New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

This album slipped across my mind without leaving any trace of it's time there.

This couldn't be more of its time if it tried. It's the musical equivalent of Molly Ringwald doing a Jane Fonda workout while wearing leg warmers and a Walkman. Very 1980s. But the 1980s was the best era for music (it just was alright), so that's just fine.

“ We heard the deacon's hopeful eulogy/ At least in dying you don't have to deal with New Wave for a second time” - The Hold Steady, “Multitude of Casualties” Hard to argue with that sentiment when an album like this comes along. This list is bloated with indistinguishable New Wave records, and this one in particular seems to revel in the genre’s worst overindulgences. Some of the instrumentation is interesting in a sort of curio way, but there was nothing here to make me want to listen again. Favourite track: “Promised You A Miracle”

Couple of amazing singles and a big load of rubbish

In listening to this for the first time in nearly 40 years my observations are 1) Jim Kerr's voice is just sooo smoooth, nothing like their first few albums, it's like he hired Mel Torme or Brian Ferry as a vocal coach 2) the band lays down beautiful textures and is happy to stay in the background and let Kerr sing 3) There are so many pop hooks and pop songs in general (!) - it's like they are shooting for that massive hit that would be heard in grocery stores and bus stations for decades to come, but that was still a year or two away. Sue says their prior album was better, which I can't disagree with, and smoe fans would have been disappointed by the less-edgy sound of this album. Before I gave it too high a mark I wanted to make sure the lyrics weren't fluff so I looked up King is White and in the Crowd - it's about the assassination of Anwar Sadat. Good enough for me.

Richly textured beautifully crafted songs making for a complete, cohesive album.

I just can't stand those 80's synths... this, as much of the decade stuff i've been hearing just did not age well

Every song sounds like it's going to be "Relax" by Frankie goes to Hollywood, but they always turn out to be better.

I along with most people really only know their one big hit, Don't You (Forget About Me), so this was a real treat to hear the band a few years prior. First thing of note to me was how involved the bass playing is; every song has a slick bass line that drives them forward. The layering of the mix with different synth sounds along with the rest of the band makes for a really fun soundscape that shifts with each song. Overall I’d say I was definitely not expecting 80’s pop to be so fine tuned; make no mistake, this is an album firmly planted in the 80’s, but even 40 years on now, it still sounds great. Extra points for so many of the album's 9 songs hitting the 5-minute mark. Top pick from first listen is "Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel." Even though this is the shortest song, the bass line drives the groove right from the get-go, the drum playing perfectly syncopated and I love the sparse hits from the synth, it creates such a vibe. Shout out to the single "Glittering Prize" and it’s ethereal like synths and constantly moving bass line.

A great groover that earns itself a solid, strong 4 from me. Really easy to make a mediocre muck of this genre, but they do it right with catchy hooks, varied production backing the synth-i-ness of it all, and a dramatically romantic lead with a brass voice. No moments where they go above and beyond to me, feels more slow burn on the dance floor in a drug haze type vibes, so at 4 it stays. Standout Tracks: Someone Somewhere In Summertime, Promised You A Miracle, Somebody up There Likes You, Hunter And The Hunted

Really didn't think I'd like it but, actually did.

Pre-listen: I’m so fucking sick of so many fucking 80’s albums. I hope I’m wrong and I look/sound like an idiot, but oh my god, it feels like every other album is from this wretched decade. Post-listen: nope, wasn’t wrong. More terribly boring and dated music to be filed away under the worst, most pretentious genre name: “sophisti-pop.” Spare me your declarations of how “intelligent” it is. It gets a generous bonus star for sounding competently made. 2/5

Horrible album cover! Nothing standing out for me on this one.

