Best and Worst Year for Music?

[devildog]

OK folks, time to put on your thinking caps or raybans! What would you say was the most significant year for new wave/alternative and the least significant year for the years spanning 1977 to 1989?

My answer is 1979 as the most significant because The Cars, Joe Jackson, Boomtown Rats, The Jam, Blondie, XTC, and Elvis Costello had released major albums that year. It seemed that 1979 was the year that new wave finally garnered alot of attention from the mainstream media in the USA and these acts had hits on the radio. Another banner year to me is 1983. Major albums were released that year including A Flock of Seagulls, Kissing The Pink, Plimsouls, Comateens, The Fixx, etc. Both years were energetic periods for all types of interesting and new bands.

The least significant year is 1986. Except for some hits by the Bangles, Bananarama, OMD, and Pet Shop Boys, 1986 seemed to be a year of transition. I think that 1986 was the year that hair metal, electro dance, and teen pop started to rule MTV and the airwaves.

I am sure you might disagree with my answers but that is not what I am asking for. Try to recall which year was the most significant and least significant in terms of album releases or new bands, etc. Good Luck!

[scramjet]

Can't argue with you on '79 and '86, but I would add the B-52's debut album to the list of significant new wave events of 1979.

[WoodlandParkPunk]

Every year between 1990 - 2000 sucked!!!!!!!

[Quite Life]

77-83 was really the core energy of punk/new wave anything after was less than...

of all those years maybe 79' may be the best.

[Jimbo]

If I remember correctly, one of the members here SCIENTIFICLY PROVED that 1981 was the best year! [^][:D]

Who was that? I actually agreed, I think 1981 was the best.

[golfer]

I must agree with Quiet Life, not a lot of fresh ideas after '83.
A toss-up between '79 & '80 for the "best". 1979 had London Calling Cool for Cats, Unknown Pleasures, Armed Forces,Drums & Wires...'1980 had some great releases....ahhhhhhhhh..who knows???