# 80's melancholic synthpop,i can't be the only fan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669 "2003-09-05T05:07:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/1 "2003-09-05T05:07:20Z")
Ah yes my dark secret of musical taste:D . I just love the stuff,even though i was about 5 years old when it hit its peak of popularity,and besides Deadsy the style seems to be out. I’ve already well explored and love: Depeche Mode Psychedelic Furs Pet Shop Boys Alphaville Any groups i should check out or obscure songs i should hunt for? ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/2 "2003-09-05T05:22:47Z")
New Order! ---
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/3 "2003-09-05T05:33:36Z")
Try Roxy Music. When I was about 12 every interview given by Duran Duran gave Roxy Music as their influence. Granted, Duran Duran isnt exactly melancholy synth pop but Roxy Music is like a base to start from. My fave song is “More Than This” Also try Nik Kershaw, OMD, Talk Talk, New Order, Joy Division, Level 42, Soft Cell, Dead or Alive, Erasure, Yaz, Alphaville, Eurythmics, Bronski Beat, The Communards, Jimmy Sommerville(sp). Echo and the Bunnymen are reminescent of Psychedelic Furs. General Public and English Beat are more pop and happy than melancholy. The Smiths are not synthpop, but definitely a treasure as well as Morrissey on his own. Bauhaus if you want to get dark, Peter Murphy if you want to continue the darkness or Love and Rockets for their irreverance. INXS first two albums synth pop-Try Johnsons Aeroplane, it might be up your alley. Siouxie and the Banshees are a little synth and very dark, The Cure can be meloncholy. The Damned are not too synthy-but dark. And maybe the Thompson Twins. ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/4 "2003-09-05T05:49:16Z")
You’re definitely not alone! In addition to Nvme’s well thought out list, may I suggest Echo and the Bunnymen, Killing Joke, Cocteau Twins, Dead or Alive. I got a CD called Dark Side of the 80’s for my birthday this year. I’ve not listened to it yet (it is in England and I’m not back there for 2 weeks) but the track listing rocks. Not sure how to do links here. If this doesn’t work, I found the track listing on [amazon.co.uk](http://amazon.co.uk) [http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008GER0/qid=1062740942/sr=2-1/ref=sr\_2\_3\_1/202-8434323-3416624](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008GER0/qid=1062740942/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/202-8434323-3416624) ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/5 "2003-09-05T05:51:32Z")
**Tears for Fears** , esp. the first two albums. Man, they had some fucked-up childhoods, by the sound of it… **Marillion** (mid-80’s, w/ Fish) - again with the childhood trauma, and adulthood as well. But they’re more synth PROG than synth-pop. **Sisters of Mercy** - dark and gothic, basically an 80’s synth version of Type O Negative. Seconding the Cure, Depeche Mode, the Smiths, Bauhaus etc. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/6 "2003-09-05T05:52:24Z")
The The - Perfect Ultravox - Sleepwalk Devo - Beautiful World Aimless Device - Till (sic) The Rain Falls B-Movie - Nowhere Girl Men Without Hats - Antarctica Yaz - Nobody’s Diary New Order - Temptation Anne Clark - Our Darkness Gary Numan - You Are In My Vision Kraftwerk - Showroom Dummies Eurythmics - Love Is A Stranger Ministry - The Angel Echo And The Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses Simple Minds - Somene Somewhere In Summertime Stranglers - Skin Deep Human League - Seconds Xymox - No Words Duran Duran - The Chauffeur Tears For Fears - Mad World Orchestral Manoevres In The Dark - Souvenir Fad Gadget - Swallow It Thomas Dolby - One Of Our Submarines The Normal - Warm Leatherette Neon Judgement - Tomorrow In The Papers Tribantura - Lack Of Sense Front 242 - Don’t Crash a; Grumh - Drama In The Subway Swans - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Red Version) B-52’s - Mesopotamia Don’t be embarrassed, this stuff was even less popular back in the 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![noddygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@noddygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noddygrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/7 "2003-09-05T07:58:03Z")
Camouflage was a German group who sounded quite a bit like Depeche Mode but had some very good songs of their own. “The Great Commandment” was a minor hit in the States. Boytronic is another German band I like–a bit more in the Erasure/Soft Cell “homoerotic” vein, but also with some really great songs. I definitely second the recommendations for Talk Talk, Ultravox, Anne Clark and Kraftwerk. Also try: Visage, Klaus Nomi (an acquired taste perhaps–if you don’t like operatic vocals maybe it won’t appeal), the Bolshoi, and Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/8 "2003-09-05T14:22:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nvme77 \* > \*\* > INXS first two albums synth pop-Try Johnsons Aeroplane, it might be up your alley. \*\* Stupid nitpick: AFAIK in the US “Johnson’s Aeroplane” appears on the album _The Swing_, from 1984. It’s also their sixth album. _The Swing_ has some great songs on it, including “Original Sin” (which fits the bill of synth pop), “Love Is (What I Say),” “Burn For You,” and “All the Voices.” _Shabooh Shoobah_ is also worth a look; some really incredible songs on this one including “The One Thing,” “Spy of Love,” “Here Comes,” and “Don’t Change.” Holy crow do I love Echo and The Bunnymen’s “Bring on the Dancing Horses.” Thanks for the memories, **eunoia**. And that’s a stellar list of songs. What about The Church? _Starfish_ was a pretty huge hit here, thanks to “Under the Milky Way.” I see **BethCro** ’s link mentions Jesus and Mary Chain. While I wouldn’t lump them into melancholic synth pop at all, I don’t feel they get enough praise and I was compelled to mention them as they did get me through a whole lot of junior and high school. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/9 "2003-09-05T15:35:55Z")
