Reviews (page 7 of 8)
A great Scottish band from a movment that produced a lot of great bands. Edwin Collins is a premium songwriter. It’s lost a bit of verve since its release, mainly due to Collin’s stunning solo career - girl like you is one of the great singles of the rock era. But this has, surprisingly enough, lasted and held up.
I’d never heard this album before. I enjoyed the diversity of the content, particularly the tracks featuring drummer Zeke Manyika, notably A Million Pleading Faces & Hokoyo. The title track is also a winner. There’s no doubt this album must have been influential in the UK at the time. It certainly never gets boring.
I love Simon Reynold's book on post-punk, titled after this album/song. I get why this album was a breath of fresh air at the time, but I find the "funk" unconvincing. Too, too white boy, really. The African influences, courtesy of the drummer/songwriter Zeke Manyika are much more interesting to me (eg A Million Pleading Faces, Hokoyo, or the percussion breaks on Breakfast Time), and I wish there was a lot more of that. I find Edwyn Collin's voice just a little bit too ironic crooner for my taste. If it was a little bit faster, with a bit more layered percussion, this could have been more like Remain in Light. It has those moments (again, guitar solo on Breakfast Time, which is reminiscent of Adrian Belew or Robert Fripp) which I really like. But then he starts singing again, or they start playing terrible white boy funk.
Lots of different style made for an enjoyable album
Really cool sound. Worth another listen and more band exploration.
A smooth Duran Duran style. Nothing experimental, but a typical 80s sound. Fun, mood setting music for the backyard. Mid 3
2.5
Sounds like David Byrne doing a Morrissey impression, backed by Chic.
I'm not sure what part of this clicked with me so hard. It's not exactly like the reception is super positive. But I just found myself really enjoying this. It provides just the right balance of melodic guitar twang and funk to keep me engaged. Edwyn's voice caught me a little off guard at first, but I adjusted to it pretty quickly. There are just certain moments on this album I really like. For example, when the saxophone comes in on Rip It Up, I won't lie, I made the stank face the first time I heard it. It's okay to not like this. I'm sure there are better albums in the jangle/indie pop space, but from what I have listened to so far, this was a really fun and enjoyable album. Rating: 8/10
Glasgow's answer to Franco & OK Jazz. The bass and drums are the root of the funkiest sound on the Clyde while the two intertwined clean jangly guitars' rhythmic and melodic interplay bring a bright and breezy indie sound. Jazzy sax and keyboards are scattered across the album for a smooth easy going vibe. There's a distinct West African flavour in the harmonies and guitar parts, with the high-life style sweet major-3rd sounds, densley textured Rumba grooves, bongo fills, and cheesy keyboard/synth parts. This is most clear on 'Million Pleading Faces' and 'Hokoyo', which have an 80s Southern African pop meets Fela Kuti feel, but carries through the entire album. I imagine these are marmite vocals - but I like the off-kilter delivery and one-off style. Incredibly fun album. Favorites: Rip it Up, Louise Louise, Breakfast Time, Tenterhook
good album but nothing really outstanding. wouldnt mind if its playing so i like it
I actually enjoyed this alot more that I expected. Its slightly poppy slightly punky has some great brass in bits
It doesn't bode well from a 'does it deserve to be on the list?' perspective when an album's wikipedia entry is about 2 lines long. Nonetheless, it was an intriguing listen in the end and probably does offer something a bit unique, what with its blend of funk, indie, reggae, pop, African language tunes and Anohni/Hayden Thorpe-esque vibrato vocals, etcetera. It still sounds cohesive too.
Fun, totally 80's album First two songs are pretty good.
Damn funky I'd say. Wish this had a 10 point scale.
post-punk for ppl who didn't realize they liked post-punk
This feels like an album that music people really appreciate, but, I am not this person. Maybe if it appeared later in the list I would give it a higher rating? But it's very 80's, and honestly, forgettable.
This is an excellent album. At least if you want to demonstrate what is wrong with polished, inoffensive and boring New Wave from the 1980s. What's not to dislike on this album? It's not very long, I guess. I have no idea how it got to be on this list as even the critics (at the time and in retrospect) consider it mediocre.
Nice… the sound is trapped in an 80’s universe, and a bit dated. However quite fresh and solid production
I’m just not a fan of the 80s
Meh
Did not enjoy anything on here.
Some really great songs on this one. Enjoyed it a lot
Just like every typical 80’s album
Tried to listen to this before and it just doesn’t do much for me
never heard of them before really enjoyed this one
Never heard of this band. Reminds me of Talking Heads. Thought it was pretty good.
Never heard of these guys before. Singles: ------------------------ Rip it Up (UK #8) 2.5 Interesting sounds, I think I might be interested in this after hearing it more.
This is an underrated band and a slightly overrated drink
Die Bezeichnung der Band als Post-Punk ließ wieder Alarmglocken schrillen, ich konnte die Platte allerdings sogar mit ein paar angenehm überraschenden Momenten durchhören. Sie hat es mit ach und Krach über die Drei-Sterne-Hürde der Gernwiederhörbarkeit geschafft.
2.5/5
So many British new wave albums on this list. This one was better than most. Still rubbish. Kinda like a Dollar Store Talking Heads. I prefer their songs where the drummer is on vocals. Very funky.
Being Scottish and a fan of VU this ticks a lot of boxes for me. Already on my permanent rotation. But think there is a bit of a lull in the middle of the album, so doesn’t quiet get full marks from me.
It was alr
Rating: 6/10
I only knew Rip It Up on this awesome 80s album, and only that very peripherally. I really liked the funky Nile Rodgers- influenced energy on this thing. Just amazing. I could bop to this all day.
Talking Heads did "Rip it Up" and Queen did "This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us."
Aika iloisen kuulonen postpunk-levy. Piristävä. Tuli mieleen kasari Bowie ja Burnen jutut 3/5
Ihan hupaisaa menoa. Nautin yllättävänkin paljon, vaikka nämä post punk / new wave -levyt hieman kokee inflaatiota listalla.
Hieman tylsää poppis-lällyilyä.
Some good moments, but this was generally boring.
If this isn't the precursor to what would eventually become BritPop nonsense I don't know what is. This was just ok, pretty dated with horrid, nonserious singing. 4/10.
