obscure substance

There's a cloud that hangs over you
And a chill when you walk in the room
And it's hard to believe this is what you've become
Preying on the fears of old and young

Now I am a reasonable man
And I'll help any way that I can
In the time that it takes us to change your ways
I'll watch over you everyday

Michael, you're my brother
But I'll never let you break your word again
I'll hurt you
And you know I can so please don't force me
Michael...

- excerpt from lyrics, Michael by Secession

During the 80s when I was a student at The Art Institute Of Chicago and getting my hands dirty with photography chemicals, soft pastels, and staying up all night in the studios to finish projects, I listened to tons of amazing music. No, not just bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode, New Order, and Talking Heads. Some of the most compelling and, frankly, most beautiful music came from bands whose memory sadly remained obscure up until today.

Most of us old farts do remember Duran Duran, Eurythmics, and all those others who were shooting stars that left luminescent trails in the stratosphere of pop and new wave that remain visible today to be discovered by the kids of parents who grew up bathed in the glow of those shooting stars.

But there were less shiny stars, though no less brilliant. New Wave bands like Secession, whose thrashing synth hip hop beat and lead male singer's haunting somber voice on my Walkman's headphones kept me company at 2 in the morning as I worked on my design project at school, resonated with richness, emotions, creativity, and originality - qualities that are agonizingly rare in today's far too self referential music landscape. Others, like DATA, Propaganda, and Visage, offered sounds so distinct and individualized that they easily embarrass the cacophony of barely talented bands and so-called artists today.

But thanks to YouTube and the stubbornness of us Generation X-ers to hold on to the music we lived, loved, and danced to, we can rediscover the genius and beauty that, you have to admit, transcend that decade known for its huge shoulder pads and hideous neon miniskirts and huge processed hair.

Crank up those headphones -- erm, earbuds -- and lose yourself in the obscure substance of seriously GOOD music.