Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Che noiaaaaaaa
p534. 1985. 1 star. Weedy, pretentious, soulless 80s UK hipster pop. Wants to be The Style Council but lacks any edge and tunes. Extra point deducted for the stupid band name.
It wasn't particularly bad, but it was just kind of boring and a bit... ok, it was a little bit bad. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Bonny Rating: 2
This was a pretty good find. Another great 80s Art Pop and New Wave album that I hadn’t checked out before. It has a wonderful nostalgic and reflective quality, paired with smooth and polished lush production. An added bonus is that it was produced by Thomas Dolby.
I almost forgot to get to this today. It's pretty good. Smart lyrics, tight production. Starts very strong, declines
Amazing album. Once, even flow, alive, Jeremy, garden
This is my first Prefab Sprout album, and it was decent to listen to. None of these tracks blew me away, but I heard some sax solos as required by 80s pop music. I might listen again. Average
It was decent jangly 80s music. Nothing special.
Você pode deixar esse álbum tocando de fundo, em looping, sem incomodar ou despertar o interesse de qualquer pessoa. Inclusive, eu estou na metade dele e não reparei até agora nenhum momento que uma música acabou e outra começou, não consigo dizer se já se passaram 2 ou 20 músicas. Uma dos álbuns menos memoráveis que já ouvi.
It was promising at first. There were interesting melodies at some places and the vocals are not as annoying as I expected. Still, it turned out to be boring overall. Never trust a "sophisti pop" album I guess. That genre name sounds so pretentious I get a knee jerk reaction everytime I read it.
Começa insosso para cada vez ficar mais chato.
Great album, wasn't aware of the high craftmanship of pop music on this record. Pleasant surprise.
It’s fine, decent background music.
3.5
This feels like a British version of Bruce Springsteen. but like sadder and less interesting. which is a talent.
Synthesizer-Pop with whiny lead vocals, sappy backup vocals and piano rhythms.
The band name is so cool I had high expectations. Their music? Perfectly fine. Pleasant. I’m not going to remember it half an hour from now.
Cheese, not the tasty kind
Per the top-rated review: "When people say they don't understand this album, or that it's "too 80's", what they really mean is that they have never felt soaring, impossible limerance... their lives have been absent of love and loss" Hey, that's mean. My life's had some loss. Still a pretty good album though. 3/5 Key tracks: Bonny, When Love Breaks Down, Moving The River
feelgood experience
It has a kind of 70s sound that I feel was lost in the following decade amidst so many synthesizers and metallic instruments. I'm not saying the 80s sound is bad, just different. But there are some cases where an artist manages to bring back some 1970s aspect to the contemporary sound in an excellent mix. Good examples of this are the albums that Fleetwood Mac released in the 80s: Mirage (1982) and Tango in The Night (1987). And today I just discovered another excellent example. And once again I ask myself: where was I all this time that I never heard of these guys? Prefab Sprout managed to bring to Steve McQueen the musical essence from two different decades, without hiding the fact that it was released in 1985, all bathed in a top quality pop sound. Besides, it's been a while since I've heard of an album with a name as badass as that, seriously, even I wanted to be called Steve McQueen! That's it: I loved it!
Conocía When Love Breaks Down.
Hmm - starts out as one thing, and ends up sounding totally different. It’s okay but nothing more - and definitely not as interesting as other 80’s pop bands from Britain
Interesting mix of songs
Epically 80’s. Couple decent songs. Nothing that would amount to a great album.
Sick album artwork. The album at times feels like a poor Smiths.
This is very bland.
6/10
Sophisti pop genius.
Ymmärrystä ei ollut TARPEEKSI.. siinä se... ei riittänyt..
We enjoyed.
i liked this , lots of different vibes
I don't really like it
OK
There are so many cool impressive little things going on in this album. Unfortunately it didn't grab me. But I'll admit, I was continually impressed while waiting and waiting to make my own great escape. I'll probably listen again and end up liking it more. There are individual moments I really like, especially on the track Faron Young. I felt like I was being led into one musical trope, buy they would weave it beautifully into another, and yet another, over and over. Pretty cool. Lots of what seemed like unexpected and complex chord progressions too. I love it when music gives me hints to go listen to other music. Be it the lyrics, liner notes, a sample, a riff, whatever. I like the invitation to explore something I didn't know about. I did not know of Faron Young and will certainly be checking out the song "It's Four in the Morning". I gave it another spin and I definitely enjoyed it more the second time around. What a great sounding record. I'd love to listen to the non-remastered version sometime. I usually don't like remastered copies. Also, the deluxe version or whatever it's called on goes straight into disc two on streaming services. That's not the end of the word, but the album ending on the fade out of "When The Angels" is a nice place to end it. That Faron Young song was pretty good too.
