Soul Mining

One really great song and the rest are fine.

Yeah, I don’t like the genre too much. Maybe this is where it shows that I wasn’t alive during the 80s

A good look to that times more progressive sounds. The title song is worth listening. While it was not for my personal tastes, it was still a good glance/learning experience of what is out there.

Fantastic album. I need to start putting this one on rotation.

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.

Some real fun tracks on this one

Fun enough 🤷🏻‍♀️

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..

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

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

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.

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.

fine

Pretty neutral on this one; great cover though

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

It grew on me as I listened

2.5

Bowie at home

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.

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.

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

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.

--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.

interesting

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

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

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.

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

"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

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

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

My wife loves this.

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

Nice sounds, Broski beat and erasure vibes.

Nice enough

It was ok, a bit of an old groove

3/5

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.

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

'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

Pretty good but some songs dragged

Fine?

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

3-4 stars. Enjoyed a few songs

Nice

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

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

Mid 2.5/5

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

3,5/5

Not definitive.

so so

It's okay

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

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

Nothing special

Interesting synth pop/post punk.

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

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

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

Album was ok. Probably won’t listen to again

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

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

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

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...

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.

It’s ok

Spiky electro pop with absolutely gorgeous vocals. Wish they did more outright pop songs like This is the Day.

Not bad, sort of 80s experimental synthy pop. Liked the beat the first song was built around, the rest seemed nice enough but nothing grabbed my interest enough to pay attention. Quite ambivalent about the whole thing so 3 will suffice.

Diverting enough. Nothing grabbed me, shan't go back nor remember. Great album art though. I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow was my favourite track.

Unmistakably 80s. Better, and less poppy than some, but still got that 80s sound that often puts me off. I don't think it was bad, but nothing particularly grabbed me

Soul Mining is the debut album from The The, but earlier work by songwriter Matt Johnson has been reissued as work of the band. Johnson is the only consistent member of the band - and sometimes the only member. The band made introspective synth-pop in this release; their sound evolved through the course of their career. Soul Mining includes "This is the Day," the band's first, and perhaps defining hit. The album includes a good collection of 80s synth pop songs, with a sound similar to that of Simple Minds.

Dripping in the sound of its time. would listen again.

After a bad start (didn't like the first song at all, and wasn't very fond of the second) things started to get better with every song.

Stereotypical alt 80s in the best way. 3.5/5

i think people have lost the appreciation for long songs. i liked this, more so because of the intricate components you can hear. not sure if i'd revisit often

This sounds very much like the typical 80s pop. It was ok for me, nothing particularly objectionable but nothing really stood out either. I could take it or leave it.

A couple of good songs here, but pretty forgettable in the end.

= the Beatles

Surprising...This is The Day is a legitimately good song.

more new wave

This is good. I love keyboards and synths. I just think it sounds kinda outdated now. But I'll get back to this for sure. I love the work with the tribal percussion synths and also the melodic work. I think this is a keeper for me. I haven't heard about this band before. Although I know now it's, mostly, one guy's project.

Enjoyed it, although I'm not 100% sure why.

I wanted to like it, but towards the end it turned from new wave funkiness to just dark ramblings. And it felt like it wanted to sound like the Talking Heads.

I really judged a book by its cover on this one. First, the literal album cover, do not like it. Do not feel like it paints an accurate portrait of what's coming, so my expectations were not aligned from the get go. Then the first song. Terrible. Most albums start reasonably strong and then fall off. This one does not. Not sure what's going on, but the first song is annoying and abrasive. My expectations were low at this point. Turns out the rest of this album is actually pretty decent, and it turns around right away with song #2 which is fire ("This Is the Day"). "This Is the Day" reminds me of some more recent song, but I just can't place it. Maybe it'll come to me eventually. "Uncertain Smile" is a solid track too. Anyway, this album falls into some of the common synth-pop pitfalls at times, but it's generally solid. A pretty fun album with a few great songs despite a rough start. Reminds me a bit of Echo & The Bunnymen. Maybe this '80s synth nonsense is growing on me a bit. Favorite song: This Is the Day Other: The Sinking Feeling, Uncertain Smile, Giant 4/2/25

Fairly average

Eh

Early 80’s vibe

Pretty good but didn’t totally grab me. Some standouts like Uncertain Smile.

