Reviews (page 7 of 9)
cool shit
The The is a difficult band to gauge. Just when you think you've got them figured out, they change styles and surprise you in whole new ways.
Wow, right off the bat, "I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)" is one of the best songs I've heard in a while. Energetic, catchy and fun. But it also captures an anxious feeling I get sometimes of being trapped in a world that won't stop spinning while my life rushes past me. The lyrics are great and the music matches the anxious energy. "This is the Day" has similarly existential lyrics but it's wrapped up in a pop song. I love that. That jazzy piano on “Uncertain Smile” is awesome. Excellent album and one of the more exciting discoveries for me on this list. I’ll definitely listen to this more! Hilarious band name too. Kudos to that.
"The The" is so punk. I always thought band / album / song names like that were funny but didn't really do much for me beyond the initial giggle that it would get out of me. Like "The Band". But that's just me, it's still punk. This album is fun and has a lot going for it. I never heard of it or the band and it is a nice surprise. Great lyrics in the first track and it made me pay better attention to the lyrics while listening. I like that! Really enjoyed the industrial~ish drums and funk bass too. Nice listen! 3/5 but could be higher on more listens I think.
écoute vraiment séparé. surement meilleur que je me rappelle si j'écoute front to back sans interruption. still a solid 7/10
weird instruments are certainly appreciated nice singing, regular old bop i dont dislike this kind of pop
I really liked this one. I previously heard "This is the day" on a tv show and liked it, but didn't realize it was on this album. Its a really fantastic track. Overall a solid synth/80s album, with some surprising textures and sounds, but overall pretty catchy.
Carino
Yeah kinda 80s I think? Probably should have listened more closely.
Fairly standard post-punk
Difficult one to critique because it just did everything insanely well.
Soul Mining should be in everyone's collection. This post punk album shines with catchy beats, strong lyrics, and head bobbing melodies.
Not bad no need to listen again
Okay I didn’t listen to it but I’m giving it three stars just because I’ve always thought that The The was the most innovative name for a band ever.
I really like this. If I had discovered this in college I might even consider it a classic today. It’s like a more abrasive Squeeze. A more chipper the Cure; well the Cure meets the jangle pop of Teenage Fanclub. Somewhere in there. And with all the post-punk spirit of the Wire, hell even the dance-punk of Gang of Four or Talking Heads plus the synth pop of Human League/Heaven 17. One song reminded me of Tom Tom Club percussionists. This album kind of does everything you could hope for from an 80s album.
Agree with Charlie! I was surprised I had never heard of this. I haven't gone this deep down 80s New Wave world, but this album has an immediacy and undeniable hooks. It seems simple, minimal, sticky, and experimental. I love it! What's going on with the Wikipedia of The The? There is one current member (Matt Johnson, who seems to have singlehandedly made this album) and... *19* past members of this band. Does this man just burn through band members???? I must know more! 4/5. Good fun
Surprised: I saw the band name The The and immediately thought I would be listening to a comedy album which is just meh but yk what I dug it. Some familiar progressions and lyrics led this album to feel recognisable and enjoyable. Added a couple tracks to my liked and will definitely be revisiting it sometime soon. Strange but enjoyable.
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.
P good shit. I never heard this before. I feel like this is good on the face of it, but also I'd like it more on repeated listens, so it gets a 3.5/5 from me, with room to grow.
A neat mix between soul and new wave! I get why people rave over this band now. C+ for now
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.
Maybe this doesn’t deserve a 1 but I didn’t like a single thing about it. Bored out of my mind by track two
It was hard to find anything to like about this. There were parts that I bopped my head to but his voice gets annoying.
It's crazy that this was their debut. This record is awesome! A far cry from 1986's Infected, which I pulled a few months ago and found really underwhelming. Soul Mining on the other hand is far from it. It's a perfect blend of new wave and post-punk, their fusion adds so much character to the music. And for an album that came out in the '80s, nothing about this was corny or cheesy. It felt like a very fresh and modern take on its genres, and must've been influential to at least a few of the indie bands who rode the '80s nostalgia wave over these past few years. If it wasn't, then it should have been. Standout tracks are This is the Day, Uncertain Smile, Soul Mining, and despite being nine minutes long, Giant.
Vocals were all over the place
perhaps not one i would come back to but managing to do 80s synth in a way that doesn’t sound like a caricature 40 years later is a feat in itself surely?
Surprised me, as the the other album I got by them them was a dud. Now, if only they could only dig up an actual band name, we might get somewhere. 3 pick axes out of 5 ⛏⛏⛏
Very cool album, had never heard of this band before
The the what
A great 80s listen with good music and interesting vocals
100% background music album. Nothing stood out enough to make me want to actually listen.
Very, very one dimensional 80s synth.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: This is the day
Not for me .
Quite torn between a 2 and a 3 here. Couple of good songs but the rest very meh
Pretty solid. This is the day an easy stand-out
I listened to it, but I don’t remember it!
definitely needs a revisit
Alternative post-punk band. Quand même dans mes cordes. Style The Killers/Japan. Pas mauvais, mais pas malade non plus. Passable.
