Infected

Too much like Billy Idol. And I hate Billy Idol. Sound of the drums too exaggerated, got annoying too. Very 80's.

cool album art and i like their one this is the day song so much but this was a drag unfortunately

Ironic that this is called Infected when the songs are anything but catchy

The The is best in small doses

Some bright moments drowned out by a whole lot of still ones.

Naw.

Album #126: Infected - The The Genre (W): Post-punk, alternative rock Singles: Heartland, Infected, Slow Train to Dawn, Sweet Bird of Truth I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: Much like how I feel about Scritti Politti, I feel like this is a poor imitation of stuff that has been done better by this time period. Only one song saves it from being a one. Boring. Favorite tracks: Sweet Bird of Truth

achei fraquíssimo tava com a expectativa lá em cima, o que piora mto a situação

eh um new wave bem dançante, hein. com umas letras bacaninhas da era thatcher. mas eh. nao eh mto legal nao. achei que seria mais massa, culpa minha por vir com expectativa alta

This is on the cusp of me thinking I may enjoy it but it never gets there. Felt forgettable

Some interesting compositions, but too messy. Made me think about Flight of the Conchords. I won't think of this album again.

Not my thing

This is just one of those albums, where I don't know how to really feel about it. Really weird, shines in some spots and then there is some really terrible parts.

This wasn’t bad but not something I’d go back to again

I know and own a song by The The called This is the Day. It was not on this album and this album sounded very different from that song. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t something that I really enjoyed.

Uninspiring 80s pop rock

I just can't imagine ever wanting to listen to this.

Not sure on this one. It reminded me of generic music in a movie so you know the time period without someone saying it. Overall kinda bland and really forgettable. Some fun lyrics but it's just so vanilla you don't remember them.

This album has 80s pop/rock vibes, on top of socially conscious lyrics. The horns give it a kind of jazzy/showman quality. Not my preferred genre, but not awful.

This doesn't quite capture me.

The The don’t exactly have a smooth approach to composition. The eccentric, awkward, stop-start performance and slightly crazed, elaborate vocals is surely the appeal but it could all just as easily turn a listener off. There are plenty of bands that I love which share several of these qualities but for whatever reason the theatricality doesn’t work for me here. My brain can't make sense of it.

I really hated the production on the first track. It was extremely unpleasant and overblown, with everything feeling like an unwarranted assault of the ears. I mean, that snare sound alone was horrid. Anyway, I'm still willing to hear out the rest of the album, somehow. Okay, back two songs later and the production got a bit better, but whilst I like the lyrics, I'm really not a fan of the vocals, whether that's in terms of his voice or the melodies. So far, the main interest to me has been the bass, but even that could be a bit better. The tracklist is a bit inconsistent and there are definite ups and downs but I'm just finding that none of the songs really do much for me, when I wish they felt more full and pleasantly produced. The snare tone doesn't really get any better throughout, and some of the synths, whilst stylistically typical of the time, are a bit crap in my opinion. The layering of the songs just doesn't feel nice, it all feels crudely slapped on top of itself. Then, the vocals aren't even that catchy and I find the voice obnoxious, so basically, there's nothing here I'd really like return to at all, but I respect the ideas.

One reviewer writes that people don’t understand this album because they weren’t living in the UK in the early 1980s. Well, both this reviewer and the editor seem to believe that a significant portion of humanity lives in the UK. This misconception, of course, explains why - at least in my summary - British albums rank the lowest. I knew The The only by name, and their album “Infected” won’t exactly leave a lasting impression on me either. It contains pretty generic ’80s pop-rock - call it post-punk, new wave, or whatever, for all I care. The only thing that really stands out is the extraordinarily ugly cover - is that art or is it rubbish?

An interesting post-punk album with some world themes. Listened out of order by mistake

1st song is cool

It kinda seems like it should be ok...it's not unlistenable by any stretch...but...it just doesn't get me that excited. Mid-80's talk-singing.

Infected - 3.5/5 Out Of The Blue (Into The Fire) - 3/5 Heartland - 2.5/5 Angels Of Deception - 2.5/5 Sweet Bird Of Truth - 2/5 Slow Train To Dawn - 2.5/5 Twilight Of A Champion - 2/5 The Mercy Beat - 1.5/5

O.K. but nothing remarkable on for me and nothing I really can connect to.

