There were so many incredible bands I could be here all day.
Mainstream music was usually pretty terrible though - that’s kind of a mainstay of every decade, isn’t it?
PS: while the term was coined in the late 80’s as a pejorative description of some bands, “shoegaze” was more of a early nineties thing. It started with bands like Ride, Slowdive, Lush, The Pale Saints, etc.
I think the thing I miss most about the 80s music was actual intros. No one was afraid to keep you waiting over a minute for the first verse to start. I barely have the patience to sit through something like that these days, but I appreciate the courage.