Reviews (page 8 of 8)
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
Couldnt listen to all of it, I just hear that dodgy 80s sound and want to kill myself
Nah. jangly 80s pop. lacks any energy that I can tap into, just hollow 80s crap.
Don’t like it
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
Me no like
Syntikalla oli kiva leikkiä, ja pian artisti huomasi, että levy oli syntynyt kuin itsestään. Siltä se myös kuulosti.
I literally can’t listen to another British post-punk/synth pop album. Why are there so many on here?? 😩 They all sound so similar and they’re just annoying. I swear it’s the same guy singing in all the bands because all the lead singers sound exactly the same. I don’t see how this one stands out from any of the other 25+ British post punk/synth pop albums on here and I’m just so confused as to why I should listen to every.single.one before I die 😭
I can tell these people are weird and I wouldn’t be friends with them. Couldn’t finish the album. Wanted to quit on the first song but made it half way.
Spoken word style vocals over British synth pop is never gonna win me over.
This one was a slog to get through; so many of the songs sounded similar.
If the purpose of this list is to expose folks to a broad spectrum of all kinds of music, then I see no reason for the high concentration of British synth-pop. If it’s to showcase examples of the best in many genres, then I really don’t know why this album is on it. Regardless, I didn’t want to hear this album, and hope I never hear it again. Or, really, any other Brit synth pop garbage.
This is horrid and listening to it makes me angry
really did not like this album i’m not sure why it just wasn’t clicking with me. the singers voice is annoying idfk. i’ve heard better things tbh that was just ass.
I don’t get it
Boring.
Oh boy, more br*tish synth-pop, I'm sure this will be a revelation... This wasn't completely awful, but it was super goofy. Singer sounds like he was a total dickhead, of course he would go on to write "Infected." The 1980's was a mistake.
First song feels like 80s Halloween and I’m not here for it. They really aren’t seeming to want to depart from this whole 80s Halloween theme. Why the frickin accordion and organ. Whyyyyy… Nah okay I figured it out this is what this is: this is what people call “meaningful” and “artistic” because it’s some British dude “singing” weird creepy lyrics in an overly edgy way over some minimalistic poop beat. But because it’s British and weird and edgy it’s “art”. Nah this is crap.
nope for punk rock
Meh
Hat mich gar nicht abgeholt
Bad 80s 1/5
Meh
me no like
Another completely overrated album whose presence on the list baffles. A merely ordinary new wave band with typical new wave vocals. Meh.
A terrible vocalist and not a single hook to be found. I don’t feel it needs to be taking up a spot on this list at all. I found the last song somewhat catchy but then I realized it’s because he stole the bass line from “Louie Louie”. Was going to give this a 2 until I got to the drum part of “Giant”, a 10 minute song. Now you get a 1, jerk.
Too experimental. 1/5
1. tomorrouu - 0 2. day - 1 3. feeling - 1 4. zmile - 1 5. tuuilight - 1 6. mining - 0 7. giant - 0
What I am learning is that having many lyrics about many things is fun, but doesn’t necessarily make a good “album”
Good band of the early 80’s. Comparisons to other 80’s bands,
80's techno/synthesizer garbage.
God the 80s in Britain must’ve been awful. All the music is just mopey whiney shit
Hate pretty much everything about it. Vocals are creepy. Gave Buffalo Bill vibes from Silence of the Lambs
Reminds me of everything from that era that sucked and sounds the same. The drum machine work does not wear well over time, it’s as exciting as a Rumba cleaning the floor but with less fun. The album is soulless and un-musical. Matt Johnson’s vocals are meandering and at times sort of tuneless. I won’t be revisiting this album, ever.
nothing memorable
Really Bad album, wanted to skip so many songs.
Nepáči sa mi to
When I started this I thought there would be more then utter crap everyday I have heard 3 albums generally worth listening too the rest is just crap like this who is even picking these
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
Not for me .
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
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.
Bad 80s.
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.
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.
post-punk sucks
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
Nah
i hate this.
I was not a fan of this album.
No bueno
The The's Soul Mining is a strange combination of 80s punk, synth and weirdly reggae-like in parts. It feels too convoluted and all over the place for me. Not a fan. Best: Soul Mining Worst: This Is The Day
Not for me this one.
boring and sad.
bored now.
Näin jälkeen ku muistelen et mikäs tää ees olikaan, nii ainoastaan muistan ajatelleeni yhtä tähteä
It's music of the 80's but I don't like very much. I prefer rock'n'roll.
Barely got into it. Was not good
not for me. too british, too pop. couple of decent songs
I hate this album. The least worst track is Uncertain Smile.
awful
Meh
can't deal with this '80s stuff, not feeling it at all.
a bit too sweet (heh) for my altrock tastes but no other album makes me want to drive with the rooftop down through a desert highway with guy fieri by my side.