The Dreaming

Only receiving 4 because Hounds of Love clears Dreaming, sorry Kate

Polarising reviews. I was looking forward to giving this a listen to see where I sit on the 1’s or 5’s. There is little in-between. I gave it 2 listens before reviewing to make sure I was fair as this album is nuts. On reflection this is an album of moments, some of them are brilliant and some of them are just bizarre. I can’t work out if I love Sat in your lap and there goes a tenner or absolutely hate these tracks. Favourite song: I couldnt pick one, they are all nuts. I dont know if I love them all or hate them. Least favourite: Same as above Album artwork: Cool cover

Pop progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.

My second Kate Bush album on this list. This one is certainly a more challenging listen than the other. I didn't quite know what to make of this on first listen. Luckily I got this on a Sunday, which meant I had time to leave it for a while and come back to it with a fresh mind. Personally I find this album makes more sense if I think about it as a soundtrack to an avant-garde musical theater production. That said I don't think it's a musical that I would want to see.

A mega dose of '80s vibes (via old-school synths) from an artist who's aiming for high-art timelessness and here and there achieves it, with much strangeness besides. It doesn't fully come off, mainly for feeling disjointed and excessively theatrical. "Silver Bullet" and "All the Love" are the best songs. While there is much that is interesting and some dramatic and moving bits, it's missing tunefulness and flow. It's a classic "admire more than enjoy" sort of record.

Was expecting weirder since everything called it her most experimental album but it was very enjoyable.

This was interesting, for sure. I enjoyed parts of it, but it definitely felt like she eventually went overboard with the experimentation. By the time I reached the closing track, it just became really annoying, which is why I can't give it a 4. 3.5/5 stars

nul

Creepy and purposely incomprehensible, gauzy, difficult. Kate Bush has a fine voice, but listening to lyric-based music always makes me search for the meaning and in this case I kind of don't want to know. Feels a bit (a lot?) self-centered but isn't appealing enough to make me want to explore further. Hearing this was a good idea, I get why people like her, but it just has a grating effect on me.

Although this album doesn't have any of the hits on it, I still enjoyed it a lot. Favorite songs: Night Of The Swallow, Houdini

Love her voice and a couple of the songs - the rest are a bit out there for me. Later album, Hounds of Love was/is a favorite album.

Second album from Kate. I thought the spell was over and i wouldn't enjoy this one but... Happy i was wrong. Her music is not easy to consume, but several of these songs seem to have the potential to really grow on me after a few listens=)

Groan. The first song her shrill voice turned me off. But I will listen to the whole thing, and hate it.

Some experiments shouldn’t see the light of day. This was one of them.

She has her own unique style. I'll forever respect her for that. Easy to recognize and hard to copy. 3.5/5.

Experimental, busy to listen to

While Hounds of Love is my favourite album by Kate Bush, that says more about that album than about this. This quirky beautiful record is an acquired taste for sure, but I somehow like it quite a lot.

This is like a 5 star for entertainment (4 if you're sane), and a 3 star for music (2 if you're sane)

As I go through this project, I’m starting to realise that the albums I like best are the deeply personal ones. The ones with a clear identity that shines through in every track. That presents a difficulty for me here because I always thought I disliked Kate Bush. After listening to it properly though, I’ve realised that I don’t dislike Kate Bush. Kate Bush is incredible. She’s a singular figure, distinct in a crowd of thousands and fascinating to witness. I adore her. I do, however, hate Kate Bush’s voice.

Having only heard running up that hill, I was absolutely not ready for this level if experimental music! I was absolutely fascinated for the duration, despite not enjoying it that much. This demands multiple listens to appreciate properly, but having only listened once, I can't give it a high score. I think i would like it more down the line. This is a perfect "album you should listen to before you die" because its just experimental enough to expose you to something new without being too challenging

Albumi #74, 10.10.2024 Kate Bushin neljäs albumi ilmestyi vuonna 1982. Albumi on ensimmäinen hänen itsensä täysin tuottama albumi ja se näkyy albumin tietynlaisena kokeellisuutena. Kiinnostava albumi kokonaisuutena. Sekä sanoitusten aiheet ja sävellykset ovat varsin moninaiset. Käytettyjen instrumenttien ja tekniikoiden skaala on laaja ja tahtilajitkin vaihtelevat.

Not really sure who the intended audience was but I don’t think it’s me. 2.5/5

I don’t get her but I know lots of people do.

Not good

Talented artist with a distinct sound, but too weird for me. Not really my style.

This album is absolutely fantastic. So many great songs I can't pick a favorite. The songs fit seamlessly together and you can hear the ingenuity in the sound. She is so creative and has a real strong musical perspective. Perfect album!

Classic. Classic. Classic. I was initially devastated to see this album’s very low global rating on this site, but then had to remind myself that my five stars have come from ten years worshipping at the altar of Bush, following repeated attempts over many weeks to become a “Dreaming” convert. If I’d been trying to give a rating on my first day of hearing it, God knows what I’d have thought. So all you cynics, stick it out if you can… “The Dreaming” is Bush’s fourth album, in which she not only throws the rule-book of pop music out of her house, she changes into a mule and kicks it into smithereens. If classics like “Wuthering Heights”, “The Man With the Child In His Eyes” and “Babooshka” are unconventional and kooky, “The Dreaming” is just… for want of a technical term, pure batshit. Producing her work for the first time, Bush spent two years working on the album (the first of many lengthy gaps between releases for which she has become infamous). She doused the songs in innovations of the day (the Fairlight sampler, elephantine gated drums, vocal loops and distortions) alongside a barrage of traditional instruments from her folksy heritage (penny whistle, fiddle, Irish uilleann pipes, didgeridoo). It’s a fearless, imperious, kitchen sink album in every sense of the word: in her own proud words, her “she’s gone mad album”. The theatrical, cabaret stylings from her earlier work do remain, and may be off putting for some, but the production helps to ensure the album remains much fresher than those earlier releases, and perhaps much bolder than her subsequent ones. But enough about the songs: what of the singer? Just who is the twenty-four year old Kate Bush in “The Dreaming”, and why should we reward her with our time and praise? Kate Bush is a shrieking banshee in a Dunce cap, chasing knowledge in all its forms. Kate Bush is a failed bank robber watching ten-shilling notes blow by, having flashbacks within her own heist song. Kate Bush is a soldier in Vietnam, having an existential crisis with David Gilmour concerning the kill-or-be-killed mentality. Kate Bush is a disembodied, backmasked voice letting the weirdness in. Kate Bush is an- ermm- indigenous Australian, collaborating with- hmm- Rolf Harris on didgeridoo. Yep, you read that one right. Kate Bush is both a smuggler and his lover, wrestling each other over whether he should risk his life over the Channel. Kate Bush is an unreachable friend to all who try and contact her, available only through her answering machine. Kate Bush is Houdini’s widow, desperately reaching out to him in a seance, dreaming of his spit on her lips. Kate Bush is your favourite scream queen in The Shining, turning into a mule and crying “HEEEEHAAWWWWWW”. Now, forty-two years later, the characters have crystallised into legend, and the songs into music history. Above all else, Kate Bush is, of course, Kate Bush.

Second best

4.3 - I didn't always enjoy the song, but I loved the madness of this album. Really looking forward to more.

Fun, quirky, quintessentially Kate Bush, but I don’t think her best. Fave Tracks: Sat in Your Lap, Houdini 3.7/5

I like weird and different but somehow this doesn't quite line up with my weirdness

There are some Kate Bush songs I love. None of them are on this record. I found this exhausting. There are so many elements (vocals, songwriting, instrumentation, production,…) of what I like in music here but none them come together in my opinion.

I guess i'm more used to Kate Bush. Seemed less weird then the other 2 we did. I'd give it another listen.