This sucked

Fun, dubby basslines. Bright, cracking drumming. Angular, reverb drenched, noisy guitars. Songs about Chelsea Girls and Murder. Jim Kerr's compelling vocals. Yes, Life in a Day is an excellent record. Check it out. . . Except that's not the album I was dealt. I did supplemental research and listening to attempt to get a handle on the one I was dealt. One thing I read is that producer Peter Walsh was tasked with capturing the sound of the band live. If this is how Simple Minds sounds live, it may be the lamest thing I have heard. Was Walsh responsible for turning Derek Forbes onto Stanley Clarke, and recording Forbes slapping in the most generic fashion imaginable? Did Walsh purposefully murder the drums into a mush of cardboard thuds? Can we blame Walsh for the whole band sound sliding into the the kind of AOR 1980s dribble that made worldwide moms think they, too, were "kinda punk". Post-Punk beginning into Air Supply bullshit? People that like this probably voted for Reagan or Thatcher. Get those acid washed Sassoons on. Chop up those baby laxative lines. Get an angular haircut. Find some shoulder pads. Put this on, and let the nothing happen. Recommended for Incels and Conservatives. If I could give this a black hole as a review, I would.

What’s not to like?

Brilliant. Was brilliant when released, and still is today

One of my favourite new-wave albums.

Brilliant 80's album! Every track is good.

De sacrées bonnes synthpoperies qui auront trouvé leur public au creux de mes oreilles crasseuses.

The version of this I listened to showed a 2016 date. I kept saying to myself, “Wow, this sounds a lot like early 80s electronica, but better.” Turns out I was listening to a re-release…or AppleMusic has the wrong date. Either way when I realized it was released in 1982, everything made more sense. New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) stands above most 80s electronica for me, especially tracks like Someone Somewhere, Hunter and Hunted, and the title track. I can hear snippets of Chromatics, a modern electronica band I dig, in this album. The bass guitar is badass. It carries the album. Derek Forbes, take a bow. The producer, Peter Walsh, should also be commended for pushing the bass so far forward in the mix.

Cet album vous permet désormais de comprendre pourquoi j'ai interverti mon père avec celui de mon camarade d'écoute robgouttière. En effet, alors que je me rapprochais de plus en plus du père de rob, et de sa caverne a vinyles hard rock, mon propre père tenta de s'interposer, et me glissa un album dans les mains afin de regagner mon coeur. Cet album, c'était New Gold Dream de Simple Minds. Comme vous le savez désormais, cet album est de très piètre qualité, ce qui finit d'entâcher complétement la relation qui me liait à mon père.

I don't like Simple Minds. It's a band that once was great and then... it's just not even ok. I see this album as the begining of their decadence.

Easily forgettable

Shite, twaddle, and unredeemable, synthetic trash.

Hat mir nich gefallen 1

If you love early new wave pop this is the album for you. It is painfully terrible.

good album

Loved it

I've always loved this band. This is a great album.

Fantastic album.

One of the Best!

Magnificent as is this band as well.

oh nice, that one-hit-wonder band this album was really good, I’m not too picky when it comes to this genre solid 9/10

Wonderful in the day. Lots of good songs.

LOVE 80s synth pop. Really enjoyed this!!

I love this album, capturing a moment where the chilly Euro-fluenced dance music they'd been perfecting on Empires and Dance and the Sister Feelings Call set thaw out with a new pop sensibility. It's really one mood, with pop sunshine ('Miracle') and longer more abstract tracks (King Is White) moving the dial back and forth but never leaving the unique mood they create on this album. From hereon in the law of diminishing artistic returns/bigger sales would kick in, as their writing and arrangements became simpler. But marvel at how complete an achievement this is.

Probably their best.

Iconic music executed at its best. One of my all time favourite groups, who produced a quality of sound that is as fresh today as it was 40 years ago.

Ace!

Perfect album!!

My favourite Simple Minds album used to be Once Upon a Time (I like the commercial Big Music sound). Then it became this album (the consensus album) but ultimately would go for Real to Real Cacophony. All three albums are very different from each other, but obviously 5 stars. There is not a single weak track on New Gold Dream and the songs are in the "right" order. A perfect album. Overall score: 10/10.

really good

I was surprised how gorgeous, lush and catchy so many songs were from this album. I genuinely went in with the presumption that Simple Minds were a one hit wonder, and here I am leaving with more songs that I genuinely prefer Don't you (forget about me). It's a wonderful cosmonaut of an album that leaves you entranced in it's simple but beautiful synths. It's not only so great on first listen but I think I'm definitely going to be coming back to this regularly. I do however wish the vocals were a little louder or present. I think the group could've put them a bit more into the centre focus. But first impressions are good, I was not expecting this to be one of my favorites of the previous albums I've listened to. And if you just want to listen to some genuinely great synth pop, go nuts!

