New Wave Outpost Forum

So which is better Guitar oriented new wave or synth oriented new wave.

Guitar Bands:[:)]
The Replacements
Wire Train
U2
The Clash
The Jam
The Police
XTC
Japan(Hansa Arola years i.e. Adolecent Sex-Quiet Life)
Magazine
The Mutants
The Nuns
The Specials
The Selecter
Blondie
The Plimsoles
The Fleshtones
Television
The Pretenders

Synth Bands:
Depeche Mode[xx(]


Don't get me wrong I dont hate the synth, moogs are pretty cool but they are only the servent of the Guitar and Bass

I won't vote here but I can mention more great Synth bands than just Depeche Mode:
New Order (a little bit in the guitar category)
OMD
Human League
Erasure
Cetu Javu
Camouflage
Pet Shop Boys
Kraftwerk (not NW but they deserve a mention)



Mercedes

Synth: Kraftwerk. Nuff said.
Seriously, the best new wave bands had a healthy mix of both. Gary Numan's sound was very synth, but the bass of Paul G. did wonders for those already great songs. Same for YMO. Devo waffled back and forth between both styles, but made some very cool music in the process. Even Kraftwerk with it's all electronic sound, incorporated some great bass rhythms (Remember Sex Object?). It's all good, with the right balance.

[quote]Originally posted by Quite Life
[br]Don't get me wrong I dont hate the synth, moogs are pretty cool but they are only the servent of the Guitar and Bass
[/quote]

I have to be in the right mood for synth-pop but I can listen to more guitar oriented music anytime. Actually I LOVE when both are used in tandem (but generally if there's no guitar at all on a New Order track I'm not going to be that into it...thankfully there's loads of guitar on New Order).

This brings up the old debate of the "Pixies/Husker Du/ 80's" vs the "Depeche Mode/Human League 80's". I straddle both but prefer the former.

I should of made this into a poll

And the list goes on:
Ultravox
Eurythmics
Bronski Beat
Soft Cell
Talk Talk
Alphaville

Mercedes

Yazoo
Thompson Twins
Information Society

Mercedes

[quote][i]Originally posted by ghosty[/i]
<br>[quote]Originally posted by Quite Life
[br]Don't get me wrong I dont hate the synth, moogs are pretty cool but they are only the servent of the Guitar and Bass
[/quote]

I have to be in the right mood for synth-pop but I can listen to more guitar oriented music anytime. Actually I LOVE when both are used in tandem (but generally if there's no guitar at all on a New Order track I'm not going to be that into it...thankfully there's loads of guitar on New Order).

This brings up the old debate of the "Pixies/Husker Du/ 80's" vs the "Depeche Mode/Human League 80's". I straddle both but prefer the former.


[/quote]
"used in tandem"
is a good mix

Japan
Duran Duran
The Fixx

I love both! Separately or together depending on the band.

Missing Persons is one that comes to mind that did the mix right. Much synths and guitars. One of my fave 80's band. That's only one though.....The Cars are another band that had a good mix.

[quote][i]Originally posted by xthirtyonex[/i]
<br>I love both! Separately or together depending on the band.

Missing Persons is one that comes to mind that did the mix right. Much synths and guitars. One of my fave 80's band. That's only one though.....The Cars are another band that had a good mix.
[/quote]

I agree
The Cars
Missing Persons
and some also mentioned Devo
all good bands

There was this poll:

http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10643

And the statistical breakdown from the top bands poll was telling too - there were distinct camps.

Count me as one of the dorks in the synth camp[8D] It's what made 80s music... 80s! Guitar has been in every generation, but the heavy use of synths was something that sounded like it was in development in the late 60s and 70s, and finally matured in the 80s. I like both a lot, but if I were to pick music that represents the 80s, the bulk of them would sound like Trans-X, Depeche Mode, and Eurodisco[:)]

Guitar seems to many people to be more "manly", I guess because it's basically a huge phallus that sticks out from the player's crotch (essentially musical masturbation). Synths always got labelled as something for wimps, or less talented players. I don't agree. I think it takes more talent to get a cool sound out of an analogue synth than simply twanging some strings. Either way, I like bands of both ilk, but favor the cold awesomeness of an icy synth sound over the (let's face it, vastly overused) usual electric guitar noise. Give me someone like Midge Ure, who's master of both, and I'm a happy man.

I love the synth sound more than most folks do, but the image of some dude with a keyboard strapped to him like it was a guitar is one of the nerdiest visuals ever. Ooooh, rock me out with some chopsticks![:D]

Beware the awersome power that is the KEYTAR!

Here is Vince Clarke sporting his in "Nobody's Diary" video[8D]

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