Well, I guess it's time to move on with these lists. I've had this one (1988) ready since last week, but I've been taking a bit of a breather from this project. Now it's onwards and upwards. Here's the Top 25 for the Class of 1988:

1. "Under the Milky Way" - the Church

Possibly the best song to be imported to the States from the Land Down Under. A hush, gentle breath of a song, this features some beautiful acoustic guitar work and a killer electric guitar solo. And the vocals by Steven Kilbey are hushed and intimate. This song lulls and relaxes you only to take off with a mystically inspired, soaring guitar solo. Definitely one of my all-time favorite songs.

2. "One Big Sky" - Kansas

In the Spirit of Things was Kansas' second album since reforming in 1986. This is a powerful,thoughtful-provoking cut from Spirit. Lyrically, it is as deep and philosophical as "Dust In the Wind" was. The music to this is filled with pomp and triumph. It is a grandiose song. I remember a DJ on the Dallas radio station, Q102 promoting this tune heavily, predicting it would be Kansas' comeback album. Well, Redbeard was wrong. But then again, I gotta thank him for introducing me to this song.

3. "Fisherman's Blues" - the Waterboys

A powerful bass guitar-violin combo by this Irish band. Mike Scott's vocals are perfect for this song of longing and hope. The song has a simple feel to it, but is lushly produced. Another long-time personal favorite.

4. "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)" - Enya

Are any of the lyrics to this song in English? Another Gaelic classic. This music may be New Age, and if so, it's the only New Age song I can stomach. This is a bright, poppy song of a need for escape. It's just friggin' beautiful.

5. "Fast Car" - Tracy Chapman

Speaking of escaping, what about this folksy classic from Chapman's debut album? The song about alcoholism and a dead end life is sung in such a way that you can readily believe it's autobiographical. The music is stripped down. It's what, just Tracy and her acoustic guitar and maybe a drummer? It doesn't need anything else to drive its point home. Demoted a notch or two for ripping off the hook from John Cougar's "Jack and Diane", though.

6. "Riviera Paradise" - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

SRV had just recently sobered up before creating his final studio album, In Step. The disc's title refers to the 12 Steps program of Alcoholics Anonymous, which Stevie had joined to help him kick his habits. Fortunately, and by all reports, it was successful. Which helped make Vaughan's death all the more tragic. This track from In Step is a smooth, gorgeous instrumental. It's Stevie experimenting with jazz. It works like a charm. Stevie pulls off some of his most deft and intricate guitar work on this cut. It's a light and magical song. Good enough to take the edges off of you. Thank you, Stevie. I mean it.

7. "Handle With Care" - the Traveling Wilburys

This one came out of left field, didn't it? Fueled by the success of George Harrison's Cloud Nine solo album, Harrison and Cloud Nine co-producer, Jeff Lynne, team-up with straight ahead rocker, Tom Petty, folk rocker, Bob Dylan and Rock and Roll elderstatesman, Roy Orbison, to create this charming, easy-going album. This song is quite probably the best thing off it. It's stunning how well all five men's voices work together. It seems that they all got a shot at handling lead on this song. But it's the Big O, Roy Orbison, who steals the show. He whips out his trademarked aching heart voice and puts it to such great use on the lines he sings. It's gratifying to know that Orbison, who would die soon after the release of this album, ended his career on such a high note.

8. "Easy" - Timbuk3

And so's the music and vocals by Barbara K. I love the lyrics of this song. This is easily the best cut from the second album by TB3. Too bad, it's out of print, like everything else in the band's repertoire.

9. "Bring the Noise" - Public Enemy

"Bass! How low can you go?" What a great intro. This joint is best heard without Anthrax's "contribution". It doesn't need the Punk-Metal guitars. The production work of the Bomb Squad make this cut dense enough as is. Chuck D and Flavor Flav swap rhymes and weave in and around each other in perfect synch. Terminator X does some great work on the turntables, too. One of the best rap songs of all time.

10. "Run-A-Way Train" - the DiVinyls

Their third album, Temperamental, finds this Australian band veering even more closely to the pop sound they'd embrace on their fourth album, DiVinyls. The music for this song, the final cut on Temperamental is a fast paced, furious number. The guitars seem to spin round and round. Christine Amphlett's vocals are more smooth and focused than they had been on previous albums. In a way, that's a shame.

11. "What I Am" - Edie Brickel and New Bohemians

The national anthem of airheads everywhere. Still, this song has a nice charm to it. It's a light, fluffy, disposable pop song that has a pretty interesting guitar solo. Reportedly, Eric Clapton asked New Bos lead guitarist, Kenny Withrow, how he got that sound. This Dallas band's breakthrough was supposed to make Big D the next musical mecca. It never happened.

12. "I Am the One You Warned Me Of" - Blue Öyster Cult

Imaginos wasn't really a B.Ö.C album. It was really supposed to be Albert Bouchard's first solo record. Columbia wanted another Cult l.p. So... Out of this dense, murky and lyrically confused record (supposedly it was meant to be a double l.p. affair), comes this little blast of metal. Albert's vocals are scary and hint at things best left unsaid. The music churn and Buck Dharma's guitar continuously slash throughout the cut. This may not have been a good way for B.Ö.C. to end the decade, but it could've been worse.

13. "Beds Are Burning" - Midnight Oil

Giant, bald-headed Peter Garrett towers over this great environmentally aware song. The bass guitar is the driving force of this song. The drumming by Rob Hirst is also worth noting. A pulsating classic.

14. "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" - the Traveling Wilburys

Early in his career, Bruce Springsteen was heralded as the "new Bob Dylan". In this great, fun parody, Dylan gets a chance to get back at the Boss. The song is hilarious with a plot that involves cops, drug dealers and a love triangle. Dylan never had as much fun as he seems to on this track.

15. "One" - Metallica

Possibly the best thing this one time great metal band has ever produced. It's a harrowing account of a victim of war. Told in the first person, the song concerns someone who's body is so badly damaged by war he can no longer move or in anyway communicate with the outside world. It's a frightening, claustophobic tune.

