Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music

The band Swans formed in 1981 by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Micheal Gira and began as part of the New York City based no wave scene. Swans early years' music was known for a very intense and abrasive sound. 
Following the addition of vocalist and keyboardist Jarboe in 1986, Swans began to slowly incorporate melody into the music moving beyond the brutal music of the early years to a more diverse sound. The band's music would venture through a variety of styles and explore many different genres over the years including industrial, post-rock, drone, and neo-folk, among many others. 
Throughout their career, Swans become known for creating intense and experimental music that has often led to the band being referred to as "Uncompromising." 
This episode will tell the story of Swans from their beginning through the end of their initial run as a band in 1997.

Following their debut album of 1979, The Cure became one to the key post-punk bands as they developed a dark, gothic rock sound over the next three albums. 
Many refer to the The Cure's three consecutive early-80's releases as The Gothic Trilogy. These melancholic albums represent the band's transition from their debut album into the bleak, atmospheric sound that helped define the gothic genre. These three albums are Seventeen Seconds from 1980, 1981’s Faith, and the conclusion to the trilogy, Pornography of 1982.
At that time, the albums were not intended to form a trilogy nor have the impact that they did, but the music did establish The Cure and lead singer Robert Smith as seminal figures in both the post-punk movement and the emerging gothic rock subculture.
This episode tells the story of The Cure from formation from the debut album, Three Imaginary Boys, through 1982 and the "original" gothic trilogy.

The Sundays were a critically acclaimed UK indie band that created the alternative and indie classic song, “Here’s Where the Story Ends”. This single from their 1990 debut album Reading, Writing and Arithmetic would reach number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and become one of the most well-known from the 90’s alternative music era.
The Sundays were active from 1988 to 1997, but only released three albums over their career as the band never crossed over into the mainstream that they seemed destined for. Their music combined introspective lyrics with distinctive ethereal and melancholy vocals along with jangly, chiming guitars for their unique sound while building a cult base that still exists today.
Led by vocalist Harriet Wheeler and guitarist David Gavurin, who met each other while at Bristol University, this band was very private and low profile right from the start. The band signed with indie label Rough Trade Records releasing their debut single, "Can't Be Sure", followed by the 1990 debut album. The Sundays exited the music world in 1997 after the third album so Wheeler and Gavurin, who had married each other a couple of years earlier, could focus on raising their family and enjoy their private life.
This episode tells the story of where The Sundays began, their career, the albums, and the music of these alternative favorites of the 90’s.

1979's London Calling from The Clash is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time as the record expanded the beyond the limitations of punk rock to successfully merge punk rock roots with reggae, rockabilly, ska, R&B, jazz, pop and hard rock.
This massive double album of 19 songs contains socially charged lyrical themes include social displacement, racial conflict, unemployment, drug use, the cold war, and nuclear threats, all against the backdrop of a bleak time period in London. 
Behind the music and the themes, the album London Calling would influence countless bands and various genres as music moved into the 80’s, making it's release a definitive moment in music history, and solidifying The Clash as one of the most influential bands of the era. 
In this episode we will discuss the legendary album London Calling and it’s music, and the story behind it. We will also briefly discuss the early years of The Clash, a band that was right there are the beginning of punk.

Depeche Mode is one of the most iconic electronic bands and a band that changed the music landscape. As a key synth-pop pioneer, Depeche Mode brought industrial-tinged electronic rock to the mainstream and expanded sampling technology with innovative means. Their synth-driven songs took moody and poetic lyrics mixed with creative soundscapes transforming electronic music into a deeply emotional experience.
The band formed in 1980 in Basildon, England originally consisting of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke. Primary songwriter Clarke departed after the debut album and Alan Wilder joined for the third album, 1983's Construction Time Again. This began the move of Depeche Mode toward darker territory which continued to build on their next album, 1984's Some Great Reward. 
This episode will tell the story of Depeche Mode through the early years and through the fourth album, Some Great Reward, that opened the band up to international success.