The 80’s had its way with everyone. Very few were left unscathed.

didn't really listen to it, a bit boring and the title song is fine

Very 80s. His voice is OK and the music has not held up well. 4.5/10 Top song Infected

Bonus point for having Neneh Cherry on a song.

I really wanted to like the mix of post-punk and new wave on Infected, but honestly, I found it a total slog. I get that Matt Johnson put a ton of effort into the theatrical production and all those layers of synths and brass, but the whole thing just grated on me. It feels like it's trying way too hard to be deep, and the result is just a dated, over-produced wall of 80s noise that couldn't keep me interested.

Ikke min greie i det hele tatt. Sterk 2.

Syntes dette var kjedelig. 1-2

hated it

I forgot it was on just a bit nothing

3.5/10

After listening to Playing with Fire and some other terrible albums, I just didn't have the capacity to listen to this. Sure, there's probably some motif's that i'm missing and small things that I would pickup while listening to the full album. But I just couldn't do it today. Skipped around, and just sounded like another 80's synth rock/pop album. 2/10

I previously said the 80s sound is not my vibe… with some exceptions (tears for fears being one of them). This is not one of those exceptions. It’s not horrible… but not my jam. 2.0

Itchy production, tinny drums, and that breathless over-singing typical of this era of post-punk. There were moments I enjoyed (the female vocals on “Out of the Blue”, the guitar on “Heartland” before they’re smothered), but moments are not enough. Sorry, The The, you just don’t do it for me, but good for you.

This album is dumb.

didn't like this 2 stars

Some nice sounds on this one. Maybe worth another listen

Kind of cool but not really

Alright i’m cutting this one short. No fault on the album, but i just can’t listen to any more 80s albums. this one was much more stimulating than the others i’ve listened to recently, but i just don’t like these sounds. There’s moments in this album that indeed sounds different, but there are plenty of moments with that 80s synth sound that just immediately makes me dissociate from what i’m listening to. I get it, it was the style and time. but fuck man this era made so much slop with that sound that i can’t even get through an album that IS doing something a little different

Empecé muy joven a escuchar música y cuando los Smiths y luego los Housemartins lo eran todo para mí, se separan ambos grupos más menos al mismo tiempo y me quedé huérfano de música. Este fue uno de los autores que escuché como sustituto (también Lloyd Cole) y la verdad es que no dieron para mucho. Creo que ha envejecido regular, mucho sintetizador. Me guardo Angels of deception. Su voz sigue mereciendo la pena.

Not a bad album. However, I find it kind of repetitive. Apart from that, I think "The The" is over-represented in this project (one album would've been enough). For this reason, and also because I found "Soul Mining" (which came up only a couple of weekss ago) more interesting, I'm giving 2 stars to this one.

A rubbish INXS

After opening with a typical 80s drum machine that makes you think you're getting a standard new wave album, Infected gets as weird as its album cover. Clattering drums and layers of guitars make for chaotic post punk tracks with an occasional sophisti-pop undercurrent. The vocals are just as manic and sometimes get theatrical. It reminds me less of other English post punk and more of Australian noise rock like early Nick Cave and Foetus. While it's definitely unique, there's often too much going on to really catch the groove of the songs; there are no easy rhythms or obvious riffs or hooks here. The lyrics seem to be political but can be hard to make much sense of. Definitely interesting, but also just a bit too much.

"virus"

80s music, not the good stuff. Don't know any songs which doesn't bode well for a genre I'm familiar with.

Just kinda stuff happening

Etwas träge ohne Höhepunkte

Not sure why this band gets two albums on this list.

I used to play The The a lot on my new wave radio show, but I feel like Infected is kind of horny in a sinister way.

Eh

Leiðinleg, en ekki allt alveg eins.

Couple good songs but nothing I'd ever go back and listen to.

Sounds like INXS making a commercial for baked beans.

2/5. I’m usually a post-punk enjoyer but this one just didn’t do anything for me. Not helping is the sound of the album which is some dated 80’s cheese, but even beyond that, nothing really captivated me here. It’s not abysmal or anything, but just not for me.

