Reviews (page 5 of 8)
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
Synth pop tastic. The start of a decent body of work.
i liked 1 song tbh
Very generic 1980s sound and feel. Not great, not bad. Nothing really left any impression.
2.5 - I'd say it was fine, though a bit unmemorable. There was a track or two that I sort of liked, but they all blend together now.
None of this jumped out at me but I'm probably going to keep listening to this. Something about this era of 80s pop that can't be faked. I want to love it. I don't yet but there was a time when I didn't love Trump either, so... maybe I'll never love it. But I'll keep listening.
What surprised me was how close to goth some of this sounds - 'New Gold Dream' itself isn't a million miles away from the Sisters of Mercy. Another little jolt - 'Somebody Up There Likes You' sounds somewhat out of time, a presage to the Goan trance wave of the 1990s. Still, this is mostly serviceable synth pop; listenable, but not on the level of some other bands of this genre encountered on the app.
Another time capsule. Fine, but doesn't hold up.
2.6
Fairly average album, wouldn’t be inclined to listen again. Very dated. Perhaps would have enjoyed more if I was coked up in a garish silk shirt having 80’s big bush sex. Chance would be a fine thing.
Generally enjoyed the overall vibe, but I can’t think of a standout track.
A solid mid-table of an album. The album equivalent to Crystal Palace. The Simpsons: I’m sure they parody the end of The Breakfast Club at some point, but can’t find any evidence of that.
It was alright. I did actually get a small amount of enjoyment from this, which is more than I thought I would considering the genre and other similar albums we've had so far. Won't listen to it again though. Cannot imagine how this could be anyone's favourite kind of music. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
za album iz 80-ih nelose
i only knew Simple Minds from Don’t You but that’s a great song so i was hopeful for this album. really nothing special though unfortunately, kind of a watered down Tears for Fears
I liked it, but I wouldn't necessarily seek it out again. 3 stars seems like a cop out, but it's accurate.
Underwhelming. I really thought I would love this and just didn’t. Nothing really stood out and it was kinda blah.
I mean that's fine. Many of these albums are just ho hum.
Someone Somewhere in Summertime- 3.2/5 Colours Fly and Catherine Whee- 3.5/5 Promised You a Miracle- 4.3/5 Big Sleep- 4.5/5 Somebody Up There Likes You- 2.2/5 New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)- 3.4/5 Glittering Prize- 3.1/5 Hunter and the Hunted- 3.6/5 King Is White and in the Crowd- 2/5 Total- 3.3/5
Honestly, kind of boring. I'll bet if you listened to it 10 times in a row it would be your personal album to gatekeep, but I'm not doing that! However, I again do realize the intricacies of the songwriting and it gets a 3, but would probably be 2.5.
Although I know Simple Minds a bit, I don't think I've ever listened to a full album. It was pretty unremarkable for me. I didn't actively dislike any of it, but nothing stood out as interesting. It's nice background music for me, but not something I would seek out.
Ehh
Ultimately I'm just ok on this one. I found the general sound to be intriguing, as well as some of the soundscapes/arrangements. But the songwriting was all just a little too same-y for me to really dig.
3.5/5
Kuvittelin tän olevan jotain aivan huttua, mutta tässähän oli tällästä ihan uskottavaa synapop-meininkiä. Uskon että tästä olis mulle dj-hommissa hyötyä jos jostain löytyis halvalla. Siirtymäbiisejä muiden synth wave kappaleiden välissä esim. 3/5
Listalla on ollut sen verran paljon keskinkertaista brittikasaria, että tän hyvyys kyllä yllätti.
Toimivaa synapoppia, yllättävän hyvä. 3.5/5.
Yo what’s up with the album cover? The album is good vibes, but not mind blowing. 3* because I enjoy this sound. Highlights: big sleep
Good overall.
Okay.. not brilliant
Was hoping Don't You Forget About Me would be on here but hey this album is pretty good without it tbh. For someone listening in 2024 the sound has been played a lot (especially in a house with 2 80's parents) but this was a particularly enjoyable version of that sound. Nothing groundbreaking in my eyes but fun none the less. Fav songs: - Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) - Somebody Up There Likes You - New Gold Dream
This is great for the person who loves that classic 80’s sound. As a 90’s kid I always pushed away from it, but have grown in my appreciation of it. I might check out this bands other stuff since they’re apparently very versatile.
