Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Same as the previous Kate album: one track I love -- Love and Anger -- and a bunch of diverse semi-experimental stuff I don't like as much.
3/5 - Listening to Love and Anger really brings back a 1990 nostalgia rush to a very particular time for me, but that's about the extent of my connection here. I think that's probably what Kate Bush does best though. Very particular music that can either make a strong connection or else just leave you wondering what the hell?
Good
i’m a big fan of just about everything kate bush has made but this one i love just a little less. some of her drama and weirdness feels slightly smoothed out in this album, except for the closing two tracks which i love.
not very focused listen but i liked it. gonna relisten for sure
Quite good but it's no Hounds of Love Fav tracks: Heads We're Dancing, Love and Anger
Næææ
Ikke like bra som forløperen Hounds of Love, men hva er vel det?
Fin. Blir litt for mye kvining. Midt på treet opplevelse.
Hørt på solsenga på Granka. For en reise! I hvert fall ikke kjedelig. Skjønner ikke helt når man skal høre på dette albumet, men det har mye særpreg. Føles ut som en liten finger til hele bransjen egentlig
Voksenpop med kunstneriske ambisjoner. Fenger ikke, men man merker at dette er solide greier. Høydepunkt: This Woman's Work.
Her voice is a little annoying for me i’m sorry.
I had the same surprised reaction to the First Kate Bush album I listened to through here, and somehow this one surprised me even more. I expected something more pop and more 80's in the wrong way. I feel like the experimentation on this album payed off and it comes off way ahead of its time. This definitely has had an influence on countless modern bands and feels similar to new indie-pop of today. Surprised how much I liked this.
The Sensual World reaches for the same places as Hounds of Love, but it just doesn’t quite get a full grasp.
Unique
ooooooooooooh YES
It's Kate Bush, and she's ace Not listened to this before but I'd be amazed if she's ever released anything that would score less than a 4
This grew on me on the second spin. I don’t hate it.
Been a while since I spun some Kate Bush…I still like it but it’s just not hitting like it used to…mood has a big effect on listening . This would have been a solid 3-3.5 before
I think this was good... unfortunately I didn't give it my whole attention until near the end so I may like it more if I would give it a full listen. It definitely didn't grab me though.
I'm sorry Kate, I really like a lot of Hounds of Love, but I found this album to be generally uninteresting with a really flat mix that did not emphasize any particular instrument/vocal. The resulting music just sounded compressed and very stagnant. Some good moments and I love her voice, but overall not impressed. 2.4/5 -> 2/5
Very good I like her other albums more though
Masterpiece, on par if not better than hounds of love. Rockets tail with a fucking David Gilmore guitar solo into maybe her best song this woman’s work is insane
Not as strong as hounds of love, but pleasant enough.
Uniek, origineel, maar ook irritant om naar te luisteren
While not my general listening, this was an easy listen. Well produced. Strong lyrics, and a powerful music score.
Cool
Kate Bush – The Sensual World (1989) On Day 97, I found Kate Bush to be a fascinating listen. She has a vocal style that reminds me of Björk, but with a lot more substance I didn't feel left in a "void" or disconnected from the music. The production is rich and consistent, providing a solid "oriental" atmosphere that feels grounded rather than just experimental. "This Woman’s Work" was easily the best track on the album it’s an emotional standout that really carries the project. The rest of the LP is a cohesive and interesting body of work that avoids being boring, offering a sophisticated blend of sounds that kept me engaged. A definitive 4/5.
Meu terceiro disco da Kate Bush na lista, artista essa que até agora vêm me espantando com seus trabalhos inusuais e cantos excêntricos. Qualidades essas que me agradaram até então, e provaram a escuta sempre desafiadora e intrigante, pontos positivos pra mim. Esse é um disco dela que eu nunca ouvi ninguém falar sobre, diferente dos outros dois que já gerei, The Dreaming e Hounds Of Love. O que me surpreendeu foi que eu genuinamente gostei mais desse do que dos outros dois. Acredito que a sonoridade de Bush tenha evoluído de maneiras interessantes nesse disco aqui. É possível dizer que não é um álbum tão experimental quanto os outros dois mencionados, e que na verdade, ele até joga seguro, tendo um apelo mais geral e menos exploratório. Posso até concordar, mas não acredito que isso seja algo necessariamente negativo. Os aspectos positivos dos discos anteriores ainda está aqui, ela ainda emprega seus vocais de maneiras inventivas e intrigantes, e a produção ainda te pega de surpresa com elementos não-ortodoxos, mas tudo está convenientemente embalado em um pacote tradicional e bem mais amigável às paletas gustativas. O resultado é um disco com todos os pontos fortes da artista, mas com um valor de replay mais alto, e com uma facilidade de acesso não vista antes. Esse é o disco dela mais fácil de se apaixonar, e eu me apaixonei. Não pela aventura desafiadora, igual aos outros, mas por melodias fascinantes e sons oníricos maravilhosos. Ótimo álbum. 5/5
good but not for me, great vocals of course. no stand-out song
I can't believe an all-timer tune like "This Woman's Work" was written for a Kevin Bacon movie. (Also a John Hughes movie, but not one of his better ones.)
Solid
I love Kate Bush, but somehow had not listened to this entire album before. Just as good as my other favorites
Yeah, it was just okay. Good sound and whatever, but all the songs kind of blended together for me. I'm on the second song of the second playthrough and didn't even realize it started over.
Deeper Understanding predicted the AI boyfriend/girlfriend thing decades before it happened. The production is extremely 80s but in the best way. Great vocal performances and emotional songwriting without being over the top.
I had a pretty good time with this one but nothing particularly stood out to me. I did really enjoy the last track, This Woman's Work.
Yes! Kate Bush insta 5
I loved the album "Hounds Of Love". This one, which was published four years later is by far not as interesting. Kate Bush of course still has her magical way of singing but there is too little new in the music.
Some of the earlier songs lean too much into the quiet and intimate singing, making it pretty hard to hear. This isn't as much of an issue later, although I found a lot of the tracks pretty boring and repetitive. I could see how this is a good album, but it really wasn't my cup of tea.
Really sleepy whimsical pop music. I can see the beauty in it but not really my jam.
