Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Interesante
I've been waiting for tomorrow - 1 star this is the day - 4 stars the sinking feeling - 3.5 stars uncertain smile - 5 stars the twilight hour - 5 stars soul mining - 4 stars giant - 3 stars
This album has a bigger impact and sound than it has warrant to. Soul Mining contains The The's biggest hit, but also encapsulates the feeling and era they were in with it's unique blend of synths and modern new wave music with traditional musical stylings. To reduce it to one song takes away from the overall movement of the album.
This is full-blown 80s pop—good for what it is
I found this album pretty good. The 80s essence was quite palatable.
Good solid 80s pop that wasn't overplayed, at least in my neck of the woods. If I were creating the soundtrack for a movie that was set in the 80s and I didn't want to go with the obvious choices (Don't You Want Me, Come On Eileen, (I Ran) So Far Away), I might choose this. I loved the first half and was less enchanted with the second. The piano solo on Uncertain Smile was especially nice. Really good!
The prelude to pop albums for a millennium.
Very pleasantly surprised by this one. 1983 - postpunk is not normally anything I can enjoy but this has a lot going on. Poetic pop with electro synth sounds. A couple of tracks sound like they could have been 10 years later. Just need to know how to say the The name now.
Älskar denna. Som nämnt ovan har pappa denna i samlingen, vilket har varit gynnsamt i uppfostran av en ängslig indie-kille som mig. Deras bästa låt - this is the day, finns dessvärre inte med på denna skivan.
Denna är ju riktigt bra! Har den i skivsamlingen, men det är ju inget som snurrar dagligdags.
notes - debut album from synth pop band the the - actually a solo album by the band’s singer matt johnson but has been credited to the the - partially a re-recording of songs from an earlier project for a different band - this album is super interesting, especially matt johnson’s vocal style which i really enjoy depending on the song - really great drum machine and bass throughout fav - ive been waiting for tomorrow all of my life - really like the looping bass and chorus least fav - the twilight hour - the only time where matt’s vocals seemed like a bit too much 4/5 - cool album but i think a couple songs hold it back from being really great
Pretty cool...interesting sound that I would gladly come back to. 3.5/5
I'm just a symptom of the moral decay that's gnawing at the heart of the country. I felt that Infected had dated musically I seem to remember. You could argue the same here but it's just too good for it to matter. Full of songs with a poppy feel but unusual chorus-less structures. Jools Holland at the ending of Uncertain Smile is fantastic. The slow build groove of Giant to close out. Terrific album.
really liked this one. added it to my library as well. i hope it becomes a staple in my listening activities
Grew on me.
Pretty awesome debut album. Post-punk / synth pop and a good listen from beginning to end.
I first heard of this group in a list of the worst band names. Luckily the music leaves a much better impression. Reminds me of the previously reviewed “Rise and Fall” by Madness, in terms of eclectic, 80’s English pop rock. “The Twilight Hour” sounds like a precursor to the lava levels in Super Mario 64. If I change my mind about the rating later, it’s because I’m sick while listening to this tonight. HL: “This is the Day”, “Giant”, “I’ve Been Waiting…”
marred only by some filler and 80s production
This is brilliant post punk synth pop, really captivating music, sonically interesting, with great energy and rhythm.
I didn't know what I was expecting from this album bit I was pleasantly surprised, each song was very good. I didn't get bored and I'm definitely listening to this again
A real unique and interesting listen. Quite the surprise!
Pretty good new age album, enjoyed the listens!
Love the British post punk/new wave sound. Good stuff
Interesting
There really isn’t a songwriter quite like Matt Johnson. True to the title of this record, he combs the depths of misanthropic despair and constructs some of the most sardonic (yet still fleetingly hopeful) pop gems. This is a totally unique record, the kind which covers a mass of musical territory without ever sounding incoherent or superficial. The full gambit of Arabian scales and pounding dance rhythms is on offer here, and it’s all held together by Matt Johnson’s keen ear for a tune. The two soaring singles, “This is the Day” and “Uncertain Smile”, are far and away the highlights of this record and embody everything which makes The The one of the most special groups in the British indie canon. I would even go so far as to say they are two of the greatest songs of the 1980s. But that’s not to diminish tracks like the infectious ear worm “Giant” or the nihilistic cynicism espoused on “That Sinking Feeling”. It’s such a great record, but it does have a couple of flaws. The album is definitely a bit front-loaded in terms of its memorable tracks, and never really picks up the momentum in the latter half. As an album it’s a frustrating listen in this regard, at least to my ear. Their follow-up, Infected, rectifies this and serves as a much more rewarding listen in the one sitting. I adore the single “Perfect” but even then I’m not sure it’s inclusion in the original running order would have been fitting. Nevertheless, I can’t detract too much from this record. It’s a standout album and one which I treasure in my collection.
ja men det här var bra. andra låten var nog bäst
This was a good album. It was very intriguing to me I heard a lot of things I like and I look forward to listening to it again to try to pick out even more interesting sections.
I wasn't expecting anything but this was great. Now I need to check out their other albums.
Great stuff. Not incredible, but I had a good time.
I was impress, great surprise !
