Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Meh
Weird. Its nice tho
I liked this. It's fun, creative, and musically upbeat. Lyrically, I appreciate the social and political commentary.
It was okay. Not really my style.
Expected to like this a lot more than I did. Kind of Halloween-y for my taste
It was solid, very classic 80s rock. Not so much for me but still decent. 5.1/10
I went into Infected knowing very little about The The, and this was an interesting discovery. The album is dark and politically charged, and I was surprised by how relevant songs like “Heartland” and “Angels of Deception” still feel nearly 40 years later. This definitely isn't an album to listen to when you want to escape reality for a while. Musically, I enjoyed it. There’s a funky element running throughout the album that I wasn't expecting, and there really wasn't a song I disliked. “Infected” was a strong opener, and “The Mercy Beat” was an equally strong closer with a beat I loved. I was sitting at three stars for most of the album, but the opening and closing tracks bumped it up to 3½. I enjoyed discovering The The and would listen to them again, but I wouldn't buy this one on vinyl. ⭐ 3½ stars
Liked: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8 Disliked: 2, Total Songs: 8 Ratio: 7/8 Converted Score: 4.38/5 Top 3 1. Heartland 2. Infected 3. Slow Train To Dawn
Welp, this took me by surprise. As a faithful and unabashed detester of new wave, post-punk, and 80s music, somehow Mr. Matt Johnson squeaks this one through the uprights. Obviously the extensive use of those quirky techno implements never fail to remind us that we're smack dab in '86, but they find a way to make it seriously jam. Like, I am walking to the beat. I am chicken-bobbing my head. I am shaking my butt. It's vile. Thank God I'm home alone. Anyway. It's a serious vibe. And the political commentary is, I think, pretty damn solid. It's clear, it's focused, and Johnson's vocals really drive it home. Plus, we're out of here in a tight 41min. I'll revisit this one later, and I may very well drop it down, but for now it's a pretty enthusiastic 4.
3.5
Two good songs
Could not make it through the whole album. There was one or two songs I somewhat enjoyed.
i wish i got this band but it just comes off super phoney
A strange - and strangely "Infectious" - album. Combining a theatrical dance vibe with politically oriented pop. Weird combination that, at least on this record, seems to work. Look forward to checking out more by this band.
This album was such a fun and groovy listen. For a synth driven new wave album, it showcases a diverse range of styles. Some tracks have hints of pre grunge and late ’80s college indie rock influences, blended with new wave, while others lean heavily into soulful and funk vibes, bringing out an infectious groove. Overall, this album is a fun and groovy, and I can imagine it felt pretty edgy and groundbreaking when it first came out.
Probably won't return to it, but it was actually pretty good
Не знаю що це, але виглядає цікаво. На реддіті було обговорення про альбоми музичний вміст яких не відповідає обкладинці. Так от цей альбом туди б зайшов. Обкладинка досить агресивна, а музика - попсовенький і досить веселий нью-вейв. На скільки я зрозумів, то музика доволі весела, а тексти ні, тому обкладинка, типу, виправдана.
I grappled with how to define this style of punk a lot - Side A has all of the Punk Anger but not as much the Energy. It's the bitter commentary without the call to action, yet done in a way where it doesn't sound fatalistic or nihilistic. Maybe it's sarcastic? Sardonic? I'm not sure what word to use. Side B transitions into something that could be considered fatalistic - three of the songs are about "endings" - but then all of the missing "energy", the drive, the call to action, all hits in *The Mercy Beat* with "heck it I'm going to fight the devil himself and win." That is an enjoyable arc for an album, and also is something they repeated on a smaller scale: Several of the songs themselves end with a little twist at the very end (Heartland, Angels of Deception, Twilight of a Champion, and The Mercy Beat) I really enjoyed the sound, the style, the lyricism (mostly), and the arc of the album as a whole. The really direct ties to the UK make some of it hard to connect to in places, which does make me want to dock the score *slightly*, but not a lot. Overall score 8.5/10 (4 stars)
I really enjoyed this. But strangely, only half of the enjoyment came from the songs. Maybe less than half. I think the lion's share of my fun tonight came from the way this album explores extremely important social issues which result from certain political policies. I think that's more of an indication as to what makes me tick, than any kind of fair review about the music. But that is not to say that the music is without merit. The complete opposite, in fact. I especially enjoyed the highly synthesised tracks. Mechanical, synthetic music to reflect an increasingly manufactured and soul-less society. Years of austere, conservative policy under Thatcher had London, and indeed the bulk of the UK changing drastically, losing its character. Oops, there I go, getting all socio-political again. Anyway, the music matches the mood of the time excellently, is what I'm trying to say. Rating: I can't divorce the music from the political/social messaging - they're too intertwined, it's pointless to try. But luckily, I don't need to here. Both are extremely powerful. The songs are fun, energetic times that almost made me want to dance! The themes are deep, and make you think about the state of the world, and how a lot of the issues of the 2020s were rooted in policy choices of the 1980s (and earlier!). Both deserve very high marks. 5 from me, Out of the Blue being the sole blemish on this record.
Esse álbum tem muitos elementos bem executados de gêneros músicas diferentes. É um álbum legal. QoA Adonis New.
Great album from a fantastic group. Can’t wait for Soul Mining to come up.
This was kinda interesting but feels like the kind of album that needs a few listens to get into. I'm not doing that
Bit shite innit bit nick cave and even late black keys but yeah still meh alright shite 2.5
Too much like Billy Idol. And I hate Billy Idol. Sound of the drums too exaggerated, got annoying too. Very 80's.
cool album art and i like their one this is the day song so much but this was a drag unfortunately
Ironic that this is called Infected when the songs are anything but catchy
The The is best in small doses
Some bright moments drowned out by a whole lot of still ones.
Echte 80s disco. Ik vind het wel wat hebben.
I enjoyed this more than I expected! Didn’t light me on fire on the first listen, but one I want to revisit. Standout Track: The Mercy Beat Rating: 3.5
Naw.
Me gusto. no es mi estilo prefe, pero se disfruto.
This is my second The The album. Very 80s, very fun.
