Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Excellent
yoooo I liked this way more than I expected. I’ve heard Come On Eileen 5000 times before at bars and have fond cocaine come up memories on makeshift dance floors that come back when I hear it. there’s a bunch of great songs on here — well played and well captured with a fair share of thrilling and earnest moments. I’m not familiar with any of the rest of their music but this has me intrigued.
Classsic
They’re not a one hit wonder
Det rycker i benen! Vit soul kan vara så fantastisk. Här möter en new wave/indie-feeling, soulens sväng. Klar femma!
Amazing, 10/10
BRILLIANT! A masterpiece & classic.
Unhinged sincerity sprinting directly at joy. Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: This album is pure emotional momentum. Earnest, frantic, and weirdly beautiful, like someone yelling their feelings while running full speed. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. Favorite Track: Come On Eileen — overplayed, sure, but that tempo shift still feels like a small miracle.
Awesome memories of junior high school, a very important album for me!
I’ve never listened to this band before. I’ve heard ‘Come on Ailine’ played at weddings and thought it was good fun so I can’t wait to jig along to this in my kitchen later.
775. Hér segir Homer, "Well, you haven't heard the last of them" um Dexys Midnight Runners, sem varð þó raunin. (https://youtu.be/rpy0U0rDfdY?si=fCxF47S_sq1bcnEB&t=54) Hafandi heyrt þessa plötu og þá sem kom á eftir verð ég að segja að það er óskiljanlegt að þetta frábæra band hafi bara orðið einssmells undur. Ég elska þetta.
7 of the songs were not available to hear in the US.
Really enjoyed this - sort of a cross between Van Morrison and 80s David Bowie. I'd always thought of them as just the 'Come on Eileen' band, and that they were a one-hit wonder, but they've got a lot of verve and style going on here, if not a ton of memorable songs. Still, Come On Eileen is great and the horns really work throughout the album. Will be listening again.
Bit of a Bruce, Costello vibe with some Irish flair. There is some Costello crossover in producer and horn section. First thought was these guys sound like an earlier and happier version of the band Okkervil River - Stage Names is a fun album.
Great album. Cohesive whole but great individual tracks.
Massively under-rated. Two classic pop singles and a deft melding of soul and folk. Masterful.
Ladies and gentlemen. Perfection. You'll hum this song forever. Too Rye fucking Aye, Kev.
bello bello bello
5/5 - a no skip album. Just banger after banger. Absolutely loved it!!!
Today’s album is one I’ve always wanted to hear: Too Rye Ay by Dexys Midnight Runners. One of my first impressions was just how good Kevin Rowland’s vocals are. He has a brilliant tone and delivers every line with real passion and drama. I also loved the instrumental sections on the B-side – they add so much texture and variety. The record spans so many genres—New Wave, ska, folk—and somehow blends them seamlessly. It’s fun, upbeat, and full of energy from start to finish. I really enjoyed this listen and will definitely be returning to it. Favourite track: Come On Eileen is a classic, of course—an iconic dancefloor filler. But I enjoyed plenty of other songs just as much, including Show Me and Dubious. A brand new discovery for me was Let’s Make This Precious, which I loved right from the start and will be playing on repeat. There are so many strong tracks here. Least favourite track: Honestly, every song was worth a listen and brought something enjoyable. Album artwork: A fantastic cover that perfectly suits the band’s style.
A The Celtic Soul Brothers 4 Let's Make This Precious 5 All In All (This One Last Wild Waltz) 4 Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile) 3 Old 5 Plan B 5 I'll Show You 5 Liars A To E 4 Until I Believe In My Soul 4 Come On Eileen 5 I truly love Dexys and I think they may be the most underrated band of all time. Having said that, their sound is kind of niche, so it’s possible they made music that only resonates with a certain crowd. Either way, I wish they had more praise since people consider them a one hit wonder.
Great album, horns, pop but avant garde. Interesting and weird but nourishing. What’s not to love?
Reminds me of the south side Dubious goes too hard Love a little van Sucker for a string section
go on then have five stars. holy nostalgic
Perfect! Come On Eileen is a masterpiece!
a classic, but a pleasure to properly listen to it again, as a whole album
A very surprisingly good album. Awesome hooks, especially love the riff in the opening track. The use of horns and fiddle is just awesome. And we got the superhit "Come On Eileen" to wrap it all up. Wow. What a treat. Didn't need THREE from these guys though, 2 is fine but 3?
This album is by far the best of the three these guys have on this list. It's the best of their pub style rock/ folk with a lot of really fun songs. Obviously Come On Eileen, but Let's Make This Precious, Old, T.S.O.P., and Reminisce are all great. Is it the best music on this list? Not by a long shot. But it has a charm and style that stands out against a lot of these other early 80s groups.
Weird voice but I loved it
This made me smile and bob my head in approval.
Lots of fun and I really like this guy's voice. Kind of reminds me of some of the happier songs by the cure!
The Good: We’ve got Too Rye Ay! The Bad: We don’t know if that is hootch… The Ugly: Finding out that midnight runner is slang for skid-marks… Damn, here I thought that these guys were nothing but a bunch of weirdos who, somehow, managed to pen one good number, which turned them into the the one-hit-wonder we all know… And then you listen to the album and you wonder why realize that, like it or not, image is everything. I don’t want to call this album a hidden gem, and I don’t know if I would have appreciated it back when it came out, however, I’m about the spin this disc (figuratively) for the fourth time, because I’m really enjoying it… Does this merit a 5*? It kind of does, even though I understand that this album is not worth 5*… 4 1/2* for sure… Too Rye Ay!!!!
This has been one of my biggest surprises. “Come On Eileen” is a banger for all time, but I did not really have high hopes for the entire album. I was definitely glad to be proven wrong! This album is full of stellar tracks. “The Celtic Soul Brothers,” “Liars A To E,” “Until I Believe In My Soul,” and “Come On Eileen” are the standouts, as is “Jackie Wilson Said,” which might be better than Van Morrison’s original. I’m not sure if Dexys Midnight Runners are considered ska, but this album definitely had some ska vibes and made me think how underrepresented that genre is on this list. I know they’re considered a one hit wonder, but they definitely shouldn’t be, and this album is very worthy of its place on this list.
