The Lines

The story

An 80s rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

This is not the same Lines from Long Island that I featured a few years back, nor is it the slightly more renowned Brit post-punk act of the same name. Nope, these Lines were jotted down in the environs of Boston a good three decades ago. A highly competent and polished wave/power-pop quintet steeped in '80s synthy nuances, (the) Lines were helmed by one Eric Hafner, who had an occasional propensity for hitting an unmistakable Ric Ocasek-like timbre (check out the title track if you want to call my bluff). Standby's key saving grace is that it's every bit as much fun as it is derivative. Considering it's a product of such an excess-fueled era to begin with, this is one you're liable to love or hate. And with that, enjoy (or not). - Wilfully Obscure

From Discogs, written by its community.

Stories

Beyond the records: books, other lives and interviews, from the band and its members.

Watch

Tap the heart on the board while a song plays and it lands here. Listeners who keep their listening private are counted, never named.

Records

Records from MusicBrainz, completed with the release lists of Deezer. Sleeves from the Cover Art Archive and the same lists.

Members

• Eric Hafner
• Rick Dahlinger
• John Steinberger
• Michael Slaka
• Rob Whitelock

Members past and present, each with their own page. From MusicBrainz and Discogs.

Also plays on

Records by other artists with The Lines in the credits, from the song and record credits of MusicBrainz and Discogs. Their own bands are above.

Playlists with The Lines in them: Sonic Architects selections and Pause & Record tapes from linr listeners, Deezer’s editors and curators, radio shows on Mixcloud and ListenBrainz playlists. Every tile opens on linr first, with the original one link away.

If you like The Lines

• AbecedariansLast.fm listeners
• Josef KLast.fm listeners
• The PassionsLast.fm listeners
• Modern EonLast.fm listeners
• For AgainstLast.fm listeners
• The NamesLast.fm listeners
• The Teardrop ExplodesLast.fm listeners
• MagazineLast.fm listeners
• The Lucy ShowLast.fm listeners
• The Comsat AngelsLast.fm listeners
• OppositionLast.fm listeners
• Mission of BurmaLast.fm listeners

Where the listeners of ListenBrainz, Last.fm and Deezer agree, with the circle of The Lines’s own bands. A source that names other people with the same name is left out.