Rating it a bit higher because I like the bass lines and some of the grooves, but the songs themselves are pretty forgettable. No hooks, they don’t really go anywhere, and every one is at least a minute too long. Some of them take a minute+ just to fade out. Maybe that was a thing at the time? Kind of reminds me of U2 with eyeliner.
Uninspiring
Super long album
Thought it was an interesting peek into their earlier years before they really hit their stride.
ihan jeeees kasari musaa Jep 3/5
3/5. The album started off very weak in my mind, even the more popular star tracks, but as the songs chugged along, I felt myself getting much more into it.
Ok, but didn’t hold my interest for the whole album
It was alright. Nothing really stood out. It was not bad. Relatively short. It was an 80s album. Better than a two. Not really a three. I will round up.
Promised you a miracle, king is white and so is the crowd
Wore the album out back in the day. Sounds a bit dated now but still worthy. 3/5
Not bad, there were actually some songs that I liked on this one. I like this kind of music.
Not as good as originals.
This is how I think the 80's sounded like. Its good but not groundbreaking.
A lot more expansive 80’s electronic pop. Got a little boring over the latter half Fav tracks: Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel (fun bass), Promised You a Miracle, Somebody Up There Like You
3/5. This was an enjoyable pop album, had great instrumentals. The vocals were muddy and hard to hear, bad producing on that part but otherwise, felt like a great instrumental album. The songs didn't stand out too clearly, but I didn't hate it.
I didn’t really give this one a very proper listen through but I gave it two half-listens. It was enough for me to decide this was perfectly fine 80s music but bored me a little. Listens: 2 x 1/2 Fave Tracks: Somebody Up There Likes You Rating: 3
Who? These guys have 8.6m listeners? Oh.. the Don't You Forget About Me band. That song was great. This album was ok.
Rating: 7/10 Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the atmosphere on most of the songs. The bass in this album is beautiful, many memorable and melodic basslines. The production and the synths on this album were very good as well, adding to the ambience and beautiful nature on a lot of the songs. As pleasant as this was to listen to, some songs were very forgettable, there is not much variety on this album. Favorite songs: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime), New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84), Glittering Prize. Worst song: Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel.
Outro disco que respira sua década de origem. Rock oitentista puro. Produção parece excelente. Após primeira audição gostei de algumas músicas. 1. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) 2. Big Sleep
Whatever version of this I belatedly found had four discs which was about three too many. That said, I was very surprised to find sleeper tracks that I liked an awful lot. Somehow, I started asking myself how this album would sound if the lead singer was replaced by the Swedish Chef and it fit a little too well, so that did spoil it a bit. Anyhow, the first ten of like 70 songs was worth it and I would like to check it out again some time.
You could be forgiven for thinking that material for “New Gold Dream” was recorded between 1981 and 1984. But no, it came out in 1982. Maybe Simple Minds just got confused, since it was their fifth album in three years, and figured that they had recorded so much music that more time must have passed. It doesn’t seem like this album, or Simple Minds, made much of an impact stateside. But in a rarity for the 1001, this obscure very British early 80s album was actually pretty tolerable. New wave usually has vocals that are too over-the-top, or too much obnoxious synth (or both). But Simple Minds actually found a pretty decent balance. I don’t know if the rest of their prodigious early 80s output holds up, but “New Gold Dream” is one of my favorites from the genre. Now I have to go and confuse the summary machine further, making it think I like new wave more than shoegaze.
This album would be perfect as background music for a social gathering. Everyone would enjoy it if you the time to discern and listen to it, yet it would never be in your face like some "background" music can be. It's just not my cup of tea for listening though. I must admit coding went well while it played (4 times) though...
It’s ok.
Meh.
Pretty nice, nothing too special though.
Starts out very 80’s synthpop. Bass gets pretty funky in spots. I’m digging it. Pretty good overall! Probably gonna do 3 though. It gets a little old.
