Hounds of Love / The Sensual World
After warbling around for several years our Kate produces Hounds of Love, an album which stuns fans and critics alike. It is still a great listen, especially the less commercial sequence 'The Ninth Wave'
The Sensual World is a darker, more adult record and perhaps her deepest and finest work. It is very good indeed but don't go there if you're having emotional problems.
Meat is Murder / The Queen is Dead
There wasn't much to cheer you in the UK of the 1980s if you didn't buy into Thatcher's non-society of greed and 'trickle down' twaddle. Fortunately we had The Smiths, one of the best British bands ever, and a much needed blast of intelligence, wit and style.
Skylarking
Many people think Skylarking is XTC's best album. Many people are wrong. True, it's as good as any of their records but Todd Rundgren was the wrong choice for producer. American gloss and English pastoral just don't mix. The album now includes the anti-theist song 'Dear God' which surprisingly was the band's biggest American hit.
No Time To Kill
It would be churlish not to include at least one country record and I chose this one because it's got some great playing. So when you're all tuckered out from listening to too much angst-ridden rock try this. Yep, a country record even non-shitkickers might enjoy.
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy / Surfacing
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy consists of beautiful songs, beautifully performed - simple as that. I don't rate Surfacing as highly but it does have 'Building a Mystery' on it so that's good enough.
Learning to love Sarah is an important part of your emotional development.
OK Computer / Hail To The Thief
I'd include everything by Radiohead but these two will have to do for now.
OK Computer is worth the price of admission for 'Paranoid Android' alone and Hail To The Thief contains the line: "Just 'cause you feel it doesn't mean it's there." If ever you forget that seek medical help and be careful how you vote.
Scarlet's Walk
According to the official blurb this was written on a cross-country road trip through post 9/11 America. So now you can save yourself the money and effort of doing the real thing.
/ Movies