Critics Roundup 1989

More than anything, 1989 was the year of Tin Machine.

It wasn’t? Sorry, More than anything, 1989 was the year of cowboy Junkies, Lemonheads, Band Of Susans, Nick Cave, Buffalo Tom, Blue Aeroplanes, Beastie Boys, ’Til Tuesday, de La Soul, Spacemen 3, Big Dipper, Fugazi, Beat Happening, Nirvana, Miracle Legions, The Replacements, Das Damen, Killdozer, Galaxie 500, Hugo Largo, Kitchens Of Distinction, American Music Club, Shakespear’s Sister, Straitjacket Fits, Bob Mould, The Shamen, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Peter Gabriel (yup, for the ‘Last Temptation’ soundtrack), Mudhoney, Tad, REM, Happy Mondays, Wedding Present, Blue Nile, Perfect Disaster, Neil Young, Firehose and sans double, Pixies.

Hey, how about ‘Doolittle’! Not as good as ‘Surfer Rosa’, I’m the first to admit, but album of the year, nonetheless. They remain the only band I’d follow round the country on foot, which is probably why they’ve never played Ireland.

Impenetrable conundrum of the year award goes to Malcolm McLaren, for releasing a serious contender for single of the year in ‘Something’s Jumpin’ in Your Shirt, and then spoiling it by muscling in on territory last inhabited by the Classics On 45 team, with, The Blue Danube Mix or whatever the fuck it’s called.

Whype of the year … I’m afraid I have to give this to Neneh Cherry, who is, as far as I can make out, exciting in the same way that Alice Cooper is terrifying. In other words, not very. Oh, and Van Morrison, I hate him too.

The Pogues album … there was a Pogues album?

What else? Sky TV and the environment problem was pretty scary, but one listen to the instrumental number on Bob Mould’s ‘Workbook’, and everything evens out nicely. I may seem depressed some times but it’s only because every waking moment of my life is a living hell. At least there’s a good soundtrack.