Gen X-er living in a time machine, high on nostalgia. Flashbacks is the debut album by Peach on a beach, a tribute to growing up in Dartmouth, NS during the 80s. Available on streaming and CD. Check out YouTube videos for "Beeping and Bleeping", "Pizza Corner", "Before Call Display", "Anticipation Street" and "Boogeyman Trail". Released on Feb. 16, "Rabbit Hole", is a tribute to alternative artists The Cure and Skinny Puppy. Official website: https://www.peachonabeach.ca/
I'll always remember 1989 as when the holy trinity of alternative rock, The Cure, New Order and Depeche Mode, released amazing albums. Think back to the early 80s for minute. Hands up if you thought back these guys would be sporting cowboy hats and playing guitars at the end of the decade?
The evolution of Depeche Mode from a quirky synth-pop act to filling stadiums in North America was impressive. Like U2 with the The Joshua Tree, Depeche Mode stormed North America with an amped up, somewhat industrial form of dance music typifying the Violator album in 1989.
"Personal Jesus" is a club classic with an unstoppable beat, atmospheric guitars and menacing vocals. The badass video is a bonus. Well done boys, you've come a long way.
Other favourites from 1989: "Fascination Street" - The Cure
"Monkey Gone to Heaven" – Pixies "Bust A Move" - Young MC "Round and Round" - New Order
"Under the Milky Way" by Australia's The Church is the last great new wave single. It's also one of the most beautiful songs ever made. In terms of atmosphere and production, it's hard to top.
The acoustic strumming sets the tone, the keys are melodic and the vocals and lyrics are perfect. The layers of jangle guitars and synth are extraordinary.
It also makes you think about the big stuff like the universe and why they don't make tracks like this any longer. The song is also highly addictive: I recall playing it 10 times straight after losing my job in Vancouver back in 1996.
It would place even higher if it wasn't for the bloody 'bagpipe' solo in the bridge. I don't hate it, but it slightly ruins the ambiance. Fortunately, the tune reverts to the moody strumming and ends well with some nice reverb.
And I totally missed it back in 1988 when released. Was I too busy wrapped up listening to the back collection of The Cure, Depeche Mode and New Order to notice?
Was it even released in Canada? (Wikipedia states it reached no. 69 on the Canadian RPM 100). When the dust settles, it's by far the highest ranking song of my top 100 80s singles that I don't recall enjoying during the 80s.
Other favourites from 1988:
"Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson
"Dreamworld" – Midnight Oil "What's On Your Mind" – Information Society
The Edge's shimmering guitar chords in the cinematic intro always gives me the feels. The sound of anticipation that ironically is the drama, two minutes of a bright light being slowly turned on. This is what I wanna hear before a playoff tilt as the Habs hit the ice (although they come close at the Bell Centre with Coldplay's "Fix Me"). This single came out late in the summer after high school graduation. I remember listening to the tune on my Walkman taking the ferry to Halifax into the unknown on my way to university at SMU, partly hopeful, partly reticent, but most of all thinking anything is possible.
"Where The Streets Have No Name" is undeniably one of the 80s great rock anthems, and for me, the best of all those quality singles from The Joshua Tree album that broke the band in America. I thought the single deserved a better video than the official version showing the band playing on a rooftop and shutting down the streets of LA. The video actually does a disservice to the song, ruining the The Edge's opening and iconic riff. Other favourites from 1987:
"True Faith" - New Order
"Just Like Heaven" - The Cure
"Moonlight Desires" – Gowan "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" – The Smiths
There's something about "Something About You" by Level 42 that's hard to pinpoint that makes me look forward to hearing it again and again.
Could be the amazing bass line.
Those epic falsettos and the harmonies.
Or perhaps the delicious chorus.
Can't forget about that surreal video, with the lead singer playing the Vaudeville clown in the engaging video.
It was all of those aspects and more: "Something About You"is simply a perfect pop song with a little R & B and synth tossed in. The right hooks in the right places. All those little things that combine together to make me appreciate the whole of the song.
The tune still transports me back to when Dad used to drive me home for lunch back in Grade 11. The great ones will do that to you, take us back when we first hear that first note. Pure nostalgia.
Fave lyrics:
"These changing years, they add to your confusion
Oh and you need to hear the time that told the truth"
Other favourites from 1986:
"West End Girls" - Pet Shop Boys
"Bizarre Love Triangle" – New Order "Train of Thought" – Aha
I have strong memories of songs sounding better in the spring of 1985. It may have something to do with turning 16 and learning to drive, cruising around the 'burbs in Dad's Escort hatchback, giddy to be charge of the radio dial and cassette deck. I abandoned coke-bottle glasses for contact lens and remember jamming to this after the fitting. Still, the songs that spring seemed 'sunnier'. Other anthems of optimism littering the charts were the "Walking on Sunshine" ear worm, the uplifting "Things Can Only Get Better", Madonna's best "Into the Groove", Duran's "View to A Kill" and Phil's "Sussudio". The opening "Welcome to your life, there's no turning back" gets your attention while the infectious arrangement and ambitious lyrics keep it on top as a great driving track.
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears For Fears is one of Gen X's greatest anthems, this stunning song is a bit cynical yet also ambitious and optimistic.
One of those rare tunes with a near-universal appeal, it resonates with just about everyone. Is there a catchier song from the decade that also touches on the issues du jour like the environment, yuppies and the Cold War? From the profound and ambiguous lyrics that make you think, the vocals, and of course the incredible arrangement. The short but captivating vocal bridge is out of this world just before the sweeping synths and guitars kick in for a longer instrumental one.
The uplifting vibe of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" puts me in a great mood despite the lyrics being a bit on the cynical side. The song only reinforces the type of music I love best: melodic music and dark lyrics. The lyrics challenge us to live life to the fullest (at the time it was during the Cold War of course) by taking full advantage of its pleasures and liberties before the true nature of the world, war and turmoil, come back again as per the history books.
One of the best driving songs ever made, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" always makes me want to put the top down and hit the gas. Even in the winter.
The classic video features Curt Smith driving an antique sports car around Southern California interspersed with shots of the full band performing the song in a studio.
When I hear this song today I still get that same feeling. So I'm destined to never, ever tire of this tune. That's some powerful nostalgia. Other favourites from 1985:
"Things Can Only Get Better" - Howard Jones "The Perfect Kiss" - New Order "Some Like It Hot" - The Powerstation