I like this more than a 3, but less than a 4.
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.
Not great, not terrible
Not entirely sure what this album is. Bossonova, RnB, jazz? Lots of 80s textures throughout. The lyricism is pretty basic as well. Not sure I needed this and I will probably not be coming back for more.
Si bien en algunos temas los 80 se notan bastante, hay unas canciones que salvan a este disco y, uno piensa, lo hacen merecer estar en esta lista. Bonny es una buena canción, Appetite también.
The sound of this album reminded me a bit of Haircut 100, which was one of the early items that I got on this list. Unfortunately, this album feels a lot more generic than that one did. It's fine and fun in its way, but it was harmed by making me think of albums that I actually enjoyed 3/5
From every note to every emote this is one of the greatest albums ever created. The lyrical dexterity, the songs built on melody and complex chord structure and Thomas Dolby's peak as a producer. Paddy McAloon is one of the greatest songwriters these isles have produced. This is one of the great albums of all time. I got to it by chance - I won a competition for 4 tickets to the gig in Stoke that evening. Me and my mate went. I still have the other two tickets. Wendy was ill. It didn't matter, I was introduced to some sort of genius.
Alright
Fantastically produced and a delight to listen to. Side 1 is banger after banger!
First track gave me the wrong impression that this album was gonna be a good time.
Not bad but also not for me. 2.5/5
I wasn’t expecting much but initially it sounded better than expected. By the end of listening to the entire album I was more than ready for it to end. A lot of the 80’s music for me has not aged well at all. All the cheesy synthesizers and electronic drum sets are pretty rough.
Wow, that was a pleasant surprise. I've never heard of this group or any of the songs so I didn't know what to expect. It gives off this mid 80s UK sofisti-pop vibe but with an American bike on the cover so you know it's not too soft and there are some country influences on it. It's very sweet though, especially the parts with the female harmonies scattered across the album (one of my favorite features of this whole thing). The first side is very strong with Bonny, When Love Breaks Down and Goodbye Lucille #1 as my favorites. Sadly, the second part is very repetitive and there are no more memorable tracks. It doesn't go anywhere further but tries to repeat the same motifs used at the beginning and fails. I still enjoy it and listened to the whole thing several times. I just wish it went somewhere different on the second side. 3.5/5
This reminds me of Steely Dan, in that it is very shit. Bland, boring, over-produced uninspired and uninspiring pop pap. A limp dick of an album.
Interesting record, might have to come back and revisit sometime to pick out some of the details. Kind of seriously unserious?
That was delightful and being added to the permanent collection
Excellent
Another band I've known the name of forever but never sought out - recognised Appetite and a couple of other tracks. Nice pop songs, didn't mind this at all
Back to obscurity please
This one really failed to grasp much attention from me, and I hate to say that given how much of a sucker I am for 80s pop, but it just didn't do it for me.
Steve McQueen would not approve
nette britische Hintergrundmusik - absolut ohne Highlight, und austauschbar sowieso.
Am Anfang geht es ja rockig los, doch dann verliert sich das Album immer mehr in den 80er und packt mich nicht.
Meh
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 don’t know, this shit was pretty boring to me.
This was amazingly generic. It was like everyone iin the 80’s gave this band their worst songs.
Whoever put this list together has such a hard on for 80s British indie. The problem with this record, is that it definitely has the elements of the indie music that was going on at the time but it really is more of a pop album. I guess not even a little bit, its totally a pop album. It just "sounds" like indie rock. It "sounds" like The Stone Roses or The Cure, but it doesn't have the heart and soul of those bands. From a musical standpoint, its fine. Kind of cheesy love songs and kind of kind of cheesy lyrics.
I'd listen to this again. These guys are cool. Like Steve McQueen.
Some jangle pop gems, some sophisti-pop snoozers
I know Prefab Sprout from their 2003 album "I trawl the megahertz" which is one of my favorite albums of all time. I just didn't look into more of their discography because I wasn't expecting anything similar. So now finally got a chance to listen to this, I do think they have unique sound, eventhough this wasn't my favorite, still quite enjoyable
Quite nice pop but vocally and musically nothing inspiring and little individuality of the group. Sounds partly like The Style Council
Good this is pure shit!! It’s all what a nightmare album could be: long, cheesy, dumb, and with awful lyrics. Glad to see that the overall rate confirms all of these despite that clownish first review.
