Duke by Genesis (1980)
By 1975, Peter Gabriel had become a dress-wearing, oddly coiffured escaped mental patient. He subsequently flounced out of Genesis due […]
1980s
No Jacket Required by Phil Collins (1985)
Phil fucking Collins was everywhere in the 1980s – on the cover of this ubiquitous gazillion-selling album, for example, which
The Road to Hell by Chris Rea (1989)
Fittingly enough from the perspective of someone whose biggest hit was a Christmas song, Chris Rea died at the end
Darklands by the Jesus and Mary Chain (1987)
I am only tangentially familiar with miserable, rain-drenched Scottish post-punk band the Jesus and Mary Chain because (a) they were
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits (1985)
The number of world-bestriding rock bands generated by declining post-industrial British cities in the latter third of the 20th century
The Smiths, deep dive (part II)
continued from part I The Queen is Dead (1986)Up until this point in their career, the Smiths were in danger
The Smiths, deep dive (part I)
The Smiths are a byword for depressed, rainswept, northern English alternative rock music, at least judging by a string of
Hunting High and Low by a-ha (1985)
Obviously, Scandinavians shouldn’t be making pop music. Yes, this narcolepsy-inducing subspecies of emotionless, inveterately level-headed neat freaks are great when
Moving Pictures by Rush (1981)
Just to nail my colours to the mast; I don’t like prog rock, I find its overly long, meandering song
True by Spandau Ballet (1983)
The “battle of the bands” marketing gimmick had its roots in the 1960s, in the manufactured confrontation between the Beatles