Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Index by Release Year: 1985

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Consumer Guide Index by Release Year: 1985

Listing for 283 records from 1985 (selected by release date), sorted by grade.

A+	Double Dee & Steinski: *The Payoff Mix/Lesson Two/Lesson 3* [Tommy Boy EP] Franco & Rochereau: *Omona Wapi* [Shanachie] The Mekons: *Fear and Whiskey* [Sin]
A	The Blasters: *Hard Line* [Slash] Lee Dorsey: *Holy Cow! The Best of Lee Dorsey* [Arista] Aretha Franklin: *Who's Zoomin' Who?* [Arista] Hüsker Dü: *New Day Rising* [SST] Jerry Lee Lewis: *Milestones* [Rhino] Minutemen: *3-Way Tie (for Last)* [SST] Willie Nelson & Hank Snow: *Brand on My Heart* [Columbia] The Pogues: *Rum Sodomy and the Lash* [Stiff] Elvis Presley: *A Valentine Gift for You* [RCA Victor] Talking Heads: *Little Creatures* [Sire] The Velvet Underground: VU [Verve] Jackie Wilson: *Reet Petite* [Ace] *Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill* [A&M]
A-	Dele Abiodun: *Adawa Super Sound* [Shanachie] Dele Abiodun: *It's Time for Ju Ju Music* [Super Adawa] Roy Acuff: *Columbia Historic Edition* [Columbia] John Anderson: *Tokyo, Oklahoma* [Warner Bros.] Steve Arrington: *Dancin' in the Key of Life* [Atlantic] Artists United Against Apartheid: *Sun City* [Manhattan] Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar: *Escenas* [Elektra] David Byrne: *Music for The Knee Plays* [ECM] Camper Van Beethoven: *Telphone Free Landslide Victory* [Independent Project] The Cars: *Greatest Hits* [Elektra] Rosanne Cash: *Rhythm and Romance* [Columbia] Alex Chilton: *Feudalist Tarts* [Big Time] George Clinton: *Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends* [Capitol] Elvis Costello and the Attractions: *The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions* [Columbia] The Robert Cray Band: *False Accusations* [HighTone] Marshall Crenshaw: *Downtown* [Warner Bros.] The Dead Milkmen: *Big Lizard in My Backyard* [Fever] The Descendents: *Bonus Fat* [New Alliance EP] Dramarama: *Cinéma Verité* [New Rose] The Go-Betweens: *Metal and Shells* [PVC] Joe Higgs: *Triumph* [Alligator] Hüsker Dü: *Flip Your Wig* [SST] Billy Joel: *Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 and 2 (1973-1985)* [Columbia] Linton Kwesi Johnson: *In Concert With the Dub Band* [Shanachie] Marti Jones: *Unsophisticated Time* [A&M] Katrina and the Waves: *Katrina and the Waves* [Capitol] Kid Creole and the Coconuts: *In Praise of Older Women and Other Crimes* [Sire] Fela Anikulapo Kuti: *Army Arrangement* [Celluloid] Ladysmith Black Mambazo: *Ulwandle Oluncgwele* [Shanachie] Lifeboat: *Lifeboat* [Dolphin EP] Mofungo: *Frederick Douglass* [Twin/Tone/Coyote] Willie Nelson: *Me and Paul* [Columbia] The Orioles: *For Collectors Only* [Murray Hill] Phranc: *Folksinger* [Rhino] Elvis Presley: *Reconsider Baby* [RCA Victor] Professor Longhair: *Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo* [Dancing Cat] Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus: *Rally Round* [Shanachie] The Rattlers: *Rattled!* [PVC] The Rave-Ups: *Town and Country* [Fun Stuff] The Replacements: *Tim* [Sire] Nile Rodgers: *B-Movie Matinee* [Warner Bros.] Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs: *Pharaohization!* [Rhino] Scritti Politti: *Cupid & Psyche 85* [Warner Bros.] The Silos: *About Her Steps* [Record Collect] George Strait: *Greatest Hits* [MCA] George Strait: *Something Special* [MCA] UB40: *Little Baggariddim* [A&M EP] Hank Williams: *Lovesick Blues: August 1947-December 1948* [Polydor] Yabby You: *Fleeing from the City* [Shanachie] *Go Go Crankin'* [4th & Broadway] *Phezulu Eqhudeni* [Carthage]
