Violent Femmes -- Hallowed Ground

The Violent Femmes' first album is surely the most well-known and most fondly remembered, but Hallowed Ground is their best. Dark, menacing, and soaked in eschatology. The visual imagery is from the Winter but really it's probably best appreciated in the Summer, when the late afternoon heat and humidity are oppressive. Apparently some fans and critics thought it was a joke when it was released. Rest assured, it most definitely is far, far from being a joke.

Best Song
"Black Girls"

Released
June 1984.

Acquired
Sometime in 1988.

Next Closest
The Jonathan Richman comparison is most apt, going solely from Gordon Gano's voice.

Brush with Greatness (note: may include name-dropping):
None. I saw them live in 2005 (I think it was 2005), but that's not saying much. They played a couple songs off this album.