Reviews (page 6 of 8)
An essential template for a better catalog. A bit scattered and unfocused, but all the ingredients for a breakthrough sound.
A good album. Mercy Beats is a great song and there are some other good ones here as well.
Reminds me a bit of INXS, if it replaced a little bit of the "horny" with... Crazy? Very of-its-time. Either way, didn't really change my life too much. Favorite tracks: "Slow Train To Dawn", "The Mercy Beat"
Definitely my favorite article (“the”), definitely not an album I enjoyed
The The The album isn’t very good. Damn it now The doesn’t sound like a word anymore
Great pop album with diverse musical styles. Not the happiest lyrics. Excellent contribution of Neneh Cherry on Slow Train to Dawn
When it's my time to go, will I have heard "Twilight of a Champion"???
Solid album. V british
Funky but wouldn’t revisit
Heartland saved this from a 1 star rating
I’m listening to this album a day late. The big debate was last night and it was a disaster. This album feels so prescient.
Meh
I love The The. Brings me back to middle school. This isn't my favorite album of theirs, but still enjoyable. I wanted to rate higher but if being honest, it's a solid 3.
It's kinda not good, right? Like... almost good... but then not.
Groovy poppy 80 A lotta god
Walks the line between art and pop accessibility quite well.
It's pretty cool, but it's mediocre.
80s fun to the max
Never heard of these guys. Talented, curious, a bit unusual. 2 stars for now, maybe another after listening some more, we'll see.
Pritti gud. I like it
First half of album i liked
Not a bad album, but also not an album that I'd likely return to in a hurry; unsure why it's made the list.
From the off this is not what I expected. way more glam than I thought there would be, and it's definitely for the best! honestly a riveting listen
Five stars straight through, and check out the 12" mix of Sweet Bird of Truth which is way superior to the album cut. Looking forward to Scraping Foetus off the Wheel appearing shortly on this list...
Meh. Another post punk album that's not for me.
Not bad. Fun to listen to.
Real nice
Very 1980s production and vocal style - echoes of Lloyd Cole & The Commotions. It was very hip at the time, but I was already too old for this. You'd need to have been a teenager at the time for this to resonate. It's young, naive and jejunes. Great if you think you're the first generation to think like that - but some of us were already past that by then.
Not for me 2/5
I thought I might enjoy this, but I did not. Very mediocre and forgettable.
didn't fully click for me but I enjoyed it. 3/3.5
Kinda mid, instrumentation was super neat but like eh
Really cool instrumentation for sure All these songs can be 2 song
well... no.
Like a slightly cheerier, bluesier sisters of mercy
Strange
Manic. Repetitive. Some of it is really terrible.
Good late 80s stuff
Meh. Even for British post-punk (which I may now hate), it was just middle-of-the-road.
post-punk. Bien.
This album is weird but I enjoyed it. What I didn't enjoy was when the album ended and Spotify started playing Dexy's Midnight Runners. Get that band outta here! They suck. This album is fun though
Not terrible, but definitely not what I expected. Based on the album art I expected a punk, violent femmes type sound, but got this oingo-boingo vibe.
120 Minutes turned me onto The The, and I can still get the appeal.
One of the few synthy 80s albums I’ve heard that doesn’t sound completely soulless. You can feel the passion here. The songs all blend together, though, and there are no real memorable hooks.
Sleeper hit, I never heard of these guys before. Giving it 5 because of the pleasant surprise considering the boring name
Went be very quickly, a good sign. Haven't heard of this band before but will look into more of their stuff
I’m just not a punk or post punk fan, but I have to say this album surprised me. I enjoyed it much more than I expected. 3
Not bad, very diverse song stylings, but nothing grabbed me
I've heard of this band before, mainly as a punchline due to the name, but never actually listened to anything by them. The album artwork didn't inspire much confidence either. I put it on in the background while I did other things but by track 3 I had stopped what I was doing as the music had my full attention.
I'm sure they felt very clever and revolutionary while writing these songs.
A perfectly fine album. Some good songs, some meh songs. I didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Some political lyrics that are from a time and place I don’t super connect to.
This never grabbed my attention at the time and now listening to it in isolation it still doesn't. The problem is I can't decide if the creepy vocals and over-the-top plastic sounding 80s production are ironic, or if they actually wanted to sound like that. It's just too bright and in your face and jumpy. Contrasts badly with more thoughtful pop stuff from that era such as Tears for Fears whose albums sound great still.
a distinct and very synthy rock album that while very much sounding like from the time, has a fresh and creative energy i've never ever heard, plus really romantic, almost poetic and... kinda astonishing religious references. this one's a diamond in the vast rough of lesser known 80s alt bands. it's very... dare i say, infectious.
weird, but not exactly bad. kind of cluttered at times
This shit is ass.
Doesn’t quite each the heights of Soul Mining, but still solid! Heartland is probably the best track.
3.5 I really enjoyed this. Every song felt unique, great anger and production throughout, and had a couple of bangers. Will definitely relisten. Leagues better than that Puplic Image Ltd. crap.
I don’t think there was one redeeming quality about this album
What a little weirdo of a record. Eclectic, poppy and eccentric. I enjoyed this a lot
Not terrible for a post-punk album
It was fine. *really need to work on my reviews. Simpsons: who knows, I’m going to guess no though
Absolutely agree with Rozza's review, it was fine, no more words needed.
