Jenny Hollingworth's solo album Quicksand Heart marks a shift to nostalgic 1980s new wave influences, reflecting on personal grief and relationships with moments of catchy melodies and genre-bending experimentation, showcasing her evolving musical style beyond her work with Let’s Eat Grandma.
A long-standing musical mystery has been solved with the identification of a "lost" New Wave track as "Subways of Your Mind" by the German band FEX. The song, recorded off the radio in the early 1980s, had puzzled listeners since 2007. A Reddit user named Marijn1412 discovered the track's origins, leading to confirmation from FEX band members. The band is now considering re-recording the song and producing a video.
Filmmaker Chris Smith's documentary "Devo" at Sundance Film Festival pays tribute to the iconic band with a mix of commentary, irony, and kitschy collages, capturing the group's evolution from bizarre art project to alt-rock icons. The film delves into the band's history, their unique philosophy, and their impact on music and visual art, culminating in a standing ovation and a Q&A session that perfectly embodies the spirit of Devo.
This article highlights the best songs from the 1980s, covering a wide range of genres including hip-hop, synth-pop, indie rock, metal, Chicago house, Miami freestyle, ska, goth, reggae, and acid house. The list features iconic artists like Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and Janet Jackson, as well as one-hit wonders and new rebel voices. Each song represents the unique and vibrant music scene of the 80s, making it a nostalgic journey through the decade's greatest hits.
Devo, the visionary new wave band known for their satirical take on cultural de-evolution, reflects on their prescient lyrics and the impact of their music. Despite their lone hit "Whip It" in 1980, Devo's influence can be seen in the widespread use of their buzzy synthesizer tones, robotic moves, and retro graphics in commercials, cartoons, and possibly even K-pop. With a new 50-song boxed set and a continuing world tour, Devo is embracing and reaffirming their legacy. The band's founders, Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh, discuss their origins, their disillusionment with rock music, and their ability to foresee trends like music videos and artists marketing themselves as brands. While Devo's dystopian vision of American culture has become a reality, they remain hopeful for the future and continue to inspire with their music.
The inaugural Darker Waves Festival in California will feature New Order, Tears for Fears, The B-52’s, Echo and the Bunnymen, Soft Cell, Devo, Violent Femmes, and more, with over 30 acts total to see. The festival will take place on November 18th, 2023, and tickets will go on sale on June 23rd.
China is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 that could result in 65 million new cases per week, according to experts. Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine discusses what to expect.
Boy George and Culture Club will embark on a 25-city tour of North America in 2023, with fellow new wave artists Howard Jones and Berlin. The tour, titled "The Letting It Go Show," will kick off on July 13th in West Palm Beach, Florida, and wrap up on August 20th in Concord, California. Tickets go on sale on April 21st via Ticketmaster, with a Live Nation pre-sale on April 20th.
The 2023 CMT Music Awards featured an odd mix of era-specific performances, rising new talent, and social activism. The presence of 1990s heavyweights acknowledged the huge influence of the 1990s pop environment on today’s country music. The show also highlighted rising stars in country music and paid tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Kelsea Ballerini brought Drag Race alumni on stage for her performance, and Shania Twain received the CMT Equal Play Award and championed equal pay for all artists. The show closed with a medley of "Simple Man" and "Sweet Home Alabama."
Seymour Stein, the founder of Sire Records who helped launch the careers of Madonna, Talking Heads, and many others, died at age 80. Stein was known for his deep knowledge and appreciation of music and would prove an astute judge of talent during the 1970s era of New Wave, a term he helped popularize. His most lucrative discovery happened in the early 1980s when he heard the demo tape of Madonna. Sire artists also included Ice T, the Smiths, Depeche Mode, the Replacements, and Echo and the Bunnymen, along with the more-established Lou Reed and Brian Wilson.