Best 80's music

[Star Ocean 3]

..

[Slayer]

You should have named this thread "Best 80's New Wave Band"

[Giuseppe Zangara]

Hüsker Dü was better than all those bands.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Slayer

[Perfxion]

Going off of sales: Michael Jackson hands down

 

Going off of talent: Prince hands down

 

Going off of marketability: Madonna hands down

[Slayer]

Favorites now: The Big 4

 

Favorites then (and still sorta): Poison and Motley Crue

[jimmy no nose]

There are a ton of different bands that I would've voted for had they made the list, none of them were on there though. I think that the bands that consistantly made the best music in the decade were Metallica, Megadeth, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Slayer, and a few other bands were pretty good as well.

[Gary Floyd]

Though it's not included, Cabaret Voltaire, an obscure industrial group (and major pioneers) that I have mentioned before, were the best band in the 80's, IMO

 

As for others

 

Depeche Mode

 

New Order

 

The Smiths

 

Front 242

 

Skinny Puppy

 

Mantronix (Electro-Funk/Hip Hop)

 

The Three O'Clock (Neo Psychedelic)

 

Coil (Early Industrial/experimental)

 

Talking Heads

 

Psychic TV (also early industrial, at least until they did shitty acid house)

 

Blancmange (pretty good synthpop)

 

Public Enemy

 

Run DMC (well duh)

 

Afrika Bambaataa (one of the definative hip hop DJ's)

 

Butthole Surfers (80's Surfers is the best their is)

 

Cocteau Twins (excellent 80's dreampop)*

 

*As you can probably see, I'm not much of a Metal fan. Sorry, just my personal taste. It's probably a first though; a guy who posts on the Smartmarks who doesn't care too much for metal. I do enjoy a little, but usually in moderate amounts. Please don't hate me.

[GreatWhiteNope]

I guess we're talking about pop bands here.

 

Personally, I'm a fan of the early 80's New Romantic movement. Human League, Spandau Ballet, ABC and countless others resurrected meaningful sound from the ashes of disco.

 

Tears For Fears is highly underrated in America. Their work progressed steadily through the 80's. "Seeds Of Love" is an absolutely beautiful album.

[Si82]

From the list I'm going to pick New Order.

 

Great band, great songs.

[5_moves_of_doom]

Here's my top three. I love a lot of those bands though... but not Culture Club. Seriously. Not Culture Club.

 

1.) The Clash

2.) Violent Femmes

3.) The Smiths

[Murmuring Beast]

REM

The Smiths (yes, The Smiths !!! MIG will be so proud.)

[Red Baron]

On that list, I'd say Duran Duran.

 

 

Overall, Iron Maiden was the best thing in the 80's

[Edwin MacPhisto]

The Smiths are #1 with a bullet on that list, with New Order close behind. London Calling was released in December 1979, and I can take or leave the Clash after that.

 

The list is representative of what many people remember of the 80s (synth, pop, and sap), but not of what the music was really like. Prince, the Smiths, and the Pixies are my stunningly controversial favorites for the decade, with Tom Waits and U2 riding shotgun.

[A Happy Medium]

I'll pick someone else. I'll say The Pixies.

[spiny norman]

That's a pretty awful list you've given. Of them I'd only contemplate The Smiths and New Order as being deserving as being on this kind of list. Prince, Michael Jackson, U2, Guns N Roses, Madonna, Talking Heads and so many others are far more deserving to be on this list than the rest of them

[Zack Malibu]

Off that list, Duran Duran for sure.

[B. Brian Brunzell]

I voted for The Clash, but I must ask:

 

Where is Prince, The Cure, and The Pixies?

[Use Your Illusion]

Guns N' Roses, Van Halen & Michael Jackson are my three favourite 80's performers/bands.

 

To even mention the 80's and not highlight Michael Jackson should be punishable by death.

 

UYI

[Star Ocean 3]

Guns N' Roses, Van Halen & Michael Jackson are my three favourite 80's performers/bands.

 

To even mention the 80's and not highlight Michael Jackson should be punishable by death.

 

UYI

How dumb.

[Youth N Asia]

REM was far and away the best music to come out of the 80s

[Henry Spencer]

1. Tom Waits

2. The Pixies

3. Prince

4. Talking Heads

5. The Smiths

 

Non negotiable.

[Giuseppe Zangara]

Talking Heads' best stuff came out in the 70s, but that's not to slight their 80s work.

 

But seriously, everything Hüsker Dü did—from Zen Arcade to Warehouse—is so, so, so good.

[Giuseppe Zangara]

And yeah, Tom Waits released some of the best work of his career in the 80s. And XTC had Black Sea (1981), English Settlement (1982) and Skylarking (1986), all of which are fanfriggintastic.

[razazteca]

What you listed alot of gay music and no mention of George Michaels or Wham!

[alfdogg]

Prince, Michael Jackson, and Hall & Oates.

 

I was also a mark for NKOTB and Milli Vanilli. Sue me.

 

Also, Stevie Wonder must get a mention for "I Just called to say I Love You."

[Corey_Lazarus]

Slayer > all on the list.

Iron Maiden > all on the list.

THE CURE > all on the list.

[B. Brian Brunzell]

Slayer > all on the list.

Iron Maiden > all on the list.

THE CURE > all on the list.

Laz knows what's up.

[Red Baron]

Indeed he does.

 

*plays Disintergration* :headbangs:

[Black Lushus]

I believe Star Ocean was referring to mainstream pop 80s music that you usually here on retro 80s channels...not stuff like Metallica, Iron Maiden, GNR and Slayer...shoulda been more specific, sure, but it seemed pretty obvious to me what 80s music she was referring to as I entered this thread...

 

anyway, off of this list, can't go wrong with Duran Duran with Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf and THE REFLEX~!