The Chameleons - The Fan And The Bellows : A Collection Of Classic Early Recongs - UK import vinyl album on Hybrid Records

The Chameleons (called The Chameleons UK on some American releases) were a dream pop/post-punk band that formed in Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England in 1981 (see 1981 in music). They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, drummer John Lever as well as keyboardists Alistair Lewthwaite and Andy Clegg. Their body of work is still critically acclaimed within the music press and influenced bands as diverse as The Smiths, Protokoll, The Comsat Angels, Puressence, Interpol, Editors. Through Mark Burgess' penetrating vocals and dark and ironic lyrics, their songs often dealt with personal themes of childlike innocence and a reverence for nostalgia. Musically, perhaps most notable in their work was the band's innovative and distinctive use of dual guitar melodies, courtesy of Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding, as opposed to the traditional rhythm-and-lead guitarist format prevalent in rock music even to this day. These arrangements were often characterized by the use of delay and choral effects. The Chameleons' unique sound is quite often compared to U2's The Edge.

The Chameleons - The Fan And The Bellows : A Collection Of Classic Early Recongs - UK import vinyl album on Hybrid Records

Voivod - The Best Of - Cassette tape on Futurist Records

Voivod (singer Denis "Snake" Belanger, guitarist Denis "Piggy" d'Amour, drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, and bassist Jean-Yves "Blacky" Theriault) was one of the first thrash bands out of Canada to gain popularity outside of their home country. From their beginning in the early '80s, their main goal was to be different from anyone else, and thus they incorporated odd musical tempos and futuristic story lines into their songs, often dealing with technology taking over the world. Voivod opened the way for other Canadian thrash bands and for metal bands with their unique styles of performing and writing.

Voivod - The Best Of - Cassette tape on Futurist Records

Hollow - Architect Of The Mind - CD on Nuclear Blast Records

Originally going under the moniker Vaalkyrian, Andreas Stoltz (vocals/guitar) Thomas Nilsson (bass) and Urban Wikstrom (drums) eventually changed their name to Hollow upon the recruitment of second guitarist Marcus Bigren. Feeling that the name of their band perfectly fit the mood setting of their personalities and musical tone, Hollow released their debut album "Modern Cathedral" in 1998 with the accompaniment of progressive rock chords and a love for classic Rush and Queensryche.

Hollow - Architect Of The Mind - CD on Nuclear Blast Records

Stiff Little Fingers - Flags And Emblems - Cassette tape on Castle Records

A taut, explosive Belfast-based punk band, Stiff Little Fingers (named after a Vibrators song) had the dubious distinction of being referred to as "The Irish Clash." What must have seemed like a compliment at the time did little to help their career, only because it made comparisons between the two bands inevitable. Granted, there were many similarities: both bands debuted playing revved-up late-'70s punk rock, were politically inclined, featured pissed-off lead singers, had a love for reggae, and possessed a near-palpable sense of isolation and desperation. But as we all know, the Clash offered complexity, panache, and a consistently breathtaking body of work. Stiff Little Fingers, on the other hand, were simply a very good punk rock band. With sandpaper-throated frontman Jake Burns leading the way, SLF did release an auspicious, if badly produced, debut album, Inflammable Material, that featured the band's two best songs, "Alternative Ulster" and "Suspect Device." Both were passionate, ferocious songs dealing with the harsh, deadly realities of growing up in the middle of two decades of Northern Ireland's violence. These songs thrust SLF into the limelight and got them loads of enthusiastic press, which led to a contract with the decidedly anti-punk Chrysalis label in 1980.

Stiff Little Fingers - Flags And Emblems - Cassette tape on Castle Records

Mensclub - Drug Pit - 7 Inch Record on Dutch East India Records

Growing tired of the light hearted, gentle, sensitive, politically correct culture of the 90's, the members of Mensclub wanted to change all that when they got together in 1993. Favoring the likes of Grand Funk Railroad, The Stooges and The MC5, Ron (guitar/vocals), Tom (drums) and Jon (bass) pay tribute to the meat and potatoes combo of classic 70's rock and punk to share it with their Bay Area quarters of San Francisco. Upon the release three singles during the next two years of their career as well as a contribution to the Probe Records compilation "This Ain't No Melodic Punk" in 1996, Bar/None debuted their first full-length "Comin' To Take You Away" later on that year. Man's Ruin Records followed in 1997 with their second album conveniently titled "Mensclub."

Mensclub - Drug Pit - 7 Inch Record on Dutch East India Records

Yazoo - Situation - 7 Inch Yaz Depeche Mode on Mute Records

Yazoo and Yaz are actually the same band. They had to use the name Yaz in the U.S. because of copyright issues.
Vincent Clarke of Yazoo was actually one of the founding members of Depeche Mode, but left after their first album and enlisted Moyet to create Yazoo.
After two albums, Clarke and Moyet split. Alison Moyet went on to pursue a solo career. Vince Clarke continued to create other projects/bands, most notably Erasure.

Yazoo - Situation - 7 Inch Yaz Depeche Mode on Mute Records

Blightobody - Party Snout - 7 inch vinyl voted best college band in America

In August 1994, Blightobody won the Best College Band in America competition sponsored by AT&T, which led to appearances on Late Night with Conan O Brien and E! Entertainment News network television. In the same year they were also featured in Billboard Magazine, released the international recording Party Snout on Restless Records and recorded the full length CD Poovys Grove. The band also received national exposure by performing at Atlantas Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheater in 1993. Blightobody consisted of Todd Turner on drums, Bryan Big Horse Williams on bass, John Furr on guitar, and Brian McCarter on vocals and guitar.

Blightobody - Party Snout - 7 inch vinyl voted best college band in America