Reviews (page 4 of 7)
2.5
Good
28/09/2025 There's nothing that special about this album, it's okay and it passes the "okay" test. Spotify listeners: 8.3 million
Favorite Track: Hunter and the Hunted
The music always sounds like it is knocking on the door of something greater. The band seemed to nail it on Glittering prize. Everything else seems to come close but not quite get there.
Lets gooo een album van 4.5 uur. Ik kon een aantal nummers wel waarderen zoals promised you a miracle en new gold dream, maar de rest was niet heel memorabel. De jaren 80 synth vibe kan ik wel diggen
I was surprised at this album. The cover screams hardcore rock but when you listen it is a chill low key album. I’m listen to this again.
At the end of the day it's 80's synth pop. You either like it or you don't. Not a huge fan, but it's okay.
It was fine.
Nothing special
Nice
It's ok
Fine. Solid ‘80s vibes.
I’m guilty of only knowing the big hit by Simple Minds. This didn’t really sound like that. It reminded me more of the Cure in places. But it didn’t really rise above a 3.
I’m usually not a fan of this type of synth music. This wasn’t so bad, though.
thought simple plan and simple minds were the same band until today
painfully 80s
Not as interesting as I hoped, but perfectly fine and enjoyable, would seek physical filler vinyl copy ⭐⭐⭐
Felt like an album I’ve heard before but not as interesting. It’s fine, nothing too striking about it. I understand they may have influenced other better synth wave bands. Seems the singer was influenced by Ian Curtis who is excellent. This album simply didn’t do much for me and I like Synth Wave. 3 stars
New Gold Dream (the album) has an interesting sound and a lot of religious overtones. Someone Somewhere In Summertime and the title song are the best on the original album. The rest are listenable, but no standouts. Only know about Simple Minds from their one hit; Don’t You Forget About Me which doesn’t have the same sound as this album. I did listen to the non-repeat songs on the extended version and Theme For Great Cities is a standout! (2.9*s) Still unable to figure out the (81/82/83/84)
parempi kuin oletin, välillä tulee vähän instrumenttaalia pidempään vähän ambientti ääniä vähän kivaa rauhottelua. ja kun laulataan niin tajutaan että miksissä laitetaan pienemmälle koska kuuulostaan kuitenkin päivän päätteessä aika saatanan paskalta joten se-fwawareness. itseis tietämys on korkealla tasolla tässsä näin. siitä tulee ehdottomasti lisäpisteitä meikäläisen tukkimiehen kirjaan! muuten kuitenkin iaka saamatonta touhua mutta ei sellasta sehän se elämä on sellaista joskus yrittää yrittää mutta ei saa. minä annan yrityspalkintoja, osallistujapalkintoja heh nykynuoriso tälläisiä mutta on nykyisyys ja olen nuori niin tehdääs nyt näin tällä kertaa big sleep
Found the nine track version after the link had sent me in the direction of the 3-disc, 3.5 hour version. I don’t think their sound has aged quite as well as some of their peers, but there were some pleasant surprises here.
It’s not bad, but it doesn’t sound strong in any major area. By the end of it, I’d just kind of tuned it out - not because it was bad, just wasn’t grabbing me at all.
I know the name “Simple Minds”, but I don’t recognize these songs. This Al un is really good. It’s reminding me of the smiths.
Насправді доволі непогано, хоча місцями звучить як типова музика 80-х. Дивно, але останні три пісні мені сподобались найбільше, особливо Glittering Prize, а також Kings Is White And In The Crowd. Загалом Once Upon a Time мені як альбом подобається більше (і не тому, що там головний хіт сімпл майндс), але і цей альбом достойний насправді. 3.5
I know a few of Simple Minds' later stuff, but not this one in particular. I wasn't expecting much of a different sound to be honest, it's pretty smooth 80's pop complete with the signature synths. Don't feel like much was done here to make this record that much different from other synth-pop and new wave acts from the time. Any efforts to do so came up a tad flat. Still an OK listen at the end of the day.
Good one.
Great, early salvo of one of the decades most important New Wave groups. While the songs don't have the sweeping, operatic qualities they would later add, it's an enjoyable listen that is distinctly of it's time, but also not as dated as some of it's contemporaries.
mag soa musik ja eig voll, aber des war iwie boring
Great sonic palette but probably lacks the songs to be truly beyond good
I expected more, I can't put it into words. It wasn't bad but it was very similar
I wanted this to be like modern english but it didnt quite hit the same. more boring.
6/10 pretty good background music 8-14-2025
Some pretty rad moments. Big Sleep was great with a fantastic bass line. I can see how this would have been a very influential album for the next couple decades.
anyway
man, i just cannot figure out what the critics saw in this. i normally love 80s new wave, but this is just... boring. i'm only closely familiar with simple minds' don't you forget about me, but these tracks feel like the rough drafts that should've been scrapped on the way there. also i dunno if these guys are a christian band but this album cover SCREAMS "jesus pamphlet created by a church youth group leader using a free alternative to photoshop" favorites: someone somewhere (in summertime), promised you a miracle
Pretty solid new wave/post-punk record. But it's very 50/50 for me. Kinda switches off between stereotypical, upbeat 80's music that I'm not a big fan of (Glittering Prize), and more melancholic post-punk in the vein of The Cure, which I like quite a bit (Somewhere Someone In Summertime). But its kinda in that "When I have The Cure, I'll just listen to The Cure" situation. Just goes to reinforce my theory that good 80's music needs a darker, melancholic, somber edge to it. If it's just upbeat, its not going to be good. Solid, but not anything special for me.
