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Wed Feb 24 2021
2
1986 brought us Topgun, Maradona's hand of God and Infected by The The. What clusterfuck of a year it was. I can't think of anything good associated with it. I was in a new romantic phase, getting into Eastenders and trying to avoid getting AIDS (unsuccessfully). Bad memories.
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Thu Sep 23 2021
2
It's kinda not good, right? Like... almost good... but then not. The The has managed to fill up an entire album with the kind of pseudo-intellectual, half-aware, social semi-conscious lyrics that make so much of 80s music super cringey. It's not good, fellas. It's just not good.
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Mon Jul 05 2021
5
Really good. Great mix of funk, new wave/post punk with great Thatcher era lyrics. The use of horns within this post punk format gives the music a more optimistic sounding feel as opposed to other British post punk artists despite the lyrics that reflect economic and global strife.
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Sat May 22 2021
1
This is pretty tedious. I imagine it must have found its way onto the list through the compiler's personal nostalgia. Someone forgot to tell this band they were just a below average 80s band. Utterly disposable.
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Thu Jun 24 2021
5
-Way better than Public Image Ltd., The other album I've listened to that I know is post-punk
-Promtped immediate re-listen
-Lots of good jamming
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Fri Feb 26 2021
4
I like this a lot. Wish i had found it many years ago. i will investigate TheThe further.
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Tue May 04 2021
4
This was weird in the best of ways. I liked this a lot.
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Tue Apr 13 2021
4
Wait its actually really good?
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Mon May 16 2022
3
I recall hearing the band name The The, but I really didn’t know what to expect. As the first track started, I thought that it sounded like some solid 80s rock and that it would be a fun album. But then, I lost my enthusiasm and it started to all sound just kind of “meh” to me.
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Thu Jun 30 2022
3
This is post-punk? I guess I always view that as a little edgier or darker. This album is some blend of that, new wave, and new pop. I can totally hear where later UK artists like Teenage Fanclub, the Mock Turtles, Primal Scream, Northside, The Alarm, or Dramarama (from the US actually) came from. If you don't know what I mean, go look at the transition from 80's varied rock to 90's alternative rock - particularly what was going on in the UK before the summer/fall of 1991 and Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc. changed everything. I don't mind their sound, but do I love it? Like most of this genre, it feels like it's trying too hard (to steal a line from track two). Some good lyrics but the musical backing feels a bit over the top (piano too loud, backing instruments or synth too prominent) or the vocals straining when it's not needed (as if to say listen to me!). Both their biggest singles (Infected, Heartland) are good examples of that. Like all the other bands from this genre, one song or two feels a bit refreshing but a whole slew of them (like an album's worth) gets to be a bit much.
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Sun Sep 26 2021
1
1.9 - Ugly as an anal wart. That album cover perfectly represents the bile within. Ever wonder what it would sound like to take INXS but have it fronted by George Thorogood, and inflect it all with a heavy dose of Broadway jazz? Fuck I hated this.
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Fri Nov 26 2021
1
Funk funkless, grooves grooveless, vocals occasionally amusing.
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Thu Aug 31 2023
1
Not great
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Sun Jun 20 2021
5
Coolest album
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Fri May 28 2021
5
Excellent. Diversity of instruments used also helps to keep tracks fresh and distinct.
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Sat Aug 07 2021
5
fucking spooky dude. I loved this, everything I wanted, just hit all the right spots. really incredible production and powerful techno beats. pretty awesome x
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Sun Nov 21 2021
5
This was an unexpected banger. Heard of The the, but had no idea what they sounded like. Really enjoyed it.
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Fri Mar 04 2022
5
Never heard of the The! This guy seems to have had a really interesting life though. I did a bit of research because the lyrics really interested me and I think the messages in the songs in this album are very meaningful. I love the poetry and activism of this album. Aside from the words these tunes are lovely! This is a type of new wave and post-punk I can really get behind. The sounds are gorg and the tracks make me feel good. They're interesting, layered and inventive. I really like the fact that he just works with loads of different musicians, all the vocals are great but I just realised Neneh Cherry is on here and now I know why I love it haha. A great discovery for me!
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Thu Mar 31 2022
5
An old favourite. Wild-eyed apocalyptic visions of an England falling to pieces and the corrupting souls that live there. Overwrought and as subtle as a brick to the back of the skull. But the rage gives the album urgency and verve. At the end, as Johnson goes full Hank Williams and challenges the devil to a knife fight, your heart is pumping as hard as his.
