Nena is the first album by German pop rock band Nena and the second studio album of its singer, Gabriele “Nena” Kerner. Released in 1983, it’s been part of the music genre called Neue Deutsche Welle (meaning “New German Wave”) movement in the German music.
The well-known title track is included here twice (in English and German versions), and the rest of the album, also split down the middle between English and German lyrics, is rounded out by lightweight new wave pop confections like “?” and “Hangin’ on You.” Although the record’s dated production is clearly a souvenir of the … Read more
Smart, sophisticated, and timelessly stylish, Steve McQueen (titled Two Wheels Good in the U.S. after threats of a lawsuit from the actor’s estate) is a minor classic, a shimmering jazz-pop masterpiece sparked by Paddy McAloon’s witty and inventive songwriting. McAloon is a wickedly cavalier composer, his songs exploring human weaknesses like regret (“Bonny”), lust (“Appetite”), … Read more
“Searching for the Young Soul Rebels” is the debut studio album by English pop group Dexys Midnight Runners, released on July 11, 1980, through EMI Records. Led by Kevin Rowland, the group formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England, and formed a strong live reputation before recording their first material. Recorded during April 1980, the album … Read more
Belinda is the first solo album by Belinda Carlisle, notable as her first recording after the break-up of New Wave band The Go-Go’s, for whom she was their lead singer. Released in mid-1986 it featured a hit single “Mad About You” which went to No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 … Read more
Cuts Both Ways is a 1989 album by Gloria Estefan. It was the first studio album credited to Estefan as a solo artist, but is her 11th album overall including her work with the band the Miami Sound Machine. Although Estefan’s name is on the front cover, on the spine of the album’s vinyl LP … Read more
AFFECTION is a hit-packed album from one of the pioneering club divas of the early ’90s. Lisa Stansfield’s “All Around the World” was one of the biggest songs of the era, and became a chart-topper in numerous countries. With its big drum machine beats and smooth vocals from Stansfield, AFFECTION ushered in a sound that … Read more