Category: episodes
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568 Metallica – Master of Puppets
In March of 1986 Metallica released their 3rd studio album. With no radio play whatsoever, Thrash has hit the mainstream. Let’s talk Metallica, Master of Puppets!
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567 Beastie Boy – Licensed to Ill
In November of 1986 the Beastie Boys released their debut album. It’s the shot heard round the world. In one fell swoop, three Jewish teenagers and their producer kicked the proverbial doors in to the suburban market and took hip hop to the masses; changing our shared musical landscape, forever. Lets talk Beastie Boys, Licensed…
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566 Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock
In December of 1986 Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force released a collection of singles. The song “Planet Rock” was one of the earliest hits of the hip hop music genre, remains one of its pioneering recordings & was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine at #240 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs…
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565 Elvis Costello – Blood and Chocolate
In September of 1986 Elvis Costello released his 11th studio album. The man doesn’t know how to write bad songs. Let’s talk Elvis Costello, Blood & Chocolate!
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564 Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85
In June of 1985 Scritti Politti released their second studio album. To this day it remains the band’s best selling album, peaking at number five on the UK charts and spawning three top 20 hits in the UK. Let’s talk Scritti Politti, Cupid & Psyche!
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563 Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down
MP3 Audio [43 MB]DownloadShow URL Don’t Stand Me Down is the third studio album by English pop band Dexys Midnight Runners, released in September 1985 by Mercury Records. The album was released three years after their second album, the internationally successful Too-Rye-Ay. At the time, Dexys’ lineup had been pared down from ten members to…
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562 Simply Red – Picture Book
In October of 1985 Simply Red released their debut album. It would go on to dominate the charts worldwide, achieving platinum sales status in six countries. Let’s talk Simply Red, Picture Book!
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561 New Order – Low-Life
In May of 1985 New Order released their 3rd studio album. Scholars maintain that the record solidified the band’s divorce from post punk and their full embrace of dance rock. Lets talk New Order, Low – Life!
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560 The Jesus and Mary Chain – Psychocandy
MP3 Audio [41 MB]DownloadShow URL The Jesus and Mary Chain’s debut album, Psychocandy, is considered to be one of the most influential albums of all time. Released in 1985, the album helped to define the shoegaze genre, characterized by its use of distorted guitars, feedback, and lush melodies. Surprisingly Psychocandy was a critical and commercial…
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559 Tom Waits – Rain Dogs
MP3 Audio [48 MB]DownloadShow URL Tom Waits continues his transition that was started in Swordfishtrombones with his 9th outing Rain Dogs in 1985. Some call it his best work and a pivotal move from the singer songwriter’s previous material before he leans into the cathartic carnival barker of bone machine and beyond. What do you…
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558 The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
MP3 Audio [49 MB]DownloadShow URL The Smiths’ second album, Meat Is Murder, was released in 1985 and quickly became one of the most controversial albums of the decade. The album’s title track, a staunchly anti-meat anthem, was banned by the BBC, and the album itself was met with mixed reviews. However, over the years, Meat…
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557 Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
MP3 Audio [54 MB]DownloadShow URL We recorded this episode in the fall of 2021 without a clue that In 2022, “Running Up That Hill” would received renewed attention when it was featured in the fourth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things released May 27, 2022. Its appearance led to the song’s resurgence on charts around the…
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556 The Pogues – Rum Sodomy and the Lash
In August of 1985 The Pogues released their sophomore album. It was produced by Elvis Costello and recorded at Elephant Studios in Wapping, London. Of the recording process itself, Costello had this to say: “I saw my task was to capture them in their dilapidated glory before some more professional producer fucked them up.” Let’s…
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555 Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega
In May of 1985 Suzanne Vega released her debut album. Gary Kenton: “Vega can get a bit pretentious, but what singer-songwriter worth a damn doesn’t? Its the price you pay for taking risks. Suzanne Vega is a flattering and very substantial introduction.” Let’s talk Suzanne Vega, Suzanne Vega!
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554 Big Black – Atomizer
In January of 1986 Big Black released their debut album. A shot across the bow for what was considered extreme music at the time, the record is an all out aural assault. Chicago industrial has arrived. Let’s talk Big Black, Atomizer!
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553 The Mekons – Fear and Whiskey
In 1985 The Mekons released their 4th studio album. Robert Christgau: “Just when I never wanted to hear a roots-rock record again, along come these British anarchists with a sort of concept album sort of about life during wartime. The Americans are clearing a sector down south, but that doesn’t stop the good guys from…
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552 Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen
In June of 1985 Prefab Sprout released their second studio album. Produced by Thomas Dolby (Booker T. Boffin for those in the know), the album has been praised by critics as a “shimmering jazz-pop masterpiece” that is “buttressed by a phenomenal rhythm section and fairy-dusted with Wendy Smith’s breathy harmonies”. Let’s talk Prefab Sprout, Steve…
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551 Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
*quick editor’s note: we’ve still got mixer gremlin issues for these next two episodes, recommend playing at 1.5x speed, sorry for the inconvenience. In May of 1985 Dire Straits released their 5th studio album. Though initially spanned by critics upon its release, album would go on to be their biggest selling, spawning five singles, spending…
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550 Tears for Fears – Songs From the Big Chair
In February of 1985 Tears for Fears released their second studio album. The record is a pop masterpiece that spawned six singles, and would go on to achieve multiple times platinum sales on both sides of the Atlantic. Let’s talk Tears for Fears, Songs From the Big Chair!
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549 A-Ha – Hunting High and Low
In October of 1985 A-Ha released their debut studio album. The album launched the band into superstardom, spawned five singles, won accolades for their innovative music video for Take On Me. Let’s talk A-Ha, Hunting High and Low!
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548 Abdullah Ibrahim – Water From an Ancient Well
Let’s talk Abdullah Ibramin, Water From an Ancient Well!
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547 The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace
In September of 1985 The Fall released their 8th studio album. Recorded between June & July of the same year, it is widely considered to be one of the band’s finest outings. Let’s talk The Fall, This Nation’s Saving Grace!
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546 Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A
In June of 1984 Bruce Springsteen released his 7th studio album. The follow up his subdued and minimal master piece, Nebraska, Springsteen opted for the bombast of his earlier works and in the process created one of the best, best selling records of all time. Let’s talk Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA!
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545 Youssou N’dour – Immigres
MP3 Audio [32 MB]DownloadShow URL Youssou N’dour’s 1984 album, Immigrés, is a musical ode to the Senegalese diaspora. The album was released at a time when Senegal was experiencing a wave of emigration, and N’dour’s songs spoke to the experiences of those who had left their homeland in search of a better life.