The Sensual World

There’s a lot of overlap in the Venn diagram of people who read erotic vampire books and people who would like this album.

It’s nice knowing she has a deeper catalog than just, “Running Up That Hill,” and broader range than merely a backup singer to Peter Gabriel.

7.6/10

Meh.... Aburrido

Good album but not one of her better ones. Lovely voice

A couple of nice songs on here.

her voice soothed me

I miss any of her hits or at least some remarkable songs on this. Nothing that convinces me.

kooky

Beautiful and ethereal and somehow I never really listened to Kate Bush at all before and that was clearly wrong of me

I luv her

This walked so Cocteau twins could run. But this also has some bangers

I've been waiting over a year to finally get some Kate Bush in this challenge, and finally we get an album of hers! It's not her most popular, but it for sure contains her strengths. Great and layered songwriting, backed up by some gorgeous strings and Kate's BRILLIANT voice. If you don't like this, you must have something wrong, deep in your soul, because this is pure life-affirming music to me; the only reason I'm not pulling the trigger on a 5-star is because I still haven't properly delved headlong into her work yet - hopefully something that this challenge will help me fix.

I do want to listen to this again at some point because I enjoyed a good bit of it. But for now it’s like a 3.5 tentatively

This proved to be a challenging listen. I'm assuming that Kate Bush's singing is an acquired taste and that the content of her lyrics offers something deeper to appreciate, but I'm not really there yet. Heads We're Dancing was a particularly rough listen. Sorry Kate! I will say that the 80s synth production, as cheesy as it may seem, is at least consistently interesting and textured.

This album is a real treat. I was obviously aware of Kate Bush, with her being an artist that you are "supposed" to like once you spend a certain amount of time listening to music. I did what I was supposed to do - listened to Hounds of Love - and it was really good, but not great. I put Kate Bush aside (and fuck you Stranger Things). Then we got this album and it blew my mind! The production is lush and incredible and only occasionally dips into 80s nonsense. Dave Gilmour lends his skills to give texture and color to two songs, and while I wish he was there more that might ruin the album. The strings are ever present but not corny or indulgent. She's singing with the full range of her voice but not in a way that feels like she's showing off. She's worldbuilding with her voice, almost. I think you could listen to this album 50 times and discover a lot of new things.

Enjoyably bonkers

I remember the title track from when it was released (and really liked it then, as now), but apart from that and This Woman’s Work, the remainder is a bit too clever for me. The lush orchestration disguises any obvious access points, and she is (obviously) a bit kooky and weird under any spotlight. So 4 stars for the two tracks I mention, minus 1 for the rest.

Second Kat Bush album and again I'm thinking I could get into this with repeat listening. Not as attention grabbing as The Dreaming but perhaps better in the long run?

Not yet best work

I listened this one twice. First run, one star. Second go, 2stars. Third would most likely taken this to more towards one star. Bush has her strengths but eventually this is not my cup of tea.

#497 / 1089 Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ⚖️ This is an album from a time where Kate Bush was looking around in the greater musical landscape, finding things she found interesting and incorporating them into her own music. It makes for a fractured listening experience, but she did manage to do pretty good job of masking and make it seem a cohesive whole. It's a fragile thing, which basically her voice alone is keeping it all together. I like how the slavic a capella trio sounds in their few appearances. It's no "Hounds of Love", but I don't hate it 3/5

Fantastic album! Some songs made me so emotional

Ух ти))) Ну таке)

I’m not a fan of the idea that you should only judge something after several attempts; if someone tells me, "You’ll like it by the third or fourth listen," that’s just a matter of getting used to it — not actually liking it. Yet today, after listening to this Kate Bush record for the first time — music that initially struck me as something for women going through a midlife crisis (the male equivalent being Peter Gabriel or Sting) — I felt an urge to give it a second chance. And suddenly, the album just clicked. It opens with sensual, sex-friendly music featuring Arab-Irish folk motifs — immediately suggesting a complex, cerebral experience akin to Hounds of Love — but the album quickly sheds that persona, transforming into lavishly arranged, slightly eccentric pop music. It features strings, a Bulgarian choir, and even David Gilmour on guitar. The mix is ​​superb, with a sound that’s somewhat reminiscent of the band Heart. So, don’t hesitate to give a second listen to something you’re unsure about!

