Best band of the 80's


My vote goes to a very underated band...those AUssie janglers the CHURCH...with key albums like Starfish,Heyday, and the masterpiece THE BLURRED CRUSADE...they made the most consistently compelling music of the 80s...these are must haves...and for audiophiles...they are sonically perfect in production quality...Jesus and MAry CHain would get my 2nd vote...
128x128phasecorrect
There were tons I liked but the ones I still like are New Order, Aztec Camera and Beautiful South.
I vote for New Order. Their dance influenced indie pop still sounds fresh to these ears. I would have to concur with The Smiths, U2, JAMC, E&TB. But my top two are surely U2 and NO.

What about The Alarm? They had two fantastic albums followed by one with some damn good songs...
Gee, no one mentioned Throbbing Gristle... ;-)

My not-so-short list (mind you these are more what I think of as quality bands as opposed to ones who may have defined the "sound of the 80's" for the masses) - in no particular order--

XTC
REM
The Clash
The Cure
Echo & The Bunnymen
U2
Psychedelic Furs
Peter Gabriel
The Jam
Talking Heads
New Order
Dire Straits
The Smiths
Brian Eno
Pixies
Police
Sonic Youth
Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians
Wall of Voodoo
Lou Reed
The Ramones
Peter Tosh

I'm sure I've left off some good ones....

CD