Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Had no idea what to expect from this. Wouldn’t have guessed the most mid new wave effort with more than a hint of pretentiousness.
Kind of bland and boring.
This might have its place in the history of music, perhaps as inspiration or breaking ground for a more artful expression to come....this early version of the sound is a bit sloppy and somewhat grating.
Un album muy sin mas, en algunos momentos se me ha hecho bastante repetitivo algunos sonidos o canciones tanto que de verdad las queria pasar, pero bueno hay cosas interesantes
Creative name. The whole time I listened to this album I felt like the music was disconnected from the singer. It was like the musicians were trying to make a happy song and the singer was trying to make a sad one
This is neither pleasant nor interesting. FM synthesis allowed labels and producers to create walls of sound on the cheap; and in hindsight it sounds like it. The sound is nostalgic and tolerable delivering goofy, catchy pop songs ala Human League, Thompson Twins, Soft Cell. But I didn’t find any fun, catchy, or even interesting songs in these tracks.
The What?
Why is there so much mediocre British new wave on this list?? The fucking Spice Girls would be a more worthwhile entry than this!! Fucking Nickelback would be a more worthwhile entry than this!!
He's no singer is he
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Zu wenig Banger.
This is pretty decent but I would have probably hated it when I was younger. Would have been too quirky for me. 2.5/5
Amazing vibes
No, not at all, really.
Sad excuse for post punk
Groupe inconnu. Un bon morceau (+1) dans cet album : 'Uncertain Smile' et son excellent chorus de piano. Les autres morceaux sont moins réussis, souvent très (trop) longs ('Giant'), généralement sans chorus ce qui les rends plutôt ennuyeux. Je ne l'écouterais pas une seconde fois. =>2/5
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.
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
Joy Division meets Tim Curry
I think I kind of like jazz piano!
'This Is The Day' is a great track. Everything else was pretty unmemorable.
the same song 7 times with a slightly different key-based instrument at the forefront? idk man
Best song: 'This is The Day' (one of my all-time favourites)
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.
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
No m'ha encantat, per es titol de s'album m'esperava musica mes estil africà. En genral, estil molt dels 80s
twijfelgeval... enkele goeie maar vooral veel vulling
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.
Maso
Another day, another totally mid British band. Also what kind of name is The The (a stupid one that's what).
?? pop? ok. c
Bit better than the usual
Honestly, songs are not bad but I can't find anything that hooks me in.
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
Quite weird. I don't like the singer's voice, but the music is pretty standard. Boring at times, nothing outstanding IMHO.
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?
Pretty weird record! Definitely from the '80s: lots of keyboards, wavy guitars brooding vocals... pretty interesting arrangements! Feels pretty experimental and jazzy at times
i don't like 80's brit synth pop. This is very that. mehhhh.
Meh...
It’s ok early alternative. Has the only song I know by this group - This is the day.
5/10 Highlight: Uncertain Smile (the piano bit)
alright, not bad
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.
Not that good.
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.
Not really my kind of vibe. Interesting sound tho
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.
It was interesting to hear the fusion of sounds, but nothing was remarkable to catch my attention.
I thought it was shit. and it's a shit band name, and album was boring. I like the cover though.
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.
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
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.
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
love the instrumentals. his voice sucks
Better than I was expecting but still kind of boring.
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.
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.
It’s a bit lame I have to confess. Why is this rated so high?
Very very 80s. Some good tracks but not enough for me to listen to it again
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!
Meh
Another British synth pop album….k….
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.
Pretty generic sounding, the singer sounds deadass familiar.
Add it to the pile of 80s pop British bands over populating this list.
Here’s a cool, clever, edgy idea. Let’s call ourselves ‘The The’ to poke fun at all the ‘the’ bands who are making cooler music than us. And make it a bit awkward for people to find us on the internet in 40+ years when that’s a thing. It’s yet more dreary new wave. I’m awarding a bonus star for whoever their bassist was. Because they do some great work in the trying circumstances of being in a really dreary new wave band with a stupid name.
OK, never listened before pleasant 2.5/5
more 80's boreee but this wasn't so so bad. Feels like 80's club synth. Dope album art. Uncertain Smile is a fun song
New wave MTV fodder. Ho fucking hum.
Meh, listenable but forgettable.
