Soul Mining

Not terrible but completely unremarkable

The opening track is brash, eerie, and chaotic. I didn't enjoy it very much. Then here comes This Is the Day, which is beautifully refined and feels very modern. I was hoping that was the direction of the rest of the album, but then it went right back to the chaos. There are some great moments like the piano solo in Uncertain Smile and the breakdown halfway through Soul Mining. Overall though, it was experimental in a way that didn't resonate with me.

This didn't grab me. I found it pretty repetitive and the lyrics facile

Better than I expected. I easily recognized 2, maybe 3, songs off of it. 80s synth pop at it's simplest and I don't mean that in any wrong way.

The most positive thing i can say about this album is that at the end of the first track i thought we had a contender for the worst album this process has introduced me to, fortunately the rest of the album is better (not a lot, but still)

I think I sort of liked “Giant” but, otherwise, it just sounded like someone with notions, who went on about it for far too long. It probably deserves a 1.5 but, as it wasn’t as bad as some of the things I’ve heard here, it is getting a too generous 2.

It took nearly a minute for the lyrics to start. I expect this madness from prog rock but, much as I don't like it much as a genre, I expected more from post punk. But then he started singing, and part of me longed for the pre-vocals period. Stray thoughts: - This Is The Day is alright. - This album is aggressively 80s. - I wonder how many songs have the clap/pause/clap/pause/clap/pause/clap-clap/pause rhythm thing in them? - What the hell is the noise at the beginning of Uncertain Smile?! - I looked it up: its a xylimba. - I like the piano on Uncertain Smile (EDIT: Oh, Jools Holland!) but this song feels like it's been going on forever... - And it bloody finished on a fade out! Unnecessary! - I got distracted during The Twilight Hour and discovered the guy who played trumpet on this record also played trumpet on I Will Cure You by Vic Reeves. - Soul Mining is also alright... And as soon as I wrote that, it went all plinkly plonky and it was no longer alright. - somehow Giant increased the 80s-ness. I'm surprised that was possible. - there's a second The The album on this list?! Yet again I complain at the complete absence of They Might Be Giants. - Giant descends into drumming which I assume is supposed to evoke African music based on the call and response vocals, but made me think of roadworks. This is a 2. I don't dislike it enough to be a 1, nor like it enough to be a 3. In another universe where I'm allowed half stars, it might have even scraped a 2.5. Maybe. 2/5

Not my favorite

Took a bit to grow on me but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Will definitely be coming back to it.

An awesome album!!

This is the Day is a near perfect slice of pop music. I’d actually purchased the first record, Burning Blue Soul by Matt Johnson after having discovered it as a DJ for a junior college in Vancouver in 1981. I discovered today that Matt had requested reissues to beat The The as the artist so they would be filed together. When Soul Mining came out in 1983, I was unprepared for how good this record sounded. When it blew up and became a Canadian hit record I was not surprised. The difference between Burning Blue Soul and Soul Mining is tremendous in terms of sound. The best elements of the first record are carried over with the mix of synth pop and post punk influences, but gone are the heavily filtered vocals. The songs on Soul Mining resonate with Matt’s distinctive voice and the lyrics are sharp and inciteful. Uncertain Smile gets my vote for the best track on the LP as of today. I have played this record numerous times over the past 43 years and my favorite changes between several songs. This Is The Day, Soul Mining and Perfect all make the list. Soul Mining’s lyrics are fascinating and the organ pattern predates Tears For Fears shout by 4 years. If you close your eyes you can hear the gentle lift by Tears For Fears from The The. Giant is further evidence of the cloning a few years later by TFF. All that said, what made The The so interesting was Matt’s sense of melody and vocals. A thoroughly enjoyable record from start to finish. Was it earth shattering? No. Did it alter the trajectory of music? No. Did it make you sing? Certainly. Can you imagine yourself in a dark nightclub dancing to This Is The Day? Yup. I did that. You just have to know that this is the day your life will surely change when things fall into place…

Joy Division meets Tim Curry

Some real fun tracks on this one

I think I kind of like jazz piano!

'This Is The Day' is a great track. Everything else was pretty unmemorable.

Fun enough 🤷🏻‍♀️

this is what I want all of these other 80’s post-punk bands on this list to be. some real moments on this album - “this is the day” is an all time classic and ending with “giant” - the whole thing is cool as fuck. also, clearly a top-5 in the band name hall of fame.

Listening to this album has me wondering if, in the early 80s, there was just some insatiable appetite for endless variants of the British post-punk/new wave/synth pop formula that had sprung up several years earlier. The The's Soul Mining offers yet another entry in this category, and while it serves as a somewhat fresh take on its subgenre, this album left me feeling like it didn't sufficiently add to the sandbox it played in to stand out. That's not to say that the album was a bore. More than many of the bands operating in the same space at the time, songwriter Matt Johnson varies the sound we hear on the album as he embraces a more radio-friendly tone on several songs than his contemporaries. Distinct instrumentation cuts through the synth and drum machine on several songs, notably the percussion of The Twilight Hour and the fantastic piano solo to close out the album's highlight, Uncertain Smile. I also appreciated the hints of light that appeared at a couple points on the album on the aforementioned Uncertain Smile and This Is The Day, the track that garnered the most air time from this album. Additionally, there are points of lyrical or musical experimentation that work out well. The noise-filled opener, I’ve Been Waiting For Tomorrow, achieved a disorienting effect that effectively communicated the song’s message of self-disgust without forcing me to skip the song - a triumph when compared to plenty of industrial rock. And every now and then Johnson’s lyrics would come across as outlandish in an amusing way (“Peeling the skin back from my eyes”). But the same traits that work out well in some instances fall flat in others. Lyrically, Johnson likes to start his songs by setting a vivid scene before progressing into a repetitive, mantra-like chorus. While this is effective for one or two songs, it became formulaic over the course of the album. Likewise, the grotesque, dissociated feel that helps some lines pop also comes off as overdramatic and overwritten in plenty of other cases. Altogether, some lyrics feel composed by a student in a creative writing class who would benefit from an editor. And, while I’m sure Johnson has faced down his share of demons, I can’t ignore the fact that most of the songs fall back on the tried and true post-punk combination of isolation, disorientation, and the moral bankruptcy of Thatcherite Britain. On Giant, the lyrical pitfalls coalesce with musical shortcomings in an unfortunate way. This is a big (some would say giant), 9 and a half minute song that just misses the mark, with lyrical content that retreads ground covered in the previous songs on the album. The song leans on a synth and drum machine line that was fun to begin with but overstayed its welcome. The drum interlude midway through the song, which called to mind Soft Cell’s transition between Tainted Love and Where Did Our Love Go, had the potential to turn this track into something special - if it had lead somewhere worth going. Instead, we returned to the same beat as before with some added choral chanting, marking a huge missed opportunity that ultimately doomed the song in my eyes. I have been struggling to reconcile with my relative ambivalence toward this album, which objectively is an emotionally charged record that takes some big musical swings. While I would view many parts of this album more favorably had I heard it in isolation, when taken in the context of the music of its time, it doesn’t seem as though it’s breaking as much new ground. This leaves me respecting the approach to the work, but not always loving the end result.

