Reviews (page 3 of 9)
It really sounds like an 80s movie soundtrack for forgettable scenes. They are ok but would not put in this list.
Poppy without really feeling like pop. I liked the album but nothing really stuck to my mind.
As someone who isn't familiar with The The in the slightest, this album genuinely blew me away on my first listen. At just two tracks in I already felt like I'd been punched in the gut by how hard the lyrics hit home for me. I try not to wallow too much in the sort of cynical ideations that songs like I've Been Waitin for Tomorrow and This Is the Day explore, but I can't deny the raw emotional response they elicit for me. Matt Johnson really explores these themes in an evocative way. I'm probably a little too old to be gushing about such angsty lyrical content but hey, feelings are feelings. Maybe I'll finally grow up some day, but that day's not today. The music itself is excellent as well, with This Is the Day being a particular highlight with its wonderful soaring accordion hook that almost tricks you into thinking you're listening to something a lot more joyous and hopeful than what the lyrics would imply. Most of the rest of the album is more subdued and goes for a 'cooler' vibe, but those tracks are no less engaging. The way songs like Uncertain Smile and Giant start with a very catchy base and then branch out and go a little crazy in an almost jazz-like way while maintaining their funky, danceable rhythms was something I really enjoyed. It reminds me a lot of LCD Soundsystem in that way, so I wouldn't be surprised if James Murphy was a big The The fan. Anyway, if you'll excuse me, I need to go check out more music from Mr Johnson. Favourite tracks: This Is the Day, I've Been Waitin for Tomorrow, Uncertain Smile
This album was a rollercoaster ride. Was it one that I enjoyed? Nope, definitely no. That's all I got to say. Still grateful that I have it a chance
It seems fine if you’re into that new wave sound. I’m not, and nothing about this album stands out to me.
Interesting soundscapes but I don't think I "get" New Wave.
No me terminó de convencer, tiene algunas buenas canciones pero tal vez no es mi estilo
altern. rock, 1983 -> 2
Not to be outdone by the band The Band - the original inventors of playing music in a group - The The came onto the scene with their new, avant garde naming convention. The The are known for their use of two definite articles, separated by the space between the The and the The, such that the The and the The are distinct within the The The. The band did toy with the idea of changing their name to The The The in the 90's, but ultimately it was decided that that would be too silly. The album was alright.
## Overview **Soul Mining** (1983) is the debut studio album by The The, the musical project led by **Matt Johnson**. Remarkably, Johnson was only 20-21 years old when he created this work, yet it displays a maturity and introspective depth that belies his youth. The album emerged from a tumultuous creative process that began in New York City with producer Mike Thorne (known for Soft Cell and Wire), was aborted due to drug-fueled excess, and was eventually completed in London at John Foxx's Garden Studio with co-producer Paul Hardiman . --- ## Lyrics & Themes The album's title perfectly encapsulates its thematic core: **introspective excavation of the self**. Johnson's lyrics are unflinchingly self-absorbed in the most artistic sense—mining the depths of isolation, existential anxiety, memory, and the passage of time . **Key thematic elements:** - **Existential Stagnation**: Opening track "I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)" captures the paralysis of unfulfilled potential with lines like "Another year older and what have I done / My aspirations have shriveled in the sun" . The song's frantic energy mirrors the anxiety of wasted time. - **Nostalgia and Memory**: "This Is the Day" explores how memories can both sustain and imprison us. The devastating couplet *"You smile and think how much you've changed / All the money in the world couldn't buy back those days"* captures nostalgia's cruel irony . - **Social Alienation**: "The Sinking Feeling" positions the narrator as "just a symptom of the moral decay / That's gnawing at the heart of the country" . - **Unrequited Love and Intimacy**: Tracks like "Uncertain Smile" and "The Twilight Hour" navigate romantic uncertainty and emotional distance . What's striking is Johnson's **restraint with the word "love"**—it appears only once across the entire album ("And the cancer of love has eaten out my heart"). This deliberate avoidance of pop's most reliable crutch forces Johnson to explore more nuanced emotional territory, creating what some critics have termed an **"existential blues"** . --- ## Music & Production **Soul Mining** represents a sophisticated fusion of **post-punk, synth-pop, and art-rock**, with textures that range from claustrophobic to expansive. **Production approach:** - Recorded primarily at **The Garden Studio** in Shoreditch (owned by John Foxx of Ultravox fame), which Johnson loved so much he later purchased it - Johnson played most instruments himself—guitar, melodica, effects pedals, Omnichord, Yamaha CS 01 II keyboards—without sequencers, meaning he manually played parts for up to ten minutes at a time - The album features contributions from an impressive cast including **Jools Holland** (piano), **Zeke Manyika** (Orange Juice), **Thomas Leer**, and **Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell** **Musical highlights:** - **"Uncertain Smile"**: The album's centerpiece features Holland's legendary extended piano solo—one of the most celebrated moments in 1980s pop. Originally conceived with saxophone, the piano version emerged organically from the studio's Yamaha C3 baby grand . The track evolved through three distinct versions, with the final album cut achieving a perfect balance of melancholy and release. - **"This Is the Day"**: Uses accordion and violin to create warmth that contrasts with the anxiety of the lyrics—an early example of the "sad banger" aesthetic. - **"Giant"**: A nine-and-a-half-minute epic that builds through repetitive chants and layered percussion, described as "'Hey Jude' for the twisted post-punk generation" . The production avoids the sterile coldness that plagued much 1980s synth-pop. Johnson's **"unerring ear for sonic definition"** (as Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder noted) creates a sound that is simultaneously synthetic and organic, polished yet emotionally raw . --- ## Influence & Legacy **Soul Mining** has grown in stature over the decades from cult favorite to recognized classic: - **Critical Recognition**: Placed **#3 on Melody Maker's 1983 Album of the Year list**, ahead of New Order's *Power, Corruption & Lies*, Tears for Fears' *The Hurting*, and R.E.M.'s *Murmur* . Included in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* and described by journalist Garry Mulholland as "a hidden masterpiece" . - **Cultural Impact**: The album anticipated the **bedroom singer-songwriter aesthetic** that would dominate indie music decades later. As The Quietus noted, it "crystallises the inner world of the bedroom-based singer-songwriter to perfection" . - **Musical Influence**: The album's blend of electronic and organic elements, its cinematic scope, and its unflinching introspection influenced subsequent artists in post-punk, synth-pop, and indie rock. The "Rock And Roll With The The" residency at the Marquee—featuring guests like Marc Almond, Edwyn Collins, and Stephen Mallinder—established Johnson as a central figure in the UK's post-punk scene . - **Enduring Relevance**: Unlike many 1980s albums that feel trapped in their era, *Soul Mining* "feels no more or less relevant today than at their birth over 42 years ago" . --- ## Pros | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Lyrical Depth** | Johnson's introspective writing