New wave
This is the Day and Uncertain Smile still sound fresh after almost 40 years. Classic early 80s post punk.
Great post punk album, insane piano solo on "uncertain smile", lyrics angsty as shit but great.
I think some of the song went on a one minute too long, but overall this album brought a great vibe.
I've been waitin' for tomorrow - starts off with a heavy beat, gradually builds. Solid start This is the day - jarring between upbeat tempo and quite depressing lyrics👍 The sinking feeling- I love angst👍 Uncertain smile - just okay for me, lengthy piano solo The twilight hour - really like lyrical themes here👍 Soul mining- bit more low key with fun instrumental👍 Giant - v long repetitive Outro Perfect- going to rate this one even though it's contentious. Instrumental 👍 I'm interested in revisiting this album, seems like it could get better with afew relistens. For now, 4/5
Really, really cool album. First track plays hopscotch with the "weird vibe that's genuinely interesting"-"weird for the sake of being weird" line, but all the others nail the genuinely interesting side of it for me. Very much enjoyed this album. Favorite tracks: Uncertain Smile, Giant
Synth-Pop that sticks out from the rest of the New Wave albums due to the unique addition of elements such as an organ, a gospel choir, a piano solo. A for effort and creativity
I have never heard of this band before and the album wasn't bad, though at this moment I am struggling to recall it. However because the band's name is The The I cannot go lower than 4 stars!
This album came out of nowhere and had no reason being as great as it was, definitely going to need to delve deeper in the discography after this gem. 4.5/5
Good punk album, tells a story through the tracks.
Love The The. This isn’t my favourite album, not least cos of the 80sness of it, but it’s full of gems.
Innovative and interesting
Liked this a lot, something interesting going on with the drums, particularly on the last track. Nice past discovery.
80s albums suffer badly in my rating. I love the era for pop singles. But, largely, the albums from the Human League to A-ha are unbearable. This however has guile, and certainly doesn't sound dated. I need to explore this guys body of work. well crafted songs with curiously intense lyrics. 4.
"Life is like a sewer And I'm trying to wade thru her" Lead-off track (I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow) is an uncomplicated banger. Second track (This Is the Day) is soulful and melancholic and still fun (accordion! claps!). I had never heard of Matt Johnson until today but I already feel like he's a *good* songwriter. Look no further than the plinking poppy guitar accentuating The Sinking Feeling around lines like: "The path of least resistance Leads to the garbage heap of despair" The super interesting and jazzy melodic solos in Uncertain Smile are, I think, representative of the whole mood of this album: dancing the night away with cool people while the world falls to pieces outside. It's energetic, it's erotic, it's disorienting, it's a great time, it's menacing and almost sinister (Soul Mining). Like Johnson sings over the irresistible escalating percussion in Giant: "I'm a stranger to myself And nobody knows I'm here When I looked into my face It wasn't myself I'd seen But who I've tried to be" The chants go on for so long you really do lose yourself. This is maybe what the 80s felt like. Twilight Hour is self-indulgent and weirdly overwrought and keeps this short of 5 stars for me. Other than this misstep, a very enjoyable album.
Never heard this before but thought it was great. Constantly interesting sound without getting distracting from the songs
I came to this album late - let's say 30 years... Classic of the UK '80s.
The The! Didn't expect you guys to show up. Always creative, always fun. Something a lot of these artsy post punk bands forget when they are pushing the envelope is that they should still be enjoyable to listen to.
Never heard of the the before but I was pleasantly surprised. There music is very different and I very much enjoyed the album. Killer music in the background
I went on a proper journey with this album - hated the start of it but that was turned around with the absolute classic "This is the day" - and by the end of "Giant" I was singing along to it - I think I'll be revisiting this one for another go.
the the!
De souvenir, ces gars-là ont livré une performance plus que correcte même si les bégaiements à outrance m'ont beaucoup agacé. J'ai d'ailleurs horreur de parler avec des gens qui bégaient. En revanche, j'adore discuter avec les personnes qui articulent de manière fluide. Les goûts et les couleurs...
Grato descubrimiento. Post-punksynth-pop
Like Infected, the other The The album we've had, this one is also very good, although it lacks a top standout track such as "Heartland". In terms of songwriting, it's absolutely top notch post-punk / dark synth pop. Might even be five stars if the mixing were better.
Definitely not what I expected, but not at all disappointed either.
Znam za ovaj album, ali me opet iznenadio koliko je drugačiji nego što ga se sjećam. Veliki osjećaj new wave-a i synth popa upakiran sa ritmičnim pjesmama.
I honestly enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Definitely better than the other The The album I had on the list
Matt Johnson was/is an interesting artist. I bought Uncertain Smile as a 12 inch single on St. Marks Place in NYC – the go-to place for imports back in the day. I thought it was great then and it still holds up well for me. The Jools Holland solo is awesome. The rest of the disc is not at good, but still a solid listen. An arty Thompson Twins, Matt Johnson’s influence was immediate. This disc could be a John Hughes soundtrack.