The The? This may take the cake for shittiest band name of all time. This is generic 80's synth pop. This is minimalist garbage. Nothing happened. 40 minutes waiting for something to happen, and nothing. Just some douche with a synthesizer and a drum machine showing the different sounds he can get out of his synthesizer. The lyrics make no sense. This is just bad. Not sure why garbage like this gets added to this list so often? It hasn't influenced anything. So often I read in the reviews: it did horribly upon its release, but is considered a classic. It probably did horrible because it blows, which is true in this case. Overall, never heard of The The, and can't wait to forget them. Favourite songs: This is the Day...I guess?!? Least favourite songs: The Twilight Hour, Uncertain Smile (is there any need for a 2 minute piano outro?), Soul Mining, Giant (I didn't need a 5 minute loop of people saying "yeah yeah yeah") 1/5
Fijn om je dag te beginnen met lekkere 80’s newwave. Een heel album verveeld wel.
3.5
Welch sinnvollen Beitrag Matt Johnson zur Weltgemeinschaft hätte leisten können, bei derlei Sendungsbewusstsein! Leider hat er sich dazu entschieden, Musik zu machen. Wie auch beim Erstlingswerk war es mir unmöglich, die Platte durchzuhören. Ich halte das Œuvre der „Band“ für komplett verzichtbar und für unerträglichen Schrott. This Is the Day für den Entschluss, sich nie wieder auch nur eine Sekunde mit The The zu befassen.
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.
Very 80's feel which is amazing for a 1993 album. I surely didn't listen to this in the midst of the grunge and alternative out during this time but I would have liked it then. But now? Seems a bit aged
I've always liked "This is the Day" but wasn't familiar with anything else on this album. It was really good, but I'll stop short of saying it blew me away. It's great new wave, but even within a genre that is quintessentially '80s, it sounded very '80s. If you can look past that, though, there are a lot of very smart pop songs here. I would like to spend more time with the lyrics on future listens. Also cool to learn that it's Jools Holland playing the piano solo on "Uncertain Smile".
I got into this
Tässä oli jotain kivaa! Sopivan vinksallaan mulle. Ei toki mikään jumalten luomus 3/5
Mukava ja pirteä meno. Hyviä soundeja myös.
uh uncertain smilen pianosoolo <3 muutenkin yllättävä ja virkistävästi erilainen levy. 4/5
Bad 80s.
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.
Af en toe leuk, maar ritmes zijn wel heel basaal vaak. Snap niet wat dit hier doet.
Really good new wave music. The stretch from ‘This Is The Day’ to ‘The Twilight’ in particular is masterful. I don’t have much to say, really; just an amazing discovery from one of my favorite genres. Very excited for Infected.
groovey as fuck yoooooo. got those grooves and moves. very nice. likey.
not bad
Great upbeat angsty pop record. The record features some great guest musicians. My favourite moment is probably uncertain smile, just a fantastic outro! 7 out of 10
Decent album hadn’t heard before
It’s classic but dated. 3.5
A slappy bass funtime 80's album. I really enjoyed it. A little slow sometimes but enjoyable all the same. Might return to this one later. Score: 70 Art: 70
the the the the the the the the the the
Has some cool tunes on it, would listen to it again
Solid but not as good as I thought it would be 3/5.
Brilliant stuff
A strange mix of lots of brilliant moments with some really dull/annoying ones thrown in there that stop it getting any more than a 3 unfortunately
I could listen to This is the Day on repeat for hours. It was fascinating once again to hear an album new to me that has so clearly inspired some of my favourite bands.
Meh. Not my bag. Nothing really exciting, and that 80s, new wave, synthpop sound gets on my nerves.
I find the album art physically painful to look at. I like This is the Day and Uncertain Smile, they have good structure and momentum. Matt Johnson's voice is great, the synths are very early 80's but that's not a deal breaker for me. The problem is that whole endeavor is way too emo for my taste. One song here or there is fine but a whole album is just too much at once.
If one feels as though they are the symptom of the moral decay gnawing at the heart of the country, they may need some soul mining. In all seriousness, this album is perhaps the most perfect encapsulation of Matt Johnson's vision for The The and remains one of the more engrossing and thoughtful albums of the 1980s. Although there are elements of this that sounds of its time, it can be safely considered current day. A masterpiece.
Oh man, that fuckin' piano on Uncertain Smile is so damn good
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
I liked this fine though it seemed like pretty standard proto-new wave (with a couple of odd curveballs) and suffered from that 80s British serious alt-guy vocal syndrome.
The Sinking Feeling sounds like it was made in the early 2000s, I'm sure I have heard the same melody at the start in Drum and Bass tracks. Just has a very modern (or timeless?) feeling to it. Good stuff.
My partner loves this album! Loves it so much that I'd have to sleep on the couch if I rate it lower than 5... Ha, I'm joking! ...or am I?
Oh damn, that is great fusion of postpunk and synthpop with great great vocal. Bass is really ejoyable. When You take everything apart it is so simple, at moments almost too simple. But at the same time everything fits well. Lirycs are worth mentioning on their own. They feel like true poems that balance on verge of despair and hope. When You mix everything it makes specific but somehow very good album.
