glad this thread is revived--these 80s bands are what turned me from an admirer to a fanatic. sonic youth, meat puppets, husker du, windbreakers, thin white rope, lets active, comsat angels, lyres, neighborhoods, murmur-era rem, rain parade, and so on and so forth....
Rembering the 80s: College Rock
For those too young...a brief history...before indie and alternative rock...there was college rock...an 80s genre that was simply named after what college radio stations were playing at the time...as a former college DJ...I have a soft spot for the genre...it was a fun time...and a simpler time... with a laid back vibe and a diversity of artists ranging from the Smiths, Bad brains, to Love tractor...U2,.Rem, and the cure all got their start during thus era...and were the few bands that broke out and penetrated the mainstream...a few like Sonic Youth and the Flaming Lips flirted with the big time...but most like Lets Active, Dumptruck, and Christmas had minor careers which is not a knock...just facts...MTV also played a role with their show 120 mins...the genre included seminal artists like Husker Du, Replacements, the Church, the Fall, Echo and the Bunnymen, Jesus and Mary Chain, Wedding Present, Meat Puppets,etc...anybody have any faves or college radio stories to share?