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"Do you remember rock 'n' roll radio..." They were a lot of fun. At least they didn't take themselves too seriously, like the Clash. OTOH, if you distilled Sandinista down to 10 songs, you'd have an amazing album. At least they were mad, even if they came up with the wrong prescription.

Absolutely were fun and knew how to write the catchiest songs of that period, by any band. They wanted so badly to have a pop hit, unlike most bands of the time, that were happy with college radio airplay. "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" is of the 10 best singles ever I think.

Of New Wave, I still like some Blondie, particularly "Eat to the Beat," and Elvis from the "Armed Forces" era. I used to like the Talking Heads, but they seem too art-school, in retrospect.

Totally -- Elvis' "Armed Forces" is his best and that's saying something considering his output between like 1977 and 1982 or so. The Heads were definitely art school but the lp's "Fear of Music" and "Remain in Light" really are great..mainly for the production of Brian Eno along with the catchiest songs (see: Once in a Lifetime).