Top 50 New Wave Artists - Part 5 (10-1)

OK folks - here's the final installment - the Top 10!

10. Tears for Fears

When Tears for Fears took over the pop 100 charts with "Songs from the Big Chair" they did indeed "Ruled the World for 1985/86". Their later 80's sounds is still new wave but much more subtle than their debut "The Hurting" with tracks like "Change", "Mad World" and "Pale Shelter".

Classic tracks: Change, Mad World, Pale Shelter.

9. The Police

Regatta de Blanc means "White Reggae" which defines perfectly the unqiue sounds of "The Police" when they launched in the late 70's. The fusion of post-punk and reggae was idealistic and meshed the zen nature of reggae with the energy of punk.

Classic tracks: Message in a Bottle, Don't Stand So Close to Me, Roxanne.

8. Talking Heads

"Remain in Light" is regarded as one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the rock-era. Blending pop, rock, new wave, and experimentation with various genres, the band's music is evolutionary, dynamic and a detail of the times.


Classic tracks: Once In A Lifetime, And She Was, Road to Nowhere

7. The Cars


They were probably the 1st New Wave band I heard...Back in the 70's this Boston-based band had a poppy, dreamy syth-infused rock sound that was setting the stage for a softer side of new wave. The band was not new romantic, but they represented the answer to an all-American new wave band.

Was this probably one of the 1st makings of synth-pop following Kreftwork's "Autobahn"? Maybe so....

I always loved the cover of "Candy-O" and in the link, I've voted this my favourite album cover of all time.

Classic tracks: All I Can Do, Let's Go, My Best Friend's Girl.

6. The Smiths

Rock radio would not be the same today without The Smiths. The legendary band out of Manchester helped put the place on the map creating the Madchester sound reminiscent of the late 80's early 90's acid-house scene in the U.K.

But with the unmistakable voice of Morrissey and the unique guitar stylings of Jonny Marr - the Smiths were destined to be pop stars around the world with their own unique fusion of new wave, post-punk, pop and melancholiness.

Classic tracks: How Soon is Now, and every track on "Meat is Murder" and "The Queen is Dead!"

5. Duran Duran

These 5 lads from Birmingham were the epitah of "avant-garde" rock. Post punk with a dash or two of sexiness.....these boys weren't afraid to be sexy for the MTV and show themselves in those hot, sexy man-European mankinis in videos like "Rio" and "Save A Prayer".

They were a definitive part of the 80's - their sexy look, unique fashion sense, some of the greatest music videos and  of course great music - it was as if "The Beatles" had landed in 1982 in the U.S. again.

Classic tracks: Hungry Like A Wolf, Rio, Save A Prayer, The Reflex.


4. Blondie

Debbie Harry was definitely a pioneer ... a leading lady of punk from the 70's she produced some of the catchiest and best new wave music from the 70's making hard edged punk rock that was also poppy - way before bands like Blink 182 and Greenday mastered this fusion.

"Rapture" was one of the 1st tracks to fuse two diversely different genres to one great sounding pop track - rap and rock....hats off Debbie - you did this way before the "Run DMC/Aerosmith" fusion and you were ahead of the times on this one.

Blondie had three #1 singles in the 80's - all of different genres and this shows the amazing diversity of this band...."Call Me" was the #1 single of 1980 and was a fast paced punk rock song, "Rapture" fused rap and rock, and "The Tide Is High" was a laid back reggae-infused pop song.

Classic Tracks: Call Me, Rapture, and The Tide is High.

3. INXS

The sound of this band, the great musicians and the sexy frontman gave the world an intro- to a sexy side of new wave music. Unlike many of their fellow bands at the time...Michael Hutchence oozed sexuality and was not afraid to incorporate this into the band's music and stage performances.


Classic tracks: Original Sin, I Send a Message and The One Thing.

2. The B-52's

They defined the new ave sound and look, and also the zaniness and fun of new wave music. Classics like "Rock Lobster", "Private Idaho" and "Wig" sealed this band of a pioneer of new wave classic rock.


Classic Tracks: Rock Lobster, Love Shack, Roam

1. Depeche Mode

This is the biggest selling pop-synth electronica band of all time. Depeche Mode has probably had the most modern rock charting singles in the 80's. In the early days when "Alternative" was being carved out as a genre and "left of centre" radio stations started to appear, this band was one of the pioneers of the genre and were one of the most played artists on modern rock radio.

Classic tracks: Just Can't Get Enough, People are People, Eveything Counts, Master and Servant, Blasemphous Rumors


Well - I tried to keep the Top 10 simple with details, and I hope you've enjoyed my postings over the last 5 days....I had fun preparing and researching the list and sharing it with you all!


Well peeps - thank you and keep rocking!