It's not bad and I tried- just couldn't get into it even a little bit.
“That freedom — along with Johnson’s admittedly liberal use of MDMA — would fuel one of the 1980s’ most distinctive pop records.” Am I supposed to be rolling or something to enjoy this more?
Je propose de supprimer les années 80 et le post-punk.
Dude sounds like Bowie. Music sounds like a less depressing cure. Didn't love it, but didn't hate it.
Apart from knowing that they were notoriously difficult to Google, I knew nothing about The The before hearing this. I thought they were a 2000s indie band, but actually I hear 80s-sounding drum machines, very crisp and clear. Vocals sound like other 80s bands, reliance on synthesizers, even the real (?) piano sounded bland and plasticky. Still I found some moments and lyrics here to enjoy, but it's not a winner for me.
Just... too 80's for me
More interesting than I expected, but left me a little cold
I get the gist. The guy is british and offbeat. I don't like his voice. I didn't really enjoy listening to it. This is one of those artists who I'd only ever listen to because of their funny name or cool album art. It was alright. Maybe like a 2.5? Maybe I ought to listen to it more but I honestly do not care to.
Interesting pick. Lo-fi bedroomy synth / drum machine funky pop. Very of its time and I suspect it’s trading of hooks for lyrical substance captured the hearts of loads of people in the 80s, but it’s not for me today. The dramatic piano solo by Jools Holland which somehow combines classical and boogie woogie is more than a bit egregious but works wonders amongst the melting polyphonic ringtones and dark poetry.
2/5
How how did did this this band band end end up up on on this this list list twice twice? Oh, wait…now I see it!
I definitely expected to hate it more. I disliked it and will never go back to it but some parts were fine and chillin.
God I'm bored and I still haven't got to the 9 minute song. It want to be good. update: it wasn't
I never found them to be very interesting. They've only got the one hit. I find the music pretty forgettable. I love the post-punk genre but this is not the best of it. It's catchy but it doesn't stay with me.
не интересно
Lyrics are actually Ok but the music is seriously dated. Very 80s and not in a good way. Can't give it a passing grade.
I don’t love the 80s in general
I feel like this album had plenty of potential but ended up falling short. I do like the classic 80s pop elements but it was kind of ruined with some industrial type stuff. Also, some songs just seem to go on forever which really takes the sparkle out of it. 5/10.
okay
As a huge fan of these genres of music and particularly knowledgeable about the 1980s music scene, I want to say that I love this album and that it was influential, but I don't and it wasn't. This came 2 years after Gary Numan's genre defining THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE, and 1 year after Depeche Mode's A BROKEN FRAME with "Leave In Silence", "The Meaning of Love", and "Shouldn't Have Done That", and came out the same year (1983) but after albums by genre defining acts Tears for Fears (THE HURTING), New Order's genre defining POWER, LIES & CORRUPTION which featured the tracks "Blue Monday", "Age of Consent", and "Ultraviolence" and Eurythmics SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS, and that is just what going on in England, not too mention all of the genre defining work that was released in the U.S. (The Cars for example) by this point. It is not a bad record, but is not particularly notable either, at least not notable enough to appear on this list.
Ég fílaði tónlistina. Góður taktur og vel spilað dæmi en mikið hrikalega eyðilagði söngvarinn stemninguna. Ég heyrði svo í framhaldinu önnur lög sem komu greinilega síðar og það var miklu betri söngur en á þessari plötu skemmdi hann allt
I had their album Infected a few months ago which I enjoyed and described as being akin to Midnight Oil. I didn’t feel the same about this album, it came across as the weaker one in my opinion, despite it clearly having the more popular tracks according to Spotify streams. This Is The Day was vaguely familiar but overall there’s not enough here to push it beyond the halfway mark. I’m afraid it’s a 2.4 for me, rounded down to a 2.
OK. Didn't really like the vocals. Very 80s.
Some songs were great (Uncertain Smile), some were really not (Twilight Hour). I think I just dont like his voice at all - the production was fine.
Yeah, the nice track at no.2 is decent. Shame the rest of the albums is new romantic obscura.
Not bad, may came back to it. May not ...