16. "Party For Your Right to Fight" - Public Enemy

Terminator X lays out some great sampling that underlies this great synchronized duet by Chuck D (in the right speaker) and Flavor Flav (in the left speaker). It is, I suppose, a kind of answer song to the Beastie Boys' frat rap classic, "Fight For Your Right (to Party)". If not, it's a very clever twist on that title.

17. "Moses In My Life" - Ten Hands

Paul Slaven, Bonehead, Earl Harvin, Gary Muller and Mike Dillon were supposed to have been the next big thing to come out of the Deep Ellum Dallas music scene. It, regretfully, never happened. Despite that, the five members of the band did record a few albums, most of which only saw local release. This track comes from their second album, the live l.p. The Big One is Coming. It's kind of a goofy, funky song, which was what Ten Hands was all about, anyway. To listen to it and other Ten Hands songs, go to http://www.doomsday.com/john/10hands/ Enjoy!

18. "Blue Öyster Cult" - Blue Öyster Cult

This is basically a reworkig/cover of Secret Treaties' "The Subhuman". It has some added lyrics, but not much else is original to it. The music, though, is harder on this version than on the original.

19. "Temperamental" - the DiVinyls

Another great rocker from the third album by this band. Many of the comments I have for their other entry on this list, "Run-A-Way Train" apply here.

20. "It's Money That Matters" - Randy Newman

With some help from Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler on guitar and backing vocals (ELO's Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty also contribute some backing vocals), Newman turns in a great, sardonic look at the rich and the poor. As has always been the case with Randy, the lyrics are very much tongue-in-cheek. Newman is a treasure and all of his albums have something worthwhile on them. Land of Dreams is no exception.

21. "Only a Memory" - the Smithereens

Pat DiNizio and the rest of this Joisey band turn in another great heartbreak/lost love song. This was the big hit for the band, and the tune everyone probably knows by them.

22. "Don't Believe the Hype" - Public Enemy

Once again, Chuck D and Flavor Flav trade rhymes while Terminator X and the Bomb Squad back them up. Not as powerful as the first two cuts on this list, but then again, it is better than a lot of other stuff that came out that year.

23. "This Note's For You" - Neil Young and the Blue Notes

Neil has always been a bit erratic, following his muse into whatever style it sees fit to lead him. Often to the chagrin of record companies and fans. This time around, he's in a jazz mood and he manages to take this beer soaked style and conjure up a helluva slap in the face of all of those who have accepted corporate sponsorship. The lyrics are biting, and I believe, because of them, MTV banned this video for awhile.

24. "Little Miss S" - Edie Brickel and the New Bohemians

A haunting little number about drugs and living in the fast lane. Edie's vocals have always been thin and fragile and they suit this song and its tone perfectly.

25. "I Was Confused (About the TV)" - Ten Hands

From their first album, Kung Fu... That's What I Like. This is a trippy little ditty about, duh, the TV, the news on the telly and how violence is acceptable, but sex isn't. It's not really that deep of a tune. But it is fun. Too bad Ten Hands never got to make it to the big time. They were quite unique.

np - Long Day's Night - Blue Öyster Cult

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

> 1. "Under The Milky Way" - the Church
>Possibly the best song to be imported to the >states from the Land Down Under.

My choice would be the classic "Golden Miles" by Healing Force. Actually, I don't think I've ever heard "Under The Milky Way", but from your description, I'd love to. It's hard to imagine it being better than "Golden Miles", however. Come to think of it, I should have really put that song on my '71 list.

>2. "Under One Big Sky" - Kansas

{In The Spirit Of Things} was unquestionably the album of the year for 1988. Indeed, a good case can be made for it being Kansas' best-ever album. It's gonna feature in my '88 list. Oh yeah.

Pleased to see you are appreciating our Rock talent Benn!

All the Aussie songs you mentioned in your list are good, even though I'm not huge fans of any of the bands.

My favourite song of '88 is "Building A Bridge TO Your Heart" by a band I've never heard from again.

Just heard this great quote from John Mellencamp that really seems to point out why the music scene changed so much in a few short years:

"Dissent and rebellion is what rock 'n' roll was founded on. The record companies back then encouraged it, wanted it, publicized it. But now they don't want no trouble."

Metallica's "One" is a direct tribute to Dalton Trumbo's book and movie "Johnny got his gun." http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0067277/ The lyrics in the song are lifted directly from the movie. Thats what good metal songs are about, classical literature and fried amps

Here's Todd's top ten for 1988. These are much harder for me to compile in the eighties.

1. "Inside Of Me", KANSAS
2. "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", THE MOODY BLUES
3. "Eternal Flame", THE BANGLES
4. "Soldiers Of Peace", CROSBY STILLS NASH AND YOUNG
5. "Can I Play With Madness", IRON MAIDEN
6. "Blood Red Skies", JUDAS PRIEST
7. "Every Rose Has It's Thorn", POISON
8. "One Big Sky", KANSAS
9. "In The Presence Of Another World", BLUE OYSTER CULT
10. "Beds Are Burning", MIDNIGHT OIL
9. "

I have several comments to be made here. So here goes.

> 1. "Under The Milky Way" - the Church
>Possibly the best song to be imported to the >states from the Land Down Under.

My choice would be the classic "Golden Miles" by Healing Force. Actually, I don't think I've ever heard "Under The Milky Way", but from your description, I'd love to. It's hard to imagine it being better than "Golden Miles", however. Come to think of it, I should have really put that song on my '71 list. - Todd Pence

Hopefully, when you finally do get to hear it, you won't be too disappointed. I hope I didn't give it too much of a build up.

>2. "Under One Big Sky" - Kansas

In The Spirit Of Things was unquestionably the album of the year for 1988. Indeed, a good case can be made for it being Kansas' best-ever album. It's gonna feature in my '88 list. Oh yeah. - Todd Pence

I just recently listened to In the Spirit of Things again for the first time in awhile. And I'm sorry, but I'm not a big fan of that album. It's okay, but "One Big Sky" is definitely the lone highlight on it for me.

Pleased to see you are appreciating our Rock talent Benn! - Rodney Hravtin

Thanks. I try to listen to as wide a variety as possible. Unfortunately, I can't listen to and be aware of everything. I wish I could.

