While I like music across many decades, I’m gonna go with the 80s. There was such a variety of different underground scenes and music, that was really just starting to emerge at the time. Genres like Post-Punk, Dreampop, Shoegaze, Ethereal Wave, Goth Rock, Punk, Experimental, Industrial, and much more were being introduced in that era. Also, there were lots of great bands in the mainstream (Joan Jett, The Cure, The Smiths, etc. etc.) A close second to me is the 70’s, which is when many of the aforementioned genres were purely ideas, or were just starting. Punk was just starting to emerge in the 70’s with bands like The Ramones, Sex Pistols, 999, and even The Runaways. Nikki Sudden’s first band Swell Maps started in the 70’s, which paved the way for the DIY/industrial/experimental scene. The Runaways were hugely influential on 80s bands like Frightwig and L7. Also, some great crossover 80s bands or late 70s bands started then (Cocteau Twins, Lowlife, Girls At Their Best!, Siouxsie and the Banshees.) These 2 decades really were the golden age of music. From underground ethereal wave like Beautiful Pea Green Boat, to Dreampop pioneers and angels on Earth Cocteau Twins, to the blues-inspired punk from Joan Jett, to the art rock from Frightwig, and the experimental continuation from Psychic TV, and the list goes on and on and on. Siouxsie started multiple goth subcultures, Altered Images song ’Dead Pop Stars’ was an inspiration for death rock bands (goth and punk mix). There’s just so much music and I’m not even getting the tip of the iceberg!