Clare's Top 5 albums from 1989:
I was surprised by how many albums from 1989 were pretty important to me during various stages of my life. Here are the top 5 albums that I listened to at some point in my life, or continue to play today:
- Madonna - Like a Prayer
The second studio album by Madonna, she told Warner Bros. that she was ready to produce her own album, but they weren’t ready to give her that freedom & hired Nile Rogers, who had previously worked with David Bowie.When I was old enough to start listening to pop music, my mom made sure I had some Madonna in my arsenal. She started by getting me a greatest hits album, but once I took to it, she got me others. This one included. This was also one of the albums that I revisited after she passed away, because there were some really good memories connected to several of the songs. I don’t listen to it much anymore, but there’s definitely a lot of nostalgia attached to it.
- Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814
The fourth studio album by Janet Jackson, she wanted this album to talk more about social issues than her previous releases. This was another one of the albums I was given as a kid, sometime in the early 90s. I listened to it a lot, and still get super excited when it comes on. Miss You Much is a classic.
- Pixies - Doolittle
The second studio album by Pixies, which contains offbeat & dark subject material, including references to death, torture, and drug use, but contrasts with the clean production & upbeat sound. I continue to play the shit out of this album, because duh. It’s perfect. I didn’t get into Pixies until college, but once I did, I fell pretty hard. I have always loved how this album delves into some dark, weird places, but contains music that is so fun that it lures you in, unexpectedly.
- Disintegration - The Cure
The eighth studio album by The Cure, a lot of the sound is a result of Robert Smith getting back into hallucinogenic drugs as a way to cope with the band’s new found success. Although several of the hits on this album were played throughout my childhood on the radio, it wasn’t until high school that I revisited some of the darker songs by The Cure. This album has been with me through some pretty deep shit, and continues to hold a very special place in my heart.
- Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique
The second studio album by Beastie Boys, this album is almost completely composed of samples, including vocal output of the band members. A lot of great hip hop was coming up around this time, and Beastie Boys is no exception. This album came into my life as a kid, but it wasn’t until college that I started to go back and delve deep into the Beastie Boys repertoire. This is one album that I can put on during the darkest times & instantly feel happy and ready for anything.
Honorable Mentions:
Bleach by Nirvana, Technique by New Order, Regina by The Sugar Cubes, Violator by Depeche Mode, The Biz Never Sleeps by Biz Markie, Stone Cold Rhymin’ by Young MC, Automatic by The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses, The Real Thing by Faith No More, Louder than Love by Soundgarden, Operation Ivy by Operation Ivy… and many more!
Find a complete list of releases & other musical facts from 1989 on Wikipedia.
