Humans were a pivotal but under-recognized fixture of the Santa Cruz and San Francisco new wave scenes. Formed in 1976 as The Mysterious People, the core trio of Sterling Storm, Eric Gies, and John Anderson brought a decade of shared history from the Southern California surf-rock circuit into a modern, post-punk context.
S. Records roster. Critically, they are often compared to Wall of Voodoo due to Sterling Storm's distinctive vocal style, which mirrors Stan Ridgway's narrative, slightly detached delivery. Their lyrical focus on urban paranoia and personal identity crises positioned them as intellectual outsiders within the California pop landscape. , the band remained a regional cult favorite until their dissolution in the late 1980s. Their legacy persists as a prime example of the 'quirky' art-rock movement that bridged the gap between 70s garage rock and 80s synth-pop.
Shares new wave, art rock, post-punk (subgenres); analog_warmth, dry_intimate, studio_polished (production style)
Shares new wave, art rock, post-punk (subgenres); analog_warmth, dry_intimate, studio_polished (production style)
Shares new wave, art rock, surf rock (subgenres); deadpan, spoken_word, baritone (vocal style)
Shares new wave, art rock, post-punk (subgenres); analog_warmth, dry_intimate, studio_polished (production style)
Shares new wave, art rock, post-punk (subgenres); analog_warmth, dry_intimate, studio_polished (production style)
Shares new wave, art rock, post-punk (subgenres); urban_night, dive_bar, basement_show (atmosphere)
Shares post-punk, new wave, art rock (subgenres); restless, anxious (moods)
Shares restless, playful, anxious (moods); analog_warmth, dry_intimate, studio_polished (production style)
Shares new wave, art rock, post-punk (subgenres); urban_night, dive_bar, basement_show (atmosphere)
Shares urban_night, dive_bar, basement_show (atmosphere); analog_warmth, dry_intimate, studio_polished (production style)
Shares new wave, anxious, post-punk, dry_intimate (subgenre)
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