Soul Mining is the debut album by the The, originally released in 1983. Some pretty straightforward post-punk/electronic pop. Definitely leaning more in the pop direction than punk direction. The production is too smooth, as many 80s albums fell victim to. Heavy on the synths, heavy on the casio drums. Not extremely impressive compared to the massive amount of post punk stuff on this list.
Totally unremarkable
ehh not feeling it. Weird brit moment.
ja, soweit ganz nett
I thought I would like the album after the first track, but it just got less interesting after that point
2.5 Mostly a 2 with poor lyrics. Last two tracks bumped it.
Meh, inoffensive.
I'm sure it was good at the time and it's well done. Only two stars from me because it's one of those albums I would never find a reason for playing again.
An unremarkable album carried by an unremarkable overplayed single
It was fine, but not something I’d revisit.
What makes this special?
This is very stereotypical 80s pop. Low bassy vocals, synths. It doesn’t excite me at all 4.6/10
Not memorable but not terrible either
Pretty cool, although not really my style. Didn't realize that "This is the Day" was by The The--I actually know their stuff.
I made it all the way through, so it gets 2 stars by default. I felt it never really got going, none of the tracks ever made me stop and listen, it was all a bit meh really.
Lätt industriellt? En band jag endast känt till till namnet. Jag tycker bara att det är så… ointressant.
Previously rated: Infected (3/5) ************************* A not fun and not very catchy pop album. Some good piano in one of the tracks. The final song was almost decent. I’m Ok with not hearing this band again. Isn’t Duran Duran on this list somewhere?
Didn't hate anything here, but don't imagine I'd come back to this. It was a pleasant time while it was on, but not much more than that
😌
Subpar
STANDOUTS: This is the Day The Twilight Hour OVERALL: 2.5/5
Could get worse, but real boring album, not for me at all. Thought 'The Twilight Hour' and 'Soul Mining' had something though, but the supposed hits were not my thing. Weak 2.
This one just failed to grab my interest. Just sounded like a standard new wave album to me and forgot I was listening to it or just felt like changing to something else. Highlight was the piano solo of "Uncertain Smile" which was pretty good.
Don't judge an album by its cover, unless it's an album by The The. Then, you should do exactly that. Deranged and uninspired, I'm convinced that the 5 star reviews are programmed robots. The only reason I'm giving "Soul Mining" 2 stars is because two of the songs are listenable!
We did not get along
Nothing notably great about the album, but nothing terrible either. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
Literally never heard of the band. True blind (or do I mean deaf?) listen. Overall I really dig the instrumental arrangements. Lot's of creative variety in sounds. The vocals are absolutely not my thing, I know it's an artistic choice but most of it is like riding the line between projected singing and ...talking? This choice absolutely buries the rest of the otherwise enjoyable music. This album wasn't even that long in runtime, but boy did it FEEL longer. Not for me. Was going to rate it a 1 but the extended arrangement in Giant did some heavy lifting to carry it to 2
Not for me.
Overall album did nothing for me
Very 80's and not always in a good way. 2 good songs.
La singular manera de veure el pop de Matt Johnson. S'agraeix la vena artística i la seva cohèrencia musical, però mai he aconseguit entrar en el seu món, i aquest primer LP editat sota el nom de The The encara és més inaccessible que els posteriors
Hún nær mér ekki alveg, þessi plata. Ansi einfalt stöff, flest.
Not what I thought it would be fun the cover and I didn't like the first tracks but it improved in the middle
It was pretty subpar for me
Not a good album, but, like so many, not awful. This Is The Day is packed full of accordions with bontempi organ backing and sounds like charmless zydeco. Also, the organ player wishes he was Ray Manzarek. He isn't. On the plus side, The Twilight Hour is quite good, and the last half of Giant is a blast. Still, it's just not engaging for me.
Dåligt
Forgettable Best song - This is the day
David Bowie side projects
This Is The Day is pretty good. The rest I could leave. Also Apple Music defaults to the album art from the 2000s reissue which is an all time downgrade from the original art.
Freaking weird album.
Weird album
I don't remember listening to this album at all, I don't remember a single song.
Not a big fan, typical 80s sound. Can appreciate its a good album but not for me.
I've always loved "This Is The Day". I was a little disappointed to discover it is more of an outlier on this album. Everything else is more rhythmic and techy sounds (AKA 80s). Not much favorite. I just keep getting reminded that the 1980s is my least favorite decade of music.
