Critics Roundup 1985

Some surprises from overseas, and several gems from the homefront – that was 1985.

Surprises came from Dexy’s Midnight Runners when their ‘Stand Me Down’ album proved there’s life in Kevin Rowland yet, and from Kate Bush, whose excellent ‘Houses Of Love’ has restored her to her rightful position of pre-eminence. Sting too pulled a rabbit from his hat, with ‘Dream Of The Blue Turtles’, which, along with the wonderfully wishy-washy ‘Steve McQueen’ from Prefab Sprout must rank as my favourite international album of 1985.

Madness also delighted with ‘Mad Not Mad’ – undoubtedly their best vinyl outing to date – while the biggest surprise of the year must be that The Pogues, remained sober long enough to make ‘Rum Sodomy And The Lash’! Mind you, it’s not very good. Hype Of The Year Award …

America went back to guitar-based bands, with worthy albums from Rain Parade, REM and The Beat Farmers. Talking Heads again tuned up trumps with ‘Little Creatures’, and of course their ‘Stop Making Sense’ film was one of the most memorable events of 1985.

On the domestic scene, debut albums from The Golden Horde, Those Nervous Animals, The Blades and Auto Da Fe all pleased, while LABF’s ‘Gunpowders’ positively delighted. These boys are going to be huge (I hope!).

On the traditional front, Clannad produced their best elpee to date in ‘Macalla’, and De Danann also delivered with ‘Anthem’. Christy Moore’s ‘Ordinary Man’, though not as good as ‘Ride On’, kept him on the turntables of Ordinary Ireland (and in the courts of Extraordinary Ireland). Finally ‘The Storm’ by Moving Hearts saw the band plunging into instruments, and floating effortlessly back to the top. Without doubt, my Album Of The Year.