Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Felt like a bit of a cruel joke seeing the generator spit this album title out when I've been sick the last few days tbh 😔 Anyway the music is fine I guess
Music isn’t bad. Very 80’s. Singer is trying too hard. Not a fan of the talky story telling style. 2.5
This is #day432 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I really like Soul Mining, but since it's not its time just yet, why not dive into Infected, which I'd never heard before? But then, wouldn't one album (Soul Mining) from this band have been just fine? I bet it would have. The sound is great, plenty of '80s marks all over, which I don't mind, but is this something you must hear before you die? Why not replace it with, say, INXS - Kick, or whatever? This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day433.
Interesting and different. The lead voice sounded familiar.
3 stars
Only okay.
ganska najs
Höga peakar, men rätt många fillers i andra halvan. Titelspåret är amazing, mest för att omslaget ser ut som ett punkalbum och jag blev shook när det var groovy dansmusik
Fun enough but overall just alright.
I really liked Soul Mining. I liked this too but I'm having trouble remembering details. I need another listen.
After I completed this album, my streaming music Service played Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode. Man is Violated great album truly a five out of five. Clearly of its time, but still feels modern and fresh today. As the kids might say banger after banger after banger. After that I listed to all of Violator, then some more Depeche Mode. Then the Talking Heads discography. I had a very productive day at work too. Oh, yeah… The The 2/5
This was super cool and very a propos on halloween weekend!
I’m not sure…. This is really not for me.
Love Thethe but I though this album was good but nothing great. 3.5
< the Beatles This just isn't for me
Too close to Soul Mining
Very 80's
My expectations were higher for a band named The The, an album named infected, an album cover that looked like that and labeled as post punk. This shit was just 80's Will I listen to again: 0%
So much of this type of fucking garbage on this list
Interesting and fun. Lots of variety
Skip
I had never heard of the The prior to this challenge, but of course it's a band that makes a genre with "post" in its name... classic. I honestly don't have a lot to say about Infected. It starts off somewhat strong with the title track, which is fun, energetic and even features a trumpet solo. While it doesn't necessarily take a complete nosedive after that point, it never quite hits the same highs again. I certainly didn't hate having it on, but tracks 2-8 all just kind of blended together into a sea of forgettable '80s mush. If there's one thing I really took away from this album, it's that I apparently have no idea what post-punk actually is. Infected just sounds like other '80s dance pop to me – in my head, it's much more similar to something like Depeche Mode than bona fide punk rock. I guess that's part of what makes it "post," but I'm still struggling to figure out where exactly the "punk" comes in. Highlights: Infected
What even is this
reminds me of a disney soundtrack. also an 8 song album?
Joyful and bouncy, but also slightly weird. This is what I’m here for.
This album blew my mind. The way it channels slick 80s pop/soul/blues/rock through epic and weird anthems. Utterly unique. Fav track: Infected
I like The The, but this isn’t my favorite album from them
Album 23/1001 "The ammunition's being passed, and the lord's been praised But the wars on the televisions will never be explained All the bankers gettin sweaty, beneath their white collars As the pound in our pocket turns into a dollar This is the 51st state of the USA" Doesn't get more Thatcher-era 1980s Britain than this, and yet, listening to Heartland in 2025, you get the impression that not a lot has changed in the last 40yrs. 😕
Couldn’t get through any of these songs. More like The “Nuh”, amirite?
Not a fan of quirky 80s music. Don't care for the vocals or vocal melodies, but the synths are cool. Second half ended up being better than I expected. Best track: Slow Train to Dawn. Wouldn't listen again but it was decent.
Pretty good
Oooh! Some new sound. Loved it.
Peak 80s
I bought this on CD back in the 80s. Matt Johnson shows a unique sound and vision on this album. While it is very much of its time, I also think it holds up well now.
Flexi Sound
Thoughts before listening: The The is one of my favorite band names of all time, but before this project, I had never actually listened to them before. This is my second album by them, and I liked the first one fine. My notes say its a darker side of 80s new wave and I would expect the same here. Review: I gave The The's first album I heard 3-stars, and thats probably right for this one as well. This is a quirky 80s new wave pop album with catchy songs and a bit more of the darker sound I heard on the first one. Nothing is necessarily blowing me away here, but its also better than many of the other 80s albums I have listened to. I'll throw a few songs on the playlist and stick with the 3-stars.
It’s ok
A synth pop 80s album with a ton of brass. One decent song, the rest, meh. Clear why they were popular, but not my cup of tea. I could see the 90s looking at Johnson’s music and saying “so close…”
I certainly would not have selected this record to represent The The and it’s certainly not a record that should be included in a list of 1001 albums you should listen to before you die. Don’t get me wrong- I was a huge The The and Matt Johnson fan. Uncertain Smile and This is the Day are easily among the best pop songs from this period. Matt’s vocals are distinctive with a pleasant and comfortable tone that was captivating when I first discovered Burning Blue Soul in 1981. But enough about things other than Infected. It must have been difficult to follow up Soul Mining (which should be on the list). Infected is an uneven record I think as a consequence. There are moments that come close to matching those earlier hits. Heartland is as close as it gets. A piano forward catchy track with silky backing vocals of the Croquets who make this lyrically savage takedown of the middle class who somehow thought that Britain was economically on par with the rest of the EU, foreshadowing the Brexit movement by 30 years. It is equal to those earlier mentioned hits. Angels of Deception and Sweet Bird of Truth come close- impassioned vocal performances with sharp insightful lyrics. Unfortunately the rest of the album after this stretch is rather unmemorable and quickly becomes background music. Unfortunate really. It’s difficult to make a classic song let alone a classic record. Heartland is a classic song. Infected is not a classic album.
Wow, wasn't expecting to like this so much Funky and nice bass
Put this on while cleaning up the house on a Sarurday morning. My wife remarked from the other room, "What the hell is this?" I agree with the sentiment. Spooky 80s Broadway punk?
6/10
This starts off with a lot of energy. Some real funky songs, interesting lyrics, theatricality. Not sure that I will revisit it much, but glad to have heard it.
Wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but it was way different from what the cover suggested. Very much 1980’s posit-punk pop.
A fun little album. For some reason the vocals reminded me of Steve Martin singing the Dentist song from Little Shop of Horrors. Overall a good listen
Ok I fully expected based on the cover art to hate this…. But! It was actually pretty good?
It was better in my memory - not all 80s pop has aged well. Good voice though. Not bad, but rather forgettable.