Album #126: Infected - The The Genre (W): Post-punk, alternative rock Singles: Heartland, Infected, Slow Train to Dawn, Sweet Bird of Truth I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: Much like how I feel about Scritti Politti, I feel like this is a poor imitation of stuff that has been done better by this time period. Only one song saves it from being a one. Boring. Favorite tracks: Sweet Bird of Truth
Fairly typical. The last track, Mercy Beat, is probably the best. And what a great play on words.
Thoroughly 80s, bombastic, a bit goth, a bit weird, very very danceable. A good time all round!
The The are probably the band I associate most with writing about Soft Cell, weirdly, because I was doing some cursory research on them and then ended up really drawn in by the subtle weirdness of their songwriting. They kinda became one of my favourite bands after that for a bit, so it was fun to see this come up
achei fraquíssimo tava com a expectativa lá em cima, o que piora mto a situação
eh um new wave bem dançante, hein. com umas letras bacaninhas da era thatcher. mas eh. nao eh mto legal nao. achei que seria mais massa, culpa minha por vir com expectativa alta
This is on the cusp of me thinking I may enjoy it but it never gets there. Felt forgettable
Some interesting compositions, but too messy. Made me think about Flight of the Conchords. I won't think of this album again.
Not my thing
Прикольно, мне понравилось. Обложка топ
не так себе представлял звучание the the, был удивлен, звучало даже хорошо, это 3.5, но до 4х все таки не дотянуло
Good, but not their best.
This was fine. It was pretty good. Probably not as good as Soul Mining. Good eighties pop, pretty smart lyrics.
This is just one of those albums, where I don't know how to really feel about it. Really weird, shines in some spots and then there is some really terrible parts.
Review - decent album, need to listen to this band more. Only ever heard their debut before this. Still think the debut's a better album but this is good too, some interesting industrial vibes at times. Score - 6.5/10 Need to listen? YES
1/1
4.5 tbh
This wasn’t bad but not something I’d go back to again
Cool but not that remarkable.
The cover led to believe this would be a punk band, but it ended up being 80s pop/new wave with a grunge/punk esthetic. it was alright, but not super memorable.
Well, it may have been nearly 1000 full days since I last listened to an album from The The, but my opinion on their name being kinda dumb has not changed whatsoever. I still think that The The is a goofy band name. However, I think my opinion on the band's music has changed a bit. I don't like it as much. Well, okay, maybe Infected is just a worse album than Soul Mining. It's very possible. I mean, it's definitely worse. I'm giving it a lower score, but I'm not entirely sure if I would still feel as positively about Soul Mining if I re-listened to it as I did in December 2023. Oh well. That's for future me to decide when I eventually re-listen to it. For now, I'm here to give my thoughts on The The's 1986 album, Infected. It's fine. It's not bad at all, but I don't vibe with it that much. The production feels pretty dated. I'm not huge on it, but it could be worse. Matt Johnson's vocals aren't great, but they're not horrible either. His songwriting is definitely better than his singing though. The songwriting here isn't as good as I remember Soul Mining's songwriting being, but it is not bad either. I think "Heartland" is a pretty good song, but the rest of the album didn't impress me that much. Overall, Infected is a perfectly fine album, but it's not one that I was amazed by. I wouldn't call it a must-listen. They probably should've just kept Soul Mining and left it at that. 3/5.
Hmmmm, tead, mulle meeldis see, et kõigil lugudel oli pandud mõtet sõnadesse ja ilmselgelt peaartist tegi mõttega muusikat. Meloodiad ei hakanud kuidagi eriliselt kõrva, sest ta on oma ajastu muusika kõlaga, aga tegu polnud unelauluga. Kuulasin kudumise taustaks ühel mõtlikul reedel.
Now we are talking
From the dated drum sound to the dated vocals, this album is a slog. I dont mind the strings on the occasional tracks but overall this is just eighties pup.
My previous reference point for whether I would like The The (still a terrible name, by the way) didn’t bode well, but I surprisingly rather enjoyed this. Most of the songs were an appropriate length, and I liked both the main vocal and the female backing vocalist. I wouldn’t actively seek them out to listen to again, but I found I liked quite a bit of this.
On the previous The The album I said it sounded aggressively 80, complained about unnecessarily long intros and got angry (again) that some - extremely deserving! - bands get zero albums on this list yet this band get two. However, while some of that summary remains extremely accurate, I started to enjoy this The The album. Heartland and Angels of Deception were massively cheesy, but I kinda liked them. I can't really explain it. Maybe I was just in a funny mood. This is getting a surprising: 3/5
I know and own a song by The The called This is the Day. It was not on this album and this album sounded very different from that song. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t something that I really enjoyed.
Fun dancey sound with synths and such with some bleak lyrics, at least from the few that i caught. Lead singer Matt Johnson has a great voice but his words are quite illegible to my American ears. Favorite Track: Angels of Deception
🤧
This album has a lot of the characteristics of good new wave/ post punk that I really enjoy. This one gets better and better with every listen. I will keep this in my catelog.
3.5/5
Something remind me of oingo bingo, or someone like that. It sounded familiar in a way that I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of bands I currently like are familiar with this band.
I like this a lot: both weird and familiar.
Was good, just not my vibe.
30 seconds in and i don't know about this chief it's trying? to do interesting things which i appreciate in theory. but i'm mostly annoyed dnf with 2 tracks left to go. no thanks
Uninspiring 80s pop rock
Infected is hard to categorize. I hear a bit of George Michael-inspired soul-lite pop music on some songs. Some moments stand out but mostly these songs go pass over me without sticking.
I just can't imagine ever wanting to listen to this.
Not sure on this one. It reminded me of generic music in a movie so you know the time period without someone saying it. Overall kinda bland and really forgettable. Some fun lyrics but it's just so vanilla you don't remember them.
I enjoyed Soul Mining and love This is the day. Did not enjoy this as much. I was trying to write a couple of tricky emails and it was really getting on my tits as its just a bit too in your face with its jaunty 80's production. When I could concentrate on it more fully then enjoyed it a lot more as generally liked the lyrics and his delivery. It does lack killer tunes and is a bit too 80's pop so scores a solid 3.
