Reviews (page 7 of 8)
I have a hard time with synth-pop, it's one of my least favorite genres. Combine that with this being half full of covers on a double album, and it sounds like an awful slog. However, I'm halfway through this and honestly I'm enjoying it more than I expected. A few cool originals, decent covers, and we'll see how the rest goes. Yeah, so the back half drags a bit and is more like what I expected to feel from a synth-pop album.
It’s the last day of our camping trip. It’s bucketing down outside, and we have to pack up our tent in the lashing rain. This is not the soundtrack I wanted for today. To say I’ve never been a fan of Frankie Goes To Hollywood is something of an understatement. The instantly recognisable synthetic bass lines of their two most famous songs grate against my brain. “Relax” is such a strange song to be a hit. It's quite a risque subject matter to be blaring out of tinny speakers in a supermarket in the middle of the day as families fill their trollies with their weekly shop. “Two Tribes” tackles the other theme of the album, war, but to me it’s just a cacophony of synthpop nonsense. But, I come here trying to understand the appeal, and why this is an album that I must listen to before I die (even if it kills me). It starts off with a cringey Vincent Price impersonation, “The world is my oyster. Ha ha ha ha.” Lord beer me strength. Next up is the thirteen minute title track. The same cringe-tastic spoken word parts are peppered throughout, but I have to admit, the melody is quite catchy. There’s some pretty interesting guitar textures in there too, with plenty of harmonics and, dare I say it, a sustained guitar that sounds a little Pink Floyd Meddle-esque? There’s a hint of harmonica breaking up the electronic sound too. “War” is the first of a few covers on the album. It’s like a deconstructed version of the original. Again, there’s campy nonsense thrown in everywhere with a terrible impersonation of Ronald Regan rattling on about Che Guevara and love. Damn it though, I have to admit that I don’t hate the bass line at all. It actually reminds me of… and I shudder to say this aloud… Kraftwerk or even LCD Soundsystem. I hate myself. But, overall it's a lot to take. There are little skits about orgasms, needless covers of Bruce Springsteen and San Jose, ill-advised rapping and all sorts of cringiness filling the excessive runtime. I know that's the point. It's excess by design or something like that. Some sort of art project that's very smugly certain of itself. But I mean, we still have to suffer through it all. Sure it has some redeeming moments. More than I expected going into this, to be honest. But to be clear, it's redemption from a one star review. And that's the nicest I can be about the Pleasuredome. Overall, it's as enjoyable as packing up a wet tent in the lashing rain.
Sounds just like it did when I first heard it in the 80s: long, uneven, and boring. 2/5.
2 - early 80s electronic/dance music. not vibing with it.
Sorry just wasnt my thing
More less.
This contains my most hated song ever. The rest of the album was okay I guess but hearing the voice just reminds me of the one song. I don’t hate it as much as I used to, but still no.
This felt like an entire album of the intro and outro to relax. Then it turns into a cover album for a while. I didn’t mind it but too long.
I think this album wants to be epic, huge, theatrical, but it’s let down by a bunch of filler, poor mixing, and weird production choices.
I only know about Relax because of Zoolander. I hadn’t heard any other song on this album other than that one. They made some choices that didn’t jive with me. For one, the title track was super long and not worth the time. Relax was enjoyable, as was Power of Love. But everything in the middle was nowhere near as good as those two songs. Including the covers (of which, there were too many). I was kind of hoping they would expand beyond what I knew of them and I’d get some very interesting songs, but alas, it didn’t turn out that way.
Relax was a pretty cool track but the rest of this album is try hard self-indulgent 80s barf.
This very faithful cover of Born to Run is throwing me off. And San Jose. And War, come to think of it. Is this like half-club/dance half-covers?
Why do people rate this group so highly? They are just another 80s electronic band who use suggestive lyrics to enhance their sales.
Typical 80's new wave - not something I enjoy very much. A high 2, not quite enough for a 3.
If you enjoy the 80s cheesy and goofy synth sound with over the top vocals then this is the album for you.
I like it when a one hit wonder band has a whole sick album. This isn’t one of those.
I really just have no idea what to make of this...
A couple of catchy tunes but super dated. 2.5
There are so many cover songs on this album, should it really be on this list? I used to love the song Relax, but as I've gotten older and the more things I notice and hear in the song, the more grossed out I am lol. I like the guy's voice though.
'80's dance music has never really been my thing. It's just a little too frenetic for my taste. Kind of like an over caffeinated toddler.
There was some good music in the 80s. There was some fun music in the 80s. This isn't good. It tries to be fun, and on occasion it connects. Overall, though, no thanks. 2
Groupe connu par le tube Relax, mais pas vraiment apprécié. Cet album est ... très long, mais plutôt plus original qu'attendu (+1). Le titre éponyme et ses 13,40 mn est particulièrement inattendu et assez bizarre (choeurs, parties parlées). Bizarrerie qu'on retrouve sur quelques autres morceaux. L'album contient aussi quelques reprises (bof). Ceci dit j'ai eu du mal à accrocher, et je ne suis pas sur d'avoir envie de l'écouter de nouveau. =>2/5
Wtf
Know the singles but definitely haven't heard anything else. It's aggressively 80s and thus takes itself far too seriously, the big tracks are very catchy but id be pushed to say I enjoy them. Don't think I knew they were Scouse, always glad to see a Liverpudlian band do well (even if it was one albums worth of fame), but won't be listening again.
As I've said repeatedly, the whole synth pop sound doesn't do much for me, but I probably found this better than I thought I would. The ferry across the Mersey confused me.... Didn't realise they were from Liverpool! Didn't enjoy that one though. Begrudgingly, the born to run cover wasn't awful but I don't think covers should be on studio albums. San Jose too.... do your own songs! Anyway, aside from those covers and the weird interludes, there are 3 pretty iconic tracks on here. Unfortunately they don't redeem it for me. Better then I was expecting, but not for me. 2
Fine as far as 80s synth pop goes.
