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stonebeard 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 27 2005
Location: NE Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 28057
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 Posted: June 07 2006 at 23:33 |
The Police rule! 
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darren
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 31 2005
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 452
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 22:21 |
 Sean Trane wrote:
The best "mainstream or radio friendly" 80's bands were actually 70's bands (Police, U2 etc..) and most of my disliking of that decade comes from new wave (mainly) , but the Funk Scene as well AND the Hair (Glam) Metal  from those years >> BTW NWOBHMB did not do much for me either (outside laiden, I enjoyed NONE)
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Just wondering, you say they were "actually 70's bands". Their music that was released in the 80's, doesn't that qualify as 80's music?
Also, exactly how is U2 a 70's band. Seriously, I'd like to know.
Edited by darren - June 07 2006 at 22:42
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"they locked up a man who wanted to rule the world.
the fools
they locked up the wrong man."
- Leonard Cohen
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el böthy
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 27 2005
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 6336
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 13:50 |
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Theres nothing worst than an electronic ´80 drum...oh...its just so anoying... I mean... Duran Duran...how can you tolarate that?...and the worst thing is that now in Argentina there is a certain retro ´80 thing going on...well, everywhere...I mean this new bands like the Killers sound so crapy...so ´80...
But there were some good stuff...Iron Maiden and Metallica specially
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"You want me to play what, Robert?"
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 10:11 |
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Radio has always been mostly crap, though. I never really understood
people who used that as a way of discovering and following music. For
me it was always having a few friends who were music nuts and lots of
mix-tape trading.
I can't recall ever having found a new artist via radio, and precious
few via some music shows on TV (in fact, European MTV used to have
slightly more adventurous bent during the first few years and would
occasionally show something that wasn't blanded down).
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 20414
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 09:47 |
Teaflax wrote:
Sean Trane wrote:
I am one of the 80's haters, and I blame most of the bad music on the MTV phenomenon.
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Then again, almost none of the really good music of the decade was played on MTV, so...
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Fully agreed
but since radio followed suit to MTV, the better 80's stuff never got exposure until internet exploded and the re-issues on Cd happened >> the 80's probably have lotsa "hidden treasures" still buried somewhere by completely unknown but worthy artistes
However since I hate the way they played drums in that decade, I am always a little wary of records from that decade >> old tricks from old dogs 
Hence my discovery of some good 80's prog (but in RIO), but in the last ten years.
Edited by Sean Trane - June 07 2006 at 09:48
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 08:44 |
Sean Trane wrote:
I am one of the 80's haters, and I blame most of the
bad music on the MTV phenomenon. |
Then again, almost none of
the really good music of the decade was played on MTV, so...
Edited by Teaflax - June 07 2006 at 08:44
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 08:43 |
Certif1ed wrote:
I've got the first Buggles album, and all of it is
unlistenable slush - apart from "Video...", which is a great and fresh
pop song - if a trifle overplayed.
Once bitten twice shy, I didn't get the 2nd, as I assumed it would be worse.
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Well, if you hate pretty much all of The Plastic Age, I guess
'twouldn't be yer cup o' tea. But I find The Plastic Age, Astroboy (and
the Proles on Parade), Johnny on the Monorail and especially I Love You
(Miss Robot) to be better Pop songs than Video...
Either way, I'm pretty certain you too would find Adventures... a better album, question is if it's better enough to you to make it worth the effort and outlay.
Certif1ed wrote:
I love the Frankie singles - but it's Trevor Horn's production that
makes them great. FGTH were less than mediochre songwriters, as much of
the "Pleasuredome" album shows clearly. . |
Oh, indubitably. Sides
one and two of the vinyl were the only thing that really held up, and
even then just barely.
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 20414
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 08:17 |
I am one of the 80's haters, and I blame most of the bad music on the MTV phenomenon. I hit the 80's when I was 17 and I was no social recluse, but I refused the pop music happening. I actually had enjoyed some punk in the late 70's. but when post punk, new wave and other musical currents happened, I was really disgusted
The best "mainstream or radio friendly" 80's bands were actually 70's bands (Police, U2 etc..) and most of my disliking of that decade comes from new wave (mainly) , but the Funk Scene as well AND the Hair (Glam) Metal from those years >> BTW NWOBHMB did not do much for me either (outside laiden, I enjoyed NONE)
Naturally, the (relative) poorness (as opposed to other prog genre) of Neo-prog has not helped matters either.