Infected I feel broadly the same about this as I did Soul Mining, in that there are some highlights, and in that it feels like it's something I should like, with lots of elements I’m normally into, but as a whole it doesn't quite resonate with me. I’m not entirely sure why that is. His vocal style, I think, just doesn’t land for me, feeling a little like a pastiche of a Bowie-influenced 80s synth pop band and there’s also not a song anywhere as good as This is the Day. I do like some of the 80s funk sound, as on the catchy title track, but I’m less convinced by some of the more jazzy sounds, sounding like a less comfortable and skilful Style Council. Infected is a definite highlight though, but thematically is perhaps more where this album's strengths lie. Heartland effectively and evocatively depicts a divided and down at heel 80s Britain, with a winning sense of sincerity and earnestness and is the most successful jazz inflected track. Sweet Bird of Truth also works really well, with a more post-punk-funk feel and another strong lyric. It’s a bit of a mixed bag so a 3 sounds fair - some strong songs but overall not fully satisfying. 🦠🦠🦠 Playlist submission: Heartland
This continues the overriding theme of Soul Mining - that's to say production embedded firmly in the mid-80s that SAW would be proud of; glimmers of interest; but otherwise a rather forgettable affair. It can't really work out what it wants to be - jazz double-bass; touches of blue-eyed soul ('Angels of Deception'); Art of Noise type minimalism ('Sweet Bird of Truth'); but none of it colaeseces into a cogent whole. 'Out of the Blue' adds some variety and character (not least due to the female vocals); and 'Heartland' is another stand-out, although it has the melodramatic delivery of a stage musical. 'Slow Train to Dawn' is decent, working well with Neneh Cherry. And I like the outro to 'Mercy Street' which sounds like the desert swept intro of Jeff Buckley's 'The Last Goodbye'. As an album it's very hard to like. It doesn't hang together; there's nothing as punchy as 'This is the Day'; it's quite forgettable. Frankly it's pretty dull.
oh dayum wait this is fire.
This album has 80s pop/rock vibes, on top of socially conscious lyrics. The horns give it a kind of jazzy/showman quality. Not my preferred genre, but not awful.
Never listened to these guys before but enjoyed the attitude, intensity and delivery.
I misjudged this. The album title, the artwork - I was expecting either thrash metal or noise rock, and I was so pleasantly surprised, I think maybe I might have enjoyed it more than I should because my expectations were on the floor. Goes to show you can't trust an (album?) by its cover.
Not bad. ★★★
I’m surprised, I actually really like this album a lot. I listens to the other the other day, it was OK. I enjoyed post punk kind of stuff.
Oh, I liked this one a great deal. This arguably gave birth to the entire indie sleaze movement. The Electric Six listened to a LOT of The The, I bet... Good stuff here. The title cut is a banger -- and Slow Train to Dawn is an underrated cut.
great 80s pop album
This doesn't quite capture me.
Ambitious, interesting. Soul mining is a bit better. High 3
The The don’t exactly have a smooth approach to composition. The eccentric, awkward, stop-start performance and slightly crazed, elaborate vocals is surely the appeal but it could all just as easily turn a listener off. There are plenty of bands that I love which share several of these qualities but for whatever reason the theatricality doesn’t work for me here. My brain can't make sense of it.
The The get a solid to high 3, i prefer Soul Mining but enjoy the production on this record and I think the vocalist is consistently interesting if not always to my taste.
Super weird and fun to listen to, enjoyed it quite a bit.
This was a tad better than Soul Mining. Still don't like the voice.
I really hated the production on the first track. It was extremely unpleasant and overblown, with everything feeling like an unwarranted assault of the ears. I mean, that snare sound alone was horrid. Anyway, I'm still willing to hear out the rest of the album, somehow. Okay, back two songs later and the production got a bit better, but whilst I like the lyrics, I'm really not a fan of the vocals, whether that's in terms of his voice or the melodies. So far, the main interest to me has been the bass, but even that could be a bit better. The tracklist is a bit inconsistent and there are definite ups and downs but I'm just finding that none of the songs really do much for me, when I wish they felt more full and pleasantly produced. The snare tone doesn't really get any better throughout, and some of the synths, whilst stylistically typical of the time, are a bit crap in my opinion. The layering of the songs just doesn't feel nice, it all feels crudely slapped on top of itself. Then, the vocals aren't even that catchy and I find the voice obnoxious, so basically, there's nothing here I'd really like return to at all, but I respect the ideas.
The album cover put me off. Never judge a book by its cover, evidently. Great album, high octane and bonkers.
One reviewer writes that people don’t understand this album because they weren’t living in the UK in the early 1980s. Well, both this reviewer and the editor seem to believe that a significant portion of humanity lives in the UK. This misconception, of course, explains why - at least in my summary - British albums rank the lowest. I knew The The only by name, and their album “Infected” won’t exactly leave a lasting impression on me either. It contains pretty generic ’80s pop-rock - call it post-punk, new wave, or whatever, for all I care. The only thing that really stands out is the extraordinarily ugly cover - is that art or is it rubbish?
The first two tracks here are terrible. What were they trying for? And what made this listworthy? This is awful. Its cosplaying terribly as so many things at once and failing at all of them. 1.3/5
An interesting post-punk album with some world themes. Listened out of order by mistake
I enjoyed this more than I thought. Fun, upbeat album.
1st song is cool
I was at a friends house back in 1989 when Mind Bomb was released. I was immediately a fan. I bought three The The CDs (Soul Mining, Infected and Mind Bomb). Infected really didn't do much for me for several years. It didn't give me the same vibe as Mind Bomb. It was after no hearing it for years, that I picked it up and started listening to it. It was then, that I realized it was good. Really Good. I still have a special place in my heart for Mind Bomb, but this is a near classic. 4/5
It kinda seems like it should be ok...it's not unlistenable by any stretch...but...it just doesn't get me that excited. Mid-80's talk-singing.
An old favourite of my childhood, introduced first through the Mindbomb album around the time of it's release in 89 then devouring their back catalogue. I'd recommend checking out the videos for all the songs done by Tim Pope (all hopefully on YouTube), it was a fairly hedonistic drug induced process but with groundbreaking results in what could be done with the medium. Johnson is always compelling and engaging whether the topic is love sex, politics or war but thankfully laces it with beats riffs and tunes. Here the tribal elements continue from Soul Mining. Don't try and pigeon hole it and instead just immerse in the world he creates as it's own art form. The the were always outsiders and didn't conform to any genre. Strangely the lowest rated of their big four (a run ending with the brilliant "Dusk". Notable mention to Neneh Cherry in "Slow Train to Dawn" predating her breakthrough by a few years (although she'd already been involved in the post punk band Rip Rig & Panic).