Yes, this is one of my favorite styles, but I don’t have anything to add except: > [@](#): > > and besides Deadsy the style seems to be out. Deadsy? 😕 And you do know that Echo and Ian McCulloch are still around and recording, right? (Their “What are you going to do with your life?” 1999 album is still in hot rotation in my CD player.) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/10 "2003-09-05T19:45:02Z")
There are plenty of modern synthpop bands out there, you just have to look a little bit deeper than you would some of the other genres out there. To get information about modern synthpop, I suggest you check out [The Electrogarden Network](http://www.electrogarden.com) and to buy all the great stuff you’ll read about, I cannot recommend [A Different Drum Records](http://www.adifferentdrum.com) highly enough. Here are some suggestions for great albums that you should check out: Iris - Disconnect (1999) and Awakening (2003) Mesh - Who Watches Over Me? (2002) Apoptygma Berzerk - Welcome to Earth (2000) Covenant - Northern Light (2002) Color Theory - Perfect Tears (2000) and Life’s Fairytale (2001) Echo Image - Compuphonic (2002) Leiahdorus - Ashes Ashes (2002) Assemblage 23 - Defiance (2002) VNV Nation - Futureperfect (2002) Anything Box - Worth (1991) and Hope (1993) There are plenty of great synthpop albums and just because it’s synthpop doesn’t mean that it’s 15 or more years old!! ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/11 "2003-09-05T21:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by interface2x \* > \*\*There are plenty of great synthpop albums and just because it’s synthpop doesn’t mean that it’s 15 or more years old!! \*\* WAG, I think the OP is looking for melancholic 80’s synthpop. ---
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/12 "2003-09-05T23:31:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > \*\*Yes, this is one of my favorite styles, but I don’t have anything to add except: > > Deadsy? 😕 [http://www.deadsy.com/](http://www.deadsy.com/) Hmmm well they came to mind as something in the style i’m looking for. And it doesn’t have to be from the 80’s,but it has to be melancholic 😃 . Thanks everyone, some really good suggestions so far. Oh and i forgot to mention that yes i also am familiar with Echo and the Bunnymen. And may i suggest to anyone who likes the style,check out the movie Donnie Darko and its killer soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/13 "2003-09-05T23:42:14Z")
I highly recommend the Liverpool/Bulgarian band [Ladytron](http://www.ladytron.com/), flagbearers of the current synth scene in the UK. Apart from that, who could beat classics like _Never Never_ (The Assembly), Furniture’s _Brilliant Mind_, The Associates’ _Party Fears Two_ and many others? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/14 "2003-09-06T01:58:29Z")
Dear goddess, **eunoia** ’s thread perfectly describes what used to be on radio station CFNY when I was in college, back in my vinyl days… back when CFNY was Still Good[sup]TM[/sup]. And **interface2x** , I have got to check out the modern continuations of the style… Thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/15 "2003-09-06T02:05:06Z")
Post. **eunoia** ’s _post_. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/16 "2003-09-06T08:28:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sunspace \* > \*\*Post. **eunoia** ’s _post_. > _sigh_ \*\* If you’re not sighing, DJ eunoia isn’t spinning 80’s melancholic synthpop. yer pal. Strong Sad (depressio) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/17 "2003-09-06T18:14:48Z")
Check out Hungry Lucy’s cover of Depeche Mode’s “Blue Dress”. Very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/18 "2003-09-06T20:10:01Z")
**eunoia** that was an awesome list. I got all melancholy just reading it. Now then: **Love and Rockets** Express (I just fall over for DavidJ’s voice) **Peter Gabriel** So especially_In Your Eyes_ the best love song written EVER! **Gene Loves Jezebel** the song _Heartache_ still gives me chills ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/19 "2003-09-06T22:34:43Z")
The Furs, Sisters of Mercy, and Tears for Fears included as being the same type of music? Egad, knife fights erupted between listeners to these different bands. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/20 "2003-09-06T22:48:46Z")
Yeah, some of these suggestions are way, way, WAY outside the realms of melancholic synthpop. OMD would have been my first suggestion (“Souvenir” pretty much defines the genre IMHO)… can’t really think of any others that haven’t been mentioned here. Not terribly melancholic, but Book of Love also had some nice synthy tunes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669.md?page=2)