The Suburbs

Minneapolis new wavers the Suburbs began recording for local label Twin/Tone and released their first album In Combo in 1980, featuring tense, energetic playing and offbeat lyrics. The 1981 double album Credit in Heaven consolidated the band’s approach, incorporating elements of funk, disco and jazz. Their major-label debut, Love
Is the Law, was a harder-rocking effort, which emphasized Beej Chaney and Chan Poling’s novel lyrics and featured a horn section. 1986 found the band working with producer Bobby Z, who played drums in Prince’s Revolution, and the resulting self-titled album struck a balance between their traditional sound and that of the Revolution. Before Prince, Hu?sker Du?, Soul Asylum, and the Replacements dominated and defined the Minneapolis rock scene of the ‘80s, Chris Osgood, Steve Almaas and Dave Ahl had a swinging little punk rock combo called the Suicide Commandos. They made only two records and were considered one of the first and most influential punk rock band to come out of the Twin Cities.