Critics Roundup 1979

I probably won’t know my favourite albums of ’79 till 1983; only then will I have absorbed all I’ve heard. And even now there’s hundreds I’ve never heard. So here goes: at number 3 I’ve put Ry Cooder, not because it’s his best album (it’s not) but it seems as good a time as any to join in the celebrations as one of the seventies greats is finally universally acclaimed. Quality, perfection, humour, class – ‘Bop’ has the lot (though ‘Move Till You Groove’ would make a better title). If this album makes people check back on Cooder (especially ‘Into The Purple Lunch’) that’s good enough for me. ‘Little Sister’ is magic.

Although quite far removed from my album of ’77 (Ramones 'Leave Home’) the impact of my number two album ‘The Undertones’ is somewhat similar. Nothing is dragged out so there’s more room for more great songs. A superb album, an essential purchase and the undisputed debut of ’79.

Talking Heads are the most important and exciting band I’ve heard in the last four years. Their third release in three years redefines the mis-used early seventies term ‘Progressive Rock’. The healthiest aspect of the new wave ironing-out process is Talking Heads. ‘Fear Of Music’ is colder than ever and David Byrne is still sane. ‘More Songs’ was the album of ’78. The latest is the album of ’79. Simple as that.

Apart from the obvious (Edmunds, Parker, Dylan, Young, Joe Jackson) don’t let the year pass by without at least a listen to Wire, Wigwam, Marianne Faithful or Kevin Coyne.