Not my jam at all
3/5
A very good post-punk album from The The. 3.3 / 5
Meh
++: Infected, Out of the Blue (Into the Fire), Heartland, Angels of Deception, Slow Train to Dawn, Twilight of a Champion, The Mercy Beat +: Sweet Bird of Truth 9,1/10
Not bad but nothing stood out
I like my post punk/new wave a little bit less bland. It’s fine but doesn’t excite. It blended so far into the background, I forgot I had listened to it.
The first song really sucks but the rest mostly makes up for it enough to push this up to "average" level
After listening to "Soul Mining", I wouldn't have particularly guessed that we'd get another album by Matt Johnson in this collection, but I'm glad we did (or at least that's true for "Infected"). It seems like Johnson cranked up the darkness and dystopian views, and toned down the synth-pop aspects, and produced a strangely compelling album whose despair at the state of the world remains sadly topical 40 years later. It's also very impressive that he convinced CBS to cough up the budget to make videos for every single track on the album, and the videos definitely added to the experience. My favorites on this album are "Infected" (what a bizarre setting in Bolivia, with a guy strapped to a chair and eventually burned in a bonfire outside a church, and as far as I can tell having absolutely nothing to do with the lyrics, plus an apparently even hairier experience filming this and "Mercy beat" among drug experiences, biting monkeys and snakes and even Amazonian communist rebels), "Angels of deception" (with a fun Kafkaesque stylized city set), and "Sweet bird of youth" (I'm not sure there's really a storyline in the video, but it's a pretty damning indictment of military interference in the world (apparently specifically about US involvement in the Middle East, which delayed the single's release when the US bombed Libya)). I'm not all that surprised to read that Johnson was very challenging to work with, but I'm glad he managed to make this album.
I remember being disappointed with this band when they first came out and listening to this album didn't change my impression. There's a lot of talking and sounds from instruments not quite music not quite interesting.
Meh. Not as good as I remember.
3/5
Listened to it twice back to back. First listen was thinking 4. Second listen 2.
Meh. I tried but just couldn’t get into it. I’ve heard of The The before, but never listened to them. I’m just not a huge fan of that whole 80’s fascination with synthesizers and drum machines. And though it has nothing to do with the music, I’ve always thought the name “The The” was pretty dumb.
This is lowkey better than the other The The album i listened to. very oingo boingo.
Leuk!
Album started off strong, but after 2-3 songs it kinda got annoying:(
Great production
I loved the energy of this album! it felt fun and mysterious at the same time! probably a good relisten or two, but didnt listen good enough to be able to name any songs off the album.
It was fine, I didn't feel like my time was wasted 3/5
Excellent album here. The vocals in particular I enjoyed a lot, there’s a lot of interesting choices made and I really like it. I’m usually not as into this genre but I really liked this one
Totally fine, kinda forgettable but not bad
love the cover art. had never heard anyyyy of this before, kinda liked it. pretty typical 80s but don't seem to be as popular as others in this time.
This lies in a frustrating middle ground between the whimsy of the pet shop boys and the personality of Billy Idol. Lots of songs that come to a frustrating end falling just short of being a good 80’s pop song. “Heartland” had an interesting social message but is a bit on the nose about it. “Twilight Of A Champion” was my favorite for some much needed switch ups in production. 2/5 plenty of bands did this sound better
This was a really nice listen. That 51st state comment though- boy that did not age well.
Starting off as some better-end-of-the-spectrum british New Wave-adjacent pop stuff, Infected transitions into what you’d most like to hear from this genre by the time you’re well into the second side, namely some great guitar tones and great lyrics. The lyrical side of things is more prevalent in the first half, but manages to combine with some excellent instrumentation from Sweet Bird of Truth onwards to engineer a soundscape worthy of the hectic album cover. And anyway, what’s not to like when the band is called The The. That’s just great, isn’t it. Combine that staple British humour with an equally surprising collective of features / personnel here (e.g. Neneh Cherry does vocals on Slow Train to Dawn) and the result is a well-polished 80s album, in contrast to the substance-lacking synthpop contemporaries of the time.
Mangeable, mais difficile à digérer. Je me lèverais pas pour en reprendre, mettons. Sweet Bird of Truth slap, je leur donne ça
6/10
Don't got a ton to say other than I'm confused why this is getting lower reviews compared to Soul Mining. It's been a while since I've listened to that one, but this one doesn't sound too different, albeit maybe a little more experimental/post-punky? Anyways, yeah, solid album. For a non-goth post-punk record, for once I'm enjoying it because it sounds like the band is actually having fun and not trying to specifically create "art" (trademarked). I especially liked the song Heartland.
This album has pretty dynamic and nice instrumentals. Stand outs for me are songs like Angels of Deception, Infected, and The Mercy Beat. I like how the instrumentals build and become more intricate, especially in The Mercy Beat. Definitely holds my attention despite the song's length. The lyrics are pretty good as well, delving into things like inequality and desperation. The bible references makes the lyrics feel grander and i like how some tracks tell a pretty compelling story. In the case of Heartland, where they imply the main problems of England is that it is the 51st state of America, i think it falls flat lol. Just a very weird take lol and kind of leaves the English ruling class off the hook. Up to that point the lyrics were pretty good. Overall though, i think it is a very enjoyable album that I think rewards repeated listens and delving into the lyrics more. 4 out of 5 stars.
Blends a lot of 80s styles, maybe doesn't have a clear defined sound, so it was a bit of a mix bag for me. I enjoyed certain songs more than others, probably needs a few listens.
So this is the follow up to "Soul Mining" eh? Definitely more mature in content, as Matt Johnson wasn't afraid to dive into the political commentary of Britain and the world as a whole. I think this album strives to do a bit too much personally, but after having heard some of The The already, I guess this shouldn't have been too surprising.
Always thought that was one of the weirdest band names in history, still had no chance to hear 'em. Glad i finally did it, it's enjoyable.
It was ok.
Back in the beginning of the new millenium it felt like every week there was a new Band that called themselves The [blank]. So much that I thought that if I were about to start a band I'd call it The The. Unfortunately I was several decates late with the idea. I had low expectations going in, 80s post-punk with a terrible cover did not inspire much confidence. However the result was suprisingly pleasant. The production is typical for the time but the instrumentation is quite unusual for the genre and time, making the sound feel fresh despite the age.
Favorite Track: Heartland
loved it.