achieves universal resonance through specific, dreamlike imagery | | **Sonic Diversity** | Seamlessly blends drum machines, synths, African percussion, piano, accordion, and guitar | | **Emotional Range** | Moves from frantic anxiety to meditative calm without losing cohesion | | **"Uncertain Smile"** | Contains one of the greatest piano solos in pop history | | **Production Quality** | Warm, detailed sound that avoids 1980s clichés; excellent dynamic range | | **Brevity** | Seven tracks, no filler—every song earns its place | | **Authenticity** | Genuine emotional rawness that avoids performative sadness | --- ## Cons | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Self-Absorption** | As Kurt Loder noted, the "obsessively self-absorbed lyrics... Youthful angst and anomie are fine in their place, but not all over the place" | | **Vocal Affectations** | Johnson's Bowie-esque vocal stylings occasionally grate, particularly on "The Twilight Hour" | | **Pacing Issues** | "Giant" at 9+ minutes can feel overindulgent to some listeners; "The Twilight Hour" and title track may dip too far into "maudlin navel-gazing" for some | | **Accessibility** | The emotional intensity and lack of traditional "love songs" makes it less immediately accessible than typical pop | | **Opening Track Barrier** | "I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow" is deliberately challenging—long, meandering, and anxious—which may deter casual listeners before they reach the rewards | --- ## Conclusion **Soul Mining** is a singular achievement—a debut album that announced Matt Johnson as a major talent and established The The as a project of serious artistic ambition. Its fusion of electronic and organic instrumentation, its unflinching introspection, and its refusal to rely on pop clichés make it a cornerstone of 1980s post-punk and a precursor to countless indie and electronic artists who followed. The album works best as a **complete statement**—a 41-minute journey through anxiety, memory, and tentative hope. While its relentless self-focus can occasionally feel suffocating, this is also its greatest strength: Johnson creates a fully realized emotional world that listeners can inhabit. For the "compulsive thinker"—those whose minds "simply cannot be coaxed into rest"—*Soul Mining* remains an essential, timeless companion . **Verdict**: A flawed masterpiece that rewards deep engagement, essential for fans of post-punk, synth-pop, and introspective songwriting.
Ei
Album No. 0201 on my list. I had never before heard of this album, even though I had know The The by name at least. It’s a ln interestifg, solid post-punk album. I found that the songs are typically too long and lack some dynamism, but I like the singers’ voice and the overall sound of “Soul Mining”. They made the songs at least somewhat catchy. I will add “This Is The Day”, “The Sinking Feeling”, and “Uncertain Smile” (my personal favorite) to my playlist. 3/5 stars.
Las canciones bastante largas pero no estaban tan mal
Like a roller coaster ride through a theme park designed by Salvador Dalí while on acid. It's chaotic, confusing, and occasionally thrilling.. and you might throw up by the end. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - This Is the Day - Uncertain Smile - Giant
About as groovy as a Half-rainy February Day. It just isn't working for me.
Well this was great, right up my street. I don’t know if it’s because I listened to Talking Heads earlier in the day but can’t help make the connection here given the genre and the era. The production is very 80s and I mean that in a good way - very crisp, synth heavy with the drums almost taking centre stage for a lot of this. I’ve only heard the name before, and always remember it because it’s slightly silly. I liked it from the off but it did have me wondering whether it would continue to hold my attention but it just continued to grow on me. Uncertain Smile is a standout, in fact I’m going to listen to that again now
Not bad at all. I love 80s synths and dark, broody voices. This album has those in spades ⭐⭐⭐.5
Perfectly serviceable, some nice piano, but the singing and drums start to wear after a while
Its only 41 minutes long but felt like less than 30. Lately I have been getting into post punk and new wave bands of the 80s such as new order, public image and Depeche Mode. I get the feeling that this band was at least a partial influence on the birth of industrial rock. So as you can imagine, I did enjoy this album. My dad had their Infected album on CD but I never listened to it. Perhaps I will give it a listen some time.
Enjoyed it, very 80s but felt that each song sounded quite similar. There wasn't a song I really latched onto. Probably worth a re-listen but I'd give it a 3.5.
not much
I can see why people like it. Post-punk new wave done well and clearly an early example of the form, I think, but I stick with punk and could not get into the new wave elements. My loss.
Boa musica
Never Generally go for this type of 80s music, it’s never been for me - but this was good! Really enjoyed the latter half, especially the last song that was grand. Wouldn’t listen to again but I’m glad to have been given the chance I definitely wouldn’t have otherwise
Better than being down the mines and not as good as other soul albums.
Expectations were low but this album is just a great fucking vibe
Post punk, synth pop, too much of this This is the day Uncertain smile
Ok
I liked this one 4/5
579/1001 2026.03.26
Finding the perfect balance of post-punk moodiness and delightful pop, channelling The Cure as much as New Order. I'm already quite familiar with this album, so it's a joy to revisit. Highlights: "This Is The Day", "Uncertain Smile", "Giant", and "Perfect"
I was on the fence with this one, it was catchy but also kind of annoying.
#893. I vaguely remember listening to an album by the The Thes before. Yeah, seems I said it was weird and boring. This one was less weird, and more impotantly- less boring. It's painfully British, and you're probably not going to like it unless you already like this genre a lot, but I thought it was pretty decent for sure. 3/5: good
Ret godt. Jeg kunne rigtig godt lide det sidste nummer
Fed! Endnu engang er mit take at der er den rigtige mængde new wave på listen.
Pretty good! Sounded modern , even with the static drum machine.
Perfectly fine post-punk/early 80's synth. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. I appreciated that it was lyrically playful, but I don't necessarily see myself coming back to this album.
Cerramos una gran semana musical con una banda que me suena haber escuchado alguna vez. Quizás por el género o por la época. O ambas. Post-punk, synth-pop ochentoso, con la presencia de la voz hipnótica del cantante y con varias canciones bailables. Muchas gracias por otra semana musical y nos vemos la próxima, que será corta.
Didn't enjoy this.
New Wave madness. Decent production, fun sound. There’s a Culture Club vibe that I dig.
Solid. I didn't care much for I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All of My Life) so I went in worried, but the rest of this is solid. I particularly liked Giant. That said, why does the singer sound like LemonDemon?
Nope
Onhan tämä jotain musiikkia köyhän miehen modern Talking
liked some songs but less fussed about others. decent!
Saved? ❌ Would listen again? 🤔 Would recommend to anyone? ❌ Would buy on Vinyl? ❌
Interesting. Hip. Got a bit repetitive but overall I thought it was a fun listen in the background while I worked.
Nothing remarkable
Excellent. Full of memories from college.
One of the best The The recordings.
Soul Mining has moments of real brilliance — Uncertain Smile alone justifies the listen. Johnson's ambition is clear but the album is uneven, veering between genuinely affecting and slightly overwrought. Some excellent lyrics that really hit, but most are more interesting than immediately lovable. Worth returning to, not essential.