I haven't liked any of the Kate Bush albums, and I think this one might be my least favorite. It's to weird, her voice annoys me to no end, and I just don't like any of the music or production. This is the epitome of "not for me"

Weirder than I expected. I can't decide if I like some of this or not. There Goes A Tenner appeals to me as do parts of the second half, but a lot of it was a chore.

Very eccentric and experimental. A lot of weird sounds but also some good arrangements hidden within. Some tracks worked better than others, some were a bit too far for me. Instrumentals good throughout, overall decent. Highlights: Sat In Your Lap Suspended In Gaffa

Actually really enjoyed this and want to come back to it more. It’s a little experimental but those things over time will become normal. Kate’s style on this album reminds me of Yoko Ono (if she didn’t suck). Even the last track with being almost scary after a few listens it is amazing.Her voice does all these little characters . The sound effects that is done with her singing is a bit mind blowing 4/5

This is a fun album - I love the wide variety of topics and themes. Reading about the meaning behind each song has been really interesting, and I give her points for taking some risks here. Each song is its own in depth story. In that way, it reminds me of Taylor Swift's Folklore album.

Kate Bush’s talents do not quite match up to her ambitions yet.

I can't say I'm a Kate Bush fan, she has a creative and whacky kinda style

Good drums

Not my fav Kate album too many high pitched backing vocals for my liking.

Disappointing

Experimental, but I liked it.

Кейт Буш - наверное значимая артистка в день сегодняшний с бесчисленным (и это отлично) числом самобытных поп-исполнительниц. Будет ли это большим стретчем, сказать, что Кейт Буш буквально заложила брат саммер лет так сорок назад? Пожалуй, достаточно большим. Но я так чувствую здесь и сейчас. Лучшая песня - Houdini.

another album by kate bush, another nice medievalish track lol well this one doesnt have running up that hill.. 2 for me and i seriously dont get all the praise she gets.. for sure she's kinda unique and does her own thing but its definitely not any masterpiece

kate bush is brilliant and to me, this is one of the biggest pieces of evidence. every song on here is dramatic as fuck and i love every second of it. her vocal range is great, as usual. everything about this album is so creative and out there, and yet, not really inaccessible (although admittedly, it's not her most accessible album). the production on here is pretty dated (full of of-the-era synth sounds that have not aged particularly well) but if you can get past most of this album sounding like an old video game, it is truly great. it's definitely an album that i'm sure most people think sounds like a cat getting its tail stepped on, but to me, that's part of the charm of kate bush. she's out of left field and unabashedly so.

like if tom waits was a girl. bad circus music and mixed like shit

Not for me crap

This was way weirder than I expected having only heard a couple hit songs from Kate Bush like Wuthering Heights. I was a little unsure at first but by the end it felt like a good and fun weird rather than an unsettling weird. Favorite songs were: The Dreaming Pull out the Pin 7/10

I like Kate Bush but not this album, just didn't do anything for me

God this was awful.

Not really a fan

Bon, on va pas se mentir, 1982, c'était une drôle d'époque. Pendant que la moitié de la planète se trémoussait sur de la new wave synthétique bien propre sur elle, avec des coiffures qui défiaient les lois de la gravité et des clips qui ressemblaient à des pubs pour laque, une Anglaise, déjà perçue comme une créature éthérée et un peu perchée, a décidé de tout envoyer péter. Mais pas avec la rage frontale du punk qui commençait déjà à sentir le sapin, non. Avec une manière bien plus insidieuse, bien plus déstabilisante. Kate Bush, après trois albums qui l'avaient installée comme une valeur sûre de la pop arty, une sorte de fée clochette sous acide, a décidé de prendre les commandes. Toutes les commandes. "The Dreaming" est le premier album qu'elle produit entièrement seule. Et cette information, mes amis, n'est pas un détail technique pour musicologues à lunettes. C'est la putain de clé de voûte de tout le projet. C'est le moment où l'artiste, libérée des "bons conseils" et des regards inquiets des producteurs qui flippent pour leurs ventes, ouvre la porte de son asile personnel et nous invite à y faire un tour. Et autant vous le dire tout de suite : l'asile est un sacré bordel. Un bordel magnifique, terrifiant, mais un bordel quand même. Oubliez les mélodies évidentes de "Wuthering Heights" ou "Babooshka", oubliez la pop, même la plus sophistiquée. Dès les premières secondes de "Sat in Your Lap", on comprend que le voyage ne sera pas une promenade de santé. Le rythme n'est pas une simple pulsation binaire pour faire bouger les culs en discothèque. C'est une cavalcade tribale, une charge de cavalerie menée par des percussionnistes fous qui martèlent des peaux de bêtes. La production est dense, claustrophobique, presque agressive. C'est comme si Phil Collins, après avoir découvert le "gated reverb", avait décidé de l'utiliser pour enregistrer le son d'un accident de voiture au fond d'une grotte. Et c'est ça, le génie de "The Dreaming", c'est un disque primal. Kate Bush, visiblement fascinée par les rythmes du monde entier, a foutu à la poubelle la batterie rock traditionnelle pour aller chercher quelque chose de plus viscéral. On entend un didgeridoo australien menaçant sur le morceau-titre, des cornemuses irlandaises sur "Night of the Swallow", des bouzoukis, des mandolines... Le tout est passé à la moulinette du Fairlight CMI, ce synthétiseur/sampler qui était le jouet préféré des laborantins sonores de l'époque. Sauf qu'entre ses mains, ce n'est plus un jouet, c'est une arme. Elle tord les sons, les étire, les mutile. Elle sample des bruits d'animaux, des hélicoptères, des voix qui semblent venir d'outre-tombe. Et par-dessus ce chaos organisé, il y a sa voix ou plutôt, ses voix. Car sur cet album, Kate Bush ne chante pas, elle interprète. Elle devient une multitude de personnages, elle est une cambrioleuse terrorisée ("There Goes a Tenner"), une combattante vietnamienne ("Pull Out the Pin"), l'épouse d'Houdini tentant de le contacter dans l'au-delà ("Houdini"). Elle hurle, elle grogne, elle prend des accents cockney à couper au couteau, elle murmure des insanités. Sa performance vocale est une dinguerie absolue, une prise de risque permanente qui la place bien au-delà de la simple chanteuse pop. On est dans le théâtre sonore, la performance vocale totale. C'est à la fois fascinant et profondément dérangeant. On comprend sans peine pourquoi ce disque a été un bide commercial monumental à sa sortie. En 1982, le public n'était absolument pas prêt pour ça. Pendant que le bon peuple achetait du Culture Club par palettes, ce truc-là était l'équivalent d'un film de David Lynch diffusé en prime time sur TF1. C'était trop étrange, trop exigeant, trop personnel. Il n'y avait aucun single évident, aucun refrain à chantonner sous la douche. C'était une oeuvre d'art brute, sans concession, qui demandait un effort de la part de l'auditeur. Un effort que peu de gens étaient prêts à faire. Et pourtant... Putain, quel disque. Pour quelqu'un comme moi, "The Dreaming" est une évidence. C'est l'album d'une artiste qui n'a absolument rien à foutre des conventions et qui suit son instinct jusqu'au bout, quitte à se planter commercialement. C'est un disque qui ne cherche jamais à séduire, mais qui hypnotise. Il faut du temps pour l'apprivoiser, pour en comprendre les méandres, pour accepter ses aspérités. Il faut accepter de se perdre dans ce rêve tordu. Aujourd'hui, il est considéré par beaucoup, et à juste titre, comme son chef-d'oeuvre. C'est le disque qui a prouvé que Kate Bush n'était pas juste une excentrique douée, mais une véritable visionnaire, une architecte du son qui a construit un monument unique, sans plan ni autorisation de construire. Un disque qui, près de quarante ans plus tard, n'a pas pris une seule ride et continue de sonner comme s'il venait d'une autre planète. Pour conclure, ce 5/5 n'est pas juste une bonne note, c'est une marque de respect profond pour un acte de bravoure artistique total. "The Dreaming" n'est pas un album que l'on "écoute" en faisant la vaisselle. C'est un album qui vous écoute, qui vous regarde, qui vous travaille de l'intérieur. Il est la preuve que la musique pop peut être aussi complexe, déroutante et enrichissante que n'importe quelle autre forme d'art. Accrochez-vous, le voyage est mouvementé, mais la destination en vaut mille fois la peine. Ce n'est pas un disque, c'est une expérience. Et putain, quelle expérience.

