Synthpop Branches Out How OMD, Soft Cell and ABC transformed early synthpop, bringing humanist emotion, seedy nightlife and soulful sophistication to electronic music.
In Leagues Of Their Own Before Dare, the Human League sounded radically different. Discover how a little-known 1979 single foreshadowed both Heaven 17's soulful sophistication and Human League Mark II's synthpop breakthrough in the 80s.
New Wave Fempowerment Enhanced for members Explore how the Pretenders, the Go-Go’s, and Eurythmics redefined female empowerment in new wave in the '80s: from Chrissie Hynde’s grit to Annie Lennox’s command.
Four Roads to New Wave Explore how Kraftwerk, Punk, David Bowie, and Roxy Music in the 70s informed different branches of new wave in the 80s, including Human League, Talking Heads, Duran Duran, Ultravox, and more.
Four Albums, One Way Out Four modern albums from new wave bands Squeeze, Billy Idol, Joe Jackson, and Men Without Hats form an unexpected emotional arc - from entrapment and survival to catharsis and hope - offering a revealing snapshot of how new wave artists navigate uncertain times.
German New Wave: 1 Scene, 3 Directions Exploring '80s German new wave through Schilling, Alphaville, and Nena -where cold electronics, cinematic pop, and quirky hooks take shared roots in different directions.
Back to the Present: Bands with New Wave Flair New wave never disappeared - it evolved. Explore how 2020s artists like Chappell Roan, Yard Act, Magdalena Bay, and Nation of Language carry '80s emotional DNA forward.
New Wave’s Los Angeles (Sprawl & Silence) See how Los Angeles shaped new wave through Wall of Voodoo, Berlin, and the Motels - capturing sprawl, façades, and isolation inside the city in the '80s.
After the Backlash: '90s New Wave Producers See how new wave lived on through producers in the '90s: from Trevor Horn to Ric Ocasek and beyond. They shaped major albums even after the genre faded at the end of the '80s.
Raising a Small New Wave Fan Watch a young new wave fan take shape as dad shares how songs from Men without Hats, Falco, and Split Enz get little ones loving ’80s new wave songs.
Del Shannon: Proto-Depeche Mode? Explore how Del Shannon’s use of the Musitron synth and minor-chord melancholy in the '60s foreshadowed new wave’s electronic heart and influenced acts like Depeche Mode in the '80s and '90s.
Which New Waver Are You? 3 Archetypes Discover which '80s new wave archetype fits you: punchy Power Pop & Skinny Tie Brigade to quirky Art-Pop Eccentrics and glamorous New Romantic Synthpop stars.
Post-Punk vs New Wave: Shadows and Shimmers Explore the contrast between post-punk’s brooding mood and mainstream new wave’s glamour in the '80s by comparing bands like the Cure, Joy Division, Duran Duran, and Blondie.
Canada Rides the New Wave Enhanced for members Looking at Canada’s vibrant '80s new wave scene: from Toronto clubs to Montreal art basements, through influential acts like Martha and the Muffins and Men Without Hats.
Oceania Wave: Split Enz, Men at Work & INXS Explore how Australasia’s new wave scene - from Split Enz and Men at Work to INXS - turned local swagger into global style and memorable hooks in the '70s and '80s.
New Wave’s Secret Ancestry Discover how minority voices shaped new wave’s sound and spirit in the '80s: from Adam Ant’s Romani roots to Oingo Boingo’s Latino rhythms and culture.
New Wavers Embracing the 2000s Revival Explore the 2000s new wave comebacks - how the new wave revival brought the sound back into fashion and boosted '80s icons like Duran Duran.
Local New Wavers: Chicago, LA & Minneapolis Uncover six under-the-radar new wave bands from Chicago, LA, and Minneapolis whose underground sounds captured the genre’s quirky DIY spirit and inventiveness in the '70s and '80s.
Gay & Queer in New Wave Explore the gay and queer influence in new wave music, from queer icons and club culture to songs like Johnny Are You Queer? that reshaped identity and expression in the ’80s.
Synthpop - How It's Different From New Wave Learn how synthpop’s electronic sound and hypnotic rhythms set it apart in the '80s from broader new wave like Blondie and the Cars in this deep style comparison.
New Wave’s 2nd Wind: A Revivalist Guide Explore how Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, and the Bravery helped revive new wave’s '80s sound in the 2000s and kept its spirit alive.
Rock Hall Nominees: Who Gets in? Our expert look at the 2025 Rock Hall of Fame nominees - comparing '80s new wave artists Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol & Joy Division/New Order on hits, influence, and Hall odds.
Women in New Wave: Weymouth, Lauper * More See how women like Debbie Harry, Tina Weymouth, the Go-Go’s, and Cyndi Lauper reshaped new wave and '80s music, expanding its sound, style, and cultural impact.
Devo meets Oingo Boingo: 2 Paths to Weird A head-to-head look at Oingo Boingo and Devo - two distinct '80s new wave innovators - exploring their styles, influences, and contributions.
