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As the decade slowly comes to its inevitable close, The Flambeau offers its critic's choice of the best albums released in 1979. In order to get some resemblance of a cross-section of opinion. The Flambeau sought out avid listmakers and cultural watchdogs in places as diverse as Williams Building, Co-op Records and the Gardening Center at Woolco.
The top ten albums (pictured on this page and the next,) were selected by consensus, that is, no point systems were designed, or biases flaunted, albums which were mentioned most often, and placed highest, made the list.
So, without further editorial patter, here's our list, with individual critic's choices following.
1.) Elvis Costello and the Attractions — Armed Forces: The master doing what the master does best; preaching idealistic nihilism, crafting willfully cruel pop music, and leading the world's best back up band. Besides, the Jackson Pollock meets Salvador Dali cover's great, and the bonus single is tasty. What more can you say about the music?
2.) Iggy Pop — New Values: Surely the best line of the year is on this album; "I'm bored — I'm the chairman of the bored." New Values matches anything Iggy released in his prime, and goes a long way to make up for some of the sadly flawed records he's released lately. Vibrant rock for someone who knows what he's doing.
3.) Graham Parker and the Rumour — Squeezing Out Sparks: When Graham Parker says "Don't Get Excited," he doesn't mean it. For anyone in tune with rock and roll there is a live spark of emotion in each tune. Passion is no ordinary word for the limp.
4.) The B-52s: Why have a title? Why look normal? Why talk about anything important? Music is fun and the B-52s don't drop a bomb on their debut. Just wait till you're at party and everyone does the Rock Lobster. Down, down, down...
5.) Talking Heads — Fear of Music: Paranoia strikes deep and the Heads see it everywhere, posting a warning sign that reads "Air doesn't like you" and pondering the state of "Life During Wartime." David Byrne gulps, squeals and hyperventilates on this New York avant-rock group's best LP yet. There's even a disco number.
6.) The Clash: An American version of their 1977 British debut LP, the album is split 50-50 between songs from that LP and a two-year string of hits. As such, it serves as a primer of punk: from the raw, haphazard cry in the dark "White Riot," to the pop polish of "Jail Guitar Doors" to the spirited reggae of "Police and Thieves." A raver from start to finish.
7.) Neil Young and Crazy Horse — Rust Never Sleeps: "It's better to burn out than it is to rust," sings Neil on "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)," and no one knows the truth behind such a statement better than Young, who seems to have greater regenerative powers than a Sears Diehard. At once searing and elegiac, Young presents stirringly visual vignettes from American history alongside tributes to life in the fast lane. Hey hey, my my.
8.) Dave Edmunds — Repeat When Necessary: Welsh Rockabilly Edmunds teams up with Jesus of Cool Nick "Basher" Lowe and the irrepressible Rockpile to make a 1979 50s album. Side one features a great Costello tune "Girls Talk" while Side two compiles some great, unsung oldies. Sizzling guitar that "rings like a bell" and a rhythm section that pounds like jack-hammer.
9.) The Kinks — Low Budget: The Kinks finally return to hit status with a Ray Davies pop classic "Superman" — Eurodisco with a touch of despair as Ray laments "I'd like to fly / But I can't even swim". Misfits all, Davie Davies is now rumored to outdo Keef himself in concert.
10.) Lene Lovich — Stateless: Although released in England in '78, this outstanding and bizarre female entity's LP wasn't presented to the masses until this summer. Not as accessible as Olivia Newton John, she pulls off an emotion that sticks in your throat. Perhaps the most mispronounced name since "Bowie."
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