Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Ended up having more fun with the second half of it. I enjoy the experimental nature and when it works it's a lot of fun. Tough one to rate after one listen. Most of these songs though didn't land for me. Rating: 3.2
唱腔有点古怪，歌还行
35 minutes of jamming with instruments they found in a cupboard
What a silly one! Reminded me a lot of Talking Heads but even more off-the-wall. A handful of really good tunes that are definitely worth a listen, but the other 5/6 are just not doing much for me, including the two rather long 4-5 minutes instrumental interludes. 5/10
The more avant-garde tracks like "Thriller!" and "Drinking Wine Spodyody" I could sort of do without due to how grading they can get to the ears, but there's some great artsy punk to be found here. The vocals will definitely be something you either hate or like.
Not exactly pleasant but it had me hooked
I was really not looking forward to this one since I frequently see it mentioned as being one of the worst albums on this list, but it was actually not terrible. Yes it’s noisy and chaotic but it’s not anything crazy.
Thriller was like massaging my brain with that weird rubber squish.
You can totally hear the influence this had. Pixies, TV on the Radio, King Missile, just to skim the surface. It’s experimental punk, but well played. Never proggy. Reminds me a bit of Captain Beefheart. Certainly an acquired taste. Very interesting. Definitely different. Don’t love, but don’t hate. It’s kinda fun.
I was a little apprehensive when I read "Dub" in the title as I hate DubStep, but then I saw the date the album was made and started feeling better. Then I listened to the album and felt great! I don't recall ever hearing about Pere Ubu. After listening to the album, as much as I enjoyed it, I can understand why it stayed underground and why I had not heard of Pere Ubu.
Most of this was decent proto-new wave. Cool to see some of the beginnings of that movement. But man Thriller! sucked
This is an interesting one. I can't say I *enjoyed* listening to it, but it was certainly *interesting* to listen to these tracks. I also wouldn't say it is bad music- everything feels intentional and correct, even when it makes my eardrums uncomfortable. 2/5 for enjoyment, but I am glad to listen to something so different.
weird but fun
ohio rizz sigma skibidi
Muy distinto a lo que suelo escuchar, me sirvió para tomar el tiempo de mi viaje al trabajo. Intrigante el absurdismo que proponen. 🤔
This is exactly why I continue to plow through this list. What a wild and wonderful album.
The music started and I was like, "Ok... 😀" Then the vocals started and I was like, "Oh, ok... 😐"
An attempt was made
Enjoyable weirdness. How does he even sing like that?!
It was fine.
I actually kind of liked this.
I can see why some people appreciate this band.
I honestly hated this much as I respected it, didn't enjoy, but glad it was made
I’m glad I l heard this, though I’m not sure I can say that I enjoyed this. I take that back- I did enjoy this, and there were enough experimental and creative moments that it kept me engaged throughout. It felt like it was made with a proper punk ethos, which I respect, though this was genrefied as post-punk. Was punk already dead in ‘78?
3.75
Jännä kombo indiee ja garagee ja sit viel jotain etelärokkii. Ei tää nyt kuitenkaan kauheesti lähtenyt. 3/5
Talking heads but worse It grew on me though Might like it more when I listen again
I'll put it like this: the band was described itself as "avant-garage," and I dig the "garage" half more than I do the "avant-" half.
I feel like I got hypnotized. Seriously, I really don’t quite know what the fuck to make of that. There’s two ways to listen to this album: by sitting down and trying to actually give a sort of critique on the soundscape of everything, the mixing, etc., and go from there. There’s also the approach I took by “Thriller!” which was to just stand up, walk in place, and let the music simply drag me around. The latter worked for me; I don’t know why, but “Thriller!”, “Drinking Wine Spodyody,” and “Codex” were hypnotically pleasing despite being objectively terrible soundscapes, solely from just walking in place. That hypnotism made me realize this album feels like a Talking Heads album one might create in their sleep (with a really bad hangover). The first half of this album doesn’t work for me at all; I think it’s too noisy to be a walk in place sort of mood, but the back half works for me. I don’t think I can ever revisit this album except to experience that sort of hypnotic feeling again, because as far as an actual structured album, in the traditional sense, it’s absolutely a 2. However, in terms of just how I felt… I dunno, that feeling and the sort of otherworldly escape I felt seems 4-ish. I’ll split the difference and say a 3. What a strange, strange, almost alien album that doesn’t feel like anything else from 1978 whatsoever.
Experimental post-punk with some jazz flair. Sort of crazy lyrics that actually read as decent absurdist poetry. *Sigh* This album should be my jam, and I really wanted to like it more than I did. It's a little bit Public Image Ltd, a little bit Alex Harvey, a little bit Peter Gabriel. There are some funky grooves and a lot of weirdness. There are even some fun, catchy poppier songs (Caligari's Mirror). *However* Holy hell, is this dude's voice annoying. He sounds like Alex Harvey on helium. Actually, it's like listening to Andy Serkis performing this album as Smeagol. It gets very grating unless he's buffered by the music and other vocals (again, Caligari's Mirror). Thriller! is a weird "instrumental" pastiche of ambient sounds and excerpts of recordings that sounds like something you'd hear during the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World. It's sort of interesting at first, but it just goes on way too long. I might give this one a few more listens to see if it grows on me more. It's not bad per se, I just can't get on board with the dude's voice. I'll probably stick with the Sensational Alex Harvey band if I'm looking for this style of album in the future. 3/5 — it would be a 4 if the dude's voice didn't make my ears bleed.