Wasn’t a bad album! Would I listen again? Probably not.
Pretty good in headphones
The blandness was a bit too strong on this one
Fairly unremarkable
Why?
This evokes The Cure for me without some of the highs or the lows. It's all fine. I'm giving it three stars, but it's a pretty soft three stars. Ultimately not crazy about this, but I don't mind it.
Really solid music a la 80’s
Not an album I'm familiar with, but man you can hear the influence this album would have from track 1. Really interesting rock album that feels ahead of its time. Even some of the more 'standard' 80s rock songs have really interesting production, melody shifts, just more engaging than a lot of stuff that came out around that time. 3/5
I like the cover picture of the Album. Nice motorcycle
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.
This could not be less appealing to me. I found it to be really, hilariously sappy smooth. I don’t get this album’s significance at all.
This album is just a bunch of nothing. I listened to it yesterday and now, at 8am this morning, I can barely remember anything about it. It left absolutely no impression whatsoever. It is a bowl of non-flavored yogurt. It is a lukewarm glass of water.
Hot dog, jumping frog, I love cookies.
It’s got some really beautiful guitar parts and a couple really enjoyable tracks, but—maybe because it’s just so much longer than most albums—there are also some kind of mid, boring elevator music mixed in.
Decent, I liked it. Not life-changingly good, but a decent bit of 80s pop.
Bit too 80s
Cheesemongers gather For your pure stinky cheddar It’s all you can eat
Mid
Found it to be a very average pop rock album. Had good vibes though.
Thats ok , kinda Boring
Pretty average, trending down. Hasn’t aged well.
Jaunty is a word that comes to mind.
not bad or anything but i just don't like it
I really enjoyed this album. Like soft indie or something like that.
I know I’m being hyperbolic here, but all 80s pop music stinks.
I'd never heard of Prefab Sprout before yesterday, but this is about as 80's synth/jazz Brit pop as you can get. Tons of love ballads, love lost ballads, and emotional 80's bops on this album. It's not the worst, but I don't think I'd revisit it.
Can't help but notice that.This seems like a precursor to all of the indie dream.Pop that.I listen to from like the early two thousands and two thousand tens
interesting quirky album, would like to listen some more!
quite good. I liked it.
Decent
This is a strange one. I really liked the opening, but it just got progressively more grating with every track. By the time I got to "Horsin' around" everything from the lyrics and phrasing, to the lazy latin inspired drumming, and the feel changes, seemed almost custom designed to be as anoying as possible to me personally. Then "Desire As" started. I did not enjoy this.
Iconic album
Found it a bit bland to be honest. 2.5 stars
Very on point 80s synth rock. The first song is a bit strange but from Bonny onward it’s a smooth laidback album. Lots of 80s samplers and synths being used for that classic feel. The lead singer is cheesy sounding but decent. Pretty mid though. It’s not a fantastic album like aja but not the worst. I wouldn’t hear this again front to back. Probably just the hits I like. Desire as is very peaceful sounding. It ends on a nice note as well just a weird beginning. Highlights: Bonny Hallelujah Desire As When the Angels Sing
Irgendwir eine Mischung aus Spandau Ballet und Johnny Hates Jazz Unaufgeregter 80 pop. Bestes Goodbuy Lucille Worst: Hallelujah, Blueburry Pies
Love this album Reminds me of mellow misty autumn days.
Wow, a nice discovery this one! Loved the arrangements; definitely one to revisit.
Generic 80s
big shrug
Didn't need to be that long
Pillow music.
Having listened to the entire album, I'm beginning to think that 80s "sophisti-pop" lacks force and emotion. The musicianship here is good, but the songs don't have any real bite. I'm okay with jazzy, but not if it's bland.
I had never heard of this band before today. I would like it if I never hear of them after today. I used to work at a gaudy woman's clothing store when I was a teenager in the 80's. Bands like this and Shakespeare's Sister and poor man's versions of Richard Marx and Howard Jones would play in the background. It drove me crazy day after day. There was a lot of this background, one step away from MUZAK, easy listening garbage in the 80s. The world is better now that people don't make it anymore.
