Not Cool/Cool

I make no apologies.

Plastic Man (1984)

Yes, It's Katrina & the Waves. They had a huge hit in 1985 with a song that's probably already playing in your head by reading their name. They were a terribly 80s one hit wonder that now gets used to hawk dish soap or something else banal.

I get it I do. But you need to reconsider.

The group was formed by Kimberley Rew and company after he left the Soft Boys and they recorded three quite lovely low key pop albums before the Bangles had a modest hit with the b side of this one. That got them a major label contract that lead to their big hit and an album where the band rerecorded, overdubbed and/or remixed songs from their previous releases to terrible 80s radio standards. (The original recording of "Walking on Sunshine" is so much more palatable without the cheesy horns and big 80s drum sounds and at a much faster clip.)

And I know all you hipsters would be loudly singing the Lost Pop Wonders of Katrina & the Waves if they hadn't had a huge hit. Give in and enjoy.

Kaspar Hauser (1982)

In Boston however, there were no hits to be had for Kaspar Hauser. They seem to have come and gone without making any impression at all with the exception of this dark New Wave seven inch every bit as much the mystery as the actual Kaspar Hauser they took their name from.