I was pleasantly surprise to find that this album clicked for me! I might be a bigger New Wave fan than I originally thought…or much like The The, I also despise Thatcher.
Eh two stars. Feels new wavey but although I like new wave not this album.
Second unremarkable 80s rock album in a row. These seem like a Gen X nostalgia choice at best.
Sounds like an episode of Phineas and Ferb.
Hm, nicht soooooo anstrengend wie ich beim betrachten des "Genres" bei Wikipedia anfangs dachte. Die Hintergrund Geschichte zum Album sehr interessant, mit Amazonas und Drogen-Eskapaden :D Konnt man sich anhören, aber mehr auch nich
Verstehe die unterdurchschnittliche Bewertung nicht so ganz. Ist doch voll in Ordnung. 3 Sterne
I can tell there's some creativity here but everything seems a bit bleak and brutal to be very enjoyable. Oddly, it's very produced but still kinda sounds like it's recorded in a bedroom. I don't mean that in a negative way, if that's what you want, you nailed it.
Overwhelmed by sounds underwhelmed by words
Huge 80s sounding weirdness. I only know The The from some soundtrack work they’ve done that I’ve really enjoyed, but this was excellent. Can really hear the early signs of influence it’s had on modern artists like Geordie Greep. Yet another band I now have a full catalogue to go and check out, thanks generator.
Liked the horns, liked the dark lyrics, emotionally not really a hit for me
I liked it a little, but not the best.
Greatness!!
Reviews of this album are extremely polarized so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. Fortunately, this is right up my alley and a quick addition to the “this is the stuff I hoped to discover from this project” list. Infected is an interesting peek at the sloppier, sleazier, side of new wave. The extra dose of funk and the horns can lean things a little circus-y at times, but I’m here for it. It’s kinda like if Tom Waits told his band to play happy music and he rested his voice, or Talking Heads if David Byrne brought a little more creepy lounge singer energy. Or like if Electric Six formed 20yrs sooner and invented their sound from scratch. Begrudgingly, I can’t deny that I’m a New Wave fan at this point, especially the weirder stuff. I might need this on vinyl.
I didn't love it. Not really my style
I really enjoyed this and I hadn’t heard it before. Distinctive 80s sound but layered and interesting.
Thanks for the reminder how awful 80’s music was.
Very 80s
I am trying to be more gut honest about how I feel about albums. This is bad. It's a great example of a vocal performance completely destroying an album, but there are plenty of instrumental choices on here that are questionable as well. Almost the whole back half of this thing had me wondering who thought this was good, who has ever listened to this and gone yea that's the shit. There is a singer I get served on Instagram reels often and he's a Nathan Fielder type where you can't tell if he's the worst singer ever and means it or if it's a character/bit. There are so many times on this album that I thought the singer was that guy. I'm gonna try to find him again before this review goes up I want to credit him. Vocally this is like a 1.5 for me, musically a 2.5, we're averaging out to a 2.
This was an interesting one in the end. The percussive elements gave it a discordant vibe, mixed in with the heavy backing track and in your face 80s vocals it’s a heady mix. At times I think I was sort of ironically enjoying it because it felt like a parody where the artist wasn’t in on the joke. It didn’t keep my interest throughout but had enough to draw me back in at times. A weak 3.
If Marilyn Manson's "good" twin ever existed he would be the embodiment of this album. Lyrics and smattering of darkness throughout. They have a good repertoire of instruments resembling pots and pans which is interesting but ultimately this doesnt shake the 80s at all. At times I hear George Michael as well. Rich, fantastical and slightly odd. Best I can describe a solid album.
Its another very 80's pop album. They really did have some great music production back then, the album sounds so clean. Musically, this definitely has something going for it. There's an interesting variation to each track and a satisfying cool rawness to the vocal performance, interesting lyrics and an engaging mix of sounds. Certainly nothing wrong with the album, probably the most interesting 80's pop band album I've heard (I'm not including Kate Bush in that category). It misses out on the higher marks purely as a matter of taste. Too camp and poppy for me.
Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 🦪🧟🤢 Production: 🙄🤔🤷 Music: 💉📉💀 Rating: 🦠🦠/5
Interesting instrumentation and musical themes. It’s a product of the 80s but new to me and was alright
It's kinda not good, right? Like... almost good... but then not.
Not sure what I was expecting from The The, but it was not this. I'm really enjoying it and will definitely be looking at their discography. It's got a unique sound and incredible production. This is the kind of thing I was hoping to discover when I embarked on this journey. My only criticism would be that it is so relentlessly bleak and intense, it maybe gets to be a bit too much after a while.
Pretty fun and funky, although I wasn't crazy about it. 6/10
Good Album
Utterly unremarkable. Listened to it twice and both times it didn’t catch my attention once. No context cred either Cody.
I'll admit I judged this album by its cover first. I was not looking forward to listening to this based on the off-putting cover, but I ended up really enjoying it. I found the sound of this very unique. Very 80s and very fun, but not silly. I would listen to this again.
1980s big production pop sneery delivery, very south east. Won’t revisit
"Infected" is inferior to The The's "Soul Mining". It feels more like regular post-punk. Every song on the album feels dated and should be left in the '80s. I do like the lyrics on "Infected", the album, not just the song itself. I'll forget about this album tomorrow. 2 stars for "Infected".
Do not like the techno punk sound at all.
Very 80s pop/post-punk that sounds a lot like Prince, but not as polished or catchy. The title track is pretty good but none of the rest stood out to me. There were some good moments but not enough for me to want to listen to it again.
This is a band I’ve only heard of but never listened to. Immediately they sound like prince? I am into this. It sort of sounds like sounds prince and The Rolling Stones did a collaboration, but there’s another flavor I can’t quite place.
I've never heard of this band, but I liked what I heard. I'll put it on my radar the next time I run into them again but with a different album.
A buffet of rather unusual flavours but one I found myself very much enjoying! That was a surprise to me as they’re a band I had never listened to before (at least not that I can ever recall) and I’m not sure that I will in future again, but I had a great time with this album and listened through a couple times. Infected, Heartland and The Mercy Beat are bangers. Again, it’s all a bit odd and does have some grating moments but overall it’s funky and rocky in that swinging 80s way that’s a little contagious the more time you spend with it. (4.5 stars)
If Midnight Oil, My Chemical Romance and David Bowie had a baby. What a great, weird album. It's going into the rotation.
