iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Huge thanks for all your hard work over the last few years, giving a lot of people a lot of pleasure. 3 albums I could easily have voted for topping the list so a fitting way to go out. Enjoy your freedom, but if you do get bored next year a double album poll would be good.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Great song but, as I have replied before, I prefer The Colourfield cover of it.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Good evening, here is my #5DebutAlbumsFinal: 1. You Can't Hide Your Love Forever - Orange Juice 2. The Kick Inside - Kate Bush 3. Marquee Moon - Television 4. #1 Record - Big Star 5. First And Last And Always - Sisters Of Mercy

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Yes, I've not posted on the other side for years but have noticed your polls restarting. I wouldn't be averse to returning if these can keep this community going.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

All is good with me thanks, hopefully the same for you.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

It's amazing how many different events can suddenly accelerate your musical journey and that applies for ne as much now as when I was young.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Just had a quick skim listen, I like what I've heard so far.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Probably just edges out REM as my favourite of the 1983 finalists. Both soundly beaten though by Rain Parade, which sadly didn't make it through to the final. Strange there are so many 1983 finalists, not a year I've ever considered as particularly great.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Great album but not in my top 5 by them which, when it comes to tight margins, will be enough to keep it out of my top 5 too.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I had a quick listen on Spotify and it didn't grab me. I've heard it described as a continuation of Sea Change and Morning Phase. The former I never totally took to but the latter is my favourite Beck album so I will give this a few more goes.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal Truly fantastic, but when it comes to groundbreaking debuts by female artists I'm giving Kate the slight edge and I'm not sure I can fit both into my top 5. open.spotify.com/album/0OeuSe...

open.spotify.com

Horses - Album by Patti Smith | Spotify

Patti Smith · album · 1975 · 8 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Such a shame, some great earlier singles and EPs too, the future could have been very promising (I nearly said bright but I doubt that would have reflected the music).

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I was 15 when this was released so there is a huge emotional attachment to it that could very well propel it into my top 5. A Leeds band too which helps. I could have cried when they split up after this, neither side of the split came close to producing anything as great.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal Such an incredible debut, oblivious to the trends of 1978 it's an album with a singular idiosyncratic vision but one that could still achieve commercial success. And then there's her age too. The second absolute certainty for my top 5. open.spotify.com/album/5NKTuB...

open.spotify.com

The Kick Inside - Album by Kate Bush | Spotify

Kate Bush · album · 1978 · 13 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I feel like I need to include an album from my formative years in my top 5 and this is just edging The Smiths out.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Topping my list too, which I wouldn't have thought possible before revisiting it in the heats.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It's the track that best defines the album. The brilliant Roger McGuinn lyrics followed by the pause and then the explosion of energy at the end.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It really is, days later I've still got the songs going round in my head, which is always a sign that an album needs to be in my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

There's an ambition to it that goes well beyond their vocal and playing comfort zones. The fact they took it on and got away with it just adds to its greatness.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal One that I didn't need to consider before the final. A seminal debut and hugely significant to my personal music journey. Objectively it should easily make my top 5 but for some reason I don't have a big emotional connection to it. open.spotify.com/album/4xwx0x...

open.spotify.com

The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary - Album by The Velvet Underground | Spotify

The Velvet Underground · album · 1967 · 11 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Brings back some memories. I'd just started my first proper job. A group of new starters shared a car to a residential training course. The driver quite rightly chose the music and played this. I wasn't keen at the time and have never heard it since. But 35 years ago, wow.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Fantastic album, Summer Babe is an absolute triumph but overall lacks the consistency to quite threaten my top 5 in this company.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

It's definitely my favourite by her and a very strong contender for my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal One of two important albums from my formative years appearing in this final. Won't be easy but I've got an emotional urge to find a place in my top 5 for at least one of them. open.spotify.com/album/6cI1Xo...

open.spotify.com

The Smiths - Album by The Smiths | Spotify

The Smiths · album · 1984 · 11 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I love it, a truly fantastic album. When it comes to fine margins though there are truer debuts that will edge this out of my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Fantastic album for sure but one that I admire more than love. Not auditioned it yet but I'm pretty sure there will be 5 albums that have more of an emotional appeal to me.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Incredible debut, definitely in the mix for my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal Didn't need an audition to make my top 5 in the semis. Bit tougher here but it's an album that inspired me to track down all Tom Verlaine's later albums so I really can't see it not making my top 5 again. Incredible stuff, really like nothing else. open.spotify.com/album/630o1r...

open.spotify.com

Marquee Moon - Album by Television | Spotify

Television · album · 1977 · 8 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Thought that would be the case. It's an album I love more and more as the years go by.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I prefer the next two but undoubtedly a landmark album. I won't be able to find a place for it in my top 5 but it wouldn't be out of place.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal A band playing beyond the limits of their technical ability but with a joie de vivre that just adds to the charm. Infectiously joyous and the first certainty for my top 5. open.spotify.com/album/6yZwWe...

open.spotify.com

You Can't Hide Your Love Forever - Album by Orange Juice | Spotify

Orange Juice · album · 1982 · 13 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Easily my favourite by them, which adds value to me in a debut album poll but probably not quite enough to make my top 5. The detuned guitar instead of bass though should be done more often.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal Sounds fantastic anyway, but as the defining album of my youth there is an additional emotional pull to find a place for it in my top 5. open.spotify.com/album/2wOuYE...

open.spotify.com

First and Last and Always - Album by Sisters of Mercy | Spotify

Sisters of Mercy · album · 1985 · 10 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Incredible debut, a strong contender for my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Yes, I don't play it often these days but it always exceeds expectations. With the Madchester sound mixed with 60s psych it's possibly more original than it's given credit for.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal One I've not needed to consider before the final. Such a fantastic sounding and flawless album it's definitely in the mix for my top 5. Being less groundbreaking than some other contenders though is the only thing that could hold it back. open.spotify.com/album/0um9FI...

open.spotify.com

The Stone Roses - Album by The Stone Roses | Spotify

The Stone Roses · album · 1989 · 12 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The pinnacle of the genre, but not a genre I play much these days. Fantastic album but may just miss out on my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I love it much more now than I did at the time, when I used to think it was a bit overrated. Definitely in the mix for my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal My favourite album by them so that makes this the pinnacle of power pop. One of about 10 incredibly strong contenders for my top 5. open.spotify.com/album/1Bumww...

open.spotify.com

#1 Record - Album by Big Star | Spotify

Big Star · album · 1972 · 12 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Truly fantastic album. In the context of a debut album poll her age and the originality of it adds extra value too so it's a really strong contender for my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A Yorkshire band so I should love them but I find them good rather than great. Some fantastic lyrics, particularly Mardy Bum, but the music seems a bit limited in comparison.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Loved them at the time, first two albums in particular are great. superb live too but for some reason they are not a band I have an urge to revisit often. I maybe should give it a spin this week but realistically it's not a challenger for my top 5.

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

#5DebutAlbumsFinal Didn't play this in the previous rounds but the time for tactical voting is now over. Obviously fantastic but such is the competition it will be hard to declare any absolute certainties for my top 5 before the poll actually opens. open.spotify.com/album/5Dgqy4...

open.spotify.com

Unknown Pleasures - Album by Joy Division | Spotify

Joy Division · album · 1979 · 10 songs

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Richard Watterson @richardwatterson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I've discovered loads of new stuff too. It's been a great community.

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