Reviews (page 4 of 9)
Fun and easy listen.
No idea how a one-hit wonder was able to get three albums on this list.
Solid from start to finish. Doesn't hit 5, but better than I would have expected.
Amazing, 10/10
Always loved the kitchen party band sound and Come on Eileen and its timeless bros help the singer woo the girl Romeo and Juliet video, pretty much the template for the Back on 74 video and lots in between (nice surprise to see spotify shows a new video for the song, charting Kevin and the band aging as they play this song over the last 40 years, very cool, but you have to go to Youtube to revisit the classic video). This was the first time I checked the lyrics though - turns out the song goes way deeper, aside from Kevin thinking dirty thoughts for Eileen, which we would have guessed, he's also begging her to give up this dead end Irish Catholic life with all their parents' generation keeping them down with their sentimental nostalgia for Johnny Ray songs of their youth and the toora loora melodies of Irish folk music to breakaway for his ballsy optimism for the big city and opportunities together, like half of Bruce Springsteen's catalogue, and the way that story's fated to end you can see in Kevin's portrait on the album cover or the other half of Springsteeen's catalogue. Anyway, I had a good time diving deep into Come on Eileen this morning, and giving the rest of this album a second look, so the long post for a meagre 3 - I've never loved Kevin's warbling vocals, but there's about four songs here I'll come back for, a nice surprise.
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.
Come on Eileen goes hard
Vessel for Come on Eileen, every other song just seems like a not as polished version of the one hit wonder on the album. Its not bad per say, just not as good as C.O.E. it sounds like the singer just sings the same thing over and over in a slightly different order of notes and just changes the lyrics.
God the crawl to Come on Eileen is real. Also is this the precursor to ska?
I have some great memories associated with Come on Eileen (singing “come on Irene” when with the foxes; Joel dancing with his mom Eileen at his wedding) that I’m rounding up to 3. Otherwise this would have been a 2.
This was pretty decent, and the cover of one of my Top 5 Van Morrison songs (Jackie Wilson Said…) almost made it a 4, but not quite. Their version is very good, but doesn’t swing like the original. We need bangers!!!
Fun. Slightly odd. Feels a bit Queen-like at points, some obvious trad influences. Just the right side of quirky.
Another album with a handful of good tracks and quite a bit of filler.
Never need to hear come on Eileen ever ever again… yet it was cool to hear it in context. His vocals really remind me of Robert Smith. Good pop rock
I did not expect much here from the one-hit wonder. I was pleasantly surprised! Expected a bit more folk-y, poppy simplicity. This had a lot of great music with interesting choices on more instruments than I expected. Sometimes jazzy with a touch of soul. Now, it's not the best album ever or anything, but I'm glad I heard it. I'll probably come back for a few of these. “Jackie Wilson Said” “Plan B,” “Liars A to E” were really good. Giving it a 3 because it's decent and better than expected, but its not at all groundbreaking or deep enough to call me deeper.
1. On est à la foire ? Gooooofy as hell 2. Un peu mieux mais je m’y fais tjrs pas, qui sait peut être la 3. 3. Le son est loooong pour rien ptn 4. Bon les horns je m’y fait tjrs pas, foire du village ahhh rock 5. Sympa mais tjrs cette impression qu’ils tiiiirent les morceaux en long pr rien 6. Mid 7. J’en peux plus 8. Acceptable 9. Bon morceau mais c’est long c’est long 10. Classique de chez classique, tjrs un peu goofy à la fin
More than Come on Eileen. Who knew.
BRILLIANT! A masterpiece & classic.
Wow what a surprisingly great album. Everyone knows Come on Eileen of course but lots of other fun and high energy tunes on here.
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.
Simpa album
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
I absolutely hate come on Eileen and don’t really like the rest of the album either. Kevin rowlands voice is super annoying to me. Instrumentals are alright though. Specific rating - 2.1 Fav song - A to E least fav - Come on Eileen
Gotta love Come on Eileen!!!! Started listening on the train in a not terribly successful attempt to wake up...
A teacher at our school once told me and Lola that the Come on Eileen music video was filmed nearby so we (I think unprompted) went to the locations of the music video and recreated the dancing- these videos will not be shared but does mean I sometimes cringe a little when I hear the song. But regardless of being 16 and finding everything embarrassing we still stood out on the street and danced and laughed at ourselves. Come on Eileen is exactly that kind of song, a bit silly, a bit infectious and a whole lot of fun when sung with a crowd, or just one friend. It's an album to put you in a good mood- I definitely enjoy the less upbeat songs a lot less but overall I still enjoyed the album. Favourite song: Come on Eileen Least: Old
3.5. Weird that these guys are only a one hit wonder in the US
čista trojka. okej, al glas mi ne sjeda. zadnja stvar poznata hitčina. sve u svemu solidno al neću slušat, jebiga
This would be a nothing album if it weren’t for come on Eileen
Outside of come on Eileen this is fairly poor for the most part. I never realised how bad this band is 2*
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.