The absolute worst of the 80s, without much of the good... It doesn’t help that it’s basically the work of a one-man band. Well, one man and his beatbox. I found it hard to listen to such a dated sound without the help of heavily tainted nostalgia glasses. A couple of songs started well... then became unsufferable after 20 seconds. Definitely not for me.
Inspired 80s rock. I did like Mind Bomb better. But a lot of powerful drama here. 4/5
Its ok. the political commentary is good but i dont find the music terribly interesting tbh 6/10 Favourite: Infected Least Favourite: Out of the Blue (Into the Fire)
this was pretty cool!! most of the songs were fine but a couple stood out, especially when it leaned into that darker, specifically halloweeny sound. hints of primus, nick cave, and tom waits somehow pervaded this album too which is cool
Pleasant surprise
Not sure how to rate. Deserves praise for being a bit different and I'd be up for hearing again but I won't be reaching for it
Really enjoyed this, great tunes, thx!
Ei innosta
Nippa nappa ⭐️⭐️
Sounds very 80s and very of its time. I liked parts of this but overall I don’t have an urge to revisit so it just didn’t land for me.
Not bad
This is the first album I listened to multiple times in one day from this lost. Whoa. Matt Johnson is brilliant. i Love the tones and synths. I dig the theatrics. OG industrial with Oingo Boingo vibes. Dope shit
A little Oingo Boingo, a little INXS. Fun listen, want to find more The The and listen to this again in a week.
A little better than I would have expected.
Had a real hard time getting into this. I tried, and there wasn't anything that I hated, necessarily, but I wouldn't listen to it again.
Fine. Sounds very ‘80s, but in a dated and not charming way. If I was in my 20s when this was released I might have been into it. Some songs feel like something that would be in the soundtrack for an ‘80s movie, but like in an awkward/shoehorned/sore-thumb way where the record company also helped finance the movie.
I know exactly one The The song and it’s great. It is, alas, not on this album. And you may have noticed that I still only know the one one great The song.
Another OK one.
Heard of The The, but had no idea what they sounded like beyond generic New Wave/Post-Punk. Liked it well enough, but to really embrace it feels like a “you had to be there” band. 3⭐️
This is extremely reminiscent of a TON of other English bands (and INXS). I don't know who came first, but I really didn't love this. The whole of the album feels VERY 1986, and I don't mean that in a good way necessarily. I'd be compelled to listen to some of their other stuff, but not anytime soon.
Listen to this band more
Huge surprise. Very catchy with fun mid-80s beats. Really like the sound, it resonates with me.
For some reason, aside from a couple of tracks, The The are a project that has thus far eluded me despite them seeming to have been around for ever. I've slated other albums on this list for being too cryptic and intentionally obtuse. However, there's something genuinely intriguing about Infected - it is simultaneously packed with familiar 80s sounds and textures but also sounds like nothing else from that era, or any other era really. It all seems very sincere and real compared to all lot of other new music this list has brought me. I couldn't pick a standout song here, but there's enough of interest in each track to make me want to explore further, which I am sure I will do. A solid three stars from me after a couple of listens - it drop off over time or it may grow on me even more, I couldn't say to be honest.
Really, really enjoyed this. Definitely will explore this group’s discography more.
I never got into The The. I think it's his voice. Anyway, this was a good listen. Apologies to Mark, who spent much of the early 1990s trying to get me to appreciate the band! It was good: the music, the message, but his voice still grates my ears.
Lekker album, opzwepend
Pink is generally not my thing as it does come across as whining lol. Although a few food songs overall
Not my kettle of boiling water
Not my gallon of squash
The beat and style was decent but the album felt really repetitive, still i might give this another try and reasses in the future
Powerful band .. amazed with keypoards and vocals
The The, wát een band naam is het toch. Maar ze pakken me wel, vorige keer sowieos met Uncertain Smile, wat echt een heerlijk nummer is. Deze keer hebben ze de bassist me toch een vrij spel gegeven, mijn god... Want die basslijn op Sweet Bird of truth, dat is me toch een basslijntje hoor. De zang is ontzettend overdreven, dat vond ik bij het vorige album(the cramps) dat ik geluisterd heb ook, maar het werkt op dit album beter voor mij. Ik denk dat het komt door de productie die ook ontzettend bombastisch is met trompetten en saxofoons die soms om de hoek komen kijken. Er zijn zoveel vette muzikale stukken op dit album, riffjes, baslijntjes en loopjes die continue terug komen. De zang leidt me niet af, is dat een compliment? Qua zang is het gewoon prima, maar ik vind The The zoveel sterker op de instrumentale stukken. Ook die trompetten op het laatste nummer, zo vet gewoon! Ja de zang is overdreven, maar het werkt voor mij wel met alles wat er instrumentaal gewoon gebeurd. geen idee, ik vind The The misschien toch wel best wel vet. FAVO: Infected, Heartland, Sweet bird of truth
Infected by The The is an enjoyable slice of ‘80s alt-pop—fun, listenable, and representative of its era. While it doesn’t break any new ground or deliver standout “wow” moments, it holds up reasonably well today with only minor signs of aging. The album is easy to get into, making it a solid, if not essential, listen. Favourite Track: Slow Train to Dawn stands out as a strong track with a memorable groove and atmosphere. Least Favourite: Honestly, nothing felt like filler—every song had its place and was worth a listen. Album Artwork: The cover is a bit chaotic and cluttered, lacking the visual impact or cohesion that might elevate it.
Rock uit 1986 van een voor mij onbekende band. In principe zou het genre en tijdsvak mij moeten bevallen! Eerste nummer was voor mij even wennen, maar het 2e en 3e vibe ik echt goed op. Die mondharmonica in 'Heartland'! Heerlijk. Het album heeft een hoog musical vibe gehalte. Er wordt gezongen in een vertellende manier. Het heeft wel wat! Lekkere bass in 'The Mercy Beat' Al met al gewoon een erg leuk album! 4 reten.
Blind album, know the artist from another album. I just didnt like this one as much as the other. No super hit tracks either.
Didn’t blow me away but was an ok listen
Whew that opening track is a nice sweaty bop
A band for balding middle aged dudes in pork pie hats. This is the day & this is the night are beltingly good tunes. Especially for young love playlists. Neither of those songs are on this album haha. I would put every penny I have on there being further the The albums on this list.
Never heard of The The before but this album was great. A must listen.
It had some cool sounds but was honestly kinda boring and not good
It fits the sound of the time it was released but was just okay for me.
