Lime Spiders — Out of Control

• Artist: Lime Spiders
• Title: Out of Control
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 10 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – Unicorn Records in Portsmouth, VA
• Keeper: Yes

If you don’t like this record then Aussie garage rock is just not your thing. This Lime Spiders single, “Out of Control”, is as good as it gets. Their playing is also out of control, but super-tight at the same time. They’re always locked in to each other, but it ain’t like they’re recording to a click track. When the songs get to the exciting parts they step on the gas and play as fast as they want. Which is my kind of perfection. The flipside “Save My Soul” is just as good and maybe even more frenetic.

Depeche Mode — Shake the Disease

• Artist: Depeche Mode
• Title: Shake the Disease
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – “I was in art school at the time, you couldn’t be in art school and not buy Depeche Mode back then.”
• Keeper: Maybe

Ah man, I was just about to trash this single and then I listened to it again. I’ve always been sorta neutral on Depeche Mode, but I did buy one album early on. “Shake the Disease” has a cool minor key melody that to me screams for a heavy metal makeover. I know, I say that about every other decent pop song. This time I really mean it. The flipside “Flexible” has a curiously upbeat thing going on that doesn’t sound like Depeche Mode to me. Both songs are good. Lemme see those horn Depeche Metalheads!

a-ha — The Sun Always Shines on T.V.

• Artist: a-ha
• Title: The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: No information available
• Keeper: No

“It’s not bad, it’s just not super.” That’s from the owner herself, and I think it sums it up. I’m no a-ha historian, but I don’t think “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” was even a hit. The flipside is “Driftwood.” Either one ring any bells?

Various Artists — Alive and Kicking

Various Artists -- Alive and Kicking

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Alive and Kicking
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – “Probably at a show…”
• Keeper: Yes

OK, that was a pathetically long lay off. Work gets in the way. We’re back with some more DC hardcore. Alive and Kicking is a six song, six artist 7 inch in cool milky clear vinyl. The bands are United Mutation, Gray Matter, Beefeater, Mission Impossible, Cereal Killer, and Marginal Man. I like pretty much all of it. Some of it is straight-up hardcore and some songs, like Beefeater’s “Wars in Space” with someone playing “out” on sax, are more art-edge punk.

And, no, this wasn’t put out by Dischord. It was released by WGNS Recordings and Metrozine. Mary thinks she got it at a show, but says she knew so many of the people in the bands that she may have bought it from one of the guys.

Pere Ubu — Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection

• Artist: Pere Ubu
• Title: Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – When I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.

I’m not cool enough, or maybe just not old enough, to have bought Pere Ubu’s early records when they came out, but I did get “Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection” when I was 19 or so. They make some pretty interesting music that’s not easy to describe, but someone at Wikipedia did a good job with this article about the band.

I saw them live at the Town & Country Club in London way back in 1987, or maybe ’86. The opening acts were Ut, followed by The Mekons. For the most part, it seemed like a Mekons crowd. That said, Pere Ubu put on a great, but abbreviated show that most people seemed to enjoy.

Unfortunately, some folks expressed their gratitude by throwing crap on the stage or even at the musicians. At one point Pere Ubu singer David Thomas made it clear that if there was any further silliness that they would walk off the stage. Sure enough, some bonehead had to throw something and Mr. Thomas immediately walked off in a huff. I can’t say I blame him. The rest of the band tried to carry on for a bit but it was clear he wasn’t coming back. The other band members eventually walked off too, looking rather frustrated. I’m not sure if Thomas, the crowd, or both were the source of that frustration.

The Fall — This Nation’s Saving Grace

• Artist: The Fall
• Title: This Nation’s Saving Grace
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA

Mostly just out of ignorance I never got that into The Fall. I think if I had been exposed to them more when I was young(er) and open-minded I would’ve been a big fan. They were post-punk before most people knew what punk was. I like their album “This Nation’s Saving Grace”, but agree with Mary’s comment that “they need some editing.” Which is a phrase she has to hear me say all the time. There are some great arty hooks on this, but I doubt I’ll get back around to playing it much. I’ll stop before I need some (more) editing.

Get the scoop on The Fall at Wikipedia.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — The Firstborn is Dead

• Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
• Title: The Firstborn is Dead
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

I’ve listened to “The Firstborn is Dead” by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds a couple times over the last few days. I’m not sure what I think about it. I’ve always loved the first song, “Tupelo”, and it’s still my favorite. Like most music by Mr. Cave it’s not the kind of thing you’re likely to put on the turntable when you’re having a party. That said, some of it definitely sticks in your head. Whether that’s a good thing is really up to you, but it will stick with you either way.

(And excuse my fuzzy reflection in that glossy black album cover.)

Xmal Deutschland — Sequenz

Xmal Deutschland -- Sequenz

• Artist: Xmal Deutschland
• Title: Sequenz
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Bought when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

“Sequenz” is a three song 12 inch by Xmal Deutschland. When I played the first side I asked Mary if she knew who it was and she guessed Siouxsie and The Banshees. And that’s funny because I later saw this Wikipedia article about Xmal Deutschland and it noted that the singer was often compared to Siouxsie Sioux. I don’t know… I loved the first song “Jahr Um Jahr II”, but the other two, “Autumn” and “Polarlicht” were kinda… blah.

Salem 66 – A Ripping Spin

• Artist: Salem 66
• Title: A Ripping Spin
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Probably when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

Live from Hampton, VA. — Uh, well, I tried to like this one. Mary says when she saw Salem 66 play live that the band and the music was exciting. “A Ripping Spin” doesn’t seem that exciting now. It’s not that either of us think it’s bad, they do have an interesting sound. It’s just that considering all the records we have we probably won’t play it again.

R.E.M. — Fables of The Reconstruction

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Fables of The Reconstruction
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Not sure

This is another R.E.M. record that I just can’t get into even though I think it’s decent music. “Fables of The Reconstruction” has at least two hits, “Driver 8” and “Can’t Get There From Here.” I’ve tried to listen to it a few times over the last couple days, but I always managed to distract myself with other things. Maybe I’m just missing something.

The pictures of the album jacket below may look upside-down, but that’s how it was originally packaged. Trust me, it was oriented correctly. Those guys were just being arty.