I appreciate that they tried to have a few different genres on this, but the middle was full of weak covers and the rest had too much 80s synths and drum machines.
Not much to say really.
When does this shit get good? WOAHHH i feel like I’m marching into war I truly feel like I’m inside the pleasure dome Frankie say…
Keep getting 80s albums lately and well if it isn’t one of the best shorthand Now That’s What I Call The 80s! records of all time... I loved Relax as a melodramatic kid, not having the slightest idea what they were singing about. I also thought The Reflex was by the same band (because the song titles and sound are similar, see) so for a while there I was a big 8 year-old Duran Duran/Frankie fan. I admire what Horn accomplished here but it’s...a lot.
One good song.
From The Commitments: Cos you know everything about music, Jimmy. You had Frankie Goes To Hollywood's album before anyone heard of them. And you were first to realize they were shite.
all over the place
3/10
the world is my oyster!!! HAHAHAHAHA! this ace attorney ass beat.. some great synth stuff going on but some of these tracks feel like im being held hostage as a bruce springsteen disliker i like this cover of born to run a lot overall not really my thing but i get it
what a weird album. of course i knew the singles, but the rest? so disjointed, but i didn't hate it. one and one with this though.
Started out theater-cord and went into 80's New Wave cheesiness. Far far from my thing. 3/10
I didn't really enjoy this one at all, a usual flat 80s sound
Meh
Mmmm
Welcome to the Suck.
the hell meh
This seems like it wanted to stand out, but just could not to me. Nifty splash blam bonk bazoom older rock, but it never bounced itself out of the box where I tend to put this genre of music.
didn't really care for this although this might not have been the original version since a couple of the song said remix
"Frankie say, 'no more'". I couldn't have said it better.
Highlights: Relax, Born To Run 2.7
This was ok, but the 80s production weighs it down for me. Also the weird sexual lyrics don’t land well.
Hard to deny the significance and impact of the hits to the decade of the 80’s. That said, I think I find the full dose of the album more off putting now than I did what made airplay back then. 2.5/5
Weird and not in a way I’m into…
..
power of love is such a peak song already had it but the rest of the album ahhh
Not horrible but it not grwat
its okay
Oh look, more terrible Britpop. Complete with a awful cover of Born to Run
This album should be half as long. Some big hits, but too much filler. 2.5
Realmente música dos anos 80 não é para mim
it was like fine but not particularly fun for me to listen to
For the record, I don’t give two sh*ts where Frankie goes. I went to the bank and then to the grocery store. No one cared. Every track on this album, including the covers, sounds exactly the same with different lyrics to be able to tell them apart. At times, the music itself was enjoyable, but I did not care for the vocals. Left me wanting more after an hours listen.
10 minute song isn’t my normal thing, but I imagine people who go clubbing would love it. Cranked it up on “Relax.” Rather enjoyed some of it and hated some of it. Born to Run rework didn’t do it for me. The Power of Love lyrics were very odd.
Fine. There was one "oh I know *that* song" moment. Extremely forgettable music -- to me.
I am only familiar with Relax. I could listen to the album, I guess I always figured they were a one hit wonder. 2.5 stars
So everyone knows Relax, it's been used in so many movies at this point. The covers were wild tho, War and then Born to Run were totally unexpected, not great, but not terrible. I was hoping The Power of Love would turn out to be a curious thing of a cover as well, but it was instead the most wretched song on the album, retch.
Apart from the singles it lacked punch for me. Covers didn't add anything.
The singles still sound strong. Very much a producer led album. Runs out of steam so has plenty of filler including pointless covers.
Are we being so serious rn? Relax and war are cultural mainstays but the rest is just… ugh. Welcome to the pleasuredome is 12 minutes of nonsense and the covers are offensive. Absolutely not
Oh, good, more 80’s electro-synth-pop-dance music. Next album, please.
Very odd spoken portions/audio clips. Has a couple well-known songs, but a weird selection of covers. Not really a fan.
Dance music is not my genre, but of course this album was unavoidable in the 1980s and it does have some very catchy tunes that I would have to admit I enjoyed. I am a little interested to see if my somewhat broader musical appetite makes me more open to this in my old age... This is OK. I never knew they covered "Born to Run" (and pretty faithfully!) It is increasingly difficult for me to rate these albums on a 5-point scale. I save the extreme ends for garbage/masterpieces (or albums I truly hate/love,) essentially leaving me with a 3-point scale for nearly everything else. I gave the Cult's Electric 2 stars yesterday, when it felt like it belonged fairly close to 3, and I think I am going to do the same with this one. I liked the hits off this album but the rest did very little for me.
Two banging tunes - the singles, and then just a lot of filler, not great and without the singles it would rate a 1
Music is all over the place. Relax is a good song, but this album has some odd covers and is not cohesive from front to back.
Finally an album that agrees subjects close to my heart, pacifism and premature ejaculation.
2/5
Weird techno type to begin with, then just off the walls random covers and weirdness the rest of the album. Not sure if I enjoyed it or if the randomness just kept me engaged
I would have preferred shorter songs. This type of music does not benefit from being dragged through the theater type of genre
This album is... something else, man. I think it gave me some kind of mental illness just trying to piece together the array of sounds, words, and random covers sprinkled throughout. I was laughing out loud many times, but I still can't tell if it's all tongue in cheek, or if they really thought this was a serious project. It's all subjective, of course, but this was a each for me. Obviously the iconic tracks stand out, but the rest felt like them trying to stretch an EP with of material into a double LP. Manic stuff. 2.5/5 from me.
This went on and on. While I appreciate that Frankie Goes to Hollywood was always more artistically ambitious and eccentric than the '80s nostalgia gives them credit for, I'm not terribly interested in listening to 64 minutes of them. The "Born to Run" cover is surprisingly solid, if inessential, though "San Jose (The Way)" just feels inessential. They could've lost some of the fat here & had a more svelte album, but that wasn't the point, apparently.
