These are all so great. But if I respond honestly, at the time for me it was Soul Asylum and Don’t Let Start. I became a huge fan of TMBG and was never disappointed at the early gigs. The two piece one-man-bands of the two John’s were a sight to behold and hear.
I already loved REM but would come to Life’s Rich Pageant much later. Same with to Concrete Blonde I arrived an album or two later. I’m really grateful I saw them once. Even if it was opening up for Sting. Janette owned the stage during her show. And whoever came early enough stayed to hear their set.
Also Robyn Hitchcock I discovered as an opening act a year later as an opening act during the Document tour for REM. But loved his music since.
This brings back good memories.
One album not on your list that I plan to write about soon.
Is the album Heyday, by the Church. It too turns 40 and was many American kids intro to them as that album alongside these got a lot of college radio airplay. Especially the song Columbus.
An embarrassment of musical riches, for sure. Soul Asylum was incredible in that era (“Made To Broken” came out THE SAME YEAR.) Never too late to discover great music.
I was thinking 1986 was kind of a wasteland, but then I looked up what came out that year: turns out it was a pretty great year. I've always been on the fence about a few of the artists you picked, so I am going back today (today!) and giving them another spin. First up, Concrete Blonde.
Big Black - Atomizer
Talk Talk - The Color of Spring
Elvis Costello - King of America
Elvis Costello - Blood And Chocolate
Swans - Greed
Swans - Holy Moly
Samhain - November Coming Fire
ELO - Balance of Power
Ministry - Twitch
Hunters & Collectors - Human Frailty
Cocteau Twins - Victorialand
Cocteau Twins - The Moon And The Melodies
Butthole Surfers - Rembrandt Pussyhorse
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Tinderbox
Sonic Youth - Evol
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Big Country - The Seer
Agent Orange - This Is The Voice
SNFU - If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish
The Sisterhood - Gift
The Style Council - Home And Abroad
Felt - Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads To Death
Felt - Forever Breathes the Lonely Word
The Woodentops - Giant
Van Morrison - No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
Peter Murphy - Should the World Fail To Fall Apart
Nick Cave - Kicking Against The Pricks
Nick Cave - Your Funeral... My Trial
Camper van Beethoven - s/t
The Chameleons - Strange Times
Skinny Puppy - Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse
Love & Rockets - Express
Billy Bragg - Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Wow what a year! I am picking Paul Simon's Graceland because I like it so much. On an unrelated and totally unsponsored topic, have you given TMBG's latest LP a listen? It's so shockingly power poppy you simply must give it a try! It has a cover of Raspberries' Overnight Sensation that is epic. And tracks like Wu-Tang and Outside Brain and What You Get are so catchy it is just totally notable in a list of recent releases I think.
I knew nothing of Robyn Hitchcock until the 90s when 1) my ex had a mixtape that had a couple of “Fegmania!” Songs, and 2) he played a solo show at Oberlin. That sealed it for me, and Element of Light has been a favorite ever since. There's a body on the railings / That I can’t identify / And I’d like to reassure you but / I’m not that kind of guy
Here's a short Gonzo-style comment focused on R.E.M.:
*Lifes Rich Pageant* was the sound of R.E.M. figuring out they could keep all the mystery while turning up the volume. Stipe still sounded like he was delivering messages from a dream, but suddenly the whole band hit with the force of a freight train. Forty years later, it still feels less like alternative rock and more like a dispatch from a parallel America.
Husker Du, R.E.M., and Smithereens are my favorites of those. It was also a significant year for metal with important (and excellent) releases from Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Voivod, Fates Warning, Motorhead, and Queensryche. My favorite record of 1986, however, might be fIREHOSE's Ragin', Full-On.
XTC's Skylarking was my favorite new album of 1986 at the time, with Element of Light second... but the records I played most often that fall were Love's Forever Changes and the third Velvets LP, both of which I bought on the same day in NYC during my October break from college.
Great to see Smithereens get some love! I have 5 of these albums, including Soul Asylum. What a year for music!
"Closer To The Stars" is my all-time fav Soul Asylum track.
Three of my all-time favorites and the rest are criminally underrated.
Which 3?
REM, Husker Du, Robyn Hitchcock. Early Soul Asylum was killer too but I admit to bailing after Grave Dancers Union.
I was rabid for early Soul Asylum, but pretty much on the same timeline as you.
These are all so great. But if I respond honestly, at the time for me it was Soul Asylum and Don’t Let Start. I became a huge fan of TMBG and was never disappointed at the early gigs. The two piece one-man-bands of the two John’s were a sight to behold and hear.
I already loved REM but would come to Life’s Rich Pageant much later. Same with to Concrete Blonde I arrived an album or two later. I’m really grateful I saw them once. Even if it was opening up for Sting. Janette owned the stage during her show. And whoever came early enough stayed to hear their set.
Also Robyn Hitchcock I discovered as an opening act a year later as an opening act during the Document tour for REM. But loved his music since.