Favorite Track: Soul Mining

It reminded me a bit of some of the more gothic punk bands, but a bit more... stark. I had heard of the band before (mostly puzzled by the name, but if you're a fan, you're a fan). I didn't hate it, but I wasn't in love with it. Top tracks: "I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)", "The Twilight Hour", "Soul Mining," "Perfect"

This is a lot different than the other The The album on this list. Very much 80's synth. Their next album more charted new territories, even if they were territories I didn't want to go to. This one feels like it could be any British artist of the synth pop era. It's easier on the ears but less novel. I really enjoyed the opening track I've Been Waitin for Tomorrow. After that it was a little all the same and meh for me.

Pretty good. Some very strong points, some parts a bit meh.

Kinda short, only liked 2 songs maybe

Decent record, not what I expected with that album cover 3/5

Good to hear only to realize how much he grew/improved with the next album. The last two songs are the best.

2.5/5. Not very good. I'd call this average sub par post punk.

3.2

This was good. Loved the synth sounds.

Excellent post-punk / new wave music here. I enjoyed the whole album, but it's nothing super amazing that everyone needs to hear before they die. 3/5

Howard Jones x The National. Catchy synth but weak lyrically.

Het eerste nummer is wat matig. Daarna wordt het gelukkig wel iets beter. Het blijft 80s popmuziek, het blijft af en toe een beetje wat ik theatraal zou noemen, maar het luistert ook wel weer prima weg. Het doet allemaal een beetje denken aan Enjoy the Silence van Depeche Mode, maar dan minder iconisch. Op het einde gaan we nog even trommelen met de hele kliniek, dat is wel grappig op zich. Vergeetbaar, ik zet het na vandaag nooit meer aan, maar toch 3 sterren. Ik ben mild gestemd vandaag.

This was a cool little glimpse into an early post-punk sound that I’d overlooked over the years. However, I just did not connect with it the way I kept hoping I would. I kept thinking that I’d heard things that reminded me of Modern Lovers, Echo & The Bunnymen, or Joy Division, but nothing pulled me in as much as those artists have. I think there’s a lot of artistry in the tracks and when I focused solely on the music, there were some fun uses of the synthesizer specifically that created a big sound. Anyways, not a bad album, but left me wanting more with that sound potential. Somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars ideally.

Is this record good? Not particularly. Is this record funky and fun? Yeah, kinda. I dunno, there’s a LOT going on here, and some of its great and some of its just mleh. Hard to get a handle on it. It’s too cheesy to be new wave, too funky to be New Romantic, and too jazzy to be punk, but it’s also not in any of those categories either. I have a soft spot in my heart for “This is the Day”, but other tracks like “Giant” and “The Sinking Feeling” are truly great. Others have their moments, not particularly my favorite but still solid. I’d go right down the middle but alas, this site won’t let me, so I’ll put this just on the positive side and go 3/5.

add this to the growing list of new wave albums i’ve come to have some new appreciation for because of this list. this one fits nicely into the man uncomfortably yell-sings over weird synth category, and even though it really loses its mojo after the first 2 tracks i’m a fan of the overall sound. Infected is the only record of theirs i’ve heard prior & i do quite like that one so hopefully it pops up too

J’ai pas trop tripper, mais j’ai bien vibé sur la dernière track

Rather unexciting. Spotify followed it up with some Roxy Music which was much more accomplished.

