Classic post-punk hits from Western music: a roundup of popular tracks you should listen to first

SpellboundSiouxsie And The Banshees

Siouxsie And The Banshees – Spellbound (Official Music Video)

Spellbound, the masterpiece released in 1981 by the British band Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Many listeners were surely captivated from the very first moments by John McGeoch’s kaleidoscopically shimmering guitar riff that rings out in the intro.

The rapidly shifting arpeggios feel like an irresistible magic spell.

Layered with powerful, tribal drums and Siouxsie Sioux’s one-of-a-kind, commanding voice, you’re pulled in an instant into a dark, dreamlike world.

That curious exhilaration born within taut tension may be a sensation that’s uniquely theirs.

Public ImagePublic Image Ltd

PIL – Public Image

This is the debut single that put Public Image Ltd—the British band formed by John Lydon after leaving the Sex Pistols—on the map.

Its spacious sound, completely different from punk, must have drawn a lot of attention for its originality when it was released in 1978.

Jah Wobble’s rolling bass and Keith Levene’s razor-sharp guitar create a unique tension.

The lyrics, which declare a break from media-fabricated illusions, lodge in your memory for years and still resonate powerfully today.

I’m sure there are people who found the courage to stay true to themselves after hearing this song!

Damaged GoodsGang Of Four

Gang Of Four – Damaged Goods (Music Video)

This was the debut single released in 1978 by Gang of Four, a British post-punk band.

Their innovative sound, which fused funk and dub, is known for having influenced many bands that followed.

While it can sound like a song about romantic entanglements, the lyrics are striking for exposing the imbalances within relationships and the structures of society.

The razor-sharp guitar intertwined with a bassline that makes your body move creates a tense energy that’s bound to jolt many listeners.

Their musical style also had a major impact on the post-punk revival acts of the 2000s and beyond, so be sure to check them out.

Outdoor MinerWire

Outdoor Miner (2006 Remastered Version)

A signature song that brought widespread recognition to the British post-punk band Wire.

When it was released in 1979, its pop-leaning sound drew a lot of attention.

The shimmering piano and airy, floating guitar tones—so unlike the genre’s typical image—are wonderfully pleasing, aren’t they? In fact, the lyrics sung over this beautiful melody are told from the perspective of a tiny insect burrowing through leaves.

You can’t help but be drawn into the uniquely artistic lyrics that elevate the workings of a microscopic world into art.

It’s said that precisely because the track is so pop for them, lead guitarist Bruce Gilbert hated it so much that he would walk off stage when it was performed.

In any case, its curious charm continues to influence countless artists.

Swamp ThingThe Chameleons

Swamp Thing

A song by The Chameleons from England that expresses inner, swirling turmoil through a dreamlike sound.

The layers of guitars feel as if they’re drifting between dream and reality.

True to its title, “Swamp Thing,” it conveys the anguish of struggling in a lightless void with no way out.

Haven’t you ever found yourself forced into a hopeless situation, slipping into a feeling of not being yourself? Yet Mark Burgess’s earnest vocals and the beautiful melody shine like a single ray of light in that darkness.

If you surrender yourself to this whirlpool of sound, the weight on your heart might feel just a little lighter.

Fairytale in the SupermarketThe Raincoats

The Raincoats – Fairytale In The Supermarket

This is the landmark debut single by The Raincoats, a post-punk band formed in London.

They’re known for having been passionately championed by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, and some of you may recall the track being used in the film “20th Century Women.” The deliberately rough, precarious playing and the violin’s distinctive, floating timbre leave a strong impression.

Set in a supermarket—the symbol of the everyday—the song declares, “No one teaches you how to live.” The earnest feeling of groping through a life with no set path comes through clearly, carried straight to the heart by the raw, unpolished sound.

A Song From Under The FloorboardsMagazine

A Song From Under The Floorboards

This is a song released in 1980 by the British post-punk band Magazine.

Some of you may know that it was inspired by Dostoevsky’s literary work Notes from Underground.

From the very beginning, the torrent of searing self-loathing feels like a cry from the basement itself.

The sound woven by Howard Devoto’s theatrical vocals, John McGeoch’s razor-sharp guitar, and Dave Formula’s cool, icy synthesizers is intellectually rich yet brimming with thrilling tension.

Later famously covered by Morrissey, this classic compels deep reflection with its worldview that lays bare the complex emotions lurking within the human psyche.