Matt Johnsin hit a home run with This is the Day, a perfect slice of 80s alternative pop. It has all the elements; Great dance floor beat, catchy sing along chorus, beautiful melodic synthesizer riff and a huge drum sound. Just a great song that to me still sounds fresh today. Can the rest of the album possibly measure up? Well the short answer is no! But.... There are some fine tunes on here; Uncertain Smile, the title Track as well as the closer Giant. Most of the tunes go on too long and I find myself looking to skip ahead to the next one 3/4 of the way through. But I can say that each song has something to offer. Johnson's themes of life and death, heaven and hell and biblical references can get a little heavy handed but the arrangements tend to lighten the mood and help make the whole thing more accessible. 4 🌟
Very much a part of my youth and the only The The that I play regularly these days. Uncertain Smile is impossibly nostalgic for me.
I can see why this is an 80s classic but I'd have to listen to it more for it to get to that point with me.
An aggressive take on new wave, attempting to take back the sound while dropping anything that would make it too commercial. This record is successful in standing out from the other new wave sounds of the time. Excellently weird.
This is a strikingly good debut album. While the ideas are not as well developed as on later releases, this album showcases the imagery that would hit its zenith on ‘Infected.’ The synth pop is infectious and avoids much of the trappings that leave much of 80s pop sounding dated.
I could never keep track of all the faceless 80's new wave bands. I would hear a song on the radio and couldn't tell you if it was the The, Psychedelic Furs, New Order, A-Ha, or any number of other bands. I usually liked the music, just couldn't distinguish who was who. Listening to this album though, it seems to me the The was probably one of the better bands to come out of that era. Really solid songs, enjoyed it very much. 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.
Ooh - this was good. Really sounds like a one-man job, lots of well constructed tunes with nice bass and synth lines. Piano on Uncertain Smile is just fantastic.
Great album!
Good 80s vibe, long songs put me off a little! Exactly the sort of album I was hoping to find with this project.
Never heard of the band before. The type of music is right down my alley, I really like 80's synthpop and this album is a nice example of the genre. Outspoken basslines and off course the synth. Easy to listen to and very enjoyable.
Groovy, lovely pop, slipping in to the listening lugs so comfortably.
knocking 80's percussion, bold synth leads and driving, funky bass lines. All under a drole english delivery. it's interesting new wave.
Pretty fun
Great 80s pick. Holds up well considering the era it came from. Favorites: "I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow", "This Is the Day", "Uncertain Smile"
did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did!
4.5/5. Very solid nu-wave/synthpop. Will def check more out
This album surprised me with how many songs I remembered after hearing it. I had only recognized "This is the day" but "Uncertain Smile" and "Giant" also rang a bell after hearing them again. It sounds very much of its time, but it's a standout example of what made this music fun and interesting.
Cool, arty, yet accessible
Loving the vibes!
Bleak lyrics. Sounds similar to The Cure. I would buy this album.
Comfortably awkward and sufficiently weird, kinda like a Dr. Seuss book. Most of these tracks take time to appreciate, a high bar for most 1001 reviewers (myself included), but if you've got the stamina for a second listen, you might find some treasure at the end of the rainbow. This is the Day, however is an instant classic. I could easily Green Eggs and Ham that one. I could enjoy it in a boat, with a goat, on a train or in the rain. I would listen to it here or there, I'd listen to it anywhere.
fantastisk afdæmpet poprock
Postpunk/synth pop, Matt Johnson, gribende, flydende
Matt Johnsin hit a home run with This is the Day, a perfect slice of 80s alternative pop. It has all the elements; Great dance floor beat, catchy sing along chorus, beautiful melodic synthesizer riff and a huge drum sound. Just a great song that to me still sounds fresh today. Can the rest of the album possibly measure? Well the short answer is no! But.... There are some fine tunes on here; Uncertain Smile, the title Track as well as the closer Giant. Most of the tunes go on too long and I find myself looking to skip ahead to the next one 3/4 of the way through. But I can say that each song has something to offer. Johnson's themes of life and death, heaven and hell and biblical references can get a little heavy handed but the arrangements tend to lighten the mood and help make the whole thing more accessible. 4 🌟
Grato descubrimiento. Post-punksynth-pop
Amazing new wave album. Incredible voice. 8/10 1. Perfect 2. This is the Day 3. I've Been Waiting for Tomorrow (All of My Life)
Fine.
I have a soft spot for artists who rebel against the music industry. These guys did it with the band name. They also made some good songs to dance to that weren't dance music. The album kicks off and finishes strong w "I've been waiting . . ." and "Giant" both edgy uptempo songs. "This is the Day '' and "Uncertain Smile", the two most well known songs on this album, are beasts. On "This is the Day" the lyrics don't start until the one minute mark but it works. Doing this with the single again shows their rebellious side. Of the two big songs, I probably like the songwriting better on This is the Day but the 3+ minute piano solo on Uncertain Smile is killer. The singing skills are nothing to write home about but I find they work well with the storytelling nature of the lyrics. I recall having some The The on vinyl but don't remember what I had and didn't feel like basement dwelling to dig it up. It had "Perfect Day" a great song w the words "Oh what a perfect day to think about myself . . . " I can't find that song on Spotify. Too bad. It was another beast.
