- Music
- 22 May 01
Ian O'Doherty's 1989
This was a year for consolidation rather than adventure: Petty, Reed and Dylan all recorded their best stuff in a long time though none made anything remotely like a stylistic breakthrough. This side of the pond Happy Mondays deserve a mention in despatches. Listening to ‘Bummed’ and ‘Hallelujah’ is like taking a cold shower but too much E makes Shaun a very strange boy indeed. Leeds band The Wedding Present released another good album in the shape of ‘Bizarro’ but even here, it really was more of the same from the man with the worst love life ever. Scotland can look back on ’89 with a deserved sense of pride following the successes of Deacon Blue, Danny Wilson, Love And Money, The Blue Nile and The Jesus And Mary Chain.
On the home front there were plenty of hard-working hard-gigging bands but there was precious little genuine talent to be seen. Something Happens! are a band that try hard but honest endeavour counts for little on the world stage. Am I the only person in the country who actually thinks that the Happens! are a ghastly little outfit who should stop whinging and try to write some good songs instead of playing Skippy the bush fucking kangeroo at their gigs?
Fortunately there are several lights at the end of the tunnel. A House shining brightest of all. Into Paradise and Power Of Dreams, also released excellent material on the London-based Setanta label while other bands to look out for in the coming year are The Conspiracy and Big Orange Peel.
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Finally, mention must be made of a band that I have heard but not seen. Hidden Faces is the name and their demo ‘Huskerville’ shows very real promise. Watch out for ’em in 1990.