The very soft tone throughout many of the songs renders it hard to hear the vocals clearly at times; however, I think that is part of the purpose, as it serves the themes of woman-hood and lost loves
Always loved Kate Bush.
I really enjoy Kate Bush’s voice, and this album showcases it well. I had never really listened to her prior to this challenge, and I’m glad it has introduced me to her. A nice rebound on this challenge from her album, “The Dreaming”, that I felt had too many lows.
Speaking about similar style, I prefer Tori Amos' music way more.
Ett till sånt där skumt val. Detta är inte ens hennes tredje bästa album ju! Debuten, Lionheart, Hounds of Love och kanske The Red Shoe är bättre i min mening. Fantastiskt nog är det ändå ett underbart album fyllt av pärlor. En stark fyra.
a beautiful work of art
niche
No thanks
#884. I guess she was quite popular in the UK, but I had personally never once heard her name before that one song was on Thinger Strangs. I don't know, but I suppose that like with all pop music, you really had to've been there at the time to really appreciate it. I dig her voice, but I didn't really find myself caring about any of the songs. 3/5: good
4⭐️/5 [03.15.2026] 03.27.2026
3.5 , This Woman’s Work a 5 star track on its own
Really not my cup of tea
Not her best but still above average and worth a listen.
Pretty rough one, definitely did not get it
I liked this album a LOT more than I expected. There were some dull moments to be sure, but most of it had an energy I ended up being obsessed with. The bassline in Love and Anger rules so hard, along with the rest of the song. Heads We're Dancing steals the show for me though with its strange dissonance and overall tonal structure while still having the energy of a Saturday Night Fever style song. I think the low points on the album will knock it down to a 4-star for me but there are definitely some 5-star tracks on here.
Honestly it was fine. She's talented but I can't say I enjoyed much of the album.
Best KB album
Love Kate Bush. I think I was IN love with her at one point during the 80s. I fondly remember this album from the Wherehouse days!
This is bit too 80's MOR for me. Some nice moments but the glossy 80's sheen prevents me from getting under the skin of it. The only exception is This Woman’s Work which is a classic and a song I like to play to Lizzie whenever she is having a go at me for being useless. She loves it. Never gets old.
The Sensual World ‘I turn to my computer And spend my evenings with it Like a friend’ And we thought Michael Franti was prescient. This is probably a 5 solely due to the phenomenal This Woman’s Work, but the rest of the album is excellent too, a fantastic continuation from Hounds of Love, with a few elements of The Dreaming. According to the same thing we are all going to read, she was apparently influenced by James Joyce, and recorded part of it in Dublin, which you can hear throughout the album, but in particular in the way the fiddle weaves through the superb title track. There are more Irish echoes in the rhythms of Love and Anger, alongside David Gilmour’s guitar, and in the creepy, moving The Fog, making an excellent opening 3 songs. I love how Reaching Out musically echoes the lyrics, and you get a sense of grasping for something. Heads We’re Dancing reminds me a little of Marianne Faithful’s Broken English in its synth line and rhythms, and it’s another great track. Deeper Understanding really describes the excitement and descent into co-dependence when getting deep into a Goldeneye session. Never Be Mine is perhaps the only lull, but only in contrast to the rest of it, and the excellent Never Be Mine which follows. Rocket’s Tail has elements of something from The Dreaming, and I love Gilmour's guitar and the Bulgarian choir. And then it ends with the unsurpassably good This Woman’s Work. I think this rewards repeat listening, although I was into it pretty much straight away, which I probably wouldn’t have been before doing the list and having given The Dreaming and Hounds of Love proper listens. In any case this is great and an easy 5, not just for This Woman’s Work, but for the excellent music on the whole album. 🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹 Playlist submission: This Woman’s Work
Steeped in 80s production values, somehow it is far outweighed by the Bush effect - transcendent atmospheres, enrapturing vocals, traditional instruments and involving narratives. The 80s didn't land on Kate bush - Kate Bush landed on the 80s, ammirite! Parts of the album skirt an MoR line on first listen, but it really is a layered work taking a while to percolate. The sound of the more immediate 'Hounds of Love' is here tempered with something more mystical, inspired as it is by Joyce, and delivered with Celtic instruments (and chuck in some Bulgarians, why not). The first six songs are nothing short of excellent. It has to be said there is a dip in the second half, although Gilmour tries his best to turn 'Rocket's Tail' into an epic of Pink Floyd proportions. And it goes without saying a dip is comparative, and still inhabiting a different musical universe to most. The absolute pinnacle of the album, and one of several of her career is 'This Woman's Work'. Achingly rueful; yet desperately hopeful. I rated this a four for a fair while, but kept being pulled back and back again. Any dips are far outweighed by the excellence. Compelling - and rich.
no la conocia, fue un grato descubrimiento
Such an interesting album and artist. There are multiple unexpected sounds and instruments throughout, but it still sounds extremely coherent. It's just missing one or two memorable standout tracks for me though.
Having a hard time rating this one. On the one hand I really like some of the songs like Reaching Out and This Woman’s Work. It’s also unarguable that Kate Bush has an amazing voice. BUT three times I’ve listened to this and three times I’ve fallen asleep. And I’m fine with that if that’s the vibe of the album 🤷🏻♂️
These are decent pop songs and she can certainly sing very well. I understand the appeal, but like I've said before, it's just not really my wheelhouse.
4/10… sophisty pop / witchy / *1989
Very fairy like, loved it
Kate Bush has a real vibe. Enjoyed but nothing in particular stood out as a repeat listen.
I get why people would like it, but this is just not for me, barely a 2.
4.5
3.5
5.0/10
I always forget that I like Kate Bush from the few songs I know and that it would be great to hear more of her music. This was pretty much perfect. I vaguely recall seeing This Woman's Work on MTV back in the day? But great stuff to return to.
Well written and well arranged, but Bush's whimsical and frequently childlike affectations in the vocals drag it down. She's got a great voice but the baby talk singing makes me cringe.
It was perfectly fine .. but not the best Bush.
Everything sounds so weird and echoey, I respect the solidarity but it's not for me
This was pretty nice. Somewhere between 3 and 4 for me. I’ll be generous and give it a 4 so that I actually listen to it again
4 out of 5. This album makes me want to wear a sheer robe and stand in front of an industrial fan for an hour.