I'm sceptical of one listen reviews as some of my favourite albums were not on first listen.... but... this was okay, some interesting tracks but not one I'd return to. Lots of 80s electro drumming and a little synth.
'The the - infected' wasn't and still isn't my thing. Listening to this album was a complete waste of time. Hey, but I like the cover.
When it comes to The The, I was only familiar with their first album, Soul Mining, which has "This Is the Day" and had a sort of critical reappraisal in recent years that caught my ear. I never went further into their discography than that though, so this was a welcome excursion. What's here is, perhaps as the title implies, darker and bleaker than what's on Soul Mining. It's a very cohesive album, but that bleakness gets a little long in the tooth by the end. Had there been a little levity laced in, I would probably have bumped this up to 4/5.
This is a perfectly fine album, that feels like an artifact of mid-80's british political protest music, right down to sorta cheesy 80s synth tropes.
Too British to be good, too anti-Thatcher to be bad
Pretty unique rock songs. Missing a few catchier lyrics and hooks, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I just wanted something more memorable from this to hold on to. The album cover art is pretty dope tho.
I like Johnny Marr of course bc of his history with the Smiths, but this record was boring.. did not resonate and even though I tried to listen thru a 2nd time to see what I'd missed, the answer remains not much
Not for me. I was never a big fan and this one faded quickly into the background where it was lost.
Great band. Wrong album. The prior album is more fun. The next album fleshes out the ideas presented here (and features Johnny Marr, actual trumpets, live drums - and did I mention Johnny Marr?). That being said - there's a lot going on with this album. It's a whirlwind of sounds. Sonically adventurous. And he's writing about some heavy topics. Its as much fun as you can have singing about politics and religion.
Oingo without the Boingo. Pretty cool. Not what I was expecting, but in a good way.
Cheeky rock, smidge of social commentary thrown in.
I feel like I should have discovered this years ago. Excellent to find it now at least. Definitely going to get more listens soon
Feels very proto-NIN. Kind of cool, felt like a worthwhile listen.
2-3 stars, on the fence. The music was not bad, at times kind of catchy. Whenever I would notice the lyrics they were not good.
Only heard This Is The Day before so this album was a complete surprise. And a nice surprise! Really enjoyed the overall vibe of the album 3/5
Sounds like a load of rejected simple minds songs.
Not particularly noteworthy...
marginally better than most of the new wave/post-punk pablum on this list
neat
This was bad. I don't have anything else to say. It was just bad.
very zany, very much of its time, reminds of musical theater. very unique. 3.5 rounded down
This album comes shooting out the game with Infect Me With Your Love, it's got a banging beat and a great trumpet sequence. If sex ain't wiggling around like a lizard in a can, then I don't know what sex is. But how good was that harmonica ringing through the night in Heartland, that caught me by surprise. Heartland is both musically and lyrically really fun, I love the piano work too, plus this is the 51st state of the uuuuuuSA is a fun one.
I've fallen behind again. Last trip of the summer where I plan to be unavailable on a weekday though! Probably only have time for one listen this time. Update: scratch that. this is a barrel of monkeys I'm definitely giving a second listen. Listening notes: -Infected is such a strong start for this album! Poppy vibes with a sort of off-kilter vocal arrangement. On a second listen, I appreciate starting such a varied album with something that feels conventional and yet hints at the genre-exploration ahead. -Out of the Blue--Didn't listen close on the first time. I don't think I'm crazy about this. -Heartland--I'm just loving this jazzy, minor-key(?) vibe. Don't really have a response to this being the 51st state of the USA, but it made me chuckle a little. Until I realized that part of being the USA is cutting the welfare state :( -Angels of Deception. What a fun ending! -Slow Train to Dawn--Any song with -The climbing up and down "piano" scales (I don't have a vocabulary for music criticism) around a minute in just totally captured it for me. -The Mercy beat has a really nice driving beat, but it was kind of annoying. My only miss for the album. Review: I'm feeling generous and I think I'm going to overlook being a little bored on The Mercy Beat and finding Out of the Blue a little bit of a dud. Everything feels fresh and fun. The set of keys is really neat. There's a sort of mysterious tone that I'm loving. The sort of dangerous alluring tone to the music is a lot of fun. Musically compelling AND made me want to dance. Crushin' it. 4.5 stars: Harmonica, Brass, and Organ give them the round up. If more artists incorporate saxes like this and organs like that, and strings and what not. Just such an expansive vision.
The punk is alright, but just alright.
This is very idiosyncratic, but there's something about this style of lyricism that I find very irksome. I think it's the inherent arrogance that seems to ooze from it, lecturing the listener instead of presuming they are intelligent enough to get the same message in more subtle ways. "This is the 51st state of the USA" was particularly lazy and pernicious, imo. Reading into the making of the album, I'm also not entirely sure that the self-appointed auteur is applying the same critical lens to his own way of life both in terms of the filming choices and also in terms of the musical depth of the actual album. But maybe, idk, I'm a born hater. The whole thing feels very "album I'd lie about being amazed by to impress a teenage boy I liked in high school." You know, if that sort of thing had ever actually happened to me.
I can see the influences it may have had on other musicians but didn't find it all that great.
Not a huge fan of 80s music at the best of times. Couldn't identify a stand out moment in this album. Nope from me.
I'd never listened to this before and found it pretty original - would definitely listen again!
I was surprised to see this on the list, Soul Mining is a bit of an easier listen. 80s vocals had such a distinctive sound and Johnson’s no exception. I do enjoy the new wave/post punk/early 90s tv show theme music (shout out It’ll Never Work on BBC introducing me to Depeche Mode). But this is one of those albums that makes me think of loads of albums that are similar but better and wonder if they’ll be in there.
Pretty boring most of the time with only 8 long songs, though it is at least for me one of the best synth-dance-new wave albums there is (I don't know any other that fits the description). The album cover is a bit creepy and so is the actual music, it's just not my cup of tea today. I'll maybe listen to it later more. 2.5/10 Best: title song Worst: idk most of the remaining
I listened to this album twice. Both times I left without wanting to return to it. If I havelistened to it twice, is because this album feels a bit different from other projects from the same period and similar genres, and it is thanks to a more clean production. I still didn't like it, specially with the inflation of the sound of the drums which is present in some tracks, but at least, the whole style of the production has some personality to it. I also have to add that I felt a sense of discomfort when listening to it, both times. I wish to tell where this feeling comes from, but I'm not sure what's the origin. I'm going to blame it on this style of the 80's music, which I've never liked, and leave it at that.
