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For those of you who have never listened to Bauhaus, check out the songs "Bela Legosi's Dead", "King Volcano", "Dark Entries" and "Stigmata Martyr".
As far as albums "In the Flat Field" is great.
They also did some really awesome covers- like John Cale's "Rosegarden Funeral of Sores" and T. Rex's "Telegram Sam"
After you check out all those, listen to the tracks "Crowds", "She's in Parties", and "Spirit" for the more pop oriented side of Bauhaus.
Oh, plus the guitarist made a side project called Tones on Tail. "Christian Says", "Lions" and "Twist" are really cool, I like "Twist" because it is very heavily instrumental song that is not to heavy, almost having a surf quality. "Go" is a dance standard.
As far as what gothic rock was (IMO):
Major influences of gothic rock: Iggy Pop (The Idiot), David Bowie (Diamond Dogs, Ziggy Stardust), John Cale (Vintage Violence), Joy Division (Unknown Pleasures), T. Rex, and of course, punk.
Other music influenced gothic, such as baroque, renaissance, and medieval music. This is very evident in Bauhaus's "King Volcano" which is almost a chant.
Imagery in gothic music is very similar to imagery in dark romantic/gothic literature of the second half of the 19th century. Christian imagery (specifically catholic), classical imagery, as well as just plain horrific imagery are popular. Gothic rock is usually very serious and dramatic music. Some bands too serious for their own good, and others too dramatic for their own good.
Suggested listening:
Bauhaus- In the Flat Field
Bauhaus- Mask
Joy Division- Unknown Pleasures
Birthday Party- Prayers on Fire
Tones on Tail- Pop
And pretty much 90% of the albums put out by beggar's banquet records (not all are gothic rock, but a good portion are)
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