Feels like Sinéad O'Connor again lol, enjoyed this for the most part and while it didn't knock me off my feet I'll definitely return to some of the better songs from here
Pretty exceptional writing and production across the album. Some mixing issues, some repetition, some novelty that hasn’t aged well, but damn, “Love and Anger” is a hell of a track.
This one was not quite my tempo, but I still found it to be interesting. It kinda just hung out in the background a lot and was slow, which all contributed to its overall vibes. It was a nice album to have playing in the background.
I love Kate Bush, but this isn’t a must listen. It’s just not.
What a lovely record to revisit. While some give this album flack for leaning into that 80s sound even more than Hounds of Love, I think this is a charming, passionate record at its core, regardless of any production choices. Her voice is as strong and evocative as ever, so full of grit, yet delicate and insanely dynamic, and some of the tracks even remind me of some of her contemporaries that I have deep, obsessive loves of (The Blue Nile and Peter Gabriel come to mind a couple times here). I continue to believe that "This Woman's Work" could go down as her greatest song, for my money. What a way to end the album.
Love listening to female artists always. This one didn’t quite hit for me but still a good album and I can see why it’s on here.
Okei, ehkä vähän siedettävämpi Kate Bush levy. Rokimpaa ja tosi vahva kasari soundi tässä kitarasooloineen. Okei tää on kyllä hyvä levy. Parhaat: Love And Anger, Between A Man And Women, Rocket's Tail
Arguably her best ever. Lives up to the tile with earthy, moody ballads. Incredible vocals throughout.
Nifty, erotic.
This one didn't grab me as much as "Hounds of Love." I had it on in the background and gave it two listens. I enjoyed what I was hearing but "Hounds of Love" had an edge and some quirkiness that really jumped out at me. This one felt a little more straightforward. I'll come back to "Hounds of Love" but I didn't add this one to my library. 2.50 stars, rounding up to 3.
I found this to be an easier listen than Hounds of Love, but for me, Kate Bush remains best enjoyed in small doses. Something about her music just feels like...a lot, even though there's no one thing I can point to as the culprit. It's the whole package. "This Woman's Work" has earned its classic status—shout out to She's Having a Baby for introducing it to me—and I liked "Love and Anger." The rest is good to solid.
My god, right off the bat the title track sucks. This album is terrible. Stranger Things got this one wrong. If Kate Bush was messing around on her computer in 1989 she was either a huge nerd, a total perv or one of the richest kings of Europe. This album is terrible, every song sounds just different enough to remind you how terrible all the other ones were. And her voice is so distinctive it actually plays against her because it makes everything sound like "Generic Kate Bush Song". I will give her credit, the album ends on the two best songs.
I really enjoy this record - it's dream-like, and soft, and yet powerful. I think I might like this even better than "Hounds of Love." FOUR STARS
My rating 3.2
I only know her from Stranger Things. Not my kind of music, but big ups to her!
Cool arrangements, I like the Celtic fusion. Her voice don't really do it for me though. Decent as an art piece, insofar as any creative endeavour constitutes "art". It's no Sistine Chapel.
Just as great as Hounds of Love, feels maybe a bit more human to me.
This is the first LP that I considered adding to heavy rotation. Its a powerful vocal performance with a lot of layers. This is a great example of the powerful female alternative scene in the late 80's and 90's.
Kate Bush is one of a kind. I think Hounds is better than this one but this belongs on the list
I don't really like her voice or that the songs are very monotone but it's creative
Creative and exciting and... boring at the same time? I don't think I remember a single chorus or repeated melody from the whole thing. I love her voice, and it's produced well and sounds nice... but I don't think I'll ever put this on again. Happy for the 1 listen.
Interesting, not my favorite of her work
Not a personal favorite but it isn’t terrible. Sometimes I don’t think the music meshes with her vocals
Not as great as Bush's other stuff but Hounds of love is top-tier
This Kate Bush album is a great example of why I like this journey so much. This wasn’t my favorite album we have heard but this music is unique and all its own! I agree that her voice is a bit grating but the emotion in the voice and strength in the lyrics makes up for it. I think it’s been a bit since we’ve had an album with passion but this has passion. I especially liked the first and last song. A 7.5/10 for me yesterday!
I'm getting a more serious Cyndi Lauper vibe to her voice, maybe some Pat Bennatar too. The quiver in Bush's voice is slightly off putting at first but she does use it to her advantage. The 80s sound or aspect is very prevalent but it can't help that it's from the 80s. I don't like this style of music but it's ok.
Hounds of Love gets all the attention and this album is secretly Kate’s best.
Kate Bush is incredible. The Sensual World is a more straightforward approach to music than Hounds Of Love; it's poppy, but still weird, and with plenty of experimentation (I hear a lot of Peter Gabriel influence here). The Sensual World sounds very 'new age' at times, which scratches a very particular nostalgic itch of mine. Already Kate Bush curious, but now a Kate Bush fan. Highlights: "Love and Anger", "Reaching Out", "Heads We're Dancing"
# Album Name: The Sensual World # Artist: Kate Bush # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Good album once it gets going. Not her best but still good nevertheless # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Light 4
Love bush
Typically good and weird
dreamy, lush, mysterious, gorgeous
gostei da vibe e principalmente dos instrumentais
It’s like getting lost in fantasy land
After listening to this, I now have a Deeper Understanding of The Sensual World.
Sorry maar haar stem is te vervellend om zo lang naar te luisteren.
Amamos el pop en esta cuenta pero es nuy tradicional
Nowhere in the world do I find anything sensual about this album so titled. Couple tracks would be ok if there was no vocal. Album cover gets a half star for giving me Prince eyes vibes. ⭐⭐⭐
Reaching Out kind of slaps. Otherwise, too mellow for me.
Not particularly interesting.
1.6/5 Not really for me
Not as good as the other Kate Bush albums on this list. This one drags a bit, but her usual creativity is there. 3.0/5.0: Good
this album felt so much longer than it actually was. she has a great voice but only about half of the songs hit the mark. the other half are fine but not something i would really want to hear again
хорошо. напомнило бьорк, басист молодец.
The title track sounds like it’s from the soundtrack of a soft porn flick. A couple of these songs I really liked, a couple I really disliked (see title track), and the rest were fair to middling for me. It boils down to another three or star album for me.
