Top 50 New Wave Acts

New Wave: Top 50 Acts

New wave was a genre of music which emerged in the late ‘70s in the United States and United Kingdom. It grew out of punk rock, a more guitar-based and aggressive sound, but became more commercial with its more smoothed-out synthesizer-driven and danceable sound as well as colorful, trendy wardrobe. This list was created by aggregating 15 best-of lists focused on new wave acts. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre. Talking Heads 1. Talking Heads 2. Blondie 3. The Cure 4. Depeche Mode 5. The Cars 6. The B-52’s 7. Devo 8. The Police 9. New Order 10. Duran Duran 11. Tears for Fears 12. Elvis Costello 13. INXS 14. Culture Club 15. Echo & the Bunnymen 16. Psychedelic Furs 17. Eurythmics 18. Siouxsie & the Banshees 19. The Human League 20. ABC 21. Simple Minds 22. Pretenders 23. Joy Division 24. Aha 25. XTC 26. Adam Ant 27. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 28. A Flock of Seagulls 29. Erasure 30. The Smiths 31. Pet Shop Boys 32. Berlin 33. The Go-Go’s 34. Oingo Boingo 35. Soft Cell 36. Squeeze 37. Joe Jackson 38. Bangles 39. The Jam 40. Men at Work 41. Television 42. Billy Idol 43. The Fixx 44. Madness 45. Bananarama 46. Ultravox 47. Thompson Twins 48. Talk Talk 49. Spandau Ballet 50. Howard Jones Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Top 250 New Wave/College Rock Songs Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre First posted 7/1/2026.