It's giving underground disco meets punk and I dig it
Another classic album from "The The".
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.
Wow, awesome music. Favorite songs: This is the Day, The Sinking Feeling, Uncertain Smile.
One of my all-time favourite albums of all-time... I listen to this at least once a month and have done for years :) Timeless!
8/10 as much as I enjoyed this and WANT to give it a 10/10, it’s just missing something that’s bothering me, idk still a fantastic album tho
really enjoyed this!!
Album 24 of 1001 the The - Soul Mining Favorite Track : Uncertain Smile Rating : 3 / 5 This generator thinks I'm really into some 80s & 90s British Pop. It keeps feeding it to me. I was ready to pan this, but maybe the generator knows something I don't. This is a very enjoyable album. There were a couple of tracks that would have fitting in perfectly as part of a soundtrack for some of the 80s John Hughes type movies. No real stand out "hits", but the album flows nicely and each song holds up to the one before it. Good musicianship. A fine album.
BL: "The, The" is a band my dad really likes but have never listened to outside of the "Burning Blue Soul" album. Will be interested to give it a listen. AL: I really liked this album. Hit the spot of Funky Electronica even better than the Hot Chip album did a couple weeks ago. Glad to have heard it. A kind of pre-trip hop masterpiece which makes me see where Massive Attack and all of them got major inspiration from. Definitely worth the listen. FT: “this is the day” “uncertain smile” giant” 5/5
Original, varied and compelling
V good
Yes generic 80s but with some catchy songs, I mean come on! This is The Day is classic! Probably a 2.5 album if we could give half stars.
Ehhhhh generic 80’s pop.
Classic new wave! Great work on the keys.
Really liked #2 This Is The Day, #4 Uncertain Smile, & #8 Perfect. But was pleasantly surprised by the whole album!
eh
I got into it closer to the end. Specifically, the last two songs
its bad but its good, i dislike it but im vibing along with it i dont get it but its alright
Whoa. This album was incredible. I ended up saving 5 of the 8 songs. I knew This Is the Day (from the incredible Sex Education soundtrack) and it wasn't wholly representative of the rest of the tracks (though not entirely unrepresentative either), but this one really breezed by. Standouts: This Is the Day, The Sinking Feeling, Uncertain Smile, Giant, Perfect
3.5/5
It’s not as good as infected but this is still my favorite synth pop band I’ve discovered on this list. The song writing is interesting and the production is still super groovy and unique. Also the cover art for this one is among the weirdest I’ve seen so far. This is the day was my fav; mid to low 4.
Love that sound
I've heard the cheeky name before, but I don't think I've ever actually listened to them. I'm kind of kicking myself now though because this is fantastic. I love post-punk and this is just a fantastic example of it. I'll definitely have to explore more.
Em, nothing amazing here.
I can hear hits of Bowie & The B52s - which I love but I couldn't get into this one. I wouldn't listen again.
Cat: booooooo some stuff was cool but then the vocals ruined it or it just went on forever with no change. Boooooo. Weird creepy lyrics. Boo. AJ: I loved it. All these 80s singers really know how to ruin it for the rest of us. Loud fart noise.
3.5 it’s fine
These are some incredible New Wave compositions. The use of synths (and other crazy instruments) is lush and diverse, and the vocalist puts similar-sounding New Wave vocalists to shame. It's catchy and dancey and overall a fun experience that knows when to back up and let the synths fill the space and emotions. There's something I love about every track that makes them stand out. Even a deep cut like "The Twilight Hour" has cool metallic synths, punchy drums, and eery vocals and lyrics. "Soul Mining" stands out to me for its basic yet entrancing guitar work and synths that for some reason illustrate images of the ocean. It's a coherent experience, with a puzzling yet mysterious opener that dives directly into the pop tracks to the more intimate ones, closing with a melancholic finish. It all feels essential to provide a complete experience, never repeating itself much, and encompassing a natural flow such that each song felt essential in its composition and placement.
The The's Dusk is a top 10 album for me. Or at least top 20. Definitely in the top 50 no matter which way you slice it. But what I like about Dusk is almost completely absent here. And that's not to say that this doesn't have a good sound. But for an album call 'Soul Mining', it didn't get anywhere near my soul the way Dusk does. Some good stuff, wouldn't turn it off in the background, but I'm not rushing back to hear it again.
Exquisite. I'm a sucker for any of this 1980s post-punk stuff in any case, but this is right in the sweet spot. Smart lyrics, cool synth noises (especially the pillowy synth-bass sound) and a cracking Jools Holland piano solo on 'Uncertain Smile'. Could've been five stars on another day.
Three songs in and I'm really enjoying it. My favorite song so far is The Sinking Feeling. Super fun walking bass and nice rhythm all around.
I'm not in the mood for this today. I hate, hate... repetitive backgrounds and lyrics that go on for 5 minutes and 44 seconds. Honestly, it's one of my least favorite things on "classics". Maybe I'm a grump, but if you just gunna repeat something for 4 minutes... make it a 90 sec song. "This is the day" was much much better, then it hit me again! Ok, Tyler said it, the back half of this album is strong. I think this album is a good 80's album. 3 stars.
