Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Bummed es la banda sonora de una peli clase B, de aquellas en las que lo turbio y lo festivo se unen en comunión, casi sin poder prescindir uno del otro. Me siento descender a un boliche/bar bien marginal, con gente aún más marginal, bailando, colocados y muy en la suya. Todo y nada puede pasar, y la música ocupa un rol fundamental. Canciones con guitarras que se unen perfectamente con el sonido dance de fines de los 80. Se baila como quieras, eufórico o tranquilo; te lleva a vivir ese momento y a olvidarte del resto del mundo. La propuesta acá es flotar con la música, este presente de un mundo inquietantemente atractivo.
this album is one of the most ridiculous things i have ever heard in my life but i loved every single second of it. i am surprised the happy mondays have any living members
If you put on your hater hat here, there's a LOT to hate. The vocals...are not good. The mix on the remaster...is not good. Sometimes the instruments seem like they were given to the wrong band member. Sometimes it sounds so painfully 80s that it feels like it came from a different album. And yet...all these things add up to a (drug-addled) earnestness that makes it easy to connect with. It's shockingly original in its melding of sounds of the times, for better or for worse, and I have to admit I've always been a sucker for shitty vocalists. I don't love madchester stuff, but this really seems like something made by and for the people. A great discovery.
Some awesome and totally psyched-out British indie rock. I didn’t think all of the songs were great, but there definitely some incredible highlights. I really liked Mad Cyril with its awesome trippy guitars and super chipper synths. Wrote for Luck is also really nice and groovy, and you don’t really feel how long it is by the way it just ropes you in. Some of the guitar effects here are just totally out of this world, but it all sounds tight and funky. Very cool album indeed
Where was I when this came out in 1988? Oh yeah, I was working at a record store in Detroit, unaware of what was going on in Manchester, England. Or Madchester, come to think of it. Bummed I missed it. So much from the 80s disappoints, but this has an interesting, captivating sound. I admit I prefer their next album (Pills 'n' Thrills, 1990) which just came up on the list for me also. But glad to learn about the Happy Mondays.
A really fun late 80's entry that redeemed some of the more commercial, over produced albums of the time. This album is full sounding, with lots of instrumentation, alternative media elements, and sound, but it still sounds and feels like music being played live. I don't know much about the band, but I like the energy and the overall vide. They found a great way to weave bigger, almost funky vibe to the alternative, post punk scene.
Klimaty idące w pidżame, ale kurde to audio tak głośne jak wokal i to boli.
revisitar escutando de uma vez, muito bom
I like that, turn it up.
I DON'T READ, I JUST GUESSSSSSS 4/5
Not as strong as the album that follows it, and lacks the anthems of Thrills 'n' Pills, but still a pretty fun time. I'm feeling that this a 4.
This seems to get bad reviews but I quite liked it. A bit stone roses esque. Pretty fun listen
For me this is their best album. Some great tracks here. The production might be a bit swampy at times but it doesn’t detract from the great lyrics and music
I totally get it why most people hate it, like it's a hot MESS and hasn’t aged well, but honestly I thought this was kindof a jam lol. & the happy mondays are hilarious, man, twats, but hilarious. Thank you for giving us rave culture 7 / 10 Best track/s: Wrote For Luck, Mad Cyril
Surprisingly into this! Not gonna say it was super impressive or exciting, but I would’ve gotten down to this in the 80s
Very fun, very groovy listen, Mad Cyril stood out the most
Hallelujah isn't on the original album so I definitely shouldn't be letting the club mix enter my thinking but it is a belting track. Actual album has groove and is danceable pretty much throughout
So fucking groovy and cool. 7/10
Really interesting musical numbers, nostalgic jazz rock vibes on several songs. I dig.
Haven’t played this one for a while, but have in my collection, great tracks, when Shaun was sounding excellent
This album is quirky lurky (see what I did there?), and sometimes I like a quirky album.
Dig the dreamy psychedelic influence on the production. The album is very clean sounding, and there's a lot of charming tunes here. The vocals can be a little irritating at times, but didn't bother me as much on a second listen.
Not too remarkable but pleasant enough
Ah, I will never forget the laughter in the pub when I innocently announced to my mates that I'd like to get Bummed by the Happy Mondays. I did though, and I've no regrets.
Solid stuff
an absolute wild project, that feels like a never ending drug induced party.
Day 76 A great live band in a weirdly chaotic way, seen them several times. 8/10 Highlights Fat Lady Wrestlers Wrote for Luck
Clearly not as good as Pills, but a strong foundation for the Manchester scene. Bonus point for the Collectors edition I listened to that had Hallelujah and Rave On.
Question number one I had to answer listening to this album: why does it sound like that? It's not a question that has anything to do with the songwriting, or the instrumentation, or the vocals. It's just . . . the reverb. The all-encompasing reverb. The reverb that was enough to cause a fellow group member to knock this whole album down to a 3! What **is** the deal with it? From what I've read (from one review on The Guardian), it seems to all come back to the film 'Performance'. The album, so I've gathered, owes a lot to this film, naming a song after one of its characters, and then another song after the film itself. It's a film I've long been aware of for its reputation (it has Mick Jagger and is apparently one of the 500 Greatest Films ever made, so 'Empire'), but it's not one I've ever exactly felt the need to watch. I mean, it's a 70's drama, so even with some crime elements and Mick Jagger hanging around I doubt it'd be able to hold my attention for too long. In other words, besides the 'Guardian' review I've read, I wouldn't be able to tell what this album has to do with it, even if I **had** seen it. But from what the 'Guardian' review says: the song named after one of the characters? It's "Mad Cyril", who's one of the violent gangsters who invades Jagger's character's home. And the song named after the film is told from the perspective of another member of this group. So . . . y'know. The way the 'Guardian' reviews put it, the reverb isn't meant to represent some blissed-out, E-fueled "second summer of love" haze. No, it's more supposed to be "the queasy, disorienting claustrophobia or overindulgence," with the way everything can blur together. And also the fact that the band gave the producer a shitton of ecstasy to take to keep himself from drinking, but that's besides the point. There **is** (at least as that review reads into it, anyway) a reason behind the reverb. And honestly, listening to the album with this additional context . . . it certainly does sound better than if I'd gone in clueless, that's for sure. I think it also helps me like this album just a smidge more than the follow-up? Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed 'Pills N' Thrills And Bellyaches' when my group got it. As a first introduction to Madchester (that wasn't EMF's jock jam shit), I enjoyed what I heard. But all the same, thinking back on it, it was maaaaybe a bit chiller than I would've liked? Whole lotta influence from indie rock and acid house and all that. And at the time I was fine appreciating it solely on vibes. Now that I've taken this album in, however, with the edge it gets from an underlying sense of unease . . . yeah, I really dug it. And I'm glad I came to understand the reverb so it wouldn't distract me from these songs. It's an album I can ride on **grooves and energy**, which believe me, both mean a lot more to me than vibes, any day of the week. And I really am surprised I came out of this album liking it as much as I did. From the way that fellow group member talked about this thing, I was truly expecting the reverb to be overwhelming and destroy anything I could've liked about this album — maybe I was thinking it'd be a slightly-more restrained 'Psychocandy'? And I **do** get how it could be a problem, believe me; this album is utterly **drenched** in the stuff. But, I'unno. I mean, I sort of doubt I made a strong argument for this album. It just hit the right spot for me, though — what can I say? And if it left me feeling anything, it sure wasn't bummed. That's for sure. Now, the second question I had to ask myself: I didn't prepare one. Uhm... I mean, "Are you sure that was the best album cover you could've picked?" I guess?