The Top 250 New Wave/College Rock Songs

New Wave/College Rock: Top 250 Songs

This is really two lists in one. I attempted making one list devoted to new wave and another to college rock, but they overlapped enough that it made more sense to combine them. New wave was a synth-driven musical genre in the 1980s helmed by bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, and the Cure. College radio stations helped give an audience to that music as well as more guitar-focused bands like U2 and R.E.M. While often gathered under the banner of “alternative rock,” a significant number of bands which started on the fringe had, by decade’s end become the mainstream. More than 50 lists focused on one genre or the other (or both) were aggregated to create this list. I opted to stretch the list to 250 songs to encompass all the songs that would rank in the top 100 in one list or the other. Peaks on the two lists, if they were separated out, are indicated with CR (college rock) and NW (new wave). Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode The Best of New Wave which references songs on this list. Premiered: September 28, 2022. You can also listen to the entire list on Spotify here. 1. New Order “Blue Monday” (1983) NW #4, CR #16 2. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980) CR #1, NW #48 3. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981) NW #1, CR #92 4. The Cure “Just Like Heaven” (1987) CR #13, NW #25 5. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1982) NW #7, CR #71 6. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981) NW #2 7. Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun” (1983) CR #2 8. Echo & the Bunnymen “The Killing Moon” (1984) CR #5 9. Devo “Whip It” (1980) NW #12, CR #84 10. Depeche Mode “Just Can’t Get Enough” (1981) NW #15, CR #68 11. Gary Numan “Cars” (1979) NW #3 12. Depeche Mode “People Are People” (1984) NW #10 13. The Church “Under the Milky Way” (1988) CR #3 14. The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” (1984) CR #9, NW #96 15. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1981) CR #26, NW #45 16. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982) NW #13 17. Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me” (1985) NW #11 18. Dead or Alive “You Spin Me Round Like a Record” (1985) NW #5 19. R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe” (1981) CR #4 20. The Cure “In Between Days (Without You)” (1985) CR #34, NW #50 21. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1982) NW #6 22. Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1979) NW #8 23. A Flock of Seagulls “I Ran” (1982) NW #9 24. New Order “Bizarre Love Triangle” (1986) NW #31, CR #74 25. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” (1985) NW #18 26. Talk Talk “It’s My Life” (1984) CR #33, NW #86 27. Psychedelic Furs “Pretty in Pink” (1981) CR #26, NW #97 28. A-ha “Take on Me” (1984) NW #14 29. The Pixies “Here Comes Your Man” (1989) CR #7 30. Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” (1985) CR #14 31. The B-52’s “Rock Lobster” (1979) NW #33 32. Big Country “In a Big Country” (1983) NW #17 33. Madness “Our House” (1982) NW #20 34. Talking Heads “Burning Down the House” (1983) NW #34 35. Tears for Fears “Mad World” (1982) NW #28 36. Midnight Oil “Beds Are Burning” (1987) CR #57, NW #82 37. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982) NW #23 38. The Jesus & Mary Chain “Just Like Honey” (1985) CR #10 39. The English Beat “Save It for Later” (1983) NW #55, CR #91 40. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983) NW #16 41. The Clash “Rock the Casbah” (1982) NW #62, CR #90 42. Echo & the Bunnymen “Lips Like Sugar” (1987) CR #17 43. Wall of Voodoo “Mexican Radio” (1983) NW #74, CR #83 44. The Jam “A Town Called Malice” (1982) CR #50 45. Men Without Hats “The Safety Dance” (1983) NW #24 46. Split Enz “I Got You” (1980) NW #19 47. The Vapors “Turning Japanese” (1980) NW #26 48. Billy Idol “White Wedding” (1982) NW #21 49. Duran Duran “Girls on Film” (1981) NW #29 50. The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981) NW #37 51. The Cure “Close to Me” (1985) CR #275 52. Yazoo “Don’t Go” (1982) CR #70, NW #99 53. Jane’s Addiction “Jane Says” (1988) CR #8 54. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” (1988) CR #6, NW #90 55. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (1982) CR #41 56. Thomas Dolby “She Blinded Me with Science” (1982) NW #27 57. They Might Be Giants “Ana Ng” (1988) CR #12 58. Psychedelic Furs “Love My Way” (1982) NW #32 59. Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985) NW #43 60. Icicle Works “Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” (1984) NW #70 61. Nena “99 Red Balloons” (1983) NW #35 62. The Cult “She Sells Sanctuary” (1985) CR #30 63. Tears for Fears “Shout” (1984) NW #30 64. XTC “Dear God” (1986) #29 CR 65. Camper Van Beethoven “Take the Skinheads Bowling” (1985) CR #11 66. Love & Rockets “So Alive” (1989) CR #21 67. Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1978) NW #22 68. The Sugarcubes “Birthday” (1987) #15 CR 69. The English Beat “Mirror in the Bathroom” (1980) NW #49 70. Naked Eyes “Always Something There to Remind Me” (1983) NW #36 71. Romeo Void “Never Say Never” (1982) NW #59 72. INXS “Don’t Change” (1982) CR #48 73. Berlin “The Metro” (1983) NW #38 74. Oingo Boingo “Dead Man’s Party” (1985) CR #39 75. U2 “I Will Follow” (1980) CR #23 76. The Fixx “One Thing Leads to Another” (1983) NW #53 77. Tom Tom Club “Genius of Love” (1981) NW #88 78. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” (1981) NW #52 79. Bauhaus “She’s in Parties” (1983) CR #18 80. After the Fire “Der Kommissar” (1983) NW #40 81. Animotion “Obsession” (1985) NW #41 82. Siouxsie & the Banshees “Cities in Dust” (1985) CR #59 83. Culture Club “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” (1982) NW #51 84. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark “Enola Gay” (1980) NW #66 85. Peter Schilling “Major Tom (Coming Home)” (1983) NW #76 86. XTC “Making Plans for Nigel” (1979) NW #54 87. Missing Persons “Destination Unknown” (1982) NW #79 88. Bow Wow Wow “I Want Candy” (1982) NW #39 89. R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987) CR #47 90. Yazoo “Situation” (1982) NW #84 91. General Public “Tenderness” (1984) NW #92 92. Pixies “Monkey Gone to Heaven” (1989) CR #20 93. The Stone Roses “I Wanna Be Adored” (1989) CR #27 94. The La’s “There She Goes” by (1988) CR #42 95. The Stone Roses “She Bangs the Drums” (1989) CR #40 96. The Plimsouls “A Million Miles Away” (1982) CR #76 97. The Replacements “Left of the Dial” (1985) CR #19 98. Hüsker Dü “Don’t Wanna Know if You Are Lonely” (1986) CR #22 99. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981) NW #44 100. Thompson Twins “Hold Me Now” (1983) NW #46 101. Ultravox “Vienna” (1980) NW #61 102. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” (1977) NW #57 103. The Police “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” (1980) NW #63 104. ABC “The Look of Love” (1982) NW #47 105. When in Rome “The Promise” (1989) NW #64 106. Spandau Ballet “True” (1983) NW #73 107. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979) NW #87 108. The Clash “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” (1982) CR #66 109. Kajagoogoo “Too Shy” (1983) NW #80 110. Peter Gabriel “Games Without Frontiers” (1980) CR #96 111. Squeeze “Tempted” (1981) NW #56 112. Public Image Ltd. “Rise” (1986) CR #28 113. INXS “Need You Tonight” (1987) NW #60 114. The Primitives “Crash” (1988) CR #46 115. Roxy Music “More Than This” (1982) 116. The Boomtown Rats “I Don’t Like Mondays” (1979) NW #58 117. Pixies “Debaser” (1989) CR #32 118. R.E.M. “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” (1984) CR #49 119. Erasure “A Little Respect” (1988) NW #89 120. The Specials “Ghost Town” (1981) CR #94 121. Billy Idol “Dancing with Myself” (1981) 122. Wang Chung “Dance Hall Days” (1984) NW #77 123. The Cars “Just What I Needed” (1978) NW #95 124. New Order “True Faith” (1987) 125. Kim Wilde “Kids in America” (1981) NW #65 126. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983) CR #78 127. Pretenders “Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)” (1979) NW #90 128. Depeche Mode “Never Let Me Down Again” (1987) CR #80 129. Blondie “One Way Or Another” (1978) NW #68 130. David Bowie “Ashes to Ashes” (1980) CR #79 131. Haircut 100 “Love Plus One” (1982) NW #42 132. Blondie “Rapture” (1980) 133. Bananarama “Cruel Summer” (1983) NW #75 134. The Bangles “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986) 135. Re-Flex “The Politics of Dancing” (1983) NW #78 136. Sinéad O’Connor “Mandinka” (1987) CR #61 137. The Cure “Boys Don’t Cry” (1979) 138. Siouxsie & the Banshees “Peek-a-Boo” (1988) CR #52 139. Peter Murphy “Cuts You Up” (1990) CR #53 140. Black Flag “Rise Above” (1981) CR #36 141. The Replacements “I Will Dare” (1984) CR #37 142. The B-52’s “Private Idaho” (1980) 143. Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” (1988) CR #44 144. Mission of Burma “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver” (1981) CR #31 145. Squeeze “Pulling Mussels from the Shell” (1980) NW #83 146. The B-52’s “Love Shack” (1989) CR #67 147. Adam Ant “Goody Two Shoes” (1982) NW #85 148. M “Pop Muzik” (1979) NW #72 149. Men at Work “Who Can It Be Now?” (1981) NW #69 150. The Cars “You Might Think” (1984) NW #71 151. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” (1987) CR #56 152. Gang of Four “I Love a Man in Uniform” (1982) CR #77 153. The Dead Milkmen “Punk Rock Girl” (1988) CR #51 154. Visage “Fade to Grey” (1980) NW #67 155. The Cure “A Forest’ (1980) CR #60 156. Depeche Mode “Everything Counts” (1983) CR #85 157. The The “This Is the Day” (1983) 158. The Smiths “This Charming Man” (1983) CR #65 159. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983) CR #93 160. The Cars “Shake It Up” (1981) NW #93 161. ‘Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” (1985) 162. Bronski Beat “Smalltown Boy” (1984) NW #81 163. A Flock of Seagulls “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph)” (1982) NW #100 164. The Human League “Keep Feeling Fascination” (1983) NW #94 165. The Cure “Why Can’t I Be You?” CR #95 (1987) 166. Suicidal Tendencies “Institutionalized” (1983) CR #35 167. The Smiths “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (1986) CR #97 168. Echo & the Bunnymen “The Cutter” (1983) CR #75 169. Dinosaur Jr. “Freak Scene” (1988) CR #38 170. Magazine “A Song from Under the Floorboard” (1980) CR #43 171. B-Movie “Nowhere Girl” (1982) CR #96 172. Bob Mould “See a Little Light” (1989) CR #58 173. 10,000 Maniacs “Like the Weather” (1987) CR #73 174. The Cure “Love Song” (1989) 175. The Minutemen “Corona” (1984) CR #45 176. Julian Cope “World Shut Your Mouth” (1986) CR #86 177. Cocteau Twins “Lorelei” (1984) CR #64 178. They Might Be Giants “Don’t Let’s Start” (1986) CR #87 179. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) 180. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) 181. Simple Minds “Alive and Kicking” (1985) NW #98 182. Concrete Blonde “Still in Hollywood” (1986) CR #66 183. ABC “Poison Arrow” (1982) 184. The Go-Go’s “Vacation” (1982) NW #91 185. The Clash “Train in Vain “Stand by Me)” (1979) 186. Killing Joke “Eighties” (1984) CR #69 187. Nine Inch Nails “Head Like a Hole” (1989) CR #54 188. Faith No More “We Care a Lot” (1985) CR #55 189. Elvis Costello “Veronica” (1989) CR #72 190. Violent Femmes “Kiss Off” (1983) CR #81 191. Orange Juice “Rip It Up” (1982) CR #63 192. World Party “Ship of Fools (Save Me from Tomorrow)” (1986) 193. The Replacements “Bastards of Young” (1985) CR #84 194. Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus” (1989) 195. The Police “Spirits in the Material World” (1981) 196. Erasure “Oh L’Amour” (1986) 197. Duran Duran “Rio” (1982) 198. Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark “If You Leave” (1986) 199. The Smiths “Girlfriend in a Coma” (1987) CR #82 200. Nik Kershaw “Wouldn’t It Be Good” (1984) 201. Alphaville “Forever Young” (1984) 202. Berlin “Sex (I’m A…)” (1983) 203. Violent Femmes “Add It Up” (1983) 204. Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again” (1983) 205. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” (1984) 206. Elvis Costello “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding” (1978) 207. R.E.M. “Fall on Me” (1986) 208. R.E.M. “The One I Love” (1987) CR #98 209. Lone Justice “Ways to Be Wicked” (1985) CR #99 210. Morrissey “Every Day Is Like Sunday” (1988) 211. Fugazi “Waiting Room” (1988) CR #88 212. The Jam “That’s Entertainment” (1980) 213. The Waterboys “The Whole of the Moon” (1985) 214. The Dead Milkmen “Bitchin’ Camaro” (1985) 215. Suzanne Vega “Luka” (1987) 216. U2 “New Year’s Day” (1983) 217. Heaven 17 “Let Me Go” (1982) 218. Eurythmics “Love Is a Stranger” (1982) 219. Elvis Costello “Everyday I Write the Book” (1983) 220. The Romantics “Talking in Your Sleep” (1983) 221. Tubeway Army “Are Friends Electric?” (1979) 222. Culture Club “Karma Chamelon” (1983) 223. Tears for Fears “Pale Shelter” (1982) 224. Depeche Mode “Master and Servant” (1984) 225. The Cure “Let’s Go to Bed” (1982) 226. Elvis Costello & the Attractions “Radio Radio” (1978) 227. Madness “One Step Beyond” (1979) 228. INXS “The One Thing” (1982) 229. Dead Kennedys “Holiday in Cambodia” (1980) CR #98 230. Martha & the Muffins “Echo Beach” (1980) 231. X “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene” (1980) CR #99 232. U2 “With or Without You” (1987) 233. The Feelies “Fa cé-La” (1979) CR #100 234. The Smithereens “Behind the Wall of Sleep” (1986) CR #93 235. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions “Perfect Skin” (1984) CR #97 236. Joe Jackson “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” (1979) 237. The Meat Puppets “Lake of Fire” (1984) 238. Nirvana “About a Girl” (1989) 239. The B-52’s “Channel Z” (1989) 240. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” (1978) 241. Cowboy Junkies “Sweet Jane” (1988) 242. Aztec Camera “Oblivious” (1983) 243. Happy Mondays “24 Hour Party People” (1987) 244. Joe Jackson “Steppin’ Out” (1982) 245. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Higher Ground” (1989) 246. Psychedelic Furs “The Ghost in You” (1984) 247. Stephen Duffy “Kiss Me” (1985) 248. Billy Idol “Rebel Yell” (1983) 249. Pixies “Gigantic” (1988) 250. Depeche Mode “Enjoy the Silence” (1990) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” First posted 6/9/2017; last updated 3/29/2025.