The instrumentation and sound 🤌 so good. Loved it. That piano solo(uncertain smile) hit me in the right spot and I loved the back half of the album. I guess I like new wave?! But lead vocals killed me. B grade David Bowie was taking me out of it.
like dusk litt bedre, men bra album uansett
Egentlig ganske bra, men treffe meg ikkje heilt likavel
Takie nie wiadomo co, trochę synth rock, trochę pop. Niczym się nie wyróżnia.
Very 80’s, very cool.
When I listened to the first song on the album, I was afraid the sound of the whole album would be too synth pop, but I was wrong. It's a genuiely fresh sounding album considering it's from the early 1980s, an era its sound is so dated nowadays. Overall, it's a good post-punk, synth pop album.
What a great discovery. Love the synth, love the popiness of it. I think my favourite song from this album is Giant, the arrangements work so well! Saved tracks: This is the Day, Uncertain Smile, The Twilight Hour, Giant
Insane debut album by Matt Johnson and company. 'This Is The Day' is one of the best songs ever written, plain and simple. 'Uncertain Smile', 'The Twilight Hour' and the title track are solid as well.
I generally like the overall vibe on Soul Mining. There’s also a couple of really killer tracks. And Matt Johnson is undoubtedly a genius. But in the end this simply becomes too monotonous and I am never completely hooked.
Really enjoyed this, nice mix of poppy new wave and a synthy punk vibe, will definitely check this out again sometime.
It was alright. The 80s drums and synths are always irritating to me and this had a lot of them. The lyrics were good though.
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.
I initially wasn't sure what I'd think of this album - it initially seemed like any other 80s New Wave album, of which I've heard a few of in close succession on this list. However it sort of changed throughout the course of the album, and throughout individual songs also, into this interesting post-punk sort of thing. A bit strange, a bit unsettling at times, but really interesting and quite unique. I'm unsure about why I've never heard of The The before! Favourite: Giant
This has really grown on me. Giant is incredible.
Fun, synthy, 80’s new wave music
Really enjoyed this, never heard their stuff before. They’re like an 80s The National
Too intellectual, “I’m too smart” avant-garde pop bullshit
Never heard of them but enjoyed the album
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.
Soul Mining. You know what? I kinda like this. Now, I can't quite put my finger on what it is about this album that I like. It's sort of like a train wreck, you know? You don't want to look, but you can't help it. Or like my Aunt Edna's cleavage. Not my cup of tea (seeing as she's my relative and all), but damn if I can't stop my eyes from going there. But seriously, there's something strangely compelling about Soul Mining. Maybe it's the quirky vocals or the off-kilter instrumentation. Or maybe it's just the fact that it's so damn weird. Whatever it is, I'm hooked. So, if you're in the mood for something a little off the beaten path, give Soul Mining a spin. And who knows, you might just find yourself strangely drawn to it, like a moth to a flame, or a guy to his aunt's cleavage.
Uncertain Smile is a pleasant surprise on this 80’s new wave wonder. It starts relatively blandly, the ending 3 minutes piano composition is really special. It has ‘heat wave’ vibes. They mined the soul on this track. Overall the songs aren’t hit radio but conversationally lyrical. 3.5/5
2 estrellas
Quintessential 80's without the staying power of the someone of his peers. Quite a few songs start rough but finish strong. Perfect and Giant being highlights of the album. The Twilight Hour sounds like a bad Bowie album.
I liked this one a lot! I already knew and loved the song "Uncertain Smile" going into this, but hadn't heard any of the other songs, so this was a real treat. I think that "Uncertain Smile" remains my favorite, but "The Sinking Feeling" is a close second. There were a couple of songs I didn't enjoy as much (mainly the opening track, "I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow (All Of My Life)" - not a bad song, just nothing special in my opinion), but nothing that ruined the experience for me. I could definitely see myself listening to the entire thing again. Very glad to have heard this album.
Didn’t do much for me.
It’s generally interesting and good just is not the most memorable and sticky albums around. After you put it down it just doesn’t stay with you. On the other hand the songs are interesting, enjoyable and the good side of the 80s - at times Bowie-esque
I feel I missed something but this didn't do it for me.
A beautiful and unique album that floats somewhere between post-punk and synth-pop but with accordion and xylorimba 4.5/5
I'm still angry at the person who borrowed and never returned this album from me. I picked up a copy on CD later. This album was unlike any other record of the time. Where's as new music was getting light and frothy (Cindy Lauper, Nena) this was dark and mysterious. If anything it presaged later music from Depeche Mode, whose lighter weight Construction Time Again came out about the same time.
This album just begged me to hate it. And I folded, giving right in. Interesting the band is named The The, since there's no There There.
Great album.
I'll take it. Not mind blowing but solid, and quite enjoyable different, especially in the rhythm and instrumentation. I will revisit this and I hope that it grows. It feels.like it grows.
post-punk sucks
Soild 80’s album, interesting but something missing for this ti make my frequent rotation.
There's music for the sake of music and then there's music for the sake of, I don’t know, thought? I've never found the The to be very enjoyable. More so a band to think about when you've finished listening. The mixing was poor as well, which doesn't help. I'll say that it was original, funky new bass lines and electronic elements helped keep the album interesting, but not interesting enough for me to ever want to listen to it again. 3/5
My life got easier when I admitted that I straight up like new wave. This was fun. This is the Day was my fave.