Okokok
An album that is hard to pin down, both on the outside and the inside, is a tricky thing to pull off well, as a poor mix of styles can cause an album to feel distracted, while the vague image presented on the cover can lead the listener to think of many genres before something like sophisti-pop comes to mind. So, with that initial run down, you may expect just another longue-y new wave run with perhaps some rock roots due to its leather clad, motorbike riding cast of characters. What you get, however, is far more fascinating, with those jazz infused keyboards and sleek guitar riffs being assuredly sophisticated, but that Thomas Dolby production leads the record to be far more in depth, with great, moving musical passages, more change-ups in some tracks than some twenty minute prog masterpieces, and just a consistency between each track that can always make you dance and sway with the best of them, and sure those Dire, Dire Docks-ass sound font may be cheesy, but do you really care when you're being carried into 80s pop bliss in a way every other album from the era can only dream of achieving. It narrowly avoids cheesy and is instead incredibly endearing, and Paddy McAloon's vocals benefit it even more so. It's more lush, more passionate, and more thoughtful than its contemporaries, and with the very underrated Horsin' Around being like the perfect bittersweet odyssey to really carry the B-side to the finish line after an amazing A-side and let the listener ride the last three tracks off the highs it produced makes it easily one of my favorite songs from the era. It may feel like bona fide 80s gleam, but for one of the few times in musical history, that is certainly not a bad thing.
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.
I will never get that time back from listening to that album.
Timeless mix and arrangement tricks during the bridge/outro of Faron Young. Captivating vocal performance on Bonny. Convincing delivery with every word. Appetite's bass-line is the driving force in what was a refreshing change of pace. BGV in the bridge panning left to right, but fade into a guitar as they enter the right field - very hooky use of panning. Love breaks down let me down. Felt like the bases were loaded, and the chorus was about to stamp an iconic moment of musicianship into this album. The track quickly fell into mediocrity. The rest of the album followed suit. Never a standout moment. Swing and a miss in my opinion.
not sure where this falls on the scale. Not bad and some catchy tunes.
Very interesting album from a band that I've never heard of before. Very good sound.
Innocuous.
Cheesy eighties schmaltz. The first song sounded a bit cowpunky right at the end and I got excited it might improve, but that was the high point of the album.
British 80s lite rock. Very nice
I liked the music much more than the lyrics. I can't tell if - depending on the song - the lyrics are terrible or just corny. But, I have a soft spot for 80s pop, and even though I've never heard of this band, nor any of their hits, I enjoyed it for what it was.
Music was typical mellow synth pop. Not bad
Nice!
Wasn't a fan then, haven't grown on me
Some well crafted sophisto-synth-pop on here. I really can’t tell if it takes itself seriously or not though. Is it done with a good sense of fun or are they a bunch of pretentious wankers? Does it matter? I’m going a high 3.
Pleasantly surprised. 3.5
Nothing wrong with it really, but a bit banal. Not one I'll revisit.
Pretty nice, bit of country chill music
Meh, there was one song I liked, so this album didn't really work for me.
This strikes me as wholly unremarkable 80's pop rock.
Tracks one and two held so much promise. By the midpoint I thought the sound was very familiar. By the end I switched over to Elvis Costello to confirm my suspicion. Whether Prefab Sprout was trying to mimic (the true) Elvis's style or not, I don't know. What I do know is that, while I appreciate the attempt, I am good with the original. The opening two tracks reminded me of The Libertines, which is why it was so promising.
The only thing memorable about this album is that I thought Steve McQueen was singing the entire time. This is as middle of the road as it comes. I only give out 1s to offensively bad music, usually I get why it’s on the list though. but it’s almost offensive this is on this list 4.1/10
3.5
pre-fab, no doubt, kind of a blur? 3 stars.
klingt typisch für 1985. Angenehm zu hören.
It's . . . fine. I remember this being boring to me in the 80's, that hasn't changed.
Har bara lyssnat på Andromeda Heights från - 97 och gillade den. Paddy McAloon har en behaglig röst och gillar den i kombo med mjuk pop. Lyssnade på jobbet och man tappar lätt bort sig i låtarna. Lite samma men behagligt.
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.
Really didn't care for this one. Seems too aligned with blue eyed soul and brit pop-ish. I don't care at all for either. 1.49.5
Favourite songs: Bonny, Appetite, When Love Breaks Down Least favourite songs: Hallelujah, Horsin' Around, Blueberry Pies 2/5
Very easy listening.
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.
I didn’t pick up on any particular sound or theme to this album. Admittedly, I listened to it A couple songs at a time rather than straight through, which is what I typically do. I didn’t dislike the music, but didn’t pick up on anything worthy musically, vocally, or lyrically.
