+1:
R.E.M.
Minutemen
ESG
The Replacements (not generally a fan but I like Hootenany)
New Order
Talking Heads
Wipers
U2
and +.5 (these are pretty good, but not really favorites):
Violent Femmes
X
Aztec Camera
Echo & the Bunnymen
XTC
And as much as love Swans later stuff, I think Filth sucks. I even love some albums that are stylistically similar from around this same time. I just think Swans sucked at first.
And hey: '80s Genesis is no worse than '70s Genesis
I'll add:
Daniel Johnston -
Yip/Jump MusicBefore he went nuts. When he was just kind of crazy, a slightly disturbed outcast. I can't really take his later stuff, but this stuff is raw brilliance. It's sad but optimistic, naive but insightful.
Pylon -
ChompI think I may like this more than
Gyrate. It's catchier and the songs feel more refined, but it still has the same post-punk edge. The song "Crazy" that R.E.M. covered is on this album.
Brian Eno -
Apollo: Atmospheres & SoundtracksInstrumental Eno album that isn't exactly ambient. Contains the beautiful "Deep Blue Day".
Sonic Youth -
Confusion Is SexRaw, ragged, ugly early SY album that I don't listen to a lot, but that I love. Maybe their most "No Wave" album.
Shonen Knife -
Burning FarmEndlessly charming and fun, amateurish debut. My favorite Shonen Knife album, probably.