Critics Roundup 1985

’85 was a good year for music, though not for albums. The most interesting 12-inch singles came from John Lydon and Afrika Baambatae’s Time Zone project and The Bomb Party with ‘World Destruction’ and ’Ray Gun EP’ respectively. Two new video-techniques provided fascinating viewing: the spot-colour treatment to Dire Straits ‘Money For Nothing’ and the animated-film mix of A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me’. Needless to say, both made obscene profits!

On the local stage, The Gorehounds and Something Happens! rattled the rafters, while A House, Fallen Angels, Assassin and London-based Driveshaft look likely outfits for ’86. Lloyd Cole at The Stadium, Adrian Legg at The Baggot, Squeeze at Croke Park, The Kinks at the RDS provided the memorable live moments of the year, whilst The Underground and Ivy Rooms Mega-Bash Thingles encouraged the grass-roots of Dublin rock. Watch out for the continued growth of Dee C. Lee, the emergence of Lee Aaron and our own Sinead O’Connor. American teenage talent, Charlie Sexton, will also unleash his pop prowess. Last year, I mentioned Madonna and you laughed. See what happened since!

And so to the best of the rather lukewarm Vinyl Year ’85: Adrian Legg: ‘Fretmelt’; Various: ‘Repo Man – The Soundtrack’; Rogue Male: ‘First Visit’; The Waterboys ‘This Is The Sea’; Y&T: ‘Open Fire – Live’; Prefab Sprout: ‘Steve McQueen’; The Cure: ‘The Head On The Door’; Rough Cut: ‘Rough Cutt’; Accept: ‘Metal Heart’; Run DMC: ‘King Of Rock’.