RECORD STORE DAY: 10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life, Part Four - NEW WAVE Edition

10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life

Part Four: 

NEW WAVE Edition

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

     In order to change the format a little, I thought I’d present a list of another 10 amazing albums that changed my life, but this time I’d venture out into that amazing wilderness called NEW WAVE… which really isn’t a musical genre at all… And, lo and behold, this list contains albums and artists that actually scored hits thanks to radio stations like KROQ and, of course, MTV! It was always a thrill when an album that I had owned for months finally got the attention it deserved and started selling. As many of us know, there are so many great bands of all genres that deserved fame and fortune but, for some reason, it just never happened for them…. 

     So, what was New Wave? Well, as I stated, it wasn't initially a genre of music: it originally was a description given to a fast-growing movement of new artists that had evolved from the Indie and Punk scenes of the late '70s. These new artists were a little more accomplished musically and created songs that were more sophisticated and melodic than their Punk and Indie brethren, yet they still retained the excitement and quirky energy of Punk. 

   New Wave was actually a lazy way for critics to describe a band. Did The Jags and Culture Club really have anything in common stylistically? Er…no. Howabout The Fabulous Poodles and The Human League? Nope. Squeeze and Depeche Mode? Not really. But all of the aforementioned bands have been called New Wave during much of their careers. It boils down to lazy journalism written by stoned Prog Rock-loving critics who no longer understood the concept of a three minute Pop tune. Eventually, all the different sub-genres (Synthpop, Power Pop, Mod, Post-Punk, Goth, Ska, etc) became part of the New Wave umbrella and that is where they remain today. 

     I personally don't use the term New Wave to describe any of the bands I listen to, but in order to make the case for lazy journalism, I will on this blog entry! 

     Here are 10 albums that never fail to take me back to a certain period in my life. They may or many  not have sold millions of copies but they had an enormous impact on me. And they are albums I will cherish until my dying day….  I still remember the exact record store I made the purchases at and the first time I sat down with the headphones and gave it a listen...

     I’ve listed them in alphabetical order by band because, to be honest, I can never say that one of them had more of an impact on me than the other. They are all equally important. And I've refrained from explaining WHY they mean so much to me. Those reasons are ones that only I would understand... (and I'm sure that your choices are made based on similar situations and circumstances).

BLANKET OF SECRECY/Ears Have Walls

DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS/Too Rye Aye








THE ENGLISH BEAT/I Just Can't Stop It

THE FIXX/Reach The Beach

 

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS/A Flock Of Seagulls

INTERVIEW/Interview (AKA Snakes & Lovers)

NEW MUSIK/Sanctuary

PREFAB SPROUT/Two Wheels Good (AKA Steve McQueen)

SPANDAU BALLET/True

SPLIT ENZ/Time & Tide

SPANDAU BALLET/Once More CD review

The original five members of SPANDAU BALLET reunited in 2009 and launched a very successful tour that will spill over into 2010.  Thankfully, they went back into the studio and recorded Once More, which features two new tracks plus reinterpretations of some of their best-known songs.


Here's what I had to say about it on All Music Guide:


"2009 was the year of reunions for new wave/’80s fans. The Midge Ure-era Ultravox line-up toured, even after keyboardist Billy Currie spent years spewing venom in Ure’s direction. The Specials reconvened, albeit sans keyboardist Jerry Dammers. Heck, even Haircut 100 decided to give it another go with Nick Heyward at the helm (only percussionist Mark Fox and saxman Phil Smith sat it out). Perhaps the most successful and least likely reunions occurred when all five members of Spandau Ballet announced that they were getting back together. What makes this so amazing is that, just a handful of few years ago, vocalist Tony Hadley, drummer John Keeble and multi-instrumentalist Steve Norman had taken guitarist Gary Kemp to court over songwriting issues (they lost) and any chance of a reunion seems to have gone sour. But, against all odds, the five members (which also includes bassist Martin Kemp) ironed out their differences and undertook an enormously successful tour. Fans that were not able to catch them live were treated with a live DVD plus this acoustic-based studio creation called Once More. Apart from the acoustic reinterpretations of some of their biggest hits, the real attraction here are the two new tracks: “Once More” and “Love Is All”. Both tracks are wonderful ballads that may not be as drop-dead gorgeous as “True”, but they are right up there with other favorites like “How Many Lies”. Perhaps as some sort of truce, “Once More” is credited to Gary Kemp and Steve Norman while “Love Is All” is Hadley’s baby. Both are proof that the Spandau magic is intact and ready to conquer the world again. As for the rest of the album, the boys in the band have re-arranged songs from their catalog, putting the emphasis on the ‘song’ itself and not the production. Some of the songs are given new life in the mostly-acoustic arrangements with only one, “Chant No. 1”, sounding awkward and not entirely successful. The rest, though, are delicious new looks at songs that served as a soundtrack to a generation: “ True”, “Gold”, “To Cut A Long Story Short” and “Only When You Leave” to name a few. They add a bluesy, funky feel to “Communication” while retaining its hook-filled melody. Lesser known tracks like “Through The Barricades” and “With The Pride” are stunning in these new, simplistic arrangements that showcase Hadley’s still-fantastic voice. Thankfully, the Spandau boys are still in top form and one can only hope that a full studio album will hit the racks before they start suing each other and fall apart again!"-Stephen SPAZ Schnee/All Music Guide

SPANDAU BALLET/Once More CD review

The original five members of SPANDAU BALLET reunited in 2009 and launched a very successful tour that will spill over into 2010.  Thankfully, they went back into the studio and recorded Once More, which features two new tracks plus reinterpretations of some of their best-known songs.

Here's what I had to say about it on All Music Guide:

"2009 was the year of reunions for new wave/’80s fans. The Midge Ure-era Ultravox line-up toured, even after keyboardist Billy Currie spent years spewing venom in Ure’s direction. The Specials reconvened, albeit sans keyboardist Jerry Dammers. Heck, even Haircut 100 decided to give it another go with Nick Heyward at the helm (only percussionist Mark Fox and saxman Phil Smith sat it out). Perhaps the most successful and least likely reunions occurred when all five members of Spandau Ballet announced that they were getting back together. What makes this so amazing is that, just a handful of few years ago, vocalist Tony Hadley, drummer John Keeble and multi-instrumentalist Steve Norman had taken guitarist Gary Kemp to court over songwriting issues (they lost) and any chance of a reunion seems to have gone sour. But, against all odds, the five members (which also includes bassist Martin Kemp) ironed out their differences and undertook an enormously successful tour. Fans that were not able to catch them live were treated with a live DVD plus this acoustic-based studio creation called Once More. Apart from the acoustic reinterpretations of some of their biggest hits, the real attraction here are the two new tracks: “Once More” and “Love Is All”. Both tracks are wonderful ballads that may not be as drop-dead gorgeous as “True”, but they are right up there with other favorites like “How Many Lies”. Perhaps as some sort of truce, “Once More” is credited to Gary Kemp and Steve Norman while “Love Is All” is Hadley’s baby. Both are proof that the Spandau magic is intact and ready to conquer the world again. As for the rest of the album, the boys in the band have re-arranged songs from their catalog, putting the emphasis on the ‘song’ itself and not the production. Some of the songs are given new life in the mostly-acoustic arrangements with only one, “Chant No. 1”, sounding awkward and not entirely successful. The rest, though, are delicious new looks at songs that served as a soundtrack to a generation: “ True”, “Gold”, “To Cut A Long Story Short” and “Only When You Leave” to name a few. They add a bluesy, funky feel to “Communication” while retaining its hook-filled melody. Lesser known tracks like “Through The Barricades” and “With The Pride” are stunning in these new, simplistic arrangements that showcase Hadley’s still-fantastic voice. Thankfully, the Spandau boys are still in top form and one can only hope that a full studio album will hit the racks before they start suing each other and fall apart again!"-Stephen SPAZ Schnee/All Music Guide