In the early 80s when punk was fading and new wave synth pop was ascending, we got this brilliant post-punk debut album by the The. It perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the era: angsty despair, fear and paranoia, but held together by deep danceable percussion and bass beats. Pretty much every song on this album is killer, the singles are well known but my favourite has to be Giant, especially how it ends with its astonishing tribal percussion and chanting. This is one of my absolute favourite albums from this era, right up there with the best material produced by The Cure and that's saying a lot.
I knew very little about The The prior to listening, but this was a very pleasant surprise. Shades of Nu-romantics, very much in keeping with my impression of the early 80s, and some interesting lyrical themes.
groovy 80s mad compressed reverb drums !
No conocía al grupo, buena música como para poner de fondo mientras se avanza el trabajo (así lo escuche).
Great album - This is The Day is a standout track, but it's all excellent.
well, that was...i dunno, fine? i remember back in the late 80s, i had a boss who really liked them, in particular that johnny marr was on whatever album he was listening to. but that wasn't to happen for years yet. anyway, i liked this. it ended up just being kinda a background soundtrack while i worked, but for that it was just fine.
Pop-punk raruno. No está mal.
не заикайся короче, немного запутешествовался, было не до альбомов. Но в дороге погонял этот, и, пожалуй, тоже по потреково его разберу. I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life) - немного затянуто начинается, но под конец достаточно круто разгоняется + харизматичный вокалер + вроде неплохой текст, в целом атмосфера немного такого немного пластмассового нью вейва (к этому ещё вернёмся). This Is the Day - Возвращаемся к этому, звучание прям пластмасса. Ну и сразу, видимо, нужно выложить эту карту на стол - больше всего альбом смутил именно звучанием. Мелодии-то сами по себе ничего, душевные, композиционно мне нравится, но некоторые синты + драммы звучат пиздец как искуственно и плоско. Временами с этим мириться можно, а временами просто вайб теряется от общей бюджетности происходящего. Впрочем, не подумайте, что вторая песня плохая, мне в целом зашло. Вообще звучит как такой чуть менее серьезный дипишмот только со свистульками, скрипками и каким-то кантри мелодиями иногда The Sinking Feeling - бля, вступление жуткое, в какой-то современной попсе такое помню, ну и звучание прям совсем неприятное, первая четверть песни к худшим моментам относится. Но когда разгоняется - становится в принципе ок. Uncertain Smile - приятная, хорошая, соляк клавишый кайф, наверное одна из лучших песен, хитяра такой, вопросов ни к чему нет, в конце прям аж яички холодеют. Fruit of the Hear - какой-то бонус-трек для новозеландцев, ну пусть будет, неплохой инструментальчик со свистульками. The Twilight Hour - интересно, но немного патетично, вообще по альбому немного больше как будто именно мелодекламации, вместо пения. Но хули взять, британцы эз из. Soul Mining - норм, опять, конечно, электронные эти проигрыши немного дёшево звучат. Но с оглядкой на время збс, наверное, негатива не вызвало. Giant - концепция хорошая, но сама песня какая-то чересчур бесформенная чтоль вышла + внимание в какой-то момент уплывать начинает из-за продолжительности. Концовка не сильно зашла, в Улыбке было круче. Perfect - ахах, короче есть ощущение такое ебаненькое от этой песни, как будто она из Короля Льва или типа того))) В целом годная песня тоже, просто чето странное от нее ощущение иногда какой-то акуны мататы, не мой фаворит однозначно. Причем по тексту наоборот, тут жуть какая-то, но зучание бля)) В итоге, я думаю, мои претензии (так же как и мои симпатии) тут ясны, так что желаем этим новичкам развивать свою музыкальную карьеру и провести +2,5 минуты за настройкой синтезаторов, чтобы они звучали хоть немного живо. 7/10
This is the Day is one of my favorite alternative songs of all time. The album is pretty strong with a unique cool casual vibe. Definitely the peak of The The offerings.