All the Aussie songs you mentioned in your list are good, even though I'm not huge fans of any of the bands. - Rodney Hrvatin

Except for the DiVinyls, I'm not a big fan of the other two Aussie bands I listed for this year. The only other Australian bands I like are AC/DC (I know, I've never listed any of their songs, but I have nine of their discs.) and the Little River Band. Regretfully, not too many acts from Down Under cross my radar. Oh. The Hoodoo Gurus. Love them, too.

But thanks for the compliment, Rodney!

My favourite song of '88 is "Building A Bridge TO Your Heart" by a band I've never heard from again. - Rodney again

Who's it by?

Metallica's "One" is a direct tribute to Dalton Trumbo's book and movie "Johnny got his gun." - Adam

Thanks Adam! I knew the song was based on a movie, but I couldn't remember which one. Thanks for refreshing my memory and supplying that bit of info. IIRC, the video was very much a tribute to the movie. (Then again, aren't there like three or four versions of the vid?)

Soap box ranting time:

Just heard this great quote from John Mellencamp that really seems to point out why the music scene changed so much in a few short years:

"Dissent and rebellion is what rock 'n' roll was founded on. The record companies back then encouraged it, wanted it, publicized it. But now they don't want no trouble." - Snick

Hm. I think I disagree with that assessment. I think "rebellion" still exists in Rock. It exists in the Lolita outfits that Britney Spears wears. It exists in the French kiss that Britney shared with Madonna. It exists in the homophobic and misogynist lyrics of Eminem. It exists in every utterance of profanity that an artist makes when they are in public. It exists when Pink shows up at an award ceremony drunk. It exists in every one of Marilyn Manson's increasingly childish attempts at shocking people. (Just make music, Brian.)

But these "acts of rebellion" are corporate sponsored. They are planned meticulously by the artists' handlers. These events are staged to create the artist's image and to make them seem "dangerous" to the uneducated record buying public. They actually think they are flipping off the Establishment by buying into these acts of "rebellions".

Worse, these artists aren't really rebelling against anything. They rebel against shadows and straw men. I'm sure that the rebellion is said to be against repression and prejudice and people telling you how to live your life. But these are old bogeymens that no longer have the meaning they once did. Even worse is the latter claim of individuality: Not letting anyone tell you how to live your life. It's ironic that all these alleged indiviualists tend to conform by looking like each other. Today's rebellion is safe and is corporate sponsored.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks it's hilarious that John Mellencamp's the one talking about rebellion? I mean, aside from his ditty, "The Authority Song" (Ooh! Scary stuff! Don't let the kids listen!), John Cougar has pretty much been the epitome of a safe, status quo artist. I'd hardly associate rebellion with him. (That's not meant to be a criticism of his music - which I happen to like a lot of, btw. Just a critique of props for making such a statement.)

np - The Land of Rape and Honey - Ministry

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Thank you, Benn.

It's impossible for rock and roll to rebel against the establishment because it IS the establishment now. The only way anyone could be a real rebel today would be to not rebel at all. (try saying that five times fast)

About the video for "One": are those actually clips from the movie, or were they shot for the video? (I personally never liked them, the sound effects and dialouge made it too hard to hear the song!)

Re: John Mellencamp

Sounds to me like he's just posturing a la Tom Petty or Jackson Browne in order to regain favor with the "left side of the dial" folks who have seen them as being too "corporate" for some time now. Sleep with dogs wake up with fleas. His latest has been getting a lot of airplay on NPR lately. Transparent, actually...

Oh hey, I forgot about a slightly guilty pleasure of '88:

"I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)" The Proclaimers

My thoughts on 1988- some of these are legendary, some are simply personal faves:

“Passionate Kisses”- Lucinda Williams
Lucinda broke free of the blues based work which characterized her earlier releases and veered into her roots/folk singer/songwriter based era with the eponymous disc. She hit her stride here and never looked back.

“Balloon Man”- Robyn Hitchcock
It became a college radio hit for the former Soft Boy. It’s about a falafel sandwich. Really.

“Charlotte Anne”- Julian Cope
Probably the (not quite yet)arch druid’s best known song. Incredible guitar solo as well.

“Where is My Mind”- Pixies
From Surfer Rosa’s brilliant flurry of songs.

“Another Day Gone By”- Ivan Neville
He had a hit with “Not Just Another Girl”, but this was his duet with his father, Aaron, and there definitely is some magic to it.

“Cool Water”- Talking Heads
The songs that got played off of Naked were quirky and light, but it ended with this very dark and very intense number. A definite career highlight.

“Slow Turning”- John Hiatt
Great lyric, great hook, great arrangement…yep, it’s a John Hiatt song- from a very fertile period.

“Anything Can Happen”- Was (not Was)
They were marketed as a funk outfit, which they did very well, but their talents ran so much deeper. It’s impossible to come up with a short list of highlights from What Up Dog, but the R&B ballads really do stand out. (So do the gleefully bizarre rants like “Dad, I’m in Jail”)

“Shadows Break”- Iain Matthews
A Jules Shear song from an album entirely of Shear covers. This one has probably the best lyric of the lot.

“The First Day”- Pete Morton
Morton’s One Big Joke is a clinic on topical and confrontational songwriting. Of course the curse of the “New Dylan” tag had its way with him. Still worth searching out.

Also noteworthy- in 1988 Virgin records released Rai Rebels which introduced a great many in the States to this Algerian form of music and remains the basis for any collection of the style. Cheb Khaled went on to greater success, though the entire disc is remarkable.

"Where Is My Mind"! I can't believe I forgot that!!! Good call!

I've got to make a change to my 1988 list. #25, "I Was Confused (About the TV)" by Ten Hands is being omitted to make room for the Pursuit of Happiness' "I'm An Adult Now". It's a great metal song about getting old and no longer being able to do the things you did when you were younger. The music is as hard rocking as anything that teenagers then could want to listen to. But the lyrics (which includes lines about drinking beer with your Dad and not being able to look at girls anymore [cos people will think you're a pervert]) are dead on and hilarious.

np - Back From Rio - Roger McGuinn

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

P.S. I have started work on my 1989 list. I've just gone through my CD collection. Now I've got to check the charts on these websites I've got saved.

