Anyway, these are the eight albums I cannot live without in (no particular order):
Music for the Masses - Depeche Mode
The first Depeche album I bought on the day of release (I think I was 14), which I have done ever since. I prefer this to Violator because I like it's cold Europeaness. It's perfect. I even like the Martin-sung songs, which isn't always a given.
Favourite Track: Um. So close, but Never Let Me Down Again
Light & Magic - Ladytron
Ladytron were one of my ex's finds. I never really got into them until we went to see them for this album and I fell in love with it. Sadly, they've never kept up the quality of this one, though The Witching Hour came close. Cracked LCD is my ringtone.
Favourite Track: Black Plastic
Puressence - Puressence
Sigh. Puressence were unjustly denied fame and fortune everywhere (except for Geece), for this album is magic and I adore it all. Not bad for a random record shop lucky dip find.
Favourite Track: I Suppose.
Pretty on the Inside - Hole
This reminds of the club I used to go to, although they used to play Violet from Live Through This all the time rather than anything from this album. Shame.
Favourite Track: Loaded
Wings of Joy - Cranes
I had a friend who played this to death in her car and it got stuck in my brain forever. It reminds me a lot of being at Uni in North London, my campus was right out on the edges almost in the country and was a big Edwardian house and estate. This fit it's mood of faded opulence along with the building's leaky roof.
Favourite Track: Tomorrow's Tears
Reading, Writing and Arithmetic - The Sundays
I like this for much the same reasons as the Cranes album, though why I started listening to The Sundays, I have long forgotten. It' a lovely, summery album that always makes me smile.
Favourite Track: Can't Be Sure
Night Time - Killing Joke
I suppose this album is really a bit pop for them, but I've always loved it. Killing Joke have never really floated my boat otherwise.
Favourite Track: Darkness Before Dawn
Last Splash - The Breeders
It's a shame The Breeders never made another album in this league. Maybe they needed Josephine Wiggs.
Favourite Track: Cannonball
As bonus, my top
Depeche Mode
Curve
Goldfrapp
Babes in Toyland
Hole
Dead Can Dance
PJ Harvey
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Editors
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
.