Rip It Up is such a great song, the rest of the album kind of pales in comparison with the exception of Hokoyo. Also Tenterhook is a great closer.
In general I like my post-punk to be gloomier, and my new wave to be more cinematic, so this doesn't quite do it for me. Bit too poppy and upbeat for my tastes, though I can appreciate what they're doing. I particularly liked the tracks that had an African infusion - made me check I was still listening to the same album! 😆 This grew on me a fair bit on second listening, so I'd probably score it 3.5 if that were an option... Fave track - "A Million Pleading Faces" and "Hokoyo" for sounding like they've come from a different album - one I'm more interested in! The title track is pretty good, too.
Today's album is by Scottish new wave/post punk band Orange Juice. I hadn't heard of them before today, but given the failure of every other Scottish band on this list so far to make a good album, I wasn't holding out hope that this would be any different. Orange Juice, however, turned out to be very different. Unlike the ungodly bleak and depressing drivel of all the other Scottish bands, these guys sound like Dollar Store David Bowie mixed with Talking Heads. There is also a few songs in which Zimbabwean drummer, Zeke Manyika, had a singing role (A Million Pleading Faces, Hokoyo). In these songs, I can hear influences from Fela Kuti. Overall, a surprisingly good album today. One I'd never have stumbled on on my own. I enjoyed it so much, I listened to it twice. Not much made it stand out from the droves of similar music that came out around the same time though. It was perfectly average. Favourite songs: A Million Pleading Faces, I Can't Help Myself, Flesh of My Flesh Least favourite songs: Mud In Your Eye 3/5
great bit of 80's pop.
si que suenan como el zumo de naranja
Cool juice
Very 80s and yet very modern. Really interesting percussion and guitars that don’t fit together at all, but it works. Deliciously collegiate and wholly unique.
really shockingly funky for a scottish band. has poppy lyrics, punky drums, and thundercat-esque bass. fundamentally strange, and yet every element feels necessary
1/5 Best: Rip It Up Worst: Louise Louise
Was excited to get into this as i love a bit of post-punk, but ends up being a lot less exciting and interesting than the usual albums i'd put on. The first track which was apparently the big single off it was pretty decent, and there was a couple tracks after that that reminded me a little of 'Remain in Light' by the Talking Heads with some afrobeat influence. Unfortunately those songs still aren't nearly as interesting as anything from that album, and the rest of the album, especially the slower cuts, don't leave much of an impression at all. There isn't really anything outright bad or annoying about the album, but there's nothing that makes me want to replay it again either.
4/5
Pop. Insulso.
Another surprise banger
Funkyyy
This was honestly great, it can drag a little at times but for the most part it’s solid, definitely too lowly rated by other users. 4/5
Nice enough but not for me
This sounds like it’s influenced by Bowie, The The, et al. I would have liked listening to this in the early 80s. These days it sounds dated.
“Rip it Up” is a pretty lame song to build an album around, even though the opening synth “bass-line” is promising, and cutting edge, apparently. They make other desperate attempts at pop hits, “I Can't Myself” being the most obvious. Edwin Collin's voice is thin and difficult to listen to. If you were to fast forward thirteen years, the deep voice he puts forward in “I never met a girl like you” is much more palatable. Now that was a song worthy of building an album around.
I agree with one of my esteemed co judges that Edward Collins' later material, eg A girl like you is far superior. But the title track here is a nice catchy number that was cute back in the day. I also hear a lot of Haircut 100 influences here. Once again the authors' Brit roots are showing as there are many more other albums that are far more worthy of inclusion.
The soft or even LA beach vibes kind of melodies go really well with Scottish accents. Very funky.
'80s British new wave. Complete with a terrible band name, synths, and annoying vocals. What else would I expect but crap lol.
Not really a fan. I couldn’t get a hold of what this was supposed to be. Although the songs had different styles and vocals I didn’t really connect to any of them. That said, it was never something I disliked.
I found this album quite boring to listen to. Not a fan of the vocal stylings of most of the track either.
When they started singing, I thought, "Oh god no." There's that whiney, alternative 80s voice that drives me bonkers. It wasn't all like that, but a lot of it was.
I liked this quirky and just a little bit strange album. It had some variety and surprising bits that I quite enjoyed.
Listened Before? No Interesting out of the gate with the title track. Dubbed out, sunny instrumental + synth line with vocals that remind me a lot of Hercules and Love Affair. This is dope. Love all of the guitar effects; funky splashes with echo laced injections. Though I can say, my ears did not love the little alarm clock like riff at ~2:55. Thankfully, some soulful saxophone came in to mend the wound quickly. A Million Pleading Faces sheds the laid back groove of Rip It Up for an accelerated 80s romp with slide guitar and some world music influences in the vocal (mic is handed over to their drummer from Zimbabwe) and hand percussion. Fine enough song if you can get past the specifically 80s cheese. Mud in Your Eye is a ballad of sorts. Tight composition with interesting vocal layering and progression. Really dig the jammy excursion at the closure of Breakfast Time. I can imagine this band would be fun to see live exploring their impulses. I Can't Help Myself is a fun one to tap along to. Really loved the closer Tenterhook. It felt like a nice way to ease out of this one. That was a refreshing listen start to finish. Great 80s production with plenty of influences of the time. Even still, it has modern appeal with some well-written songs and a ton of variation. I put this somewhere in the high 4 category for me. Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists: - Rip It Up (Sunny-vibes)
Apple juice
Classic pop tunes.
Errr not heard of before, i now know why.
Vapid.
I felt this was tedious. Not my bag at all. Standard four four drums and guitar and nothing to make it stand out to me. I imagine there a better band to see live in a dingy cellar club, but I wasn't there at the time. Maybe I'd have loved it.
Always thought that I'd like Orange Juice because of Edwyn Collins, but every time I try them I think, meh! I prefer apple juice anyway.
I don’t know how I feel about this. I think some of the songs were a little weird but not “offensive.” No large opinion on this one.
I'd never heard of these guys before but within a minute I'd weirdly recognized the voice (a quick search shows that Edwyn Collins was the singer; big mid-90s single that one had...). I dunno - weird mix of Chic and Style Council all blurred with a very soft brushstroke of Bryan Ferry and light Smiths (vocal and lyrical stylings)...? Not really my jam so to speak but at the same time it's kind of an enjoyable listen in a happy/"blue-eyed soul" kinda way - not sure I'll reach for this again but it sounds really good and it's well-done enough to give a nice mark. 6/10 3 stars.
