Steve McQueen

There are only 6 things on my mind and mercifully this album is no longer one of them. I enjoyed Horsin’ Around, but otherwise just a slog of a forgettable album that’s only on the list because of the British Bump phenomenon. Otherwise not worth the time.

I get why this is the one that went on the list, even if it's not my personal favorite. That honor goes to From Langley Park to Memphis (though I tend to skip the first track). "Knock on Wood" came on one of my internet radio stations, and I was immediately taken by how the typical 80s synths had been put to such good use creating intricate harmonies and rhythms not typically associated with 80s pop. When "Nightingales" followed a few tracks later, I knew instantly that I needed to dig in deeper and give their albums a listen. I only wish they'd found their way to me decades earlier. Steve McQueen is a bit more rock-inspired especially in its use of guitars, but the jazz influence is clearly there as well. I don't know that I could pick a favorite song if I wanted to; some days it's "When Love Breaks Down," others I'm taken by the haunting emptiness of "Desire As." Next thing I know, "Appetite" is stuck in my head, or "Moving the River." The whole album just flows smoothly from start to finish. If this isn't your cup of tea, you're forgiven. It makes sense enough that "King of Rock and Roll," which Paddy McAloon clearly wrote to make a statement, ended up being Prefab Sprout's biggest commercial hit. Paddy's writing and these arrangements fall deep within the "musician's musician" category, and I see how this just isn't for everyone. There's no shortage here of instrumentation and technique that, to a casual listener, or in any other context, would likely now sound very dated. For me personally, though, this particular execution is a bit of a tour de force that borders on the timeless, especially as pop music circles back around to celebrate this era.

New to me. On first listen nothing stood out dramatically that made me sit up and take note. Probably worth a revisit, though I doubt they will somehow become my new favorite band.

Lyrically smart and musically smooth, these guys remind me a bit of Squeeze (complimentary). They have tight grooves and smart delivery with a bit of pop polish on top. An unexpected pleasure.

This is quite something. This album cover really made me things these guys are a bunch of loser. But this is actually really quite good. Once again, Ich bin überrascht.

Wow! Great find, didn't expect this to be so good

Reminds me of a dour INXS. I liked some tracks, some were a bit glum.

The Smiths x Crowded House?

Stereotypically 80s in the best way possible. Enjoyable without sounding super cheesy but nothing remarkable. 3.5 rounded down to a 3/5 because there wasn't anything that pushed it into full 4 territory for me (plus I'm trying to keep its average rating at exactly a 3)

This album is as inconsistent as my ex's moods. Some tracks are so '85 they're wearing leg warmers, others sound like they're struggling with a midlife crisis. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Bonny - When Love Breaks Down - Horsin' Around

I have been loving prefab sprout a lot lately, but some of the end of album cuts I am not a fan of. I really love the first four songs though and faron young, what an opener

Yeah hm idk.. suffers from a bad case of 80s. Good ish songwriting but I wasn’t wowed. Fear a 2.5

Two stars for the Sonics and 4 for this makes me think I’m a sucker for good production. Probably reaching but man did I love a few of these tracks, namely Faron Young and Appetite. Pretty interesting and fun throughout. Def some tracks that could be skipped.

A perplexing album 😅 Like Fall Out Boy and Coldplay went back in time to make 80s music? Its that really sincere boy pop sound of the early 00s that I spent most of my high school years abusing I really liked Desire As and Bonny. Super clean production and really cool progressions. A bit of retrospective before 495 submissions: To be challenged? I guess this is what we signed up for here. Loving some, hating some is better than the same old hits. 3 stars is the best rating?

Pretty into this - inventive song structures, nice layering, like the voice - some catchy but not overly poppy stuff. Faron Young, Bonny, Goobye Lucille, When Love Breaks Down - all enjoyable tunes. Like the 80s sound with a slightly different angle.

Very forgettable. Nothing else to add.

Sophisti-pop is a genre for a very limited audience, music that wouldn't hurt a fly. It's described as a mix of jazz, soul, and bossa nova, but in reality, it's like music for sitting in a restaurant. Simply Red and Sade did something similar, and a band with the silly name Prefab Sprout is in the same league. At first, the album sounds like The Smiths without Morrissey, so your brain is primed for that sound. However, it quickly devolves into that same sophisti-pop — music that's as sophisticated as it is boring. This pop-soul, based on quiet keyboards, is very well crafted, but here I am, writing about this record an hour after listening to it, and I can't remember a thing about it. Apparently, you have to re-listen to the album and take it head-on, as the band themselves did — they re-released the lead single three times before it finally made it into the charts. But, to be honest, I have absolutely no desire to do this.

Wait? Where's Steve McQueen? If I was a member of the estate, I'd sue! Album is pleasant enough and typical light 80's mid range aimless band that did not know where to take it. Having said that, it is still a harmless, enjoyable album. I hear a lot of 'Dream Academy" strains.,.

First band on the list that I haven’t know! So 80s and I loved it!

Awful

I don't love this so far...but it beats the hell out of another mid-80s new wave album. When Love Breaks Down is a good song...followed by Goodbye Lucille #1 which is not. I spoke too soon, it's getting worse.

Another British new wave band I’ve never heard of. Write up on Spotify said the singer’s lyrics were akin to Paul McCartney, not sure about that, but it was clever enough.

So nice I listened twice! Something about this album is really compelling.

Liked the sound of this one, even if it wasn't anything massively new. Thought the album started off strong, but tailed off towards the end. Favourite: Faron Young Least favourite: Blueberry Pies Per-song ratings: 44443333433

This one wasn't really for me. There were moments I enjoyed, but a lot of it was too repetitive for me. Some of the songs had sections I liked but they would go on to just keep repeating a few lines. Sometimes I really liked the vocals and then sometimes I found them annoying. Maybe one I would have liked more on a day when I've had more sleep, but I don't think I'll listen to it again. Fav song: Faron Young Least fav: Hallelujah

Odd album this. Not terrible but not good either. Not sure how to feel about it. In fairness I listened to most of it on one of the most packed tubes in my life so was distracted. Catchy at times. Specific rating - 3.5 Fav song - appetite Least fav- when the angels

Start was almost Smiths like, and then it went very 80s. Fine but unremarkable. Favourite song: Faron Young Least: Horsin' Around

I don’t know it’s okay it’s just not my cup of tea, i think the vocals range from annoying to fine. and the instruments are just okay

Another victim of the “damn this is a good album, definitely above average, but is this really something you need to hear before you die?” Situation this list creates. Phenomenal musicians, good songs, appetite is awesome!!! But do I need this or my life is incomplete? No. I can do the list of albums that deserve it more but there’s too many.

DIdn't know what to expect from this one heading in. With all due respect to the English curator of this list, I am finding that English pop misses much more than it hits for me, and so I approached this album (and let's talk about this terrible band name) with trepidation. Well, the first three tracks knocked me on my feet. There were hints of new wave, jazz, Wall Of Voodoo, with really interesting chord progressions and a killer chorus in "Appetite". The next couple tracks were pretty good, and then it kind of hovered more around average to good. Definitely front-loaded, but man that beginning was SO LOADED. Some cool songwriting and unique lyricism in this. I'd probably give this a 3.5 if I could, but will happily bump it to a four for those first three tracks alone.

i liked a good few tracks on this, really good

This had some really alt tracks and some really pop tracks but I kinda enjoyed all of it. Some of it also sounded very not-British. I think I'm gonna go back and listen to the 2-hour version. Favorite(s): Horsin' Around Blueberry Pies Least: Goodbye Lucille #1

Fav: Faron Young L: Desire As 2.5 I’m turkey hungry, I’m chicken free. The first song got me hopeful for the album, but that didn’t last long. Overall fairly forgettable, but I don’t hate it.