Double-double good, double-double good. Probably their best album, though there isn't a bad one among their original run (I like Yes Please).
Hmm, someone this shouldn’t work but t does. Not as good as Pills, Thrills. I really enjoyed some of the remixes on the collector’s edition. I do think they owe a lot to the producers though. 3.5
Vaguely countryish guitar sounds with a pounding percussion pushing the song forward. That’s my first impression of Happy Monday’s ¨Bummed¨ album. Obscured words by a high pitched voice singing about rednecks. Next song, the canned 80s drums that I love so much. ¨Mad Cyril¨ sounds like nothing so much as Robert Smith fronting a more optimistic version of the Smiths, one in a world where Morrissey had hanged himself in his mum’s drawing room the day before Marr came calling. Marr then convinced Robert to quit the Cure and come play with him. Honestly, I like the idea of this band almost as much as I like the Cure and the Smiths. This Smiths/Cure/New Order melange continues throughout the album, vacillating between all the different sad bands of the 80s, establishing itself as perhaps the perfect distillation of sad Britain. I didn’t find anything another band hadn’t done better, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. Best songs: ¨Country Song,¨ ¨Mad Cyril,¨ ¨Brain Dead¨
definitely a Madchester classic!! definitely enjoyed it!
I would put this album ahead of its time. Grooves like Prince or a Funkadelic, but had that British rigidity, like a breadstick.
Happy Monday’s grown up album.
Pretty good I didn’t get to listen to it all because I fell asleep but it was good
Different, will need another listen.
ovo mi se baš dopalo! :)
Good stuff
Not too bad actually. Only heard pills ‘n thrills before, but this was quite good.
plan to finish but haven’t. still pretty good (which is why i plan to finish). 4/5.
Very fun.
The result of 4 guys finding out what ecstasy is and going "now what if we made music on this shit?" I'll tell you what, this music sure as hell sounds like 4 guys high out of their minds making drug music. The whole album is insanely psychedelic and weirdly groovy for how hard it is to get a hold of at some points. Regardless, I love psychedelic pop and this album is no exception. I have no clue how I haven't heard of these guys and only just recently found out about The Stone Roses, but Madchester is definitely a genre for me to look into moving forward. Nothing but a good time.
very new wave, very fun
have to admit as i was doing my cursory wikipedia reading my eyes completely glazed over. oh wow, a uk band ive never heard of...from the late 80s and/or 90s....and they discovered DRUGS! this list is a lil self parody sometimes man HFJFSHJFS i sometimes also glazed over while actually listening to the music, but i can tell it doesnt deserve that. its easy to write this off as more hazy druggy british rock, but theres at least three distinguishing features im sure ill remember: (1) songs that feel kinda loose and drifty instead of the hyper-punchy stuff that would become britpop, a lot of clear influence from psychedelia and even the more coked-out sly and the family stone records (2) some rly cool liquid basslines from paul ryder, accentuated by (3) EXTREMELY cool and vibrant production from unknown pleasures producer martin hannett. initially thought i could just write this off cuz again theres So Much Hazy British Rock Music but this is hazy in a way i dont think ive quite heard before...feels smeared and runny, almost oil painting-y, with a strong texture and physicality even as it seems to float in and out of existence, idk how to describe it if u havent actually heard the record but its cool! silly list, but good album
It’s not so bad
Another band I only just recently heard of that is very much up my alley. Reminded me of Duran Duran and nothing really stuck out, but a good vibe either way.
It's interesting. Light-hearted, moving. Not quite my cup of tea, but I hear some interesting things in here.
so fun, so gross, so discombobulated. the album is a mess and this band self imploded thankfully. bonus points for having a band member who doesn’t play an instrument, just dances on stage
I like it.
Never heard of this album or band before Kind of funky I didn't realize it was actually psychedelic funk bro I can tell drugs were involved in this It sounds like proto psych rock I love the pastel cover art This is genuinely so fucking dope My rating of this kept getting higher as the second half of the album progressed Favorite song: Mad Cyril or Rave On Surely a 8/10 album
Fun but unpolished, amazing how much the singles had been worked over by the time they hit America.
Never heard of the Happy Mondays but I enjoyed this a lot. Definitely felt very 80s but also had a lot of interesting sounds. Would definitely listen again. Also Spotify only has the Collector's Edition which has a bunch of remixes and some of those slap pretty hard too.
sounds like ecstasy but youre not really having a good time
Probably will like more after more listens. Enjoyed the back half more than the first side. Probably a 3.5 but rounding up
Fine album.
## In-Depth Review: *Bummed* by Happy Mondays **Bummed**, released in November 1988, is Happy Mondays’ second album and a pivotal moment in both the band’s career and the evolution of British alternative music. Produced by Martin Hannett, the record is a swirling, chaotic, and at times abrasive blend of psychedelic funk, post-punk, and proto-rave, capturing the hedonistic spirit of the late 1980s Manchester scene. Below is a comprehensive analysis focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and a balanced assessment of the album’s strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Shaun Ryder’s lyrics on *Bummed* are a defining feature of the album’s character.** - The lyrics are a mix of wit, street slang, surrealism, and social commentary, delivered in Ryder’s distinctive slurry, anti-charm style[1][2][3]. - Ryder populates the songs with a cast of no-hopers, vagabonds, and oddballs, drawing inspiration from working-class Manchester life and pop culture. Tracks like “Mad Cyril” reference the film *Performance*, while “Fat Lady Wrestlers” and “Country Song” (originally titled “Some C*nt From Preston”) showcase Ryder’s penchant for absurdist humor and taboo-breaking[1][2][3]. - The lyrics oscillate between the funny, the dark, and the nonsensical, often inviting repeated listens to decipher their meaning. They evoke the cut-up techniques of William Burroughs and the streetwise poetry of Mark E. Smith, but with a uniquely drugged-out, Mancunian twist[3][6]. - Sexuality, drugs, and urban malaise are recurring motifs, often presented with a sense of menace or gleeful nihilism: “Come on in, grease up yer skin, bring a friend,” Ryder leers at one point, making even sexual encounters sound repellent[6]. **Pros:** - Inventive, witty, and original use of language. - Captures the spirit of late-80s Manchester and the acid-house generation. - Memorable characters and vivid imagery. **Cons:** - Obscure references and slang can be impenetrable to some listeners. - The lyrics’ crudity and nihilism may alienate those seeking emotional depth or clarity. --- ## Music **The music on *Bummed* is a messy, hypnotic fusion of genres, built on groove and atmosphere rather than traditional songcraft.** - The rhythm section is the bedrock: Paul Ryder’s bass and Gary Whelan’s drums lock into relentless, loping grooves, providing a danceable foundation that nods to both funk and the emerging acid house scene[3][4]. - Mark Day’s guitar work is angular and textural, eschewing classic rock heroics for stabs and chimes that add color and tension. His playing adapts 60s influences to the late-80s context, signposting the arrival of the 90s Madchester sound[3]. - Paul Davis’s keyboards are crucial, linking the sound to contemporary dance music, but they rarely dominate. Instead, they flesh out melodies and accentuate the percussive drive[3]. - The band’s playing is often loose, even shambolic, with songs sometimes feeling improvised or barely held together. This chaotic energy is both a strength and a weakness, contributing to the album’s unique character but also its divisiveness[5]. **Standout Tracks:** - “Wrote For Luck” is the album’s centerpiece, a hypnotic, groove-driven track that became a Madchester anthem, especially after being remixed as “W.F.L.” by Paul Oakenfold and Vince Clarke[1][2]. - “Lazyitis” stands out for its Irish showband flavor and direct melodic lift from The Beatles’ “Ticket To Ride,” highlighting the band’s growing musical confidence and playful irreverence[1][2]. **Pros:** - Infectious grooves and danceable rhythms. - Innovative fusion of rock, funk, and electronic elements. - Unpredictable, energetic performances. **Cons:** - Sloppy musicianship and loose song structures can make the album feel unfocused. - Some tracks verge on monotony or lack memorable hooks. --- ## Production **Martin Hannett’s production is central to the album’s identity.