This was not for me, found it a little boring. The songs were all a little long, thankfully there wasn't that many to get through. I do like the album artwork though
It’s Post Punk mixed with Alt Rock. So they took the only good part of post punk, which is the antiestablishment stance and mixed it with actual descent music.
didn't like this at all.
This definitely sounds like 80s synthpop alright. The overblown drums and percussion on certain tracks makes for a rather unpleasant listening experience even if there are some cool punk influences evident through the vocal performances or the instrumentation such as the opener or "Out of the Blue (Into the Fire)."
i wish i had never been born ngl good album
not what I was expecting, definitely not toobad though tbh
This album didn’t really have an impact on me. I get the sense it was supposed to convey some kind of cynical commentary on life, but the distinctly ‘80s rock feel somehow took away from the message. Amusing band name, but that’s not even related to the album.
Reminded me of listening to first-wave music with my dad in the car while growing up.
Good album.
decent, not too bad
Like most post-punk new wave stuff I dig the sound, but don’t get much depth from this
Það er eitthvað töff þarna á bakvið og lágstemmdur hressleiki. En söngurinn gerir lítið fyrir mig, og þetta kallar ekki á aðra hlustun. Tæpur þristur.
Did not enjoy the singer. Music was.cool, had a fun 70/80s rock vibe to it. Cool use.of cow bell
This is the kind of music that led me to stop listening to popular music in the late 80’s / early 90’s. I suppose it could be worse, it’s not actually offensive. None of it is especially bad… but I was happy when it finished. 2/5
**Lyrics:** One of the most striking aspects of "Infected" is its lyrical depth and introspection. Matt Johnson, the creative force behind The The, crafted lyrics that are both poetic and politically charged. The album explores themes of societal decay, personal struggle, and existential angst with a raw honesty that resonates with listeners. Songs like "Heartland" and "Sweet Bird of Truth" confront issues of political corruption and social injustice, while tracks like "Infected" and "Out of the Blue (Into the Fire)" delve into the complexities of love and desire. Johnson's ability to blend personal reflection with broader social commentary adds layers of meaning to the album, inviting listeners to contemplate the human condition in all its complexities. **Music:** Musically, "Infected" is a tour de force that defies easy categorization. Drawing from a diverse range of influences, including rock, electronic, and world music, The The creates a sound that is both distinctive and dynamic. From the pulsating rhythms of "Infected" to the haunting melodies of "Angels of Deception," each track on the album showcases the band's versatility and musical prowess. The use of unconventional instruments and experimental production techniques further enhances the album's sonic palette, creating an immersive listening experience that rewards repeated exploration. **Production:** The production on "Infected" is top-notch, thanks in large part to the meticulous attention to detail that went into its creation. Matt Johnson, who served as both the songwriter and producer for the album, demonstrates a keen ear for sonic textures and arrangements. The use of layered instrumentation and atmospheric effects adds depth and complexity to the music, while the polished production values ensure that every note is crisp and clear. Overall, the production on "Infected" elevates the album to new heights, allowing its rich sonic tapestry to shine through. **Themes:** Thematically, "Infected" is a meditation on the darker aspects of human existence, from the personal demons that haunt us to the systemic injustices that plague society at large. The album explores themes of alienation, disillusionment, and moral ambiguity with a sense of urgency and intensity that is both compelling and confrontational. Through its vivid imagery and evocative storytelling, "Infected" invites listeners to confront the uncomfortable truths of the world around them and to question their own place within it. While the themes explored on the album may be bleak at times, they are ultimately tempered by a sense of resilience and defiance that speaks to the indomitable spirit of the human condition. **Influence:** "Infected" has had a profound influence on the alternative music scene, inspiring countless artists and musicians with its bold experimentation and unapologetic social commentary. The album's fusion of rock, electronic, and world music elements helped to pave the way for the emergence of genres like industrial rock and alternative dance in the years that followed. Moreover, its lyrical themes of political disillusionment and existential angst continue to resonate with listeners today, cementing its status as a timeless classic in the pantheon of alternative music. **Pros:** 1. **Lyrical Depth:** The album's thought-provoking lyrics offer a compelling exploration of personal and societal issues. 2. **Musical Versatility:** The eclectic mix of musical styles and influences keeps the listening experience fresh and engaging. 3. **Innovative Production:** The album's innovative production techniques create a rich sonic landscape that rewards repeated listening. **Cons:** 1. **Dark Themes:** The album's bleak themes may be off-putting to some listeners, particularly those seeking more uplifting music. 2. **Occasional Over-Indulgence:** At times, the album's experimentation can feel excessive, detracting from the overall cohesiveness of the music. In conclusion, "Infected" by The The is a masterpiece of alternative music that continues to captivate and inspire listeners more than three decades after its release. With its incisive lyrics, innovative music, and provocative themes, the album remains a testament to the enduring power of artistic expression in confronting the complexities of the human experience. While not without its flaws, "Infected" stands as a towering achievement in the realm of alternative music, deserving of its rightful place in the annals of musical history.
It was an era. The Cure. The Love and Rockets. The The.
Not one I’d be playing on repeat. Still not the worst I’ve heard.