# Playlist Track - Heartland # Notes - Perfectly enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. - I knew nothing about The The before starting that, and I REALLY liked "Soul mining" so this is kind of a letdown.
Infected - 3.5/5 Out Of The Blue (Into The Fire) - 3/5 Heartland - 2.5/5 Angels Of Deception - 2.5/5 Sweet Bird Of Truth - 2/5 Slow Train To Dawn - 2.5/5 Twilight Of A Champion - 2/5 The Mercy Beat - 1.5/5
Between New Order, Bronski Beat, and these guys the 80's in the UK must've been confusing with how many bands sounded very similar. This album was kind of all over the place. They made choices that I didn't necessarily like. The overall messages in the songs were pretty forward thinking. I wish there was more horn in them, because when that got thrown in it really added something to the songs. I enjoy that UK 80's sound, and this had a lot of it. Overall, it was fine. Didn't really grab me in any meaningful way.
Gostei. Um álbum com pegada new wave, mas sem aquela tristeza chata característica, e sim mais energética, bateria bastante presente e sintetizadores bem colocados. E o cantor me lembra bastante ao mick jagger. Achei bem descente.
the inclusion of this one and not Dusk is wild. if you found this one underwhelming try Dusk.
Oingo Boingo style music, a bit goofy, a bit 80s traditional sound, hard to pin down
O.K. but nothing remarkable on for me and nothing I really can connect to.
Well, I adored their previous album. I really didn’t expect to like this, but fuck, these guys are just incapable of missing. Hell! They made the phrase “infect me with your love” sound cool! How the fuck do you do that? Matt Johnson’s vocals are once again incredible, with that rough, gritty texture and incredible passion (the way he sings “I was trying so hard to BE myself I was turning into SOMEBODY ELSE”), and it turns these otherwise pretty boring pop tunes into something truly special, in a way only this band could. Songs like “Out Of The Blue (Into The Fire)” and the title track are especially good. It’s not on the same level as the debut, and it’s not perfect, but damn if it isn’t good. 8.4/10
The 80’s had its way with everyone. Very few were left unscathed.
Good but not as good as Soul Mining.
80'er med lidt tempo. Ok, men alligevel ikke noget, der hænger rigtigt fast.
didn't really listen to it, a bit boring and the title song is fine
Бразильский индастриал оркестр. Самые своеобразные драм парти которые я слышал вообще за все время. Непонятный для меня сдвиг и ощущение непопадания барабанов обманчиво и одновременно прекрасно. Долгие проигрыши необходимы для привыкания к звуку. Ощущение как будто ты попал в кибер поселение в южной Америке и в баре играют иммигранты с Европы. Я не могу сказать что мне понравился альбом целиком, отдельные композиции запали в душу и слушаются уже 3 день подряд. Сам альбом полноценен но скучен при прослушивании полностью, хоть он и не длинный. P.s - ошибка, наверное первая ошибка в оценке. Другие треки - несомненно также прекрасны и изумительны. Данный альбом третья 5 в моем пути. Оценка 8,5/10.(Была 6,5)
Very 80s. His voice is OK and the music has not held up well. 4.5/10 Top song Infected
Bonus point for having Neneh Cherry on a song.
for some reason i thought The The were stodgy old dad rock but this kind of completely ruled??????? omg>>>???
weird album but that's just what i'm here for. a bit of a tough nut to crack but after like five or six listens i'm down with the the. favorites: infected, heartland, sweet bird of truth
Delightfully weird and very 80's. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Had a lot of fun listening to this one. Felt generally upbeat and exciting, didn't wear out its welcome.
I really wanted to like the mix of post-punk and new wave on Infected, but honestly, I found it a total slog. I get that Matt Johnson put a ton of effort into the theatrical production and all those layers of synths and brass, but the whole thing just grated on me. It feels like it's trying way too hard to be deep, and the result is just a dated, over-produced wall of 80s noise that couldn't keep me interested.
Ikke min greie i det hele tatt. Sterk 2.
Syntes dette var kjedelig. 1-2
hated it
The The, among the least googleable bands, is pretty give and take for me. They have some excellent songs, some interesting albums, but also a lot that is overwrought and more concerned with theatrics than craft. This feels like the latter for me. Dark and grimy camp, but camp all the way. I guess a light 3* but i couldnt really get into it enough to feel much
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Not really my thing, but the lyrics to “Heartland” and “Angels of Deception” hold up all too well.
Enjoyed this more than I thought
I forgot it was on just a bit nothing
Hmm. I always thought The The was a punk band. I was quite mistaken. It's alright for 80s pop, a bit of fun, but I must admit, I listened to this hours ago and I can't remember a single thing. Mid to good perhaps?
Not bad. Sounded like a more rockinrollin INXS. I should have given it a closer listen but honestly who has the time these days.
I always this they I like this one more. Not as dancey 80s as Soul Mining and not as moody in your face as Mind Bomb.
Much better than expected. I thought it would be a metal album... but it had some good funky songs.
Good one but not spectacular
muy bueno, me re gustó este también (a ella le encantaban todos los álbumes) tiene ritmo, lindas letras y es muy cool
3.5/10
High 3 for sure but I didn't love it enough for it to make 4. Maybe on a couple more listens but upon thinking that I was like... Hm idk if I feel like relistening to this ....
I liked this one
I'm conflicted. When the songs are good they are really fun and very 80s new wavey. But some songs are like the 80s in all the terrible of ways especially in production. I think a 3 is fair here.
fun stuff! a few tracks got a little too uh, tumblr fan-edit core? AMV-core? i cant describe it or list common traits but i feel it when i feel it. still great tho
Wow umm.... Call that a dark horse album for me. And don't judge an album by its cover. That was mega. It just works. Edgy, poppy, so 80's, heavy dose of turmoil. That's a read the lyrics album with a fire and get piss drunk screaming to the void why are we still at war.