Alternative Rock: Top 100 Albums

Alternative Rock: The Top 100 Albums

This list was created by aggregating 26 lists focused on alternative and indie rock. See links after the list. Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 1. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) 2. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992) 3. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991) 4. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) 5. Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988) 6. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) 7. The Pixies Doolittle (1989) 8. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) 9. Beck Odelay (1996) 10. The Replacements Let It Be (1984) 11. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993) 12. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (1995) 13. R.E.M. Murmur (1983) 14. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) 15. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989) 16. Dinosaur Jr. You’re Living All Over Me (1987) 17. Hüsker Dü New Day Rising (1985) 18. Guided by Voices Bee Thousand (1994) 19. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994) 20. Radiohead Kid A (2000) 21. Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (1984) 22. Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) 23. Soundgarden Superunknown (1994) 24. Blur Parklife (1994) 25. Joy Division Closer (1980) 26. Pearl Jam Ten (1991) 27. The Cure Disintegration (1989) 28. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) 29. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992) 30. Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998) 31. Radiohead The Bends (1995) 32. The Smiths The Smiths (1984) 33. Green Day Dookie (1994) 34. The Strokes Is This It (2001) 35. Elvis Costello & The Attractions This Year’s Model (1978) 36. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994) 37. Pulp Different Class (1995) 38. Slint Spiderland (1991) 39. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979) 40. The Verve Urban Hymns (1997) 41. Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) 42. Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II (1984) 43. Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994) 44. Björk Debut (1993) 45. Nirvana In Utero (1993) 46. U2 Achtung Baby (1991) 47. The Fall This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985) 48. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) 49. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) 50. Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) 51. Arcade Fire Funeral (2004) 52. Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996) 53. Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy (1985) 54. PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (1995) 55. Primal Scream Screamadelica (1991) 56. Talking Heads More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978) 57. Violent Femmes Violent Femmes (1983) 58. Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994) 59. Portishead Dummy (1994) 60. New Order Power, Corruption and Lies (1983) 61. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (2001) 62. Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (1997) 63. Television Marquee Moon (1977) 64. The Clash London Calling (1979) 65. The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) 66. Radiohead In Rainbows (2007) 67. Yo La Tengo I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One (1997) 68. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (1984) 69. U2 War (1983) 70. Elliott Smith Either/Or (1997) 71. Elvis Costello & the Attractions Armed Forces (1979) 72. Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (1992) 73. Gang of Four Entertainment! (1979) 74. Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking (1988) 75. Alice in Chains Dirt (1992) 76. Weezer Weezer (aka “The Blue Album”) (1994) 77. Wire Pink Flag (1977) 78. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978) 79. R.E.M. Document (1987) 80. Manic Street Preachers The Holy Bible (1994) 81. The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) 82. Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1992) 83. Pretenders Pretenders (1980) 84. The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs (1999) 85. Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (1978) 86. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (1977) 87. Patti Smith Horses (1975) 88. New Order Substance (compilation: 1981-87, released 1987) 89. David Bowie Low (1977) 90. Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine (1989) 91. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) 92. The Feelies Crazy Rhythms (1980) 93. Sonic Youth Sister (1987) 94. Jane’s Addiction Ritual de lo Habitual (1990) 95. Depeche Mode Violator (1990) 96. Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights (2002) 97. Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque (charted 1991) 98. The Cure Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987) 99. Mission of Burma Vs. (1982) 100. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists AlbumOfTheYear.org Alternative Press Amazon.com “Essential CDs by Style” Askmen.com AudioOverflow.blogspot.com Barnes & Noble “Fundamentals” Blender (April 2003). “500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die: Alternative Rock” Digital Dream Door “Alternative Albums” Digital Dream Door “Indie Albums” Google.com “Alternative Albums Frequently Mentioned on the Web” Grammy.com “Alternative Album Winners” Listology.com “100 Greatest Alternative Rock Albums” Listology.com “20 Greatest Alternative/Punk/New Wave Albums Ever Made” Prefix “Best Indie Albums” Rate Your Music, list by Mennyekbeliremete Rate Your Music, list by No Such Dude TheRealMusic.net Record Collector (January 2000). “Classic Albums from 21 Genres for the 21st Century” Stereogum.com “Amazon’s 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of All Time” Dave Thompson (2000). Alternative Rock. Backbeat Books; England. Page 817. WBER Radio - New York (1999). “Top 100 Albums of All Time” First posted 5/10/2013; last updated 3/17/2025.