The singer’s voice makes me sick
The The's third record comes just a little short of the catchiness and stylistic all-encompass their previous outing had to offer, plenty fun tracks and musical surprises here anyway.
Punk, Electric, Piano. Cleaning music.
Finally heard a The The album - definite 80’s - and good production though Angels of Deception only tune I liked…. 2*
Loved it! I love the music and I really love his voice. I think it's really interesting and the textures are lovely. I will be adding this to my library and it will get listened even out of revision time. Very impressed. I should get dad to listen I feel like there's some he'd like because he can be a fan of pop/rock but yeah. Overall, very nice.
I love this - it's just the right balance of innovation and cheese. A vision fully realised
Boring
Intense, very 80's style; more on the rock side than the pop or glam side i'm used to.
Leuk, crazy album, kende dit helemaal niet, ben blij dat ik dit ooit hebt geluisterd. Weet niet of ik dit veel vaker ga luisteren maar hebt het in ieder geval leren waarderen
Dit is waarvoor ik de 1001 albums ding ben begonnen, juist om dit soort albums te ontdekken Wat een geluid, ik ben verliefd Al vanaf het 1e nummer en intro Kende de naam van The The wel al, had het alleen nog nooit geluisterd Heb een nieuwe band ontdekt die ik binnenstebuiten ga keren
Fun vibes and some interesting songs. No anything I’ll think of often but definitely had a solid work jam to it.
Fun
Ammost anything Matt Johnson touched turned into to gold. My favorites are Soul Mining and Dusk, this also 5 stars.
The 80s have so much good music, a lot of which has been left of this list. Instead, we get .... this. The book article rambles on about the lyrics, and while they may be significant for the time, the music is just dull. Production is typically 80s, which in this case is not a compliment, with too little bass and too much highs, resulting in a rather icy soundscape. Instrumentation could have been better as well. Poor 80s. 1.5/5
One of the greatest bands of all time but Dusk is the 5/5 album
I really enjoyed the first track, but began losing interest after because it didn't seem like it connected with the themes of the album. Thematically, I just don't understand what the album is supposed to be, because the first track seems like a love song, then everything following are political songs, so I was just confused.
I really enjoyed this album. It’s a little funky
Weird one this one. Liked it but only one outstanding song in my opinion. They are all over the place with all generes combined but not in a great way cause the orde rof the songs was not right. They are a totally 80s band like timbuke 3 and a few other bamds that didnt evolve from that mid 80s vibe. Cool to hear but nothing special for me
Very interesting album and had some lovely moments, but didn't really make a dent with me. Electronica just doesn't get me going.
I knew about The The (mostly in the context of "That's a weird name"), but didn't know their music at all. This album was fine - not super interesting, not making me want to turn it off. I listened to Heartland a few times, since it was apparently the biggest hit and I thought its content (about UK economy and the Tories) would resonate with me. It didn't.
Certainly never have heard of The The. Pleasantly surprised by track 1! This has some promise. Track 2 started out a bit rough but ended up in a really nice place with the strings and backup vocals. There's a quote in the wiki article about track 3 and how the front man talks about how its the best song he ever wrote and about the social commentary... Well... I didn't really like that track much so... yeah. Sorry you poured your whole soul into the social commentary. I would focus on making the song good first. Track 7 Twilight of a Champion reminded me of a proto-version of a much much MUCH better song. I'm not really sure exactly why. NIN - Kinda I Want To There were some other decent tracks and on the whole the album was fine. Nothing I feel like I have to revisit.
I thought this album was fine, bit I wasn't over the moon for it. I enjoyed both listens but nothing really stood out to me!
Pretty interesting, post-punk in the 80s is kind of a cool experimental time in musicmaking
64/100
i wasn't expecting a band with the name of the the to create good music! they have a new wave and punk sound, and combined with their lyrics, infected is different from other music i've heard. sort of like duran duran without the synth and with punk. the song "heartland" contains some delightful piano but the lyrics are biting and sharp. the the hold nothing back in their criticism toward UK and US politics, in both "heartland" and "sweet bird of truth." the feminine backing vocals allow a good contrast with the lead singer, too. a surprise was neneh cherry appearing on "slow train to dawn"! the lead vocalist leans into baritone territory in "the mercy beat," which came across as so captivating. 3.5, rounding up.
This is such a weird album, and I think I'm kind of here for it? It's like Billy Idol meets Oingo Boingo, and he's throwing in a pretty heavy New Wave sound, and also, surprise -- there's some funk elements, too! There's lots of diversity from track to track; I never really knew what was going to happen next. Needless to say, this album is bizarrely unique, but it is the kind of bizarre uniqueness that I often find myself going for. This album is not going to appeal to everyone, but if you're someone who likes their 80s alternative "the weirder the better", then this is for you. Will I listen again? I don't know. But I was entertained and intrigued.
Enjoyable but I will not return to it.
This sounds pretty dated with the synthesizer and electronic drums.
Nice 80s rock. Didn't know it but like it!
Hate the music. Hate the name.
No
With that kind of album cover, I expected a more experimental approach to the New Wave phenomena. Instead I was faced to boring Art Pop that didn't age that well.
The art pop/post-punk sound is great, but the album somehow becomes more and more bland and irritating.
Not bad, but a lot of the instruments used are painfully 80s in sound. Makes the album feel extremely dated.
