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Album #537

The album cover says it all. Van Halen was a band who kicked ass and took names. They have never taken themselves too seriously but, the music has always been good. 1984 was their massive hit album. It was everywhere that year, and into the next. The group lit up MTV and MuchMusic with their hilarious (and sometimes cheaply made) music videos. The Hot for Teacher video remains a classic. Frontman David Lee Roth showed the World that he was larger than life and represented the group often on MTV. But, nothing lasts forever. The following year (1985), DLR left the band that he helped propel to stardom. His departure has divided fans ever since. Former Montrose lead singer Sammy Hagar (who had a solo hit with I Can’t Drive 55, just 2 years before) became the next lead singer of the band in mid 1985. I can’t bring myself to say replacement because NOBODY and I mean NOBODY was able to replace David Lee Roth. I’ve heard that DLR left because he hated synths being used all over the album. His fellow band members reportedly got tired of his showman persona. Bada-bing, bada-boom. I personally think it was his time. He gave everything he could give to the band and wanted to spread his wings. Who could blame him? MTV made him a huge star. Contrary to popular belief, this was not the first Van Halen album to have synthesizers on it. Several tracks on 1984’s predecessor, Diver Down, feature keyboards including their hit cover of Dancing In The Street. This addition to their sound was able to bring Van Halen to pop stardom and accessible to the masses. Yet not every track on 1984 had them. Two of the album’s biggest hits, Hot for Teacher and Panama, are full on rockers. And then, there’s Jump. The group’s biggest song and one that added to the landscape of pop radio when it was released as a single. It was also their first #1 hit. David Lee Roth’s departure was the biggest irony of all. Hard to believe that the most well known face of the biggest band in America, at the time, would end of leaving. Seems like being on top isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. And yet, he went out of the band with a huge bang. 1984 is PERFECT from start to finish. It’s not hard to figure out why it’s only one of two Van Halen albums on the list. It was the first to be recorded in Eddie Van Halen’s home studio, called 5150, after a police radio term he heard on engineer Donn Landee’s police scanner. It would also be the title of their first album with Sammy Hagar. But, I feel 1984 lacks the punch of their debut. Don’t get me wrong, the album and sound are still badass. But, the raw energy that they had 6 years prior is gone. The guitar takes a back seat. But, you can only be edgy for so long. David Lee Roth eventually rejoined his band mates, briefly in 1996 and for good in 2006. But, not without bassist Michael Anthony leaving, or getting fired depending on who you talk to. But, the album is a testament to where rock was headed in the mid to late 80’s: big hair, wacky clothes, synths and killer riffs. Thank God we still have the music and our memories. An essential album for any collection.

Other highlights include: Top Jimmy, Drop Dead Legs, I’ll Wait and House of Pain. Overall, I give 1984, 5 out of 5.

Next: Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution

Album #535

The Cocteau Twins are one of those groups that you either know and are mesmerized by their work OR, you have no freakin’ clue who they are. That’s OK. I love the fact that I am the only one among my friends who knows who they are. Their music is not for everyone. And even when I discovered them, I didn’t get them right away. Some tracks are angelic, while others are droning, random and sparse. But, is any band perfect? The Cocteau Twins comprise lead singer Elizabeth Fraser along with guitarist Robin Guthrie and bassist Simon Raymonde. These three individuals created a sound that has been copied BUT, never able to be duplicated. The key is their lead singer. Elizabeth Fraser is my favourite female singer. Her vocals are mostly indecipherable gibberish yet, she conveys so much emotion when she sings that you can instantly know what she is singing about. She conveys emotion better than any singer I know. She changes her voice to suit the song. It’s not always pretty, not always harsh but always suits the song. Their sound would not work at all without Fraser’s angelic voice. The tag “voice of an angel” I find is heavily overused. There are few people who fall into that category and in my opinion, Elizabeth Fraser’s voice and style of singing fits nicely into that label. It’s no wonder that singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley and her were very close. Buckley is her only male equivalent. It’s a shame he’s no longer with us but, Liz is still alive and kicking, yet rarely performs in public. When she does, much like Kate Bush, it is an event. This is due to her shyness. It’s always the shy ones who dazzle us and take our breath away. The Cocteau Twins broke up in 1996 and there is another album from them further down the list, in the early 90’s. Treasure has it’s ups and downs musically. Not every song is amazing but, by this album their musical trademark was fully realized. They really created dream pop and ethereal music before there was such a thing. Guthrie and Raymonde compliment Fraser’s singing magnificently. Their sparse musical accompaniment is key to their successful sound: lots of reverb, jangly guitars and bass, drum machines and overall droning. Fraser’s singing makes them stand out and that is why other’s have failed at trying to recreate this sound. Nobody can compare to Elizabeth Fraser, the true voice of an angel.

Highlights include: Ivo, Persephone, Pandora (the album’s best song and one that perfectly captures the sound of Cocteau Twins), Amelia, Cicely, Otterley and Donimo. Overall, I give Treasure, 4 out of 5.

Next: Out of Step by Minor Threat

Album #533

Run-D.M.C. are my favorite rap group. It’s probably because they combined rap and rock before anybody else. In fact, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels is a bigger fan of classic rock than hip hop. In fact, session guitarist and film composer Eddie Martinez played guitar on several of this album’s tracks. Hard rock would play a bigger role on their next album, King of Rock, but the harder edge was also present on their debut. The differing styles of D.M.C. and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, made their music exciting. The late Jam Master Jay was one of the best turntablists around, only rivaled by Erik B. and Grandmaster Flash. The best part about this album was the attitude. The group had swagger and didn’t take anything from anybody. The album sounded like it came from the street too: bare-bones, cheaply produced. But, it had a strong statement too. Hip hop was the new sound of the street. It had attitude and could be more than just some great tracks that could be played at a party or a showcase for the masters of the turntable. If anything. Run-D.M.C. paved the way for modern hip-hop. But, I love them more than many others because what they did was legitimate. It was not put on, manufactured or stylized. It was the REAL thing!!! The sound of the street. And if anything, it proves that hip hop had a new energy that was not being seen elsewhere in music. It was scary to some but, Run-D.M.C. breathed new life into something that already was starting to take the world by storm. Highlights include: Rock Box, Hollis Crew 2 (Krush-Groove 2),  and It’s Like That. Overall, I give Run-D.M.C., 4 out of 5.

Next: Diamond Life by Sade

Album #531

Colour By Numbers was Culture Club’s biggest album, and in the group’s mind, their best.The group is named after the different cultural backgrounds that each member had. It came out when Boy George was a strong symbol in 80’s pop culture. His androgynous look had it’s fair share of controversy. But, the group managed to have their biggest hit coming from the album: Karma Chameleon. A harmonica-filled, new wave smash that made the group household names thanks to the video’s endless airplay on MTV. The album came smack dab in the middle of the early 80’s pop phenomenon. Thanks to MTV, a new wave of British acts were making their way across the Atlantic. Culture Club were one of those acts. Their music is a combination of new wave, soul and pop. Boy George’s voice is similar to many of the singers who were in new wave bands at the time: smooth, deep and wailing. This album would represent the high point for the group. Within a couple of years, the band would break-up. Boy George would go on to have a solo career and make headlines for his behavior, not his music. But, the group reunited a few times over the last two decades and since 2011, they have been touring and releasing new music. Next month, they will perform this album in it’s entirety with an orchestra in England. Not bad for a group that helped shape pop music in the 80’s. Other highlights include: Black Money, Church of the Poison Mind, Stormkeeper and Victims. Overall, I give Colour by Numbers, 3 out of 5.

Next: Welcome to the Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes To Hollywood