Various: Dark Side Of The 80s 2004

 

Dark Side of the 80s is a stunning double-disc set spanning the mingling sounds of goth rock, indie

KILLING JOKE

rock, and alternative rock. Standout cuts from Siouxsie & the Banshees, the Cure, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Cult round out some of the collection's more blackish desire while tunes from the Pixies, Talk Talk, and Killing Joke highlight the frigid shifts within new wave and college rock. 
                   

BAUHAUS

Although the title and the sleeve artwork depict a goth like character, and the title implies "dark" what

THE HOUSE OF LOVE

we get here are only a couple of songs that would qualify as "dark", while the rest are the same New Wave 80s rock and pop that you'd find elsewhere on other compilations albums. If they called it "80s Alternative" it would be a more fitting description. It's a nice set if you want to hear a lot of the same tracks you've heard on daytime satellite radio 80s New Wave channel, but as far as the "dark" is concerned, it's a joke.
                        

THE SISTERS OF MERCY

Exactly what are Billy Bragg, Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” and The Stranglers’ “Peaches” doing here?

THE TERADROP EXPLODES

Most of the rest, apart from The Fall’s cheerfully excruciating “Mr Pharmacist” (a borderline “dark side” case in itself) and Killing Joke’s genuinely menacing “Love Like Blood”, has you asking yourself where the ’80s backlash is.
                        

SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES

Various – Dark Side Of The 80s
Label: BMG Belgium NV/SA – 82876595762
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation
Country: Belgium
Released: 2004
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Dark Wave, Goth Rock, Indie Rock
                          

CD1.

                    

01. The Cure – Lullaby    4:10
02. The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary    4:14
03. The Sisters Of Mercy – This Corrosion    5:34
04. The Mission – Wasteland    5:02
05. Siouxsie & The Banshees – Happy House    3:50
06. The Damned – Eloise    5:07
07. Echo & The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon    4:26
08. Bauhaus – Ziggy Stardust    3:10
09. The Jesus & Mary Chain – April Skies    3:59
10. Spear Of Destiny – Never Take Me Alive    4:14
11. The The – The Beat(en) Generation    3:05
12. Killing Joke  – Love Like Blood    4:10
13. Fields OfThe Nephilim – Moonchild    4:25
14. New Model Army – No Rest    4:12
15. The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink    3:59
16. Pixies – Monkey Gone To Heaven    2:55
17. The Fall – Mr. Pharmacist    2:18
18. The Wedding Present – Brassneck    3:37
19. The House Of Love – Christine    3:23
20. All About Eve – Martha's Harbour    3:03

Flac Size: 547 MB

CD2.

                    

01. The Mission – Tower Of Strength    4:36
02. The Sisters Of Mercy – Dominion/Mother Russia    6:57
03. Iggy Pop – Real Wild Child (Wild One)    3:32
04. The Stranglers – Peaches    4:05
05. New Order – True Faith    5:51
06. Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus    3:43
07. Talking Heads – Road To Nowhere    4:19
08. The Teardrop Explodes – Reward    2:41
09. Talk Talk – Today    3:15
10. Bow Wow Wow – Go Wild In The Country    5:20
11. Black Sabbath – Paranoid    2:47
12. The Alarm – 68 Guns    3:16
13. Zodiac Mindwarp And The Love Reaction – Prime Mover    3:41
14. The Wonder Stuff – A Wish Away    2:30
15. Big Audio Dynamite – E = MC²    4:22
16. The House Of Love – Shine On    4:02
17. The La's – There She Goes    2:42
18. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Perfect Skin    3:12
19. Billy Bragg – Sexuality    3:46
20. Cocteau Twins – Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops    4:09

Flac Size: 560 MB

NOTES

                          

Release is subtitled: "The very best of Alternative Rock, Goth & Indie Guitar".