Actually really enjoyed! 80s sound and meaningful
My soul was definitely mined out of any pleasures during this sweet listening session with a band of great name The The. Some positives - a relative short album, only 41 minutes, suffering end pretty soon. Also, the song to end the record, I believe "Giants" had a really nice outcome, very surprising. On the other hand, what was that? And why is it on this list? Post-punk mixed with some synth disco and a terrible vocal, on top of(or actually somewhere under the layers of of sounds and instruments) a terrible mix. I'm trying to think of a reason why it would not deserve a 1 out of 5, but I can't think of anything. The The Worst Worst
Good 80s album
This isn't something I normally like, but I really did. A short and very enjoyable album! 4 stars instead of 5 because of that tedious ending to Giant
The The is een bandnaam die weinig zegt, goed gekozen gezien de muziek die men maakt.
Ik kwam er achter dat ik 3 nummers van dit album al kende. Veel naar Puinguin Classics online-radio luisteren :-) Heel aardig album!
Begon energiek, eindigde kut. Excusez le mot.
One of my favourites. Love the introspective lyrics, love the synth. Soul Mining, This is the day, Uncertain Smile with Jools Holland’s piano solo, it goes on. Then there’s Giant where it all comes together with the cool synths, the lyrics, those drums and chanting. Unimpeachable and magnificent. ImThat one song on its own makes this legendary.
4.1 - Having hated "Infected", I was surprised at how much I liked this record, especially the minimal electronic beats paired with clever lyrics delivered with a dry British affect (see "The Sinking Feeling"). At turns there are also instrumental surprises, like the jazzy piano solo on "Uncertain Smile", as well as the extended coda on "Giant."
Some cool piano solos but otherwise *fart noise*
Nah
This album is awesome. Xylophone solo, bongo solo and piano solo on the same album. Plus very emotional, sensual singing. This is the best the 80s has to offer, and I think it’s time y’all admit it
Better than most average 80s pop, but only marginally
Buen disco de pop con reminiscencias de los años 80. Buena voz y con cierto ritmo. Instrumentalmente, bueno
Enjoyed this, will definitely give it another listen. The two songs I knew already (This Is The Day and Uncertain Smile) are pretty perfect, so kind of overshadowed the rest. But I didn't hear anything I disliked. The only negative I'd have is that the overall sound is very "of the time". But it was the early 80s so I think that can be forgiven.
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"
Pop.
First time listening to this album. Great album in a pop genre that isn't really my style. The piano playing on Uncertain Smile is super.
I didn't think I was going to like it because of the first track, but the other tracks were way better. Love the instrumentals in most tracks, especially the piano in Uncertain Smile. Not a fan of the album cover, though. Fave track(s): Uncertain Smile, This Is The Day
pop new-wave so eighties, I like more some their later things
Chill 80's pop vibe
This is a solid album. It's not really my type of music and I can't see myself ever just throwing it on but I enjoyed it and appreciated it's craft
Fantastic 80’s classic. 5/5
A personal fave.
Pretty great mix of goth and blues and rock, enjoyed.
Such an amazing album, running the full gamut between the stripped back synth and lush piano, all with angry, acerbic, self defeating lyric.
English Band. They have two albums on the 1001 list. Rating: 3.5/5 (Excellent) Singles: ----------------------------- Uncertain Smile (#68 UK) Perfect (#79 UK) This is the Day (#71 UK)
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.
Strong opener and overall sounded quite modern I thought.
Good album. Liked it Sot I’ve been waiting for tomorrow… The sinking feeling This is the day Uncertain smile Giantt
this might have been boring me but the last song Giant was fantastic. Borderline italo synths and groove. Glorious
A mix of Soft Cell and Talking Heads, some interesting lyrics. Great piano solo at the end of 'Uncertain Smile'.
Interesante
I've been waiting for tomorrow - 1 star this is the day - 4 stars the sinking feeling - 3.5 stars uncertain smile - 5 stars the twilight hour - 5 stars soul mining - 4 stars giant - 3 stars
This album is a full bop and speaks to me. Like an album that’s been missing all my life. One of the first albums I’m actually adding to my rotation. Unobjectively giving it 5/5 .I don’t care - I want to blast it in my car.
This album has a bigger impact and sound than it has warrant to. Soul Mining contains The The's biggest hit, but also encapsulates the feeling and era they were in with it's unique blend of synths and modern new wave music with traditional musical stylings. To reduce it to one song takes away from the overall movement of the album.
It's good, especially "This is the Day" is a great song.
This is full-blown 80s pop—good for what it is
This is the sort of music that was my favorite in college. "This is the Day" was a favorite song of mine then. I never had the album, but it sounds faintly familiar as a friend must have played it sometimes. I love the instrumentation, Matt Johnson's moody singing...I feel 20 years old again when I hear this.
I found this album pretty good. The 80s essence was quite palatable.