Great album - only knew a couple of the tracks - will definitely listen to again. Good for a hot Saturday morning listen
Dobrze raz od czasu trafic cos co potrafi calkowicie zaskoczyc, bo Soul Mining na pierwszy rzut oka zapowiadal sie jak X wyspiarskich synthowych popowych materialow, ktore juz sie przewinely przez liste, a tymaczasem mialem okazje uslyszec cos zupelnie swiezego od pana Matta Johnsona, bo banda The The, to jedynie przykrywka dla jego wlasnej tworczosci, w sensie, ze zespol nie mial stalych czlonkow tylko byli oni zmieniani w zaleznosci od potrzeb artystycznych, taka wolnosc tworcza i wyjatkowo talent do kamuflowania przemyslanej liryki na synthowych brzmienaich i przemycaniu kawalkow ktore zostawiaja cie z przemysleniami w piosenakch przy ktorych ludzie powinni tanczyc, to wlasnie majstersztyk tego materialu, plyta jest pierwszym studyjnym wydaniem w dyskografii The The, orginalna wersja ma 41 minuty na 7 trakach, gdzie najdluzszym zamykajacym kawalkiem jest giant, ktory jest ostatnim krzykiem juz prawie doomerskim plyty, how can anyone know me when I dont even know myself? takim pytaniem i odpowiedzia yeah, yeah, yeah konczy sie caly album, nie wiem jak ludzie w komentarzach pod this is the day czy i've been waitin for tomorrow uwazaja, ze jest to pocieszna muzyka z pozytywnym przeslaniem lirycznym, jak caly soul mining jest doslownie kopaniem rozpaczy, byc moze takie kopanie potrafi podniesc na duchu, ale z pewnoscia zmusza do przemyslen wywolujacych poczucie smutku i bezradnosci, w skali bloomerowo doomerowej, album to solidny kawalek rozsadnego gloomera starajacego sie przejsc na strone bloomerska, jak na traczki the sinking feeling, gdzie podmiot liryczny oswiadcza, ze jego stan jest wynikiem moralnego zepsucia jakie toczy sie przez jego kraj, czy czasy, ale jednak nie rzuca sie w otchlan doomerstwa i opiera sie latwemu rozwiazaniu, a zostaje dla jutra, bo jak mozna inaczej, ciekawe sa takze przewijajace sie watki tego co jest po zyciu, a wiec pojawia sie strach zarowno przed bogiem jak i pieklem, niezdecydowanie w tej kwestii pojawia sie kilkukrotnie, tak samo motyw bycia zaleznym od drugiej osoby, to znaczy wiazanie swojego szczescia z druga osoba chyba nigdy nie jest zdrowe, bo nawet jesli chwilowo taka wiez, to jednak nic nie moze wiecznie trwac, to motyw przewodni tytulowego kawalka oraz the twilight hour, a co do brzmienia tego post punkowo synthowego albumiku, to nie spodziewalem sie, ze tak dobrze mozna zgrac synthowe brzmienie z zywymi instrumentami, zwlaszcza jak na solowy material, pan Matt byl rowniez producentem albumiku, na liscie muzykow bioracych udzial w nagraniach widnieje 18 nazwisk, wiec ciezko stwierdzic kto na czym gral, ale z pewnoscia sluchac dosc ciekawe wykorzystanie niecodziennych instrumentow, jak akordeonu i skrzypiec na this is the day lub klawesow na giantcie, czy wiolonczeli w the twilight hour, ale calosc materialu jest spojna kompozycja, co najbardziej w budowie trakow mnie urzeklo, to to jak kazdy kawalek z osobna ma wlasny opening i rozwija sie w przeciagu trwania utworu, wykorzystanie synthezatorowych wokali na chorusach daje wrazenie, ze jeszcze ktos tu spiewa poza czlowiekiem orkiestra, a to jednak one man show, dziwne jest ze nie czuc zeby album byl z 83, gdybym mial obstawiac to strzelalbym w pozne lata 90, a tu jednak poczatek 80, co moze najbardziej zdradza pewna maniera wokalna, ale samo brzmienie instrumentali jest tak jakosciowo zmiksowane, ze nie brzmi to jak debiutancki material wlasnej produkcji, ale jak cos z mainstreamu madchestera, co do plejkowych traczkow, to dodam najpopularniejszy kawalek z albumu czyli tak niezrozumiany this is the day i the sinking feeling, a caly album laduje na poleczce spotifajowej piczkow o wyjatkowej jakosci
Great new wave all throughout, and you can definitely hear the experimental aspects. Being a huge synth pop/ new wave fan, I can't believe I have never heard of The The...maybe I am not as big of a fan as I thought I was
Tämä oli ihan tunnelmallista kasarisynailua. Pikkuisen Leijonakuningas-meininkiä mukana siellä täällä, varsinkin vikassa biisissä. The Sinking Feeling oli paras biisi parin kuuntelukierroksen perusteella.
Deferring liking this for another 10 years but will keep it closer maybe
Sí me gustó. Una vibra pop muy de su época. Gran inicio con Stolen Car, y la otra que me gustó fue Stars all seem to weep. Mood: los 90 ya olian a 2000
Great album. 4.5/5 Fav tracks: This is the day, uncertain smile, soul mining
Nice, listened two it twice in a row.
Not in my usual genre wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it. Big fan of the vocals and the way the songs build up. Only song I don’t like is The Twilight Hour. Would give it a 4.5 if cowardly half stars were allowed.
A tight pop album. Didnt blow me away though.
This is the Day
Excellent album. Closest to 5 stars than to 4, but I can't give it a 10/10. It's more like 9.1/10, really great.
loved it. some really interesting composition stuff and the dark introspective lyrics were delightful. well, maybe delightful isn't the word...
Excellent ! Sonne vraiment unique ! très belle découverte. Fav : Soul mining
I'd say this is a 3.5. Some really great songs, a lot of howling pain!
He cool
This is a really good album. It's actually really good for getting work done to because it's not too in-your-face but it's not just background music. And damn, the piano solo on Uncertain Smile is great. My only criticism is that it isn't always the most interesting but I would never say that it's bad Favorite Songs: I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All Of My Life), This Is the Day, Uncertain Smile, The Twilight Hour, Giant Decent 8/10
this was really fun! the vocals leave a little to be desired but it's cool, catchy synth pop music with interesting lyrics. also i like the accordion. 8/10
I actually really liked this, would definitely relisten. High 8
Didn't have super high hopes for this one but I thought it was super good! I rarely pay so much attention to the drums but they really led the way here, and the bass lines were pronounced and funky, so i was a big fan!