B+	Aerosmith: *Done With Mirrors* [Geffen] Bad Company: *10 From 6* [Atlantic] Breaking Circus: *The Very Long Fuse* [Homestead EP] The Butthole Surfers: *Psychic . . . Powerless . . . Another Man's Sac* [Touch and Go] The Celibate Rifles: *Quintessentially Yours* [What Goes On] The Clash: *Cut the Crap* [Epic] George Clinton/Parliament-Funkadelic: *Mothership Connection (Live from the Summit, Houston, Texas)* [Capitol] The Coasters: *Thumbin' a Ride* [Edsel] Leonard Cohen: *Various Positions* [Passport] Lloyd Cole and the Commotions: *Rattlesnakes* [Geffen] Johnny Copeland: *Bringin' It All Back Home* [Rounder] The Cucumbers: *Who Betrays Me . . . and Other Happier Songs* [Fake Doom] Danny and Dusty: *The Lost Weekend* [A&M] Miles Davis: *Decoy* [Columbia] DeBarge: *Rhythm of the Night* [Gordy] Depeche Mode: *Catching Up With Depeche Mode* [Sire] The Descendents: *I Don't Want to Grow Up* [New Alliance] Detox: *Detox* [Flipside] Bob Dylan: *Empire Burlesque* [Columbia] Eurythmics: *Be Yourself Tonight* [RCA Victor] The Falcons: *I Found a Love* [LuPine] The Falcons: *You're So Fine* [Flick] The Fall: *This Nation's Saving Grace* [Beggars Banquet] Fine Young Cannibals: *Fine Young Cannibals* [I.R.S.] Fishbone: *Fishbone* [Columbia EP] The Flies: *Get Wise* [Homestead] John Fogerty: *Centerfield* [Warner Bros.] The Fugs: *Refuse to Be Burnt-Out* [New Rose] Full Time Men: *Full Time Men* [Coyote EP] Jimmy G. and the Tackheads: *Federation of Tackheads* [Capitol] Gilberto Gil: *Human Race/Raça Humana* [WEA International] God and the State: *Ruins: The Complete Works of God and the State* [Happy Squid] The Golden Palominos: *Visions of Excess* [Celluloid] Green on Red: *No Free Lunch* [Mercury EP] Albert Griffiths and the Gladiators: *Country Living* [Heartbeat] Merle Haggard: *A Friend in California* [Epic] Merle Haggard: *His Best* [MCA] Richard Hell: *R.I.P.* [ROIR] Lucia Hwong: *House of Sleeping Beauties* [Private Music] Gregory Isaacs: *Private Beach Party* [RAS] Ronald Shannon Jackson: *Decode Yourself* [Island] Jason & the Scorchers: *Lost and Found* [EMI America] Fela Anikulapo Kuti: *No Agreement* [Celluloid] Lady Pank: *Drop Everything* [MCA] L.L. Cool J: *Radio* [Def Jam] Richard Lloyd: *Field of Fire* [Mistiur] The Long Ryders: *State of Our Union* [Island] The Lounge Lizards: *Live 79-81* [ROIR] Nick Lowe: *The Rose of England* [Columbia] Lonnie Mack: *Strike Like Lightning* [Alligator] Maddox Brothers and Rose: *Columbia Historic Edition* [Columbia] Malopoets: *Malopoets* [EMI America] Wynton Marsalis: *J Mood* [Columbia] Reba McEntire: *The Best of Reba McEntire* [Mercury] Meat Puppets: *Up on the Sun* [SST] John Cougar Mellencamp: *Scarecrow* [Riva] The Micronotz: *The Beast That Devoured Itself* [Fresh Sounds] Minutemen: *Project: Mersh* [SST EP] Joni Mitchell: *Dog Eat Dog* [Geffen] Hugh Mundell: *Africa Must Be Free by 1983* [Rockers] Aaron Neville: *Orchid in the Storm* [Rhino EP] New Order: *Low Life* [Qwest] Nightmare Alley/Bop Ramboe and the Ratbags: *Victim Turns Blue/Ratbags on Parade* [Weatherproof Stew] Ebenezer Obey: *Juju Jubilee* [Shanachie] Jeffrey Osborne: *Don't Stop* [A&M] Plasticland: *Plasticland* [Enigma] Prefab Sprout: *Two Wheels Good* [Epic] James & Bobby Purify: *The Best of James & Bobby Purify: Do It Right!