Has some value. Some tracks are borderline musak. Others are kinda neat. More quirky than artful, I think. It's quite 80s. I listened to this at work, and when I got home I could not remember what I listened to at all. I couldn't even remember the genre. So that knocks the score down a fair bit imo. W: Horsin Around L: Bonny 1.5/5

This is crazy cause i just listened to them for the first time on youtube the night before. Idk what the girl does. It’s pretty good music though, i like it. Sounds 80s but in a unique struggling teenager kind of way

4 Really enjoyed the first couple of songs but I feel the album did lose steam as it went on, still enjoyed it quite a bit though

A: Mjeh ett till perus btch ass rock almub... men VÄNTA VA??? Nej inte alls! Vet inte helt vad det var men håller med om blueberry pies. Idk vad som egentligen hände men nog ett album som förtjänar att vara med på listan. 4/5 (AB-tier?) D: Vet int riktigt vilka svampar dom tog men skulle vara intresserad. Påriktit unik och intressant rock?? wow. Ingen låt slog riktigt igenom "skull lyssna i civilen"- barriären, men nästan. Yippee. 4/5

A typical 80s pop sound similar to bands like Level 42 and Crowded House. Nothing special or memorable here and not feeling it warranted my time to listen to.

I can remember Faron Young from back in the day. The band is actually quite good; the production, music, and lyrics are above par compared to other bands from that time.

80’s smarm. Not my fav.

Great album which I would never have found without this website

This was nice. I just gave Rubber Soul three stars so these ratings mean nothing.

1.4/5 Not for me. I would have rather died not hearing this.

Some fantastic hooks and production. The first 5 tracks are strong and it's heading towards a 4 rating but the back end drags. Really good band though. Cool cover and name too.

never heard of these guys but this album's pretty good! i like the kinda borderline dream pop type sound on tracks like "appetite" and "when love breaks down, which are probably my favourites. it kinda reminds me of the radio dept., although they weren't around for another 2 decades. i guess now i know where they got it from lmao but yeah it's a real good vibes album, real chilled out music. makes it a little hard to lock in on but only in so much as that listening to it got me too relaxed to focus. honestly, i got nothing real to complain about with this one, but somehow it just didn't quite hit hard enough for the 5. maybe it'll get there with a few more listens? either way, i'll be coming back to this one i think.

Never really got these guys tbh

Nah, this kind of 80s Britpop does very little for me. It wasn't terrible but I got very little out of it.

this one's unexpectedly vibey. i like it so far. i like "bonny" and "blueberry pies".

Just kinda there.

Pretty dire

Wack

A band I'd heard people cite but never actually listened and turns out they're very good. Will be listening to more Sprout!

Steve McQueen was a good listen overall. The songwriting is thoughtful, with clever lyrics and polished production that gives the album a timeless feel. Paddy McAloon's writing stands out, balancing catchy melodies with reflective, often bittersweet themes. That said, while I can appreciate why it's considered a classic sophisti-pop album, it didn't fully click with me on a personal level. I enjoyed it while it was playing, but I don't see myself coming back to it regularly. A few tracks stood out more than others, but as a whole it felt more admirable than emotionally engaging for my taste. Overall, I'd say it's a solid album that's worth hearing at least once, especially if you're interested in well-crafted 1980s pop with a sophisticated, understated style.

Surprisingly fun

Cool band name. Shitty music!

A nice melancholy album, a lovely listen.

Stone cold classic

Very nice. I added “Moving the River” to my playlist.

Instantly forgettable 80s bland pop

Not as terrible as I thought it could be but still pretty crap

Perfectly fine new wave, but it left remarkably little impression on me. It wasn’t annoying, but neither was there a moment that I thought “I kind of like this.” Maybe that’s on me, or maybe it’s just a sort of boring album.

Has a real fun 80s vibe. Very polished. Bonny was my favorite, but the first track really put me in the mood.

it'a got a tinge of brilliance to it. the instrumentation and production is very very fun, and it scratches a pretty unique itch. i think it loses a little steam by the tail end: Desire As and Blueberry Pies don't really do anything for me. i listened through one more time to make sure, and found the lyricism was amusing enough to compensate and nudge the score up. favorite song is When Love Breaks Down

Rating: 8/10 Extremely surprised with how much I enjoyed this album from a band I've never heard about in my life. First I have to say that the record is very frontloaded, but only in the sense that the first few tracks are so extremely good while the back half still has quality tracks and only a couple I don't love. Bonny and Appetite are just such a beautiful back to back that would likely land on a list of my favorite newly discovered songs from here. Horsin' Around and Blueberry Pies don't hold up as much to how good the rest of the album is. Cover art goes extremely hard by the way. This could further grow on me for sure

These guys are very great and this album (and cover) slap. It feels like it draws from many other 80s dudes, and does its own thing really well, just pretty confident and fresh. It doesn't do anything that surprising or novel as far as 80s pop goes, but everything it does is super dialed, and pushes the envelope just enough to be a very very enjoyable album 8.2/10

Heyrðu, bara ótrúlega fín plata. Hef aldrei heyrt um þetta band, og mun líklega aldrei heyra af því aftur. Fallegur 80s hljómur. Mæli með.

King of Cool.

This was just alright

favs: bonny desire as rating 0.8/5

Some interesting songs on here

This is another example of only really loving the first half of the album. The first three songs “Faron young” “Bonny” and “appetite” are all super catchy and weird pop songs. The coolest being the first song has the craziest instrumentals for an actual pop song. It has this like country “hoe down” vibe to it, and shockingly it pairs really well with the overall synth pop production. Seriously there is a really creative mind behind this album and I respect the bold choices made on this album. But the sad reality is the second half of the album didn’t do much for me. The only other song that stood out was a song called “horsin’ around”. That song was sadly the only other real standout from the album besides those first three songs. But as a whole this album needed alittle more variety or humor to get me more interested.

Directly transported into a midsummer teenage love, this album instantly swept me off my feet. The classic 80s production combined with the great lyrics and deliveries just makes me adore every song. The songwriting also manages to stay fresh and engaging throughout the whole album, never boring me by coming too formulaic, which record from this era tended to do to fill the singles out. All the albums the list has introduced me to that I find being my favorites are surprisingly these luscious britpop records from the 80s. Music like this will just put a grin on my face from start to finish, and while it's nothing miles ahead, it's still great music throughout the entire album.

20/07/2026 Can't say I'm a fan.... Spotify listeners: 407.8k

I might have preferred this to the Queen album I had before this. Not sure what that says about me

high craftmanship of pop music that occasionally vers into country.

The definition of a sleeper find. This is a HOOK FACTORY. Song after song I'm amazed! I wasn't all too impressed with "Faron Young" out the gate, but "Bonny" came in with what would be one of so many sweet hooks paired with perfect 80's production. Also the first of many times they'd use that airy female vocal call and response. The reverb effect on that vocal reminds me of "I'm Not In Love" by 10cc. The following "Appetite" is a JAM with even more of that female vocal. I'm learning that's Wendy Smith. The chorus of "When Love Breaks Down" - how have I not heard this before?? It's flawless. Even "Moving The River", which has some really strange lyrics, manages a memorable chorus out of nothing! Wow. A much needed tonal switch with the bossa nova inspired "Horsin' Around" lands as a setup for arguably the best hook on the album with that 'desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind' on "Desire As". Like, who thinks of that line, let alone writes it in perfectly to a pop song? So cool. I'm ignoring the acoustic versions tacked onto the spotify version of this record. I'm just so happy with this find. I was SLOGGING through a lot of 2/5's the past few weeks. I wish I could encapsulate these moments of awestruck discovery and save them for later. My meter is refilled and I'm ready to take on another 20 bullshit albums if it means there's another gem like this one at the end. What's even more impressive is that this list is capable of producing a relatively unknown 80's english pop-rock album that isnt completely dismissible. This is the one. About the strongest 4/5 I can give. The highlights are 5/5 material for sure. I can't sing the praises of this albums high points enough. Some songs have stuck with me throughout this list, and there's like 3 new songs that'll stick with me form this record

Um disco nota 5. Só isso, sem drama, sem nenhum preâmbulo. Apenas um formidável álbum de Rock-Pop alternativo britânico da década de 80, pouco reconhecido e estimado. Lindo som, muito criativo em alguns momentos, mas sempre harmonioso e agradável. Dançável e assombroso simultaneamente, álbum completinho e satisfatório demais. Às vezes fico pensando que sou difícil de agradar, e aí chega um disco que tão inteiramente me satisfaz e percebo que não é nem um pouco complicado. 5/5

Best Track - "When Love Breaks Down"

I don't know why this British New Wave works for me when so many don't - I think he's got a britpop voice with new wave production? And seems to be going for good melodies rather than vibey production or annoying synths.

