The Stud Brother review Fade Out by Loop, 21st January 1989

Simon Reynolds reviews Hunkpapa by Throwing Muses, 21st January 1989

This was one of the many records I lost at college by innocently agreeing to lend it to ‘a friend’ never to see it again. Truth be told I didn’t much like it and probably bought it as much for the Vaughan Oliver sleeve as the music. And I don’t know why but the title of this record is always Hunkapapa in my head, I guess it just flows from the tongue better.

Mick Mercer reviews the singles of the week, 9th December 1989

Mick Mercer reviews the singles of the week, 9th December 1989.

Reviewing these singles takes me back and my, what breadth of content on this page. From the mainstream pap of Bros, Brother Beyond and their ilk, a fading Duran Duran, the big hitters like Billy Joel and Bon Jovi to the obscurest indie Metal Monkey Machine and eveything inbetween to Van Morrison with Cliff fucking Richard!

All About Eve took the single of the week honours with a song that isn’t Martha’s Harbour, possibly because they hadn’t written it yet – I can’t be bothered to look it up but I feel they will be *so* pleased to see some retrospective recognition for *any* of their other songs.

It seems like a good time to drop this link to a nostalgic Guardian article and list compilation, where Johnny Dee asks

“1989 was a momentous year for music as De La Soul, the Stone Roses and acid house defined the zeitgeist. So how come we were all listening to Jive Bunny?”

Knock yourselves out.

Steve Sutherland reviews The Nephilim by Fields of the Nephilim, 3rd September 1988

Patchouli oil? Check. Dry ice? Check. Bags of flour (extra large)? Check.

Sutherland signs off his review with “This model will run and run until doomsday” and what a good forecast that turns out to be as The Neph have just played two back to back shows at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in July 2008. Into “the great goth preoccupation with death” we go. Here’s Moonchild. Overblown, ridiculously pretentious, but classic.

Also on this page Dave Jennings reviews Ghost Stories by The Dream Syndicate. Push reviews At the Rivers Edge by The Crazy Pink Revolvers and Mick Mercer reviews 3LB by Thatcher on Acid.

Melody Maker Staff Picks, 24th – 31st December, 1988 (part three)

Melody Maker Staff Picks, 24th – 31st December, 1988 (part three)

Link to Staff Picks part one here

I said I was going to put up some of the tracks but now it comes to it I don’t have the time – sorry.