I liked it and I was surprised
enjoyed this! not what i was expecting but in a good way. quite eclectic
mi aspetto sempre il metallo pesante o il prog e invece sono una boyband e si perde un po' via. 2/3
If billy idol and George Michael had a love child that grew up to be a creepy predatory rapist. That's what kind of vibes this gives off
Tampoco es terrible, pero es bastante flojo
this kind of sucked but it was kind of campy
Just ok
Ehhhh
i did not expect to like this one as much as i did. guess i'm just a sucker for anything with horns in it.
I can’t get into 80s very easily and this isn’t an exception. Too pretentious for me.
More stereotypically "80s" than their debut which I think dates it a bit more, but it's still really enjoyable.
Probably great for ‘86. Today…meh
I had learned of the existence of the band The The from Trent Reznor interviews in the late Eighties and throughout the 90s. When INFECTED came out in November 1986, I recall that it made no impact in our lives in the United States. While termed post punk, with its synth bass and song arrangement it feels like your typical, fun, quirky 80s album. Fun, but there were more interesting albums at the time. Having said all that, a new album came out exactly 1 month earlier than this one, that everyone actually listened to, and that album was Wang Chung's MOSAIC, which seems like a criminal act that it is not on this list. Just sayin'
this was interesting. i read all the reviews and was worried i wouldn’t like it - and i’m not saying i loved it, but i did quite enjoy some of it, not the singles but there were other ones that were quite jolly and cool, i wouldn’t listen again, but didn’t hate it.
They really shat the bed with snare sounds in the 80s. There was very little to enjoy about this album
Contrived and just annoying to listen to
Enjoyed this one, big 80's sound and Stand-Down-Margaret politics and all.
- Did not know this group. I will admit that I am not very enticed to learn more. - It is...fine? I am probably being too harsh, but I found this largely unremarkable. - Looking up the album, there is a lot of praise for the lyrics...considering that I listen primarily for overall sound and vibe, I am not shocked that this did not click for me.
Distinctive lead singer and decent songs
Sounds like midlife crisis
Da e kje så dumt, men da tilføre ikkje livet mitt så masse nytt heller
I like a lot of other bands that sound similar to this, just not this one. Music is better than the singer, and it's mostly forgettable once over. 2/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this cross between Men at Work and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Aside from the heavy use of synth and distortion that is required for an 80’s album, it also seemingly tries to fit in every other instrument, from xylophone to harmonica. It is very much a product of its milieu, and I fail to see much that it offers in terms of originality. It was better than the band name, album cover, and reviews led me to believe. But I won’t be coming back for another listen. Not my cup of tea.
Aggressive prog rock and New Wave stylings, interlaced with aggressive, heady lyrics and multi-layered vocals. Rhythm work is hilariously 80’s, and synth hooks pepper the album with MIDI-aggression. Not a bad work by any means, but the bad-ass performance The The was going for is dramatically overshadowed by actual bad-asses of the time and genre. Appetite for Destruction was only a year later, so this mercifully stands as a bit of a last-hurrah for the New Wave sound. Stand out tracks include “Infected”, “Out Of The Blue (Into The Fire)”, and “Sweet Bird of Truth”.
we got the who, the the, and who the f-?! A wild and varied album that teeters between a 3 and 4 for me.
Wanted to like this more. It's interesting but overproduced and over complicated at times. Chucking the kitchen sink at things isn't always a winning formula. Title track is ace though.
The the the
Pretty cool, funky 80s percussion. I didn't really listen that deeply but I'm going to keep going with it.
The The walk the fine line between post-punk and new wave, not really fitting into either genre correctly. 'Infected' follows the pattern of extremely bleak lyrics accompanied with upbeat music. But the main significance of this album was probably the unusual decision (particularly for such a minor group at the time) to produce a video for every track. The videos themselves were extreme, fueled by drug use and putting themselves into dangerous situations. The police refused to try to protect them filming by a cracked house in the middle of the night. They were attacked by communist rebels in South America. The band appear to keep going on pure adrenaline. Shock factors aside, it's a good album on its own, deserving of time and consideration for the period it was made. Top track for me is 'Slow Train to Dawn'.
It sounds alright, but it was not very exciting compared to other work I’ve heard from them. I’m a tad surprised it is their biggest seller. I love post punk, but this was just ok.
Cool album
Nich mein Ding
Eka biisi oli oikein lupaava, kaikki sen jälkeen pettymystä. Tässä(kin) oli hieman ironinen sävy läpi levyn, sitä ei olisi tarvinnut. Ihan taitavaa popia mutta liian kikkailua hakevaa.
Repii kakkosen parin biisin melodisella rytmiikalla. Mutta herra laulaja - mitä sinä teet?
The The might have to be the greatest name of all time. Soul Mining has been in my rotation for a little while but never heard this album. Doesn't live up to Soul Mining for me but is certainly very very good. First four tracks were all amazing. I think it falls off a little after that but still maintains some solid quality. Fav songs: - Infected - Out of the Blue - Heartland - Angels of Deception
Average, i could not pay too much attention but it did not raised it either. Anyway ), it sets a good climate.
