Some of my favorite bands

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Abba
If you don't realize the true brilliance of Abba, you aren't awake. Their influence on the horrible monster that is pop music is unimaginable, and besides, they were the first group that your humble narrator was into. There are those of you that deny the horrible periods in your musical tastes, but that's what the 'most EMBARRASSING records' collection in Bianca's Smut Shack is for. Don't deny yourself, we all have an Abba or Rick Astley or Kajagoogoo fetish we're ashamed of. Revel in your strange ways, don't abandon them.
  • Style: Ultra Pop
  • Era: Late 70's to early 80's
  • Sound: Harmonic vocals with excellent production.

Aztec Camera
Roddy Frame is a great guitarist. Their music has that guitar sound that makes you wonder if the guitar really is made by angels. Check these guys out if you like mellow accoustic guitar music with good production.
  • Style: Acoustic Pop
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: Ryuchi Sakamoto meets Mark Knopfler. Dire Straits meets REM.

Wispy Norwegian music. If you like Dead Can Dance, they are a must. They define the Norwegian scene (can you think of any others?), but they're more than that. Very underrated, hard to find.
  • Style: Wispy
  • Era: 80' to Present
  • Sound: Full female vocals with wispy synth. Some neat acoustic instruments.

Bjork
Boppy Icelandic music from the elfin queen herself. If you don't believe me, check out some pictures from the links. She's an elf, really.
  • Style: Dancy, vocal
  • Era: 90's to present
  • Sound: Funky vocals, dancy beats, sometimes slow and deliberate. Cool.

Kate Bush
Kate Bush cannot have enough said about her. Haunting, mysterious, warm, and lovely, Kate is the standard by which all other female pop/vocal artists should be judged. She is so much her own that she almost defines a genre of music by herself. Caveat: You either love or hate her voice.
  • Style: COOL!
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: Sirenic vocals with a range of instruments (acoustic piano to Beatles influence).

Dreamy, lush, one of the defining bands of the '4ad sound'. So what if you can't understand Elizabeth's vocals, she sounds like turkish delight. Hang out, light a few candles, and listen to the Cocteau Twins.
  • Style: Alternative Rock
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: Cloud-like vocals with dreamy guitars. Music to float by.

The Cure were doing alternative before alternative was cool. They defy description because their albums are so diverse. But I'll never forget Robert Smith running around in the gorilla suit with huge basketball hi-tops on in the video for Why Can't I Be You.
  • Style: 'Alternative' Rock
  • Era: Late 70's to present (unless they really break up when they say they do)
  • Sound: Crazy Robert Smith Vocals with distinct production. Echoey guitars.

Dead Can Dance
If you wished that the cool music of the past was done today with good instruments, recording equipment, and neat album covers, Dead Can Dance is your band. Simply put: great music for sleeping, sex, and relaxing.
  • Style: 'Alternative'
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: World music from different periods in history. Some actual, some inspired.

Delerium
See Front Line Assembly

Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby has been doing music for over a decade, and his quiet style has been mostly unheard so far. His work is brilliant, a must have for tech-enthusiasts everywhere.
  • Style: Tech Pop
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: Synth with heavy tech production (older) to highly produced music with a digital flair (now).

Front Line Assembly
Front Line Assembly, and their myriad of side projects, are the coolest of the cool as far as tech music goes. Check them out.
  • Style: Aggro (We will not use the 'i' word!)
  • Era: 80's to present
  • Sound: Angry synth, Skinny Puppy with a dance beat, guitars as of late.

Front 242
Front 242 has been one of the first bands to be synth and hard and generally odd. They are one of the bands that built Wax Trax! into what it is today. And the video for Headhunter is really out there. Unfortunately, they broke up.
  • Style: Synth aggro
  • Era: Early 80's to mid 90's
  • Sound: William Gibson dreams of these boys...