Relax and Two Tribes are great, however I found quite a lot of this album to be self-indulgent twaddle, and I'm not a fan of his vocal style either. Not for me.
Didn't like it then, don't like it now.
It was ok.
Felt long
Ok. Algumas músicas eu já conhecia
Strong start but went downhill fast. Especially hated the covers.
Personally dont see the point in music like this
Not great. Loads of half assed covers. Couple of good tracks but feels dated
This may be the most 80s record I’ve ever heard and not really in a good way.
#844. This one started out pretty mediocre and only got worse from there. 2/5: yawn.
Relax is good. The title track has potential if it wasn't so long. (synth prog pop? Really?) Overall, it's too long, too full of mediocre songs that shouldn't have made the album. Why are there so many covers on here when it's already too long? It feels like they threw together everything they had and hoped something worked. The problem is that there is some good stuff here, it's just presented badly. 2.5
Some good ones but none that stuck out too much
Well, the 14 min song was pretty solid, but none of the rest caught my attention much.
The first few songs just sound like one giant intro to Relax, especially the Welcome To The Pleasuredome song...12 minutes of buildup to the song they're most known for. It's a bit much. These songs just don't go anywhere for the most part...they seem like they're building and trying to take off but never make it off the runway. Two Tribes slaps pretty hard, actually. I like it better than Relax. Overall, just really self indulgent music, a little too pretentious.
I didn’t think the album was the worst thing I’ve ever heard. But I also kept checking every 3 minutes to see how may songs I still had to get through. The songs are too long, and pretty uninteresting. Did not really enjoy.
Too 80s. Did this decade give us anything that lasted?
This shit was actually crazy. I didn’t save any songs from here, it was certainly much more if an adventure/experience than i was expecting. Experimentation in the vibe of Pink Floyds Dark Side of The Moon the way they create a scenery more than a song,. Very different bands in almost every other aspect though. Not my favorite, but very well executed.
# Playlist Track - Relax (Come Fighting) # Notes - A few good track scattered around a giant mess of interruptions and boring tracks. This could have been a cool 80's thing if it was half as long. - There are TWO intros, with a combined 15 minutes running time. - Also, tail end of the album doesn't really fit together and it is kind of a bummer. - Not recommended.
not for me
Three classic singles but the rest is pretty meh.
This definitely deserves a spot on the list but I’ve just never been a fan of Trevor Horn the producer. From a book I read, it sounds like he had more input and was more of the creative force than even the band themselves. This is his grand achievement and is definitely his most sprawling work. I appreciate the effort to go for it all here and this is probably my favorite of his stuff. It’s hard not to get sucked into the Pleasuredome as the track builds into a crescendo. Nothing against those that like it, his vision is just not my thing. This is weird enough where I’m holding out hope it’ll randomly click one day. Rating: 2.3
- 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummers al toegevoegd aan MMMM
ganz nett
A couple of real classics and a load of poor quality filler.
I don’t really know what the point of this album was? A load of covers from a mix of genres, poorly lumped in with 80s pop - even if there’s a couple of well known hits in there. I just don’t know why it exists. This could have just been an LP of the songs that were actually their own. That’s my grumpy take on it anyway - maybe if it wasn’t so bloated I’d take to it better.
Apparently Frankie Goes To Hollywood are really just their one big song Relax. I know they had a few other hits in the UK off this album, but outside of the covers it was the only song I really enjoyed.
Surprising. Didn’t know what to expect. Not bad but the album felt way too long by 2-3 songs.
I had absolutely no idea that they were this gay. I don't mean this as a bad thing but their mainstream presentation was more neutral (or I lack gaydar). It is a dance album that they tried to package as a pop album.
well, this is delightfully odd ohhh the relax song
Decent 2,5
did not like this album like i wish i had. given i've grown up in the commonwealth, there's always a dirty joy in hearing british lads just say shit while a digital instrument goes crazy; but i found this ill-focused, unfascinating, and noisy.
It's neat and catchy in parts, but feels dated especially on the cover tracks Fav: Welcome to the Pleasuredome
1.6
I found it sorta plain. I liked the intrumental side of the closing track
I don’t know what to make of this album. It’s all over the place. Not necessarily in a bad way, it just seems like a lot of odd choices were made and they couldn’t really decided what they wanted to do. The few tracks are very concept/prog. Then it moves to the hit, which is a straight 80’s sounding banger. But then they also do some weird covers, some slower ballad-y type songs, and a song that seems like it’s supposed to be the musical equivalent of a sex session. Overall it’s fine, but weird. Maybe that’s the point?
oui
WHY THEY GOTTA RUIN BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN LIKE THAT MAKE YOUR OWN BAD MUSIC MOTHERFUCKERS DON'T STEAL SOMEONE ELSE'S AND MAKE IT BAD
Too avantgarde
Uf. Na prvi pogled vsaj dva komada znana? Ok, začetek je res dramatičen, z nekimi ženskimi vokali. Fak, po pa drugi komad, istoimenski k album, 13 minut 40?! Kr eni ptičji zvoki v ozadju? So far je ta album predvsem wtf. A, ok, muska. Very 80s. Kr nekajkrat se ponovi fraza 'the world is my oyster" (že v uvodnem komadu je blo to) pa kinda obnoxious smeh. Iiiin, ta znan komad, "Relax (Come Fighting)". It's fine. "War (...and Hide)" je funky, spoken word je čez in v bistvu priredba znanega "War" komada ('War, ugh, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. ') O, fuck me, nasledn je fakin intense ("Two Tribes (For the Victims of Ravishment)"). Mogoč nism največji fan 80s popa. Ful je... A lot at once. (Po razmisleku, mm mogoč specifično sam ne maram tega banda. Ker je en kup 80s muske, k bi bla loh classified as pop, k jo mam ful rada.) Pol nek debatiranje o orgazmih? Cover od Springsteenovega "Born To Run". K zveni totalno stilsko drugač k album do zdaj. Naslednja je isto cover, kar se po kojem mnenju sliš, ker spet, čist drug vajb - lounge-y, k fakin elevator music. ...več komadov kasneje... Hm, sm mislila, da bo "The Power Of Love" čist en drug komad. Je pa baladast. Oo, prišla sm do konca.