It's really good! Joyful, jazzy, funky, bass-led poptastic music. It's Edwyn Collins singing, he's brilliant. I really enjoyed it. I thought the title track was by Talking Heads, and it does sound heavily influenced throughout. Four stars.
This album feels like a missing link between the Velvet Underground and the Smiths. One of the great early indie rock albums of the 80s. Equal parts post-punk and pop.
It's giving 80s: that's all I can say about this album, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE 80S! That aside I did enjoy some of the guitar licks and chord progressions but at the end of the day it sounded very of the era and hasn't aged very well at all. One of those mid albums which isn't bad but I wouldn't listen to again any time soon.
-first of all, orange juice is an awesome band name -you can tell this is an 80’s album, but not in a bad way at all -the sound is really fun!!!! i like the singers voice -favorites: turn away, i can’t help myself -i just love the funky sound going on here -loved the end of breakfast time -SAX AT THE END OF I CANT HELP MYSELFFFF
Gets 3 stars for the excellent title track alone. Rest of the album was quite derivative of Talking Heads style afrobeat fusion 80s new wave, but executes that solidly enough. Just not anything groundbreaking, but I'm a sucker for this type of music so I'm definitely not complaining. Will revisit.
Regae sounds from The 80s. I wonder if they were first with this sound or came out of the zeitgeist with the other same sounds from the uk at the time 5/10
Edwyn Collins tries so hard to sound like David Bowie. He doesn't have the master's chops. It's not terrible but it never rises above mediocrity.
Dracula’s moonlighting 80s Jamaican band.
I was expecting something more.
I started this album playing without looking at anything about it and knew exactly when it was from in the first few notes, and approximately where as soon as they started singing. I probably would have loved this record back in the day. Now I find it medium fun but also medium boring by the middle. 3.5
I went into this without doing any band research. I enjoyed this album right from the beginning. Groovy and full of 80’s rock/pop energy. The middle of the album changed its tone a bit. Gave the album a second listen. Easy listening but nothing special.
This is a very interesting album. It feels very experimental, and I definitely like their science. A Million Pleading Faces is a bop. Breakfast Time feels like it needs to be made into a terrible short horror movie. I bet Orange Juice had a lot of fun making this album. Feels like yet another 3.5 album, but I'm going to bump it up to 4 because it felt so unique. We are on a streak of good albums.
I saw punk in the description and was disappointed. But this album was far from normal punk. Pretty poppy and got me moving
Really like how the title track starts off! Funky surf rock. Really digging this. Getting major Talking Heads vibes. Picking just one genre to label this band as is hard. Especially with Breakfast Time having a reggae vibe to it. and then the sax in I Can't Help Myself! Xylophone goin nuts on Hokoyo. Overall very enjoyable listen and will be going back/exploring more OJ
A fun early 80s album to listen to
Another so-called post-punk album I had high hopes for that started off strong but quickly devolved into bland and repetitive guitar work. A few tracks with interesting melodic lines, but not nearly enough meat and potatoes to hold together an entire LP
Los conozco más por las camisetas de Morrissey y los que siguieron esa moda que por ellos mismos en sí. Tienen un aire entre XTC y Aztec Camera que no suena mal pero tampoco es que sea algo memorable. La canción prinicipal merece la pena "Rip it up". De lo que recordaba de haber oído no tenía recuerdo de ese tono "africano" de algunos temas. Esto son 2 estrellas y ya.
Really bad
early British indie rock actually pretty decent
Mostly pretty dull, not sure why this is on the list.
Very 80s
Seriously. What the hell is this? Total garage.
INT
I enjoy the genre and the idea of making punk rock less angry
One good song (Rip It Up), the rest very OK..ish. 2.5/5
À la fin des J.O le judo range
c'est moyen
80 Scottish post punk jangle funk pop. Borrows from Talking Heads. Cohesively holds together with good sonic range. Its also good fun. Drag a bit towards the end but wholesome stuff.
Started with a higher rating, but it got lower as the album progressed. This isn't really an album album.
Ahhh this takes me back. The single was a classic of clean 80's pop but not sure of the rest of the album? It's a bit hit and miss, not awful but generic.
I really enjoyed this - funky, dance sound with a really light feel to it.
My relationship with post-punk is usually quite linear - the further removed it is from simple, traditional, angry punk, the higher the probability of me enjoying it. This album is pretty far removed from typical punk and I quite enjoyed it - some songs more than others, however. There were also just a few tracks that were pretty difficult to listen to such as the reggae-inspired Hokoy, which I had to skip after a minute.
i can see how franz ferdinand cites this group as an influence. the title track was good, but after awhile it was 80s carribean influenced noise
Pretty fun, nothing groundbreaking but I enjoyed it quite a lot
Pretty good.
Well, I wasn't expecting that!! This album is an absolute joy.
This is a fun easy New Wavey listen. Not sure i would go back though. Side note: Rip It Up is a banger
Real cool
Sadly, beyond the CHIC influence, this one did little for me.
It was cool
The peculiar mix of 80s crap music and strong ethnic vibes.
Meh, new wave. Not offensive, not astounding
Hmm , love the upbeat positive nature - hate the main singers voice; seems like the type of posh twat you'd find at a party claiming he was slumming it by hanging out with you. Second tune switches it up a bit with African sensibilities however same criticism in that great upbeat music but don't get on with the singer. Overall 2
Soinnillisesti yhtenäinen.. ja samaan aikaan myös ei.. ollenkaan... Hirveä sotku tämä albumi... toisaalta kaikki tässä käy järkeen.. oma selkeä juttu pojjaat rakentanu.. Muuutama paskaksi paljastanut 80-luvun vimma ja hullutusäänet näkyy.. Mutta kun tämä kuitenkin omaa juttua selvästi ei mitään peruspopittelua..pojjaat tehny... Leveän kurkun.. munakurkuttelijan ääni.. haittaako.. basso... ei niinkään.. toisaalta...