If I may get the jump on everybody once again...

1989:

“About A Girl” Nirvana
Kurt Cobain and company enter the mix with some good straightforward riff rocking

“Ana Ng” They Might Be Giants
I cannot see how this song can be sung without dislocating one's tounge.

“End Of The Universe” Screaming Trees
The acid guitars continue to roar on

“Head Like A Hole” Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor's is, how should I put it, annoying to some ears (including mine), but the guy knows his was around a hook like few before or since.

“Higher Ground” Red Hot Chili Peppers
One of the better cover songs out there.

“Let Love Rule” Lenny Kravitz
Wow, there's a lot more mainstream artists in this list than my past ones.

“Shoehorn With Teeth” They Might Be Giants
A personal favorite. (if I may rant a minute, these guys were on Conan O'Brian not too long ago to perform "Robot Parade", decided that the audience wasn't getting into it, and then played this. The portion inbetween the two songs was brilliant: an attempt to spell out the word Glockenspiel: "G - L - O... CKENSPIEL!" A fine TV moment)

“They’ll Need A Crane” They Might Be Giants
Now this is just a darn good pop rocker any way you look at it.

“Where The Twain Shall Meet” Screaming Trees
Their swansong in the indie world before moving up to the major labels. Great send off.

I have a screaming trees anthology, but haven't listened to it much. I bought it because I thought the song titles were cool.

They do know their way around interesting phrases, don't they?

My 1989 list:

“Waiting for Mary”- Pere Ubu
Legendary avant-gardies Ubu were approached to record a “pop” album and they totally dove into the task, resulting in the now-regarded classic Cloudland. (silly hard core fans at first shunned the disc and have spent the past decade or so shelling out $20.00 for a used copy once they came to their senses) Thing is…it’s not really a pop album, it’s an Ubu album with pop sensibilities. “Waiting for Mary” is the most straight forward rocker of the bunch and is great for parties, driving with the top down, singing along with…all the requisite stuff.

“Pencil Rain”- They Might Be Giants
Lincoln just clicks on so many levels but to me it always sounded like the soundtrack to some demented stage musical. You could get an entire act out of “Pencil Rain” alone.

“Love Buzz”- Nirvana
Novoselic just doesn’t get the credit he deserves. His frantic bass always seems to be out front and center propelling the best Nirvana tunes, like this one.

“No. 13 Baby”- Pixies
The Pixies threw so much into the mix that it can be hard to pinpoint the prototypical Pixies song. Idiosyncratic, brutal, goofy, primal, clever- check, check, check, check, check- this one’ll do. The arrangement is simply brilliant and inventive- the verses feature a different approach to each couplet of lines while still building momentum to the chorus, and the thing ends with a spacey “jam” leading to a fade out. And how can Black Francis scream so hard with his tongue planted so firmly in his cheek?

“The Maker”- Daniel Lanois
Wiz producer Lanois tries his own hand at making music on Acadie and hits it out of the park numerous times. “The Maker” is one of them and probably the best known Lanois song, haunting and hypnotic.

“Beautiful Rain”- BoDeans
With Home, BoDeans managed to come up with a sound that was alive and urgent as well as polished. Plus a really solid set of songs. “Beautiful Rain” has got a groove that just won’t let up and impassioned vocals, one of many highlights.

“Here’s Where the Story Ends”- Sundays
Great folk/ pop with the inimitable Harriet Wheeler singing. The rest of their stuff may be edgier but this one just stays with you.

“Breathe”- Maria McKee
A career highlight to be sure, an intense and timeless ballad featuring Richard Thompson on guitar. Both McKee and Thompson are at the top of their game and the results are truly riveting.

“See a Little Light”- Bob Mould
After the end of Husker Du, Mould came back with a set of introspective acoustic based songs, albeit fairly potent ones. “See a Little Light” can be seen as being directed towards ex Huskers band mates, and the catchy chorus led to its being given quite a bit of airplay.

“Something I Can Never Have”- Nine Inch Nails
A goth/ industrial ballad. “Grey would be the color/ if I had a heart”. You tell her, Trent!

“Chalkhills and Children”- XTC
“Chalkhills” ends the Oranges and Lemons set with a genuinely dreamy and uplifting vibe. One of many essential XTC cuts.

“US Steel”- Tom Russell Band
This song about a Pennsylvania mill town on its last legs makes full use of its inherent potential. The arrangement is like an updated Johnny Cash classic. The lyrics are about the finest I have heard in any genre. This is a truly great American song.

“Painting by Numbers”- James McMurtry
A brilliantly smarmy criticism of the modern work ethic- still works today.

these guys were on Conan O'Brian not too long ago to perform "Robot Parade", decided that the audience wasn't getting into it, and then played this. The portion inbetween the two songs was brilliant: an attempt to spell out the word Glockenspiel: "G - L - O... CKENSPIEL!" A fine TV moment) - Blitz


Man, I would have loved to have seen that. That's what I get for being a commuter and getting up before 6am Good for the Johns for going with the flow, but is Conan's audience filled with tourists or what?

Okay, it's time for me to present my list. Here we go, the Class of 1989:

1. "I'll Be You" - the Replacements

Great, classic rocker about boredom and trading places. The lyrics aren't as clever as the ones for such 'Mats songs as "Here Comes a Regular" or "Bastards of Young", but they are still great. Heck, Tom Petty pretty much swiped the "rebel without a clue" line from this song for his "Great Wide Open" song. (The 'Placeats opened for TP before Petty recorded his song, so draw your own conclusions.)

2. "Rockin' In the Free World" - Neil Young and the Volume Dealers

Neil flies his liberal freak flag high and proud on this song, a reaction to several years of conservative government and know-nothing igorance. The guitars slash and burn on this cut as Neil practically scream the bitter, sarcastic lyrics. This is probably the most important song Neil recorded in the Eighties. (And no, I'm not talking about the acoustic version that opens the album, Freedom.)

3. "God Is a Bullet" - Concrete Blonde

Possibly Johnette Napolitano's best song. A fierce, angry track about gun violence. The song is fast and breathless and features a powerful guitar solo. It all but screams "ban guns".

