Pretenders “Pretenders II” (1981) My favorite Chrissie Hynde lyric comes off of the first song on side B, “Pack it Up”: “…and furthermore I don’t like your trousers your appalling taste in women and what about your mind your insipid record collection.” Btw, this whole record is great.

The Chameleons “Strange Times” (1986) Oh my goodness… this atmospheric post-punk LP is jaw-dropping & the band is still active today. (Newest album comes out this Friday!). I believe a perfect song is one that makes you want to hear it again it immediately & there are several such tracks here.

Roger Miller “Words & Music by Roger Miller (1966) I have to admit that I’m mostly only familiar with his earlier hit, “King of the Road”. But the opener “My Uncle Used to Live Me but She Died” is great and unusual for mid-60s country. Interestingly, there is one cover song (Heartbreak Hotel).

The Cure “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me” (1987) I love double albums that have no obvious weak songs, and this definitely qualifies. Robert Smith is the obvious star here, but holy cow… this rhythm section is so underrated and really drives the whole thing. I can’t recommend this album enough.

Johnny Cash “What is Truth” (1970) Johnny recorded this at the height of the Vietnam War, as a tribute to young protestors… and later sang it to Richard Nixon in the White House without seeking approval first. An incredible song that charted high on pop & country lists, but never was on an LP.

Mecca Normal “The Eagle & the Poodle” (1996) I never would have known about this Vancouver, BC duo had they not been on a Matador compilation in the late 90s. Powerful punk/indie with distinctive riot girl-ish vocals. This is the kind of 90s style of music that is way overdue for a revival.

Flying Saucer Attack “Further” (1995) 30 years after it’s initial release, this is still one of my all-time favorite LPs. Ambient, noisy, ethereal, folksy, and so much more. This may be one of the most accurately named bands in history! Highly recommended for anyone getting into shoegaze.

Kitchens of Distinction “The Death of Cool” (1992) Let’s start pride month with a bang. Lyrically, KoD was not overly subtle about what it meant to be gay in the early 90s, but because it was paired with an (amazing) wave of psych/shoegaze, sometimes the message might have been missed.

The Jacksons “Destiny” (1978) This record is an absolute blast. Taking cues from Stevie Wonder & Marvin Gaye, this is where the group really started to grow…And also set the stage for Michael’s breakout solo career.

Controller.Controller “History” (2005) Paper Bag Records was an absolute force in the early part of this century (and the label still continues today). This Toronto act really fit well in the dance-punk craze of ‘05, but never quite caught on. Super-catchy w/ female vocals, the 1st of 2 releases.

Trio “Trio” (1997) This compilation was released in response to a popular Volkswagen commercial that featured the song “Da Da Da”. Trio had just the right mix of humor and Casio keyboards. This was never meant to win a Grammy, but it’s an interesting slice of German new wave circa 1981 to 1983.

Sexwitch “Sexwitch” (2015) I just recently discovered the UK band Toy. In 2015 they collaborated with Natasha Khan (of Bat for Lashes) on this six song trance/psych rock EP. This might be what the Black Angels would sound like if they were from Islamabad instead of Austin. Fun, hypnotic stuff!

Essra Mohawk “Primordial Lovers” (1970) Essra was barely 20 years old when this LP was released. What made her different from Carole King or Joni Mitchell was that she spent enough time with Zappa & The Mothers to infuse just the right amount of odd/baroque pop into her songs. RIYL Fiona Apple.

Laika “Silver Apples of the Moon” (1994) Another oft-overlooked mid 90s trip-hop classic; however, this band barely got noticed in the U.S. Strangely enough, I caught wind of it from some shoegaze internet message boards. There was a lot of crossover then (i.e. Seefeel, Bowery electric, etc.)

Gang of Four “Solid Gold” (1981) I would argue this is another example of an album that is more relevant in 2025 than it was on its release date. A Minimal post-punk classic exploring the pitfalls of capitalism and possible collapse of society in general. Often with a dance beat, too! 🙂

Trans Am “Futureworld” (1999) This Maryland post rock/electronic quartet had an incredible run with their first 5 LPs. This out of print LP is mostly instrumental, but adds the occasional vocoder to make it interesting. If Kraftwerk had started 25 years later, it might have sounded like this!

Herman’s Hermits “Both Sides Of” (1966) I’m not a *big* fan of these guys, but this album is just plain fun. “This Door Swings Both Ways” hit #12 in the U.S., but “My Reservation’s Been Confirmed” is quite the rocker. Side B features several British pub sing-a-long type songs, just for fun.

Midnight Oil “Blue Sky Mining” (1990) One of the best punk bands ever… but disguised as a radio-friendly Australian alternative rock band. This album is not only still relevant, but feels almost prophetic 35 years later - no matter where you live on Earth.

UI “Answers” (2002) In 2002, our then-weekly alternative newspaper (Cityview) asked if I would be willing to review albums for them. I agreed to do it pro-bono and gave this a positive review for my 2nd submission. I don’t think it was quite what they were looking for & they never asked again! 😐

Neneh Cherry/The Thing “Cherry Thing” (2012) Neneh has really flown under the radar in the U.S. for decades, but I’m a big fan. But even *I* wasn’t prepared for this LP w/ this Scandinavian jazz trio. Includes covers by Suicide, Madvillain, etc + some originals. Avant-garde fun!!!

Eurythmics “Be Yourself Tonight” (1985) This often gets overshadowed by “Sweet Dreams” and “Touch”, but this is my top pick. Three monster hits on side A (including the top 5 “Would I lie to You?”) but side B is incredible in itself. Definitely check out “Adrian”, the Elvis Costello collab!

Wire “154” (1979) Post-punk is a tricky genre, but this might be my favorite of the whole bunch. This is harsh, artsy, confusing, and yet super-catchy and fun. As an added bonus, the song “Map Ref. 41N 93W” actually has an unexpected Iowa connection!

Chris Isaak “Heart Shaped World” (1989) Most casual fans know “Wicked Game”, his only US top 40 hit (!), but this whole album is solid. Shades of Duane Eddy, Roy Orbison, and a bunch of early blues guitarists. Isaak was a breath of fresh air in 1989, and still sounds timeless in the mid ‘20s.

Looper “Up a Tree” 1999 I saw this Scottish indie/electronic act open for Flaming Lips in 2000. We carried it at Zzz 25 years ago for just $9.32! Honestly, I’d forgotten about them but this is not a bad record at all. If you would prefer Gorillaz without hip hop influences, this might be for you.

Beach Boys "20/20" (1969) "Pet Sounds" gets most of the attention from casual fans, for good reason, but their 1967-1972 period is really incredible too. This LP opens with the 1-2 punch of "Do it Again" and "I Can Hear Music", and closes w/ the amazing "Cabinessence" (Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks).

Various artists “Sun City” (1985) There were many benefit records in the 80s; most seemed to be haphazardly thrown together. This solid comp drew attention to Nelson Mandela and apartheid policies in South Africa. This is a juggernaut LP with top rappers, reggae and rock stars and *Miles Davis*.

Thanks for following us on BlueSky! After some contemplation, I’ve decided to feature some albums that I enjoy but I also feel have been forgotten, overlooked, or underrated. First up is Seal’s debut/self titled CD from 1991. Not quite dance music, not quite R&B… very unique for the time.