Strange that I enjoyed it more than I expected. Particularly the slightly cheesy 80s stuff :)
Not Bad
love the album cover. Never listened to this before, but knew some of the singles, "this is the day" is an amazing song, bittersweet and nostalgic (although I have no history with it) also love "giant"
I don't know why I thought The The was in the '60's era of The Who. I'm a big fan of This Is the Day from Empire Records, and the rest of the album is pretty great. I'll give this lots of more listens.
1. Really cool drums and synth, really like the boom of the drums. Funky, reminds me of GUM's Television Sick. Solid album intro. 2. Like the arpeggiated synth, as well as the 'accordion' synth. Good vocals, the song is just plain good. 3. Weird and interesting synth at the start, sounds cool. The flanged out guitar in the chorus sounds nice too, as well as the leading synth. The guitar work is nice and additive. The distorted guitar is cool. 4. The guitar is cool, as well as the bass. Has a nice rhythm and momentum. The piano pops off and goes ham. 5. Pretty cool, percussion is interesting. 6. Phaser guitar is awesome, the eerie synth is nice too. The quiet guitar is really nice. Probably my favorite song on the album. The synth at 3:00 is really cool. I like how the song builds up as it goes on. 7. Mallets are pretty cool, as well as the unusual percussion. The synth is really interesting throughout the song, and I think its a strong finish to the entire album.
Really liked it. Had never heard of them before. Loved The Sinking Feeling and a lot more - liked the vibe quite a bit. Might check out more of the artist sometime later maybe.
Neat!
pretty typical 80s sounds but expertly done. Uncertain Smile is unreal
Deep groove Synth-pop with melodies to spare. Lyrically powerful & self absorbed... in a good way.
Pretty cool, pretty vibey. Surprised I hadn’t heard of it before.
Way ahead of its time. Poetry in paranoia!
A little poppy for me, but these are all straight bangers.
I owned "Infected" BITD, and my recollection of The The was that there were a few great songs but the bulk of it was derivative and outdated pretty much on release. So hearing this MOSTLY confirms that perception. Especially with the rigid and mechanical 80s drum machines, 80s synths, 80s pop/funk bass in the first few tracks, it sounds like an 80s movie soundtrack (and not John Hughes level). But it gets better, looser, more interesting sounding. I thought "Uncertain Smile" was a great tune, the album's peak, "Twilight Hour" was more interesting, and "Soul Mining," "Giant," and "Perfect" closed out the album well. Overall, better than I expected, and a welcome surprise. Still, 3.5/5. Deserving of its place on the must-listen list? Eh, its a huge list, so, maybe? Probably not
Good in a INXS Kick kind of way, but not that good.
Fun little experimental, electronic record. It's pretty gentle overall, but he comes up with some interesting sounds and compositions. I like the sound of this one overall.
Album #130, The The, Soul Mining ⭐⭐⭐ First time listening to this band outside of the song Giant. I’ve never actually heard any of their other songs. I liked it for the most part. It’s quite a sophisticated kind of 80s synth rock album. The positives are that it sounds great. Musically, it’s a real belter of an album. From the opening track, I’ve Been Waiting for Tomorrow (All of My Life), the drums are loud, punchy and right in your face. They’re not afraid to go heavy-handed with the drums, and I think that really suits the music. It’s very energetic, and all the arpeggiated synths add an awful lot of colour to it. The songs take unexpected turns, and there are lovely textures and timbres throughout. I also love this kind of music when unexpected acoustic instruments come into the mix. On This Is the Day, when that fiddle comes in, I just think it’s brilliant. That’s probably my favourite song on the album. When I say the songs take unexpected turns, you’ve also got Uncertain Smile, which suddenly breaks into this huge piano solo that just keeps going and going. Piano solos are seriously underused in rock music. A good piano solo is hard to come by these days, so I really appreciated that. So as you can tell, the album was going very well for me. But it does take a big dip after Uncertain Smile. I think The Twilight Hour is really long, overblown and just boring. It’s a boring song. The title track is pretty good though. It’s got that real late-night atmosphere. Then it picks up again with Giant. Giant in particular sounds really ahead of its time. I’m always a sucker for music that feels like it was made years before it should have been, and this really does. It actually reminded me a lot of LCD Soundsystem. The reason it’s lost a star for me is Matt Johnson. I do think his voice suits the music, but over the course of the album it started to grate on me. More than his voice though, it was his lyrics. They all felt very self-obsessed. Lots of introspection and talking about himself in these grand, dramatic ways. They just didn’t really do much for me. A thought crossed my mind while I was listening: is this what Morrissey sounds like to people who don’t like Morrissey? The distinctive voice combined with very self-focused lyrics all wrapped up together. I love Morrissey, so I’ve never really understood the criticism, but listening to this made me wonder if that’s how it comes across to other people. Still, it’s a strong three-star album that’s probably leaning towards a four. Side note: my toddler absolutely loved it. He bounced around the room dancing to it, especially during This Is the Day, which he thought was fantastic. So for him, it’s a five-star review.