Albums like this make me wish the British had squashed the American revolution
Memory’s a fickle thing. But as cruel as posterity has been to Dexys – who had at least a couple of hits in the U.K. – it’s also true that you can only be a one hit wonder for as long as you’re remembered. Better a one hit wonder than a never was. In its way, it’s a poetic irony that a band who managed to put out so timeless a party hit as “Come on Eileen” should have done so as part of an album that sounds so totally not of its time. “Too Rye Ay” is significantly more sophisticated, assured and complete than you’d be forgiven for thinking it should be. Not only does their inimitable mix of Celtic folk, blue-eyed soul and skiffle actually work (seriously, did anyone ever even try to imitate it?) … it manages to move the listener through a full range of emotions. There’s whimsy (“Let’s make this precious”) and ecstatic joy (their cover of Van Morrison’s “Jack Wilson says…”); triumphant table dancing (“Come on Eileen”) and measured introspection (“Liars A to E”). And then there’s the textured delicacy of “All in all (This one last wild waltz)”, a 3/4 (what else?) swagger of jagged gentleness and heart-rending harmonies that had me wondering if Messers Morrissey and Marr weren’t themselves early fans of DMR. In short, there’s far, far more to this whole thing than the “one hit wonder” tag could ever begin to communicate. It’s an injustice that prompts in me a sort of melancholy that no volume of dungarees – the happiest of all garments – could ever quite fully disabuse me of. And speaking of those jolly dungarees … it strikes me now – reflecting on how it is that things steadily recede from the collective memory memory – that, one day, “Come on Eileen” will be played at its last wedding. The strings will for a last time dizzy; the chorus will stand up tall and puff out and beat its chest; the middle eight will drop the pace, build it up again toward one final crescendo. And at that point, we’ll have just the object oriented ontologists (whose general position on music and memory I’d love to see articulated through the concept of ‘one hit wonders’) to debate whether it’s still, ever was, or forever could be a hit. Or, as is more likely, we will stop hearing “Come on Eileen” only when the sun swallows us all up completely. Anyone complaining about it can, frankly, get stuffed. Because in that moment – as with every other one – it will have meant everything.
Maybe it was the drive through the mountains with the windows down, maybe it’s the fact that “Come on Eileen” is a certified bop, but I loved this album. Fun mix of styles and sounds. At times they sounded like Queen, at times The Darkness, but the whole album was just fun. I even enjoyed the bonus tracks. That Jackie Wilson song was great, the backup singers on Liars A to E were terrific, the horns throughout the album were great too!
Few things in this world are truly original, but this combo of R&B, Irish folk music, amateur dramatics and leftover punk edge seems close. Starts and ends with big pop bangers and has a couple in between. The rest is strange meandering stuff from somewhere between Lloyd Webber, Van Morrison and whatever was playing at the local skinhead and soul boy discos. The band were tighter than a gnat’s chuff at this point with a new impassioned fiddler, hell for leather brass section and vaudeville piano, and Kevin had genuine soul in his voice. I love that something completely out of step with any contemporary trends or fashion can still take you straight back to a past era. It’s a wonderful thing.
Brilliant
Incredibly unique vocals paired with outstanding backing musicians makes a fantastic listen. 10/10
A real ringer on this list for me, just love it. Unique, incredible tunes, a medley to rival Abbey Road and one of the biggest hits of the '80s tossed on at the end. What's not to love?
This was fun. I wish I'd listened to more of them sooner.
This album just made my soul happy, I can’t describe it in any other way. Then the all time banger came on and now I’m over the moon. Great album, that was able to evoke emotion out of me!
Magic.
Loved it but still need to finish
No es solo Come on Eileen, que también, sino el conjunto de perfectas canciones de celtic soul que componen el disco. Desde la vibrante inicial The Celtic Soul Brothers te das cuenta de que se trata de un grupo y un álbum especial. Lo tenína todo para triunfar, lo hicieron y luego se la pegaron de un modo único e irrepetible.
With their second album, Dexys showed that they can keep their blue eyed soul style but give it a radical twist by incorporating violins and more of a gypsy jazz sound combined with Americana and more folk. Don't just try to get Eileen on the dancefloor but listen to all those other tracks. I liked this one as much as the first album.
I've had some less than impressive albums lately which has kinda disillusioned me to this whole process. As it stands currently, I am 10 reviews behind 156 reviewed of 166 generated, but seeing this come up did cheer me up and I just had to listen immediately. Love Dexys, and this album is excellent.
Sehr cooles Album!
great Celtic/folk/pop album, played this a lot when it came out - the 2022 "As It Should Have Sounded" version is tremendous.
queen, but straight. one of the greatest albums finds ever, I'm absolutely I'm live with it. doesn't miss throughout the whole album, had stand out tracks all over, great use of instruments, a lot of fun. 10/10
Actually loved this. Not some historic album or anything, just really fun. Also a sucker for a good horn section.
I danced to 'Come On Eileen' at the afterparty of my 'other' daughter's wedding so I am extremely biased in my love for this album. Out of 1001, I vote we all get to rate one a 5 for strictly sentimental reasons.
4.5 - Wow, I thought I was gonna just wait for come on eileen and just fell in love with the whole album. I once heard them on Jools Holland and thought they were pretty off, but this is not how I remember them
Fun
COME ON EILEEN 9/10 PALOO ️🔥️🔥️🔥️🔥️🔥
I enjoy new wave and I do love ‘Come on Eileen’ even though I’ve heard it a million times.. but this album was full of other great and fun songs. Prominent horn section throughout, I’m curious is this was part of an early ska scene. Unashamed 5/5 from me, really nice listen
This album is most known for Come On Eileen but it's so much more than just one song. It's a trip through Celtic soul and pop from the morning track until the end other highlights include Celtic Soul Brothers, Old, Plan B, Liars A To E, Until I Believe In My Soul, the excellent cover of Jackie Wilson Said & of course Come On Eileen is an absolute banger.
The cover of this album made me think the music was going to be depressing. It’s completely the opposite! So upbeat and fun. Great vocals. Love it. And of course I have heard of the song Come on Eileen, a favorite.
Love
I LOVE THIS ALBUM. I totally get why it’s not for some people, especially Kevin Rowland’s voice, but to me it sounds so good, he’s got so much passion you can’t help but like the guy. And it’s so much MORE than Come on Eileen. Celtic Soul Brothers, the cover of Jackie Wilson Said, the long but never overstaying its welcome Until I believe in My Soul all out the biggest smile on my face. It’s not high art, and it’s not trying to be, but manages to sound better than so many things on this list. It absolutely deserves its spot here. Do their other albums? Well we’ll see (spoiler they’re also very good)
As I first found this record, I was set on a 2 star rating for sure. As I listened through these tracks each More unique than the other and weaving seemlessly through generes and iterations of rock, I felt a strong compelling urge to reach on a 4 for this record.. As things progressed I realized this IS in fact a pop masterpiece. Then the finale, a song I've heard hundreds of times, and would've scoffed at the notion of appreciation.... well, it hot different as the kids would say.
Amazing album.
Una especie de The Cure animado y trompetero. Opino lo mismo que con el otro disco: les compro el vinilo, va.
New wave. Son los de Come On Eileen.
Favourite songs: Come on Eileen, Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile), The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please, Thank You), Let's Make This Precious, All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz), Liars A to E, Plan B, I'll Show You Least favourite songs: Love - Pt. 2 5/5
Bangers, great album
Great band. I’ve always been a big fan of Ken Rowland and the Dexys. Made a song that has crossed many generations. Glad to see this here.
Big surprise to discover that the album is very beautyful beyond C'mon Aileen! 😍
8.5/10 - Why was he counting during the waltz piece. I know counting to 3 is tough but it is not necessary during a final recording. Also sadly not all of the pieces are on spotify since I really enjoyed Until I Believe In My Soul and Marguerita Time. Overall great album
Too Rye Ay...come on Eilean
Great album. Loved the strings. More pop songs need strings
12/26/23. I only knew the song Come On Eileen beforehand, but was pleasantly surprised with how fun and expansive this album is! A lot of blues and jazz influence, and I can bet some later work pulled a lot from this album. Adding this one to the top rotation.
