You loved “alternative” music in the 80s. What do you listen to now?
February 23, 2019 9:12 AM Subscribe
I loved bands like Love and Rockets, The Smiths, and XTC in the 80s. If you did, too, what are you listening to now? I’m not specifically looking for things that sound just like those beloved 80s bands (although that’s OK, too). I’m just wondering what folks who have similar past loves are enjoying now.
You were me in the 80s. Looking at my recent history on Spotify, I've been listening to:
- Deerhunter (Halcyon Digest has been on constant repeat for the past week - it just seems to fit my mood for the rainy weather we've been having)
- Wilco
- Neko Case
- New Pornographers (best power pop band around)
- Grizzly Bear (Shields is their best album)
- Lucy Dacus
- boygenius (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker)
- Snailmail
- Mogwai
- Explosions in the Sky
- This Will Destroy You
- The Shins
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- MONO
- Better Oblivion Community Center (Phoebe Bridgers, Connor Oberst)
- Laura Viers
- Massive Attack
posted by ralan at 9:35 AM on February 23, 2019 [13 favorites]
- Deerhunter (Halcyon Digest has been on constant repeat for the past week - it just seems to fit my mood for the rainy weather we've been having)
- Wilco
- Neko Case
- New Pornographers (best power pop band around)
- Grizzly Bear (Shields is their best album)
- Lucy Dacus
- boygenius (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker)
- Snailmail
- Mogwai
- Explosions in the Sky
- This Will Destroy You
- The Shins
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- MONO
- Better Oblivion Community Center (Phoebe Bridgers, Connor Oberst)
- Laura Viers
- Massive Attack
posted by ralan at 9:35 AM on February 23, 2019 [13 favorites]
I was mostly into "college radio"/alternative in the 80s, but in terms of new music being produced today I now lean toward Americana/modern folk/alt.country.
posted by drlith at 9:47 AM on February 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by drlith at 9:47 AM on February 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
- The New Pornographers and all their members/related works: (Neko Case, AC Newman, Kathryn Calder/Immaculate Machine/Frontperson, and Dan Bejar/Destroyer)
- Calexico (again, Neko.)
- LCD Soundsystem (I was way too late on this)
- Django Django
- Okkervil River
- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
- The Dandy Warhols
- The Thermals
- Sloan
- Metric
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:54 AM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
- Calexico (again, Neko.)
- LCD Soundsystem (I was way too late on this)
- Django Django
- Okkervil River
- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
- The Dandy Warhols
- The Thermals
- Sloan
- Metric
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:54 AM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
some bands on the current playlist:
* Explosions In the Sky
* Mogwai
* Jakob
* The Shins
* Rachel’s
* William Basinski
* Warpaint
* Bat For Lashes
* Making Movies
* Message to Bears
* Amon Tobin
posted by lemon_icing at 10:02 AM on February 23, 2019
* Explosions In the Sky
* Mogwai
* Jakob
* The Shins
* Rachel’s
* William Basinski
* Warpaint
* Bat For Lashes
* Making Movies
* Message to Bears
* Amon Tobin
posted by lemon_icing at 10:02 AM on February 23, 2019
The Smiths and Love & Rockets were my two favorite bands in the 80s. Here's what I've been listening to lately:
* CAN
* Bardo Pond
* Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Will Oldham, Palace, etc.)
* Khruangbin
* Charlie Parr
* Galaxie 500 (Dean Wareham, Dean & Britta, etc.)
* Cheval Sombre
* Sonic Youth
* The Budos Band
* Songs: Ohia/Magnolia Electric Co.
posted by montbrarian at 10:16 AM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
* CAN
* Bardo Pond
* Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Will Oldham, Palace, etc.)
* Khruangbin
* Charlie Parr
* Galaxie 500 (Dean Wareham, Dean & Britta, etc.)
