Led Zeppelin didn’t have a whole lot left in their tank by 1976. Which isn’t to say that, on a good day, they still weren’t one of the most devastating four-pieces the world would ever know. Case in point, Hots On For Nowhere wherein rhythmatists John Bonham and John Paul Jones give full rein to their love of all things groovy, which the other two turn sideways, inside-out, any which way but where you think it might be going. And it rocks.
The Simple Minds (from before they decided the world needed yet another U2 and thus became officially uncool), 1981 being the year that they released two solid albums in Britain (jammed into one for North American consumers), then hit the road with one of the hottest live shows on earth. It would never really get any better, except for maybe that one night in Dortmund, 1984.
The Velvet Underground deliver some straight up rock and roll circa 1969, of which there never seemed to be enough in a world full of too much everything, particularly the kind that might have seen some hope at the end of that long dark tunnel. Or was it a train coming the other way? Or maybe it was like that dream Lou Reed had where he met himself coming the other way … and everything was alright.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1ggYTZaJVw
In which we are reminded that way back when (1980-81 to be specific) U2 were still pretty much complete unknowns. But one listen to something like Another Time Another Place and you knew that wasn’t going to last. Because this outfit was like Joy Division with the doom removed, rhythm like runaway horses, guitar like great sheets of illuminating light, big voice, epiphanies by the minute.
“1981 was a pretty brilliant year if you were an open-minded Clash fan. Between London Calling and Sandinista, they’d just released ten sides of genre bending, ever expanding, often superlative vinyl in barely more than a year. So when Radio Clash (the single) appeared in four different versions, all dubbed up and dance floor ready, there was no reason to doubt what was being promised. Hell yeah! Their next move would be to launch a pirate satellite so the world would finally have all cool radio All The Time. If you dropped enough of the ole lysergic, it felt very possible. Maybe even likely.” (Philip Random)
“As I heard it put once, The Posies were the Seattle band of the early 90s that didn’t get mentioned much during all the grunge hype because they didn’t play to type, being more about big rich melodies and smart pop finesse than roaring chest rock. My friend Mike says they sound like the early 1970s Hollies taking on Led Zeppelin here. I’ll take his word for it. Epic and not unsweet.” (Philip Random)
Randophonic 