In earlier articles, we surveyed some standout albums of the New Wave years (1978-1982) and faculty radio period (1983-86). This time, we’ll cowl 11 nice data from pre-Nirvana years, 1987 to 1990.
Nirvana launched Nevermind in 1991, a watershed second not only for Nirvana, however for punk and different rock typically. Indie rock endures to at the present time. But, with Nirvana’s ascent, the very best “indie” band turned one in every of America’s greatest bands, and the excellence misplaced which means.
This checklist will comply with kind of the identical guidelines as the sooner entries. We’ll deal with albums that signify an artist’s greatest work. We’ll largely keep away from main labels and mainstream acts. We love Discuss Discuss‘s Spirit of Eden, however that band’s High-40 origins make it a problematic choose.
What follows is, in fact, a mere sampling of nice indie data from the pre-Nirvana years. Please inform us some others within the feedback.
Louder Than Bombs – The Smiths, March 1987.
To maintain up with the Smiths within the Nineteen Eighties, you needed to shell out for a succession of expensive singles. Plenty of their greatest songs weren’t on the albums, a top quality that set them aside from most different artists on this checklist. Louder Than Bombs was a godsend, amassing two dozen A and B sides, a few of which hadn’t been obtainable in america. Right here, in a single place, you bought “Shoplifters of the World Unite,” “Heaven Is aware of I am Depressing Now,” “Ask,” and “William, It Was Actually Nothing.” It is nonetheless my favourite Smiths launch. No different assortment, maybe, shows the band’s constant artistry throughout 5 temporary years.
You are Residing All Over Me – Dinosaur Jr., December 1987.
Dinosaur Jr. visited my faculty across the time this album got here out. The band was the speak of campus, a minimum of among the many ranks of beginner musicians: Simply whenever you thought they may play no louder, it was stated, the guitarist would punch one other distortion pedal and pin you to the wall. Who knew that Dinosaur Jr. can be round almost 40 years later. The perfect tune from the unique incarnation might be “Freak Scene,” from Bug (1988), however this was the very best album. It is also my favourite SST launch from the post-Hüsker Dü years.
Surfer Rosa – Pixies, March 1988.
From the thundering drums that open “Bone Machine,” Surfer Rosa was the sound each loud band sought on the flip of the Nineties. The document introduced the arrival of the Pixies, the uber-indie act of its period, and it made the fame of Steve Albini, late of Large Black, as a curmudgeonly Chicago document producer. To listen to what Surfer Rosa impressed, take a look at Nirvana’s In Utero and PJ Harvey‘s Rid of Me. Singer Black Francis revealed one in every of punk rock’s nice voices and a brace of good songs. This album additionally launched Kim Deal, bassist and future Breeder. The follow-up, Doolittle (1989), is sort of pretty much as good.
Life’s Too Good – The Sugarcubes, April 1988.
This Icelandic import was the primary and greatest launch from the Sugarcubes, and it launched many U.S. indie followers to the legendary Björk. Neither band nor album has aged notably effectively: You do not hear Sugarcubes songs a lot as of late, and I do not see the album on many lists of all-time greats. However Björk was an excellent singer, as gifted as Black Francis, and her supply elevates “Birthday” and “Deus” into the pantheon. Just a few different songs sound dated, and second vocalist Einar Örn Benediktsson is an acquired style, Fred Schneider with an perspective. Nonetheless, Life’s Too Good is a good album.
Daydream Nation – Sonic Youth, October 1988.
This document established Sonic Youth because the preeminent artist of punk rock’s artsy wing, if not of all indie rock. I learn someplace that Sister (1987) was Sonic Youth‘s Freeway 61 and Daydream Nation its Blonde on Blonde. Perhaps so. The sooner albums Evol (1986) and Sister are terrific, however transitional. Daydream Nation is Sonic Youth’s magnum opus. By this time, the band had realized to harness noise within the service of melody, bizarre however tuneful chords, and precise pop hooks. It was as if the “White Mild”-era Velvet Underground had Evol-ved into the Rolling Stones. “Teen Age Riot” ranks with “Freak Scene” among the many nice songs of the Nineteen Eighties.
Is not Something – My Bloody Valentine, November 1988.
