Steve McQueen

This shit is rad

That was very nice! Lovely harmonies. Sometimes the melodies remind me of Steely Dan.

Speeding out of the gate with a fervor for sophisticated treatises on love both acquired and lost, Prefab Sprout offer up their magnum opus with Steve McQueen. While no one was striding in like Cool Hand Luke, what was apparent was the heart on sleeve earnestness of the songs that makes this an intoxicating and invigorating listen forty years on. Give into it and do not let go. Favorites: Faron Young, Bonny, Appetite, When Love Breaks Down, Goodbye Lucille #1, Moving the River, Desire As.

Sounds just like the 80s, but really enjoyable songwriting and production. The acoustic version is also really great with wonderful songwriting. Very unique but also familiar. Will listen again

+ Bonny, Goodbye Lucille #1

I wonder if I love this album because it’s amazing or because I grew up on it. I think it might have been a tough sell if this were my first listen. Thankfully, it isn’t. I love the harmonies and the lyrics. The stories.

I love Prefab Sprout. A master class in mass-appeal idiosyncratic art-pop. Those synths are an anchor in the harbor of 1985, the only thing keeping this album from being timeless. I have had "Appetite" in my head since I saw the video in high school and I'm still not sure what its about. The only real digs I have against this album is how front-loaded it is and those gated drums, but it's how the world was back then.

I'd heard of this band but never listened to them, and I'm sure I appreciate this much more today than I would have in 1985, when my tastes generally didn't lean in this direction. Shades of Sade and Orange Juice, whom we've already covered on this list, and even The Smiths. It has a certain elegance. Produced by Thomas Dolby, I read.

Unexpected! first track appears to be the inspiration for Walk like an Egyptian. Good record. Sorry to have missed this one back in the day.

Das war erstaunlich gut. Angenehmer 80s Pop, hat wirklich Spaß gemacht.

Nice and easy listen. Got some real good ones on here.

This album very nostalgic for me. I'm sure I'm rating it higher than I would if I didn't know it so well.

"Steve McQueen" is the second studio album by English pop band Prefab Sprout. The Wiki-listed genre is sophisti-pop. Yes, they would one of the poster children for that. The title and album reference actor Steve McQueen and his love for Triumph motorcycles. Prefab Sprout is Paddy McAloon (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Neil Corti (drums, percussion), Martin McAloon (bass) and Wendy Smith (keyboards, backing vocals). Commercially, the album reached #21 in the UK and had highly positive reviews. The album opens with the rockabilly/country song "Faron Young." An edgy guitar that reminded me of Johnny Cash. A harmonica is added with keyboards in the background. It's about a country music singer and the only song of this style, which I like, on the album. "Appetite" has a deep bass and clear drum sound. A swirling synth. Here's the sophisti-pop. A pregnant girl is in love with her child and all she wants is to name it after all the good things in her life. "When Love Breaks Down" was released three times before it broke on through. A slower song with layered vocals by Paddy and Wendy Smith. The song picks up the pace with the drum beat. This is very 80's sounding. "Goodbye Lucille #1" was released as single with the name "Jonny Jonny" and it's not surprising since Wendy Smith keeps reading Jonny Jonny in the backing vocals. Expressive vocals by Paddy. The song builds with a guitar solo. An older man is offering advice to love torn boy who's been dumped. The band takes "Horsin' Around" in a jazzy direction with a bossa nova-esque beat. The synth horns also give it a cabaret feel. The album has a great sound to it. Great production and mixing by producer Thomas Dolby. The lyrics are clever and the vocals are emotional, tender and very clear to hear. The music is a perfect example of good 80's sophisti-pop. I also always like a prominent bass in the mix. This is a really good album and one to go back to for highly crafted pop music.

Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout took me by surprise with its layers of distortion on the first track. "Appetite" is a standout track for me - I really like the sound of that one. "Horsin’ Around" is another standout that has a unique and playful vibe. The album’s jazz influences add an interesting dimension, especially in contrast with its more synth-driven moments, like the atmospheric background elements on When the Angels. Lyrically, the album leans into a quirky, almost erratic style that feels both charming and unpredictable. Not every track hits—"Desire As" feels like a repetitive and weak song in overall. But I think that mostly, the album delivers a quality listen that I probably would've enjoyed for a bit if I had been around during the time this came out. Solid 4/5.

Great example of some of the janglepop albums of the 80s coming from the UK at the time.

Euphoric in its highs and therapeutic at its lows, Prefab is a pretty fab mid-80s gem no longer hidden from me.

Kom á óvart. Fyrri hluti geggjaður en fjarar út

Really nice album that I have no idea how to rate. Sometimes it's cheesy, sometimes it's kinda funky, sometimes it rocks a little bit. It's definitely like, nerdy intelligent 80s pop, like Colour of Spring-era Talk Talk. Well shit, I love that album, so I guess this gets good points as well, even though it's not amazing per se. And sure why not, let's give it a "must-listen" designation -- #87 in my list so far.

light 4

Lovely surprise. Didn't expect to know something from this band but was familiar with atleast 3 songs

This has such memories for me of girls and motors and night drive and beaches and bonfires and parties and tents and hangovers and lie-ins with said girls.

