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Thread: Essential albums for 1988 and 1990

  1. #1
    Member mellotron storm's Avatar
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    Essential albums for 1988 and 1990

    I feel that these two years are the worst when I look at my collection so I feel like I must be missing some essential albums or maybe these two years were just plain bad when it comes to adventerous music.
    Here are some of my favs from these two years:

    1988
    Queensryche-Operation: Mindcrime
    Nuova Era-L'ultimo Viaggio
    Talk Talk-Spirit Of Eden
    Dead Can Dance-The Serpent's Egg
    Fates Warning-No Exit

    1990
    Ozric Tentacles-Erpland
    Queensryche-Empire
    Thule-Natt
    U Totem-s/t
    Offering-III/ IV

    I would really appreciate some suggestions, thanks!

    John
    "The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
    Sad Rain
    Anekdoten

  2. #2
    Estimated Prophet notallwhowander's Avatar
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    I have The Serpent's Egg and Erpland. Great albums.

    From 1988 I would add Camper Van Beethoven's Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart.

    From 1990 I would add 3 Mustaphas 3' s Soup of the Century.

    Neither of them are "prog," but both are adventurous. And I love them both to death.
    Last edited by notallwhowander; 03-22-2016 at 11:18 PM.
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  3. #3
    Member zravkapt's Avatar
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    1988:

    Voivod - Dimension Hatross
    Cardiacs - A Little Man And A House And The Whole World Window
    The Residents - God In Three Persons

    1990:

    Mike Oldfield - Amarok
    Legendary Pink Dots - Crushed Velvet Apocalypse
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  4. #4
    I'm here for the moosic NogbadTheBad's Avatar
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    1988
    Cardiacs - A Little Man And A House And The Whole World Window
    Dead Can Dance-The Serpent's Egg
    Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of A Seventh Son
    Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man

    1990
    U Totem - s/t
    Ozric Tentacles-Erpland
    Vezhlivy Otkaz - Ethnicheskie Opyty
    Mike Oldfield - Amarok
    Depeche Mode - Violator
    Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues
    Ian

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  5. #5
    Member Since: 3/27/2002 MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER's Avatar
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    whats wrong with 1989?

    edit: I guess since 88 & 90 are the "worst" years for the OP then the question is best asked 'was 89 really that much better?'
    Last edited by MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER; 03-23-2016 at 02:03 AM.
    Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?

  6. #6
    Rough years

    IMO, Sonic Youth's two mid-period classics (Daydream Nation and Goo) tower over the relatively slim pickings.

    I don't consider much else to be "essential" that but other picks of mine from these years of the more adventurous sort are below:

    1988
    Bevis Frond- Triptych
    Butthole Surfers - Hairway to Steven
    Pere Ubu - Tenement Year
    Zappa - Guitar
    Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden

    1990
    Dave Holland - Extensions
    U-Totem - st
    John Zorn - Naked City
    Fugazi - Repeater
    Primus - Frizzle Fry
    Janes Addiction - Ritual
    Ozric Tentacles - Erpland

  7. #7
    Member emperorken's Avatar
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    Can't think of any from 1988 and only one from 1990:

    Quaterna Requiem- Velha Gravura

  8. #8
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    Jan Garbarek Legend of the Seven Dreams (1988)








    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend...e_Seven_Dreams

  9. #9
    That's Mr. to you, Sir!! Trane's Avatar
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    1988 (not a good year)
    10 Last Exit Iron Path Var 1988
    10 Scofield, John Loud Jazz USA 1988
    10 U2 Rattle and Hum Ire 1988
    10 Young, Neil This Notes for You Can 1988
    09 Corea, Chick / Elektric Band Eye of the Beholder USA 1988
    09 Dead Can Dance The Serpent's Egg Oz 1988
    09 Dylan, Bob / Grateful Dead Dylan & The Dead USA 1988
    09 Glass, Philip Powaqqatsi USA 1988
    09 Guns N' Roses Lies USA 1988
    09 Litfiba Litfiba 3 Ita 1988
    09 Living Colour Vivid USA 1988
    09 Marillion The Thieving Magpie Eng 1988

    1989 (did you forget to listn-, but here goes anyways)
    12 Miriodor Live 89 Can 1989 Live, Avant, Canterbury
    11 Cooper, Lindsay Oh, Moscow Eng 1989
    11 Noir Désir Veuillez Rendre l'âme (ŕ Qui Elle Appartient) Fra 1989
    10 Nuova Era Dopo l'Infinito Ita 1989 Symphonic
    09 Abou Khalil, Rabih Bukra Leb 1989
    09 Contrevent Youkali Can 1989
    09 Martino, Pat The Return USA 1989
    09 Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother's Milk USA 1989
    09 Temiz, Okay Dervish Service (aka Dervis) Tur 1989
    09 Vaughan, Stevie Ray / Double Trouble In Step USA 1989
    09 Zazou, Hector Geologies Fra 1989

