Top 20 Artists of the 80s - Part 2 10-1

Not much to say here. Continuing the previous post.

Top 20 Artists of the 80s - Part 2 10-1

10. Alabama - "Why is there a fucking country band on this list?". Alabama were really my first musical memory besides the Beach Boys. It was the 80s, and my parents listened to Country music. In the 80s Alabama WAS Country music.There is arguably no more influential Country artist in my lifetime. They made Country more mainstream, even if it did lead to Garth Brooks.
9. John Mellencamp - from Uh-Huh to Big Daddy he was HUGE! By all account he was an asshole, and did things his own way. He played a style of Pop/Rock that was very unfashionable in the days of New Wave and Dance Pop. Interesting how that stuff sounds dated, and his doesn't. That is because it is REAL.
8. The Police - Really stood tall in the early 80s. Not many were much bigger worldwide. The definitely went out with a bang, releasing Synchronicity in '83. In my opinion, Every Breath You Take is one of the greatest songs of all time (another list down the road).
7. Duran Duran - in the years since The Beatles, no band created the type of frenzy that was seen with Beatlemania. That all changed when these English chaps landed here. They were larger than life. Before I discovered Hair bands, I wanted to be Simon Le Bon. In the 80s (not now), they were my favorite non Hair band.
6. INXS - they put Australia on the map for me as a kid. Michael Hutchence, along with Simon Le Bon, were the COOLEST Rock Stars in the world when I was a kid. He had one of the most powerful voices ever. Another band that actually made me want to play saxophone.
5. REM - I didn't discover REM until '87 when Document was released. The older I get, the more I love REM, and the more they influence me as a songwriter. REM gets the distinction of being one of the greatest AMERICAN Rock bands of all time with me (yes, another list). I can only imagine what I would have been like as a musician, had I heard REM earlier.
4. The Smithereens - I didn't "discover" The Beatles for myself until around '92. Until then, these Jersey boys were my only exposure to Brit Pop. Huge, huge vocal harmonies, big guitars, and songs about heartbreak and alienation. What's not to love for an impressionable young kid. Also, my introduction to Riff Rock. They weren't pretty, but they sure as hell could ROCK!
3. Bryan Adams - I really can't remember going more than a day without hearing him on the radio growing up. EVERYONE likes BA, even if they won't admit it. He is the type of Pop songwriter, ALL Pop songwriters should aspire to be. Becomes more of an influence on my the older I get. Strangely enough, I like him MORE the older I get (and I have ALWAYS been a BIG fan).
2. U2 - the BIGGEST band of my generation. There is no bigger band to form since 1970, except for maybe AC/DC. You can argue that until you are blue in the face, but you would be dead fucking wrong. Deal with it. I can and will counter EVERY point you make as to why U2 are not what I say they are.
1. Crowded House - Remember, these are MY top artists of the 80s. I don't follow what everyone else thinks, I tend to swim upstream a lot, avoid the flock, and in general, despise the herd mentality. I remember hearing these guys in the mid 80s very briefly. The only had 2 hits in the U.S. I "rediscovered" them probably in '97 or '98, and they have since become my favorite band of all time. Are they the best? Surely not. Some of the things I really like about them, are they are a bit quirky, their massive Pop sensibilities, smart lyrics, and beautiful sonic landscapes. If you have never heard anything besides Don't Dream It's Over, go check them out. They are the epitome of smart Pop Rock to me.


Everyone, feel free to comment. If there is enough interest, I will continue to post new content. I can do this shit forever!

Top 20 Artists of the 80s - Part 1 20-11

This being my first real post, I figure I should start at the beginning of music for me. As I said in my intro, I grew up on Top 40 radio in the 80s. I don't, and will not apologize for it, it was just the time I grew up in. I was discovering music on my own, and finding my own way. These are not the artists who my favorite at the time, shit, I don't remember back that far! Some of these artists I didn't even know existed back then, but have come to define the decade to me. These are the artists I NOW consider the best of that decade. 