Eingängiger Synth-Pop mit interessanten Texten 3/5

Hmmm, new wave. I've hated this era of music for most of my life. Goofy vocals and sounds effects, goofy styles--it always seemed so affected and forced. This album has all of that, but that being said, it is listenable, probably good for the people into this genre, and the songs sometimes manage to rise about the genre's inherent cheese--especially the last song, Giant. New wave typically doesn't age very well, though I can see that many albums like this one laid the ground work for bands post-2000.

For the closer alone, this is amazing. The rest is okay.

Buen synthpop sin nada excesivamente destacable. Me lo he pasado bien pero no creo que lo vuelva a oír. Canción destacada: Giant

if i had to give a description of this album im truly not sure what i would say. it was kinda mediocre at times but also pretty cool and interesting at others. not sure if i would even recommend it but worth checking out just because i cant think of anything else that really sounds like it. tough to rate but i think ill go high 3 over a low 4

The album art is much, much different than what I thought the album would sound like.

There’s some kind of interesting stuff going on here, but today wasn’t the best day for it; it didn’t fully hold my attention.

Better than anticipated.

"This is the day" is a classic. "Giant" is on my Shazam playlist because I must've heard it somewhere and liked the vibe. It's a nice vibe. I feel like this is one of those albums you need to spend a bit of time with --I thought it had potential.

Is there a disproportionate amount of New Wave on this list, or is it just me? This one holds up pretty well and sounds fairly modern. The clarity of the lyrics and the energy of the delivery add a lot to the sound, which is pretty damn 80s. “This is the Day” is a banger and I’m glad o have finally heard the whole album.

no. 429... I listened t them back in the day. The The was good, but before iTunes, I needed a few songs before I would shell out the money for an album, so, only know the 1 hit from this. Not a bad slice of 80's music. One of those that need the/5 - 3.5

Oh man, I've been waiting for this one. The one, the only, The The. The The The song The Sinking Feeling is the The The song I liked the most on the The The record. (Well, Uncertain Smile is better, but it doesn't fit with the "the" theme.) This Is the Day is a good track. Distinctive use of accordion that really punches through the mix to create a distinctive sound. Happy, upbeat, and the vocals (which aren't good) mostly fade into the background. Uncertain Smile is also a huge standout for its piano solo, which (in my experience) seem quite rare in synth-pop and post-punk. The bass playing throughout the album is strong. The mixing is also quite crisp, separating out the bass part from other, higher frequencies (most notably the guitar-esque synth lines). There are some factors that really bring this record down though. The singing isn't great, and I don't really see the experimentation that other reviewers are lauding this record for. Additionally, the bulky track lengths leave a lot to be desired. Every song is enjoyable, but only typically for the first three or four minutes. Key tracks: This Is the Day, The Sinking Feeling, Uncertain Smile

Cool but 80s voice Giant is easily the best thing on here

2.7 2x catch up 1/13/25

Interesting. Didn't previously know.

смесено

Not really for me, opening song was the best but it wasn’t my taste, didn’t find a single called the whispers by them I liked though

-hmm interesting, this one pushes the envelope a bit even for early 80s new wave -the transition from the more straightforward pop songs of the first half to the darker and more instrumentally experimental stuff is cool -felt a little directionless at times but still made for a good listen -Favorites are I’ve Been Waitin’ For Tomorrow, The Sinking Feeling, and Soul Mining

S'okay. Not my cup of tea. Decent instrumentals, decent vocal work. 'Uncertain Smile' wins my fave.

2.5 Not sure about this. Seems like fairly plain New Wave, complete with the classic male vocal style. Only the latter half of the final track sparked my interest, the rest was instantly forgettable.

This is very 80s. Not great, but unlike his other album on the list, this actually has some good parts. Favorite song: uncertain smile.

This album has a definite 1980's electro-pop stamp on it, and to my ears it hasn't aged very well. It's not bad, some songs are quite catchy, but I'm not sure if this is a "must hear" - is it that good? Has this album been novel or influential? Not sure.