Poppy - Synthy 80's op vibe that I don't hate Appetite - Acoustic is pretty nice Acoustic Versions > Electric

I really liked this. It reminded me a bit of The Smiths without the whining, violent lyrics, and Moz - this was pleasant and polite 80s new wave/rock. 3.5 stars.

Well, I don't know anything about this band but apparently I have listed to I Trawl the Megahertz before. Anyway, this album started to get better and better on the second listen and it's a solid 4 for me. Faves: Faron Young, Appetite

My main point of reference with Prefab Sprout is the track "The King of Rock 'N' Roll" as used in the "Spaced" soundtrack, and this album has some of that sound, but lacks the OTT ridiculous lyrics, perhaps. And that's probably a blessing. I quite liked this - another piece of evidence that I just really really dislike Simply Red in particular, not 80s music more generally. Fave tracks - "Goodbye Lucille #1" amuses me as it makes me think of "Arrested Development" - that chorus might get irritating with more listens, though. "Horsin' Around" maybe comes closest to the kitschy novelty I was expecting - like that lounge vibe. "Desire As" and "When the Angels" are probably the songs I liked the most...

really nice sound! this is another one that i had absolutely no prior knowledge of but really surprised me with how much i liked it. the production is crisp and interesting and not overly dated by 80s synth sound- it actually sounds pretty timeless. the lyrics are also smart and contemplative and i like the lead singer's voice. i also like the electric and acoustic versions of the song equally well, which shows how strong the songs are by themselves and also how smart the production (of both versions!) is. i will definitely be checking out some other albums from this band!

Ed io che ero pronto a dare 2

Fine 80s pop with one or two really good songs. I'm feeling generous

I liked this more than I expected. Very lovely songs.

Sublime

Pretty good

I'd listened to their album Jordan: The Comeback, but not Steve McQueen. I liked this album lot! I can definitely hear the influence on a lot of indie music from the 2000s that I love. And Faron Young immediately brought the Smiths to mind, but then that banjo kicked in. I would love a whole album of that sound. (Also I did not know before, but Faron Young was a country singer/songwriter and has a song called It's Four in the Morning, so the country sound on this song makes more sense now.) I will absolutely be listening to this again.

this been on my list for a minute excited to check it out really like the synths on here. yeah they're pretty dated, egregiously 80s, but they add a lot of pretty texture to the songs, especially on the first 4 tracks. Love the jazzier cuts on here too. great album def gonna get some mileage out of this

Really wanted to enjoy this as have listened to quite alot of dreary dark shit recently. It starts really well with the first 5 tracks excellent upbeat/ jangly 80's pop with clever lyrics and great hooks. It then slows down and gets a bit dull and forgettable. Feeling generous so just squeezes a 4. Best track Faron Young.

Love it!

I reeeally liked this. First time I've heard of "sophisti-pop." It feels almost like this album is the answer to "what if post-punk and new wave were actually good?"

what i found interesting is that almost every song i started off thinking "wow, this one seems a bit underwhelming" but once the chorus hit, i was a bit blown away. great catchy choruses. really clean, pleasant production. vocals are pretty great. just a really nice sounding piece of music. it doesn't approach the level of a favorite, but i still enjoyed the twists and turns and the stellar production.

Pretty enjoyable album. It definitely sounded 80s, but in a very good way. Some of the songs I could have done without, but the good songs are really good.

This is a pretty enjoyable listen. It's difficult to categorize these guys into a genre. Bonnie sounds like it could have been released this year, it's a slapper. Iconic line "I'm turkey hungry, I'm chicken free".

Hot dog, jumping frog, Albuquerque. 8/10

My husband's cousins :-) (huge family, I never met them) If I'd heard the first song on the radio I'd have wondered how there was a Smiths song I didn't know, but I liked the whole album.

“Sophisti-pop” is not a genre label that excited me on first glance, but this is not only sophisticated but also emotive, well-written, and well-produced pop. It’s certainly lacking in edge, but it makes up for it in craft. Best song: Polly

First listen: boring; whatever Second listen: not sure about some of the jazzy instrumentation, but Desire As has a pretty good hook Third listen, after wanting to hear Desire As again: this is actually awesome The sound gives it away here and there, but no way I would have guessed this is from the deep 80s.

Half half, soms beetje saai maar best wat leuke nummers

Pretty good! The last track especially. Let's be generous and rate it above average.

I really like this. Super easy listening. Definitely need to listen to this again. Also there is an acoustic version and it is sooooo good.

I thought this was quite cute! I hope they danced to this in in sepia tones in 1985 :) I....could like this. I think.

Prefab sprout Kinda cool and definitely full of surprises in every song. I Love all the 80’s synth sounds . I liked Faron young, Bonny, when love breaks down, goodbye Lucille, . Least favorites were moving along the River and horsing around.

Liked some of the songs like bonny and when love breaks down. Some of the lyrics/songwriting i wasnt feeling as much. Overall more interesting and enjoyable than most on this list

I liked this! Britpop

gorgeous album!