My 2nd Kate Bush album, this is definitely another hit. The Sensual World has all the drama and most of the weirdness present in Hounds of Love, even if the high points don't yet grab me to the same degree. I felt like I needed two plays to absorb this record enough to have an opinion. Like a lot of the better albums in this project, I found every track improving on 2nd listen... and even more on the 3rd! The opening track starts things a little tentatively, but things really kick off on Love And Anger. The driving beat and piano chords are complemented by a fantastic bass line and Kate's confident vocals. I don't always love a children's choir, but it really works here... and the electric guitar solo really brings it all together. Just a brilliant arrangement. The Fog's eerie sounds and vocal samples are the first thing that truly reminds me of Hounds of Love. This was probably my favorite on the first pass. I adore the dramatic strings. It's clear by this point that Bush has become even more accomplished as a producer -- everything works together so well. Another highlight for me is the middle of the album with Heads We're Dancing and Deeper Understanding. The unique sounds jump out right away and the lyrical content feels completely original. A song about a chance encounter with Hitler on one hand... and a song about falling in love with your computer (feeling very ahead of its time in 1989) on the other. I'm just looking at some of the players on this record -- David Gilmour and Mick Karn on the same album!? There's an impressive amount of talent contributing here and it seems like none of it goes to waste. The album finishes on more strengths. Never Be Mine has a gorgeous mournful sound. The backing vocals from Trio Bulgarka work really well here. Rocket's Tail acapella beginning wasn't my favorite moment the first time through, but anticipating that guitar solo just makes it all work now. Finally, This Woman's Work is the most poignant poetry on the album and brings it to a satisfying close. I'd never heard anything from this record before. After one play I thought it was good. After three I know it's one of the greats. This stand right alongside Hounds of Love for me. With a little more time I feel like both of them will be among my favorite albums of the 80s.

Deserves repeat listens

Kate Bush doesn’t exactly perform catchy songs. You do have to spend a bit more time with the songs for them to get their hooks into you but it’s worth pushing through. Beautiful, ethereal music.

I really want to like Kate Bush, but something about her continues to elude me. I sort of love this album without liking it much? Is that even a thing?

I liked it

Everytime I see this cover I think it’s Prince for a second.

top-tier ideas and mostly excellent execution, except that it can feel a small bit sonically disjointed at times, primarily due to lacking much of any grounding element inside of each track. love the heavier string usage on tracks such as "the fog".

De flesta låtarna har samma tempo, blir lite ensidigt. Inte dåligt men inte heller jättebra. Gillar Love and Anger och Heads we´re Dancing.

Wish I had listened to this when it came out.

Lovely.

i think i listened to this 3 times. it's really beautiful. probably one of the better projects from the 80s. doesn't quite hit the spot tho Would I listen again: not after this Deserves to be on this list: possibly 3.4

Way ahead of it's time and so well written, arranged, and produced. Kate Bush has incredible vocal control at a high register which fits well with her music. Cryptic lyrics top it off.

Fantastic.

Rate: 8/10.

I really like Kate Bush, but I hadn't properly listened to this album before. It needs more time to grow on me, but it's already a very pleasant listen.

Kyl tää nyt huokailuks jäi.

Tuntus olevan enempi selkeetä poppista tää kun se hunds of löövi, jota kuunneltiin aiemmin. Ihan taattua laatua, mut ei ylläreitä.

Ihan hyvä levy, vähän ehkä ohkaisempi kun se edellinen Puskan Kati, mutta ihan kivaa kuunneltavaa.