Favorite Song: Glittering Prize I enjoyed this album. The only song I heard from 'Simple Minds' prior to this was the well known hit track "Don't You (Forget About Me)". None of the songs on this album really stood out, but it was still a solid album in my opinion. So I give it a 3.1/5.0
5/10. Not anything wrong with it, but like if this is your #1 favorite album I just have to imagine you're the most boring person ever.
Some extremely forgettable new wave. 5/10
Not on my radar at all. Pretty good.
Good but not my favorite
One mullet for the solid production, one mullet for the bass lines, and one for the title song. 3 mullets out of 5 💇💇💇
A really good synth pop album that knows how to hook you in with an earworm. With the plethora of 80s music out there, it felt like they really hit the mark with this one, breathing into the zeitgeist of the early 80s sound, and likely helped influence countless other artists later on in the decade. Best: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) Worst: King Is White and In The Crowd 3.5 Stars
I cant say I’ve heard something more 80s than this. I did honestly really enjoy it and thought it was just so typical 80s and it was nice. 7/10 honestly.
Could be a candidate for "Most 80s Sounding Album" Great and prominent bass lines punctuate most of these melodic and overly-boppy and over washed in reverb songs. I'm certain I'd have hated this in 1982 (although in growing just a bit I enjoyed some of their later singles) which god-damn was a long time ago... in my middle age now I am mildly enjoying it in a way I couldn't have conceived in grade 7 - the sound itself is a mental time machine. So I'm not sure the songs themselves hold up all that well on their own but since it's all so inextricably entwined with the era, I'll hand it to them for grasping that dated sound so hard that it weirdly works today. "Big Sleep" almost sounds like a Marillion demo. Probably my fave and one that sticks out. (not important but since I'm staring at it: the cover is a weird (in a not good way) pastiche if the Book of Kells and some awful weekly church missive (redundant, that)...) 6/10 3 stars
I promised you a miracle.
This isn't anything beyond average.
Good... but not great.
Ok
3.5 While his album has no stand out songs for me, the entire album has that quintessential 80s sound that takes me back to my childhood. It’s a sound I really enjoy the older I get. This album gets 3.5 most on nostalgia alone.
Ah, the Don’t You Forget About Me Guys! We Americans didn’t know they existed before 1985. Strange title for an album. The songs were nothing special. Overall pretty average. Best track: Promised You a Miracle.
why do scottish singers sound american when they sing? I like the pop synth sound, but there are probably better examples out there.
Like someone somewhere 2.5/5 -S like proised you a miracle
I have high hopes for today’s album. One of my all time favourite songs is Don’t You (Forget About Me) which, although it’s not found on this album, makes for great expectations with more Simple Minds. Let’s give it a listen and find out! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Promised You A Miracle, New Gold Dream I did enjoy this, but perhaps my hopes were a little too high. It’s was good, but not as catchy as I wanted it to be. It does have that unapologetically 80’s sound, but didn’t quite hook me in as much as similar bands like the Human League have previously. I was studying while listening to this so may be wrong about this, but it didn’t seem very deep in lyrical content, but it was still decent. Overall, not as good as I wanted it to be, but still an ok album.
Se siente más un recopilatorio que un disco de la banda. Sonidos bien interesantes
Classic 3/5. Nice sound, something I would like, but the songs are pretty samy and not exciting.
Weirdest album art goes to…
Don't know why this SM album is on the list when they have several others that could just as easily work. All in all, a decent album symbolic of the times and sound. 3/5
Kommt noch
Seems like decent synth pop. Honestly just didn’t make much of an impression on me, nothing offended, nothing stood out.
80s Pop through and through. 3/5
Another 89’s pop synth band. I’m going to rate this a 3 as it’ll even out my last review for Depeche Mode. I still like both but I think I rated the other higher for a reason. Also, noticed how the melody’s were all over.