First thought: I wonder if Hot Chip and The Presets listened to The The in their youth? Although not directly cited as an influence, the synth use and vocal style from Soul Mining reminded me of 'One Life Stand', 'In Our Heads', 'Apocalypso' and 'Beams', only at a different tempo. Songs were too long. Not my thing. Will revisit this album when another synthpop or new wave title comes up. 4/10
Cold and confrontational - not really my jam. I listened twice and both times really became engaged during the drum breakdown in the second half of Giant - which is basically the end of the album.
Starts out fun, but drags on. Monotonous, overstretched songs.
Not really a fan. This Is the Day is ok and I recognize, but some of the other songs I just had to keep turning down cause they were kind of exhausting, and the rest just didn't do much for me. Don't think I'll listen to this again.
Tbh I was so uninterested in this that I forgot it was playing and suddenly thought to myself, 'What's that noise? Oh yes, that album I put on'. The first song wasn't even over yet... The music was inoffensive to the point of being rather bland and synth-pop has been done better. Maybe this was very influential in order to justify its inclusion? 4/10
I don't know how but there's a song I recognized on here. The rest is exactly what I've come to expect from a British '80s post punk band.
It was hard to find anything to like about this. There were parts that I bopped my head to but his voice gets annoying.
Vocals were all over the place
100% background music album. Nothing stood out enough to make me want to actually listen.
Very, very one dimensional 80s synth.
Quite torn between a 2 and a 3 here. Couple of good songs but the rest very meh
No. No, just stop it. Nobody wants your bad Bowie impression, your cheap synth sounds, or your high school drama class lyrics. Nobody. Just stop.
Sounds very of its time - not sure why this does more so than a lot of the other electro-heavy albums we've had, but it does. This Is The Day is good, catchy, but I struggled a bit to connect with the rest. Most of the tracks drag on a bit too long, there's a bit too much going on in places. A fine listen, but not one that I'll return to, 2/5.
Meh. Not my bag. Nothing really exciting, and that 80s, new wave, synthpop sound gets on my nerves.
3/5 Cool 80s nostalgia. I love the singer’s deep voice and vocal delivery. Initially I thought I haven’t heard of this artist before until I listened to the track This is the Day. Some of lyric content is darker than the synths make you feel. I would listen to the album again.
Fine but overall uninteresting
Soul Mining epitomizes UK post-punk art pop from the 80s. Heavy synth bass, drums from a machine, echoing asymmetrical vocals: it feels old. Those who like it for these reasons will call it old-school-new-school. The best track, and the one with absolutely no synth, is Uncertain Smile, with Jools Holland contributing a remarkably good piano solo. There's a live version available on YouTube, with Holland again on piano -- on his own show, Later with Jools Holland -- and with real guitars, real drums, real everything. Sooooo much better than the 80s synth stuff.
Ehhhhh generic 80’s pop.
I got into it closer to the end. Specifically, the last two songs
I can hear hits of Bowie & The B52s - which I love but I couldn't get into this one. I wouldn't listen again.
Maybe using it as a soundtrack to work I didn't enjoy doing it wasn't the best pairing.
English new-wave pop. Wasn’t a huge fan ngl.
Too intellectual, “I’m too smart” avant-garde pop bullshit
Could not get into this- just did not like the general sound of this album. I did not enjoy the vocals at all- they just sounded strange to me.
2 estrellas
I feel I missed something but this didn't do it for me.
The The is een bandnaam die weinig zegt, goed gekozen gezien de muziek die men maakt.
Begon energiek, eindigde kut. Excusez le mot.
Some cool piano solos but otherwise *fart noise*
I just found it pretty difficult to get into this album. It sounds extremely dated in a way that I don't enjoy, and the singers voice can be... bothersome. The last two songs won me over, though, so it's not a total wash. Not something I'm going to revisit, I think. Favorite tracks: "Soul Mining", "Giant"
Uncertain Smile, This is the Day and Perfect all groovy tunes. The rest have too many jazzy bridges, are too long, and are generally not interesting enough. Wasn't fond first time I heard it, still aren't. Can't tell if the guy's voice is interesting or paedophile.
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood.
Felt like bad karaoke - gave it a chance but didn't enjoy at all...
are you kidding? Two albums by these guys in a row?! Fuck off. 2/5.
