Talk Talk - "The Colour of Spring"

Released: 1986
Format: standard album (vinyl, cassette, CD or download)

Songwriting: 8
Performance: 8
Recording: 9
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 8

I'm a child of the 80's, and I don't care who knows it!  Of course when this album was released, I was only nine years old, and chose to ignore it, preferring the more accessible Corey Harts, Bruce Springsteens and Bryan Adamses of the day.  Now that I am older and more of a stick in the mud connoisseur, I find myself rediscovering past recordings like this one.  This is considered by many to be the band's transitional recording wherein they progressed from radio-friendly pop to a more discordant, experimental, unstructured style.  The huge variations from one track to the next are a bit unsettling at first, but repeated listenings bring much satisfaction.  The composition, musicianship and recording (especially the latter) are so meticulous that something new is revealed each time.

Suggested sample track: "Happiness Is Easy"

Recommendation: buy the vinyl or CD, then play it on a very expensive sound system (go to a very expensive sound store if you must).