This album is sooooooooo good. Pull out the pin is one of my favorites of all time.

A reminder of hounds of love. Wayyy better than sensual world.

Experimental Kate Bush. Interesting if not super entertaining.

I thought it was good

Kate Bush continues to be one of the greatest artists to come out of the UK in the 80s!

What the fuck is THIS

I'm a big Kate Bush fan, in fact her picture is on my wall here as I type this.. but The Dreaming is not one of my favorite albums,

this (and lowkey most of) kate bush album was a lot of bad-to-okay songs with a couple good ones sprinkled in. obviously pushing the boundary of pop music in cool ways though

Don't get me wrong, I love weird, eclectic, and camp – but these campgrounds are not for me. Though I respect the adventurousness

Ir’s just wow

2.5 weird

Not for me.

People like her more than I do

Historic - Kate's first self-produced album and her first efforts creating with a Fairlight CMI. A huge leap in her artistic maturity from her prior efforts. Fascinating, incorporating world music; truly unique and clearly influential for artists like Bjork. I've loved this album since I first heard it in 1983.

Was this brilliant or just madness? I may have to listen to It again. Very strange that's for sure

Ok. Quirky and solid. Sonically interesting at times, which is something I like.

It was fine.

Hmm. Very experimental.

Not a kate bush fan. If you can't connect with her voice, there's not much here for you

Good but I think there are better Kate Bush albums.

Levyn taustoja lueskellessa ilmeni, että tämä on taitelijan itse tekemä ja tuottama kokonaisuus. Pisteet siitä ettei mogulit ole tehnyt tästä kaupallista pläjäystä, mutta se kyllä autttamatta kuuluu myös läpi. Kyllähän tuon kuunteli, mutta ei tarvitse toiste kuunnella.

En päässy kii tähän levyyn. Vaatis varmaan jonkin sortin päihteitä päästäkseen samalle levelille

This album was disappointing. Certainly it is experimental, but I don't believe that many of the tracks succeed is sounding *good*. Most of them combine strange instrumental palates and vocals in a way that is abrasive (and not in a challenging, fun way. In a grating way.) The three exceptions to this are Leave it Open, Houdini and Get Out of My House. Each of these tracks explored different registers of Kate's vocal range and really positively surprised me. Leave it Open was especially impressive. But only really liking 3/10 songs and appreciating the general experimental nature of the album only takes this to a 4/10. 2/5.

You know in movies when the adults hand over the keys of the car to the teenager and tell him to “Have fun but be safe” and then all hell breaks loose? This album is the equivalent of that with a synchroniser. I’m tickled by Neil Tennant in his curmudgeonly pre-fame days remarking how uncommercial this sound is. And of course Kate said the same thing when she reviewed this album a few decades later. It might be a bit too toothy for me to be a 100% convert. Still, when Bjork, Big Boi, and Beyoncé (I see you) obviously adore this album - well you can’t argue with such company, eh?

Everyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the last 2 years has heard of Kate Bush because of the show Stranger Things. No wonder, Running Up That Hill is a great song and Kate Bush is one of the most original singers to have ever appeared. But I'm not sure if I was able to properly digest the work done on The Dreaming. The feeling I have is that something is missing. Maybe it's something I'll come across throughout her discography, but while The Dreaming isn't something I'll listen to every day, it definitely has its value. I'm going to leave 3 stars today, but maybe that rating will change over time.

The Dreaming by Kate Bush is a wild and ambitious departure from her earlier work. This album is marked by its experimental nature, filled with eclectic sounds and unexpected turns. Bush incorporates random animal noises and unconventional instruments, creating a soundscape that is both chaotic and captivating. Tracks like Sat in Your Lap and the title track The Dreaming showcase her willingness to push the boundaries of pop music. However, this adventurous spirit also makes the album less accessible. The complexity and intensity of the arrangements can be overwhelming at times. Despite its eccentricities, The Dreaming remains an interesting listen, revealing new layers with each play. While it may not be one of my favourite Kate Bush albums, its boldness and creativity are undeniably impressive. It stands as a testament to Bush's fearless artistry and her desire to explore the outer limits of musical expression. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 2 STAND OUT TRACK - Suspended in Gaffa

Damn, Kate Bush had some brutal fever dreams. Idk what I just listened to but I kinda enjoyed it? Def not necessary to hear before you die, tho

2024-08-07...

I appreciate the musicianship here, but it's a little too dramatic for me. I do like the way how Bush sometimes uses her voice as additional instrument.

Yeah, this is not the album for me. I'm not sure what I just listened to, but please make it stop

Great opening track. The rest is meahhh

Classic

My heart sank a little when Kate Bush came up. However, I was surprised with this. She sounds sweet, chivvy and mental. First half of album was confusingly brilliant at times. 7.5/10

Not what I was expecting

my favorite kate bush album i love everything about it

Wonderfully weird. I couldn't always follow what she was on about, but I liked the music, I liked her weird singing. Idk what else to say.

Before this I only knew Running Up That Hill and I am sad Kate Bush has been hid from me for so long. This album is really, really good. 4/5

This is pretty great. I think that not only is it brilliant, but it will likely get better the more time spent with it. its weird, its atmospheric, its different, its just really really good. i think it's a 5, i think it might be better collectively than Hounds of Love but doesn't have those big hits that Hounds has. I think 5

It's not bad, but it feels very all over the place and I think there's actually bad songs on it. It's a 3 because I think there's better Kate Bush out there and I think I had higher expectations for this

The Dreaming doesn’t really have any standout songs the way The Kick Inside or Hounds of Love do, but the album as a whole is beautiful, and probably my favorite of Kate Bush’s. It’s also one of the most apt album titles ever, considering the wonderfully dreamy pop sounds she’s able to put together.

Very theatric. Not for me 2/5

Couldn’t get into it. Found it confusing

3,5

Certainly a bit of a strange duck but some good ideas

This is everything that a two star album should be; not very good.

I appreciate her incredible experimenting and the variety in her skills however in this specific case I just could get super attached to it. I recognize what she can do with her music and the impact and influence she had but it didn’t appeal to me.

This one isn't anything close to an easy-listening experience which is a huge plus; i.e. none of these songs are "just push play" or follow any clichéd arrangement - meaning they jump around rhythmically, unexpected instrumental passages, changing time signatures within songs, etc. Too easy to say she's the opposite gender companion to early Peter Gabriel but it kind of fits. Very proggy which is what initially drew me to her. Lyrically she almost takes an 80s-Neil Peart path (or maybe he borrowed from her) - another huge plus. Yes sometimes her voice is *adventurous* :) but I like that she goes for it rather than take the easy route. TL;DR: right up my alley and definitely an album to enjoy solo rather than during a cookout. 8/10 4 stars.

Ei varmasti ollut tälle mikään ihanteellinen kuunteluhetki, mutta silti. Huhhhu mikä työmaa.

I was a bit disappointed. This album was messy most of the time. It does get a bit better near the end. There's nothing here that I'll replay. At least Bush can sing and write good lyrics. 2 stars for "The Dreaming".

Interesting sound scape

3rd Kate Bush Album in 10 days - I couldn't finish this one. This is also the earliest album out of the 3 so maybe it's just her earlier work I dislike.