** - Unlike his stark, minimalist work with Joy Division, Hannett opts for a dense, reverb-soaked, and psychedelic soundscape on *Bummed*[4][6]. - The mix is thick and swirling, with instruments often bleeding into each other, creating a “wall of sound” effect that is both immersive and disorienting[6]. - Drums are pushed to the front, bass is thick and rubbery, and guitars and keyboards swirl in the periphery, contributing to the album’s “hyper-reality”[4]. - Hannett’s approach amplifies the band’s strengths while covering their technical weaknesses, layering enough parts to create a compelling, if sometimes chaotic, whole[5]. - The production captures the queasy, claustrophobic feeling of overindulgence, mirroring the album’s drug-fueled themes[6]. **Pros:** - Unique, immersive, and psychedelic sonic landscape. - Enhances the band’s raw energy and unpredictability. - Iconic sound that influenced the Madchester scene. **Cons:** - The dense mix can obscure individual instruments and lyrics. - The production’s murkiness may be off-putting to listeners who prefer clarity and polish. --- ## Themes **Bummed** is thematically steeped in the hedonism, disillusionment, and surreal humor of late-80s Manchester. - The album revels in decadence, drug culture, and the darker side of urban life, but does so with a sense of glee rather than moralizing[4][6]. - There is little sense of hope or redemption; the mood is one of resigned celebration of excess and absurdity. - The sound and lyrics together evoke the queasy, disorienting side of the ecstasy-fueled “second summer of love,” rather than its euphoric highs[6]. - The band’s outsider status is palpable: they are untrained, vulgar, and defiantly anti-commercial, standing apart from the mainstream even as they helped define a new musical movement[1][2]. --- ## Influence **Bummed** is a landmark album in the evolution of British music, particularly the Madchester and baggy scenes. - The album’s fusion of rock, funk, and dance music laid the groundwork for the Madchester explosion, influencing bands like The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, and later Britpop acts[1][2][7]. - “Wrote For Luck” and its remixes became anthems in clubs, helping to bridge the gap between indie rock and rave culture[1][2]. - The album’s raw, unpolished aesthetic and embrace of working-class, drug-fueled hedonism resonated with a generation disillusioned by Thatcher-era Britain[7]. - Its influence extends to the present, with many contemporary artists citing Happy Mondays as a key inspiration for their willingness to blend genres and flout conventions. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |---------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Inventive, witty, and original lyrics | Lyrics can be obscure, crude, or alienating | | Infectious, danceable grooves and rhythms | Musicianship is often sloppy; some tracks feel unfocused | | Unique, psychedelic production by Martin Hannett | Dense mix can obscure details; production may feel murky | | Captures the spirit of late-80s Manchester and the acid-house era | The album’s mood is relentlessly hedonistic and nihilistic | | Pivotal influence on Madchester, baggy, and later Britpop scenes | Lacks emotional depth or mainstream accessibility | | Standout tracks like “Wrote For Luck” and “Lazyitis” | Some tracks verge on monotony or lack strong hooks | | Unpredictable, energetic performances | The chaotic energy can be divisive | --- ## Conclusion *Bummed* is a singular, era-defining album that captures the chaotic, drug-fueled energy of late-80s Manchester like no other. Shaun Ryder’s lyrics are a blend of street poetry, surreal humor, and social commentary, delivered with a distinctive anti-charm that is both off-putting and magnetic[1][2][3]. Musically, the album is built on relentless grooves, loose song structures, and a fusion of rock, funk, and proto-rave, all wrapped in Martin Hannett’s dense, psychedelic production[4][6]. The album’s strengths lie in its originality, atmosphere, and influence. It is a messy, immersive, and at times abrasive listen, but one that rewards those willing to dive into its world. Its weaknesses—sloppy musicianship, obscure lyrics, and a claustrophobic mood—are also part of its unique charm, making it a divisive but essential artifact of its time. *Bummed* stands alone as a document of a specific cultural moment, one that helped shape the sound and attitude of British music for years to come. Whether you find it exhilarating or exhausting, its impact is undeniable.
I enjoyed it, might not listen again but I would happily enjoy it in a social situation or something.
a lot of range and folky but rocky
I'm a sucker for psychedelic rock and danceable electronic music and I like the short-lived madchester music scene of the late 80s and early 90s. 'Bummed' is one of the most well known albums from that era. It's fun and doesn't take itself seriously, all the songs has something interesting in it. It's just pure chaos from start to end, and the ecstasy influence is clear (it makes the singing a bit tiring towards the end of the album). Wrote For Luck is definitely the song that stands out the most. Overall I prefer 'Pills and Thrills...' from the early 90s but this is also a good album.
Bummed is pure, messy, late-80s Manchester chaos—equal parts sleaze, swagger, and genius. It’s not an easy album to love on first listen, but once you tune into its shuffling, drugged-out rhythm and Shaun Ryder’s surreal mumblings, it clicks into something strangely hypnotic. The grooves are deep and grimy, with loose funk and post-punk riffs held together by just the right amount of acid house weirdness. It’s an album that shouldn’t work as well as it does, but there’s an undeniable charm in the madness. Producer Martin Hannett gives everything a foggy, haunted-space feel, while the band stumbles through songs like Wrote for Luck and Mad Cyril with irresistible confidence. Bummed is grubby, chaotic, and strangely brilliant—a true Madchester milestone.
Cool
Pretty fun eclectic mix of songs! Wasn't convinced at the start, but came around on it as the album progressed.
Every band needs it's own special chemistry. And Bez was a very good chemist" - Anthony H Wilson
Different enough that I kind of enjoyed it.
smh there are two happy mondays albums on this list and neither of them are their floptastic debut record produced by john cale which means i can’t go on a tangent about john cale producing them and what a miserable experience it was for everyone involved here in my review. and yet somehow i managed it anyway…my mind! anyway my first instinct is to make fun of this band cos they are famously so dumb but the joke is on me cos i liked this a lot. that jangly melody is typical of sooooo much indie rock (especially in america) in the 90s and 2000s that it kinda shocked me to remember this record came out in 1988. there are still so many bands that are trying to sound exactly like this—what makes it better is that FAT bass line throughout. tbh it sounds a lot like thinking fellers so it tracks that i like it so much. fav tracks: country song; moving in with; fat lady wrestlers
i really liked this!! it reminded me a bit of the fall album which i also really liked. idk this was just kinda weird and catchy and fun. i listened while i did a puzzle and it was amazing
I WILL TAKE HAPPY MONDAYS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK
Very out there for the times, but sounds very typical 80's. It kind of bridges the gap between psychedelic rock/dark wave/funk/post-punk. These guys were clearly doing a lot of drugs.