Top 100 Alternative Rock Songs

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Alternative Rock: Top 100 Songs

More than 30 different lists were aggregated to create this list. Alternative is a widely defined collection of rock music which stretches from the garage bands of the 1960s to the indie scene of today. It generally is used to describe groups which are more left of center, but often these bands– such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, U2, and R.E.M. – move to the forefront of mainstream rock. A brief history of the genre shows its origins to come out of the D.I.Y. aesthetic that accompanied rougher sounding, experimental bands who came out of the 1960s. Groups like the Velvet Underground and The Stooges provided a raunchier and rawer alternative to mainstream rock like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. By the mid-1970s, groups like the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Ramones spearheaded the punk scene, which grew out of angry working class kids looking for a musical outlet. By the close of the 1970s and beginning of the 1980s, new wave groups like The Cure, Depeche Mode, and New Order emerged at the forefront of a more accessible, electronically-driven, and ready-for-video format. The college rock scene quickly grew out of that, also lending audiences to groups like U2, R.E.M., and The Smiths. By the end of the 1990s, grunge became the dominant form of rock music with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam at the helm. They revived some of the punk and D.I.Y. ethos of the 1960s and 1970s, while also crafting big songs which echoed some of the big-anthem classic rock of those decades. Since grunge, there hasn’t been one dominant form of alternative – or what became known as “modern rock.” Groups like Green Day and Blink-182 created punk-pop while The White Stripes and The Strokes reminded listeners of the garage rock of the 1960s. Artists like Radiohead and Beck reminded listeners of the experimental nature of the genre. So what is alternative rock exactly? It’s hard to say. This list taps into all the forms referenced above and more. I’ll just let these songs tell you what alternative is. Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. 1. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) 2. Radiohead “Creep” (1993) 3. Beck “Loser” (1993) 4. Nirvana “Come As You Are” (1992) 5. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1992) 6. Pearl Jam “Alive” (1991) 7. Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun” (1983) 8. Jane’s Addiction “Been Caught Stealing” (1990) 9. The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” (1984) 10. Sublime “What I Got” (1996) 11. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” (1993) 12. Blur “Song 2” (1997) 13. Nine Inch Nails “Closer” (1994) 14. Ramones “I Wanna Be Sedated” (1978) 15. Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party” (1986) 16. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1992) 17. Smashing Pumpkins “1979” (1995) 18. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991) 19. Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995) 20. Jane’s Addiction “Jane Says” (1988) 21. Beastie Boys “Sabotage” (1994) 22. The Cure “Just Like Heaven” (1987) 23. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994) 24. Green Day “Longview” (1994) 25. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983) 26. Pearl Jam “Black” (1991) 27. New Order “Bizarre Love Triangle” (1986) 28. Linkin Park “In the End” (2001) 29. The Offspring “Come Out and Play” (1994) 30. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give It Away” (1991) 31. R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987) 32. Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus” (1989) 33. The Clash “Rock the Casbah” (1982) 34. Live “Lightning Crashes” (1994) 35. U2 “With or Without You” (1987) 36. Stone Temple Pilots “Plush” (1992) 37. Rage Against the Machine “Killing in the Name” (1993) 38. The Clash “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” (1982) 39. New Order “Blue Monday” (1983) 40. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980) 41. U2 “One” (1992) 42. Green Day “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1997) 43. Weezer “Buddy Holly” (1994) 44. Green Day “When I Come Around” (1994) 45. The Clash “London Calling” (1979) 46. The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1997) 47. Green Day “Brain Stew/Jaded” (1995) 48. Foo Fighters “Everlong” (1997) 49. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991) 50. Green Day “Basket Case” (1994) 51. Pearl Jam “Even Flow” (1991) 52. The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” (2003) 53. The Offspring “Self Esteem” (1994) 54. Nine Inch Nails “Head Like a Hole” (1989) 55. Depeche Mode “Enjoy the Silence” (1990) 56. Nirvana “All Apologies” (1993) 57. The Pixies “Here Comes Your Man” (1989) 58. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) 59. Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song” (1994) 60. Sex Pistols “Anarchy in the U.K.” (1976) 61. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981) 62. Nirvana “Lithium” (1991) 63. Sublime “Wrong Way” (1996) 64. Faith No More “Epic” (1990) 65. Smashing Pumpkins “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” (1995) 66. Blink-182 “Dammit (Growing Up)” (1997) 67. Weezer “Undone (The Sweater Song)” (1994) 68. Iggy Pop “Lust for Life” (1977) 69. Smashing Pumpkins “Disarm” (1993) 70. Papa Roach “Last Resort” (2000) 71. Nirvana “In Bloom” (1991) 72. Rage Against the Machine “Bulls on Parade” (1996) 73. Devo “Whip It” (1980) 74. Blind Melon “No Rain” (1993) 75. R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe” (1983) 76. Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (1976) 77. The Cure “Love Song” (1989) 78. Beastie Boys “Intergalactic” (1998) 79. The B-52’s “Rock Lobster” (1979) 80. Sex Pistols “God Save the Queen” (1977) 81. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” (1991) 82. Radiohead “Karma Police” (1997) 83. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1982) 84. R.E.M. “The One I Love” (1987) 85. Blink-182 “All the Small Things” (1999) 86. Pearl Jam “Better Man” (1994) 87. The Pixies “Monkey Gone to Heaven” (1989) 88. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” (1999) 89. Violent Femmes “Add It Up” (1983) 90. Elvis Costello “Alison” (1977) 91. Pearl Jam “Yellow Ledbetter” (1992) 92. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1981) 93. Talking Heads “Burning Down the House” (1983) 94. Echo & the Bunnymen “Lips Like Sugar” (1987) 95. The Cure “Boys Don’t Cry” (1979) 96. Blink-182 “What’s My Age Again?” (1999) 97. The Police “Roxanne” (1978) 98. Linkin Park “Numb” (2003) 99. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” (2000) 100. U2 “New Year’s Day” (1983) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists 91X San Diego (12/03). “Top 91 of All Time” Radio station countdown list. Billboard (9/14/2013). “All-Time Top Alternative Songs.” Pages 32-33. Celebration of the chart’s 25-year history in Billboard. The Buzz – Burlington/Montreal (2002). “Top Songs of All Time” Radio station countdown list. CD101 – Columbus (12/05). “Top 2006 Songs of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. CFNY – Ontario (11/99). “Top 1002 Songs of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. Digital Dream Door “100 Greatest Alternative Songs” Ranked list with links to hear songs. Don’t know how or when list came about. KCNL 104.9 – San Jose (2/99). “Top Songs of the ‘80s” Radio station countdown list. KNDD – Seattle (12/06) “Top 107 Resurrection Songs” Radio station countdown list. KROQ – Los Angeles (2006). “Flashback 500” Radio station countdown list. Live 105 (2006). “500 Co-Op Countdown” Radio station countdown list. Q101 – Chicago (7/04). “Top 300 Party Songs of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. Rolling Stone (2003). “Top 300 Modern Rock Songs of All Time” Special list made for the German version of Rolling Stone. Don’t know details of how list was compiled. Only top 40 listed at above link. Triple J – Australia (1998). “Hottest 100 of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. (?) WFNX – Boston (1999). “Top 500 of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. WHFS 99.1 – Washington D.C. (1999). “Top 500 of the ‘90s” Radio station countdown list. WLIR – Long Island (1999). “Top 300 Songs of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. WOXY – Cincinnati (2006). “Top 500 Songs of All Time” Radio station countdown list. WXRX’s K-Rock 92.3 – New York “Top 92 Party Songs of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. XM (2003). “Top 2044 Songs of All-Time” Radio station countdown list. Y100 – Philadelphia (7/04). “Top 300 Songs of All Time” Radio station countdown list. First posted 6/14/2012; last updated 5/30/2020.