4. "Free Fallin'" - Tom Petty

An acoustic based song from TP's first solo album. The song's a lush tune about a girl devoted to the ubiquitous "bad boy". A Goth anthem from the least likely source.

5. "Oh Daddy" - Adrian Belew

Belew used to be a member of King Crimson and has worked with such acts as Talking Heads, the Tom Tom Club, David Bowie and Frank Zappa. This song shows off Belew's sense of humor. It's so deleriously tongue-in-cheek. A little asking her daddy, who's a musician, when he finally going to become a big star. The song does feature Belew's daughter singing the part of the little girl. You almost suspect the tune's somewhat autobiographical. Belew's guitar balances against the bass and keyboards of this number. The fretwork is deft and unusual. I get it a kick out of it everytime I hear it.

6. "Knock Me Down" - the Red Hot Chili Peppers

This song represents the first time I ever heard a song by the Chili Peppers. John Frusciante's guitar leads the song into a steady groove. Anthony Keidis' vocals are excellent. And Flea. Well, what can we say about Flea's bass playing? It is, of course, superb. This was a great introduction to a great band. The song, incidentally, was a bit of a tribute to the band's original guitarist and Keidis' close friend, Hillel Slovak, who died of a drug overdose.

7. "Black Velvet" - Alannah Myles

Country artist, Robin Lee, also had a hit with this tune around the same time Myles did. But because I've never heard Lee's version, this is the one that gets the nod. (Actually, Lee's version appeared the following year.) This is a smokey, sensous song that can have you swaying to its rhythm. A brilliant heartfelt tribute to Elvis Presley, that also gives a shout out to country-blues artist Jimmy Rodgers. Of course, it might also be about a brand of whiskey for all I know. Still, the bass bobs and weave and is totally hypnotic.

8. "Fascination Street" - the Cure

This is the Cure doing heavy metal. It works. It's so different from the type of song that Robert Smith and the band normally performed. It's a sonic assault that sounds like a thousand crickets chirping at once. Dense, layer, this could easily be the Cure's best song. Unless you count "Boys Don't Cry" or "Killing an Arab".

9. "Epic" - Faith No More

Does anyone know what the significance of the song's title is? This was one of the first hit songs to incorporate elements of rap and metal and prove the two could be welded together. Mike Patton's voice easily handles the rapping and the screaming vocals necessary for a good metal tune. As for what the song's about, my guess has always been that it's about sex. "What is it?" "It's it."

10. "Ariana" - Alphaville

Starting out like an airplane coming in for a landing, this song instead takes off on a cool, funky dance groove. It sounds older than it is. (It could easily palm itself off as an early Eighties New Wave tune.) The keyboards and bass play off each other well and are highly infectious. This is a great pop tune.

11. "Poison" - Alice Cooper

Coop has his first big hit in almost a decade. It is definitely one of the best things Alice recorded in the Eighties. The song is vintage Alice, haunted and scary and pure metal. John McCurry's guitars on it are great, btw.

12. "Stalag 123" - Big Audio Dynamite

I had a couple of others choices by B.A.D. to choose from - "James Brown", "House Arrest" - but in the end, this quiet, elegiac song that closes B.A.D.'s Megatop Phoenix is the keeper. It essentially compares life in the recording studio to being in a German prison camp. The music is smooth and easy and a great late night companion. The tune also features some sound bites from such films as Stalag 17 and The Great Escape. (Actually, it opens with a little of the theme to the latter film.)

13. "No One" - BoDeans

Home is almost definitely the BoDeans' best album. This song about loneliness and drinking alone is haunting and heartbreaking. The vocals are appropriately whiskey scarred.

14. "Nineteen Forever" - Joe Jackson

He first appeared on the music scene with the song "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" He's probably better remembered for the minimalistic "Steppin' Out". But it's this song that I like best of all. A great tune about arrested development and living an orgiastic Peter Pan, rock and roll lifestyle. The best lines though, are aimed at fellow Brit-rockers, the Who: "Wouldn't it be a drag to be like them?/They're gonna sell out everything/But I won't be fooled again." OUCH!

15. "Adam West" - the Cape Club

I really, really hated the Escape Club's "Wild Wild West". I guess that's one of the reasons why I love this parody so much. To really appreciate it, you have to remember that it was made before the Tim Burton's Warner Brothers film that came out that year. A protest and tribute to the original Batman TV series, this song is hilarious. I love that the song's writer(s) remembered the giant clam ep. But the song's best lines come during a parody of the old series' announcer's voice over: "Will their (Warner Brothers) big budget blockbuster be a big Bat-bomb?/Will Batfans care that Batman is also Mr. Mom?"

16. "Eat For Two" - 10,000 Maniacs

A spritely song detailing the travails of an unwed teenage mother as she carries her unborn child. The music practically dances in defiance of the gravity of the lyrics. Natalie Merchant does some of her best vocals ever. She convincingly sings about having another human being inside of her, even if, at the time, it was an experience that was completely foreign to her. The late Robert Buck plays some nice twisty guitar lines on this. It's alternative pop, but a classic alternative pop song.

17. "Voices of Babylon" - the Outfield

A wonderful song about the dependency on technology and a need to get back to nature. Or something like that. This is a nice, bright pop song with sparkling vocals.

18. "Johnny, Kick a Hole In the Sky" - the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Another cut from the Chili Pepper's Mother's Milk album. This one concerns the prejudice and racism that makes up our country. (It even opens with a snatch of "The Star Spangled Banner.) Bouncy and contagious, this is yet one more great song by RHCP.

19. "Orange Crush" - R.E.M.

No, it's not about a soda pop. This is a rough and tumble song by the Athens band about Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant used during the Vietnam War. The song is as militant musically as it is lyrically.

20. "When I Win the Lottery" - Camper Van Beethoven

Another wildly hiralious song. A white trash, psychopath as he fantasizes about what he'll do when he hits the jackpot and wins the lottery. The music is lazy and almost haphazard, but David Lowery's vocals propels the song right along, all the while more than adequately conveying the viewpoint of someone who is not exactly socially acceptable.