It's actually a pretty bold move to essentially open the album with a 13-minute, genre-spanning Opus like "Welcome to the Pleasuredome," and I think they mostly pulled it off with that song. I was then surprised to hear a number of familiar tracks on the record such as "Relax" and "War." Unfortunately, the remainder of the album threw away the good will it had earned as it slowly descended into mediocrity. Songs like "San Jose" sounded lackluster and out-of-place, and I found the random Springsteen cover completely pointless and inferior to the original. The rest of the tracks were completely forgettable as well. After the first quarter of the album I wanted to like it, but unfortunately the remainder fell flat. 2.5->2/5.
Relax is the best song on this album. Everything else feels rather bloated and more complex than it needed to be.
This album makes me want to assassinate the prime minister of Malaysia
Not for me
This is definitely the definition of a one hit wonder and while I do love to Relax, the rest of the album is not worth checking out and not very interesting. There is no reason Welcome To The Pleasuredome should be 13 minutes long. Relax is the only reason this doesn't get a 1 star, but it should still not be on the list.
Felt like they kept getting in their own way, every time there’d be some flow, they did something weird to kill any momentum
Shhhh
If Ross Gellar got a record deal for “the sound” this would be the result.
I don't know why I thought this band was a late 90's thing, but I guess they are an 80's band. They're alright. This album has "Relax" which is an all time great. It's got a pretty decent version of Born to Run on it too, but I don't rate covers unless it's more iconic than the original. Slightly below average record.
This album is kind of a hot mess. It starts with a 13 minute "Welcome" song that's actually not half bad, but it goes downhill from there. Born to Run was a terrible choice for a cover song, and they didn't even do anything interesting with it. Krisco Kisses is just plain terrible. Relax is a different version than their previously released single. Like, what were they thinking on this album?
Relax. It’s better than you might guess.
Weird
What have I done to get so many mediocre brit pop albums on a row?
Not as good as I had hoped but I guess I really didn't have that high of hopes. "Relax" and the title track are decent (later being a bit too long but changed styles enough). Some pretty lame covers added that did not benefit the record. What is going on with "Including the Ballad of 32?" I feel like I may have walked into the wrong room at the Pleasuredome...that door should be locked. Not the most impressive debut album...2.08 stars.
What an entry. I guess I should have expected something a little out there from the gang that hit the map with Relax. I can't say I've ever heard anything else by Frankie Goes To Hollywood and I guess I can see why as Pleasuredome seems like it would have had limited commercial appeal beyond its initial launch and reaction. Seems like a perfect amalgamation of a new fad that Frankie managed to encapsulate by being at the right place at the right time. A little hard to believe this album actually features (3) British #1 hits but kinda cool that they managed to strike a chord at one point. I'll always give credit to an act that manages to do something completely different and make it work. It's a fun album for a single listen but the lasting appeal is pretty limited. The weirdness is just enough to keep it approachable for the masses, though I expect the novelty wore off pretty quickly. It's got some solid production and some varied subject matter, but all in all I'm not sure the album holds up over time. Not sure we need a cover version of War, Born to Run, Burt Bacharach, or Huey Lewis from the likes of Frankie but I guess they shot their shot. Even if I don't think I'll come back to this I did enjoy the listen as a time capsule to a strange project and unique point in time. Welcome To The Pleasuredome is a little tiresome (both single and the overall album) but still a cool example of a long-form electro-pop track / concept album from the time. I am truly glad that I heard this before I died which is about all you can ask when reviewing this list. Great entry for 1001 even if it isn't anywhere near the top of my list. 2.18 stars
Didn't really like this one, 2 stars.
Okay. Zoolander gets it an extra star.
Meh, was expecting more 2.1
This has gotta be one of the most 80's albums ever made. Had never listened to it in full before now, but it is...certainly something. For starters, I didn't care for all the cover songs. I think "Relax" sounds dated and was mostly a product of the time.
A couple classics and a bunch of meh
Only know FGTH from the three big singles - Relax/ Two Tribes and Power of Love. Whilst the first two are clear classic 80's bangers - they don't really do it for me - partly because I have no particular childhood memories linked to them so fail to trigger any hit of nostalgia. By contrast I really like the sentimentality and Christmas vibes of Power of Love. As for the rest of the album thought it was particularly disappointing with a number of weak covers (fury apart) that did not really bring anything to the party. The rest of the songs were paler rehashes of Two Tribes.
Interesting but not sure when I’d be in the mood to listen to krisco kisses again. Frankie says relax.
I appreciate the over the top theatricality. It’s just that outside a couple of songs there isn’t a whole lot memorable or essential here. 2.5/5
Have this album in my vinyl record collection. A few good songs, lots of cover songs. Well produced by Trever Horn
A classic production, using a host of un-credited guest musicians (including Ian Dury's Blockheads) and leading the way in the use of the studio, with ground-breaking use of the Fairlight CMI to make brand new sounds. Trevor Horne and his team put all of this together, assembling it like sleek sonic Meccano, with many layers of sparkly samples to brighten it all up. However, the album is vainglorious, has many tracks that are filler - Born To Run is a pointless, aimless cover - and is far too long.
Some good/great songs. (Relax/ Two Tribes/ The Power of Love) Lots of filler. Who needs 13:40 of cut and paste crap (welcome to the pleasure dome) even if it's extremely well produced crap. some decent-ish cover versions, some dismal (San Jose) and all in all not enough to make this a great album.