Generic 80s drivel. I’ve heard worse.

totalmente sin mas..

I knew these guys would be a bit more of a psychedelic experience, I only knew 'This is the Day', so I would have to be a little patient. I think this album calls for more than one listen-- at the start I was getting a little bored, but the piano solo in Uncertain Smile caught my attention, so I listened in more to the rest of the album and by the time Giant rolled around I was really grooving along with it. But dear lord, these songs do not need to be so long. 8/10 Update: yep, definitely needed another listen. damn, that piano hits harder the second time around!!

I really enjoyed this weirdness.

the same song 7 times with a slightly different key-based instrument at the forefront? idk man

forgot to rate this one when i listened — i have a big fondness for This Is The Day, which was a staple of my roommate's driving playlist when we moved in together after college. The rest of the album is less like that song than i maybe would have hoped, but i again, love 80s bullshit

2.5, I enjoyed it then immediately forgot it....rounding up

I’ve heard of the band because of the outrageous name. Not sure if I know any songs. First track is not familiar so far. I’m digging the opening track so far. I know the second track! I think it was used in “Empire Records”. I really like this album

No estaba yo ayer ni para esuchar más música en inglés ni más hombres, pero de lo poquito que he escuchado esta mañana me ha gustado mucho.

By moronic edgelords for moronic edgelords.

Saw The The in the late 80s beaten generation album tour. Can’t remember the name of the album at present be wrong to google. They played uncertain smile and this is the day. Only thing wrong with The The albums only 7 or 8 songs and over in 50 mins.

I thought they had an interesting sound, and I liked this album more than the last by them.

Best song: 'This is The Day' (one of my all-time favourites)

7/10

Hey this was interesting

- I liked it quite a bit and more each time I play it. I only knew This is the Day and Uncertain Smile, which are great. Now, I also love the title track and Perfect. - Giant starts out really great, but hard no on the long drum solo & chanting in the outro - the funky bassline helps when it kicks in because I was getting angry. That said, it would be way better half as long. - The other songs are less melodic and meander more, but I think they’re still interesting. I’m not really into very experimental music (or jazz), but I like this album and definitely the piano and other instrumentation.

Just loved this from beginning to end. Some killer bass lines and great vocals. Hints of Pulp, Human League, The Cure, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode. Definitely going into my rotation.

This was a new one for me. I didn't really enjoy it. I mean, what exactly is so special about this that makes it an album you must hear before you die?

This band again? Jesus. I can't overstate how much I dislike this kind of punky, angular, 80s synth music. The bass is really sick though. Favorite songs: This Is the Day, The Sinking Feeling, Giant.

It's OK, didn't get me really.

really good and different. pushed envelopes that New Order and others didn't without making it totally unrelatable.

First time hearing a song in this generator that made me go "oh, that's them!" I feel like I've heard This is the Day in movies and commercials a bunch. Immaculately produced. Cool piano playing on Uncertain Smile. Get into it.

2.12

I would have enjoyed this when it came out in the 80s, but I feel like this was the only time to be really impressed by it. It is kind of boring

A nice 80s vibe that’s less synths and drum machines than many others of the time. “This Is The Day” is a great song.

Good album. Not as hard hitting as the first.

Pretty good! Fun '80s music, I didn't realize "This is the Day" was The The.

An unexpected treat. Really enjoyed this one.

1980s Arab Strap

An album that you can tell is pretty experimental but is not terribly unlistenable. About all I can say.

Very funky, mostly in a good way. Very much Talking Heads-ish.

I once saw The The were selling tickets for roughly $150 to a world tour show over a year early. I've liked their music for a long time (particularly this album) but I found this a bit much for an indoor gig. Wish I'd gone now but I was never going to pay that. Also I get the band name is sardonic but it's a little too new-wave for my tastes. Nonetheless this is a really good album. Post-punk with a lot of groovy synthetic flair and a lot of lyrics about feeling guilty about wanting to kill yourself. This Is The Day in particular is a banger and I like the more experimental looping you get, especially out of the latter half. fav tracks: This Is The Day, The Sinking Feeling

No m'ha encantat, per es titol de s'album m'esperava musica mes estil africà. En genral, estil molt dels 80s

fine

Pretty neutral on this one; great cover though

twijfelgeval... enkele goeie maar vooral veel vulling

What a great finding! A very defined sound that felt like a journey to a memory. Kind of familiar, kind of new.

My favourite part of This is the day is when his voice does that thing i"you coulda been anything IF YOu wanted"

I listened to it while I did my morning reports and nothing stood out to me at all. In fact I don't remember any of it. it wasn't good it wasn't bad. I guess I am neutral to it.

Overall has a cool, interesting sound to it, though This Is The Day still stands a good pace above the rest. There's some robotic aura to the drums on most of the album that almost makes it feel like some machine in a factory is playing me music. Except it's on standby for the title track and that's why it's the worst track

Fav: This Is The Day Least Fav: The Twilight Hour Always appreciate an accordion in a song, so it’s natural I like this album

This Is the Day for you to listen to this album.

I wasn't super into this in the opening track, but this is the day and giant were a vibe.

Maso

This was a pretty good album! I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would but it was definitely not bad!

Great album.

Fine. Have I heard one or more of these songs in a movie or tv show?

Another pretty good one, could’ve gone 3 but a few songs, This Is the Day chief among them, bump it up to a 4. Or fore. If this were golf.

Lots of British 70s/80s new wave/punk/post punk on this list, huh? This was unremarkable.

08/10/2025 Never heard of this or them, but i liked it 👌 Spotify listeners: 1.1 million

A bit of the Cure?

8/10 Solid offering. I'd only ever heard this is the day for the Empire Records soundtrack. This album is full of surprises. The industrial licks in the first track made me think that they got some early ministry samples. Their instrumentation on some of these tracks are great. I'm glad I listened to it. 10-07-2025

I had one of their later albums and this one was pretty similar, not bad, not great.

Just in the middle nothing bad or great

Another day, another totally mid British band. Also what kind of name is The The (a stupid one that's what).

not my favorite style but was an ok listen. nothing I would seek out again, but also not a snooze or annoying.

