By: Jonathan Lethem

The Blue Nile’s “I Love This Life” — dancing and singing, caring and careless.

By: Adrienne Crew

QUIRK YOUR ENTHUSIASM (9): D-Day’s “Too Young to Date” —  a quasi-feminist anthem.

By: Gordon Dahlquist

XTC’s “Respectable Street”: a very English anthem of Ah, Go Fuck Yourself.

By: Greg Rowland

Jilted John’s “JIlted John” : parodic yet profound.

By: Stephanie Burt

Altered Images’ “Happy Birthday” — should we trust its promise of happiness?

By: Elina Shatkin

Marianne Faithfull’s “Broken English” — an excoriation of all ideologies?

By: Douglas Wolk

Family Fodder’s “Savoir Faire” — not a hostile gnarl, but a joy.

By: Devin McKinney

Suicide’s “Frankie Teardrop” — nihilism with a hungry heart.

By: Joanne McNeil

Gary Numan’s “Metal” — what, exactly, is a “mallory heart”?

By: Mark Kingwell

Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” — New Age blues, and bliss.

By: Joshua Glenn

Introducing this summer’s ENTHUSIASM series — on New Wave music!