Best 80s New Wave

I used to despise all those bands. Gave my little sister no end of grief over those Duran Duran girly boys. (At the time I was into Led Zep, The Who, Rush, U2, REM, Sabbath and various other heavy metal stuff.)

But now I like some stuff by Squeeze, The Cure and Depeche Mode.

Also I saw a recent Duran Duran concert on TV and they put on quite a show. They were very precise, very tight and very energetic. Still not a DD fan but props to them for not just phoning it in the way a lot of older bands do there days.

Does A-Ha count as new wave? I liked them at the time.

What about The Cars?

Always liked Squeeze. Never thought of them as new wave though.

I have a vague recollection of Rock Lobster blaring in the background in an addled daze of alcohol. In the early 80's maybe. 

But you wouldn't call that new wave, would you?

It seems that a number of punkers changed their colors. When Billy Idol was with Generation X he used to spew vitriol over Led Zep as a commercial sell out. I guess he finally figured out how wallets get lined.

I do not think REM was ever new wave in any way except that they were different from pretty much anything else. Always been a big REM fan. Saw them in a small venue right after their fourth album. One of the best concerts I've ever seen. Of course their career skyrocketed after that.

I've scanned the list and have not seen INXS. Where they new wave? Maybe early on? Recently bought their best of CD. A whole CD of great hits.