There’s effectively no middle ground when it comes to 80’s pop music– it’s either heartwarmingly cheesy, or just plain cheesy. The Bangles 1986 sophomore effort Different Light is filled with a lot more of the latter unfortunately, a saccharin sweet concoction of jangly guitars and reverb that feel empty despite taking up so much space.
“Manic Monday”, which at this point is probably legally required in 80’s-themed-anything, is a worthwhile listen though. Filled with twinkling synths and a theme that is universally relatable, it was actually written by Prince in 1984 under the psuedonym “Christopher”. You can listen to his previously unreleased version here.
Standout Songs: “Manic Monday”