Bit too 80's for my taste.
+ vibes + love the 80s synthpop vibe - long songs - boring by the end
Cynicism throws a dance party. While I wouldn't call anything awful here, I can't help but think that there isn't much that I'd not rather be listening to.
Whenever I think an album might be kind of shit, the reviews are inevitably full of people proclaiming it as a masterpiece. Inexplicable.
nothing spectacular
Second album from this band. I liked "Infected" way more. It was catchier and less "every 80s trope put together". Still pretty cool, but I don't see myself returning to it in the near future.
Typical 80s New Wave music.
early qxt vibes
Dick squeezingly bad. The The is a fuckin' stupid name and I don't like it. Irritating record.
Reconheci um hit, mas a sequência não funcionou para mim.
Eclectic is probably the most positive way to describe this. Not a great listen for the modern ear, but a great band name for sure.
It overstays it’s welcome too many times
Not really my thing. Screams early 80's post punk electronica for sure. Probably popular in cocaine fueled night clubs of the 80’s. My go to to music in a similar genre would be Joy Division/New Order.
Hmm I did not particularly love this one on first listen, but my impression might change if I listen more since there were a number of individual moments that were promising or intriguing, like the understated interlude of The Twilight Hour. More specifically, it has several components similar to other artists that I like (hence 'promising'): the production is often reminiscent of Prince, synth-based with a lot going on but never feeling cluttered (in relation This Is the Day is rhythmically close to When You Were Mine); the vocalist sounding like Ian Curtis of Joy Division; the intro of The Sinking Feeling could have been a Thom Yorke song (unsteady chord progression); and Giant progresses like a NIN song (starting with a drum machine loop and other elements coming in one by one). In short, it's pretty close to what I tend to enjoy in terms of the production, but the songwriting could've been stronger. Nevertheless, it was interesting enough to make me curious about their later stuff. Incidentally, this one is much more enjoyable with headphones (instead of speakers) because of the way instruments and other sounds are carefully spread out across the stereo fields.
Spacey, super short album, British influence, enjoyed one song but not much else
The music itself was not bad but i dislike the 80s style of singing. The first song was probably my favorite. Just not my favored type of music.
Some good moments but mostly I was bored
Tengo en vinilo otro disco de The The, este es su primer trabajo y veo que hay distintas versiones (Vinilo, casete, CD) con distinto numero de canciones. Pero vamos la que enlaza desde aquí tiene 7. Siendo la más interesante "This Is The Day" y poco más. Es un disco muy eclíptico y supongo que sorprendió en ese momento de los 80 pero ahora no lo veo como imprescindible.
My God, this one is a slog. I loved every song, but as a project this is wretched.
Jag tycker inte detta var så bra. Jag vill gilla det, men det är som de tråkigaste låtarna på alla new wave-album. + lite för tonårsångestiga texter?
Progressive at the time, not much going on listening to this now.
p505, 1983. 2 stars. So-so 80's Brit synth band with no tunes and desolate lyrics. A lot of the tracks meander and outstay their welcome. Bonus star for Jools Holland on Uncertain Smile, otherwise there is not too much to like here. Not on the replay list.
Couldn't really get into it.
Weird, dark, and dude doesn’t really have a great voice. It was interesting at points but overall don’t really want to go out of my way to listen to this again.
4/8/22 This album was odd and bad. The guys voice is not good. The first song is miserable and then it gets better but everything just blends together. I recognized one song from Sex Education. Overall, hard to get through and I will probably never listen to it again, but also not the worst thing I’ve heard. Favorite Song: This is the day
Meh. There was a lot going on with this album but I did not connect to it. This was probably hard to make, but except for the piano solo in uncertain smile I did not enjoy this album. I don’t think I’d ever want to hear this again
Best Song: Uncertain Smile. Unoffensive in that coffee-commercial kind of way, but with a really enjoyable piano solo. Worst Song: I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All of My Life). Really bizarre song to start the album. It sounds like each person was told to play a different song and they didn't realize until after they mixed it. Overall: Another cottage in the industry of Bowie impersonators. Also peppered with oddball, edgy lyrics. "While I'm being raped by progress / Tomorrow's world is here to stay / They wouldn't have it any other way..." Yikes.