Not a terribly thrilling album and I am not sure why it has to be in the book. There are some fun songs on here (maybe not "fun" but quality songs) and I really like "Bonny," When Love Breaks Down" and "When the Angels." I feel like I should not have enjoyed this album because of the dour sound and 80's production, plus the album cover would have been awesome if it was tongue-in-cheek...yet I liked it all.

Smooth, suave and sophisticated pop from an unfairly forgotten band. One never loved this lot quite as much as a few friends did back in the day – perhaps they had more refined tastes at that point, but one's come to love this record over the intervening years. Still, it's been a minute since the last full listen and certainly this holds up exceedingly well and feels like a breath of fresh, synthy mid-80s air. Pro tip: don't sleep on China Crisis.

You can tell this was made in the 80s, lol. It’s not really a bad thing though. There’s good tracks here but most of them don’t really do much for me, especially near the end and middle.

I really oddly enjoyed this. Started off strong, and meandered a bit but I still loved all the riffs that I felt were quite modern. 3.5

This is actually quite good. I mean, I wouldn't pay money for it, and I wouldn't go to a concert by them, and I wouldn't recommend it to friends, and I'd probably use the CD for a coaster (if I'd obtained a copy as a gift or marketing campaign, because as I said, I wouldn't pay money for it), and I wouldn't take up storage space on my phone with it, nor would I waste bandwidth by streaming it. But still, this is actually quite good.

Whatever happened to Prefab Sprout? They were huge at one time and Swoon was a triumph. This was almost as good but I think they went off track and disappeared with the 80s. Even so, this is a nostalgic sound and well written and produced.

listened to again man these compositions and chord shapes are elite for such a poppy band

Surprisingly good. Enjoyed it.

Cleansed the palette from the ELP ordeal here. I only knew Prefab Sprout for the King of Rock and Roll, but it's clear that, like so many of their contemporaries in the Scottish 80s scene, they really knew how to write a brilliant pop song. I'll listen to this again and again.

Was very good. Sadly not all about Steve McQueen so a loss of a point 7/10

Conocía When Love Breaks Down.

i liked this , lots of different vibes

Prefab Sprout might be one of the worst sounding band names I’ve come across. I don’t know what it means, but it sounds like it doesn’t taste nice. This led to low expectations of the album, which turned out to be very unfair. This album is really nice. The storytelling was very interesting and enjoyable, and the music itself was catchy throughout. The vocals felt very warming. Honestly, I really just enjoyed this album, despite expecting auditory sprouts.

I found the album to be quite intriguing. After listening to it a couple of times, I noticed that it bears some resemblance to Spandau Ballet. There were three things that particularly caught my interest. Firstly, I believe Paddy McAloon can easily be considered one of the best songwriters of the 80s. Secondly, the lyrics are a joy to behold. Lastly, in typical 80s fashion, the songs seem to avoid moments of silence. Every spot in the songs is filled with additional sound elements such as organs, guitar riffs, panflutes, wind sounds, synth loops, and more. This tends to detract from the great pop songs. However, when I listened to the acoustic versions of these songs, everything fell into place. It was incredible! The power of the songs and songwriting really bloomed. Due to the wall of sound, I would rate the official album 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, I would give the acoustic versions a 5. So, overall, 4 stars.

This was pretty fantastic. I really liked the opener and was hoping for more of that but the rest of the album was very enjoyable. If I'm being real it's probably about a 3.5 but it's going to get a well deserved 4. What a nice find.

I'd listen to this again. These guys are cool. Like Steve McQueen.

I bought this album on vinyl a few years ago on a whim. I liked the cover I think, and some quick research showed it was a cult classic so I picked it up. It’s a solid album front to back, and the lead single When Love Breaks Down is worth 4 stars by itself.

This is some damn good pop, not a bad song on there. Fun instrumentals, the vocals are great, the first few songs especially were incredibly well done. Seen this album around a bunch of times but never gave it a spin, will need to come back to it.

Hot dog, jumping frog, I love cookies.

interesting quirky album, would like to listen some more!

quite good. I liked it.

Iconic album

Love this album Reminds me of mellow misty autumn days.

Wow, a nice discovery this one! Loved the arrangements; definitely one to revisit.

I’m horribly biased against 80’s albums. I just haven’t had an overly positive experience with the decade before my birth decade. Sure there are the exceptions - Michael Jackson and Talking Heads spring to mind. But on the whole, the 80’s sound, the vibe, the musical hallmarks of the decade come across to me as cringy, bordering on boring and insincere Muzak. While this album does, admittedly, very much sound like an 80’s album to my ears, it’s one I can actually get behind. This is a fun album, with varied melodies and arrangements, and not so many synths that I wanted to plug my ears and cry. I even heard guitars! And real drums! Wow Actually though, I did enjoy this. I’m very happy to give it 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 because of how much it surprised me. Standout tracks: Faron Young, Appetite, When Love Breaks Down, Goodbye Lucille #1, When the Angels

Es muy buen proyecto, la musica es llamativa y te invita a bailar. aún asi siento que le faltó algo. 7/10

Amazing songrwiting. El sonido está bien.

Very interesting album from a band that I've never heard of before. Very good sound.

British 80s lite rock. Very nice

Nice!

Wow. Detta gillade jag. Varierad och bra rakt igenom. Mycket skön sångröst. Kommer nog lyssna mer!