The album creates an interesting soundscape that I think may make it works as an ambient, mediative album, and Ms. Bush has a pleasant voice. For lack of a better description, the little vocal trills she does are cute and distinctive. I'd like to give ithe album at least a three for quality, but unfortunately I don't see myself ever returning to this album because as a whole I don't find it that interesting or moving.
Honestly? I did not like this and it was a struggle to get through. This particular brand of weird and airy and meandering did not work for me. There's certainly talent there and I get how this could be a 5 for some people...but it ain't for me. 1.8
Not my fave Kate Bush album but yeah my mother was right to be a hardcore fan since forever
Heard Before? Nope. Notes: - lots of words, not many hooks. - lovely synths, subtle drum grooves, lots of nifty bonus sounds. - glassy production is pretty, but covers the album with a sameness that these songs don't deserve. - vocals that cast a spell; I feel like Bjork was listening to this and taking notes. - "Deeper Understanding" sounds like our current cultural moment. - "This Woman's Work" is an ideal album closer. Powerful. Verdict: This deserves more time than I'm willing to give it. It lacks immediacy and while I can tell it's a grower, tomorrow I'm moving on to something else. Listen Again? Unsure, but I will certainly listen to some of her other albums.
OH MY GOD KATE BUSH YOURE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. This album, strangely, reminded me of the Cocteau Twins <3. It was loud and powerful, but also slow and melodic. Love, love, love.
why she so sensual wit it Lowk listened to two songs
Kate Bush wrote this entirely about Len Houmous. She was obsessed. 4.3 4/11 Reaching Out
I dunno not for me. I mean yeah Bush is an incredible vocalist I just find the music uninteresting even though it seems like it tries to be interesting. Two stars I guess? Maybe just one? Eh.
I've never really understood the love around Kate Bush. I don't think she is bad by any means, her music just doesn't do anything for me. This album is fine and has some good moments, but it is not something that I think I would ever really return to. High 3.
A bit boring until the amazing closer.
I’m finally free of Kate Bush. This is the third and final Kate Bush album I’ve rolled for this project after giving her other 2 albums both a 2 star review. Surely, this one is similar to her other albums I didn’t care for, right?? Well, actually, hold on now. You’re going to think I’m joking, but I somehow kind of really liked this album. Words I never in a million years thought I would say about The Sensual World after listening to her other 2 albums on here. I stated after the last one that I was convinced this would be more of the same. To tell you why I liked this one so much requires a bit of backtracking to explain why I didn’t love the other ones. So, her other 2 albums have unique aspects to them that, and while I’m glad they exist for the sole purpose of being able to tell so easily that she’s just genuinely having fun with it the entire time, are not something I want to hear on an album personally. Every song she’s either making weird animal noises, sometimes actually barking, or doing weird throat things that just sound too experimental for my liking. Again, they’re fun, maybe a bit pretentious as an art form, but very goofy. Bad, yes, but also somehow true to her character and genuine sounding. If that even makes sense, glaring contradiction included. They made me want a Kate Bush album where she’s just singing normally. I figured she had it in her but wasn’t convinced I was ever going to get it. Ladies and gentlemen, this is that album. I gotta tell you, she’s got a great voice when she chooses to use it, and songs like “Heads We’re Dancing”, and my favorite song on the album “Rocket’s Tail” are proof of that. Let me be absolutely clear, this is still very much a Kate Bush album. She’s still very expressive and pitchy with her vocals. She will still occasionally do a random vocal stim out of nowhere. But it’s not as annoyingly breathy or just plain random and dog barky. It’s more contained and guided properly. And for that reason, you know what, this album truly surprised me. Not in a way where I thought it was barely tolerable, but in a way where I truly enjoyed it all the way through. I personally believe this is her best album, and now I’m glad the bot decided to save it for last. By the grace of God, I’ve found a Kate Bush album I enjoyed. Weird and unexpected times for sure. But I’m not complaining at all. “Rocket’s Tail” just rocks unnecessarily hard for no reason, and I thought it was awesome. Great job Kate. I like this one. You finally got me. Third time really is the charm for Kate Bush.
I'm sure I'm not alone in putting Kate Bush in a box which labels her as unlistenable due to being triggered by Wuthering Heights, but I'm fairly happy to bring her out that box after listening to this. Weirdly enjoyed the whole ethereal vibe she was giving here. So Kate, sorry I judged you based on one overplayed song.
Heard it before. I adore Kate, her music is just so unique and this album is no exception. The explosive guitar solo and Trio Bulgarka's backing vocals on Rocket's Tail, Mick Karn's epic bassline on Heads We're Dancing and Kate being truly sensual on the title track. Absolutely amazing 5/5
costa rica bus kate bush
Me cuesta mucho trabajo Kate Bush. Por supuesto amo Running Up That Hill y este disco trae un par de canciones que me gustaron, pero su estilo experimental y sus momentos de voz agudísima me cansan. Seguro no es mal disco, pero me costó un poco.
Ei oikein iskenyt, ajalleen tunkkaiset soundit ja Bush kuulostaa ajoittain vähän sellaiselta kirkonpenkkisopraanomummolta.
#250/1001. Finally Kate Bush. Out of her albums this is probably one of the ones I've listened the least - although I do own it in vinyl. So there is always room to learn more (to know them by heart kind of way) of her music. She was perhaps even too prolific in the beginning of her career, but definitely not prolific enough from this point on... life happens I guess. Her music seems to come out of some other planet or universe or some divine realm out of our reach. Although she tried to couple her first hits with overly acting and lovely but crudely 80s style choreographies, it was all in vain since the songs themselves are gesamstkunstwerks: they contain everything one needs in order to stay sane, to grow up, to learn, to become more as a human being. She stopped playing live earlier and by this album I guess she was more or less done with music videos as well, but I'm totally happy with just the music - although my earliest memories of probably came through the video for Cloudbusting. I don't want to thank god for Kate Bush, because the gods, which I know, are mean shitty bastards, who perhaps will raise their wrath upon earth out of jealousity when they hear her music.
Kate Bush is so effortless cool. So is her music.
I was previously only familiar with Kate Bush through her association with David Gilmour, and not with any of her material. Sure enough, Gilmour plays guitar on two tracks of this album. Honestly, I did not really care for this. His guitar parts, minimal as they are, are the most redeeming part of this album for me. I find her voice to be very whiny and I don't really care for the arrangements of most of the songs. I was glad to hear Gilmour's guitar parts, but don't intend to listen to this album again.