    1990 (easily the best of the three years)
    12 Kravitz, Lenny Let Love Rule USA 1990
    12 Nimal Voix De Surface Var 1990
    11 Clearlight Clearlight Symphony II Fra 1990
    11 Dead Can Dance Aion Oz 1990
    11 Madredeus Existir Por 1990
    11 Young, Neil & Crazy Horse Ragged Glory Can 1990
    10 Devil Doll Eliogabalus Ita 1990
    10 Enigma MCMXC A.D. Rom 1990
    10 Epidermis Feel Me Ger 1990
    10 Hatfield and The North Live 1990 Eng 1990
    10 High Tide Ancient Gates Eng 1990
    10 Justine Suite Can 1990
    10 Mingus, Charles Epitaph USA 1990
    10 Noir Désir Du Ciment Sous Les Plaines Fra 1990
    10 Vander, Christian / Offering Offering part 3 / part 4 Fra 1990
    10 White Noise IV - Inferno Eng 1990
    09 Catherine, Philip Oscar Bel 1990
    09 Corea, Chick / Elektric Band Inside Out USA 1990
    09 Ensemble Raye, L' Meme en Hiver, Comme un Pinson dans l'Eau Swz 1990
    09 Forever Einstein Artificial Horizon USA 1990
    09 Harper, Roy Once Eng 1990
    09 Henderson, Scott and Tribal Tech Nomad USA 1990
    09 Heroes del Silencio Senderos de Traición Spa 1990
    09 Litfiba El Diablo Ita 1990
    09 Ozric Tentacles Erpland Eng 1990
    09 Schell, Daniel & Karo The Secret Of Bwich Bel 1990
    09 Scofield, John Pick Hits Live USA 1990
    09 Temiz, Okay Misket Tur 1990
    09 Third Ear Band Live Ghosts Eng 1990
    09 Threadgill, Henry / Very Very Circus Spirit of Nuff...Nuff USA 1990
    09 Thule Natt Nor 1990
    my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.

  10. #10
    That's Mr. to you, Sir!! Trane's Avatar
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    John, out of curiosityn did you find 89 that much to superior to 88 & 90??


    and FWIW, I found 87 as poor if not poorer than 88 ... (86 was still ok-ish on sheer numbers)
    my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.

  11. #11
    1990 was actually a rather marvellous year for progressive rock music of the 'contemporary' variety (i.e. not necessarily for bands sporting vocalists with facial paint, funny hairdos and half a potato down their throat to look and sound like Gabriel). You mentioned the U Totem, which for my dough was one of the most important releases within progressive music since that second Present or Picchio dal Pozzo album. And then my erstwhile top-20 listens from that year:

    Sun Dial - Other Way Out (classy classic and the holy grail of "authentic" neo-acid rock)
    Justine - Suite (song-form madness from this all-female post-punk RIO quartet)
    Nimal - Voix de Surface (another RIO milestone with folks from Debile Menthol, L'Ensemble Rayé, Begnagrad, The Ex and Curlew)
    L'Ensemble Rayé - Meme en Hiver, Comme un Pinson de L'Eau (instrumental surrealist duo of Momo Rossell and Jean Vingt Huguenin - otherworldly!)
    Ezra Winston - Ancient Afternoons (the record which singlehandedly sparked the 'prog renaissance' in Italy - quite fantastic)
    Albert Marcoeur - Ma Vie Avec Elles (hilarious and brilliant as always with him)
    Minimum Vital - Sarabandes (still their finest hour, IMO)
    Zoviet France - Just an Illusion (my fave work from them)
    Art Moulu Trefin - Art Moulu (more bizarrely expressionist RIO)
    Use of Ashes - Use of Ashes (debut, I think, by this excellent Dutch neo-psych/folk/theatrical combo)
    Mr. Sirius - Dirge (the greatest 90s Jap 'symph' rock release, with slight Canterburian elements delightfully added)
    Ur Kaos - A Terrible Beauty Is Born (devastating art-song/post-industrial from Lach'n Jonsson's trio, post-Kultivator)
    Klimperei - Tout Seul sur la Plage (burlesque carnival- and pre- dark cabaret tunes)
    Naked City/Zorn - Torture Garden (way more extreme than the debut)
    Ne Zhdali - Rhinoceros and Other Forms of Life (Baltic crazies with progressive post-punk agenda)
    MCH Band - Es Reut Mich F (important formative work in the vital post-Cold war underground scene of the Czechs)
    Providence - And I'll Recite an Old Myth (over-the-top bombastic neo-symph from Japan, but highly enjoyable)
    Vezhlivyi Otkaz - Etnicheskie Opyty (their third album, I believe, and arguably the most experimental I've heard from them)
    Fred Frith - Step Across the Border
    Uz Jsme Doma - Uprostred Slov