אוונגארד לא משהו אבל עדיין שמיע
3.5
Very off the wall and experimental but I think it worked. I’m all for a reference to French theatre - just the right amount of pretension. I have heard of Père Ubu but for some reason I thought they were ‘World Music’ - a strange name for a genre. Anyway they’re not but I quite like the slightly aggressive screechy punk overtones. Surprising and refreshing.
I'm a bit down the middle on this. I liked the compositions and the vibe, but deliberately bad singing is difficult to endure. And OK, "bad" is not a great descriptor. Non-musical? Creatively atonal? All over the fucking place? Whatever. I recognize the dude is wildly expressive, but I kept thinking, if I had walked into an audition when I was in my early 20s and the guy started singing like that, I would have picked up my sticks and headed for the door in three minutes. Like, how do you hear that and decide — Yes! That's the sound we were looking for? So, good on them for turning that into a "must-listen," but I stand by my decision to decline their offer to join the band.
This is wicked weird and will get extra stars for just being way out there. The recording quality is high and the songs barely hold together in the best way possible.
The first half of the album was surprising and fresh. Really enjoyed the melding of punk and electronica elements. I feel like the last 2 tracks were superfluous. The last half of the album, I kept checking “how much more do I have to go before it’s over?”
Some of the songs are good. Others... no so much. What the heck is going on in Drink Wine Spodyody or Thriller? Touch call on this one...
Good, not great album for supposed big influence on indie/alternative rock scene. Meh.
Not for me dawg
Navvy - 6.5/10 On The Surface - 7/10 Dub Housing - 7.5/10 Cagliari's Mirror - 6.5/10 Thriller! - 6/10 I, Will Wait - 7/10 Drinking Wine Spodyody - 7.5/10 Ubu Dance Party - 6/10 Blow Daddy-O - 7.5/10 Codex - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 69/100
I wanted to like it more really.
Nothing exceptional here. Maybe weird for the time but there have always been artists that have an alternate vision. An eclectic mix with the better songs having none or muted vocals.
Different!
Neat album, and I like what it's trying to do. However, I don't super see myself listening to it again. Maybe though. 3.25/5
This record feels like a unique and creative descent into madness and I kinda liked it. Wasn't really for me but I could recognize some of the influence.
Vocals extrem gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber musikalisch wars insgesamt mal erfrischend anders. 2,6.
Iinteresting…
It's got its highs and lows. Not as much fun as This Modern Dance, but I'd re-listen...
thankfully, not another singer-songwriter album. sounds very experimental, disorientating and punky at times. not sure id listen to it again tbh Significant 31/96 Liked 15/96 Added 4/96 YYN(maybe?)
I've really come to enjoy this album. Not accessible by any means but they absolutely did their own thing and did it well. Elements of Devo, the talking heads, Fugazi, combined with some weird 80's art school aesthetics.
One of the hardest albums I've had to rate. I absolutely did not like it but I also found myself mesmerized by the sound more than once. What a strange ride. I know I'll think about this album in the future.
Ubu #2 My first impression is, I kinda liked this more than the first one? Even if that just means that I’m now more accustomed to the funhouse-mirror-warped rock that is Pere Ubu’s music. Not the easiest of listens, but I think this gets a bad wrap on this website. I can’t decide on the big finale “Codex”, on 1st listen it sounded like the worst song ever written, but I keep going back to it…? Hm 3.5 HL: title track, “On The Surface”, “Caligari’s Mirror”, “I Will Wait” December 16th, 2023
Talking Heads esq 3.5
Funky, fun, zany, and eccentric. I think Pete Ubu is just a weird band that made weird music that wasn’t terrible. Had never heard of this group or any of their music before but I enjoyed this one! Three stars.
This is a very absurdist punk album. At times it felt like they had a random noise generator as a backing track. A very wild and mentally stimulating listening session. Punk and rock will always have a plus to my heart. I probably wont listen to songs on this album in my daily listening, but I do appreciate aspects of this album that I can hear more current artists in my life being influenced by.
Very modern-sounding, I can definitely see how it was influential for a lot of people and bands. Unfortunately I didn't actually enjoy it.
There's a lot of post punk I love, there's a new wave that needed pioneers. I can trace a line from this to them. There's a time when I'd have got into an album like this "just because" but it's difficult listening. But I can see what it led to.
3.5 - I can see why this may have felt like a groundbreaker when it first came out. Pere Ubu definitely applies a vastly wide sonic palate and there’s no shortage of anomalies and it takes a while to settle into this Devo-on-ketamine type of sound. I like a stretch of three songs on side B - “Drinking Wine Spodyody”, “(Pa) Ubu Dance Party” and “Blow Daddy-O.” But overall I get a little tired of this seemingly rudderless whackiness. Perhaps at some later time if I have an occasion to revisit this record, maybe I’ll draw some deeper meaning?
Another band I've heard about forever but never listened to before. Musically interesting but the yawping vocal style is not for me.