3rd Bush album in 11 albums. She's just meh to me. Sorry fans

Insane lyricism and eccentric vocals make this an amazingly solid record… 8/10 favorite tracks: The Dreaming & Sat in Your Lap

Fav: Night Of The Swallow Least Fav: Houdini

I wasn't much of a fan of the first album of hers that was offered on this site. But this one was outstanding. I totally dig it. Especially the first half. Just the weirdness but in an artistic sense that makes sense, vs. weird for the sake of weirdness. This is still melodic for the most part.

This is soo bad. 0.5 stars.

Somewhere round the 3rd or 4th ranked KB album I would think, but still an excellent record.

It's weird, but it definitely feels like it has it's fingers in a lot of things that came after and draws from all kinds of influences.

I’m a fan of Kate Bush and appreciate her eclectic and theatrical style but I think this is the first end to end listen for me and I would much prefer these songs to be sprinkled throughout a movie rather than listen to them back to back.

Ugh sorry Kate, this was a toughie. I quite like your other album but this was pretty hard to get into.

I don't get it. Like truly. It's screechy and weird and unpleasant.

Appreciate the artistic vision but I didn’t enjoy this. The album is well produced though.

Not a fan of Kate's voice, or the often syncopated rhythm of the lyrics. Many songs are interesting and boring at the same time. 'Pull out the pin', i'm looking at you. All over the place. Could not finish. Two stars

Sounds like a very scratchy experimental rock opera. It's difficult to listen for a long time. At the same time I Imagine it should feel better since it's opera.

Bizarre but catchy and clever in enough ways to warrant a listen. I totally understand why this has received so many 1 star reviews, but it's on the right side of weird for me. The vocals are fantastic, varied in so many different ways. It's like being at the world's weirdest house party but still remains a good time. 09/07/24

She’s weird

Really enjoyed this.

a great album that took me about 10 years to appreciate , Maybe a bit inaccessible an introduction to kate bush though .

Keen to dive really deep into analysing this on future listens

It is very very Kate Bush Which can be equal parts impressive and just too much

-AHHH ONE OF MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME… Kate at her absolute most daring and creative. The storytelling aspects are incredible and every song feels like a whole new world. I wish she did more like this -Favorites are uhh all of them this album has zero flops. But if I had to choose, Sat In Your Lap, Suspended In Gaffa, Night Of The Swallow, Houdini, and Get Out Of My House

Well, Kate Bush officially joins the ABYD 5-star Club. Criteria seems to be an artist or album I’m not already very familiar ++ significant repeat value in that I feel like I could listen to it, intentionally, forever and don’t want to move on. I don’t want to move on after 2-3 listens. These rating are all relative, of course, so this one could have been influenced by the fact that its predecessor was Sade — meh — but The Dreaming is now in good company with Talking Heads Remain in Light and a near 5-star Eiensturzende Neubaten debut. Something about the production techniques and sensibilities of the time period seems to really be resonating with me, as both a music fan and hobbyist music maker. Hmmm…

too much baby talk!

It was ... Interesting... I wouldn't be surprised if Kate Bush listed Yoko Ono as an influence. The second half of the album got better.

Long seen as the runt in the KB catalogue, this album is undergoing a serious re-appraisal and quite rightly. I am a lifelong Kate head so bearing that in mind.... My current view on this album is that it suffers from its place in the catalogue, after Never For Ever birthed 3 monster hit singles (UK) and was her first No 1 album. After three years she returns with an almost entirely synth-led and sample-heavy album with no obvious hit singles. Failure. but what's next? What almost all agree is her crowning achievement, Hounds of Love. Listen to this album as a dry run at HOL, a first stab, and it makes a lot more sense. Tracks 1-5 are the wonky synthpop she would perfect an album later. The second side, though not a suite, explores the varied instrumentation and arrangements that she'd nail on Before the Dawn. This is not five stars, but it set her on a new course that would result in one of the greatest albums of the eighties. It couldn't have happened without this.

More artsy and daring than the standard Kate Bush. Pop premium right there

I tried, couldn’t make it more than halfway. Her voice just got too annoying and the songs got worse and worse

💙 incredible. I liked this the first time I heard it, and then listened again and liked it more, and now it's definitely in the rotation. A very weird and cool album that she produced herself (werk). The effects she uses must've been wild in the early 80s. Even now, they're super unique to Kate Bush's sound. You can totally hear the influence Kate Bush had on Björk. Rad as hell

J’aime beaucoup Kate Bush, sa voix particulière, ses explorations singulières, une vraie artiste

to much for me .. 3 stars

Aleight

Weird one (affectionate)

Kate Bush might be one of the most critically acclaimed pop singer-songwriters of all time. You just don’t see her apart of the same conversations as people like Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson or Elton John because her music has always been for a different group of people. I was only aware of her biggest hit before today. And based on the reviews I was seeing of this record, it was looking to be very interesting. One that was wholly unsuccessful upon release, but was eventually reevaluated as a highlight of her career. And to anyone that is thinking of listening to this, prepare yourself for something unlike any music you’ve probably ever heard. When I heard Swordfishtrombones, I was very shocked at how much I enjoyed it. And considering that, it makes sense why so much of this album is so cool to me. I’ve heard that this was a big influence on Björk. And listening to this, and then comparing it to her debut, it all makes so much more sense. This record is disturbing and incredible in so many weird ways. I was seriously not aware of the kind of vocal range this woman had, but the displays she puts on are haunting and so entertaining to listen to. There is probably more creativity and uniquely crafted instrumentation going on in this album’s 40 minute run time than in some artists entire careers. I was sort of on the fence towards the beginning, with some songs being cool and some not feeling as complete. But once you get to that second half, I swear the album just gets ten times as beautiful, and it totally elevates the quality of this. Those last five songs justify the entire listening experience. I think if you are a fan of art pop, and are prepared to hear something that is experimental, but still decently accessible, you should give this a shot. It’s definitely an important part of pop history. Kate was basically David Gilmour’s protégé at the beginning of her career when she was only a teenager. I think that speaks volumes about her talents as a songwriter. Rating: 8/10

An inspiration for many contemporary popular artists. She’s just perfect and this album is way ahead of its time.

Wild and interesting album to be sure. Certainly not Hounds of Love or The Kick Inside, but it's certainly an album of all time. It's a weird record that takes a number of plays to get into and can be a little unsettling at times, but it is a good album overall, even if it's not her most user friendly or popular releases. If you want more approachable version of one of these tracks, check out Ra Ra Riot's version of "Suspended In Gaffa" 3.5/4 stars

Second album of Kate Bush on this list that I absolutely love. I think this list is converting me into a Kate Bush fan.

horror movie scene change music

pretty weird and not always pleasant but usually interesting

The album was so bizarre but in a very structured way. Absolutely fantastic.

People wtf?!! The third KB album and it sucks just like the other two. Maybe if she wasn’t experimenting in the 80’s she would have achieved something. But I mean. Cmon!

It wasn't bad. I didn't even hate it that much. It was just her high pitched singing and squealing and screeching. I couldn't take it after awhile. However, it did have funky little beats and I'm impressed by Kate's vocal range. 2/5

Even better than expected 4,5

Interesting arrangements but vocals ranged no from shrieking to juvenile sounding banter. Night of the Swallow was my selected favorite.

Amazed to find this on here instead of all the superior Kate Bush albums. Found this grating and pretentious but only had time to listen once. All though this clearly paves the way for the self-produced 'Hounds of Love' that was next, it does sound like she's in a bit of a creative cul-de-sac here, maybe even crisis, it's all trying too hard. If she had to go through this one to get to HoL then great, but this is not essential. Will try again... eventually.

This jumped out at me at first but then tailed off and Sam found it annoying. Probably a 3 but I would look forward to other albums by her

Kate bush. And woman with the voice of both an angel and a banshee. She uses it to great effect here.

Madder than Mad John McMad - but also perfectly pitched in its weirdness.