Goodness gracious me this is fantastic. I think because of the ubiquity of Eileen, I'd slightly misplaced Dexys as a bit of a novelty act, but definitely not any more! I absolutely couldn't believe the heart and soul poured into this album, in particular on Old, which is possibly the best new song I've found on The Project thus far. All in all, this was simply a joy to listen to, and one that I'm going to come back to again and again.
Great album!
I think this may be my favorite thing that I did not know (I mean, I knew Come on Eileen, but that was it) before the project. It is fun and a wonderful mash up of soul, punk and Irish music. Like nothing else. Will for sure return to it.
Classic!
so. good.
New wave. Son los de Come On Eileen.
Brilliant stuff
First three albums of DMR are all five stars (10/10). This is album 2.
now i can say i know a song that isnt come on eileen and rightfully so because every song from instrumentals to vocals was just great
Plan B is incredible, maybe my new favorite by the group. Come on Eileen was the only track I had heard before, and the groups most well known song. Honestly it now sounds kind of out of place on the album. Still great as a single though.after come on Eileen the album starts to overstay it's welcome a bit.
Love the qqqqqquirkyness of it!
Come on Eileen is the worst song on this album!
Really enjoyed this one! different than what i would typically listen to, but lots of fun songs, including Come on Eileen. Definitely would come back to this one.
I only know them for Come On Eileen but the intro track is very interesting. It's very much their sound but there's something intriguing about it. Something about the second track is giving me very much ska vibes and I really like it. Overall, this is one of my favorite albums that I've listened to so far. The different mix of instruments used makes it a really interesting listen.
COME ON EILEEN OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
This band sounded oddly familiar and then "come on eileen" came on, which I don't think I've ever known the name of. I loved this album. Very energetic and full of personality. Catchy and danceable, too.
Phenomenal record, glad that they’ve gotten to the point where a lot of people recognize them as great outside of just Eileen. Love this album.
5 This is my first favorite right out of the gate, I think. Upon first glance I didn’t think I knew anything on this album and it was such a party. Catchy and unique. Front to back I loved every single song and I will absolutely be buying on vinyl one day.
Happy fun tunes
Una especie de The Cure animado y trompetero. Opino lo mismo que con el otro disco: les compro el vinilo, va.
Great, fun album. It reminds me of the Irish comic,Sean Hughes, who was a big fan of ‘Come on Eileen’.
Great aussies
a real ringer on this list for me, just love it. Unique, incredible tunes, a medley to rival Abbey Road and one of the biggest hits of the '80s tossed on at the end. What's not to love?
This album is dated in a good way. It's all greens and yellows, with cringy falsettos, silly performative singing, trompettes, church organs, and cough, cough, cough.
Adorei o álbum! Achei as músicas alegres, animadas e divertidas. Verdade que não prestei atenção nas letras, mas adorei. Me animou pra fazer um bolo, que é uma tarefa que me faz feliz. Acho que volto a ouvir com mais atenção depois. :)
2/01/22
10/10 didn’t know acoustic 80s pop like that would sound so cool it’s got so many cool songs, it sucks that it’s all over shadowed by Come on Eileen
Ya estoy en edad. Me encantó.
New wave. Son los de Come On Eileen.
Awesome
Love me some Dexys
Absolutely glorious - all coming together in one of the ultimate pop singles, which is even better at the end of this album that as a stand-alone song. Yes!
Obviously, approaching this album i already heard "Come On Eileen", and perhaps i knew no other song on this album would approach that kind of level, but this surely surprised me. "Too Rye Ay" is catchy, energetic, made me want to stand up and dance almost at every chorus. Kevin Rowland's voice is spot on for this kind of sound, really loved his delivery. With that said, this album can feel very one-dimensional after the first half (not that i got bored of this, but i would understand someone who might) and it's very tempting to lift the needle before arriving at the grand finale, which needs no introduction.
Some great tunes and love the celtic influence.
Good album. Gets a bit too much hate (but that Simpsons joke about them is still fucking hilarious). It’s just a fun 80’s new wave album, and I like 80’s new wave.
4 Enjoyed this, only knew come on Eileen before, like most people I'd think, but the whole album was a pleasant surprise
I’ve never heard more than Come on Eileen from Dexy’s Midnight Runners. This was a very pleasant surprise. I guess I like Irish soul / Celtic rock! Will put this one in regular rotation.
Well that was fun but how much Dexys does this list really need?
Ignore all the voices on here saying Dexy’s don’t deserve 3 albums in the 1001. Maybe they don’t, but go it’s a shame if anyone has to go into listening to this album with a preemptive bad attitude. Dexy’s have made many strong artistic statements over the years and this is one of them. Just be ready to enjoy it and you will.
Definitely sounds a bit like an 80's pop album. It has a lot of violin and incorporates Celtic Folk Music. It's got Come On Eileen which is their hit and has made them one of the most recognizable One-Hit Wonders ever, but there are plenty of underrated tracks on the album. Very good album!
Always a good time band, I was surprised by Dubious very reminiscent of Chicago in their hey day.
7/10
Pop with a slight Celtic lean. Recognized "come on Eileen"
Siempre pensé que esto era The Cure. Sugerencias: no pongan el álbum remix o cosas así. El de ayer era una playlist de 5 albums de yes, que en realidad eran un disco mezclado diferente o con otros masters. Ahora hay 2 versiones de los hits y eso te quita el sabor a DISCO
Fun
Strong 3,5
27/05/2026 I thought this was alright. Started to get a bit whiney in the end. Glad it finished when it did. Spotify listeners: 7.5 million
I can see this record becoming 5 stars down the road. What a unique album. Love the violin and horn instrumentation. The whole record is so in your face, like it’s constantly making sure you’re paying attention. Loving The Celtic soul brothers - let’s make this precious - all in all - liars a to e - come on Eileen (of course)
Everyone knows Come On Eileen which you can’t help skanking to. I guess what surprised me most about this was how it sounded more like a Third Wave Ska record versus the Two-Tone Era it belongs to.
Come on Eileen is certified banger, rest is weaker but still vibe
Loved this. Music that was made to be danced too with those clear Celtic influences permeating through the post-punk, poppy hooks.
Funky irish tunes with a fun upbeat tempo, good talent and good hooks. An enjoyable listen!
Going into this, there is only one song I know by Dexys Midnight Runners, and it is the obvious one. I don't believe I've ever even heard of another song of theirs, but Come on Eileen is definitely a guilty pleasure type of song for me so my expectations are reasonably high. about halfway through and my expectations have been met, it is a lot more music of the same style, very upbeat and fun. The lead singer's voice is so unique, for better or worse. I get similar vibes to Electric Light Orchestra and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and that is a compliment. No song stands out as much as Come on Eileen, but if you are a fan of that one, then you'll enjoy the rest of the album.
this was really well made and consistent, good tunes
Obviously, I knew Come On Eileen, and recognized a couple other songs, but otherwise I didn't know this group at all. I thought this album was a ton of fun -- and a little timeless. I wouldnt have been surprised if it came out today. I suppose that's in part because it's so very pop oriented, almost superficial, but I had a good time.
When it's good it's great but quality drops a bit at times
Music to make you grin.
