Infected

This was bad. I don't have anything else to say. It was just bad.

Not a huge fan of 80s music at the best of times. Couldn't identify a stand out moment in this album. Nope from me.

I’m skipping over the cold digital vibe that defines pop this decade because the songs just don’t hold up. This album feels like a snapshot of a very specific moment in British culture that I just can’t connect with. Listening to it leaves me totally empty. If anything, it makes me respect The Smiths or The Cure even more.

Nonsense

The first track... could there be anymore snare! Gad Damn, awful awful awful. Had to skip through the album. Painfully 80's. Just horrible noise.

No. Just no.

Different things were "good" in the 80s apparently

This has not aged well. 80s throwback.

1 star Boring, bland, and instantly forgettable.

Again, 80's pop music labeled as post-punk just because. Never likes The The hits I've heard off Sky Trax or MTV, doesn't change here. Did not enjoy this at all.

Wikipedia says this is post punk. Perhaps in spirit, but this is a new wave/synthpop record. It sounds like The Talking Heads made a Depeche Mode album. It sounds like the 80s threw up all over it. Is that a good thing? I’m not convinced (and I love the 80s). There’s a lot going on here, some of which I like, but it’s all brought down by this frontman and his repellant lyrics. Side note: I love The The’s song This is the Day - but it’s not on on this album. Is that song an anomaly? Infected - once I accepted how campy this is, it was kind of fun. But I did not need this couplet in my life: “from my scrotum to your womb / your cradle to my tomb” Out of the Blue (Into the Fire) - these lyrics, ugh. Heartland - “this is the 51st state of the U.S.A.” Welp. Despite the grim lyrics this had a goofy/theatrical vibe that made me think of The Divine Comedy or Blur at their silliest - but without the sense of humour. Sweet Bird of Truth - I liked the “radio, radio, radio” intro and outro Slow Train to Dawn - I think my problem with this record is that there’s something cheesy or ridiculous about each song (usually the lyrics or the singer’s delivery), but not in a fun way. The Mercy Beat - I like the extended outro.

I just do not get the appeal of this music.

Not for me. Is it for anyone? It must be but I don’t see it?

This is going to be a long 42 minutes. New Wave music sucks. I think this is the soundtrack to a crappy 80s movie. Yeah, America is the UK's bully, America sucks, fuck the US, message received. Sweet Bird of Truth is terrible. Every UK band from 1978 until 1991 was ska influenced. Twilight of a Champion is the worst song so far, and that is saying something on this album. This is a terrible album. If an American did this list, it would look very different.

Nö.

Sounds all the same to me...

Sometimes if an album doesn’t catch me right way I leave it playing quietly and go about my day occasionally checking in to see if anything sparks an interest. Someone it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes on my second play, I listen a little intently and get a good feel for it. Sometimes I just decide it’s rubbish after a song or two and staying present for an entire album is a huge choir. Sometimes I can stick with it. Sometimes I can’t - this is one of those times.

Didn’t really care for this much. Just more British New Wave to me. It was a drag.

Some interesting sounds, but overall a bit boring, and nowhere near as good as Soul Mining. I think we could have done with just one The The album in the book!

Not a big fan at all, from the speaking style of singing to the lyrics to the music, it's just not my jam.

Kinda weak

They really thought they were cookin' when they recorded this. Straight dogshit.

Not even worthy of a name?

Different kind of alternative band throughout the decades. No real hit songs.

Well that was awful. At one point I thought this things gotta be over pretty soon, only to find out I had just finished the second song. For a relatively short album there was a lot of fat that could’ve been trimmed. Every song should’ve been 3 minutes shorter than it was and even then they would be shit songs, but at least they’d be shorter.

Nope

Right off the bat, very 80's. It's giving John Hughes. Angels of deception is fun! Okay glad it's over. That was a rough 40 mns

I couldn't get through this whole album, not my style lol

Hard work, no discernible redeeming features.

80s and punk had a baby and this was the result. Unfortunately I don't love either enough to enjoy this album

This album is almost as stupid as the name of the band.

Not quite sure what that was

I can't believe Glee didn't have a bully character in a black leather jacket perform the opening track off this thing. Never listened to The The before but based on the title and album art, I thought this was going to be a little more badass. Seeing the group described as "English post-punk," I should have guessed it would be cheesy British theatre kid punk. This album is goofy, unfolding like a one-man musical where the lead actor is way too up their own ass to notice how goofy it is. I will give it credit: there's a vision being executed consitently here, and with an abundance of confidence.

STANDOUTS: none. OVERALL: 1.5/5; unnecessary. Why.

well... no.

Manic. Repetitive. Some of it is really terrible.

This shit is ass.

I don’t think there was one redeeming quality about this album

The singer’s voice makes me sick

Hate the music. Hate the name.

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

Ehhhh

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

Given the name of the band, the name of the album and the cover art I thought I would love this. I was wrong.

Lord no

Nah...

Crap

Absolute garbage. Zero stars. This shouldn't be on any list except "songs for perverts."

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.

Awful music

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.

Total boredom 1.2

Fuck off Bullshit

1.5

I don't know what the app they were trying to do but it was awful whatever that was. Unlistenable garbage. I only gave up one star because I had to.

I did not like this album because it sounded like a musical and I do not like musicals. It was just all very theatrical. The subject-matter wasn't interesting to me, either. What I've learned from listening to these albums is how much the UK hates the US, though. Is that what makes them must-listens? As someone from the US and at risk of just sounding butt-hurt, I know how fun it is to hate on the US, but it gets a bit old, lol. Beyond that, it seems like a lot of these albums are on the list because they had one or two "great" songs. Maybe there just aren't 1001 albums that are absolute must-listens and it should be shortened to 101 or something. Anyway, I kind of got off topic. This album had some interesting sounds but nothing groundbreaking that I could hear musically or lyrically. The vocals were nice, but very theatrical which, to me, made it sound like an aural musical which I did not like. Hard pass on this one.

Did not care for this one. First of all, how do you even say this band's name? There are so many different combinations of The The that can be used.

Crap.

No

Man this was painful

The the are are shit shit.

80s wank

Seriously?

Very weird

Not for me

This album is absolutely terrible - classic 80s but terrible

not what i expected. with an ablum cover looking like scott letching on when he's had a line or two i was expecting some crazy ass shit, some mad music depicting a man with no soul on his gradual decline to the gutter. instead its some of that shit that gives the 80s a bad name. utter shite. i bet this is on when michael gove hosts his swinger parties. scott would go to one of those. maybe the album cover is appropriate then.

I didn’t like this much. Reminded me of quirky old Halloween jams, but not as nostalgic.