The Beast Who Slumbers generally likes his music the way he likes his roadkill-raw and visceral. He also likes music that engages both his brain and his butt.
So, if you’re looking for techno-electronica dance trance crapola like, say, Echo & the Bunnymen, you will have to look elsewhere.
El Somnambulo sets out to prove to you that, while the ’80’s were a lost decade politically, there was a lot of great music, especially with a roots feel, that you may have overlooked. Sometimes the videos look so…’80’ish, but the music more than makes up for that.
One caveat, while ‘bulo considers the Replacements (or ‘placemats to their loyal fans) one of the greatest bands of the ’80’s, they were almost always so bleeping drunk when performing live that it was impossible to find a decent music video of them. Otherwise , they’d be here. Let’s get started.
Jason & the Scorchers- ‘Absolutely Sweet Marie’- “Fervor” (1983)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-cF40OWeak&feature=related[/youtube]
The Long Ryders- ‘I Had a Dream’- “State of Our Union” (1985)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI1RLVEywRk&feature=related[/youtube]
Georgia Satellites- ‘Keep Your Hands to Yourself’- “Georgia Satellites” (1986)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Ur45vTtw0&feature=related[/youtube]
John Hiatt- ‘Have a Little Faith’- “Bring the Family” (1987)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UkKTlzyLhQ[/youtube]
Sonic Youth- ‘Teenage Riot’- “Daydream Nation” (1988)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23fL0zR-wEM&feature=related[/youtube]
The Blasters- ‘Marie, Marie’- “The Blasters” (1981)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj4g_Z0gIQw&feature=related[/youtube]
Nobody knows the best of ’80’s music like El Somnambulo knows the best of ’80’s music. He’s just gettin’ warmed up and will be back next week with Volume 2. And, trust ‘bulo, you ain’t seen the last of the Blasters, not by a long shot.