I just read something not more than 4 hours ago arguing against using the word "pretentious". Then this record popped up. The most pretentious band name in the history of pretentiousness. And the music is pretty much exactly what I thought it was going to be. Bland 80s synthpop.
Often overlooked in the mainstream listening world, but definitely one that music aficionados in my world appreciate. And for good reason. It is an innovative, emotive, and socially aware album with a great deal of unique character and musicianship.
A polarizing band for me. I loved their first album, hated the second, and was split on this one. I hated the songs that sounded like Oingo Boingo, but loved Uncertain Smile.
i’ve heard of the the! i love their band name. no idea what kind of music they do. always got a the band vibe. i’m seeing now they are nothing like that. this is neat. i see a lot of people complain about the amount of new wave on this list. i love new wave. this is awesome. also this album is gorgeous. incredibly well made. ouggggggh the piano solo in uncertain smile 🤤 i’m scared of god, im scared of hell. so real. i’m definitely revisiting this. i liked every moment on this. may change later but definitely a 5 on this listen
This album sounded like every other synth pop album from the 80’s, nothing special. I really liked the song, Uncertain Smile, though. That one was a standout for me. The rest was forgettable.
It’s funny how every decade has its distinct sound in music. I started playing today’s album and without looking at the release date knew this was definitely from the 80’s. The backbone of these songs is somewhat enjoyable with a full tilt of guitars, drums and (of course!) synthesizers but when it’s all put together with the bland vocals and nonsensical lyrics it’s just another’s 80’s pop song. Nothing special happening here.
The most anonymously generic music that 1983 ever synth popped.
The The is a great band name, and I enjoyed the song Uncertain Smile. That's about it for positives. The rest sounds like they were exploring all new sounds they could create with a synth rather than actually trying to write good songs.
I’m an instant fan of any album that’s bold enough to include so many genres. Shows a lot of creativity. I think this groups suffers from a bit of master of none syndrome, some things are very cool but it does feel like they’re stretched thin at times.
Really liked the opening couple songs and was gearing for a solid 5/5 but the latter half falls off into knockoff Bowie and just didn't grab me the same.
2,4
Full of ideas and atmosphere and fun. Washed out like an old painting found in beach house and the production hasnt aged well but a fun, if disposable, listen.
Didn't really care for this. The drums started off irritating and didn't really ever stop, and the singing just isn't my cup of tea.
I'll f*ck with it
I really strongly disliked Infected, to a maybe irrational degree, so I wasn't excited about going back to The The. Opener "I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)" was pretty much what I expected, stepping right back into Infected's shoes... "My mind has been polluted / And my energy diluted." But, dang, I think "This is the Day" is really, really good. I thought I maybe remembered it being in some kind of commercial... I thought maybe for some kind of breakfast thing but it seems like it was probably M&M's. That song puts me at peace with this album, the rest of which is generally alright.
I enjoyed this not a band I’d heard of
Blind album and artist. These songs are so catchy and funky I had to give it a 2nd listen.
Eclectic rock album. Was starting to fizzle near the end but was short enough it didn’t bother me. Started real strong.
A man in his bedroom, warbling at his synths.
The hit is great!
A name I've heard but have never checked out. In the end, it wasn't for me.
Chugging away in the 1001 generator mines, in the 200s.. look, there are good records that came out in the 80s. Lots of them. I don't know if I'd consider this one notable, let alone so essential that I needed to hear it before I die. The album art is neat tho.
Absolutely awful. No redeeming features on any of the tracks.
Good
Fun
😕
I liked it!
Pretty good, I like to for the most part, felt like another weird 80s album though. I think three stars spare.
Typical fun early 80's synth pop.
Second the The album, and I enjoyed this one, too! This is more pop and synth than their next album, Infected, which is more experimental and post-punk and angry. But I still heard an experimental edge with the instruments or tone. The title song had a spoopy vibe that intrigued me.
Like the previous album by The The that was on this project, I was decently surprised by how I liked it. This album is definitely less weird and much more focused on presenting a post-punk, new wave sound. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely quirky in its own ways, but the quirk does not overtake the album. Once again, somehow The The creeps his way into a 3. Apparently his approach to new wave and adjacent genres scratches my brain in the right way.
Synthpop elegante y sofisticado. Todo parece estar perfectamente estudiado. Suena estupendo.
Favorite Track: This is the Day
This is the the day the the album’s going to play. 8/10
Nope, this is not The day, The The.
It's aight
This one was pretty cool.
Thee best dang accordion playing that side of the Atlantic!!
A quality 80s synth-pop album.
Not bad, but kind of just dragged on. I liked This Is The Day and Uncertain Smile, but the rest of the album I wouldn't listen to again.
Drum machines are the autotune of the 80's. It must have have been soul crushing to be a talented drummer in the era of the Linn Drum. Can't get past it to hear the songs.
Working man’s 80s New Wave. Teenage me wouldn’t have even noticed this band (In fact, he didn’t). A fair mix of ordinary pop songs, nothing special here. Cool band name tho. /s 2 stars. (Almost 3? Meh)
Not that good outside of their 1 'hit'
Good album - in between 3 and 4 personally
Engaging, its like makin a friend ona cruise ship
Just couldn’t get in to this. The opening track switched me off, and whilst it improved, there was no coming back.
One of my top 50 GOAT albums. I could play 'This is the Day' over and over and never get bored of it. Same with 'Soul Mining'. As for the rest of the album, Jules Holland on piano? Zeke Manyaka on drums? What is not to like? Matt Johnson peaked way too early!
218/1089 i liked this album but i think it was a bit more laid back and dated than Infected and so didn’t impact me as much. I liked the female vocals when they came in, that was perhaps the stand out aspect to me faves: Giant, Sinking Feeling, The Twilight Hour 66/100
Soul Mining sits comfortably among the defining synth-pop albums of the early 1980s, think Dare, Vienna, Speak and Spell. The (reinvented) Human League, Ultravox and Depeche Mode became huge, The The didn't. The recognition of their influence has been retrospective. Uncertain Smile and This is the Day are pop classics.
I wasn’t really into The The at the time but I may well come back to this. Distinctive sound
A brilliant rendering of existential angst in musical form. The instrumentation is maybe a bit dated but every track hits the spot, helped in no small way by the LP format restricting the number of tracks to something manageable. And Jules' piano solo on Uncertain Smile remains a thing of wonder to me more than 40 years after I first heard it. Not quite a full fat five, but a very worthy 4*
Tense, stripped-down grooves built from fast, ticking drum-machine beats, wiry synth lines, brittle guitar accents, and vocals delivered in an urgent, half-spoken, half-declaimed style move this post-punk album like an agitated monologue paced over a relentless pulse—rhythmically compelling, but so talk-driven and severe that it can leave you wondering whether you’re listening to songs or to ideas being hammered into place.