After listening to Playing with Fire and some other terrible albums, I just didn't have the capacity to listen to this. Sure, there's probably some motif's that i'm missing and small things that I would pickup while listening to the full album. But I just couldn't do it today. Skipped around, and just sounded like another 80's synth rock/pop album. 2/10
I previously said the 80s sound is not my vibe… with some exceptions (tears for fears being one of them). This is not one of those exceptions. It’s not horrible… but not my jam. 2.0
Definitely on the weird end of things, but I liked it! Had me grooving, and had some great horns too. 7/10 Quite Likeable
Really didn't like this one haha
These guys are just dreamy...
i've put this record on a few times in the past but it never really stuck with me, and this latest listen proved that this just isn't really my cup of tea; good filler music for the background the cover art deserves better music methinks 3/5
Itchy production, tinny drums, and that breathless over-singing typical of this era of post-punk. There were moments I enjoyed (the female vocals on “Out of the Blue”, the guitar on “Heartland” before they’re smothered), but moments are not enough. Sorry, The The, you just don’t do it for me, but good for you.
Not for me. 1/5
This is a fairly good album, but I'm kinda surprised it made the list. Soul Mining making the cut? Sure. But this one, while a decent record, just isn't as infectious (sorry) as their earlier album.
Amazing
This album is dumb.
didn't like this 2 stars
Good summertime weird-rock
Enjoyed more than expected, but just an average record.
I'm so happy to have discovered this. if it weren't for this website I don't think I'd have come across it! I LOVE NEW WAVE!! it'd been a while since i had so much fun listening to an album and for that it's a 10/10 for me. straight into my favorites.
Well... I didn't like this one. It felt strangely abrasive in a way that really did not suit this style in my mind, and I felt like the moments I did enjoy have been done better by other artists. Anyways, putting this one off has made me very far behind, but I'll catch up!
Definitely not my scene. I suppose it's alright for what it is, but it's definitely not for me.
I always want to like the band more than I really do. This album just didn’t excite me
Infected is a scathing indictment of modern England. It's one of the most intelligent albums to come out of the 80s and it shares very little in common with the pop stylings of the time period. Matt Johnson's conversational style may not be for everyone, but I think it adds weight and character that sets it all apart.
🤷🏿♀️
I thought it was rather interesting. The singer sounds a bit like Nick Cave in a good way. I do think the social commentary falls a bit flat.
Kind of boring to be honest
A good album, I liked Infected, Angels of Deception and Slow Train to Dawn the most.
Tiene un sonido tan estereotípicamente ochentoso y que al mismo tiempo se siente tan distintivo que me genera sentimientos encontrados, pero dentro de todo está bueno. Se escucha más New Wave que Post Punk, aunque asumo que la segunda etiqueta deviene más que nada por las letras más políticamente cargadas de algunas de las canciones. No me veo volviendo a escucharlo más allá de alguna que otra canción. ↑: Infected, Heartland, Slow Train To Dawn ↓: Out Of The Blue (Into The Fire)
Lyrically very cool, musically wasn't super my vibe. Very 80s weird rock.
Album cover reminds of a collaborate art I’d make with the demons (highest compliment really). The The is also comedy. Love the opening track, Infected! I need an 80s movie marathon I think. Listened to and from the beach, drove through a thunderstorm. Really strong start and maybe fizzled a bit for me after the first few songs, but I’ll keep listening to them for sure.
Love it. This has aged really well. Funky and bitter and cool. All the usual matt Johnson metaphors plus loads about middle east oil and money. Great Surrey with neneh cherry. It's not the best the the album (that's soulmining) but I can see why this one got chosen and Ioved listening
Eww. What the fuck is this?
Had zero idea what to expect here and this was weird, over the top, and exceedingly well done.
Some nice sounds on this one. Maybe worth another listen
Würde mir dieses Album glaube einfach für dieses Cover kaufen. Allerdings haben einige Songs wie z.B. Slow Train to Dawn echt gut angefangen aber man wird dann irgendwie enttäuscht von mittelmäßigen lyrics und alles in allem begleitet durch ein mittelmäßige 80er Band. Die Musik geht schon gut durch den Körper aber ich finde Music for the Jilted kriegt das besser hin. Also ja schlecht bis mittelmäßiges Album. Drei Sterne weil ich das Cover ansprechend finde.
Kind of cool but not really
I usually get a bit tired from 80s production and think it sounds a bit cheesy and annoying, but I think that The The does it absolutely right (from what I’ve heard so far; this album and its predecessor). Pretty different in sound from “Soul Mining”, but a great album again. I loved the feature of Neneh Cherry on this.
The the: BAD band name Infected: GOOD album
Really fun. Can't wait. Closer to a 3 than a 5.
Alright i’m cutting this one short. No fault on the album, but i just can’t listen to any more 80s albums. this one was much more stimulating than the others i’ve listened to recently, but i just don’t like these sounds. There’s moments in this album that indeed sounds different, but there are plenty of moments with that 80s synth sound that just immediately makes me dissociate from what i’m listening to. I get it, it was the style and time. but fuck man this era made so much slop with that sound that i can’t even get through an album that IS doing something a little different
Empecé muy joven a escuchar música y cuando los Smiths y luego los Housemartins lo eran todo para mí, se separan ambos grupos más menos al mismo tiempo y me quedé huérfano de música. Este fue uno de los autores que escuché como sustituto (también Lloyd Cole) y la verdad es que no dieron para mucho. Creo que ha envejecido regular, mucho sintetizador. Me guardo Angels of deception. Su voz sigue mereciendo la pena.
Not a bad album. However, I find it kind of repetitive. Apart from that, I think "The The" is over-represented in this project (one album would've been enough). For this reason, and also because I found "Soul Mining" (which came up only a couple of weekss ago) more interesting, I'm giving 2 stars to this one.
Sounded a bit like Frankie goes to Hollywood in some ways
I mean it was alright
AI generated 80's movie soundtrack
There are a few GREAT songs by 'the The', but this album doesn't have any of them. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a
I love the energy of it. I love how weird it is and that the front man lays it all out there.
A rubbish INXS
Shermz: quite groovy! I actually really really like the titular track “Infected” Wenz: Hahaha, I have other preferences, I like “Heartland” the most in this album 🤭
Love this band, love this record as much as their others.