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Sun Apr 24 2022
5
80s but somehow sounds modern as well. Songs and lyrics both well crafted. Great bass playing, really interesting musically.
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Mon May 16 2022
5
I don’t recall ever hearing this group but I really enjoyed this! Sort of an edgier Simple Minds-ish 80s vibe going on that I really like. Homeland is a fantastic song. Others that stood out immediately were Infection, Angels of Deception, Sweet Bird of Truth, and The Mercy Beat. Great stuff!
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Mon May 16 2022
5
One of my very favorite songs in college was "This is the Day" by the The (from their previous album), but I had not followed up to hear more of them, and that song went off my radar along with its mixtape.
I totally would have loved this album. The more I have listened to it, the more I have liked it.
Good sound, interesting lyrics. As this album came out with a video compilation for each song, I was intrigued and watched them all. Some crazy stuff! Love it.
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Thu Jul 21 2022
5
Opening track is a banger, this was a great listen, exactly what I wanted from this
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Thu Sep 08 2022
5
I love this band.
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Wed Sep 28 2022
5
What a delightful surprise! 80s is generally not my genre but The The is distinct.
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Thu Jan 05 2023
5
I’ve loved The The since forever. Not one dud song! I cannot actually sit still when this plays, because the music inhabits my whole body. I just want to sing and move to every tune.
Matt Johnson manages to mix high octane danceable songs with searing political comment and the frailty of the human condition. Sadly, and maddeningly, the themes of despair still resonate nearly 40 years later.
The brass arrangements add excitement and drama. Neneh Cherry’s voice on Slow Train to Dawn is just beautiful. Magnificent!
I saw them on tour back when Johnny Marr was the guitarist. Great days! I just want go back and put it all on repeat now!
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Fri Jan 20 2023
5
OMGGGG totalmente mi vibra
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Wed Jan 25 2023
5
Hell yeah
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Sun Feb 26 2023
5
I had this album as a kid and know every sound on it, which must mean it's a five star. A complete album in every sense - story telling, beautiful production and some excellent songs. If you get a chance, see the film that accompanied it.
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Mon May 08 2023
5
Sometimes The The reminds me of They Might Be Giants. Sometimes The The reminds of me Oingo Boingo.
Either way, I win! This was such a great little album.
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Fri May 26 2023
5
Now you're onto my taste! Still with the synths hanging over from previous Soul Mining album, but with addition of real full band instrumentation and excellent backing vocals from guests like Neneh Cherry and Tessa Niles.
Matt Johnson’s musings are still overly bleak and introspective, but now include wider world view subject matter.
Magnificent.
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Wed Jun 07 2023
5
My second The The album so far and really enjoyed it. The blend of genres and interesting sounds are great
Saved tracks: Infected, Heartland, Angels Of Deception, Twilight Of A Champion, The Mercy Beat, Sweet Bird Of Truth
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Mon Jun 19 2023
5
ооооочень классный и живой альбомчик!!!!!!!!!!
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Thu Jul 20 2023
5
This is actually an awesome album
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Wed Aug 30 2023
5
High energy and pretty cool, thought that would be it as first few songs are more pop than post punk but songs are consistently engaging different and cool. Great discovery 5
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Thu Aug 31 2023
5
"Sweet Bird of Truth" is one of the best songs ever written. Several tunes on this record are absolute bangers. Criminally underrated, The The is one of the most important bands of their era. Check out the "Mind Bomb" album if you haven't already. You're welcome. (Glad to see "Soul Mining" already in the 1001.)
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Fri Sep 08 2023
5
Another shining example of 80's sounds and production done right from The The, this time with less cheese and more brooding.
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Thu Sep 14 2023
5
Love this album. Amazing (or not) how a lot of the political commentary is still relevant today.
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Thu Feb 25 2021
4
2/23
Infectious energy. Disco Culture Club.
Standout Tracks: Infected, Heartland, Angels Of Deception, Slow Train to Dawn
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Thu Jun 03 2021
4
Just really solid post punk record.
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Mon Mar 08 2021
4
silly and biggish 80s British post punk pop
fav track: infected
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Tue Jun 15 2021
4
Mezcla de rock-pop-punk.