21. "Romeo Had Juliett" - Lou Reed

Lou Reed's New York album was a dark, cynical look at the Big Apple. There is a certain affection for the city to be sure. But ultimately, this is Reed hearkening back to the darkness of his early Velvet Underground work. The song, which opens with a bit of a stutter, concerns love among gangbangers, whose lives are going nowhere. The hopelessness and loss are strongly felt in the tune.

22. "You Don't Get Much" - BoDeans

In contrast to the previous BoDeans tune I've listed, this one is quite joyous, despite the sadness of the lyrics. It's downright hopeful.

23. "Dirty Blvd." - Lou Reed

The third cut from New York and Reed still continues his tribute/criticism of his hometown. The song deftly illustrates the crushed and frustrated dreams and desperation of the characters in it. It starts out acoustically, but builds into a nice little rocker.

24. "A Girl Like You" - the Smithereens

Slashing guitars are the main characteristics of this rocker about a man desperately pledging his love. This was probably the Smithereens' biggest hit.

25. "Me So Horny" - 2 Live Crew

This dirty, almost obscene rap hit takes its title from a line in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, from which some dialogue was sampled. This is one of the earliest signature rap songs, one that crossed into the consciousness of rockers and hip-hop fans. It remains one of the iconic tunes of rap.

26. "So Alive" - Love and Rockets

The lyrics are almost whispered in the quiet, mysterious song. The music is almost pure rhythm. If that makes any sense. I don't think this is as good as "No New Tale to Tell", but it's still a fantastic song.

27. "Wild Thing" - Tone Loc

This was probably the first real party song from rap. It heavily sampled the riff from Van Halen's "Jamie's Cryin'", but was still its own tune. Tone Loc would have one more hit, "Funky Cold Medina" and then fade. But he should be given credit for helping rap gain credibility and helping it to survive.

28. "Head Like a Hole" - nine inch nails

Okay, I'll be the one to list Trent Reznor's first hit. This tune plays up his dislike of religion without actually spelling it out (unlike "Heresy" from the downward spiral.) This is probably not as heavy as Trent would have liked to have made it. (Is anything from pretty hate machine?) The song is still a blueprint for the industrial music that Reznor would later create.

29. "Cut Flowers" - the Smithereens

A gorgeous, moody song about a lost love. A truly beautiful and romantic tune.

30. "Closer to Fine" - the Indigo Girls

One of the songs that helped spark the acoustic/unplugged craze of the Nineties. This is a wonderously stripped down song, that has its roots in folk music, a style that was far from being in commercial favor at the time. Amy Ray's and Emily Saliers' voices blend as seamlessly as their guitars do on this one.

And there you have it. Hope it was worth the wait.

np - pretty hate machine - nine inch nails

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Man oh man, Benn, you picked a bunch that I hadn't even considered. That would make a great set- brings me back too-was it really 14 years ago? [/rhetorical]

"Cut Flowers"- definitely a Smithereens highlight, and its been known to turn up on a mix disc or two of mine.

"Dirty Blvd."- d'oh!

I was living with my brother at the time and he was a big BAD fan. The songs you mentioned were excellent.

Re:"Black Velvet"- it might also be about a brand of whiskey for all I know- maybe it's me but I always thought of the title's being a reference to velvet Elvis paintings. Could have a double meaning though.

"God is a Bullet"- good one, though I think that Johnette's best song is a few years away...

I agree with the props for Robert Buck, though I didn't like the years where Jon Lombardo left the band.

Belew's daughter is named Audie and is also famous for "playing" the piano part on the track "Final Rhino" when she was 3 or 4 years old. The story is that she was doodling on piano while the tape was going and that Adrian liked it so much that he overdubbed a guitar part. The final result is pretty cool, actually.

Lots of overlap with BoDeans, TMBG, NIN, Nirvana. God, what a great year.

---

A correction on my 1988 list-

The Ivan Neville song I meant to call out was "After All This Time", which was the duet with Aaron Neville, though "Another Day Gone By" is also noteworthy.

Re:"Black Velvet"- it might also be about a brand of whiskey for all I know- maybe it's me but I always thought of the title's being a reference to velvet Elvis paintings. Could have a double meaning though. - MrPorter

Oh yeah, the song's title almost definitely is in reference to the infamous black velvet paintings. It's just that one line - "Black Velvet is you please." - that makes me think of the whiskey. I strongly suspect it might also be meant as a double entendre. But the Velvet Elvis paintings is definitely the primary meaning.

"God is a Bullet"- good one, though I think that Johnette's best song is a few years away... - MrPorter

I dunno. "God Is a Bullet" is the Concrete Blonde song I keep going back to. Free, ironically enough, is not my favorite Concrete Blonde album. Bloodletting is. The highlights from that album are "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)" and "Tomorrow, Wendy". Those two tracks almost rival "God...", but not quite.

np - Def, Dumb and Blonde - Deborah Harry

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

About Concrete Blonde- at a certain point it really doesn't matter which song is better than what- they're all of the same echelon. It's just kinda fun to think about things in those terms sometimes. So I'll sorta retract that statement. The song I was thinking about was "Les Coeurs Jumeaux" from Walking in London, though.

I see where you're going with the Black Velvet thing now and if I remember correctly it is a brand of Canadian Whiskey.

It is. I've had some. It's not bad.

np - Landing On Water - Neil Young

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

I believe it's made by Seagrams. Along with Seagrams' 7, and many other Canadian style whiskies.

N.B. My late great-uncle was an incredibly high-up muckymuck VP for Seagrams, so we always had Seagrams promo giveaways around the house. Among them was a couple of decks of "Black Velvet" cards... The well-endowed women on the card backs (wearing low-cut black velvet dresses) were memorable to the 13-year-old geek that I was back then ...

Gee, I guess I'd better do a list for 1989, huh? This turned out to be a big year for excellent comeback records for classic artists.