I listened quite a lot of The The in my days so my vote reflects the nostalgia. The drums are very 80's, almost beat box, not my favourite but it still does the job.
An ordinary album from the 80s and I don't hear anything memorable except that dated sound As you can understand, I didn't like it even if that doesn't make it a bad album
I’m skipping over the cold digital vibe that defines pop this decade because the songs just don’t hold up. This album feels like a snapshot of a very specific moment in British culture that I just can’t connect with. Listening to it leaves me totally empty. If anything, it makes me respect The Smiths or The Cure even more.
edgy post punk
Bit torn on this one because I owned it back in the day and played it to death. Do think I prefer Soul Mining these days though. The intensity sometimes tips over into ludicrousness. Still a cracking album. Need to seek out the accompanying videos
This was decent. Interesting instrumentals with fitting vocal work. A bit too over my head though, I think. Still, overall felt quite competent.
We should have listened to Justin Timberlake when he told us to drop The The.
I struggled with Infected. Matt Johnson’s vocals come across as overly theatrical, almost like he’s performing in a musical rather than delivering something sincere. It felt more like a character than a voice. The music is heavily produced and layered to the point of exhaustion. Everything is so sharply defined and pronounced that it becomes overwhelming. There’s barely any space to breathe in the mix, and it ends up feeling claustrophobic. I can sense the ambition and the political intent behind the album, but the listening experience left me more drained than engaged. 2/5
The The’s name isn’t the only generic thing about this band.
More of that generic 80s sound that I do not enjoy
Nonsense
The first track... could there be anymore snare! Gad Damn, awful awful awful. Had to skip through the album. Painfully 80's. Just horrible noise.
I can't quite put my finger on what this reminds me of... it's sort of a combination of Nick Cave, INXS and Prefab Sprout... Nick Cave from something about the lyric delivery (although I like the singer here a lot less), INXS from the 80s drum sounds and Prefab Sprout from the complete lack of coolness. I don't entirely hate it. It's a bit Meh. It's probably a 2.5 star album but I'm giving it two to show it's less than average.
Enjoyed this… you can hear where NIN got a lot of their early influences from this….
Rating: 7.5/10 Not as good as their album but still damn good.
I don't know what to do with this. I think I understand why this didn't really break through in the U.S. But I don't know if I have the words for it. It's quintessential 80s but not quite catchy enough nor substantive enough to make me want to come back to it. Like mediocre chips.
The ratings for this seem incredibly harsh. This is not my favourite album ever, but it's interesting. Punk lyrics with a very 80s sound. No truly weak tracks.
1. Punky, not great. 2. Cool one. 3. Liked it! Nice one 4.Meh 5. Same. A lo Mike Patton en Lovage, skipped tho 6. 7... 8... Nothing I really liked.
No. Just no.
ok
Not really
Nothing stands out on this album. It feels plodding. My life is not improved for listening to it. I almost forgot it was on as it was playing.
Hard to enjoy overall. Some pleasant moments.
hmm, experimental 80s music, very electronic, not for me
a set of sounds rooted in 1986 - that heavily processed snare, those digital percussion tracks, all the Fairlight sounds - supporting brooding, dark songs of distrust and unease
Interesting album, instrumentals are excellent
Meh
You can't just go making a really ugly, scary album artwork and calling your record 'Infected' and then make it a load of cheesy synth-driven new wave. I was already unimpressed by The The, a band so boring they forgot to name themselves twice. I'm even angrier now I know they are taking up two entries.
Different things were "good" in the 80s apparently
some nice composition and instrumentation in there
Fun weird and hit me in the right spot on a rainy commute.
Sick 80s sound. 10/10 would shoot down Soviet helicopters over Afghanistan to this music.
The The Not my favorite, didn’t make it passed the second song.
K-Mart Oingo Boingo meets Temu Tears For Fears with a dash of early Ministry & a dose of some Blancmange The The is good good
Really enjoyed this one. Double listen!
Pretty boring and not very noteworthy. Didn’t really catch my attention at all. 2/5 Won’t listen again
Far from the best post punk out there, but The The still have such a unique style that really makes this a very memorable album compared to the other ungodly number of post punk albums on the list.
A lot going on on this album. When you name your band “The the” you expect a certain amount of goofiness and I think both lyrically and musically it doesn’t take itself too seriously despite some obvious talent. Kind of reminds me if Tom Waits was on a Frank Zappa album.
2.5 Doesnt seem to me that this album is particularly important, but maybe at the time it was
I didn’t get the 80’s at the time… and I guess I still don’t.
80’s English punk pop but not overwhelming
🤷♀️
The worst aspects of Talking Heads, Primal Scream, and the very 80's as-yet unrealised potential of the synthesiser.
Из всего альбома только песни две прикольные, всё остальное проскипала.
Too much synthesizer. It distracted me from focusing on the meaning of the lyrics.
Better than I anticipated.
An odd in-betweener album that feels ahead of any alt-rock 80s efforts but not quite a 90s feel.
Most of this album didn't much for me, wiki reckons this is post punk but a lot of it reminded me much more of 80s croon pop. Was going to be a 2 until the last song, the mercy beat, which was like an arty post punk take on Duran Duran with loads of ideas. Will listen to that last track again but not the rest of it.
The lead singer/songwriter/main chap in the The has a similar voice to Nick Cave, although he uses it to half sing, half shout pop lyrics at driving beats. I really didn't mind it - Infected and Heartland were my favourite tracks. I do not recall the other album I've listened to on this list, Soul Mining, at all, despite it only being a few weeks ago (it is much more New Wave). A 3 feels a bit harsh, but perhaps 4 is too strong.
Didn't get on with this, has that distinctively 80s sound that rubs me the wrong way. Agree that it didn't sound very post punk to me, but maybe I don't know what that means.... Regardless wasn't convinced
1986 is too late for this shit man. And the album cover is hideous to look at. What are we doing.
Reading some of the reviews, I think this might be one of those albums that you had to be there... This album is the product of 80s and the bleakness of Thatcher's Britain for many. It paints amazing vivid pictures and creates such a claustrophobic vibe. It's intense, and wouldn't have it any other way. Probably in my top 10 albums of all time.
Solid album, nothing spectacular.
I've always thought that The The's music is as uninteresting as their name. I'll offer a half-hearted extra half-star for the appearance of the usually excellent Neneh Cherry on "Slow Train to Dawn."
