Like a sonic rinse cycle, these nineteen records (single tracks and full albums) were my most go-to palette cleansers in this most unprecedented of years. The range is ridiculous as you might expect and entirely unintentionally, features music made prior to the millennium. Many of these records I first encountered this year, while a handful of others became much closer to my heart as I enjoyed them more immensely than ever. They were and, in many cases, are still literal obsessions of mine. What it is that makes them so special ranges from heartening lyrical content to incredibly catchy vocals or just plain, undeniable energy. I can't tell you how many times I sang along to these in the shower, used them to tear up a hill on my bike or danced to them as I did the dishes. Hopefully, you too can put these records to good use. Find the Spotify playlist below and note that it features the original album tracklists, rather than the extended/deluxe types that are part of the list of links after the jump. Enjoy!
- B-Movie - Nowhere Girl (Extended)
- En Vogue - Don't Let Go (Love)
- Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
- Matt Bianco - Whose Side Are You On
- Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party
- Paul Simon - Rhythm Of The Saints
- Pete Townshend - A Little Is Enough (Live)
- Pete Townshend - Empty Glass
- Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush - Don't Give Up
- Quincy Jones - Birdland
- Sam Spence - West Side Rumble*
- Steps Ahead - Islands
- Steps Ahead - Praise
- The Cardigans - My Favourite Game
- The Housemartins - The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death
- The Psychedelic Furs - Heaven
- The Rezillos - Can't Stand The Rezillos
- The Traveling Wilburys - The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1
- Third World - Try Jah Love
* indicates record not available on Spotify