Almost there, just need the songs
Very enjoyable, 'wears its genre on its sleeve'
Just ok.
Alrite
One thing I've never been able to get past is how much of a silly name simple minds is. Detracts almost completely from their output. This album is good in parts. Promised you a miracle and glittering prize are excellent. But that name oh dear oh dear.
Pretty samey 80s vibes. Not bad, but nothing stood out in particular for me.
It’s whatever
Explorations in reverb and delay making this a product of the 80´s. Simple Minds have better material than this album
Didn't enjoy this much. So 80s. 2.7/5
This is straight down the middle New Wave. Like almost a stereotype for this type of music. I like it but it's not exactly going to wow anyone. It's fun to listen to and I think it is produced well. I'm not sure I would actively listen to this album much, but I'd definitely throw it on and play it in the background every now and then. 3/5
Another album from my late teens, tho' I was more of a weird music fan at the time. Simple Minds always seemded more slick and pop-orientated than I liked, Forty plus years later, I think the same. Miracle is still the stand out track, and the whole album reeks of Eighties optimism, but still is slightly lacking in substance. A good 3.5 stars.
A handful of really good songs. I found the second half of the album to be a bit of a let down. It stayed sonically pleasing throughout but I didn't connect with a majority of the songs. A couple songs will make it into my rotation and I would like to hear more from Simple Minds, especially a live album. 3.5
Super 80s, none of the big hits though
Absolutely 80s pop new-wave in every single way. Nothing that I need in my content rotation, but it did hit some grooves.
These tracks were all okay, but really didn’t leave any lasting impression in my mind. Pleasant enough not to turn it off but probably wouldn’t seek this out again. 2.5/5
Highlight Song/s: Glittering Prize Some things that stand out to me about this album: It's fairly minimalist. The singer sounds a bit like Robert Smith. Some of the lyrics seem quite hopeful. It's an alright album.
80s synth-pop, quite liked having it on, but nothing stood out really. Good but forgettable. 3/5
This is a bit too poppy in the 80s synth genre for me. Still got me nodding along though on a few tracks. Low 3/5
Two or three very strong tracks and a fair amount of filler for me. Bass and drums always to the fore with vocals dialled down, except on the singles.
I love the textures, performances and general vibe of this album. I prefer the compositions when they wrap themselves around a more traditionally shaped song, some of the tracks are a little formless for my taste but make for an interesting listen. For this reason when the band points towards a pop song on the bouncy and life affirming Glittering Prize, this stands out as my favourite moment on the tracklist, even more impactful because of the overall album it sits on.
No idea what to do with this one. I had somewhat of a Simple Minds phase back then™ but this doesn't ring any bells. It seems like a warm and pleasant outlier in the early 80s sea of cold New Wave. U2 from its time but with synths and they kept The Edge around for some songs? I do not dislike this at all but I wish there were some hooks and melodies I could remember in an hour from now. Maybe why I had erased it from my Simple Minds phase? It's just... there, very uneventfully.
Meh
Catchy radio song like "Promised You A Miracle" and "Glittering Prize" but, like much of the Simple Minds oeuvre, this just never clicked with me. They have that late 70s/early 80s new wave synthy sounds and just can't shake it. Not bad, just not memorable.
Eighties poppy.
Mediocre 80s sounding band. 5/10
I've always loved their hits, but I don't think I've ever listened to a full album. This is great!
I feel like I had heard that voice before but couldn't pinpoint where. Not bad songs, nice and light with a poppy 80's feel
I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. Solid 80s sound, but there just wasn't a song that grabbed me.
This is Simple Minds finally sounding like Simple Minds. It will depend on your musical taste whether you consider that a good thing or a bad thing.
Good bass and synths. Breakfast club vocals. Good early morning work music 3 stars? I dunno how the metric will work
this album opens with a really punchy synth and some ok vocals. Its new wave according to rym, and i feel like given the music im hearing its more of a new wave secondary, synthpop as the lone primary because, what is this? i kinda like it but if i had lost all access to will wood, of montreal and radiohead, well for one id be sad as hell, and for two id be listening to oingo boingo, which is like if this was more will-wood-esque and sillier, and i would get through the backlogged stuff at a rate not known to man, i certainly wouldn't put this on, because a knowledge of how talking heads sounds beyond the hits (by that i mean listening to remain in light and stop making sense in full) is maybe gonna help me appreciate this more, although the sub 3.00 friend rating doesn't really make me think thats true. anyways back to the music the fuck was i on saying "oh oh this aint new wave" this is new wave and ok new wave at that. I do feel like the less new wave sounding tracks are the worse ones. Overall it was fine nothing id come back to but i still enjoyed it enough.
3.5
someone somewhere- 4 colors fly and catherine wheel- 4 promised you a miracle- 4 big sleep- 3 or 4 somebody up there likes you- 3 new gold dream- 4 glittering prize- 2 or 3 hunter and the hunted- 4 king is white and in the crowd- 3 its just not very good
3/5 pretty good but I need to take a point away for that album cover
nice to listen to. nothing _that_ exciting. the sound is very distinctive throughout. either iconic or dated, depending on how you feel about 80s music.
Very straightforward sound - all of it very recognizable and every song makes me think of Don't You (Forget About Me).