I like all of the instruments sounds and stuff, besides for maybe thriller being a little too slow for listening to while cooking, but the vocals feel like something I would enjoy more on future listens rather than the first. Wanted to do 3.5 but it won't let me!!
3.5
I think that a lot of people tend to forget that post-punk can embody a wide range of sounds. It can sound more new wave like the Talking Heads, or it can sound more gothic like the Cure. Those who saw the potential in post-punk early on would adopt a more experimental attitude. Pere Ubu is one of those experiments. Despite the name, there's only a little bit of dub influence in Dub Housing. Most of the runtime is tied up in janky, angular guitars and off-key wails. It gets especially experimental in the tape noises of Thriller! as sounds get less and less intelligible. A descent into madness. Side B brings us back to reality with some wonky synths and a bass groove that slides around. Pere Ubu captures music from a universe slightly different from ours, where we're maybe a file miles closer to the sun and it cooked our brains a little more than usual. I can see why many people would not like this bold form of post-punk, but I happened to enjoy what this album has to offer. Certainly better than their debut.
Weird. Kinda sounds like captain beefheart. Can't say I loved it, but it's the kind of thing that takes more than one listen. Not sure I'll give it that. There were a couple tracks that were kind fun... Wine spodyody especially
This album starts out very jarring. It's nothing short of weird. The abnormal high pitched vocals paired with the high pitched keyboard will definitely get your attention. The singing style is so weird that the lyrics are indistinguishable most of the time but it gives off a very counter-culture vibe. The album starts to settle down around the third track, Dub Housing, on which I really enjoyed the background vocals. Then it really quiets down on Thriller! where it switches to droning guitar with spacey background noises in a way that is reminiscent of a horror movie. It feels like you're in a fishbowl listening to somebody's distorted voice talk over the radio. This song doesn't feel like it belongs on the album stylistically and I'm not sure what purpose it's supposed to serve. But we jump right back in to the unique vocals and alt rock sound in I, Will Wait. I think my favorite song on the album is Drinking Wine Spodyody. It's fun, short, and sweet. (Pa) Ubu Dance Party follows a similar vibe. The last couple songs lose me. Blow Daddy-O has the pacing of Thriller! without the intrigue and Codex is super repetitive with very strained singing. Overall I feel like I should love or hate this album because it's so weird. But truly there are spots that I love and spots that I hate. For only being 35 mins, it feels like this album takes a lot of stylistic twists and turns. Some I like more than others. I wish it were more cohesive and transition better from song to song.
Impossible to mistake for anyone else. I prefer Modern Dance but this one's pretty good.
Rythmé, inclassable. J’aime parce que ce n’est pas ce que j’ai l’habitude d’entendre
Late 70s experimental, avant-garde album with a few more traditional tracks. This is more musician's music. Pere Ubu is one of those bands that may be known more than actually heard because they have more influence with other musicians than on a general audience. "Dub Housing" is not necessarily for everyone but includes some interesting tinkering with sound and arrangments.
post-punk, bordering on experimental
It's probably a cliche, but it does sound like Devo / Talking Heads, but less accessible. Survivorship bias there. Devo had better nerd appeal, catchier hits. Talking Heads also catchier hooks / rhythm section and better vocals... still same ilk. I respect it, chronologically. This was no copycat, this were also Post-Punk pioneers. More experimental. I was starting to dig it but the vocals on Calgary's Mirror was a little too weird and threw me off. I accidentally started listening to Street Waves, was getting into it, and realized that was off The Modern Dance. Thriller! is definitely avant-garde, so that's cool especially because the weirdness is mostly instrumental. Codex just does not work for me, I'm trying to be more open to this stuff, but it just ain't hittin'... it's cringey for me. I get that's probably the point, but I don't like it. Going with a 3 on this one. I don't think I'd claim to be a fan of Pere Ubu based on this album, but I'm glad I'm more aware of them. Thinking I might like The Modern Dance better, so we'll see!
A couple of weeks ago I really didn't know these guys, now, I've heard two of their albums and am becoming a fan! Modern Dance is better than this one, but still pretty damn interesting. Standout: Navvy Others: Dub Housing, I Will Wait, Codex, 3.5/5
Post-punk. Ni fu ni fa.
Interesting, strange, varied. Fave track: Caligari's Mirror
A bit too strange for me.
Can't say much about this.
Interesting, if sometimes off-putting proto/avant-garde-punk rock. Definitely worth one listen. Personal tastes will dictate if subsequent listens are warranted.
The word I would use to describe this would be experimental. I can imagine in the late 70s when this was released it was quite groundbreaking, but is just a bit odd now. Not unpleasant though
The vocals are the weirdest thing about the album. Starts of strong but I lost interest by the end
Really surprised at this record, it was nothing like I expected. Some bands pioneer the path for others and Pere Ubu are one of those bands. PIL are clearly one. The Rapture and “House of Jealous Lovers” must have had a Pere Ubu album tucked away in their collections. A band and album that signalled a direction for others.
Inga större fel på denna.
Lacking flow, but not intensity
Really very odd but strangely entertaining. At least dates to be different
It's not "bad" in those certain terms, but I don't know if I see this as post-punk. It's not necessarily a required album, as it is kind of bizarre.
