Apart From the Crowd, Great Buildings

Apart From the Crowd, Great Buildings, 1981, :40

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Solid jangle-pop from a now largely-forgotten group featuring two guys who went on to being very much there for us, forming the Rembrants.  But before those two friends got all that sweet sweet TV money, there was this early 1980s slab o'power pop.  Nothing too earth-shaking here, just serious songwriting chops from guys with an ear for a hook.  Sometimes it gets a little corny, like on the five-minute title track that might take itself a little too seriously, but mostly it's smooth listening.  Favorite tracks: "Dream That Never Dies" (foreshadowing that Rembrandts sound), "Hold On to Something," the Squeeze-like "And the Light Goes On."

Signals, Calls and Marches, Mission of Burma

Signals, Calls and Marches, Mission of Burma, 1981, :33

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Minimalist post-punk.  Reminds me of the Wipers.  It has the social dissatisfaction and the intensity of punk, but with a stripped-down, clean, wiry sound.  Still in your face, but it hits your mind and not your hips.  Musically talented and raw, these guys are Fugazi's less political, more artistic forefathers; would Fugazi end a song with a thousand chants of "dada" as Mission does on "Max Ernst?"  I say thee nay.  A strong four stars.  Favorite tracks: "Outlaw," "That's When I Reach For My Revolver," "Academy Fight Song," "This Is Not a Photograph."

La Folie, the Stranglers

Continuing the alphabet of albums, F is for foot-tapping New Wave.

La Folie, the Stranglers, :1981, 41

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I knew absolutely nothing about this band, but have since discovered that there's a sort of continuing argument amongst critics and the musicognescenti whether they are "punk" or "post punk" or "New Wave" or what. To which I say, I could not imagine a less interesting topic to talk about when discussing the band. I find it to be New Wave cool.  Maybe it's the technical skill of the playing that makes it less punk in my mind.  But that's as stupid a line to draw as crying "sell-out," and I don't really care to classify anyway.  There are some glossy synths and a bit too much shine on some parts (I'm not a big fan of the beeps and boops of "Pin Up") but the skill, and humor, and catchiness of the album overall make it a winner.  I like the deadpan urgency on "Let Me Introduce You to the Family." The very New Wave "Ain't Nothing to It" sounds like a more assured, less nerdy Devo.   Favorite tracks: "Non Stop" (a jaunty tune about a nun's lack of sexual frustration), "Everybody Loves You When You're Dead," the '60s-ish throwback "Golden Brown."

Shake It Up, the Cars

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 1981. 

Shake It Up, the Cars, 1981, :40

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I was way too cool at the time* to go for the Cars' studio-polished synth-pop-rock, and never really looked back until now, but this album has got some heart and energy to it. Ric Ocasek is an undeniable musical talent. I like his detached New Wave voice. Underneath the synths is a heartbeat and maybe even some funk. There's even a Dylan-like yelp on "Since You're Gone" ("I can't help it / You're so treeeeeeacherous / When it comes / To tenderness!") Never having given it more than a glance, I always thought the girl on the cover was holding up a giant mobile phone and was clearly happy to hear from the person on the other line. But in keeping with the album title, it's a girl holding a large cocktail shaker.  You learn something new in so many places!  Favorite tracks: "Since You're Gone," the very catchy "Shake It Up," "Victim of Love," "Think It Over."

* note: this is false

Youth Of America, Wipers

Youth Of America, Wipers, 1981, :30

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The Wipers were an early punk band, just a few years after the Sex Pistols and Ramones, but located in the out-of-the-way, then-unhip Portland, so this album went largely unnoticed and achieved cult status later in life.  Kurt Cobain cited them as a major influence.  With six songs, one at ten and a half minutes, another at six and a half, I wouldn't say that this album is punk music so much as post-punk before there was much of a punk to be post.  Ahead of its time.  Passionate, raw vocals and smart lyrics, energetic yet methodical music.  Plodding, plotted, ready to strike.  But you might wait three and a half minutes for it to do so.  Favorite tracks: "Can This Be," "When It's Over."

Give the People What They Want, The Kinks

Give the People What They Want, The Kinks, 1981, :40

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Ray Davies' concept for this album was a stand against mass media's delight in feeding lowest common denominator.  As a whole, it's not their finest hour, but it's got some great pop moments, and Davies' arch sneer elevates the material.  Favorite tracks: "Destroyer," and "Better Things" is one of the best songs in the whole Kinks oeuvre.