Hade inte hört talas om dessa tidigare, så det var en kul överraskning. Tycker det börjar riktigt jäkla bra! Första halvan är det hit efter hit som avlöser varandra. Därefter blir det dock svagare, inte dåligt men lite mer slätstruket. Klar fyra på totalen dock, kommer lyssna mer på dem.

This album was really good. Not usually into things quite this pop-y, but something about the compositions and instrumentation gave it a more of an art rock feel despite it's squeaky-clean pop production. Definitely something I want to listen to again.

Prefab Sprout and this album has been a fun recent discovery. Paddy McAloon is definitely an eccentric figure and an interesting songwriter, in my opinion but I can also understand some of the criticism. I personally enjoy this album but I also want to enjoy it more. The first half is very strong but the second half, while also good, has taken a little more time. What this really represents is a time stamp to a certain era. Fans of Aztec Camera, The Go-Betweens, Blue Nile, and Talk Talk will find much to enjoy here even if the approach to songwriting here might feel needlessly overwhelming. Definitely take some time to listen to the acoustic versions of these songs.

Pleasantly surprised by this, having only previously heard the hits. Was a little concerned by the country-adjacent start to the album (not my kind of thing), but quickly becomes clear that the style is more aligned to guitar-driven power pop. Reminds me of XTC, Jellyfish, Crowded House. Typically pristine 80s pop production. Interesting lyrics. Nice interplay between male lead and female backing vocals. Really great songs. Will definitely listen again and check out more of their stuff.

Kinda jazzy at times. A little bit of a foot tapper. Reminded me of someone else that I just can't quite put my finger on...

One of those British bands that I missed here in the States. Nice sound, jazzy undertones, good writing. Thanks for the introduction!

Unexpected and in a good way. When Love Breaks Down is a great pop song - even with the dated synths it was wonderful. I'm sure I'd heard it before but hadn't ever given it the attention it deserves. Well produced too - nice bass playing, passionate vocals and good tunes.

An elegant and unusual album, a total mood. Dreamy, bittersweet arrangements with hints of a jazz sensibility. The synth elements and use of backing vocals are rich, shimmering and ethereal, giving the songs a really heavenly quality. The back half has a few lesser tracks, but overall, this is such a beautiful listen that has only improved over time. Fave Songs: Goodbye Lucille #1, When Love Breaks Down, Bonny, Appetite, Faron Young, Desire As

This was released the month Maggie was born, so while I was aware of the band and this album I hadn’t ever heard it. Liked it a lot — fine melodies, pleasant lead vocalist (sounds like Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze). Would listen to again.

Magical 80s album that hits all the right spots. Heartfelt tuneful and memorable.

always enjoyed this album. Some pretty catchy hooks.

Bonny is breezy 80s pop rock. I'm liking it. When Love Breaks Down as well. Surprisingly poignant guitars on Goodbye Lucille. Goes a little more avant garde on Horsin' Around and slows down for a few tracks, but still melodic throughout.

Really good songs produced in a charmingly dated way. Being of your time is not a bad thing. 4.4

Really great 80s pop album which holds up well. Absolutely loved 'Appetite' and 'Desire As'

I listened to this one high so it may have impacted the rating.

A good album, I liked When love breaks down, Goodbye Lucille and Desire As the most.

- enjoyable soft rock - really good guitar riffs - the female background vocals are a great touch

4. Never heard of them before, but really enjoeyd the album!

i'm reminded of yacht rock with prefab sprout's steve mcqueen album! that's not to say this album is rock, but the usage of jazz into another genre (rock or new wave, as in this case) gives me this similarity. i wouldn't be upset if i were on a yacht sipping champagne and listening to this album, is what i'm saying. it makes for a charming and easy listen. there isn't a bad song on here. i'm not always struck by lyrics, but i quite enjoyed those on this album. "i believe that sweet talk like candy rots teeth" from "hallelujah" is a cute line. the lyrics in general aren't pushing too hard but remain charming. 3.5, but i'm feeling generous. an enjoyable listen when i wasn't expecting it.

Emerging from the middle of the 1980s like rain breaking through the clouds, Prefab Sprout’s “Steve McQueen” tapped into a melancholy spirit in Thatcher’s Britain. Celebrated as a landmark in sophisti-pop, this second album pairs dense texture with smart, bookish lyrics to great effect. I’ve typically disliked the genre for feeling empty and soulless, but Prefab Sprout strike a solid balance between thoughtful songwriting, pop sensibilities and impressive musicianship. While some of the synths sound a little dated to modern ears (for example, the keys in enduring single “When Love Breaks Down”), Paddy McAloon’s songwriting is charming and enduring. “Faron Young” kicks off proceedings on a surprising note: a rockabilly-tinged track soaked in reverb, banjo and harmonica. There are multiple key-changes as it restlessly pursues a chorus: tight, catchy, smart. It’s also a bit of red herring: if “Faron Young” is Steve McQueen’s thrilling ride downhill, the rest of the album is his motorcycle disappearing into a valley of fog and haze. The sublime “Bonny”, “Appetite” and greatest hit “When Love Breaks Down” feel like melancholy ballads disguising themselves as pop songs, which in turn are disguising themselves as jazz standards. Most tracks boast clever, cryptic lyrics alongside complex harmonic structures: try and master some of those jazz chords, or follow along with what key each song is based in. Above all, then, “Steve McQueen” benefits from extended listening. “Horsin’ Around”, on first listen rambling and uninteresting, has really grown on me: its sudden switch to a jazzy swung section and back is masterful. And “Blueberry Pies” feels underwhelming at first, but has kept drawing me back in from the way it constantly shifts and stammers, ripples of straight-eights interrupting its languid and lazy jazz. But perhaps the biggest standout of all is “Goodbye Lucille #1”, later released as a single under the name “Johnny Johnny”. It boasts a softly stirring verse, perfectly executed build and satisfying climax (marvel at McAloon’s howling vocal and the lead guitar wailing through the outro as the drums burst in). It’s taken a while to win me over, but I’m glad I stuck with it: this is really good stuff. My casual picks today are often my favourites tomorrow, so here’s to many more years of “Steve McQueen”…

