454 of 1001 Albums: The Replacements' Let It Be

I was shocked I hadn't listened to Let It Be after I had already fallen in love with songs like Unsatisfied and Androgynous. Sadly, it had been a while since I had heard the band until a cover of Androgynous popped up on social media outlets. I remembered how much I enjoyed those songs, and the next thing I know I was checking the album out.

I enjoyed it so much so I was discussing it with Brandon, so he decided to surprise me with the album on a car trip home. Perfect night time driving music. It's soft, loud, erratic, nostalgic, and you get the point. It's a bit of everything. Whether you like the range of punk, alternative, or indie on the album I think the diversity can be admired.

No two songs sound the same on the album. We jump from piano ballads to hardcore sounding punk songs. Then there is a range of songs that fit into more a classic rock sound. The talent of the vocalist, Paul Westerberg, who at some points is putting a bit more melody in his voice and others a bit more yell.  The instrumentals also come together as a collaborative effort to follow the pattern they've put together. I like how sometimes it does resort to the more garage rock they were known for, but gives a lot more songs also showcasing the talent Chris Mars, Bob Stinson, and Tommy Stinson, and Westerberg have. Plus, it's very awesome Peter Buck from R.E.M. did a guitar solo for "I Will Dare." I did love that song.

Recorded at Blackberry Way Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and released in 1984, the album would be well received by fans and critics. Not only that but it would still hold a lot of lyrics people still value listening to today.

The band does still tour, and they recently released an E.P. for Record Store Day last month. The Replacements had been around since before Let It Be, but I feel this album is ultimately what sealed them in music history. Listening through the whole album I found other songs I enjoyed, and something that carried the times with it. Brandon ended up enjoying listening to the album as well. It's a great way to stay awake at eleven at night!

445 of 1001 Albums: The Style Council's Cafe Bleu

I do really love 80's music, and for some reason I was expecting The Style Council to sound a lot different than they turned out sounding. Instead of just new wave or rock, you get a bit of jazz fused in as well. It sounds good, and catchy, but it's not some of my favorite from the 80's so far, but there is something still unique about the sounds.

History: This album was at first a huge hit in the U.K. It would reach number two on the charts there before finding itself a hit in other countries. Oddly, after it became a hit in the U.S. they even changed the name of the album so it was more appealing to Americans. The album though would prove a success for the band that was trying out new sounds that included more jazz and soul than the straight up pop they dealt with.

248 of 1001 Movies: This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Growing up in a home where music from the early 80's was played frequently, especially 80's rock, it would have been difficult to not at least hear the name Spinal Tap at one point or another because for a spoof band they became quite popular. Rob Reiner also show cases his ability to put together a crafty movie early on with witty, funny, dialogue, and a mockumentary that captures the time well even if it was just intending the mock the whole idea of it. The movie though can be just as appealing to people who are into this type of music because it never does it in a way that feels demeaning either.

Summary: It's 1982 and Spinal Tap is planning a U.S. tour that they hope will be their comeback. With their manager able to get them into some pretty high profile locations this tour is shaping up to be something good. Fan and documentary maker, Marty DiBergi, is also given the chance to follow the band through their tour and interview them. He captures every moment from the friction of a girlfriend arriving on tour, to Nigel and David's longtime friendship, right up to the point they find that something better might await them than an American comeback.

429 of 1001 Albums: Bruce Springsteen's Born In the U.S.A

Bruce Springsteen might be one of the most popular artist spawned from the U.S.A, and with this album Springsteen has made almost a tribute to American music with the variety of sounds and music involved on the album, and he shows he has the voicing to flow with it all. The consistent vibe of the 80's is very strong, and with it being 1984 the 80's sounds were at their peak.

History: Bruce Springsteen would release another hit with his seventh album. The album would be a bit of a change up for Springsteen who would go to a lighter sound in this album that had a message filled with more hope. It's obvious just by the beat what the tone of the album was. The album would also finally give Springsteen a lot of fame. This would be his best selling album, and the best seller of the year 1985. The album would also be a hit with critics who put it on chart lists, and well reviewed the album, and it's popularization of the type of rock he was performing.

214 of 1001 Movies: Ghostbusters (1984)

I often was given a look of surprise when I told people I had never watched Ghostbusters. Now weird looks no more. I have seen it. The good thing about Ghostbusters is that it knows it's silly and goes with it. There was never a moment I felt the movie was taking itself too seriously, so that helps with the 80s graphics and even the music. It's well cast too, so the characters still feel real, but also comedic with much of the steps they take.

