Dead or Alive “Youthquake” released almost 35 years ago (May ‘85). Dead or Alive’s second album is infectiously exuberant, danceable synthpop/new wave that instantly sends me back to the junior high dance floor (and not, surprisingly, in a bad way!). Youthquake went to #9 in the UK and #31 in the US. And while I loved Dead or Alive, I literally just got this record a couple of hours ago; Vault Boy had a random day off of school so we went record shopping. He’s the one that dug this out of the bins – I thought for me but it turns out he wants it, too!

The singles from Youthquake include the international smash “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” which hit #1 in the UK and #11 in the US, “Lover Come Back to Me” (#11 UK, #75 US), “In Too Deep” (#14 UK) which is not my fave: it’s on the smooth-pop end of new wave and has not aged well, and “My Heart Goes Bang” (#23 UK, #15 US Hot Dance Club chart). Dead or Alive do new wave dance (Hi-NRG) very, very well and those tracks are the best (which, fortunately, is most of the record) – besides the singles (other than “In Too Deep), “Big Daddy of the Rhythm” is a huge stand-out. Also great are “I Wanna Be a Toy” and “DJ Hit That Button.”