This was probably a great band. They sound so lively and fun. Unfortunately the only song that sticks with me is the hit. If I was reviewing singles then Come On Eileen would be 5/5. As an album I don’t find it interesting enough to hold my attention for the whole time.
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.
noiosetto
It's pretty good and am surprised I haven't heard anything beyond the one-hit wonder song.
Robert Smith haciendo música estilo Smiths y pop. Raro. No me gustó mucho. 4/10
One banger (obviously) but otherwise I enjoyed but didn’t LOVE
Three records from Dexys is too much and this might be the worst of them all.
The Celtic Brothers Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) Come On Eileen
This was ok. Apart from Come on Aileen. Overplayed.
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”.
Just not my thing. Fun. Tuneful but not I can't do more than 5 minutes.
This album was a lot of fun - I liked it.
Favorite track(s): Let's Make This Precious, Liars A to E
I want to like it more. Parts are really fun, but it just drags on. If I was at a festival or they were playing at a small club I could see enjoying it more. Mostly cause I assume their stage energy would be higher and I would have been drinking.
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.
I heard this album a long time ago and didn’t really remember it so I wasn’t expecting much but it turned out to be a pleasant listen! It’s a unique mix of styles and it seems that music like this could only have been popular in the ‘80s. I’ve always loved the song Come On Eileen ever since I first heard it as a kid and it still stands out as a great song. So interesting that they saved it as the last song on the album but it’s a nice journey getting there and makes for a great capper. Once again another interesting take on music and one which seems like it would never be popular if released nowadays. It’s projects like this that will help get unique albums like this to be heard again by newer generations of music lovers.
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.
fun
слухав в півуха поки писав картину - вийшов непоганий саундтрек загалом непогано олсо come on eileen - чудова класика
На фоні нормально слухалось, але нічого не зачепило - ні музично, ні емоційно. Звучить доволі позитивно, аж незвично трохи :)
В цілому непогано, але не запам'ятав жодної пісні
The
So - most songs sound very similar to their big hit, "Come On Eileen" but that's mostly do to the unique vocalization and instrumental makeup of the band. "Old" was different and I liked it.
139 Oye yapo Aylin, avíspate. Nada más destacable de este disco. Fue casi una tortura escucharlos.
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
I really wanted to like this more than I do. They were a fun band when I was a kid, and I really like a lot of the musical elements. This all somehow falls a bit flat though, a bit tedious to plough through. Sorry Dexys, we'll always have the 80s.
Dancing in the kitchen fuck yeah
Enjoyed
Seriously seriously fun. A high 3 and a nice change of pace from recent albums
Enough with the constant Dexys midnight runners already. This band cannot possibly have produced 3 of the most important albums in human history. At least this fresh bunch of nonsense isn't 90% skit. Maybe if the dude learned to sing they would have been more than a one-hit wonder.
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
Definitely liked this better than their other album on the list.
such a fun listen! but not a everyday bob. its definitely giving musical despite being a pop album, as it features symphonic instruments quite heavily.
This grew on me as I listened. Started out a little boring but I appreciated the string/piano work. Plan B and until I believe it in my soul were surprises- especially the jazz break lol. Overall, not my cup of tea but I can appreciate for what it is
The album with Come on Eileen I think I was expecting something different. I was disappointed. I felt the second half of the album was better. I throughly enjoyed the instrumental portions.
I was nervous when I saw the label "Celtic," because I'm really not a fan of modern "Celtic rock." This ended up being an interesting enough blending of genres though. Also anyone who's not moving at least a little to "Come on Eileen" is made of stone.
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.
It was okay.
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.
What was the fuss? They suck
This is the second dexys album I've reviewed. Completely different, much better and fun.
"huh I only know come on eileen, wonder what else is on here" *proceedes to hear an hour of 'run along eileen,' 'go go eileen,' 'hurry now eileen'* A little too reductive but that sound is very consistent through this entire project. I loved the strings Favorite Songs: Old, Liars A to E, & Come on Eileen,
One catchy song
Come on Eileen was pretty good but the rest was tiring.
It’s pretty good overall with a couple of above average songs. I don’t really care for the vocal style myself.
Yep, c'est un album.
this album has a one hit and that's it
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please, Thank You), Come On Eileen Another middling entry on the List. This album is like the intersection of disco, proto-ska and traditional Celtic music slammed into an hour long album. My buddies and I (some of whom were British) used to listen to Come on Eileen, not quite on repeat, but in a very tight rotation, to the point where I'd get nauseous hearing it. Granted, its been a long time since then and so that feeling has mostly gone away... mostly.
Pretty good album but "Come On Eileen" ticks this specific box well enough for me.