I was prepared to go the muso route and smugly declare Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and Don't Stand Me Down to be better records, but now I'm not sure. There is a remix/remaster from 2022 that gives the album a little more heft and the songs really glow. The singles (Celtic, Jackie Wilson Said and Come on Eileen) are unstoppable as are the fiddled up Rebels tunes but the vibe throughout is winning me over. They are like what Queen might have done if unburdened with being awesome. I am surprised this predates the Pogues by a couple of years - I always thought they copped the soul urchin thing from them. I wished they'd taken the next step and revived The Threepenny Opera in this configuration before moving on to their next era.
Very catchy, with interesting musical elements throughout (—a little pop, a little Irish, a little British, a little jazz/soul, a little … ska?)
Muy buena. Le doy 4 puntos porque 80% muy buenas y el 20 restante medio malas
I only knew two or three Dexys tracks before listening to this album. Overall I was quite surprised and impressed as was better than I thought it would be.
The singles are great and I enjoyed the rest of the album - I'd love to have heard some of these live back in the day
Me gustó bastante
God bless Dexy Midnight Runners, Van Morrison, James Joyce—the Irish, in short.
PSA - The original album is 10 songs, ending with Come on Eileen. I hate that streaming services always have crazy amounts of bonus tracks. There should be an option to filter them out! That aside, this is a great album. One of the more interesting UK pop albums of the 80s, in my opinion. I do like the fusion of Irish trad and big band in here too, but can see how some might find it a bit cringe. "Eileen" is very overplayed, but you can't deny how great a song it is. Perfect for a wedding dance floor. In fact, most of these songs wouldn't be out of place on any of my party playlists - for an audience of a certain age of course! Not a full 5 star though, because is voice is sometime annoying, and there are too many false endings for my taste.
I didn't have high hopes for this after not being impressed with the other Dexy's album on the list, but this was good fun.
Celtic soul brothers and sisters on top of their groove. Dexy's were really original band combining soul, celtic folk music influences, 80's pop music etc. This is a great album with real feel good factor that makes me smile and whistle along the tunes
Always had a soft spot for these lads. I like how that Celtic/Irish vibe is both overt and subtle in their songs.
Learning this band wasn't Irish was devastating. I really liked this record! I've said this before and I'll keep saying this forever and more: pop albums from the 80s and 90s are always the best. Not some soulless crap to blast on the radio everyday but a catchy LP that has had effort, skill, and heart put into it. What a voice on Kevin Rowland too, so infectious. Interesting delivery on some lines which kept me guessing where the song will go next. Kind of reminded me of Oingo Boingo at times, just less crazy. Favourites off this have to be Let's Make This Precious, Old, Until I Believe My Soul, Come On Eileen 4/5
this band is straight up ripping off The Garden.
I actually really enjoyed this album.
Strings and horns in the right balance. Van Morrison cover isn’t much changed, but that’s not a bad thing, in this case.
cam on eileen
Brilliant!! Often albums with a big hit are pretty mediocre, but this was consistent in quality throughout. Great punchy horn sections, snazzy strings and strong vocals! High 4
I liked this album
Un disco para alegrarte el día. Cumple perfectamente y fue un soplo de aire fresco.
more like a 7.2
I enjoyed most of this album. I loved, "Come On Eileen" when I first heard the song on the radio, and I still loved it when listening to it on this album. I would list "Reminisce (Pt. 1) as my least favorite song on this album as I didn't really consider it a song. I was glad when it was finished, and really what was with the screams near the end?
Hey ... what do you know ... I have officially listened to more than just "Come On Eileen"
Very ridiculous but very fun
really good but it's a bit much innit
too-ra-loo-ra-too-ra-loo-rye-'aye! La seule toune que je connaissais d'eux apparemment, mais vraiment entraînant et catchy! j'aime l'instrumentation un peu celtique et la voix du chanteur un peu plaintive mais aussi pleine de flegme anglais, un peu à la David Byrne. Vais-je y revenir qui sait? mais c'est un 3.5, j'ai mieux aimé que leur autre album.
this album was stellar, in my humble opinion. 'Come on Eileen' was obviously the star of the show, but man everything else just flowed so well and was so fun. the fiddle, the horns, it all just comes together to make a really fun and unique album. especially this being during the 80's, when glam-pop was really taking the music scene by force. this album really really stands out. i will also say, that i really love the song 'Come on Eileen'. it will forever bring me back to a very sweet memory. in high school, my family got really into SingStar, a game on the PS2 where you had microphones and basically did battle karaoke. there was a phase of our lives for a few years, where we would all sit in the living room as a family, play SingStar, and battle it out. there was a lot of laughter, competitiveness, and fun in that living room on those nights. its one of my favorite memories in what was a rather impressionable/hectic time of my life. that said, cheers to Dexys Midnight Runners. this album was awesome
thought this was a one hit wonder situation but I liked the whole album !!
Some bands deserve to be one hit wonders. These guys don’t. Every single song on here is a ton of fun and so many of the musical choices they make had me nodding and saying “nice.” Will revisit, will expand my listening. Wonderful surprise
I have a weakness for Celtic music and New Wave so combining them as skillfully as these guys do has my knees knockin' and brow wet.
Obviously Come On Eileen is a classic, but having once watched a TV show where a man in a hazmat suit stabbed a women to death to this song, it's never been quite the same for me. Apart from that, this was a great album with some fun songs.
Good album with all time banger Come on Eileen. 7.3/10
Bra jämn nivå på den här skivan. Liars A to E sticker ut som bästa låt. Let’s make this precious en annan höjadare. Och Come on Eilen är en klassiker med all rätt. Ja, här finns egentligen inga direkt svaga låtar. Det enda jag stör mig lite på är det klickiga ljudet på bastrumman som ligger väldigt högt i mixen.
Jag alla de tre första dexy's albumen väldigt högt. Som brukligt med den här listan verkar hits vara ett kriterium för val av album. Too Rye kan ibland upplevas ha för mycket banjo och fiol, men i mitt tycke är det ett utmärkt soulalbum och inte minst en mot kultur mot 80-talets enformighet. Här finns mängder med riktigt bra låtar, inte minst b-sidan med Plan b, I'll show you och Liars a to e. Och a-sidans let's make this Precious går inte att bortse ifrån. Och Kevins röst är fantastiskt.
Honestly, I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. A great amalgam of folk, ska and R&B. On a separate note, while reading the wiki article for this album, I saw it described as "blue-eyed soul", which is a term I was not familiar with. I just gotta say, what a fucking stupid term, haha.
Good thing I looked at Wikipedia before I wrote this. I thought the band was Irish - they are not! This album doesn't feel musically consequential but it was a fun listen regardless.
# Album Name: Too Rye Ay # Artist: DMR # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Pretty average. couple of good tracks. One big one. But i was expecting so much more out of this. eileen saved this from being a 3. Low 4. # Top Tunes: Jackie wilson / come on eileen / CSB # Would I listen to it again? No tracks only
come in eileen absolute banger of all time always a delight to listen to. tsop reminds me of the grease soundtrack.
Dexy's always sounded great - musically excellent and really tight arrangements, though Kevin Rowland's voice does have the capacity to grate somewhat in large doses. This isn't quite as impactful as their debut for me but maybe more polished - some of the songs are quite depressing in content really but masked by upbeat horns, strings and cheerful piano. The opening two tracks stand out but this is best known of course for Come On Eileen (obviously overplayed but stunning) and the excellent Van Morrison cover 'Jackie Wilson Said' which does the original justice (not an easy task).