* Cheval Sombre
* Sonic Youth
* The Budos Band
* Songs: Ohia/Magnolia Electric Co.
posted by montbrarian at 10:16 AM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
I could make a list a mile long, but in the interest of brevity and focus, here are three albums I think you'd love, (based on the fact that I could have written this question):
Shearwater - Jetplane and Oxbow bandcamp | spotify
Lucius - Good Grief youtube | spotify
Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack youtube | spotify
(On preview, +1 for boygenius, Janelle Monae, and Songs:Ohia)
posted by minervous at 10:24 AM on February 23, 2019
Shearwater - Jetplane and Oxbow bandcamp | spotify
Lucius - Good Grief youtube | spotify
Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack youtube | spotify
(On preview, +1 for boygenius, Janelle Monae, and Songs:Ohia)
posted by minervous at 10:24 AM on February 23, 2019
For a little more on the goth side of things, try Kaelan Mikla.
posted by noxperpetua at 10:29 AM on February 23, 2019
posted by noxperpetua at 10:29 AM on February 23, 2019
Mostly blues & jazz.
posted by kbuxton at 10:35 AM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by kbuxton at 10:35 AM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
I could also have written your question, and I was also just coming here to rave about Shearwater, but minervous beat me to it! Jet Plane and Oxbow was hands-down my favorite album the year it came out.
A few others that spring to mind:
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
- The Kills
- Allah-Las
- Wire
- Califone
- The Divine Comedy
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 10:39 AM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
A few others that spring to mind:
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
- The Kills
- Allah-Las
- Wire
- Califone
- The Divine Comedy
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 10:39 AM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Regina Spektor, Tuneyards, Dawn of Midi, Anna Meredith, and whatever any of the weirdos on WFMU play.
posted by moonmilk at 11:05 AM on February 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by moonmilk at 11:05 AM on February 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
I still listen to The Cure.
Rammstein is my guilty pleasure.
Aimee Mann is producing some wonderful singer/songwriter music that is much different from her work with Til Tuesday.
Seconding Kælan Mikla.
Seconding Khruangbin. They are so very tight.
I have no idea what to make of Heilung.
Newen Afrobeat is not exactly my taste, but their live shows are a lot of fun.
I will mention Dimash Kudaibergen, not because I listen to him a lot, but because he has an astonishing range, and he isn't well known outside post-Soviet countries and China.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 11:08 AM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Rammstein is my guilty pleasure.
Aimee Mann is producing some wonderful singer/songwriter music that is much different from her work with Til Tuesday.
Seconding Kælan Mikla.
Seconding Khruangbin. They are so very tight.
I have no idea what to make of Heilung.
Newen Afrobeat is not exactly my taste, but their live shows are a lot of fun.
I will mention Dimash Kudaibergen, not because I listen to him a lot, but because he has an astonishing range, and he isn't well known outside post-Soviet countries and China.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 11:08 AM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Vince Staples's Big Fish Theory is rap but built on a sound substratum that is very satisfying for 80s people.
There's no explanation of how one migrates from 80s synth-heavy indie to the Mountain Goats, and yet one does.
posted by praemunire at 11:14 AM on February 23, 2019 [5 favorites]
There's no explanation of how one migrates from 80s synth-heavy indie to the Mountain Goats, and yet one does.
posted by praemunire at 11:14 AM on February 23, 2019 [5 favorites]
Listened to mostly alternative in the 1980s and now my favorite band in the universe is called Eddie From Ohio, though they're not as active as they used to be. I also enjoy Niko Case, Regina Spektor, Wilco, and just about anything they might play on www.radioparadise.com.
Lately 98% of the time I'm listening to music I'm listening to Phish.
posted by bondcliff at 11:20 AM on February 23, 2019
Lately 98% of the time I'm listening to music I'm listening to Phish.
posted by bondcliff at 11:20 AM on February 23, 2019
Grizzly Bear, Father John Misty, James Blake, Gem Club, Benjamin Clementine, Warpaint, Future Islands, Holy Fuck, No Age, Janelle Monae, The Blow, Koyotie, Brockhampton, Jaden Smith, This Is the Kit, The XX, Someone, Fred Thomas, Perfume Genius, Jon McKiel, Aldous Harding, Courtney Barnett, King Krule, LA Priest, Julien Baker, Tame Impala, The Growl, MLiR, Weaves
posted by cocoagirl at 11:25 AM on February 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by cocoagirl at 11:25 AM on February 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
This was me, although I preferred late seventies punk/ska/no wave to the Cure and the Smiths. Luckily for me, I caught the Buzzcocks' 40th anniversary show two years ago: RIP Pete Shelley.
