hector@princeton.UUCP (12/14/83)
I'm posting my reply to Jeff Richardson's poll mainly because I'd be very
interested in hearing from people who are familiar with some of the less-
known artists here. I'm a DJ (and MIS Director, but who cares) at WPRB,
Princeton, NJ, 103.3 FM. We're a commercial station willing to take lots
of chances... mainly because we're also a college station at Princeton U.
Note that none of these are hardcore punk, so don't be scared to try to
find them and sample the sounds. I would recommend buying them, even unheard,
if none of your local radio stations will play them for you. (If anybody
DOES, tell me. I wouldn't expect anyone to, but it's your loss...)
Anyway, here's my personal top 14:
1) R.E.M. -- MURMUR. A fantastic album of guitar-based songs, with practically
unintelligible lyrics. Rich in complex harmonies and vocal interplay.
Scored a minor hit with "Radio Free Europe" on AOR radio. Very minor.
2) LOVE TRACTOR -- AROUND THE BEND. Mostly instrumental, mostly guitars, mood
pieces. Some of the best 'listening music' ever made.
3) THE NEATS. A band from Boston, on Ace of Hearts records, with a raw edge
to their sound. Powerfully emotional songs.
4) LET'S ACTIVE -- AFOOT. Intelligent, mildly poppy EP from Mitch Easter and
crew. Well-crafted songs, might see some AOR airplay. Or might not.
5) YAZ -- ME AND YOU BOTH. Very good dance music, able to make the club
scene a lot more palatable.
6) BILLY JOEL -- AN INNOCENT MAN. I don't care WHAT my friends say, BJ is one
of the greatest musical talents there is. Not his best, but it'll do.
He's probably going to be our generation's Sinatra 30 years from now.
7) THE JAM -- SNAP! A 3-record set of the greatest hits of England's most
underappreciated group ever. Fine, fine stuff, tracing their whole career.
8) THE THREE O'CLOCK -- BAROQUE HOEDOWN. Sort of 60's-psychedelic stuff,
very very well done. If you're copying a style, 60's is the one to copy.
This EP is better than their follow-up album, "Sixteen Tambourines".
9) VIOLENT FEMMES. This album is an experience. Simple and very powerful
songs, with an almost bluesy old Rolling Stones type edge.
10) INCANTATION -- DANCE OF THE FLAMES. Is this rock? Well, no, it's South
American folk music. But WPRB plays it with rock, and we've gotten more
phone calls from amazed and delighted listeners than ever before. Hard
to find, but look for it. Also their 12" single, "Cacharpaya".
11) X -- MORE FUN IN THE NEW WORLD. A bit more worldly than they used to be,
and better musicians as well. I find X's style is more R&B than punk.
12) THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS. These 5 guys from upstate NY are living somewhere
in 1966. Covers of 60's tunes you've never heard, but should have. Great.
13) MICHAEL JACKSON -- THRILLER. Well, I don't listen to the stations that
have ruined this for many people by overkilling it. In moderate doses,
it's excellent stuff. But I do prefer his Motown tunes with the Five.
14) MEN WITHOUT HATS -- RHYTHM OF YOUTH. Another album proving dance-club
music can be done intelligently, in a spirit of good clean fun. I liked
their debut EP, "Folk of the 80's", quite a bit too.
By the bye, the award for the most inspired album title of the 80's has to
go to a group called NIGHTMARE ALLEY (country punk, in glorious Tin-O-Phonic
sound) on Daven Records, for their release "MOOSE AND SQUIRREL MUST DIE".
Get the reference? (Hint: it's a quote from Boris and Natasha Badenoff.)
Send mail. Lots of mail. Address is below; don't reply to the path this
came by.
Have fun...
Stewart Wiener
Princeton Univ. EECS
{allegra,ulysses,harpo}!princeton!flakey!stewart