    As for 1988 there were less, but still:

    Cardiacs - Little House...
    Last Exit - Iron Path
    Bittova/Dunaj - Bittova/Dunaj
    Hail - Gypsy Cat Bird
    Rascal Reporters - Happy Accidents (masterwork!)
    Proof of Utah - Happy to Be Here (Minnesota quirky post-wave with distant RIO ramblings in the very back, influenced by Orthotonics et al.)
    Motor Totemist Guild - Shapuno Zoo
    Miriodor - Miriodor (this is actually one of their best altogether, IMHO)
    5UU's - Elements (THE greatest "progressive" album from the late 80s, I think)
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  12. #12
    Zappa-The Helsinki Concert
    Richard Thompson-Amnesia
    Bill Frisell-Lookout For Hope
    Bass Desires-Second Sight
    Pat Metheny-Question & Answer
    Allan Holdsworth-Secrets
    Steve Khan-Public Access
    Henry Kaiser-Re-Marrying For Money
    Egberto Gismonti-Infancia
    John McLaughlin-Live At Royal Festival Hall
    Jack Bruce-A Question Of Time

  13. #13
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    Stephan Micus Darkness and Light (1990)









    https://www.discogs.com/Stephan-Micu...elease/2421733

  14. #14
    1990- Toy Matinee
    1990- Ah Via Musicom- Eric Johnson
    1990- Midnight Stroll- Robert Cray
    1988- ...And Justice For All- Metallica

  15. #15
    Member Kcrimso's Avatar
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    The most essential album for me from those two years is Mike Oldfield's Amarok (1990).
    My progressive music site: https://pienemmatpurot.com/ Reviews in English: https://pienemmatpurot.com/in-english/

  16. #16
    Member mellotron storm's Avatar
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    I have to say I'm humbled to get up this morning and see so many recommendations,you guys are amazing! I'll check out the lists between jobs tonight when I have more time.
    "The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
    Sad Rain
    Anekdoten

  17. #17
    John Scofield - Hamburg 10/10/88 (bootleg cd but fuckin killer, this band is supposed to reunite next year)
    UZEB - World Tour 90
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  18. #18
    Member helicase's Avatar
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    Not terribly progressive years. I'll add two great electronic albums and one of my favourite pop albums (all three from 1988):
    David Sylvian and Holger Czukay - Plight & Premonition
    Sven Grünberg - OM
    Sade - Stronger Than Pride

  19. #19
    1988
    The Zawinul Syndicate - The Immigrants
    Robben Ford - Talk To Your Daughter
    The Bears - Rise And Shine

    1990
    Adrian Belew - Young Lions
    Little Feat - Representing The Mambo

  20. #20

  21. #21
    Moderator Poisoned Youth's Avatar
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    I would recommend these two from 1988:
    Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden (1st of the two groundbreaking albums from this formerly New Wave group. Essential as the OP already knows.)
    Pierre Moerlen's Gong - Full Circle Live 1988 (The music on this fusion album is memorable)

    I would recommend these few from 1990:
    Minimum Vital - Sarabandes (My favorite from these Frenchies)
    Ozric Tentacles - Erpland (early essential album from Ozzies - also marked by OP)
    Quaterna Requiem - Velha Gravura (nice symph from Brazil)
    U Totem - s/t (an avant-prog classic - also marked by OP)
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  22. #22
    Moderator Poisoned Youth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Facelift View Post
    Dave Holland - Extensions
    If we are going to go Jazz, I concur with that and would add...


    1988:
    Paul Bley - The Paul Bley Quartet
    Nels Cline -Angelica
    Trilok Gurtu - Usfret
    John Carter - Fields
    Dark - Tamna Voda
    Gary Thomas and Seventh Quadrant -Code Violations

    1990:
    Dave Holland Quartet - Extensions
    Rabih Abou Khalil - Al-Jadida
    Masqualero - Aero
    Henry Threadgill - Spirit of Nuff...Nuff
    Muhal Richard Abrams - Blu Blu Blu
    Ronald Shannon Jackson - Red Warrior
    Lonely Universe - s/t
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  23. #23
    These would make my list among a few that were already stated...

    Mekong Delta - Dances of Death
    Pantera - Cowboys from hell
    Megadeth - Rust in Peace
    Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace
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  24. #24
    Recently Resurrected zombywoof's Avatar
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    Anything Cardiacs released in that (Whole World) window of time.

  25. #25
    1990
    The Blue Nile - Hats

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