Talking Heads
GNR
R.E.M.
X
The Police
Oingo Boingo
Peter Gabriel
The Violent Femmes
The Dead Milkmen
Nick Cave
Depeche Mode
The SMiths
The Cure
The Clash
10,000 Maniacs
The Beat
They Might be Giants
Blondie
The B52s
Yaz
Husker Du
The Replacements
The Pixies
The Psychedelic Furs
etc. etc. etc.
Superkid makes a good point about the 60s, but I think the variety and creativity of the 80s is unmatched.