Didnt mind this as much as others! It is very 80s, but it is a staple 80s record. And it’s not as cheesey as a lot of other 80s records. Quite a bit tried and tested fluff between some very decent songs, with Glittering Prize / Promised You a Miracle / New Gold Dream being the highlights. Wouldnt return to the album on a whole, but there’s a few tracks that I’ve added to my ‘music I like which my wife might also like therefore I get to listen to in the car’ playlist
Ok, let me be mild and award three stars for this album with a couple of hits (Promised you a miracle is a great song) which is otherwise mostly a dreadful listening experience.
There’s promise to this record but it seems you need to scratch deeper through the surface to get to the bone. Overall it sounds same-y and Jim Kerr kind of warbles through most of the album but after a couple of listens the songs seem to reveal themselves ‘Promising you a miracle’, ‘Glittering Prize’ turn out to be bangers at closer listen - and the rest of the album is a tight rhythmic showcase. However as a whole it just doesn’t live up to the great albums on this list. Did not have a bad time listening to it though.
Ein paar wirklich gute Lieder (e.e. Promised you a miracle), insgesamt aber zu beliebig. 3-4
New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) is the fifth album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds. This new wave / synth-pop album was a turning point for the band because they attained critical and commercial success in the UK and Europe. The album is certified platinum in the UK, Netherlands, and New Zealand, and certified gold in Belgium, France, Sweden, and Canada. This was a beautiful synth-pop album with themes on religion. The music and lyrics are great while not being overly religious to the point of being a turn-off. I think any fans of pop music will love this Simple Minds album.
Some good stuff on this. It comes just before they really hit the mark in the mid 80's
As a teen in the US in the 80s, it was of course impossible not to know who this band was thanks to their huge hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)" that we all heard at the opening of 'The Breakfast Club'. (True confession: teen me had never heard of or heard Simple Minds before, so I guessed it was David Bowie. Please be kind to my ignorant ears.) I'd heard one or two of these songs before, like "Promised You A Miracle" and maybe "Glittering Prize", and it was cool to learn that Herbie Hancock plays keys on "Hunter And The Hunted" (Herbie Hancock plays a very nice synth solo). Overall, I like this album. Sure, the sounds and styles feel a bit dated to me, maybe in part because there was a lot of this kind of music in the air in the 80s, but this is a skilled and talented band and I like Jim Kerr's voice.
There was a period when I couldn't stop listening to Simple Minds, considering them sheer brilliance. That period's long gone, but I still love this music, even without Don't You Forget About Me. As for this particular album, it does suffer from the typical overabundance of filler tracks. Simple Minds is one of those obvious calls for "best experienced through a compilation" bands.
Not the experience is was when the album was released. The band had settled on a sound that would drive towards their single known song (not on this album). The singles are good, some of the extended songs work within the context of the album. But it does sound dated. All that glitters is not gold.
Pop muy ochentero con canciones fácilmente escuchables. No hay ningún hit que destaque especialmente. De ese estilo había en aquella época bastantes grupos/discos parecidos
Enjoyed this overall, especially the first song (which I already knew). It has a really unique sound for the time, and I can see how it would have influenced other 80s acts like U2. I really like the bass sound in particular. However, after two full listens none of the other songs really stick out to me. Also, the vocals are really buried. I know it's a stylistic choice, but I don't understand it. So many 80s albums seem to have the same issue, so it kind of dates the album somewhat.
Punt d'inflexió a la carrera de Simple Minds. Treball pont entre els seus primers discos més arrelats a la new wave i el post punk, i el que seria la seva etapa imperial de mitjans a finals dels '80. Aquí ja deixen dos pistes del que hauria de venir en molt poc temps, amb dos singles tan imbatibles com 'Promised You a Miracle' i 'Glittering Prize'. Altres temes, més elaborats, encara arrosseguen les formes del passat, que tampoc era gens dolent, només que força menys comercial
Simple Minds has largely passed me by. They sound melodic and emotional and all that, but there's something not quite there for me.
Standouts: Promised You a Miracle. Others: Glittering Prize. Someone Somewhere in Summertime. 3/5
Sounds a bit like if The Cure were neurotypical
Mid 80s
This was ok background early 80’s music but I kept thinking “Why is this on this list? And if things like this need to be included to make the nice roundish number of 1,001, then maybe he should’ve just chosen a more apt number?”