Rocket's Tail is something else but I do not understand what I'm listening to. I might need someone to explain Kate Bush to me. (Two days later) I have decided that, despite my previous rating, this is a 5 of an album. For no greater reason than texture. It is not as in-your-face as other highly textured albums. The texture is more silky. That might be why it took me a minute to appreciate it. Also, I have historically asked for more women in prog. So, thanks.

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/kate-bush/the-sensual-world/ Didn't know this Kate Bush album before, but it's very pleasant. Probably will learn to appreciate this more upon repeated listening. Pretty much what you'd expect from Kate Bush, and nice to hear something new instead of the recently too overplayed Running up That Hill.

6/10 Not as bad as I feared it would be. A bit mono-paced, but there is a craft and a certain beauty in it all. Some of the production seems shockingly bad, but what do I know

Celta meh

Tja, hun er jo flink men ikke helt fan. lukter på en toer men gir 3 av 5

Maybe worth a revisit. Kate Bush continues to elude me but I didn't mind this one by all means.

well... I dedicated years to 1,001 . just to realize it is actually 1,089!!!! What a gyp!!!si 89 to go. However, IF this was to by my last, what a beautiful swan song of an album it would have been. Kate sings like an Angel and a;ways defies classification. Smart and warm, biting and loving, all at once. Enjoy.

Nice, this is the last pre 2000 Kate Bush release I was yet to listen to. Its pretty good, as expected but not one of her strongest releases. Some of the tracks stand alongside her best while other segments of the album began feeling somewhat drawn out. Best track: Rocket's Tail, 6/10

I'm usually not a fan of singers with what I call "little girl/baby" voices, but Kate Bush is one of a kind. I like the arty melodies and what I hear as Celtic influences. 3.5 stars

She certainly has a unique voice. I think I need to listen to this more than once to see if it grows on me.

I had always thought that she had hit her peak with "Hounds of Love" but, listening to this one again, I'd put it right there at the top of her discography. Bush is the epitome of art rock and, to me, has always been the female counterpart to Peter Gabriel (who she's duet with memorably). It's the little things on this one: the female choir on "Rocket's Tail," the great usage of David Gilmour's guitar on songs like "Love and Anger," and how it closes with one of her all time best songs, "This Woman's Work." It's an eclectic and thrilling album and there are really only a couple of so-so songs on it. And, lyrically, she is in top form on songs like "Deeper Understanding," a prescient song about a person's relationship with their computer which provides them with assurance and intimacy in a way that relationships with real people can't.

Only song I already knew here is one of my favorite Kate Bush songs, This Woman's Work. Crazy how good it is considering it was written for a mediocre John Hughes movie. This whole album is a diverse, beautiful listen. The crew she got for instrumentals is top notch, including David Gilmour on a couple songs. One of the most inventive pop artists ever and this one is probably underrated in her discography

I know this album has its fans and you could even say that insofar as Kate Bush is concerned I'm inclined to review her work favorably. And while there are tracks on this record that sound great (I'm certain this was some stellar sophisti-pop for its time) I'm mostly unmoved by it. Sorry Kate, I tried. It feels too decidedly alternative adult contemporary. I listened 3x on headphones and mostly think I'd rather not pick the record up again for a while.

Not for me, thanks

Kinda ebbed and flowed and when I was really getting into it it was over

Mmm.... Pretty average, maybe you needed to be there

Good

Im on the fence about Kate Bush. She has some outstanding tracks that reel you in and then what feels like a lot of flat tracks that take you out again. Maybe I need more listens but i'm not seeing enough to listen again.

She has a wonderful voice but I didn't find anything here that I would necessarily come back to.

Rimelig fedt album for at være ærlig. Fire stjerner du

Jeg har ikke noget imod Kate Bush, og jeg kan godt lide flere af numrene, men 45 minutter bliver lidt lang tid med den vokal... This Woman's Work er tilgengælg næsten uforlignelig Vanvittig grinern lyrik på "Deeper Understanding", det er fandme high tech modern life i 1989 3.1

Fascinating.

A really great late 80s record from Kate Bush. I like that she transforms her earlier style into something a little dreamier and more impressionistic here. Yeah there are a couple clunky late 80s rock cliches too, but overall this is a gem.