Really enjoyed "Steve McQueen" from Prefab Sprout, and thought that musically - is was really next-level 80's pop... Most 80's bands - no matter how popular, were sort of basic level pop from a musical perspective, while this album was much more sophisticated musically... The album starts out incredibly strong - with "Faron Young", "Bonny, and "Appetite" - as I kept hearing hints of The Smiths in their music - which is quite a compliment... This was also a pretty diverse album musically, so I appreciate them playing around with that experimentation, as it was really well-done... The album lost a little steam as it went on, but the musicianship and vocals were top-shelf throughout... Definitely a solid 3 from me, and while I had heard of the band - I would NOT have been able to name a single song of theirs... Glad I listened...
Hm! Interesting. I had never heard of this band and hadn't heard any of the music on this album. It's an interesting mix of 80s vibes and singer/songwriter stuff -- I liked it, but it might not seem like a cohesive album to some folks.
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.
Sounds quintessentially 80s but not memorably so. Neither outstanding nor horrific which seems on par for most albums that are the many pebbles of the river bed you have to sift through in this list when panning for the rare gold
OMG - hated this album, just so wank!
It’s not offensive - it’s just bland. Why is it on this list.
I liked the first song but the rest of the album (at least the part I managed to go through) is completely different. the first song at least is catchy and has a cool melody, while the others are just so boring and tame. safe to say: like many who came before me, I don't really see what about this album is a must listen. I could venture into the first live music bar on the street and the bands playing there are guaranteed to be more interesting
Pleasant but unremarkable. That’s it
Started off with the feels of something that may scratch the 80s itch but in the end it just fell flat and was very forgettable.
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...
Bonny When Love Breaks Down
I can imagine someone would really dig this. Best of luck to them!
Not interesting at all. It started not bad but after a couple of songs I was not interested anymore.
Parts we ok, but really I just found it boring.
Prefab Sprout was just ok. There wasn’t anything special happening that made me pay attention.
4/10. It was fine but boring and a bit stale. Nothing I’d say I’d listen to again. Had rom-com soundtrack vibes.
I’m a poptimist and a hopeless romantic. I like what I like, even if it’s a little awkward and silly, and this is definitely awkward and silly both lyrically and musically. It’s not flawless, and works better as individual songs on a playlist than an album proper, but it’s so fun and so right for my tastes that it earns a personal 4.5 stars. Great find for lovers of kitschy ‘80s pop.
I liked a song. Not bad, but never really caught my attention. Mostly - meh.
2-3
Better than I thought it’d be
Oh boy, it started ok but quickly became incredibly uninteresting. A catchy hook here and there got me hoping for more but it just kept getting worse. Just unoffensive and dull album that I don't need to (and definitely don't want to) listen to again.
One of those British bands that I missed here in the States. Nice sound, jazzy undertones, good writing. Thanks for the introduction!
Didn’t know about the band, but WOW! Great voice, great band, great music. Instant fan.
Truly never heard of this band. Interested to hear what they sound like. First track not what I expected. Expecting a tad bit more of an 80's synth sound. Getting into track 3, this is not really my kind of sound. moving on.
6/10
Prefab Sprout are as English as summer cricket - the enjoyment is linked to something as completely unpredictable as the weather. (Songs like ‘Horsin’ Around’ only add to this) Anyway, a chancy innings: dropped for an absolutely sitter in single figures, a few streaky fours, a glorious six over mid-on, run out in the last innings before lunch after a disastrous lapse in concentration. They could do much better.
Did I really need to listen to this album before I die? No. The answer is an unequivocal no.
45min tyhjäkäyntiä. Levy ei oikein missään vaiheessa lähde käyntiin ja kokonaisuus painuu ärsyttävän puolelle.
Muniinpuhaltelua ja vähän meininkiä, ei jatkoon
Started off well enough, but really went down hill from there. Good writing from a musical standpoint, but lyrically and melodically pretty saccharine.
80-luku poppi plus. vähän parempi versio siis, mutta silti 80-luku poppia. ja brittainia, wau miten brittein saareilta niin paljon hyviä bändejä wau wau niin paljon paljon paljon bändejä lisää vaan niin monta bändiä lisää lisää lisää bändejä niin paljon hyviä musiikki miehiä britanniastsa miten voi näin pieni paikka ja näin monta bändiä lisää vaan bändejä tuokaa lisää briteistä bändejä koska ne ovat niin hyviä lisää bändiä faron young
Solid... alt rock? 80s pop? I liked Bonny the most.
10/10 driving at night vibes here. Honestly thought this was gonna be some really cringe band, but it’s “Samuel fun” Songwriting on point here, the instruments sound beautiful. Synthy pop at its finest. Yet another album that truly feels nostalgic, that I’ve never heard in my life.
