Unearthing the resonance: Exploring the timeless relevance of 1986’s best rock hits

Forty years ago, the music scene was in a bit of a slump. By 1986, new wave – a genre that had tried to refresh classic rock just a decade before – had largely lost its appeal. Even the synthesizers that defined the sound were starting to be seen as outdated and mocked.

Of course, not everyone immediately embraced the changes. However, one album really stood out that year: Third Stage by the classic rock band Boston, released in September.

After an eight-year wait, Tom Scholz’s new album was finally released and everyone rushed to buy it. But honestly, and I know Boston fans won’t like this, it just wasn’t very good. I’m sure they already think I don’t appreciate good music anyway.

Look, “Amanda” is a good song, I’ll admit. But eight years since their last big hit? That felt like a long time! Boston, to me, really showed how rock had become what it used to fight against – all polished and overproduced, lacking that raw energy. And honestly, they weren’t the only band like that. It felt like rock was at a turning point, like it was about to lose its place as the most popular music around and something else was going to take over.

The 20 best rock songs of 1986

It’s probably no surprise that I don’t include “Amanda” among the top 20 rock songs of 1986. The entire album it came from, Journey’s Raised on Radio, was pretty lackluster – it actually made Boston sound exciting by comparison! The Rolling Stones also released a new album that year, and critics were just relieved they could still manage to produce something, even if it wasn’t very good.

You understand. There’s no need to explain further. Most of the best rock music of 1986 came from up-and-coming or overlooked artists. These new bands were experimenting with fresh sounds, and the punk and metal scenes, in particular, boldly filled a gap and kept the music evolving.

The event also featured some classic acts, proving that older rock music still has a place, despite albums like Kansas’ ironically titled Power hinting at its decline.

This is a diverse collection of rock and roll from 1986 that truly captured the energy of the genre, even if some songs weren’t strictly traditional rock. They embodied the spirit of rock and roll, and they were innovative and exciting.

Look, I don’t think rock was ever going to take over from hip hop, but anyone who said it was dead was way off base. It definitely took a hit, but these songs? They proved rock still had a pulse and kept the energy going. They reminded me – and a lot of other fans – why we love it.

20. “Tuff Enough” by the Fabulous Thunderbirds

Okay, so let’s talk about a classic. These guys from Austin had been around for ten years by ’86, and they were seriously keeping that old-school blues-rock sound alive. Jimmy Vaughan – yeah, Stevie Ray’s brother, he’s even touring with Bob Dylan this year! – was absolutely ripping on guitar, and Kim Wilson’s voice? Total blues grit and power, just super cool and tough sounding.

19. “Guitar Town” by Steve Earle

As a fan, I’ve always felt like Steve Earle was something special – he wasn’t just doing what everyone else was. He really helped bring this fresh, new-but-classic sound to country music, blending it with rock and roll in a way that felt totally original. He’s always said he wanted to bring the guitar back to the forefront, and you can feel that in his music. Sure, there’s some organ in there, but at its heart, this is a guitar album, made by a true guitar player.

18. “Blood and Roses” by the Smithereens

This New Jersey band had a classic sound, even on their first album, Especially for You. Their music was a punchy, darker take on power pop, driven by a strong bassline and catchy guitar riffs. Lead singer Pat DiNizio’s vocals and guitar work were powerful, and the contribution from guest artist Marshall Crenshaw showed the band’s connection to the genre’s origins.

17. “Run Now” by Tommy Keene

Tommy Keene, a power pop musician, and I both grew up near each other in the Maryland suburbs. He was a talented young guitarist, just like Nils Lofgren, who also came from the same area. “Run Now” was originally released on his Run Now EP, and whenever I hear it…

I keep coming back to the same questions. Why didn’t Tommy Keene ever achieve mainstream success? His music is pure, classic power pop. If he’d emerged just ten years earlier or later, he would have been a star.

16. “Brilliant Mistake” by Elvis Costello

Even a legend like Elvis Presley had a tough time in the mid-1980s. He’d been incredibly influential ten years before, blending punk and new wave into a fresh rock style. But Elvis was always searching for something new, and not all of his experiments were hits with his audience. It’s hard to think of any rock star who has sparked as much debate among their own fans.