Enjoyable, could see myself giving this another listen
I liked it
"This is the Day" is the clear standout here. What a song. The final track has a great build, too. The rest of this is pleasant enough new wave that didn't really grab me. 3.5 stars, rounding down.
Surprising how well this album holds up. Great listen.
Very cool. Great production. I wasn’t the biggest fan of his voice, but I still enjoyed the album. I felt like they only stayed in one lane and I’d be curious to see how the later albums progress.
Gheghe, die bandnaam. Verder lekker beluisterbare jarentachtigdeuntjes, met zowaar (hoe trendgevoelig) een accordeon ertussen. Het Top-2000-nummer komt me niet bekend voor, maar we geven 't verder maar weer het voordeel van de twijfel.
We kregen hun volgende album al eerder en toen viel het onterecht (post) punk label mij al op. Het was geen geniaal album, maar men leek er echt wat van te willen maken. Nu dus het debut. Heeft dat dan gezorgd voor een onlosweekbaar punk-stickertje? Nou, dat valt erg mee. Toegegeven, de rock-kant klinkt iets meer basaal. Maar wat vooral naar voren komt is een typisch jaren '80 geluid. Al bij het eerste nummer leven ze zich wat dat betreft al helemaal uit. Soms maken ze het zo bont dat we eigenlijk naar een draaiorgel luisteren. Toch maken ze er telkens een geheel mee. Zelfs met het bovengenoemde meegewogen, voelt het wel gebalanceerd. Ik kan er wel een keertje naar luisteren. Meer dan een 3 kan ik er niet van maken. En dat zegt wat over mijn vorige album van fIREHOSE. Dat kreeg een afgeronde 3. Maar dat haalt het niet bij de 3 van vandaag. Heb ik toch een sterretje teveel uitgedeeld.
We hebben al eerder een later album gehad, dit is het debuut. Als ik mijn eerdere review zo doorlees, klinkt dit wat duisterder dan dat andere album. En hier staat gelukkig wel een hitje op. Daarmee is het allemaal iets beter te pruimen. Geen tijd en zin voor een uitgebreidere review, maar 3 sterretjes wil ik hier wel voor aantikken. Dit kan prima in de snoblijst, dat andere album hadden ze moeten weglaten.
The first track launches into an electric drum intro I was convinced was early Ministry. After listening, It’s still kinda adjacent to that but totally stays in the era of the early 80s. Decent synths and vocal performances. 3.4/5.0
Leuk album - meer niet tbh
Priem
Het klinkt een beetje als van alles, maar toch lekker in zn eigen recht Ruim 3/5
Wat een rare bende van stijlen en invloeden. Wel creatief, opzich net iets vaker postief verrast geweest dan negatief.
Bored me to tears. It flirts with that classic Soft Cell / Human League vibe in spots, but never commits enough to make the experience worth repeating.
This is a pleasant listen, solid pop from the early 80s. Nonessential
Ja dikke vette top. Ben een heeeel klein beetje allergisch voor van die jaren '80 gereverbde drums maar mag geen naam hebben. Love de baslijnen en dat nummer met de crazy piano !!!
Vond het heel erg gedateerd klinken. Ja nee heel erg niet genoten.
heerlijk!! post punk synthy club muziek <3
Неплохой альбом. Не запоминающийся, но это не делает его плохим. Надо переслушать.
Eh, it was fine but I wasn't really that into it.
Enjoyed the jam variety
Unlike the other album by them we got, this one has SONGS
From the album cover I already felt like I am going to hate it, but after the first song I am willing to let my initial thoughts go and it actually is pretty ok! I enjoyed the album as a whole, I did not dislike any of the songs. Music is pleasant and singing is solid. All in all a good album for sure.
Totally different sound to what I expected from the album art. Mixed feelings. Not a fan of the vocals, but the music itself is quite fun. The bass lines are catchy and funky. There's a bit of experimentation and some electronic effects to add some interest. Overall significantly more of a pop-sound than I thought it would be. "Uncertain Smile" reminded me of Lightning Seeds somehow. Highlights: - "Uncertain Smile" - piano solo <3 - "Giant" - there's possibly a little too much going on but the beat is refreshing and fun. High 3. Would have been a 4 with better vocals.
Very solid instrumentals throughout this album. Brilliantly implemented accordian on “This is the Day”, real good guitar melodies on “The Sinking Feeling and I love the piano-lead back half of “Uncertain Smile”. The whole album is just let down by a pretty boring vocalist and uninteresting song structures. At some points, particularly on “The Twilight Hour”, it feels like they wrote the lyrics before the music and just tried to squeeze in everything they wanted to say High 3
The first half of this was surprisingly experimental but that tailed off and I don't really remember the rest of the album. Low 3
I love days like this when I get albums I have never heard of before. I'm vaguely familiar with The The but couldn't name a song of theirs off the top of my head. Crossing my fingers this record will be one of the good new finds.... Well this album is certainly squarely 80s. Like definition 80s music here. This album would be great to play for someone who wanted to know what the 80s sounded like. Like I'm sure that millions of now 50-60 year olds danced to this record drowning out the otherwise audible sounds of synthetic fabrics rubbing against each other in shitty night clubs under a haze of smoke and aquanet. It's not a bad record. But probably not one I'd come back to again. I do feel like it's one of those albums that gets stronger as you listen rather that starting out strong and dropping off. 3/5
Der Art der 80er Produktion, die die einzelnen seltsam ausgewählten Sounds für Drums, Bass, Synths noch mehr hervorhebt statt es zusammen zu weben macht für mich einiges von der ansonsten durchaus symphatischen Songwritingstruktur kaputt. Ich finde es nach dem ganzen Album nicht so doof wie ich zwischendurch dachte. Aber richtig großartig ist das auch nicht. Was mir insgesamt auffällt ist dass ich vor der Liste oft nur einzelne Bands aus einer bestimmten Zeit und einem bestimmten Genre kannte und dachte - wow, die haben aber einzigartigen Sound. Das lässt sich jetzt oft nicht mehr halten, und ich hab auch nicht so richtig Lust herauszufinden wer hier wen kopiert. 2,5
Feels a lot like background music
Astonishing
Almost as equally, maybe a little bit less boring than the one from yesterday... 🙄
This isn’t my type of album but the 2nd half wasn’t a bad listen
It was fine, nothing I'd write home about though
yeah
The The is a credit to the synth pop genre.
I really enjoyed this, it was very chill and fun. I already knew (and really enjoyed) This Is The Day and Uncertain Smile but I also liked That Sinking Feeling. I will def relisten! 4 stars Definitely came around to this album, bad start to the album but turned out to be really good. The songs kind of blended together for me but maybe that's just because I was doing a task
Enjoyed this - the first half in particular
80’s Post Punk ⭐️Giant
Niezłe od lecenia w tle, ale nwm czy bym słuchał tak po prostu
this is the day song of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
la verdad bacano el álbum, si me gustó pero no me pareció muy memorable, no tengo mucho que decir
Not bad. Reminded me of a little Depeche Mode, a little Talking Heads and a bit of Tears For Fears.
