I thought this was a pretty weak year (being part of one of my least favorite periods in music), but I've recently been discovering a lot more from it that I like.

What have you got?

There's this double-dip into the post-Hüsker catalog.
And both albums are pretty great:

Actually, these days I think that I am enjoying the Grant Hart album more than the Bob one. I think that the homemade production keeps it from sounding as dated as Workbook has become.

And one more from the SST family:

Then, there's this one:

House of Freaks - Tantilla
Gothic folk rock with some really dark imagery (as you could guess an album with a song called "White Folk's Blood" would) and excellent hooks.

You call this a weaker year. Actually, I think that it was a pretty good one.

There was a lot of good hip hop and other stuff, but this one sticks out for me:


Fugazi - Margin Walker EP

I'm not sure much needs to be said about this, but I heard this and the first EP together right about the time this was released, and was hooked. It was unlike anything I had heard before, but still had the intensity and songmanship I was looking for.

Between JAMC's Automatic, Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique, Dylan's Oh Mercy and Pixies' Dolittle I could be convinced that this is a good year without even thinking too hard or digging too deep.

Also, an admittedly uneven album but a fucking A+++ tremendous song from 1989:

Good year from my perspective.

Lou Reed~ New York
Neville Brothers~ Yellow Moon
V. Morrison~ Avalon Sunset
Guy Clark~ Old Friends
Subdudes~ S/T
Leo Kottke~ My Father's Face
Steeleye Span~ Tempted & Tried

A lot of foundation was laid for early 90s trends, for better or worse:


I always think this one is later, and I know a few obners prefer this to Angel Dust...


I haven't given this or Paul's Boutique as much time as I should, but they are (in theory) both right up my alley.


Likely my favorite of '89... Didn't hear of the album for about two years before my friends listened to it constantly.


It took them a while to grow into Badmotorfinger, but "Gun" and "Big Dumb Sex" are great tracks.


Hey, more alt-metal! "Thieves" and "So What" are featured here and two of Ministry's best tracks. That said, I tend to reach for 1990's live when in the mood for either track.

Best thing they ever did, if you ask me (but admittedly I'm not a huge Soundgarden fan, or grunge fan in general).

No.

Don't forget this:

My 3 most important would be:

The Cult - Sonic Temple


The Stone Roses - [s/t]


The Cure - Disintegration


Steel Wheels would probably have been on my list. I haven't listened to that one in awhile, but it was king of the hill for a long time around the high school.

Speaking of Debbie Gibson, Mojo had a busy 1989...


Debbie Gibson is Pregnant with my Two Headed Love Child

I was thinking the same thing!!!
Saw Mojo opening for these guys, who had THIS pretty good record come out in 1989:

I have an unhealthy love for this record.

It's hard to believe this first record is from 1989:

Totally agree about the song, but I actually like the whole album, as well.

Blue Rodeo's lone claim to greatness and one of the best albums of the decade.


Thelonious Monster Stormy Weather
The Someloves Something or Other
Operation Ivy Energy
The Men They Couldn't Hang Silver Town
The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll
Junkyard Junkyard
Rickie Lee Jones Flying Cowboys
Ian Hunter w/Mick Ronson YUIOrta
Robyn Hitchcock Queen Elvis
Giant Sand Long Stem Rant
Georgia Satellites In the Land of Salvation and Sin
Galaxy 500 On Fire
Dramarama Stuck in Wonderamaland
Del Amitri Waking Hours
Peter Case The Man With the Blue Post-Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar

the ones i'd mention

JAMC - Automatic
The Jazz Butcher - Big Planet, Scarey Planet
The Jayhawks - Blue Earth
Green on Red - Here Come the Snakes
Elvis Costello - Spike
The Del Fuegos - Smoking in the Fields
Blake Babies - Earwig
Tommy Keene - Based on Happy Times
The Replacements - Don't Tell a Soul

Although I played this song probably 10x more than any other

Stan Ridgway: Mosquitos (album of the year)
The Wedding Present: Bizarro
Tin Machine: Tin Machine
Television Personalities: Privilege
Julian Cope: Skellington
The Dragsters: Stoked
The Godfathers: More Songs About Love And Hate
The Psychedelic Furs: Book Of Days
Wire: It's Beginning To And Back Again
Alice Donut: Bucketfulls Of Sickness And Horror In An Otherwise Meaningless Life
Joe Jackson: Blaze of Glory (ok, the album is rather weak, but the title track is top notch)
Jason & The Scorchers: Thunder and Fire (if only for the Steve Earle collaboration)


Hated that Cult album, and I remember being quite disappointed in Queen Elvis (big fall off from Globe of Frogs)

Don't have too much more to offer but


Felt-Me & A Monkey on the Moon


Really kind of straight indie pop but good if you like that stuff

There were some greats in 1989.... I agree with TJs picks... and these.


This was and is an amazing live performance... Considering its all synths and some banging on metal sheets etc.


German Thrash... so goood.


This was one of my transition albums out of metal to grunge and industrial to come.


Not as good as Allroy Sez, but still good.


Who didnt dance to this with the cute Goth girls?


This is one of the best records in the past 25 Years....

jesus christ

+1
Technique
Bizarro
Automatic
Rock N' Roll
On Fire
Stone Roses
Disintegration
Doolittle
Pretty Hate Machine
Workbook

A few others:

Figures.



That's just too easy.