1980's
One Second by Yello
One Second (Remastered 2005)
Yello
1987
Less wandering than their previous albums, this is where Yello truly found their focus and created a masterpiece. Entirely separate bands can trace their sounds to individual tracks from this album. (For example: KMFDM and the track Si Señor The Hairy Grill)
Recommended Track: Hawaiian Chance
Technique by New Order
Technique
New Order
1989
When the former members of Joy Division were becoming New Order, they spent significant time taking in the new sounds coming out of New York City’s club scene to transform their sound. It makes sense that, at the end of that decade, they would choose to evolve again by soaking in the Ibiza club scene to find their sound of the next decade. The result was a blend of fresh house beats and alternative rock that I repeatedly come back to.
Recommended Track: Fine Time
The Bela Session by Bauhaus
The Bela Session
Bauhaus
1979
There’s much to enjoy about hearing the birth of a new sound and this album definitively birthed the early goth music sound. As a teenager I found it too cheesy but I’ve come around to appreciating it.
Track recommendation: Bella Lugosi’s Dead
Substance by Joy Division
Substance
Joy Division
1988
Joy Division is one of those bands where intellectually, I know their songs are sad but emotionally, they make me feel good in a deep-down way. If you’re interested, use their hit songs to guide you into the rest of their short-lived catalog.
Track recommendation: Love Will Tear Us Apart