2.5

This list ought to be called 1001 British pop albums to fall asleep to

Pretty good britpop

Tranquilo

There was a couple tracks in here I turned the volume up for but mostly it was just good ol fashion radio rock. Nothing to really knock your socks off.

Started out so strong but really flagged in the middle/end. Goodbye Lucille #1 was a particular low point. Still, not too shabby for an Anonynous New Wave (ANW™️) album

Had not heard of this band before and was surprised to find that I liked it a lot! Reminds me of Simply Red - which I acknowledge does not make me or this music cool.

I don't know why but I expected this to be punky, but it was some great 80s pop. Would revisit.

Great 80's pop record. Bought it on vinyl when it came out

Actually an enjoyable 80’s pop album. Wasn’t the traditional cookie-cutter garbage synth pop sound; felt more… mature?

3.45 for Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen. It's a pleasant album, and has a good bit of Thomas Dolby influence, and a very polished sound. Nothing really jumped out and said this is a drop dead 5 star song. Standouts: Bonny When Love Breaks Down Moving the River Rest is mainly just good filler songs. I enjoyed the album and will probably listen to it again.

Awful

Okay album.

RATING: 8/10 HIGHLIGHT: Bonny LOWLIGHT: Blueberry Pies

Started off as palatable and poppy, then turned into Synth Genesis. I hated the latter half so much.

Not for me, why all the wounds from before 1999, huh? Tell me that, big pharma.

Strong vibes and interesting lyrics will come back to this.

Bland meandering 80s synth pop/rock. Saw a song entitled Hallelujah and got quite excited - would it be Leonard Cohen, John Cage or Jeff Buckley style. But no, a different song altogether. 2 stars

Holy 80s

smoothy goody

Not for me.

The Smiths - Faron Young, is that a deliverance banjo backing? Bonny is a bonny of a song. Yeah, second listen didn't move the needle at all for me. Don't think this makes loudspeakers at the mall grade.

Great album

Not much to say here. It was fun whilst I was listening to it.

This album really failed to evoke any major feeling in me one way or another... There were tiny glimpses of something that sounded like it could become interesting but then it quickly faded away back into average. I have lessened my original bias against 80's pop, so I wouldn't say I hated this, but I just genuinely didn't get anything real from it.

I feel like this album opened pretty strong, but it quickly fell off the tracks for me. There were a few moments I really enjoyed like the end of Horsin' Around, but, other than a few highlights, I just didn't care for this album. That said, it's not bad. I feel like it was clearly well written and, while it definitely has an 80s sound, it's well produced. Overall, it's fine, it's just not for me.

Loved it

Aight

Another band I'd heard of but never listened to, so it's good to be able to place them. Nice enough, but a bit smooth for my tastes, nothing grabbed or excited me.

How thoroughly mediocre and forgettable. I've been using some keywords throughout this journey, and this dreck fits neatly into at least one of them. "Anglo-centrism". Anyone who thinks this pablum is worth hearing 'before you die', is thinking very insualrly. There is a world of better music and we gotta hear *THIS* before we die? Bullshit. I didn't have strong feelings on much of the record. It wasn't good, but it wasn't viscerally bad. "Hallelujah" & "Moving the River" were awful.. but balanced out by the rest of the soft-rock/indie rock crap on the first half of the record.. It's all music that's best reserved for an elevator ride. (1.5/5), but rounded down because fuck this. I'll never come back to this, and I can't say I appreciate it being here. I didn't grow up in Salisbury, put milk in my tea (you monsters!), and didn't care when the Queen died -- so obviously I don't 'get' this, nor do I contend that it's worthwhile listening.

As if unseasoned mashed potatoes needed a soundtrack...

129. Steve McQueen - Prefab Sprout (1985) Variety: 1 Adequacy: 3 Listenability: 2 Uniqueness: 1 Emotionality: 1 = 1.6 rounded up to a 2 INTRO I'm only familiar with these guys by their reputation, and the one track I occasionally hear on satellite radio - "When Love Breaks Down". I know this made lot of lists and is often lumped in with the "Sophisti-Pop" genre, so I'm expecting lots of smooth production at the every least. A lot of this stuff is VERY of its time, so curious how well it may have aged, and whether it falls more on the easy listening synthy side of things or more on the jazzy horns and piano side. "But I'm turkey hungry, I'm chicken free/ And I can't breakdance on your knee" THE TRACKS "Faron Young" - Maybe neither? We start with a galloping, echoey bit of business that's as rockabilly inspired as anything Morrisey ever did. Totally not what I was expecting, and would compare it favorably to some stuff by Split Enz. Very light, bouncy, and plenty of hooks. The harmonica, the twangy guitar and the mechanical ( motor?) noises add a bit of edge to something that does not fit the "Sophisti-Pop" label. "Bonny" - This is a LOT closer to what I was expecting. Kind of a jazzier, with very smooth, blemish free production. Like a slightly more adult contemporary take on the stuff Aztec Camera or Crowded House was doing. Atmospheric but reliant mainly on what sounds like traditional instrumentation with some synth accents and wind blowing in the background to provide a bit of that morose longing atmosphere the genre is so steeped in. The metronomic rhythm here really sells the thing. "Appetite" - The band had fully morphed after just two tracks into exactly what I was expecting. This was very boring compared to what came before and leans very hard on the synth for effect, which is less catchy to my ears and more abrasive. "When Love Breaks Down" - This is the track I'm familiar with, and it's a pretty danged good exemplar of the genre, and while certainly in the B-tier, is in the mode of some of the better Crowded House stuff. The synths on here are entirely supplementary and supportive of the atmosphere and mood and not the main attraction. McAloon's vocals are as soulful as this sort of stuff can get, and the backing vocals ( processed or supported by the synths?) give this an airy quality that keeps it far away from feeling flat. A lot of interesting dynamics here. Let's see if they can sustain this. "Goodbye Lucille #1" - I loved the repeating guitar line that leads into the bass dominated opening. Wendy Smith's background vocals lend some dream pop overtones to this attempt to boost someone up after what sounds like a bad breakup. They lose the dreamy thread briefly though when things get loud and McAloon stretches out vocally. There's half of a really good song here. "Hallelujah" - This one descends down the basement steps into the kind of lite-jazz synth pop stylings that I would expect from a very deep Spandau Ballet cut maybe. This one failed to do anything for me and the guitar playing on here actively annoyed me. It had the sort of Haircut 100 but not as fun, vibe to it that almost, but not quite got me to perform a rare skip maneuver. "Moving the River" - oof. I guess we're sticking around in easy listening, adult contemporary land. And some of the worst lyrics on the album, which have been pretty decent this far. This one was a chore to get through. DNF ( not a good sign, folks). "Horsin' Around" - More of the same but with some the Casio keyboard set to "Latin". Ugh, then it goes even harder into a lounge act halfway through with the possibly the weakest horns I've heard on anything of this sort. Leave these ironic ( I hope?) jazz flourishes to someone who can pull it off like Joe Jackson. "Desire As" - At least I could get through this one. That's not any sort of praise though, as this was boring and felt very much like an intro to a better song that they just streeeeeeetched out to full length. Sleepy as it was uninspired. "Blueberry Pies" - And the band have just about reached their final form as ( admittedly very professional sounding) high school jazz ensemble performing at the church Casino Night. Weird Al would be appalled at such a wasted shot at a food themed song. "When the Angels" - The church organ, the Up With People variety showy upbeat tempo, the vocals that have not shown any dynamic range other than pouty since "When Love Breaks Down"... there's not anything to like here unless you're maybe a retired hedge fund manager looking to relax with some white wine after a long day of pickleball and waxing the BMW E30. HIGHLIGHTS - "Faron Young" - "Bonny" - "When Love Breaks Down" MIDLIGHTS - "Goodbye Lucille #1" LOWLIGHTS - "Appetite" - "Hallelujah" - "Moving the River" - "Horsin' Around" - "Desire As" - "Blueberry Pies" - "When the Angels" FINAL THOUGHTS This was a mixed bag as far as expectations go, and I definitely was not expecting to hear so much traditional instrumentation. Overall it sounded almost like a band at war with it's own sound. "Faron Young" vs "Hallelujah" being maybe the most extreme example of this. But everything after "When Love Breaks Down" goes downhill quickly. I've experienced plenty of whiplash with this list in going between wildly different artists from pick to pick, but this might be the first time my neck is aching from experiencing the same within a single album. Ultimately though, this was a case of me just not liking what these guys were throwing down. I could see some ( very boring - apologies to any reviewers who rated it highly) people really liking this stuff, and I can't say they didn't achieve what they set out to do. So it was far from the sort of stuff I find to be either obnoxious and baiting or just poorly crafted. And for that reason I can't justify sending it all the way down to live in the 1-star root cellar with Morrisey, Dion, and the Libertines. The cool indie kids posing with the motorcycle would have gotten me to pick this up in the shop at the time and if I had listened to that first track I would have been like "hell yeah!" The bait and switch buyer's remorse that would have fully dawned on my around track six ( there were some warnings before though) would have had me off to trade it back in for some store credit. Can I demand a refund for something I never bought? PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - "Faron Young" and "When Love Breaks Down" are the clear winners here, but I would not be heartbroken if I never heard either again. FURTHER LISTENING - High Land, Hard Rain by Aztec Camera - Hats by The Blue Nile - Flaunt the Imperfection by China Crisis - Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti - Crowded House by Crowded House

