808 State – 90 (1989)
[Album 863/1001]
“if you don’t like our 808s, then leave us alone, ’cause we don’t need your policies
We have no apologies for being”
– Alessia Cara, Wild Things
I enjoy learning new things.
I gather ‘808’ is often a reference to The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, an early drum machine. Over the years, its definition has evolved and these days it may also just be used as shorthand for a beat.
Given the genre here (IDM = Intelligent Dance Music, speaking of learning new things!), I believe this group’s name is a tip of the hat to the drum machine.
But do I like their 808s?
Well, like the Alessia Cara lyric, I like how the album is unapologetically IDM; they don’t appear to be chasing trends or throwing out a mishmash of styles, hoping that something will stick.
With the standard disclaimers about not being the target audience / the female vocal track being the standout (here, Vanessa Sherrington’s vocals on Magical Dream), I do admire their commitment to palindromic numbers.
As shown modestly with the track, Pacific 202, and more grandly with the track, 808080808.
Although 90 is not a palindrome (oh well, pobody’s nerfect, right?), I also like the lack of words in the album title.
In fact, I like it so much, it’s Top 5 material!
…..
Verbalize the Positive
How do you know it’s going to be a good day?
When you check your PC Optimum points account and see this as the current balance!
1001albumsin10years 
This is another right time, right place one for me. I really like it, although I only actually bought a copy a few years ago – it just seemed to be around everywhere.
I do like the late 80s/early 90s beats – it feels like the sound of an era, and it generally draws a smile from me!
PC Card= Classic. VH liked that numerical title as well with a few other albums like “5150” and the mix of the alphabet and numbers in “OU812”. I guess they all can’t be on the Top 1001 list lol…
The list did include the debut & 1984 – no Hagar / Cherone eras though, alas!
Your list Your Rules! lol
I always wondered what Alessia meant with that 808 comment. I was thinking some police code reference.
I wonder if it is also a police code – perhaps some sort of a crime involving a drum machine?!
Any drum machine is a crime!!
Then perhaps it is the appropriate code!
Sarah just got some blue-tooth earbuds with her Shoppers points. I guess they’re not Shoppers points anymore though. Anyway, it is pretty cool what you can do with those points.
I don’t think I ever had an ‘optimum’ card – but now if I’m in shoppers and they ask for it, the ‘pc optimum’ does the trick!
Sarah’s had it for years and got some cool stuff out of it. They used to do double points days too. I’m not sure if they still do.
I liked 808 State’s “Gorgeous” but that’s really the only album by them that I know.
And so far ’90’ is the extent of my knowledge of the group!
Check out “Gorgeous”. There’s some pretty great tracks on there. Their remix of UB40’s “One in ten” is excellent and I don’t know how many times I’ve danced to “Time bomb”.
Love the Top 5. I might have JJ. Cale at #5.
808 State is an outfit I must look further into. Thanks.
Much appreciated, Bruce – he would be an honourable mention here!