Come on Eileen is a classic for a reason!
My final DMR album is here, and it happens to be the only album of theirs where I know one of the songs beforehand. I enjoyed their debut album, giving it four stars, but I really didn’t care much for Don’t Stand Me Down. I have no idea how I’m going to feel about Too-Rye-Ay, but at least “Come On Eileen” will be waiting for me at the end! Too-Rye-Ay won’t be getting five stars from me, but I thought it was a solid and enjoyable pop record. Like Young Soul Rebels, Kevin Rowland’s vocals are excellent, despite the fact that I can’t usually make out what he’s saying. DMR did a great job of weaving traditional Celtic sounds into their unique take on blue-eyed soul music, creating some fun and beautiful arrangements with horns and string sections. It’s a shame that only “Come On Eileen” got ample radio play in the states, because there are some really good songs on this album. I traditionally only listen to the original track listing of albums, but after “Come On Eileen,” I kept the party going and checked out “Show Me,” and it’s a damn shame it didn’t make the original cut of the album. Some notes on the songs that stood out to me: "Let's Make This Precious" had some really great horn playing, evoking some ska roots. I really liked the way the lead and backing vocals were arranged and layered. I loved how the bridge started of a cappella, and then had the keyboard come in, and then shifting to the violin in the final stretch. “All In All” had some great vocals, and I really liked the lyrics too. This song was really effective at tackling the album’s of nostalgia and reflecting on one’s youth. I’m estranged from my parents, so this song really hit home with me. DRM’s cover of Van Morrison’s “Jackie Wilson Said” was great. The organ and guitar created a really full and rich sound. “Come On Eileen” is one of my favorite songs from the eighties, and even though I’ve heard it countless times, I still love it. The fiddle, the thump of the bass, and the piano slide in the introduction are all so perfect, and they bring a smile to my face every time I hear them. I love the contrast between the verse and chorus as well, but the bridge is an absolute blast. Every time I hear that bridge pick up in intensity, I can just picture people tearing up a dance floor. What a perfect and unique pop song. Too-Rye-Ay isn’t a perfect album, but it has a really unique pop sound, and its lyrics do a great job of exploring themes of youth and coming of age.
I can't get lower than 4 for it's one of the over listened cassette album of my teenage. The violins makes it colour and I am not sure how it could be without... great to listen a few times again.
Anyone who says Dexys were a one hit wonder are fools. Great tunes here, and loved the album flow. Bonus tracks I liked quite a bit!
Very good
Definitely know Eilieen! But haven't heard anything else. Hearing those violins, it's like they splashed "Celtic" everywhere; like they were trying on every form of pop rock and soul trendy at the time. Still found this record lively and fitting with my music taste
Well, it finally happened. I can finally have an opinion on Dexys Midnight Runners. Yes, rather infamously, Dexys Midnight Runners of all bands were given THREE WHOLE ALBUMS on this list despite often being considered a one-hit-wonder... at least here in the US. Over in the UK, it seems Kevin Rowland and the gang were a much bigger deal. A big enough deal to warrant taking up three slots on this album list? No. Absolutely not. Then again, I wasn't there so I can't fully speak on their fame. But still, it's kinda dumb to give them any more than one album on a list like this. But, if you were to give them an album, which would be justifiable, it would be Too-Rye-Ay. Why is this? Well, It's simple. This is the one with the aforementioned "one hit." Yeah, I might as well start the review by talking about "Come On Eileen," though I'm not sure that there's much I can say that hasn't been said already. It's just a good song, okay? It's catchy, it's fun, and it's got a nice message to it. I am more than okay with this song being as big as it is. But what about the rest of the album? Does Too-Rye-Ay boil down to "'Come On Eileen' and 9 other songs" or is it actually a consistently good album? Well, I'm happy to report that it's the latter! I actually liked this album quite a bit! It's got a pretty unique style all things considered, what with the strings and horns and such. I think the album's fun. The album's consistent enough in tone to feel like a cohesive project, but not so monotonous as to make the album feel like a waste of time. Kevin Rowland's vocals are... an acquired taste, but I think they work well enough on certain songs. The lyrics are respectable. There are some nice themes here and there. They work well with the upbeat nature of the music. As far as other songs on the album that I liked, I'd say all of them were at least good. "The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please, Thank You)" works pretty well as an opener. It sets everything up pretty well for what to expect. Their cover of Van Morrison's "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" was the other hit from this album in the UK, and it's pretty solid as well. I like the strings on that one. Overall, I'm pretty impressed by this one. Dexys Midnight Runners managed to exceed my expectations a bit by making a full album that's worth a listen. Did they make any others? Well, we'll get there when we get there. For now, my opinions are pretty positive. These guys are a-okay in my books. Light 4/5.
Pretty good, "Come on Eileen" is a banger!
In England, if the DJ doesn't play Come On Eileen at your wedding disco, the marriage isn't legally binding. When this album started with someone saying 'Ladies and gentlemen', I thought they were going to announce that the buffet was open. This is a nice reminder though why it became ubiquitous - it's a great song, and this whole album is a lot of fun.
Very nice to get to listen beyond Come On Eileen! I like their additions to the base of the 80s rock feeling sometimes celtic, sometimes a bit like ska? Hard to describe but found it a fun album!
COME ON EILEEN
fun! come on eileen!
Gostei bastante. Bem divertido e animado
Third album of this band I have gotten as a pick, and first one that is finally worth listening to. This album is pretty much a banger, that is only held back from even further greatness by an extra long run time and some talking that I ended up skipping. 4.25 / 5
Not sure what happened between this album and Don't Stand Me Down, but this was leagues above that album. Vocals were actually present and pretty darn good overall, with maybe just a few instances of being a bit too over the top. Love the upbeat tracks, especially 'Come On Eileen', and the dynamic, unique musicianship. I'd put this around a solid 3.5, but seeing as I could definitely see myself revisiting this album I lean toward the 4 star.
Was not expecting this album to be so solid. Low 4, my biggest gripe is the quasi ska stuff going on but overall enjoyable
I was a fan of this album. I like the energy and the electric feel of the music. I especially liked Jackie Wilson Said, Until I Believe in my Soul, and of course Come on Eileen
Nice one, not only Eileen rocks here
Deres bedste album fra deres originale run, og det ved jeg fordi vi har haft alle 3 på listen lol. God unik lyd der passer til sangerens stemme, come on Eileen lyder ikke som en kæmpe outlier. Apropos come on Eileen, det er en kæmpe bop og der er en del gode numre derudover
Bedste Dexys Midnight Runners vi har haft, og de har generelt været fede! Umulig at klassificere, mange bangers.
Conjures memories of the 80’s. Some good tunes on here and Rowland has a great voice. Not as good as their debut but still a cracking album
Joyful couple of opening tracks with horns to the fore. All in All not so good. The Van the Man cover Jocky Wilson Said (sic) is sick. A few fillers and then the classic Come on Eileen. Singing like a less suave Bryan Ferry. Bonus tracks on the version I listened to Show Me and Let’s Get This Straight From The Start also strong. 3.8. (Love Rowland’s 1999 covers album also - so bad it’s good.)