First, I'd like to say this album did not get a second listen. I usually like to give each of these albums a second pass even on busy days. This one fell into the small category of albums that, while I did not hate them I still didn't feel compelled to spin it again. It failed to get a rise out of me in any way and I was content to listen to it once and move on with my day. It was a good day. Three great World Cup matches to watch. How about those Belgium and England comebacks. Being an English band I wonder what Paddy McAloon and company felt about Harry Kane's brace to lift them over DR Congo. And how about that prime time victory by USA over Bosnia and Herzegovina! Malik Tillman with the free kick! Lets all sing "Country Roads!" Sorry, got distracted. I've never heard of Prefab Sprout but I have heard of Steve McQueen. I guess these guys were big fans of The Towering Inferno. Or maybe it was The Get Escape. Anyway, I have now heard the Prefab Sprout album, "Steve McQueen." I have 960 albums left to go, you're no longer one of them. 2/5

Hadn't heard of this band, but 80s pop is totally my jam.

3 stars for the first track - lovely slice of 80s indie pop ala Housemartins and the Smiths. It quickly descends into loungey nothingness though.

this was good. good song writing. good music. fun, youthful. peak 80s. i appreciated it. I saved Bony and Desire As. I don’t think i’ll be visiting the entire record again. -POEM- Drool drop from its vouching mouth won’t quench the lust dried throats of youth’s desire but in despair you swallow anyway

Ah man, this started off with some promise, but it seemed to just rapidly fall away from about the middle onwards, with way too many wafty songs. The more upbeat tracks hit way more, when they're chucking out some genuinely good grooves and the songs have a bit of depth, but they seemed to just completely give up on those for some reason. What's here is an ok, mixed-bag. 2.5 rounded up.

I’m honestly surprised I had never even heard of Prefab Sprout before this. I guess they were another one of those bands that made more noise in the U.K. than they ever did in the U.S. Sound-wise, Steve McQueen reminds me a bit of Crowded House and Simple Minds, with that classy, polished 80s pop sound that was getting ready to take over the rest of the decade. The album starts off pretty strong, but it does lose some steam as it goes, with each song becoming a little less interesting than the last. Still, if this kind of smooth, sophisticated pop is your style, this seems like a pretty solid one to have in the collection.

Nice, that's nice... That's just nice

Really hard to pinpoint a genre other than, cool 80s college radio stuff. It’s most like REM, but stands out in its own.

This is a pretty good album. It's not the kind of music I would normally reach for, but it was a pleasant listen from start to finish. The songwriting is consistent, and the album has a polished, easygoing sound that's hard to dislike. While nothing here really blew me away, I could definitely hear some of the influence it had on artists who came later.

This was pretty enjoyable and found myself liking a lot of this… better than the Smiths. Likes: Bonny; Appetite; When Love Breaks Down; Hallelujah; Moving the River; When the Angels

Decent listen.

I had to write this review immediately after listening to the album so I wouldn’t forget the feeling that it left me with. But even that wasn’t soon enough.

The first song stood out until “Desire As,” but the second listen proved the others in their varied, playful way are worthwhile, too. Maybe a 3.5; definitely rounding up.

The first couple of songs were very good, but as it went on I lost interest and the songs just became okay. Still a good album overall. Low 4.

Prefab Sprout makes perfect 80s vibe music and Steve McQueen might be their most perfect album. So beautiful that it makes me want to cry.

What an unremarkable collection of mid-80s pop. Whilst there is nothing terrible on here, there is nothing that jumps out at me as actually good and worthy of adding to a playlist or coming back to. Utterly forgettable.

A great example of an act that come on in 'leaps and bounds' from their first album 'Swoon'. This record is seen as their definitive classic album and I can see why it's been put on the list as no one was writing such literate baroque pop music like Paddy McAloon. Along with brother Martin, Wendy Smith and drummer Neil Conti they were critics' darlings for over a decade. The first side of the album is top notch and worthy of 5 stars, whereas the second side, with stuff like 'Horsin' around' and the last track doesn't quite maintain momentum as later work does in my view. However, 'When love breaks down' is a marvellous piece of work.

Starts off interesting, but devolves into a generic 80's pop rock sound by the 3rd track onwards. Nothing revolutionary or all that captivating. Songwriting and delivery is fairly good though, but even then I'd rather listen to some other contemporaries in a similar musical style such as The Smiths or Talking Heads.

Pretty standard 80s fare but still decent and easy to listen to.

Zero Steve McQueen content. Five stars anyway. Paddy McAloon owes me a car chase.

kind peak ngl! 4/5 maybe? MAYBE EVEN 5?? IDK LISTEN AGAIN WHEN RATING

Lame

80's boy band ahh Fave track: When Love Breaks Down

Somewhat unfairly maligned inclusion from what I can tell. 3.5/5

JOHNNY JOHNNY OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!