Not my jam

Not infectious.

.2 seconds in Matt Johnson says the name of the album you just turned on in case you somehow already forgot. 1 and a half minutes in.... are we going to do something different? oh... this sounds like if Billy idol went in a different direction... Is it industrial? is it 80s pop wave? is it 80s pop rock? I'm not sure... Somehow all the music feels familiar but I also know that I have never heard any of this. It's as if he is throwing some borrowed melodies in with his own. Oh, this second song is interesting... sounds like this song would be in some strange parody comedy movie. Lyrically this album is very Litteral and direct. There is no room for interpretation. It's really as if he is just having a conversation and telling a story to you... but like he went off on six tangents to get to the punch line.

The best songs weren’t even on the original album. I listened to the cd version which had 3 additional songs that were way better than the 8 on the original album. That being said this still sucks. And worst band name of all time too.

This was such a chore to get through. I dont know why. This album specifically broke me away from this list for over a week. And coming back to it was just as difficult

Atrocious album cover, reminds me of Aaahh!!! real monsters. 80s drivel album. Heartland sounded like something out of a musical, which was cool.

This feels just really shallow

?@! Someone who can remember the 80ies diddn't live there (c) Falco

Masete, svulstig og teatralsk. Slow Train to Dawn er høydepunktet, sikkert pga Neneh Cherry, som burde ha sunget på alle låtene i stedet for Matt Johnsons utrolig irriterende vokal. Alle låtene har musikkvideoer, så jeg så de som en playlist på YouTube.

Meh

best part is the name, the the is VERY funny. though can't say much about the music, idk, it's very nothingburger

Not bad. But I could have done without it

Three Inch Nails The first track is a complete banger and a memory from late night TV watching. But then it sags into self consiously arty lyrics and fairly pedestrian music that isn't nearly as interesting as it seems to want you to think it is. It wants to be making a statement about life the, universe and everything but just isn't that good. It keeps starting to do something interesting and then goes of the rails. Either he starts singing in a put on dramatic voice or thr lyrics land with a thud or suddenly he thinks its a good idea to mix in tannoy announcements. Wastes a lot of potential.

Oh, so boring. The very definition of bad new wave. One minor hit and a bunch of albums filled with fluffy notes and inoffensive drivel. Damn, the Brits will listen to anything!

Just didn't really enjoy this - at first it felt okay, but I didn't like the singer which meant the whole thing wasn't for me.

Tripping on LSD in the 80s this may have seemed cutting edge. Today though, it sucked

i don’t wanna listen again but it’s ok.

A few catchy tunes but really underwhelming album. Can't say I disliked it but I wouldn't listen to it if I had the choice

This is one of those albums that I think I would have liked better had I gotten it earlier into this list as opposed to well into the 700s as I am now. At this point I feel like I’ve heard this before, and better. “Angels of Deception” is a great track and almost led me to rate this 3 stars, but the rest of the songs are kind of tedious and go on for way too long. This album felt like well over an hour even though it was about 41 minutes.

Tedious and forgettable 80s pedestrian rock. 8 songs but felt like 38.

Yeah, sorry. No. 4/10

She talks to angels slaps. That’s about it

Not bad, Instrumentals are decent but I dont like the guy vocals .. rated 2.5

not bad but not for me

A real mix of styles and quality some of which I enjoyed. It was largely ruined by the 1980s which can do one as far as I’m concerned!

I only know one The The album, which is the excellent ‘Dusk’ from 1993 (by which time Johnny Marr had joined the gang). So I’m pleased to report that they did recover from the “80s DERANGEMENT SYNDROME” they were clearly suffering from a nasty bout of here.

Very ‘80s. Not as clever as it thinks it is.

Not entirely my jam. It feels very stylised and of it's time. That's not a problem of itself, but I tend to want the music to really earn it. I couldn't quite get into it.

Meh

Oof. Nope. This is the kind of music that comes to mind when I say I don't care for 80s music.

The instruments are fun and catchy but the singing doesn't work as well for me. There is just something missing in the songs for me to get pulled in and bop along and I think its the vocals for most of the songs. Its not bad, it just doesn't work well for me. Still a fun listen through as a learning experience and hearing a new band.