5/11, 45%

This is a very Thomas Dolby sounding album. I get he produced it but it’s hard to hear Prefab Sprout in it. I love Dolby so I’m not complaining. But I’d like to have heard this without him.

Nice

This proto-indie record has four very good singles, Goodbye Lucielle, Bonny, Appetite and the best song on the album - When Love breaks down. It's produced by Thomas Dolby and he does an exemplary job of it too, really lovely indeed. This is a very strong 3.5 that I'm rounding up.

Really enjoyable tracks with relaxing melodies.

Faron Young is a bit of fun, but not my total vibe. Appreciate the banjo play. Very decent pop country-ish track. Bonny is wonderful. All the songs up to When Love Breaks Down are fantastic. Goodbye Lucille #1 floored me. I got sad. I felt the way you do when you need to get over someone. Rough, in a good way. Will have on repeat for a while. Hallelujah is a bit more cultured lyrically. Fancier bass fills. Guitar playing is great. The piano is great too. Feels like more of a jam track. Clearly, all the bigger hits are on side A, haha. Moving the River. Interesting "see me, mum and dad, I'm all grown up now" track. Jovial enough with a smidge of bittersweetness at childhood being over. Struggling to be an adult and keeping up with the things that are set in motion. Horsin' Around. Trying to be a bit Jazzier. Pretty fun. This band is fun. They like their words and duets. It works. The brass in this track is great, it gives the track an energy that bounces around. Bass Solo at the end with big stabs! A great surprise! Desire As. Luscious, sonically. Moody and a little pained. Very dreamy. "I've got 6 things on my mind, you're no longer one of them. It's perfect as it stands, so why then crush it in your perfect hands? Desire as a sylph-figured creature who changes her mind" I'll say this: Christ, help the man who wrote this at that moment! Blueberry Pies is fun. Came and went. When the Angels. It's a bass riff, but it came and went. Lovely, lovely album. The sad songs are the best. It has to be said. Will probably become a lifetime favourite. Some tracks are up there with Spandau Ballet's best IMO. Goodbye Lucille #1 is my favourite of them all. 4/5 stars.

I liked it

So good

Based on the first song I thought Steve McQueen was going to be more country rock than it ended up being. The fact that it ended up being a collection of really good mid eighties synth was a pleasant surprise. I’ll definitely come back to it. Best tracks: Bonny, Appetite, When Love Breaks Down, Desire As

Never listened to them before but the name sounds vaguely familiar. I really enjoyed this. It touches on a lot of genres I like, like indie rock, electropop, etc. It's a bit wordy and intellectual but without sacrificing pop catchiness. Definitely going to listen to them more.

wow, so glad to be introduced to this one, great tunes and words, deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as smiths, bunnymen, et al

Nice

This album surprised me. A lot of depth to the lyrics and the production. The Little interpolation of Gershwin in 'Hallelujah' was a special delight. Goodbye Lucille #1 and Horsin' Around are particular highlights. Not really my normal style, but definitely a good example of 80s Britpop, and I am surprised I hadn't heard anything on it before. 4/5

i was surprised by this was - very nice overall vibe to it, smooth vocals and great mood

Honestly enjoyed this but it couldn’t maintain the energy of the first few songs

Really enjoyed this. Never heard of them before so it was a pleasant surprise.

An unexpected treat. Lovely song writing with lush, crisp, 80s styled production and gorgeous breathy backing vocals. It's a bit front loaded, but from an incredibly high base - the first 5 tracks are perfection. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: When Love Breaks Down Date listened: 25/08/23

Love the bosinova feel to some of these tracks Fav song: Horsin’ Around

What a freaking nice find

I'd say this is a bit of a weird album. It continuously found ways to catch me off guard and surprise me. The background vocals were always a nice touch. I quite liked it. My favourite song was Horsin' Around.

I had never heard of Prefab Spout and thought this was gonna be a weird 80s alt-country album after “Faron Young” but was very pleasantly surprised by the rest of the album’s cool, groovy jazzy rock. It made me want to sit on a rooftop patio and sip champagne and I’m glad I kept trucking through the album. “Bonny” in particular I thought was really strong and “Horsin’ Around was a beautiful prescient tribute to Bojack Horseman. This isn’t my favorite genre or vibe of music but definitely the best of these 1001 albums I’ve heard so far

This album intrigued me. It had a different sound but I enjoyed it.