Fine. Idc

I honestly don't understand the alure of The The. Ultimately, both albums I've heard from this list just sound like there's a bit of an identity crisis as to the sound their trying to achieve. While this is decidedly 80s in it's production, there doesn't seem to be anything cohesive about the record beyond that. The big single "This Is The Day" did tickle my nostalgia a little bit, but that's about all I got from it. There's some fun passages from the album here and there, but not enough for me to enjoy the album as a whole

Utter trash.

?? pop? ok. c

Een staple album voor de 80s verzameling. Het is eigenlijk gewoon een ijkpunt als je new wave wil duiden, als een muziekstroming waar elementen samenkomen van synth-pop, post-punk, art-pop enzovoorts. De eerste helft van het album heeft de drive, en de singles, waardoor kantje twee niet zo goed mee kan komen. Toch vind ik het kwalitatief behoorlijk compact. Het is een album die voldoet aan veel eisen voor een 80s pop hit, maar het is weird genoeg om zich te onderscheiden. De afsluiter 'Giant' is daar het schoolvoorbeeld van. 7,5/10 Highlights: This Is the Day Uncertain Smile Giant

Heerlijk, wat een leuk album blijft dit toch. Het is classic new wave, zonder over-the-top te klinken. Het vrolijk en funky maar wordt nergens catchy. Dat komt ook door de stem van Matt Johnson. Die is best laag en monotoon. Ik ben niet de grootste fan, maar kon er vandaag erg van genieten. Voor de liefhebbers passen sommige tracks zelfs op de dansvloer, waardoor het me voor het eerst een beetje doet denken aan LCD Soundsystem. Zeker de afsluitende track Giant (Wat een slottrack is dat zeg!). James Murphy is net zo goed geen échte zanger maar maakt fantastische composities waar de zang ook maar één partij is. En ook die kunnen op de dansvloer. Eigenlijk toch weer positief verrast door Soul Mining. En ik heb wel zin om weer eens 5 sterren uit te delen, dus waarom ook niet. 8,5/10 Highlights Uncertain Smile Giant

Weird but entrancing. I tried to think about how to mentally categorize this album, and I couldn't -- the variety in sound/genre was fascinating.

This Is The Day When Things Fall Into Place 1001 Albums Generator 131 (10/02/2025) The The is one of the dumbest band names I've ever heard. But their debut, Soul Mining, is pretty dang cool. Soul Mining is definitely new wave, but it has more of an artsy edge than a lot of other new wave that I have heard. The intro grew on me a lot. It is very repetitive and at times mechanical, but it's really cool. This Is The Day is The The's biggest hit, but I had never heard it before. It's pretty good. The other hit, Uncertain Smile, is absolutely my favorite song on this album. The whole song is great, but of course, the piano solo is now one of my favorite things in music ever; I can't believe how good it is, and in the midst of the largely electronic sounding instrumentation, it stands out even more. The title track starts out really slow but when the silly little synth and drums come in during the second half, it's good. The album ends with the nearly 10 minute Giant, which is fantastic, especially its drum solo. The Sinking Feeling and The Twilight Hour don't do anything for me, but besides that, Soul Mining is really great. It's got just the right amount of experimentation with strong pop sensibilities. 4/5. Favs: This Is The Day Uncertain Smile Giant Least Fav: The Sinking Feeling

An album I know! Bloody love this. The story I heard is that Jules Holland came in to do a track, and when he heard it on the album they had cut it up and moved it around! This is the day an uncertain smile are still on my regular rotation.

The first in the fantastic 3 album run that includes Infected and Dusk still sounds good unlike many albums from the period. Uncertain Smile has to be one of my favourite songs ever, I love the Jools H bit (Can't think of another pop song that culminates with a with three minutes of piano like Uncertain Smile). The first song and Giant are a little too long is my only gripe

Not bad at all, although not *quite* my thing sound/production wise...

An interesting listen, more dancey than I was anticipating. Not really my thing though, and wouldn’t revisit.

I think I enjoyed this more than I care to admit despite not being a big 80s music fan.

This was fine, good 80's new wave sound. The highlight track, "this is the day", was great, but some of the other tracks fell behind.

I am a big fan of This is The Day, but the rest of the album doesn't pull me in. It feels like an entirely different musical identity.

Some solid stuff. ALWAYS a big fan of a 9 minute plus closer for an album :)

Great album!

Uncertain Smile and This Is The Day are two of the loveliest melodies ever written. The rest doesn't quite live up to the singles, but that would take some doing. It works well as an album, but I did find myself waiting for the big 'tunes' and then my interest tailed off a little.

A trip into a time vault - but one I was very happy to visit. Uncertain is a great lost indie Northern Soul anthem. Doves were clearly fans.

Much better than the follow up Infected. This is just the exact kind of weird synthpop that I just can have any day and be pretty happy with. Idk how I hadn't gotten to this one quite yet, I love this genre.

Might want to listen to again. It's a good period piece

It grew on me as I listened

Horrible band name. Forgettable music. The never ending song at the end sounded like something a 10 year old would come up with at the piano and play over and over again.

2.5

Bowie at home

The first nu-wave album that I didn't know on this list that was actually decent. Didn't think that would happen 3.5*

Super charming album with really good production, hard to put into words the way it stands out if you look closely enough, because from a distance it sure does just look like an average album of its time, but I think this one will be on repeat for a long time for me.

This list got me into New wave and synthpop. I had never heard of this band but it was a refreshing introduction. The first few songs are the best on this album. It cannot really compete with my introduction into Talking Heads for instance. 3.6 stars

Excellent, actually

I don't know why, but I was kinda surprised by how solid this was! Uncertain Smile in particular was fire

Peak new wave. It maintains everything that's cool about the genre while also accentuating it with rich, layered instrumentation. The accordion & violin harmonies on This Is the Day and piano solo in Uncertain Smile were particularly choice.

I wanted to like this more, because the instrumental sections of nearly every song are pretty awesome. If this were just a collection of jams then I’d probably like it more. Unfortunately the dude’s voice was … not great. But the jams were good enough to keep it at a 3.

The vocals took a bit to warm up to, but I think they work really well with the rest of the ambience. It helps that I actually listened to the lyrics for once and found them surprisingly real (if a bit depressing). What really elevates this to a 4 is the consistently excellent synth work, complemented from track to track by guitar riffs, piano solos, accordions, and other really cool experimentations. I loved it! Standouts: I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All Of My Life) • This is the Day • Uncertain Smile • The Twilight Hour • Soul Mining

VERY conflicted about this one. Loved it on first listen but wasn't as interested on the second round. Currently a 3 because I appreciate their vibe but I don't see it entering regular rotation. Could easily become a 4.

