bleedorange Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Since the 1980s were comprised solely of my pre-teen years, my music knowledge of this decade is severely lacking. (Surprisingly, my knowledge of the years before I was even a thought is far superior.) Bands like Husker Du, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Sebadoh, New Order, The Pixies, XTC, and Jane's Addiction have floated across my radar occasionally, but I've had trouble knowing where to start even with these few bands. What am I missing and what is the best? I've always viewed the 80s as the worst artistic decade for both music and movies, but I worry that I'm shortchanging it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Might not be the direction you are looking for but early Cure, Depeche Mode, R.E.M. and U2 take the cake for me! Get The Cure's Pornography, Faith and Head on The DoorGet Depeche Modes A Broken Frame & Speak and SpellGet R.E.M.'s Murmurs, Reckoning and FablesGet U2's War and Boy Great early 80's jangle and synth music that really paved a way for many of todays bands! I think the 80's as a whole was better than the 90's, no? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 replacements - tim or let it be or pleased to meet me Quote Link to post Share on other sites
myboyblue Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 replacements - tim or let it be or pleased to meet me Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Check out just about anything on SST Records:-H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rghammo Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Pretty good discussion of this here: http://forums.viachicago.org/index.php?showtopic=24705 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Ha I responded in 2006 and my list changed a bit... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 More:-DEVO (seriously)-Nick Lowe-The Cure-The Smiths-The Clash-Pretenders-The Replacements-The Damned-Eric B. and Rakim-Madness-Public Enemy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share Posted March 21, 2008 Pretty good discussion of this here: http://forums.viachicago.org/index.php?showtopic=24705 Thanks for the link. I kept looking for something on this subject, but my searches weren't coming up with anything. Perhaps if I had used the apostrophe in 80s, I would have had better luck. That should be a good place to start. I should also add that I am already a fan of the big names like U2, REM, The Cure, The Smiths, The Replacements, Violent Femmes, Talking Heads, etc. I just wanted to delve a little deeper. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Check out just about anything on SST Records:-H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I came of age in the 80s.........the Raygun/bush/AIDs/hair band era was kind of a drag.............anyway, I'm drawing a complete blank when it comes to 80s movies...."Down By Law" was good.....I think a few Hal Hartly flicks came out in the late 80s........... Tunes? Looks like the good stuff ('cept Cure and Depeche Mode-I'll never understand that stuff) was mentioned......SST and the Minneapolis area was putting out some good stuff. California was putting out some solid hardcore punk in the early 80s........as a gigantic fan of the Meat Puppets, I'd say start there..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Speaking of Minneapolis...PrinceThe Time Seriously... that is some amazing music. Get past the commercial appeal, and listen!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Steve Brule Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Do yourself a favor and pick up the Mission of Burma deluxe reissues Matador just put out. They are a band who do not sound like the 80s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 The Jam - Sound Affects Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxiebean Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 This has always been a useful guide for 70's-80's alternative music. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Steve Brule Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Since the 1980s were comprised solely of my pre-teen years, my music knowledge of this decade is severely lacking. (Surprisingly, my knowledge of the years before I was even a thought is far superior.) ... Pavement.. I don't think I would consider them an 80s band. Just buy all their albums though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Speaking of Minneapolis...PrinceThe Time Seriously... that is some amazing music. Get past the commercial appeal, and listen!!!Dude, I may be wrong, but you seem to make a lot of assumptions about people's tastes in your posts - just an observation. The caveats are generally unnecessary. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theashtraysays Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Joe Jackson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiokills Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Get Sonic Youth's discography. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 The Jam - Sound Affects I recently found a vinyl copy of this..I had been looking for one for years...I had many of the other Jam albums but was missing this one. Lots of great stuff in the 80s.....alot of what was then called "alternative" but is now called indie. It was hardly a bad decade at all... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I've always thought the 80s were horrible. If it wasn't for the Dead I wouldn't have listened to any rock music at all during that time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stooka Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 UB40Talking HeadsINXSPretendersPolicePrinceSpringsteenTom PettyU2John Cougar MellencampSRV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Somnambulist Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 You mentioned xtc from the 80s. Go with "Black Sea" for their first full album of melodic stuff then check out "Skylarking" and "Oranges and Lemons." Any Elvis Costello from the early 80s then "Spike" from 89 (I think). The Smithereens "Especially for You." Again 89 but The Stone Roses first one. I second, third, whatever the Husker Du mentions above. Favorites are "New Day Rising" and "Flip Your Wig." The first few They Might Be Giants. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fortuneinmyhead Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 nick cave and the bad seedsaztec camerabruce springsteen (nebraska particularly)lou reed (new york)the replacementsthe violent femmes nope, no good music in the 80s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.