Any album that has something as brilliant as "When Love Breaks Down" is essential in my mind. What you have is some of the most beautiful, quirky and enduring British pop music ever made. Paddy McAloon the band leader has to be one of the finest songwriters of the eighties and this album his masterpiece.

Like the mix between jazz/pop, lots of harmonising that worked well throughout the album, liked the work on the keyboard to make the dreamy tone.

One of those albums that I never heard about before but turned out to be a smash. Steve McQueen is a fascinating journey that takes you to through a riveting collection of emotions with its harmonies and tones. It makes you fell like home, an 80s home, even for first time Prefab Sprout listeners like me.

80s as anything but really solid stuffbin here. You have to be in a certain mood I think to enjoy but I was and I did

hmm, really unsure. enjoy it, but apart from the first song i don't really connect with the record. objectively good tho 3.5

Discovered this album about a month ago and had been really enjoying it, was wondering in the back of my mind if it would show up on this list. Had never heard of it before and thought that despite not having a huge legacy, there was some really strong pop songwriting. Maybe I need to do some more reading on it, but this definitely feels like a solid and possibly under-sung piece of 80s indie pop. Strong three and a half. Fave track: Faron Young

This is fantastic. Sure, it's the 1980s and it's pop. But I hear synthesizer sounds and production ideas here that contemporary weirdos like Alex G and Oneohtrix Point Never have very much kept alive today. The songwriting is nuanced and excellent. And the solo-acoustic, 2006 versions are every bit as stunning. The 7-minute version of "Desire" especially.

This was great, I really enjoyed. The songwriting really surprised me! 4/5

8/10, muy buen comienzo pero decae notablemente en las ultimas tres canciones.

8/10 super cool! I probably would’ve liked this more if George Michael made it, but it’s still a really solid album

Surprisingly pleasant, very light, with a lot of great melodies. Toes the line between "light and interesting" and not, and occasionally trips over that line ("Horsin' Around" being the notable example). Favorite tracks: "Faron Young", "Appetite", "Desire As"

"Steve McQueen" was a commercial success, reaching number 21 on the UK Albums Chart, and it remains one of Prefab Sprout's most beloved works. From the opening track "Faron Young" to the closing ballad "Horsin' Around", "Steve McQueen" is a very good album that never fails to keep you invested. The album's standout track, "When Love Breaks Down", is a beautiful love song that features lead singer Paddy McAloon's warm and emotive vocals. The vocal set is indeed a very big highlight whilst listening to this. The album's production is also very good, with a mix of acoustic and electronic instrumentation that creates a unique sound. The songs are cleverly crafted and lyrically rich, with themes that range from love and heartbreak to Hollywood glamour and existentialism. It’s a beautiful record that I heavily recommend you check out.

Charmingly crafted pop songs, Prefab Sprout have a gentle way about them but less admirable for it.

Had never head of this band or any of their songs and found myself pretty pleasantly surprised. Bonny is an immediate standout and has been stuck in my head all day. A good lazy Sunday album to put on. 3.5/5

I don't know why, but I've never listened to Prefab Sprout until now. I may have had a preconceived opinion of the band without hearing them thinking they were another boring Brit-Pop band. From the first track until the end I was pleasantly surprised they sounded good and I ended up enjoying the album. A solid record that isn't stuck in one genre or style and overall a fun and interesting listen. On the bonus disc, I appreciated the acoustic versions of the songs that really showcase the strength of the songwriting.

This was interesting. I kind of liked it but it wasn't love

Yes

I had not heard this band before. I see that they were never big in the US (which doesn't mean necessarily mean anything). But this is good pop/rock. Especially given the state of pop and rock in the mid-'80s. It was pretty abysmal, with the music either being too poppy (Paula Abdul??) or the rock was mostly big hair bands. This is good stuff. Based 100% on sound, I'd only give it 3.5, but that's just because there's now a lot more music like this, but given when it came out, it's four stars.

Me encantó, pero, por alguna razón, cuando lo digo "no me la creo". Lo disfruto mucho, pero al mismo tiempo no lo "siento". Es muy difícil describir lo que siento por este álbum y, aunque me gustaría poder decir que eso es bueno, me hace sufrir por hacerme dudar. A pesar de esto, cuando lo analizo, tiene todo lo que quisiera en un álbum, por eso le doy 4 incluso si no puedo apreciarlo como me gustaría

Good album

Didn't know this band and this album came as a nice surprise. Album has it's ups and downs, but overall quite fun with some surprising elements

Not a genre of music I often seek out, but when I do it's always a pleasant listen. Never heard of this band before, but thoroughly enjoyed my time discovering them.

4.0

This was a happy discovery. I had never heard this group, but I quite liked the vibes of each song and the interesting lyrics. It wasn't a surprise that Thomas Dolby was involved with this album, because he was always a favorite of mine back in the day.

Liked it better the second time through. Listening on headphones revealed layers that weren't obvious on speakers. Feels like it would benefit from repeated exposure.