There was a period in the eighties when having a violin section in a song was considered a necessary element Time has not been kind to fiddle players, and hearing this album again makes me a little nostalgic for those times When is comes to Dexy's, I'm really just interested in the Greatest Hits, and didnt find any surprises buried in this collection
Nada guau, el del medio Nota: 2.9
This was great, but by the end I was kinda ready to be done. Four stars.
Pari vähän parempaa, mm Come on Eileen
Come on Eileen and The Celtic Soul Brothers are the stand out tracks, along with a decent cover of Jackie Wilson Said but the rest of it is fairly average.
Yah I went into this album thinking it was gunna be chock full of hidden gems that got over shadowed by THE song, but sadly outside of one track I didn’t end up saving anything else. I should preface by saying I think come on Eileen is easily one of the greatest songs ever, and it’s wildly catchy chorus and lyrics are timeless. But that being said, that song does ALL of the heavy lifting on this album. Nothing has that charm or magic like COE does. Also if there wasn’t a timeless classic song in this album I’d say it’s probably one of the worst I’ve listened to on this list so far. Like 3 songs I realized that the lead singer might have the most grating and despicable vocal delivery I’ve ever heard. It’s just wailing and hitting the same note over and over again. Seriously if it wasn’t for COE this album would get a spiteful and angry 1. But sadly I can’t do that to COE,it’s literally too perfect of a song.
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'
Ok, I actually knew 2 songs off this album: Jackie Wilson Said and of course Come On Eileen. I like both of those songs. The rest was ok.
Fun album full of bombastic Celtic influenced rock. Favorite track: Come On Eileen
Eh
Come on Eileen is the GOAT of songs. But the rest of this album was pretty much awful?
A bit too long but there are some nice tunes on here. Come On Eileen really does slap.
5.07
remarkably annoying.
Found this to be largely quite irritating
Come on Eileen is a bop and they really tried here, I got to give them credit. That being said I did not like what they were trying but they were trying none the less. 4/10
Awesome memories of junior high school, a very important album for me!
Partly great, partly not so
The Celtic Soul Brothers and the Jackie Wilson Said cover could have been easy follow ups to the seminal Come on Eileen. That track has all the production value for the album. Other than that, a fairly forgettable album of dancy bar music.
Passed me by a bit unfortunately. Cool to hear a pop rock record with no guitar. Unfortunately nothing grabbed me and sounded actually interesting and second listen through I was actually really struggling with it
I mean, come on, this rips.
Come on Eileen er en klassiker! Litt mye prating/greier på slutten av sangene.
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.
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.
Eileen is a super fav
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.
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!
Just....too much.
That man does not need to be doing all that.
This album sounds like early ska, as Ryan put it—and I think that’s an apt description. I’ve never listened to Dexys Midnight Runners much beyond “Come On Eileen,” but surprisingly, Too-Rye-Ay is a really fun album. It’s full of energy, brass, and a kind of scrappy charm that feels both soulful and a little chaotic in the best way. You can see how they stood out in the early ’80s scene with that mix of punk attitude, blue-eyed soul, and folk influences all mashed together.
I decently liked the tunes until the singer started wailing, gasping, hiccuping and convulsing all over every song
Cover 5 First, the version to listen to is the "(As it should have sounded)" that came out in 2022. Regardless, I was never fully enamored with this band. I liked his voice, because it was original sounding. I don't know, as a kid, I thought it was kinda funny but I it.
Some fun to be had.
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.
Kind of interesting. Not great.
7 of the songs were not available to hear in the US.
By the 38-minute mark, Kevin Rowland’s voice had started to wear thin after enduring about ten variations of essentially the same song—all while waiting for their biggest hit, which, of course, doesn’t arrive until the final track. I’d be genuinely surprised if the band’s two other albums on this list turn out to be anything more than mediocre. “Come On Eileen” remains one of the most overplayed one-hit wonders in music history, even today. The fact that this group appears three times in the 1001 Albums list only reinforces the notion that the selections were heavily influenced by UK music critics.
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!
All the soungs sound pretty much the same. As everyone else mentions, Come On Eileen is the best song here. 3/5
There’s nothing special here at all imo. Come on Eileen stands out but it seems more of a fluke than a real capturing of lightning in a bottle. Bored nearly all the way through
Fun Irish album. Nothing really special past the song everyone knows.
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
Loved the horns and the backing vocals and sounds like a very fun live band. A couple songs I’ll come back to (Liars A to E) but generally didn’t grab me. Don’t love the crooning weirdo vocals.
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.
This certainly was unique. Folk skaa is the closest thing I could come up with (theres some other genres tested, but thats what stood out) 😂 Mostly decent tracks. Only familiar with Come On Eileen before this and the album definitely stretches those themes I liked Jackie Wilson Said, Lets Make This Precious and of course Come On Eileen. Not likely ill come back, but this was a solid 2.5/3 star spin
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.