8.5
My 3rd Kate Bush album. Like the others it's a grower. This isn't my style of music but it's pretty obvious Kate is on a different level of musicianship and songwriting. I really enjoy music that's sounds like the artist is playing what they hear and feel instead what some record exec thinks will make money. The bass playing on Never Be Mine is sublime. Kate Bush is way above average.
big kate bush fan
Not for me. 80s tropes dripping with “sensuality.”
A continuing theme as of late -- I listened to this about 3 times, but was never able to give it a ton of focus. General impressions are on the positive side. I enjoyed the orchestral suite on The Fog -- felt a bit Bjork-y. Also enjoyed Heads We're Dancing. Otherwise on a quick scan back through I think the songs are okay, but sometimes err a little on the pretentious side. But the sounds are clean and for the most part pleasant. For that I'll go with a noncommittal 3
Another mediocre entry by our girl Kate. Can't knock her for having a distinct sound, but I can knock her for have a lackluster sound. I feel like all of her albums have had one bright spot. Rocket's Tail might have been the best song here. Maybe her best album of the 3 that we have had.
Went 2.5 years without getting a Kate Bush album, thought we were free but alas she sneaks up on us again with only 30 albums to go. This is pretty much status quo for Kate Bush, her high pitch singing is pretty brutal on the ears at some points. I think this is probably her best of the 3 albums on here because it was at least normal music. In no way is it a 3 but probably a mid to high 2
I was really not loving Love and Anger and then the end just blended super well together. The Fog is a strange one, but the strings are pretty nice. Beginning of Rocket's Tail was a lot and then it dropped into a sick David Gilmour solo. Lot of meh here with some solid moments. High 2 debated going 3.
So moody. I'll guess I can point to this album for anyone that is going through a bad breakup?
Nice art pop with great production, arrangements and singing. But this style of melancholic art pop gives me anxiety, rather than reliving sadness. I prefer earlier Kate when she was more cheerful, joyful and playful.
Day742 - a kate bush album so good i might have to go back and re-review the other two albums i’ve already listened to
I loved this. I need to listen to more Kate Bush! I'm just into this ethereal operatic dramatic stuff right now.
Yeah it's fuckin' great. Was never totally won over by "This Woman's Work" as I was hearing it in this context. Favorite part of the album is the moment when "Rocket's Tail" opens up.
Not our bag, baby
i appreciate this album but i also expected a bit more :( or maybe because in general im not the biggest fan of art rock or art pop. still, there are a few tracks that i liked a lot more than others.
Reading the negative reviews here, I expected some warbling mess of experimental sounds and nonsensical lyrics. Instead what I got was an early predecessor of Tori Amos, hauntingly beautiful and lyrically stunning. This Woman’s Work - WOW, adding that to my favourites
Hounds of Love is the best but this is still good
I love this album.
2.5 - interesting album but got tired of it by the end
Accurately predicted that the computer will be our best friend
Favorite track(s): The Sensual World, The Fog, Heads We're Dancing, Rocket's Tail
my dog understands the high pitched drone better than I do. never really saw the appeal..the kick and lionheart were ok but ........
incredible
78/100. A strong art pop record with beautiful songwriting and production, but for me, it’s a clear step down from Hounds of Love. Then again, following up one of the greatest albums of all time is no small task. This still holds its own, but it lives in the shadow of its predecessor.
Didn't care for this one
I really loved this. I've listen to a few of Kate Bush's albums before and have always been pleasantly surprised. Her music is always creative and timeless and weird enough for me to find things to like. I'm wary to give 5 stars but I'm going to do it
Meh
A bit repetitive
3 Kate Bush albums seems excessive
Kate Bush made a lot of iconic songs, none of which are on this album...
weird ass 80s shit fuck yea. kate bush always delivers, great album
I love Kate Bush but to me this doesn't really stand out massively as an album, does have some good songs on it though
art pop rock, 1989 -> 3
On some tracks, the background music drowns out the vocals. It's as if she is singing from under water. She should have given her producer a stern lecture. That said, what an amazing album! "The Sensual World", "Love and Anger", and "This Woman's Work" are particularly strong songs.
NOTE: Listening and rating to this on Apr 21 2026. Now for review. Does not seem to contain tracks nearly as memorable as in Hounds of Love. However it's not bad at all, I liked This Woman's Work and possibly "Never be mine". Dead in the center with 3 stars.
The albums on here fascinate me. I liked this more than I thought I would. But it gets hard for me to listen to her voice after a while.
Good melodies, and a bit more restraint in her vocals lead to a pleasant listen.
Nice enough. ★★★
Wonderful woman, Ok album
Not my favorite. No really stand out songs for me, and very same same.
Kate Bush is a bit like David Bowie - massively respected, but I just don’t get why and cannot enjoy their music. She has done the odd good tune, Wuthering Heights, Man With A Child In His Eyes for example, but there is nothing on this album (no, not even This Woman’s Work) and if given the choice of listening to this or nothing, I’ll take nothing, thanks.
Kate Bush is weird. But I liked this one better than the last one. 3.5
Surprisingly enjoyable. It's a pop album, but there is clearly a lot more going on here than just a few pop hits. I really love all the small touches throughout, the background choir, the bass blurts, the weird animal noises she makes at the end. Really pleasant surprise of an album.
Beautifully intimate. There isn’t a bad song on this record. I loved the David Gilmore appearance on Rocket Tail, the songwriting on Heads We’re Dancing and the final track This Woman’s Work is incredible.
So much better than I remembered. And the final track is an all-timer
yeah its an album
I find Bush's more accessible pop sound more enjoyable.
A classic. Rich and dreamy. It feels like a floating world.
Simply glorious!
A fine album. I'd still put Hounds of Love above it, but a good listen.
My bar was set high with Hounds of Love where I became a fan of Kate Bush. This album being the followup, I was curious how it would compare. Its a good album, and as I have learned with Kate Bush, this is going to take a few listens to grasp it all.