Just a bit too 80s for me
Great band name. Can't believe it took so long for a band to think of that. It might be a sign that I'm reviewing too many records each day to catch up, but this record just sits there for me. I have no idea of the context here. But I would group a lot of other records from the same time period into this "sound" and this one doesn't really rise to the top. It's actually a little too slick - even by the standards of the 80s - for my taste. Take the piano solo on "Uncertain Smile" for instance. It's too perfect. Sounds like studio musicians trying to sound like a hip post-punk band.
This album is fine - pretty solid 80s new-age, weird stuff. I like it. I just don't really care.
The vocalist's voice really grates on me.
A less talented David Bowie met a less talented Duran Duran and made the love child that is this album. I made it through, which I felt was an accomplishment. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good either.
"Soul Mining" is the debut album from the British post-punk / synth-pop band "the The". The album received positive reviews and modest sales during its initial release, but the 30th anniversary rerelease attracted new listeners and reviews praising it as one of the best albums of the 80's. This album is perfect pop music for any occasion - depending on the listeners' mood. Regularly described as a masterpiece and frontman Matt Johnson's best work, this album describes the tumultuous period during the 80's when post-punk was declining and synth-pop was thriving. The music contains many different types of instruments that are held tightly in line to produce a coordinated attack on the listener. "Soul Mining" is a brilliant, idiosyncratic piece of music history that may never be replicated because it is so personal and unique. I believe this is a hidden gem of an album, and it rightfully earned a spot on these top 1000 albums.
I liked some segments of songs, I like the vocals, but none of the songs click. Best is probably the title track, but I would not intentionally listen to this again.
A bit wishy-washy and no kick. Less appealing than loincloth sumo lining
Kind of 80’s dance/industrial with dark lyrics.
Meh. But nice.
Wel prima maar niks bijzonders
I generally like the that 80's sound, but the songs on this album just don't do it for me. There is an abundance of ideas and experimentation, yet without going anywhere songwise, leaving a rather messy impression. 2/5
Very much of its time.
eh
Great drum intro as if about to launch into uptempo rock but then - in comes a downbeat voice followed by electronica of various incongruous sorts. None of the music matches the fabulous rock drumbeat. It's bonkers. Then track two: apparently it's a theme. A human drummer lays down a beat then a voice is introduced which doesn't quite match it, then electronic instruments join in. Eventually track 4 comes up with a decent melody. Voice sounds a lot like Lloyd Cole. I'd had enough by track 6. Don't like it.
Appropriate title, definitely feel like I lost a bit of my soul on this one
Post-punk new wave, lots of synth and heavy rhythms. Favorite Track: This Is The Day Relisten: No
It took me 1:30 to decide that I was likely to hate this. The first track actually wound up being better than I thought it was going to be. But... wait... that does not at all mean that I liked it. Not viscerally hating is a pretty low bar to clear. Parts were pretentious, but parts were surprisingly listenable. The jamming second half of "Uncertain Smile" had me going for a couple minutes, but "The Twilight Hour" features an interesting arrangement ruined by the singing. But it "Soul Mining" concludes with the 9-minute "Giant," finally annoying me enough to succeed in their assumed mission of ripping my soul from my body, leaving me dispirited and defeated. (That's what happens when you mine souls, right?)
Meh. The bass or synth bass was the best part.
Done
I had heard 'This Is The Day' before because it got a fair amount of airplay in my college years, but I was mostly unfamiliar with the other songs on this album. I listened to it all the way through whilst I worked (which, frankly, is how I've been able to continue this project) and it's nice to have on. Most of the songs have catchy rhythms, there are some solid bass lines, a few moments of really sweet keys (like 'Uncertain Smile'), and some decent tracks on this album. The lead vocalist's voice can be a bit much for me at times, just a personal preference thing - no doubt he can sing well. The general sound and feel of the album brings me back to the mid-80s pop/rock/alt sound, and I have some happy memories from those years, so the album might be getting a little heart-boost from me because of that. Hard to separate out one's individual subjective experience from listening to music (or, really, anything else for that matter) and that's something I just have to roll with.