But as classic prog had died, Jazz-rock was definitely running out of steam (and was often heading towaeds later ECM jazz and closer to elevator music), New Age etc..., not much was there for me to like
So I went on to discover the 60's in jazz and rock, but it did not stop me fgrom listening to weird bands like Bahaus or Killing Joke I would not say I liked these bands, but they did offer something other than crappy commercial stuff. Not enough for me to have a good opinion of that decade, though!
However had I known of Univers Zero and Present (their core works happened in the 80's) back then, I would've appreciated that decade better. But there was no acces to that music either.
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Certif1ed
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 04:50 |
Teaflax wrote:
Certif1ed wrote:
Trevor Horn was also involved with the Buggles and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, let's not forget... |
The Buggles were fantastic, except for Video... and Clean Clean. Have
you heard their albums at all? Their second one, Adventures in Modern
Recording, is pretty much flawless in my ears.
And Frankie made some truly great singles, just not a great album. Two
Tribes was one of the things that grudgingly made my little Prog snob
self realise that maybe there was some good Pop after all. And on their
debut album, the side-long opening track - featuring guitar from one Mr
Steve Howe - is excellent Prog Pop.
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I've got the first Buggles album, and all of it is unlistenable slush - apart from "Video...", which is a great and fresh pop song - if a trifle overplayed.
Once bitten twice shy, I didn't get the 2nd, as I assumed it would be worse.
I love the Frankie singles - but it's Trevor Horn's production that makes them great. FGTH were less than mediochre songwriters, as much of the "Pleasuredome" album shows clearly.
Horn's production and arrangements were utterly masterful though, on this occasion.
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The important thing is not to stop questioning.
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darren
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 31 2005
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 452
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 23:36 |
The early 80's was a bit of an explosion of music. There was all kinds of music and many smaller labels florished. Many artists from the 70's really came into their own in the 80's. There was little as far as actual classic prog but music was quite exciting. There was a lot of experimental music like The Art Of Noise, Philip Glass, This Mortal Coil, Cocteau Twins, Kronos Quartet, Danielle Dax and Laurie Anderson. There were many bands that put out quite exciting music. U2 put out some great music. Many might not remember or have been around but their sound was groundbreaking at the time. There was a kind of simplicity, yet it had passion.
It seems to me many of those who criticize 80's music as being boring were either listening to mainstream radio or oldies (50's, 60's and 70's).Either that, or they are too young to realize that many of these bands were unique and their influences can be heard in today's music, so it sounds mainstream by today's standards.
Late 80's mainstream music was terrible and also tainted people's opinions about this decade. This was the beginning of the age of the music producer, like Stock, Aiken and Waterman. Many of their songs differ only in the singer. Because of advances in music production technology, things became formulaic and the producer had the power. Radio stations became more and more dependent on music programmers, rather than letting the d.j. have a say in what is being played.
There was just as much crap music in the 70's as in the 80's. Most of the music of the 80's was immortalized on video, so it's easier to forget the 70's mainstream pop music, the goofy fashions and silly hairstyles (although I admit hair got much more extreme in the 80's). After all, when you say 70's music, do you think Shaun Cassidy, The Carpenters, Abba and Barry Manilow? or do you think of Genesis, King Crimson and Jethro Tull or (insert band here) ?
Needless to say, there is a lot of great 80's music, only the closed minded would say otherwise.
Edited by darren - June 06 2006 at 23:39
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"they locked up a man who wanted to rule the world.
the fools
they locked up the wrong man."
- Leonard Cohen
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 16:15 |
Certif1ed wrote:
Trevor Horn was also involved with the Buggles and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, let's not forget...
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The Buggles were fantastic, except for Video... and Clean Clean. Have
you heard their albums at all? Their second one, Adventures in Modern
Recording, is pretty much flawless in my ears.
And Frankie made some truly great singles, just not a great album. Two
Tribes was one of the things that grudgingly made my little Prog snob
self realise that maybe there was some good Pop after all. And on their
debut album, the side-long opening track - featuring guitar from one Mr
Steve Howe - is excellent Prog Pop.
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VanderGraafKommandöh
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 15:57 |
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I do happen to like The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star as well as Talking Heads - Psycho Killer. I've never really dipped into the '80s yet. I've got to try and avoid all the mainstream rubbish and try and find some decent stuff.
I am sure Peter Hammill's '80s output is faultless.
