1986
Noah’s Barks pages covering things relating to the year 1986.
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XTC – “Skylarking” (1986)
On Skylarking, songs are varied, have compelling instrumentation, and most importantly, are great. I kept listening to Skylarking expecting the quality to suddenly take a nosedive after each track, like many seemingly great albums (disappointingly) do—but it never happened. Fan-flippin-tastic psychedelic pop. Absolutely loaded. I disagree with those who say it sounds very similar to… (read more)
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The Smiths – “The Queen Is Dead” (1986)
Catchy jangling guitars, fantastic lyrics and delivery, and the very understated yet very fantastic additional string sections make The Queen Is Dead as pleasant to listen to as it is touching. People who defend “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others” being the closing track are off their rockers. “There Is a Light That Never Goes… (read more)
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Cheap Trick – “The Doctor”
If there’s ever been an album that highlights every negative facet of ’80s production standards, ‘The Doctor’ is it. (read more)
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My Bloody Valentine – “The New Record by My Bloody Valentine” (1986)
The New Record by My Bloody Valentine is a great step forward for the band, who previously performed derivative post-punk that imitated The Birthday Party and The Cramps. On this EP, the band moves a bit closer towards their recognizable noise pop and shoegaze sound. But they’re still not quite there yet. There’s an undercurrent… (read more)
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Sonic Youth – “EVOL” (1986)
Completely desolate. Wandering aimlessly through a seemingly abandoned, worn-down industrial city at the dead of night, from the streets above to the subway below and back home again. EVOL is Sonic Youth’s most atmospheric release and one of their absolute best. The whispering, anxiety-ridden “Shadow of a Doubt” is perhaps the greatest highlight. Kim Gordon’s… (read more)