’80s
Noah’s Barks pages covering things relating to the years 1980 to 1989, i.e. the ’80s.
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808 State – “90”
’90,’ the debut album by 808 State, is of its time in the best possible way, enrapturing the listener in its ethereal, acid house waves. Sega-core. (read more)
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Bubblegum Crisis
The quintessential ’80s OVA, ‘Bubblegum Crisis’ is an aesthetic delight from one of anime’s peak eras for production values. (read more)
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Cocteau Twins – “Head Over Heels”
Head Over Heels is the best album by Cocteau Twins. The simple reason for that being that it has the most variety in the songwriting. Lack of variety in the songs is always, always, always the number one problem when it comes to dream pop albums and is what separates the good albums of the… (read more)
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The Vanishing (Spoorloos)
Unforgettable ending, but what makes a truly great twist-film is when the scenes before it are strong enough to distract from the surprise and hold up on their own. The Vanishing is always engaging, but it’s mostly because of the momentum of its mystery, not for the scenes it takes to get there. I could… (read more)
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A Nightmare on Elm Street
After so many lackluster slasher “legends,” I expected A Nightmare on Elm Street to be a bore—but it’s damn good. It has the two things so many slashers lack: pacing and logic. The threat is established early and, instead of repetitive gore-fests, an actual plot exists where the characters come to understand and fight against… (read more)
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The Blob
“The Blob” could also be used to describe the quality of its screenplay. Grotesque practical effects, and some terrible green screening. A slow start with too much focus on plot and characters, but a lightly likable cast. A solid premise with genuinely tense potential, yet limited by frequent dips into B-movie self-parody. This movie never… (read more)
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Scientist – “Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires” (1981)
The horror theme of Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires is great—when it’s actually there. For the most part, this album doesn’t have an actual sonic framework. It’s fairly typical dub, as far as my limited experience with the genre goes. When the damp, swampy beats settle into a monster-mashing… (read more)
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Blue Öyster Cult – “Fire of Unknown Origin”
Blue Öyster Cult remain a band that tease me. One of those I feel should be made for me to obsess over, but the pieces don’t come together like they should. But I’ll be trying them until I can’t see the potential anymore. I was initially worried Fire of Unknown Origin would be a single-driven… (read more)
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Minutemen – “The Punch Line” (1981)
I was already prepared to say “too much hardcore, not enough post-hardcore” after listening to What Makes a Man Start Fires?, which is significant because I’m a big fan of one and care little for the other. No points for guessing which. I don’t hate The Punch Line. I just don’t care about (almost) any… (read more)
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Fight!! Iczer-1
Touches of gore and horror aren’t enough to save Fight!! Iczer-1 from being a largely bland, unexceptional OVA. (read more)