Welcome back to the weird 80’s! Hard to digest
Really cool band with a lot of ideas and an awesome energy. The production is very much 80s but these songs definitely have a distinct artistic stamp on them. We had another The The album on the list and I remember thinking it was also exciting. The lyrics on this album (and the previous one) have a mix of the personal and the political. I really connected to this line that opens the album: “I've got too much energy to switch off my mind but not enough to get myself organized”
This is the second "The The" album on the list. I think it's alright, but before listening I was trying to remember what the band sounded like from the earlier album (it was only 100 albums prior to this one!) and I couldn't really recall which I think is a sign that I didn't really love it. I listened to this album and that idea kind of remained- that I can enjoy it and bop to it and find cool elements inside of the music, but I would probably not remember much overall. Funny enough I was browsing some random websites and I opened one at the same time that "Heartland" started to play, and the website I landed on had an autoplay video on it with this rocking bass part and I was thinking "wow, this is what I want to hear! I'm excited for this "The The" song!" and then I went to Spotify and realized that it wasn't the song playing, but instead it was a video on a website and was let down. But then I listened to "Heartland" and I liked it! The downside is that it's just a little corny to me. I don't know exactly what it is but maybe it's the singers voice? He has this affectation that's like "look at me! I'm interesting!". I think it's unfortunately a barrier for me to enjoy the album on a deeper level. Sometimes I can get past that, and sometimes I can't. 3/5. It's not a bad record. Not great enough for a 4/5 but not bad enough for a 2/5.
малхолланд-драйв. меня выгнали из какой-то квартиры, у меня рюкзак с вещами и бутылка какого-то крепкого и дешевого алкоголя. я брожу по улицам, дохожу до набережной и сижу там. и мне все еще хорошо.
amusing at some parts but overall pretty bad. for a short album it really seemed to drag on
Extremely average. It sounded exactly how you would expect. Mid 80s music which hasn't got many hits and hasn't aged that well. Maybe I should be burnt at the stake for that take but this album wasn't all that. Painfully average.
Jag tyckte att albumet var förvånadsvärt bra. Instrumenten lät bra och de var hyfsat bra variation och längd på låtarna. Texterna var även väldigt bra och min favoritlåt från albumet var infected och slow train to dawn. Albumet får 4/5⭐️
Given the name of the band, the name of the album and the cover art I thought I would love this. I was wrong.
It was fine. I listened to it all morning yesterday and honestly can’t remember a single song.
Ich kann für die 80er meist nicht viel geben.
One good thing about this list is sometimes it does dispel some of my preconceptions. I had the The pegged as standard punk: something like The Fall or The Damned. I was wrong about that, seems like they were closer to INXS (without the hooks) or even moving towards Nine Inch Nails. I don’t care much for the music, but at least now I know about the music I don’t much care about.
This didn't do a whole lot for me. I occasionally heard some Oingo Boingo or Haircut 100 adjacent phrases, but over all it just seemed kind of bland. Probably won't listen to it again. 2/5
This reminded me of a more boring Foetus. I didn't care too much about it. 2.49/5
This album wasn’t as bad as I first thought. I was expecting to skip forward tracks but found myself engaged with the whole album. Not one which I will keep returning to but a lot better than some of the previous reviews suggest. Some interesting drumming going on particular right at the beginning of track 1 which gets you hooked for the rest of the album. Nice occasional orchestration and female backing vocals (Just read its Tessa Niles so that why it sounds good) compliments and takes the edge off some of the punkiness of the songs. An OK album.
Lord no
Infected - 8/10 Out of the Blue - 7.5/10 Heartland - 7.5/10 Angels of Deception - 7.5/10 Sweet Bird of Truth - 7.5/10 Show Train to Dawn - 7.5/10 Twilight of A Champion- 7.5/10 The Mercy Beat - 8/10 TOTAL - 61/80
Inte lika bra som det andra vi hade med the the men inte helt urkass heller. En stabil trea
2.5
It's no Dusk, but it is The The.
Back when I was a callow youth an English teacher I really fancied loaned me her CD of this album. I pretended I liked it but really I couldn't wait to get back to Blue Oyster Cult and Alice Cooper. Now? With the maturity and wisdom that age grants you, I have a much greater appreciation of the niceties and shading of Infected. All the jazzy touches and cod-funk put me off as a youngling, but now I think they add a splash of colour. A record that sounds good - and in its songwriting, it excels. 'Heartland' is a standout, but this stuff really skewers the delusions baked into modern living. I bet Miss D is still well fit.
Not feeling this, y’all. Help me help myself: what am I missing?
I really enjoyed the first The The album on this list, but this not so much. It was dark and sticky, which if executed better could be very interesting but just felt a little out of place for me here. Heartland was pretty good. Low 3.
This started off like a 2 star generic 80s album but partway through it opened up with some good lyrics and fresh grooves.
What an 80s sounding record.the music was fun but I really did not like the vocalist. His voice was just too rough for this kind of new wave music to me. I also just detest this band name.
This really sounds like super old. The instruments, the voices, everything. So stereotypical old music.. It's okay but I would not really listen to it.2 stars maximum...
Nah...
Kinda sounded like INXS at first. Thought it was fine - not mind-blowingly good but not bad by any measure. 7/10.
What a great song to open up the album with. The drumming, the trumpets, everything. I loveeed sweet bird of truth. Just a groovy album
Crap
Absolute garbage. Zero stars. This shouldn't be on any list except "songs for perverts."
