Welcome to the Beautiful South
Artist: The Beautiful South
Community Score: 7.50

The Beautiful South's 1989 debut would be important if only to mark the partial continuance of the Housemartins' legacy. But when vocalist Paul Heaton and drummer Dave Hemmingway greeted the world with Welcome to the Beautiful South, the handshake came with a Cheshire grin. Nothing in the Beautiful South was as it seemed. Where there was jaunty,... Read More

Selections from Passion: Music for the Last Temptation of Christ
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Bankstatement
Artist: Tony Banks
Community Score: 4.00

With this album, Tony Banks attempted a more mainstream pop sound, and from an artistic standpoint he succeeded, although it certainly wasn't reflected in sales. The vocalists employed here (Alistair Gordon, Jayney Klimek, Banks himself) do an outstanding job blending with fluid, often dark soundscapes. Surprisingly, songs like "Throwback" (with... Read More

Stop
Artist: Sam Brown
Community Score: 10.00
Anthology: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
Artist: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

Over the course of 20 tracks, Anthology covers all of the Four Seasons' essential hits, as well as Valli's solo "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"; it's the definitive collection. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

An Innocent Man/The Stranger
Artist: Billy Joel

Columbia reissued two of Billy Joel's most popular albums, An Innocent Man and The Stranger, on one cassette in the late '80s. This isn't necessarily a bad way to acquire this music, but the packaging and fidelity on this set are fairly shoddy. Most fans will be better served by the original vinyl or CD editions. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All... Read More

The Singular Adventures of the Style Council
Artist: The Style Council
Community Score: 10.00

The Style Council's albums were always weighed down by their far-reaching musical ambitions, which meant that their ideas were usually best heard on their singles. And while this period of Paul Weller's career has been criticized heavily, he wrote several excellent songs during the Style Council, most of which are featured on the fine... Read More

Silvertown
Artist: The Men They Couldn't Hang
Waking Hours
Artist: Del Amitri
Community Score: 8.75

After four years in hibernation, Del Amitri emerged as a gang of mature pop stars. Dropping their edgy quirkiness, Justin Currie and the boys explored their Scottish folk roots, refashioned their sound, and quickly established themselves as a rock band with heart. Still retaining a bit of the Elvis Costello musical heritage, Del Amitri added a... Read More

Union
Artist: Toni Childs
Community Score: 9.00

Union's release in 1988 announced a bold, incendiary new voice in the singer/songwriter sweepstakes in Toni Childs. The well-traveled Childs, the short-term original lead singer for Berlin, draws upon the vast experiences of her life and delivers them with an urgency that is hypnotically compelling. It's all tied together by David Tickle's... Read More

Message from the Country: Jeff Lynne Years 1968-1973
Artist: The Move