Today I listen to a lot of what Jeffrey Davison plays on his Shrunken Planet show on WFMU, Saturday mornings: traditional and experimental folk, ambient, old-timey old and new. For newer, harder stuff, I like radio shows: Breakfast of Champions every weekday and James Dean Death Car Experience on Saturdays, both on WMBR. The "experimental folk" tag on Bandcamp is a gift. For blues and r&b, many of WWOZ's shows are fabulous.
I'm a big fan of Rhiannon Giddens, Wyse Blood, Sharon van Etten, Vula Viel, House and Land ... and I heard a WilliamTyler track this morning featuring Bill Frisell on guitar that was amazing.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 12:37 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Today I listen to a lot of what Jeffrey Davison plays on his Shrunken Planet show on WFMU, Saturday mornings: traditional and experimental folk, ambient, old-timey old and new. For newer, harder stuff, I like radio shows: Breakfast of Champions every weekday and James Dean Death Car Experience on Saturdays, both on WMBR. The "experimental folk" tag on Bandcamp is a gift. For blues and r&b, many of WWOZ's shows are fabulous.
I'm a big fan of Rhiannon Giddens, Wyse Blood, Sharon van Etten, Vula Viel, House and Land ... and I heard a WilliamTyler track this morning featuring Bill Frisell on guitar that was amazing.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 12:37 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
A Pandora radio station seeded by a couple hundred bands.
posted by Ipsifendus at 12:44 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Ipsifendus at 12:44 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Tame Impala and then let the streaming recommendations flow.
posted by notyou at 12:55 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by notyou at 12:55 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
maybe a bit heavy on the Scottish bands, but:
A Tribe Called Red, Bon Iver, Cate Le Bon, CHVRCHES, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, Dan Deacon, Doctors & Engineers, Eyelids, Frightened Rabbit, Goldfrapp, Grandaddy, Hilma Nikolaisen, Jason Lytle, Jeremy Dutcher, John K. Samson, Karine Polwart, King Creosote, Kishi Bashi, Les Trois Accords, Lindi Ortega, Mikal Cronin, Nana Grizol, Old Man Luedecke, Owl John, Quickbeam, Robyn Hitchcock, Simon Ⅰ, Sparklesaurus, Sufjan Stevens, Tall Tall Trees, the British IBM, The Burns Unit, The Bye Bye Blackbirds, The Polyphonic Spree, Trixie's Big Red Motorbike, TWRP, Ty Segall, White Fence, Whyte Horses, Withered Hand, Y Niwl, Yorkston/Thorne/Khan
posted by scruss at 1:08 PM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
A Tribe Called Red, Bon Iver, Cate Le Bon, CHVRCHES, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, Dan Deacon, Doctors & Engineers, Eyelids, Frightened Rabbit, Goldfrapp, Grandaddy, Hilma Nikolaisen, Jason Lytle, Jeremy Dutcher, John K. Samson, Karine Polwart, King Creosote, Kishi Bashi, Les Trois Accords, Lindi Ortega, Mikal Cronin, Nana Grizol, Old Man Luedecke, Owl John, Quickbeam, Robyn Hitchcock, Simon Ⅰ, Sparklesaurus, Sufjan Stevens, Tall Tall Trees, the British IBM, The Burns Unit, The Bye Bye Blackbirds, The Polyphonic Spree, Trixie's Big Red Motorbike, TWRP, Ty Segall, White Fence, Whyte Horses, Withered Hand, Y Niwl, Yorkston/Thorne/Khan
posted by scruss at 1:08 PM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sufjan Stevens, Ted Leo, Will Oldham, John Frusciante
posted by fancyoats at 1:19 PM on February 23, 2019
posted by fancyoats at 1:19 PM on February 23, 2019
N'thing Khruangbin and Aimee Mann. Also check out: Whitehorse, Jukebox the Ghost, Jonathan Coulton, Eliza Rickman, Florence and the Machine, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou, The Minus Five, and The Weepies. Also Robyn Hitchcock is from that era but still doing great things. As is Colin Hay.