Soul Mining by The The was one of my fun discoveries on the list, but I wasn't keen on this one at all. It sometimes feels like he's going for Tom Waits but accidentally landing on a pretentious INXS.

I feel slightly ambivalent towards both the music and the lyrics. I can tell there is some quality, but I struggle to get past what sounds dated and anachronistic.

Sorry bud the fifty-first state of the USA is actually Canada we don't need your toe of a PM Keir Starmer. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Maybe those pseudo-intellectual socially conscious lyrics would have led to real change if the music didn't suck

Ehh, like a much worse "Skylarking" by "XTC" 1.5/5

What the crap is this? I’ve heard of The The and I think I’ve listened to something they did, but didn’t remember liking it much. I remembered correctly. Don’t like it. Not much more to say.

Weak. Was bummed because the last one of their albums on here kicked ass. This one was epitome of the 80's at its worst.

his is clearly an ambitious record. Big production, big themes, big emotions. It wants to confront politics, culture, and decay head-on, and I respect the scope of what it’s trying to do. But for me, the pageantry got in the way. The arrangements are dramatic and layered, sometimes to the point of feeling theatrical rather than urgent. I found myself slightly put off by the self-seriousness of it all, which made it harder to connect emotionally. I suspect there’s depth in the lyrics that rewards closer attention, but I never quite felt compelled to dig in because the presentation kept pushing me at arm’s length. There’s craft here. There’s intention. But I didn’t feel moved by it. Instead, it often felt self-indulgent, like the statement was more important than the songs themselves. I can admire the ambition without enjoying the experience. For me, that lands this closer to a 2 than a 3.

Not the most boring album, but it definitely thinks it's more interesting than it is.

No thank you

80s English pop. Barley better than English 80s punk.

Some decent moments but overall pretty crap.

some interesting moments in this album but did i need to hear this before i died? no. this list has some amazing albums and then what seems to be the authors personal taste creeping through

That was a hard listen. Like a poor man’s, off form, British, Tom Waits Chock full of experimental synth sounds vainly in search of a melody to underpin them, with a vocalist that I find rather grating. There wasn’t a single track on this album that interested me. No song grabbed me musically or lyrically. I preferred the more dance fuelled album on this list, although I’ve concluded I didn’t like, don’t like, and never will like this band.

Meh, when the 80s brought us the compressed sounds of banging pots and pans a la depeche mode, I ran the other way. Not saying this is bad music, just not my cup of tea.

It was okay like someone else said it just wasn’t good. For me it wasn’t bad but nothing stood out. Overall it’s just mid

Not really that keen

Mid dance-pop with synthy horns and big-bang drums. Yes, yes, I hear it's upbeat music with dark tense political lyrics; neat paradox but barely listenable.

This one is very boring. cannot recommend. Perhaps for in the background on vol 1.

It's of its time. I feel that there are many other albums of this genre that are better representations of this age of music.

I am a huge fan of post-punk and new wave. This is objectively terrible.

i didn't hate this but how much 80s production do you expect one man to take and stay sane?

On "Out Of The Blue (Into the Fire)" and "Angels of Deception" the singer's whispery vocals presage the quiet, whispery quiet songs of Smashing Pumpkins. It should be said that those are generally the weaker Smashing Pumpkins songs. I really have no idea what to make of this. Cover made me think this was some punk or metal thing. Then the music started and at first I thought this was actually, despite the cover, some post-disco thing. I guess this is some just extremely 80s pop rock? Pretty mired in mediocrity, or perhaps it's just not my thing. Grew on me a little bit by the end, particularly "The Mercy Beat."

Попсовенький нью вейв. Ощущение словно слушаешь какое-то старое ностальгическое радио или телеканал где крутят клипы из 80х и 90х

The album cover is the most memorable thing with this album for me. Maybe also the reverb on the snare, now that I'm thinking about it. Perhaps if I gave the lyrics more attention something good would come out, but for now it just feels like a quite eccentric, but not very good, 80s sounding record.