I have never heard of this album or band. Unlike the Age of the Understatement by Last shadow puppets, this did not impress on the same level. First off I like the rhythm section. The drummer is really good with his world music polyrhythmic style. His song is easily my favorite. On to the lead singer, Edwyn Collins. If that name sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because he had a hit songs in the 90s called “A girl like you”. I just can’t get into his voice on this album. His voice just doesn’t gel with the music. This is the first album so far that leaves me pretty underwhelmed.
I've never heard of Orange Juice, and all of the tracks from Rip It Up were new to me. You can hear the punk-influenced early new wave sounds on this album. The opening track seemed like it was experimenting with some of the same electronic sounds as Blondie and other early eighties bands. There are reggae beats an jangley guitar rhythms that reminded me of Madness and other early new wave music from that time. The band and music were fine. I'd be down to hear more from the band, but nothing stood out enough to me on Rip It Up that might draw me back to re-listen to the whole album
meh
Nog nooit van deze band gehoord en ga 'm ook weer gauw vergeten.
Op zich wel vrolijkisch...
Best aardig.
Talking heads meets David Bowie. Best leuk.
Decent
I can see why some listeners could relate a couple of those tracks to the way Talking Heads used some funk or afrobeat influences on their own records around the same time, but I don't think Orange Juice hit the mark the way the 'Heads did. It's not bad, instrumentation-wise. But maybe the songs, hooks and choruses are still a little too lackluster to seal the deal. And, consequently, the end result comes off as cheesy, instead of arty. Besides, you need a lead singer with charisma and idiosyncratic skills to make it work. And whoever this lead singer is on such and such song, he is not exactly David Byrne. There are a lot of commonalities, with an emphasis on overaffected tricks. But Collins (and Ross) lack(s) the spark of genius and sheer craziness Byrne had. Number of albums left to review: 639 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 181 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 84 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 103 (including this one)
Good 80s album, but nothing special
very 80s
There was nothing special about this album to me.
Forgettable.
This album was good. It has the type of ‘80s sound I like (not the synthy type, although this album has good synths). I liked it.
This sounds dated, I wanted to like it but I can't get there!
Rip It Up - reminds me of Sixth Form and exploring these, Talking Heads, The Smiths, Haircut 100, The Cure etc all the first time. Never heard the entire album before and found nearly all of the songs had something going for them. Some more so than others. Very close to being 5 for me, but will stick with 4.
Orange juice ft. Sunday mornings, the stuff of dreams.
Very 80’s. Decent.
Kier Starmers favourite. Can see him now… Sot Rip it up A million pleading faces I can’t help myself 3/5
"Rip It Up" is the second album from Scottish post-punk/pop band Orange Juice. This album is more pop than their debut and had a hit single in the self-titled song. There are a few songs that still incorporate elements of new wave and post-punk. The band consisted of Edwyn Collins (vocals, guitar), Malcom Ross (guitar, keys, vocals), David McClymont (bass) and Zeke Manyika (drums, vocals). Hey, I do remember that girl song from Edwyn Collins in the 90's. The album begins with their only UK top ten hit in "Rip It Up." A jangly guitar and with the bass sounds a lot like Chic. How can you not sort of like a song that references The Buzzcock's "Boredom" He's struggling with why he would want to get back with his girlfriend. The second song "A Million Pleading Faces" is more post-punk and with a dance groove. The initial guitar sounds similar to Gang of Four. With the backing vocals and slide guitar, I now hear The Talking Heads. Two very good bands. "Turn Away" has an interesting guitar and with the keyboards is early 80's all the way....new wave. He doesn't want to see the girl hurt. Carribbean/tropical guitar opens "I Can't Help Myself." It's a well-craft pop song. Keyboard, guitar and sax bridges/solos. And a Four Tops' reference. He can't help himself from a girl. This guy does not appear to have had any stable relationships. Edwyn Collins is crooning on the album closer "Tenterhook." A slide guitar and violin. Alright, I hear a wee bit country influence. The song ends with a pretty cool guitar. There was really nothing offensive on this album and nothing really ground breaking. The first two songs are very good. I know a number of people who prefer their debut and third album. I might check those out.
Delicious!
Ooo I like this a lot! Never heard of Orange Juice before but the immediate similarity to Talking Heads has piqued my interest. It’s just got a cool and groovy vibe all its own and I’m obsessed. I love this album cover too! They look like a hip crew and I’d love to see them live in their heyday. Quality new discovery!
What a name Orange Juice is. Started well, then bored me after bit.
This was weirdly alright, seemed similar to Talking Heads at times. Mud in your eyes sort of reminded me of when the world falls down from the labyrinth. Can't knock the saxomaphone on can't help myself.
Decent start. Opening song I have saved for future listens. I really didn't know whether to put this as a 2 or 3 so I am going for a strong 2. It sounded unique at first but did sort of blend into one in the final 3rd. Still good though
Right up one's alley. Not as good as Style Council, better than Haircut 100, way better than the Blow Monkeys and way, way better than A-ha and other weak-ass soundalike rip-off artists that would come later. This feels both fresh and highly evocative of a time and place. Dynamic and vibrant indeed and subtle, resepectul homages (absolutely the best kinds) to various other genres all over the place. Quite good and quite good to know.
80-luku... 70-lukuesque tyylisellä instrumentaariumilla...The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. no ei vittu kai... hyvää settiä, paitsi laulajalla kalapuikkoa kurkussa... yskäseppä ulos... tears for fears ass lihakimpale jumissa kurkunpäässä... estää ehkäpä jopa vitosen heiton silimään ja micra juoksee vapaasti... jää neloseen, mikäs siellä oho ympyrä no laitetaas kolmoseen...heh...karkinmötikkää kielussa... opit sitten ensi kertaan a million pleading faces..