The Top 50 New Wave Albums of All Time

New Wave: The Top 50 Albums

“New Wave” is one of the more difficult genres to define, because as AllMusic.com says, it was “a catch-all term for the music that directly followed punk rock” in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Even that is misleading, however, because punk and new wave co-existed in that era. In general, punk was marked by simplistic three-chord music and a D.I.Y. attitude while new wave was artier in style and fashion and typically infused with a dose of electronics. According to Wikipedia, new wave was “first considered the same as punk rock before being identified as a genre of its own right, incorporating aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco, and 1960s pop music.” Wikipedia says the term “new wave” was first used in the early 1970s by critics like Nick Kent and Dave Marsh in defining groups like the Velvet Underground and New York Dolls. In 1976, the term began showing up in UK magazines as a way of defining “music by bands not exactly punk, but related to, and part of the same musical scene.” As the list below shows, much of new wave falls in other categories, including goth (Joy Division, The Cure), punk (The Clash), new romanticism (Duran Duran, Culture Club), proto-punk (Television), synth-pop (Depeche Mode, Human League, Tears for Fears), and early Britpop (The Smiths). This list was created by aggregating 27 lists (see resources at bottom of page). Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 1. Joy Division Closer (1980) 2. Elvis Costello & The Attractions This Year’s Model (1978) 3. The Cars The Cars (1978) 4. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978) 5. Talking Heads More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978) 6. Pretenders Pretenders (1980) 7. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) 8. Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (1978) 9. Gang of Four Entertainment! (1979) 10. Television Marquee Moon (1977) 11. The Police Outlandos D’Amour (1978) 12. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979) 13. Elvis Costello & the Attractions Armed Forces (1979) 14. The Human League Dare! (1981) 15. New Order Power, Corruption, and Lies (1983) 16. Duran Duran Rio (1982) 17. Joe Jackson Look Sharp! (1979) 18. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) 19. The Clash London Calling (1979) 20. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (1977) 21. XTC Drums and Wires (1979) 22. Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair (1985) 23. The Pop Group Y (1979) 24. The Jam Sound Affects (1980) 25. Ultravox Vienna (1980) 26. Devo Freedom of Choice (1980) 27. Talking Heads Fear of Music (1979) 28. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979) 29. Pere Ubu The Modern Dance (1978) 30. Simple Minds New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84 (1982) 31. The B-52’s The B-52’s (1979) 32. The Police Synchronicity (1983) 33. Nick Lowe Jesus of Cool (1978) 34. New Order Substance (compilation: 1981-87, released 1987) 35. ABC Lexicon of Love (1982) 36. Squeeze Argybargy (1980) 37. The Cure Boys Don’t Cry (1980) 38. The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat (1981) 39. Duran Duran Duran Duran (1981) 40. The Cure Dinstinegration (1989) 41. Siouxsie & the Banshees The Scream (1978) 42. U2 Boy (1980) 43. The Slits Cut (1979) 44. Talking Heads :77 (1977) 45. The Police Zenyatta Mondatta (1980) 46. Depeche Mode Black Celebration (1986) 47. Tears for Fears The Hurting (1983) 48. Yazoo Upstair’s at Eric’s (1982) 49. Big Country The Crossing (1983) 50. Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (1983) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists All Music Guide Amazon (essentials by style: new wave) Amazon (list by Paul A. Fucito) Amazon (list by John Gripentrog) Amazon (list by NT) Amazon (list by TM77) A-Z Central Barnes & Noble (fundamentals: new wave) Blue Beat Music Google Google Play Last.fm (list by Makal Baenre) Last.fm (list by pirateprude) Last.fm (list by Sartorial Me) Last.fm (list by Spacekasper) Last.fm (list by temujin 1234) Rate Your Music (a list by BradL) Rate Your Music (a list by TheScientist) Retro Junk Scaruffi.com Sporcle Spotirama Yahoo! Answers (RedDevil) Yahoo! Answers (Zappa Fan) First posted 7/14/2013.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood hit #1 in the UK with “Relax”

Relax Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Writer(s): Peter Gill, Holly Johnson, Brian Nash, Marc O’Toole, Paul Rutherford (see lyrics here) Released: October 24, 1983 First Charted: November 26, 1983 Peak: 10 US, 13 CB, 22 GR, 10 RR, 15 UK, 11 CN, 5 AU, 9 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 2.15 UK, 3.20 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 41.8 video, 203.99 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Merseyside-based group Frankie Goes to Hollywood…first premiered this track on pivotal [UK] music show The Tube. It sounded like late-Seventies funk. So they hooked up with producer Trevor Horn” MG who had a smash with the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” which he called “a single that you could dance to.” TC He crafted three versions before they hit on the fourth and final cut which only featured member Holly Johnson, with the exception of the sound of the rest of the band jumping into a swimming pool. MG With its “heavy breathing and the stuttering musical passages, [‘Relax’] owed a debt to Giorgio Moroder’s singles with Donna Summer” TC with “a more mechanical, disco-based sound.” LW The song had stalled within six weeks of its release after a peak at #55. Then its fortunes reversed. DJ Mike Reid had been playing the song, but abruptly stopped – supposedly on air midway through the song – after reading the lyrics. He considered the “sexually orientated lyrics” MG “overtly obscene,” LW despite Johnson’s unbelievable claim that the song, with its “joyful, tongue-in-cheek lasciviousness,” TC wasn’t about sex. LW The BBC then banned the song from daytime radio airplay. DR Coupled with the news of Johnson’s open homosexuality, TC the controversy generated curiosity about the song, “ensuring its swift rise from #35 into the [UK] top ten (#6) the following week, and on to #1 two weeks later.” MG The song got another boost, going back to #2, when the follow-up single, “Two Tribes,” soared to #1. “Relax” spent 48 consecutive weeks on the UK chart. After it re-entered and was reissued in 1993, it racked up a total of 59 weeks on the chart. MG The band will also “be remembered for the record’s unique marketing technique: the t-shirts. Paul Morley, co-director with Horn of ZTT Records, dreamt up the idea, and sold it to the band for £200-300. Soon everybody had snapped up a t-shirt, emblazoned with phrases such as ‘Frankie Says ‘Relax!’” MG Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Frankie Goes to Hollywood BC Brad Carl (2015). 50 Songs from the 70s and 80s That Still Hold Up. Pages 86-87. TC Toby Creswell (2005). 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time. Thunder’s Mouth Press: New York, NY. Page 456. LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Pages 154-5. MG Theo Morgan-Gan “The UK’s Best Selling Singles” DR David Roberts, editor (2001). Gunness World Records British Hit Singles. London, Great Britain; Guinness World Records Ltd. Page 52. First posted 11/13/2019; last updated 11/25/2022.