I hate this band
After opening with a typical 80s drum machine that makes you think you're getting a standard new wave album, Infected gets as weird as its album cover. Clattering drums and layers of guitars make for chaotic post punk tracks with an occasional sophisti-pop undercurrent. The vocals are just as manic and sometimes get theatrical. It reminds me less of other English post punk and more of Australian noise rock like early Nick Cave and Foetus. While it's definitely unique, there's often too much going on to really catch the groove of the songs; there are no easy rhythms or obvious riffs or hooks here. The lyrics seem to be political but can be hard to make much sense of. Definitely interesting, but also just a bit too much.
I love this album but I'm only giving it 4 stars because (despite what my sister thinks) Soul Mining and NOT Infected is Matt Johnson's masterpiece and I'm skeptical they'll both be on the list here.
"virus"
Opening track very catchy. Overall loved the musical arrangements. Lyrics definately tell of a fairly bleak time for many. Oh wait, has anything changed for the better?
80s music, not the good stuff. Don't know any songs which doesn't bode well for a genre I'm familiar with.
Perfectly fine 80s pop
Just kinda stuff happening
Don't just an album by its cover...I really was not looking forward to this one based on the cover but it really surprised. It sounded very much like early 90's rock (I know it was late 80s) and made a fun spunky feel. With the lyrics it was pulling in the punk vibes and moving into rock and the next era in music. On the surface it feels very blah pop rock of the time but the lyrics really are what pull it up to a higher rating. I wish Sweet Bird of Truth were easier to hear. Fav was Angels of Deception.
interesting. It has it's moments. Don't love it don't hate it.
I didn't know what to expect from a band that chose the most common word in the English language as their name, but it would've felt on brand for them to make music that felt equally as uninspired. I was happy to find that was not the case! I really enjoyed the energy and vibe of this, and I especially liked Infected and Heartland. The other songs didn't grab me AS much, but they really bring the heat in every track, and it's anything but boring. I'm at a 3.5 but this is one I'll round up.
Infected — Fun guitar song Out of the Blue (Into the Fire) — went a lot less hard than the title suggested but it was also good Heartland — A very enjoyable song Angels of Deception — good songg! Sweet Bird of Truth — All of these songs have been a nice softer rock Slow Train to Dawn — already solid album and this is one of the better Twilight of a Champion — this one was alright too The Mercy Beat — Love the energy and the length, then the DONKSy vibes . the best of the album
Very mid, utterly forgettable 80's music 3/5
abwechslungsreiche, melodiöse songs .. und auf Slow Train To Dawn hört man Neneh Cherry raus.
Etwas träge ohne Höhepunkte
Not really what I was expecting, and not something I really liked. It was pretty cheesy 80s slop. Not really why this appeared in the book. I'm certain that no one is asking themselves "whatever happened to The The?"
Not sure why this band gets two albums on this list.
I used to play The The a lot on my new wave radio show, but I feel like Infected is kind of horny in a sinister way.
This really reminded me of Lemon Demon lol but I really enjoyed it!
There’s a particular trick this record pulls that still feels rare: it speaks fluent mid-80s pop, then refuses to deliver any of the expected outcomes. Everything about the surface says “big record.” Brass, propulsion, clarity of phrasing, a sense of scale. The grammar is shared with the era’s more aspirational end of pop, drawing on blue-eyed soul for movement and emotional directness. But the function is inverted. Where that language usually resolves tension, here it sustains it. The listener keeps expecting lift, payoff, reassurance. Instead, the songs hold their nerve and leave things open, sometimes uncomfortably so. The opening establishes this immediately. A long, deliberate intro that builds environment before voice. It doesn’t rush to declare itself as “song.” It places you inside a system already in motion, then introduces a narrator who sounds less like a guide and more like someone already affected by the conditions. That sense of prior contamination runs through the whole album. From there, the record alternates between propulsion and immersion. Tracks move, but rarely cleanly. Rhythms feel driven rather than grooving, as if under pressure. The low end behaves more like terrain than foundation, creating resistance rather than flow. It’s not murk for its own sake. It’s a deliberate density that denies easy listening positions. You’re in it, not above it. Lyrically, the record avoids the two common traps of “political” music: slogan and satire. Instead, it operates through inhabitation. Voices feel lived-in rather than declared. There is an actorly instinct at work, but it’s not performative in the usual sense. Characters are not presented for inspection. They are occupied. That matters because it removes distance. You are not asked to agree or disagree. You are asked to experience a mindset from within. At the same time, the album never fully disappears into naturalism. There is a constant counterforce, a subtle distancing effect. The arrangements are often too large, the brass too present, the phrasing occasionally too pointed for pure immersion. You are made aware, intermittently, that you are inside a constructed system. That oscillation between immersion and awareness is central. It allows the record to feel human and analytical at once. Anne Dudley’s contribution is critical here. The brass arrangements do not decorate or uplift. They accumulate. Lines overlap, chords lean, phrases arrive before previous ones have cleared. The result is pressure. Not chaos, but a controlled closing-in. It’s a long way from the elegance of her work elsewhere in the decade. Here, the same tools are used to remove oxygen rather than provide lift. The middle section of the album expands outward without offering relief. National and international themes are introduced, but not as abstract commentary. They feel like extensions of the same internal unease. The record suggests continuity between personal experience and larger systems, without flattening one into the other. It avoids the easy move of locating blame entirely elsewhere. There is always an implication that the narrator, and by extension the listener, is inside the same arrangement. One of the album’s strengths is its handling of time. It does not read like hindsight. It feels like real-time recognition. The language is general enough to travel, but specific enough to bite. That’s why certain tracks continue to feel contemporary. They describe patterns of behaviour and consequence rather than fixed events. The locations can shift, the mechanics can evolve, but the underlying situation remains recognisable. The final stretch avoids resolution altogether. There is no grand statement, no collapse, no redemption. Instead, the record moves into smaller, more intimate spaces, then ends with a sense of preparation for something unspecified but serious. That ambiguity is deliberate. By refusing to name the act, the song leaves the listener inside the state of readiness. It is a deeply uneasy way to close, but entirely consistent with what has come before. Across the album, the sequencing functions as an argument. World-building leads to immersion, then to diagnosis, internalisation, consequence, and aftermath. At no point does the record step outside itself to explain. It trusts the listener to make the connections, or at least to feel them. What holds it all together is discipline. There is a lot here that could have tipped into excess: the scale of production, the conceptual ambition, the density of arrangement. It never quite does. The songs remain legible. Hooks remain intact. The pop engine continues to run, even as it carries increasingly difficult material. That balance is the achievement. Not simply that the album has something to say, but that it says it using a language designed to smooth things over, and refuses to smooth anything over.