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Thu Apr 15 2021
4
Cool and sexy and fresh even now
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Wed Feb 24 2021
4
The The. Good Good
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Sun Feb 21 2021
4
An excellent album. Stand out tracks, homeland, sweet bird of truth and slow train to dawn. Loved it when first released and enjoyed reacquainting myself with it now
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Thu Mar 11 2021
4
Bettered by several other The The albums, this is still a masterpiece. What lyrics!
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Wed Mar 31 2021
4
a bit weird but it’s good. it says it classified at post punk
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Fri Jul 02 2021
4
Infectious first track, into a stable album throughout. I really enjoyed it and will be listing to more of the the in future
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Sat May 22 2021
4
Good Britt pop, 1986. Very 80s sound, a bit dark.
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Fri Jun 04 2021
4
Interesting 80s punk. Slightly pop-y
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Mon May 10 2021
4
Definitely grew on me, once I got past the vocals and clangy... everything. Heartland was a good one
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Fri May 14 2021
4
Super! Genomgående stark upplevelse. Många sköna basgångar och riff, samt trummor som ofta ligger precis lagom hårt. Det här gillas!
Bäst: "Infected"
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Thu May 20 2021
4
Álbum solido de Art Pop con Synthpop.
Este es quizás el segundo mejor álbum de la banda británica después de su debut, y aunque ninguno de los dos es totalmente de mi agrado, es innegable la personalidad que transmite ya sea desde su impecable producción como su excelente lirismo.
Para mí un sólido 7/10
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Fri Jul 23 2021
4
So familiar … had this on vinyl … no idea where that has gone …
Enjoyed going back
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Sun Jul 25 2021
4
this this album album has has some some good good tunes tunes fr fr
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Wed Jul 28 2021
4
never heard of this, which is cool.
I like this mostly quite a lot.
Heartland is good.
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Fri Aug 13 2021
4
Really enjoyed this, great synths, powerful messages still relevant today alas.
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Fri Aug 20 2021
4
This is just what you’d expect; politically scathing but beautifully melodic!
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Fri Aug 20 2021
4
Pretty damn good but not stellar.
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Mon Sep 06 2021
4
Never listened to The The yet, as far as I know, but I love the band name. The album was really good too. Quite gripping, fairly varied instrumentation and quite a lot of depth in songwriting. My favorite tracks were Heartland and Slow Train To Dawn. Both of those were really dope.
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Wed Sep 08 2021
4
This was very good. Going to revisit this. Looking forward to doing so.
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Fri Sep 10 2021
4
Enjoyable. Doesn't have a song with a hook like "Uncertain Smile" off of the first album, though.
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Wed Sep 15 2021
4
Pretty good! Weird band name.
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Thu Sep 23 2021
4
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I had heard of The The back in the day, but never really gave them a listen. This album was slightly punky, slightly alt, and over-around good. 4 stars!
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Sun Oct 24 2021
4
I think I have it somewhere on the shelf. And I like it.
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Tue Oct 26 2021
4
Very interesting pop rock!
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Mon Nov 01 2021
4
Power pop!
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Wed Nov 17 2021
4
A pretty ineresting record. It's cover gives other vibe, but it's vibe is groovy and positive! 4/5
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Fri Nov 19 2021
4
Wow I forgot about the the, very '80s but clearly very talented! an interesting listen but only "liked" one song for later listening. The man clearly had a lot of talent and energy.
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Sun Nov 28 2021
4
Geil
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Wed Dec 29 2021
4
Best Song: Infected. Bombastic and actually lyrically interesting.
Worst Song: Heartland. Not terrible, but it really feels like the author is performing a monologue in an amateur theatre on this one.
Overall: Liked it much more than I expected. Feels like what the B-52s want to be, but cooler and more true-to-self. Rare that I like 80s music like this.
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Wed Jan 05 2022
4
I think I like their sound
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Fri Jan 14 2022
4
Zanimljiv album, drugačiji nekako. Uspio dat malo spooky vibea, malo i romantike na neki drugi način. I na trenutke me podsjeća na Bowieja?
Sve u svemu, lajkam.
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Sun Jan 23 2022
4
Not familiar with this band or album, not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t this and I liked it a lot more than I expected to as well. I needed to give the lyrics better attention than I did, missing a lot of the political commentary (though there is always that weird mirror-world familiar/not familiar to UK centric writing of that nature: “this is the 51st state of the U.S.A” hits differently to a Minnesota boy.
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Thu Feb 10 2022
4
Levoton kansi, tykkään kyl! Samoin levyn sisältö oli yllättävän melodista ja aika nautittavaa. 4/5.