The The is one of those 80s bands that I know existed but have no memory of listening to. Unfortunately it seems like this is something that would have potential if only it had been done in a completely different style by different people. It's like they wanted to make angry music that was also dance music, but couldn't quite figure out how to do them both at the same time. Even "Sweet Bird of Truth" didn't have much of a punch, which was disappointing because the wiki described it as a controversial track critiquing US imperialism. It sounded too much like Thomas Dolby or something and I couldn't take the lyrics seriously in that context. There are records from that period with political subject matter that still sound very urgent and contemporary, but this isn't one of them. 2/5

Just couldn’t get into it. The menacing snarly whisper singing leading into happy pop-like songs didn’t work for me. Seemed like the band couldn’t figure out who they wanted to be on this album.

Just not gripping me? Again i think unjustly exposed to plane conditions but i keep turning this up hoping that volume = interest* and turning it up but its just more sound and not in a good/interesting/challenging way Re: heartland - Im finding this w books a bit but sometimes when things feel Too american they just don’t quite jive. Like i know that place ive seen him but he’s not mine nor does he speak to me Immediately though i am enjoying angels of deception more - sorry for the live commentary but theres little else to do… I’d written something more disparaging but honestly i quite liked the last track, she won me round (a bit) *holy moly guys did you know if you accidentally write e= the notes app starts doing some crazy shit

Pretty unique sound. Not at all what I thought they’d sound like. Fav song is ‘Angels of Deception’.

This is an album of music. None of which I like. just boring songs that seem to last forever, and that I recall nothing of. To quote my review for their other album on the list (yes, they have TWO albums on the list, whereas Tool and Deftones have none): «This kind of music, it’s just not nice. Others might find pleasure in the monotone beats and vocals, and the complete lack of hooks, but I don’t like it at all. Don’t hate enough to give one star, but it’s a weak 2»

Maybe this is good, but I couldn't tell you. Subjectively I just don't like new wave, so this one never really had a chance for me. 2.3

1.7 2x not great

Overall alright album, it's pretty chill, it's nice leaving it on the side while you're doing stuff. It was probably kind of cool back in the day.

Not a timeless record.

I didn’t really care for this album, nothing caught my attention or grew on me.

Hmm. Weird one

Mouais 2/5

Nah.

I tried, but 80's new wave really isn't my style

Felt boring

Way too eighties. The Mercy Beat was the best track but it was too little too late. Lacking the hookiness that elevates the songs of theirs that I’ve liked in the past.

really a top tier album cover. anticipates the 90s wokeish coffee shop aesthetic. the music inside is decent but clunky. even with indie-sensibilities, not much 80s synthpop aged brilliantly. lyrics are decent at least. i too hate america. deserves to be one of the 1001? you could keep it to just Soul Mining probably

I like this band but this album was really hard to listen to.

Unwichtig.

I’ve never really got the appeal of this band. One or two decent songs but generally overrated

It’s got all the ingredients…. But I don’t like it.

Took me days to get through. It’s not bad, but it’s just so 80s in the worst possible ways

#771. This one is just boring, mostly. The only even mildly interesting thing about it is it's kind of weird. Not weird enough for anyone to care, but just weird enough where thats the only thing I can think of to say about it. 2/5: boring.

I know this is post-punk but I was hoping for more…punk sounds?

eh just didn't hit me

There’s no doubt that this is an album from 1986. We’ve got on the nose songs about AIDS, urban decay, US military aggression, Thatcher and Reagan, with lyrics that sound like they’ve been written by an angry student poet. The music is somewhat at odds with the words, having that characteristic brittle 80s production with brass stabs, horns, harmonicas, drums that sound like someone hitting a large cardboard box with a mallet and backing vocals from Neneh Cherry. I see what they were getting at, but this hasn’t aged particularly well.

This is the type of music that got me further into punk, and Ska and Jazz. Not because it has those elements, but because music at that time was so dull I had to look elsewhere. Not bad music, just dull music.

I used to listen to the song “This Is the Day” a lot, completely different band - kind of like The Cure, very poppy, accessible, and fun. This album is bizarre and never quite found my footing. 2.5 rounding down.

80s sound, not distinctive enough to be familiar with its release.