The apogee of the Mondays - weird, wobbly, paranoid, slippery, spaced out and spacious. Amazing that they built a stadium-filling career on this difficult music. On the expanded edition, the many luxurious 12" mixes open up the sound and give it all space to expand and take over.
I don't know whether I would have payed much attention to this after first listen if it hadn't been for Pills n Thrills, which is a groundbreaking UK indie album. I wasn't grabbed by this, it seemed a bit of a shambles and the original production was "terrible". Though the remix is slightly better it's still far too reverbed and sparce. This could have been so much better with decent production. But it is a great album, it's got all the groundwork of Pills without the polish. They were a band fusing dance and indie and guitars and attitude and they had a singer that sounds like a rock singer but has the most incredible way with words. The late 80s/early 90s golden era of British indie was my university days and this band were absoultely pivotal to that. It was, though, one of those albums that when it came up I thought "the Yanks are going to absolutely hate this" so British and so of a moment this is. Oh, and Wrote for Luck is one of the greatest songs ever released and on the back of this The Mondays came out with Hallelujah. Double Double good.
Quite liked this would like to listen again more attentively 7/10
Cool post punky stuff.
Period defining
Enjoyable - don't think I've listened to this in full before, and it's aged well.
I have a soft spot for factory records after watching 24hr Party People
4 stars
Never really transcends or fully takes off though "Lazyitis" and ""Brain Dead" are pretty strong. "Hallelujah" is much better in club mix. Blatant rip-offs of Beatles and O'jays, (though latter could generously be called a sample, one supposes) are a bit much, too, and show limits of what these guys could do, which seems like not much relative to their accolades, obviously. Production is pretty terrible too – among the worst on the list. The remaster sounds flat and distant and muddle all at once – could the originals have been any worse, really? Editors seem to knock Stone Roses to glorify these guys -- come on, now. Rounding up because God loves a drunk (or at least looked out for these ones).
79/100. A good-sounding alternative rock record. Nothing groundbreaking, but definitely a fun listen.
Happy Mondays may have been my favourite band for a short while in the early 90s, but that was basically down to pills and thrills plus Hallelujah from this. I was very young and I'd never heard this record. Not even sure I knew an earlier album existed. I'd seen Madchester Rave On 12"s knocking about people's older brother's record collection, that's it. Standing out with it's multicoloured lettering on a black background. Had a great time listening to the club remixes afterwards. If you're listening to the Hallelujah with the high pitched Hallelujah sting in it, you're listening to the banger. Although the album version with the scrawling guitar solo is pretty ace too. Oh yeah, and the re-released dance remix of Wrote For Luck (wfl) ohoh, ho. Yeah that was a banger. The Vince Clarke one. Probably had that on one of those Indie top 20 vinyls. For all intents and purposes, The Mondays WERE Madchester. Hailing as they did, not from Manchester but nearby Salford, my manor. So there's a heavy dose of nostalgia there for me. Great to hear such a different sound from them. Yep, Talking Heads, yep, The Fall, yep, lots of drugs. The actual record ends with Lazy itis, but I don't care, I'm including Rave On EP. Thumbs up.
Well now this was a bit of a surprise. I actually liked it. Didn't expect to, but yeah it was very good especially Mad Cyril and Rave On. I certainly would baulk at parting with money for it. Definitely worth a 4
“Rock band does ecstasy and makes a psychedelic record” is such a trope but it almost always hits. This is a great example. I love how rough it is. It feels like constrained chaos.
Solid album. I guess this is what people raved to in the 80s. I heard some Oasis in this. There's another album from this genre by the band Flowered Up that I really liked. Otherwise I really don't know much about this whole scene.
I am really surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. It was like Devo on ecstasy. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
Likably loose and raffish, vaguely Stones-like in that sense, with some plus-pleasurable moments and vibes, but no songs that take off or fully captivate. Much better – hookier, more compelling – was to come. Rounding up for that reason, to a very soft 4.
This is #day34 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's all about the vibe here. Happy Mondays... Even though I prefer Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (the 2020 UK & EU vinyl reissue slams hard, by the way), I find Bummed to be an essential document of the Madchester era. It's nothing short of psychedelic, funky, ecstasy-driven sonic sluggishness. Agreed, it's not The Stone Roses or New Order circa Technique (and it shouldn't be), but there's something about the laid-back, goofy nature of this record that you can't resist. Can you? I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day35.
pretty solid album here. in my opinion, it sort of starts off slow but does pick up towards and through the second half. at times it reminds me a little bit of REM and similar bands from that era. definitely has a college rock feel to it. solid production and solid instrumentation. i sort of wish i was wowed by it a bit more but i can see it as an album i would be interested in returning to at some point.
The guitar and especially the bass in this album is great and definitely the highlight! Everything else is not quite as good but still quality. Definitely an 80s feel with this album and it works well. Enjoyed and would listen to again.
i didn’t have particularly high expectations going into this album, having skimmed through the wikipedia page, but i was pleasantly surprised. it’s psychedelic sound, with prominent vocals, and simple yet effective riffs appealed to me, with each track being quite different from the one before. this early happy mondays work is, to me, quite different than any other britpop band releasing music at the time, something which i find quite refreshing. although i personally enjoy this sound a lot, i can imagine it’s possibly a “love or hate” situation, and only works for some people
Bam! Nice one oida!
Enjoyed the vibe, even if it was a little generic.
I love the 80s vibe and enjoyed the songs but didn't listen to all the remixes. I may check out some of their others stuff.
groovy
Excellent stuff
Bummed Happy Mondays definitely feel like a vibes band, a superb best of/greatest hits band rather than an albums band, so I’ve never really dived into their catalog, apart from listening to Thrills, Pills and Bellyaches a few times. I do love a lot of their songs though. Mad Cyril, Wrote for Luck and Lazyitis I’m pretty familiar with from the best of. Mad Cyril is very good, but Wrote for Luck I love, great groove, excellent song. Lazyitis is great as well, I guess they had to credit Lennon and McCartneyfor the nick. I’d never really made the connection before but I hear a lot of Talking Heads in this, which makes sense, both coming at a kind of white funk from a punk/new wave/diy angle. Country Song in particular feels very inspired by TH, I presume by The Big Country from More Songs about Buildings and Food. Just read Country Song was originally titled Some Cunt from Preston, as rhyming slang for Country and Western. Superb. The sound/production really grew on me with repeated listens. It sounds a bit smudged and spacey on first listen but I realised it really compliments the songs and the overall of vibe of wooziness and blurring of funk, punk, pop and house music. I do love his lyrics, they are very funny. Non sequiturs and dry observations mixed with a sense of humour is a great combo. It may be a bit patchy in places and feels like it might fall apart any second, but It’s such a fun listen, it’s got such a winning energy and that precariousness actually works in it’s favour, a bit like Exile era Stones. 4 may be high but its such an enjoyable listen it feels churlish to be parsimonious. Great stuff. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stupidly enough I only listened to their Pills Thrills and Bellyaches, 100s of times. This one is almost as brilliant. Love the Manchester scene.