3.5
Barely a 3, but it was fun in some parts to listen to
Excellent melding of the Buzzcovk edge and the Velvets
Ouff! Ja, kul! Mycket funkigt sound som inte känns överdriven på det sättet funk ibland kan göra för mig. Visserligen är Orange Juice inte klassad som funk men jag tycker soundet känns som någon typ av funk i kombination med ett dansigt discosound. Något annat som är slående är att han som sjunger på de flesta låtarna låter bekant. Ibland tyckte jag att det fanns något Magnus CarlsonIGT över den, någon gång i typ låt 9 fick jag någon vibb av Seth McFarlanes Stewie Griffin röst, men i resten av albumet känner jag att det är väldigt mycket Morrissey i de ljud som sjungs ut ur mikrofonen. "Hokoyo" är namnet på den tidigare nämnda låten där jag tyckte mig höra Stewie Griffins röst, men det är inte bara i det avseendet den skiljer sig åt. Den primära sången hanteras primärt av trummisen (som också var med i låtskrivandet av just denna) på hans modersmål Shona. Inte albumets bästa låt men den hade något. Annars gillade jag nog "Rip It Up" och den lite mer fartfyllda "I Can't Help Myself" bäst. Bäst: "I Can't Help Myself"
Punk, but with a little more soul. Surprisingly, the mix sounded better than I thought it would. It was a nice twist to have 80s punk music that didn't sound too abrasive, but still had the foundations of the genre. This specific sound didn't seem to become too popular which is a shame, because it could've been improved upon more with this record as a basis. Meaning to say that while this was a good effort, the end result isn't quite there yet. At least we got several iterations in the form of new bands who were influenced by the sound. Standout track was the titular track.
The only reason I'd heard of this band before is that someone I knew when I lived in Chicago in the early 90s liked them. But that's it; had not listened to them. Listening to them now, decades after they recorded, it's pretty wild to hear how the blended seemingly incongruous styles without making it seem silly or mocking (whether they intended that, I have no idea -- just stating my experience of their music). I can hear some real talent in their writing and performing, too. Cool stuff!
funky but the singer ruined it for me
This was fun. I had never heard of this one, but I really like the opening track and there are a few other good songs on this album. Interesting Scottish post punk synthy 80s pop. A lot to like there! I don't think this will be going on my repeat list but I'd be happy to hear it again. 3.5 rounded up to 4/5.
eh, it was fine
Terribly boring.
Underwhelming. Although I had pretty low expectations anyway. It's pretty bland disco rock, there's nothing here that I'll ever deliberately listen to again. 1/5.
Of course it is correct to describe this as post punk. But it feels almost like the antithesis of punk, with melodic pegging, considered (if not necessarily complex) lyrics, and clear investment in post-prod. Which is to say, it doesn't feel like it has the cynicism that sometimes overwhelmed new wave and Brit-Synth of the same period. But doesn't cleave *that* closely to punk either.
Good UK 80s funk. Like Spandau Ballet crossed with Talking Heads and Aztec Camera.
Cette bande de petits merdeux a su redresser le niveau du générateur à un moment où il en avait grand besoin.
Ok c'est vrai cet album était sympa mais ne nous fait pas oublier qu'aucun 4/5 n'a été attribué depuis 13 albums. Où s'arretera la folie de Robert? Les multiples menaces de mon camarade d'écoute robbière ne semblent pas fonctionner.
baita sonzao, curti o rockzao 80tista
What a fascinating area of Post Punk that I have never heard before, or is it Art Rock, or is it New Wave, does it matter? I loved this album despite not really being the kind of 80's production that sometimes puts me off a little bit there's something very talking heads about it but also very Franz Ferdinand about it, if you told me blind it was an album by either of those two I'd probably have believed it. I'll definitely be revisiting this one many times, absolutely great stuff.
Not as well known as they should be but wow, I didn't realise how much of a template Orange Juice's sound was for the Smiths and a those C86 bands I love so much
I don't think I've ever listened to them before but this really checks the boxes on 80s post-punk for me. Cool angular guitars, laconic vocals and tight rhythm. It's a bit funky too!
Music from skinny white boys. Rip is up is brilliant. There are some decent enough tracks peppered through the rest of it, but I guess "who they are" is the key thing for this album.
Siendo una banda de unos pocos hits y con bastantes altibajos, Orange Juice supo llegar a las listas de éxitos en los 80's y cosechar éxito por su distintivo sonido el cuál abarcaba el post punk de una forma mucho más funk y bailable. Eso era algo que marcó diferencia con otras bandas y que hizo que trascendieran de solo unos pocos nichos. Originarios de Escocia y siendo su segundo álbum, fue el que los llevó hacia el más cercano éxito antes de su disolución en 1985. Si hay que adjudicarle a alguien este éxito, es a Edwin Collins, cantante principal y guitarrista de la banda que nunca bajó los brazos y mantuvo la agrupación ante la incesante cantidad de bajas que tuvieron a lo largo del tiempo que duraron activos. Los reemplazos de Malcom Ross en guitarra y Zeke Manyika en batería, le dieron una bocanada fresca a la banda, la cual aprovechó usando ideas de estos músicos en sus composiciones, las cuales aportaron dentro del disco. Es una escucha fresca y medianamente sencilla, la cual sirve para expandir las puertas del post punk y, abrir el abanico indie de ese momento, llegando a sonar frescos hasta el día de hoy.
Haven't heard this before. Kinda New Wave-ish, a bit bland and they don't have much of an edge to their sound. On the positive, it's easy to listen to and I can't say I didn't enjoy it, it's just that I don't care to know more about them or be bothered to hear more. Still, it's okay...
What I first noticed is the guitar's upbeat sound and catchy melodies. The album has a very playful and infectious energy. I don't really go with the lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, but it sounds cool along with the upbeat rhythms and catchy melodies, making it a joy to listen to. It's definitely not a type of music that fits my preferences but I can't say that its quality is bad. It has some unique music vision and the music, especially the upbeat guitar, shines through. It adds to the charm and authenticity of the album.
Some really interesting baselines. Vocals are good, don’t really like the jangly guitar style and tone. Decent album overall.
Don’t know how I’ve never heard of this but all kinds of mashup of early 80s…New Romantic, Devo, etc
Second time listening to this album, and I still really like it a lot. Still have A Million Pleading Faces and I Can't Help Myself as my favorite tracks
Enjoyable record with funny and catchy tracks and a quite good mood.
Totally new to me. I can see how this would've been a really unique synthesis of influences and sound at the time, but since then, others have done it better.
This is brilliant. Edwyn Collins in fine voice, lots of different styles which all work well and some cracking songs. Rip it Up is genius, obviously, with I Can't Help myself edging it out as best song.