'Somewhere there is some place / That one million eyes can't see.' I would have liked The Breakfast Club group to give me more of a buffet, but this succeeds as some sort of timeless period piece: it's about as 80s as you can get, and for this reason, endures thru the decades. Lyrically, it's vague and lugubrious, the quintessential 80s backbeat charms but also irritates, and nothing tells me that it's held together by authentic ingenuity. But, call it a guilty pleasure, or else an instance of guilt being somehow pleasurable: the energy is true to form and not something I'd promptly refuse. Besides, it has moments of truths and beauty: 'We were only young in the whirlpool of warning.' I'm left wanting to squeeze what I can from life. For that: dig.
New wave 80s sound that never does anything unique with it
Better than I anticipated 3.5
Quintessential 80s synth-pop (always hated the term "new wave"). The dominant sound of my high school and college years, which is probably the only reason why I can listen to it today without skipping past it. I did always like the haunting tone in his voice though.
Each individual track is good enough on its own, but as a collective there isn't enough variety to justify a high rating. It's a kind of semi-experimental synth pop, propped up by some nice basslines. Pretty funny to see the split in reviewer sentiment here. Half the reviews are "this is the best synth-based creation of all time, richly textured beautifully crafted songs, a complete cohesive experience" and the other half are "this is balls. unmemorable, bland, bloated, dated". As one might guess, I fall somewhere in the middle. The sound is definitely dated and I would never go out of my way to listen to the record again. On the other hand, the compositions are decently strong, there are some good hooks here and there, and for the most part I enjoy the singing. 9 tracks in 46 minutes is certainly not bloated for an album, so I don't really see those reviewers' points. The title track is surprisingly good, having a satisfying chord progression that repeats every few bars for maximum ear exposure. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime), the album opener, is also pretty solid – though I couldn't for the life of me tell you why. In an alternative universe I'd be complaining endlessly about the annoying high-pitched staccato synths, but they're not that bad in this setting. The best song, though, has to be Promised You A Miracle. The hook is great, the intermittent tempo-halts are just weird enough to be engaging but not so weird as to alienate the listener. I walked away from this feeling like a 2-star rating would be justifiable. But one of my policies is that, if I "like" every individual track, the album must get at least 3 stars. (Voilà!) 3/5 Key tracks: Promised You A Miracle, New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Decent fun album 7/10
A very good entry from a genre I'm not a huge fan of ("new pop" according to Wikipedia). Glittering Prize was my top track. Bonus points for the most "Graphic design is my passion" album cover I've seen.
All the new wave starts to sound the same to me after a while
Fairly traditional 80's synthpop/new wave. You know the drill: gated reverb on the drums, synth washes, more reverb on the vocals. There's no surprises here - just some solid song writing. Best Tracks: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime); Promised You a Miracle; New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
I like later works better.
I literally can't think of anything to say about this one. It is fine, the production sounds good. It is kind of weird we didn't get the album with their massive hit. Mid 3.
No bangers, but it turns out broadening my Simple Minds horizon was a good move.
This was some great 80s vibes. Another cool exposure to a band that I only knew their big hit from.
cool
80s. Didn't hate it.
This feels like stepping into a modest 1980s house with “good bones”—high ceilings, a solid foundation, and a lot of natural light (read: shimmering synths and moody optimism). But as you walk from room to room, it’s clear that not everything got the full makeover. It just doesn't deliver the emotional, layered drama that would become Simple Minds just a few years later. Tracks like “Promised You a Miracle” and “New Gold Dream” are the centerpiece renovations—open concept, polished, and ready for guests. But elsewhere, vocals are recessed like a sunken living room, the melodies float in abstract space. Still, the bones are there. The intention is there. And for fans who remember the before-and-after, it’s fun to revisit the blueprint mid-renovation.
So I’m always biased towards 80s bands cause I really enjoy the cartoony synths they use a lot in 80s music. And this album has a very interesting sound, very of its time which I think dates it and maybe will turn some people off, but I enjoyed it. Definitely not for everyone but if you like “Dead or Alive” type sounds, then this album will be a goldmine.
Very long, very 80's, very middle of the road for me, not that special. Ugliest album cover i've ever seen btw. 2.5/5
I'm gonna go 3.5 on this. I don't think it's the most original sounding thing, but it's pretty good.
3.5
Bit of a smeary, dreary, bleary effort. Almost has a glint of sparkly magical 80s sound and a couple or so songs do approach gems but a lot of the others are pretty rudderless and dour and too often the vocals are way beyond dank and muddy. Singer Jim Kerr gives some very jaded and wan performances so yeh the wan Kerr vocals on this do jerk the score down a bit. Jazz legend Herbie Hancock gets to provide some background synth squiggles on Hunter And The Hunted and it might as well have been by Barry from Eastenders for all the consequence it adds to the song. Promised You A Miracle is probably the best one here and it’s still pretty average in terms of actual melody. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) somewhat sparky and fine. Simple Minds really did have to wait until the Breakfast Club soundtrack and Alive and Kicking to arrive at their two fully decent songs.
Kind of mopey, a bit samey, a bit monotonous. The singles on the album save it from a lower rating. Another puzzling entry for this book. 3 stars
meh
The bassist is rad!
3/4
Everything I could see here made me dread this listening experience. That front cover is just horrific. Why would you want your album to look like an 18th Century Celtic hymn book?! And it's more 80s synth-tinged New Wave? Please, spare me. Maybe lowering my expectations to rock bottom was a clever strategy. The listening experience was... not terrible. The bass and rhythm section is somehow on the better side of what the 80s was capable of and there were times that I didn't want to rip my ears off. I still have no earthly clue how something like this becomes popular or significant to the bigger picture of music but it was at least, listenable.
Kind of a poor man's Depeche Modre. Good songwriting, but the mix lacks some punch, which is where Depeche Mode shines. I'm not huge on 80's synth wave, but this was listenable for what it is.