Good solid 80s pop that wasn't overplayed, at least in my neck of the woods. If I were creating the soundtrack for a movie that was set in the 80s and I didn't want to go with the obvious choices (Don't You Want Me, Come On Eileen, (I Ran) So Far Away), I might choose this. I loved the first half and was less enchanted with the second. The piano solo on Uncertain Smile was especially nice. Really good!
Wasn’t sure I needed two The The albums on this list, but this one is different from the second release “Infected.” I loved this one as well. Some nice 80s goodness - particularly enjoyed the song I knew (This is the Day), I’ve Been Waiting for Tomorrow, and Giant. Really great to become more familiar with The The.
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood.
The prelude to pop albums for a millennium.
Felt like bad karaoke - gave it a chance but didn't enjoy at all...
Around 1990 I heard The The's Mind Bomb album and fell in love with their sound. I bought "Infected" and this one, "Soul Mining" thinking they were going to have that same sound. But. they were both really different and I really never got into them. I was surprised to see those two albums on this list, but not Mind Bomb. It is nice to listen to them again, almost like for the first time. This album starts strong with I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow For All My Life and This is the Day. Both songs I think are great. This is the Day is one I have heard over the years on Alt radio. The rest of the album is so good. I really don't get why I wasn't into this 30 years ago! Standouts: This is the Day, Uncertain Smile, Perfect, The album art cover is really interesting. It kind of has a Picasso feel to it. The wikipedia page says it is a painting of one of the wives of Fela Kuti. So that is cool as well based on his presents on this list as well. The albums singles: Uncertain Smile, Perfect, This is the Day were all top 100 UK songs, but none were top 40. Perfect hit the NZ charts at #19 and the re-release of Uncertain Smile hit #31 in the Netherlands. I look forward to listening to this more much more often. I am giving it a strong 3.5 / 5.
Not bad at all
better album than I expected from a band with a stupid name the first few songs are especially interesting considering this came out in the 80s 3.5
Would have given 6 stars if allowed. Released when I was 18 and world was Thatcher/Reagan/youth unemployment. Album that helps in troubled times, beautiful expression of what it is like being depressed or troubled or insecure or not knowing what the hell to do with life. Add Jools Holland, Thomas Leer and more giants and could be in 11 best albums ever.
Very pleasantly surprised by this one. 1983 - postpunk is not normally anything I can enjoy but this has a lot going on. Poetic pop with electro synth sounds. A couple of tracks sound like they could have been 10 years later. Just need to know how to say the The name now.
An album I had first on cassette (with additional album Burning Blue Soul), then on CD and now am streaming. As debuts go it didn't reveal quite how far Matt Johnson would go in terms of blood, sweat and guns but it's a solid gold set of tunes.
Definitely my favorite The The album!
This is the day is one of the biggest bangers of the century. Imo. And the rest of the album is also great
Vond ik maar zozo. Had het iets steviger verwacht of zo. En dat viel dus wat tegen
are you kidding? Two albums by these guys in a row?! Fuck off. 2/5.
Tror jag har den. Kluven. Bra och inte så bra.
Älskar denna. Som nämnt ovan har pappa denna i samlingen, vilket har varit gynnsamt i uppfostran av en ängslig indie-kille som mig. Deras bästa låt - this is the day, finns dessvärre inte med på denna skivan.
Denna är ju riktigt bra! Har den i skivsamlingen, men det är ju inget som snurrar dagligdags.
notes - debut album from synth pop band the the - actually a solo album by the band’s singer matt johnson but has been credited to the the - partially a re-recording of songs from an earlier project for a different band - this album is super interesting, especially matt johnson’s vocal style which i really enjoy depending on the song - really great drum machine and bass throughout fav - ive been waiting for tomorrow all of my life - really like the looping bass and chorus least fav - the twilight hour - the only time where matt’s vocals seemed like a bit too much 4/5 - cool album but i think a couple songs hold it back from being really great
3.75
certainly innovative.
Chill songs. To me, it's not particularly outstanding after one listen though.
Favourite song: Uncertain Smile
Pretty cool...interesting sound that I would gladly come back to. 3.5/5
I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow goes hard, very aggressive and in your face which it doesn't match for the rest of the album. Instead it takes it back a notch into a more melodic and calmer state of being. That being said, the remaining tracks are mostly great. This is the Day and The Sinking Feeling are slower and uptempo songs that you can click your fingers or clap your hands to. The former is the most accessible track on here with its accordian driven melody and relatable message. The latter is more aggressive in delivery of vocals and lyrics, but musically is positive. And then you get to the Uncertain Smile which is essentially a two parter. The first half is driven by arpeggio guitar riffs and an upbeat chord structure. Its up there with This is the Day so far, and then that awesome 4 minute piano solo kicks in to finish off the track, elevating to the album highlight. After those four tracks, the album provides its two weaker offerings. The Twilight Hour and Soul Mining are a servicable listen in album form, but they are just too slow to listen outside of. Last but not least there's the appropriately titled song Giant, a 9 minute piece that is strongly driven by percussion along with keyboards and synths. Its hypnotic structure works to deliver an effective closing to a pretty awesome album. 5/7 songs are very neat and make this an essential listen, while the other 2 work for the overall atmosphere. It might not be a 5 for most but it just connects to me a lot to write this long of a review.
