I forgot that the song is from 1979 - but it might as well be from the 80s, just down to the way it sounds (sorta like how I associate Lisa Stansfield's first hits with what I hate about 90s production, even if they were technically still part of the 80s).
Hmm, did they have pre-production prototypes? English Settlement was released in early 1982, recorded in 1981, and the DX7 was released in 1983...
You are right!!! So sorry - I am mistaken! I was referring to the Prophet 5 synth, which has its own influential, storied history!
Hoffmanites always feel that any 80's production techniques sounded "dated." Strangely, none of them have ever made such an accusation toward the music of Canned Heat.
You posted that two years ago, but since you seem so keen on 80s R.E.M. (and good on ya!) I'd encourage you to check out some of the other bands on I.R.S. Records, such as Concrete Blonde and Lets Active, as well as many others from the college-rock scene, including Husker Du and the Meat Puppets.
Cannot be that bad as so many newer bands i see on tv have synthesizers, drum machines and often a look that is hearkening back to the 80s. I've talked to a lot of younger music fans that rank Prince, Cure, Metallica and Depeche Mode alongside the Beatles in terms of importance.
I do find it funny that my original post from over 3 (!!!) years ago seemed to preface the '80s coming back around in a big way. I never would have guessed they'd have such an intense resurgence.
The 80's was an amazing decade. A bit of a mixed bag, lots of crap but then again some of the best music ever came out of the 80's. And some of the best sounding albums of all time. Here's a few: Bowie's "Let's Dance." Produced by Nile Rodgers, mixed by Bob Clearmountain (one of the best mixing engineers of all time) and then mastered by Bob Ludwig, I mean jeez talk about the stars being aligned for this album. Peter Gabriel's "So." This album has long been regarded by many in audio production as one of the best recorded and mixed albums ever. The Fixx "Shuttered Room" and "Reach the beach." If you've heard these albums on vinyl, you're 'in the know.' Amazingly sounding records that still mop the floor with most new albums produced today. Christ they sound good. Oingo Boingo's "Good for your soul" and "Nothing to fear" also sound incredible. Of course there was "Thriller," recorded and mixed by the legendary Bruce Swedien, another genius. Then mastered by Bernie Grundman, just an incredible sounding album. Lots more great, great sounding albums from the 80's.
Yes, and microphones are unnatural too. We get it. However there is s big difference between real instruments powered by electricity and electric instruments that use synthetic digital sounds, especially 80’s fx that hadn’t been perfected yet.
I love a lot of 80s music, but a lot of 80s music is dripping in 80s cheese. I can't put my finger on what it is exactly, besides bad synths in some cases. Judas Priest's Stained Class for instance is great, but their next album from the same year is dripping in 80s cheese even though it was recorded in 1978!
Yea pretty much this. Some few albums I can name, like Tears for Fears Sowing the Seeds or David Sylvian's Brilliant Trees, doesn't have that 80's sound.
The 70’s used to be the decade style forgot. Now it’s cool. Same with the 80’s. The view that the decade sounds dated and cheesy is the only thing that’s dated.
It doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of interest in the James Taylor kind of stuff from the 70s, though
I grew up as a teenager in the 1980s. It was and still is about the quality of the songs. Yes the sound has a part of the quality of the the music but a good song will win out. Recently I have rediscovered synth pop from the 1980s Believe me there is definitely some garbage Some strong stuff I have enjoyed recently is Gary Numan - Cars Human League - Dare Pseudo Echo Autumnal Park Big Country The crossing Simple Minds New Gold Dream And a lost gem Politics of Dancing But there's a heap of crap too Watch the live version of Gary Numan performance of Cars on Saturday night live from 1981. Brilliant
Apart from "Big Time"! Is there any version of the album where that song doesn't sound like an ear-bleeding mess?
I love 80s pop too, and 12" singles from that era are lots of fun! A few of my favorite songs from the 80s include: Boys Don't Cry - I Wanna Be A Cowboy. This song is ridiculously stupid and juvenile! HAHAHA! Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science The Cars - You Are The Girl Men Without Hats - Pop Goes The World
An instrument constructed from a circuit board and chips is every bit as "real" as one made with wood and steel wires.
I think it was because synths and drum machines were overplayed. They had more of a novelty attraction that just wore thin after awhile and 60/70s fans never warmed up to this overplayed electric sound. Jmo.
Well, there seemed to be when I started this thread three-ish years ago. As I mentioned more recently, that trend has reversed so hard it gave me whiplash! Always happy to see Oingo Boingo mentioned. Even moreso when those two albums are brought up!