Sonido interesante y agradable

Another Kate Bush record, another instant 5 stars. I'm biased because she's my favourite artist of all time, and admittedly I had it in my head that this was perhaps my least favourite of her albums, but I listened again today 3 times and was proven absolutely incorrect. The production is warm, Kate's voice is just so gorgeous, lovely instrumentation with pipes on a few tracks. Favourite tracks: the whole thing, but This Woman's Work is one of the best songs ever written. Fact.

Perdoname Kate, pero le tenía más ilusión a tu álbum y la verdad que no me gustó nada.

Kate Bush is like oysters. It's a very particular experience and if it's not for you, you're gonna have a bad time

Lekkere plaat

3.5

Nice mix of textures around the voice. Quite unusual but still melodic.

Absolutely love this, it's so lush and grandiose! I'll never get tired of the late 80s.

It's a funny moment when you're listening to something and your head snaps up, realizing that Maxwell song was a cover.

Strange relationship with Kate’s music. Either I love it or I don’t like it at all. The songs are so hit or miss for me.

8/10 omg kate bush hi!!!

Better than Coldplay

I'm not a fan of the typical, synthy, eighties beat, and this album was full of it. It felt whimsical, but maybe trying a bit too hard. I enjoyed some of the songs, but they bleed into each other so much that it is hard to keep track of what I'm listening to. Kate Bush is Kate Bush though, so I did like it.

Не зацепило

I like Kate Bush’s voice, and I like the overall sound of this album, but somehow I don’t actually like any of the songs. I’m not even sure why. They aren’t catchy, fun, interesting, or bad enough to complain about. They just sort of… exist. It’s like someone sealed the sound of the late ’80s in Tupperware, then forgot to put any songs in it. A perfectly preserved time capsule of the era, just from the lower shelf. 2/5

Kate's just fun. Happy she made some bank on Stranger Things. Whick wasnt so strange

This was good. I’d never listened to an entire Kate Bush album before. I made comparisons, musically, to some of Peter Gabriel’s stuff - which isn’t a bad thing. Musically it’s good - interesting and original. It ran out of steam after half an hour, but it was still a good experience.

What do you mean there’s a Kate Bush album that doesn’t have *that* song

I think I really sleep on Kate Bush. I've really enjoyed this and her other album I've listened to through 1001 Albums.

This is a classic "I wish I liked this more than I do" album. I can't get into it. The singing is too spooky, and there aren't really any choruses to latch onto. Plenty of nice elements, but it doesn't cohere for me.

Razoável

Powerful voice and good, unique songwriting. Gives me some shades of how Fiona Apple has her cool sort of nicheness. Grows over time.

God love Kate Bush. This was excellent. On The Sensual World, Kate Bush ate (as the kids say).

Again, I respect what she does, even if I don't exactly connect with it. Some cool tracks.

Boring to me, fantastic songwriting. Just not my thing.

A rich album, full of strangeness and feeling. Needs a couple listens to begin to hear it - there's so much going on. But it all makes sense, in it's unique way. I don't love it quite as much as Hounds of Love, but that might be a familiarity issue. Fantastic album all the same. 4.5*

This feels like her "safe" album compared to the other two on the list. Still, she has an amazing voice and this was a solid album.

Flott, en sum aðeins of löng með endurtekinn hljóm frá öðrum heimi.

Not really my bag.

Not quite for me but I do appreciate the vibes present.

Creates a world, which is pleasant and important in making a great album (which this is). Sadly, a bit samey. Seldom is there a standout that I like for a reason other than its resemblance to other things I like more, and even more seldom does it genuinely impress me. The title track is nice, and “Reaching Out” is a phenomenon, but I will likely not return. 7.5/10

Always a pleasure to listen to Kate Bush's wistful ways. First listen all the way through was great and gave it a second listen which just consolidated how beautiful this one is.

Meh, just not my thing. She has a nice voice.

no es el tipo de álbum que escucharía muchas veces