* [Arista] Ready for the World: *Ready for the World* [MCA] The Reducers: *Cruise to Nowhere* [Rave On] Lou Reed: *City Lights* [Arista] R.E.M.: *Fables of the Reconstruction* [I.R.S.] René & Angela: *Street Called Desire* [Mercury] The Roches: *Another World* [Warner Bros.] Run-D.M.C.: *King of Rock* [Profile] The Scene Is Now: *Burn All Your Records* [Lost] Slave: *Best of Slave* [Cotillion] Staple Singers: *Are You Ready* [Private I] The Style Council: *Internationalists* [Geffen] Koko Taylor: *Queen of the Blues* [Alligator] David Thomas and the Pedestrians: *More Places Forever* [Twin/Tone] Richard Thompson: *Across a Crowded Room* [Polydor] The Three Johns: *Brainbox (He's a Brainbox)* [Abstract EP] Trouble Funk: *Saturday Night Live! From Washington D.C.* [Island] Luther Vandross: *The Night I Fell in Love* [Epic] Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: *Soul to Soul* [Epic] Via Afrika: *Via Afrika* [EMI America] Loudon Wainwright III: *I'm Alright* [Rounder] Tom Waits: *Rain Dogs* [Island] Barrence Whitfield and the Savages: *Dig Yourself* [Rounder] Hank Williams: *Just Me and My Guitar* [Country Music Foundation] Larry Williams: *Dizzy Miss Lizzy* [Ace] Womack & Womack: *Radio M.U.S.C. Man* [Elektra] Stevie Wonder: *In Square Circle* [Tamla] Paul Young: *The Secret of Association* [Columbia] *Television's Greatest Hits* [TVT] *Tribute to Steve Goodman* [Red Pajamas] *The Goonies* [Epic] *Krush Groove* [Warner Bros.]
B	Angst: *Lite Life* [SST] Tommy Bankhead and the Blues Eldorados: *Tommy Bankhead and the Blues Eldorados* [Deep Morgan] The Beat Farmers: *Tales of the New West* [Rhino] Jeff Beck: *Flash* [Epic] Big Youth: *A Luta Continua* [Heartbeat] Kurtis Blow: *America* [Mercury] Kate Bush: *Hounds of Love* [EMI America] Albert Collins/Robert Cray/Johnny Copeland: *Showdown!* [Alligator] Sam Cooke: *Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963* [RCA Victor] The Cure: *The Head on the Door* [Elektra] Divinyls: *What a Life!* [Chrysalis] Anna Domino: *"Rythm"* [Les Disques du Crepuscle] Sheila E.: *Sheila E. in Romance 1600* [Warner Bros.] Ed Gein's Car: *Making Dick Dance* [EGC] Fela: *Shuffering and Shmiling* [Celluloid] Al Green: *Trust in God* [Myrrh] Merle Haggard: *Songwriter* [MCA] John Hiatt: *Warming Up to the Ice Age* [Geffen] Justin Hinds and the Dominoes: *Travel With Love* [Nighthawk] Chris Isaak: *Silvertone* [Warner Bros.] Freddie Jackson: *Rock Me Tonight* [Capitol] George Jones: *First Time Live* [Epic] The Knitters: *Poor Little Critter on the Road* [Slash] Lone Justice: *Lone Justice* [Geffen] Reba McEntire: *Have I Got a Deal for You* [MCA] Miami Sound Machine: *Primitive Love* [Epic] Mission of Burma: *The Horrible Truth About Burma* [Ace of Hearts] Van Morrison: *Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast* [Mercury] Pablo Moses: *Tension* [Alligator] New Model Army: *No Rest for the Wicked* [Capitol] Alexander O'Neal: *Alexander O'Neal* [Tabu] Pajama Slave Dancers: *Cheap Is Real* [Pajamarama] The Replacements: *The Shit Hits the Fans* [Twin/Tone] David Lee Roth: *Crazy From the Heat* [Warner Bros. EP] Sade: *Diamond Life* [Portrait] Shalamar: *Heart Break* [Solar] Sonic Youth: *Bad Moon Rising* [Homestead] Tears for Fears: *Songs from the Big Chair* [Mercury] Linda Thompson: *One Clear Moment* [Warner Bros.] Richard Thompson: *(Guitar, Vocal)* [Carthage] UTFO: *UTFO* [Select] U2: *Wide Awake in America* [Island EP] The Weather Girls: *Big Girls Don't Cry* [Columbia] Wilma: *Wilma* [Subterranean] X: *Ain't Love Grand* [Elektra] Neil Young: *Old Ways* [Geffen] ZZ Top: *Afterburner* [Warner Bros.] *A Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse* [Giorno Poetry Systems] *Rap 1* [Profile]
