Quarter Century Review: Top 10 Albums From 1986
Revisiting the music landscape of 25 years ago is an interesting task. How have your tastes changed in that time? Does an album just sound cheesy now? This exercise is about determining how well certain albums have aged. Here’s what I came up with.
Peter Gabriel – So (Geffen)
Naturally, the album that sounds most dated on my list is number one. Though the keyboards forever earmark this in the mid-80’s, the sheer quality of the tracks makes it timeless. Even with John Cusack to cheese up “In Your Eyes,”. An absolute classic pop record.
Metallica – Master Of Puppets (Elektra)
1986 was the year for thrash metal and Metallica were never as vital as they were then. Acoustic interludes were beginning to become commonplace at this point but “Disposable Heroes,” proved they hadn’t gone soft…yet.
Big Black – Atomizer (Homestead)
The sound of this album is what would come to define Big Black and all subsequent Steve Albini bands. That Albini learned a great deal of his recording style from producer Iain Burgess says a lot about the passed legend. “Jordan, Minnesota,” and “Passing Complexion,” are a fantastic 1-2 punch to kick off the record.
Sonic Youth – EVOL (SST)
By this time, hardcore was dead and SST Records was much more diversified. SY’s first real classic album ushered in a new era for the label that was carried on by Dinosaur Jr.
Slayer – Reign In Blood (Def Jam)
This album pretty much sums up 1986: the rise of thrash and Def Jam Records. Amazing bookend tracks (“Angel Of Death,” and “Raining Blood,”) and one of my personal faves in the middle (“Jesus Saves,”) bludgeon and dare the listener to sit still.
Scratch Acid – Just Keep Eating (Rabid Cat)
The Davids Jesus Lizard‘s first band’s sophomore effort was not quite as amazing as their debut but very solid nonetheless. Before Duane Denison brought some focus to these gentlemen, Yow and Sims were (like the Butthole Surfers) trying to scare the Jesus out of Texans. They were Texas’ Birthday Party.
R.E.M. – Life’s Rich Pageant (I.R.S.)
Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe were hardly reinventing the wheel at this point but they made their most accessible album to date. Superstardom came soon after.
Run-DMC – Raising Hell (Def Jam)
Def Jam’s second entry on this list and the birth of rap rock. Maybe this should be removed because of that.
Hüsker Dü – Candy Apple Grey (Warner Bros.)
Purists might say that the Dü never done did anything worthwhile after leaving SST. Simply, not true. If anything, they only benefitted from focusing on songwriting and not making concept albums. Grant Hart’s songs were always my favorite and “Sorry Somehow,” was one of his very best.
Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill (Def Jam)
That’s right, three Def Jam albums. This could have gone a few different ways but I’ll just say congrats to MCA for beating cancer.