I wanted to like this album. I really like their song This is the Day, but that's all I knew about them. This album sounds like 80s soundtrack music. And not in a good way.
Pretty dope lyrics and catchy vocals,didnt listen to the full album,but what i heard was good
2 Stars (5/15)
This album was kinda boring. Musically it was ok but it was kinda monotonous by the end. There’s more interesting music from the 80s to listen to.
Super 80s, but interesting lyics
Fantastic post-punk album!
I remember seeing these guys live back in the 90s; no matter what anyone else on stage was doing, all you heard was amplified harmonica. This is better than that, but it’s not great or particularly notable. Whatever these guys are doing here, XTC were doing it better.
cheesy, shitty, 80's alt rock.
This has not aged well. 80s throwback.
Got tired of it real fast
Täytyy kuunnella uudestaan häiriötä lopussa
An interesting blend of genres. The first track drew my attention and the album as a while managed to keep my attention.
3.5, rounded down
Didn't need to hear this. 80s production is slathered all over the place like putting on too much mayo in your sandwich. Mediocre at best.
1 star Boring, bland, and instantly forgettable.
Wow, I really disliked this. The The’s well performed, but overly polished digital synthetics really grated on me and barely held my attention today. Also, I’ve got about 46 records left on the list, so I figured I might as well hand out what might be my last 1 star rating to a band whose name might be the worst in the history of rock music. We can all agree it’s a fucking stupid band name, right? The The? Really? What a fucking lazy band name.
What a pleasant surprise this album was. Had never heard a single track and I was very impressed. More so with the second listen.
There is more than one The The album on this list. That makes absolutely zero sense even if you don't hate them as much as some reviewers here do. Essentially 80s, but not even iconically so.
That was way more epic then I thought it would be.
The The The The The The The The The The. 5/10
Thankfully I identified with being vaccinated
Man the 80s were a trip. I would’ve loved the 80s. I can hear this album being played over the speakers of Design Archives, a vintage store in Greensboro. Favorite Track: Sweet Bird Of Truth
These some goofy mfs
Bit like Midnight oil, but the songs are not as good...
Messy stuff.
Again, 80's pop music labeled as post-punk just because. Never likes The The hits I've heard off Sky Trax or MTV, doesn't change here. Did not enjoy this at all.
Never heard of this artist. Right off the bat sounds like Prince. Very 80s and definitely reminds me of Prince. Cool stuff. Not my style but it's cool.
Fine album
Infected; with self doubt and the devil. We made it through the Cold War so now we’re just waitin’ for Hell to freeze over. Solid 80’s vibe with the sync sonic drum beats, high piano, and dystopian lyrics. Infected makes the list because of the song Heartland (and the idea of the UK becoming the 51st state of the USA.) That and it’s an album a bit off the norm for the mid 80s. Comes in at (3.3*s) and will check out some other The The works.
Not a big fan of this infection or THE band name, but it had an interesting mix of blues, jazz, electro-synth, and 80s rock. I liked the use of harmonica and there were some decent spots, only to be ruined by his theatrical singing. A lot of it was cringey and very rooted in the 80's sound but it's not the worst. I wouldn't classify this as "post-punk" but there's no category for "dystopian broadway jazz new wave vampire" so I get it. I don't like any of the lyrics but it comes in mid, so 2.35.
The, Infected is some decent 80s electro-pop. Some tracks like my fave, "Sweet Bird of Truth," remind me of Thomas Dolby, whom I'm a huge fan. The album has a good mix of styles and I did like the duet stuff with the female lead chiming in. The has some uniqueness but also fits nicely in with other 80s bands like Tears for Fears and Midnight Oil. I'm in for more and will peruse their other works...3.37 stars.
This album came out of the gates pretty strong. I was excited for the new take and alt rock approach of Infected, Into the Blue an Heartland. Unfortunately the best song was the opening song and it slowly downgraded as it progressed. It's not a bad album, it just didn't keep me reeled in like I was hoping after the first couple songs. It didn't completely lose me, but finished in the realm of mediocre when all was said and done. Solid effort from The The but probably not something I'm going to come back to. 2.77 stars
I think it’s interesting and progressive, but the vocal style is far too theatrical for me to enjoy for more than a few minutes.
I can......sort of see why this is on the list. It's eclectic at points, it jumps around.........but I guess that doesn't mean it's good? I just thought it was mostly generic guitar that was trying to be out there but ended up just being background. A second star for the attempt I suppose.
Wikipedia says this is post punk. Perhaps in spirit, but this is a new wave/synthpop record. It sounds like The Talking Heads made a Depeche Mode album. It sounds like the 80s threw up all over it. Is that a good thing? I’m not convinced (and I love the 80s). There’s a lot going on here, some of which I like, but it’s all brought down by this frontman and his repellant lyrics. Side note: I love The The’s song This is the Day - but it’s not on on this album. Is that song an anomaly? Infected - once I accepted how campy this is, it was kind of fun. But I did not need this couplet in my life: “from my scrotum to your womb / your cradle to my tomb” Out of the Blue (Into the Fire) - these lyrics, ugh. Heartland - “this is the 51st state of the U.S.A.” Welp. Despite the grim lyrics this had a goofy/theatrical vibe that made me think of The Divine Comedy or Blur at their silliest - but without the sense of humour. Sweet Bird of Truth - I liked the “radio, radio, radio” intro and outro Slow Train to Dawn - I think my problem with this record is that there’s something cheesy or ridiculous about each song (usually the lyrics or the singer’s delivery), but not in a fun way. The Mercy Beat - I like the extended outro.