Relax is an 80's classic that's been so overplayed it's hard to get excited about it. The War cover was awful. The Born to Run cover was okay but didn't really do anything different original with it. Might as well just bust into Do You Know the Way to San Jose. A ridiculous mix of covers. The originals sound shlocky.
just too long... wouldve been a 4.if it was just extended versions of the 4 big singles
You might receive some pleasure here, but you're not going to relax. This album almost feels like a fever dream. And boy howdy I've never seen so many cover songs on a non-cover album.
Ok. I was born in the 80's so this band is brand new name for me, although I do remember "Relax (Don't do it), might have hearrd in a TV show or something. The album is eclectic but not in a good way, it does bring all the cheesy sounds of the 80's, that electronic sound with rock and pop that is especific of that time, again not in a good way. Apart from that the album is bloated. It looks like a 1 hit wonder entered this list, and once again I ask myself if this is really an album to listen before I die. . . If it is 1 hit wonder, I prefer the New Radicals.
It’s quite erotic.
incredibly unmemorable
I just learned that when I picture a gay bar in the 80s I picture it playing Frankie Goes to Hollywood. First half is stronger than the second.
The first half is quite all-right, not my genre but not annoying to listen to... the second half though, I don't get the random weird noises like the ??birth?? part? So a 1,5/5
Another album that's too long for its own good. 2/5
Some great, classic tunes but also a fair amount of filler. Power of Love was a milestone for me.
Is it a 2? Is it a 3? It’s got “Relax”… Cmon, it’s a 2.
Very interesting coincidence that this came directly after The Associates album. I also don't really like this, but it's light years ahead of what I listened to before, so it gets a little bump. Plus, Relax is a pretty good song.
When I saw "Genre: Dance" and "Published: 1984", I knew exactly what kind of experience this was going to be Man, I just don't get the sounds of 80s pop. Its a decade of sound that I find hilariously overdone most of the time. The sound effects that are thrown about on this album are CORNY. Occasionally, I like the percussion creativity, but it can also amplify the 80sness of it all. Sigh... Sorry to folks who really dig that (certainly memorable) funky weirdness Relax is an interesting song. Popular enough that i've heard it before. The album saves itself from 1 stardom with the somewhat interesting covers of War, Born to Run and San Jose. They're funny and punky enough to keep me listening.
Very confident that you could die without having ever heard this and still get into heaven first try. Its inclusion on this list says more about the list's editors than anything else.
What is the point of this album and why is it on this list. Because Trevor Horn is talented? No consistency here, and just a lot of 80s programming and garbage writing. A few decent tracks. Admittedly. I like welcome to the pleasuredome and relax. You can keep the rest. 2 stars because it’s not completely worthless
cheez
Only know FGTH from the three big singles - Relax/ Two Tribes and Power of Love. Whilst the first two are clear classic 80's bangers - they don't really do it for me - partly because I have no particular childhood memories linked to them so fail to trigger any hit of nostalgia. By contrast I really like the sentimentality and Christmas vibes of Power of Love. As for the rest of the album thought it was particularly disappointing with a number of weak covers (fury apart) that did not really bring anything to the party. The rest of the songs were paler rehashes of Two Tribes.
Ist einfach nicht meins, macht mir irgendwie schlechte Laune
Some alright tracks bit annoying at times.
Eh. Very 80’s. There were some spots which were fun, and others that felt like peak 80’s soundscape. But it’s not really my cup of tea, I’m finding. At least not this authentic. I’d give it a three, but I definitely don’t see myself listening to the whole album again. **A little hippie-ish as well, minus 0.2 points
The bass and music was often good but the music didn’t go anywhere, no good melodies, lyrics were dumb.
Хорошо начинается, но уходит в эти ужасно мной нелюбимые клише 80-ых. Лучшая песня - Relax (Come Fighting).
I never cared for the too-clever band name, but I have to give credit where it's due. Holly Johnson's vocals on the singles from this record are, in many ways, the quintessential '80s British pop performance. For a short time, Wham!, Duran Duran, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood dominated MTV — both looking and sounding like the future. Welcome to the Pleasuredome makes a bold choice with its track length and position in the overall sequence, but back then, listeners had more patience. Of course, now it's much easier to just skip to the hits or listen to only tracks 2-5 & 15 (which let's be honest the songs from Tag to The Only Star in Heaven are a bit of a wasteland). I understand that Trevor Horn reworked much of the album material in production, and that slickness is as fascinating as it is soulless. Ultimately, I lose patience with albums like this. Yes, it's an interesting time capsule, but no I do not want to listen to the whole thing again any time soon.
Relax, Two Tribes, and The Power of Love are good, and the cover of Born to Run is ok, but the rest of the album would have best left on the editor’s floor.
Giving this album a skeptical squint or sideye.
Kolme kuunnelluinta biisiä ovat yhdessä suunnilleen yhden huippuraidan veroisia - ja lasken tähän mukaan "rakkauden voimaa" ylistävän balladin. Muuten LP sallii huomion siirtymisen kaikkeen muuhun kuin sen sisältämään musiikkiin. Myönnän tosin, että Born to Runin kuuleminen herätti.
Didn't know they covered the Boss
A truly strange album. Full of ambition, and bolstered by some genuine chart hits - including a worthy perennial Christmas ballad - but for all the production sheen and immaculate attention to detail (to the point that Trevor Horn all but erased FGTH's own musical contributions in most cases) it really all serves as a distraction from the obvious: Singles aside, this is mostly sloganeering masquerading as meaningful lyrics, interrupted by a bizarre string of cover versions, which are competent but completely incongruous, and punctuated by skits that fail to add anything to proceedings. All with a kind of "we're going to mention 'sex' because it's naughty and it will upset the powers that be" attitude that - granted - was probably what cast them into the spotlight in the first place, but hasn't really aged well in hindsight. It's all just a bit juvenile. It has it's moments, and the singles hold an extra dose of nostalgic charm for anyone who was around at the time, which I was, but as a complete package, Welcome To The Pleasuredome fails to deliver on the musical manifesto those singles set out. Horn's studio wizardry makes the most of some simplistic ideas, but probably at the expense of some personality.