One other gorgeous debut, Is not Something launched a band as flat-out loud as Dinosaur Jr., and simply as enamored of Fender Jazzmasters and the distortion pedal. In contrast to the comparatively prolific Dinosaur, MBV produced solely three studio albums (and two masterpieces, the second being Loveless, in 1991). However what albums they’re. “Lose My Breath” and “Cupid Come,” from Is not Something, are mesmerizing sludge-fests. “Breath” options the chic vocals of Bilinda Butcher, whose dreamy vibe was supposedly induced by recording the tracks simply after she had woke up. “You By no means Ought to” hurtles like a damaged curler coaster. Kevin Shields emerged from the muck as a bona fide guitar hero, very like J Mascis of Dinosaur, uncommon birds within the faculty radio period.
Cosmic Factor – The B-52s, June 1989.
Cosmic Factor marked a spectacular comeback for the B-52s following the loss of life of founding guitarist Ricky Wilson, to not point out a large industrial breakthrough. To completely admire this document, think about listening to it upon its launch, earlier than “Love Shack” and “Roam” blared forth from each automotive speaker in America. Had it not turn out to be large, I believe Cosmic Factor can be regarded at the moment as a forgotten indie-pop masterpiece. “Dry County,” “Deadbeat Membership” and “Topaz” are harmonic gems. Singers Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson are a revelation, a full decade after the band’s recorded debut. I believe Cosmic Factor lastly solved the puzzle of tips on how to mix their intertwined harmonies with Fred Schneider’s droll commentary.
The Mekons Rock ‘n Roll – Mekons, September 1989.
I noticed the Mekons at a half-empty L.A. membership a few years after this document got here out. You could not have requested for a greater rock-and-roll album than The Mekons Rock ‘n Roll, a feast of Beatle-esque guitar riffs propelling highly effective songs with Every day Employee lyrics. And but, even in L.A., the band could not fill a room. The Mekons began out as first-wave British punks. They finally relocated to Chicago, the place I consider they continue to be. The Mekons Rock ‘n Roll is their most interesting hour, though Concern and Whiskey (1985) is a basic post-punk album, and something Sally Timms sings is value listening to. I personal one in every of roughly 10 vinyl copies of “Rock ‘n Roll” bought within the States.
13 Songs – Fugazi, September 1989.
The second compilation on this checklist, 13 Songs combines the primary two EPs from Fugazi, a post-punk supergroup that arose from the ashes of (a minimum of) two legendary D.C. hardcore ensembles, Minor Risk and Rites of Spring. Fugazi slowed hardcore’s tempo with out sapping its vitality, injecting polyrhythms and jagged riffs to yield cardio punk anthems. The vitality between Fugazi and its viewers was explosive, an impact I noticed at only some different reveals of that period. (A Fishbone/Primus double invoice involves thoughts.) I discovered a Fugazi video with 10 million views. However good luck explaining the band, not to mention buzzing a tune, to a nonbeliever.
Key Lime Pie – Camper Van Beethoven, September 1989.
I really feel slightly sheepish together with the ultimate Camper Van Beethoven LP on this checklist: It’s the least CVB-sounding CVB album, extra like a Lowery solo LP. Nevertheless it’s an excellent set of songs, in all probability essentially the most constant CVB assortment. With this recording, frontman David Lowery traded the absurdist wit of “Good Guys and Unhealthy Guys” and “We Noticed Jerry’s Daughter” for darker stuff about JFK and Thomas Pynchon and Ronald Reagan and the loss of life of the American Dream. “Sweethearts,” “After I Win the Lottery” and “All Her Favourite Fruit” are tragic epics, with the lyrical depth of Springsteen. Come on Darkness, certainly.
Heaven or Las Vegas – Cocteau Twins, September 1990.
Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins was one in every of Britain’s nice indie-rock voices of this period, together with Beth Gibbons of Portishead, Tracey Thorn of Every part however the Lady and the aforementioned Sally Timms. Cocteau Twins, a Scottish dream-pop trio, produced a number of pretty, ethereal albums, together with Treasure (1984) and Blue Bell Knoll (1988). Heaven or Las Vegas is a little more accessible than the others, and the title observe turned a college-radio hit. I’ve performed all of those data dozens of instances, and I am nonetheless attempting to determine them out.
Daniel de Visé is a frequent AllMusic contributor and writer of King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King and The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Movie Basic.