Really liked this! I think this is their 2nd album I’ve listened to and will definitely be checking out their discography. 4.5/5
Comes across as one part Scritti Polliti, one part Squeeze, one part Depeche Mode. There's probably more parts I'm not cultured enough to recognize. I'm good with that.
old video games vibes love it
A strong three. Music Im certain would grow in my music taste scale.
Quite good, I liked the bleakness of it all
Favourite Songs: Infected Heartland Sweet Bird Of Truth
7/10
Eh
Leiðinleg, en ekki allt alveg eins.
A slow burn of an album with just enough funkiness and spookiness to elevate it above a lot of the new wave that we’ve been hearing. Some solid tracks like heartland and slow train to Dawn but ultimately this was destined to be a three..
Breezed right through this; a bit in one ear and out the other. I don’t know what’s supposed to be good about this, but also I didn’t think it was bad. Decidedly average rock pop.
Reminded me a little of INXS. Only without much melody. Or rhythm. Or Michael Hutchence.
1 de 5 Post Punk y New Wave que realiza una critica visceral a la política interna y externa británica de mediados de los 80. Disco lleno de tensión y ritmos dance-pop pero con un tinte oscuro y vanguardista. Géneros para nada de mi agrado. A destacar: Track 1 - Infected Track 2 - Out of the Blue (Into the Fire) Track 4 - Angels of Deception
Couple good songs but nothing I'd ever go back and listen to.
Intriguing
Sounds like INXS making a commercial for baked beans.
2/5. I’m usually a post-punk enjoyer but this one just didn’t do anything for me. Not helping is the sound of the album which is some dated 80’s cheese, but even beyond that, nothing really captivated me here. It’s not abysmal or anything, but just not for me.
Not my jam
I enjoyed this record quite a bit. It sounds very 80’s post-punk.
Really high highs but really low lows Production is really great Almost similar to tonight by Bowie I like the women singer Maybe closer to 3.5 Favorites: heartland, title track
!!!
Not infectious.
Bit weirder than their other album on here, but I did enjoy bits and pieces of it
.2 seconds in Matt Johnson says the name of the album you just turned on in case you somehow already forgot. 1 and a half minutes in.... are we going to do something different? oh... this sounds like if Billy idol went in a different direction... Is it industrial? is it 80s pop wave? is it 80s pop rock? I'm not sure... Somehow all the music feels familiar but I also know that I have never heard any of this. It's as if he is throwing some borrowed melodies in with his own. Oh, this second song is interesting... sounds like this song would be in some strange parody comedy movie. Lyrically this album is very Litteral and direct. There is no room for interpretation. It's really as if he is just having a conversation and telling a story to you... but like he went off on six tangents to get to the punch line.
Fantastic record, love the mixture of cabaret, industrial sounds and plain pop. The Neneh Cherry-feature, “Slow Train To Dawn”, is a highlight.
The best songs weren’t even on the original album. I listened to the cd version which had 3 additional songs that were way better than the 8 on the original album. That being said this still sucks. And worst band name of all time too.
Didn’t expect this much funk! A few good tunes here
Nothing to grab ya
This was such a chore to get through. I dont know why. This album specifically broke me away from this list for over a week. And coming back to it was just as difficult
Fav song: Infected
Terrible band name, ok music.
I love his voice, but not the best of The The.
Atrocious album cover, reminds me of Aaahh!!! real monsters. 80s drivel album. Heartland sounded like something out of a musical, which was cool.
This feels just really shallow
?@! Someone who can remember the 80ies diddn't live there (c) Falco
An all-time favorite that I don’t listen to much these days, but I still enjoy it when I do.
Not a bad album the title track is pretty good and i did like a fee other songs but overall pretty average
Never heard of The The before, This album was weird as hell but I kinda liked it tbh
Masete, svulstig og teatralsk. Slow Train to Dawn er høydepunktet, sikkert pga Neneh Cherry, som burde ha sunget på alle låtene i stedet for Matt Johnsons utrolig irriterende vokal. Alle låtene har musikkvideoer, så jeg så de som en playlist på YouTube.
Ganske midt på treet. Noen av låtene er virkelig bra, men det er noe med instrumenteringen som gjør at man plutselig befinner seg i en Michael J. Fox film. Det vil kanskje litt for mye. Dette er en treer jeg kommer til å høre mer på.
3.5 Like det her. Plata mangle bare en skikkelig banger.
Har ikke hørt på The The siden jeg var på konserten på Sentrum Scene i 2024. Ikke et udelt gledelig gjenhør, det her, men noen låter sitter godt (spesielt Sweet Bird of Truth). Tekstene og attituden virker veldig datert.
I’ve seen this cover but never listened to the album - average late 80’s stuff
Meh
Some of the more listenable weird 80s on this list
No idea who this is and with a name like “Infected” I was not expecting electro/pre-industrial. Oh wait. Infected is the album name. The band is “The The”. The art still feels punk. I like the first track. I know I heard about this group in the 80s. I wish I would have heard this then. I love the second track. This is really great
Woof, what a dog. This needs to stay in the mid 80s and never be head from again. Weird mix of genres, weird production - overall just weird.
Could listen to the whole thing..
Sharp as the tack which eventually burst the city bubble!
This was OK. Worth a listen but nothing snagged me.
Great album .Total classic .
Well, definitely interesting. Hard to really put my finger where n it, but something annoyed me. Overall it’s still a good record.
Couple of songs great, overall too earnest.
best part is the name, the the is VERY funny. though can't say much about the music, idk, it's very nothingburger
This album is such a mixed bag. The opening track was a well-produced 80s hit, with fun elements. Meanwhile, the rest of the album lacked the same excitement. When they stuck to new wave, it worked, when they tried anything else, it didn't work. There's so much better British 80s New Wave that isn't on this list, I'm surprised they picked these guys.