4/5. Ethereal and drug-filled, these songs create a great atmosphere. It feels like I am falling through a dream but it's not scary, but there is an existential dread through it all despite the upbeat major chords. Although it kind of flows all together, the jamming riffs and repetitive drums drowned in reverb and acid makes it actually sounds unique amongst the British rock-alikes. It's a good album to listen to front to back filling your ears with ecstasy. Best Song: Moving In With, Wrote For Luck, Country Song
This was an interesting listen. Another band I never heard of and probably should have. Fan of the era and would have probably followed for awhile.
This is a new wave pick for sunny days or dark afternoons
Lekker hoor, wel beetje achtergrond muziek. Deuntjes blijven lang hetzelfde, maar prima tijdens het studeren
spacey Ken deze hele band ook niet Ja nice ik ben fan skrrtttt
Red volvo gem in there
I went into this with zero expectations. Into the first couple of songs I wasn't digging it, but after a while it strangely started to grow one me. It has a bit of "The Top" era The Cure in it along with some of The Fall's snark. Infectious in an indescribable way.
Weird, bit in a really good way. The music NFS lyrics are unique
Interesting listen, I enjoyed several of the songs and was intrigued by the mixture of "samples" or riffs from popular music like The Beatles and other much larger groups. Thourougly intrigued indeed. Good stuff.
favourite song: wrote for luck really enjoyed this but certainly not my favourite happy mondays album
Lekker Brits, ik ga dit wat vaker luisteren
so almost a 5!!
I first discovered Happy Mondays about a year and a half ago from this list with the album "Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches." It's become one of my favorites from 1001 Albums and as a result I started listening to this album too. I love the energy of this album. It's perfect for hyping yourself up before you go out or for rocking out while cooking. The music has such a cool style -- a little dance-y, a little druggy, a little chaotic, the drums are reverbed to the the max and the leader singer sounds absolutely wasted on every song -- I can't get enough of it. All of the layers in the songs make them sound huge. This is music that fills a room. I love the Beatles interpolation on "Lazyitis” too. 4.5
MH 1990, aðeins fyrir mína tíð. Missti alveg af þessu og veit ekkert hvernig ég hefði tekið á málinu sem stjórnandi á þessum tíma. Söngurinn er meh, en seiðandi taktur og endurtekin stef eru góð. Afar mikið reverb og smá echo skapa merkilega mikið pláss í lögunum. Bland í poka, en oft gaman.
Good tunes. It reminded me of INXS throughout it. It doesn't end how it started.
Solid post new wave, pre shoe gazer.
Makes me want to try ecstacy.
I liked this more than I remember liking it.
Being at the center of the universe always helps and, in the case of Happy Mondays, Manchester in 1988 was just the perfect place to be bummed. They just so happen to not only be on time but also rather early to the party and it shows with how uproarious and delightfully delirious the album sounds. This can take you by surprise if you let it, because it is awfully fun to have happen. Favorites: Moving in With, Mad Cyril, Fat Lady Wrestlers, Performance, Brain Dead, Wrote for Luck, Bring a Friend.
I always liked the Happy Mondays and this album has their distinctive style. It’s my kind of music and refreshingly different to lots of albums we’ve heard. I’m going 4* !!
Really good rocking album. 4 stars.
More interesting than a lot of 80s pop.
Surprisingly good. I didn’t have high expectations after the opening track, which isn’t the worst thing in the world, but a definite mess. It only got better from there, though, culminating in the great songs ‘Do It Better’ and ‘Lazyitis’. At those high points especially, it’s got such a layered sound and production. A nice, dense album overall.
Kinda post punk, kinda funky, kinda psychedelic Pretty enjoyable for a lot of it
This takes me back to the good ol' days!
This was a fun listening experience. I knew around half of the tracks really well from a "best of" album I owned in the 90s. The other half were almost entirely new to me. I can see why some people would be annoyed by the production, Shaun's vocals, or even the fact this music is very much "of it's time". None of these are problems for me in the slightest. I've always liked the stream of consciousness lyrics that Mr Ryder comes up with, the strange combination of alt-rock, psychedelia, and dance music. It was far from a perfect album, probably somewhere between a 3 and a 4 stars, but I'm going to hike it up to 4 stars for how original this was at the time.
7/10 fun album, easily forgettable, but still pretty good
I got late to the Happy Mondays party. I listened to them for the first time around 2016; their music grabbed me instantaneously. I watched the movie/documentary "24 hours party people," and the rest is history. Bummed is Happy Mondays at its core. It may be super dated, but the album brings great and stoned vibes that make your limbs move. Performance, Wrote for Luck, Brain Dead and Fat Lady Wrestlers are a must in this album. Press play and enjoy mate!
Probably the only album themed around the movie Performance
Great time. In some ways a warm up to pills n thrills but I can't get enough of the sound this band had. A great record.
Really enjoyed this. Kind of hard pop punk definitely from the 80s
Really enjoyed this, got me into exploring the Madchester genre. Close to a 5-star..
Very fun album. Favorite track: Mad Cyril
I really like Fat Lady Wrestlers.
Such an original and interesting piece of alternative. Mixes ‘70s punk with hint of ‘80s electronic. It feels like a precursor to something like Le Tigre. I’d never heard of this but enjoyed it quite a bit.
PREFS : Country Song, Performance, Brain Dead, Wrote For Luck, Bring a Friend, Do It Better, Lazy Itis MOINS PREF : Mad Cyril
Слушала его вчера фоном, как фоновая музыка он офигенный. Че-то бодренькое, слова повторяются, мелодии повторяются, нет никакого надрыва. Лайк.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Do it better
Moving in With: Drum nya keren, rima kata di liriknya jga lucu. Aransemen lagunya juga trippy, mungkin krna dri penggunaan ekstasi & obat2an yg banyak waktu rekaman albumnya. Mad cyril: itu hammond organ kah? Boleh lah utk efeknya di lagu. Bring a friend: di saat tertentu, vokalnya out of time, tpi instrumental album nya ttp bikin formula nya bekerja, jdi ga kacau bgt. Lazyitis: Lgu yg ditulis jga dngan bantuan lirik dri Beatles - Ticket to Ride. Unik jga krna kyk dnger lgu Beatles tpi dimodif sama Happy Mondays
Love a bit of mondys
Sounds like The Smiths, Killing Joke, New Order and The Beatles put in a blender with a generous helping of coke and ecstasy sprinkled in
Never heard this album before. Pretty great all round
A great listen
4/5
I wasn't sure an ecstasy-fueled psychedelic album from the 80s would be my cup of tea. But I enjoyed this more than I expected. Witty lyrics and a great 80s dance vibe made me think this might have been just the ticket for an ecstasy-fueled evening at the hottest club in 1989. Interesting and fun!
Felt like I was high in the first parts of the song traveling across the country and then decided to take acid when it wore off through the rest of it. Really good stuff.