Decent. It's not great, and might not belong on the list, but I appreciate that American post-punk got a spot, so I'm giving it a 3. 3/5
6/10
Enjoyef
Well slightly disappointed it’s not actually a dub album - but it’s an interesting new wave album - akin to Talking Heads, Devo and the likes. While it’s probably groundbreaking at it’s time - it’s objectively doesn’t stand as well next to it’s peers - with most of the stylings, less of the songs.
Ja oke mag er zijn
moglo je i bolje sjest, nije loše, ali nije ni toliko zanimljivo da me odnese
Post-punk. Ni fu ni fa.
These guys are pretty interesting, this isn’t their best album though
1/30- Driving to school
Odd but mildly interesting, a bit like talking heads
I like the instrumentals, reminds me of garage indie like The Fall but I don’t like the vocals, too wacky & to the fore for me. The very start of post punk. Well produced, loads of ideas & sounds going on here. It’s quite dubby, woozy dub. It’s really hard to describe or categorise this LP, it’s unique, other than the voice it’s really interesting, I’m glad I’ve heard it. As for that voice it just shouts and wails tuneless inane lyrics, it’s too art punk for me. Live it could well have worked though, the voice working like another instrument, jamming with and surfing on it. The music is very alternative, which is a good thing, proper indie music I would call it, John Peel Festive 50. I rate 5 for the music & production 1 for the vocals which gives it a 3. I love the cover art & LP title. Creepy, mysterious, woozy music.
I want to respect this but I just did not like this
Очень сумасшедшая музыка. Авангард-панк. Не моё, хотя саксофон и бас иногда прикольно звучат.
Oh Lord. Beautiful music, classic rock-ish, but the vocals completely took me out. TERRIBLY whiney and just overall a killer. I cherished the songs on the album without the vocals. Would I go back to this album? Maybe-ish but probably not. Favorite lyric: Lack of lyric.
I actually really liked a lot of this.
Decent 80s new wave protopunk.
Plot: Someone gave too many drugs to David Byrne. Instrumentally I love everything that is going on, but like many people I can't get onboard with the vocals. They are too distracting in their delivery. I am fine with atonal but it's just kind of annoying to me. They are sort of "there" in their annoyance, I'd want it either more abrasive or less atonal and not in this middling area of cacophony. "I, Will Wait" is more along the lines of what I want. Actually the 2nd half of the album would be a 4 for me. It's starting to grow on me though, but my initial impression is 3.
Not bad but one and done.
flashes of good, flashes of avant-garde toss. mad that it came out in 78 though, seems like it should be early 80s so it was probably pioneering.
Really interesting, knew nothing of Pere Ubu but was pleasantly surprised.
Just ok
It's weird. It's original. It's sometimes catchy and sometimes it's just dizzy. I liked it musically, and the vocals weren't so annoying that it grated on me. They get the third star for keeping my interest for an entire album.
Pere weird imo. Lots of dissonant sounds that never really came together, seems Talking Heads - esque but not quite there
Fun and chaotic as usual.
Great music supporting an obnoxious asshole of a singer.
Rating: 6/10
Layered, but I think I prefer anything by Swell Maps.
V strange
I don't think bands that include performance art as part of their act cannot fully express their message via audio. It seems to me I'm only receiving somewhere in the vicinity of half of what they are trying to get across. Mostly what gets conveyed is chaos. Which, I didn't hate, but I feel like there was more I was supposed to experience.
This is the weirdest album Iv had on this list in a while. I surprisingly enjoyed this. So great moments on the album but also some of this is unlistenable. Can see this being very influential on future experimental bands. Not sure I enjoyed it enough to make my regular rotation though.
I've never fully got on with Pere Ubu's middle class anti-music though I really do love the last three tracks.
Chillin likt en villin
Suprisingly good. Never heard of them before but it was well advanced for its time.
Daban ganas de estar en el show de Pere Ubu. Gran canción de apertura para mostrar el espíritu del asunto. Me gustó.
Decent shit, hlustaði bara einu sinni í gegn og var svona hálfsofandi þannig þetta mergaðist allt saman hjá mér en það voru skemmtilegar melodiur og áhugaverðr hugmyndir, nennti samt ekki að hlusta aftur, kannski seinna!
This is super weird. Vocally not really interesting, in fact, it's kind of annoying. I don't hate it.... But that's not saying much. 3 because I can see how they were influential
Probably the strangest album I've gotten in this list so far. Interesting in some parts, but just plain annoying in others.
Kinda neat. I can see how it would have been influential, but it wasn't a very fun thing to listen to.
I like pere ubu but this sounded too disjointed
Sufficiently weird.
Demasiado raro para mi gusto
Not my kind of thing, but one of those things I can accept as good despite that.
.
Dub Housing? Deceiving album name... Enjoyed it mostly, but pretty abrasive vocals. *Talking Heads
Dafuq
that one song with the muffled scratchy sound was painful
Some of it's a little too punk/shouty for me, but there are some fun sounds and upbeat vibes in here.