Not my bag.
wtf was “tag”. also the opener did NOT need to be 13 minutes (the first 7 alone felt like eons). the instrumentals made me hopeful for MANY of the songs and nearly ALL disappointed me. mid but respectable. 2/5.
imagino que senhorinhas conservadoras tenham ficado boladas quando esse saiu massssss: é chato
synthpop do SEXO doideira esse hein. parece importante pela epoca e mensagem libertina. mas meio chato, viu....
This is mostly 80s slop, though I acknowledge there is more effort and vision here than most 80s slop. An interesting album if not one I liked. Best song: The Power of Love
Corny 80s pop. Didn't finish it
Quite interesting pop record from the mid-1980s. My main problem with the album is that it doesn't flow well, it sounds as if the songs are thrown together. The self titled track is almost 14 minutes long and it doesn't fit into the formula of the album. And the album is just way too long. I like double albums if they flow well but this wasn't it. There are some individual songs that are good pop song but as an album it doesn't work well.
While Europeans were listening to Depeche mode, England were listening to this crap
Original source material for Andy Samberg's SNL videos.
Frankie say unexpected. “Welcome to the Pleasuredome” brought one surprise after another. Not necessarily good or bad surprises, just nothing you’d see coming. The 13 minute opener after the intro? The “War” cover? The political messaging of “Two Tribes?” Going back to covers for “Born to Run” and “San Jose?” The brief moans in “Ballad of 32?” The fact that there’s nothing weird on the last five tracks? That somehow “Relax” still slaps?
I hate the super dated synthy sounds. I don't care if George Carlin comes back from 2688 to save 80s music so that a future utopian society can form, this music can die. The only reason this isn't 1 star is because it doesn't physically hurt my ears. But it is far from pleasurable.
Was only familiar with their hit single “Relax”. Album slightly exceeded my low expectations and progressively devolved into cheesy and sappy
Starts strongly, but quickly trails off as it hits a run of quite baffling covers. Ferry Cross the Mersey?! Born to Run?! An absolute pace killer
Relax is a classic but some weird stuff overall
Quite weird , can’t say I’d listen again
Massive pop classic, amazing energy! Front-loaded with hits but interesting throughout with engaging production and a great band - bit long, though... Does it need to have so many covers and transition tracks? Favourite tracks: Welcome to the Pleasuredome, Relax, Two Tribes,
I never really entered the pleasure dome…. High energy, but poor execution overall in general for me. Covers were ambitious but probably their best work on the album?
Frankie says yawn. The energy is great. The singing is not. I admire them covering Born To Run but the execution was lacking.
I only liked the songs that were covers
This album could use a producer to edit and keep their theatrical whims at bay. Big hits on here.
I never liked it in the 80s...mostly just loud synthy club music. Still don't care for it. But props for the openness in sexuality.
This started out OK, but this is way too long and the songs are much less interesting in the last third of the album.
Didn’t really love this. Some catchy tracks and ok covers. Going to be a little tough and put this on the 2 side of a 2.5.
A veces, el sesgo británico ochentero del editor de este libro me harta. Este es un ejemplo del tipo de álbum que aparece por doquier en esta lista sin motivo. No es que sea un mal disco, pero aparte de los temas "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" y "Relax" (un clásico), el resto de los temas son versiones o canciones súper aburridas. La temática hipersexual está bien para un par de canciones, pero más de una hora de lo mismo se hace insoportable. Demasiado largo, demasiado kitsch y poca sustancia.
2+
Not my kind of pop music
Weird.
This is so very 80’s. I think I need to assassinate the prime minister of Malaysia now. It’s too long and I’m not sure any of the covers are better than the original versions. Favorite songs were Relax, Two Tribes, and The Power Of Love.
More like "Welcome to the Sleepydome"!
With so many covers on this album, I assumed The Power of Love would also be a cover and was confounded when it wasnt. Odd album for inclusion on this list, I feel like there's better synth pop out there.
Really enjoyed the first few songs, absolutely tanked after the cover of Born to Run
Relax is an icon of the 80s, but a whole album of this, let alone a double album, is way too much. Favorite song: Born to run. Not a even a very good version.
This was weird and not my favorite (but Relax will always remind me of Zoolander, so that’s a plus!)
Bass-driven dancy synth pop with plenty of energy and attitude, though it still manages to get a bit boring. The bass parts are my main source of enjoyment with this album. A few strong original songs and a few that feel like toss aways. The covers are okay but mostly add unnecessary length to the album (though the little bass solo in Born to Run is pretty cool). San Jose sticks out like a sore thumb. Overall this was ok at best for me, and might be more impactful if they used the best songs onto a single LP. I appreciate what they were going for and there were some strong moments, but the quality is not consistent and it lost my attention at several points (particularly most of the back half).
Quantity over quality. Production wise it is great, but there are too many songs
Really not great. Anyone thinks otherwise?
Boring, self-indulgent, tedious.
Weird album with some good songs but a bunch of covers too
Pleasant album to listen to, with some okay covers. Do what the man says, and just relax.
weird and not necessarily in the best way could i write poetry to this? n
I'm not sure that this is a "must-listen." Aside from their ode to edging, "Relax", and the obligatory anti-Cold War tension song, "Two Tribes" there isn't much here but a bunch of cover songs and typical 80's synth-dance tracks. The song "Krisco Kisses" could have been a throwaway selection from any Adam Ant album. Trevor Horn's production does give the bass lines the necessary "pop" to keep the dance floor moving. I'll give it an extra half-star because they did sell an awful lot of those oversized, white with black lettering "Frankie Say..." t-shirts. Solid marketing, indeed.