I think Luke would break up with me if I rated this less than 4... but luckily I did really enjoy this and recognised a good few off here. It's so much of things I love about 80s rock - synths, the way the vocals are mixed, the drums. again, another album which makes me reminiscent of the 80s even though I wasn't there
I really liked Brain Dead and Do It Better. The album was pleasant to listen to, and not much "bothered me" but not too much stood out. A 3.5 is really more accurate than a 3 or a 4 here, but since that isn't an option and I'm having a good day, it's a 4.
Really cool alternative rock album from the late 80s. It presages a lot of musical ideas that will come to fruition in the 90s. Well worth a listen 4/5
This album doesn't grab me as much as Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches did but I can hear the start of the sound that I associate with Happy Mondays. Fave: Wrote for Luck
-The singer in "Fat Lady Wrestlers" sounds a bit like Ace Frehley -Overall a pretty nice funk/dance/rock-ish album. Generally nice. Nothing was mind-blowing, but the energy was good. Probably a soft 4 star album.
Takes a while to click but once the fug clears it's great, love the grooves and just the general vibe. 3.5 rounded up
old school
Wow I didn't know what to think but I really, really liked this. Heavy Cure like sound but nothing wrong with that.
I really liked this.
Pretty good album! I’d like to use this time to ask ask the question; why is it that Spotify and Apple Music always put these remastered versions of albums up that double the songs of the original release? It’s always a bunch of B-sides or demos. Really kills the flow of an album or in the case of one like Bummed, I have no idea if this is a double album or just expanded. I have to assume because they're the latest version the studios have put out, so that’s what these services are able to license. I’ve noticed this trend more going through the list of albums and most LPs are usually only 30-45 minutes long, but the version that’s available is 2 hours long. It’s too much! It’s like if the only version of Lord of the Rings that was available was the extended editions. I would never watch them!
Happy Mondays at their very best
I really enjoyed listening to this album and will definitely put a few songs on my running playlist. Kinda like a mash of Talking Heads, Green Day and the Cure, if that's possible. I especially liked the first track and now can't get "lalalala redneck" out of my head. And, who doesn't like a song that ends with a horse neigh? I would advise against selling ecstasy to the army, though!
I will listen to this today!
vella gay
Quite enjoyable at a first listen, time will tell how good.
4/5 - fun!
English Grunge? Yes please.
Nooit in de Happy Mondays verdiept maar dit is echt wel tof! Duidelijk waar Stone Roses zich door hebben laten inspireren.
Leuk! Smaakt naar meer.
Pretty solid melding of genres. I’m into it! The lead guitar on “Lazyitis” is beautiful with all that reverb.
Oki Pop
3.5. Very early nu wave vibes with some music that seems to have influenced the 80s, especially the poppier The Cure
Lovely ecstasy filled tunes from the past, early psychedelic rock
not another fucking Happy Mondays album. oh wait it’s good actually. pretty tripped out. some of the songs kinda blend, but the vibe’s good. a more interesting, less sterile version of the following album.
If you aren't into the really sleazy ends of the UK 80s underground, you're going to hate this. I think it's alright. A totally bizarre mix of emotions and sounds and tones, with the approach coming off like a more uptempo and wickedly delightful-sounding version of the Fall but with less aggression and literary wit.
This wishes it had Stone Roses' swag
3/5 for the music 5/5 Bandname
So much hate here for a basic, period 80s indie-alt rock album!
Just kind of non-descriptive 80s music, not bad to have in the background
It's not bad. It just sounds like typical late 80s Brit pop. It actually picked up steam for me, I thought I was going to hate it after the first song. The lead singer is aggressively British and this is one of those albums that lets you know that a Brit created this list. I can't imagine that if an American made this list that this album would be on it. I guess I don't understand the late 80s Manchester ecstasy club scene and that's fine. This album grooves and has some decent beats. It was good background music to work to. Honestly, better than I thought it'd be.
not bad. them and the Stone Roses shared billing alot in Manchester. gloomier than Stone Roses, but still good.
At first I was like... ANOTHER 80s post-punk-pop album???? But then the more I listened the more I realized this one was actually a little unique. It was using the old 70s Funkadelic style of one consistent groove for 4-5 minutes, then singing over top of it. I liked the grooves. Nothing special. Singing was unbelievably generic for the 80s. But was glad it was slightly unique, when the 80s had such little variation in their mainstream music.
I’ve certainly listened to worse
Happy Mondays? Ha! One of my students told me that when they imagine my voice in their head I am saying "Happy Tuesday", which I said only ironically, so maybe that's what's happening here. The album is pretty boring. A lot of lot of lot of repetition in the lyrics, too. I didn't like it, but I guess I didn't dislike it enough for a 3.
Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Good - I have never dug much further into the Mondays than Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches. This is a different sound - slightly more grounded in rock traditions. Country Song is a great opener but the album then settles down a bit into a sound that I really like but without particularly memorable songs. The later tracks pick up a bit and it is quite enjoyable. The vibe of the Mondays is more appealing than the music itself though overall.
Could've been worse, but don't plan on listening again.
A solid album and prime example of the Madchester wave. A bit more live, less dancey, than some of their peers. Stopping my review at the original release and not the 1+ extra hours of repetition from the 2007 2cd release.
This feels like the connective tissue between new wave and early alternative, with some punk mixed in. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either.
A lot of nostalgia for this as a relic of a place and time, but maybe better as a memory than something to listen to today.
Of the two Happy Mondays albums on this list, Pills 'n' Thrills 'n' Bellyaches is definitely the stronger of the two. 'Bummed' while good in places, is not as rhythmically interesting or as engaging as that album in my opinion.
A classic, evocative and full Happy Monday's sound. Parts of the album still sound fresh and innovative almost 40 years o
Short and quick to the point, which is always a plus. Bit boring at times, and I liked some songs. More poppy then rock, which is not what I want, but still.
It's hard for me to hear what was so new about this group.
когда в сумке включился телефон а ты думаешь господи у кого эта музыка. но если не прислушиваться вроде норм)
Feels like work in progress with what was to come, but good album with a few absolutely classic tracks on.
me gustan los happy mondays .como me gustaban casi todo lo que venga de Inglaterra. En este caso manchester .Lisergico y ambiental rock funck y rave .Suena .(Si tuviera 30 años menos creo que estaria un poco viejo igual )
Fine but wouldn’t revisit
Pretty good. I know some stuff by Happy Mondays, but nothing from this album. Felt it was fairly strong all the way through (although I stopped after only a few of the bonus tracks on this Spotify version). I'd listen again.
Bummed for sure. I didn't love this album. It was just not for me at all. Two days later, and I've in fact forgotten it entirely.
This was pretty decent. Interesting hearing this and comparing it to what else was going on for rock music in the 80s. 3/5
I remember this stuff being popular on college radio around 1990-91. So, I guess it's okay.
Nothing jumped out to me
country song was a very solid start. fat lady wrestlers could be good i kinda like it so far (song 7 is quite good) i needed to pause for a little bit as this album is long!!! lol. I dunno is more like a fun album
I have never really got into Happy Mondays apart from the singles that everyone knows. Have listened to this a few times and its not really doing that much for me. Whilst many of the tracks have a decent groove I struggle a little with Shaun Ryders vocal shoutings.. Listened about 3 times and struggled to pick a track that stands out. Feels quite baggy and messy.