What the hell was that? I knew The The going into this, mainly the song This Is the Day. It’s this amazing proto-brit pop/80s indie new wave track. I stumbled onto it last year and was obsessed for at least a month. So when I saw them show up in the 1001 albums challenge, I was excited. I was expecting more of the same. And... I was wrong. This album is not at all like This Is the Day. This is a weird Frankenstein’s monster of 80s production, 70s prog, 90s brit pop, dance music? and 80s Smithsian-indie/new wave/college rock (basically all music genres around at that time)… and it does not work for me. I love it in concept… but in practice it's a mess. What I will say is that it doesn’t sound like any other album I know of. There are tons of interesting ideas all over this thing. It’s not boring for a second. It’s impressively weird. I want to like it. But I kinda hate it. It all comes together into this strange, cringey mess. It’s a new wavy Smiths meets love-shack era b52s meets 90s radio rock but proggier and cheesier? It’s definitely ahead of it’s time. I feel like if I heard this album in 1986 it woulda blew my mind. It still sorta does but for the sheer audacity of the style mashup and sound of the record. The 80s aesthetic/sound is really something. It definitely hurts the record for me. If it had been done with 70s sounds or 90s sounds or even 2010s sounds, I think the album would sound infinitely better and less dated. Random thoughts I had while listening to this thing: Whatever the opposite of chemistry is, that’s what these 2 singers have. I like his voice but it does not work with her voice at all. Also they produce the hell out of her vocals... she almost sounds like that venus shaving commercial song by Bananarama There’s a line about being the 51st state which is weirdly timely… I assume it has to do with a fear of American culture dominating British culture in the 80s? In one song he describes a sexual encounter... that was very unpleasant Was there also some jazzy/bluesy piano on a track or did I imagine that? The politics in general are quite in your face which gives it a punk edge as well. Throw another genre in the blender. The end of Angels of Deception is pretty hype with the choral vocals. Deranged Kenny Loggins on acid? This album sounds very expensive in a bad way. I bet this album flopped at the time but gained critical approval over time. High on the success of their debut... they went crazy on this one. Some cool sax i guess? I wonder what percentage of the instruments on this album are from synths/samples etc. A lot? Is this massive mishmash of genres just called Mercy Beat? Are there more albums out there like this that make my review sound foolish? Perhaps.
They had me in the beginning and lost me a bit in the middle. 3.
Had some good songs, and some horrible 80s sounding songs. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
I went in expecting to hate it. I didn't. No masterpiece by any means, but I enjoyed it for what it is.
Matt Johnson is about as subtle as a blow to the head with a sledgehammer. It's direct lyrics delivered in heavy 80s productions and using his Tom Waits-inspired dystopian vocals. Infected is not as good as Soul Mining or Dusk, but I have to admire how firmly Johnson sticks to his guns on this album. Safe to say that you have succeeded as an artist when you several times during your career experience your songs being judged "too topical" by record labels ('Sweet Bird of Truth' and 'Armageddon Days'). Also, 'Heartland' is one of the best songs ever written and recorded.
Great, great album by Matt Johnson. An almost dystopian vision coming to live as clear as day through his bleak lyrics. Infected is not quite as good as the excellent Dusk, but it’s a thrilling album through and through.
What a weird way to trash on a country that they're not even from. On top of it all, they sound so bad doing. Like, it's SO bad.
Nothing memorable. Nothing bad either. 5/10.
Consistently acerbic dance pop with more instrumentation than typical dance pop. There is a lot going on in each song and sometimes it works. The The doesn’t make dance music even though at first listen, it sounds like dance music. “Infected” reminds me of Pulp or The Beautiful South: well arranged, seemingly upbeat pop songs that have dark or sarcastic lyrics. 3.3 stars rounded down.
Not a huge fan
Probably would have enjoyed this more if I paid closer attention to the lyrics, but overall I found this album to be sonically grating. Standout track: The Mercy Beat
Didn't care for it, seems like it throws silly sounds in just because it thinks it should. I've heard a couple songs from them previously that I liked, but this album was just annoying
I did not have high hopes going into this, but was pleasantly surprised. I’m more of a punk rather than post-punk fan, but there was enough anger and spikiness to make this pretty good, actually.
Jeg er vil med det her underlige stykke The The. Nu gør jeg noget ved det, og tager et dybt dyk ned i deres diskografi!
Meh. Det er stadig ikke Dusk
This is another album that took a couple listens to appreciate. Out of the Blue is a 10/10 synth pop track, really well produced, maybe overproduced but it’s the 80’s so whatever. The following track, Heartlands lyrics of the 51st state had me perk up as I write this 100 days into president Dumps 2nd term as he speaks of making my Country his 51st state… the song still hits despite the jarring lyric. Always interesting to check out the personnel of some of these old albums, there always seems to be some familiar names, Neneh Cherry another artist on the 1001 Generator shows up on Soul Train to Dawn, a punchy duo. This isn’t a perfect synth pop album but it’s different than plenty of others and I appreciate it. 4 stars
Incredible band name, incredible cover. Excited for this one. 1 HMPH dude bass line goes hard af and the drum beat is insane, that snare sound? And all the percussion stuff? Immense amount of personality in lyrics, and everything is super big and bright in the EQ. 2 Great story telling, and super great inflections. The instrumental really compliments the tones, and even provides diegesis like when the sirens turn into synths. Way weirder than most music that sounds like this, which I think is cool. Goddamn that snare sound is crazy lol. Fade out works for me here 3 omfg the vocals and lyrics have so much BITE and that piano?!? Great bass line, and continued perfectly 80s drumkit. The backup vocals could be so schlocky but they’re pitch perfect. Harmonica and strings could not work with this song like they do, but it’s all so cinematic— feels like a track from a musical in a good way. LOVE this song. 4 Counterculture has never been so catchy! Or something, lol. Love the choice to strip the drums out of the verses, the congas and string bass are dreamy and it all gives the vocalist a lot of space to work with. I dunno man I could see these lyrics being read as corny, but I think it’s kinda campy in a Susan Sontag sorta way. Sincere, yano? And I’m down to buy in. Def some og theatercore music though lol 5 This is a really sudden drop in quality. Vocals are super aimless and inessential, the spareness of the instrumental gives you way too much time to sit with how each snare sounds exactly the same and equally loud, and simple but effective bassline is not nearly catchy enough to make up for a lack of important melody. The percussion stuff is fun but kinda extra. 6 There’s a lot less INXS and New Order in these last couple of tracks and a lot more proper post-rock/punk. Some parts work, like the bari sax is good on this and the bass an effects are really fun, but it feels like the vocals are just pretending to have fun now, and the blown out rimshots really wear on the ears. Don’t fully buy in to this duet kinda thing either. Fades out to avoid have to create an ending. 7 This bizarro broadway is grating as hell. What a bummer of a cliff dive from the earlier songs that I legit enjoyed. The lyrics have cratered to, the social commentary was at worst vague but at least it was pointed and seemingly passionate— this is just nonsensical and noncommittal to boot. 8 Bit of a return to form in terms of energy that ends up dragging way too long, diluting the success. The outro’s stupid too. Damn, lotta promise, I’m s sucker for this kinda scene’s sound— but I feel confident in saying this just isn’t a complete package, and the punker aesthetics are diluted.
4.0/5.0: Great