Come On Eileen carried the album
Eh- too “movie soundtrack” for me. All of the songs are pretty fun, though/of course. THREE!
I did not expect to see this mainstay of VH1 one hit wonder lists show up here but interesting to hear an entire album. I think at least one other of these songs could have been hits. A great sound but a little goes a long way. I was relieved to finally look at the Wiki page for this album and see I only needed to get through the first 10 songs. I did have some good times in college dancing to Come On Eileen if anyone wants to hear more about that.
Another one on here for one song. Pretty sure we’ve had Dexys before and they did not need another entry. Not bad.
This band does not deserve multiple albums on this list. I can't stand his voice and I've always disliked C'mon Eileen.
So we have 3 albums from these guys and one album from Jay Z, Beyonce, Green Day, none from Drake, John Mayer Tame Impala, or the Black Keys? Sick.
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 pretty fun
Decent album, banger in Come On Eileen.
Even in the ‘80s in the UK if you asked someone in the street to tell you anything about Dexys Midnight Runners you would get something about Come On Eileen, dungarees, a fat dart player, or a song about Geno Washington. Dexys were not a wildly popular band, they had a wildly popular single. They aren’t bad, but they really didn’t cause much of a ripple in the UK beyond tales of Eileen’s spunky adventures, and I really don’t think they need at least two albums in this list. As for the music, it’s ok, nothing bad, nothing exceptional. I suspect it was a smart choice to put Come On Eileen as the last track otherwise 90% of album listens would get no further than it.
It's fine. Nothing grips me on this album except Come On Eileen, which will get me going everytime. 5/10
Not bad, but a lot of these songs should work better than they do. Overall was just boring. “Come On Eileen” is a classic, just a shame that nothing sounds even close to how good that is.
Come on Eileen is the top five 80s song!! at the room enjoyed the second half more than the first half
If there’s also a song called Plan B, shouldn’t it have been called Come IN Eileen?
I never liked Come On Eileen so I have low expectations. The vaguely in-tune screeching of the violin is painful in places. And Rowland's voice isn't my favourite. This album isn't a complete stinker - but it's a Too-Rye-Nay rather than Too-Rye-Ay from me. Jackie Wilson Says is the best track on the album. But there's nothing else I particularly want to hear again. 2½
Only 2 good songs, on a very long album
Too dry aye
This is not New Wave. It's Folk Wave.
Too Rye Ay is an album that i just have the strangest feelings on. On one hand i think that the album does get incredibly repetitive with all the songs having that Irish folk style which while it does sound nice and unique at points, it can get quite repetitive when dragged out and the album does have it's really bad moments (I'm looking at you, Until I Believe In My Soul) but on the other hand, It has some really solid singles with stuff like The Celtic Soul Brothers and Come On Eileen and I think Kevin Rowland's vocals are a huge step up from their last album (except for that one song i mentioned prior). Its equal parts a 2 and 4 star album so all together, it gets a 3. Best Song: Come On Eileen Worst Song: Until I Believe In My Soul
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.
Irish af
Alright pop. The standout is the song everyone already knows. Don't remember anything else. Less weird than last album of theirs that was recommended.
Definitely a band with a divergent sound for the 80s. Fun, rolling, definitely a party. The problem is the party goes on too long, with songs and the album. A good party knows its limits and stops when it’s time to stop. This party reeks of stale beer and stale feelings…
Great album. Cohesive whole but great individual tracks.
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
Fiolerna ändå ganska kul på denna skiva
Ganska skön vibe, stileget sound, och uppskattar delar av arrangemanget - främst stråkarna. I helhet är det dock lite för "glad" känsla för min mörka själ, och om det inte varit så hade detta varit en solklar femma.
Mer än bara Eileen ju (som är en superlåt!). Unikt, skönt, sound.
Hetsigt och bitvis ganska jobbig musik kände jag, men vad skulle vi göra utan Come On Eileen??
Неплохо, весьма неплохо. Хорошая точка входа в ирландскую музыку
Adam said 4 out of 5, I’d say 3
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.
Come on Eileen
Pretty good stuff. Good driving album
I was expecting boring new wave. I got weird British pub rock with lots of horns and terrible singing. It's ok, but not exactly great or even that good. The big hit, "Come on Eileen" was by no means the best song, and is in fact one of the worst. The album is also too long and could stand the removal of some of the instrumentals.
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
3.5
3.5. Enjoyable
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.
Enjoyable album. Celtic folk-rock. The horns and strings throughout add a lot to the compositions. Come on Eileen and the cover of Van Morrison's Jackie Wilson were the only two songs I was familiar with, but not a clunker on the entire album.
2025-09-24: Songs of manageable length, nice music with enough variety, … I might have given it a 5 on a better day.