For ca. ti år siden fant jeg denne og Soul Mining i platesamlinga til pappa, og selv om man kan stille spørsmål til både band-navn og plateomslag, valgte jeg å plukke med meg begge to. Soul Mining traff som faen. Låtene er kanskje litt on the nose, men for faen, jeg var fortsatt i riktig alder. Og musikalsk satt det som f. Jeg er usikker på om jeg noensinne kom meg rundt til å høre på Infected; Soul Mining var liksom nok. Kanskje var det rett valg. Dette har en veldig 80s produksjon, er fattig på hooks, og har heller ikke den introspektive vokalen å lene seg på. Et steg tilbake på alle områder. Og jo lenger det går, desto mer kjeder jeg meg. Skiva får meg til å lure på om jeg egentlig liker Soul Mining, for nå har jeg vært like ved å bytte til noe annet flere ganger, og jeg er så vidt halvveis igjennom. Det er i morgen. Jeg begynte dagen med litt Soul Mining, og den skiva sitter fortsatt som en skreddersydd hanske. Den har hooks, den har empatisk vokalprestasjon, den har pianosoloer og engasjerende instrumentale partier, og den har en mye mindre datert produksjon. Jeg koser meg. Jeg vet ikke om Infected er en dårlig skiva, men den blir dårlig hørt i sammenheng med Soul Mining, når låtskrivingen er dårligere over fjøla og hvert valg høres ut som en retardasjon av det som kom før. Når Giant er ferdig, kunne jeg godt satt på Soul Mining igjen. I stedet satt jeg på Infected for å se om jeg misforstod den i går, og jeg angrer fra første note. Skiva har låter som er bedre enn åpningssporet, men når de sterkeste låtene er svakere enn de svakeste fra debuten, så har vi et problem.

Liker «Angels of Deception» godt, men resten av plata tilhører den delen av poprocken på 80-tallet som ikke helt fikk til dette med synther. Er det Jannicke som synger på «Slow Train To Dawn»? Ser at det hører en film til, men får ikke så lyst til å se den.

Sad. This is a miss for me. I was so taken with “Soul Mining” - a delightful surprise - so was pleased when this popped up today. But the singer’s voice annoyed me, and the lack of hooks or compelling rhythm made the songs forgettable. Add to that some unfortunate peak ‘80s production. A point for some clear areas of creativity and artyness.

Neat blending of rock, synth, and big brass. My biggest issue is this is a fine but unremarkable album - I'm not entirely sure why it's included in this project. Couple decent hidden gems but a lot to move on from. Top tracks: Sweet Bird Of Truth, The Mercy Beat

Felt bland and just kind of melted together

Pretty forgettable. Love that one single, but this one was a hard listen right after an equally rough "The Cure" debut album.

I feel like this music is a mix of multiple genres that I like, but the combined result is not great, Bob.

Not my vibe either

Very forgettable

I like that it sounds like rocky horror but it’s not for me

I don't like this one that much, which is funny, cause I really like every song on Soul Mining by The The (also on this list)

Meh

Listened Before? N I have found other albums by these guys pretty enjoyable but this one just didn't resonate with me. Pretty unmemorable but nothing offensive to the ears. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Heartland

Music isn’t bad. Very 80’s. Singer is trying too hard. Not a fan of the talky story telling style. 2.5

Interesting and different. The lead voice sounded familiar.

Only okay.

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

I’m not sure…. This is really not for me.

< the Beatles This just isn't for me

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

reminds me of a disney soundtrack. also an 8 song album?

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.

Peak 80s

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 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.

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.

Album started off strong, but after 2-3 songs it kinda got annoying:(

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

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.

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

Liked the horns, liked the dark lyrics, emotionally not really a hit for me

I liked it a little, but not the best.

I didn't love it. Not really my style

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.

Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 🦪🧟🤢 Production: 🙄🤔🤷 Music: 💉📉💀 Rating: 🦠🦠/5

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sounds like a load of rejected simple minds songs.

Not particularly noteworthy...

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

some nice composition and instrumentation in there

The The Not my favorite, didn’t make it passed the second song.

Pretty boring and not very noteworthy. Didn’t really catch my attention at all. 2/5 Won’t listen again

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.