I kept telling myself it wasn't bad. No matter what bizarre, unorthodox, idiosyncratic choices she made, I just said to myself, "It's just a little weird, but nothing TOO unbearable." And then. The God. Damn. Mule. Noises. Yes, they really were that bad. Not that there was much of the album to ruin, anyways, but the mule sounds made me put my foot down and officially call this a bad album. I guess there's a couple of songs that weren't so bad, but most of them were bad at best. Thank God this was just a misstep in a successful career.

Yikes. Maybe I'm a cretin who only likes music when it is played using traditional instruments like the guitar, the piano, and the drums, and not when it sounds like a cross between a science experiment and a witch's incantation. Did not like this one at all, and found myself scrunching my face up in confusion or disgust at multiple times.

That's not my taste in musik.

I need to listen to more Kate Bush was my take away. Not an easy album but always compelling.

Some fives are better than other fives. I read one guy who worked with Kate Bush who felt that this album was over cluttered with too many sounds but I think that's what makes it so great. Every time you come back you hear new things. Also some of her best lyrics and use of different styles of singing in the one song, line even.

I’m only 3 songs in and this just sucks. Update: All done, and yeah, the whole thing sucks.

Urgh, my second Kate Bush album, both either side of the excellent Hounds of Love, both unmitigated shite...

WOW. Kate seems totally unhinged and unrestrained on this album, and just so over-the-top theatrical and dramatic. I love so many aspects about this album including the wild orchestral instrumentation, mix of Kate's and deep male (almost chant-ish) vocals and just how raw it all feels. Since starting this list I've gotten quite a bit into Björk and I can absolutely see this as a huge influence. Crazy fun! 9/10

Not a fan.

Weird …

Good sound i suppose

Well, I’m pretty sure this album wouldn’t have made a list done in 2024

9/10. Completely bonkers. Haven't heard anything like it before, not even from Kate Bush herself. I love it. Great opening track which immediately got me excited followed by two more bangers. After that it sometimes becomes a bit too slow or weird but it's all just too charming to fault it for that. Highlights: Pull out the Pin There Goes a Tenner Sat in Your Lap Night of the Swallow Get out of My House All the Love Suspended in Gaffa

The only Kate Bush album that I'm familiar with is Hounds of Love, which I really like. This is my first album of hers to review for this project, and I was really excited to see it pop up for me today. Unfortunately though, I didn't really care for this much. This album is certainly ambitious; Kate Bush really went out on a limb with her avant-pop sound, but the result feels like a mess. I found the overall sound pretty jarring and not really enjoyable to listen to. There were small musical elements here and there that I enjoyed, but nothing could soften the overall sound of this album for me. Lyrically, the album was all over the place as well. The subject matter of these songs range from humanity's quest for knowledge to Houdini, without any themes that tie everything together. The individual songs are well written, and incredibly creative, but I didn't care for how this album felt like a patchwork of lyrics and music. I know that Kate Bush is incredibly underrated and influential, but this album just wasn't for me.

Very eccentric, impressive vocals, not always catchy songs but always arresting and interesting. Clear influence on Lorde, Sia, Marina and the Diamonds, and Florence + the machine. Pull out the pin, suspended in gaffa, and get out of my house were my top tracks. 4 🌟

sure man

It was at least interesting

This was the first Kate Bush album I bought myself. My father loved her and had the older ones. Although it was completely different compared to the older material, I was mesmerized. She is a phenomenal storyteller, often using different dialects to fit her role in her songs. Knowing the back story of the songs helps to understand them better (like e.g. Pull Out the Pin). My favorites are still The Dreaming and Night of the Swallow.

Ok-ish album, with this and Bowie it feels we're getting the more mediocre albums of big stars?

Interesting vibes, I liked it but it didn't blow me away at any point

if i only could i'd make a deal with god and i'd get him to turn off this album

Normally I like weird and experimental stuff. But this was… I don’t even know. Nothing struck me or stuck with me at all, and there were times I audibly went ‘Oh no’. Not her best

Music for people who don’t like music

"Musicians such as Björk and Big Boi have cited The Dreaming as one of their favourite albums..." Yes, I see that 😅... I appreciate what Kate does on this album, but for me it is to weird and not memorable at all... Crazy, different, but only occasionally good melodies...

Didn’t love it. I bet she was an influence for Fiona Apple

Kate Bush is better in theory than she is in practice. Not a fan of all the screaming even though I can appreciate it

All 3. Deleted my rating on accident and I'm not typing them out again. Interesting. Not my music, but not bad music.

06/06/24 S Tier—————————5 A Tier—————————4 B Tier—————————3 There Goes a Tenner Night of the Swallow Suspended in Gaffa Pull Out the Pin C Tier—————————2 Leave it Open The Dreaming Get Out Of My House D Tier—————————1 Sat In Your Lap

The Dreaming by Kate Bush Thursday 6/6/2024 11:01 S Tier————————— There Goes A Tenner Sat In Your Lap Pull Out The Pin A Tier————————— Night of The Swallow All The Love B Tier————————— Suspended in Gaffa Leave it Open Houdini Get Out Of My House The Dreaming

A portrait by a true artist, even if it's a little mired in chaos. There are a lot of musically rich details here, and I love that she is using the bleeding edge technology of the day to take pop structures to new places. That don't make it any less challenging of a listen. Plus, you could argue that without this artist exploration, you don't get the landmark Hounds of Love that follows. Then, this style of art pop has had such a clear influence in so many to follow, like Bjork and St. Vincent. Still, this is the exploration, not the finished product.

Interesting but I think I need another listen or two.

It's not good, but kind of interesting. Maybe for the time it was pushing the envelope, I could see this influencing future artists. 2.6.

Kate Bush is hugely influential, but I just can't dig her stuff.

Too odd for me to rate it higher.

What kind of alien abduction experiment is this.

Mostly dreamt of listening to another album.

Tried one last time to enjoy this quote-unquote "experimental" album by this grand priestess of weird "avant-garde" pop. Opener "Sat On My Lap" and second cut "There Goes A Tenner", with their ridiculously cheesy and artificial-sounding simulation of trumpet / brass section on the Fairlight CMI synth, make that umpteenth attempt extremely difficult. More atmospheric "Pull Out The Pin", where Kate Bush screams her lungs out to perform the "I love life" vocal hook in such an impressive and fully theatrical fashion, surprisingly fares far better. And so does waltzy "Suspended In Gaffa", thanks to its (this time lush) synth parts imitating a string quartet, along with its memorable ecstatic chorus. Background male vocal parts (some of whom performed by Bush's mentor Dave Gilmour, from the Floyd), also bring interesting layers to those tunes. Conversely, "Leave It Open" comes off as a pointless, shapeless and tasteless dirge that's mostly a pretext for more performative or heavily produced and manipulated vocal shenanigans. Skip that one as soon as you can. At first, the track that follows (giving its name to the whole LP) sounds like another self-indulgent, gratuitous exercise in being weird for the sake of being weird, but I have to admit the performance and composition quickly becomes strangely addictive. The didgeridoo brings an evocative background mood, but it's mostly the Meredith-Monk-inspired vocals that seal the deal here. After that full-blown delirium, the admittedly *objectively* extravagant "Night Of The Swallow" almost come off as "mundane", in spite of its lively Irish folk music instrumentation. Likewise, "All The Love" hits interesting marks, especially in its cinematic breaks / bridge sections using haunted vocals to suggest a foggy landscape filled with forlorn ghosts. Yet one can't help feeling that those two cuts are drafts for the even more wonderful experimental moments that would make *Hounds Of Love* so striking and breathtaking. Ballad "Houdini" then tries hard to revisit the peculiar and yet enticing harmonies of "Wuthering Heights", mixed with some weirder (and sometimes more grating) moments in keeping with the overall feel and tone of this record. Yet what comes off is that the song is only an afterthought to Kate's debut hit (or the later one "Breathing"). Finally, "Get Out Of My House" concludes the whole weirdfest in a way that nicely sums up what the whole album conveys, both in its good and arguably terrible moments. The braying of donkey was a fun touch (just like the sheep bleating on the title track), but it's mostly the guitar parts and the (qawwali-inspired?) vocal adlib during the fade out that leave the strongest impression here. Not that said impression is "fully" convincing... Verdict: glad I tried one more time, because in spite of the blatantly self-indulgent or overblown moments in this LP, there are also terrifically creative and let's dare say *entertaining* spots in it. It's always a very thin line between the two with Kate Bush, who managed to find a more satisfactory middle ground between her experimental, extravagant drive and a more streamlined pop appeal elsewhere, in her truly *essential* albums (*Hounds Of Love*, and possibly also *Never For Ever* or *The Kick Inside*). Yet I now like or at least can appreciate half of those songs, most of them in the middle of this LP. And it's possible others grow on me after. That said, the first two tracks (singles from the album, I think--quite inexplicably, I might add) definitely come off as bad and tragically "dated" and daft to my ears. Therefore, there's no way I can ever consider this LP as "essential", not with such clunkers opening it. *The Dreaming* was a great laboratory for Bush, allowing her to try out new ideas and sounds. But, in science as in music, some results should stay in the test tubes and never see the light of day. 2.5/5 for the purposes of this particular list, rounded up to 3. 7.5/10 for more general purposes (5+2.5) Number of albums left to review: 195 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 347 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 202 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 256 (including this one)