2.5 This was a weird trip! There was definitely some good basslines, but mostly it's just generic pop. The covers are not great and there's I think three of them, so I'm rounding down.
This might be one of the most 80s thing I ever listened to
5/10 Bardzo nierówne, wypchane watą słabych coverów, które dłużą się w nieskończoność. Ten album ma w sobie pewien urok lat 80., kilka dobrych hitów, ale jako jeden krążek męczy. Brakuje mu spoiwa, jakiegoś lejtmotywu, który skleiłby to w koherentną całość.
I admire how weird and varied this is but ultimately for me it doesn't coalesce into an album that I find particularly enjoyable to listen through. It definitely feels its age, and I think the good stuff is surrounded by a bit too much fluff and meandering.
The singles were epic, the album less so. Into the gap by Thompson twins came on after, now there's a classic pop record from the eighties, that better be on the list if this is!
While I appreciate the effort to normalize gay bands, the English style doesn't work for me. The lyrics seem trivial, the music only slightly less so. Synth-pop too synthetic. Bleh.
I mean It's fineeee
Too long and weird for me. This also might be the worst combination of artist name and album title I’ve come across.
Just did not hear anything really special in this recording. There was the hit (Relax) and some brave covers, but not much else that made this a must listen...
One good song...
Relax is one of the songs of the 80s. I grew up to this song. The rest of this album blows. Ugh. Frankie, go home.
**An ok album
This is really corny
This stinks of the 80s pop.... I had better things to do than listen to this filth. A lot of filler, not enough killer.
As someone who generally likes synthy 80s music and new wave, I expected to enjoy this, but I found it irritating and overlong. Although it had moments that showed promise, I’m going with my initial impression in the rating.
This album is a dated, teased hair, shoulder pad wearing synthesizer playing 80's movie loving period of time that is rarely mimicked for a reason.
All of the negative traits ascribed to 80s synth-pop on this site, this album has basically all of them. Insipid, completely pretentious double-album. Fun fact: almost every single vinyl copy you come across has the inner sleeves falling apart from a bad glue run. A good metaphor for this album - superficially ambitious but lacking the basics. The subversive homo-eroticism of bands like Soft Cell is here replaced by Holly Johnson’s completely ham-fisted vulgarity. One or two of the covers (and there are a few of these to pad out this double album with derivative guff) are decent (Born to Run in particular). But this is a snooze fest and even the singles haven’t aged well. Skippable.
More brit pop with one famous song, just what this list needed. This album is below average and boring.
Relax is a fun song but the rest of the album is ass. Synthpop twaddle, not in a good way.
An album that was made for the 80's and probably should stay there. Also the Born to Run cover came out of nowhere.
2.4 listened once, didn't really love the 80s, but a few bangers
So 80s it hurts, not my thing at all. The power of love is good, the cover versions are all very odd and feel like filler, much of the rest is pretty rubbish.
It’s amazing that the 60s and 70s produced some of the most timeless and memorable music ever, and then there’s the 80s. This sounds so dated. His vocal tone, the Casio synth, drum machine, everything.
It’s not really doing anything for me. First two tracks were promising but I got bored of the sound fast. Not for me.
This album had a serious case of identity crisis. Feel like they didn’t know what sound they were going for from one song to the next which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Altogether not something I feel compelled to go back to though
No thanks
Zwei Killer Tracks. Der Rest langweilig.
Better than I expected, but still not very good and way too long. 2/5
this album is fire- dumpster fire I mean
Ok
not really got into it
This album makes sense for club music, but would make for possibly the most boring live show I can imagine. I've never heard Relax in its full form, and I don't think it needs one; the hook is really all there is, even if it makes you want to kill the prime minister of Malaysia. Definitely wouldn't choose to listen to this again.
Started out good then fizzled. Then the covers began. Yeesh. No
I really don't like 80s music..... This is crap
I had a difficult time getting through this album. I'm not a fan of synth-pop from the 80's, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood has done nothing to change that.
weird album and not really in the experimental way. i mean the original tracks are fairly experimental and proggy synthpop/80s rock but they aren't much weirder than the average 80s album. i guess it's the covers in the albums middle that destroy Welcome to the Pleasuredome's sound and coherence. dunno, this is more of a mixtape than an album. or maybe its a mixtape plus an EP? if i loved the 80s more it'd be fine but i came away from it remembering the cover of Born to Run the most, yet id much rather just go listen to that song than the cover here. apparently i bought a vinyl of this like 6 years ago? like i said, weird album.
Didn't grab me as much as I hoped it would. As a kid I remember the controversary around Relax being banned, not that I understood at all what the issue was, what's the problem with people wanting to chill??
hahahahaha
Ok, so hearing Relax was ok. But I counted at least three covers that were not all that unique. To me, no need to have this on the list. Not denying there may be reasons. Just disagreeing with its inclusion.
boring
Yikes more 80s. Wow there is a lot of courts and filler on an album with 3 number 1s. Half baked. Massive input by Trevor Horn
It's fine, but I don't see how it could hold your attention for that long. I found it uninteresting.
So it’s two hits, a bunch of electronic dance music and then some weird synth pop covers that make no sense? It seems as if Frankie Goes to Hollywood was more of a fad to sell T-shirts than an actual band. “Two Tribes” is pretty decent but this album is a mess.
# 253 : Relax : I don't love it. I don't hate it, it is ok but it's not particularly exciting and doesn't have anything catchy enough to make me want to give it a second listen. I feel like sometimes this list mistakes "you must listen to this ALBUM before you die" with "Hey this was popular during 20xx, or had a couple hits on it" with importance.