Pretty alright album. A very unique sound. The Sinking Feeling was my favorite; the guitar is so catchy. 5.3/10
Pretty fun and unique but overall not to my tastes. Some strong highlights tho with Giant being my fav song and first listen. This Is the Day and Uncertain Smile were good too
Nix besonderes! 80er halt.
Some tracks I hated, some I quite liked. Opening track unfortunately was a hate, but I liked the second track. Strangely inconsistent not only in quality but also sound, with the nu wave and electro sound not fully committed to all the way through.
Better than I expected.
Lyrics are a bit basic for me but the instrumentals are cool.
Decent enough, but nothing I'm going to rush back to. It's obviously a bit dated now, but there's still enough good stuff going on.
Fun 80's vibes. It was a good time, nothing amazing but good.
Tough one, I really like the album when it's moving and grooving, but it's slower parts drag on. There are some cool beats and parts on the album, but the whole thing blurred a bit together for me. I liked the dramatic growling vocals for the most part. Synths were cool and old school funky. The drums were solid throughout. "This is the Day" is surely the standout on the album. In the end its a 3 for me.
Wasn’t bad, fairly solid album with a couple of standouts.
Didn’t know what to expect with this one and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Interesting choices all around. Loved the accordion, I think on track 2. A lot more creative than I thought it would be. 3/5
The first song was extremely off-putting, but the rest of the album toned down the the quirkiness to an acceptable level.
Wasn’t underwhelming or overwhelming, just whelming, good background music to put on. Last track may have been the best
This Is the Day is the best song on there by far, its kinda meh otherwise.
fun indie vibes
I listened in the car, on a long drive down the motorway. It was perfectly pleasant, but didn't captivate. The album peaks at the top with the wonderful 'This Is The Day', but I found it never really manages to scale such heights after that.
5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background
2 standout songs make this a 3
뭐라 쓰지
A few good songs on here.
Its a very different sound, alienish almost, not for me but i know someone loves this.
Overall: 6/10 One thing I really like about this album is the atmosphere. The slower songs were very pleasing to listen to. I will say it took a few songs for me to get into the rhythm, and I don't think this is something I'm likely to come back to, but I'm glad I heard it and I'd recommend it to most people. Fav Song: Soul Mining
I enjoy a good synth-album, especially from the early 80s. So this should be right up my lane. And yet i struggled with this album. The songs are quite meandering, which isn‘t necessarily a bad thing but on Soul Mining it doesn‘t add much to the substance of the songs, i think. This is one of the very rare cases where i‘d appreciate a shorter edit of the album, or at least some of the songs. The contrast between Johnson‘s vocal performance, often brooding and in parts goth-adjacent, and the music itself is quite interesting and a lot of fun. Singing songs about how shitty you feel and how shitty life is over a happy synth-beat always gets me.
The The is one of those bands I’m supposed to like, but it never clicked. I can’t really explain it other than there are other bands from the genre and time period that do the same thing, but better. Dude’s vocals get on my nerves a bit. This Is The Day is great song though.
Я послухала двічі, але так жодного треку так і не запам'ятала. Проте уцілому музика залишила не погане враження і на фоні здавалася доволі приємною
I really enjoyed the other The The The The The The The album on this list, this one was a bit dissapointed. It wasn't bad by any means, but it didn't really pull me in and seemed to have less hit power than the other one. It's still good 80's pop, well made without being one of those cheesy sophisti-pop acts. Probably just needs another listen, into the back of the backlog it goes.
english punk pop👨🎤
It was ok. Once I got over the cheesy synth pop single opening track, it kind of calmed down a bit. Still, completely forgettable
Liked this one better than their other album on this list but still don’t think they deserved two entries
its 80's British Rock so naturally I steeled myself to have a terrible time, This Is The Day had me in a rough mood but luckily it passed, and overall my listening experience wasn't all that bad! My biggest issue was the sound production, and I'm willing to bet it was my headphones on this one. I had such a hard time hearing the vocals on some of these songs. I doubt I'll go back to check this out again, but I had a fairly decent time listening through. Also Twilight Hour seems like a pop song from another album, until the lyrics bring you back talking about chunks of your heart missing and so on. Overall, it was fine, and thats okay!
Meh, very 80's sounding. The singers voice is annoying.
Too '80s for me, but thats ok Best Song: This is the Day Rating: 6.5/10 Stars: 3
This Is the Day was worth the listen, and its a short album anyways
Better than I expected. But wouldn't make my personal list.
