new wave

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okay so here’s some new wave albums i want to talk about. new wave is a genre that came mostly from britain and a bit from america and its a bit like a spin off of 70s punk music. anyway it got really popular in the early 80s, and i like it quite a bit, an here are some of my favorite new wave albums. lets get into it

split enz - true colours (mushroom, 1980)

i barely pay attention to any of the songs on here after “i got you”, but overall this is a really nice solid new wave album to sink your teeth into. it’s recorded real nicely with that steve lilywhite style new wave punch and is a good starting point for new wave as well as a good starting point (i think) for new zealand alternative music. i grew up hearing my dad play “i got you” and a couple other enz songs as well as some songs by spinoff band crowded house but anyway this is a great album worth checking out. rating - 6/10

xtc - drums and wires (virgin, 1979)

this is a cool album from one of the best new wave bands, xtc. this is so quintessentially new wave its almost funny, but its got a really nice driving energy to it. so punk but also so pop and you can just marvel at how well recorded everything is. “day in day out” and “when you’re near me” are great, and every song on here is solid. rating - 7/10

talk talk - it’s my life (emi, 1984)

this is called “new romantic” which i think has something to do with new wave so in this list it goes. love the title track, pretty sure i’ve heard it in the past but honestly i can’t be sure, it’s just so completely 80s synthpop. the rest of this album is pretty great too though, entirely worth soaking up. i love the synthpop trend of having 8 or 9 relatively long songs in an album and having it be like 40 ish minutes long. very nice and pretty dancey, which all my fav new wave albums are. rating - 6/10

talking heads - fear of music (sire, 1979)

speaking of dancey here’s one of the danciest new wave bands there are, talking heads. they’re new wave and they’re post punk but those are just genre tags man, these guys are basically peerless. if another band sounds like talking heads it’s likely cuz theyre ripping them off. anyway this is probably my favorite talking heads album because every song here rules, and “cities” rules rules. rating - 7/10

sparks - angst in my pants (atlantic, 1982)

another one filed under synthpop, this is less danceable punk and more quirky synth stylings but a very commendable effort by one of the best songwriters in the new wave game, sparks. the pop sensibility is alive and flourishing on this album, and “sherlock homes” is one of their best. nice job guys! rating - 7/10

the associates - sulk (beggars banquet, 1982)

another quintessentially 80s album, so much so that it even embodies the 80s cliche of having a unique vibe, this has personality all over it and the personality is very very gloomy and glum. but the pop sensibility is here in droves, lovely depressive synth pop and one of my personal cornerstones for new wave. really really great shit. rating - 8/10

xtc - english settlement (virgin, 1982)

damn i guess 1982 was a really good year for new wave, this is one of xtc’s best albums. there really is a smattering of everything on this album, and one of the best songs ends up being like a low key folky (but still dancey) song, “yacht dance”. very poppy, as xtc always had that pop sensibility to them, and nice use of acoustic instruments. very nice job xtc! rating - 7/10

this was basically just a writing exercise. synth pop and post hardcore lists coming soon.