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  3. 129677-2013

80's iconic artists

The Dream Syndicate announced today that they have signed a new record deal with ANTI- which is the label for Jeff Tweedy, Billy Bragg, and others. They will release their first new album in 29 years in the next few months. The new Feelies album is fun and Love Tractor is currently in the studio. Now if only we could get Let's Active, Guadalcanal Diary, the Connells, and the Hoodoo gurus to release some new stuff. Am I too nostalgic? Probably. Is this music going to change the course of world history? Maybe. The reality is that with the daily assault of negative news of one sort or another, it is refreshing to have the simple pleasure and release of new music by artists you respect that bring back memories of the past and creative directions for the future- regardless of musical genre, style, or era.
maxnewid
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,893 posts
 
Some more of my 80's faves were The Long Ryders, The Lyres, The dB's, Marshall Crenshaw, Dwight Twilley, The Smithereens, The Plimsouls, The Beat (Paul Collins, not the UK Ska band), and Squeeze.
loomisjohnson
1,958 posts
 
great nostalgic thread--you're hitting on a lot of the artist (feelies, twilley, etc.) that really got me obsessed with music. i'd throw in dumptruck, husker du, meat puppets and graham parker.
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
952 posts
 

Agree on Sarah Jarosz. Love her records, and finally got to see her perform a couple of weeks ago at Merlefest in Wilkes County, NC. Wonderful set.

As far as iconic 80s bands (in addition to those already named), what about the Replacements, Sonic Youth, X, and the Minutemen?

I agree that the new Feelies record is a delight!



bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,893 posts
 

The Feelies were in the movie Something Wild, playing at Melanie Griffiths characters High School reunion. They have always reminded me of another artist associated with the 70's/80's---Jonathan Richman.

Graham Parker really burst onto the scene in the late 70's, putting out great first two albums, with a good band including Brinsley Schwartz. His third had the hit "Local Girls", and it was all downhill from there. His 90's albums are terrible. Some people have only so many good songs in them

loomisjohnson
1,958 posts
 
Bdp, I half agree with you on Graham Parker. His records declined significantly after his recognized masterpiece, squeezing out sparks, tho I felt it was less an issue of losing his songwriting muse and more  his struggling to find a right musical setting--he went, unwisely, from tough bar band to glossy new wave. He continued to write classics (wake up, you can't take love for granted), but also alot of filler-- he really needed an editor. I did start to lose interest in the 90s--the records were more lackluster than bad, but the odd gem like long stem rose and she wants so many things are fantastic--check em out 
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