Got pretty lucky with the one hit, huh
Gear: ZiiGaat x Hangout.Audio: Odyssey 2 Artwork: 😞👨🔧🥢 Production: 🔊🎆👍 Music: 😒🙉🔁 Rating: 🥽🥽/5
3/5
Too Rye Ay is full of energy and charm, but after a while it all starts to blur together. More about the vibe than the vocals.
expected more
Somebody get that poor girl a towel! For as fun as some of the tracks are on this record, and yes, there are multiple, it's pretty far from essential listening before you die. Still, when you have a world-renowned dance hall classic on your album, you're doing something right.
The fiddle-lined folksiness and exaggeratedly expressive vocal styling that made 'Come On Eileen" such a lasting hit wears thin stretched across a full album.
-definitely a step up from the other Dexys Midnight Runners album i heard which was a bit of a nothingburger. not my absolute favorite thing but it was fun, love the genre blending -this was my first time hearing Come On Eileen in full. shit is fire. a worthy number to become a one hit wonder for -Favorites are Let’s Make This Precious and Come On Eileen
One stand out track 😂
A cop has a man in handcuffs outside a club. The cop goes to take a statement. The man says, "first they played 'Jump', so I jumped. Then they played 'Twist and Shout', so I twisted and I shouted. I guess all the trouble started when they played 'Come On Eileen'". Anyway this album kinda sucks lmao.
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.
I was slightly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Obviously the singles but the rest too.
bello bello bello
More dexys, guess at least it has the big hit which I think is a good song but has been overplayed to the point I can't enjoy it. Like the last album we had by them, I feel like a lot of the other songs sound a bit like come on Eileen but not as good. They definitely have their own sound but it is built on a small range of music. They are just about okay to listen to once but I'm surprised they were as popular as they were.
Play "Come on Eileen" 18 times!
Come on Eileen is obviously a classic. The rest was ok, some much better than others I thought. Jackie Wilson said was my favourite but it's a Van Morrison track so doesn't really count. 2.5 but I'm feeling generous
Not good or interesting except come on eileen
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
Tem umas passagens interessantes quando a banda se desvia do som Pop convencional, mas não passa de um disco mediano.
Much preferred their first album. This was all over the place with little cohesion. Almost felt like a collection of odds and ends.
It's a fun mix of Irish folk and 80s pop.
Really really good listen
Another album I bought recently. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes. 11/1001, 11/44 (25%) Will I get? Already have
Ah, one of the Kevin Rowland re-inventions - the second popular version of Dexy's Midnight Runners after their Young Soul Rebels phase. Still, it's better than the more recent re-inventions! This was the first time I'd played this album, though I was familiar with Come on, Eileen, though it suffers from the huge airplay it received at the time. I was a bit surprised how the rest of the album seems steeped in soul. Not a bad effort, but not sure how 'great' it is.
3+
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
They're a lively bunch, aren't they. And they're more than Come on Eileen and Jackie Wilson Said too. They barely put a foot wrong here, showing off their Northern Soul influences on a number of tunes (e.g. Let's Make This Precious, Show Me), plus a healthy dose of horns and a side of violins, it all adds up to a winner. I will happily return to this when I need cheering up, or just because really.
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!
fun
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!
5/5 - a no skip album. Just banger after banger. Absolutely loved it!!!
new to me and I like it!
🧈
no es para mí
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.
Is it weird if I think Come on Eileen is a bit overrated? Overall a joyful set of Celtic soul, even if I don’t really understand what the lyrics are about.
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.
The are a whole lot of very mediocre British albums on this list. There's a reason these guys were a one hit wonder. It's not a bad album, but certainly not one of the 1000 most important ever in all of music.
Dreadful. I always hated Come on Eileen so to listen to entire album of this drivel was a painful experience.
enjoyed it much more than dont stand me down, no nonsense talking over the tracks, most were fun listens and catch, and good ol eileen brought it home
4/10 not my style. Has Come on Eileen so that was cool as I didn’t know it was from this album but honestly found it all annoying.
Nice
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.
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.
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.
I don’t understand how there are 3 albums by this band on the list. Fine, unobjectionable, but nothing great.
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.
Third Dexy's album, are you kidding me? It's probably a deserving of a two with how big of a hit Come on Eileen was, but I'm going with a one out of spite because they don't deserve to have one album on here, let alone three.
Jäi kesken, 1/5
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.
A couple of catchy tunes with a couple weird songs and musical choices mixed in. Overall, pretty good.
about as goofy as you'd expect given Come On Eileen but it's not a bad time !
Great album, horns, pop but avant garde. Interesting and weird but nourishing. What’s not to love?
Fun!
Very solid but I only saved a couple songs. Liked the instrumentation and vocals.
Rating: 6/10 Really enjoyed the Celtic influences, even though it all starts to sound the same after a while.