🤷‍♀️

The worst aspects of Talking Heads, Primal Scream, and the very 80's as-yet unrealised potential of the synthesiser.

Too much synthesizer. It distracted me from focusing on the meaning of the lyrics.

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.

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.

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.

cheesy, shitty, 80's alt rock.

Got tired of it real fast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Couldn't help but feel like I was missing something, like it should have been better but it just wasn't.

Not for me

Soul mining is better anyways.

Not the most horrible thing on this list

For some reason I couldn’t stop thinking about these two guys who were at the open mic night at my favorite college bar literally every week and seemed really old to me at the time

The title track is almost enough for me to give this album 3 stars. ...ALMOST

Bad.

It was fine

The opening song "Infected" stomps but that's the only real standout track. Johnson's affected singing quickly wears thin across the span of the album. The overly-long and overstuffed songs wear out their welcome after a while.

Before getting into their early 80s stuff, I always thought The The were a tacky and forgotten late 80s new wave/funk band like Shriekback or The Escape Club. While Soul Mining is pretty good...this does solidify why I had that opinion to begin with.

A bit too 80s.

Don’t love growling. Sometimes it’s a good effect, Bjork does this very well. But ALL THE TIME in every song: it gets old fast. Not subtle lyrically, not a reflection on how he feels about things. Just moral absolutism. Underpinned by a strange Soul style, there’s just too much dichotomy. Can’t tell if the dude is mad or sad or what’s going on, and it certainly isn’t making me feel anything. Very tight musically though, no rough edges (except for the aforementioned growly affectation). Not all bad but a bit pretentious and insincere.

I only really know one other track by these. The Twilight Hour. I do quite like it but this is much more poppy and not particularly me. Cant give it more than a 2 I'm afraid.

What surprised me the most about listening to this was that I remembered pretty much every track. I must have owned and played this back in the day quite a bit. Surely it wasn’t the strongly political lyrics that drew me in? However, seeing how I can’t have listened to it in over 25 years, and I forget owning it, it will get the 2 stars it deserves and not a star more.

not for me

I did not like this, not my cup of tea, it’s like Barry’s and I prefer Lyons

Maso

Feels like a band that doesn't want to commit to a sound. It's almost generic and experimental at the same time since the record is including a lot of electronic music concepts for being released in the mid-80s, but it's so reserved in its use that it almost seems accidental.

Didn’t really stand out. Not bad tho

Middling indie pop. I didn't find much to get my teeth into here, Certainly nothing near the majesty of Uncertain Smile, which is an absolute classic.

Não é que falte qualidade à banda, mas a falta de hits também conta para que uma banda prospere.

Kinda liked it. Some tracks more than others.

Dumb band name. Interesting video. Unmemorable songs. 2/5

At first I was thinking this was just "meh" but by the end I was really bored and thinking that the album kind of sucked. Pass.

Kind of boring

What the heck just happened? This album is infected with cringey music. Seriously, why are there so many British Albums on this list? We haven't cared about anything they do since 1776!

It's ok. Out Of The Blue was kinda nice. The rest were fine but forgettable. Best song Out Of The Blue

I've tried to listen to this several times but it just falls into the background every time. Infected lacks the appeal and fun of earlier The The albums.

With a band name such as The The, what do you expect? The album is supposed to be some apocalyptic Punk Rock music, but it mostly fails due to its lackluster sounds, subpar singing, and repetitive rhythms. Favorite Song: "Slow Train To Dawn".

I thought I liked The The because I was already pretty familiar with Soul Mining, an album with some genuinely great tunes on it. This one is clearly keeping to their sound, but I found it more grating and hard to latch on to any particular tune, including the title track which seems to be the most popular. The vocals are a little over-wrought and growly, and the 80s new wave production is similarly over-the-top. The songs themselves are also pretty blunt in lyrics and topics. I don't hate it, I just found it more forgettable.

boring

Trash

I just don't like Post Punk, but this is tolerable.

I remember when this came out, people loved it! I didn’t understand it at the time and now that I have listened it it again, still don’t understand it. The the. Cool name!

This album is weird theatrical 80s jazz new wave tedium - pick a fucking lane TheThe! Wikipedia says thats exactly what Post Punk is, really? This is not what I think of when I think of post punk! I tried to get into it, but really it was just too much and I was glad when it was over.

