The Psychedelic Furs, Forever Now (1982)

Maybe not an album I play very often -- if anything, I'm more partial to their 1980 self-titled debut, a darker, less poppy album -- but it's always had a place in my heart as one of those records I most closely associate with high school.  It came out at the end of my sophomore year, and I still remember hanging out at my friend Cecile's house after school checking it out.

"Love My Way" is one of the essential songs of the New Wave era, and on the shortlist of songs that immediately (for better and worse) transport me back to my teen years.  (Others?  Roxy Music's "More Than This," The Go-Gos' "Our Lips Are Sealed," Flock of Seagulls' "Space Age Love Song.")  

At least I think it reminds me of high school.  It might just be reminding me of seeing Valley Girl in high school.  Memory can be funny that way.  

Anyway, "Love My Way," regardless of whether it holds immense nostalgic value for you or not, holds up well as a truly outstanding, genre-defining song.  Seriously, if someone came up to me and asked me to sum up the New Wave 80s in 3 minutes -- which nobody ever does because most people are normal -- I'd say "listen to 'Love My Way.'"  (As opposed to being asked to sum up the College Radio 80s, for which I'd play them "Radio Free Europe.")

Not surprisingly, nothing else on the album is quite as timeless, though the lead-off title track and "Sleep Comes Down" are both really great as well.

As a whole, the album is pretty damn solid.  It's produced by Todd Rundgren, has some Flo & Eddie vocal contributions, and despite the abundance of synths is largely guitar-driven, so it avoids having that dated 80s feel that plagues a lot of the band's contemporaries.  Richard Butler's scratchy vocal stylings may or may not be your cup of tea; personally, I like his distinctive sound, but your enjoyment of the band will hinge on that.  At minimum, you'd be well served by a Furs greatest hits collection (of which there are several) (or, for that matter, just grab the Valley Girl soundtrack, which is awesome).

Here's "Love My Way":

And a live take on the title track:

Buy it on Amazon.