80'S NEW WAVE PLAYLIST

     Hey guys- here's my personal Spotify 80'S NEW WAVE playlist. Enjoy!

RETRO ALBUM REVIEW- Thriller by Michael Jackson

 

      What can possibly be said today about Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller" album that hasn't already been said to death?  Nothing.  It was simply THE album of the 80's- we all owned a copy, admit it.  Released in November of 1982, this ground-breaking album would go on to garner an amazing seven top 10 singles and currently remains the best selling album of all time.

     Michael Jackson pretty much owned 1983.  From his groundbreaking "moonwalk" on the Motown 25th Anniversary special in May to the release of the iconic "Thriller" video in December- MJ was everywhere.  Often cited as Jackson's greatest album of all time, it's simply a must-have for any serious music collector or pop culture lover.

     There's never a dull moment to be found on "Thriller".  It manages to be all around entertaining, and crosses all musical genres and boundaries.  Michael Jackson was able to transcend all race, age, and labels with this album as well.  This album had humongous mass appeal - it really didn't matter who you were. Everybody had this record.  He became the King of Pop with this album.  Very much like Madonna and Prince, Michael Jackson put out great albums in a decade where there was tons of great songs, but lots of one-hit wonders. This is a great album.  "Beat It", "Wanna Be Startin' Something", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller" are white-hot tracks, and will be packing dance floors all over the galaxy for thousands of years to come.  It's timeless. Epic.  This album WAS the 1980s. "Thriller" is Jackson's triumph- forever iconic, influential, ground-breaking, and immortal.

SOUND OF THE CROWD BY THE HUMAN LEAGUE

      The Human League are beyond cool, and this clip easily shows why.  This was white hot in 1981- it was a very exciting era in music.  1981 witnessed the birth of MTV, and this look and sound was extremely influential on music and pop culture- influencing Madonna, the Pet Shop Boys, and many other modern acts as well.  This sounds as if it could be released today- that's how far ahead of their time The Human League were.  Good stuff.

RETRO ALBUM REVIEW- MADONNA (THE FIRST ALBUM)

     On July 27, 1983 a self-titled album was released by a then-unknown singer with the unusual name of Madonna.  No one had any idea whatsoever that this was the beginning of an extra-ordinary and legendary career.  A new musical icon had arrived- one that would go on to join the ranks of Elvis, The Beatles,and Michael Jackson.  And a female icon, at that.  Rock had always had its bad boys.  Now the girls (and boys!) got Madonna.    She would go on to become a brilliant visual artist, and this first album, although nowhere near the creative heights she would later achieve, still shows an extremely impressive and strong debut album.  Especially in the late 70's and early 80's- an era chock full of one-hit wonders. "Holiday", "Lucky Star", "Borderline", "Burning Up", Everybody",  "Think Of Me", and "Physical Attraction" are standout hits, and along with her unique and sexy style are what made this album so memorable and iconic in the first place.  The album went on to be certified 5x Platinum and would eventually sell over 8 million copies worldwide.
       Sandwiched perfectly between the end of disco and the dawn of New Wave, she was able to find a unique voice and sound.  Filled with catchy pop hooks and shimmering synth beats,  "MADONNA" is an essential 80's album.  Madonna first became popular in the underground club scene of New York, and this record perfectly captures that time and place.
     Her legendary ambition shines through on this album- she makes it very clear who she is and what she's all about.  Revolutionary in that it perfectly melded the underground dance scene, New Wave, and a bit of punk all in one exciting, raw package, it's undeniably one of the greatest albums to emerge from the early 80's.  Madonna's first album brilliantly took disco (which was sadly dead at this point) and re-shaped it into cutting-edge dance pop.  Yielding 3 Top 20 hits, but a whole handful of dance anthems, Madonna's first album is a dance classic that rightfully started one of the most significant female careers in music history.  Now digitally re-mastered, "Madonna" sounds better than ever.

Enola Gay by Orchestral Maneuvres in the Dark.

     Okay I'm going to start with one of my all-time favorite songs of the 80's, "Enola Gay" by British synthpop band Orchestral Maneuvers In the Dark.  Released in 1980, it still gives me chills every time I hear it.  I cannot explain it- I only know that it makes me happy.  This is awesome and I'm smiling right now.