Perfect 3. I again do not hate this and there are bright spots but it is unmemorable I only really like it when love breaks down. This is just another album used to pad out these lists I mean it is just British Pop very dreamy but it does not gonna stick with me and that is why I think the worst category to be in there is the 3 Right in the middle where I wont think about it next week
I'll be skipping Postfab Sprout
Not bad at all! Bonny, Appetite and He'll Have to Go were my favourites
Var ikke dårlig, heller ikke mega bra
Sans plus.
Meh.
Meh. Forgettable 80s Brit Pop.
Meh! I'd heard of PS before, so went into this expecting quite a lot. As a result I found this record underwhelming - it never really goes anywhere or does anything interesting. It's fine to listen to, but doesn't inspire me to come back to it at all. Maybe I've missed something, but it's a regrettable 2 at best
Why. Why? Why?! WHY?! Why is this album on the list. So wack. I love George Gershwin too but if I referred to him as Georgie Gershwin, I hope someone is there to slap me.
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
Tears for Fears on a massive amount of sedatives.
2/5 too jetaim monamour for my taste
Collection of good pop songs. Worth a second listen
Sigh... Prefab Sprout - and this album especially - are prime examples of how pop music came off the rails int he mid to late 1980s. Its songs are innocuous to the point of being unnecessary. The chirpy synths, the laid back (read dull) vocals, and overall simpleness are boring not sensitive. They were the Kenny G of pop music, overly sanitized and stripped of anything remotely interesting. It is lounge music without the kitsch. This is the music you play after a romantic evening when you are not really in the mood and hope your partner falls asleep first.
Two Wheels Good here in the colonies. Loved it from first listen, when it was new, and it’s just as good now.
Incredible album. Definitely one of my biggest inspirations musically. Fave song is Appetite.
DOPE AF. Makes me nostalgic for an era I never lived in. 11/10
Mullets. Synth-Pop. Margaret Thatcher. New wave. Power suits with shoulder pads.
Not my favorite and none of the songs grabbed me. Sounded way too 80s and not in a fun way. I didn’t hate this but I never need to listen to it again.
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.
I added Bonny to my running list of songs from this project. And other songs were on this album too.
Just a bit too far on the sappy lush pop sound for me, could have been much better. Though why was this English mush pop album named after American bad ass Steve McQueen? -1 star for that.
Well that was nothing special. Some decent songs that are 80’s adult contempo radio worthy… but that’s about it.
Fine. I liked the singles less then the rest of the album.
I thought this was okay to start. But I really started losing interest at the end. Fine, won't turn it off, might try it again sometime, but not super interesting, either.
Meh 80s
Like acoustic new wave kinda…
Is that banjo going on in the first track? And, maybe a little harmonica? I was expecting a bit more of a hidden gem of the new wave vibe with this very pretty in pink meets some kind of wonderful album cover but instead it initially feels more traditional than I expected despite some chiming guitars and sonic noodling. Overall not bad but it also doesn't quite hit the way I prefer. Despite being able to recognize and appreciate some of its quality. This is just way too pop for me and when it does get weird it's just genre mixing and off beat lyrics. I'm almost always looking for more aggression, grit and grime.
Favourite Song: Appetite An unexpectedly enjoyable album. With great lyrics and a great 80s synth sound, I was drawn in to a few songs.
this one was a full bucket of eh, felt like it never really got anywhere with me
Sounds like very clean, pure, refined, 80's pop.
Magical 80s album that hits all the right spots. Heartfelt tuneful and memorable.
When this album came out in 1985, I thought it sounded like posh hotel lounge bar music (except for the first track ('Faron Young'). I've played it a number of times over the years (mostly because of critical acclaim), but I'm afraid my opinion has not changed after three plays this morning. Maybe I just don't get it.
Miksi tämä on näin tylsä? Ei menoa, ei yllätyksiä, ei kiinnostavia sanoituksia, mikään ei nappaa. Missä brittiläisyys, roso?
Tämä on tuotettu hyvin. Aivan tajuttoman hyvin. Äänimaailmassa on runsaasti elementtejä, mutta niiden välillä on "ilmaa", ja naisvokalistin tuomaa sävyä hyödynnetään toistuvalla mutta perustelulla tavalla. On tietenkin todettava, että bändin musiikki tasapainottelee mauttomuuden rajamailla. Olen silti taipuvaisempi arvostamaan sen melodisesti ja sovituksellisesti raikkaita hetkiä sen sijaan että valittaisin. 3,5.
If I had nostalgia for any of these songs, then it could be a 4. Since I don't (and the back half dragged), it's a 3.
