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What's your perfect '80s soundtrack? Does it include a few British new wave groups? A hair band or two? Tell us.

The much-buzzed about doc American Teen opens today. If you haven't heard, it focuses on five small-town Warsaw, Indiana, high school seniors throughout their last year: a jock, a geek, a rebel, a princess, and a heartthrob. If it sounds eerily familiar to my fellow '80s high school kin's remembrance of John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, it is, right down to the poster.

American Teen's 15-song soundtrack came out last week. And knowing how important music is, especially in high school — I was immediately taken back to my '80s teendom: one of the best era's for music ever (minus the hair metal, which by and large is pure shite, shite I say!).

So here are the 15 '80s tracks (plus one more I had to include, because this band transcends hair metal) that were with me during the good times and kept me company during the times that weren't so good.



#1 A Town Called Malice - The Jam
A killer song from a band that's still one of my favorites. . .even if my friend thought that Paul Weller was singing "Softball Madness" instead of "A Town Called Malice."



#2 Up On The Catwalk - Simple Minds
When I think of Simple Minds, I think of this track (or a few others), as opposed to "Don't You Forget About Me." And dig that double-breasted bolero-style (leather?) coat Jim Kerr is sporting while doing some serious bad dancing. How'd then-wife Chrissie Hynde let him get away with that?





#3 Age Of Consent - New Order
Perfectly representative of my short-ish new wave synth phase. An amazing song, then and now.

#4 World Destruction - Afrika Bambaataa & John Lydon
Lydon at his surly, cynical best in ragged harmony with Bambaataa. And the 1984 lyrics are as timely as ever. Just listen.

#5 Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs
Background music to many tortured teen fantasies.

#6 Seven Seas - Echo & The Bunnymen
Memories of sharing a bottle of cooking sherry in the parking lot before Rambo-ing through shrubs and over much dirt and rock to sneak into this Irvine Meadows (now Verizon Ampitheatre) show. And one of the best live bands ever.

#7 Stay With Me Tonight - Jeffrey Osborne
What? I did floor excercises to this track, back when I used to "aerobicize." An admitted guilty music pleasure.

#8 Slave To Love - Bryan Ferry
The original Suavecito. Not to mention perfect background music to that great Mickey Roarke/Kim Basinger montage in 9 ½ Weeks. Made me want to move to NYC and work in an art gallery. (That didn't happen.)




#9 Anything, Anything - Dramarama
An excellent song to drive fast to with your Learner's Permit, but not when you're pulled over and given a ticket in front of your high school.



#10 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea - Elvis Costello
A rock (lyric) god. . .even if his prolificness is on par with Joyce Carol Oates'.




#11 Brand New Cadillac - The Clash
Sheesh. It's the Clash. And another song to drive fast to, minus the kids in the car.
 




#12 White Girl - X
Look at John Doe trying to sing with a cigarette dangling out the side of his mouth. And Billy Zoom. . . Way cool then, and now. Why this band wasn't bigger than they were, I'll never know. They f-ing rock.

#13 Alone Again Or - The Damned
My favorite cover of this Love track, from probably the worst Damned record of all time. Great music to make you feel better to after a high school double date gone awry.

#14 Hazy Shade Of Winter - The Bangles
High school debauchery Less Than Zero-style. Plus a welcome amped take on Paul Simon's tune.




#15 Catch - The Cure
I thought Robert Smith and I were through, but then here was this track from Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Can you ever get enough of pre-emo men in smeared lip stick and boatloads of Aqua Net?



BONUS TRACK:
#16 Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
Whatever people say about Axl Rose . . .this track (and Appetite For Destruction) is as undeniable as leather pants. At some point, we all succumb.

WE'RE HAVING A CONTEST! Tell us the songs you would place on your own '80s teen soundtrack. Post them here;. We'll pick the best one. The winner gets a the new American Teen soundtrack.

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