1. "When The War Is Over", URIAH HEEP (actually a cover of a Little River Band song)
2. "This One", PAUL MCCARTNEY
3. "Only My Heart Talking", ALICE COOPER
4. "Slipping Away", THE ROLLING STONES
5. "Voice On My TV", URIAH HEEP
6. "Let's Pretend", ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE
7. "Built To Last", THE GRATEFUL DEAD
8. "Rocking In The Free World", NEIL YOUNG
9. "Nightwing", BLACK SABBATH
10. "My Brave Face", PAUL MCCARTNEY

9. "Epic" - Faith No More

Does anyone know what the significance of the song's title is? -Benn

I always assumed they called it that because it's one epic sounding song.

28. "Head Like a Hole" - nine inch nails

Okay, I'll be the one to list Trent Reznor's first hit. -Benn

Hey! Did you miss the fourth entry in my list?

Yeah, I forgot that you, too, did list "Head Like a Hole". For some reason I thought you, like MrPorter, chose another cut off that album. Sorry about that, Blitz.

np - Tumbleweed Connection - Elton John

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Well, I guess I could forgive you, just this one time ;)

Thank you kindly, sir/ma'am (whichever it is). I appreciate it.

np - Upstairs At Eric's - Yaz(oo)

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Sir, actually.

So... Are we going to go on into the 90s?

I personally plan to take this into the Nineties. But probably just up to 1992. 1995 is the very latest I will consider going. If anyone wants to go beyond that, that'll be fine by me. I'm not as knowledgeable after '95 as I'd like to be.

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Actually, I've got rough drafts of list all the way up to 2002. As I commented before, the lists are just now getting to where a young wippersnapper like me was actually paying attention.

I'm not as knowledgeable after '95 as I'd like to be. - Benn

Why Benn, I had no idea that you were such a curmudgeon. "kids today, ...grumble"


OK, now that that's out of the way...
I actually see where you're coming from because from that point on pre-packaged music became fairly dominant. There's always legit music being produced, though. I'd be willing to go on up the line, though my lists will probably get more and more AAA oriented (just a gut feeling).

"pre-packaged" music has always been around and always will be. It's just that "legit" music (whatever that is) comes from more unstable sources, so it's easy to lose track and think the "pre-packaged" stuff took over.

"legit", to me, is pretty clear Blitz. It could be of any genre but is made by people with a passion for what they're doing, willing to grow, and in it to make a living (though there is something to be said for flaming out). They don't follow focus groups or trends, and their set lists aren't dominated by obligatory material. Could be majors (Elvis Costello i.e.) or indies. Happily, I believe, the term describes the bulk of music available.

By "pre-packaged" I was specifically refering to the whole boy band craze at that time. Sorry if it comes across as arrogant but I can't take that sort of thing seriously. But we agree on the "always been around and always will be" part. I always think of popular tastes following a pendulum swing.

whole boy band craze at that time.

What, you mean it's stopped? Well, I guess the boybandz have... but we still have the Disney-pushed bubblegum queens.

Personally, I think that to continue after 1990 sorta defeats the purpose of Benn and Todd starting this whole shebang in the first place.
They wanted to list songs and albums which they felt defined a certain year and, in their opinion, shaped the music world. I can't think of too songs in the last 13 years that would be defined as "classics" to rank along "Stairway To Heaven" and "Smoke On The Water". I'm sure there are some, but not many.
Maybe if the discussion wanted to move into the 90's we should start a new board called "Favourite Songs 1990- Present" as opposed the "classic" or "top" songs.

Yeah, wait about ten years to do the more modern stuff; by then, we'll be able to better guage it's "staying power."

I heard a snippet of an interview, I think either with David Crosby, or else quoting something he said, that made an interesting point about contemporary boy bands: they can harmonize really well, like "old" bands from the 1960's & 70's, but they're not actually harmonizing about anything.

Giving the first part of my last post some thought, I realize it may seem a little pushy... I was basically elaborating on the first part of Rodney's post, not trying to dictate what should or should not be done. Sorry if I came across poorly.

OK, we're really going off topic, but I don't care

It could be of any genre but is made by people with a passion for what they're doing, willing to grow, and in it to make a living (though there is something to be said for flaming out). They don't follow focus groups or trends, and their set lists aren't dominated by obligatory material. -MrPorter

I've seen a number of interviews/behind the scene thinggies about various boy bands and they all are quite passionate about what they do. Technically, any boy band is willing to try new things, if those new things are popular (the latin music boom, anyone?), and they definately make a living off of it.

As for the focus group/trends comment, I find that comment quite ironic. In other words, you're saying that "legit" artist don't worry about conforming to the expectations other people ask them to live up to. But isn't that just what you're doing: listing a set of expectations that you wand artist to comform to?

Personally, I think that to continue after 1990 sorta defeats the purpose of Benn and Todd starting this whole shebang in the first place.
They wanted to list songs and albums which they felt defined a certain year and, in their opinion, shaped the music world. I can't think of too songs in the last 13 years that would be defined as "classics" to rank along "Stairway To Heaven" and "Smoke On The Water". I'm sure there are some, but not many.
Maybe if the discussion wanted to move into the 90's we should start a new board called "Favourite Songs 1990- Present" as opposed the "classic" or "top" songs. -Rodney Hrvatin

I don't recall anyone establishing that rule or definition of "classic". I mean, look at the name of the topic, it's got "personal choices" right up there. Anyway, I don't see what the influence a song had on the music has to do with how good it is. Is a song's quality defined by how many people decide to emulate it? That's only one step removed from judging it's quality by it's chart position, and I hope no one here is that shallow. besides, who ever said that only good songs influence other artists? If that were true, why are there so many bad songs out there?

Yeah, wait about ten years to do the more modern stuff; by then, we'll be able to better guage it's "staying power" -CR

Same comments about this as above, why does "staying power" determine how good a song is? A song that's good will be just as good today as it will be ten years from now, so why wait? If you're afraid that hype will influence people's oppinion... Well, that's just as big a danger, if not a bigger danger, after time has passed. An oldie but goodie and seem a lot better than it actually is if it's viewed through rose tinted shades ("Oh, but it's such a CLASSIC! It was just so important to the feel of the times!").

Anyway, my point is we shouldn't really care where or when a song comes from, it's whether or not it's a well written piece of music that matters.

Good observations, Blitz, and ones I've tried to adhere to when making my lists.

Uh, mind if I butt in?

