, been linked to riot grrrl; although they preceded and are outliers of both the grunge and riot grrrl movements. L7 have been supportive of political causes, and formed Rock for Choice in 1991. A documentary film about the band, L7: Pretend We're Dead, premiered in 2016.

[Spotify] Till the Wheels Fall Off

“Bee Keeper”, Salem 66

This way: Bee Keeper

Salem 66 was an American indie-rock group formed in 1982 by Judy Grunwald, Elisabeth Kaplan and Susan Merriam. At the time, a serious almost-all-female rock band was somewhat unusual. Through the band's existence, it added and subtracted members, including Robert Wilson Rodriguez, Stephen Smith, Tim Condon, and Jim Vincent. Salem 66 lasted until 1989 and was an important part of the Boston alternative indie music scene. They recorded and released records on Homestead Records, a label founded by Gerard Cosloy. Their music was described as folk punk, but they could be called jangle pop and a loose association can be made with the Paisley Underground and groups such as R.E.M.   

[Spotify, No!]

“ROckwrok”, Ultravox!-Ha!-Ha!-Ha!—NPA

This way: ROckwrok

Near Perfect Album

Ha!-Ha!-Ha! is the second album by British pop group Ultravox, at that time known as "Ultravox!", with an exclamation mark, as a nod to Neu!. Although the group would later achieve fame and commercial success with lead singer Midge Ure the band was, in 1977, led by singer/songwriter John Foxx who was accompanied by guitarist Stevie Shears, drummer Warren Cann, bassist Chris Cross and keyboard/violist Billy Currie.

Ha!-Ha!-Ha! was released on 14 October 1977, and was accompanied by lead single "ROckwrok" backed with "Hiroshima Mon Amour", which was released eleven days earlier. Neither reached the pop charts, although Island Records continued to have faith in the band. 

[Spotify] ROckwrok

[Spotify, album] Ha!-Ha!-Ha! 

“Hey Jealousy”, Gin Blossoms

This way: Hey Jealousy

Here is one of the greatest songs to rise from the hot desert dirt that is my home town of Phenix Arizona. A tragic tale, but rarely condensed in such a fantastic song. 

New Miserable Experience is the second studio album by alternative rock band Gin Blossoms, released on August 4, 1992. The album was released to little fanfare and relatively lackluster reviews. However, nearly a year after its release the lead single "Hey Jealousy" entered the top 40. With "Found Out About You" following a few months later, the album eventually reached multi-platinum status.

The band's original lead guitarist, Doug Hopkins, was fired near the conclusion of the recording sessions for the album, ostensibly for his persistent alcohol problems. His replacement, Scott Johnson, is listed as a member of the band in the liner notes, but did not play on the album. Just as the album was becoming a success at the end of 1993, Hopkins died by suicide.  

[Spotify] Hey Jealousy