378/1089 - Fantastic album. Also "This is the Day" is now one of my favorite songs. I finally listened to lyrics for once and I really like the uplifting message in this song. The verses show the character looking at the past and feeling depressed while the chorus shows the character taking the first step to overcome the depression. Opening the curtain, showing a plane in a clear blue sky, think about it! This is Britain, do you know how rare a clear blue sky is? Happens like 4 days a year I imagine. There's also the imagery of a plane, containing people traveling and actively living, something the character is taking the first step in doing. I interpret it as a very earnest and uncynical song which is awesome, not to mention the catchy bassline and unique accordion, fiddle, and omnichord instrumentation! All of that paragraph is just for one song! I love the piano solo on "Uncertain Smile" and the amazing synth parts and punk influences throughout. One of the best New Wave albums ever made.
Seemed to get better as it went along. Definitely an album. Of its genre. Feeling kind so 3
Aye alright
Actually really liked this. Will be listening to more the The albums. Apparently my parents love the The
I did listen to this… just like two days ago, I think. Didn’t leave much of an impression, apparently.
This Is The Day is a great song with a baffling arrangement.
This was a fun discovery. Enjoyed reading the Brooklyn Vegan interview with Matt Johnson. I'd love to find a conversation between Johnson and Robert Smith of The Cure. "Giant" is so far my favorite track. The drums at 5:00 mark are epic. The whole album feels like the music a venue plays before a concert to get the crowd pumped up.
The The sound like any other early 80s synth pop/new wave band. “Soul Mining” isn't really bad, but it doesn't contain much that is still worth mentioning 40 years later. By the fourth song (i.e. during “Uncertain Smile,” which at least contains a not entirely predictable piano solo), the repetitive straight groove starts to get on your nerves. The following “The Twilight Hour” and "Soul Mining" finally break with this and are probably meant to sound dramatic, but come across as rather cute due to the idiosyncratic keyboards. I've heard worse, but in the end, “Soul Mining” is just another new wave album without a noteworthy hit single.
I liked the piano solo in uncertain smile
Very solid instrumentals in this. I thought the piano in uncertain smile was super good and the drums are nice to hear all the way through the album.
I thought this was going to be some sort of badly recorded post-punk, but actually it's very catchy indie pop. Big hooks, interesting songwriting, bright instrumentation. Color me surprised. But what kind of dumb band name is that? Key tracks: This Is the Day The Sinking Feeling Uncertain Smile Perfect
ohrwurmpotential vorhanden. frisch.
Dieser britische Postpunk ist etwas verstaubt.
Great blast from the past.
Esse tipo de música não é minha vibe, não gostei nem um pouco, 1/10
Звучит круто, но не все треки
Wut...
Kinda sleepy!
Very confusing band name.
meh
Yes, exactly the findings i hoped to come across in this generator. I enjoyed it, but not overwhelmed. I will certainly give it a new chance later on.
Wow, really nice! I will round the 9/10 up today
Some good New Wave. I enjoyed Giant a lot, as well as This Is The Day and the intro track.
Really fucked w this album
The the the the the the the. The the the the the the the the. The the the the the the the! The the the the? The the.
there were two songs on here that i totally vibed with. reminded me of the cure. suuuuper 80s. my gripe is that some of the songs just felt so long lol but a fun vibe.
Very good.
It was alright. Nothing particularly memorable except for the keyboard breakdown during "uncertain smile". The album cover fucking rules though
This was a very pleasant surprise. Something about this was uplifting and catchy. The way that they build up the loops is very cool... at some point you realize you're dancing in your chair. I'll definitely listen to this one again.
You know that party game where a group of people take turns listing a band that starts with each letter of the alphabet, in sequence? The first person says "Air", the next says "The Beatles", the next "Carseat Headrest", etc. "The Beatles" works as an answer for "B", because you don't count the word "the". Which is why I always liked to be annoying and say "The The" as my answer for T. *eye roll* I'd never actually listened to The The before, but I did recognise a couple of songs. Somewhere in between 80s electro and new wave, they've managed to make a pretty unique sound. There's a darkness brooding in the background of every song, coupled with some interesting choices in instrumentation, creating lots of texture and atmosphere. "Uncertain Smile" is one of a number of standout tracks. When I heard the piano come in, I felt a weird compulsion to shout "Hootenanny!" Sure enough, it's Jools Holland lending his honky tonk plinky plonk mad skills to the song. The song starts off with a bass and acoustic guitar combo that gives Pixies vibes, and then suddenly halfway through, it seems to crack open, letting Jools' piano loose. I heard that Jools was brought in last minute, and played the entire three and a half minute impromptu piano solo in a single take. Crazy stuff. Predictably enough, I'm picking out "This is the Day" as my favourite track on the record. Sounds as if Joy Division covered The Waterboys. It comes across as optimistic, but from a depressing point of view. It's their best known song for a reason: it's upbeat, with something darker under the surface. I wasn't sure what to think when I listened to this the first time. It's really grown on me, even though it took a while to click. "Soul Mining" has a sound that feels quite individual to The The, even though you can definitely pick out influences. I hear traces of Joy Division/New Order, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Brian Eno and maybe even a bit of Kraftwerk or Can. But all of those influences blend together into something that sounds very unique to The The. There's definitely a lot more to them than just an annoying party game answer.
At its best, it's 4 star material, but that's only two, maybe three songs. I had never listened to the The, and I'm glad I now have. But I won't be replaying this much. It's good, but not great.
Uncertain smile eleva el nivel. las demás canciones están bien.
Is it “Thugh Thugh,” “Thugh Thee,” “Thee Thee,” or “Thee Thugh?” I suppose one star for each pastability
The opening track, This Is the Day, Uncertain Smile, and the title track are great songs. The others I didn't enjoy really, and that 9 minute one at the end was too much of a drag, therefore it only gets a 4, somewhat of a generous one. Matt Johnson's vocals are superb and that piano solo in Uncertain Smile is the highlight of the whole album.
vocals and lyrics pull this one down a notch, but otherwise enjoyable. Odd choice for the opening track.
I liked the music. The lyrics however try to connect the narrator's emotional anguish and heartbreak to the world's ending, which doesn't induce empathy, but a sense of such profound self-importance that it makes the lyricist seem like a bit of a prick.
Interesting album with good groove and vibe. I was not a fan of the singing at the start but it started working for me the longer I listened to the album. Favorite track was The Twilight Hour.