Bit better than the usual

Day623 - doing drugs and writing song= good. doing drugs and naming your band= bad

great album from a great artist

Still need to listen to it more to form a full opinion but I quite enjoyed this. Very diverse album musically with a lot of pleasant songs

Favorite track: This is the day other picks: I've been waiting for tomorrow, uncertain smile, giant

Honestly, songs are not bad but I can't find anything that hooks me in.

Now and then and forever I have had the reoccurring thought "must get some the the" and just didn't. Listen to it and said "oh - eh" Then listened again. There is a problem with 1001 that is inheritant in out disposable culture. 30+ years ago you would buy it and if it was a bit "meh" you would listen again - because $30+ in local money was a bit rich so you tried to get some value out of it. Now we listen once - if that - and if it doesn't set out pants afire we dump it. On the second listen it clicked. This is summer music - by the beach or with friends at the park playing touch rugby. On my -100 to 100 patented scale if once was zero then the second time was 70

Not enjoying it

Another new wave / synth pop garbage fest. Why am I getting so many pop albums in a row?? I can’t bring myself to like this style of music

Don't think there was anything in the music that caught me, but couldn't get past those vocals to be sure. Back half of the track Giant was easily the best part of the alubm.

One of my exes loved this album, ergo I hated it. You shouldn’t. I’ve grown to love it

Quite weird. I don't like the singer's voice, but the music is pretty standard. Boring at times, nothing outstanding IMHO.

Opening track is a damn cacophony, rest of the album is a welcome relief from that. I guess "Uncertain Smile" or "Giant" are the standout tracks for me but they don't excel enough that I'd throw them on a playlist. Could see the album growing on me if I decide to play it again down the line (maybe when I get their sophomore album). The non-album single "Perfect" is a vibe, too.

Probably a 2.5 star album. ‘This Is The Day’ and ‘Uncertain Smile’ are great songs. The rest are a bit forgettable imho. I’m not mad into that 80’s new wave sound as it goes, so that’s probably why!

Fun album to listen to.

Rating: 3.7 I’ve never heard post-punk like this before, it’s no wonder this band was never huge in America as far as I know because this is a perfect example of weird music that isn’t weird enough to garner a significant amount of attention. If not for The Twilight Hour (the weakest song by far) and a couple of the songs at the end being too long and repetitive this album could have pushed into the upper echelons of those included in this project.

Classic. Not much else to say.

Music - 5 Vocals - 1 Honestly makes me think that even I could sing for the band and improve this

A little unusual. Not for me, but not bad either? Somewhere between a 2 and 3.

Not sure what I don't like about this album, just a bit boring I guess?

I not entirely sure why I like this album but I do. It has a quintessentialy 80s sound but between the lyrics and his deep voice you get drawn in. Almost a touch bowie-esque?. Highlights include "this is the day" and "giants"

Pretty weird record! Definitely from the '80s: lots of keyboards, wavy guitars brooding vocals... pretty interesting arrangements! Feels pretty experimental and jazzy at times

Good, new wave Brit album. First four tracks are all pretty solid then slogs towards the end. The brilliance of “This is the Day” brings it up. Top tracks: “This is the Day,” “Uncertain Smile,” “The Sinking Feeling”

i don't like 80's brit synth pop. This is very that. mehhhh.

--I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow...could pull back on the drum machine a bit. not liking this, it has an off-kilter spoken word vibe that's not for me --This is the Day...here we go. this is the synth pop I crave --The Sinking Feeling...I like the bass line but the lyrics are a little dramatic --Uncertain Smile...nice groove and nice build. I really like the piano --The Twilight Hour...I like a lot of the sounds here but there's a disconnect between the instruments and the vocals. it just doesn't fit --Soul Mining...it's not bad but I wish the first half were as good as the second half. If your uneven song is approaching five minutes, trim it down to three! --Giant...a decent song with a nice groove but--once again--a little long. oh, wait...there are five more minutes left --Perfect*...I'm having trouble figuring out if this is a bonus track or not. I guess Matt Johnson didn't intend for it to be included? not sure why this wouldn't be included, sounds like one of the tighter tracks. did it sound too "happy" relative to the others?

Big dumb rock!

Another band I know! Yay! But I haven't listen to this album. It was really good, chill, mysterious vibe, not too loud, I loved the instrumental part in 'Uncertain Smile' and the ominous sounds in the title track. Fun listen. 6.5/10

Pretty good pop music. I have never heard of this group before, it was a total unknown when I listened to it. It's very 80's kind of smooth synth pop. I thought it was pretty good and could see myself listening to it again.

I had a lot of fun with this! Loved the grooves and melodies. Need to relisten to figure out my feeling. Name of the band sucks, though. 4/5

Meh...

****A good album . Good vocals, good instrumentals, and easy listening

interesting

Noe kult album, veldig 80s. Hører mye andre new wave'esk som har tatt insp fra dette.

In the middle of this album is the hidden pearl 'Uncertain Smile'. Fantastic album, not always easy to listen though.

Cool album van een coole band met een coole naam! 3.8

I liked it a lot but not really memorable enough for me to come back to it

It is okay, nothing on it is bad, just nothing that is really that interesting. It made fine background music while I worked, but not something I would really return back too. Mid 3.

Smoky midnight dive Barstool neighbor weaves his tales They are all too long

Hadn't heard this beyond "This is the Day." It's one that I wished I had heard back in the early 80's but fit much more into the "college rock" pantheon which emerged later on. Much more than synth-pop, this has a full-bodied sound (despite being a one man band plus session musicians) and some great autobiographical lyrics. Matt Smith is a very good songwriter and this is a great example of a DIY approach that works wonderfully.

Gotta be one of the worst band names, but really good collection of songs. I love the playfulness of the instrumentals, you've obviously got the synth throughout but then they do the extended piano solo on Uncertain Smile, the funky percussion at the end of Giant, just entertaining the whole way. I also like songs with dreary lyrics and upbeat instrumentals for some reason, singer having an existential crisis over some grooves is just amusing to me, and theres a lot of that here. Talking about walking past a graveyard and the crushed hopes and dreams of the dead over the downright bouncy sound of steel drums? Cmon, thats funny

2/10

It’s ok early alternative. Has the only song I know by this group - This is the day.

Je m’attendais pas à ça du tout c’était cool !

Some interesting songs but also sounds like he’s trying to be Morrisey on some of them. Don’t think it’ll make it to 4 stars for me.

5/10 Highlight: Uncertain Smile (the piano bit)

I think the coolest thing about this album is that I can't pin a genre to it, it sounds like a mix of a bunch of different stuff. The track Soul Mining in particular is probably my favorite off the record.

3.5. some cool songs that stayed interesting on repeat listens

Pretty awesome

Pretty standard 80’s stuff. This is the day is a pretty perfect pop song

Big fan of the band, good album, not as good as "Infected" or "Mind Bomb" though it has moments for sure.