Post punk, first track and vocals interesting. Not bad.
better than I expected, not sure why I expected like techno or some crap, it wasn't bad actually
Its. Good album nothing I cant live without
I don’t care for this. I Will Wait was a solid track but I don’t care for this record.
bruh i listened to this and i cant remember it the curse of 1001 is talking hold where music is starting to become noise. is it pushing the boundary of the art or is it just bad. what defines the value of music. is there a way to objectively rate goodness. i think there is. its called me wanting to finish the album faster so i can listen to the same video game soundtracks over and over instead
There are elements of good songs scattered throughout this album. I just never felt like they put it all together.
Not unpleasant
I found this interesting without totally loving it… maybe meds a couple of listens?
Nothing on this was either enjoyable or interesting. It's not even bad enough to hate.
Idk how to rate this, it's weird and interesting in some aspects but then unlistenable to in some places like thriller. Their goal was never to make something listenable. As a project however it isnt very cohesive or well done 3/10
I can’t think of a greater chasm between singer and band than this. There’s some really interesting, groundbreaking work here, but hearing it is like trying to focus on a piano recital with a car alarm going off.
Weird. But better than their other offering on here. Best not be a third. Some good beats. Terrible vocals.
The first five seconds were promising, and then the lead singer started ... "singing" I saw the Talking Heads comparison and while I get it, I am offended on David Byrne's behalf. This feels more like the Wario version of the Talking Heads used to torture prisoners.
fav songs: dub housing experimental, unconventional, tense 40/100
this shit was not good
hmmp. I don't hate it.
This is an interesting album of alternative punk and by interesting I mean not that good. In my opinion, Pere Ubu's version of Thriller! is much better than Michael Jackson's, so it's got that going for f it.
After listening to this, I was curious if this album sold well. According to Google, it did not and was a commercial failure. And it was years later that someone saw this album as a 'missing link' in the evolution of music that made way for experimental acts like Devo and Talking Heads. It's not that they saw this as good music deserving laud... but rather saw it as a waypoint in the history of pop music. That said, I'm having a hard time seeing this link as Devo and Talking Heads created music that was far more successful than this. All this raises the question for me; does this album belong on this list? Sure there were a few cool moments here and there, but nothing that I would find myself itching to hear down the road. Right now in June 2026 the music world is all a buzz about the French Canadaian Duo Angine de Poitrine. Their music utilizes microtones and is very much on the cutting edge of musical innovation. And they are selling out concerts because the demand for tickets is so high. It's definitely possible to be innovative without alienating listeners.
This is a strange pick. While I respect the attempts to experiment and innovate here, aside from a few moments, it’s not well-executed. If it’s influential, that’s only from a handful of picked pieces of ideas. All due respect, but why is this considered to be something particularly important to listen to beyond those who are really into this style, specifically? I worry about what kind of albums missed the cut for this list to make room for one like this. 1 listen
This showed promise but fell really hard really fast. I can’t quite give it a 1 but it’s extremely close
The thing about ugly aesthetics in art, particularly in art that requires audience engagement over a period of time like music, is that you need some kind of anchor to keep the audience’s attention while still conveying whatever feeling you were trying to. There are few things motivating me to try to care about what’s going on in the music here, so “bad on pupose” becomes just “bad”.
Truly something. Would be a lie to say I enjoyed this, but at least I guess it gets points for being different than some of the other things on this list
It sounds like they were looking for hooks for a lot of their songs, mucking about until they found one but never actually did. They’re clearly talented musicians with some good ideas but for me it never coalesced into anything enjoyable to listen to. I have no doubt there are people who will love this and give it 5 stars as an ‘incredible new discovery for me’ etc. but I’m not among their number.
Some flashes of brilliance in amongst the sound of someone hitting pipes with hammers.
did not like again
A mixture of interesting tracks and unlistenable stuff. Not enough to make me listen again unfortunately.
The infamous Pere Ubu album. The intro started on the first song and I thought, sounds pretty good, what’s the big deal? Then, the singer started singing and there it is. I sense a bit of David Byrne in the vocals, but if he decided to just shout his way through every song in a falsetto. It’s a really interesting album that I probably wouldn’t listen to again, but I don’t think it warrants the negativity. There’s a lot worse on the generator.
Music is interesting, but these vocals…
Very experimental, voice wasn't in tune anywhere. I could appreciate some parts of what they were doing, but some parts of the music and voice where too distracting to really enjoy it. 1. I, Will wait 2. (Pa) Ubu Dance Party 3. On the surface
I think this is just about the right side of odd. But my main question for the artist is: are you ok? Have you recovered? It was mainly just weird vibes and interesting, experimental post punk sounds but then you got the occasional jarring song and “Codex” was all a bit much. So I applaud it but I can’t see myself ever seeking it out again. I think it deserves its place but not for me.
The songs were okay. The noise tracks were garbage and unnecessary. It just kind of faded unnoticed into the background, which is rarely a good thing for an album like this, where immediacy is key.
2/5
Ehhhhhhhh not so much for me.
I have found my tolerance for this kind of music to be wholly dependent on my mood because while I liked 'The Modern Dance' I found this album to be absolutely insufferable. Favorite Track: Caligari's mirror
Trying to think of what is keeping this from being one star and honestly I'm not sure so you'd better stop asking
I mean this with all of my heart: ...meh?... It's quite a different album, which I have no problems with experimenting and doing things really differently. This album doesn't follow much form and is often meandering, blurring the lines of rhythm and cohesiveness. Even a few of the songs were really enjoyable! But ultimately, this album doesn't do enough to make me care about it. It doesn't make me want to dance, nor sway, nor listen to the words, nor sing along. It's just seems to exist for itself in the void. And I'm not really into that part.