Sounded pretty good overall and caught my ears several times
Yea i liked this more than infected for sure. I really enjoy the sound of his voice which has not been true for many of these albums but i wouldnt say this has stood out massively beyond that. I’m interested coz when i told Is the album she said she loved the the but not these songs in particular but now im wondering what secret trove of great the the songs are out there. Maybe i will investigate but i’m already late on this review so odds are i will not. Anyway things to ponder…
This album was such a lovely slice of a very specific 80s sound, and I enjoyed it thusly!
Great album! I listened to this straight after the other The The album a few weeks ago and there were so many songs I recognised and enjoyed. For sure the more pop and political of his albums but full of gems. This Is The Day is so good, I loved the 9 minute groove we got into with Giant, and Perfect is a new found fave. Definitely plan to return to this
It’s good. It’s good and it’s enjoyable and it’s a genre that sounds fun and familiar and if I had it on vinyl I’m sure it would find its way into rotation because it’s nice for music in the background or to cook to. But I don’t think it’s my go to. Maybe I need more than the day to sit with ‘the The’ albums but I honestly wouldn’t be able to differentiate any of these songs off the top of my head.
Although I was initially turned off by the band name, the music sits well. The second track, This is the Day, is just a banger I will never not want to hear. Then you have The Sinking Feeling, which perfectly sums up a lot of my internal monologue. None of it positive and a lot of it realistic. The line "I'm being raped by progress" speaks for itself.
weird vibe, but ok
Some really good stuff on here! I’ll probably keep listening to The The!
This is why I do the 1001 challenge, I never would of heard this and I thought it was brilliant!
This Is The Day is one of my favourite songs ever but the rest of the album is pretty blotchy
2.5
Interesting but not as good as Infected
Noget var 80'erfestligt men gang ikke rigtigt fast.
More interesting than most of the British works on here
doesn’t make sense
Inferiorna verzija The Cure, Joy Divisiona, i sličnih bendova. Ništa posebno za ponuditi da je drugačije. Samo se vrti ukrug.
This was okay. One great song.
Ok
The rhythms and percussion on this album is the key. Great sounds. I need to hear it more. 4/5
i love new wave but *seriously clears throat* what the fuck's that fucking accordion doing on "this is the day"? it ruined a good song. sorry but you are getting a 3 for this
Very much a product of its time. It is just very early 80s in every bit. There aren't a lot of things on this album that jump out of that frame. But maybe this was one of the key albums in constructing that frame, I am not familiar enough with the music to say so. I was very much doubting about the rating for this album, but it falls just short of a 4 mark. 3/5
1,4/5
4 stars - briefly remember The The being a thing but didn't listen to them. Pretty good stuff.
Rad. I am realizing 80s stuff is incredibly hit or miss but this is a hit!
First listen
When we think about the 80s, what we usually picture is big hair, synthy pop music, power ballads, and garishly bright colors. But in the meantime, the post punk scene was running more or less in the background, planting the seeds for much of the 90s indie rock scene to come. I've always liked The The and their debut "Soul Mining" is arguably their best work. If nothing else, it definitely contains two of their best songs "This is the Day" and "Uncertain Smile". I'm happy these guys are still going strong, having another great one in 2024, more than 40 years after "Soul Mining". Still a great band making excellent music under the surface.
4.0/10
If there’s one thing this generator has taught me is I either really love Brit rock/pop or I hate it in this case
Liked it. Synthy 80s britpop with admittedly annoying vocals typical of britpop, but the musicality makes up for it to be an interesting listen.
Very good 80's synth album. Haven't listened to a whole lot of this genre, but this reminds me a lot of Human League.
Was a little interested in the album, but not enough to see myself listening to the entire album again
uncertain smileeeeee
Доволі дивний і цікавий гурт, музика десь на перетині пост-панку, нової хвилі та синтіпопу(?). Мені здалось шо дестройер дуже багато підрізав у The The. Я не скажу що мені подобаються всі пісні на цьому альбомі, але загалом враження гарні. Ставлю 3.5, пару пісень збережу (наприклад The Twilight Hour).
Cool 80s new wave sounds, style jumps around a bit
Bom, mas muito longo. Pos punk, genérico as well...
50 fifty
I bought a CD copy of Soul Mining back in 2009, after I first heard about the 1001 albums book. I was a recent college grad, and I wanted to branch out a bit more with my musical tastes, and I snagged this album because I’d heard “This Is the Day” on an M&M’s commercial, and thought that I’d enjoy the album. I know I listened to this album in its entirety back when I bought it, but I don’t remember caring for it that much. I’ve been holding off on revisiting it, because I knew I’d get to review it eventually. I really enjoyed Infected, so I fully expect to enjoy Soul Mining more than I did when I first heard it. Additionally, this will be my final album from 1983 to review Just like Infected, I thought Soul Mining was a really unique and fun pop album. Soul Mining doesn’t have the political and social commentary that I enjoyed on Infected, but I still thought the lyrics on this album were really good. Matt Johnson’s vocals were great too, and each song on this album had a really unique sound. I can’t think of any other pop albums from this era that sound remotely close to this album. The synthesizers were great, but this album also had some excellent guitar playing, funky bass riffs, and an overall sound that I thought was really fun. I thought the first half of the album was much better than the second half, because “The Twilight Hour” and “Soul Mining” were a bit boring to me. However, the first half of the album was really great, and the closing song, “Giant,” was really good too. Some notes on a few individual songs: I loved those drums on “I’ve Been Waitin’ For Tomorrow.” The synths and guitars were really funky, and this song had fun sound that I really liked. I loved the vocals on “This Is the Day.” The synthesizers were great, and the bass line was excellent too. The percussion was incredibly catchy, and I loved the inclusion of the accordion. This is just an excellent pop song, and it’s incredibly unique in its sound and composition. Matt Johnson was just out here doing his own thing, and he was really good at it. “The Sinking Feeling” was great too. Matt Johnson’s vocals were awesome, and the guitar playing was excellent. “Uncertain Smile” might actually be better than “This Is the Day.” I loved that shimmering guitar tone, and the bass playing was excellent. What a beautiful little pop song. I loved the bass on “Giant,” and that drumming was fantastic too. For a song that’s over nine minutes long, I really didn’t want this to end. What a great closing track. Soul Mining is an incredibly unique pop album, and I’m really glad I got the chance to listen to it again today, and I have a newfound appreciation for what Matt Johnson did on this album.
One of my favourite songs on this one!! On the roster on the regular
I want to say this was good, but unmemorable, better than the usual early 80s new wave dross we've already waded through to get here at least.
Never heard of this artist or album, but I immediately enjoyed the opening track, the lead singer’s voice, and overall style/sound. I found the lyrics really interesting throughout, and especially enjoyed the feelings explored in The Twilight Hour. The Giant was the perfect conclusion to the album and overall this was an intriguing listen that made me want to learn more about the inspiration for the album and other works by the artist.