Peter Gabriel
Because of his longevity, I feel compelled to include Peter Gabriel in this list. His music is phenominal, but he WAS at Woodstock 2, so I must mention the official Mad Opal boycott of all of his music. But for the album Passion alone, he must be remembered.
  • Style: He is his own style
  • Era: Late 70's to present (solo)
  • Sound: Heavy world influences, distinct breathy voice.

Genesis
They have changed so many times, it's a wonder they kept the same name. They are an enduring band that has kept their sound unique while still being mainstream. And your beloved narrator looks a bit like Phil.
  • Style: Classic Rock with a twist
  • Era: Late 60's to present
  • Sound: Produced rock with balanced drums, guitar, synth. Tendency to jam for long periods.

Global Communication
Apparently, one of the members (or both?) used to be in Aphex Twin. Now, the band makes the best ambient music around. Need music to hang/work/sleep to? Try 'em.
  • Style: Ambient
  • Era: Mid 90's to present
  • Sound: Ambient electronica that is slightly reminiscent of Tangerine Dream.

Intermix
See Front Line Assembly

Eric Johnson Eric Johnson is a solo guitarist that is up there with Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler, and Roddy Frame as guitarists that make playing sound effortless. He can rock and he can romance.
  • Style: Rock
  • Era: 80's to present
  • Sound: Instrumental guitar, some vocals in some songs, southwestern influence.

Journey
For an 80's rock band, they were remakably good at being catchy. And their albums are remarkably solid. Plus, they did songs for Tron so that is a big bonus.
  • Style: Rock
  • Era: Late 70's to late 80's (actually still around)
  • Sound: 80's rock, some ballads.

King Missile
They don't take anything seriously. They're wonderful when you want to pay attention to what your listening to (that is, the lyrics). When you're tired of it all, check them out.
  • Style: Performance Art Stuff
  • Era: 80's to present
  • Sound: Angry verse with a hint of sarcasm. You don't listen to them for the music.

Level 42
Mark King is such an incredible bassist that his hands are insured by Lloyd's of London. For a jazzy 80's sound, you can't go wrong. Don't look for edges here, though.
  • Style: 80's Pop
  • Era: 80's
  • Sound: Jazzy smooth with a touch of 80's goodness.

Sarah McLachlan
Sarah is brilliant. Her vocals are distinct and fresh, and she makes your skin hum with warmth. Your humble narrator was pulled in when the album cover of Touch was enough to suck him in. Go out and buy and album of hers now.
  • Style: Alternative Vocal
  • Era: Mid 80's to present
  • Sound: Lush vocals, guitars, and pianos. Some cool production.

Ministry
Angry, angry, angry, but their last album sucked.
  • Style: Angry
  • Era: Angry
  • Sound: Angry with a touch of bitterness.

Moby
Moby is clumped with the rave/techno scene, but he is more. His songs can get repetitive, but what is dance for? He has an edge, a sound of his own. Who cares if he's Christian; he makes cool music.
  • Style: Rave/Techno Dance
  • Era: Late 80's to present
  • Sound: Dance with an edge; his music isn't like boring rave. He has something to say.

Negativland
If you are critical of the media, hate ignorance, and love conspiracy theories, negativland is for you. Their tape looped tracks sometimes are busy for the ear, so don't listen when you're trying to put your TV back together or anything.
  • Style: Weird
  • Era: Late 70's (we think) to present
  • Sound: Take Nightline, The Dating Game, U2, and Yan Can Cook and put them into a blender. You might come close.

New Order
Joy Division's phoenix-like rebirth after the lead singer hung himself with piano wire. For such a depressing band, it's amazing that they morphed into the definitive synth pop band. We all danced to Bizarre Love Triangle at one point. They're more than that.
  • Style: Synth Pop
  • Era: Mid 80's to present
  • Sound: Heavenly keyboards, dancy beats, synthy guitars, Bernie's whiney voice. Dance heaven.

Noise Unit
See Front Line Assembly

Orbital
Geez, these guys are cool. Although, my friend Hal played them for me in like '91, and I couldn't get into them. I still don't really like their first album. After that, they took off. Their second album, Orbital 2 is brilliant, and my favorite is In Sides
  • Style: Ambient/Techno
  • Era: Early 90's to present
  • Sound: Amazing sounds, sometimes groovy beats, but creating atmospheres like few others.