This brings back good memories.
One album not on your list that I plan to write about soon.
Is the album Heyday, by the Church. It too turns 40 and was many American kids intro to them as that album alongside these got a lot of college radio airplay. Especially the song Columbus.
An embarrassment of musical riches, for sure. Soul Asylum was incredible in that era (“Made To Broken” came out THE SAME YEAR.) Never too late to discover great music.
Great roundup, per usual. I just started getting into Concrete Blonde and have been digging that one.
That album’s underrated IMO. Maybe ahead of its time?
I was thinking 1986 was kind of a wasteland, but then I looked up what came out that year: turns out it was a pretty great year. I've always been on the fence about a few of the artists you picked, so I am going back today (today!) and giving them another spin. First up, Concrete Blonde.
Big Black - Atomizer
Talk Talk - The Color of Spring
Elvis Costello - King of America
Elvis Costello - Blood And Chocolate
Swans - Greed
Swans - Holy Moly
Samhain - November Coming Fire
ELO - Balance of Power
Ministry - Twitch
Hunters & Collectors - Human Frailty
Cocteau Twins - Victorialand
Cocteau Twins - The Moon And The Melodies
Butthole Surfers - Rembrandt Pussyhorse
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Tinderbox
Sonic Youth - Evol
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Big Country - The Seer
Agent Orange - This Is The Voice
SNFU - If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish
The Sisterhood - Gift
The Style Council - Home And Abroad
Felt - Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads To Death
Felt - Forever Breathes the Lonely Word
The Woodentops - Giant
Van Morrison - No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
Peter Murphy - Should the World Fail To Fall Apart
Nick Cave - Kicking Against The Pricks
Nick Cave - Your Funeral... My Trial
Camper van Beethoven - s/t
The Chameleons - Strange Times
Skinny Puppy - Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse
Love & Rockets - Express
Billy Bragg - Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Iggy Pop - Blah Blah Blah
New Order - Brotherhood
This Mortal Coil - Filigree & Shadow
The Fall - Bend Sinister
OMD - The Pacific Age
Sparks - Music That You Can Dance To
XTC - Skylarking
Gary Numan - Strange Charm
The Housemartins - London 0 Hull 4
Big Audio Dynamite - No. 10 Upping St.
Killing Joke - Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
Revolting Cocks - Big Sexy Land
Clan of Xymox - Medusa
The Damned - Anything
Kraftwerk - Electric Cafe
Banner year!
Throwing Muses debut self-titled
Great list! ‘86 was the year I found college radio and it felt like we were on the cusp of something great.
We actually were!
Life’s Rich Pageant. And it’s not close.
Such a great album. I saw them during that era for the first time.
Just remembered the whole C86 thing is also turning 40!
Yep!
Husker Du 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
Incredible band. Only saw them once.
Wow what a year! I am picking Paul Simon's Graceland because I like it so much. On an unrelated and totally unsponsored topic, have you given TMBG's latest LP a listen? It's so shockingly power poppy you simply must give it a try! It has a cover of Raspberries' Overnight Sensation that is epic. And tracks like Wu-Tang and Outside Brain and What You Get are so catchy it is just totally notable in a list of recent releases I think.
Thanks for the reco!
Yeah!!!!!
I knew nothing of Robyn Hitchcock until the 90s when 1) my ex had a mixtape that had a couple of “Fegmania!” Songs, and 2) he played a solo show at Oberlin. That sealed it for me, and Element of Light has been a favorite ever since. There's a body on the railings / That I can’t identify / And I’d like to reassure you but / I’m not that kind of guy
Robyn Hitchcock fans unite!
Here's a short Gonzo-style comment focused on R.E.M.:
*Lifes Rich Pageant* was the sound of R.E.M. figuring out they could keep all the mystery while turning up the volume. Stipe still sounded like he was delivering messages from a dream, but suddenly the whole band hit with the force of a freight train. Forty years later, it still feels less like alternative rock and more like a dispatch from a parallel America.
Love it! Such a great transition record.
Hello, I was summoned by They Might Be Giants' 'Don't Let's Start' hahaha
That song at the top by The Primates was immediately added too all of my rotating playlists. LOVE IT
The Primates record is amazing. They went to my high school and we used to go see them in Hollywood.
It's not the most "important" record from that year, but that Smithereens album is one of my favorites ("Strangers When We Meet" is an all-timer).
Husker Du, R.E.M., and Smithereens are my favorites of those. It was also a significant year for metal with important (and excellent) releases from Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Voivod, Fates Warning, Motorhead, and Queensryche. My favorite record of 1986, however, might be fIREHOSE's Ragin', Full-On.
XTC's Skylarking was my favorite new album of 1986 at the time, with Element of Light second... but the records I played most often that fall were Love's Forever Changes and the third Velvets LP, both of which I bought on the same day in NYC during my October break from college.
All of those albums/artists STILL hang together beautifully.
All still in regular rotation at my place!