WRITERS' FAVES 1984

Rip It Up, Issue 90, 1 January 1985, Page 2

WRITERS' FAVES 1984

RUSSELL BROWN ALBUMS • Split Seconds, Bilderine: Startling snapshots from a remarkable back catalogue. Wow. • Reckoning, R.E.M. Natural mystics, Georgia style. • From Her To Eternity, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds the author strolls through his own black comedy. • Bad Ass, Hypen-Smythe “There's many kinds of watchdog and many, many kinds of meat / Toddler danced the wire, he was the pride and joy / Of his feet." EPs • Mutiny!, Birthday Party. •10 O'Clock in the afternoon, Verlaines. • Between Two Thieves, VFC. • Slugbucket Hairybreathmonster. Tall Dwarfs. • Garden of Lycanthropy, Hyphenears. LIVE • Children’s Hour last gig, Windsor. • Chills. Mainstreet. • Verlaines, Windsor. • Motorhead, various locations. • Eurythmics, Sweetwaters. SPECIAL PRIZE FOR * DOMESTIC TECHNOLOGY • The Stridulators. 1985 • “Actually, I've always been really into Hank Williams.’” • The Chills • The nightclub backlash. • Say Yes To Apes • Flying Nun video. STUPIDEST RECORD COVER • The Pros & Cons Of Hitchhiking, Roger Waters. KERRY BUCHANAN NEW SOUNDS FOR 84 • ‘No Sellout’, Malcolm X. • 'Unity’, James Brown & Afrika Bambaata. • Busy Body, Luther Vandross.

• 'Renegades Of Funk’, Afrika Bambaata & the Sonic Soul Force. • Just Be Good To Me’, S O S. Band. 5 SOUL GEMS FROM THE PAST • Have You Seen Her', Chi-Lites. • 'Me and Mrs Jones’, Billy Paul. • 'You’re A Big Girl Now’, Stylistics. • ‘Hurt’, Manhattans. • Good Year For the Roses’, George Jones. CHRIS CADDICK ALBUMS • Welcome to the Pleasure Dome, Frankie Goes to Hollywood T.K.O. of the year. • Fervour, Jason and the Scorchers: Giving country music a nudge along. • The Optimist, DD Smash Great voice, great songs, big future. • Victims of the Future, Gary Moore Axe hero of the year. • 1984, Van Halen Metal that doesn’t take itself too seriously. ALISTER CAIN ALBUMS • The Jaws Of Life, Hunters & Collectors: So much clout, this one was never in doubt. • Sparkle in the Rain, Simple Minds: Influential beyond belief, listen to your radio and see why. • Ocean Rain, Echo & the Bunnymen: Once again, says Corporal Cain. • Send You, Sneaky Feelings: Crunchier than the Smiths. • 10 O'Clock in the Afternoon, the Verlaines: The greatest thing since Boodle. FAVE 5 UNRELEASED SONGS • Better Than Before’, Sneaky Feelings. • ’The Champions', the Bats. • Ashened, Ashened, Autumn Leaves’, Dance Exponents. • 'Nurse Next Door',

Netherworld Dancing Toys. • Many Doublehappys songs, the Doublehappys. 5 FASHION CURSES • Double Belts. • The return of dayglo. • Andrew Fagan. • Black (or white) smock dresses. • Frankie T-shirts (in fact, Frankie full stop). SPECIAL RAPSON/CAIN AWARD FOR BEST POSTER • The latest Sneaky Feelings one featuring David Pine. DUNCAN CAMPBELL ALBUMS • Making History, Linton Kwesi Johnson the Bard of Brixton strikes again after a long absence, during which he has written verse to make us all feel humble. • The Unforgettable Fire, U2 The mystical transformation of a pop band into something darker and infinitely more challenging. • Brilliant Trees, David Sylvian: Ex-Japan frontman makes a solo debut filled with fragile beauty. • History, Mystery, Prophecy, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry: A stillmasterful reggae warhorse, full of flash and fun. • Don Carlos & Gold/The Gladiators, Showdown Vol 3, Righteous music, featuring some heady new Scientist mixes. THANKS FOR THE SINGLES • Alison Moyet, DD Smash, Cocteau Twins, Sugar Minott. THANKS FOR THE VIDEOS • Malcolm McLaren, Rickie Lee Jones, Jeffrey Osborne, Scritti Politti. BEST SANDWICH • Pepperoni and Brie. BEST PERFORMANCE • Eurythmics. TURKEY • Anything labelled 'Club Mix/Dance Mix/Carnage Mix’, etc ... SHAYNE CARTER ALBUMS • Las Vegas Story, the Gun Club: The Club’s third, in which JLP finally confirms that when he’s good he’s very good and when he’s bad he’s up there with the best.

• Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes: Still stands internationally as one of the freshest bursts this decade, tho’ that doesn't say much. • How Does It Feel, Creation: Highly recommended compilation of late 60s psychedelic groovers whose lead guitarist was once asked to join The Who. Upon his refusal, Pete Townshend joined the Creation fan club instead. • Same As the Cavemen, the Cramps: Once heard live bootleg to be welcomed with broken arms. THINGS THAT MADE 1984 BEARABLE 1. Alcohol. 2. Flying Nun. 3. Muldoon’s demise. 4. ’Big League Soccer’. 5. Doleday Thursday. TV GOAL OF THE YEAR • Big League Soccer’, “letters spot" (August). Tony Currie for Leeds Utd v QPR. Currie, surrounded by three defenders, receives ball on left hand edge of the box, somehow finds a gap and curls a delicious shot past bewildered goalkeeper. Phew, what a scorcher! NEIL CARTWRIGHT NZ • Ya Ya Ya, Children’s Hour. • Looking For A Battlefield (cassette), Evasive Action • Wotsoever (cassette), No Idea. • Between Two Thieves, YFC. • Pink Frost’, Chills. OVERSEAS • ’Lean On Me’, the Redskins. • Murder In a Foreign Place, MIA. • Foolish Ideas (cassette), Vicious Circle. • Life’s A Riot, Billy Bragg. • ‘Metal Circus’, Husker Du. HOPES • The rise of Compos Mentis, Armatrak and Five Year Mission and continuing rise of No Idea. More bands to form and I hope to see the growth of a strong, enthusiastic, cooperative punk alternative music scene in NZ. Be more than a witness. GEORGE KAY ALBUMS • Cover, Tom Verlaine: Still brilliant and neglected after all

these years. • Reckoning, R.E.M.: The year's best band album—no contest. • Tonight, David Bowie: A shining tour-de-force through nightlife in clubland. • A Walk Across the Rooftops, Blue Nile: The year's sleeper, so sensual and understated yet so easy to underestimate. • Out Deh, Gregory Isaacs: The coolest, most melodic reggae since Night Nurse. SINGLES • ’Pink Frost’, the Chills. • ‘Castles In Spain’, The Armoury Show. • ‘Smalltown Boy’ 12”, Bronski Beat. • ‘All Cried Out', Alison Moyet. • ‘Girl Afraid’/’Jean’, the Smiths. RICHARD LANGSTON FOREIGN • Life's A Riot, Billy Bragg A raw burst of jangle and bite that yelled “screw pomposity!” • Reckoning, R.E.M.: A dreamy, timeless piece from backwater USA. • 'This Charming Man', Smiths. "Will nature make a man of me yet...” Da lyric. • Tell Me When It’s Over, Dream Syndicate: LA hippies redeemed by Velvet Underground fixation. • ‘Angels and Devils’, Echo and the Bunnymen: Their best move of the year—back to the garage. BIGGEST THRILLS • Visiting Dave Swift at the NME. • Going to Liverpool to see Echo and the Bunnymen. • Having enough money to get back to Dunedin. BEST GIGS • Cramps, London. • Go-Betweens, London. • Billy Bragg. London. SURPRISE OF THE YEAR • Seeing Lux Interior’s member. DAVID PERKINS ALBUMS • Born In the USA, Bruce Springsteen: A great survival record from the Boss. • The Unforgettable Fire, U2:

Bono takes the vocal award for 1984.

