Friday 80s Flashback for January 26, 2018

[What's in a Name?] -- 80s artists showed great creativity in their music. Some of these artists, however, displayed an excess of creativity in branding their work. And by "excess of creativity," I mean they showed, perhaps, poor judgement in choosing a name. So this week's flashback honors a few of these appellation-challenged acts. Whether confusing, silly, or just plain stupid-sounding, these bands ruled the charts -- or at least left an impression -- for a short time. What acts have I singled out for their interesting monikers? Read and hear more after the break.

Friday 80s Flashback for January 19, 2018

[Songs and Stories] -- By the middle of 80s, the members of Hüsker Dü looked more like clerks and accountants than hardcore punk heroes. Of course, very few accountants could match drummer Grant Hart's heroin habit, but that's a story for another time. This story is about what the band released on January 19,1987: Warehouse: Songs and Stories. It was the band's sixth and final studio album. Seems the band dissolved while touring in support of this record, which was originally released as a double LP in vinyl. When re-released on CD, however, all the tunes fit on a single disc. Hüsker Dü was never a band to tear up the charts, but they were one of my favorite college years discoveries. And this album holds a special place in my heart. What have I chosen to feature from its massive list of 20 tracks? Read and hear more after the break! 

Friday 80s Flashback for January 12, 2018

[Lou's New York] -- On January 10, 1989, Lou Reed's 15th solo album, New York, was unleashed upon an unsuspecting public. I say unsuspecting because 1989 was not a year Lou Reed fans were expecting a stripped down, back to basics kind of record. First off, we're talking about 80s, a decade known for excess in production and instrumentation. Secondly, Reed's previous two studio records, Mistrial (1986) and New Sensations (1984), featured large ensembles that included horn sections. Horns! I mean, Randy and Michael Brecker played trumpet and saxophone respectively on New Sensations! New York, by contrast, was largely guitar, bass, and drums. But the leaner, simpler arrangements gave Reed's lyrics more room to breathe, so all those sewery corners of New York City hit your senses all the stronger.

The album's 14 songs clocked in at just under an hour. Which of those tracks have I selected for you this week? As usual, you can read and hear more after the jump.  

Golemchik by William Exley

Golemchik by William Exley

I picked up this quick read about a month ago, but it had been sitting in my to-read pile that kept growing over the course of December and its holidays.

The book's cover definitely deserves its place in my collection of indie books. The first three pages are a bit ... Well, I was a little confused. Why are these kids carrying so much stuff if they're not going to do anything with it? And where did it go after that meeting?

Jupiter Jet #1

Finally read JUPITER JET #1 by Jason Inman, Ashley V Robinson, Ben Matsuya, etc. This issue was a little origin story and it sets up a cracker of a mystery! JUPITER JET was Kickstarted in early 2017, but now it's being published by Action Lab Entertainment and the first issue came out in December 2017.

JUPITER JET is a 5 issue all-ages comic book series. For more info, and some preview pages, pop on over to PopCultHQ’s write-up (Blast Off w/ Action Lab’s JUPITER JET #1 by Jason Inman, Ashley Victoria Robinson & Ben Matsuya; October 2017).

Friday 80s Flashback for January 5, 2017

[...But Seriously] -- It's the first Flashback of 2018! This weekend, we recall an album released on November 24, 1989: ...But Seriously,  Phil Collins' fourth solo studio album. This record was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, sitting in the #1 album position for multiple weeks in both the US and the UK. In fact, it was sitting atop the Billboard 200 this very weekend in 1990.

"Wait," I hear you protesting. "Why are you talking about 1990 in an 80s music post?" Well, you have to remember that here on the Friday 80s Flashback, we consider the 1980s to comprise all years between 1980 and 1990 inclusive. My Flashback, my rules. And Phil Collins was a fave artist of my mother, who passed away unexpectedly last October, so you have to expect him to pop up here from time to time. And, yeah, I'm a fan of the man's music, too.

...But Seriously spawned six singles, all of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Which ones have I selected for this week? Read and hear more after the jump.