Doesn't appeal much to me - her voice is pretty but the songs feel a bit disconnected
In 1986 Peter Gabriel filmed a video for his duet with Kate Bush, “Don’t Give Up”. The video was a single unbroken slow zoom of Peter and Kate locked in an embrace for the entirety of the song. I have envied Peter Gabriel for 39 years.
ethereal
Not my vibe. I won’t be rushing to listen to the album again, but I didn’t hate it.
Kate has a great voice and this is a really weird album. Enjoyed it.
3.9 / 5 Knowing Kate Bush, I expected this album to be very artsy and experimental, and I wasn't disappointed. Although I didn't know any songs from "The Sensual World", I think that due to the creative approach and theatrical elements, this album definitely deserves a spot on this list. (which can't be said about the album that followed lol).
Kinda interesting, very 80s, solidly 'okay' for me
Vamos cerrando la semana con esta artistaza del carajo como Kate Bush. El disco está lleno de un aura romántica, pop, con canciones que parecen soundtracks de ambientes medievales. Gracias y nos vemos el viernes.
All I know before listening is I like when she runs up that hill Holy fuck this shit got me levitating bro I gotta listen to more Kate Bush. This is music
Kate bush is ok
I love Kate Bush man
kate bush and björk exist in similar realms of joy and whimsy for me
Yeah, kate bush is pretty rad.
Lovely Kate
Not for me.
Anytime I hear something from Kate Bush, it seems like it was written for a movie of TV show. It's like she's begging to feel emotion in her songs, but unfortunately, I don't really feel it listening to her music. I think the first songs were good but then I zoned out until my favorite song on the album and last one, This Woman's Work. I think she has a great voice and at times I thought she sounded like Cindi Lauper. I do like more than a few tunes by Cindi, so that's a good thing. If anything, listening to this album last couple times and letting the genre play, I've gain more appreciation for The Sugarcubes album. OK, but a little slow and boring for this listener. 2.5
3.5 Not gonna lie, I was probably a little too harsh on Kate Bush’s last album. At the time, I lived with a roommate who blasted her music constantly, and Stranger Things had, ironically, taken her iconic song Running Up That Hill and ran it into the ground. Now, I live alone, and the popular Netflix series has concluded (three years later), so I think I can view her music a bit more objectively. And, honestly, it’s really not that bad. Kate Bush has such a unique voice that has just now finally started growing on me, and while it did remind me a bit Cyndi Lauper and Björk at times, I would say her delivery has a touch more charm in comparison (not trying to throw shade, but both have a tendency to way overdo it). Though, Kate certainly isn’t infallible - the opening of Rocket’s Tail was borderline grating. Fortunately, everything else is pretty good, and the production, in particular, is fantastic - thinking about it now, the one word that jumps out to me is “soundscape”. This album does a fantastic job of sucking you into the world it creates and taking you on a sort of spiritual journey, making it feel much more like a sci-fi epic than it does a simple pop album about love - in hindsight, I can definitely see why her music made its way into Stranger Things. Whatever kind of love Kate is experiencing, it must be pretty damn good considering the climactic nature to so many of these songs. That said, this is also very same-y. It feels weird to say that because I wouldn’t say that every song SOUNDS the same per se, but they all do the same sort of thing, thematically and sonically. It doesn’t really allow for a lot of highlights, and looking at the tracklist now after four listens, I still couldn’t really point out any one song over another. Per my earlier analogy, you could certainly say that this album is much more about the journey than the destination, but for as cool as it sounds, I’m just not sure there’s a lot of substance - it’s almost like I had a cathartic itch I was never quite able to scratch. This definitely helped expand my appreciation for Kate a bit, to the point that I’m even willing to concede Running Up That Hill is a pretty good song, but I can’t say it turned me into any sort of diehard fan of hers. I’m glad to have been exposed to this album, but I don’t think I’m likely to frequent it.
4/5
More of the same from Bush really. Not my thing but can admire some of the musicality.
Maybe her most underappreciated album, even though it is very well appreciated
Listen, i have a hard time listening to all of Kate Bush in one go. I know the arrangements are good and interesting, but it makes me want to turn it off sometimes, yet this whole thing is great
I didn’t listen closely enough to determine whether this was bad enough to be a 1 but what I did hear sounded pretty bad.
1.8 There cant be 1 kid nowadays that would listen to this and really get into it.
Dig it!
I struggle with Kate Bush because I think she's great and very talented but I really hate the "80s sound" of the drums, guitar, keyboard, etc. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Das ist mir zu langatmig.
Pretty good stuff, got bored near the end.
Not my jam
Boring
I like Kate Bush! I probably liked this more than the other one
So far, just as epic if not even more than Hounds of Love? I may edit when I have more detailed thoughts but it just sounds immediately epic, catch, beautiful, and uniquely her. This is the only woman who can talk about installing a program on her computer and make it engaging in song.
Nice Beats, Okay lyrics.Pleasant
Pretty good and interesting pop.
Fuck off
Not for me
Pretty good.
kate Bush does it again with this one
This was mostly uneventful. It just played in the background while I worked. Nothing moved me to pull it up and see what was playing, except for Rocket's Tail. 2.5
This is #day485 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's my first Kate Bush album experience, and the first of three of her records on the list. Something tells me this isn't the right one to get familiar with her work. Had Hounds of Love been first, I might have had a better impression. Yeah, it's progressive pop, late '80s, but… I don't know. That said, the lyrics of "Deeper Understanding" made my eyebrows raise: "As the people here grow colder, I turn to my computer, and spend my evenings with it like a friend." Pretty much a description of today’s lifestyle from the perspective of 1989. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day486.
She’s a lil weirdo and I love that
Beautiful work Kate
I enjoyed this album for the most part. It did get a bit repetitive at times where the songs started to mesh together. But, overall it's a solid work. I recommend a listen to everyone before they die. 3.4 / 5 stars
Kate Bush perfectly straddles the line between utter genius and completely unbearable. Her songwriting is phenomenal, but the arrangement and vocals are a struggle for me. She's a bit of an enigma for me in that sense... Somehow I'm simultaneously glad "Wuthering Heights" wasn't on this album and wishing that "Running Up That Hill" was. Yes, those are the two Kate Bush songs I can name, what of it?
Interesting voice, but not much heart here...obviously influenced by Peter Gabriel
I know someone who knows Kate Bush quite well. Apparently, she's the loveliest person in music, very down to earth and "normal". I'd love to share a pot of tea and a couple of seed cakes with her. As for this album, I was right in the mood for it. Hit the spot! Kate sprinkled the fairy dust throughout the album. Ethereal and a little magical.