This would’ve been a high 3. It was too long tho but I can’t tell if that’s because I got the extended album
I was really into the Madchester when it happened. Baggy jeans, moptop, weird dancing and all. Pills ’n’ thrills and bellyaches is my go to Happy Mondays record, but this album also has it’s moments
Sounds like a blend of the Psychedelic Furs, Killing Joke, and the Smiths. Not bad, not necessarily my thing, but didn’t waste my time
gostei do nome da banda os primeiros 15 minutos foram legais na primeira hora começou a ficar tudo muito parecido no final começaram os remix e fui ouvir outra coisa
Fun sound that holds up reasonably well
Bummed is the sound of a band getting messier, smarter, and more dangerous at the exact same time.
Trist att varje gång det bränner till så har de snott en slinga eller ett riff från The Beatles... En trea
a bit too "new wave" sounding for me
Better then expected but not for me. Very repetitive.
It didn’t suck, but it wasn’t great.
Country Song - 3.5/5 Moving in With - 3/5 Mad Cyril - 4/5 Fat Lady Wrestlers - 3/5 Performance - 3/5 Brain Dead - 3.5/5 Wrote for Luck - 4/5 Bring a Friend - 3/5 Do it Better - 3/5 Lazyitis - 3/5 This seems more like a product of its time, and the first two tracks really did not do me any favors to liking it. I saw that it was baggy-related, and I liked the Stone Roses record that is of a similar genre, but this is a bit too cliched musically for me to like it on the same level as that. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Mad Cyril, Wrote for Luck
Hadn’t heard of them before, I like it but the songs are all alike imo?
Not sure it’s a necessary listen, but acts as a good link between the 80s pop and the 90s Madchester. And I think 80s pop continues to grow on me, so I had a good time.
Liked it
01) Country Song - 7,0 02) Moving in With- 6,5 03) Mad Cyril - 6,5 04) Fat Lady Wrestlers - 6,5 05) Performance - 6,5 06) Brain Dead - 6,0 07) Wrote for Luck - 7,0 08) Bring a Friend - 6,5 09) Do It Better - 6,5 10) Lazy Itis - 7,0 TOTAL: 6,60 (66/100) Current ranking: 600/902
I had kind of forgotten about this band.
Mid
A decent album but not interesting enough for a second listening. 3 stars or C+.
Okay, good mood music.
I mean it's not terrible. Most of the popular reviews on here talk at length about how atrocious the album is. And I get it. It sounds super cluttered, all the songs sound almost the same (except for Country Song which is just plain bad and unfunny.) But for what it is, I had a decent time. I had never heard of this band in my life before listening to this. So I did a bit of reading beforehand, and found that not only was the band high out of their minds, some of them were actually drug dealers? Like...dealing ecstacy? That's crazy. The album does sound like the state of mind for someone who's outrageously high. It's redundant, hard to understand, and just super messy. But hey, I had a good time. It meant no harm. Fun fact for myself: today, April 29th, is my 26th birthday. I currently have 1065 albums left to rate. There is a new edition of 1001 Albums coming out later this year. If that edition has exactly 35 new albums, which feels possible, then I will finish my journey on April 29th, 2029. My golden birthday.
Album choice had lot of the some songs and music was very early 80s
His voice sounds really strained. Something about the repetitive beats and the music is making me think I'm losing it. I'm definitely losing it. This album is making me lose sense of time and meaning but my new found lack of judgement is meaning I'm starting to enjoy it. It's definitely psychedelic but it doesn't have the flow of psychedelic. It's like if you were high but getting hit with a hammer in a 4/4 time signature It got significantly worse as the album went on. I think the end of the last song summed up this album perfectly. An amazing psych jam starts up and the singer comedically starts the most pathetic whistle ever over the top. The band hard carry this album and the singer sounds like some guy they found on the street. High 2/High 3 depending on if the guy is singing or not.
pretty alright
A pretty good album, I liked Wrote for luck the most.
Not quite as good as Pills 'n' Thrills, but I still enjoy the shambolic energy of it, and i like Shaun Ryder's vocals even if he's not the best singer in he world. I also listened to a few of the bonus tracks, and it's clear that it was the remixes that brought them initial success; the Kirsty MacColl/Steve Lillywhite remix of Hallelujah is clearly superior. High three.
Nowhere near as good as the Stone Roses’ debut album that I got 500 albums ago. None of this stuff was my thing back in the 80s, although culturally it was everywhere of course. I’d never listened before to any of it, although there were some bits that seemed familiar. It’s OK, but no better than that and I doubt I’d listen again. And, hey, record companies: put the original versions of albums on streaming services please rather that the “collectors edition”. Sure, include that as well, but hiding 80 minutes worth of bonus content is boring as fuck and makes me less likely to listen to the album again.
El sonido de esta banda me hizo acordar un poco a Soda Stereo, es bastante similar.
This sounds like nobody was close enough to their microphones during recording - tinny and hollow. Production matters! Maybe try being sober for at least part of the recording process? Underneath the issues, there's some decent tunes. What could have been...
Like it 3/5
I knew Happy Mondays as the "Twistin' my melon" guys. "Bummed", unfortunately, doesn't have any quotable lyrics for me. It does have some good songs like "Mad Cyril". The filler in "Bummed" is forgettable and not really Madchester (more like Blandchester) You'll like this album if you love The Stone Roses. 3 stars for "Bummed".
I like funk and electronic-influenced rock and droning hypnotic music, so this album should be right up my alley, but it didn’t really do anything for me. I spent most of it wishing I was listening to the Stone Roses instead. There was nothing particularly bad about this album, but I really didn’t connect with it.
This was better than the last Happy Mondays album I got. "Lazyitis" was good. Glad I checked the actual tracklist, and didnt sit through 2 hours of collector's edition on Spotify.
Не знаю дело ли в этом альбоме конкретно или даже во всем жанре мэдчестер, но почему-то прослушивания него даётся сложновато. Большинство песен состоят из достаточно продолжительных ритмов и мелодий которые почти не развиваются в своем звучании пока песня идёт. В итоге создаётся впечатление какой-то тягомотной тягучести и скучности, хз. Возможно проблема в том, что я не в контексте, возможно если бы я колбасился под это в каком-нибудь британском клубешнике в 80-х, я бы зафанател, но увы, я слушаю это в совершенно скучных и неинтересных обстоятельствах, пока работаю ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Надо послушать что-то ещё из этого жанра, но этот альбом, увы, так и не понял.
3.7
Decent I enjoyed that
I appreciate the energy, the punk vibe and the references to various pop songs which obviously influenced this band. Some of the tracks were interesting (Country Song, Rave On) but overall, I felt this album was firmly mediocre.
It has moments, and I think people are too harsh on it, but it does get very annoying at times. The sound may be grating, but it is quite different.
New wave punk ish
Please less New Wave...
I think this album would improve with familiarity. Maybe I’m being too generous. 2.75 stars.
Listened to this on a Monday while happy for a more immersive experience. Maybe I wasn’t happy enough though
pretty fun but kinda drags on
Wasn't impressed on the first listen, but really came to respect the impressive breadth of music on here. Pretty much running the gamut of musical genres. Also, banger album art.
listened to this like six times. still not sure if i like it. three stars, i guess. favorites: wrote for luck, lazyitis, hallelujah club mix
Not bad! 3.5/5
I like this album more than I thought I would. Sounds a lot like INXS and other of that time and the remixes are solid.