Not bad
Not bad. But I could have done without it
Only time for one listen wasn’t horrible might give it another spin
Pas fan de la voix dans cette album, sa manière de chanter à la pirate/méchant de Disney, puis les drums et les guitares trempées dans les réverbes des années 80 ça me cringe un peu je vais pas mentir. Mais à part ça reste très bien, les refrains sont cools c'est bien composé ça se sent que les gars sont bons ! Victimes du style de l'époque qui va perdurer dans leur discographie, malheureusement pour moi... Mais santé à eux cependant Plus fan de "This is the day", qui se détache un peu dans le style peut etre pour ça qu'elle me plait plus ! <i>J'éspère que cette review est à la hauteur de vos espérances </i>
la cover me terrifie mais l’album est cool comme quoi faut pas se fier aux apparences
Kitchissime mais il n’en faut pas plus pour me convaincre
I'm really into this vibe of 80’s rock. Yes, it may be slightly cheesy at points and the production is very polished, but the instrumental arrangements and vocals create a really enjoyable atmosphere & flow to the tracks. The blend of rock with funk and new wave music comes through really well and the songs are consistently catchy. A strong 8/10, soft 9/10 for me.
no conocia la banda y me gusto mucho las mezclas que tiene por lo menos este album no se lo demas, cortito 4 canciones muy buenas y otras 4 medio medio pero las 4 bueas me gustaron mucho una lezcla rara de rock con algo mas chill con notas electronicas mete de todo un poco buenos solos de guitarra megusto me gusto
Three Inch Nails The first track is a complete banger and a memory from late night TV watching. But then it sags into self consiously arty lyrics and fairly pedestrian music that isn't nearly as interesting as it seems to want you to think it is. It wants to be making a statement about life the, universe and everything but just isn't that good. It keeps starting to do something interesting and then goes of the rails. Either he starts singing in a put on dramatic voice or thr lyrics land with a thud or suddenly he thinks its a good idea to mix in tannoy announcements. Wastes a lot of potential.
Synthy psychadelic goth disco - Depeche Mode is the obvious comparison, but this is a bit jazzier, poppier, brighter, and more uptempo. Fun, bouncy stuff with a dark undercurrent.
Another fine album from this unknown, underground new wave sensation. I hear forward thinking influences on Indie, electronic and dance music as well as influence from Prince, ELO, and maybe even some elements of English ska in the meter and pacing. Lots of cool elements for an alright piece of music. Has charm and energy. I think I like this less than the other The The album on this list.
Oh, so boring. The very definition of bad new wave. One minor hit and a bunch of albums filled with fluffy notes and inoffensive drivel. Damn, the Brits will listen to anything!
Absolutely love it. Still.
Didn't hate this, but didn't love it either. It's OK in a fairly obvious mid-80s sort of way that appeals to me simply because that was when I grew up.
Suena diferente a su época Combina sonidos de manera interesante No hay nada que destaque por si solo, pero combinado todo va bien nada desentona No estoy seguro de que más pueda destacar en este momento puedo decir que pensé que iba a ser otro álbum clásico que sonara igual a muchos pero no realmente, hicieron su esfuerzo por ser originales dentro de lo difícil que eso resulta
Just didn't really enjoy this - at first it felt okay, but I didn't like the singer which meant the whole thing wasn't for me.
Tripping on LSD in the 80s this may have seemed cutting edge. Today though, it sucked
i don’t wanna listen again but it’s ok.
A few catchy tunes but really underwhelming album. Can't say I disliked it but I wouldn't listen to it if I had the choice
3.5
A rollercoaster of an album - full of twists and turns. There were points when I was really getting into it, then it would take a turn and lose me. I did enjoy the juxtaposition between the lyrics and music though. Probably needs more listens...but I know I won't revisit it.
I'm glad I heard this album! All I knew of The The before this was the song "This is the Day" so I am happy to expand my knowledge of this group and their songs. Lots of politically relevant and socially relevant songs for 2026 even though this is from 40 years ago.
This is one of those albums that I think I would have liked better had I gotten it earlier into this list as opposed to well into the 700s as I am now. At this point I feel like I’ve heard this before, and better. “Angels of Deception” is a great track and almost led me to rate this 3 stars, but the rest of the songs are kind of tedious and go on for way too long. This album felt like well over an hour even though it was about 41 minutes.
Eigentlich voll gut, deshalb verstehe ich auch nicht warum es so eine schlechte Bewertung hat.
Bordered on being too cheesy but overall enjoyable
Better than I feared.
Tedious and forgettable 80s pedestrian rock. 8 songs but felt like 38.
I am partial to a lot of 80s music and this is no exception. I wouldn't say this is a standout album (I'm still waiting for the generator to throw me some Duran Duran) but I enjoyed it.
I'd never heard of this group, but I really enjoyed it! The diversity of genres and instruments used kept me invested in the album the whole way through. I couldn' decide if the vocalist's style reminded me of Billy Idol, Arctic Monkeys, or even Bowie, which was a wild experience.
Yeah, sorry. No. 4/10
What a stupid band name. This is the same stuff as like oingo boingo and all that other weird haired 80s androdgeonius groups.
The first The The album I got into after someone in our sixth form loved it and always got to the cassette player before anyone else. It's a masterpiece. This, Soul mining, naked self and dusk are all brilliant. Hanky panky and mind bomb less so.
Rating: 4.5/5 Short Review: Dark, political, and sonically ambitious, this album blends post-punk with funk, soul, and electronic textures. It feels tense and confrontational, like a snapshot of a restless era. Favorite Track: Heartland. The groove is infectious, but the lyrics cut deep, capturing frustration and disillusionment with sharp clarity.
Liked this a lot more than Soul Mining. More than a lot of albums that sound this heavily of the 80s. Probably won't ever listen to it again though.
1. infected - 0 2. blue - 1 3. heart - 1 4. angelz - 1 5. truth - 1 6. dauun - 1 7. champion - 8. mercy - 1
This was kind of surprisingly good, it suffered from some terrible drum tones and basically cheesy eighties.Production, but actually felt like the songs were good.And the concept was fun not something I would listen to again but not something I would rate poorly
This was fun. It sticks within its lane and does it well. I like how emotive his voice is at times. Favorites were Heartland, Angels Of Deception, and The Mercy Beat.
Lowkey paranoid.
werid ass 80s pop. smth about this immersive idk what it is but i like it a lot
Surprisingly decent new wave 80s stuff, kinda similar to The Cure and bands of that ilk. Went in wanting to hate it, but it ended up better than expected. Didn't love every song, but I liked enough to garner a 3/5
She talks to angels slaps. That’s about it