Author Archives: tacopepper

     Today we have the last album from the fun-loving and high-energy decade that was the 1980s.  I started the ‘80s as a clueless pre-teen, and left the ‘80s as a newly employed and slightly less clueless college graduate, with no idea how much change was really coming my way.  For this last album, weContinue reading “Janet Jackson “Rhythm Nation 1814” (1989)”

     You may recall that I gave my son ten slots to pick albums I had otherwise left off of my initial list.  Today we have his next selection, “The Sensual World” by Kate Bush.  I think from discussions that he picked Kate Bush to challenge me, trying to expand my horizons, while overlooking IContinue reading “Kate Bush “The Sensual World” (1989)”

     As we approach the end of the 1980s, we have one more stunning and spectacular albums from one of the decade’s defining acts, Robert Smith and his band The Cure.  Today’s album is “Disintegration”, which is the #116 rated album on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  Returning to their darkerContinue reading “The Cure “Disintegration” (1989)”

     The next version of Jeff Lynne-produced solo music for one of his friends, all of which sounds strikingly similar, is “Full Moon Fever” from Tom Petty.  As I noted with “Cloud Nine” from George Harrison as well as “Mystery Girl” by Roy Orbison, Lynne produced an album for nearly all of his Traveling WilburysContinue reading “Tom Petty “Full Moon Fever” (1989)”

     When it comes to 1980’s pop music icons, one of the last, but certainly not least, artists we discuss is none other than Madonna Louise Ciccone.  Bursting on to the scene in the middle of the decade, her combination of singing, dancing and sexual provocation made her one of the biggest stars in theContinue reading “Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989)”

     A bit of a step back in time, as we celebrate the commercial resurgence of singer-guitarist Bonnie Raitt.  I initially selected the album from 1989, “Nick of Time”, as it is #492 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, but I’m adding in her follow-up “Luck of the Draw”, which cameContinue reading “Bonnie Raitt “Nick of Time” (1989) & “Luck of the Draw” (1991)”

     One of the best experiences of this blog is when I start with an album I expect to moderately enjoy, and it turns into one of my absolute favorites.  Today we have another highly influential hip-hop album from the late ‘80s, “3 Feet High and Rising” by De La Soul.  I was always familiarContinue reading “De La Soul “3 Feet High and Rising” (1989)”

     As I have discussed before, the Neville Brothers remain one of the most influential bands in my entire life.  I have seen them more times in concert than any other act, and although they are sadly a part of our musical past, with Art and Charles Neville having moved on to that musical jambalayaContinue reading “The Neville Brothers “Yellow Moon” (1989)”

     One of the biggest musical trends of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s was the emergence of new jack swing, blending the powerful, yet essentially separate worlds of melodic R&B and the drum-beat rap and funky intensity of hip-hop.  No artist was bigger in this domain than Bobby Brown, first as one of theContinue reading “Bobby Brown “Don’t Be Cruel” (1988)”

     As I continue my search for the “perfect” R.E.M. album, we get a little closer to that ideal state with 1988’s “Green”.  I would sum up this album by saying that it is a battle between the rocking, up-tempo tracks and the slower, softer acoustic tracks.  While R.E.M. has created some beautifully soft musicContinue reading “R.E.M. “Green” (1988)”