I liked Soul Mining more than i thought i would have. This is one of those albums that gets off to a rather uneventful start but picks up as the album progresses as it starts to introduce new and interesting things. The songs at the start were alright but didn't sound too well mixed at points but the later songs definitely were so much better as they were the ones with all the more unique sounds. The later songs could also get really catchy (especially Soul Mining) This album isn't exactly an easy one to get into but since i stuck around, i started to like it a pretty decent bit. Best Song: The Twilight Hour Worst Song: I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)

3.5 pretty good new wavey album. Favorite songs: this is the day and perfect

3,5 Te herbeluisteren

Lyrics to revisit but production style that left me uninterested in doing just that. That last track felt like it came from a different album tho Half stars would boost it

3 out of 5. It might take another few listens but it was so-so.

Sielua raastava.. ei ei raastavaa.. kuin hakkula hakattaisi.... MITÄ VITTUA... TÄMÄ ON LÄRPÄTTELYÄ...

It's decent new wave.

Giant brought this from a 2 to 3.

Better than I expected. 3/5

Better than the last The The album. Still get Depeche Mode vibes from the singer, but this one was a little more lighthearted and eccentric. Kinda like Talking Heads. Strong 3 for this one, especially when my expectations were low coming in.

Pretty funny but cool sounds throughout the whole album. His voice was teetering on the edge of being too 80s synth-pop for me but it still worked. I don't think I liked this one as much as the other The The album we got but I still really liked it. I never thought I would be a huge synth-pop fan but I continue to really like when some of the albums come up

ive been waiting for tomorrow- 5 or 6 this is the day- 8 the sinking feeling- 6 or 7. i like the bass uncertain smile- 6 twilight hour- 5 or 6 soul mining- 7 giant- 6

It’s a generally nice time without wowing me. Uncertain Smile is my pick of the bunch. I like the synths.

3.5/5

Experimental and fun. The words are the best bit.

Hell yeah

Blinky blonky 80s nonsense.

I have a soft spot for 80’s music. This was solid.

Very arty new wave/pop album. Not bad, but not something I really want to sit down and listen to.

Not terrible, just not for me.

It was good, I liked it!

A very emblematic album for this genre with a couple of absolute gems.

Couple of decent tunes on this, but not enough for me to be truly excited by it. It was ok though, wouldn’t complain if it came on rotation but not sure I’d ever rush to it.

🤷‍♂️

A little bit out there at times but overall decent music

While I love 80s music, I seriously can’t get over the breathy, monotone vocals of this guy. The background music is interesting but ultimately repetitive.

Meh

Mér finnst þessi skemmtilegri en Infected. This is the day og Uncertain smile eru skemmtileg, Giant í lokin nær góðum dróneffect og röddin hans Johnsons nær betur til mín hérna. Alveg svoldið töff og hresst, en ég toga þetta kannski ekki alla leið upp í fjarka.

Pretty good

Eh

6/10 - It was alright. I liked this is the day and after hearing it in music league I liked it more. The rest of the songs were decent but not great. Overall pretty chill nothing crazy.

A couple good songs. The rest was pretty boring

Okay. At first I thought, what a bunch of in garage playing, vape smoking, hummus eating, indie movie watching middle class uni student watered down bullcrap is this, what kind of deluded idiots would listen to this? But as the album went on I realised it’s me, I’m idiots. Surprising but still nothing new.

Weird band for me. I can't really make heads or tails of them, but this album was definitely better than Infected. With that said, it was fine but will never be a favorite.

The.

It was fine. Seemed a little restrained and I found my attention waning at times, but some nice moments.

An over hyped band who don’t quite reach the heights we were promised. If they belong on such a list, it’s the album with Beat (en) generation. This is for the fans. Not for the masses. They’re not a bad band at all. Kind of the smiths but without the energy that the smiths had. Not bad. But not essential.

