80s Rock

[KYYX4ever]

The other day while driving out to dinner, "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring came on my CD player. This is pretty much my favorite "Rock" song ever. My husband, who likes the song OK, commented that it sounded like "new wave rock". That got me thinking, b/c I understood what he meant. It's a polished, tight rock song.

OK, I am no expert on rock. It's not my main interest in music genres. While I do have a list of faves (Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir", Tom Petty's "Refugee", Foreigner's "Juke Box Hero" are some), I don't gravitate toward it. I realize that my choices are likely very wimpy to the true rock fan. But my point is, I'd be willing to bet that my rock faves are likely "new wavish"-sounding. Some keyboard, tight melodies, polished.
Does this make sense ?
Do you guys think that there is a definite "sub-genre" of rock music that is kind of new wave-sounding? <font size=1> (and to me, this doesn't really fall under a "rock-artists-who-went-new-wave" topic</font size=1> )

[i_like_lectric_motors]

Sure. There are a few groups who used keyboards but were considered more rock than new wave. Planet P Project and Saga for sure. Maybe Night Ranger [:p]. Then there's my all time favorite song that kind of fits into what you're describing - "I La La La Love You" by Pat Travers ...

[KYYX4ever]

That is so weird that you mentioned Planet P, b/c "Why Me?" was the next song cued up, and I always thought it sounded like harder rockin' new wave.

[enzfan]

I am voting by proxy for Georgie Rockwood: Loverboy

[djcraig]

Back in the day, new wave ground breaker KROQ in LA, used to play "Twilight Zone" regularly.

The only "new wave" bands that mainstream rock radio stalwart KLOS would play were Joe Jackson, Talking Heads, The Police and a few others. They wouldn't touch Billy Idol, U2, R.E.M., The Cure or anything that had a remote chance of challenging their demographic.

Tom Petty and The Fixx were two bands that got heavy airplay on both stations.

And for some reason, The Cult, about as metal as a band can sound, typically the antithesis of "new wave", was embraced by KROQ and rejected by KLOS. Always liked 'em but thought it was an interesting paradox!

<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

[Bitter Almonds]

<p align="justify">I always thought Power Pop bands were the "New Wave Rock." The ComSat Angels also have a cool Rock sound that's not heavy[8D]

[scramjet]

I lost most of my interest in mainstream rock in the early 80's about the same time I got interested in new wave. Looking back I still think most of it sucked, with a few interesting tidbits by Van Halen, Led Zeppelin (I really like In Through The Out Door), Pink Floyd (The Wall), Foreigner, ZZ Top, Def Leppard, and the Rolling Stones. Some of it was new wave sounding, while some of it was just rare bits of good rock-n-roll that hadn't fallen into Journey-Styx-REO Speedwagon suckiness.

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