Post-Punk Diary – Part 1

Some people say punk music only lasted a couple of years before it became at best an attitude and at worst derivative. Post-punk music- which began in the U.K. in the late ‘70s- has always been more adventurous than punk and one might say more literate. After all, it was mostly college-educated musicians and art students- raised on ‘60s music and influenced by punk- who led the post-punk movement (American post-punk artists are often referred to as noise pop).

Love and Rockets

When we were around 15 years old, my friend Toast purchased the compilation Burning Ambitions: A History of Punk which was- and still is- a gold mine of early punk music. Besides being a blueprint for our band Twinkie Force, Burning Ambitions also gave Toast and me our first taste of post-punk music from Thatcher era U.K. bands like Wire, the Fall, and SpizzEnergi. These bands taught us post-punk doesn't have to be all serious and gloomy- it can also be crazy, cheeky fun.

Burning Ambitions: A History of Punk

After entering college, I started getting into ‘80s American noise pop bands like the Pixies whose rock based brand of post-punk music inspired a generation of ‘90s bands including Nirvana. In the past decade or so, I've been rediscovering other post-punk bands I somehow missed the first time around like Sugar, the Go-Betweens, and the Psychedelic Furs. Punks in spirit but musically and lyrically all over the place, post-punk artists put the art back in artist. With similar influences, similar problems, and nothing to lose, the post-punk artists are not afraid to take chances which can result in some really bad but also some really great music. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!   

Sugar

01. The Psychedelic Furs – “Love My Way” (1982)

02. Pixies – “Rock Music” (1990)

03. Nada Surf – “Happy Kid” (2002)

04. Pixies – “Wave of Mutilation” (1989)

05. The Psychedelic Furs – “Heaven” (1984)

06. Wire – “Mannequin” (1977)

07. Pixies – “Here Comes Your Man” (1989)

08. Pixies – “Havalina” (1990)

09. Sugar – “If I Can’t Change Your Mind” (1992)

10. Pixies – “Down to the Well” (1990)

11. Brandon Flowers – “Crossfire” (2010)

12. The Psychedelic Furs – “House” (1989)

13. The Go-Betweens – “Love Goes On!” (1988)

14. Wire – “Outdoor Miner” (1978)

15. Sugar – “A Good Idea” (1992)

16. The Psychedelic Furs – “Pretty in Pink” (1981)

17. Nada Surf – “Popular” (1996)

18. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – “Babe, You Turn Me On” (2004)

19. Love and Rockets – “No New Tale to Tell” (1987)

20. SpizzEnergi – “Where’s Captain Kirk?” (1979)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Recommended Links:

Pixies – “Velouria”