I know the band by name, but couldn’t place them into any context at all, so this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. That nice spot between post punk/ new wave into the more synth sounds of the 80s. Oh and I got to hear this as a new first time album today. 4 Star

alright, not bad

на удивление оказался очень прикольный интересный альбом! необычный вокал, интересные мелодии. время с ним пролетело незаметно, действительно что-то интересненькое

Kinda mid tier album. It was better than the crap I've been listening to the last couple days, so I might be too generous here. I didn't love it, didn't hate it.

"Alright guys, we need a band name" "The Who?" "No, that's taken" "The Fish" "No, that's dumb" "Hmmm.. The... The... The..." "PERFECT"

2/3

Really great album, thought-provoking and a combination of many styles of music, though mostly 80s sound similar to the Cure.

Production is clean, punchy. The tracks really stand out, basically each one has a distinct musical moment that just sticks. It’s not perfect and some of the songs are meandering and long. But I would like to revisit this one another time. 6.5-7/10 Standouts: This is the Day Uncertain Smile

Close to something I’d really like, but not quite there. Also, ‘tis a silly name for a band, so marked down for that.

It was OK.

Average at best. Not unpleasant. Spastic name

sounds like a flight of the conchords piss take of new wave, without the humour. Had to turn it off

This is the day is a great song, a couple of other decent tracks and some other stuff I didn't like as much

Pretentious and dull. I was not a fan of the The The when I heard them in the 80s and they don’t sound any better now.

My wife loves this.

Great album 👌

I understand it was a quasi-landmark album. It was just ok.

Not that good.

Hell ya

Nice sounds, Broski beat and erasure vibes.

Very 80s in the best way 3.75

Nice enough

A few highlights here and there, and surprised I like this 80’s synth-heavy style at all. But I found most of the album to be a bit dull and plodding overall.

Some class new wave

One of my favourite albums ever, Matt Johnson is just pure class

Not really my kind of vibe. Interesting sound tho

It was ok, a bit of an old groove

Clearly so so influential for modern indie. Really enjoyed “Uncertain Smile” and also the first track “I’ve been waiting for tomorrow”. Really catchy album and fab lead vocals. Could repeat listen for long time and I want to check out their other albums.

3/5

Litt tamt. Glemte at jeg satt og hørte på noe. Sikkert bra dette, men dartskiva mi henger et annet sted enn der denne pila treffer.

Love this record. It’s deep and serious yet utterly listenable (the musical equivalent of a think piece), a high-water mark for post-punk or new wave or whatever precisely Matt Johnson wanted to call himself. The drum machines seem just a touch dated, but otherwise this feels classic, up-to-date and – more to the point – timeless. Easily one of the best albums of the ‘80s. Don’t sleep on Mind Bomb either.

Turns out I’m a bit of a fan of The The

Let's start with the elephant in the room. That band name. It's shit. I get how you might come up with that stoned at 3am thinking it's hilarious and clever, but surely they should have been embarrassed they even thought about it in the cold light of day. Now to the album, which was a real mixed bag for me. I thought I was going to really like it based on the first track, but This Is The Day didn't do much for me, and I disliked the next track, but it got better again over the next few tracks and I loved Giant. Probably should give it another listen...but that band name, man.

Indie rock classic I suppose.. Like it. From back in the day when indie rock was new wave

This has a varied stylistic approach which I can appreciate - some lended a little too much of that ‘easy listening rock’ territory for me but the strength of the lyrics and the clarity of the overall sound make up for it. There’s a clear creative vision behind it, and the instrumental style - rooted in that classic English rock sensibility I’ve always been drawn to - really shines through. After a few listens, it definitely started to grow on me and will likely keep a few tracks in rotation.

My introduction to The The was via "Slow Emotion Replay" hit single on alternative radio in the 90s, featuring those iconic Johnny Marr guitar lines. Then, the girl who popped my cherry put "Sodium Light Baby" on a mixtape for me sometime shortly thereafter. I've never been a huge fan, but Dusk was a solid record and has played a bit of a role in my life's story. They have one of the most meta band names ever, and for that they get mucho respect. I can hear the collaborations here, especially some of the JG Thirlwell rhythms and synth lines. There are some decent highlights. "This Is The Day" is a classic 80s track that surprises with its use of accordion and harmonica (the latter becoming a go-to motif used in subsequent hits as well). "Uncertain Smile" another iconic track of the era gives a sort of cabaret synth-pop vibe reminiscent of Marc Almond's stuff. It's theatrical and dramatic. Matt seems to consistently explore themes of not knowing himself, and perhaps these offerings are efforts to work that out. "Perfect", aside from the accordion, sounds like a lost New Order track. Speaking of, I imagine this is a record folks who were cool enough to dig just a little deeper beyond dancing to "Blue Monday" or "Everything Counts" in some disco in 1983 were probably hep to. Personally, however, I would probably have been listening to Kill 'Em All by Metallica if I hadn't been 8 years old.

It was interesting to hear the fusion of sounds, but nothing was remarkable to catch my attention.

Synthy post punk, veering into pop territory here and there with nervy energy - fits well with the neurotic and disillusioned vocals! Great lyrics, felt way too relatable.... Really bloody good album - absolutely of its time but not cliched! Favourite tracks: I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow, The Sinking Feeling, The Twilight Hour, Giant

This album is way better than its 80s pop contemporaries. I enjoyed "This is the Day", a masterpiece. It reminded me of Joy Division's "Disorder," but with a more poppy feel. The other songs on "Soul Mining" are dull compared to "This is the Day", "Giant", and the first track. The The could've been another Scritti Politti, but they were wise not to. 3 stars for "Soul Mining".

3 de 5

just fine

Interesting music with creative/unexpected moments and great melodies. 4.0/5.0: Great

very different from the first album we had from them. some very cool ideas on this album. it was a strange mix of groove and gloom. enjoyed this one a lot

I was looking forward to this as This Is The Day is one of my favourite tunes (and one that that I know all the words to). Despite this I have not listened to much else by The The. It did not start well as really did not like the bombast of I've Been Waitin for Tomorrow - thereafter things did pick up. Bizarrely the lyrical delivery that I love on This Is The Day does grate a little on some of the tracks - particularly The Sinking Feeling. On second and third listening I was starting to really enjoy the 80's vibes and in particular have added Giant to my play list. Scores a low 4.

