Angelo Badalamenti, Tough Guys Don't Dance O.S.T., 1987, LP

"My pussy hair use to be bright gold in high school until I went out and scorched it with the football team."  - Patty Lareine

Norman Mailer's "Tough Guys Don't Dance" is one of my favorite movies of all time.  The film is laden with bizarre/memorable dialogue, unreal acting, and a phenomenal score.  Badalamenti also scored David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" which is also worth tracking down.

Def Leppard, On Through the Night, 1980, LP

Any Def Leppard album that features drummer, Rick Allen, with all his extremities is worthy of praise, especially this debut effort.

Fresh (1994)

   This crime drama is one of my favorite discoveries of the year.  The basic premise is about a young man named Fresh, who slings drugs and has to grow up fast on the streets of New York City.  Also, the score by Stewart Copeland is excellent as well, check it out.

Virgin Prunes, If I Die I Die, CD, 1982, Dublin, Ireland

               Since it's a balmy, sullen, and precipitous day in Portland, I feel this album fits the mood pretty well.  I discovered the Virgin Prunes through vocalist, Gavin Friday, appearing on Dave Ball's impressive 1983 album "In Strict Tempo." It also doesn't hurt that Wire's Colin Newman produced it. 

Hard Stuff, Bulletproof, CD, 1972, U.K.

Hard Stuff's much lauded debut is solid from start to finish and features guitarist, John Du Cann, of Atomic Rooster fame.  If this fancies your taste also check out their second album "Bolex Dementia" from '73.

Stepson, S/T, LP, 1974, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Stellar mid-seventies Pacific Northwest hard rock at its finest featuring members of Touch and Don and the Goodtimes.  It seems to me that there are sentiments of early Blue Oyster Cult doled through out this album.  Also, there's a wicked cover of the Animals "It's My Life."  Don't pass this gem up, it's one of my favorite discoveries of 2014

Scott Walker, Climate of Hunter LP, 1983, U.K.

       At this interval in time, this eerily haunting and weirdly beautiful experimental pop album from Scott Walker, formerly of the Walker Brothers, is my favorite of his. Unfortunately, this is the only album Scott Walker did in the 80's and I would have loved to have heard more albums from him during this era.  Oddly enough, Billy Ocean and Mark Knopfler appear on this album.  DAMN IT Scott Walker! Get out of my car and into my dreams.