Steve McQueen is a colorful and poetic sophisti-pop album that is held back by the poor aging of its often cliched 80’s sound. While the album is consistently pretty and has good to great production throughout, it often lingers in what I can only really describe as a sort of over-sentimental lounge music sound, particularly in its second half. This album is at its best when it leans into the most interesting parts of its smooth jazz and R&B influences: the impressionistic chords, groovy rhythms and bass lines, colorful instrumentation, and pretty airy backing vocals. The great introductory song, which I'll get to later, segues into the bulk of this album's better half--Bonny musically and lyrically embodies the best of what this artful pop album wholly strives for; Appetite stands out for the its audio panning and generally being another good song; Goodbye Lucille #1 is perhaps the last time the album doesn't sound a little hackneyed. While never bad, the album often finds itself dragging, over-indulging in its saccharine mood to the point of becoming a little boring. By the second half of the album, the best Prefab Sprout had to offer us has passed, and the remainder of the songs are pleasant but far less memorable. By far the best song on the album though is the unusual choice of an opener Faron Young, which sounds nothing like the rest of the album--which is a shame because this would’ve been a much cooler album had they explored that soundscape more. Rating: ~4.5-5.0/10 ____ Album 8 / 1001+

I get the ick while listening to this album. Faron Young is a bad opener, plain and simple. Who starts a sophisti-pop album with a western melody, unless you're trying to make a schmuck of yourself. And the rest of the album is numbing as well. It's perfect for those half-empty malls while shopping, and those coffee shops with hopeless romantics drinking their cold brew with sunglasses to hide their tears. Though Desire As is okay, and, truthfully, has made me revisit the album, the rest of the album is a slog to get through, even on multiple revisions. The whole atmosphere is for a retirement home. This album is the reason why sophisti-pop is, beyond a few artists/albums, a hopeless genre. Steer away, unless you want to have an eye rolling experience.

(4/7) some strong stuff at the beginning but became more generic 80s about halfway through

A few semi decent tracks to kick off, but the second half of the album is slow and tedious. The most 3/5 album you will hear on this list.

i dont see the appeal

Great sounding album, great songs. Super 80s alternative guitar pop.

I don't know what to say. This whole album confuses me. The band name doesn't match the music, which doesn't match the album name. And I suppose none of that matters except the music, which is fine. Not sure what's so great about this album to be on the list, but whatever.

Some great tunes

Shockingly catchy and smooth. Love it.

It's alright, pretty catchy songwriting!

really felt like a midway point between the smiths and britpop

Pretty boring stuff.

The tempo on the songs is ragebaiting me

That first song is a real red herring. It sounds like none of the other songs. I was digging the album after the first song, but it’s mostly downhill from there. Horsing Around and Angels were decent, but the rest was pretty bland. And why did every singer in the eighties have the same voice?

This was fun. Nothing too special, but very inoffensive and safe. It grooved. it was not bad, but not my favorite. Liked Songs: "Bonny" , "Appetite" , "Hallelujah" , "Moving The River" , "When The Angels"

At first I read this too fast and mistakenly thought that Steve McQueen had put out an album, joining other actors turned musicians like Leonard Nemoy and William Shatner. I thought the king of cool might put out something weird and interesting. After some confused wiki pages research, I finally understood that was a band called Prefab Sprout had put out a pop album called Steve McQueen. I should have realized based on the publish date. This anecdote was the best part of listening to this album.

Ummm. I kept saying to my self who sat in the studio and thought heck ya we have an album here.

a sonoridade extremamente próxima à alguma banda que começou fazendo cover de the smiths pq curtiam muito e eventualmente encontraram a própria identidade, que na verdade era USAR SINTETIZADORES, assim como a identidade de qualquer outra banda mainstream da década de 80. pqp eu escutei umas 23 bandas diferentes nesse álbum DITO ISSO, é ok, bem genérico mas gostei sim

beeeeeem menos pior do que eu achei que seria. jangle pop com ênfase no POP, bem bacana. eh genérico, mas ao mesmo tempo eh bem variadinho. eh gostosim demais, pô. achei bão!!

I enjoyed the first couple songs but then the synth soul started to get old. If you like this type of thing, I think they do it well. Just not my thing. Rating: 1.7

Es ist ein elegantes, fein ziseliertes Pop‑Album, das mit seinen warmen Gitarren, cleveren Harmonien und Paddy McAloons melodischem Feingefühl sofort einnimmt. Gleichzeitig wirkt vieles so sanft poliert, dass die Songs manchmal eher schweben als wirklich zupacken. Die besten Momente entstehen, wenn die Band unter der Oberfläche doch ein wenig Spannung zulässt – aber insgesamt bleibt das Album eher ein intelligenter Wohlklang als ein emotionaler Treffer.

probably the most perfect side in history

Not too much, not too little. Amazing album, great vibes.

A good enough album that is very 80s. Unclear why its on the list.

typical boyband nonsense

Not bad

Mostly forgettable and tepid vocals over 80´s synth that strikes me as bland

College radio darlings. Really enjoyed this. More sophisticated than expected.

5/10

Forgettable

It's not bad at all, I like how lively the melodies are

Die englische Band Prefab Sprout, angeführt vom Songwriter Paddy McAloon, veröffentlichte ihr zweites Studioalbum im Juni 1985 über Kitchenware Records und CBS – ein Werk, das in den Nomis Studios und den Marcus Studios in London entstand und unter der Regie des Produzenten Thomas Dolby (mit Ausnahme eines Tracks, den Phil Thornalley betreute) seinen charakteristischen, federleichten Glanz erhielt. Das Album bewegt sich souverän im Sophisti-pop, verbindet Indie-Sensibilität mit Jazz-Pop-Elementen und einer Noblesse, die für die britische Poplandschaft Mitte der Achtziger kaum ihresgleichen hatte. McAloons Kompositionen – darunter „When Love Breaks Down", „Faron Young" und „Appetite" – klingen wie aus einem Guss: melodisch präzise, emotional diskret und dennoch von einer Wärme durchzogen, die man eher fühlt als benennen kann. Dolbys Produktion gibt dem Album Weite ohne Kälte, Politur ohne Sterilität. Wendy Smiths Gesang und Martin McAloons Bassspiel fügen dem Gesamtbild eine organische Textur hinzu, die das Album trotz aller Eleganz geerdet hält. Steve McQueen ist kein Album, das lärmt – es überredet. Es zieht mit ruhiger Bestimmtheit in seinen Bann und entfaltet seinen eigentlichen Reichtum erst bei wiederholtem Hören: die harmonischen Verschiebungen, die grammatikalischen Überraschungen in McAloons Texten, die Stille zwischen den Noten. Dass das Werk in den USA auf Druck der Rechtenachfolger des Schauspielers umbenannt werden musste (Two Wheels Good), bleibt eine Randnotiz der Popgeschichte – der Titel ist und war stets Steve McQueen. Dieses Album ist ein stiller Beweis dafür, dass Großes manchmal aussieht wie Leichtigkeit.

Nice

Started great but liked it less the further I listened. Reviews give it way too much hate, this was fine.

Not much to remember on this one

Not sure how frequently I’ll come back to this but I enjoyed my time with this album. Bonny and Goodbye Lucille #1 were my favorites.

Banjo and synth is a fun combo. Interesting to see this was produced by Thomas Dolby. Hallelujah has some city pop feel to it. Overall a decent listen.

It was really good the first four songs were fire but then it kinda fell off.

It's a good decent sounding album. Not sure about it being a must listen though.

i lowkey hated this and i don't really know why

01) Faron Young - 7,5 02) Bonny - 7,5 03) Appetite - 6,5 04) When Love Breaks Down - 7,5 05) Goodbye Lucille #1 - 7,5 06) Hallelujah - 6,5 07) Moving the River - 7,0 08) Horsin' Around - 6,5 09) Desire As - 6,0 10) Blueberry Pies - 6,0 11) When the Angels - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,77 (68/100) Current ranking: 584/932

Been a while since the list has spit out a band I’ve never, ever heard of. This was serviceable 80s pop rock, with a couple tracks almost veering into grunge-y territory, and another couple songs toward the end that were bordering on Irish folk for some reason. It’s kinda aimless, but inoffensive nonetheless; I liked a couple songs. I’ll give it a lower end 3/5

nice 80's music. maybe. little biased lol but really liked it

I really liked this group and album. They remind me of another group and I'm stuck with who.

