Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music

After starting on the pub rock scene in England, the core line-up of The Stranglers would form in 1975, and they would release their debut album in 1977 during the British punk explosion.  During the band's early years, the aggressive and uncompromising approach of The Stranglers would result in the press and critics grouping them with the emerging UK punk rock scene. 
However The Stranglers, beyond dressing in all black outfits, were different. After the first two albums and over the following years the sound of the band would gradually shift through various genres and styles as the music matured and became more refined. 
Throughout the band’s history, The Stranglers have had multiple hit singles while releasing 18 studio albums, of which the first ten albums hit top 20 on the UK top album charts. The Stranglers are amongst the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the British punk scene, and one of the most commercially successful band from the UK punk era. 
This episode tells the story of the band through the first six albums, all by 1981 over a 4 and a half year span, including The Raven, Black and White, and The Gospel According to Meninblack.

Originally from Berkeley, California as the Warfield Foxes, this band relocated to Los Angeles in the mid-70’s and became The Motels.  
During the late 70's in L.A., The Motels became a vital part of the club circuit that helped launch the local punk and new wave scenes.  The band’s early tracks were along punk rock lines, but by the early 80’s The Motels were more new wave and alternative rock behind atmospheric sound, theatrical style, and the sultry vocals of lead singer Martha Davis.
Following their third studio album, The Motels became a fixture of the early 1980s MTV. Their music blended moody, melancholic lyrics with catchy, melodic pop-rock and synth-driven arrangements as they achieved commercial success with hit singles, "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer".
Led by the charismatic Martha Davis, The Motels were one of the most successful and acclaimed bands to emerge from the Los Angeles new wave scene.  The initial run of the band would end in 1987, but Martha Davis later revived the band that is currently known as "The Motels featuring Martha Davis." 
This episode will tell the story of the band from their early years through the 1980’s.

Originating from Haledon, New Jersey in 1976, The Feelies would play a post-punk, indie rock, jangle pop style of music. By 1980, The Feelies had become one of the more unique bands from the New York City underground music scene.
Arriving during the early post-punk era, the band’s debut album was 1980’s Crazy Rhythms. This trend setting and influential album combined jangly guitars with chiming and droning guitar patterns, along with fast and sharp percussive beats setting the rhythm.  
The band was not commercially successful, but The Feelies  would help shape the sound of American alternative and indie rock music in the 80’s and 90’s, influencing many artists.  
It would not be until six years after the debut when album number two would be released. That second album, The Good Earth, was co-produced with Peter Buck of R.E.M. By 1992, The Feelies would create two more studio albums before the end of their first run as a band.  
The band reunited in 2008, and released new studio albums in 2011 and 2017.
This episode tells the story of the band from formation and early years through today.

In late 1979 following their second album, two members of Siouxsie and the Banshees departed the band leaving them without a drummer and guitarist. By early 1980, the band had added drummer Budgie and guitarist John McGeoch, which accompanied a change in musical direction for the group.
The shift began with the addition of synthesizers and drum machines on the 1980 album, Kaleidoscope. Changes continued with the fourth studio album, the seminal JuJu which featured innovative and unconventional guitar work from McGeoch. On their fifth studio album, A Kiss in the Dreamhouse, Siouxsie and the Banshees shifted toward a more sensual and psychedelia style while incorporating string arrangements.
After the third album with McGeoch, they would part ways but not before McGeoch's work with the Banshees would influence many future alternative music guitarists.
This episode tells the story of Siouxsie and the Banshees through the three albums with the legendary John McGeoch, and continues the story of our earlier podcast for the band's early years through their first two albums.

The genre-defying band Radiohead was initially considered as just another alternative rock and grunge act as their debut single "Creep" from their debut album, Pablo Honey, became a global hit in 1993.  
Radiohead's music would quickly evolve beyond the early labels as they developed a more guitar driven and ballad oriented second album, The Bends.
Beyond Pablo Honey and The Bends, the band continued to experiment through the 90's to create a more complex sound on the 1997 landmark recording OK Computer, and abandon traditional rock structures with their 2000 album, Kid A.
Radiohead's experimental approach to music is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock and changing the landscape of 90s alternative music. 
This episode will tell the story of: Radiohead’s early years after forming in 1985 in Oxfordshire, England under the name On a Friday; the debut album Pablo Honey; and through the second album, The Bends.
(Photo by Rupert Elvin for EMI)