In late August of 1981 The Gun Club released their debut album on Ruby Records. Taking their cues from such blues luminaries as Robert Johnston but adding in the fury of punk into the mix, Jeffery Lee Pierce and co. trail-blazed the way for other stripped down roots rock, blues punk, cow punk, et al,…

In October of 1981 The Human League released their third studio album. Following the exit of former bandmates Glen Gregory and Martyn Ware, Philip Oakey managed to put together a ragtag group of backup dancers, a former Scottish punk guitarists cum keyboardist, and studio session musician hired on full-time that went on to become a…

In June of 1981 The Psychedelic Furs unleashed their sophomore studio outing. Robert Christgau: “It’s richer melodically, texturally, and emotionally. I loved the first Furs album because it seemed so disposable; I love this one because it doesn’t.” Let’s talk The Psychedelic Furs, Talk Talk Talk!

In May of 1981 X released their sophomore album. Fusing the high energy speed of punk w/ one foot still playing in the r&b, rockabilly, roots, and country sandbox, the resulting thirteen tracks are a Wild Gift, indeed. Let’s talk X, Wild Gift! (most humble apologies fro the crackle at the beginning of this podcast,…

In December of 1981 Black Flag released their debut album. Though largely ignored upon its release by critics, the album is now considered and absolute classic of American Hardcore and the band itself paved the way that future DIY and indie bands would tour for years to come. Let’s talk Black Flag, Damaged!

In February of 1981 David Byrne and Brian Eno released their first album as a collaborative duo. Recorded before the Talking Heads, Remain in Light, it was shelved for a year on account of sample clearance issues. On the cusp of sampling’s 80s revolution, Eno’s love of tape loops are taken to their logical next…

In February of 1980 OMD released their third studio album. Taking inspiration from religious music, the band made use of chorale samples, the Mellotron, melodica and variety of other instruments to create the record’s beautifully lush sound. Let’s talk Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark, Architecture and Morality!

In November of 1981 Soft Cell released their debut album. Made on a tight budget, the band purportedly recorded almost entirely on a ReVox tape recorder. With a borrowed drum machine, a Korg bass synth, and producer Mike Thorne’s Synclavier, the band created a true synth pop classic. Let’s talk Soft Cell, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret!

In June of 1981 Motörhead released the greatest live record of all time. Seriously y’all, it’s the best. Let’s talk Motörhead, No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith!

In July of 1981 The Go-Gos released their debut album. Its a stunning first outing with songs that are pure pop perfection. The record would climb to the top of the Billboard Hot 200 in 8 months time and eventually go on to sell over two million copies. Let’s talk The Go-Gos, Beauty and The…

In September of 1981 Penthouse 17 released their debut album. After jumping ship on Human League, Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware chose their new band’s name from the fictional pop group mentioned in Anthony Burgesses’ A Clockwork Orange. Let’s talk Heaven 17, Penthouse and Pavement!

In June of 1981 Siouxie and The Banshees released their 4th studio album. It is widely considered to be one of the finest post-punk records ever made. Let’s talk Siouxie and The Banshees, Juju!

In October of 1981 Einstürzende Neubauten released their first official LP on the ZickZack record label. This is the sound of things not just falling apart but being intentionally destroyed. Industrial music taken at it’s most literal interpretation, melody be damned. Let’s talk Einstürzende Neubauten, Kollaps!

In late December of 1979 Pretenders released their debut album. Recording began with Nick Lowe producing Stop Your Sobbing, but being of the opinion that this band was “not going anywhere”, he jumped ship and Chris Thomas came in to pick up the slack. The results? Pretenders debuted at #1 on the UK Album Charts,…

In late December of 1980, known multi-instrumentalist and Traffic aficionado, Steve Winwood, released his Platinum selling sophomore solo album. Recorded at his own Netherturkdonic Studios in Gloucestershire, Winwood opted to play all the instruments, write all the music, and produce and engineer the entire record himself. Let’s talk Steve Winwood, Arc of a Diver!

In October of 1980 The Specials released their sophomore album. After six months on the road and utterly exhausted, the band went into the studio with musak on their minds. Jerry Dammers: “On that tour in America, I was listening to music in the hotel bars and elevators. Vibraphone music in elevators. Obviously this was…

In October of 1980 The Teardrop Explodes released their debut album. Deriving influence from the 60s psyche movement and punk, these Liverpudlians made a significant contribution to post-punk and the future of rock music in Britain. Let’s talk The Teardrop Explodes, Kilimanjaro!

In August of 1980 UB40 released their debut album. Robert Christgau – “Eight black-and-whites from Birmingham who named themselves after the dole card they know so well, they don’t play no ska–they’re songsmiths in a deep reggae groove. They take their time instead of pressing on to the next one, and more than one instrumental…

In September of 1980 Tom Waits released his 7th studio album. Why it’s in here when Swordfish Trombones is just three short years away, who knows? Let’s talk Tom Waits, Heartattack and Vine!

In late November of 1980 The Jam released their 5th studio album. Taking musical cues from many post-punk luminaries including Gang of Four, Joy Division, and Wire, with drummer Rick Buckler paying special attention to the drums on Off the Wall. It is The Jam’s crowning achievement and truly one for the book. Lets talk…

In April of 1980, The Undertones released their second album. Recorded at both Wisseloord Studios in The Netherlands and Eden Studios in London over the course of two months, the band cranked out more of the same material that endeared them so well to John Peel. Lets talk The Undertones, Hypnotised!

In April of 1980 Iron Maiden released their debut studio album. Recorded at Kingsway Studio the previous December, the album is a shot across the bow for heavy music. With breakneck speeds, ferocious riffs, anthemic melodies, and the dulcet tones of original singer Paul Di’Anno, the album heralded the arrival of The British New Wave…

In July of 1980 Joy Division released their final studio album. Once again produced by Martin Hannett but released two month after the tragic passing of lead singer, Ian Curtis, the album represents a high watermark of the post-punk genre. Lets talk Joy Division, Closer!

In October of 1980 Talking Heads released their 4th studio album. With Brian Eno back at the helm, the band continues their trajectory as the best group to come out of the CBGB’s scene, and the album deserves every accolade that has been thrown at it. Lets talk Talking Heads, Remain in Light!