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Thu Mar 03 2022
4
Forgot about The The! Liked this one!
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Fri Mar 04 2022
4
Bit of a surprise, I didn't know what to expected but really enjoyed it
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Mon Mar 14 2022
4
Wild. What is this? All over the place but I enjoyed it.
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Thu Mar 17 2022
4
This one's going viral
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Mon Mar 28 2022
4
Good backstory around the album being made. Solid 80's synth pop. Nothing overly memorable.
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Sun Apr 24 2022
4
Great post pink album no honest complaints I just don’t like post punk. I respect it though 🙃
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Wed May 04 2022
4
5/2/2022
Today's Album: "Infected" by The The - Looking at this album from the name and cover, I really had no fucking clue what to expect, but as it opened up, it really blossomed in front of my eyes. This album is great fusion of two common genres of the 90s, being the synth-heavy new wave and the birthing post punk movement. Usually, this sort of thing really wouldn't be my thing as a lot of 80s projects like this have left a sour taste in my mouth for being generic and uninspired and post-punk has often been overdone by a lot of groups in my opinion with explicitly poor songwriting. However, this album does not take on any of those attributes as far as I can tell. The instrumental soundscapes all sound really lush and the vocalist really matches the aesthetic of the album well. There are songs where the vocalist experiments with strange and creepy vocals similar to many post-punk outfits, but it always feels really tasteful and like it's serving a story-telling purpose. Even if the vocals do end up feeling somewhat standard for a new wave outfit on a few tracks, it really doesn't matter because the ability for this band to just tear up a great tune outshines any clichés it may be exhibiting. Some of the solo's on this record are just straight up memorizing with how unique and innovative they are. A great example is the trumpet solo near the end of the opening track because of the incredibly articulated double tonguing technique the soloist uses to trill the last note. The recording of each instrument feels so clean and separated in the mix and the layered sound effects over top the band often builds up this great sound into this enamoring sonic experience. Maybe I'm just opening up to these stranger musical ideas more than I have in the past, but I really don't think that's the case. I really feel like this is some of the best execution of these kinds of sounds I've heard thus far. The new wave aspects of this album are able to spice things up and keep them interesting enough to take on the stranger post punk ideas and the post punk edge helps to stop these new wave songs from sounding too polished and clean. The flow feels great, the production feels great, and although the mix could probably use some tweaking, it's great as is. It's honestly just a great combination that I never would have thought would work but it does so so so well. Overall, this is both a great new wave album and a very listenable post-punk project and the fact that this band can pull together such solid tunes elevates these possible generic tracks to insane heights. Give this one a listen if you like 80's new-wave or some very clean post-punk and I promise you won't be disappointed either way.
Highlights:
Infected, Out Of The Blue, Heartland, Angels Of Deception, Slow Train To Dawn, Twilight Of A Champion,
Score:
7.5/10 Inventive new-wave post-punk
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Wed May 25 2022
4
A dense forty minutes of post-punk will always be welcome. This has touches of synth brightness at the moment that I felt were rather weak, but the album as a whole was certainly a grower. The nihilism of certain cuts was sadly fitting for the day: That's probably informing my opinion somewhat, but I can tell a revisit won't be unhappy.
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Sun Jun 05 2022
4
Very good, terrific in places, but I still prefer Talk Talk in terms of London bands with repeating-word names.
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Thu Jun 23 2022
4
Enjoyed this more than I expected
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Thu Jun 30 2022
4
The music is very 80s, yet unique at the same time. Very harsh lyrics - Infected is apparently about STDs or AIDS more specifically, Heartland is about the decline of England, Sweet Bird of Truth about Western military action in the Middle East, The Mercy Beat sounds like it's about alcoholism. So, under the 80s pop sound, a dark subcurrent. Calling it a 4 - very good, worth hearing again, but the dated sound is the main thing keeping it from a 5.
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Thu Jun 30 2022
4
I first got into The The through their 2000 album Naked Self (great album BTW). One thing I’ve noticed throughout all their albums that I’ve listened to is Matt Johnson seems to have humorous way of depicting bleak situations. It’s like his lyrics are saying that the world’s shit but what can you do but laugh about it. Infected is no different. It does suffer a bit from that 80s sound but I think the songwriting makes up for the production here. “Sweet Bird of Truth” might be my favorite track on here but the whole album is a solid listen.