posted by jzb at 1:39 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by jzb at 1:39 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Lots of fantastic recommendations in here already, so I would just +1 the entire thread and add:
Vinyl Williams
Palace Winter
Sons of Bill
Spaceface
Wild Nothing
Kelley Stoltz
Alvvays
Inara George
Cass McCombs
Real Estate
Melby
Chain Wallet
posted by mykescipark at 1:46 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Vinyl Williams
Palace Winter
Sons of Bill
Spaceface
Wild Nothing
Kelley Stoltz
Alvvays
Inara George
Cass McCombs
Real Estate
Melby
Chain Wallet
posted by mykescipark at 1:46 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Santigold busted me out of my most recent 80s goth binge.
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:02 PM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:02 PM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
a lot of great bands already suggested, I'll add
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
The Parquet Courts
posted by askmehow at 2:17 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
The Parquet Courts
posted by askmehow at 2:17 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
The 1975
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 2:37 PM on February 23, 2019
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 2:37 PM on February 23, 2019
Oh, and just throwing this out there because this I'm you and this is a recommendation I would have totally ignored in my teens and twenties but probably do at least once a month in my 40s:
Go listen to Citizen Steely Dan 1972-1980 front-to-back.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:53 PM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Go listen to Citizen Steely Dan 1972-1980 front-to-back.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:53 PM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Diet Cig, Remember Sports, Erin Tobey, Soccer Mom, Car Seat Headrest.
posted by bluespark25 at 3:17 PM on February 23, 2019
posted by bluespark25 at 3:17 PM on February 23, 2019
The same things I listened to then.
But all right, all right, some more recent acts I enjoy:
The National
Zola Jesus
Lana del Rey
Blonde Redhead
Grimes
Ben Howard
Still Corners
Chromatics
Trevor Something
She Wants Revenge
Editors
Interpol (not as much the last few albums)
Father John Misty
Cigarettes After Sex
Santigold
There's an internet radio station called Cardiowave that you can access via TuneIn and etc that will probably hit the spot for you, but might be heavier on the dreampop than the post-punk.
posted by verbminx at 3:48 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
But all right, all right, some more recent acts I enjoy:
The National
Zola Jesus
Lana del Rey
Blonde Redhead
Grimes
Ben Howard
Still Corners
Chromatics
Trevor Something
She Wants Revenge
Editors
Interpol (not as much the last few albums)
Father John Misty
Cigarettes After Sex
Santigold
There's an internet radio station called Cardiowave that you can access via TuneIn and etc that will probably hit the spot for you, but might be heavier on the dreampop than the post-punk.
posted by verbminx at 3:48 PM on February 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Black Kids
Ballpark Music
Screaming Females
Tank and the Bangas
Dirty Projectors
posted by chrisulonic at 4:53 PM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Ballpark Music
Screaming Females
Tank and the Bangas
Dirty Projectors
posted by chrisulonic at 4:53 PM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Lots of great suggestions so far! I'll add:
Arbor Labor Union
Chris Joss
Nada Surf
Silversun Pickups
The Avett Brothers
The Long Winters
The Submarines
Middle Kids
Superorganism
and no alternative music list on MeFi could continue without....
Tally Hall!
posted by OHenryPacey at 5:42 PM on February 23, 2019
Arbor Labor Union
Chris Joss
Nada Surf
Silversun Pickups
The Avett Brothers
The Long Winters
The Submarines
Middle Kids
Superorganism
and no alternative music list on MeFi could continue without....
