Richard Watterson
@richardwatterson.bsky.social
280 followers 170 following 840 posts
On here, music mainly and a bit of sport. In real life I have a lovely wife and two great children to fit in too.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
Sounded like nothing else at the time and arguably their best album too. Despite my contrarian tendencies I can't see this not making my top 5.
open.spotify.com/album/6cI1Xo...
The Smiths
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
Incredibly inventive and accomplished debut. Such is the quality of this heat though that's no guarantee of a place in my top 5.
open.spotify.com/album/17vXS5...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Brilliant album, a definite for my 5 but not top spot.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Only their debut album, which is great.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
I think it's convergent evolution rather than a direct link, with bands from different eras reinterpreting 60s music and independently getting a similar end result. I actually posted the RH album a couple of days ago, great but not one of my favourites by him.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
I didn't pick up on a madchester vibe when I first played it but a friend, @grahamh.bsky.social saw the parallels with the Stone Roses debut, which instantly made sense.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Very little in it but if I created a soundtrack to my 80s there would be more tracks from the DM album on it.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Fantastic album, the pinnacle of Paisley Underground and an absolute certainty for my top 5.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
Edges it as my pick of the Vince Clarke albums. Both superb but neither will quite make my top 5. As opening tracks on debut albums go though, New Life takes some beating.
open.spotify.com/album/1XLkKN...
Speak & Spell
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Totally agree, hopefully one day their albums will be revived as lost classics.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Just playing it now, fantastic album but one I tend to overlook because their next two are even better. Wasn't in my reckoning but maybe is now. This is going to be hard.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Criminally underrated, could have been bigger than The Beatles. Fantastic album very likely to make my top 5.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
I'd forgotten about this one, the goth in me at the time maybe even slightly preferred it to Love. Never had any time for their later albums though that veered into more generic hard rock.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
I've already got too many contenders but this superb slice of powerpop definitely deserved a spin.
open.spotify.com/album/0eZNXt...
Stands For Decibels
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
Won't make my top 5 but I can't pass up the opportunity to give Robyn Hitchcock a spin. As a general rule I'll be setting a higher bar for solo debuts by established artists compared to true debuts.
open.spotify.com/album/5vsPv9...
Black Snake Diamond Röle
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Incredibly assured and great songwriting, particularly for a supposed "pop" act. Definitely in the mix for my top 5.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
Not a contender for my top 5 but the 4 tracks that make up side one are fantastic, with the superb cover of my favourite Prince song being the absolute standout.
open.spotify.com/album/1FvdZ1...
She's So Unusual
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Album is patchy but I always think of To Cut A Long Story Short as the definitive new romantic song.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
Everything you want from a debut album, accomplished yet still with the naivety that adds to the charm. Strangely it reminds me of Orange Juice's debut but in a much more muted style.
open.spotify.com/album/37FJhy...
Everybody Is Fantastic
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Never heard it before but I've always got time for a lost classic. Sounds very good on first play.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
#5debutalbums8084
Not sure it will make my top 5 but it's an album that never fails to impress. The singles are infectiously fantastic but beyond that it's also a landmark world music album. Hard to believe this is 3 years before Graceland.
open.spotify.com/album/6S4f7y...
Duck Rock
open.spotify.com
richardwatterson.bsky.social
I did like the first one but wilfully difficult.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
Good call, Love Plus One and Fantastic Day belong on any soundtrack to the 80s.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
I did buy that at the time. There was a period when I was reading the album reviews in the monthly mags trying to find the next 3 EPs.
richardwatterson.bsky.social
I don't think anyone saw this with Liverpool. Their league position probably flatters them.