I think I've pretty thoroughly proven throughout this exercise that I do not need to have a traditionally great singing voice to appreciate the music. However, if your singing voice sounds like it's trying to be bad on purpose, I have almost no time for you. Kate, you're a singer-songwriter, for crying out loud. Can you try not using your Bene Gesserit voice on half the songs?

Well that was a wild ride. Maybe the most insane album yet. I really enjoyed it, but its a bit much for regular listening (save for the 2 tracks listed below). 4 stars for being interesting, 3 stars for enjoyment. Standout tracks: - Pull Out the Pin - Leave it Open - When she screams GET OUT OF MY HOUSE in Get Out of My House Album Cover: A-

Mood: neutral+ Setting: working I had never heard of this artist. The first 10 seconds I was thinking "Oh God this album is going to be a chore." However by the end of the first song I was totally sold. Pretty unique sounding, I enjoyed it.

This album was very weird but good. I am quite behind, so that is all I have to say. 6/10

The haunting witch vocals throughout really tie the room together.

Distinctive KB voice. I enjoyed it.

The Racket, more like

Ehh, just not good. A strange album with some real random vocal choices. 1/5 won’t listen again

1982 fue el año de Thriller, 1999, Avalon, Pornogaphy, Nebraska y los debuts de Felt, Coucteau Twins, Laurie Anderson o Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Otros realmente buenos también fueron New gold dream, Glassworks, The days of wine and roses, Too Rye Ay, The lexicon of love... Este disco de Kate es una obra de arte que se aleja de estándares comerciales como los de sus tres discos anteriores o el posterior, Hounds of love, su disco mas completo y recomendable. Experimental y poliédrico, buscando los límites o atravesandolos, Kate asimiló The Wall y otras influencias como la experimentación y teatralidad de Peter Gabriel o David Bowie, y las pasó por su personal filtro para componer un disco lejos de su tiempo. Lógicamente fue un fracaso de ventas y crítica. Comienza con brío Sat in your lap, de la que tomarían buena nota artistas como Bjork o St.Vincent. Prosigue con uno de sus mejores temas There goles a tenner para proseguir con una terrorífica Pull out the pin y volver a un cauce menos experimental con las sugerentes Suspended in Gaffa y Leave it open. The dreamer tiene ecos de Cocteau Twins pero sin su gancho melódico y onírico. Night of the swallow es un viaje trufado de voces , teclados y coros que finaliza con una flauta new age que te deja atónito después de haber sido sometido a un meneo de más de 5 minutos. No es su mejor disco sino uno mucho mas experimental y complicado de escuchar. Ha sido referenciado como influencia por artistas diversos pero carece de la magia del eterno wutherin heights o las canciones de Hounds of love. Sin embargo el no tener un tema que capitalice toda la atención le dota de una coherencia que aumenta su valor como obra completa en sí misma que con el paso del tiempo lejos de perder valor se mantiene igual de recomendable. Son muy interesantes las percusiones y bajos en este disco, cercanos al Post Punk , donde Siouxsie Sioux supo asimilar los avances de este disco para sus obras con los Banshees. Get Outlook of my house podría ser un buen ejemplo de ello.

Kate Bush is typcially mental on this album and for me she swings wildly from absolute banger to complete whimsy while tripping on bad acid. She is a sure fire genius though so maybe when the tracks that don't hit that's actually my fault? I mean, the donkey braying at the end of the album proves that right? Right? Best Tracks: Sat In Your Lap; Pull Out the Pin; Suspended in Gaffa;

Mad but great voice. Possibly a grower

Lovely

She’s an odd gal… interesting music and sound. 3.75

Not as "experimental" as I anticipated. She has a nice voice, and the album has nice vibes.

Interesting

My second Kate Bush album, which somehow wins me over by being even weirder than the last one I listened to.

Fiquei com a impressão que se tratava de uma tentativa, frutada, de soar como gótica.

En este disco de 1985 Kate Bush protesta reflexivamente sobre un mundo dominado por los hombres. Pop-rock alternativo, con incursiones en el music hall o en la música teatral y melodías en ocasiones abstractas y extravagantes, pero siempre muy emocionales. No es el disco que más me gusta de la cantautora británica, pero si tiene momentos brillantes, como "Suspended in Gaffa" o la vivaz "Get Out of My House".

Kate is truly unfettered and unhinged here, free to explore all of her wackiest and most surreal artistic impulses. The world needs more legitimate artists and less pseudo "tortured poets".

Sounded like it should be the soundtrack to a musical. And not a great musical.

So many sing alongs, love it

Kate Bush's "The Dreaming" is a bit of an enigma on the first listen. Albums with this level of complexity often require a second or third listen to fully appreciate their depth. I have a deep appreciation for Kate Bush, particularly because she's a significant influence on one of my favorite artists, Tori Amos. The similarities in their vocal tonality are evident, yet Kate's musical style in "The Dreaming" draws a closer parallel to Björk's experimental and eclectic sound. There's a quirky, almost otherworldly quality to this album that reminds me distinctly of Björk’s work. Tori Amos’s music tends to be more straightforward and emotionally direct, which resonates with me on a more personal level. While I admire Kate for pushing boundaries and creating something truly unique, there are moments on "The Dreaming" where it feels like she might be trying too hard to be kooky—parts of the album feel more forced than naturally eccentric. This can sometimes overshadow the raw talent and genuine creativity that is clearly there. Favourite Tracks: Night Of The Swallow, All The Love

Weird and wonderful

Kate Bush is een van de artiesten die ik altijd een beetje heb vermeden. Ik heb het vermoeden dat ze fantastisch goed is (als ik mijn moeder mag geloven). Het is dan toch een keer tijd om Kate een kans te geven. Meteen is de introsong bijzonder, de structuur is interessant. Iets wat je verwacht van Kate Bush. De nummers er na werden wel héél barokkerig, art-rockerig, melodramatisch. Voor mij vaak net wat too much. Maar qua experiment, uniekheid en muzikaliteit scoort het een heel hoog cijfer. Rating: 7/10 Highlights: Sat In Your Lap, Get Out Of My House