Is this the most average album of all time? Vocals aren’t bad, if a bit forgettable. The band’s general sound is pleasant and there really wasn’t any one song I disliked. Very unique experience where from the first track to the last my opinion of them didn’t really go up or down. Lyrics are interesting, I’m sure there’s something a bit profound there but didn’t really pick anything up from my quick listen Not a whole lot I have to complain about other than the fact that nothing really excited me. I wasn’t really bored or anything but I can’t really think of a part I really liked. Just a really soft and consistent album. I will 100% forget about this one in a couple weeks, throw it on the pile. Would never put this one on on purpose but if a friend played it at a party I wouldn’t say a word

I really liked it! Some good vibes here for sure putting as 5 star for now so i can find it again lol

I want to say that this album is really good and I really liked it. Except for the fact that this album is an hour and a half long and half the songs are remixes. For that reason alone, I cannot give this album anything more than a 3.

Really didn't know what to expect from a band called Prefab Sprout and an album called Steve McQueen. I guess an 80s indie pop record is about right. To be honest, I didn't love it. It started off fine, and I liked the first couple songs well enough. But it just never really went anywhere or did anything very interesting. There were a couple songs that changed up the vibe. One was jazzier and the other had a similarity to Bowie. The rest unfortunately was just bland and a bit overly pop for me, especially with the 80s stylings. I did find it interesting how the music and writing were matched up. It seemed very much like it could've been singer songwritery, but then had all that production thrown on. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not at first. It was another thing that grew old as it went on, though. Some of the lyrics were pretty bad, too. (Turkey hungry but chicken free? I can't breakdance on your knee? Uh... what? That one lost me.) On the whole, there's not much there that's particularly bad or good.. It's just an OK record.

7.14/10

Boring, uninspirational new wave pop. Next.

Percibo que es un album donde todas sus canciones estan meticulosamente arregladas, mas que todo el fondo, no son canciones que uno pueda predecir. aunque no es tan contagioso, se admira los arreglos de todas las canciones, son super artisticos

Yea this is awesome.

Beautiful lyrics set to beautiful music. What more can I say?

I've been listening to this a lot this year. Incredibly soaring synths and romantic chord progressions. I love Paddy's voice and the female harmonies in the back...maximalist 80s synth pop that works as a great showcase of the best stuff from the era. Prefab Sprout gets more interesting as they go on but Steve McQueen is an early highlight. I've listened to Appetite maybe more than any song this year.

Nope...

Great album, tunes and talents thx

Gushy 80s jazz/pop. Not exactly my thing, but it's well made and not overly pretentious (just the normal amount of pretentious). Wendy Smith's backing vocals add quite a bit to the overall listening experience.

Solid, enjoyable listen. Kept hoping for a track to blow me away

Интересный альбом: с одной стороны очень приятная нью-вейв музыка, с другой стороны, вокал частично напоминает панков из группы Clash, которых пригласили подыграть в Полу Маккартни в его песнях, а к ним потом присоединились ребята из Tears for Fears. Альбом звучит цельно, готов его переслушивать с удовольствием.

Quite like it. Good production and listenable. Reminds me a little of Deacon Blue.

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 🏍️🌳🌁 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🧼📼✨ Rating: 🛵🛵🛵/5

Some fine production work from Thomas Dolby (as expected). Other than that, it's a flavorless Post-New-Romantic-Brit-Pop soup.

Starts off strong. The second half drags a bit. 3.5

Yes nice

demesiaso poposo para mi

The name was familiar but I'd never heard this band before. It's like discovering some hidden chamber in pop music: I know the '70s stuff they're drawing on and I know their mid-'80s contemporaries, but I don't know this. It's good! But I can't attach to it the way I might've if I'd heard it at the time and I wish I could.

it's Ok. a little too much Spandau Ballet and ABC for me.

This was pretty run of the mill 80s post-punk-pop. Nothing special. Couldn't really hold my attention. Guitars were boring, drums repetitive, and voice generic.

A pleasantly enjoyable listen. The type of music when i think of the mid 80s. Deserves to be on the list

Bit dull

On the whole I enjoyed this album. Not every album is going to blow you away, this one didn’t but it meant I have listened to an album by a band that I only have ever heard one or two songs by and that’s cool in itself.

i had high hopes coming to this album and for the first songs i did like it. but then i didnt, i reaaly wished i would have liked it more, i just cant. two good songs and the rest appears to be another whole album

Estoy cansado jefe, dame un álbum que me haga sentir algo y no esto.

Okay, qcy hoy no le di mucha bola nuevamente, espero que empiecen a tocar albumes que me motiven.

Es un álbum diría yo de nicho Tiene unas canciones interesantes le sacan partida a sintetizadores Personalmente hay algunas tendencias de la escena Brit clásica con la que no conecto muchísimo, sin embargo respeto mucho el esfuerzo y trabajo puesto en esta y muchas otras obras

Cack

Absolutely no skips

Distinctly cheese rock 80s. Don't think I'd seek it out.

A Masterpiece of Songwriting

I mean, it's a good album. I enjoyed "Faron Young"

Better than expected but also quite nondescript

When Love Breaks Down //

Really interesting musically. The melodic phrases, melodies and chord progression in their songs are intriguing, it doesn't go where you'd think it would go. Love the 80s synths and the whole atmos around it. An intelligent band worthy of the "sophisti-pop" label. 4/5

I thoroughly enjoyed the song Bonny. That’s about it.

Nice, laid back new wave.

cute but could've been better

Rather average, but listenable. Should it make the list, not really

Most definitively thos should not be a top anything. Outdated and cheesy Nothing special at all

Es una banda británica del género Sophisti-pop es una producción limpia, arreglos sofisticados, sintetizadores y guitarras acústicas, diría que también es Indie Pop, Art Pop muy ochentero

I think this might be the first album on the list that I was truly excited - in an "I can't believe this is popping up here!" way - to see on the list. Long-time Sprout-head (as we are, of course, called) here, since the release of this album and, if not this one, then since the second album, "From Langley Park to Memphis." The opening 5 tracks - yes, 5 tracks - on this album make up one of the greatest pop song sequences ever recorded, rivaling anything the Beatles did, in terms of song writing and emotion. Paddy McAloon is one of the great songwriters of the modern era. And Mr. Dolby's fingerprints on this record don't hurt either. One of my favorites of, well, ever.

Fairly unfamiliar with this one - heard it once ages ago but have totally forgotten it. Now comes the problem with this format which is trying to gather a proper opinion on an album in a single day. I try. I think the key to enjoying this album is realizing you're never going to quite get the huge 80s pop chorus you think is coming, and instead PS keeps it reserved throughout. Very notable on When Loves Breaks Down - the chorus is a simple plodding beat with almost Cocteau Twins esque atmosphere instead of the Tears for Fears explosion that the production style betrays. Arty farty 80s pop rock for sure. Pretty sick still.

Hadn’t heard of this before! Liked it more than expected! Faron Young was a cool opener!