An old favorite. Totally 80s and 90s. Listening now reminded me of hope and angst!
I'm just a symptom of the moral decay that's gnawing at the heart of the country. I felt that Infected had dated musically I seem to remember. You could argue the same here but it's just too good for it to matter. Full of songs with a poppy feel but unusual chorus-less structures. Jools Holland at the ending of Uncertain Smile is fantastic. The slow build groove of Giant to close out. Terrific album.
Potentially interesting but not enough to pay more attention to it
Good album. Lots of overlap with early New Order and even a bit of XTC. 3.5/5
3.5/5
Interesting, would be open to listening to more from The The
Cool but a bit monotonous
really liked this one. added it to my library as well. i hope it becomes a staple in my listening activities
Bit too 80's for my taste.
Grew on me.
Pretty awesome debut album. Post-punk / synth pop and a good listen from beginning to end.
I wasn't terribly fazed in the beginning but it slowly grew on me and then found the highlight was the last track "Giant"
I first heard of this group in a list of the worst band names. Luckily the music leaves a much better impression. Reminds me of the previously reviewed “Rise and Fall” by Madness, in terms of eclectic, 80’s English pop rock. “The Twilight Hour” sounds like a precursor to the lava levels in Super Mario 64. If I change my mind about the rating later, it’s because I’m sick while listening to this tonight. HL: “This is the Day”, “Giant”, “I’ve Been Waiting…”
marred only by some filler and 80s production
Gothy goodness.
This is brilliant post punk synth pop, really captivating music, sonically interesting, with great energy and rhythm.
I didn't know what I was expecting from this album bit I was pleasantly surprised, each song was very good. I didn't get bored and I'm definitely listening to this again
A real unique and interesting listen. Quite the surprise!
Pretty good new age album, enjoyed the listens!
Love the British post punk/new wave sound. Good stuff
Brilliant
Interesting
There really isn’t a songwriter quite like Matt Johnson. True to the title of this record, he combs the depths of misanthropic despair and constructs some of the most sardonic (yet still fleetingly hopeful) pop gems. This is a totally unique record, the kind which covers a mass of musical territory without ever sounding incoherent or superficial. The full gambit of Arabian scales and pounding dance rhythms is on offer here, and it’s all held together by Matt Johnson’s keen ear for a tune. The two soaring singles, “This is the Day” and “Uncertain Smile”, are far and away the highlights of this record and embody everything which makes The The one of the most special groups in the British indie canon. I would even go so far as to say they are two of the greatest songs of the 1980s. But that’s not to diminish tracks like the infectious ear worm “Giant” or the nihilistic cynicism espoused on “That Sinking Feeling”. It’s such a great record, but it does have a couple of flaws. The album is definitely a bit front-loaded in terms of its memorable tracks, and never really picks up the momentum in the latter half. As an album it’s a frustrating listen in this regard, at least to my ear. Their follow-up, Infected, rectifies this and serves as a much more rewarding listen in the one sitting. I adore the single “Perfect” but even then I’m not sure it’s inclusion in the original running order would have been fitting. Nevertheless, I can’t detract too much from this record. It’s a standout album and one which I treasure in my collection.
ja men det här var bra. andra låten var nog bäst
Has to be a 5 with an album cover like that and the piano solo on Uncertain Smile.
This was a good album. It was very intriguing to me I heard a lot of things I like and I look forward to listening to it again to try to pick out even more interesting sections.
+ 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.
I wasn't expecting anything but this was great. Now I need to check out their other albums.
Great stuff. Not incredible, but I had a good time.
I was impress, great surprise !
It was a really good album with really cool arrangements, but I can't quite put it down. It was dark themed with sympathetic outbursts of brass and marimba? It's like I don't know what to feel listening to it. Which sometimes can be good, but... I don't know, I didn't find myself there on that one.
Weird, funky, synth-driven post-punk. Probably not something I'll jam again since the long songs try my patience but respect the talent and unique vision
It's fun, very 80s, kind of Avant Garde at times but by the end I got b9red of the vibe.
Good new wave stuff but I don't really like most new wave.
Like if Bowie leaned hard into post-punk. I really liked it.
New wave
This is the Day and Uncertain Smile still sound fresh after almost 40 years. Classic early 80s post punk.
Funky. Cool cover art
Interesting... stuff. Some nice and quite varied arrangements (using everything from melancholic accordions and pizzicato strings to steel drums and hectic piano solos), and a general sound that has aged very well overall. The nine minutes of original closer "Giant" just fly by for instance. This synth-pop/post-punk album could have been recorded yesterday and no one would have really noticed the difference with other similar releases today. The The sometimes reminds me of current artists such as Future Islands, Cate Le Bon, Destroyer or Amen Dunes. With that in mind, it's honestly quite a feat that *Soul Mining* was actually released in 1983. Is is an *essential* listen, though? The jury's still out on this one. Just like the current artists I've quoted, maybe the affectations and odd mannerisms heard and felt throughout this LP will wear you out after a while. And maybe it lacks a few straightforward highlights to make it more impactful as a whole. But maybe I'm a little too picky here, so take with a grain of salt the 3.5/5 grade I'm giving to this thing right now. Because, to be honest, I feel I'm gonna revisit this curious yet well-crafted album in the near future. In the meantime... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 783 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 112 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 54 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 51
Just okay. Proto-post punk/pop. Bit dry, not great vocals, but a couple decent grooves.