This was… something. Kinda noise at times, kinda interesting at others. Not a fan of the vocals and definitely not one I’d return to. 2/5
Bof c'était un peu space
Meh
2/5
Definite two.
I guess bro
Some of it sounds like cats fighting; not cats fighting and dying like Yoko Ono, just fighting and then moving on with their lives. Some of it sounds like you're standing in an abandoned building and someone on another floor is banging on pipes. And yet. I can't give it 1 star for some reason. 1.5 rounded to 2. I'm sure it was influential or something
I’m over these guys
Quite chaotic, bass driven punk. Struggling to get affinity with it
You know how the lead singer of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah sometimes sounds like someone doing an imitation with more voice breaks and yelping? Well the lead singer of Pere Ubu sounds like someone doing an imitation of the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah singer, bit with more voice breaks and yelping. This is the second Pere Ubu album we've had, and the weaker of the two... and the first wasn't great. Sometimes it feels like it's on the verge of being interesting and enjoyable, but that usually collapses pretty quickly.
Maybe my expectations were low, but I hated this less than Deep Purple. Is it dissonant and experimental at times? Sure? Is it unlisten-able? Only in parts.
It neither seems coherent, nor particularly structured to me, more of a chaos with non-descriptive and almost meaningless lyrics. Some of the musical ideas are interesting, but could have been better executed (i.e. the melody on the last track). Nothing really stands out from this album.
Ok for a couple of songs, then it gets annoying.
This is probably the strangest rock music I've ever listened to (if you can call it that). The vocal style is certainly an acquired taste (out of key, a lot of spoken dialogue). There are lots of weird sound effects and samples added in. In fact, "Thriller!" is pretty much just sounds and samples. It has some funky moments and plenty of lap steel guitar. It comes across as just an extended jam session to me. It did start out more cohesive and just standard psychedelic rock, but it got weirder as time went on. I think this album was a little too weird for me, but there were a few interesting musical moments I liked (like in "Caligari's Mirror").
This is terrible
There was cool, instrumentation, experimental sound design, and psychedelic composition elements, but sorry I don't like the lead singer very much XD The second half of the album wasn't bad I guess, I liked I will wait and Ubu dance party
I remember hearing (or reading) about this group, and this album in particular, when I was in college, and getting the impression that it was super cool, but somehow I never got it . . . and, well, I guess, good thing, cuz it kinda sucks, lol. Ok, maybe not exactly sucks, but just . . . not super musical or pleasant or enjoyable to listen to? I mean, I guess I can appreciate its creativity, and willful freakiness, but . . . life's too short? I have a slight feeling of failing, somehow (in not liking it more), but I think I have to give this 2 stars (an extra star, above just 1, in part for just being creative and pushing the envelope).
This is what Talking Heads sounds like to people who don’t like Talking Heads
Started out pretty interesting. Some unique sounds. But got annoying by the end
This one felt a little aimlessly weird without enough substance.
Partly great, partly just weird.
While reading about the album, I really wanted to like it. But it's just too divided for me. High and lows.
Don’t know if Talking heads sounds like a shit them or the other way around. Not a huge fan of this either way. Specific rating - 2.4 Fav song - drinking wine spodyody Least fav- thriller!
Another in a series of bands that were really important to bands that were really important to me. If new music today made by younger folks plays like music made for their peers +/- a cohort but not for me, the likes of late 70s bands are for a set alive before I was born and...does not always feel timeless. It’s like 1-2 standard deviations removed from me. Which is fine, I’m happy I have the Pixies, Wrens, etc.
This is not really doing it for me - It’s close to being good though
I can usually find something I like in music that is unconventional but this is so all over the place that nothing stuck with me long enough to care about what I was listening to.
Bizarre. Not at all bad musically - and even flirted with a 3 at times - but it was too difficult to not be convinced otherwise by the absurd vocals.
Favorite Track: On the Surface
This album is 35 minutes long. That was the longest 35 minutes I've ever sat through.
This album does some interesting things, but not for me.
I kind of liked this album. It has a lot of energy, it's angry but overall I really didn't care for it. Wouldn't listen to it again and certainly would not want it in my collection
Not the right vibe
Uhh what
I don't need to listen to that again -
I enjoy this more than their debut, it sounds equally as angry and raw but it seems to have a bit more of direction. 7/10 [KEEP]
Came close to a 1
lowkey just sounded werid, was not for me
Dang it I was so excited about a house music album
Late 70s alt-rock. One of the most important post punk albums. Very weird vocals, sometimes pleading, sometimes clucking. Some very weird noises, experimental. Kind of unpleasant and unsettling.
Late 70s rock - I'm not sure what the goal is with this band. It sounds like a bad dream.
Too experimental for me. Some enjoyable parts but overall I mostly tuned it out.
Kind of messy. Didn't really hold my attention. There were some parts, musically, that were interesting. 2.5/5 Won't listen again
Overall Rating - 2.35/5 (4.70/10). Definitely a miss. Not one I'll listen to again.
