Greg Kihn vs. The Tubes (On the Fence of New Wave)

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Although Greg Khin was in my opinion more in between Power Pop and Tom Petty (not a bad place to be, by the way), he certainly had more "New Wave" in him than The Tubes. He could have been a contender, but I think that the video to "Reunited" seriously stopped a lot of his popularity (Sadly, as that was a great song to cruise in a car to). Who knows if he would have followed Petty's path as even he had a couple of albums that were marketed alternative as they were more Traditional American Byrds styled Rock that was not the usual Album Rock of the day.

The Tubes had a wild show in The 70's, but their first full-on Mainstream move was Xanadu, and then they were produced by David Foster on their Completion Backward Principle album, which had the breakthrough of "I Don't Want to Wait Anymore." Sure "She's a Beauty" had that video, but it was clearly a show of being more of a straight ahead Rock band than anything else.

Winner: Khin.

[wormster]

both bands were good, they both were way overplayed on mtv >SHES a BEAUTY AND JEPORDY..ect but i would have to say that the tubes were a little more alternative or new wavish then greg kihn.Go beyond the tubes talk to ya later(BY THE WAY ONE OF MY FAV. 80S SONG) and she's a beauty and they sond more new wave.I would put the tubes and the sparks a little closer together than greg kihn

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True, on The Tubes side, there was quite a bit of theatrical madness, to me at least it looked more like a hipper and very clever version of Album Rock with respectful nods to what was happening especially with videos. I quite liked their older stuff, and Remote Control still remains an under-rated album which was possibly the album that made people wonder what would have happened if they continued that way. "Talk To You Later" was an '81 highlight however, no argument.

Maybe it's because back then, I followed up on the Power Pop music and the 60's influences in Khin's music. There was more of a traditional sound that was starting to be shoved out of what was considered Album Rock at the time and more into the "Alternative-Retro Guitar" music that had a short lived but very good day in the Mid-80's (Long Ryders, Icicle Works' second and best album, Lone Justice, REM's first three albums and so on). There were hardly any Rockist feelings in what he did in my opinion, and the 60's based traditional Rock which formed the basis of his sound was the kind of sounds picked up by the Alternative/College Rock crowd sparked by hearing some of REM's songs as well as the mass selection of Nuggets albums. At one time, there was some trying to fit in with the Mainstream ("Lucky"), but that was not a good fit at all where The Tubes did all they could in The 80's (Can't blame them, though. After working very hard and hardly getting too much notice beyond a devoted cult...).

Plus, Khin was on Beserkley, one of the labels that focused on Power Pop, Being lablemates with Johnathan Richman, and The Rubinoos also puts him in good standing.