Our 1980 top 10s in & out of PA (share & comment)

Jared wrote: Logan wrote: Commonly people get more conservative and status quo, same-old, same-old, as they get older. I think I'm in this category.... I seem to have receded into a Mike Oldfield / TD / Froese / Vangelis vortex of late, re-appearing for occasional doses of Camel or Floyd. I'm getting quite concerned as I've been stuck here for a little while now.

That's a vortex I'd happily be in. I so want to make a Zardoz reference... I'm at the nostalgia point of reliving childhood memories by turning on my streaming services and just wanting to watch TV shows or movies that I enjoyed as a child commonly (sci-fi stuff). I have to force myself out of it. At sometimes my poor brain has difficulty with new-to-me things, be it music, TV shows, films or concepts.

1980-1981 are just so unique imo. Everything was changing while the progressive and experimental approach of the 1970's sort of made a comeback. I could easily have listed 30 more favorites:

Art Zoyd - Génération Sans Futur (Avant-Prog, Chamber Music, Modern Classical, RIO)
The Residents - Commercial Album (Art Pop, Avant Prog)
The John Renbourn Group - The Enchanted Garden (British Folk, Early Music)
Abus Dangereux - Le Quatrieme Mouvement (Jazz-Rock, Zeuhl, Canterbury Scene)
Barre Phillips - Journal Violone II (ECM Style Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Free Jazz)
Kartik Trivedi - Basanti: Indian Raga Music on Piano (Hindustani Classical Music)
Rahmann - Rahmann (Oriental Jazz, Zeuhl, Jazz Rock-Fusion)
New Life Trio - Visions of the Third Eye (Free Jazz, Spiritual Jazz, Jazz Fusion)
Yello - Solid Pleasure (Synth Pop, Experimental)
McCoy Tyner - Horizon (Spiritual Jazz, Modal Jazz, Jazz Fusion)
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Bobb Trimble - Iron Curtain Innocence (Psychedelic Folk)
Roxy Music - Flesh + Blood (Art Rock, New Wave)
Bobby Beausoleil - Lucifer Rising (Psychedelic Rock, Film Score)
Klaus Schulze - Dig It (Progressive Electronic)
Kate Bush - Never for Ever (Art Pop)
Joy Division - Closer (Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Coldwave)
Noa - Noa (Avant Prog, Zeuhl)    
Blue Öyster Cult - Cultösaurus Erectus (Hard Rock, Heavy Prog)
Siouxsie and The Banshees - Kaleidoscope (Post-Punk, Gothic Rock)
Between - Stille über der Zeit: Silence Beyond Time (Oriental Jazz, Progressive Folk, New Age)   

Saperlipopette! wrote: 1980-1981 are just so unique imo. Everything was changing while the progressive and experimental approach of the 1970's sort of made a comeback. I could easily have listed 30 more favorites: Art Zoyd - Génération Sans Futur (Avant-Prog, Chamber Music, Modern Classical, RIO) The Residents - Commercial Album (Art Pop, Avant Prog) The John Renbourn Group - The Enchanted Garden (British Folk, Early Music) Abus Dangereux - Le Quatrieme Mouvement (Jazz-Rock, Zeuhl, Canterbury Scene) Barre Phillips - Journal Violone II (ECM Style Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Free Jazz) Kartik Trivedi - Basanti: Indian Raga Music on Piano (Hindustani Classical Music) Rahmann - Rahmann (Oriental Jazz, Zeuhl, Jazz Rock-Fusion) New Life Trio - Visions of the Third Eye (Free Jazz, Spiritual Jazz, Jazz Fusion) Yello - Solid Pleasure (Synth Pop, Experimental) McCoy Tyner - Horizon (Spiritual Jazz, Modal Jazz, Jazz Fusion) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobb Trimble - Iron Curtain Innocence (Psychedelic Folk) Roxy Music - Flesh + Blood (Art Rock, New Wave) Bobby Beausoleil - Lucifer Rising (Psychedelic Rock, Film Score) Klaus Schulze - Dig It (Progressive Electronic) Kate Bush - Never for Ever (Art Pop) Joy Division - Closer (Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Coldwave) Noa - Noa (Avant Prog, Zeuhl)     Blue Öyster Cult - Cultösaurus Erectus (Hard Rock, Heavy Prog) Siouxsie and The Banshees - Kaleidoscope (Post-Punk, Gothic Rock) Between - Stille über der Zeit: Silence Beyond Time (Oriental Jazz, Progressive Folk, New Age)

So much I love there and various ones that I don't know. I'm going to colour code your posts with green fro ones I know and really like, orange for one I just don't know well but love the artist, if you can dig it? And the other releases I am seriously, majorly lacking in familiarity with that I recall (my memory is fallible, like I I might have heard that Between many years ago. I will check it out again). Rahmann would be on my list, used to be, but I have it listed for 1979. And Noa should have been on my list, added to it.

^ The only one of those I have heard in full is Civilian, not a fan TBH, but I have listened to music from that Eddy Marron before because of you as I recall, and liked it. Checking it out now, and enjoying what I am hearing. Thanks, Doug.

Incidentally... I know that Pedro seems against such things, and I don't want a lecture on that here (no one approach need fit everyone, and I appreciate a diversity of thinking and approaches commonly), but there should be various ways to make and get good recommendations (that would work for many) based on an individuals' interests (those stepping stone releases can be especially valuable in opening up new vistas). Of course there are many algorithms for such things, and those can work well, but I like the personal touch. I expect there would be many 1980 albums you would like if you got to know them. What often helps is finding those people who share many of the most interests with you, of course. Like for me with Saperlipopette! whom I last responded to, I know he could suggest lots of releases from any year that I would like. Just a thought that likely won't lead to me having any new practical and implementable (or to be implemented) ideas. It's something I've always been interested in and wanted to work towards.

These interactive lists where we share our own and discuss others choices hopefully can help somewhat in that regard. I know they do for me, at least as I see lots of touchstones (confluences of interests with contributors).

I have been quite passionate when it comes to defending the 80s against claims of poor quality, by the way. Often it just depends on how widely and deeply you cast your net and how diverse ones tastes can be. But I digress.

Edited by Logan - 6 hours 36 minutes ago at 09:29