Music
The Best Songs of an Important Year
These are the golden greats that have stuck with me since 1989
It was my man Kevin Alexander who put the writing prompt “What Were Your Favourite Songs When You Were 16 Years Old” in my mind a few weeks ago on Plethora of Pop. He also writes on The Riff as well, which is where I know him from.
That was a big year, 1989. I learned how to drive a car, I navigated the switch from Junior High to High School — (where I grew up in the suburbs of Vancouver BC, the final two years of public education happened in a different place than the previous years) and I hit some pretty serious goals as a competitive swimmer, following a black line at the bottom of a pool morning after morning after morning. Afternoons too.
It was while either in that car or with my face in the water, that my music education really began to round out. That might seem odd, but others among us who were swimmers will knowingly nod their heads when I tell you that whatever song is in your head that day will not cease to roll around in it during a 90 minute, 6000 metre practice.
I recall a number of stand out songs that were on heavy repeat in my life at that time. It was still cassette (mix) tapes, Rolling Stone magazine, the Georgia Straight (the weekly free local culture newspaper), word of mouth from friends and weekly trips to the record store in lieu of Ms Cunningham’s Tuesday afternoon English class, that brought things to my attention. The search for “new” and “good” was never satiated.
The full story can be found here, in an earlier article:
We wouldn’t be sold to, kids who were in the know like us. So I don’t mention radio here as a music delivery system because that was littered at the time with Paula Abdul, the B-52s, Poison, Chicago and Bryan Adams. These were not just not my jam. A few years later, a new radio station called Coast 1040 finally and briefly appeared on the horizon and gave our thirsty college bound ears the likes of the Catherine Wheel, Primal Scream and our Stephen Patrick Morrissey that would guide us through the next decades up to and including today.
It’s interesting that no matter the generation you come from, it’s the music of your youth that continues to speak to you, when that same youth is becoming more of a memory than anything else. There is something psychological in that. But one of the best parts of suddenly finding oneself in the middle of middle age is that your music from then is still alive and well and easily accessed. To say nothing of the fact that many of these artists and bands are still making music and touring today.
But in 1989, if you wanted good music you had to come by it the old fashioned way. You had to work for it.
It was worth it though and these are some of the lights that still guide the way today. Or sounds, rather. You know what I mean. Here then, in no particular order, are my best remembered songs of my most formative year.
Pictures of You / the Cure / Disintegration
The powerful bass melody and Robert Smith vocal driven anthem for world weary, darkly clothed suburban mopers everywhere. It probably still is today, if they know what’s good for them. A song of longing and hope, both sadly unrequited, it would seem. Clocking in at over 8 minutes, tears formed, we each of us wondered “why” as we yelled into the void, dangerously toeing the line into Goth oblivion.
Dirty Blvd / Lou Reed / New York
But he brought us back from it, did Lou Reed. Already having been around for years at this point — first with the seminal Velvet Underground and then a lengthy solo career, this is where I came in at the behest of my swimming coach at the time, who knew his music. Lou told us in album form, in very plain language and trademark spoken word monotone about the gritty underbelly of his New York as he saw it, intending us to listen to it as a series of related stories, from start to finish. It was difficult to get past this one at number 3 though.
Love Less / New Order / Technique
Our first Manchester entry, though earlier than the Madchester sound. On this album — their fifth after the death of Ian Curtis and end of Joy Division — they dare to mix 80s disco with pop hits that you can sing along to, though never in the same song. They seemed to stubbornly refuse to say the name of the particular song in its lyrics (on this album anyway), so it’s hard to remember which is which. The always human voice of Bernard Sumner and the trademark bass melodies of Peter Hook inform this tune of once again asking, “why?” and “what did I do wrong?”
Firewoman / the Cult / Sonic Temple
And now for some proper rawk. Ian Astbury’s vocals and Billy Duffy’s guitar had already produced a string of hits as the Cult and while on 1987’s Electric they did their best mid 70s AC/DC impression, they now opted for a stadium sized Led Zeppelin sound on this one. This song starts the album off as an absolute stomper, Astbury wailing away to the back row and anyone else who would listen.
Cuts You Up / Peter Murphy / Deep
Nevermind. Here’s an entire article I wrote about just this song:
Getting Away with It / Electronic / Electronic
Somebody thought that putting together Bernard Sumner from New Order, Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys and Johnny Marr of the Smiths would be a good idea. That person deserves a medal at the very least, because I don’t see how this genre ever got better than this. A classic mix of all of their sounds in one song, expertly produced.