A couple of cool New Wave songs!
I've never purposefully listened to The The before and ... man, it's really good.
Ganz okay
It's a bit hard nowadays. Some weird vocal choices.
I owned this on cassette when it first came our and enjoyed but thought it was a little over the top, which it was when compared to Soul Mining. Upon listening again I find it to be very good start to finish. Each song is uniquely strong and it holds up well musically and thematically. I like hearing how Matt Johnson wraps different musical styles around his serious themes. The music is fun and varied, definitely of its era but transcends the period.
Completely generic 80s crap rock. Didn’t enjoy any part of this.
I feel like if I had maybe heard this at the time it came out I would feel differently? It seems like a strange inclusion to me, for some reason.
melange de new wave / pop. rien de très agressant, mais rien qui ressort. 5.5/10
This the second by The The on this list. It was pretty good. It was short, and so I did not know when it actually ended because more The The songs played afterwards which were also alright.
This was a surprise visit from an old friend from college I’d forgotten about.
'80s music is often lyrically self-serious and preachy, while sounding like a goofy neon rainforest. This is that. I definitely think I preferred The The's first album, which also appeared on this list. I love post-punk as much as the next, but to quote Shania, this didn't impress me much.
Cool drum sounds great guitar tones.
Couple good songs here
Pretty good in places, particularly some of the flourishes in Heartland and the end of Slow Train to Dawn when it finally finds a groove. But far to all over the place to be great. Would be a good debut to build on. Since it isn't and he didn't I'm not sure I actually needed to listen to this whole thing. I was leaning towards three stars but by the end I was down to two. The album is frustrating the whole way through, wandering in the neighborhood of something I would like, even stumbling into nice bits here and there, but never staying there long. It wore me out.
An album packed with all of the bad from 80's music, with almost none of the good qualities from that decade.
Not my favorite, it is OK. Just not what I was expecting
Some of the songs were good but overall wasn’t for me.
Disappointed by this one. I assumed from the cover and title that this was gonna be some punk. Sadly, it’s only 80s “post punk”. Some of the political lyrics were pretty cool but I think this record is definitely held back by the dates production. God, that 80s snare tone is horrible.
It was pretty decent!
Well let’s see, it’s British, it’s from the 80s and I’ve never heard of it before. Sounds like all the albums that could’ve easily been replaced with culturally more significant choices. The good of this album is overshadowed by the overtly dated 80s sound. It has unique sound but it just isn’t that good. Nor is it a top 2000 album ever made. 4.9/10
Title track is, dare I say, infectious? Great bass work. This was super groovy.
This album is very 80s and has some decent horn sections incorporated. Angles of Deception is a cool song with a nice bass line. Aside from that nothing too memorable or worth going back to.
I was interested when this popped up as really like some of The The's stuff but nah, sorry, not a fan. Was surprised how little I liked it. No doubt deserves another attempt at some point but it left me fairly cold this time.
Besser als alles die Tage davor. 3!
I like that the sounds is a little dark and dirty but not my music
Preferred Sould Mining but this is a continuation I feel. Still quite dated but if you like the sound why should that matter?
It was good. I was working while listening to it so I kinda tuned out a lot of it tbh. - 6/10
I liked parts of most of the songs, but as a whole it was alright. I like the female vocals, but the male vocals were hit or miss.
English post punk is super bizzare to me but I fw this 8/10
Intro to Slow Bird of Truth went crazy. There were other cool moments too. I felt like it wasn’t consistently super entertaining, but definitely a good listen. Creative and unique. 7.5/10
5/10 - I cannot tell if I like it or not. I feel like every time I find something I like there is also something I do not like.
Some parts of songs were good, but I never had a song that I liked the whole things. Mostly not very fun 4.5/10
I enjoyed this, most of the songs were enjoyable to listen to and pretty entertaining. 7.5/10
Always been a fan of The The since I head the Mind Bomb album (to me, their best). Standouts: Infected, Heartland, Out of the Blue, Slow Train to Dawn, Sweet Bird of Truth. 4/5
First three songs were great. Also liked The Mercy Beat. Great sound
Post-punk British album from the mid 1980s, which has a very 80s sound which I don't really like. It's not a very bad album but the songs aren't too memorable to me either.
The The… have I heard anything by these guys? Seeet bird of truth was kinda cool. I like the sinister type vibe in a few of these tracks.
kinda good, almost not good, but then ok. Felt very 80's
Pretty good album. Off beat, but catchy.
Is it pronounced “the the”, “the the”, or “the the”?
I am so glad I got this. I absolutely adore soul mining, but I haven't listened to much else of The The, so I was looking forward to this and was not disappointed. This album is a perfect portrayal of angst in all its forms, from songs about the hopelessness of the modern world to the difficulties of opening up to another person. Everything from the lyrics to the stilted, powerful vocals, and the bizarre assortment of instruments fit together perfectly to paint such a wonderfully detailed emotional picture. Not quite as good as Soul Mining, but this is still absolutely a five star album! 5/5
If you like 80s musicals (a la Chess) you’ll love this album. I don’t like 80s musicals
Loved this album back in 1987 but haven't listened in quite a while.