While there is much worse to hear on this list, this one isn't an enjoyable one by any means. It's unusual and uncomfortable and for people that want to be seen as avant-garde and more superior than you. Only THEY can understand the true "genius" of this..... music? For the rest of us, this is sonically unpleasant and in no way needed to be recorded for posterity.
что это вообще такое скучно, странно, не энергично
Not a fan. I’m not the audience.
You can hear how this influenced things like Pixies etc I think... Not bad, but not mind-blowing. Kinda like Pixies...
Mediocre music and vocals. Some interesting tunes.
What is going on ? Experimental for sure and maybe a bit too much 2/5
Well, this isn't the "Thriller" you're all thinking of, but that was a completely bizarre experience that I'm not sure I ever want to experience again. Favorite Track: "Thriller!".
I wanted to like the instrumentals, those were ok, but the singer took me completely out of it. Then the 'song' Thriller? What was that? Just uhhh... unnecessary. Kind of like most of this album.
The fact this album is rated even lower than their other one scared me. That one wasn't even 1 star worthy so how the hell could it get worse?! But surprisingly this one was much better! I even enjoyed some parts. But overall still shite. Who put this noise on the list?! 2 ⭐️
Solid drumming, but that's about where the positives for this record ends for me.
Nice music horrible vocals!
vocals are atrocious
Well, at first I though I didn't hate it as much as The Modern Dance. But my god, that last song especially tested me.
Cred för att de försöker tänja på gränserna, men det blir lite jobbigt.
Really weird, like an off brand talking heads but less music and more vocal sounds
Finally put a sound with the name I've heard here and there throughout my life, and I kind of knew they were from Ohio which is a huge plus. But being from Ohio doesn't make borderline-unlistenable music borderline-listenable.
I understand how Dub Housing is an important album in the history of post-punk, but I find actually listening to it generally forgettable. Caligari's Mirror and Blow Daddy-O have moments of being recognisable as songs, but I do not find this album compelling. It's mostly just clanking noises, guitar noodling and David Thomas's annoying bleating. I don't mind noisy and discordant music, but this is incredibly unfocussed. I did, however, enjoy this fun fact from the wikipedia article: "During the band's November 1978 tour, [Pere Ubu manager Cliff] Burnstein introduced the band to another group he was managing, Def Leppard, so they could observe how Pere Ubu conducted their soundchecks." I can't even imagine what lessons Def Leppard would have learned from this.
Not for me 2
I almost liked some of it, but it was a little too out there for me...
There were some experimental moments that were interesting, but mostly this gave off bad post-punk recorded in a garage vibes. Meh. 2.4/5 -> 2/5
Some of this is a little too goofy for me to really get into, but it’s a fun enough post-punk album. There’s some cool moments on here that really work, like “Caligari’s Mirror”, “Blow Daddy-O”, and “I, Will Wait”. There’s also plenty of confrontational noise work, like “Thriller!” - the kind of musicianship that is exciting to somebody but not really exciting to me. Sometimes it reminded me of Talking Heads. Maybe if David Byrne and Captain Beefheart vigorously shook hands. I’m between a two and a three for this one, but I have to be realistic and admit I’m not going to revisit this one and rate accordingly. Post-punk is difficult for me. They don’t seem as self-serious as The Fall, though, god bless.
Weird, kooky, different. But the more I listened the more I disliked it
It was ok, I didn't really care for the vocals but the bass was fun.
I like the punk and 70s new york underground scene influences but even I have my limits. I don't think it's trying to intentionally absurd?! Idk. I like the album more in theory than I'd actually like to listen to it again.
Well alright
The lead vocal has an annoying, whiny voice. I get the avant-garde riff but it would be nice to know if he can really carry a note without whining.
There were some songs that sounded like a decent experimental take. Too many songs that sounded like experimental bullshit that goes nowhere.
The music is quite interesting: kind of pulsating, krautrock-style. I'd say the vocal is much more of an acquired taste.
Yeah, I don't know if I get Pere Ubu, but this was still interesting to listen to.
Didn't get this at all.
it really wasn’t for me
Best Track - "Navvy"
Likte da ikkje så godt
weird
2/5 Anyone can be a singer. Apparently..
STOP GIVING ME ANNOYING AVANT ROCK
Hm. Well I don’t know about all of that
not for me
i ALMOST like this.. musically kinda dig it, unfortunately the singing (if you can call it that) is awful.
Some of this is really nice, but then there are parts that are just noise imho.
I'd not heard of these. I can kind of see why. I can hear elements of things that they influenced, especially in the new wave era of stuff. Amusingly there was one track that sounded just like vic reeves doing a track by the ting tings in the club style. I dunno, it was interesting I'm just not sure that I enjoyed listening to it. Perhaps with a different style of vocal, perhaps with some more tuneful approaches.
Annoying vocals, experimental songwriting, complete mess. 4/10
1.9 Like a shit fusion between the worst excesses of Talking Heads and someone wank like Captive Beefheart. Not for me Clive.
There are better moments than the previous Pere Ubu album. But it's not something I would seek on my own time, *throws 2 shoes at the band*
of “never let em know your next move” was an album
Really weird. Kind of reminding me of a drunk person trying to sing and they don't know most of the words, just some of the sounds
I feel like I might've liked this if I were listening to this while getting high with my high school friends in the early 80s. On the other hand, I have no desire to go back to that time. And no desire to subject myself to Pere Ubu again.