I love New Wave so I was bound to enjoy this. The use of actual drums really helps this album, and the bass and guitar parts both jump out as particularly fantastic as well. I can definitely see the influence this album had.

An absolutely fantastic album for New Wave alternative. 3 absolutely undeniably great and catchy songs, and the rest exude a kind of haunting electronic beat that makes it a great listen.

First of all, those bass lines! 🤌 I hadn't heard this one at all before, although I of course I knew and liked Don't You Forget About Me. This is one of the dreamier and more ethereal 80s pop/new-wave albums I've heard up to this point... Which of course means it's right up my alley. Sparkling 80s synth + chugging funky bass + layers of reverb + smooth vocals... I mean, yeah, that's plenty enough to love for me already.

Super!

yes

Good

♥️

This album is awesome. Sound slike billy idol a bit

Oldie but a goodie!

Hell yeah. I know others fatigue of it, but I love the fact I've been able to discover tons of new wave thanks to this list. Bring it on!

This album is sensational. I love Jim Kerr's distinctive vocals and the music is brilliant. Such a great sound. One of my favourite bands. It's worth a listen for the instrumental too. Fabulous 👌

Huh! Thanks for reminding me if the glorious and Simple Minds. Adding them to my list of "live bands to see before I die' list now.... this album = Gorgeous on headphones - they were loving their work together and everything was just working for them. And they shapes pop music for a decade or more and there are some eternal songs that came out of this period (not all on this album, but you get a sense of how they can make soaring anthems here) . Warm sounds, funky beats, and playful - and most of all the gift for the warm voice of Jim Kerr, which of course have us - a few years later - "Don't you (forget about me)" which a new generation is learning. An excellent and very "tight" pop music style, rich vocals and all the funky electric toys of 80s music here. Yes this band deserves a place on the list. They would groove a stadium live. Something to keep in mind. I just checked. Anyone going to be in Nimes (FR) ON 12 JULY?

Love the vibe

Ethereal melodies, uplifting.

One of my favourite Simple Minds albums - my favourite track is the last one: "King is White and in the Crowd".

Pretty groovy!

6,5/10

This one was fun. I liked quite a few of the songs and added them to some playlists. While it's not a favorite album, I think it's one I will return to.

Pretty strong 80s vibes. New age and movie like soundtrack tunes

badass synth pop that must have sounded like the future in 1982 fav track: promised you a miracle

I enjoy this sort of thing. Drama and all. Like the prominent bass. Perhaps it sticks out more in contrast to the synths than it would to the more common guitar centered rock sound? Elements sound balanced and clear. Reminds me of Roxy Music quite a bit. I also like when there's a single instrumental track on an album like here.

This is a very 80s sound. Daughter and I enjoyed it as background music.

Only know this band for the one hit, but this is a very enjoyable album. I was fully prepared for some christian rock based on this cover though. Very smooth '80s new wave, or "art pop" as they seem to call it. I'd put it in the same camp as that Steve McQueen album from Prefab Sprouts. Really, really loved "Glittering Prize." Favorite tracks: Glittering Prize, Someone Somewhere, Promised You a Miracle, Somebody Up There Likes You. Album art: It's so obviously designed to look like the hymnal books at church, I really love it. I'd never even thought of the idea of interpolating that art style. I still don't think it "fits" the music necessarily, but I think this one is super cool. 4/5

Pleasant semi-atmospheric rock. Not life-changing, but maybe a good album to put on while working when you don't want to get distracted.

I remember almost 40 years ago (OMG!) first listening to this album and being completely blown away by it. So much that I wrote a letter to the band gushing about how brilliant it was. That was a first (and last) for me. Back then I would have given it 5 stars instantly. Listening to it again now I find that some of the singles such as Promised you a miracle didn’t age too well and I cringe a bit at the overly pretentious lyrics and Jim Kerr’s 80s “New Romantic” singing style. However there are some real gems on this and I really like the more atmospheric and moody pieces such as Someone Somewhere, Big Sleep, Somebody up there and Hunter and the Hunted. It’s good to hear that the deep and propulsive bass and drums throughout the album still hit the spot.

