New Wave music

This is a genre that I was never really into much and never really explored much but these days I find myself a bit curious about it. I really enjoy certain albums by the Cars. I also like the Police and other bands from this era. I also had an album by Duran Duran and a Flock of seagulls but that's about it. However, a lot of it at the time seemed to be more poppy or dancey and not really my thing. So what I'm interested in is finding out about albums that are on a bit more of the rock side and less poppy(like those I mentioned). I also really liked Missing Persons for that reason but never owned anything by them. So I'm looking for some recommendations but they don't have to be super heavy just not poppy sounding like the Thompson Twins or something. Also, if there are any post 80's bands that are in this general style or influenced by them that are good you can mention them as well.

 

"New Wave" was not really a genre. It was an umbrella differentiator for anything that wasn't mainstream arena rock.

 

Gene Loves Jezebel
Siouxie and The Banshees
The Motels
Depeche Mode
Heaven 17
Talk Talk
lots to choose from...

 

Here in the DC area, 4 Out Of 5 Doctors were one of the big local acts. I still listen to their two albums.

 

THE PRETENDERS....ROCKPILE/NICK LOWE......

 

I highly recommend Martha and the Muffins. They've got a pretty even amount of catchy songs and more experimental/atmospheric material. This is the Ice Age (the album and song) strikes a good balance between the 2 styles.

 

This is arguably the best 4 out of 5 Doctors song. And you can hear the influence of artists like Joe Jackson quite clearly:

 

Ultravox
Hawks
The Silencers
Great Buildings
Blondie
Joy Division
Bow Wow Wow
The Fixx
Flying Lizards
The Vapors
Gary Numan
Psychedelic Furs
Split Enz
XTC

Some bands worth checking out. New Wave had so many off shoots, these are just a start. Dig deeper and you will find many more. An endless genre. One that was a part of my musical foundation.

 

I respectfully disagree with that. It was as much of a genre as heavy metal, progressive rock, indie rock, hard rock or alternative imo. Even if it is technically true then the same could be said for progressive, alternative and indie music.

 

Elvis Costello (& the Attractions)

My Aim Is True
This Year’s Model
Armed Forces
Get Happy!
Taking Liberties
Trust

 

Any specific albums by these bands that stand out?

 

DEVO
Pere Ubu
The Residents
All three, try during their 'classic-era' period (1976-1981)
Oh, and the first three WIRE albums!

 

The Fixx sounds like they fit the OP's criteria. The first few albums are outstanding plus there's a remastered hits compilation that provides a good overview.

 

I have one album by Devo(Q: Are we not men)and two by Pere Ubu(the modern dance and terminal tower(a comp). However, I don't really consider Pere Ubu to be new wave(still good though). The Residents I have heard a lot about and am interested but from what I understand they are more experimental(which ok by me actually). Nonetheless which album do you recommend as a good one to start with by them?Wire I've heard about too.

 

Acts as diverse as the Stray Cats, the Clash, B-52s, the Cars, Elvis Costello, Depeche Mode, Squeeze, XTC essentially were all considered "new wave" artists in the US, conversationally if not through direct marketing.

 

Classic new wave from the land down under. This song didn't make much noise in the US, but should have:

 

Speaking of Australia, early INXS does a good job of straddling New Wave with the more generic "Alternative" era that would follow with a song like the great Don't Change:

 

The Stray Cats were never new wave. They were rockabilly.Calling them new wave makes about as much sense as calling Black Sabbath new wave. Stray Cats - Wikipedia

 

Men At Work
The Knack

 

They were indeed rockabilly, and they were most certainly considered part of the "new wave." That is why the phrase is useless as a genre descriptor.

 

I played this track a bunch while DJing at some cool NYC dance clubs circa 1980-1983. Killing Joke- Change.

 

Well, they were part of a greater neo -rockabilly scene that was happening in Japan, the US and Europe. And since they were successful in the UK before the US, they were most definitely promoted as new wave in the US.

 

Check out:

Magazine
Dexys Midnight Runners
Talk Talk
Siousxe and the Banshees
Echo and The Bunnymen
Joy Division / New Order
The Smiths
The The
The Jam

 

The Fixx-Reach The Beach
Blondie-Plastic Letters
XTC-Skylarking
The Silencers-Rock And Roll Enforcers
Gary Numan Tubeway Army-Replicas
Hawks-Hawks
The Vapors-Magnets
Spkit Enz-True Colours

Some to start with.

 

I think you're wrong. A genre has similarities. Heavy Metal and Progressive bands have similarities. Hard rock could possibly be included as a genre/subgenre. But New Wave, Alternative and Indie categories gather artists together based on things outside of similarities in their style of music. New Wave is what? It was the new wave of Rock. This included all the bands that played at CBGB's in New York. So Ramones, Talking Heads, Television, Blondie, and many others. But what was called New Wave continued into the '80s with synthesizer based bands or even guitar based band that just had a lot of synthesizers. The '80s new wave had little to do with the '70s New Wave other than maybe Blondie after they started using synthesizers. Alternative is that same. What did these bands share in common? Not a lot. Alternative and Indie are the same. They are collectors that don't mean anything. Were REM less Indie when they signed to Warner? What does Jane's Addiction have in common with any other band that is alternative? In a time were it's not hard to self-publish because distribution services like Bandcamp exist, the term Indie is moronic.