Day 250: I wormed my way into the heart of the crowd, I was shocked to find what was allowed...

Golf: For those of you paying particularly close attention to this challenge and perhaps becoming concerned at how many albums we still have to listen to, be reassured that - whilst we are a bit behind on updating the blog - we are on top of the activity that matters most: listening to the albums.

Day 250 was actually back on 18th November, when I was running the Queenstown Half Marathon. We're working hard to stick to a schedule and confident we'll be all caught up by December 31st!

Album 870/1031

Pixies - Surfer Rosa (1988)

All tracks written by Black Francis, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bone Machine"		3:02
2.	"Break My Body"		2:05
3.	"Something Against You"		1:47
4.	"Broken Face"		1:30
5.	"Gigantic"	Francis, Kim Deal	3:55
6.	"River Euphrates"		2:33
7.	"Where Is My Mind?"		3:53
8.	"Cactus"		2:16
9.	"Tony's Theme"		1:52
10.	"Oh My Golly!"		1:48
11.	"Vamos"		4:18
12.	"I'm Amazed"		1:42
13.	"Brick Is Red"		2:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfer_Rosa

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Never gets boring. One of my all time favourite records. Hearing it for the first time at the age of 15 gave me a wider perspective on what rock music could be than any other album I had heard up until that time.

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Obviously!

Album 871/1031

Orbital - Orbital 2 (aka 'The Brown Album) (1993)

1. "Time Becomes" – 1:43
2. "Planet of the Shapes" – 9:36
3. "Lush 3-1" – 5:39
4. "Lush 3-2" – 4:40
5. "Impact (The Earth Is Burning)" – 10:27
6. "Remind" – 7:57
7. "Walk Now..." – 6:48
8. "Monday" – 7:05
9. "Halcyon + On + On" – 9:28
10. "Input Out" – 2:11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_(1993_album)

Golf's verdict: A very enjoyable trance style electro album, perfect for starting a 21.1km run on an early Queenstown morning.

Máire's verdict: Not sure 6am when you’re still half asleep is the right time to listen to this album. I snoozed.

Album 872/1031

Ride - Nowhere (1990)

All songs were equally credited to Ride (Andy Bell, Loz Colbert, Mark Gardener, Steve Queralt).

All lyrics written by Andy Bell, except where noted.

No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Seagull"	Gardener and Bell	6:09
2.	"Kaleidoscope"	Gardener with Bell	3:01
3.	"In a Different Place"	Gardener	5:29
4.	"Polar Bear"	Gardener	4:45
5.	"Dreams Burn Down"	Gardener	6:04
6.	"Decay" (Mark Gardener)	Gardener	3:35
7.	"Paralysed"	Bell	5:34
8.	"Vapour Trail"	Bell	4:18

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_(album)

Golf's verdict: Not as good as I was hoping. It has been years since I'd heard it, but only 'Dreams Burn Down' really hit the spot. I seem to remember that their first 3 EPs were quite extraordinary, but they seem to have failed to maintain that into their first album proper.

Máire's verdict: A fun blast from the past.

Album 873/1031

Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street (1972)

All songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rocks Off"		4:31
2.	"Rip This Joint"		2:22
3.	"Shake Your Hips"	Slim Harpo	2:59
4.	"Casino Boogie"		3:33
5.	"Tumbling Dice"		3:45

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Sweet Virginia"	4:27
7.	"Torn and Frayed"	4:17
8.	"Sweet Black Angel"	2:54
9.	"Loving Cup"	4:25

Side three
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Happy"		3:04
11.	"Turd on the Run"		2:36
12.	"Ventilator Blues"	Jagger, Richards, Mick Taylor	3:24
13.	"I Just Want to See His Face"		2:52
14.	"Let It Loose"		5:16

Side four
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"All Down the Line"		3:49
16.	"Stop Breaking Down"	Robert Johnson	4:34
17.	"Shine a Light"		4:14
18.	"Soul Survivor"		3:49

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exile_on_Main_St.

Golf's verdict: A very listenable Stones album, but another piece of evidence that proves they were no album band when compared to The Beatles.

Máire's verdict: They’ve done better albums....

Album 874/1031

Magazine - Real Life (1978)

All lyrics written by Howard Devoto.

Side A
No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Definitive Gaze"	Howard Devoto, John McGeoch	4:25
2.	"My Tulpa"	Howard Devoto, John McGeoch	4:47
3.	"Shot by Both Sides"	Howard Devoto, Pete Shelley	4:01
4.	"Recoil"	Howard Devoto, John McGeoch	2:50
5.	"Burst"	Howard Devoto	5:00

Side B
No.	Title	Music	Length
6.	"Motorcade"	Howard Devoto, Bob Dickinson	5:41
7.	"The Great Beautician in the Sky"	Howard Devoto, John McGeoch	4:56
8.	"The Light Pours Out of Me"	Howard Devoto, John McGeoch, Pete Shelley	4:36
9.	"Parade"	Barry Adamson, Dave Formula	5:08

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Life_(Magazine_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! One of the best debuts of all time and an absolute classic of post-punk. John McGeoch's guitar work is stunning.

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Forgotten how much I love this, particularly ‘Shot By Both Sides’