Soul Mining I was kind of expecting more of this to be along the lines of the excellent This is the Day, but despite being enjoyable I found it frustrating on occasion. Along with This is the Day, Giant and Perfect are superb bits of new wave synth pop. The relentless rhythms of Giant with the interweaving synth lines is excellent and Perfect’s xylophone and accordion assisted melody is fantastic. In between it’s a little bit of a mixed bag, I’ve Been Waitin’ grew a great deal on me and The Sinking Feeling and Uncertain Smile are great, but the Bowie-aping vocals get a bit much on something like The Twilight Hour, the kind of song that The Blue Nile do much much better. Soul Mining has some nice Remain in Light vibes but again the vocal is slightly off-putting, even though the circular synth riff is very nice. I enjoyed it without really taking to it a great deal. Some great songs, some great synths, but with the occasional annoying affectation, so it lands as a solid 3. ⛏️⛏️⛏️ Playlist submission:This is the Day

'This is the Day' has always been an alternative-80s-playlist go-to; a five-star track and an exceedingly high bar for the rest of the album. The accordion hook is a masterstroke in a slap-bass heavy world. The whole thing treads the line of 80s-production of big reverb, and light jazz pop (Curiosity Killed the Cat, China Crisis, Hue & Cry), and genuinely interesting alternative pop. There are interesting layers here, and some nice melodies; and one all out classic, which in retrospect seems a bit of a poppy outlier - but magical nevertheless. Overall a good album.

It was a new one for me, I enjoyed it but not sure how much I'd go back to it

I was really surprised that this is what The The sound like. Thought they were gonna be yet more 60-70s british beatles-inspired rock but absolutely loved this! looking forward to when their other album appears on the list :)

A fun listen. You can hear its influence on loads of modern artists. Uncertain Smile is the standout — that piano outro is magic.

Pretty good but some songs dragged

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5, obviously) If Joy Division and a Philosophy 101 dropout had a lovechild, and that child grew up chain-smoking in a Brixton bedsit, it would be Soul Mining. Matt Johnson's voice? Molasses poured over broken glass. The lyrics? Drenched in romantic despair, political nihilism, and just enough hope to keep you from lighting the curtains on fire. This was Thatcher’s Britain: unemployment, class tension, no milk left in the fridge. And here's Matt Johnson writing art-pop that’s intelligent, aching, and deeply personal. It doesn’t whine. It aches. And somehow makes you dance while doing it. I bought it on vinyl and cassette in the 80's, CD in the 90's and it still features on my regular playlists on Tidal. Absolute Classic.

I thought it was shit. and it's a shit band name, and album was boring. I like the cover though.

Rv/G

I want to preface everything by saying that "This is the Day" is one of the greatest new wave songs ever written. I was admittedly not too familiar with the rest of this album coming into today, however. With the small tracklist, the group is able to have some fun with the song structures. Pretty angsty & gloomy lyrics with some interesting instrumental fill & outros in many of the tracks here. The The doesn't seem to be talked about as much when it comes to analyzing new wave/post-punk groups from the 80's. They certainly set themselves apart and carved out a little spot of their own during this era of music.

Fine?

This is 80's pop rock. I don't think it's more than that, and it's not less than that.

It was kind of fun and different. Very 80's, not something that would be in my regular rotation, but not awful or boring.

I don’t really know how to rate this one. It was on in the background earlier, but I wasn’t actively listening. What I did hear: obnoxious and repetitive 80’s synth drums, a vocalist who sounded familiar but not in a good way, and a bunch of weird xylophone-type sounds that I think I’d probably enjoy in a different setting, but because the rest of what I heard was just not compelling me to finish the record, I guess I’ll never know for sure. This is, admittedly, a disingenuous rating. But I don’t care. 2/5

Not good.

Gear: Letshuoer S12 PRO Artwork: 🚬💄😒 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎛️🎹🍒 Rating: 👾👾👾(👾)/5

3-4 stars. Enjoyed a few songs

This album definitely has a cool, moody new wave vibe that I appreciated at first, but it didn't hold my attention all the way through and turned very monotonous.

I did some vacuuming during part of it but found some songs I liked

Nice

I like the first few songs more than the second half. Some repetitive tracks but I still dig synths and like their sound

Overall quite a "meh" album with nothing that really stood out to be overly enjoyable. I would give this a 2.5 with a bump to 2 as it really didn't impress enough to make it above average.

Enjoyable album. I kind of went into the album assuming it was going to be regular 80s Brit new wave vibes but I actually found the sound was pretty unique and interesting throughout. The standout track for me was "Uncertain Smile". 3.5/5

Initial thoughts - this is early 80s thrash. Uncertain Smile grew on me. My biggest issues are with the odd spoken word vocal and combining these type of lyrics with synth pop. There was definitely signs of potential with how the music was layered but the next The The album would need to move away from the Synth Pop genre to score higher. This album can be lumped in with the New Wave thrash. 2/5.

Not for me

Not bad, but not good either. Reminded me a lot of Oingo Boingo, who I love, and David Bowie, who I don't. So, all in all, listenable but not special. Favorite song: Soul Mining

Got excited about this one. Was hoping for a hidden gem of songs along the lines of "This is the Day". This was NOT the day (or album) for that. Serviceable 80s pop with weird vocals.

★★½

Mid 2.5/5

love the instrumentals. his voice sucks

Damn bangers

Fine had that one song they play on WXRT in Chicago I recognized

Only just now did it enter my conscious mind that The The and Talk Talk are two entirely different bands. Never paid attention during their initial run but enjoy this very much in retrospect. No idea what Matt Johnson is singing about but he sounds like a kindred spirit. Talk Talk is good, too, and now that I am aware they are entirely different projects, am looking forward to revisiting both of their discographies with clearer ears! 😅

I'm pretty sure I've heard of The The before (perhaps from long ago), and likely some of their songs too, but apparently not from this album, as nothing sounded familiar. Matt Johnson's style isn't really to my taste, although I don't really blame him, since a lot of early 80s pop-oriented music wasn't all that interesting or particularly varied. And I'll give him credit for a remarkably H.R. Giger-infused music video for the opening track "I've been waitin' for tomorrow (all of my life)", even if there wasn't really any connection between the lyrics and the unsettling imagery. Kudos as well for remarkably unrelenting dark lyrics set to fairly upbeat tunes; not the sort of contrast you encounter that often. Add in a decently interesting album cover (the UK version cover, that is, which apparently is one of Fela Kuti's wives, smoking a joint, and painted by Matt Johnson's brother), and it's a more interesting album than I expected. It's still not really to my taste, but I have to say that it's *way* more entertaining and interesting than any Cure or Smiths album.

Great to hear this album again! This is The Day and Giant are my favorite tracks, but the whole is a fun throwback listen: makes me want to put on my Esprit cargo pants and roll up the sleeves of my double-breasted cotton blazer.

I'm already familiar with this one, and it's great. Groovy and cerebral.