Personal Jesus / Depeche Mode / Violator
Who doesn’t like a little bit of heroin induced self loathing? David Gahan was teetering on the edge and Martin Gore was doing his best to keep it all together with a foot stomper of a guitar riff. A bit of louche, a bit of blurry eyed and a lot of sweaty, out in the Mexican desert. Redemption is not yet at hand, that would come a few albums later.
Pure / Lightning Seeds / Cloudcuckooland
Pure could also be the name of the innocence of Ian Broudie’s lyrics and vocals on this one. Pure pop chewing satisfaction in every bite. This should have been more popular, probably best that it wasn’t.
The Last of the Famous International Playboys / Morrissey / Bona Drag
The Smiths — to say nothing of the Queen — were dead and there weren’t many people who didn’t want more from Morrissey. After a great solo debut in 1988, on his second album, he comes through with this fan boy paean to notorious London gangsters / stone cold killers Reggie and Ronnie Kray. Top of his game was Moz at the time, and several more truly great solo albums would follow. One can only wonder what has become of our Stephen Patrick. The decline has been the same as Ernest Hemingway’s description of how he went bankrupt, “Slowly at first…and then suddenly, all at once.”
Sit Down / James / Gold Mother
Already two albums in at this point, James hit their stride here, just in time for the Madchester explosion of the early 90s. This song, about finding comfort in people who are just as slightly off-kilter as you are, is still a crowd lifting anthem and the finishing staple in their live shows. Tim Booth and company are at their best here and they continue to make immensely pleasing albums today. James have been jockeying for position in my Top 3 all time for 30 years now, I am forced to disclaim.
Wave of Mutilation / Pixies / Doolittle
Short and not so sweet college rock from a band ready to explode. Black Francis and company were my first non all ages show at the legendary Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. Blazed through and belted this one out in about 2 minutes that time too, as I recall.
Sowing the Seeds of Love / Tears for Fears / The Seeds of Love
Having hit the big time a few albums in, in the mid 80s TFF came back at the end of the decade with a different, far more Beatles influenced sound. Here Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith twirl memorable lyrics and music together in one feel good anthem complete with horns arrangements to take you back to Penny Lane.
Regina / Sugarcubes / Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week
This is one where I can truly say I listened to them before. Well, before what…before Björk went solo and left her Icelandic compatriots in the dust when you all embraced her as your own. Her distinct voice and their unabashed Icelandic accents make this a fun singalong. They should really reform and tour again. And not just in Reykjavik.
She Bangs the Drums / Stone Roses / The Stone Roses
For me, this is the Madchester all time anthem of anthems that that particular era and place produced. Ian Brown and company rode a lightning bolt for a while as this sound took off and tried to hold on, to no avail. Spinning high hat, pulsing bass line, jangling guitars, wistful lyrics…what else do you want?
Let Love Rule / Lenny Kravity / Let Love Rule
Who was this guy? He didn’t look like anything else at the time and certainly didn’t sound like anyone else. Dreads, melodies, hippy dippy lyrics, Lisa Bonet on his arm. That’s where it began for brand Lenny and after this, the 90s were stratospheric for him.
Song for Whoever / Welcome to the Beautiful South / Welcome to the Beautiful South
One of many hum-along tunes from this first of many albums of a band that Paul Heaton built out of what had been the promise of the Housemartins. Here, a song about pop star penning a tune to just about anyone he’s ever come in contact with. “Jennifer, Allison, Philippa, Sue. Deborah, Annabelle, too. I forget your name.” Being from northern England, the band’s name is to be taken tongue in cheek. But shouldn’t it be “whomever”?
I’ll Be You / the Replacements / Don’t Tell a Soul
These guys had been college rock darlings for years and had already imploded in an alcohol induced haze with this second to last album. How Paul Westerberg and co. ever made another one is anyone’s guess. Here is a straight ahead and heartfelt rocker, from the time when I first heard of them. I was hooked. Tried to sneak into this show too, at 86 Street Music Hall in Vancouver. Didn’t get past the door this time.
The Magic Number / De la Soul / 3 Feet High and Rising
And finally, something completely different. Happy memories of a happy album and afternoons spent playing table tennis in a basement. You know who you are.
Ah….nostalgia, eh? I hope that brought back some happy memories for my contemporaries. I’ll also throw in at no extra charge, a similar article about a different world in 1997.
I really do hope that you like what you have just read. If you want unlimited access to thousands of writers, consider a subscription to Medium. It will set you back $5 a month and if you use this link, then I get a slice of that and I promise to put it to good use only listening to music from 3 decades ago.