What are the ten best new (first) wave tracks of the 1980's based upon:

Yeah, it's a loose term in my top 10, but I think we can still classify them - at that point in their career -- as something other than rock (in other words, they were not ROCK the way other British bands like Def Lepard were). They did not use synths, but from Dreamtime through Love through the Manor Sessions stuff (pre-Rick Rubin and Bob Rock), they were certainly more geared to new wave than what they became on Electric and Sonic Temple. I hate to label them "Goth rock", for one because it's incorrect (Southern Death Cult would fit better into such). They still, to me, are more reminiscent of the darker 80's bands like Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy than their own selves 2 years later after Love was released.


* The Song She Sells Sanctuary has a very new wave sound to it. It rocks, but in a much different way than Wildflower, Love Removal Machine, Lil Devil, Fire Woman, SunKing, etc.

1. Modern Love - David Bowie
2. Just Like Heaven - The Cure
3. The Ghost in You - Psychedelic Furs
4. Heart of Glass - Blondie
5. Lips Like Sugar - Echo and the Bunnymen
6. How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
7. Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs
8. Let's Dance - David Bowie
9. Melt With You - Modern English
10. Don't Stand So Close to Me - The Police

(no particular order)

- rock lobster - b52s
- once in a lifetime - talking heads
- adventures in success - will powers
- change - tears for fears
- number song - kraftwerk
- wordy rappinghood - tom tom club
- buffalo girls - malcolm mcclaren
- world destruction - afrika bambaataa
- sensoria - cabaret voltaire
- power and the passion - midnight oil


i should point out with the exception of a couple of these, i probably still enjoy them today because they were NOT played to death on the radio.

Depeche Mode - Something To Do
Gary Numan - Cars
Ministry - Effigy
Wire Train - Chamber of Hellos
Duran Duran - The Chauffeur
Alphaville - To Germany with Love
The Church - Reptile
New Order - Ceremony
Ultravox - Reap with Wild Wind
Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Dance Mix)

quote:

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Duran Duran - The Chauffeur

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Nice.

quote:

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I did the same thing reading it

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you know you went & youtubed it after reading it.

Johnny hates jazz - shattered dreams
Inxs - don't change
Tears for fears - head over heels
Depeche mode - never let me down again
The cure - fascination street
New order - thieves like us
Cars - moving in stereo
Talking Heads - same as it ever was
Elvis Costello - this year's girl
Pet shop boys - west end girls

So many great songs of this Era.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - "Relax"

INXS - "Listen Like Thieves"

Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams"

Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)"

1. Radio Free Europe - R.E.M.
2. Another Girl Another Planet - The Only Ones
3. Houses In Motion - Talking Heads
4. You - The Cold
5. Got The Time - Joe Jackson
6. Girluwant - Devo
7. Senses Working Overtime - XTC
8. Don't Let's Start - They Might Be Giants
9. Lost Planes - The Fixx
10. Watusi Rodeo - Guadalcanal Diary

Note: These have all been radio fodder to varying degrees but I never have been too concerned about that aspect.