Today we're going to revisit the 80s, which I view as the last decade of the full flowering of artist/band- based, album-based popular music in America. After that, the music industry got corrupt, there wasn't much new worth listening to, Kurt Cobain killed himself and it was all downhill after that. I can hear people objecting! How could I diss the last twenty years like that? Argue all you want, but you are wrong
On those rare occasions when I get to talk to younger musicians, they couldn't agree with me more. All their main influences are from the deep past. Most good stuff today from new artists is obviously and intentionally derivative. Most of the other stuff just sucks.
In the 80s there were still lots of musical genres alive and kicking, include Rock & Roll, Top-40 pop, Heavy Metal and New Wave, which was what I was listening to. Even within New Wave, there were lots of subgenres. The 1980s was musically diverse: U2, Peter Gabriel, Madonna, Phil Collins, The Pretenders, Pat Benetar, Talking Heads, The Police, Eurythmics, Joe Jackson, The Cure, Blondie—the list goes on and on. I've selected some well-known and some obscure tracks for today's remedy.
First up is a live version of The Cure's Just Like Heaven, followed by Oingo Boingo's Just Another Day from their 1985 album Dead Man's Party. This band featured Danny Elfman, who went on to do a number of film soundtracks. Then we have Underwater Boys from an obscure band called Shreikback. I used to listen to them a lot. (Even then I was moody—don't worry, you'll like it.) And we'll finish up in grand style with Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer live in concert. And when I say live, I mean LIVE. You'll see what I mean.
I completely agree. Except for a few exceptions like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Green Day, rock has been dead since '93 or so. I miss rock.
Posted by: Mockum | 11/21/2010 at 09:38 PM