Quality wise it’s like a mid tier duran duran song repeated 9 times not bad but nothing amazing 3/5
I liked this more than I thought I would. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) sounds pretty modern, like it could have been made by any of today’s synth bands. Big Sleep and New Gold Dream were also really good. I didn’t think it sounded as dated as a lot of the reviews I’ve seen on this site make it out to be. Bands like Future Islands are making synth-pop records today, so to my ear the sound isn’t stuck in the 80s.
Saw them at Meadowbank Stadium around 1988 and they were brilliant. Not sure their general sound has aged that well in general. I enjoy a song or two now, like the opening track or Promised You A Miracle, but quite quickly lose interest after that
The quality of the record is simply amazing, the sound is so clear compared to some albums and bands from 80s and even from more recent times. Bass guitar line at times is just phenomenal - some songs just beg you to go on a dance floor and move. Vocal is kind of underwhelming, but it's nothing serious. Other than quality, I don't see anything special in this album. It's okay when it's just playing in the background, but I wouldn't want to listen to it consciously for whole 40 minutes. Just another average album.
Boring but not bad
Yep great 80’s album and true 80’s sound deserving of its place on the list.
I really enjoyed this album at first, but it didn't hold my interest all that well. I generally like early synth pop, but this felt like it got a bit samey for me after a while. I'm not sure if that's because I've heard several early synth pop albums now, or because this album is repetitive. I still think it's worth a listen. but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would 3/5
Pretty good
Intense work. Good album
Very 80's. Don't love it, don't hate it
Was ok but not super enthusiastic about it
Perhaps best known for their single "Don't You (Forget About Me)" that tracks the end credits to coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club, Simple Minds have surprisingly made other music. Don't let the messy album title or cover art deter you! The music inside is worth a listen as you get some of the most instrumentally-rich synthpop/new wave of the 80's. It's a little more moody than some of it's contemporaries, but still more interesting as well. Nonetheless, it contains a lot of the theatrics found in the genre and revels in it. Such a dramatic, dynamic album.
Музыка сама по себе композиционно однообразная и скучная. Дослушивать было уже тяжело. Это что-то вроде дрим-попа, но скорее больше рок. Однако часть треков немыслимым образом попала мне на подкорку и иногда проигрывается в моей голове. Всё вроде такое простое, но атмосферное, слегка гипнотическое. А ещё безладовый бас, можно обновить счётчик. Я кайфанул, но переслушивать целиком смысла нет. Пару тройку треков может быть.
Альбом достаточно приятный и вкусный. Был бы он раза в 1,5-2 меньше, можно было 4 поставить. А так типичные проблемы заеба и 3
Just a really good album to listen to, nothing bad, just wasn’t blown away. 3 T3B 1. Someone Somewhere 2. The King Is White And In The Crowd 3. Glittering Prize
Sounds very similar to Tears for Fears. I'm sure this band was an inspiration for them.
- has an atmospheric, industrial pop sound - definitely European - Glittering Prize is a real banger
Not my thing. Interesting music. Vocals threw me off though.
Decent
HL: "Someone Somewhere", "Big Sleep", “Hunter and the Hunted”, “Promised You a Miracle” 3.5 It isn’t obvious to me that this is the same band that came out with “Forget About Me”. There’s more in common with the danceability of New Order, but a cooler shade that’s “The Hurting” era Tears for Fears. Doing this 1001 has improved my 80s synthpop vocabulary for sure, for sure
Je m'attendais à mieux :(
same old
Nothing particularly whizbang but soothing, synth-y goodness
It's 80s. It has synth. I enjoyed it but it also wasn't anything very special.
This gives Talking Heads vibes which is weird but I don’t dislike it. I wish it would have done something to set itself apart more from that standard early 80s synth sound.
I'm not sure why this album was so influential. It feels like every other album by simple minds. This doesn't mean it's bad, i like it a lot actually but it doesn't scream revolutionary to me.
