VA - Up, Down, Turn Around - Circa 80 (2009)

With a title taken from New Order's "Temptation," it's no surprise to find that Up, Down, Turn Around: Circa 80 is a collection of 1980s new wave songs. The 16 tracks cover an impressive expanse of the territory from Everything But the Girl's sophisticated pop to the Cure's gloomy melancholia, from Split Enz' quirky balladry to Kate Bush's epic dramatics. There are even a couple new wave-flavored tracks from established artists Roxy Music (their straight-up classic "Over You") and David Bowie ("Fashion"). While the collection would never pretend to be a definitive look at the era (and the title is a little misleading, since most of the tracks were released some time after 1980), it does make for a good to great listening experience, and an interesting entry point for someone who wants to dip their toe into the new wave style.