Like Human League a couple days ago, Dexys Midnight Runners is responsible for one of the greatest singles of the 80s - “Come On Eileen,” and while I was interested in listening to the whole album that that song came from, I was also extremely aware I’ve ALREADY had a DMR album this project and it was one of the worst things I’ve listened to so far! So, let’s say my expectations were…tempered. Thankfully, this album is totally okay! While “Eileen” is still the clear standout, the rest of it is fine! Fun songs, the singer’s voice is really weird and good (he reminded me of Justin Hawkins from The Darkness at many points), and while, it’s never going to be my favorite album, it is way better than their previous representation on this list, and better than the Human League album I got earlier this week.
Fun instrumentals, irritating vocals. Can’t believe these guys have three albums on here 🙄
I find the album overall pretty bland and uninteresting. Yeah it’s got the big track but the rest of the album isn’t strong enough to hold up
Not my fav but not terrible. Come on Eileen is a classic. Some good songs. 2.5 probably
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.
Watching the original video of Come On, Eileen almost put me off altogether, it was so bad! But I don't think I thought at the time. It’s a fun album, it’s dated - surely it didn't really influence any body ? Other than a few high school bands?
I liked this more than I thought I would. I don't like Come on Eileen, Rowland's strangled singing or Celtic fiddle, but the horns and other string arrangements make for some enjoyable tracks.
Not sure I "needed to hear this album", but it was cool
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.😏
The vocalist sounds like an insufferable cartoon character. Until today I had never heard a Dexy's song that wasn't Come On Eileen. Now I fully understand why. This shit sucks.
Jako jako zabavan album, sviđa mi se najviše melodija i ritam u pjesmama, pogotovo prvih par su me dosta podsjetile na Neutral Milk Hotel. Iako malo mi je dosadio glas jer sam imala osjećaj da je većina pjesma bas slična. NO certified banger s albuma je "All in All" to je genuinely prekrasna pjesma. Cijelom albumu bi dala 3.5/5 but that is not possible so I give it a three.
Not my style.
Not particularly interesting.
n é fera
Pretty good.
Inoffensive and nothing too special. You've heard Come on Eileen so many times that it feels like you're being blasted by it everytime it comes on. It's still a good song, but the rest of the album felt like meandering tripe.
This is a vocal style I really can't have for an entire album. Reminds me of talking heads. But the sounds are varied with an undertone of 80's camp. All three dexys albums are on here but those others were all commercial flops. I think the editor panel's bias is showing.
Most of the songs are fine, not a particular fan of his voice. And Come On Eileen is a banger.
Definitely recognize "Come On Eileen"! Enjoyed the rest of the album with the mix of energy and melodies.
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
Rambunctious to a fault.
Overraskende god hele vejen igennem. Meget festlig.
Would have been two stars but Come On Eileen brings it up to 4
I think my hatred of Come On Eileen has tainted this band forever for me. The rest of the album is fine, nothing special.
Not the best from the midnight runners.
Reminds me of the south side Dubious goes too hard Love a little van Sucker for a string section
Not bad, ima tu dobrih stvari skroz. Možda su mrvu sejm sejm kao slični bendovi iz tog razdoblja, pa samo zato 3/5, 6/10
Bangers but not 100% my cup of tea as one might say.
I love the hit song but I was quite bored by most of the songs besides that
go on then have five stars. holy nostalgic
2.6 Such a strange choice. Firstly, I love Come on Eileen. It's a great track, instant dance floor filler at a wedding. But they're a one hit wonder band for a reason. The inclusion of this album on this list is just unnecessary. Come on Eileen works as it's so danceable, but take away that element, as the rest of the album seemingly does, and you're left with grating vocals and far too much brass. They caught lightning in a bottle with that one song, and leave us to suffer through an additional hour because of it.
Eh. If this was the only Dexys album here I might have been more enthused, but as it is this really feels like a lot shit thrown at the wall and one or two bits stuck.
I'm just not gonna listen to this, I know it's bad
Did we have a stroke in 1982? Dexys Midnight Runners (to the shitter)
I like Dexys Midnight Runners, but not really enough to seek them out. I’d give this a 3.5.
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!
Enjoyable album. Obviously 'Come On Eileen' is the standout but the other songs were just as fun.
A great pop album. A couple of classic singles, and some solid filler tracks.
Sure, "Come On Eileen" is good - I suppose why we've all heard it a thousand times. The rest of the album doesn't do much for me.
