1. Wire, “Kidney Bingos.” Wire spent most of the ’80s broken up, but returned in 1987 with The Ideal Copy and a follow-up EP in 1988, Kidney Bingos. No, it doesn’t make any natural sense at first, but the stream of consciousness list seems, along with the phrase “money spurs people on,” to constitute a cut-and-paste statement on consumer culture. It’s also extremely repetitive and catchy as hell.

2. Azure Ray, “Across the Ocean.”

3. Kunek, “Section 2.”

4. Bauhaus, “Ziggy Stardust.”


5. Goldfrapp, “A&E.” When Madonna adopted an icy electro-disco sound on her early to mid-’00s releases, she was dubbed “Oldfrapp” in the British press. Conversely, “A&E” sounds like Alison’s attempt to do a Madge ballad circa Ray of Light.

6. Ween, “Sweetheart in the Summer.”

7. Toby Young, “Ch. 4: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.”

8. Os Mutantes, “Baby.”

9. Elvis Costello, “Shipbuilding.”


10. Dean and Britta, “Words You Used to Say.” Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot interview producer Tony Visconti, the legendary helmsman on classic records by Bowie and T.Rex, along with Dean and Britta’s current recordings, on the latest Sound Opinions.