Theatrical ….. Unfortunately, I’m not a big theater fan…
The album cover makes me uncomfortable. If my mom knew what the lyrics to Relax were saying, she'd never let me watch that music video, and I wouldn't blame her - they are disgusting. The album as a whole is generally annoying. They were a one-hit wonder in America, so I never heard anything but Relax. The other singles were noth0ing to write home about. The covers don't seem to fit with the rest of the album, but I kinda liked Born to Run. The album is too long too. Frankie say "no more" and frankly I have to agree with Frankie.
Welcome to the Pleasuredome is the debut studio album by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, originally released in 1984. I'm already not a synth-pop fan, so seeing that this was a synth-pop double album made me want to cry. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but it still wasn't good. It was kinda diverse sonically. The band makes cool use of synths to create atmosphere in many of the songs. There was also an interesting Born To Run cover on here, along with some skits that were surprising. Not something I'd really listen to again, English synth-pop just doesn't hit for me.
Welcome to the Pleasuredome is actually better than I expected, it’s fun, mostly but it’s a lot of covers. There is a lot of weird shit too and it’s way too long. Born To Run is such a great song but I think Bruce deserves that credit over Frankie. 4.8/10
Giving this a two just out of respect for how chaotic it was. Definitely didn't land for me but I can't say it was boring. First two tracks I felt like I was being indoctrinated into a cult. The singles are there, not a fan of "Relax" though. Not sure when I would listen to any of this again, but good for them for just putting out something very original
Relax
Meh
Relax is a great song otherwise this album did nothing for me.
This album screams 80s and bad covers....not my style
But why make models? Well apparently because of the pleasuredome. This was definitely an album that would fit some coke filled 80s club. If it wasn’t for I would’ve never heard any of this band before. And relax is really only good because of Zoolander. The born to run cover was pretty brutal too. This album is only slightly palatable but at least understandable why it’s on the list. 5.4/10
Most of this record is just trying to recapture the magic of Relax, with mostly middling results. There were a few tracks that turned out alright, but this project is nothing without Relax frankly.
'Relax' is a true classic, that's for sure a good song, but the others are just not up to par for me, not a fan of the album overall
It's an
Really straight cover. April fools.
Least homoerotic album cover
Необязательный диско синти поп, есть альбомы гораздо более интересные
Quite enjoyed revisiting this album after many years of not hearing it. I don’t feel the need to rush back to it, though.
A reasonably pleasant trip down memory lane, but the production and publicity that made it stand out at the time have faded badly.
I just felt ehh. It’s not bad. But I wouldn’t say it’s good…
No thanks
not exactly what I was expecting from a eurovision band. i recognized "relax", but the rest were either covers or meh
2 - Some of the earlier songs annoyed me, like Relax, but some other songs were alright, so I feel that it balances out to a 2 star rating. At the end of the day, it's just not a very memorable listen for me. I was admittedly a bit distracted listening to it at points, so maybe it'll need a relisten at some point.
The ambition is impressive. It’s almost like prog synth pop. But I don’t know… I find it kind of grating and pretentious. Wow, the cover of “Born to Run” is a surprise. But I don’t like it. The mostly instrumental “The Ballad of 32” is pretty good. It’s like a Pink Floyd song but with sex noises. I’ve never heard an album quite like this before, so points for that. But I mostly found it annoying.
Not a fan of cheesy synth sounds - not then and not now. Also slightly strange how it just randomly turns into an album full of covers
So dramatic. I am pretty sure this could have been cut in the first edit of the book. They really should not have covered the Boss. Too many covers to be influential.
A ton of British pop on this list. Not my bag, Relax was my favorite....
Mid
the "Born To Run" cover was good, but there were too many covers overall. covers belong on b-sides, not albums.
"The power of love" is one of the best power ballads from the eighties, and the only song on this record i wouldnt mind hearing again.
Awfully full with Pathos à la carte. Extra points for both Singles. Except for those there‘s of course a certain penchant for making „real“ music, but it’s Not „real“ly good. Sorry
This was a random album. Maybe too long for an album and idk???
yikes, grew up in the 80's, "Relax" a bit overdone.
Very odd
Relax is still a fun song! …the rest is not very fun.
I tried to get through it but it was too long and bombastic. Relax was fun but I think it's nostalgia more than anything else.
Ok.
I did not enjoy this album. Heavy 80's style synthesizers are still not my jam, 40+ years later. I didn't enjoy either of the covers. Maybe this is considered a great album because it was somehow new for the time?
That was an interesting album. A bit too far out there for me, but there were a few moments that felt nice.
favourite song: relax not for me
"Relax" and "The Power of Love" are two amazing songs and masterpieces of 80s pop. But this album is not. Whether Trevor Horn really dabbled with everything the band created or not (these at least are the rumours), the album feels really inconsistent. Why is the big title track on number 2? Why do they needed to make a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run"? Why is the track order so incoherent? Why do some songs need to make references to other music in that very on the nose way? This is an example of a collection of songs that don't really feel like a proper album. I therefore can just rate it 2 out of 5 stars.
These guys were real horny in a creepier-than-usual way. And the music was just okay.
I didn't mind it, didn't like it much tho
I really wanted to like this because the big three singles are so good, but the rest of the album was an absolute shitshow. A directionless 13 minute title track, three covers that added nothing to the record, and a load of really cheesy 80s nonsense. Would be an instant one star if it wasn’t for those three absolute bangers
An album so weak the band members themselves weren’t happy with it, yet someone thought “no, everyone must hear this.” Well, whoever you are, you’re very wrong. No one benefits from hearing this.
A few nostalgic tracks...a few fond memories ...but I wouldn't go out of my way to play them. A 2.
There is a fine line between the New Wave 80's synth sound that I really found that I enjoy and then this 'Braodway-Bastardized" 80's schmaltzy synth sound which I despise. The Born to Run cover followed by the San Jose were some of the two worst covers I've ever heard back to back. 1.5/5