Video Killed the Radio Star - The Classic Synth Pop & New Wave Thread

[WestwayKid]

I first remember hearing popular music in the early 1980's. MTV and the radio. It seemed like synth pop was everywhere back in those days. Even bands that were not true synth pop were adding Jupiter-8's and Fairlight CMI's.

Punk rock defined my musical tastes from about 13-23, but before that it was synth pop and it is still a genre I really enjoy.

Like any genre of music, there is good and their is bad. I feel like synth pop is too often maligned as cheap and generic. It gets lumped in with ideas like "New Wave" and "80's Music" and I don't think that's correct. It was (and is) a true music genre.

Not sure how many others out there enjoy synth pop, but if we can have a thread to discuss Metallica...we can have a thread to discuss OMD and Gary Numan .

Current faves:

Dare - Human League

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Songs From the Big Chair - Tears for Fears

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[Dr. Medulla]

Just finished grading book reviews on this. Smart book but not altogether persuasive as he tries to jam too much under the new wave label. But if you’re interested in the subject beyond straight music, there’s a lot to chew on.

[tepista]

I love Soft Cell

[Heston]

I love loads of synth pop but especially the early days when they were mixing the synths with real instruments. Gary Numan is a good example of this. Are Friends Electric and Cars both use drums, guitar, bass and synth to great effect. Similar story with OMD.

[Low Down Low]

I love Soft Cell

Bedsitter and Say Hello are great songs. I only know the hits, thought they had loads but when i checked turns out they didn't have that many top 10s at all.

[matedog]

How about modernish synth pop?

[Heston]

How about modernish synth pop?

Fucking love this song. It's on the compilation CD I've had in the car for the last 2 months. Thank you Matey's Tasyt Cutz 2014.

[Low Down Low]

Play to Win by Heaven 17 another top tune. Had a couple of their albums i recall being quite decent but not listened in decades.

[Heston]

Play to Win by Heaven 17 another top tune. Had a couple of their albums i recall being quite decent but not listened in decades.

There's only one Play To Win in these parts.

[matedog]

How about modernish synth pop?

Fucking love this song. It's on the compilation CD I've had in the car for the last 2 months. Thank you Matey's Tasyt Cutz 2014.

*Tasty Cutz 2012

Oh man, that song is almost 9 years old. Slow down universe!

[matedog]

Play to Win by Heaven 17 another top tune. Had a couple of their albums i recall being quite decent but not listened in decades.

There's only one Play To Win in these parts.

[WestwayKid]

I'm reading this right now:

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The author explores one song per chapter, with the artists looking back and talking about the song and the era.

It's an interesting read.

[WestwayKid]

How about modernish synth pop?

Definitely.

I've been listening to this LP a lot recently:

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One of the best synth pop albums I've heard in awhile.

[revbob]

I'm reading this right now:

mad-world-new-wave-book-interview.jpg

The author explores one song per chapter, with the artists looking back and talking about the song and the era.

It's an interesting read.

Heston's favourite is listed Kagajaroo.

[tepista]

I love Soft Cell

Bedsitter and Say Hello are great songs. I only know the hits, thought they had loads but when i checked turns out they didn't have that many top 10s at all.

yeah, synth pop without he pop!