The lyrics are interesting. The synth/keyboards kills it for me.
Ok
This is horrible. It's bad loungey electro music and this should not be on this list. One definitely can go without hearing this album.
Good
At the end of the album I got excited because I liked a song, then I realized the album finished and Pandora put on another song in the same genre. Typical 80s pop. Inoffensive - not entertaining.
Ok background music, but a little too mellow for me.
3,5
interesting jazz/pop moments, lyrics were nice, overall I liked it but it's probably not one i'll return to. favorite tracks were Bonny and Desire as
I enjoyed it, but it did run a bit too long. Just sort of generic mid-80s Brit pop, nothing groundbreaking or innovative to my ears. Cool vibes, but not a wonderful new musical discovery.
Very 80s in a good way but also not my vibe
Ah, new wave. Out of all the new wave albums on this list so far this is definitely on the higher end. Quintessentially 80s without being egregious, the softer tones of this album has helped it age better than a lot of its contemporaries. It starts off unique and engaging but the second half of the album is filled with mostly samey songs. Bonny is incredible though.
always enjoyed this album. Some pretty catchy hooks.
some really good songs but the back half of the album lost me.
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
Pretty good
80s Pop. Not quite for me.
80s pop, but could use more hooks.
Very 80s sounding album, lots of synth which is fun
Awful!
Soft around the edges and a bit too dated to get into.
Really great 80s pop album which holds up well. Absolutely loved 'Appetite' and 'Desire As'
Worst album I have listened to so far, starts off dull and somehow gets worse. Elevator music for the lift to hell
I listened to this one high so it may have impacted the rating.
Elevador vibe máxima
C'était bon, j'aimais la petite vibe un peu post punk des premières chansons. Mais plus l'album avançait et plus je trouvais qu'il se fatiguait. Très bonne production, mais les compositions deviennent moins intéressant au fur et à mesure que l'album avance. 6/10
A good album, I liked When love breaks down, Goodbye Lucille and Desire As the most.
My ten dubbed this "good background music"
Pretty generic, mid 80’s Brit pop. There’s nothing especially memorable here, but nothing that’s bad or offensive or anything. Pretty close to boring. The album title is odd, there’s certainly nothing in this music that is remotely related to Steve McQueen. Maybe it’s ironic, and I’m just not cool enough to get it. There’s several albums from 1985 that I would suggest as notable (must listen) before this: Three O’Clock - Arrive Without Travelling, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Southern Accents, Guadalcanal Diary - Walking In The Shadow Of The Big Man, John Fogarty - Centerfield, Katrina and the Waves, Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms…. Etc, etc, etc. Whatever, call it a 3/5 and hope for something interesting tomorrow. 3/5
Immer wieder geile 80s Vibes
- Honestly this had great vibes - Can feel the emotion in the lyrics and singing - Sounds like it would be a soundtrack to a great movie - Horsin Around and Bonny were my favorites
- enjoyable soft rock - really good guitar riffs - the female background vocals are a great touch
I know the name but dont know a single song by this group. A few listens in: this is that category of soft '80s rock where I probably wouldn't seek out any of these songs but if one came on the radio I wouldn't change the channel. The first song comes out swinging like a Smiths rollicker, and with each subsequent song the listening gets easier. I get moments of Smiths, Replacements, Squeeze, etc. But softer. Everything sounds tight and well made but only a few of the hooks really grabbed me.
I only listened to this album about 6 hours ago and I've completely forgotten every song. Utterly forgettable, serviceable pop. Good for filling in dead space on the radio and not much else. 5/10
This strikes me as "you needed to be there" kind of album. I can see people having connected with it in the 80s and made some strong memories around it. The sound is not bad, but it's definitely very dated. I kind of see the appeal but it's not for me.
Eh, okay.
Interesting
80s soft pop. Bold instrument choices and catchy vocals. Some of the songs have a nice ethereal quality to them and this is reminiscent of some later indie-pop.