The The are yet another UK based pop group from the '80s that started as an underground experimental project, which then drifted closer and closer to more mainstream sounds until securing a few hits. I bring this up because it honestly seems like there was a minute where a lot of bands were doing this; Scritti Politti for example, just off the top of my head. But, regardless of where they started, by the time The The made it to their debut LP, they were basically a punk flavored synth pop project, which happened to have some artistic decisions that might make one think thatvthey may have started as a very different band. And while this isn't something that really ends up in my wheelhouse, it is definitely solid. Good pop songs are stretched in sort of a dancey way, and maintain momentum well enough to pull it off. Giant is the longest song here, and conveniently the best. It manages to scratch a similar itch to the one that This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads reaches, which is a rare compliment. But other highlights are The Sinking Feeling, This Is The Day, and The Twilight Hour, which are all great songs in their own right. But this has enough of thd aforementioned momentum, and great synthesis lines that the whole project ends up (more or less) working. As I said, The The are generally an interesting band, and the material here is solid, but a touch flawed, and a little out of my wheelhouse.
Definitely interesting. Distinct sound and good album. I enjoyed "This is the day", "Uncertain Smile"(nice piano), or "Soul Mining" (probably my favourite). It is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I typically like long songs, but I found "Giant" (at more than 9 min) is one of the less interesting tracks. So this is preventing this from reaching 4 stars.
намного больше гармоний и мелодий чем ожидала от пост-панка! пение очень 80е, но не бесит)
it's fine, kinda seems like a one man show, and innovative in its way, just not that much fun.
An interesting 80s albums that kept me engaged. Rating: 6.5/10 Favorite Track: This is the Day
Maybe I was in a bad mood for the other one, or this one is better than their other album. I like album cover a lot too Will I listen to again: 25%
If you love 80s new wave this is definitely for you. I thought the album was very fun experimentally but it’s definitely an acquired taste. This is the kind of album you grow to love the more you listen to it.
This was interesting for sure. I enjoyed it and it's almost 4 stars, but I think I'll keep it out of the replay list. 3.5
Fine I guess
solid not my fav though
Feels like it straddles the line between Bowie/Eno and new wave techno stuff. Holds up as a weird relic of steadfast production in the post-punk/proto-new wave/techno realm.
Starts off pretty good but looses me more and more as we get along. The first couple songs are more than just dance beats. I know its more but thats the majority of what's on this record. Its one musical idea beaten into oblivion. Just adding 1 tiny new peice every 4 measures. I get its dance styled but hoo boy that kind of stuff gets old for me. I need a verse and chorus and a bridge to keep me entertained. The more new wave stuff is pretty nice but when it gets more post whatever the hell is where im out. Still OK to listen to but not great. Just ok
I really like the hit songs I already knew, but I doubt I'll ever go back to this one.
7/10
One day in the 2010s I can't remember when exactly a song came on this mostly 80's pop radio station. As soon as the drums started on the little omnichord riff my wife joked that I had finally made it onto the radio. I looked it up later to find that the song was 'This is the Day' by 'The The'. I never investigated further into their catalog thinking it was probably a 1-hit wonder situation. I can't exactly say that is the case after listening to this. The rest of the album is about on-par with that song. Here in the present day I haven't really been feeling like doing my 1001 assignments so I wasn't very receptive to this album. My car stereo makes everything sound bad already so I wasn't really enjoying this. The vocals grated on me the most in that it seems like a deliberate stylistic choice to continue to do some kind of halfhearted crooning impression. I'm largely ambivalent about this at the moment. Not sure if I would put it on my own list but it might require revisiting with a better mindset and listening setup.
Poppy without really feeling like pop. I liked the album but nothing really stuck to my mind.
Interesting soundscapes but I don't think I "get" New Wave.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Post punk, synth pop, too much of this This is the day Uncertain smile
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.
New Wave madness. Decent production, fun sound. There’s a Culture Club vibe that I dig.
liked some songs but less fussed about others. decent!
Interesting. Hip. Got a bit repetitive but overall I thought it was a fun listen in the background while I worked.
Nothing remarkable
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.
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.
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.
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
😕
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.
Favorite Track: This is the Day
It's aight
Engaging, its like makin a friend ona cruise ship
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
I wasn’t really into The The at the time but I may well come back to this. Distinctive sound
Enjoyable, could see myself giving this another listen
"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.
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.
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
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.
This is a pleasant listen, solid pop from the early 80s. Nonessential
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
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
Feels a lot like background music
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
Niezłe od lecenia w tle, ale nwm czy bym słuchał tak po prostu
la verdad bacano el álbum, si me gustó pero no me pareció muy memorable, no tengo mucho que decir
Seemed to get better as it went along. Definitely an album. Of its genre. Feeling kind so 3
Aye alright
I liked the piano solo in uncertain smile
ohrwurmpotential vorhanden. frisch.
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.
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
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.
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.
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…
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.
Some really good stuff on here! I’ll probably keep listening to The The!
2.5
Interesting but not as good as Infected
More interesting than most of the British works on here
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
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
First listen
Liked it. Synthy 80s britpop with admittedly annoying vocals typical of britpop, but the musicality makes up for it to be an interesting listen.
Was a little interested in the album, but not enough to see myself listening to the entire album again
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
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.
Need to revisit
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.
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.
Good flow
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.
Didn’t move me, but was pleasant as a soundtrack to the work day.
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.
It's alright :)
Average new wave sound. A stronger singer might have made this more interesting - the band sounds good.
Decent, though This is the Day overshadows everything else.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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