B-	ABC: *How to Be a Zillionaire* [Mercury] Big Audio Dynamite: *This Is Big Audio Dynamite* [Columbia] The Boogie Boys: *City Life* [Capitol] The Del Fuegos: *Boston, Mass.* [Slash] Dire Straits: *Brothers in Arms* [Warner Bros.] D.O.A.: *Let's Wreck the Party* [Alternative Tentacles] Bryan Ferry: *Boys and Girls* [Warner Bros.] Full Force: *Full Force* [Columbia] Green on Red: *Gas Food Lodging* [Enigma] Hoodoo Gurus: *Mars Needs Guitars!* [Big Time] Jesse Johnson's Revue: *Jesse Johnson's Revue* [A&M] Grace Jones: *Island Life* [Island] Klymaxx: *Meeting in the Ladies Room* [Constellation] Gladys Knight & the Pips: *Life* [Columbia] Legal Weapon: *Interior Hearts* [Arsenal] Melody Makers: *Play the Game Right* [EMI America] Yoko Ono: *Starpeace* [Polydor] Graham Parker and the Shot: *Steady Nerves* [Elektra] Ray Parker Jr.: *Sex and the Single Man* [Arista] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: *Southern Accents* [MCA] Prince and the Revolution: *Around the World in a Day* [Warner Bros.] Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers: *Rockin' and Romance* [Twin/Tone] Rockin' Sydney: *My Zydeco Shoes Got the Zydeco Blues* [Maison de Soul] Shannon: *Do You Wanna Get Away* [Mirage] Jane Siberry: *No Borders Here* [Open Air] Simple Minds: *Once Upon a Time* [A&M] 'Til Tuesday: *Voices Carry* [Epic] Suzanne Vega: *Suzanne Vega* [A&M] Bunny Wailer: *Marketplace* [Shanachie] Robert Wyatt: *Old Rottenhat* [Rough Trade] Zeitgeist: *Translate Slowly* [DB] *Beverly Hills Cop* [MCA]
C+	Sandra Bernhard: *I'm Your Woman* [Mercury] Otis Clay: *Soul Man--Live in Japan* [Rooster Blues] Commodores: *Nightshift* [Motown] Echo and the Bunnymen: *Songs to Learn and Sing* [Sire] The Family: *The Family* [Warner Bros.] Fat Boys: *The Fat Boys Are Back* [Sutra] Marvin Gaye: *Dream of a Lifetime* [Columbia] Grandmaster Flash: *They Said It Couldn't Be Done* [Elektra] Hooters: *Nervous Night* [Columbia] Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force: *Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force* [Columbia] Nils Lofgren: *Flip* [Columbia] Kenny Loggins: *Vox Humana* [Columbia] Van Morrison: *A Sense of Wonder* [Mercury] Judy Mowatt: *Working Wonders* [Shanachie] Alison Moyet: *Alf* [Columbia] Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper: *Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper* [RBI] Robert Palmer: *Riptide* [Island] The Power Station: *The Power Station* [Capitol] The Smiths: *Meat Is Murder* [Sire] Sting: *The Dream of the Blue Turtles* [A&M] The Thompson Twins: *Here's to Future Days* [Arista] Jane Weidlin: *Jane Weidlin* [I.R.S.] *Vision Quest* [Geffen]
C	The Beach Boys: *The Beach Boys* [Caribou] Walter Becker/Donald Fagen: *The Early Years* [PVC] Phil Collins: *No Jacket Required* [Atlantic] Mick Jagger: *She's the Boss* [Columbia] Rick James: *Glow* [Gordy] Steve Perry: *Street Talk* [Columbia]
C-	Bryan Adams: *Reckless* [A&M] A-Ha: *Hunting High and Low* [Warner Bros.] Eric Clapton: *Behind the Sun* [Duck] Eddie Murphy: *How Could It Be* [Columbia]
D	Howard Jones: *Dream Into Action* [Elektra] Sonic Youth: *Death Valley '69* [Homestead EP]
D-	*The Breakfast Club* [A&M]

1984

1986