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In the aftermath of grunge, the British music press launched a campaign to promote the new wave of new wave that involved overtly punk and new-wave-influenced acts such as Elastica, but it was eclipsed by Britpop, which took influences from both 1960s rock and 1970s punk and new wave.
Where post-punk was arty, difficult, and challenging, new wave was pop music, pure and simple. It retained the fresh vigor and irreverence of punk music, as well as a fascination with electronics, style, and art. Therefore, there was a lot of stylistic diversity to new wave.
- Elvis Costello: My Aim is True (1977) Costello’s debut album bridged the gap between the roiling punk energy of the mid-70s and the staid tradition of literate, intimate, popular songwriting that traces from the Gershwins, Berlin and Porter to Buddy Holly and Lennon/McCartney.
- Talking Heads: Remain in Light (1980) For their fourth and finest record, the Talking Heads (along with producer/collaborator/all-around musical badass Brian Eno) trotted out their African influences in full force.
- The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead (1986) If “How Soon Is Now” off The Smiths’ previous album was the starting-pistol shot announcing their intentions to delve into darker territories, then the title track off The Queen Is Dead was rhythmic strafing to the same effect.
- Blondie: Parallel Lines (1978) The wondrous pop, rock and disco songs on Parallel Lines weren’t supposed to exist on one single album. To imagine it is to put “The Loco-Motion,” “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “Staying Alive” on a mixtape and pronounce it a band.
Aug 18, 2022 · Without further ado, here is a list (in some particular order) of the top 10 greatest new wave songs of all time. 10. “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. Coming in at number 10, we have the Buggles’ debut single, “Video Killed the Radio Star”.
- Elvis Costello, ‘My Aim is True’ Melding the swagger of 1950s rock’n’roll with the raw energy of punk, Elvis Costello’s 1977 debut encapsulates the spirit of new wave.
- Television, ‘Marquee Moon’ (1977) Advertisement. Along with the Ramones and Blondie, Television made their name playing at the New York dive venue CBGB – and from the beginning they stuck out from the crowd they ran in.
- The Cars, ‘The Cars’ (1978) The Cars’ first single ‘Just What I Needed’ name-checked both the Velvet Underground (the lyric “wasting all my time-time” references their song ‘Sister Ray’) and bubblegum outfit Ohio Express – and it’s indicative of the group’s approach as a whole.
- Blondie, ‘Parallel Lines’ (1978) Pre-’Parallel Lines’, Blondie were possibly New York City’s most tuneful punks, embracing everything from doo-woppy French yé-yé and 60s pop to the rhythmic pulse of disco.
May 21, 2023 · Ironic, sure, but worth it: this is a genre that gave us some of the most memorable pop hits of all time. From escaping punk's shadow to dominating MTV and beyond, here is the story of new wave in five essential albums.
May 5, 2020 · After punk came a new wave of bands determined to do things differently, and often sounding very unalike. We round up 10 of the best new wave and post punk albums ever made