I really enjoyed this - it was a lot of fun! Some really good playing going on, some pretty catchy lyrics.

ok

Great stuff

Never heard of this band before, and I was a little skeptical that I would enjoy it after seeing the decade and type of music that it was. I hate hate 1980's pop/new wave with a passion, BUT this album was a huge surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed it song to song, there wasn't really one that I didn't like. Ok Prefab Sprout, ok.

7/10 - Nice background music

Thoughtful, non cheesy ⁸⁰s pop

Brilliant album.

Majestic pop. Clever, erudite, smooth and catchy. Like Steely Dan through a UK 80s wine bar with a disco floor.

My husbands thinks it is 5 star. I don’t.

Quite good, aggressively 80s. I didn't feel this when listening for the first time so I gave it another listen just before rating it and getting my next album. Second time around, sitting down on a gloomy Sunday and listening with proper headphones instead of a bad car stereo, I really appreciated this a lot more. Well written and instrumented for sure. Still not massively my thing but I appreciate it. Favourite: Faron Young

Side B lets the album down but some brilliants tracks on side A

I like this album a lot, but it does start to drag toward the end. Great jazzy pop sound though!

An enjoyable and upbeat album

This is ADVANCED elevator music. This is elevator music for that elevator that takes you to the elevator dimension, where people speak in riddles and the sky is green and it rains sideways. Just to be clear, those are words of praise.

Conocía When Love Breaks Down.

Prefab Sprout are a very me kind of band bit I've never got much further than the greatest hits. I know this record is lauded and I've listened quite a few times over the years, without loving it. It's good, but not as great as I hoped. Underlined by the fact that despite listening several times again the best song is on the greatest hits: when love breaks down.

Surprisingly good album and kinda of sounds like Culture Club at times. "Bonny" was my favorite on the album. 7/10.

Interesting vibes, slower and calmer than pop and kind of dreamy.

Love this sound. Ideally a 4.5

Jazz sprinkles.

Liked it. Listened on my head phones and thought it was well recorded. Liked the bass player a lot.

80s new wave pop with a nice twist; very enjoyable listen Thomas Dolby stellar production Enjoyed the sways in subj material (infidelity in horsin around, lust in appetite, regret in Bonny); liked the album a lot

fabulous example of 80s pop. definitely will listen to the songs on this album for a long while! highlights: bonny, appetite, when love breaks down, hallelujah, when the angels

Ovo je kultni album ali ga iz nekog razloga nisam slušao😄

Very good pop album actually, definitely see what Destroyer was going for 👍

This album was a solid 80s pop and new wave album. I noticed tinges of country in the backbeat in several places. The production by Thomas Dolby, is incredibly layered and brings out the idiosyncrasies in the songwriting.

hidden gem. loved it and had never heard of the band before

You look at the album see it’s cover and year and immediately want to give it a 1/5 however that would be serving a huge injustice… Firstly I really dig this albums vibe. It’s kinda cheesy but it’s also intelligent. Like new wave with a jazz flavour. Almost in the general area of music as the style council but actually good. It has a very strong first half and I’ll always stand by the fact that Faron Young in particular is such a cool song (though it’s very different from the rest of the tracklist). And that appetite is a perfect pop song. But this album is one of the only albums more front loaded than hot fuss by the killers. Sure side 2 has good tracks like horsin around and when the angels but I don’t think anyone could make the argument that desire as and blueberry pies are the same level of quality as Bonnie or when love breaks down. Also unrelated to the album I think the lead singer will become Santa. 4/5

Definite vibes from this one.

For some reason me and my friend Tara, the guitar player in our jazz band, got ahold of this album back in the day. We were in the most whitebread suburban part of middle America but we sure dug Prefab Sprout. Made our own t-shirts using my brand new Macintosh. Being in high school in the 80's was pretty much the best .

First one of these new wave albums I finished in a while. OK GO vibes at spots.

började som en fyra men föll lite platt mot slutet. dom fyra första låtarna är kanon

4-, unique style, I like it

Some 80s VH1 vibes

Muito bom.

Likable and sweet. Needs more spinns.

What at first sounds like a typical 80s pop record is actually full of long, complex songs and excellent lyrics. Styles don't change, but shift, from track to track and the music explores a lot of sonic ground.

Beautiful album, easily the best of Prefab Sprout

Now who doesn't love the McAloon Bros! Their lyricism and pure pop approach has so many facets (Some tongue in cheek of course. Spoiler Alert: I Prefer Jordan-The Comeback, to this Album but it still ahs a lot of positives. Love the Title Track and "Faron Young" which is a great opener. Absolute favourite on this album though is "Horsin' Around" which in my opinion shows the bands strengths in both songwriting and musicianship. (echoes of Steely Dan methinks!) Great Album rightfully on the list.

Great jazz-inspired rock album

I liked it

De va swag fr

Really pretty. I dig the sound

Ägde

Double up

Very entertaining. The first five tracks on the album are super strong, though they have a heavily produced 80's feel with a bunch of sounds that would be in an ABC video. It tapers off a bit at the end, but really enjoyable.