Nem lembro o que eu escutei
2.5
Alright. No standout tracks for me though
It's okay, but not as good as their previous album (Pills, Thrills). Still a great thing to put on LOUD on a Saturday afternoon.
It wasn't bad or unpleasant but it didn't do anything to stand out as better than any other 80's English rock.
This is some kind of British Dance Rock. It's pretty good but I feel like they only have one mode and all the songs kind of sound the same.
This was fun to listen to loud. I enjoyed it but also kept wanting more. It was a bit too fuzzy overall, which made it hard to get completely immersed in. Good music though!
Another Happy Mondays album, and an earlier one. This one shows the Baggy/Madchester sound in its embryonic stage. I don't think needed this piece of "history" to fully grasp the movement. A great as it was, Baggy was already a pretty short-lived scene. There's nothing here the band wouldn't do much better later. Definitely not essential. Key tracks: Mad Cyril Fat Lady Wrestlers
I liked this more than I expected. Really great production. Guitar sound was awesome with all sorts of soul funk and country-ish vibes. Way more interesting than I expected. Must be a UK thing as I never heard of them in the 80s.
Never before listened to a happy mondays albums only know the singles.
Late 80s party
Not bad—not great—just so so. ★★★
3.5
I thought this album was pretty good, and it kind of kickstarted the Baggy sound of the late 80s and early 90s. Highlights for me were "Country Song", "Wrote for Luck", and "Lazyitis". 3.5 stars.
I was glad I was already home (track 10) because this was a bit frustrating and would not have been fun to listen to in a car
Meh. Totally mid
Some club mixes are alr
Buenas vibras, no los conocía. Algunos temas me hicieron acordar a Talking Heads por alguna razón. Igual lo escuché mientras estudiaba así que no fue ideal, pero le volvería a dar otra oportunidad de escucha más ((profunda)).
Fun album. Nothing to write home about but I enjoyed it.
An interesting sound with decent songs. I didn't absolutely love it, but it's not bad.
Nice album
I hate to say I’ve liked this one less each time I’ve heard it. It’s interesting in the context of the band’s growth and the emergence of Madchester, but only Pills N Thrills should be on the list where they really perfect their style. I can’t listen to Happy Mondays anymore without hearing Alan Partidge asking “Are you on an E?” Their follow up is a 5 star but this one sadly is between 2 and 3. Rating: 2.8
this is the funniest album of all time
I had never listened to this band before. It's funny how the other big Manchester band from this scene is The Stone Roses, who are amazing and their first album has like 10 perfect songs on it at least. Meanwhile this has like 0.75 songs on it in general. At the same time I kind of get why this needed to happen and there is something about it that has an allure. Martin Hannett great dense production even though it is rather uhhhh late 80s sounding.
Rien à dire juste mid en ce moment les albums
Meh
Au début j’aimais bien puis bon c’est bon c’est une copie de ce qui marchait bien 15 ans plus tôt en moins bien quoi
80's alternative/electronic/dance is my kind of 80s music. Entire albums by the same band can get a little boring sometimes though. I liked the music and the vocals. Don't think I had ever heard of this group before.
"E" has been around this long? Huh?
I feel like the drum patterns/grooves are cool enough to keep me engaged. Gave it a 2nd playthrough just to make sure I'm not missing anything more interesting.
Some good stuff here but nothing that grabbed me. High 3.
Slightly better than average new wave
The "Ticket To Ride" homage in "Lazyitis" was a fun surprise.
I'm a huge fan of some elements of the Manchester scene - the Stone Roses debut is one of my favorite albums of all time. I remembered the Happy Mondays from that period, but had never heard this album and frankly couldn't recall their sound. This record is sort of proto-Madchester. It includes some of the psychedelic touches but is a bit funkier and has more of a post-punk than pop feel. It sounds dated - the production puts it solidly in the 80s. And while there are moments ("Mad Cyril", "Performance", "Wrote For Luck"), on the whole this is fine but forgettable stuff.
Nice
Fav: clap your hands
Produced by Martin Hannett, Bummed sounds like the opposite of a classic Hannett production – it’s loose, spacy and a tad sloppy – even the vocals are a bit fudgy. It takes a few spins to get into a sympathetic groove, but it’s worth making the effort. Its allure eventually surfacing through the gloop. The lack of shiny is the opposite to radio friendly, so no hits to speak of - but the singles “Wrote For Luck” and “Lazyitis” sound pretty good. The former, a sprawling 6-minutes long and written specifically for the Hacienda dancefloor - the lyrics cryptically referring to a drug deal gone to shit. This isn’t the chart worrying Happy Mondays of Pills ‘n’ Thrills, but if you’re inclined to wear your jeans baggy, it’s still a lot of fun. I’m liking it more each time I play it. 7/10
Slurred Madchester album with a bit of heart but monotone production that lets it down a bit. The Mondays seem happy on this one in a leery kind of way.
It felt like an intersecting of bands I like but not the parts of the bands that I care for. It wasn't bad. It just never made its way to a really memorable moment for me.
Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches is a fantastic album. Bummed however, is a long way behind. There's a couple of decent moments, but Wrote for Luck is the only genuinely good song on the album. A shame, as I like quite a bit of Happy Mondays and Black Grape.
An enjoyable trip back in time.
Decent.
Good album. I’ve been not paying attention to it but it’s not offensive to my ears.
I mean what is this album? It's totally fine but not sure it belongs on this list. Nothing too exciting just basic stuff really. Never heard of this band and they don't really move the dial for me - solid 3 stars for making a decent album but nothing really of note.
kind of a slog. 2.5 rounded up
Lots of the same.. won’t be going back to this soon. Had a great hit with “Step On?” I think it was called
Good listen, would be more f less repetitive. Has lots of energy & fun instrumentation
it was supposed to be cool until this bitch's runtime is 2 hours
More familiar with Pills 'N' Thrills, but nice to get maybe a better sense of their ethos here, less polished, more primal, more their roots. More fun. Mix seems to try to duplicate a live sound--not always a good idea maybe.
The Happy Mondays were great if you were part of the cultural zeitgeist. I found them very funny at the time - I still do. Bez and his distinctive dancing snd occasional tambourine, Shaun Ryder off his face and belting out that monotone. Better in small doses but if you ever see them now they’re still hilarious.
I'm hanging onto a 3 for dear life. I had to bail at the 12th track (I was only going to go for the original 15). But, dude on the mic is a hard pill after 40 something minutes. It managed to stay interesting enough to make up for the seeming deliberate annoyance the band was conjuring with the jangly sharp guitars and repetitive bass and drums and vocal shoutitude.
this was fine 50 years later. i can get the cultural influence at the time. it’s just funny that genre blending has become so normal now
Alternative dancing Manc's. That's not that bad actually.
Not their best but enjoyable
Total Cure-like 80s vibe band. Very basic songs but ok. I don’t recall them or any of their songs
This is an exact depiction of what the 80s sound like to me (Paul can you please confirm or deny)
Happy Mondays when Rain on Fridays walks in :0
Fun, but good GOD it didn't need to be that long.