First time listening. Perhaps no instantly recognizable songs, but lush melodies, funky basslines, sweeping guitars and keyboards aplenty. Had an enjoyable time with it overall, but I'm unlikely to seek this out for more plays.
The most notable thing about this album is its horrible album cover. Otherwise the music is unremarkable.
Atmospheric, rhythmic synth rock pop. Not keen on this style of vocals. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) Date listened: 01/02/23
Woah, some more new wave. Crazy.
Fresh songs with an easily digestible sound. Quite nice
Classic 80's Brit synth-pop. At the time, I preferred the edge of Billy Idol, or the straight up flounce of Culture Club or Wham, but Simple Minds was able to sustain their sound when most acts were like a Roman candle fired into the night sky by MTV, briefly flashing brilliantly before disappearing back into the dark. Never fear, lads. We Won't (Forget About You).
Errm fine, largely forgettable
New-wave classic. Still not a huge fan but it was a fun listen.
Nice?
Okay
I'm warming up to 80s synth pop, but I'm still not quite there. This album didn't hurt the cause at all, tho. It's clear there's craft and ability here, but still can't quite get past the tools.
Midish. Maybe 3.5
It's okay, but not really my thing. 3 stars.
Eh
I had never heard this album, and was only aware of a couple of singles by Simple Minds. This album started out a bit meh for me but then really grew on me. I really enjoy the vocals and there is some good songwriting. Overall enjoyed this listen but not sure I'll seek it out again.
Enjoyable in an 80s way.
Decent old 80s new wave. Very creative, maybe to creative for more radio airplay back in the day. New and familiar at the same time because of the genre that I grew up listening to. The instrumental was a nice surprise. It reminds me of a tune I might hear in a dance club scene in a movie like Scarface.
Ok
3-4 idk, mild
How... how many versions do these songs need?
Pretty fun, very 80s
Muy ochentero, bien pero nada muy especial para mí. 3.
I actually liked this. I don't think I would listen again but it was groovy and I kinda liked the low vocals.
Groovy bass lines
Not really earth-shattering for me personally, but it was still enjoyable
Sjećam se da sam vidio ovo na nekoj listi albuma, ne znam za šta je bilo pa sam preslušao i ono, okej album, ali ništa zbog čeg bi se više puta vratio.
Love the singer. Songs are decent.
Not as bad as I thought it would be.
Yeah
basic 80s stuff
Ok electronica, easy listening
You know, despite the global rating on this album, I was pretty hopeful. I was really into the first few tracks and loved the pure, unapologetic 80s synth sounds. However, by about midway through the album, everything kind of blurred together and the songs became less and less distinct to me. I still liked it okay, and I'd still listen again, but it just didn't turn out to be great to me!
I didn't think much of this. It was just ok. Pretty same-y overall. Promised you a miracle was decent though. It had a cool synth line.
It was fine but sounds like a lot of other new wave stuff for me. Not too exciting.
Like a lot of dream pop-y new wave, this is good and I enjoy listening to it, but a lot of it sounds the same and I don't think that I'll ever put this in regular rotation. I can see why this would stand out for people who are more into this sound, but it's seldom more than just fine for me. C+
I like this more than I do their big single. There aren't really any songs that jump out at me, but I do think this is a nice, cohesive whole. Herbie Hancock does a solo and that's cool.
Very 80s, Nice little jam, some good songs, but too 80s for me to appreciate heavily.
Ach ja, die Achtziger. Es war nicht alles schlecht. Einige Songs kommen nicht recht in die Gänge, insgesamt aber eine solide drei. Mir gefällt der Sound einfach (besonders Promised You a Miracle). Man kann dem Menschen nicht die Achtziger, sondern nur den Menschen aus den Achtzigern nehmen.
Pretty good 80's fare
Не запомнился альбом, хотя есть классные треки в духе нью-вейва 80-ых.
Very 80s, meh
Another band where I only knew the hits and had never really listened to a full album. I didn't mind this, they've carved out their own coherent sound, and those singles such as Promised... are pretty good.
A bit toooo 80s
Forgettable 80s pop
Super 80s, I enjoyed a listen to this album.
first listen super ho hum, i really don't think new wave is my thing