A surprising connection having never heard of the band until today
Quirky 80s post punk with lots of energy. Bounces along nicely enough with funky baselines and discoesque guitar in places. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Date listened: 03/11/22
This was on the poppier side of post-punk. It is also very much of its time in that it liberally uses 80 synth and other sounds. This kind of takes me out of it a bit. Other post punk bands are also of their times of course, but there is a timelessness to an artist like the Smiths that is lacking here. The album is quite cohesive though and borrows a fair bit from Afrobeat as well.
Less palatable version of The Clash.
3.5
Oh this is a vibe. Have wanted to listen to them for a while. Happy to finally hear them. Can def hear the impact they’ve had on indie/popular music.
Some would say they have the juice 😎
Meh. It was fine. 2-3 stars. I see it as a cross between some rock and jazz but didnt do anything for me.
Vaguely familiar stylized 80s sounding stuff
Like it a lot more when it leans into the reggae/Caribbean sounds. Dislike it a bit more when it's *YET ANOTHER POST PUNK 80S ALBUM ON THIS LIST JFC*
Uneven might be the best adjective. Always a fan of the title track, it takes me back to 1982 UK, but some of what follows is fun and other tracks just seem like rambling muses on various subjects.
Meh. Not my bag. Didn't hate it though. Just sounded really repetitive. I'm not sure if they were the ones leading the new wave/synth pop scene or if they were just riding the wave. Extra points if they were the former.
Not bad, but not a fan.
this is the most 80s thing i have ever heard.
Really interesting, I thought for sure this was a newer band then I saw the year it came out. original hipsters.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: yeah it’s decent and has a fun warm sound, My have to come back to this in the future Favourite song: Track 1 - Rip it Up
Different unexpected
New wave Brit pop/punk/funk sounding a bit more indie experimental than their peers. Strong use of electronics to give themselves a distinct flavour
Fantastic album, enjoyed the rhythms, Melodie’s and singing.
If David Bowie had 50% less lyrics and 150% more sax.
Some really cool playing but it's just too emotionally aloof to make me feel anything. It's the kind of music I would appreciate if it happened to be playing live where I was, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again.
This one surprised me, a great mix of post punk and new wave, some of it sounding very 80s and some surprisingly more modern. Definitely going to listen again, and explore their other albums.
-A nice, kind of fun punk-ish album -I like some of the more fun instrument choices throughout, especially in "I Can't Help Myself" -Definitely straddling the line between 3 and 4 stars, but nothing really stood out as crazy good and really deserving of a relisten, but overall still fun.
Something about this album resonated with me. The lead singer's voice is a bit goofy and like Morrissey but I found it more charming and less annoying. Really enjoyable listen.
Just okay
I loved this album. It feels wrong to categorize this into any one genre because the styles were so variable from song to song. The jazz/ska vibes on I Can't Help Myself is what confirmed my love of this album. Favorite tracks: I Can't Help Myself, A Million Pleading Faces
This album was enjoyable from start to finish. Love the infusion of genres and every song felt extremely original. Fav track: I Can’t Help Myself
Sterile, which for a surgical theate would be a good thing, but this is supposedly music, not a medical facility. It is clearly a reaction to the anarchy of Punk, but it has absolutely no emotional content.
Didn’t love it 2/5
Not sure why this is on the list to be honest. Seemed like it was filler.
From the cover, I thought this would be early 80s new wave, potentially with a reggae infusion. It wasn't bad but was not memorable either.
Laid back and enjoyable
I quite like the 80s synth indie feel to it, but it never really takes off quite the way I hoped it would
What a great surprise.
Could be a 2 but point is I didn’t like it
Unremarkable
Not my favorite
2/5 best - rip it up worst - breakfast time
Standard 1980s pop, as seen on Top of the Pops week in, week out. Not special in any way.
Never heard of this band. I'm pretty happy with this album after a couple of listens. It's upbeat new wave stuff with a really catchy title track, some more brooding post-punk moments, and some curve-ball sounds like plasticky reggae and disco. The whole thing is quite bubbly and enjoyable but with an artistic touch and a vintage indie-pop sound. It's not competing with my favourite new wave or post-punk albums, but it's a strong showing in the 1980s Scottish indie category! 3.5, rounding up to 4.
Somehow, as average as the songwriting is, the random orchestration and sounds make it a better album.
Fairly standard New Wave without any highlights. If anything i found the music often to be cluttered and full with noises
Was quite excited for this one as I knew at least one song, butt actually found it quite dull. Sorry.
Slightly disappointing. I expect so much of OJ based on the excellent singles on here.I also really enjoyed the Highlife-y second track and the one that sounds like Josef K, but this album seems to lurch from style to style and the production of each song sounds different. And none are as polished as the two singles on here (which are two of the greatest pop songs ever created). So 3/5 for the two singles, but this is a very inconsistent collection of songs.
I love the innocence of this album. The medium really is the message with Rip It Up; just start something new... It could almost be Nile Rodgers on production for some of the tracks. The rhythms are so strong. Add in Edwyn's almost crooning like vocals and you get a very, very decent album.
One hit wonder. I always felt his voice was taking the Micky. I’m convinced after listening to this record
Not my taste
They call themselves Orange Juice, but this aged like milk.
Quite varied songs, some really nice ones notably 'I Can't Help Myself' and 'Flesh of my Flesh'. Mostly poppy, some reggae influence. Overall nice, easy to listen album.
2, ok
Best Song: A Million Pleading Faces. Funky, dancey, beautifully layered vocals... I can get behind this. Worst Song: Mud in your Eyes. Whiplash from how awful the vibe and vocals are here relative to the dance bomb of the previous track. This song never had a chance. Overall: If the whole album was composed of those upbeat dance numbers, I'd have instantly loved it. Unfortunately, the fun songs are the minority here, poking out of an otherwise stock-standard set of predictable 80s rock.
This album sounds like paint drying
Not the worst, a good smorgasbord of stuff, but not overtly bad, light 3
Not a fan
kind of a col mix of Bowie and Talking Heads. Breakfast Time sucks. Yea I am not into this by Flesh Of My Flesh.
I feel like I want to hang out with them
Flesh of my Flesh the only familiar tune to me on this (I think my brother put it on a mix tape he gave me many, many years back - so many it was on an actual tape). They have a unique sound, and generally I like dot, though the vocals seemed over affected. Clever lyrics.
