In the Shadow of the Police – Part 1

After a decade long run that proved a new wave/alternative band could achieve international stardom and become the biggest musical act in the world, the Police disbanded in 1986. Having grown up on their hits, it recently occurred to me that no so-called alternative artist or band has ever reached the dizzying heights the Police did. Perhaps U2 and a few of the Britpop bands may have come close, but unlike Sting they just didn’t have the genius pop-songwriting skills to achieve universal pop immortality. (The other two members of the Police may have at times resented Gordon Sumner, but as musicians they loved playing Sting’s peerless pop songs.)

The Police

After the dissolution of the Police, pop music was in a bad place. Although new and exciting sounds continued to emanate from the underground, they rarely reached the surface of popular music since they did not attract large numbers of rock fans the way the Police had. Instead, pop metal filled the vacuum left by the Police (though U2 tried to insert some integrity onto the charts) and grunge was still five years away. While I sympathize with ‘80s alternative bands who were making cutting edge music but just couldn’t find mainstream acceptance, the Police proved that it was possible to be both cutting edge and hugely popular. And while this may have been a hard lesson for eccentric, uncompromising American artists, Brit bands seemed much more able to adapt and learn from the massive success of the Police.

Alternative pop/rock is a term I discovered on AllMusic and encapsulates many of the alternative artists who appeared in the shadow of the Police and achieved varying degrees of success (some American artists eventually developed a watered-down, grunge-pop sound that was palatable and popular but still no match for Britpop). Grouping and listening to these artists together has been an interesting exercise and a pleasant trip down memory lane with 40+ years worth of memories (including leather jackets, Goth girls, and pre-pandemic existence). While none of these artists were ever a serious challenge to the Police’s legacy as alternative/rock kings of the world, they prove there was and always will be hunger for good alternative music. Here are some of my alternative pop/rock favorites. Enjoy!

Coldplay

01. The Police – “Message in a Bottle” (1979) 

02. The Police – “King of Pain” (1983)

03. The Police – “Wrapped Around Your Finger” (1983)

04. The Calling – “Wherever You Will Go” (2001)

05. Cornershop – “Good to Be on the Road Back Home” (1997)

06. Coldplay – “The Scientist” (2002)
07. Dinosaur Jr. – “Kracked” (1987)

08. The La’s – “There She Goes” (1988)

09. Bad Religion – “No Direction” (1992)

10. The Church – “Lost” (1988)

11. The Divine Comedy – “Absent Friends” (2004) 

12. Coldplay – “Yellow” (2000)

13. Arctic Monkeys – “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” (2006)

14. Blur – “Song 2” (1997)

15. Cake – “Frank Sinatra” (1996)

16. The Dead Milkmen – “Bleach Boys” (1988)

17. The Damned – “The Shadow of Love (Ten Inches of Hell Mix)” (1985)

18. Camper Van Beethoven – “Take the Skinheads Bowling” (1985)

19. The Dead Milkmen – “Born to Love Volcanos” (1988)

20. The Wonder Stuff – “A Wish Away” (1988)

21. The Mr. T Experience – “Alternative Is Here to Stay” (1995)

22. Bad Religion – “Turn on the Light” (1990)

23. Stephen Malkmus – “Jenny & the Ess Dog” (2001)

24. 3 Doors Down – “Here Without You” (2003)

25. Coldplay – “Viva la Vida” (2008)

26. Sarah McLachlan – “Answer (Live)” (2003)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Recommended Links:

The Police Dis-Band