Makes you feel like that scene in Pulp Fiction when Vincent is driving around on heroin

This is like sitting in a shower for 43 minutes to just feel the warm water slide down your hair/back. I hear Apollo by Eno. This is 80s in the perfect ways. Taking all the elements that feel cliché now and elevate them beyond mere tools. Even beyond the synthesized sounds??? Guitar playing?? Un-fucking-believable, groovy, placed immaculately. Pop ensemble. I love the way the synth keys and piano jump back and forth in When Love Breaks down! The coda on Moving the River is everything i want music to be!! I love how all the 80s cliche that this album is steeped in washes away with a sheen like a shelf that’s been laquered. Arrangements still shine so so much.

tapped into this last year thanks to brennan and it's been a new favorite of mine ever since. first five songs are absolutely perfect; unfortunately, the second side doesn't quite match it for me, with the exception of 'Desire As.' goddamn can these guys write a chorus. 4.5

fucking. sure. whatever. theyfab clout more like it. that's a lie. i don't think (to do reductive dichotomous pre birth "GEndEr sOcIAlIzatiOn") i've met a single AFAB rocking with sophisti-pop. apart from me and your mom stepping out. we make a happy loving couple. can't believe she's really going out with him. i am having sex with your mother to joe jackson. non-motherfucker. anyways they're cool. i'm always gonna die for albums that tangentially involve (noted dork) thomas dolby. and he produced this! it's all in the ear candy sweeps and synthy flourishes. music that makes you rethink what's possible with technical melody/texture. and the lyrics (always the lyrics). no one (sade is there but she throws Mean curveballs) writes songs like the aforementioned. maybe sting but. i don't wanna think about sting; let alone the big racist M. that said: paddy has a way with the gab. every song has (at least) one line that sticks for cleverness, emotional impact, or just cause it's funny. that's Talent baby. quick shout-out to band 6MOY wendy smith. killer keys and background vocals. 3.8-4.7. seems about right. unfortunately gonna talk about "moving the river" with my own personal (HIPAA bound professional) jesus. "desire as" is an all timer. "blueberry pie" is proto-The Ooz. and i like ferrari. big fan of yt music recommending japan after. when are we getting depeche mode?

Bang Average

Pree good

A solid pop album that feels kind of old at times. Songs I would expect to hear on the radio 7 times a day and only remember a line or two and the beat.

Forgettable but not miserable

Sweet! This album. I've been awaiting it for some time now. Like most music fans, I'm sheepish when broaching the subject of what my favourite album is, though a strong contender has always been "I Trawl the Megahertz" by Paddy McAloon, who is the founder and only current member of Prefab Sprout. It isn't the best, nor the most revolutionary or ambitious album that I've listened to, but it's the closest a piece of music has ever come to being a work of art in my eyes. The modern classical stylings are both highly visceral and highly interpretive, which is commendable when considering how the album is a mostly-instrumental affair. I Trawl the Megahertz also has a great backstory, being a testament to the healing quality that music can have for both those who create and consume it. For those reasons, I've always had somewhat of a respect for this band by proxy. Anyways, time for the album of the hour. I've, shamefully, never listened to a lick of Prefab Sprout's music, though I'm aware that this is the band's most acclaimed release. I think I can safely guess that it's going to be an 80s rock album, albeit with smart, avant-garde pop songwriting a la XTC. Here's hoping I'm correct. Sophisti-pop. Indie pop. I'd say I was more or less on the money with my prediction. It's fortuitous that I've been handed another sophisti-pop album. I was recommended "A Walk Across the Rooftops" by The Blue Nile a couple of albums back, which is a band I've been listening to quite a bit of lately. The "sophisti-pop" title is certainly opulent, but I also think it's well-earned. There's a stark beauty to the good moments of this album. The music is sleek and glossy without ever sounding run down or over-produced. The songwriting is fun and playful, but also quite clever with how many good vocal melodies they cram into the runtime. The album bounces between many different instruments and a few disparate styles, but still manages to create a satisfying whole. There's a lot to like about this album, but it isn't all there for me. When compared to something like A Walk Across the Rooftops or Hats by the aforementioned Blue Nile, this music feels less evocative and fleshed out. While the songwriting itself is commendable, I wasn't moved by the actual vocal delivery of this album. The runtime is also a little too long for my liking - I'd already gotten my fill of this music by the time the last one or two tracks rolled around. Fortunately, these are all just niggling gripes, again owed to how high The Blue Nile have set the bar for sophisti-pop. I liked this album, which is owed to both the music itself and the megahertz-trawling bias that is firmly rooted in my DNA. A 4/5 is much too pre-emptive by my normal standards, but I do want to like this album and I intend to sink some time into getting to know it better over the next couple of weeks. Here's hoping my gambit pays off. Book time. "For a short while in the mid-1980s, school was cool [...] But the hippest name for wordsmithery was a Newcastle quartet whose run of albums meant that nobody argued when Paddy McAloon claimed he was the finest songwriter of his generation." Prefab Sprout had failed to make a splash with their debut album and early singles, but made a success of themselves with this album through sheer perseverance. America wasn't as receptive to this album as the UK and its release in the country was delayed due to legal action from the estate of Steve McQueen. Wikipedia says this album was a slam dunk with the critics and has been met with enduring acclaim in the years since release. The commercial success of this album was only modest, however. Yeah, this album seems like a solid pick to me. Prefab Sprout could probably do with another list album, assuming Paddy McAloon truly is the finest songwriter of his generation. I've, predictably, already submitted I Trawl the Megahertz as a replacement album for this list, though I think we could do with an album from when the band were all together as well. Guess I'll need to figure that out when the time comes. For the time being, however, I cosign this cosign this inclusion.

My brother bought this for me back in the day. He said it sounded like something I would like. He was right. Love this album. 5 star. Fave song - Faron Young.

Why is this album here? It's not great...

Some really nice songs on here. Thomas Dolby's production isn't too intrusive. Perhaps a bit too much filler though.

Excellent name, but music too cheesy

Absolutely great album!

Not bad, some super cheesy lyrics at times but catchy

The Good: Steve McQueen! The Bad: This isn’t Bullit… The Ugly: It isn’t even Alex Wheatle… Prefab Sprout, I find out, is a mondegreen for Pepper Sprout… fuck if I knew what a mondegreen was… A quick walk down memory lane… it was probably 1986, not certain right now, but I remember going to a record store with a buddy of mine, where he was looking for one album, and I decided that I was going to purchase my very first CD—stop me if I’ve told this story before. Anyway, there I was, looking at CD this and CD that, when my buddy, I think, showed up with a Jean Michel Jarre CD, stating that this is what he was going to buy. Me, I forget what I had in my hand, but, I was to find out, it was not good enough as the label on the back for the CD was AAD, instead of the DDD my buddy had—where A stands for Analog, and D for Digital. You see, the CD, according to my buddy, was best quality if all phases of production were done digitally, as this meant best quality… what did I know. I ended up buying The Innocents, by Erasure, because of the song Ship of Fools, and the fact that the CD was DDD… little did I understand the whole queer-ness of the album. To this day, I still enjoy listening to it, and don’t understand why it’s not included on this damn list… Back to this album… what stands out to me is the glorious Hi-Fi sound, how the music just knows to fill your room, and make you pay attention to all little nuances. It is something that I really enjoy about mid-80s production in general. Maybe one of the reasons that I am starting to become allergic to the modern Lo-Fi crap that I am forced to listen to. This album, totally unknown to me, though I know I heard this played in the past, is going to be added to my list of albums I definitely want to listen to again. 5* as a grateful THANK YOU for taking me back to my teenage years!

Started off like store brand The Smiths but quickly devolved into generic 80s pop.