Matt Johnson strikes it again. I don't think it's as "infectious" as Soul Mining, but it's certainly better produced and mature, with R&B influences including a guest appearance from Neneh Cherry. I just reviewed Soft Cell's Non-stop Cabaret Show a few days ago which had an accompanying movie album, and it turns out Tim Pope also worked on a movie album for this one too. Great videos with some crazy stories associated with them. The same strengths I had with Soul Mining are here. I love his deep expressive vocals and the atmospheric industrial synths and hollow drum beats. He definitely embodies Tom Waits, especially in "Sweet Bird of Truth". Every track is a good, and a few stand out as classics. A couple weaker tracks, but nothing I'd cut, which is fine considering there are only 8 of them. Favorites: Heartland, Twilight of a Champion, Mercy Beat
Ganz okay, auch für nebenher.
I cant think of a single reason why this album would be on this list. Its not a good example of brit post punk, or 1986, nor does it have great production or sound. It kind of sucks? 2/5
well... just another of those countless 80's New Wave albums from groups that really did not have legs. Not bad, but nothing jumps out. I'm listening and am like"... they sort of remind me of..." sometimes INXS, sometimes Oingo Boingo...
Some interesting New Wave stuff on here, but ultimately just okay.
Very interesting, would want to listen again.
Plutôt pas mal à l'échelle du générateur c'est-à-dire nul à chier a l'échelle de la musique en général.
Je m'attendais à un album absolument de metal atroce au vu de la pochette et du nom d'album, il n'en fut rien, un joli tour de passe passe de la part de The The.
Made zero impression, but completely unoffensive
Not what I expected at all? Maybe I don't hate post punk lmao?
An odd little album with some nice melodic choruses and some big booming drums. Very 80s. Best song: Heartland
This band really plays hopscotch between really interesting me quite a bit and fading to background noise. I guess that's to be expected with highly experimental groups like this. What's also to be expected is their exploration and mixture of many, many, many different genres. Slow Train to Dawn is a huge example of this working out very favorably; Heartland is where it felt more forgettable. I really think this is the type of album whose rating will vary based on the day in which I listen to it. I will say I'm very glad I listened to it though and will certainly add some bits to my rotation.
Surprisingly 80's sounding album. Lots of horns. Could hear the post punk coming in on some songs like "The Mercy Beat."
Without the color and inventiveness of "Soul Mining", "Infected" is just another filler in the '80s pop/rock scene. It doesn't have the bloated synths and the annoying vocals of such things though, so I guess kudos for that.
Relevant
did not enjoy
Fairly annoying. One good song.
Pretty decent album
Mezcla de rock-pop-punk. Un 4.
post-punk. Bien.
Respect the creativity not my style
It’s like Ministry, Skinny Puppy and Nine Inch Nails but happier. Much appreciated.
I couldn't grasp why this music is so appealing to me, but then I saw how some critic described it as "collision between Soft Cell and Tom Waits" and I suppose I just couldn't not be mesmerised
Yeah, after absolutely not too much hours with "Soul Mining" I might be fanboy of The The. At first listen this album seemd to be a little bit worse than their debut but after second listening I think that they are just a bit different. Magnetic main vocalist, great rythm, bass and percussion are still present. I would say that whole atmosphere is quite similair to previous album. Neneh Cherry and backing vocals are making great job too.
Standouts: Infected, Heartland, Slow Train to Dawn, Sweet Bird of Truth Others: Out of the Blue, Singles: ------------------------ Heartland #29, UK Infected - #48 UK Slow Train to Dawn - #64 UK Sweet Bird of Truth - #55
Awful music
It was decent, saved a few. Ty the the
Interesting sound. def 80s vibes. I don’t personally love it, but it’s not horrible
Think B-52s meets Bowie for the first couple of tracks. Then you gets one Aha and Police vibes. Then you slowly realize, particularly with the addition of female vocalist Neneh Cherry on Slow Train To Dawn, they have a sound all their own and it’s really solid.
One of my favourites!!!!!!
Didnt love it or anything but it was pretty good and Idk who tf the band is and have never heard any of the songs so thats pretty neat. Wouldnt listen to any of the songs individually necessarily but as an album it was nice background music.
I actually liked this one a lot. Other than the last album, this is the first one where I haven’t heard of the artist or any of the songs on the album. They also sound like a combination of a lot of different good bands which is cool.
Pretty fun album to listen to. I liked a couple of the songs but overall enjoyed listening to the album as a whole.
The The fílingurinn er frábær.
Vandaag krijgt m'n Spotify-algortime weer een lelijke knauw te verwerken, want vandaag val ik vol met m'n snufferd in de jaren '80 drek. Ik begin inmiddels een beetje te vrezen voor m'n Spotify Wrapped van 2024. De enorme bak reverb op de door een drumcomputer gegenereerde snaredrum op track 1 maakt direct duidelijk in welke periode we ons begeven. 41 minuten huismerk George Michael begeleid door huismerk INXS. "Sweet Bird Of Truth" legt de vinger op de zere plek: Alsof je per ongeluk in een donker steegje tussen een bende in leer geklede bears bent beland en de grootste (tevens meest harige) van de groep begint in je oor te fluisteren dat 'ie het fijn vindt dat je er bent. Er is niks mis mee als dat jouw idee van een topavond is, maar mij geeft het een gevoel van onbehagen. Dit is geen vals gezongen kattengejank of ingewikkelde jazz, dus het kan erger. Er zit wel enigszins muziek in. 2 sterren.