Strong album, great horns, violins, backing vocals (sublime on Liars A to E). Come on Eileen a great discovery at the end too ;-) Seems like over their first 3 albums they transitioned to longer looser songs - although wont know for certain until I complete my Dexys Education, Benjamin Button style, with Soul Rebels.
I do like a bit of Dexys. They are far more than “Come on Eileen” and deserve more recognition than they receive. I will die on that hill. That said, I prefer the out and out soul influence which provides a framework for SFTYSR, and though it’s still showcased here the Celtic strings take it in a new and different direction. A banging opener demonstrates this very well before the soul horns dominate on the second track, then we get a slower waltz on the third. It’s definitely not formulaic! Bonus point for anyone who can even sing “wear beaten down eyes, sunk in smoke dried faces, they’re so resigned to what their fate is” anywhere near in time to the song!
Such a delightfully unique album! Such an intoxicating and rich album full of warmth and Celtic folk mixed with soul! This is the type of album I would play if I was having a rough day to cheer myself up.
Prior to beginning this challenge I listened to Kevin Rowlands’s autobiography and did a lot of listening to Dexys and his solo stuff. So I probably didn’t need the first three LPs to pop up in the first 100 LPs. If you're critical of Dexy's lps rest assured so's Kev! Restlessly searching for perfect never quite finding and not settling when he got pretty close. I'll be honest, Young Soul Rebels, and post-reformation lps One Day I'm going to Soar and the cover lp Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul would be the three of their lps I'd say you shuld hear before you die. Once I was at a festival and Elton John (an elderly pop pianist who's Americans will probably be surprised to learn has had more hits than just Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) was banging away doing his poorly enunciated Chas & Dave thing on he main stage. Went to see Dexys in the tent. Beforehand the lad next to me complained about the people only interested in hearing songs they heard before, then spent the whole set calling for Eileen. Which they didn't play because they wanted to play their current album, which was theatrical and had a narrative arc that Eileen didn't fit. That illustrates the contrary nature of Kev. And testament to the endure power of Eileen. Even here they leave it until the last. Eileen is perhaps a millstone in the public perception. Kevin, normally very dapper, is forever in dungarees in the public imagination. BUT Eilleen still saves misfiring wedding discos 45 years. And consider when it came out, 1982, the fun years of Punk, New Wave, 2 Tone, Post Punk experimentalism were being replaced by regiments of pretentious but vacous - Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet. Yet here was a song by a band that were unassamedly intellectual that you could dance to. A band that were fun and clever. A band that looked to the future whilst acknowledging the music of the past.
Muso’s of the world erupt at an album of fun tunes.
I, as I would imagine is the case for most people, have not heard anything from Dexys Midnight Runners other than Come On Eileen. At least not that I know of. That song's a banger though. So this album is a really fun British new wave with some horns thrown in and it all has a vaguely Celtic tinge. It's probably not going to blow anyone away but it's a really fun album to listen to in the background. Like this would be great to throw on when you have a summer party in the backyard. Suddenly Come On Eileen starts and everyone realizes where they've heard this band and starts to sing as loud as they can before finding that they don't actually know all the words to a song they've heard 9,756 times. I'd buy this in the record shop if I ever saw it. 3.75/5
fun album. liked it a lot more than i thought it would.
Good blend of pop and soul
Buen color, y ritmos, algunos temas ya son clasicos
It’s a pretty strong pop record. It took me some time to realise this but it’s very awesome.
Come on Eileen is great
I think I'd have to listen to it more to decide, but it relies less on quips that "Don't Stand Me Down" did, continues with good soundscape, while vocals not being as irritating this time.
The singing ruined it but I thought the instrumentals were not bad.
I liked it. The voice sounded familiar at first and I couldn't pin point why until I heard come on eileen. It was good!
I think some people on here are going to be turned off over the fact that Dexy's Midnight Riders are on the list of the 1001 Albums You Should Hear Before You Die, "The "Come On Eileen" guys?" But taking it as its own thing, this album is actually pretty good. It gets bogged down a bit in the second half due to Kevin Rowland's love of Philadelphia Soul on the songs "Liars A to E" and "Until I Believe in My Soul," but the first half of this album is great with "The Celtic Soul Brothers" and a really good cover of Van Morrisson's "Jackie Wilson Said." You do have to be in a good mood to listen to "Come On Eileen," but if you are, it's a really incredible listen
How can anyone dislike this band? Great songs, their Jackie Wilson Said cover is brilliant. And of course, the iconic Come On Eileen. The As It Should Have Sounded version is great.
Solid from start to finish. Doesn't hit 5, but better than I would have expected.
Liked this one. Felt like a contributing precursor to ska, which I love as a genre. Come on Eileen is covered by reel big fish, one of my favorite ska bands.
Wow what a surprisingly great album. Everyone knows Come on Eileen of course but lots of other fun and high energy tunes on here.
I only really knew Come On Eileen and the rest wasn’t what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. Not something I would go for everyday but it was fun to listen to and I felt like there was a good variation across the album. Fav song: Come On Eileen Least fav: Plan B
Gotta love Come on Eileen!!!! Started listening on the train in a not terribly successful attempt to wake up...
I don’t mind this one being here of all theirs it’s actually pretty good
I was expecting this to be consistent with a 1 hit wonder album but ended up enjoying most of it. Deserves better than 1 song with 160m plays and none of the others crack 1 mil.
Another quality blast from the past. Always amuses me that Dexys are a one-hit-wonder in the US. Too Rye Ay has most of the band's big hits, though personally I prefer the rawness and energy of the first album.
Escuchar este álbum después del “Don’t Stand Me Down” me reafirma en la reseña que hice de este. “DSMD” es un álbum mucho más arriesgado y cool. Es verdad que “Too Rye Ay” es mucho más jovial, alegre, divertido, pero mucho menos sorprendente, parece un disco hecho para todas las audiencias, lo cual no está mal, pero conociendo lo que más adelante fueron capaces de hacer se me queda en naïf. Contento de descubrir una pequeña joya en “I’ll Show You”.
This album was a lot of fun - I liked it.
6.5/10
A well-written, performed, and produced effort, "Too-Rye-Ay" is a fine pop album. What moves it beyond the level of a simply "good" record are the select, standout tracks that are exceptional, just earning it a four-star rating rather than a three-star rating. I don't see it as an an essential listen but that's just personal taste. Side One 1 "The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please, Thank You)" (5/5) 2 "Let's Make This Precious" (3/5) 3 "All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz)" (3/5) 4 "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" (5/5) 5 "Old" (3/5) Side Two 6 "Plan B" (4/5) 7 "I'll Show You" (3/5) 8 "Liars A to E" (3/5) 9 "Until I Believe in My Soul" (3/5) 10 "Come On Eileen" (5/5) Total - 37 Average - 3.7 177/1001 97/177 albums reviewed were new to me.
This is the second Dexys album I've had in the first 50 of this challenge. Like the last record, I was surprised by how much I liked this one. But, I would not like to hear another album from them. I feel like I know what their Celtic, punk, ska, soul entails at this point.