Every time I hear Matt Johnson’s voice, I always think to myself, Why does this guy sound so much like Lloyd Cole? But of course, this album came out the year before I first heard Cole, so shouldn’t it be the other way around? I guess I ignored this record when it was released, so really I’m listening to it for the first time. I didn’t take much notice of the lyrics, but musically it’s extremely interesting. And when you hear how Johnson grew up above his father’s pub & he & his brother would sneak downstairs when the pub was closed & play around with whatever musical instruments were left lying around on the stage, you begin to understand why this record just overflows with such a variety of sounds. And good players too. From Zeke Manyika’s drumming on the opening track to Jools Hilland’s terrific piano on Uncertain Smile, Wix’s accordian on This Is The Day, Thomas Leer’s synths on The Twilight Hour & New York Dolls’ David Johansen’s harmonica on Perfect. And, of course, Johnson’s involvement is all over it.

I was 16 when the The released 'Infected', and its brand of angsty industrial-lite pop really clicked for me. I liked the sound, and the lyrics were the right brand of serious to seem deep and profound. With the benefit of hindsight, it borders on pretentious miserabilism. And really, this album is not much different, except released a few years earlier. Even though it is more of the same, it never clicked for me. It's OK. You can hum the tunes, it's got a beat, the lyrics aren't dumb. The sound is kind of dated, but not so 80s as to be unlistenable. I don't really like Matt Johnson's voice that much. And the songs just don't stick in my head. Everyone raves about Jules Holland's piano solo at the end of Uncertain Smile, but it's just OK, you know? That really sums this whole album up for me. It's just OK, you know?

Synth usually makes me cringe, but this isn't quite like the 80s Brit-pop synth so I hung around. The use here seems self-consciously investigative. Like the vocals and the accordion. Since when is there a wild piano solo in an 80s song from England? I'm not hooked, but I'm listening.

good. funky.

I liked and was disinterested in this in equal parts. More than anything, I realized that I've always confused The The with Was Not Was.

Meh. Better than I remembered.

It’s pretty good. It’s The Talking Heads’, Simple Minds’s and New Order’s little brother aspiring to achieve the same quality, but not quite there yet. Do I also hear some Bowie hiding?

Although good in parts, particularly the piano solo by Jools halfway through, there were also some self-indulgent bits, and the 80s synth sound hasn't aged well.

Schysst album. Fast Poesie Noires cover på Uncertain smile är bättre.

So so. 3

Хорошо, спокойная музыка

The The's Soul Mining is undoubtedly a significant album in the post-punk landscape. Matt Johnson's raw vocals and the band's experimental blend of synth-pop and new wave create a distinctive sound. Tracks like "This Is The Day" and "Uncertain Smile" showcase their ability to craft catchy melodies with introspective lyrics. However, while the album offers moments of brilliance, it also suffers from some inconsistency. The production can feel dated at times, and the overall sound lacks the polish of later The The releases. Additionally, the album's length can test the listener's patience. Overall, Soul Mining is a promising debut that hints at the greatness The The would later achieve. While it's a worthwhile listen for fans of the genre, it's not without its flaws.

I usually don't like synth-heavy 80s. But this was kind of nice. Partly because it's short and fast. "This Is The Day" is really a very nice song. Overall it's very upbeat and very light. I wouldn't be likely to put the whole thing on again though.

It was okay

Interesting. Sounds a bit like early REM at times and other times more like Duran Duran but harder edged. Sometimes boarding on electronic noises similar to Pretty Hate Machine. Overall a good listen that has me interested in hearing more.

Their best album for sure.....Infested is close.

A lot of the songs on here are interesting but boring, nothing really hooked me, it’s a lot of style no substance. It’s definitely got more care than a lot of new wave fluff but it just isn’t…fun?

