The 25 best indie rock songs of 1983 according to Radio X

The webzine Radio X continues its exploration of the '80s, through a series of charts dedicated mainly to indie/alternative productions. This time, the webzine has zeroed in on a key year of the Eighties, 1983, when the decade's dominant sounds were triumphant, but were also starting to evolve into something else.

The '80s were the launchpad for many of the leading new wave acts. A new generation of bands emerged, updating the sounds of punk and early post-punk with a fresh style. But that's not all. That decade also laid the groundwork for new genres that would explode with even greater force in the following one, from industrial to shoegaze to the grunge movement that would dominate the 90's. And often the seeds were planted in indie and alternative circles, only to blossom later at the mainstream level.

So here is the ranking of what, according to Radio X, were the best 25 tracks released in 1983 (full feature here).

1. U2 – “New Year’s Day”

2. Echo & The Bunnymen – “The Cutter”

3. Tears For Fears – “Change”

4. Orange Juice – “Rip It Up”

5. Big Country – “Fields Of Fire”

6. Altered Images – “Don’t Talk To Me About Love”

7. New Order – “Blue Monday”

8. Bauhaus – “She’s In Parties”

9. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – “Genetic Engineering”

10. Yazoo – “Nobody’s Diary”

11. Heaven 17 – “Temptation”

12. The Human League – “(Keep Feeling) Fascination”

13. Fun Boy Three – “Our Lips Are Sealed”

14. The Creatures – “Right Now”

15. Depeche Mode – “Everything Counts”

16. Talking Heads – “Burning Down The House”

17. The Style Council – “Long Hot Summer”

18. R.E.M. – “Radio Free Europe”

19. Men Without Hats – “The Safety Dance”

20. Public Image Ltd – “This Is Not A Love Song”

21. Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Dear Prudence”

22. Sisters Of Mercy – “Temple Of Love”

23. The Cure – “The Love Cats”

24. Aztec Camera – "Oblivious"

25. The Smiths – “This Charming Man”

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