Totally average new wave music
Meh
Firstly, I’ve definitely been confusing these guys with Simple Plan. Secondly, it's not just their name that fails to stand out; I think I’d struggle to identify their music from the hordes of other 80s British pop/new wave/post-punk/whatever bands on this list. But (thirdly) that’s not to say it’s bad - I did actually enjoy this album. And I’ll say to their credit that Simple Minds strike a good balance of having shiny, crisply produced pop songs with catchy hooks, while at the same time sounding musically sophisticated and a bit ‘alternative’ rather than cheap and tacky.
This is quintessential 80s. I find it dated, but it is supposed to be.
Very 80’s so iconic. Couple of songs that I recognise
Fun pop from the 80s. Definitely sounds of the era. Somebody Up There Likes You (instrumental) and King is White and In the Crowd were my favourites.
Got to say, didn't think too much of this apart from the singles, but then the last 3 tracks happened. They were stupendous, worth listening to the first ¾ for. Not good enough to raise it to a 4 but certainly enough to make it a 3.
The sound mixing on this album is absolutely atrocious! It's like DRUMS BASS vocals SYNTH. Maybe the reason Simple Minds didn't have more hit singles was because no one could actually hear them singing? It's fine. Incredibly 80s and not super memorable, but not bad either.
Totally fine. Atmospheric. Cool.
Pleasant
Very basic 80s synth pop. Im sure it was new and fresh when it came out, but I had trouble finding a lot of value listening to this album
Songs: Promised You a Miracle
Didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. 3
Oeeh een new wave album! Heel nice! Lekker die dikke 80s synths, vind dat altijd zo vet klinken, instant sfeer ofzo. Ik had hier echt zin in, het album begon ook heerlijk maar valt echt een beetje van een cliff daarna... De 2e helft van het album is vrij saai en niet meer zo lekker 80s dikke new wave als waar ik op hoopte. Ik ken de Simple Minds best goed, maar vooral hun nieuwere werk eigenlijk. Ja nee, het is een lekker compact album, maar ik kan niet zeggen dat ik dit geweldig vond, het was een prettig album in het begin maar ik merkte dat ik eigenlijk ook vrij snel de muziek 'kwijt' was ofzo. Dat het meer achtergrond muziek werd in plaats van mn aandacht pakte. Jammer, het blijft een prima album hoor, maar ik vraag me af of ik deze had gekozen om op de lijst te staan, ik denk dat andere albums van hun beter zijn daarvoor. Maar goed, het is deels geclassificeerd als Rock, dus er komen vast nog meer albums van de Simple Minds langs! FAVO: Someone, Somewhere in Summertime, Promised you a miracle,
A bit samey and boring. Felt like a bus ride through suburbia.
Some really nice songs, some more mediocre ones High 3
Pretty average new wave album. I like new wave so I enjoyed this album but if don't there's nothing here for you. Certainly better than the one with "Don't You Forget About Me" on it. Favorite track: Promised You a Miracle A very high 3/5
It's okay
New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) is just another alright album from this project. From it's title, i nearly assumed that it was a series of songs recorded from 1981-1984 (i thought that before i remembered the release year) and yes, this all seems to be music made for this album. I only think that there is one standout track, that being Glittering Prize which is actually a pretty solid song. The rest of the tracks, while not bad, either don't have anything interesting or do but those interesting things get a little boring due to the length of the songs. Its an alright album, just not better than a lot of the other new wave albums out there. Best Song: Glittering Prize Worst Song: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
My goodness, does anything scream 80s synth pop more than this album cover?
Начинается супэр сильно, но будто бы никогда не достигает тех же высок. Это приличный ньювэйв альбом с просто охуенной первой же песней. Лучшая песня - Someone Somewhere (In Summertime).
Has a strong 80's feel which is not my favourite but the bass makes it a pretty good album.
Should re-listen.
Largely forgettable, but not terrible at the same time.
Listenable. Never a big fan of
Wasn’t familiar with this album, only the later stuff. A good harbinger of things to come.
Альбом интересный, тот самый звук 80-х.
It's certainly got their distinctive sound. Didn't know anything off this. I certainly liked it, and would probably listen again, even if it's not spectacular.
Did this really merit a spot on the list? I don't think so. Yet I can't give it a 2.
3 stars
I don't know you're welcome, it was ok.
It was fine, nothing special for me.
Gillar rösten. Ganska bra lyssning. Men gillar Alive and Kicking bättre. Kommer nog inte lyssna igen. Förutom på AaK Men den är ju på annan platta.
The 80s just like I remember them. Kinda dull. 3/5
mio padre impazzisce per i simple minds io un po’ meno
Actually kinda good, especially for new wave 80’s
It was good! Not amazing, not bad. I'd listen to it again.
God new wave, we love to see it. Mange ting er overrepræsenterede i den her bog og new wave er ikke en af dem #HotTake
There are a few nice sounds on here, but the instrumentation is not my jam at all.
High 3 (close to low 4) 80s vibe +++ "Somebody up there likes you" is too long, breaks the flow "New gold dream" build up is good
Good background music if you ignore the theme...
Nisam inače veliki fan, ali ovaj album mi ima dosta kul kljavice. Živciraju me druge stvari, poput bubnjeva i malo vokal, ali sviđa mi se 80s zvuk. Zbog toga će biti 3/5, 5/10.
