80s Albums -part 164- Rock- Alternative — 4 Rare

The band was sued immediately by a candle company for the album title. All unsold copies were recalled and pulped. Only promo copies and the 200 that had already been sold to German mail-order catalogs survive. Original pressings (on the Kohlköpfe label) come with a lyric sheet that doubles as a poster of a burning hairdryer.

Why is it rare? The master tapes were allegedly stored next to a radiator, and the lead singer, Ewan McTeer, disappeared into academia two weeks after the album’s sole launch party. Copies that surface today—usually on the band’s own “Kettle Black” label—command high prices not just for their scarcity, but for their prophetic blending of post-punk and early alternative rock. It is an album of Northern anxiety, a sound that bridges the gap between The Fall and the more melodic misery of The Smiths, yet entirely its own. 4 Rare 80s Albums -Part 164- Rock- Alternative

4. The Dream Syndicate – The Days of Wine and Roses (1982) The band was sued immediately by a candle

, is a masterclass in atmospheric post-punk, featuring swirling, melodic guitar work and high-stakes emotional intensity. It’s an essential listen for anyone who loves the darker, more expansive side of 80s alternative. 2. The Dream Syndicate – The Days of Wine and Roses Original pressings (on the Kohlköpfe label) come with

Produced by Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Bill Inglot, The Good Earth saw the band stepping away from the herky-jerky nervousness of their debut and embracing a more pastoral, organic sound. This is an album that feels like autumn. It is filled with 12-string guitars, close harmonies, and a sense of melancholic beauty that defined the mid-80s "College Rock" aesthetic.