Summary: Peter, Raymond, and Ego are left unemployed after the college they work for deems their department as unessential. The trio still believes there is a need for someone to be investigating the paranormal though, and with no other source of income to turn to, they begin their own business of eradicating spooks that are haunting. A woman experiencing strange experiences at her apartment seek out the team . What is happening there may be the strangest supernatural happening yet, and one bigger than they can handle.

Wednesday Movie Night: Blood Simple (1984)

So it seems the Coen brothers were off to a great start with Blood Simple in 1984, and they haven't looked back since then. It's even like they pioneered indie films as we know since they really were the first to have a lot of the characteristics you find in them. Blood Simple though is a good take on film noir, and creates a lot of suspense with characters we know little about and the ever so famous adultery plot that film noir loves. The Coen brothers have a wonderful ability to play with lighting in a way that makes it eerie and makes you wait in anticipation.

Summary: Julian is really angered when he confirms that his wife, Abby is cheating with a man who works for him, Ray. He wants them to pay for it, and since it would be too obvious if he did it himself he sends someone else after them, Loren Visser. He's a mean detective who does anything that will benefit him. When a lot of deceit and misunderstanding gets involved, the more the bodies pile up as well, and before you know the only way to end it is with more death.

381 of 1001 Albums: The Blue Nile's A Walk Across The Rooftops

Back to the 80's we go with The Blue Nile. I feel like I've been transported back to any 1980's romance movie you can think of. With the dramatic flow of the music and the borderline Tears for Fears vocals I feel like I'm building up to a huge love scene with this group. While the first tune did capture me the other tunes left me wanting a little something more though that I can't quite put my finger on.

History: This album was the debut from the adult pop contemporary band, The Blue Nile. The album took a bit of time to get around to though. The band felt the guitarist wasn't quite strong enough yet, but when they did get in the studio to record they spent a while on the album trying to garner just the right emotions from it. It makes sense considering it really is difficult to depart feelings from the album while listening.The album took time to get attention though after it's 1984 release, but over time has gotten a lot of attention critically.

137 of 1001 Movies: The Natural (1984)

So I kept wondering if Roy Hobbs was a real person the entire time, and he is not. This is based off a book though of the same name. So far I've only seen a couple of Robert Redford movies though, and I'm still waiting for that one that is going to catch me as far as his acting. He's good, but there is something a little goody goody about the character of Roy Hobbs that made him someone that seemed far out there to me. There is just a lack of emotional character connection that kept me at bay. Notably, if you still remember TriStar Pictures, this was their first film.

Summary: When Roy Hobbs father suddenly dies under a tree, it is struck by lightening not long after. Roy decides to carve a baseball bat from the tree, and calls his bat, Wonderboy. Travelling with the bat he finds success coming to him as a baseball player, until tragedy meets him when a woman halts him in his career. Years later he decides to pursue his baseball dream again with a struggling team, The Knights. This team is swamped in controversy though, and once a man called, The Judge, realizes how good Roy is he calls him in for a meeting to explain that he wants the Knights to continue to lose so he can have the share that will be sold to him if they do. Not only does he get mixed in the baseball's team s affairs, but he finds himself followed by a reporter from the past who is trying to place his face, and and old love.

371 of 1001 Albums: Van Halen's 1984

Van Halen appropriately titled this album released in 1984...1984. It captures what you think of sounds being like in 1984 quite perfectly at that. The album gets off to a strong start, but does fade a little about halfway through. It does provide you with many songs that will be stuck in your head for a while, and maybe even fun to jump to. In the days of when MTV played videos they also had a very popular video on the channel, "Hot For Teacher".

After getting past the introduction to the album, "1984", you get a great song that I really enjoyed beginning with. "Jump" isn't one of the more hard rock sounds on the album, and has more of a playful feel good vibe to it. It's one of the few on the album I would probably listen to again. The tune has been stuck in my head since hearing it. This song definitely deserved it's number one standing on the Billboard Charts.

90 of 1001 Movies: Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Martin Brest has a very small base of movies he has directed, and Beverly Hills Cop has to be by far his most popular, and well liked one. His other work includes the much hated, Gigli, starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, and Meet Joe Black. The only other more well reviewed than Beverly Hills Cop he put out was Scent of a Woman. You can sort of tell that Brest isn't a full on comedy director though as Beverly Hills Cop has some funny moments, but that is more so courtesy of Eddie Murphy than anything else since he seems more naturally humorous.

Axel Foley is a detective working in Detroit, and he is sort of straddling the line of remaining employment there after his out there tactics. After witnessing his friend's murder he wants to pursue that investigation, but he is denied it, and instead chooses to go on vacation to sneak out to Beverly Hills to do some investigating. The culture is quite different than what he is use to including how the police force runs their department.