So many repeated songs. 😮💨
Neat 80s disco vibes jo, very cool use of synths covering the majority of tracks along with singing playing a major part aswell, some nice guitar use without taking away much attention from the main theme (f.e. Promised You A Miracle, Big Sleep and Somebody Up There Likes You), bass guitar got some funky vibes matching the "smoothness" of the album perfectly demonstrated in "Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel" :) Wouldn't vibe to it on a regular basis, but I bet people had a lot of fun with this sound back then and I like it too so yea, 3 out of 5 seems a bit rude maybe but I can't give 4 :/ Favorite tracks are: - "Somebody Up There Likes You" because of the psychedelic kinda sound, I also enjoy the guitar here a lot - "Promised You A Miracle" for some really catchy tata ta ta taaa taa ta! disco vibes hehe - "Glittering Prize" showing how simple bass lines can add so much to a track! "New Gold Dream" from Simple Minds gets 3 out of 5 starts!
I always digged the voice, I don't even know why. The tunes Are a bit to chill for my taste, but I guess there's a time and a place for it 🤔
very eigthies very synthy, unfortunately not much stood out for me
Quite ok…
idk i think this is just not really for me. it's not bad exactly? but it's not helping me write
Quintessential 80’s vibes. Really liked a few songs including Colours Fly, New Gold and in particular Glittering Prize. Fun bass lines and groovy and hypnotic synths throughout. Not surprised they have one of the biggest hits of the 80’s. Feels like a band that actually just jams out well together and knew they had a good sound. 80’s pop has such an upbeat and optimistic essence to it and this band nails that. I saved this album for later because it was fun to work to. High 3 low 4.
There were a couple solid songs, but it’s pretty generic 80s pop at the end of the day. Nothing I’d complain about having on in the background and also nothing all that notable. Middle of the road album if you enjoy 80s music vibes.
Want to know what the 80s sounded like? Here you go. I did really like this. Super easy to listen to with that fun 80s sound. Not super memorable though. A nice 3.
This is the most 80's thing EVER. This album might be more 80s than the actual 1980s
Me gustó para tener de fondo, es un tipo de sonido que en lo personal me gusta escuchar, no sé si se destaca tanto como para recordar alguna canción y no hay ningún tema que haya dicho wow me cambio la vida, simplemente me gusto
I have seen many bands highly praising this album, but I don't get it. It sounds fine but not groundbreaking even for the time.
It was fine.
Good, but not outstanding
I had "Promised You a Miracle" on a high school mixtape from an exchange student and the jam sounds as fresh today. The rest is OK.
It was ok.
2.5 but I’ll give it a 3
Sometimes I wonder if I'm fundamentally not cut out for life really, because my review of this album is that it's too chirpy, purely because it's got quite a lot of squelchy bass and staccato synth. I just find it a bit annoying. They're well written songs though to be fair, and I feel like this one's on me.
solid, simmilar to depeche mode.
Well, I thought I didn't know any of these songs but Promised You a Miracle I do of course. However I definitely thought it was by ABC. And well, it sounds a lot like Poison Arrow, doesn't it? The Lexicon of Love does it better, and came out a month earlier. So did Simple Minds go from sounding like ABC to sounding like U2? Start to reconsider my opinion with Big Sleep and then Somebody Up Their... both interesting soundscapes, from within that somewhat restrictive 80s new wave synth sound, and well that should be respected. Enjoy the title track too. Glittering Prize is just a bit too pop and glistening however. Hunter and Hunted was kind of just on. So. Mixed feelings. Life in a Day came on afterwards. I will be checking that out.
Has that far away sound that most albums from its time has. Not unpleasant.
Very 80s, but fun!
If your in the mood for 80s as a genre this is it. This is an 80s album. Did you know 80s? The nineteeneightes. 5/10
These early 80s British synthpop releases all have this palpable ATMOSPHERE to them that I find very distinctive, and this seems like a pretty good example of it.
Not sure that I'd ever heard these songs before.
In a nutshell: the superior 80's synthpop album. Overall: 6/10
Wow this was like so 80s it was almost hard to distinguish between the songs. But it was good fun! Some of them didn't pack much of a punch. But overall I enjoyed it
Wow, that was an 80s overload. I didn't mind some of it but it just felt like a background John Hughes film music, which isn't a bad thing, just a bit much.
I've heard some of the songs but never heard this album. This album is fine, but shouldn't be on this list. Simple Minds is not a band I'd say anyone has to hear before they die. And this album is nothing special. The biggest song (Promised you a Miracle) was a hit at the time, but listening now it sounds disjointed and not that special. Would I rather listen to this over another Elvis Costello album? YES! But would I rather listen to an album by the (large number of) better bands left off this list? Unquestionably. Barely giving this 3 stars.
It's fine, but not great. I enjoyed it, but probably won't ever listen to it again.
I enjoy this type of music - 80's dance beats with atmospheric melodies. Although I was confused by the album, Disc 1 made sense but then the songs were repeated many times on the other sides (actually didn't finish all of it). Strange. This isn't Beethoven variations on a theme level of music here. Enjoyable but not let's not over do it.
This one grew on me... but not quite enough to be a 4, so it's a strong 3. Clearly 80's but with some inventive approaches, somewhat muddled by the 80's orchestral drama.
Solid. Not quite a 4 but very close.
Oof. That is a lot of Simple Minds.
Not what I hoped for.
Good but not memorable
Alun perusteella dumasin, mutta oli olihan siellä hyvääkin musiikkia.
pretty ho hum album. the highlight for me was 'promised you a miracle' which was a pretty fun number. the rest of it was a bit boring and had not a lot going for it. the production was fine but unremarkable. it was fine.