Bruh.
Everyone found it a bit disturbing
Random noises made in garage, squekty voice doesnt help, sorry
This was a strange one. His voice is odd and goes up and down goofily. Not really for me.
This album was a bit strange, I’m not sure what to think
I usually love post punk stuff but this was not it
The structure killed a lot of the momentum. Perhaps a lack of structure is more accurate. Navvy was the best track. A lot of the tracks sounded like fairground waltzers. I don't think it is as bad as the reviews say, because the bloke's voice is fine, and it is clearly experimental (so you know what you'll get).
Album No. 0075 on my list. This is already the second Pere Ubu album on my list ("The Modern Dance" being the first one). I found "The Modern Dance" to be a bit, well, weird and avant-garde, but not necessarily bad. I have a similar feeling for "Dub Housing", I actually may even like it a bit better. I like the overall sound a bit more. It'll never become a big favorite of mine, but I also don't hate it. Not sure which tracks I'll add to my playlist, but I'll just go with "Navvy" and "On The Surface". 2/5 stars.
Weird and fun.
This album is crazy. I don’t know if they are, but I can see how a band like Pixies would be influenced by these guys. The vocals are jarring, and the music is generally discordant. I appreciate the forward thinking, but I can’t say I enjoyed it much.
Trippy
Absolutely unmemorable, very much a "listen to once, forget forever" album. Now I'm afraid to relisten to it in case the dreaded Spotify algorithm thinks I actually liked it... Not as bad as their other album on here, but that's not praise in any way.
Difficult listen.
Predict I DNF, grating vocals. Very punk, very unpleasant
This was a trip. This experimental rock from the 70’s that clearly influenced many others after, but it itself seemed undefined, and not in a good way.
EH
Дэб еще дэб
Yeah this is not very good. Too much gibberish 2/5
Eh! Maybe cool in its time.
new builds are such poor quality
It is certainly interesting, and I can see how it was pushing the bounds back in the 70s, but it's not exactly to my taste either.
This clearly influenced a lot of bands I like but I just can’t get past his voice. Drives me crazy. The dance party one was my favorite. High 2.
A poor version of early Talking Heads music.
This was boring
Thai was an ok album I didn't really think it was mind bending or anything
Hard to overlook the vocals when the vocals are *doing that* but I can try, and the glimpse I get is listenable. Here I confess that I listened to the end of this album while using the vacuum cleaner. 2.5
I feel like the last Pere Ubu album kind of grew on me but this one was just so incredibly incapable of finding a rhythm. God forbid, a melody. I get that having a hook is very not punk rock but perhaps a refrain for the needy??
So, this is the band that Dave Thomas formed after his former band Rocket from the Tombs broke up. I had no idea. What a mind fuck since I have been a pretty big Rocket from the Tombs fan for the past decade. Anyways... How much you will like, or dislike Dub Housing will largely depend on how much you like or how well you can tolerate the late great Dave Thomas' (he passed in 2025) vocals. They are pretty different they were in Rocket from the Tombs and are often little more than intrusive with their main character vibe and a self-awareness that borders on dadaism. While the music is often brilliant none of the tracks with vocals can overcome the sheer annoyance that the vocals bring to mix. I wish this was an instrumental album. I would play it a lot and rate it a 4/5 maybe even a 5/5 but all things considered Dub Housing is never higher than a 2/5 and it's only because the music is so very good (most of the time) that I can even muster a less than enthusiastic 2/5.
Well I'll give them this it was better then the previous project that showed up here but it still wasn't for me. At least they try and do something unique. 3/10
WTAF - this was tough, tough listen. I have no idea how to describe it - my best attempt would be Talking Heads but before they were famous and without the musical chops
I didn't really like this
It started out okay and then it got worse.
Not great.
This wasn’t good. Really at all. For some reason it reminded me a bit of primus. Need half stars. I’m rounding down. 2 stars.
Unhinged, men jag stängde inte av det..
I just don't think I get Pere Ubu. I suppose everyone had a limit to their artistic interests and these guys have helped me find mine.
Gear: ZiiGaat x Hangout.Audio: Odyssey 2 Artwork: 🏚️🏙️⬛ Production: 🥩📏💩 Music: 🤮🤔😅 Rating: 🚮🚮(🚮)/5
Interesujące, cieszę się, że poznałam i przesłuchałam, ale czasem zbyt odklejone, żebym z przyjemnością wróciła do tego albumu
Gdybym miała komuś wytłumaczyć słowo ‚rzępolenie’ po prostu puściłabym mu ten album. Przesłuchałam aż 3 razy, bo niby nie jest aż taki zły….ale random piszczałki w tle make it impossible to enjoy it. Ostatecznie oceniam go na 2, czyli zjadliwe, ale nieprzyjemne, a jedyny naprawdę catchy moment to pierwsze 15s piosenki On The Surface
Wasn’t sure on this, wondering if it’s one I had to be there for. This was pretty bold for 1978 I imagine.
Album not available
Generally was ok. But some of the more experimental (wacky?) parts put me off
Not everything on this list can be classified a stone cold classic. Like this, this isn't.
This ain't Dub.