Ik waardeer muziek waar de grenzen van geluid worden verkend, en Kate Bush is mogelijk de vrouw die de meeste grond in de "last frontiers" der popmuziek heeft gecultiveerd. Haar werk zit altijd vol met sounds waarvan de luisteraar geen idee heeft wat of wie ze maakt, wat haar albums voor mij altijd op muziektechnisch gebied echt fascinerend maken. Dit was voor mij een wat minder bekend album, en hij zit na twee luisterbeurten zeker niet bij m'n favoriete werk van de avonturier. Waar ik vaak in haar discografie wel een goede balans weet te vinden tussen interessante experimentatie enerzijds, en luisterplezier anderzijds, heb ik bij dit album een beetje het idee dat ze te veel wilde. Het is artpop met de nadruk op art, wat soms een kakofonie aan abstracte geluiden en vocalen oplevert zoals in 'Pull Out The Pin'. Als Kate expressief begint te brullen dan voel je dat echt wel, en het levert wat realisme in een overwegend fantasierijk muziekstuk. Maar deze stemwisselingen overdoet ze wel een beetje, wat een zenuwachtige luisterbeurt oplevert. Dit bouwt langzaam op naar de orgastische explosie in de afsluiter, waar we nog even mee mogen genieten van een geluidsfragment opgenomen in een ezelfokkerij. Sterke momenten zijn er ook, met de opener 'Sat In Your Lap' en het weergaloze 'Suspended In Gaffa'. Die tweede is wel de absolute kroon op haar discografie. Bij deze twee songs is de balans tussen comfort en experimentatie wél juist, maar die is te vaak zoek om er echt een prettige luisterervaring aan over te houden. Maar ik waardeer projectjes als deze wel, die hit or miss zijn, maar altijd veel deuren openen voor andere muzikanten. 6/10 Highlights: Sat In Your Lap Suspended In Gaffa

Ik ben nogal ambivalent over the Dreaming van Kate Bush. Ergens wekt de plaat een bepaalde irritatie bij me op en tegelijkertijd is het ook fascinerend. De nummers gaan soms van hot naar her en op het moment dat je denkt; "hier ben ik wel klaar", breekt het beste stuk van het nummer aan. En ja, wat moet je er dan van zeggen? Ik ga het nog wel een keer proberen, later. Of niet. 6,5/10 Highlights Geen idee

2.5 This was really weird but kinda fascinating? Suspended in Gaga was genuinely great then in Houdini it sounded like she was doing a muppet impersonation. I don't know if I love it or hate it, definitely needs a few more spins

It’s interesting but would take a good few listens to get into

Just horrible

Very theatrical and eclectic. Not my thing

MOTHERRRRR

I kind of like Sat in Your Lap and There Goes a Tenner

To call this album theatrical feels like a slight, because although it is very dramatic and highly romanticized, it is not campy or maudlin. How impressive is it to self produce an album like this that your critics called uncommercial but goes to #3 on the charts. This album is visionary, I can hear the broad influence this has had from Bjork to Fiona Apple to Grimes. It’s surprisingly brilliant, even if it is jarring at times. I really enjoyed the opener, Suspended in Gaffa, Night of the Swallow, and Houdini. Vivid imagery and fascinating instrumentation. Really enjoyed this.

This album is absolutely insane - the vocals run all over the place and the sounds are jarring at times. I like her other album better but this one is bananas

I know the critics love her, and understand she's trying to push the boundaries, but at a certain point it's just noise. Other than Running Up That Hill, I'm passing on most things Kate Bush.

Good

Rather butt chug

I made it through 2 songs before I had to call it. Not for me!

Suspended in Gaffe went way harder than I expected it would when the song first started. I appreciate what Kate Bush is doing here musically and would say it works for the majority. Prior to this I only knew Running up that Hill by her but im glad we got to explore her further. She has a very unique way of singing and constructing a song that I appreciate. I plan on coming back to this and further exploring her music catalog

While I don't think I totally vibe with some of the music choices I can't help but respect what kate bush did here. It all came together sonically and makes sense in a kind of unhinged way. I don't think I'm going to put this album on unless I'm going green goblin mode.

I couldn't even listen to it. Yuck.

Not my jam.

I love Kate Bush. And I'm no johnny-come-lately fan who discovered her because of Netflix's Stranger Things. I've loved her since the 80s. But this record...I just can't. It feels very self-consciously art-rock. Her best is still The Kick Inside, and that album better have made this list. Still love ya, Kate!

Did you ever wake up and find yourself completely naked except for a blindfold, duct taped to a metal folding chair, with your hands tied behind your back? There are questions, adrenaline, and dread. This album has that and more. It is dark and fantastically dramatic. I listened with my eyes closed; the show was filled with torchlit tunnels, a dragon’s lair, beings made from mud coming to life, cauldrons, an occasional searchlight, and fangs. I’d love to see the live production, broadway musical, or Circ de Soliel show (if available.) The Dreaming is the best song, but it is sinister. This album may be a creature that escaped from Pandora’s box; it’s out, it’s disturbing, and it can’t be put back in. Kate must have been having nightmares when she put this project together. Well done, but not my type of art. (2.9*s)

This album is super experimental and ahead of it's time (like all her work IMO). It's far better than a lot of other stuff that came out in the 80's but it's a bit too theatrical for me. I like a lot about it (except Suspended in Gaffa) but it also reminded me of a really dark Disney soundtrack with little muppets popping out everywhere with hisses and chants. You're transported on this wild journey for sure and it's no surprise that Bjork cites this as a fave or that it took KB 2+ years to craft (she's obviously talented). I really like the variety, from witches to bagpipes, she pulls it off. Night of the Swallow is brilliance but not for the mainstream. In the words of Uncle Ronnie... "fricken bizarre." She's taking big chances and they're working.

I was excited to see another KB album seeing how much I enjoyed HOL. This go around though...not so much. This album was out there. Songs had me picturing KB lying in fields of silk to dancing around bubbling cauldrons. Very theatrical. In fact, sounded like it was a broadway play score. I did not like this as much as I had hoped but if it were to be made into a broadway play, I would go. I would love to see the interpretation (specifically the finale with the lead kicking a possessed donkey out of here house).

I was worried as I initially hit play. Once this got going I was on board with the weird experimental indy stuff that Kate Bush went for. She managed to thread the needle of experimental weirdness while still keeping this engaging and effective. A fun varied listen. 2.75 stars

Creative music - I like it.

Insane

While listening to this, I kept thinking, “how much more would I hate this album if I didn’t feel like I should like it since it’s Kate Bush?” The answer is, A LOT. Not a fan of this at all. Sorry, Kate, this just didn’t work for me.

Well it's always a pleasure to hear Kate Bush isn't it. I love how her style comes through in all parts of the music, down to the choice of beat and percussion. Nothing held back in terms of drama and glamour. Heard some songs new to me

Ladies and gentlemen, it's a K-Town Banger!! Just perfect.

I have to say I'm in love with this album. Every song comes on you think well, this is as weird as it's gonna get and it keeps getting weirder and weird her. But it keeps its consistency as well. Remains one total project. Kind of dips off in the end, there. But.

Did not care for it

Not great

Good album, no classic tracks but solid

Awful

Yeah, this was cool then and its cool now. Kate Bush is an original.

Kate’s an interesting creature. She uses her voice as an instrument like you’d use any other. It’s kind of annoying if you aren’t intimately familiar with her work and style. This was original and unique, fun at times, plenty of range, good production, structure, writing, and lyrics. It isn’t for everybody, but if you can dig Bush, you’ll really dig this. 4/5

Listening to this album, I can confirm that Kate Bush's songs are not made for me. I really can't appreciate it as it looks like it deserves. However, I must say that this specific album is pretty intense, with a lot of personality, experimentalism, and audacity, which catch my attention for some songs.

Kate Bush's vocals and song construction feel carnivalish to me. I imagine dancing oompahloompahs and theatrical, bare-breasted muses quirkily bouncing across a stage in a circus tent.

It's a bit wild and quite a bit of it doesn't hit.