80s British pop. 3/5
some new wave shit
I'm a sucker for 80s synthy pop. Nothing groundbreaking but I enjoyed it.
I know a couple of Simple Minds songs, but I've never listened to a whole album of theirs before. I enjoy "Alive and Kicking" quite a bit, and "Don't You Forget About Me" is really good as well, although I think its presence in The Breakfast Club really helps bolster it quite a bit. I love music from the eighties, especially things with a healthy amount of synthesizers, so I have high hopes for this album. I was really blown away by the opening track, "Someone Somewhere." I loved the dark and moody atmosphere. The synthesizers enhanced the sound perfectly, and the bass playing was great too. After this opening song, I really thought I was going to love this album. The next song, "Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel" was really good too, keeping the moody atmosphere up with another great bass line. From there, the album still had some really strong bass playing, but I felt the overall sound over the rest of the album wasn't really noteworthy, and it certainly never reached that high of "Someone Somewhere" again. For a synthpop album that's supposed to be the cream of the crop, I'd expect more memorable hooks, but I don't feel like this album had that. To top it off, the vocals sounded like they were really drowned out by reverb, which I found pretty annoying. I thought the album was fine as a whole, due to its moody atmosphere, but the individual songs were fairly weak. It's okay though Simple Minds, we'll always have "Alive and Kicking."
Disco time
Don't youn forget about me listening to this album all y myself.
Good, not great. Very 80s.
Didn’t grab me but has flashes of brilliance 3.4
A simple amount of overwhelming material but pure 80s bliss when you narrow your focus.
https://youtu.be/TjFNdxmewKo?si=Ccfb0FmUdW2j1utx
Some pretty avg synth pop to me! Did the trick! Of being avg synth pop! Voila
Not sure why I thought I disliked this group. This was fun!
some really fun and entertaining tracks on this one! it sorta struck me ultimately as unremarkable but i did have like a great time listening to it
This was one of three cassettes Jane had in her car when we first got together (the others were The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk and The Queen is Dead by The Smiths). I really liked the other two.
My knowledge of this band began and ended with the Breakfast Club song. And, yeah, this is a full album from the people who made that song. It's good, if you like it, but there is not too much variety here. Maybe there's more to unpack on a second listen, but I think it's solidly fine.
Not bad. Fun but Forgettable
This is some HOT new wave. The cheese tone on the title track is a little aggressive.
Hard to hear the vocals because poor mixing. Surprising because the overall production is pretty solid, so you can’t say they weren’t paying any attention to it. Lyrics are cliche, cheesy, and boring. Writing is fairly original, but I wouldn’t go as far to unique. They aren’t nearly branching out far enough from their contemporaries here. It’s a fine album, but I leave uninterested. 3/5
This lush synth is beautifully done but not impactful to me. I used to own this album and barely listened to it was hoping to find it was better than I thought but that was not the case.
No ha envejecido bien. Los 80 pasaron
Sucker for 80s pop. Promised you a miracle will be stuck in my head for the next month
Couldn’t make out a single lyric on my bike but got me in a good groove. Slappa da bass man
Basic 80’er
The top comment right now describes it perfectly. I've forgotten this album and I just listened to it. It does nothing remarkable nor notable and it just exists.
Starts sliw but picks up in middle. Instrumental and title track display the kind of groove that would go on to work for the Mondays. Does feel like an album to be appreciated more than enjoyed though and ultimately they are a rock band that rarely rock.
They can play. The singing is better than average from that era. They probably sound exactly the way they want to sound, but nothing about the album is spectacular. Favorite song: promised you a miracle
Ha simple minds mega gern, finds aber bis jetz bitz langwiilig. Ok somebody up there likes you isch sehr geil, eifach instrumental. Hani sehr gern Title track isch au seehr cool Die nöchste paar hani wieder schwächer gfunde, i glaub da züchts uf es 3 abe au wenns weh tuet. Entscheide morn morge
someone in somewhere slappt hert ich ha e rechti schwä hi für simple minds. etz nöd en riese song aber de sound isch afoch geil. so extrem 80er. big sleep räsoniert sehr mit mir ich au mengmol 81 82 83 84 isch insane langwilig gsi etz glittering prize coole bass, aber han irgendwie meh extravaganz erwartet vo simple minds. hönter and the hönted au sochli dark und so. s tönt scho seeeehr cool. aber d songs sind nöd so catchy. king is white and in the crowd usch no funny gsi. i like. i bi zwüsched 3 und 4.
hahaha oke mega 80er someone somewhere isch na cool, ich lieb wie klar d hi hats sind aber jo nüt megaa krasses colours fly findi jz recht langwilig promised you a miracle isch cyndi lauper core oops mega nöd zueglost aber ja somebody up there isch jz kein banger poah das zieht sich brutal?? new gold dream hani de synthi no fun gfunde aber finds gad recht ahstrengend hunter and hunted isch fun! king is white isch na en coole uufbau wo denn au d drums innechömmed hey han mengisch recht gstruggled, und die typischi 80er perkussion und synthis halt ich amigs nöd so lang uus aber s het doch immer wieder cooli sache gha, ws git es knapps 3
That was pretty good, heard a bunch of the tracks before obviously, but I liked the last two tracks.
Honestly fine 80s synth pop - good background, not too mopey, kind of like what The Cure would be if Robert Plant was on sertraline. Also, it took 10 seconds before I went "Oh, it's THIS song!", so that's a record I guess?
This was fine. I have mostly neutral feelings about this album as the songs seemed mostly forgettable soon after I heard them.