• Stealing Fire, Bruce Cockburn: Lyrical masterpiece from a vastly underrated artist. • The Pros & Cons Of Hitchhiking Roger Waters The most pleasurable piece of insanity in 1984. • Body & Soul, Joe Jackson: Dedication pays off on this superbly crafted album. MARK PHILLIPS ALBUMS • Cafe Bleu, the Style Council: The capuccino society comes clean. • The Poet 11, Bobby Womack: Worst-dressed cool ruler reigns. • Alf, Alison Moyet: White soul singer of the year. • Welcome To the Pleasure Dome: Frankie Goes To Hollywood: For getting away with it. • Busy Body Luther Vandross: Inspirational dance record of the year. MOST DISAPPOINTING ALBUMS • How Men Are, Heaven 17. • Hysteria, Human League. FIONA RAE ALBUMS • Reckoning R.E.M.: Georgia soul with a country heart, yay! • Send You, Sneaky Feelings: Music to get reflective to. • Engine Shudder, Moodists Australian post B. Party thrashtrash. • Split Seconds, Bilderine Moments of sheer bloody brilliance. CLOSE • ‘lnside Track/Queue', Stridulators. • Slugbucket Hairybreathmonster, Tall Dwarfs. • ‘Poi-E’, Patea Maori Club (a breakthrough). • Only A Woman, Judy Mo watt. • Jigsaw Breakfast (cassette), Strange Language. • Bad Ass, Hyphen-Smythe. LIVE • Freudian Slips, Regular Cadets, Great Unwashed: Vic Uni Band final. • Marie and the Atom, Verlaines: Vic Uni cafe. • Elvis Costello, Christchurch. • Sneaky Feelings, the Pulse. • Gordons, Verlaines; Gluepot.

1985 , • Regular Cadets leave Gisborne and take over the world. . • More NZ women on vinyl. • Ronnie Ray-gun, Maggie Hatchet and heavy metal bands are wiped off the face of the planet. DAVID TAYLOR ALBUMS • Reckoning, R.E.M. Tranceinducing sounds of herculean dimensions; cool-to-the-x. • Love Wars, Womack and Womack: Spirited soul. Let's get it on! • Life’s A Riot, Billy Bragg A ‘real world’ diamond; rough hewn, cloaking mixed emotions. • Days Of Wine and Roses,, Dream Syndicated magical ' medicine show of Velvet proportions—a sure thing baby. • Live and Direct Aswad The sweet sound of summer, mellow and uplifting. ONCE IN A LIFETIME LIVE AWARD • Talking Heads, Christchurch. BEST SOUNDTRACK • Purple Rain, Prince. GRIPE • Can't get Radio Active in Karori. PETER THOMSON ALBUMS • Shoot Out the Lights,

Richard and Linda Thompson After a two year delay. The creative highpoint and splitting asunder of a remarkable creative partnership. • Born in the USA, Bruce Springsteen: It may only be rock 'n’ roll but he damn near defines it. • Southern Excursion, the Brian Smith Quartet While taking nothing away from the Dance Exponents' deserved success, for me Smith and co whipped up the most exciting NZ album of the year. • The Ballad of the Fallen, Charlie Haden: Haden and Carla Bley’s 12-piece orchestra in an intensely

beautiful lament for the victims of Reagan’s Central American policy. • Out To Lunch, Eric Dolphy Re-issue of the year. 20 years old yet it contains some of the most stimulating new sounds I've heard this year. SINGLES FOR THE JOY OF LIVING • ‘Dancing in the Dark’, Bruce Springsteen. • 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun'. Cyndi Lauper. • ‘Free Nelson Mandela', Special AKA. • 'I Want A New Drug’, Huey Lewis and the News. • 'Long Ago’, Herbs.

NEW ZEALAND FAVE TEN

The Rip-lt-Up writers' poll of New Zealand records is back again. We asked our regular writers to list their favourite five local records of the year in order of preference (just like the Australian elections). The results are listed below: 1. 10 O'Clock In the Afternoon, ER the Verlaines. 2. 'Pink Frost’ 45, the Chills. 3. ‘Long Ago’, 45, Herbs. 4. Double B-Side, 45, the Doublehappys. 5. Split Seconds, LP, Bill Direen. 6. Send You, LR Sneaky Feelings. 7. Singles, double 45, the Great Unwashed. 8. Ya Ya Ya (‘Washed Away 1 ), 45, Children’s Hour. 9. 'Sex and Agriculture’, Dance Exponents. 10. = 'Aku Raukura’, 45, Patea Maori Club. = ‘Elephunk In My Soup', 45, Low Profile. = ‘Whaling’, 45, DD Smash. = The Optimist, LP, DD Smash.