*DISCLAIMER*

I am NOT including any hair bands or metal bands here. There will be plenty of posts dedicated to just them.

20.  Michael Jackson - Any 80s list without MJ is bullshit! I had Thriller and Bad when I was a kid. We     ALL wanted to be MJ growing up. He could sing and dance like a motherfucker, nobody was cooler.

19. Madonna - See above, same thing. Arguably the biggest female artist OF ALL TIME. She was on MTV around the clock, and was the source of many fantasies I had as a young lad. Musically, you never had a chance to get bored, as she changed things up just as the copycats latched on to what she was doing.

18. Bruce Springsteen - There weren't many albums of the 80s as big as Born In The USA. The title track gave me my first twinge of patriotism, even if I didn't know it wasn't a very patriotic song. The Boss, along with Bon Jovi, made New Jersey sound like a cool place to be.

17. Huey Lewis & The News - For the middle part of the 80s, they were THE biggest band in the world on Top 40 radio. Blue eyed soul, the ultimate party bar band. I tend not to like horns in my music, unless it's Jazz, but Johnny Colla made me want to be a sax player.

16. Phil Collins/Genesis - Such a distinctive voice. His solo material, along with the Genesis album Invisible Touch, were in constant rotation on MTV and radio. This was pure, pop bliss without the artsy fartsy Prog and fucking flower costumes. "It's supposed to be about Rock N Roll man, not the Phantom of the fucking Opera!" That being said, I do love So by Peter Gabriel.

15. Violent Femmes - Quirky, smart, dark, and funny all rolled into one. The Femmes had a sound that nobody before, or since has been able to pull off. This kind of thing happens when you do things DIFFERENT without TRYING to be different. I've always loved how Gordan Gano sounds like he is on the verge of a serious physical, mental, and emotional breakdown.

14. The Cure - Robert Smith. What can I say besides, "Cheer up, you pale bastard!"? Regardless, I NEVER wanted to be Goth, but there were some great songs come from this mopey son of a bitch.

13. The Cars - Weird looking bunch of fuckers, but hard to hate them. They had a way of writing hooks that stick in your head FOREVER. To this day, I come up with guitar or vocal melodies that I really dig, then realize it's because these guys already wrote it. I'm sure I have plagiarized them on more than one occasion. 

12. The Replacements - Ahh yes. One of the most underrated bands in history (that will be another list later). Discovered The 'Mats because of the Goo Goo Dolls. Without these guys, a LOT of music I loved from the 90s would NEVER have been written. It is my opinion you either love them, have never heard of them, or you are a fucking musical wasteland.

11. Prince - The Purple One. He is arguably the greatest MUSICIAN in history, and possibly the most prolific songwriter in modern times. Influenced EVERYONE. Prince is just a badass, that is all.

Part 2 will be coming up later. Be prepared for some surprises!

Things are always awkward in the beginning...

So, I have several friends who have inspired me to start a blog of my own. I have been interested in doing something like this for a while, but I am getting a bit slothish in my "old" age. I guess this blog may end up being about anything, but mostly will be my thoughts on music. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I am sure I will do Best Of, Worst of, and All Time lists. Also, be forewarned, I am pretty passionate about music, so there will undoubtedly be some fucking profanity. If you can't handle that, this may not be the blog for you. I have been  eating, drinking, sleeping, living, and shitting music for most of my life. I like what I like, and don't really give a shit if you do or not. I grew up listening to Top 40 radio, so if you are looking for me to give my insights on what is hip, fuck off. The kind of music I like isn't really considered "cool" anymore. Also, I will get long winded at times, so bear with me! So with all this being said, I am ready when you are. I will update this as often as I feel the urge. I have pretty thick skin, so if you want to send some hate because I bagged on your favorite band, go ahead. I welcome the feedback! Just remember, opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one, and yours stinks! When it comes to this blog, I am right and you are wrong. If you don't like it, start your own damn blog, I finally have! Enjoy, or piss off, doesn't matter to me!