Didn’t immediately gel with this, especially the vocalist and some of the samples, but could definitely see this growing on me! Found myself falling into the grooves on the longer tracks. Also I love the band name

pretty fun! always knew of this band because of their epic name but now i know them for their new wave music

This is a very good and consistent new wave/art rock album, with production that doesn’t feel dated whatsoever. The whole thing is nice to listen to, but it’s really the final two tracks (“Giant” and the U.S. bonus track, “Perfect”) that make this thing a staple new wave album for me.

song reco: uncertain smile

General note: Trying to be more critical of what i give 4s & 5s. Also trying to answer "what the average (3) rating looks like to use as a benchmark for other albums. This Is the Day --> The Sinking Feeling --> Uncertain Smile was a very enjoyable 3-run of songs. Soul Mining was wonky but fun. The vocals for Giant were fun, but the second half on the song went on for way too long.

ok

Я волна. Новая волна. Подо мной. Будет вся страна.

Man hört noch den Punk aber sonst mitelmäßig

I wanted to hate it. Wasn’t terrible

It's pretty good.. Exists somewhere between synth pop and post punk. What I do really like is the longer compositions that let the songs breath a little more.

I liked this a little better than "Infected" but it still didn't do much for me. It's totally fine, but I have no desire to listen to it again anytime soon.

Not bad! I knew nothing about this band and expected a different genre based on the album cover. While I love 80s post-punk and synth pop, this album came across as very restrained to me. I just wanted it to ramp up at some point, maybe get a little crazy…I didn’t feel like it met its potential until partway through the final track. So while this is a genre I truly enjoy, I wouldn’t come back to this album, unfortunately.

New wave sounds

Typical 80s pop but a little more unique

The IS the day. ‘83. pleasant. didnt grab special attention. i kept losing interest althoug its nice.

brýsna gott. meiri raftónlistaráhrif en í síðari verkum. önnur umferð. 3,5.

Tosi jännää, erikoista ja modernin kuuloista jotain elektronista poppia. Jotain varhaista synthpoppia ehkä. Vähän tulee The Smiths mieleen. Parhaat: I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow, The Twilight Hour

Notable tracks: This Is the Day, Uncertain Smile

It was ok. Nothing ground breaking for me but didn’t offend.

generic but not bad. i like the music but not the singing

3 songs deep and this isn’t even remotely close to how I thought it was going to be. Instead of avant- grade style music where words are thrown against a cheesy 80’s beat, you get quality 80’s beats with talking heads type of delivery. So far so good! By The Twilight Hour I grew tired of listening. No fault of their own, I didn’t hate this album at all but the most exciting it got can be heard in the first 4 songs. Choice cut: uncertain smile

this is the day is a good tune. uncertain smile. another good tune. great piano piece in this song. Apart from that the rest were bang average. A low 3/5 rating for me. The two good tunes just say brought it up from 2/5. its albums like this i wish we used a range out of 10.

The the is is quite quite good good. 3 stars C+

I've Been Waiting for Tomorrow - 3 This is the Day - 3 The Sinking Feeling - 3.5 Uncertain Smile - 3.5 The Twilight Hour - 3 Soul Mining - 3 Giant - 3

3.5

Not terrible, but couldn’t really get into it.

Eclectic pop

Mixed feelings on this one. A bit too synth heavy in a lot of places, but I also quite enjoyed aspects of most of it. Gonna need another listen I think.

Soul Mining has a bop or two and the instrumentation, production, and vocal performances are certainly unique and engaging. It's OK.

Listenable. Nice background music for a deck party. Nothing noteworthy.

I was a little concerned after not liking the first song, but this was alright in the end. I probably have to re-listen to it at some point. It was new wave-y but not really the kind that I like.

3 - I liked Infected slightly more. It kind of had more of a city vibe to it, though that could be attributed to the album cover. This one felt like it had good moments, but also a few moments were I was not fully into it. His voice is interesting too, I don't remember it being like that, but I haven't listened to anything by The The in at least a year.

This is the Day! great track. The piano solo in Uncertain Smile was by far the album's highlight 3.5

Funky new-wave. I like it.

Good album

Fun discovery.

In general not really for me. At least not on the first listen. Some really good music though.

