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20 underrated bands from the 1980s .

There are many reasons why bands or artists can be considered underrated. Perhaps they resided in the shadow of someone else within a genre, or maybe there was a lack of mainstream appreciation. Maybe they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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That could have been the case during the 1980s for these 20 bands, listed in alphabetical order.

To a good chunk of American pop-rock fans from the 1980s, A-ha is about “Take On Me” and its creatively cool music video. However, the Norwegian trio also had a top-20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” from 1985. The band put out three total albums in the 1980s, saw the Go-Go’s Gina Schock sit in on drums for appearances on American Bandstand and Solid Gold, was knighted in its homeland, and released an 11th studio album in 2022.

Contrary to popular opinion, Anvil is not a novelty act — much in the same form as Spinal Tap. This Canadian metal outfit, which is beloved in Germany, has long delivered high-energy live sets. It’s also known for influencing the likes of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Slayer. Since debuting in 1981, Anvil has released 19 studio albums. Led by guitarist and vocalist Steve “Lips” Kudlow, Anvil enjoyed most of its notable success during the early 1980s, then truly came into the mainstream following the 2008 documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

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BDP hit the ground running with 1987’s debut Criminal Minded, whatcritics consider the earliest example of gangsta rap with some Jamaican-inspired flare thrown in for good measure. Comprised of MC Kris “KRS-One” Parker, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock (who was murdered shortly after the release of Criminal Minded), the New York City trio pulled no punches when it came to depicting the reality of their South Bronx neighborhood. BDP is rightfully considered a pioneer, but once the rap/hip-hop genres broke into the mainstream, the group’s work seemed to get overshadowed. Yet, its legacy remains strong.

Cinderella had no problem riding the 1980s hair band wave to mainstream notoriety. But when it came to overall popularity, the Philly-area rockers never reached the heights of Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, or Poison. However, Cinderella was among the few bands of the time that stood out for its musical abilities. Led by raspy-voiced frontman/guitarist Tom Keifer, Cinderella’s sound was heavily steeped in the blues. It showed most notably on the group’s second album Long Cold Winter (1988), and other releases in the 1990s after grabbing our attention with its 1986 debut, Night Songs.

These Bay Area thrashers never enjoyed the commercial success of metal buddies Metallica, but Exodus has long been hailed among the true pioneers of the northern California thrash/speed metal movement. Exodus’ first three studio releases — Bonded by Blood (1985), Pleasures of the Flesh (1987), andFabulous Disaster(1989) — represent the band at its best. Raw, unbridled, and musically furious. The likes of Testament, Anthrax, and Death Angel have long considered Exodus a major influence. And, while guitarist Gary Holt and singer Steve “Zetro” Souza are the most recognized current members of the band, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett was part of the lineup in the early years.

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A partial offshoot of ska-pop-punkers The Beat, FYC put out just two records, with its second, The Raw & the Cooked (1989), reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — thanks to mainstream pop favorites “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Good Thing.” Of course, that overshadowed the band’s underrated self-titled debut from four years earlier. The opener “Johnny Come Home” was a hit in the United Kingdom, and the Cannibals’ version of Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” is simply fantastic.

 

A partial offshoot of ska-pop-punkers The Beat, FYC put out just two records, with its second, The Raw & the Cooked (1989), reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — thanks to mainstream pop favorites “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Good Thing.” Of course, that overshadowed the band’s underrated self-titled debut from four years earlier. The opener “Johnny Come Home” was a hit in the United Kingdom, and the Cannibals’ version of Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” is simply fantastic.

Led by underappreciated frontman Cy Curnin, new wave/pop rockers The Fixx broke out in the U.S. with their second record, Reach the Beach (1983). It featured top-20 hits “One Thing Leads to Another” and “Saved by Zero.” However, later tracks “Are We Ourselves?” and “Secret Separation” cracked the top 40 but have long been forgotten in America. Not to mention the severely underrated “Deeper and Deeper” from the Streets of Fire (1984) soundtrack.

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Beginning with 1982’s Geography , Belgium’s Front 242 is considered a pioneer of the industrial and EBM music scene. However, when it came to mainstream popularity and what MTV was playing, somewhat similar outfits like New Order and Nitzer Ebb — and to a certain extent, Depeche Mode — generated more interest. Yet, it didn’t stop Front 242. Half of the group’s eight albums were released in the 1980s, and 1988’s ” Headhunter” is likely its most recognizable track.

Kihn and Co. started in the Bay Area in the mid-1970s, but the outfit enjoyed its first real success with the release of 1981’s RocKihnRoll. The album featured the top-20 hit “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em).” Two years later, the band produced its only top-10 hit with “Jeopardy.” But the group kept going, and by the end of the ’80s, had put out 12 albums. And Kihn was still going strong well into the 2000s.

It can’t be understated how influential this famed Twin Cities trio had on bands of punk, metal, and alternative music (Dave Grohl, Billy Gorgan, Metallica). Yeah, that’s right. Yet, Hüsker Dü, which began as a hardcore punk band in the late 1970s before taking on a more alternative vibe, never seemed to get its due in real-time. The band’s second release, double album Zen Arcade (1984), showcased the stellar songwriting abilities of guitarist Bob Mould, who has enjoyed a successful post-Hüsker Dü career, and late drummer Grant Hart. Both shared vocals during the band’s run, which ended in the late 1980s.

It’s safe to say that Jesus and Mary Chain never got its due. While not a consistent mainstream presence like The Psychedelic Furs, Jesus and Mary Chain paved the way for plenty of the 1990s alt-rockers to shine. The band’s three records from the 1980s — Psychocandy (1985), Darklands (1987), and Automatic (1989) — delivered a well-balanced mix of emotionally complex yet functional rock. Check out Darklands highlights “April Skies” and “Happy When It Rains.” Perhaps Jesus and Mary Chain was before its time.

From New York City, Lisa Lisa and Co. featured a mix of pop, soul, and Latin hip-hop. Cult Jam was fronted by Lisa Valez (aka Lisa Lisa) and produced by Full Force, which was part of the band’s 1985 Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force debut. The album featured club favorite “Can You Feel the Beat” and top-10 hit “All Cried Out.” Hits like “Head to Toe” and “Lost in Emotion” followed during the decade, and the band’s catalog continued to be popular with dance crowds and club kids.

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