389. New Order, Substance (1987) The moment for the titans of college radio to break on through to the mainstream was at hand, or so it seemed. During the spring of 1987, U2 elbowed their way past the likes of … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #389 to #387

392. R.E.M., Chronic Town (1982) As the nineteen-eighties dawned, R.E.M. couldn’t get a foothold like their fellow acts in Athens, Georgia. Driven in part by the breakout success the B-52’s enjoyed with their 1979 self-titled debut, there was keen interest … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #392 to #390

395. Madness, Madness (1983) The ska band Madness delivered a series of Top 10 at home in the U.K., but that similar success eluded them on the other side of the Atlantic. After both their debut, One Step Beyond…, and … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #395 to #393

398. Yaz, You and Me Both (1983) If the old adage about books and their covers can be applied to albums, it’s also fair to remember that, as Rod Stewart once sang, every picture tells a story. In the case … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #398 to #396

401. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Rattlesnakes (1984) In the midst of his eventually abandoned studies at Glasgow University, Lloyd Cole formed the band that bore his name. According to him, the original intent of Lloyd Cole and the Emotions … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #401 to #399

404. Howard Devoto, Jerky Versions of the Dream (1983) After folding his band Magazine, Howard Devoto wasn’t sure what he’d do next. He started working on one project with guitarist Alan St. Clair and another with Barry Adamson, Magazine’s bassist. … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #404 to #402

407. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Southern Accents (1985) Tom Petty thought it was time for a concept album. With his backing band, the Heartbreakers, Petty had made five albums of solid rock ‘n’ roll with a slew of radio … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #407 to #405

410. Romeo Void, Benefactor (1982) It was up to Romeo Void to prove the soundness of a recent business decision by the executives at Columbia Records. That responsibility was only appropriate because the San Francisco band were primary drivers of … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #410 to #408

413. Gang of Four, Songs of the Free (1982) According to Hugo Burnham, the drummer for Gang of Four, the band was striving for a slicker, more commercial product when they made their third album, Songs of the Free. But … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #413 to #411

416. Eric Clapton, Just One Night (1980) The Nippon Budokan Theater, located in Tokyo, Japan, had a sterling reputation as a venue conducive to live recordings. Bob Dylan made a live album there, as did, more famously and more lucratively, … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #416 to #414