Critics' Choice 1986

1. Elvis Costello And The Attractions Blood and Chocolate [IMP]
Elvis was pissed. Boy, was he pissed. And wired too. Not content with releasing the exquisitely produced roots rock classic King Of America that year, Mr McManus also reconvened the Attractions with Nick Lowe, holed up in a big room, and, utilising monitor speakers rather than headphones, knocked out an album composed of raw but wordy garage rock tunes (‘Uncomplicated’, ‘Tokyo Storm Warning’, ‘Honey Are You Straight Or Are You Blind?’) and capped the whole thing with ‘I Want You’, the most naked and baleful love-hate song since Dylan’s ‘Idiot Wind’.
2. Paul Simon – Graceland [WEA]
3. The Housemartins – London 0, Hull 4 [Go! discs]
4. The Costello Show – King Of America [IMP]
5. Van Morrison – No Guru, No Method, No Teacher [Phonogram]