100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s #90 Wall of Voodoo – Mexican Radio

Released : 1983

America had quite a hard time coming to terms with punk, who’s impact was limited mostly to the big cities and coasts. Unlike in Britain where the movement’s conservatism musically would lead it’s escapees into wonderful divergence, across the ocean came stodgy new wave, a blanket term that covered everything from The Tubes to Cyndi Lauper.

If they’re now remembered at all, Wall of Voodoo are probably most recognised as the band fronted by the drawling Stan Ridgway, who’s ‘Nam ghost story Camouflage was an unlikely top ten solo hit several years later.

Mexican Radio was far harder to pigeonhole; a slanted mix of twisted synth pop, cow-punk and Tex-Mex flavours, it had a gait like a buzzing fly; with all this going on it needed a simple chorus and with Ridgway sounding like he was hollering from your porch, it got it. This was a wave all of it’s own.