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Certif1ed
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 15:44 |
Teaflax wrote:
Certif1ed wrote:
BTW, ABC's album was called "The Lexicon of Love"  |
My
bad - thanks. I can't believe that of Trevor Horn productions, I
completely missed out on mentioning The Art of Noise...
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I can - I never heard anything I actually liked by them, and didn't really hear anything of great note in the compositions either - if you'll pardon the pun.
Trevor Horn was also involved with the Buggles and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, let's not forget...
I can't believe no-one's mentioned the Police and either Ghosts in the Machine or Synchronicity.
Teaflax wrote:
Certif1ed wrote:
The Power Station: The Power Station
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I posit that Arcadia's So Red the Rose far outshone this rather bland Rocker.
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Posit what you like - I don't know the Arcadia album, although I've read glowing reviews of it, and the sound bites I've heard sound good.
While it's true that Power Station has got many moments of blandness, it also has exquisite power and energy thanks to the Duran Duran boys - who really weren't as bad as many seem to think.
I couldn't quite bring myself to award a 5 star rating to a Duran Duran album though.
Teaflax wrote:
Certif1ed wrote:
King Crimson: Discipline
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Didn't I list that?
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Yes - but it's so good it deserves a second mention 
OK, I 'fess up - I missed it.
Teaflax wrote:
Certif1ed wrote:
David Lee Roth: Skyscraper
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I prefer Eat 'Em and Smile. Both dragged down by a few weak tracks, though, IMNHO.
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EEAS is a good album in many places too, but Skyscraper is more "devil-may-care", and one of the best party albums ever, which is why it gets my vote.
Sometimes an album is good even though the music isn't exactly adventurous. It just has to press the right buttons.
Edited by Certif1ed - June 06 2006 at 15:51
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The important thing is not to stop questioning.
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 13:40 |
Certif1ed wrote:
BTW, ABC's album was called "The Lexicon of Love"
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My
bad - thanks. I can't believe that of Trevor Horn productions, I
completely missed out on mentioning The Art of Noise...
Certif1ed wrote:
The Power Station: The Power Station
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I posit that Arcadia's So Red the Rose far outshone this rather bland Rocker.
Certif1ed wrote:
King Crimson: Discipline
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Didn't I list that?
Certif1ed wrote:
David Lee Roth: Skyscraper
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I prefer Eat 'Em and Smile. Both dragged down by a few weak tracks, though, IMNHO.
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Certif1ed
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 13:28 |
Teaflax wrote:
Good lord, there was masses of great music in the 80's.(...) (list edited)
There's a lot missing, but these are the ones I consider five-star releases.
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There's a lot of guilty pleasures on that list... 
BTW, ABC's album was called "The Lexicon of Love"
A few more 5 starrers (off the top of my head) include:
Killing Joke: Killing Joke
Soft Cell: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
The Power Station: The Power Station
Slayer: Reign In Blood
King Crimson: Discipline
Marillion: Script For a Jester's Tear
Marillion: Fugazi
AC/DC: Back In Black
Black Sabbath: Heaven and Hell
Iron Maiden: Number of the Beast
Motorhead: Ace Of Spades
Motorhead: Iron Fist
Motorhead: Orgasmatron
Scorpions: Blackout
Hawkwind: Sonic Attack
Camel: Stationary Traveller
Paul Simon: Graceland
David Lee Roth: Skyscraper
Frank Zappa: Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
Ozric Tentacles: Erpsongs
...and so many more...
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The important thing is not to stop questioning.
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Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24429
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 12:18 |
Certif1ed wrote:
There was some great and frankly revolutionaty Metal in the 1980s - everyone seems to forget that.
What's wrong with Spandau Ballet?
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Absolutely nothing at all - in another thread I admitted to having a fondness for some of their songs back then... BTW, you're perfectly right about the great Metal bands of the '80s. Let's not forget that Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth and Queensryche produced their best records in that decade, not to mention the masterpieces by Black Sabbath, Dio and Judas Priest. Some so-called "new wave" bands were quite good too - just to name a few that I particularly like, The Police, The Pretenders and Talking Heads. Dire Straits were also excellent, at least their first two albums.
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 10:39 |
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Good lord, there was masses of great music in the 80's.
Just a quick look through my Album Player sorted by year (and not all
my music is properly tagged with year, so there's a lot missing, to be
sure - but it gives an indication of the fact that it was hardly a
musically infertile decade):
1980:
Adam and the Ants: Kings of the Wild Frontier
Bruford: Gradually Going Tornado
The Cure: Seventeen Seconds
Japan: Quiet Life
Joy Division: Closer
Yes: Drama
Zamla Mammaz Manna: Familjesprickor
1981:
Echo & The Bunnymen: Heaven Up Here
Japan: Tin Drum
Killing Joke: What's This For?