For all the crap I give 80's New Wave in this project, I have to give this one it's flowers. Really worked for me for some reason. 7/10
Really good album. Had me bopping along for the whole listen. A few tracks that I was mildly familiar with, but not familiar enough for them to be not interesting.
Like his voice and the lyrics Don't like the drum beat
Need to revisit
I hear tones of the Cure, Duran Duran, '80's Bowie, and the Smiths in this. Is that why this is on this list? Otherwise pretty innocuous '80's pop rock. It does have that sound that would probably play well again today. Upon further listening of this, I actually really like it. It just took a minute to settle in.
i wasn't sure about the first few tracks but it really picked up as it went on, its a total slow burner and i really liked it
Dull, drum machine driven, dullness.
Much like the other The The album we had, the weak point here is Johnson's vocals, which don't work for me somehow. I do like the instrumentals though, especially in "Uncertain Smile," which had an extended instrumental section.
12/17/25. Cool 80s album, enjoyed the second half more than the first. Like the different rhythms presented. Nice lesser known album from this era, at least for me.
As my 978th album, I'm just really hoping that this may be the last cheesy electronic gated reverb snare and whiny ass new wave 80s voice I ever have to voluntarily listen to again, but given the biased hard on this list has for that type of shit, the outlook is grim overall. I really don't like talking shit about other peoples taste in music and there's a lot of good arguments of why this doesn't suck, but it's my rating, my rules, and I think this sucks. How could anyone think this aged well? 1/5, I HATE this genre
The The The stuff I’m used to isn’t as 80s sounding as this, but this was still great. Real unsung heroes of alternative British music who have been doing it forever. Always a good time.
A lot more directed than most new wave records on here, coupled with some substantial messaging and unique vocal delivery. Read the lyrics of "The Sinking Feeling" as a good example of how much there is to dig up. After an intriguing start with "Ive Been Waiting For Tomorrow", things got really good with "This Is The Day" (I wonder if they meant for the tracklisting to read like that). I'm not sure what the better pop-leaning success is, this song or "Uncertain Smile". What I perhaps appreciate about this album the most is how listener-aware it is. The tone switch on "Twilight Hour" into a very quiet, just as eerie intro on the title track "Soul Mining" adds a kick of variety just when needed. I'm hearing lots of Depeche Mode on this track in particular. "Giant" is true to it's namesake - a giant track closing things out with a steady evolution of key/synth loops into percussion lines into chanted melodies to stick the landing. Soul Mining feels like a palate cleanser for all the postpunk/new-wave bloat that's encountered on your 1001 list journey - thoughtful messaging accompanied by not a single bad instrumental. Doesn't overstay it's welcome either . 4/5
Irgendwie passt nichts zusammen, aber passt gleichzeitig doch zusammen. Schräg, aber ziemlich gut.
Spannende Kombi mit Mundharmonika und new Wave...
Das gute: Nur 41 Minuten "Worst of the 80s". Das schlechteste? 9:53 "The Giant"
The sound of the 80s I needed but never found. This aged amazingly well 4.35
Good flow
It has been a while since I was split. I do think The The is a bit "above" the fold and quite unique. I also realize, maybe from my age or era or whatever, that there are a lot of bands from this era and genre (kind of 80's pop, electronica, in this case almost big beat,) that were quite "good." I would like to give them like a 3,5 to indicate a nudge above, Unfortunately I have created a sort of 4 star as quite superior and three star as average position in my ratings, and the problem with "average" is it ranges from "meh" to "pretty good actually" and there is little room for nuance. So to be kind I will nudge them "just" into the four star category as I find them fun enough and unique enough (and surprisingly) varied enough to get there.
Funky new wave album. It starts off meh in the beginning, but Uncertain Smile to Giants picks up and gets fun. It has a unique new wavey style, wouldnt be a go-to album, but I appreciate the avant garde-ness & was a good listen. The song Soul Mining was my favorite.
Had no idea what to expect from this. Wouldn’t have guessed the most mid new wave effort with more than a hint of pretentiousness.
Hell yeah this is great. I’ve heard of The The but never actually listened. Def coming back to this.
Didn’t move me, but was pleasant as a soundtrack to the work day.
I just didnt enjoy this album at all. It bored me end to end. I figure this band used up all of its creativity when it came up with the name for the band. Not good.
I liked it had a nice mix of interesting vocals and instrumentals
There is definitely some interesting stuff going on here, but the vocal delivery just doesn’t do it for me and actively put me off. Some really cool bass lines and percussion stuff though.
I'm so sick of post-punk New Wave. I do think this album comes at a poor time for me; this is the 3rd post-punk New Wave album in a row, and I really did like the last one. This one is actually pretty varied in sound, which helps it out big time. Yeah, we definitely got off on the wrong foot, this album and me. If this album was all like the first song, I would have hated it. But it ends up being this pretty complex collection of songs that all feel vastly different but form a pretty whole album. I wish the album opened with a different song, so that I didn't feel so negatively about it right off the rip, but I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. Favorite Song(s): Uncertain Smile
Another gap filled in my musical education -never heard any of these songs before. I liked it musically but often found the lyrics and singing style hard to take seriously.
Kind of bland and boring.
The synths and keys in this were epic. Lyrically okay but I was really on board with the weighty instrumentals that built really well in every track.
It's alright :)
Average new wave sound. A stronger singer might have made this more interesting - the band sounds good.
Really really enjoyed this so much more than I expected to.
Nice tunes thx
was pretty good
This might have its place in the history of music, perhaps as inspiration or breaking ground for a more artful expression to come....this early version of the sound is a bit sloppy and somewhat grating.
I was expecting this to be dark and rocky, but it's pretty poppy (and synth-y). That's not a bad thing - This Is the Day and Uncertain Smile are bangers.
Decent, though This is the Day overshadows everything else.
Bright jangly and bouncy pop with a vocal that varies from soft crooning to dramatic post punk snarl. It's super smooth sounding: extremely clean production gives it a light breezy feel - there's plenty going on, but it isn't cluttered or chaotic. The guitars are great - jazz chorus sounding clean tones ringing out catchy leads and arpegios - the best bits are when they take the lead in the mix. The synths sound cool, but tend to wash out the songs and don't get used well when they're at the forefront though.
Can’t describe it but it’s great.
3/5
lol this is such a time capsule for those of us that lived through it. That it starts with a drum machine beat is classic. This is the Day is so poppy I couldn’t help but smile. It is youthful optimism in musical form. The only other track that stood out to me was Uncertain Smile, which has some killer keyboards. However, I am impressed by some of the ambition shown on this album. The songs all sound different from each other, which this project has led me to appreciate. For that reason, despite some very average vocals and honestly some tracks that miss the mark, I’m going to raise it from 3 stars to 4 (knowing it’s really a 3.5)
Parts of this sound like something from the 90's and some of it has that distinctive 80's cheese factor. It's okay.