Not my thing at all
Not her best
Unique voice! An album that is between dark and full of pathos, with deep lyrics and some climaxes. Nevertheless, I was not very much involved in this certain atmosphere
I liked some of the weird things I haven't heard before. Things such as Celtic instruments being used to play stereotypical sounding Arabian melodies on tracks like 'The Sensual World'. But most of the time it was a little too artsy and while kind of cool sometimes I just don't see myself returning to this album again Standouts The Sensual World Rocket's Tail 3/5
Sure, this is fine, just not, like, amazing
I was more familiar with Kate's previous album, Hounds of Love, but this really surprised me. The production is nothing short of incredible. Every note sounds crisp and her voice is magnetic. I couldn't tell you what the songs were about because I was too busy just vibing with them. This album is sensual, tender, delicate, fierce and nuanced. In other words, it is a Kate Bush album par excellence.
It’s awesome. One of my favourite albums.
Kate Bush is incredible so its going to be a 4 minimum. Maybe not quite the level of the other two, but fantastic. The vibes are incredible on this album. All the instrumentation is so good Melodically top
No standouts
Lovely album. Not quite as memorable as some other albums
Not mine
Dramatic synth
No es mi favorito de Kate Bush, y me suena claramente ochentero pero de un modo que no termina de ser un "clásico". Convencida de que otra vez nos encontramos ante "el cupo de mujer" de la semana.
No es mi favorito de Kate Bush, y me suena claramente ochentero pero de un modo que no termina de ser un "clásico". Convencida de que otra vez nos encontramos ante "el cupo de mujer" de la semana.
I have always loved Kate-Stu I agree, she has a special place in my heart & always will. I remember when I bought this cassette (heart heart heart) and exhausting it - strong work, full of hope and enchanting simply because it is her.
This is the moment in a forest with a thick green canopy when rains of sunshine pour in between the leaves. It lights up the soul.
The denim vest is really what stood out. I don't ever remember seeing anyone wear a denim vest in my high school of 3000 people. A new kid in school recently relocated from Kentucky. His dad had just been relocated the help the ailing JC Penny's in Atlanta. Seems they were the supplier of said vest. Matt and I shared an english class. And eventually a lot more than that. But without a doubt the most lasting influence was the shared love of Kate Bush. Or as we knew her - Kate. Is still find some of her more esoteric moments confounding (I'm looking at you Lionheart). But when she hits - wow does she hit. I am a pop smith romantic at heart and this album is all her talents on full display. I cant really review this album. It just is for me. I feel like a rag doll it here capable hands. Tossed and twisted at her whim. And I gladly give myself over. Adult emotions writ large. Takes me back and makes me glad I lived those days. Kate/Matt - thank you.
Kate bush is super talented. Someone should go back and remix about of her songs with better beats haha
I’m partial to a bit of Kate Bush (and will be giving 5 stars to one album), but this felt a bit too undefined, ethereal and wishy washy. Not the same bite as some of her earlier tracks.
Not much of a Kate Bush fan it seems.
Languorous
This was closer to 3.5, yesterday's more of a 2.5 but same score.
Man I can’t believe I hadn’t listened to any Kate Bush albums until doing this list. I’ve been missing out. More straightforward than ‘Hounds of Love’ but still loaded with great melodies, sonic ideas, and production (percussion in particular, holy smokes). Bush is a one-of-one songwriter with a singular, expressive, joyful voice.
Das klingt alles nicht verkehrt, ist aber irgendwie für mich nicht wirklich greifbar gewesen. Müsste man sicher noch ein paar Mal hören, um es wirklich gut bewerten zu können. Hab ich da aber Lust drauf? Hmm, eher nö.
Mal wieder ein Album, das sicherlich nach mehreren Durchgängen wächst. Nach dem ersten Mal an der Grenze zwischen 3 und 4 Sternen.
Zum ersten Mal ein Kate Bush-Album gehört und es hat mir überraschend gut gefallen. Konnte mir vorstellen, dass hier irgendwann auch mal eine 5 stehen könnte. Teilweise überraschend rockig.
Atmosphärisch und von der Stimme hat mir das wirklich gut gefallen. Wurde auch nicht auf voller Länge annähernd langweilig.
Wusste ich unterm Strich nicht besonders viel mit anzufangen.
Huch. Fand ich ganz gut. Hätte ich irgendwie anders erwartet.
Fantastische Stimme, fantastisches Album, das an keiner Stelle langweilig wird.
Bisschen weird, aber das gute Weird. Sehr atmosphärisch, schwache 4, aber 4
# Playlist Track - The Sensual World # Notes - Kate Bush's vocals are pretty great, but the tracks on this one are not. Couple of cool tracks, plus a few forgettable ones and one or two bad ones. Go listen to something else.
The music is average, but man what a voice
All those people with AI girlfriends or who talk to AI instead of people should be forced to listen to Deeper Understanding and then get shot in the back of the head
Its okay. Shes great but all the songs spund the same
About what I expected. Not my favorite genre but a fine album.
It is 100% a byproduct of me being 450 albums in, and I know I sound like an asshole for saying it, I wish there was a lot more avant-garde pop like this. This may be the most ambitious pop album I've ever heard. This album is firing on all cylinders from start to finish. Kate Bush is singing her god damn lungs out the entire time. We deserve for all our pop music to be as innovative and as beautiful as this.
Ethereal. Really enjoyed the musical layers here.
Enjoyed listening might listen again see if I like it any better
It's not even on this album
her voice is just too beautiful! the sound of this is maybe more polished (?) or 80s schmaltz than i would prefer but i enjoyed it anyway. fav tracks: love and anger; the fog; never be mine
It was pretty but it’s not something I’d reach for probably. Not as gut wrenching as some of her other stuff because of the 80s-ish gloss over it. It was kind of leaning too Peter Gabriel for me but she gives a great vocal performance.
I didn't do this album justice and literally skimmed the tracks because I ran out of patience. I appreciate her sound, but you really need to be in that mood to enjoy it.