My lack of familiarity with the music scene since '95 stems not so much from old fogeyism (I hope), as the fact that I'm not as exposed to it as I once was. I don't listen to the radio much anymore. I don't listen to any Countdown programs such as "Casey Kasem's American Top 40" like I did when I was younger. I don't watch MTV or Vh1 that much either. Most of the more current stuff I've heard this year have been from CMT. And that's because it's constantly on at work.

This isn't to say that I'm completely in the dark. I like what I've heard by Good Charlotte ("Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous" and "The Anthem"). I like Puddle of Mudd's work from what I've heard ("She Hates Me"). "Unwell" by the Dave Matthews Band is killer. I love "Clocks" by Coldplay and "Lights Out" by Lisa Marie Presley. Then there are acts like Coal Chamber, Kittie, Union Underground and Full Devil Jacket that I like. There are even rap and hip hop songs I like, too. I'm not completely out of it. Hell, I'll even cop to liking some of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilers's songs. (And Pink. I love "Get Your Party Started". I have the CD single.)

But I'm not as plugged in as I used to be. It does bother me. I want to be more knowledgeable and feel I should be. But again, it's due to a lack of exposure to the newer material, rather than old age that's behind it.

I've never defined what era of music I was gunning for when I extended this list. Todd, who created the whole thing, was very specific as to what years he planned on covering and why. But an AIM conversation with Snick got me to thinking about expanding the list and taking it into the '80s. In the back of my mind I have planned to go no further than '95, with '92 being the most likely stopping point. I do not have any problem with anyone taking it beyond those years. I may even participate by adding my personal favorites, such as they are, from those years. I think Todd and I agree (and I hope I'm not being too presumptuous) that this is something that belongs to everyone here at Nitcentral. Not just us. Heck, even if I wasn't planning on taking the lists into the '90s, there's no reason why Blitz could not have done so. Or starting a new topic to cover the years he wants to. Nor is there any reason why someone else couldn't do it, if they so desired.

I agree with a number of Blitz' comments as well as MrPorter's. Here's the thing, the boyz bands and Dizny Disco Teenies are making music they like. Believe it or not. It's not necessarily music I'd want a steady diet of, mind you. I kinda think of it as musical training wheels. It's something for the younger kids to start listening to to help develop their musical tastes. Many will outgrow Britney, Christina, Avril, Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, etc. I mean, no matter what, I'll be the first to say that the music the Monkees released was pure disposable pop. Definitely, they recorded some great tunes, but there's a lot there that is very embarrassing. ("The Day We Fall In Love", anyone?) It doesn't mean I don't like the Monkees. After all, they are my third favorite music act. But I my tastes have grown since then. I think that if you look over my lists, you'll see a growing sophistication in my musical tastes. (Of course, it could also be wishful thinking on my part, too.)

As for the "classic" label debate, well, I'm not listing necessarily listing songs that are classics. Classics to me, perhaps. "Lights Out" by Lisa Marie Presley is a song I would use the "classic" for. It doesn't mean it's stood the test of time. But it does have the potential to do so. As Blitz has pointed out, this thread is subtitled "Personal Choices". If we were listing the best, most important songs each year, my lists would be quite different. I would be judging tunes on technical merit and their importance to the musical landscape. Instead, I've been listing my personal preferences for the most part.

Well, those are my comments on the matter. I'm kinda taking a bit of breather before I do the last few years I've got planned. But I will get back to it.

np - "No More Drama" - Mary J. Blige

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

As for the focus group/trends comment, I find that comment quite ironic. In other words, you're saying that "legit" artist don't worry about conforming to the expectations other people ask them to live up to. But isn't that just what you're doing: listing a set of expectations that you wand artist to comform to? - Blitz

Actually, I tend to give artists the widest possible latitude and I'm not quick to yell "sellout" at the first sign of change (as I've alluded to on these boards). I don't even mind if somebody's trying to attract a wider audience so long as that change is (let's say)organic, or a manefestation of what they're feeling at the moment i.e. Liz Phair or Bob Mould. But there is a line where you know somebody is being handled- everything from their image to their set lists to their production team to their material etc. I connect with one side of that line while others connect with the other. If you think that the word 'legit' is too strong then that's fine, I can soften the language. But it's not as much about a list of expectations as it is about an underlying approach.

And: agreed regarding your responses to the "classic" and "staying power" points. And I vote to continue the lists.

Anyway, my point is we shouldn't really care where or when a song comes from, it's whether or not it's a well written piece of music that matters.
Good point (and an obvious one I missed)!

I would like to add, though, that "staying power" (as I called it) could also be seen as a sign of how well-written a song is... a song that stands the test of time, not for nostalgic reasons, but because it's just so good (well-written, well-produced, what have you) is what I meant by "staying power."

Of course, as Benn pointed out, these lists are personal choices... something I forgot to take into account when I posted yesterday. (I knew there was something else wonky about my post besides sounding a little pushy; actually, I guess that's why it sounded that way!)

Thanks guys.

Oh, not to sound ungrateful for the support, Benn, but I'm pretty sure "Unwell" is by Matchbox 20. (could be wrong, though, it's not wxactly up my personal alley)

Nope. You're right. It is by Matchbox 20. I goofed. What can I say? I'm not perfect, y'know.

np - Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic - Red Hot Chili Peppers

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Argggh! I left off a song from my 1989 list. This one goes in at #4 forcing everything else down one notch. (Which means the Indigo Girl's "Closer to Fine" gets cut from the list.) The song? "Future 40s (String of Pearls)" by Syd Straw. Straw was a member of the band, Golden Palominos. She released this solo album in '89. From it was this song, a duet with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. It's a wonderful, elegant folksy song about longing and disappointment with one's life. Despite all of that, there is something affirming and uplifting about the music ("Hey man, I'm making moves/And I am so much stronger than you.") Probably the lyrics with the greatest impact on me, particularly the lines "This isn't the way I dreamed it would be some day/(This is what I've settled for.)/If I had a chance I'd find a better way." It's truly a great forgotten song. Well worth the search. (Sounded great live, too, when I saw Syd at Club Clearview in Dallas.)

np - Electric Landlady - Kirsty MacColl

"It's all one song." - Neil Young