Unapologetically 1986. It’s trying to be bold, but it just feels over the top. The sound is too polished and ends up feeling flat. It doesn’t connect.

There’s a line between weird and suck. They crossed it. I gave them a chance, but nobody wants to listen to this more than once. Music is not supposed to be a chore.

Wasn’t my style of music

Conocí a The The con The beat(en) generation de su album Mind bomb, aquel en el que participaba Johnny Marr. Me gustó mucho, con un estilo elegante y distinguido sin perder el gancho comercial. Su disco más reconocido es Soul Mining, pero Infected no desentona en absoluto: Sonidos típicamente ochenteros (entre Duran Duran- Midnight Oil-INXS) y canciones de calidad como Heartland o Infected, lo sencillos más evidentes de un álbum con solo 8 temas y 4 singles (además de los dos citados, Slow Train to Dawn- con Neneh Cherry- y Sweet Bird of Truth). Las letras, con fuerte componente crítico y político, ya tienen otras influencias como podrían ser The Clash, The Fall o The Style Council. Todo ello compone un buen álbum, bien producido, planteado e interpretado aunque lejos de otros editados ese mismo año. Los vídeos del disco, uno por canción, no están a la altura. 1986 fue excelente año de publicaciones: TheHousemartins: London 0 Hull 4, Spacemen 3: Sound of confusion, RUN-DMC: Raising Hell, Felt: Forever Breathes the Lonely Word , PeterGabriel: So, THE CHAMELEONS - Strange times, THE CRAMPS - A date with Elvis, THE SMITHS - The queen is dead, R.E.M. - Life's richpageant, NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS - Kicking against the pricks y Your Funeral my ...Trial, THE GO-BETWEENS - Liberty belle and the black diamond express, PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED – Album, L OVE AND ROCKETS – Express, The Bangles: Different Light, Anita Baker:Rapture, Pet Shop Boys: Please, Prince and the Revolution: Parade, Born Sandy Devotional: The Triffids, Candy Apple Grey: Hüsker Dü,Flaunt It: Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Jean Michel Jarre: Rendez- Vous, Cocteau Twins: Victorialand, Bruce Hornsby & the Range: The wayit is, Queen: A kind of magic, Europe: The Final Countdown, Sonic Youth: Evol, Madonna: True Blue, Eurythmics: Revenge, Cameo: WordUp!, Crowded House: Crowded House, On the Beach – Chris Rea, Bananarama: True Confessions, Lionel Richie: Dancing on the Ceiling,Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet, Paul Simon: Graceland , Tina Turner: Break Every Rule, Cindy Lauper: True Colors, This Mortal Coil:Filigree & Shadow, Aretha Franklin: Aretha, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live/75-85, Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill, SpandauBallet: Through the Barricades, Duran Duran: Notorious, Talk Talk: The Colour of Spring, Miles Davis: Tutu,, Throwing Muses:ThrowingMuses. Alaska y Dinarama: No es pecado, MECANO: Entre el cielo y el suelo, EL ÚLTIMO DE LA FILA “Enemigos de lo ajeno”, OS RESENTIDOS “Faiun sol de carallo”. GABINETE CALIGARI “Al calor del amor en un bar”, DUNCAN DHU “Canciones”, LOS NEGATIVOS “Piknikcaleidoscópico”, LA FRONTERA “Si el whisky no te arruina, las mujeres lo harán”, PATA NEGRA“Guitarras callejeras”, CIUDADJARDIN: Auténtico, LOS NIKIS: Marines a pleno sol, Los Toreros Muertos: 30 años de éxitos, La Frontera: Si el whisky no tearruina, las mujeres lo harán.

Good, intelligent pop. need to listen to this more often.

You know? Not as bad as I thought it'd be! Something told me it would be awful, low-talent, high-anger noise, but it had a certain charm. That being said, it's not for me.

Très bof, très daté années 80, et pas grand chose à garder. Si le début peut promettre un truc un peu funky et upbeat (“Infected”), c’est vite relou et long, comme “Twilight of a Champion”. Next.

"We have Prince at home"