The only song I already knew from this album was This Woman’s Work - which I really liked. I expected to enjoy the rest of the album but it just wasn’t really my thing. Might partly be because I was expecting something different. I love her voice, I just didn’t really vibe with the album. Fav song: This Woman’s Work Least fav: The Fog
Not going to lie this really didn’t make much of an impression on me. Liked the general sound and it wasn’t a bad one to listen too but nothing really got to me. Specific rating - 3.9 Fav song - heads we’re dancing Least fav - the fog
Some of the warbling weirdness ventured a little too far into the strange (and annoying...) for me. But there were some songs I really liked! Favourite song: This Women's Work (also really liked Love And Anger) Least: Rocket's Tail
Pretty nice listen.
I enjoyed this, but it didn't quite have the impact that Hounds of Love did. A strong album, but without any real stand out tracks.
Not something I'd seek out, but I didn't mind listening through once
Very 80's, vocals were weird but somehow didn't bother me nearly as much as if the same vocals were from a male singer. Bjork-like? The instrumentation almost reminded me of Phil Collins in a way, emphasis on the drums and driving guitar. Not bad!
For my personal taste, I'm a much bigger fan of pre-new-wave 'Hounds of Love' era Kate Bush - I just find her newer stuff is missing the alien weirdness that made her early stuff so amazing (aside from maybe 'Rocket's Tail' from this album, which reminded me of some of the most imaginative moments off The Dreaming). But Kate Bush is Kate Bush at the end of the day, and the talent speaks for itself - if anything, this album feels like a more mature, grounded, and sentimental take on her usual style. That idea really clicked with me on the lush, reverby, dreamy, and emotional 'Deeper Understanding', which sounded like the sonic encapsulation of a comforting hug. A good bit of this album, production-wise, sounds like this; it's all super warm and textured. And while I do think there's some of that '80s clunk here, especially on 'Heads We're Dancing', songs like 'The Fog' and 'Never Be Mine' fuse those sounds with the Celtic and Eastern influences Bush is known for. And the closer, 'The Woman's Work', is so unbelievably sad - the song feels so full in sound, yet so empty at the same time, like the crushing weight of the world you feel after losing someone special. Kate Bush once again solidifies her place, for me at least, in the art-pop hall of fame. It's a mature angle for this usually very striking artist, but it's an angle I can get behind and respect - especially when it sounds this freakin good.
Ethereally beautiful , it’s fucking Kate Bush, do I really have to say more??
Non capivo perché pop prog, poi è arrivato e spacca.
2.5 out of 5 I’ve always liked Kate Bush. The lyrics and tone, the music and themes. I think if she sang a cappella I’d hate it but who knows. This was a decent album with cool synthwave vibes that didn’t drown it in “80s”. I like Kate for about 5 minutes. This was more than 5 minutes.
Kate Bush was a huge blind spot for me until Stranger Things. I had heard her name but could not have told you a single thing about her or her music. I blame MTV, lol. I like this. It sounds like the '80s, but not in a cheesy, commercial way. While listening to these 1001 albums I've often wondered how different my musical taste would have been if I had been born ten years earlier. Coming of age and actually being in college when "college rock" was first becoming a thing. I feel like Kate Bush would have been a favorite of mine in that alternate reality. I like what I hear from her now, but it can't "grab" me like I think it would have if I had first listened to it as a teenager.
An apt name for this one! Personally I wouldn’t consider this a must listen before you die, but hey, stranger things have happened.
Kate Bush's voice and artistry are as inimitable as ever, but the musical worlds she inhabits here do little to arouse my senses.
Is this a British list of the Top 1001? This would never make an American T1001. One "big" hit with "This Woman's Work" which is more of an anthem and a well covered song than an actual hit. It never made much of an impact on 1989 US radio. This was drivel, not my thing, overly theatrical and drowning in unnecessary string arrangements and wispy fairy vocals. I actually hated it. It sounds like music from a original cast Broadway production more than a pop album. Is it conceptual? I missed the message and couldn't get past the boredom of these wandering nothing songs. I literally couldn't finish a single song. Every song has well over 1M listens with "TWW" clocking in with 75M, so someone is gobbling this crap up. 2 stars and I'm being kind.
I get why people love Kate Bush, but I don’t get Kate Bush. It’s a little too woowoo for me, ya know?
"The Sensual World" is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush. Progressive pop is the Wiki-listed genre. Alright. The self-titled song was inspired by James Joyce's "Ulysses." Kate sings lead and backing vocals and plays the piano and synthesizer. 23 additional musicians and vocalists also participated in the album including the Bulgarian ensemble trio Bulgarka. The album was very well-received critically and, commercially, it hit #2 in the UK and #43 on the US Billboard Top 200. Bells open the album and the first single "The Sensual World." A synth melody and an electronic beat. Kate with whispering and soft vocals. Uillean pipes give this a Celtic feel. The music was inspired by Joyce's "Ulysses" and she wanted to use lyrics from Molly Bloom's soliloquy but was denied. It's a song about a first-time sensory overload. Kate's vocals are more urgent in "Love and Anger." Piano, tribal beats and a prominent bass. David Gilmore giving guitar slashes and the song a rock edge. Chanting backing vocals in a complex song that builds. The second side begins with "Deeper Understanding." Piano, synth and electronic beats. And appropriate computer noises in a song about an individual who finds companionship in a computer (reminding me to watch "Her" again). The Bulgarka trio with lovely backing vocals in a song that would not be put out of place on Peter Gabriel's "So." The album closes with "This Woman's Work." A gentle piano and delicate vocals. Kate on backing vocals giving lead vocalist Kate encouragement. Strings. The song builds. A nice finish. The production on this album is exceptional with a lush and complex sound with layered instrumentation of strings, traditional folk instruments, pian0, synths, guitar, bass and idiosyncratic beats. Kate layered her own vocals too and adds guests as backing vocalists as well. The music can have a folk flair, a big sound with the strings and even a global music vibe. The music works very well with the vocals and lyrics which can have deeper meanings or be observational. I particularly like when Kate let's her vocals and the music build and explode. Her music is some of the best in doing that. It's an album I really liked and think most of you would too.
Like all great original artists, it takes a little while to get into their world. But when it clicks, you realise what a superb raw talent some individuals have. Kate Bush's best music always seems to have a touch of magic, mystistim and exotica with rich classical overtones. Truly spellbinding.