I found this to be the most unassuming and subdued collection of music I've heard on this list. Nothing stood out and had I not KNOWN I was listening to it, I may not have noticed it was even there.
Not bad. Never heard of this group before.
Not bad, but not something I'd return to. 3/5
Samey
sure
Not bad. Loved it in the day
Not my thing. But well made.
Sollidd þrisstur. Ekkert spes fyrir mitt leyti, en alls ekki lélegt heldur.
Aðeins og mikið eitís meira að segja fyrir mig. 2-3 góð lög en restin eldist ekkert rosalega vel.
Talented vocalist and musicians. Just not a style I enjoy, and I have heard better songs by this band.
More complex than Depeche Mode, but it still didn’t grab my attention.
Okay background music.
It was fine, I guess.
Every track feels like it could be the background of a montage in a early/mid-80's teen drama or comedy, in a good way. Atmospheric 80's chill pop. 1. "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" 8/10 2. "Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel" 6/10 3. "Promised You a Miracle" 7/10 4. "Big Sleep" 7/10 5. "Somebody Up There Likes You" 7/10 6. "New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)" 7/10 7. "Glittering Prize" 6/10 8. "Hunter and the Hunted" 6/10 9. "King is White and in the Crowd" 6/10
This made about as much of an impression as yesterday’s very similar album - which is to say, hardly any - but I thought the opening track wasn’t bad and there were a few with a bit of a “darker” sound, so I’m being a little more generous with the rating.
Exactly as I expected. Simple Minds just aren’t a band I want to listen to albums. They make some bangers but I’m just not into a whole album of it! 3.1
Not bad
Rather ordinary
This has 80's written all over it. But I found it to be like a car trip to nowhere, partly enjoyed by the trip itself and not the destination.
Seems interesting but annoying when catchy
3/5
Cool style — synth pop with dramatic vocals and loads of reverb. I dig it 🤙🕺🏼
It seems the albums of some artists are chosen just as they are starting to define themselves. While I enjoyed this album, Simple Minds really hit their stride two albums later with Once Upon a Time. This album was good, but not great.
It’s . . . not bad? It’s not unpleasant to listen to. Occasionally it has some enjoyable parts. One of the worst album covers I’ve ever seen, but that’s neither here nor there. This is fine 80’s synth pop. It didn’t really do much for me, but it did not make my day worse. So that’s something I guess. Actually, after a couple of listens, I’d say this is better than average 80’s synth pop. A bit murky and dirge-like for my taste at times, but overall kinda cool. Had a little Tangerine Dreamy kind of instrumental in the middle, which was fun. I’d say this is an album worth hearing.
Came into this one thinking I was gonna hate some generic 80s disco trash (which it still was) but I came out with a new favourite bass player. My lord, Derek Forbes where you been and that tone, so tasty.
p491. 1982. 3 stars. Quality 80s synth pop/rock with decent songs and vocalist. Point deducted for straying into wankage once too often - nobody need multiple 5 minute+ tracks.
Not bad. 3/5
I liked this, but there was nothing groundbreaking or excellent here for me
3 stars. I like the album cover and I dig some of the production but doesn't really do it for me.
Music is a 4 but that singing is a 2.
3.5
Honestly thought I would be giving this a 4. A 3.5 if I could, but not a 4.
That's not my taste in musik. But ok.
Omg le cover est affreux, je pensais que c’était du rock chrétien de ta paroisse locale. Finalement c’était juste du Simple Minds avec pas grand contenu, à part énormément trop de synthés
Stayed in the pleasant synthy background for me.
Didn't do all that much for me.
I have literally never heard any other simple minds song other than the breakfast club one and while I understand that they’re mad no one paid attention to their other work, after listening to this I kinda get why they got relegated to one hit wonder status. This is just more 80s music with no discernible uniqueness.
I liked it. First time listening to it, but I think it'll creep into my mind over time.
I can't tell if I love it or hate it, but my confusion was pretty enjoyable.
This really does capture that 'New Pop' 80's sound perfectly right as it was gaining popularity. And to think I thought of them as one hit wonders
This album had some good spots, but generally this is utterly forgettable and not ideal for a list of this magnitude. Some good songs and bass riffs though. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
It's hard to think of the band outside of "Don't You Forget About Me," but Simple Minds was not a one-hit wonder. They had numerous success throughout the world, but that one song is all people think of. (To be honest, I always confused them with a few other 80s pop bands. The instrumental piece "Somebody Up There Likes You" surprised me. I was not expecting a longer piece without vocals, but I dug it a lot. The production was really good, everything sounded like it came out a few years ago as opposed to 40. Top tracks: "Somebody Up There Likes You", "Promised You A Miracle"
My kids often ask me who different artists on the radio are, though I'm not sure they ask me much about 80's new wave/pop artists. Even if/when they do, I rarely can get straight bands like Simple Minds, OMD, ABC, The Human League, Level 42, even New Order. Either they're not all that different or I'm not interested enough to remember/pay attention to what makes them distinct. This album isn't going to change that. It was fine and all but it didn't grab me, and I'm not going to listen to it until I can pinpoint Simple Minds' distinctive sound. Throw it on the 80's pile with the rest. I'll dig out the best of the 80's when I need to. Next.
fun and perfectly normal synthpop album
5.5/10
I like that Breakfast Club song the most—even though it’s not on this album. Everything here is fine for background. Interesting that it influenced U2, but since I didn’t know early Simple Minds, the style shift doesn’t mean much to me.
Classic 80s sound.
