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Post by CaptainFreedom on Mar 16, 2012 10:13:24 GMT -5
 By the late 70's the synthesizers had gone from being an expensive high-tech monster to become a household name that would dominate the music business long into the 1980's.
Inspired by the work of Kraftwerk, David Bowie, the Punk attitude and Disco sound along with the birth of MTV, the new wave/synthpop era exploded when acts such as Gary Numan and The Human League began making best sellers.
Rock and metal bands also took a hold of the synth and even though it might not be seen as a very popular move by their fans and critics, it would go on and help some of them to become even bigger than they already were.
By the end of the 80's the synth had become the enemy and while most of the well known synth bands had failed to reach the charts in years some of the smaller ones would go on to evolve into a darker and more danceable approach which would eventually lead them to super stardom just a few years away.Today the synth era might seem laughable to some, but if you forget about the hairstyles and the futuristic looking videos they actually gave us some real good classics that still sounds great. Who are your favorite new wave/synth bands? |
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Post by CaptainFreedom on Aug 13, 2012 4:52:52 GMT -5
 Thomas Dolby, the funky synth Professor! After having written several songs and working with artist such Lene Lovich and Foreigner, the young Thomas Dolby decided to go solo and in 1982 after having spent months trying to come up with the right formula, Dolby finally came up from his lab and released "The Golden Age Of Wireless". His brilliant synth debut deserved to become a big selling classic, but instead it has ended up in the "forgotten classics" category along with so many other fine albums. "The Golden Age Of Wireless" is filled up with catchy and clever hooks along with a great sense of humor. In 1984 he released his second album "The Flat Earth" which saw Dolby move further away from the "Geeky" image he had before and towards a more mature one. The songs were a bit more calmer, but it still had great pop tunes and the album included the hit single "Hyperactive" which Dolby originally had written for Michael Jackson. In 2009 both "The Golden Age Of Wireless" and "The Flat Earth" were given a fine remaster along with lots of bonus material. If you're a fan of early 80's synthpop these two albums of Thomas Dolby is a must have. |
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weylandyutani
Jeff Speakman
We manufacture those you know.
Posts: 190
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Post by weylandyutani on Aug 25, 2012 14:10:19 GMT -5
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Post by CaptainFreedom on Sept 2, 2012 11:24:14 GMT -5
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Post by CaptainFreedom on Oct 30, 2012 6:39:50 GMT -5
I have been listening to Heaven 17's three first albums lately and they sure made one hell of a trilogy.
Just one great release after another and I find it a mystery how the trio never went on to achieve the kind of commercial success as their Sheffield rivals The Human League.
Got a CD of Joe Jackson's "Day and Night" (1982) last week and I only knew of his "Stepping Out" which was featured in the PS2 classic "GTA: Vice City" but not released as part of the soundtrack.
Anyway its a great album and a must for any fan of 80's music.
Simple Minds did a great job mixing post-punk with synth and gave out some of their finest tunes in 1981-82 and topped it with the stunning album "New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84".
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Post by CaptainFreedom on Feb 4, 2013 11:23:24 GMT -5
Artist: Joe Jackson Album: Night and Day Year: 1982 Genre: New Wave  Joe Jackson released his fifth album "Night and Day" in 1982 and it would end up as one Jackson's most famous albums. After putting out 4 solid releases which had mostly been greeted by critics but never found its audience it was the hit single "Steppin Out" that made Joe Jackson's career take off. "Night and Day" is filled up with one classic after another and has sadly ended up as one of the "lost" gems from the 80s.
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Post by CaptainFreedom on Feb 4, 2013 11:35:38 GMT -5
Artist: Yello Album: Stella Year: 1985 Genre: Synthpop  The Swiss duo Yello is probably most known for their comical and sleazy music videos along with the song "Oh Yeah" which is often used in "The Simpsons" as Duffman's Theme or in John Hughes 80s classic "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". But their 1985 album "Stella" is more than just "Oh Yeah" and showcases a rich and dreamy sound where Yello provides the listener with one hell of great seductive pop masterpiece.
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Post by CaptainFreedom on Feb 4, 2013 12:37:06 GMT -5
Artist: Heaven 17 Album: Penthouse & Pavement Year: 1981 Genre: Synthpop/New Wave  While their Sheffield rivals The Human League would go on and ravage the charts with Dare! former League members/founders Ian Ware and Martyn Craig Marsh had trouble coming up with the right formula on how to be a success, and along with Glenn Gregory on vocals Heaven 17 was born. Revenge, jealousy, fighting and a strong need to prove themselves took hold of the trio and made the recording sessions of "Penthouse & Pavement (1981)" easier as they worked in a great tempo. There was no trouble when it came to inspiration as The Human League was using the same studio as Heaven 17 to work on "Dare!" and when it came to making the best album of the two, the war was on. "Penthouse & Pavement" was far away from the catchy and melodic "Dare" instead it reminded a lot of the experimental stuff that the old Human League was doing in the late 70s but with a updated funkier sound. Snarling bass-solos, chilling synth riffs and a ridiculous take on the growing yuppie movement was all part of the greatness that made Heaven 17s debut such a fine and memorable album. Sadly "Penthouse & Pavement" never found a big audience, maybe it was the lack of hit singles or it could be that some of the critics mistook the Sheffield trio's sense of humor and thought that they payed homage to the yuppies instead of ridiculing them. "Penthouse & Pavement" along with Heaven 17 two next albums sounds still great and their 2006 remasters is a great catch for any 80s fan.
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