Solid
Not sure it’s really my thing.
This scratches an itch—my soft spot for New Wave and that proto-Vaporwave/Post-Punk ambiance. What stands out is how uncluttered the album is. Matt Johnson doesn't overwhelm the listener with production flourishes; instead, he builds these clean layers that feel direct without being simplistic. Surprisingly enjoyable, and honestly a perfect midpoint between New Wave’s cool detachment and the kind of atmospheric melancholy Vaporwave later exaggerated into nostalgia-as-aesthetic.
Not for me!
Un album muy sin mas, en algunos momentos se me ha hecho bastante repetitivo algunos sonidos o canciones tanto que de verdad las queria pasar, pero bueno hay cosas interesantes
One of my favourite albums of all time.
This was interesting to sit down with. While I think I'd heard of the band by name, I'm not sure I'd every listened to any. The songwriting and production grew on me over the course of a listen. This is probably 3.5 for me, but rounding down as I can't tell which way this is going to go for me. Is it canned 80s pop? Or is it a piece of brilliantly sparse yet lush songwriting that, while very much of its time, still sounds fresh so many years later. I'm not sure yet.
A profoundly uneven record. "This is the Day" is immortal, if for no other reason than that it was the closing music for Empire Records. Giant is dynamic and weird in a wide-eyed 1980s way. I'll listen to that one again. The middle of the record is just directionless. The closest thing I could think of was Nick Cave, but he's not Nick Cave. Some Talking Heads too, but he's not David Byrne. He's a dude pretentious enough to call his band The The. I will forever wonder what the inferred head noun is after "The", just as I wonder why this record is on a "best records" list.
Creative name. The whole time I listened to this album I felt like the music was disconnected from the singer. It was like the musicians were trying to make a happy song and the singer was trying to make a sad one
Super interesting throughout. I don't think I would want to revisit this one but it was pretty enjoyable. Cool sound in all of the songs.
It's okay.
Wow really great stuff. Looks like lots of reviews single out the piano in Unforgettable Smile. I’m doing the same. It rules. I could bend this to a 5, but the band name irritates me so much. Anything but The The! Did they not try saying it out loud before committing to it??
It's alright. Music is fine, I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals but they work now and then. "Uncertain Smile" is easily the best song on the album - really pleasant music throughout with an insane keyboard solo. The title track has some cool synth parts.
This is neither pleasant nor interesting. FM synthesis allowed labels and producers to create walls of sound on the cheap; and in hindsight it sounds like it. The sound is nostalgic and tolerable delivering goofy, catchy pop songs ala Human League, Thompson Twins, Soft Cell. But I didn’t find any fun, catchy, or even interesting songs in these tracks.
Soul Mining has that classic 80s rock-pop vibe that pulls you in. Anyone who lived that era knows what I am talking about. Matt Johnson’s voice really stands out—strong, expressive, and perfect for the mood of the songs. Overall, it’s worth revisiting if you love that era’s sound.
The What?
The sound of someone having a beautifully articulated existential crisis while dancing in a basement full of synths. Rating: ★★★★★ 4.8/5 Short Review: This album is 80s art-pop for people who overthink literally everything. It’s angular, emotional, neurotic, poetic — basically a therapy session with drum machines. Matt Johnson sings like a man who has read too much philosophy and not slept in three days, which, frankly, is your entire personal brand. It’s catchy, but also devastating. It’s stylish, but also spiraling. It’s “main character walking home at 2 a.m. through wet neon streets” music. Favorite Track: “Uncertain Smile” — the piano solo enters your bloodstream, rearranges your neurons, and leaves without apologizing. ⸻
Some interesting new-wave, reminds me a lot of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, especially the song 'Uncertain Smile' which had this incredible piano-solo outro. The whole thing has this very optimistic vibe, like it's trying hard to pull you out of a rut and re-ignite a feeling of happiness that was always there. But it's also a pretty difficult read, in some ways, the songs are telling you exactly how to feel, and in another way, the meanings are completely left up to interpretation...is it optimistic or pessimistic? It can work both ways. I really liked 'This is the Day', which is a really upbeat track with some incredible, deep, smoky' 80s-style vocals, and it's a great demonstration of what this album does. It's obviously optimistic at the forefront, especially given the very gleeful melodies in the background, but I don't know, man, something about it feels almost cynical or sarcastic (Like an Outkast 'Hey Yeah' type song). I think it's the former, at least from an artistic intention POV, they literally sell a mug saying "This Is The Day" on their merch store, so I'm sure they intended it to have at least some sort of motivational effect. You also get songs like the title track here that seem to suffer with the listener, in a very pitiful way. This track also has this incredible but short breakdown with these gorgeous synth arpeggios. So I did find the concept neat, certainly unique, and it's nothing if not consistent. But the songs themselves, for the most part, just didn't land for me. The synth work was really cool, especially in those final two cuts (literally doing some cool predictive EDM stuff with the drums and synths, especially with that extended outro on 'Giant'), but I don't see myself revisiting the songs here as songs anytime soon. Still decent though, and I might return to it someday to see if I'd be more open to accepting it for what it is.
Quite enjoyed this one, very weird sound similar to xtc
My inner Xennial wants to give this 5 stars if only because of “This Is The Day”’s inclusion in the Empire Records soundtrack. Now - close your eyes and imagine you’re wearing a beat up cardigan and dancing with Liv Tyler on a rooftop somewhere.
Why is there so much mediocre British new wave on this list?? The fucking Spice Girls would be a more worthwhile entry than this!! Fucking Nickelback would be a more worthwhile entry than this!!
He's no singer is he
I think a lot of my interest in a group revolves around the vocalist/lyricist. This guy doesn't really hold up for me and the songs don't pop. 2.5 for me, but bumping.
it was good but maybe just not my jam. but it did jam
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Zu wenig Banger.
This is pretty decent but I would have probably hated it when I was younger. Would have been too quirky for me. 2.5/5
Amazing vibes
No, not at all, really.
Extra point for being on the Empire Records soundtrack
One really great song and the rest are fine.
Yeah, I don’t like the genre too much. Maybe this is where it shows that I wasn’t alive during the 80s
This is some really good stuff. Very thoughtful, and simultaneously dark and optimistic. Musically lots of fun too.
Sad excuse for post punk
i dont like new wave. why are they going for that same annoying put on voice bleh
Groupe inconnu. Un bon morceau (+1) dans cet album : 'Uncertain Smile' et son excellent chorus de piano. Les autres morceaux sont moins réussis, souvent très (trop) longs ('Giant'), généralement sans chorus ce qui les rends plutôt ennuyeux. Je ne l'écouterais pas une seconde fois. =>2/5
A good look to that times more progressive sounds. The title song is worth listening. While it was not for my personal tastes, it was still a good glance/learning experience of what is out there.
Fantastic album. I need to start putting this one on rotation.