An odd sounding album. A little bit pop, mixed with new wave elements. It’s catchy in some songs in a way you’d expect from those genres. It loses a lot of its steam by the end though.
more sophisticated than the eighties
There’s some catchy stuff on here but yeah, just a bit bland and the singing and musicianship really isn’t that great. Never understood why this is heralded by some as an indie classic
Not too crazy about it. 5/10
Jaren '80 poprock waar je, in ieder geval bij de eerste track, gerust een keer flink yeehaw kunt roepen. Daarna gaat de banjo terug in de kast en zijn de meeste tracks echt wel aan de zoete kant, maar toch bevallen ze me wel. Het is wel '80s maar niet verschrikkelijk '80s. Het is catchy, het is muzikaal. De zanger en de mevrouw op de achtergrond zingen zuiver terwijl dat in die tijd bij dit soort bands totaal niet relevant leek te zijn. Het beste aan dit album is dat de drums nog redelijk naturel klinken. De jaren '80s fabriekshal reverb blijft grotendeels achterwege en dat vind ik een dikke plus. De productie is lekker gelaagd en warm. Er is nog een lange weg te gaan voor ik dit voor m'n plezier aan ga zetten, maar ik kan het redelijk goed hebben en ik ben verrast. Zo'n track als Horsin' Around gaat wel richting het vervelende, dus het is ook niet allemaal goud wat er blinkt. Ik vind het leuk om dit album gehad te hebben. 3 sterren met een krul erbij.
This was boring as hell.
I liked the album and will give it another listen.
Steve would be disappointed.
4. Never heard of them before, but really enjoeyd the album!
Who could have imagined a Steve McQueen-themed album would prove to be a dud?
I was immediately impressed by the catchy country-tinged post-punk opener (especially that distorted instrumented ending), but then it took a completely different turn from there into sophi-pop, and I love it all. This is peak 80s, jazzy, smooth, with beautiful lush synths while retaining minimalist punk beats. Gives off Steely Dan vibes in the vocals and how fast the melody twists and turns. It's consistent too, with tracks following patterns from one to the next, like the bossa nova percussion between "Horsin Around" and Desire As." The first side is perfect, the second side a bit weaker, but it's all good. Everything stands out and has their gorgeous moments to appreciate. Only two tracks I didn't like were "Blueberry Pies" and "When the Angels" but I don't mind stopping at "Desire As" anyway.
Early Brit Pop doesn't do it for me
Very 80’s, kinda cheesy and the singing is mid
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.
I'd never heard of this band or album, but judging by the playcounts, they're not super obscure. In any case, it was an interesting blend of alternative pop, new wave, and jazz pop. Not a bad listen at all! I won't say it was particularly a favorite or overly impressive listen -- overall, it felt pretty average all around -- but I did enjoy it! As far as things that are easy to listen to, this has aged well!
Personal favourite album!
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”…
DO NOT JUDGE THIS ALBUM BY ITS COVER... it's nowhere near as cool as the cover or album title would have you believe.
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.
Solid
I am mesmerized by the quality here. The best sounds out of the 80's ever, harmonies, melodies, chords, guitar and keyboard sounds. I am in love
Uhm
Nice
A bit 'samey' all the way through to my ears. But in little chunks it's pleasant enough.
Meh but could be background
Correct, un peu ennuyant. Feutré.
WOW! What a pleasant surprise. Totally new to me. Smooth jazzy pop with constant charming production surprises ‘round every corner. Obviously a lot of heart and skill was poured into this album. Still sounds insanely crisp and modern despite the eighties-tinged synths. This is what modern producers try to emulate. Reminds me of one of my favourite albums: Kaputt by Destroyer.
It's a good classic album there's not much I can say about it.
Sounded like the soundtrack to a musical. Not for me.
Wait a minute. I actually love this.
Enjoyed the vibe and the airy sonic landscape they created with their simple and lighthearted arrangements; rich lyrics, but similar melodies on many songs made the songs blur together a bit. A sense of fun and youthful irrelevance made me smile. Can see why "When Love Breaks Down" was a hit single. Standouts: Bonny, Goodbye Lucille #1, Horsin' Around, Desire As.
Faron Young + Appetite 👍👍
I remember music being decent in my university years and was my last year of university but I couldn't really get into this. Perhaps 1985 was a transition year for music.
I remember that back in the day I didn’t listen much to these guys, who along with Aztec Camera and (gasp) Scritti Politti, I deemed too poppy. The opener, “Faron Young” changed my mind – I even looked up the Country singer to hear what it was all about. “Bonny” is a catchy pop tune as well and I liked the way snippets of Wendy Smith’s voice worked their way in. But soon after, things devolved into what I was expecting. The song-writing is passable but the production is stinky.
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.
Það sem ég er búin að bíða eftir þessari plötu á listanum! Albesta gáfumannapopp sem gefið hefur verið út. Algjör demantur.
Classic then classic now
Fantastic songwriting from the very beginning. First 5 songs is the best ever pressed on a Side A. Second half is watering down this godly juice but cannot drag the level lower than giving this whole masterpiece a 4.5
What an unexpected treat.
Da e greit nok, litt døvt kanskje