3,5/5

Better than I was expecting but still kind of boring.

Great album! Piano on Uncertain Smile was amazing, pleasantly surprised by this one.

I concede this album forms the foundation of alt music that developed through the 80s and 90s. Could have used a few more hits though.

I dig this. They're some peculiar fellows

I really wanted to like this more but it just wasn’t doing it for me. I think I could like it tho, so I’ll give it 4

Not definitive.

so so

This album is great but also not great at the same time. Tracks like "Uncertain Smile", "Soul Mining" and "Giant" are gems, others not so much and often the same song could turn out great or not so great. It's really hard to give a rating for this album. But I did enjoy it and it is certainly vibing right. It's all 80s but not at the same time. Oh, don't make it so hard for me to rate this!

Why did I think The The was a punk band? I do like punk, but this was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. Boot scootin toe tappin synth pop grooves. Nothing on here is standing out to me in a huge way, but as a whole it's a great listen. Sets a cool vibe, good to work/stroll to. Would revisit! 4/5

Me no like

Great case of "never judge a book by its cover". Great groovy upbeat and soulful new wave sound. Great vocals, synthwork, drums and even the bass and guitar were on point. Will come back to this one.

pretty good 3.5/5

It's okay

Soul Mining entstand überwiegend zwischen London und New York City. Eingespielt wurde unter anderem in den Mediasound-Studios in New York sowie in verschiedenen Londoner Studios wie The Garden (Shoreditch), Advision und SARM West. The The ist eine Band aus England, angeführt von Matt Johnson, der zugleich Sänger, Songwriter und Produzent ist. Stilistisch bewegt sich das Album im Spannungsfeld von Post‑Punk, New Wave und Synth‑Pop, angereichert mit Elementen aus Funk, Jazz, Folk und afrikanischen Rhythmen. Bekannte Songs wie „Uncertain Smile“, „This Is the Day“ und „Giant“ prägen das Klangbild: „Uncertain Smile“ basiert auf einer langen Piano‑Passage von Jools Holland, die dem Track eine beruhigend‑reflektive Stimmung verleiht. „This Is the Day“ erscheint als nachdenklicher New‑Wave‑Song, der Hoffnung und Melancholie verbindet. „Giant“ hingegen setzt auf treibende, vom Afro‑Beat beeinflusste Rhythmen und endet mit einem gemeinschaftlichen Trommel‑Vergnügen. Das Album wirkt durch die Kombination aus synthetischen Klängen und organischen Instrumenten wie Geige, Akkordeon, Harmonika oder Flöte vielschichtig und atmosphärisch. Meine persönliche Einschätzung: Soul Mining ist ein durchdachtes Debüt, das in der Balance zwischen Ästhetik und Emotionalität überzeugt. Es hinterlässt den Eindruck eines sorgfältig komponierten, musikalisch reichhaltigen Werks, das sowohl Tanzflächen‑ als auch Kopf­musik‑Potenzial besitzt. Eine prägnante und ausgewogene Leistung von Matt Johnson und The The, die einen festen Platz im Kanon früher 80er‑Musik verdient.

Miten mulla ei jäänyt tästä mieleen? Seuraavana päivänä lyö aivan tyhjää. Vähän tosiaan oli soulia, se.

Syntikalla oli kiva leikkiä, ja pian artisti huomasi, että levy oli syntynyt kuin itsestään. Siltä se myös kuulosti.

Yup, loved this album. I knew This Is The Day and Uncertain Smile (which is one of my favourite songs ever) already, but the rest is pretty cool as well. Very very 80s with all the synths but not annoying like other music from the era and although most tracks are quite long, they never overstay their welcome in my opinion. Groovy all throughout.

An awesome album that hit many nostalgic notes

Ein atmosphärisches Album voller Melancholie und introspektiver Texte. Es beeindruckt mit kunstvoller Produktion und starken Songs wie *Uncertain Smile* und *This Is the Day*. Doch einige Tracks wirken weniger zugänglich, sodass das Gesamtbild etwas unausgewogen bleibt – faszinierend, aber nicht für jeden ein Volltreffer.

Good

Some cool 80s synth stuff combined with a vocal style from a new wave singer that I can actually enjoy, take the 4 stars

It’s a bit lame I have to confess. Why is this rated so high?

Cooli sonori Stimm, typischi Club-Musig us de früehne 80er.

ive been waiting for tomorrow sehr cool sehr synth. ha auscho vo ihne ghört glaub aber kei vorstellig gha wies töned. this is the day het mi weniger begeisteret. defür the sinking feeling scho. coole bass und so. und 1983 HUERE früe für so sache? alles in allem no cool, bin bim title track und chume recht drii eigentli. isch huere speziell und chli extra weird aber doch gnueg poppig und catchy zum fun sii. ha etz au giant recht cool gfunde. isch sicher e vieri. nöd es meeega begeisternds aber bi froh hanis mol glost und finds innovativ, und afoch fun?

s albumcover isch ja villversprechend hahahah ohh sehr funny synthis this is the day hetmer chlii z vill tüdürüdü s klaviersolo isch ja sooo geil bi uncertain smile the twilight hout hani megaa gfunde!! baut uhuere uuf und iwie sehr smooth, au mit dere harfe(?) "how could anybody know me, when I don't even know myself" sind herti nothing,nowhere lyrics hahahah isch aber no es cools lied, allgemein flowt alles guet und d synthis werded cool ihgsetzt, au wenn jz keis lied würkli en "banger" gsi isch für mich perfect hani gad seehr cool gfunde, iwie en naiv-vertrauliche schluss vomene album schwanke zwüscheme 3 undeme 4. han sehr vill sache kreativ und cool gfunde, jedoch isch relativ wenig hange blibe ussert twighlight hour und perfect knapps 4i? wills vhli öppis anders isch

Nothing special

First time properly listening to The The. Great vocals and music. None of the tracks overstay despite being relatively long, and each feels unique. Reminds me of Supertramp. The piano solo on 'Uncertain Smile' by Jools Holland is a jam, 'This is the Day' a beautiful track and the 9 minute 'Giant' an excellent album closer. Excited to get to know this album better - my favorite 'new album' I've listened to through 1001 so far. 9/10

This one continues to grow as you go, and by the time I finished I had to revisit most of it again. Synth-pop masterwork, with some folksy undertones and delicious mixing. Sonically incredible with musicianship to match. I love a record that is short and to the point, yet has a journey through the music along the way that is exciting and engaging.

Interesting synth pop/post punk.

pretty good omg wish I got that record arghh

Always got time for Matt Johnson, and all the influences he brought in - pop, synth pop, post punk, funk, electronic, maybe even a little prog - to make his own idiosyncratic thing. It comes out both romantic and cynical, entertaining and intelligent, nerdy and cool. The albums have aged so well, too. 4.5⭐

Un album aux multiples influences que j’ai de la difficulté à cerner. Je le trouve plutôt chargé aussi.