Whole band might be slept on, quintessential 80s
Pretty, pleasant early new wave, but lacking in energy and excitement for me, and no matter how many times I listen to it, it never seems to blossom into something with greater depth.
I really like new wave, but this didn't move me like I hoped it would. Just not much catchy stuff on here. Glittering Prize basically saved this from a 2, but it was close. I think the vocals being buried and not being catchy really is what lowered this for me.
Wasn’t sure about this, kinda thought it sounded a bit like The Smiths gone wrong but it definitely peaked in the middle and then got a bit iffy again. So it’s mid, but a low 3. Very 80s and of the time
J'ai pas tout écouté mais c'était bien
anos 80 basicão. Bom demais, muito delay, sintetizador, reverb, phaser e tudo que pudesse para parecer que estávamos no futuro.
Although I'm sure they're more important and notable than Duran Duran, for some reason I always think of Duran Duran when I hear the band name Simple Minds. And neither are really my first choice for music (or second or third, on down the line). But this is definitely my first listen to this album (and curiously, that includes the singles from this album, which I'm pretty sure I've also never heard), and good to see that we've got yet another Scottish band from this collection. Although I can't say I particularly enjoyed the album, it was really nice to read that the band members seemed to genuinely enjoy making the album, and at least some of them reported feeling like everything just worked out, which definitely seems to be the exception for most albums and bands.
unobtrusive for better and for worse.
On we go with the synth pop. Sounds like the others. Really liked Glittering Prize though. High 3.
About at 80s as it gets in my opinion. The big song was not on here which makes its inclusion puzzling, but these authors love the synthesizer like no one Ive ever seen before.
As far as albums in this genre go, this isn't bad. The bass work is fun and I appreciate a good synth chug. It's very of its time. I don't think I'll revisit, or think of it often, but there are some songs I'd return to. Trimming half a minute or a minute off of a lot of these songs would help this feel like less work to listen to and keep the hooks from wearing out. The 80s pop stomp gets tired towards the end of the album. Not that it's that important, but the album cover really put me off. Highlights: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime), Promised You A Miracle, New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Solid, consistent mood, though no tracks I particularly want to come back to.
It was just ok
Pretty solid, distinctly 80s sound. It kind of washed over me and was a little in distinct. I could pick up notes of Roxy Music, overall enjoyable listen but didn’t leave me with much to return to.
I am usually a sucker for synth pop, but this was quite bland. Pleasant, but nothing more.
Some pretty synth pop that never exceeds any expectations. No surprises, but no real let downs either.
A pretty solid New Romantic album that should appeal to fans of Duran Duran, OMD, et al.
This sounded great 40 odd years on. The singles are utstanding. Promised You a Miracle straddles new romantic make up entering stadium rock. Never an easy - or wise - move. Impossible not to dance to this. In a weird way, natch. The tunes are given space to breathe. Who needs constant vocals anyway?
Fairly lacklustre, and that's as someone who usually likes new wave
One more time. It's British New Wave, I liked it. 3.5/5
ganz schön, fehlen nur die ganz großen Hits
Why are the vocals so low in the mix? They get completely overpowered by the synths and everything else going on. A shame as some of the songs seem really good.
It’s okay. I listened to the original recording because no one has 4 hours for the long version. Harmless.
This was ok. I didn't hate it, and it worked well as background music.
Some nice songs, but also a few that I don't like.
It starts on a high note. Very rhytmic and melodic. But it dies out a little throughout.
Not bad, not memorable.
Great listen
I found an instrumental on a 9-track album with 5 songs exceeding five minutes to be interesting. It feels a bit unnecessary, but this is still a really good album even though it does not have their biggest hit. I may not have listened to this enough (twice) but the breezy nature of these songs that I enjoyed also seemed to make them go forth without me remembering a lot of what I heard.
So 80’s!
Oh God. I wanted so badly to like this one, but I genuinely can't remember anything that stood out. I am a sucker for synths, so it definitely wasn't unpleasant at all, but. Meh....
Heyrðu, fínt. Má alveg ganga í bakgrunni. En eftir þrjár hlustanir fæ ég mig samt ekki til að toga þetta uppí fjarka. Glittering prize er best.
Very 80s pop
This is annoying. Why? Because I like Simple Minds more than say... Metallica, but this site gave me the definitive Metallica album to rate. I am trying to be realistic. This album is not Simple Minds best. It is Ok. But a LOT of bands were around putting out good stuff and look at those numbers, they are not random, they are 1981 - 1984. Golden years in 80's music. So I get stuck with my profile saying I prefer "metal" to "indy" but they have me rate one of the greatest metal albums of all time and then have me rate obscure indy titles or so so albums from otherwise great bands... Kind of annoying.
The bass on Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel beats ass, it comes in so heavy. Honestly the bass on a lot of this is very prominent and cool, without being super complex. Real sucker for the echoey production on the voice, very New Romantics. Catchy album, nothing super crazy but a good listen throughout.
6/10 - It sounded kind of like tears for fears in my opinion. Seems like it has similarities to early electronic music. But overall, not amazing.
It was fine 6/10
Sounds super 80s, but not necessarily in a bad way. Solid, but there’s a lot out there that’s very similar but also just better 6/10
Liked the hit, put up with rest.
New wave's not really my thing but solid album nonetheless
A solid early 80s synth-pop album. Very much of its era, but in the right ways. Splendid, nuanced synth arrangements and standout vocals from Jim Kerr. Fave Song: Promised You a Miracle, Someone Somewhere in Summertime, Glittering Prize, King is White and in the Crowd, Big Sleep, Hunter and the Hunted