I'll admit I was mostly waiting the whole listen for Come On Eileen. The rest of the album was pretty fun, though, and Come On Eileen is such a great song.
слухав в півуха поки писав картину - вийшов непоганий саундтрек загалом непогано олсо come on eileen - чудова класика
The
Honestly just as good as their first record. Its just fun stuff. The horns are sick. Who dont love them a little doot boot bwahhh. Come on Eileen is incredible as always. The singer has a unique way to do it but in a good way. Shits just solid. Just getting the daily recommended fiber every single day. Fun time all around
Day691 - i wouldn’t get into an argument over dexys midnight runners being more then a one hit wonder band but i’ve been impressed with both albums i’ve heard so far
I enjoyed it and couldn't put my finger on why. Then I read the genres on Wikipedia and one of them is blue-eyed soul and that explained it all.
I've had a few of these recently. An artist that was mostly prominent during my early years (I was 12 when this was released). I only previously knew Jocky (;-)) Wilson Said and Come On Eileen, the rest were new to me, and they were pretty good. I enjoyed this album.
This is the second dexys album I've reviewed. Completely different, much better and fun.
This was great, but by the end I was kinda ready to be done. Four stars.
a pretty fun album. obviously there's the one big hit on here, which i adore, but the rest of the album is pretty damn solid. if you like the feel of 'come on eileen' then the rest of the album is certainly for you. i also really liked their cover of van morrison's 'jackie wilson said'
I mean, come on, this rips.
With this album, I feel extremes of happiness and sadness, often both at the same time. It doesn't get much more Irish bittersweet than that. Not growing up in England, or Europe for that matter, I was convinced that Dexys Midnight Runners were a new wave band with synths. I was very surprised when I saw them perform on TV, and realized that no only were they not a new wave synth band, but also I realized that they had this odd obsession with dungarees. I can only imagine how outrageously warm it must have felt for the band wearing dungarees beneath the warm performance lights. While the band is from Birmingham, it just feels like it captures the essence of the Irish voice, with the funky jams of American soul music, and I am here for it. Favorite tracks: "The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please,Thank You), "Plan B", "Come On Eileen" Having said all the sincere pleasant things, I truly think this is the only album of Dexys Midnight Runners that belongs on the list.
Third and final Dexys album that I'm listening to here (assuming they don't pull some REAL weird shit), and easily the best. This could've been the only one and it would've been totally fine. 3.5/5
The Irish Brummie soul rebel jazz pop aesthetic is actually really quite cool, 40+ years on. I'm digging it.
A really impressive album. I enjoy every song, any rhythm in this. Love it!
Najs! Positivt överraskad. Är ju svag för fiol. Men i övrigt är det ett roligt sound. Just "come on eileen" är inte den bästa. Kul med van Morrison -covern. Plan B var grym och old. (Lyssnade bara på originalalbum)
Mycket roliga överraskningar nu, för det här var ju en riktigt jäkla bra skiva - och det säger jag trots att det inte är en favoritgenre för mig. Bra tempo och driv genom hela skivan och inte en dålig låt. Stark avslutning med Until I believe my soul och Come on Eileen. Stark fyra!
Fun and lively! ★★★★
"What's worse than grease on Olivia Newton John? Come on Eileen!" Thank you, I'll be here all week. I play that song pretty regularly at bars. It'll certainly make the playlist. The rest of the album is ok. The arrangement and instrumentation is tight, polished, and on point. The singers style loses it for me a bit though. Overall, It's got a pretty good vibe throughout, and I enjoy that in an album. Going 4 stars with this one.
I don't know how to describe what this music is, but I like it. Celtic-inspired new wave maybe? Crazy that the big hit is the last song on the album. I know this music annoys a lot of people and I understand, but to me this was just fun. A tonne of good instrumentation, jazzy, folky, ska-ish, upbeat and jaunty, with lyrics that run deeper than the tunes betray. Enjoyable!
am i crazy or did this kind of go extremely hard?? funky horns and a lot of fun. i was the runtime and went in with a bad attitude but i was jammin' by the end. a great surprise!
i love the new wave and folk combo this album has going on. it starts out strong but gets pretty samey until come on eileen, uh, comes on. then it's right back to the same. probably a 3.5 for me, rounding up or down depending on my mood that day. also the oohs in all in all reminded me of the oohs that start at 4:20 in the past is a grotesque animal by of montreal. they're not identical or anything but the vibes match. favorites: the celtic soul brothers, let's make this precious, all in all, jackie wilson said, come on eileen
Took me forever to listen to this album once I was sick of “Come On Eileen”. Which turns out to be about the fourth or fifth best song on here! You gotta get used to Kevin Rowland’s yelping style, but this band is tight and fun, and Too Rye Ay is very relistenable,
Come on Eileen is such a banger. Finding out more about Dexys Midnight Runners through this list has made the all mediocre British music worthwhile.
Far and away Dexys' best. The best balance of rock, new wave, and Celtic traditional sounds. A couple of big hit, and also good deep cuts. I'm not surprised the band was just a one hit wonder in America, their sound is too specific and their ethos too european. Even for me, an european, their sound is maybe too British, and on other records that can definitely be an issue, but I quite like this one. Rowland's voice remains a bit much at times, but that's ok. Key tracks: The Celtic Soul Brothers Let's Make This Precious Old Come On Eileen
Mer än bara Eileen ju (som är en superlåt!). Unikt, skönt, sound.
Неплохо, весьма неплохо. Хорошая точка входа в ирландскую музыку
I was tip-toeing through this listen until about song 4 or 5, but then I decided to just let myself have fun. This was a fun listen. No denyin it.
Yeah this is all the same vibes as come on Eileen (somewhat obviously) and I’ve been searching for that vibe for so long very glad I’ve found this album Don’t know why I never thought to look up the artist of come on Eileen and listen to their music but I guess I just assumed it was a song that floated in the ether
Alright obviously “Come On Eileen” which to this day I still don’t know if I should be offended by that or not as a woman…. But I also liked “T.S.O.P.”. 4.5 stars.
70/100. Pretty good, pop rock/new wave. Definitely not the greatest album, but enjoyable nonetheless. Not much variety in the songs.
2025-09-24: Songs of manageable length, nice music with enough variety, … I might have given it a 5 on a better day.
I was slightly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Obviously the singles but the rest too.
Great - if you listen to the version that has the disc 2 the live recording of Come on Eileen I really enjoyed that as well
It's a fun mix of Irish folk and 80s pop.
Really really good listen
An excellent 80s rock album. It doesn't cross any conceptual lines, it doesn't make new music, it doesn't expand my brain. It's just makes me happy. And that's more than enough. 4/5
Shockingly good. Definitely always thought of these guys as straight up one hit wonders, but this album is pretty solid all the way through and i didn’t get tired of their sound like i thought they would. Nice job Dexy, thumbs up Midnight Runners!
Wait, in places this actually sounds remarkably like what the Cure would be doing 5 years later on Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me? I wasn't expecting to give high marks to Dexys Midnight Runners (why do they have three albums here anyway), but if it's really that forward-looking, that's worth a 4 at least!
new to me and I like it!
Not bad! Mis à part Come On Eileen, je ne connaissais pas du tout Dexys Midnight Runners. On dirait du ska, j'ai eu du plaisir à écouter cet album.