Very very 80s. Some good tracks but not enough for me to listen to it again

Av alla tidiga syntpopalbum, är detta verkligen ett av dom som platsar här? Helt ok överlag though

Nice stil!

A couple highlights that were Talkimg Heads like

This was pretty odd I didn’t care for it

There were a couple of songs that were OK’ish.

O maior exemplo de banda de uma música!

Groovy, dynamic, interesting, but so aggressively 80s

Pretty decent new wave album, lots of good songs, would share with some

Album was ok. Probably won’t listen to again

Meh

Another British synth pop album….k….

One of those albums that didn’t actually grab me right away, but the third time I listened to it I became very interested in exploring The The even more.

****

Good

Good, but not particularly memorable

This was very 'meh' for me. Nothing ever really stuck. It felt somewhat generic, it could have been a release from just about any angsty new-wave band of the time.

Já conhecia muito bem este álbum, desde o seu ano de lançamento. É de boa audição, mas não é fantástico.

I literally can’t listen to another British post-punk/synth pop album. Why are there so many on here?? 😩 They all sound so similar and they’re just annoying. I swear it’s the same guy singing in all the bands because all the lead singers sound exactly the same. I don’t see how this one stands out from any of the other 25+ British post punk/synth pop albums on here and I’m just so confused as to why I should listen to every.single.one before I die 😭

Ofter heard The The on the radio but took no real notice so today was the first serious listen. I was drawn to comparing them to Talk Talk not because of the similar play on words for a band name, but because Talk Talk were contemporaries. I concluded that The The were trying to evolve a new sound I could not help but think they were very much influenced by Talk Talk. Mark Hollis was a genius so I could understand why they did this. Whilst Talk Talk music will be highly regarded for ever I cannot pay The The the same compliment. Not an unpleasant album and one which I would buy if I came across it cheap second hand. 3/5 27/5/25

I can tell these people are weird and I wouldn’t be friends with them. Couldn’t finish the album. Wanted to quit on the first song but made it half way.

To all the Americans whining about the glut of 'Brit' synth-pop or 80s pop or whatever - this list is obviously subjective and the decision of one person, so rather than moan about it, why not write your own book and website and then you can put as much pop-gun cop-killer gangster rap and misogynistic country shite on it as you like. Back to the album review, and 'Uncertain Smile' is the standout track but after listening to it I ended up with an earworm of 'Feels Like Heaven' by Fiction Factory. So how did that happen? Are those tracks so similar? Nonetheless I enjoyed this album very much as an example of excellent 'Brit synth-pop' so nerr.

La primera vez que escuché algo de The The (Matt Johnson) fue con The beat(en) generation, una canción que me pareció fabulosa. Luego ya con el disco en casa vi que estaba Johnny Marr , y también Sinéad O'Connor o Julian Cope... Este es su segundo disco y el más reconocido. Sin embargo 1983 queda demasiado lejos para valorar estos sonidos que uno no sabe si definir como pop bailable new wave post punk o qué. A mi no me dicen gran cosa. La portada es terrible. Obra del propio Matt (un retrato de una de las mujeres de Fela Kuti). Aún así, no es peor que en el siguiente Infected (que me gusta aún menos que este disco). El comienzo con I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life) es difícil de digerir. O te gusta o no, y a mi no me gusta nada. Son 7 temas, así que el desafío no es enorme. Mejora la cosa con la siguiente, This is the day, uno de los sencillos del disco y fruto de la colaboración con Zeke Manyika, luego en Orange Juice, otra banda a seguir. La aportación de Jools Holland al piano en Uncertain Smile es la joya del disco. También está la de David Johansen, ex New Yord Dolls, con su armónica en Perfect. Cierto es que el valor del disco no está en la vigencia de su sonido, ni en las melodías, que cuesta un poco valorar aunque con repetidas escuchas puedes entrar en el álbum. Su verdadera valía está en la influencia en obras posteriores, desde Prefab Sprout, hasta The Blue Nile pasando por el fabuloso Hounds of Love de Kate Bush. No es poca cosa, pero yo prefiero de ese mismo año el debut de Aztec Camera. 1983 tuvo otros buenos discos como los debuts de REM, Aztec Camera, Madonna, Minor Threat y The Waterboys. Y excelentes obras de THE CHAMELEONS - Script of the bridge, Eurythmics- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN & DOUBLE TROUBLE - Texas flood, Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones, U2 - War , Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues, New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - Porcupine, David Bowie - Let's Dance, Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual, Metallica - Kill 'Em All, e incluso Mike Oldfield- Crises, UB40- Labour of Love, Huey Lewis and The News- Sports, ZZ Top- Eliminator o The Police - Synchronicity...

Pretty generic sounding, the singer sounds deadass familiar.

Spoken word style vocals over British synth pop is never gonna win me over.

This is the Day is a solid track. The rest of the record; interesting for sure (jaunty synths vs pretty deep and miserable lyrics makes a good contrast) but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it hugely. Certainly glad to hear it in full though.

This is totally new to me and it's fun. I dig the big hit, "This Is The Day," but I'm not really sure why. I just knew when I heard that it was the big one from this album, before I even looked at the stream counts. Early 80s is cool for this.

FuNkY!!! Kinda gave me David Bowie vibes a little bit here and there.

I believe this is the first time I've ever listened to The The. I remember on one my Telluride gigs, Brent mentioned their band name when we were talking about goofy band names, but I never went out of my way to check them out until now. I had seen a few things here and there about them in the time since I first heard their name, and what I saw (not heard) gave me an impression that they were a punk band. I suppose I might have seen "post-punk" and just forgot about the "post" part, because this is far more accessible than I was expecting. A lot more synth poppy as well. Good stuff though! There are interesting arrangements, and I like the singer's voice. "This is the Day" sounds a bit familiar to me, but it might just be that it kind of reminds me The Office theme song, with the prominent accordion and overall fun and bouncy vibe. Also, there was a percussion part in "The Twilight Hour" that sounds almost exactly like one used in Porcupine Tree's "What Happens Now?", so I wonder if Gavin (or Steven) might have been influenced, because this definitely sounds like something SW at least would be into. Overall the album is a lot more fun and upbeat than I was expecting when I thought I was about to listen to a niche punk band. A bit surprised they aren't more popular, because a lot of these songs sound like they could find their place on the radio. Pleasantly surprised with this one, and while I didn't love it, I am definitely open to listening to more of their music, and certainly wouldn't complain if someone put this album on in my presence.