King Crimson: Discipline
Simple Minds: Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call
1982:
ABC: The Look of Love
The Birthday Party: Junk Yard
The Buggles: Adventures in Modern Recording
Kate Bush: The Dreaming
The Cure: Pornography
Peter Gabriel: 4
Simple Minds: New Gold Dream
Theatre of Hate: Westworld
Von Zamla: Zamlaranamma
1983:
Jon Anderson: Animation
Aztec Camera: High Land, Hard Rain
Echo & The Bunnymen: Porcupine
Eddie Jobson: Zinc
Metallica: Kill 'Em All
Pink Floyd: The Final Cut
XTC: Mummer
1984:
Laurie Anderson: Mister Heartbreak
The Cardiacs: The Seaside
Lloyd Cole & The Cmmotions: Rattlesnakes
The Cure: The Top
Thomas Dolby: This Flat Earth
Echo & The Bunnymen: Ocean Rain
The Icicle Works: The Icicle Works
IQ: Tales from the Lush Attic
Metallica: Ride the Lightning
Prefab Sprout: Swoon
The Smiths: The Smiths
David Sylvian: Brilliant Trees
XTC: The Big Express
1985:
Alcatrazz: Disturbing the Peace
Kate Bush: The Hounds of Love
The Dukes of Stratosphear: 25 O'Clock
Robert Plant: Shaken N' Stirred
Prefab Sprout: Steve McQueen
Prince: Around the World in a Day
Stan Ridgway: The Big Heat
Rush: Power Windows
Scritti Politti: Cupid & Psyche '85
Sting: The Dream of the Blue Turtles
1986:
The Colourfield: Virgins and Philistines
Miles Davis: Tutu
Peter Gabriel: So
Peter Hammill: Skin
It Bites: The Big Lad in the Windmill
It's Immaterial: Life's Hard and Then You Die
Metallica: Master of Puppets
Momus: Circus Maximus
The Smiths: The Queen is Dead
David Sylvian: Gone to Earth
Talk Talk: The Colour of Spring
The The: Infected
XTC: Skylarking
1987:
Aztec Camera: Love
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions: Mainstream
The Dolphin Brothers: Cath the Fall
Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo & The Bunnymen
Momus: The Poison Boyfriend
Prince: Sign o' the Times
David Sylvian: Secrets of the Beehive
Yello: One Second
1988:
The Cardiacs: A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window
Giraffe: The View from Here
It Bites: Once Around the World
Metallica: ...and Justice for All
Momus: Tender Pervert
Morrissey: Viva Hate
Prefab Sprout: From Langley Park to Memphis
Sylvian/Czukay: Plight & Premonition
Talk Talk: Spirit of Eden
1989:
Barry Adamson: Moss Side Story
Kate Bush: The Sensual World
The Lilac Time: Paradise Circus
Prefab Sprout: Jordan: The comeback
Stan Ridgway: Mosquitos
Sylvian/Czukay: Flux & Mutability
XTC: Oranges and Lemons
There's a lot missing, but these are the ones I consider five-star releases.
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TheProgtologist
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
Status: Offline
Points: 27802
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 10:13 |
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I was very into the NWOBHM and Thrash in the 80's.They left a huge impression on me and my musical tastes that lasts to this day.
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Logos
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 08 2005
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 2383
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 09:45 |
The best music in the 80s was the metal, although 95% of that is crap too. - MERCYFUL FATE : Great band, King Diamond is just brilliant. "Melissa" and "Don't Break the Oath" are early occult masterpieces, groundbreaking both musically and lyrically. - VENOM : Also groundbreaking. Black Metal. - BATHORY : Quorthon was a true pioneer, I can't emphasize his importance and influence as a musician enough. "Under the Sign of the Black Mark" and "Blood Fire Death" are masterpieces. - MANOWAR : These guys don't need introducing. The Kings of Metal! - JUDAS PRIEST : Breaking the Law, anyone? Although they probably were better in the 70s. - CANDLEMASS : Great Doom metal. "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" is a fantastic album.
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TheProgtologist
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
Status: Offline
Points: 27802
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Posted: June 06 2006 at 09:13 |
I love the 80's!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spent the ages 14 - 24 in that decade and had a blast.
Some of the best metal ever recorded came out of the 80's.
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