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Thu Jun 30 2022
4
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It reminds me of Love and Rockets by a bit, actually. Had that 80s new wave alternative feel to it.
Honestly, I had heard of the band back in the day, and I knew one or two people who wore a t-shirt of theirs, but it always seemed kind of odd for a name, so I never took that step to try them out. This album was a real unexpected treat, and I would say if you are a fan of that style of post-punk, this is definitely a band you should check out.
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Thu Jul 07 2022
4
This album seems to serve as a neat bridge between the post-punk and alternative music movements. The band they kept reminding me of while I was listening was Faith No More, though it's hard to describe why. Regardless, it's a very interesting album musically, as it leans heavily on digital instruments while still having a rock feel to it.
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Fri Jul 08 2022
4
Weird, cool, funky, fun. Production is a bit jarring at first (it's the 80s), but quickly grew on me.
Standout tracks: "Infected", "Heartland" and "Sweet Bird of Paradise". Obscure post-punk keeps on giving. Probably my favorite genre at the moment. Good good work work The The!
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Sun Jul 24 2022
4
The The are great.
I think I might like this one more than Soul Mining. Not sure.
Obviously the production has way dated now, but they're still great. Mrs sat next to me says it really shows how much INXS ripped them off and by god she's right.
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Tue Aug 02 2022
4
I was a big fan of this record when it first came out in 1986; bought the album and a couple of the singles. I really liked the sound of the record, which sounded contemporary without being plastic, and I liked the songs, which were a strong mix of the political and personal. Political without being straight polemic (of which there was quite a bit at the time. Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan had a bit of blame, there), and personal in a way that was angsty and self-lacerating, which fit with my world outlook at the time. Listening to it now, the lyrics are maybe not as mature and sophisticated as I thought they were when I was 16, but that is to be expected.
The album has some cracking tunes and catchy rhythms (it's got a good beat, and I can bug out it), and the mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation means that it still holds up now. It sounds of its time, but not really dated. The presence of Neneh Cherry (and few other noted backing vocalists) certainly injects a spark, and stops it from being too blokey.
I enjoyed re-visiting this old favourite, and I feel that I should play it more often.
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Wed Aug 03 2022
4
Didn't exactly know what to expect here. Liked it quite a bit.
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Wed Aug 03 2022
4
The The is such a unique band. They don't fit into any of the traditional 80s genres, and they are not an easy listen - I think that's why I like them so much. Kudos to Matt Johnson for creating great music. I love his voice & the band's videos are strange af..into it!
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Wed Aug 03 2022
4
Another band I'm unfamiliar with. Love discovering new stuff. I'm finding that with unfamiliar bands, I'm reflexively comparing them to bands I am familiar with (a pretty common impulse, I'm sure).
The cover had me expecting punk, but I was way off. This album is '80s to the bone; my best comparison is INXS meets Oingo Boingo. They've got a full sound, with plenty of horns, some harmonica, and even the occasional violin (I think), all mixed with '80s staples like synthesizers and drum machines.
I dig it. My pile of new bands to explore continues to grow.
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Sun Aug 14 2022
4
grew on me on 2nd listen.
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Thu Aug 18 2022
4
Fuck yeah! I'm into it because I already know and like The The. But I prefer Soul Mining because it is the superior album.
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Fri Aug 26 2022
4
I can’t decide to give this album a 4 or a 5. I love the band name, infected and heartland are super good, and it’s a standout post-punk album. However, I don’t see myself remembering this in like 2 days
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Mon Sep 05 2022
4
Very 80’s sounding, had some great tracks, especially heartland
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Thu Sep 08 2022
4
Man, Debbie Szyskowski was the coolest. She was the older sister of a friend. Debbie turned us on to so many different things in the 80's. Only a few years older than us she had the inside scoop on underground style and music. Sadly, she died of cancer in 2003 but she left an indelible mark on us younger kids by turning us on to bands like The The, Men Without Hats, Til Tuesday, Depeche Mode, and Yazoo.
She was such a positive person and role model. She eventually left our small town for the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and we / I lost touch with her.
I've got love for this album because of Debbie. Out of the Blue is great. This album capitalizes on white space, the lack of 'singing' the stripped down songs are a welcome change from tons of in-your-face lyrics and sounds. Less is more on this. .
It's important to note the album Soul Mining, which emerged a few years before Infected. That has 'This is the Day, which for me, is timeless 80's nostalgia and possibly a better album.
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