Started strong with the title track, but they lost me in the back half with the 80s sax
Scottish indie is separated from both other British indie and other Scottish art by its whimsy, its gentility and its poppiness. Whereas indie from the rest of the British Isles dabbles with sweetness and light, it doesn't supress its tendencies to morosity and rock for long. And if Scottish literature has one distinctive theme, it's guilt, be it personal, communal or ancestral: from Macbeth quaking before the visage of a dagger (even though Shakespeare was English) through various justified sinners and Jekylls and Hydes, to Renton and his pals' quest for oblivion, the Scottish protagonist never ceases to loathe themselves for the crime of simply being alive and Scottish. Scottish indie, however, has embraced both warmth and humour, and frequently sought pointers from straight-up pop. Look at The Jesus and Mary Chain incorporating girl-group melodies within their wall of noise, the enshrining of jangly guitars with the Scottish C86 bands, Teenage Fanclub's championing of Big Star and the Beach Boys, Belle & Sebastian dismissing grunge with an effete handwave, and Franz Ferdinand declaring that they wanted to make music for girls to dance to. If you're looking for a group that established this Scottish lighthearted, openhearted ethos, the one that makes most sense is Orange Juice. Orange Juice were your standard art-school band formed in the wake of punk. However, they reacted against the perceived dourness and melancholy of many post-punk bands (making them post-post-punk?) whilst retaining the movement's heterogenity and intelligence. The provocative wannabe impresario Alan Horne founded Postcard Records as a vehicle for Orange Juice and (the much more angst-ridden) Josef K; the tagline for Postcard Records was "The Sound of Young Scotland", an affectionate distortion of Motown's "The Sound of Young America", and as clear an indicator as any of Orange Juice's embrace of effervescence. Also note that Orange Juice were one of the most clean-cut, well-behaved bands of the time, eschewing alcohol (hence the bandname) and most drugs (though sometimes partaking in the mod/punk staple of amphetamine, funnily enough). With this, their second album, the line-up had changed substantially, after leader Edwyn Collins left the original drummer and guitarist. (the next drummer, Zeke Manila, was Zimbabwean, and two of the songs are sung in Shona). With this new line-up, Orange Juice hurtled in an even poppier direction, overtly referencing the Four Tops and, in the common post-punk ambition, marrying the Buzzcocks with Chic. And I like it a lot. The title song not only gave us the definitive post-punk slogan, but also provided one of the wryest takes on unrequited desire in the indie canon. Edwyn Collins proves himself one of the great articulators of adolescent hesitancy, turning wimpiness into, if not quite an admirable trait, then a charming, completely human feature of the everyteen (it's only a shuffle from Edwyn's croon to Morrissey's yodelling). Wonderful moments stud the album, such as the innocent piano motif on Flesh of My Flesh, which is then taken up by the saxophone (yes, saxophone). That said, the album warrants those two dread phrases, "rewards repeated listenings" and "the whole is greater thann the sum of its parts". Initially, you may well find the deliberate smoothness ungripping, and certain songs may seem disposable. But if you find the aesthetic intriguing and perhaps a little racy in its own way, then some Orange Juice should slip down satisfyingly. Orange Juice, like so many Scottish indie bands, provide Scotland with its much-needed sunlight and vitamin C.
Absolutely cracking.
Seamless transitions Reminds me of Sing Street (it has a certain kind of umph to it) It has great instrumentation and vocals
There's not a single Tool album on this list and yet I have to continuously listen to this garbage and garbage like it.
What even is this? It's like Talking Heads but with less whimsy?
easy listening, but cant see myself going back
2/5
Muito bom.
Some interesting variations on the eighties pop sound, but let's be realistic: it's yet another obscure participant in this curated list.
Estuvo ok.
It's an 80s album and definitely sounds like an 80s album. Nothing was really memorable about it. I cannot really recall a song that needs to be listened to again. Not quite a 3 but I will round up.
Never heard of these guys, but quite enjoyed this
Makes me happy, great to listen to on a rainy day
Overall I liked it; quite a bit actually. Has a "General Public" /"English Beat" feel to it. Found "Mud in Your Eye" to be intoxicating. Last half of album fell off, but overall was fun. B-
Typical 80’s was ok
Rip it Up was a very catchy beat. In fact all the songs have a great toe tapping essence to them. Hokoyo was fun too!
While the beats were fun to listen to, the minute the singer started going I skipped. Did not like his voice and it made the songs hard to hear.
Yet another float in the parade of '80s alt rock bands, leaving not much of an impression. The album opened and closed with great tracks, but everything in between those bookends ran together. Makes me think of those Mad Magazine pictures where you fold to make the ends meet and skip what's in the middle to make a new picture. I'd rather do that than rip it up. Favorite tracks: Rip It Up, Tenterhook. Album art: Very precocious band photo. Very cool if this band did in fact have a black drummer. Album art isn't very memorable though. 2.5/5
Total garbage
Interesting mix of white boy groove and african stuff - must have been very interesting in the early 80s. Nothing to get too excited about though
I started off suspicious, but there were good bones in there. Collins' voice sometimes drove me crazy, but I liked a lot of what they were doing musically.
Nice
Geinige 80s pop muziek met voor mijn gevoel wat Jamaicaanse invloeden. Doet me vooral aan Level 42 denken. Helaas kunnen geen van de nummers van dit album mij echt boeien.
Lots of interesting elements!
Pretty good
C'est fou ce que ça me fait penser à du Bowie des années 80 et même un peu fin 70.
Les guitares sont intéressantes, particulièrement le solo à la fin de Breakfast Time. Par contre pas fans des éléments disco et du son du drum.
Joyous. I love it.
7/10 solid british pop rock, i really liked the guitar work, but nothing to write home about
6/10. Eh, alright
Shout out to the horns on this album. 7/10
This album started out really good, but it feels a bit samey by the end. Overall I think that it's worth a listen, hence 4 stars, but it's definitely on the low end of 4 stars for me. There are a lot of hidden gems in the postpunk genre, and I think this is one of them
I'm not claustrophobic and don't mind confined spaces, but if I was stuck on an elevator for 42 minutes and 31 seconds with Rick Astley, Gloria Estefan, David Byrne and smooth jazz, I wouldn't be happy. If that elevator sounds like you're kind of party, you're going to love this. You can begin with the song "Flesh of My Flesh." I'll take the steps.