Loving the new wave/synth from this album. I have of course heard some Simple Minds. But not a ton. Now it’s time to look through more of their discography.

Een 3,5. Maar omdat ik in het voorjaar naar een concert van ze ga, rond ik het af naar boven.

Een voor mij wel ondergewaardeerde band. Hoe meer ik naar hun (vooral oudere) werk luister hoe beter ik het ga vinden. Goeie sound!

Verrassend goed!

Yllättävän hyvää kasaripaukuttelua.

3.5

Overall this album was solid. Classic new wave. I enjoyed it, though I can't say I would revisit every single song on this album. 4/5 stars.

Straight up 80s sound. That is not a bad thing. It's got the digital-sounding background with some funkiness to it.

Beautiful, energetic, cutting edge

kinda hesitating between 3 and 4 (again!). A bit soft rock, but I like softness every once in a while

I’ve never listened to Simple Minds beyond the obvious hits before. Probably shouldn’t be surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Both the music and the vocal are pure 80s New Wave vibe.

Resulta que me gustó un disco de Synth Pop ochentero. No lo imaginaba, pero (en la versión normal sin tracks extra) está bastante disfrutable y se va como agua. Mucho mejor que casi todo lo de la época que hemos oído.

Better than I expected, not as bombastic

Een beetje eenheidssoep, maar wel genietbaar

Gold by name….. this is the transition album between post punk and stadium rock. Fantastic blend!

80's, but in a good way

Naf as fuck but spawned one of my favourite 90s dance tracks and the rest is decent. I'm feeling generous.

I have a friend who loves this album but I'd never listened to it. Now I see why she loves it. It's a super cool new wave work, with a title that deftly looks forward to the future.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Someone somewhere

Classic album from the '80s. Loved this at the time, still do. Has some f the 80s dated feel, but fares a lot better than most.

It took me a minute to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed. I get some Jim Morrison vibes from the lead singer. The music itself is a hypnotizing pulsating blend of new wave and synth pop. Though the use of synth and echo dates the album a bit, it comes together very well. The arrangement is careful and deliberate and creates a sense of suspension and release throughout.

This one really surprised me at just how good it is. The songs are excellent, the playing...particularly bass and drums absolutely first rate and funky as hell. Jim Kerr hasn't quite found his trademark voice, sometimes sounding like Howard DeSoto, but you definitely see the arena rock mega stars that's to come. An excellent 80s rock album. 4.5 🌟

they had a vey unique sound that conjures up dark and brooding places but without the gloom of the goths

This was a surprise for me. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

Återigen, ett pangalbum? Det är så otippat att dessa är samma grabbar som gjorde don't you (forget about me)?? älskar älskar new wave

This is a sold 3.5 star album.

Perfect distillation of the 80s sound

This one really surprised me at just how good it is. The songs are excellent, the playing...particularly bass and drums absolutely first rate and funky as hell. Jim Kerr hasn't quite found his trademark voice, sometimes sounding like Howard DeVoto, but you definitely see the arena rock mega stardom that's to come. An excellent 80s rock album. 4.5 🌟

belb lbelb

I don't know if I've heard more than one song from Simple Minds, and sometimes it takes me a minute to remember that that one song is from Simple Minds. Similar to the Pyschodelic Furs, Simple Minds are a band that I think I like, but I don't know enough of their catalog. I was pleasantly surprised by the album New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84). Their sound definitely takes me back to the 80s because I was present for what was on the radio at the time, and not because the tracks sounded like they are STUCK in the 80s. New Gold Dream could fit in with what's on the radio today. The album is consistently good or better. I found myself enjoying the album more as I continued to listen. My favorite tracks were "Somebody Up There Likes You (Instrumental)", "New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)", and "Glittering Prize". I could easily listen to this album again.

Definitely one of the most important new wave records of that time and maybe the best album by Simple Minds. This is a project which every pop music's fan really should enjoy, because this is a very well produced LP of that genre.