Prince
Or, The Artist. I don't care what you call him; you have to love him. Five feet three inches of pure lust. And the guts to mix styles most wouldn't dream of. His influence on music is just beginning to be felt.
  • Style: Funk Pop
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: Funk, dance, rap, pop, rock; he's got it all.

Pro-Tech
See Front Line Assembly

Public Image Limited
Take John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, and give him some gloss. You've got PIL. Sure, some people say they're not what they once were, but does Johnny care? I doubt it.
  • Style: Alternative Rock
  • Era: Late 70's to early 90's
  • Sound: Guitar rock sound with punk influence.

Revolting Cocks
If a band can be a parody of itself, they are. It used to be Pop Will Eat Itself, but they started taking themselves seriously. They have way too much fun, and most people think it's just a travelling heroin party. If that's true, where's Keith Richards?
  • Style: Alterative Stuff
  • Era: Mid 80's to present
  • Sound: Hard, sarcastic, sometimes unintelligible

Sisters of Mercy
Gothic to the hilt, and well produced as well. A good beat you can dance to, I give them a 78! Dark and disturbing, decadent and danceable, they've got the cure for the light.
  • Style: Gothic Rock
  • Era: Early 80's (maybe earlier) to present
  • Sound: Smooth, dark, with a beat to match.

Skinny Puppy
Angry tech music with an underlying theme against vivisection? What's this? Moshing and political correctness together? That's what makes Skinny Puppy special, although I wouldn't go so far as to call them politically correct. Hey, any group that loves to bowl is ok.
  • Style: Aggro synth (no 'i' word!)
  • Era: Early 80's to mid 90's (RIP, D.Wayne Goettel)
  • Sound: Hard, evil, dissonant. Don't listen if you have bad dreams easily.

Strange Boutique
For those of you in Washington, DC, you had the pleasure of enjoying Strange Boutique. For the rest of the country, you missed out. They're gone now, but check out their info for other bands with Strange Boutique members in them. The dc Space closed knowing that the best had come.
  • Style: Gothic Rock
  • Era: Mid 80's to Early 90's
  • Sound: "Siouxsie better than Siouxsie," Noreen S. - ex Record City, current Border's Music manager.

Synaesthesia
See Front Line Assembly

Tears For Fears
As far as 80's music goes, Tears For Fears is one of the best. Full sound, excellent production, harmonies, and great melodies. I was saddened at the split of Curt & Roland, and I long for those happy days from Songs from the Big Chair.
  • Style: 80's Pop
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: Synth, 80's, thoughtful, and emotional.

This Mortal Coil
This band was really a collaboration of 4ad artists (mostly). They covered many a song, and are also great music to sleep to. Don't miss them.
  • Style: Alternative
  • Era: Late 80's to early 90's
  • Sound: Dreamy, classical, haunting. 4ad all the way.

Underworld
The ultimate in techno bands. These guys are innovative, dancy, and rarely as repetitive as some bands of the genre. They have had songs on the soundtracks for Hackers and Transpotting. Good stuff, Maynard.
  • Style: Techno Electronica
  • Era: Late 80's to present
  • Sound: Dancy, dreamy, cyber.

Will
See Front Line Assembly

Jah Wobble
Your humble narrator was mystified by the track Visions of You and has fallen for Jah's wonderful style. He haunts and mystifies, he amazes with his talent. World one time, dancy the next, Jah contiunes to grow.
  • Style: Alternative Rock
  • Era: Late 70's to present
  • Sound: Bass heavy, sometimes eastern, sometimes rock.

Yello
Yello is color. Yello is light. Yello is sound. Yello rhymes with Jell-o. If you don't get it, you never will.
  • Style: Dancy stuff
  • Era: Early 80's to present
  • Sound: Heavily sampled horns with South American rhythm influence. Ignore the lyrics, PLEASE ignore the lyrics!