New Order released “Blue Monday”

Blue Monday New Order

Writer(s): Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner (see lyrics here) Released: March 7, 1983 First Charted: March 19, 1983 Peak: 68 US, 75 CB, 1 CO, 3 UK, 4 AU, 6 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.37 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 115.0 video, 419.52 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris were first in the band Joy Division with Ian Curtis. After his suicide and the immense popularity of the posthumous single “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” the three surviving members regrouped as New Order. In 1981, they released three singles and their debut album Movement, all of which were met with only moderate success. However, the band’s fate changed with the release of “Blue Monday.” It “helped New Order escape from the shadow of Joy Division and stand on their own.” RH It was “a dance record that also exhibited influences from the New York club scene.” WK It was “arguably the first British dance record to crossover to the New York club scene.” SF BBC Radio 2 once called the song “a crucial link between Seventies disco and the dance/house boom that took off at the end of the Eighties.” RH The song has been said to be about “drug addiction, child abuse, or a failed relationships.” SF The title, which is never mentioned in the song, was taken from Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions. An illustration in the book refers to the invention of the washing machine as improving housewives’ lives with the caption “Goodbye Blue Monday.” SF The song first reached #12 in the UK in 1983, but recharted that same year and got to #9. It spent a phenomenal 186 weeks on the UK Independent Singles Chart, second only to Joy Division’s 195 weeks for “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” WK It is the best-selling 12” single of all time in Britain. SF In 1988, a remix went to #3 in the UK and topped the dance chart in the United States. In 1995, yet another remix propelled the song back into the top 20 on the UK charts for a fourth time. In 1998, the band Orgy covered the song and reached #4 on Billboard’s modern rock chart in the U.S. Resources: RH Rhino.com (3/7/2016). “Happy Anniversary: New Order, Blue Monday” SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 10/7/2021; last updated 2/3/2023.

 

Men at Work hit #1 on the Hot 100 with “Down Under”

Down Under Men at Work

Writer(s): Colin Hay, Ron Strykert (see lyrics here) Released: October 23, 1981 Peak: 14 BB, 15 CB, 14 GR, 15 RR, 13 AC, 15 AR, 1 CO, 13 UK, 13 CN, 16 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 1.2 UK, 3.68 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 500.33 video, 788.53 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The first version of this Australian classic was released in 1980 as the B-side to “Keypunch Operator.” After Men at Work signed with Columbia Records, they re-recorded “Down Under” with a different arrangement and tempo. It was released in Australia in late ’81 and reached the top of the charts. It would be another year before it charted in the U.S. After “Who Can It Be Now?” hit #1 in America, “Down Under” was released as the follow-up and hit the Billboard Hot 100 on November 6, 1982. It topped the charts in January 1983 and helped propel the album to the top of the U.S. charts for 15 weeks. The song also reached the pinnacle in the UK, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, and Switzerland. WK The song’s lyrics focus on a man who travels the world meeting people curious about his home country of Australia. Colin Hay was inspired by his own experiences as well as Australian entertainer Barry Humphries, who created a “larger-than-life character” SF who “was a beer-swilling Australian who traveled to England.” SF References include Vegemite sandwich (a popular Australian snack), a “fried-out Kombi” (an overheated Volkswagen), and “head full of zombie” (marijuana use), and “chunder” (Aussie slang for vomit). The song and its quirky video were practically a parody, but Hay said “it is ultimately about celebrating the country, but not in a nationalistic way and not in a flag-waving sense.” SF Hay explained that Ron Strykert created the bass riff with percussion played on bottles filled with varying degrees of water, which would produce different notes. He said “it had a real trance-like quality to it. I used to listen to it in the car all the time. When I was driving along one day..the chords popped out and a couple of days later I wrote the verses.” SF The band were sued in 2009 for copyright infringement. Larrikin Music claimed the flute solo in the song was based on the 1932 song “Kookaburra” written by Marion Sinclair. In 2010, it was ruled that Larrikin would receive 5% of royalties from 2002, WK which ended up being about $100,000. However, legal fees added up to about $4.5 million. SF In 2001, the Australian Performing Rights Association named “Down Under” the fourth best Australian song in history. RC Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Men at Work RC Rod Couch (2015). The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era: 1955-2015. Pages 303-4. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 10/20/2020; last updated 9/25/2022.