I didn't know it was possible to take the type of voice I dislike most about a certain vein of UK post-punk and pair it with music that makes it even worse. But Orange Juice has managed to do that. This orange juice is definitely not freshly squeezed - probably that weird from concentrate stuff. Annoying disco horns, completely ill-fitting reggaeton drums... OJ just kept impressing me with the horrid depths they dredged. The African-influenced songs where Zeke Manyika took the lead were strange departures as well as the most tolerable/interesting things on the album, but those were also poisoned by the concentrate. I thought orange juice was good as long as there was no Pulp, but it turns out all OJ-inspired bands suck. According to what some random Wikipedia-empowered internet marauder wrote, Orange Juice "became perhaps the most important band in the Scottish independent music scene that emerged in the post-punk era." I had no idea the Scottish independent music scene in the early 80s sucked so much. But it turns out their competition was the Cocteau Twins and The Blue Nile, so things are making a lot more sense now. In some other web rando's blog post were the 20 best Scottish bands of the 80s, but I hadn't heard of any of them before embarking on the 1001. (Side note: post-punk is a ridiculous genre that is overly broad and contains an absurdly wide variety of sounds and styles.) I don't know what it was about Hadrian's Wall that acted as a impenetrable force field for good music. Fortunately, the barrier seems to have been broken, with much better stuff coming out of Scotland these days. Thank you Chvrches (and others), for saving the musical reputation of your nation. I would encourage Orange Juice to take their own advice and "rip it up and start again." Or maybe stop at just ripping it up.
New wave is just not my jam. I did wonder why Edwyn Collins (A Girl Like You) was stuck in my head and then I read that he is the vocalist and it made sense. He has a very distinct way of singing that really doesn't work for me. The best track was A Million Pleading Faces which sounded nothing like the rest of the album. One extra star for the drums and flugelhorn (you don't hear a lot of flugelhorn in pop music).
Really hated the vocals
This album sounds like the soundtrack to a 1980s nerds coming of age spoof film. I’ve never quite heard anything like this. It wasn’t overly offensive, but it certainly wasn’t good either. The only appeal, which is the slightest amount, is in observing how weird it could get.
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Rip It Up, Mud in Your Eye, I Can't Help Myself, Louise Louise Cutting Edge: Turn Away, Flesh of My Flesh Overall Notes: Fun little new wave album. Reminds me of Haircut 100 or a poppier Talking Heads.
That was 40 minutes of a band with a major identity crisis. They sounded so much like so many different bands that I found myself wondering why I was listening to these guys at all.
I didn't hate it but just found it very boring. Rip It Up was ok to start with but eventually was waiting for it to end. Vocals were annoying and the music itself is meh. I like 80s music a lot but this wasn't for me.
Fresh squeezed juice right here. This was super cool, I absolutely loved it. Feels like it was the start of something new.
It was good, and the dub elements were something else. But I think the singer struck me as a little hard to listen to, especially near the end.
the glossy remodel of Orange Juice - shimmering with funky guitars and squelchy basslines
Huh. Kind of a funky album but I liked it fairly well. Some classic 80s sound that makes it a very cheerful synth/guitar album with calm jams. The perfect album for making breakfast on a lazy Sunday, as far as I'm concerned. Fave track: Louise Louise. Not objectively the best track musically on the album but I'm a sucker for a sweet little love song. Even though it seems like a bit of a toxic/complicated love song at that.
I trip up trying to work out where this album fits, a fair bit of Bowie influence I reckon. A weird and forgettable
OK
3/5, mehh
Scottish band! The album just kind of made me want to listen to Talking Heads instead, but I found joy in several songs here. Mainly the ones with contributions from Zeke Manyika. Found out Kate Bush had him contribute drums to Running Up That Hill. Even though his track didn't make it to the final version, that's still pretty cool.
New wave. Ni fu ni fa.
Chulo. Me recuerda a Bowie oscuro.
What IS this Morrissey splatfunk goofiness?! How'd THIS ONE make the list????
Nice discoverment, metronomy of the 80´s
1 I'm not too fond of that weird deep lispy sound of the voice of so many artists during the 80s. 2. "Mud In Your Eyes" saves it from being a 1 Ok 3, this is getting better
singer sounds like he's doing a bad bowie impression
Pretty ok - like a bargain bin Roxy music, or Specials or David Byrne
Really groovy 80's tunes. Sounds like Bowie.
Here I thought I knew reasonably everything about 80’s British white new wave ska. There’s already UB40 and Fine Young Cannibals, etc. covering that blursed niche. Taken on its own merit this record is inoffensive and wholesome, but if I focus and think about it at all it’s nauseating.
Cansativo, não empolga como punk e o nem com a pegada de ska.
This reminded me so much of a late 80s soundtrack for a movie involving a Weekend at Bernie’s type of plot. Why? I have absolutely no clue 🤷🏾♂️ When they kept it peppy and upbeat, I really enjoyed it. But when they slowed it down, the vocals killed me. Like slowly and painfully.
Resounds like the background music to an 80s movie—like, not the soundtrack part but the background prom music to a second-rate movie. Lot of trumpet/flugal horn. Love the 80s, but not this 80s.
Love it. Jangly, weird, inconsistent!
Such a strange amalgam of genres but this really worked for me
Boring
Rip It Up by Orange Juice (1982) More British yawn pop, this time from Scotland (not generally known for the export of orange juice), this album is so-so, if kinda cute. Squeezable, even. With all the pulp filtered out. Our thirst is quenched by cool and splashy dance beats, dripping with lively bass lines and quirky guitar effects, with fay lead vocal stylings and harmonies stirred in. Musically, it’s altogether goofy, but with plenty of variety. Perfect for a teen party with nothing serious going on. The leading title track is really the only song of note. The one attempt at social/cultural engagement “See How Hard They Cry” is spoiled by the frolicsome mood and silly effects. The same incommensurability applies for every attempt on this record to treat serious themes. Listening to guys in their mid-twenties singing “How I wish I was young again” (“Breakfast Time”) is adorable. They’re so precious at that age. What this album needs is citric acid: less sweet, more tart. And maybe a shot of vodka. 2/5
Never heard of Orange Juice before, though I did know Edwyn Collins. There are a few nice tracks, but I don't think I'll be listening to this again soon.
Bon album. Nice mélange de pop british/new wave et rock.