I bought my copy second hand and it came from the library of a radio station (not sure which). They labelled the album with \"Mellow, contemporary, soft rock\". Which is kind of apt when you think about it. Paddy McAloon is a genius song writer since re-discovering Prefab Sprout through my wife, I have always wondered why they weren't bigger.

3.75

lighthearted dreamy synthpop Elvis Costello

7/10. Felt somewhere between Elvis Costello and the Police… Pretty good.

At its best it’s clever and jazzy, at its worst it’s whiny and repetitive. Overall a decent listen. 7/10

Clever lyrics, interesting harmonies.. unexpectedly fun

Based on The King of Rock and Roll, I was expecting to hear more New Wave-influenced pop, but I enjoyed the more atmospheric pop ballads as well. Thanks to my late English friend David for introducing me to Prefab Sprout a few years back.

Excellent songwriting, great lyrics, fantastic performances from the musicians. Honestly, the biggest thing holding this back from 5 stars for me is that it can feel very dated in the 80s at times. But damn, it is a rock solid album.

Bland 80s pop, but it begins to shake that on the backend in favor of stuff with a little more variety and soul.

Never heard of 'em. Why do I love this? It's not really grabbing me but... everything is perfect at the same time? I listened to this three times yesterday. Can't believe I've never heard any of this. I kept expecting their hit to play and it never came.

Tricksy, whimsical, luminous - manages to be sophisticated but there are pop hooks all over the place. There's a dizzying array of influences on display here, from Harold Arlen to Squeeze; and I would wager that a couple of guys in Jellyfish had this album. Lovely stuff!

Band names are so fun. All the words, in all the languages and these dudes landed on Prefab Sprout. Nothing else would do. Had to be Prefab Sprout. Ha. There’s nothing about this album that sounds anything remotely like whatever it is the name Prefab Sprout conjures in my head… and yet, yeah, a lot of this is pretty good! Who are these Sprouts? Why have I never heard or seen a word about this band anywhere ever? Band names. God bless ‘em.

Really liked this album!

Very good, never fantastic tho so no 5 star.

Muy bello.

No mistaking the decade … 18 when this came out … and I liked them then …some great pop tunes … some beautiful writing … I do struggle with the production massive reverb over everything … ultimately gets in the way for me

lighting mcqueen would be happy!

I listened to the Legacy edition & the US bonus tracks, enjoyed it, maybe the acoustics moreso. Very reminiscent of a casual outdoor playlist, just having part of the album on in the background outside. Reminded me of Dire Straits meets David Gilmour

This was a pleasant surprise of an album. Sophisti-pop creme with just the right touches of jangle pop and new wave. Bonny and When Love Breaks Down were the standout tracks, but the first half of the album is fantastic.

Great, feelings, emotions, love.

Surprisingly good album. All the tracks have a nice casual swag about them. You could set this album on repeat and go about your business very contently. It really is a pleasant album to listen to in almost any situation. 4 Stars!

Loved this album when it first came out and love it still.

Holy enjoyment, Batman! An album with a jangle pop inflection that I actually enjoy? What a marvel... This record has a lot of stellar things going for it, from the genuinely fun songwriting to the delivery of the band. The drums and bass lines do exactly what they need to do without sounding flat or invisible, the flourish of guitar and synths give the songs great personality, and Paddy McAloon on vocals is a genuinely pretty good singer. All in all, this is an easy album for me to enjoy, though the slower songs didn't quite capture me. Either way, a great album!

Some great songs

Este disco me lo compré en el viaje de fin de estudios del instituto. Ha sido agradable volverlo a escuchar. Las mejores para mí: Faron young, Bonny, When love breaks down, Goodbye Lucille #1 y para terminar When the angels. Un grupo inglés que sonaba a ratos como americano y que realmente tenían unas voces impresionantes. Totalmente recomendable.

Never heard of these guys. I enjoyed it for the most part. Very 80s with a hint of new wave.

Bängeri? Skön pop. Låter som om det inte sku vara något jag gillar men på något sätt så funkar de bara

Riktigt bra!

Sonorités modernes malgré l'âge de l'album, des paroles originales et ambiances planantes par moments!

it was such good british 80s pop. all around such a fun listen

A ghostly yet warm experience of beautiful storytelling. Some ambitious and catchy songs. However, latter half of the album develops into a cringey 80s sitcom dozefest.

Catchy, nice 80s pop/rock. I dig it.

strong start, weaker finish. some nice 80s pop, catchy and fun

Surprisingly good 80s pop, no standout songs but overall a enjoyable album

Totally not what I expected from the cover. Soft and sensual, yet still packing a punch with some songs.

A total classic. One of the best live albums of all time.

some of this is peak pop

Great punk album, really enjoyable listen!

Pretty good british synth/jazz pop. 9/10

Okay album.

Strong vibes and interesting lyrics will come back to this.

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

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

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.

Decent listen.

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

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

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

(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 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.

It's alright, pretty catchy songwriting!

really felt like a midway point between the smiths and britpop

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?

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

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.

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

Not bad

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Better than expected but also quite nondescript

When Love Breaks Down //

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

cute but could've been better

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

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.

Bang Average

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.

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

Not bad, some super cheesy lyrics at times but catchy

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

I enjoyed these sweet pop songs.

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.

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

it was ok