If you were to create a list ranking his albums, you’d soon realize everyone has different opinions. However, the quality of his songs consistently resonated with listeners, no matter where his career took him. It makes me wonder what I’d give to have written something similar…

She mentioned she worked for ABC News, jokingly implying it was the only part of the alphabet she could recall.

15. “Guitars, Cadillacs” by Dwight Yoakam

This song sounds a lot like Steve Earle’s “Guitar Town,” so here’s a quick story. The chorus includes the line “Guitars, Cadillacs, hillbilly music…” but the album is actually titled Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. It’s funny that the song is just referred to as “Guitars, Cadillacs” – I wonder why that happened?

In 1986, Dwight Yoakam’s record label, Reprise, hesitated to label his music as “hillbilly” fearing it would be seen as too unsophisticated for audiences. They initially shortened the title of a single, but after the album topped the country charts, they no longer worried about the label.

14. “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” by the Georgia Satellites

The debut album’s first song, “Keep Your Hands to Yourself,” immediately suggested a promising new band in the southern rock scene. However, they never released anything quite as popular, which makes you wonder what happened.

Was The Satellites a band that only had one hit song? Their later work, and the music Baird made on his own, shows they were more than that. They continued to create good music, but people’s preferences changed. While “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” feels like a song from a different era, it’s still an energetic and enjoyable track even after 40 years.

13. “Lifeblood” by That Petrol Emotion

Okay, so The Undertones were a huge deal in the Irish punk scene – those guys really kicked things off. They had two brothers, John and Damien O’Neill, on guitar, which was cool. When The Undertones broke up back in ’83, the brothers didn’t stop making music. They started a new band and started experimenting with more complicated songs and tackling bigger ideas in their lyrics. It was a pretty interesting shift from their punk roots.

The band consistently released good albums, but they never achieved a hugely popular hit song. Their track “Lifeblood,” from their first album Manic Pop Thrill, best represents their evolving sound, showcasing their most energetic and accomplished style.

12. “Don’t Let’s Start” by They Might Be Giants

As a long-time fan, I always felt They Might Be Giants were in a league of their own. They reminded me as much of a funny, clever songwriter like Tom Lehrer as any of those alt-rock bands everyone kept comparing them to back in the day. Honestly, the music industry never really knew what to do with them – it’s kinda the same thing that happened with Sparks before TMBG, you know? They just didn’t fit neatly into any category.

I always loved The Johns – they were a seriously talented band! But honestly, their lyrics were… different. They were really clever and full of references, which didn’t always quite fit with straightforward rock or blues. “Don’t Let’s Start” is probably their most accessible song – it’s unbelievably catchy and you can’t help but sing along. Still, even that one had a quirky edge that probably kept it from becoming a huge mainstream hit, which is a shame!

11. “Wild Wild Life” by the Talking Heads

Talking Heads successfully navigated the shift from popular indie music in the late 70s to the new wave scene of the early 80s, but by 1986, the band was starting to wind down. Their next-to-last album, True Stories, wasn’t entirely consistent, but David Byrne still wrote strong songs and the rhythm section – Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz – still played with energy, as evidenced on this upbeat rock track.

10. “Master of Puppets” by Metallica

Metallica’s third album was a peak achievement for the band. Sadly, bassist Cliff Burton passed away in a bus accident just six months later, and the band never sounded quite the same.

While the band would go on to become the most famous metal band globally, some longtime fans believed their best work was behind them. The song “Master of Puppets,” the album’s title track and only single, perfectly showcases their powerful, precise sound and their skill at shifting between tempos and emotions without sounding overly dramatic.

I’ve listened to a lot of their work, and sometimes their later albums can feel a little… heavy. But this one? It’s the opposite! It doesn’t drag at all – it’s really refreshing.

9. “No Sleep till Brooklyn” by Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys’ first album was a disruptive force in the predictable world of arena rock. While not technically skilled musicians, their raw rock energy combined with their clever rapping created something explosive. Although Licensed to Ill wasn’t necessarily the most groundbreaking rock-rap album of the year, it definitely made a huge splash.

8. “Dream Dream Dream” by Mekons

The Mekons were hugely influential, especially for punk bands that weren’t skilled musicians but had strong, intelligent messages. It’s impossible to pick their ‘best’ work, though, because they experimented with so many different styles.

“Dream Dream Dream” really embodies the raw, energetic spirit of a pioneering English punk band. It’s a track from their fifth album, The Edge of the World, and they’re releasing another album later this year.