Yes yes to The The.
Prince vibes
Sounds incredible. Awesome lyrics. Gonna have to look into some more of this band's stuff. Reminds me a lot of Oingo Boingo, one of my favorite bands, but with a bit harsher sound to it
Judging by the reviews on this one people either love it or hate it. I was totally expecting to be part of the latter but i am not. Really loved heartland and angels of deception
The The has some good stuff out there but this album is not it edit after listen #2: Heartland is actually kind of good
Ekki merkilegur pappír. Mér fannst þetta bara frekar leiðinlegt en samt ekki hörmulegt.
Meeh, 80's tónlist rúllar alltaf ágætlega í bakgrunninum en ekki mikið meira.
Thought jonny Marr was in the the? Nothing really stand out probably would listen to again. 3/10
Surprisingly really well. The instrumentals are great. 3.5 going to 4 for surprise fun
Pretty nice
a little bit of something here, but not enough and I hate most of the vocals. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
When I was a teen, we frowned on 80s sounding music. Too old to sound current, too recent for retro appeal. It’s now very rewarding to go back and discover how much absolutely sick stuff was going on in the new-wave-adjacent world. This rocks! It’s weird and aggressive and sweaty as hell. My understanding is that The The covers a lot of sonic ground over the years. I’m going to check out more, but I sure enjoyed this one at least.
Prima maar niet helemaal het
I've always heard of this band, as their name 'The The' stands out as almost a mockery or tongue in cheek to bands who have The in their name. Which I can appreciate... But The The is probably the worst name for a band starting with 'The.' This record has that post 1970s punk feel to it. Lyrics are quite political at times. I find that in this record, the message is better than it is executed, as stylistically, this is not my thing. I can't deny some cool things on this album, particularly the backing vocals, or the female vocal parts. There is an intensity to hsi voice at times but often I get a George Michael or Nick Jagger vibe from it... And I don't mean tha tin a positive way. The percussion can be a bit abrasive and too loud in parts where vocals are. The synths have that cliche 80s sound. I know this album is from the 80s... But it really makes this album feel really dated. Listening to it 40 years later... It really hasn't stood the test of time. I don't really care for this album. Choices that were made in this album, specifically on the vocal front, are polar opposite of what I like. Wouldn't listen again.
Wow. Very cool 80s. It has the 80s sounds but none of the cheese. Not sure how that works. Three stars
I feel like this The The has less musical personality than the last The The (Soul Mining), though The The continues to be an idiosyncratic diversion in 80's synth-art-pop. Unexpected Neneh Cherry in "Slow Train to Dawn" HL: "Heartland", "Angels of Deception", "Slow Train" November 5, 2023
Loved this.
3.5/5
A nice post punk record that gets going in the 2nd half after a bit of weak start.
Ok, so this was as average as it gets. Absolutely nothing that’s going to make me recommend, revisit or even think about this album ever again. Sigh.
Oh my god I love The The. (I'm biased one of my favorite songs of all time is by them.) I LOVE THE VOCALS. I'm an 80's girly for real. Every song was making me sway in my chair WHILE doing homework so speaks for itself.
Eh? stereotypes are a thing for a reason. and this is definitely 80s Granted I didn't try very hard with this album. sry im lazy
The 80s: When people forgot how to record music
unremarkable "weird" 80s music
Pretty average.
I had high hopes for this album but it didn’t work for me at all. A little too scrappy with nothing to hang on to. Might have been my mood and the timing? But it’s not going to get into regular rotation for me.
Enjoyed, this guy always does what i dont expect!!!!
Lots of my mates seemed to love this when we were at school, I wasn't quite so sure. It's not entirely rubbish, but it's not that great either.
Not good.
Easy listening. Reminds me of David Bowie (based on my limited exposure of DB).
Sophisticated and well-produced, "Infected" bridges alternative sensibility with a big-budget '80s pop sound. Fans of Midnight Oil, Crowded House, and Tears for Fears would appreciate. Much better than their album.
Like it
Some good songs
Some good album tracks here.
It was fine. Nothing super special to me.
The The is an interesting musical project I was not aware of. Infected is a bleak group of songs, and the most notable aspect of the record is the compellingly dark, lustful lyricism and singing from frontman Matt Johnson. However, the album suffers from some dated 80s production choices, whether it be the overly cavernous drums or corny synth timbres. The album hits its peak early with the incredibly good self-mythologizing of “Out of the Blue (And Into the Fire)” and the scathingly political “Heartland.” However, it ends with a whimper as the songwriting quality trails off in the second half of the record.
very 80s
Lost track of time
Pretty interesting. Not a huge fan of the vocals but pretty pleasant 80’s pop. Very ok
It had potential and I liked some of the instrument choices but ultimately The The’s voice wasn’t doing it for me. Also why was bro so obsessed with God?
Nice album, dark pop that reminded me a bit of Depeche Mode or The Cure. I'll be coming back to this one soon.
Favourite tracks: infected; heartland; angel of deception; mercy beat
Started off feeling like something I'd really enjoy and then I stopped caring. It just didn't really do it for me.