Celtic Soul is hard to define - much like the word Celtic itself, slippery as it is suggestive. Is it 'seltic' or 'keltic'? Van Morrison’s Caledonia Soul Orchestra sounds only slightly like Alex Harvey and His Soul Band, which sounds nothing like the 'Big Music' of the Waterboys or the ragamuffin hijinks of Dexys’ second album. All of them have soul of a kind. None sound anything like Noirin Ni Riain’s Celtic Soul album. Is Tom Jones Celtic Soul? He must be, he's Welsh. Most prominently, the term appears in the name of the Glasgow football team, Celtic - understood as the Irish club abroad, as opposed to the predominantly Protestant Rangers. And that feels about right: Celtic is a label for the hybrid, the obscured, when more precise terms - Irish, Scottish, Welsh - won’t do. It covers a tangle of cultures and histories: the Ulster-Scots mysticism of Morrison, Mike Scott’s Yeats obsession, born of Edinburgh, aimed at Sligo. A mess of connections, nothing concrete. So it’s no surprise that second-generation Irish Brummie Kevin Rowland should fuse his love of Northern Soul with his Irish heritage on Too-Rye-Ay - “Introducing the Celtic Soul Brothers.” It’s a peculiar fit, as it often is for so-called plastic paddies - fully immersed in cultures they don’t fully belong to. Black music and Irish music performed with an English accent. The large wave of Irish immigration to post-war Britain meant that, by the 1980s, many musicians had been raised in Irish Cultural Centres in cities like Birmingham, Manchester, London. They grew up hearing a mix of ceili and country & Irish before they ever heard pop. Elvis Costello, to an extent. Oasis, later. The Smiths, obviously. Morrissey may have Irish blood and an English heart, but no soul. More than any of them, Rowland captured the feeling – if not the actual aesthetic - of the working men’s clubs and the Northern Soul discos, packaging it into this strange, passionate album. It's all noise and clutter, nobody really paying attention to anyone else. The worst – and most common - experience of Irish trad music played in pubs is whenever everyone plays the same lines at the same time, because nobody knows anything else. He misses the mark, however, if he he's trying to connect the soultastic shang-a-lang-a-lang of Morrison’s “Jackie Wilson Said” to the folkish goobledegook of Too-Rye-Ay. It sounds less like Jackie Wilson and more like Bing Crosby crooning ‘Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral’ Compared to Morrison, Rowland can't help but be more laboured, more self-conscious. More performative. Less Celtic Soul Brothers than Celtic Soul Cousins. Everything Rowland knows is inherited – just like the dungarees he's wearing on the front. But he was playing to a culture that didn’t particularly care. When they performed “Jackie Wilson Said” on Top of the Pops, someone swapped the soul legend’s photo for one of Scottish darts titan Jocky Wilson. Mistake, obviously. But telling. Black, Irish, Scottish, working-class, immigrant, minority, other. All the same. All very different to the life of a middle-class, BBC professional. Dexys looked like they’d spent time near a dartboard, even if they seemed too fragile to throw one. Too-Rye-Ay performs a culture that never quite existed in Ireland. It existed only in Kevin Rowland’s heart. The record aches with longing, but not the same longing we hear on Soul records. There’s a term for it, immigrant sorrow: longing for something that doesn't exist. Longing for an identity you don't fully inhabit. 'Until I Believe in my Soul' Rowland sings, believing, for the moment, that his soul is Celtic. Whatever that is. It's the kind of feeling that doesn’t always find a home, even in a song. There are moments on Too-Rye-Ay that don’t sound like anything traditional, but might sound a little like the mix of Irish and Scottish you get in Kentucky or the Carolinas. As nebulous and unspecific as Americana. Not home, but an echo of it. The sincere pose of Too-Rye-Ay lasted only one album. It gave Rowland his biggest success, but it clearly sat uncomfortably with him, and he moved on. Too busy, completely unfocussed. Living between two cultures is difficult - but at least it offers options. That’s why Rowland could imagine a Plan B, while Van Morrison, on his 2012 record, sang in his repetitive trance-like way “No Plan B, No Plan B…” Van is stuck with his Celtic Soul. His career was built on it. But Rowland gets to walk away. Still, it’s fitting that Dexys’ biggest success, Come On Eileen, became a wedding staple.Their only hit in America, where all Irishness is performed. And everybody performs at a wedding. The wedding is the Irish Cultural Centre of the world. The working man’s club of the heart. The ceilidh of the soul. 2 These are not bad songs and the abundant character in Kevin Rowland’s voice compensates somewhat for the utter lack of it in the other parts. On the whole this is a very dodgy album though, I think. There is a stench of dilettantism that hangs about. The production is dreadful in several respects. The arrangements are cluttered - lots going on all the time, the verse of Let’s Make This Precious for example where drums, bass, keyboard, horns and backing vocals are busy beneath Rowland’s vocal mugging. Texturally there is nowhere for the chorus to go, except fiddles which have, miraculously, been held back. Much of the album is like this. There is no light and shade, just a ceaseless assault of instruments and musical detail. The mix is rotten too. The double-tracking in the vocals makes it hard to hear the lyrics. The violins are dry, adding a rather harsh edge to the unison lines. Everything is too clean and compressed. I