Listened to it multiple times and yet nothing stayed, but it doesn't sound bad. Just completely forgettable for my brain

I have fond memories of The The. So I was very excited about the album. OK, the 80s new wave synth pop is easy to recognize. The music was ok. However, there was nothing on it that I absolutely have to listen to again. 3/5

Some really fun moments and compositions here but has some new-wave production elements that I don't particularly respond to. Quite striking lyricism at points. Fave track: Giant

Nice vibes. Some cool piano parts. Not bad!

Pretty mid

I doubt I'd come back to it but I genuinely enjoyed it. It was very unique and weird, but not in a bad way at all. Favorites were This is the Day and Uncertain Smile.

Decent.

Thoughts before listening: One of my favorite band names of all time, but I don't know their music at all. I'm thinking this will be post-punk in the same vein as a band like Joy Division. I tend to like 80s alt rock so this will probably be a nice surprise. Review: This is certainly on the darker side of 80s new wave, and I really like it. "This is the Day" is one of those hits you know you've heard before, but you cant quite picture any details about it i.e. music video, placement in a movie, etc. "Uncertain Smile" comes later and includes an extended piano solo that elevates the song as a real standout. Both are great songs on an enjoyable album.

Was not familiar with these guys other than the curious name. This was better than I was expecting--I never really know what to think when I see "post-punk" and "synth-pop" together. But a lot of fun, a bit raw and loud. I dug it for sure.

Interesante

Was not bad may need to look at their discography

Started out a bit rough. Not really I to new wave, but this got better. Not something I'll likely return to, but good enough for a 3/5

Not really for me

I expected to really hate this but actually it was a bit of a surprise. Def I enjoyed this and listened straight through twice with the exception of The Twilight Hour which is pretty bad haha. Otherwise and interesting and enjoyable record.

Listened Before? N Not too bad of an 80s New Wave/Alt record. I can't say it's original, but it's inoffensive. I may listen again. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: This Is The Day

Genre: Pop Instruments: 2/5 Modern Translation: 3/5 Dance Potential: 3/5 Listening Location: Commute to/from work Favourite Song: This is the Day Made me feel: the singer made me angsty but the beats made my body bop. Other: This synth-pop vibe was a curious mix of 7 long songs.

3+

Weird Nick Cave & Bad Seeds vibe. Pretty good, couple of bangers and a lot of moody tracks in between.

This is just a weirdo 80's album. It has all the trappings/production with a fun bedroom pop album of today with 80's aesthetic. Pretty weird singer/dramatic theatrical. Interesting.

Ок, без неког претераног посебног утиска. 5/10

Album was loud at times, but cohesive. Was probably pretty cliche for the time it released as the record is very synthy and spacey. I liked the outro track "Giant" as I found it the most intriguing. I can't really say much about this album but it was alright.

don‘t likethe 80‘ that much, hmmm

Ok. Very 80s (not in a bad way)

first listen yawn

Fun

I'll chalk this album as yet another sampling of the indisputable English bias. I liked Spotify's description of the artist using the word mercurial, because this album was really all over the place. This album could be described as an experimental crossover between David Bowie and Oingo Boingo. While this wasn't really my cup of tea, there should be special recognition to the incredible piano solo in Uncertain Smile, credited to Jools Holland?! Amazing.

I have a hard time enjoying any songs that use synth percussion. So basically the entire 80s. The first song on this album was a struggle, but it got better as it went... By the end I wasn't hating it, so that's something.

I listened to it yesterday, but got too drunk to remember what the fuck I listened, so I will just give it a 3.

It was better than I expected, but that wasn’t a high hurdle to clear. Funnier was when The The ended, my streaming service played Talk Talk and served up their five star song, It’s My Life.

Enjoyed this one. Could really see what would become the music of the 80s starting to take shape. 3.5/5

The first song had me, this album started strong. Then kind of simmered into what sounded like pretty generic indie rock. Crazy that it was from 1983 though!