7. “Happy Hour” by Housemartins

When the band Housemartins first came out with their music, it had been just a few years since the couple had met. Their very first song was an incredibly catchy, upbeat tune that would heavily influence the Britpop sound that became popular across the UK and eventually worldwide.

Although The Housemartins were a short-lived band, their musical influence continued through the success of bands they spawned – Beautiful South – and the solo career of their bassist, Norman Cook, who became known as Fatboy Slim.

6. “Angel of Death” by Slayer

Slayer’s Reign in Blood is often called the greatest thrash metal album of all time. It explodes into action with incredibly powerful drumming by Dave Lombardo, immediately followed by a relentless barrage of guitars. When Tom Araya starts singing, it becomes clear that the album is pushing the limits of the genre.

Even if you don’t think of Jeff Hanneman’s lyrics as relating to Josef Mengele, the song clearly depicts terrible evil. Hanneman explained he was simply trying to create a disturbing image, not promote Nazi ideology. If you can approach it with that understanding, the song becomes a powerful and thought-provoking listen.

5. “Bigmouth Strikes Again” by the Smiths

I’m not sure I have much insightful to say about this song, but here’s my take. It’s funny how making these kinds of lists can lead to unexpected discoveries. I’ve never been a fan of The Smiths – not in the ’80s, and still not now. However, this particular song stuck with me for a strange reason. I was working with a new musician when the album came out, and he played this song constantly for about three months.

I used to really dislike that song. After forty years, I decided to give it another listen, and surprisingly, I couldn’t stop enjoying it! My feelings about the Smiths haven’t changed, but I’ve completely changed my mind about Bigmouth.

4. “40 Days and 40 Nights” by Scruffy the Cat

Scruffy reminded people of the Georgia Satellites – a band that brought back the energetic, guitar-driven sound of early rock and roll, but with a fresh, updated feel. They were a lively, danceable group that deserved more success.

Back in the late ’80s, this band’s music just wasn’t getting any radio play – it was mostly stuck to small clubs. That’s why they eventually called it quits. But before they did, they left behind some seriously awesome, energetic tracks, and this song is a perfect example of what they were all about.

3. “Walk Like an Egyptian” by the Bangles

Okay, so growing up, I loved discovering bands from different eras, and The Bangles always stood out to me. They really hit their stride when a lot of the new wave scene was fading out. It just proves that if you’re genuinely talented, you can break through and become huge, even when the musical landscape is changing. They were a real exception, and totally awesome!

While their album Different Light might have included even stronger tracks – like the wonderful “Manic Monday” written by Prince – it was “Walk Like an Egyptian” that truly stood the test of time, becoming a classic song of the mid-1980s, even though it started as a fun, quirky hit.

2. “I Against I” by Bad Brains

Bad Brains deserved to be huge, but their unique sound might have held them back. If singer H.R. (Paul Hudson) had focused on metal instead of reggae, they likely would have achieved mainstream success. The song “I Against I,” from their album of the same name, perfectly showcases the incredible talent of this Washington, D.C. band.

The sharp sound of Dr. Know’s guitar cuts through the quiet, and H.R.’s distinctive vocals quickly take center stage. But just as the song builds momentum, it begins to change, and never stops. Though “I Against I” is only three minutes long, it feels like a complete journey, rapidly shifting through different musical sections with constant energy.

Despite the shifts in speed, H.R.’s brother Earl on drums and Darryl Jenifer on bass keep the music flowing smoothly.

1. “Walk This Way” by Run-DMC (featuring Aerosmith)

Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” was a successful hard rock song back in 1975, when rock music was still dominant in the music industry and the band was quickly gaining fame. However, a decade later, both Aerosmith and the rock genre as a whole had fallen on hard times. That’s when Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons, partners at Def Jam Recordings, came up with an idea.

Russell’s brother, Joseph, was in a rap group that, like many early hip-hop acts, saw themselves as a rock band with rapping as an added element. Rick Rubin brought the group together, but the rappers were hesitant to participate. The rock musicians, however, were enthusiastic. Aerosmith even recorded new music for the project, meaning the collaboration wasn’t just based on using existing songs.

The song became a massive international success, reaching number four on the Billboard chart in the United States. This groundbreaking blend of rock and rap changed the music landscape forever.

2026-04-08 14:02