never sense musicians in a room. 10 musicians in 10 rooms. Even the backing singers in Liars A to E sound as if they are recorded separately, performing separately, remote from any other musical action. The whole thing is loud, ignorant, and unpleasant. I hate the violins. There is nothing the least bit ‘Celtic’ in the purity of tone, the polite, carefully measured bowing, and the clarity of the lines. I don’t know if that is necessarily what they are going for but they don’t know either. These fiddle players sound lost the whole way through the album; doubling lines needlessly, playing awkward riffs that should be left to the horns (or left out altogether!); the solos in Celtic Soul Brothers or All in All…it’s not that those are bad lines on paper (paper which I feel sure is on a stand in front of the soloist) it’s the witless way they are delivered. The tin whistle at the start of Until I Believe in My Soul might capture the essence of the problem better than any single moment. That is not what a tin whistle is for, sir. You’re thinking of a recorder. But of course it had to be a tin whistle doing it didn’t it? Tin whistles are more Irish. It’s just another tacked-on signifier of Celticness. I don’t mean to sound precious about Irish music or Irishness - I really don’t care. But it represents yet another clumsily fitted cog that you can see moving. With all this in mind, the straight cover of Jackie Wilson Said was a particularly bad idea. I listened to the original later. How well does it capture the relaxed spirit and sense of communal music-making and organic quality that is missing from Too Rye Ay. 2/5
Come on Eileen is the only thing that stands out. 2/5
Perfect! Come On Eileen is a masterpiece!
As I said with the last Dexy's album I got - "Solid ska band made worse (for the most part) by a ridiculous vocalist." This remains the case though .5 for Come on Eileen because it's a classic.
Pretty decent album, has some catchy rhythms and grooves. Sounds a bit punk ish to me as well
Most well known song is "Come on Eileen". The vocals are delivered overly dramatic, feature a constant falsetto and every line ends with a forced vibrato.apparently that's supposed to be New Wave.
Definitely better in as it should be beard mix
I don't love Dexys, but they've got a couple real bangers on here, and they tend to leave me in a good mood, even if they feel like a bit much sometimes. This is one that swings a lot based on mood for me.
Come On Eileen and All In All are bangers. All the songs on this record have quite a similar feel, but quite pleasant listening overall. Would listen again I think.
6/10 The tunes are alright - gets a bit much at times.
I don't really have nothing to say about this. It's that middle of the road for me. Eillen song is catchy, but nothing else stands out at all.
Not good, but at least it was upbeat so that's worth something.
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!
Aside from their one-hit-wonder smash "Come on Eileen", I'm pretty sure I've never heard anything else by the illustrious Dexys Midnight Runners (although apparently "Geno" and "The Celtic soul brothers" were also hits in the UK, so I guess they were only a one-hit wonder on the US side of the pond). I like it that the rest of the album is recognizable as the same band as their big hit, but not much else on the album really stood out. ("Let's make this precious" sounded to me a bit Cure-like, curiously.) It was a good move that they added strings to their sound, making them a bit more distinctive than other early 80s rock/R&B bands (particularly noticeable on "All in all"); a shame that the horns and string players left the band after recording the album, though. I thought it's pretty funny that after opening for The Specials a few times, they decided they needed to have outfits, and chose "donkey jackets and woolly hats" to look like they came out of "Mean Streets" (and very evident in their quirky video for "The Celtic soul brothers"; I have no idea what look they were going for in the video for "Come on Eileen" with the denim overalls). I wish that their cover of "Jackie Wilson said" was a bit less derivative of Van Morrison's original, but I liked the energy. I'll admit that I'm a bit mystified that there's another album by Dexys Midnight Runners in this collection--it's not clear to me that Kevin Rowland and company are really *that* interesting or important to warrant two albums. But then again, that could easily be said of a lot of artists and albums in this project.
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!
Favorites: The Celtic Soul Brothers, Come On Eileen, Until I Believe In My Soul Of course, the song everyone knows Dexys Midnight Runners for is Come On Eileen, and for good reason - that song is a classic, and a staple in the mainstream new wave scene. However, I can't help but feel that the rest of the record lacks a bit in the same quality/ambitions that Come On Eileen strives for. It's disappointing, honestly.
What a surprisingly great album. I’d only ever heard come on Eileen before but I really enjoyed this.
This band sucks why do they have multiple albums on this list?
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.
HOMER: Lisa, did you see the Grammys? LISA: You beat Dexy’s Midnight Runners. HOMER: Well, you haven’t heard the last of them!
There's some good stuff here. The horn part on Dubious, Show Me, Liars A to E, and of course Come on Eileen. But the rest kinds of fades into the background and frankly it's probably 15 - 20 minutes too long. Cut this down to a tight 10 songs and you'd gain a lot here.
Old pop with slight country. I don’t really like this. The band that did Come On Eileen.