Hunting High and Low
Artist: a-ha
Community Score: 8.30

Anyone who dismissed a-ha as a one-hit wonder must have missed out on the band's fine debut, Hunting High and Low. Though the band spawned many further hits across the rest of the world, "Take on Me" exploded in the States and the group never cracked the top of the charts again. It's a shame, because the album contains a handful of songs that... Read More

Texas Fever - JAPAN BONUS TRACKS
Artist: Orange Juice

Released in March 1984, the delicate structures and melodic avenues explored in Texas Fever contrast the volatility of the recording sessions which produced it, with reggae producer Dennis Bovell attempting to keep the peace between the entrenched factions. The rhythm section wanted to become progressively funkier (following the success of "Rip... Read More

Heartbeat City
Artist: The Cars
Community Score: 8.80

MTV had become a major marketing tool by 1984, and the Cars were one of the first bands to use the new video medium to their advantage. The band's fifth album, Heartbeat City (Elektra), spawned several imaginative and memorable videos, which translated into massive chart and commercial success, making it one of the biggest releases of the year.... Read More

Should Have Been Greatest Hits
Artist: The Tourists

A best-of released in the wake of Eurythmics's success, and therefore emphasizing Stewart and Lennox's contributions over Coombes's. Nevertheless, it's a well-chosen selection and includes four of their five UK hits, among them their sole US chart entry, a terrific remake of Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want to Be with You." ~ William Ruhlmann,... Read More

Welcome Home
Artist: 'Til Tuesday
Community Score: 5.00

It took a lot of guts and integrity for 'Til Tuesday to record Welcome Home. Hitting big with 1985's Voices Carry, Tuesday became known for a sleek, high-tech style of new wave, and it would have been easy enough for the Boston band to come out with a similar album for a follow-up. But instead of playing it safe, Tuesday gambled with inspiration... Read More

Little Creatures
Artist: Talking Heads
Community Score: 7.40

Talking Heads' most immediately accessible album, Little Creatures eschewed the pattern of recent Heads albums, in which instrumental tracks had been worked up from riffs and grooves, after which David Byrne improvised melodies and lyrics. The songs on Little Creatures, most of which were credited to Byrne alone (with the band credited only with... Read More

She's So Unusual - BONUS TRACKS
Artist: Cyndi Lauper

One of the great new wave/early MTV records, She's So Unusual is a giddy mix of self-confidence, effervescent popcraft, unabashed sentimentality, subversiveness, and clever humor. In short, it's a multifaceted portrait of a multifaceted talent, an artist that's far more clever than her thin, deliberately girly voice would indicate. Then again,... Read More

Dream Into Action
Artist: Howard Jones
Community Score: 7.75

This album shows the synthesizer pop idol at the height of his creativity -- Dream Into Action is definitely the most interesting of Jones' albums. It contains some of his best songs -- "Things Can Only Get Better," "Life in One Day," and "No One Is to Blame." The CD includes two bonus tracks, "Bounce Right Back" and "Like to Get to Know You... Read More

Greatest Hits
Artist: The Cars
Community Score: 7.60

The Cars were responsible for some of rock's most recognizable radio hits by the mid-'80s, so when the band took an extended break after their successful tour for Heartbeat City, 1985's Greatest Hits was assembled. Mixed in with the familiar selections was a brand-new track, the playful "Tonight She Comes" (which became a Top Ten hit), as well... Read More

Count Three and Pray
Artist: Berlin
Community Score: 9.43

A major change of direction for Berlin, Count Three and Pray was an artistic triumph but a commercial disappointment. After making a name for itself playing very European-sounding synth pop, the L.A. trio recruited producer Bob Ezrin (known for his work with Alice Cooper and others) and unveiled a more hard-edged, guitar-oriented sound. From the... Read More