Time eventually did Kate Bush right. That's right, time allowed Kate Bush to rise to the top, not Stranger Things (although that series clearly didn't hurt). Time proved that Kate Bush was eons ahead of her time. I remain baffled that American radio wasn't ready for her in the ’80's and instead embraced the likes of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. Apparently that was as unusual as the states could take. Kate was like Marty McFly shr shredding at the Enchanted Under The Sea dance in Back To The Future, puzzling 1955 teenagers. But trust me, their parents were going to love it. And this album, her so-called "eccentric" album, sounds decades ahead of its time in 2024. It's her "Around The World In A Day" album, the one Prince released immediately after Purple Rain in an effort to veer away from popularity. And yet I have a sneaky suspicion that 30 years from now, your parents are going to swear by this album.

Couldn't finish it, not her best album

This records leans into the weird in a way I really like, but last any hooks that make me want to return to it. I hate to be the person who only likes Running up the hill, but that was weird and haunting AND had the hook. This album just needed that something extra.

Not a fan.

Not my cup of tea.

I’m sorry I wronged Kate bush so early on in this list but how was I supposed to know there would be so many less than average albums. The previous two Kate bush albums I’ve gotten show her talent but I just cannot really get into. 80s Brit pop is a very polarizing genre. Some I enjoy some I don’t. This is adequately in the middle of that. 4.2/10

Has a few redeeming qualities, but generally sounds like Yoko Ohno if she could carry a tune. Haha!

Wow. Some serious wailing on this one. Pish.

I love this album. It’s so beautifully weird. I love how her songs don’t sound alike (or like anybody else) and yet they all sound like Kate Bush. Soooo creative! This is a good one.

Kind of weird, but, for me it is not some "pleasant weird" like Bjork, but "uncomfortably weird". I suppose, the album was intended as experimental, but now it sounds sooo 80s it hurts. Good experimental albums should be hard to age-date. I'm pretty sure that for Kate Bush's fans at the time this was kind of fresh air or stepping out of a comfort zone, but for me now... just weird stuff.

p495. 1982. 3 stars. Mad as a sack of frogs. This is Kate in her most screechy and oddest phase, with one of her worst songs (There Goes A Tenner) and the entire album switches from genre to genre like a hyperactive child with attention deficit disorder. And yet, and yet... strangely accessible. Bit like Kate :)

This is what happens when you give an incredibly talented, weird musician carte blanche. I love the weird stuff.

Dreadful

Well that turned the theatericality up to 11. Can't say it wasn't unique.

It was alright

I’d not heard this album before this. Hounds of Love is the only Bush album I have listened to before and I don’t love it, so I had lowered expectations for The Dreaming. It’s amazing though. Sat In Your Lap immediately announces that is album is different. This song to me would fit on Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters. From there it goes on a strange journey. This album is weird as shit! And wonderfully so. Pull Out The Pin is a bit of a creeper, and the screams add some horror to the sound. This is an incredible album from start to finish. A typical a sign of a masterpiece is when the album feels like it takes you on a journey. Five Stars.

No es el mejor disco de Kate Bush. La producción excesiva de los 80.

On the previous Kate Bush album I said: "not for me". For this one I can say _definitely_ not for me!

unexpectedly hard rock at some points? definitely unexpected, definitely well executed, but its just not my fav. 4/7

Kate Bush used to make crazy, weird, genreless, sometimes genius music. I genuinely believe she would get less criticism if she were a man. She used innovative sampling techniques and interesting chord progressions. I really like Sat in Your Lap, it is truly a nuts song but there is nothing else like it. Her mockney accent (and donkey braying) did always make me cringe, and Hounds of Love is a better album but this one is still a unique work of art in my opinion, and I do love our Kate.

I believe that Kate Bush fills a very special niche in music. However, though I can appreciate the quality it contains, I am not part of it.

Nice vocals, but I found it a bit monotonous.

Big Boi, part of the greatest rap duo of all time, Outkast, named this his favorite album ever. Not terrible but her next album is better.

bad. only good if it gets meme'd

It has its moments. Sounds like music made for Winona Ryder.

This album isn't for music lovers. Not music lovers in the traditional sense, anyway. This is an album made by a theater kid with dreams of working in show business, not the music industry. It's an audition for the West End. A beckoning to Broadway. I listen to all of these albums on YouTube. I mainly do this because I like watching the music videos. Each video for The Dreaming supports my "Theater Kid" theory. I don't remember seeing a single instrument being played in any of them. The music appears to be a secondary consideration to whatever the fuck Kate Bush is doing. Her "performance", I guess. Some may describe this album as "experimental". That's just a polite way of saying it sucked ass. Hard. 👎👎

Rather eccentric album. It definitely sounds like something that would have been made in the 80s. The main thing that threw me off was the upper octave echo parts throughout most of the tracks. I skipped a few tracks when that started up. Won't listen again. 2/5

Very avant garde

This is a masterful effort, and it's an actual masterpiece. So complexly imagined and executed at levels of musical intricacy rarely achieved. Just a little shy of giving it 5 stars because a couple of songs bleed a little into pop sounding. Yeah but you know what, I've rarely given any 5 star ratings so far, I'll do it it!!

Regarded as one of Kate Bush’s more eclectic albums, “The Dreaming” is strange and avant garde. Totally 80’s but weird and screechy.

Disappointing, given the other Kate Bush albums I've had on here which I've rather enjoyed. Feels a bit out of left field this album, alternative and edgy in a negative way. The growls and screams can work great in the right genre, but this is not it.

Disliked.

Not accessible to get above a 3, but too cool to fall below a 3. It is really cool, but just not something I'd come back to.

Lovely bonkers Kate, another artist I didn't appreciate at the time and thought was too weird - and am now making up for lost time with! Don't know many, if any, tracks from this album so was a nice journey to go through.

Some songs were so so good and some were very not for me so I think that makes it okay overall.

Why doesn't this connect to me more. Breathless, sensitive, evocative, quirky and clever. I think it's got potential still, barely a three star. Just because it's Kate, because she is clever and because I am prepared to try to listen again. But not quite a three star because I wouldn't ask her out, or this album out, for my own modest personal reasons for how I enjoy music. Let's hope 2 stars can rise to three with more listening.

I think that Kate Bush is soo underrated 'cause she has a very unique and iconic voices with just one note that she sings. I don't exactly know what to think about this album cause i'm actually not a fan of this particular music, even tho i think that is weird but is not bad at all. I think that the experimental stuff was sometimes great, sometimes not.

Possibly the worst album I've ever heard. She should start a band with Yoko Ono.

Well it wasn't boring, so that's something. Just wasn't pleasant to listen to, at all.

Brilliantly bonkers Bush.

Unless you try how would you ever know that you couldn't do Australian or Cockney accents? Mad as a box of frogs.

absolutely no fucks given

Do not like at all. Couldn’t even get through the second song.

Respect the artist? Yes. Relate to the artwork? Ach, not so much.

Mwah

Kate Bush can do no wrong

01) Sat In Your Lap - 7,5 02) There Goes A Tenner - 7,0 03) Pull Out The Pin - 7,0 04) Suspended In Gaffa - 8,0 05) Leave It Open - 7,0 06) The Dreaming - 6,5 07) Night Of The Swallow - 7,0 08) All The Love - 6,5 09) Houdini - 6,0 10) Get Out Of My House - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,85 (69/100)

Interesting but also very werid.

Seriously, another fourth studio album? Is this when people peak? I guess it must be. Note to self: only buy and listen to fourth studio albums. Sorry No Doubt, I gotta skip Tragic Kingdom and go straight to Return of Saturn.... and just where is No Doubt on this list.

So this is the 3rd Kate Bush album and i thought i knew what to expect. She still has a great an interesting voice, but i feel like she took some notes here to channel some bizarre Bjork-like cadences and then choose unusual art-house style vocalizations to drive people away. It's pretty challenging, especially as it seems she's chosen a new way to try to annoy us on every song. Music was fine, but can't make up for the overall strangeness. Don't really want to listen to it again.