Tally Hall!
posted by OHenryPacey at 5:42 PM on February 23, 2019
The Magnetic Fields
Fujiya and Miyagi
LCD Soundsystem
John Grant
Eugene McGuinness
Gruff Rhys
Tennis
Metronomy
posted by miche11e at 1:07 AM on February 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
Fujiya and Miyagi
LCD Soundsystem
John Grant
Eugene McGuinness
Gruff Rhys
Tennis
Metronomy
posted by miche11e at 1:07 AM on February 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
I was listening to the Smiths this past week. Some newer music I was also listening to include:
The Drums
Young Fathers
Braids
posted by Leontine at 5:10 AM on February 24, 2019
The Drums
Young Fathers
Braids
posted by Leontine at 5:10 AM on February 24, 2019
What a great post and great set of responses. Thank you!
I only know like 30% of the acts mentioned but, of them, the one that jumped out (to my ears) was Future Islands, so I'm pulling it out of the pack to highlight it.
posted by mahorn at 6:02 AM on February 24, 2019
I only know like 30% of the acts mentioned but, of them, the one that jumped out (to my ears) was Future Islands, so I'm pulling it out of the pack to highlight it.
posted by mahorn at 6:02 AM on February 24, 2019
Throw in Bauhaus, Crass, and The Cure and you'd have me in the 80's. Great responses above. I'm currently listening to:
Kelly Lee Bird
Nnamdi Ogbonnaya
Baby Dayliner
Juana Molina
Dan Deacon
Clap! Clap!
I've also been going back and doing deeper dives on bands I knew about but somehow never listened to: The Replacements, Spacemen 3, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo.
posted by snez at 10:19 AM on February 24, 2019
Kelly Lee Bird
Nnamdi Ogbonnaya
Baby Dayliner
Juana Molina
Dan Deacon
Clap! Clap!
I've also been going back and doing deeper dives on bands I knew about but somehow never listened to: The Replacements, Spacemen 3, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo.
posted by snez at 10:19 AM on February 24, 2019
This is definitely what you are asking for:
Preoccupations - Continental Shelf
Their other stuff is really good too. They used to be called Viet Cong but changed it after accusations of cultural appropriation.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 1:00 PM on February 24, 2019
Preoccupations - Continental Shelf
Their other stuff is really good too. They used to be called Viet Cong but changed it after accusations of cultural appropriation.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 1:00 PM on February 24, 2019
Sorry too late to edit my post. Another great band is Dutch Uncles from my neck of the woods (England):
Dutch Uncles - Be Right Back (the whole album is amazing)
From a different album:
Dutch Uncles - Cadenza
The band is basically all uncommon time signatures, a delightful lead vocal and some 80s production in parts. I feel so sad because I know that if the music industry still pushed this sort of music they would have been really big by now.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 1:12 PM on February 24, 2019
Dutch Uncles - Be Right Back (the whole album is amazing)
From a different album:
Dutch Uncles - Cadenza
The band is basically all uncommon time signatures, a delightful lead vocal and some 80s production in parts. I feel so sad because I know that if the music industry still pushed this sort of music they would have been really big by now.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 1:12 PM on February 24, 2019
I’m bookmarking this thread because I’ve been pondering the very same question. I’m seeing a lot of potential here!
I still love my Smiths albums but I’m finding modern-day Morrissey to be disappointing, both as a person and a performer (anyone see his cover of Back On The Chain Gang? Painful). Johnny Marr, however, has been kicking some good tunes (official YouTube Channel).
posted by Eikonaut at 6:15 PM on February 24, 2019
I still love my Smiths albums but I’m finding modern-day Morrissey to be disappointing, both as a person and a performer (anyone see his cover of Back On The Chain Gang? Painful). Johnny Marr, however, has been kicking some good tunes (official YouTube Channel).
posted by Eikonaut at 6:15 PM on February 24, 2019
I have been finding some interesting music on KEXP's YouTube channel.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:59 AM on March 1, 2019
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:59 AM on March 1, 2019
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Janelle Monáe
Miike Snow
Mojo Juju
Grimes
Run the Jewels
Killer Mike
Florence and the Machine
Marina and the Diamonds
Hi Fashion - check out the video for Amazing.
Also there was a new JAMC album released in the last two years, which has too many shitty love duets but also does have a couple of really solid tracks.
posted by bile and syntax at 9:21 AM on February 23, 2019 [6 favorites]