And now for something completely different: 1987
On a day when I find out that the world is about to end for much of human population, I think that this is a good time to harken back to my roots. No, not somewhere in the far east, or even just slightly east of here (Cincinnati, OH). No, it’s time for me to look back to a time when things seemed so much simpler–when neon brites and bouncy balls were still cool, when being called “coked out” wasn’t necessarily offensive, or even when a squirrel could shut down the New York stock exchange. Oh yeah, and there was that cold war thing that’s over now. (It’s over, right?) Actual music after the jump?
But it was also a year that a band–one of the favorite bands of the late Molly Ringwald (’memba her?)–released a much anticipated album. They were the Rave-Ups, and they released “The Book of Your Regrets.” Never heard of them? That’s probably because the album actually flopped. Badly. The demise of Miss Ringwald herself no doubt influenced their eventual end.
Really though, this is a pretty tight album. Listen to it the first time, and you’d say at first that it’s pretty average–it’s something you can put on and just forget about. After a few more listens, something nags you: what the hell does this remind me of? And you keep listening because you keep wondering and your obsession causes you to forget how disturbing you found this commercial.
Until finally, it dawns on you that this album actually doesn’t sound like it’s from 1987, as much as it sounds like it’s from 1997, and really, who doesn’t love the 90s?. It also sounds like a lot of the alt-country stuff that’s out right now. Like the Old 97’s. Or Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. No really, it does sound a lot like the Old 97’s, maybe even a bit edgier (though that’s not that difficult…).
Listen to a few tracks below. Even if you don’t think I’m right, you’ll probably think they’re pretty good. And if you don’t think they’re pretty good, they’re at least pretty average. Kinda like the year 1987.
Knockin’ at Your Door – Rave-Ups
(EDITOR’S NOTE: THE ABOVE IS THE FIRST POST FROM NEW ANIMAL SHOW STAFFER DAVE. HAY DAVE, THX FOR THROWING US BACK. I APPREESH. XOX EDWARD)
