Echo & the Bunnymen went all out with Ocean Rain, recording in Paris, aiming to make a ‘classic’ album in the broadest possible sense — string arrangements, acoustic performances, you name it — even if a little too much indulgence meant they had to finish up in the UK. In the cryptic but astonishing spiritual anthem “The Killing Moon” they fully succeeded in their goal, but the rest of the album was near that level as well, from the sparkling singles “Silver” and “Seven Seas” to quickly established fan favorites such as “Crystal Days” and the haunting title track.

– Ned Raggett