584. The Cure, The Walk (1983) The Cure were on the verge of collapse in 1983, and that’s naturally when they enjoyed their most commercially successful year to that point. Bassist Simon Gallup left the band in late 1982, prompting … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #584 to #581
In my time as a student leader in college radio, I loved the breaks. As stewards of the public airwaves, we felt an obligation to keep our humble broadcast outlet running, even when the rest of the university shut down. … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Celeste, “Stop This Flame”
These posts are about the songs that just barely failed to cross the key line of chart success, entering the Billboard Top 40. Every song featured in this series peaked at number 41. Beginning in 1987, the Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet had a string of hits on the U.K. charts, while causing barely a ripple in the U.S. Each of their first ten singles landed in the U.K. Top 40, only one of which — their debut, “Wishing I Was Lucky” — appeared on the Billboard Hot 100. And that song peaked at a lackluster #58. If there … Continue reading Top 40 Smash Near Misses — “Love Is All Around”
588. Nina Hagen, Fearless (1983) Released in her homeland as Angstlos, the fourth album by German wildling Nina Hagen delivered a notable shift in sonic style. A compatriot of the Sex Pistols, Hagen had previously leaned into offbeat art rock, … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #588 to #585
Jack Tatum recently passed his ten-year anniversary creating dream pop music under the moniker Wild Nothing, a span that included four full-length studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and slew of singles, remixes, and collaborations, according to his own tally. Perhaps to help commemorate, he closed out 2019 by releasing a new single. Culled from the upcoming EP Laughing Glass, “Foyer” is built on tinny synths and moves with a cascading rhythm. It’s pop that shimmers and seduces. Another decade’s worth of music at this level would be a very welcome development. Continue reading This Week’s Model — Wild Nothing, “Foyer”
Around these the digital parts, tradition holds that the tolling of a new year means a quick look back at the old. As accompaniment to yesterday’s listing of favored albums, I present a quintet of songs that spun me around … Continue reading Five Songs from 2019
There are years when my yearly exercise in ranking albums is fairly easy. That was decidedly not the case this time around. Maybe I can attribute the added challenge to the high number of releases that spoke directly to me, … Continue reading Top Ten Albums of 2019
592. That Petrol Emotion, End of the Millennium Psychosis Blues (1988) That Petrol Emotion recorded their third album knowing that a major change was looming. At the outset of their time in the studio, guitarist and co-founder John O’Neill announced … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #592 to #589
For those still trying to settle on that perfect resolution to launch themselves into the new year, perhaps Burna Boy can help. About six months after the Nigerian performer’s fourth album, African Giant, was released, he’s brought out a new … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Burna Boy, “Money Play”
596. Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Paint Your Wagon (1986) By the time they buckled down to record their second full-length album, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry had already gone through enough upheaval to remake half their roster. Guitarists Chris Reed and … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #596 to #593
Coffee for Two 