Not my cup of tea
Taustamusaa ilman kummempaa tartuntapintaa
Saved one track
It wasn’t really memorable to be honest as soon as I listen to it I kind of forgot what it was about I didn’t hate it but I didn’t enjoy it that much
Not very interesting
Not very fun. Mostly just intense and uninteresting. Some standout songs, so not a 1, but not my fav.
Meh… I can’t really connect with 80’s synth music, I know it was a revolution and all that but all of it feels very dated. This one was no exception. Has its moments tho
Didn't click with this. Too clever, without the tunes..
Pretty mundane British new wave. Not bad by any means though.
I don't mind 80s synth-pop, but this is a bit too downbeat for my tastes. 2/5.
Not really my thing. Didn't hate it, wont ever listen to it again.
This album is fine, I really enjoyed the piano solo at end of uncertian smiles, not sure I would choose to listen to this again but I found it mostly inoffensive if not a product of its time
Not nearly as good as Infected, didn't enjoy this that much but it wasn't bad.
Never really got into this one. I don't understand its appeal, but probably just my mindset.
80s Brit Pop. Meh
Meh.
A group doing their best Bowie. Other groups doing Bowie, does not equal Bowie quality. Not bad, but not inspired enough to listen again. Will probably listen to the whole thing tho. I think I “liked” one song.
'Perfect' was a solid track, but otherwise meh
Boring. Not for me
Meh.
That was something.....
J'étais pas prêt
Some decent new-wave with interesting influences but nothing memorable
3.5
The last song was fun.
Fav Song: I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)
A unique sound but this isn't really for me.
didn't hit that hard tbh, but it had nice stretches
I guess I don't have the ears for this one. I lived through this time period, and there's some great synth pop from then. I'm not hearing what makes this so special.
Nice
Love that first song.
"The The" is a top contender for dumbest band name of all time. And, of course, it's a new wave album. A shitty new wave album. The songs all feel like they're a little too long, and there aren't really many good hooks. The lyrics are probably the best part of the album, but they're often hidden by the lackluster singing. I find myself forgetting every song after it concludes, and nothing here really stirs my emotions. This is just another mediocre new wave album in a sea of mediocre new wave albums. Hell, the sheer tedium on display might make this the worst one yet. And, worse, they have two albums on the list. Add this to the list of "random boring crud with no reason to be on the list of essential albums" instead of the list of essential albums. It is now my first 1 star album released before 1990. This album is ranked #8 of 16 albums for 1983. Other 1983 albums previously rated by me: Back to Mystery City(15/16)-2
An album as bland and uninspired as the band's name suggests
Crap
Awful all around.
It really sounds like an 80s movie soundtrack for forgettable scenes. They are ok but would not put in this list.
This album was a rollercoaster ride. Was it one that I enjoyed? Nope, definitely no. That's all I got to say. Still grateful that I have it a chance
Ei
About as groovy as a Half-rainy February Day. It just isn't working for me.
not much
Nope
The most anonymously generic music that 1983 ever synth popped.
Absolutely awful. No redeeming features on any of the tracks.
Almost as equally, maybe a little bit less boring than the one from yesterday... 🙄
Not bad. Reminded me of a little Depeche Mode, a little Talking Heads and a bit of Tears For Fears.
Esse tipo de música não é minha vibe, não gostei nem um pouco, 1/10
1,4/5
If there’s one thing this generator has taught me is I either really love Brit rock/pop or I hate it in this case
As my 978th album, I'm just really hoping that this may be the last cheesy electronic gated reverb snare and whiny ass new wave 80s voice I ever have to voluntarily listen to again, but given the biased hard on this list has for that type of shit, the outlook is grim overall. I really don't like talking shit about other peoples taste in music and there's a lot of good arguments of why this doesn't suck, but it's my rating, my rules, and I think this sucks. How could anyone think this aged well? 1/5, I HATE this genre
Das gute: Nur 41 Minuten "Worst of the 80s". Das schlechteste? 9:53 "The Giant"
I just didnt enjoy this album at all. It bored me end to end. I figure this band used up all of its creativity when it came up with the name for the band. Not good.
Not for me!
i dont like new wave. why are they going for that same annoying put on voice bleh
This didn't grab me. I found it pretty repetitive and the lyrics facile
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)
By moronic edgelords for moronic edgelords.
Utter trash.
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.
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.
2/10
sounds like a flight of the conchords piss take of new wave, without the humour. Had to turn it off