By the time I had finished this album for the first time, I knew that "Bonny" would be a song that would follow me for the rest of my life. It has this unbelievably evocative atmosphere that conjures up all kinds of feelings of regret, pining, lovesickness, nostalgia... it brings me to a different place every time I hear it. The rest of the album is a little more complicated. I've never heard an album with such a huge gulf between its first and second halves. The first 5 songs are all perfect, then the next 6 (1 of them is essentially an interlude) are much sparser by contrast and do away with much of the busy production that lent an immense energy to the first half. The only song that, in my opinion, matches that home run of a first half is "Moving the River" because it retains most of those production techniques. I still can't quite get past that "turkey hungry, chicken free" lyric (food references in song lyrics have always been a weird thing for me.) I get that they didn't want to just repeat the same 5 songs twice, but so much of that second half is going for the same stratospheric high of what came before it, but it seems JUST out of reach. I know I've made a lot of the sequencing of the album, but it's the only glaring flaw on this entire record. The songs are brilliantly written and composed, with some of the best lyrics ever committed to a pop song's master tape. There's one line in the best-known track, "When Love Breaks Down," where singer Paddy McAloon says his love and him are boxing clever, which took me more time that I'd like to admit to figure out The same goes for the very literate writing on "Faron Young" and even "Desire As" from that second half. This is the kind of album that seems tailor-made for me; I've long been a sucker for elaborate arrangements nestled in accessible, yet literate pop songwriting. It balances all of its myriad elements almost perfectly, and it's a shame this isn't as revered as a similar art pop titan like Talk Talk's Colour of Spring, the album which it most resembles to my ears. Key Tracks: Tracks 1-5 (seriously!) Moving the River, Desire As

Starts off nice, first song is a lot of fun, but then it progressively gets less and less interesting and is basically Squeeze light

Awful name. Decent album.

Classic. A regular listen for me in the late 80’s and into the 90’s decade remained a firm favourite. Still sounds good and it hasn’t dated like some music from the 80’s.

I enjoyed these sweet pop songs.

I struggled making it through this, it's so annoyingly inoffensive. This is for people who paint their walls magnolia, it's perfectly serviceable but you might as well choose nothing. They probably eat plain toast and drink only water, they tried a dash of lemon in it once but that felt too fancy. I can imagine hearing this in a department store as I browse completely mediocre housewares... ooh that's a useful dustpan and brush.

It sounded like driving to a campground with my dad. Made me want to call him.

Not for me

This is really close to a 4. 3.5 because a few clunkers.

side a is full of bangers! a pleasant surprise tbh. 4.5.

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, especially the acoustic versions

Steve McQueen has beautiful melodies, smart lyrics, and relaxing music, making it pleasant and enjoyable, although many songs share similar moods, causing the album to lose excitement occasionally before another strong chorus or arrangement reminds listeners why it remains respected by fans of sophisticated pop music today overall.

Didn’t hate it but also thought a good portion was slow and boring.

I previously only knew this band by the silly name but this was some quality pop music. It faltered a bit towards the back half but really strong stuff here.

Not bad, better than expected.

I like 80s but this is too 80s

Very 80s in the best and worst ways. Groovy arrangements, dramatic and overperformed vocals, catchy but annoying hooks. Wouldn't particularly want to listen to any track again.

nice enough

Listened Before? N Pretty good 80s stuff. Would listen again. Love the Thomas Dolby cameo. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: When Love Breaks Down

This album was alright. I think I listened to a deluxe version because it had a bunch of acoustic versions. The acoustic versions section I really enjoyed a lot more, but that might be because it strips away that 80s sound. It’s not bad but it didn’t grab me like I thought it would when it first started.

it was ok

First 2 songs were good and then the album kind of falls apart, and some of the later songs are unlistenable

The vocals and the grooves are very enjoyable!

Fun

Average, but good

really surprised by this one. i expected it to be a 2 at best but i enjoyed it. fun, dreamy production, and i like the lead singer. it's almost like a stereotype of what 80s music sounds like (in a good way). it didn't blow me away but it's good, easy listening fave track: when love breaks down

Initila thoughts, it's rather generic for it's genre at this point in the journey already. Probably an unfair criticism, considering that I am trying to remain objective throughout. Some tracks do sound gorgeous though, with their combinations of piano, guitar and vocals. Stand out tracks for me were: "Bonny", "Hallejuah", "Moving the River" and "Desire As". Overall, it's a pretty standard affair as far as my experience with music goes: real instruments and vocals, with some tracks that make my ears prick up more than others. Simply a nice a experience and nothing more.

Esta chachi, tiene rollito tranquilo de ir coche pero no es nada especial ni diferente.

Not for me. 1/5

Thought this was a great 80s album. I thought the vibe of the album was going to be a lot different based on the first track, but it’s got some catchy songs. Rating: 7/10 Favorite Song: Horsin’ Around

I consider entries like Steve McQueen to be "genre records" on this list. They represent a sound or scene that make an impact. Like reggae, metal, electronic music, etc.

Not as bad as the band name, which is the worst in history. But I still didn't really like it. Gonna be generous

Not terrible, but way better BRITISH bands from this era.

I had high hopes for this album after hearing the opening track “Faron Young”. It sounds decades ahead of its time, like something Spoon or someone similar might come out with. It’s hard to keep up with all the wild directions this song takes. There are rock’n’roll standards, rockabilly banjo, and guitar textures that sound like they came from the 2020s. Consider me on the edge of my seat for the rest of “Steve McQueen”. “Bonny” takes things down a notch, but it’s not bad. I’m starting to think that Prefab Sprout may have laid the blueprints for a lot of the alt/indie bands of the late 2010s-2020s. My attention span is starting to wane at “Appetite”. But it’s at song number 4, “When Love Breaks Down”, that Prefab Sprout decide to become a different band. It’s like they abandoned the somewhat groundbreaking indie rock sound that they started this album off with, and instead made a conscious decision to go head-first into the more cheesy side of 80s pop. The rest of the album is a blur for me. I’ve listened a few times, but the songs all blend together as some sort of down-tempo smooth jazz tunes or exactly the type of 80s pop that I can’t stomach. I did get excited at one point, thinking that Prefab Sprout might have written the theme song of Bojack Horseman’s sitcom “Horsin’ Around”, but alas, it was just another boring number in an album that is at least 75% boring numbers. I’m not going to write-off Prefab Sprout. “Faron Young” is a fantastic song, good enough to make me want to find out if they have more like it on their other albums. But it’s definitely an outlier on “Steve McQueen”.

This was okay

Decent enough. I thought one song was pretty good.

Siistejä ja monipuolisia kappaleita, ottanut paljon vaikutteita monista eri genreistä. Tykkäsin muutenkin kappaleista. Parhaat: Bonny, Appetite, Desire As

O início é melhor que o final, mas ainda sim é um bom album

Se o the smiths n quizesse se matar, seria isso aqui. A parte ruim é que eu gosto da tristeza

If this album was a meal it would be a bowl of undressed lettuce and cucumber with a side of boiled cauliflower and some lukewarm water to drink.

Not a bad album, some fair songs on it

Really liked this, like a proto-1975

Didn’t do it for me though some of the songs have a twinkling of an influence on war on drugs maybe

This was not good. Dated and cheesy. 2/5

Pas fan … rock pop années 1980 … manque de caractère

I enjoyed this. Fun and interesting Synth pop.

Didn’t know this album but it’s very well crafted.

Tekniskt sett så spelar de instrumenten ordentligt, inte överproducerat.. men musiken är lite för 80tal för mig

Et rimelig jævnt album men meget bedre end jeg forventede fra et synthband jeg aldrig havde hørt om før

Kan godt være den her fortjente lidt mere opmærksomhed. Det lød meget lækkert og sådan men synes ikke der var så meget at komme efter.

Sounds pretty modern, but it's also kind of boring... Especially towards the end.

I really struggle to rate this one. At times I really enjoyed it, and at times I thought I was listening to a completely different artist. More interesting than your average 80s pop album for sure.

Not really my vibe tbh. Fav song is ‘When the Angels’.

This one surprised me!! Id like to return to listen to this again. It's got all the ingredients of 80s music that I like, so I think there's some stuff that will grow on me. 8/10

Unremarkable