Whenever I think an album might be kind of shit, the reviews are inevitably full of people proclaiming it as a masterpiece. Inexplicable.
Ok
Very different than what I have heard, and the opening song was not my favorite, but everything else was amazing.
nothing spectacular
Starts really strong, ends up pretty middling
Quirky, loved the variety of instrumentation.
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.
Not all 80's music, just the majority. This has some decent tracks, but it's not a classic
Typical 80s New Wave music.
Great post punk album, insane piano solo on "uncertain smile", lyrics angsty as shit but great.
I think some of the song went on a one minute too long, but overall this album brought a great vibe.
Never really understood the fuss. Its good but not great.
I've been waitin' for tomorrow - starts off with a heavy beat, gradually builds. Solid start This is the day - jarring between upbeat tempo and quite depressing lyrics👍 The sinking feeling- I love angst👍 Uncertain smile - just okay for me, lengthy piano solo The twilight hour - really like lyrical themes here👍 Soul mining- bit more low key with fun instrumental👍 Giant - v long repetitive Outro Perfect- going to rate this one even though it's contentious. Instrumental 👍 I'm interested in revisiting this album, seems like it could get better with afew relistens. For now, 4/5
Good beat, easy to dance to. Uncertain Smile is good. Vocals by the love child of David Bowie and Billy Idol. Otherwise, another nothing special 80's band that I'm sure a specific audience still loves but I won't recognize if I ever hear them again.
Really, really cool album. First track plays hopscotch with the "weird vibe that's genuinely interesting"-"weird for the sake of being weird" line, but all the others nail the genuinely interesting side of it for me. Very much enjoyed this album. Favorite tracks: Uncertain Smile, Giant
early qxt vibes
I think I’m going to do a playlist of ‘God’ songs.
i hate this.
Dick squeezingly bad. The The is a fuckin' stupid name and I don't like it. Irritating record.
Probably fine
Awesome from start to finish!
Mild and understated. I was expecting big rock, wall of sound style for some reason. This was more shoulder pads and oversized suits than that. Totally focussed on the vocals, with a healthy side of electro drums and synth sauce. Very 1983.
One of these songs had the exact same opening drumbeat as the previous day's A-Ha offering - so yes, another good dollop of pure 1980s here. Nothing really stood out for me though.
Been there, done that. The last bit of the album was especially boring.
Synth-Pop that sticks out from the rest of the New Wave albums due to the unique addition of elements such as an organ, a gospel choir, a piano solo. A for effort and creativity
Classic 80's sound but somehow futuristic with some synthwave vibes. Easy to pickup and loads of replayability. Superb
I have never heard of this band before and the album wasn't bad, though at this moment I am struggling to recall it. However because the band's name is The The I cannot go lower than 4 stars!
I was not a fan of this album.
This album came out of nowhere and had no reason being as great as it was, definitely going to need to delve deeper in the discography after this gem. 4.5/5
Very nice discovery. Based on an 80s template sound but with a lot of life and creativity mixed in. Most tracks go on a bit long. 3.5.
Good punk album, tells a story through the tracks.
Reconheci um hit, mas a sequência não funcionou para mim.
Love The The. This isn’t my favourite album, not least cos of the 80sness of it, but it’s full of gems.
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.
Innovative and interesting
I feel like I should have enjoyed this a lot more. It's got a bunch of really interesting sounds, but yet something is missing for me. It's preventing me from really enjoying this album. 3.5/5
I remember being disappointed by this before, and it hasn't really improved with time. Three *classic* songs but the rest is pretty thin. Matt Johnson seems a good bloke and has written many great tunes over a long career but this album isn't the best.
I'm not sure whether I liked this one or not! The ones I knew I liked but some left little impression on me
I guess I quite liked this. It didn't excite me too much but it had some nice beats sounds and vocals
First time listening to this band - liked it nice clear vocals but billy bragg meets pop - more please
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.
Liked this a lot, something interesting going on with the drums, particularly on the last track. Nice past discovery.
It's got bowie vibes I don't mind it.
Never heard of the band, and the name sounds pretty dumb so I’m not psyched. It’s not weird, but very odd. It’s very much the weirder side of 80s synth music. Not bad, just strange. So far, I’m actually enjoying this much more than I thought I would. The lead singer’s voice isn’t great on its own, but with backup instruments it’s not bad. Pretty good overall. Fav Track: This Is the Day 3/5
No bueno
80s albums suffer badly in my rating. I love the era for pop singles. But, largely, the albums from the Human League to A-ha are unbearable. This however has guile, and certainly doesn't sound dated. I need to explore this guys body of work. well crafted songs with curiously intense lyrics. 4.
All the good things about 80s synth-electro-new wave-pop before they became a cliché. The The were a band that came a bit before my time, but their legacy and influence wears well on this album. This was a great listen. 3.5/5.