30) The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990)
Someone wrote a pisstake letter to Melody Maker thanking the Sundays for recording a bunch of Smiths songs in a different key so they could sing along. lol.
Imagine if they did come back, though and Harriet didn't have that hairstyle. That wouldn't do.
29) Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)
One of the first albums I adored.
28) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2008)
'Experimental electronica' is a nonsense phrase but kind of works for Crystal Castles. They were fabulous live.
27) Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)
A lot of Oasis songs have been horrendous. All Beady Eye songs are horrendous. The brothers are often dicks. This leads to a lot of revisionism about early Oasis. I'm not having it. For the 2 years leading up to Knebworth in 1996, they were the most exciting band we had.
Great memories of attending the shoot for this Rock N Roll Star video in Southend.
26) R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
It began here.
25) Ian Brown - Unfinished Monkey Business (1998)
When the Stone Roses split I was convinced Squire was the star to follow going forward. Then he gave me The Seahorses, and later his own awful solo albums which were even worse. I bet on the wrong horse.
When Brown released his solo debut, it pissed on The Seahorses in every conceivable way. 'My Star' remains one of my favourite ever Ian Brown related things, of which there are many.
24) Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is (1986)
Because every list needs their 80s American Classic Rock.
Billy Joel was the reason I started to love playing the piano. Bruce Hornsby is the reason I continued. The master.
23) Madness - One Step Beyond…(1979)
At school, this was the band everyone liked.
22) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome (1984)
With it's bonkers concept, extra long mixes and an oddly out of place but surprisingly good Springsteen cover, this is far more rewarding 30 years on than it should be.
A marvellous, unique band.
21) The Wedding Present - George Best (1987)
The band I've seen live more than any other. There would be far better stuff to come but so much jangly of its time indieness to enjoy here.