This is my second Dexy's album, and both have surprised me. While I know the hits on this one, Come on Eileen and Jackie Wilson said, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the songs that make up the rest of the album, which includes a good level of complexity and structure. The section from Jackie Wilson Said to Come on Eileen is pretty flawless. It has enough notable tacks for me to consider this as above average and therefore 4 stars
It's a weird mix for sure, like if Robert Smith from the cure and earth wind and fire decided to make folk music. I've known come on Eileen forever, but never really heard anything else by them. It's not bad! Not exactly my favorite, but definitely worth a full listen thru.
Not only is CoE the most well known song on here by a lot, it’s also the standout track. Yes it’s overplayed, but it’s a classic for a reason. On the other hand, while nothing else hits those highs, it’s still a quality album front to back and has surprises. Weird Celtic-pop with a touch of Northern Soul throwback. A pleasant surprise.
I never heard this one. It was quite fun.
I knew the one song from this album and liked it. Now I’ve found out I enjoy nearly the entire album. Extremely peppy and interesting pop music.
Loved it, come on eileen is a classic.
I greatly enjoyed this album. I’m also surprised I had never heard any songs outside of Come On Eileen! The energy and vibe of these songs just put you in a good mood. The back half really shone for me.
In 7th grade (1982), I wanted to buy this album, but only had heard 'Come on Eileen', as I lived in the US, where they're considered a 1 hit wonder, and didn't want to splash out $6.99 for an album I might only like one song, even though I knew the band and liked their earlier stuff (having lived in England up until 1982), and loved 'Come on Eileen', so just bought the single instead, which I think ended up skipping and wasn't in great condition, like most 7" singles purchased in the US. Years later I heard the other hits from this album and still regret not buying this back then. Man, I was so stingy with my money. I remember having it in my hand, reading the lyrics of one song on the back of the album cover. I think I bought Pyromania instead.
This album was all about slowly adjusting to the fact that we live in a world where the band that made come on Eileen made more than just that one song.
Fav: Come On Eileen Least Fav: Until I Believe In My Soul This should’ve been the only album of theirs on the list. Would not have given these guys so much of my time by choice…atleast this is a good album
Every song is like, “hey it’s that one guy that sings Come On Eileen”. (Kevin Rowland) But my god is that hit BURIED deep into the b-side of the 2nd disc. Crazy sequencing honestly. Great cover of Van Morrison’s “Jackie Wilson said” Feels like No Doubt and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are heavily influenced by this album. Would love to live in an alternate universe where Rowland covered Tragic Kingdom or The Impression that I Get.😏
Looking at the album cover I was expecting a more somber and yearning for either love or life type of sound. Of course some songs give that message, but overall has a more upbeat tone. As it’s an 80’s album the vocalist has a distinct sound and tone that I do enjoy. In some songs he uses that voice to create a more wallowing and ‘pathetic’ feeling, that fit the album cover in a way. Backing vocals is very nice. Instrumental wise I also enjoy. If it was just instrumental its the vibe of ‘whimsical’ and seems of a more older era. It mixes well with his voice and lyrics of the album. An album that I wouldn’t turn off, and would turn up. The instrumental breaks I found catchy Plan B and I’ll Show You is a good song duo and I’ll Show You seems to be my favorite of the album. I’ve giver 10 put of the 15 songs from the album a like. 8 /10
Would have been two stars but Come On Eileen brings it up to 4
Most of the songs on this aren’t as good as those on the debut, but “Come On Eileen” is such a great song that it just elevates the whole thing. And “Jackie Wilson Said” is nearly as great of a song!
A great pop album. A couple of classic singles, and some solid filler tracks.
Pretty decent album, has some catchy rhythms and grooves. Sounds a bit punk ish to me as well
Definitely better in as it should be beard mix
Great band at the top of their game. You get the feeling that you'd dance your ass off at one of their shows around this time. I regret not giving these guys their due back in the day. This and especially the album before it are a unique blend of familiar pop/soul/mod/ska ingredients worked to great effect. Side note that the strings on this album are especially well integrated into the core band - it's not like they layered some violins on top like you usually hear. I don't know if they were part of the core band or not - they don't appear on the record prior, so I assumed not - but they really sound like it. I'm in!
Wow, I enjoyed this so much more than I expected to, especially given how overplayed "Come on Eileen" was back in the day. Nice range on the album and anyone who invokes Jackie Wilson gets a star in my grade book!
What a surprisingly great album. I’d only ever heard come on Eileen before but I really enjoyed this.
I am pleasantly surprised but I liked this a lot more than I expected. The album flows really well from one song to the next. 4 stars or B.
Bra och samtidigt poppigt
Another dexys album so soon after the first - also pretty solid! Come on Eileen is of course a bop, but you know what song is slept on? Plan B! Plan B is phenomenal, with the exception of the extremely radio unfriendly intros dexys seems fond of. Almost a willful refusal to get as popular as their talent deserved tbh
Very solid album. So much more than “Eileen” and that’s defintely not the best song on the album. Easy 4 stars
A bit lengthy, but good fun. Energetic.
Nice. It has a similar vibe to Electric Light Orchestra. I liked it.
Honestly pretty fye
Quelques bonnes tounes mis à part Come on Eilein qu'on est pu capable d'entendre. Le son signature du band est bien défini, quelques textures cool empruntées au trad, au celtique. Pad d'orgue aussi. La voix de Kevin Rowland est vraiment unique
Not as good as their first album. I enjoy trad folk, so in theory this should appeal to me. It does to a certain extent, although it’s obviously bastardising proper folk music. I’ll take Elephant Sessions or Mànran over this. But not a bad listen and it has the obvious hit on it which does remind me being 14. Not entirely sure that’s a good thing, but I enjoyed listening enough.
One hit wonder album pretty solid
136/1089 - I forgot what Come on Eileen sounded like so I'm surprised to see how similar it is to the rest of this album. I expected it to be a bit jarring like Creep on Pablo Honey, but it sounded like it fit right in! A bit of an upgraded version of their debut album (now with strings) but I don't really see why it's on the list.
I came in with low expectations but this was really solid. The end of Come on Eileen always annoyed me but with the context of the album I quite like it. The whole album was just really fun.
hell yeah dude
eu achei bacana hein, me surpreendi! beleza, todo mundo fraga que come on eileen é pedradaça. mas o resto do album não fica pra trás muito não, bem dançante e animado!! não eh pra todo dia, mas dá pra revisitar de tempos em tempos e dar uma dançadinha de bacana!!!!
muito bom
I already had their debut and their third album, which couldn't be more different. Too Rye Ay is an excellent follow-up to their debut. There's development, more refined, and a bit smoother. Overall, an entertaining record that's fun to listen to.
Thus concludes the “Dexys” trilogy. I truly don’t understand why the other two albums were included but this one was actually really good. The instrumentals are at their best and the vocals are at their least bad.
They're usually thought of as one-hit-wonders, but I remember Jackie Wilson Said as well. This was a fun album with various styles! I especially enjoyed the violin.
A little cheese never hurt anyone.
I actually liked this more than I thought I would. It felt like Madness meets ABC. Very British and very eighties. There are plenty of songs here that are better than Come On Eileen. My favorite was All In All.