Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Not horrible, but just bored and couldn't finish.
Empires and Dance is the good Simple Minds album. Goes so hard you'd think it's a different band entirely. Reel to Reel Cacophony also rips. This one sucks. Defined 'sell-out', these fellas.
Completely forgettable 1980s rock album. Won't be revisiting. I absolutely hated the mixing. Couldn't make out the singing at all.
irish soda stereo
It was ok
Meh - same thing over and over.
Good ol 80s electric pop cheese. A few little standouts but nothing remarkable
Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: ✝️♥️🔥 Production (2003 Remaster): 🤷♂️😐👍 Music: ✨🎛️🤷 Rating: 🪙🪙/5
Meh.... this was about as a defining and generic 80's sound as you could possibly get. This could have been any one of a dozen bands from that era that all sounded the same. It's music like this which gives me a much greater appreciation for the music from the prior two decades.
I’m dedicated to this project but not dedicated enough to listen to 50+ tracks that this album has. I listened to a shorter version and I had zero interest in it
Some elements sound like Franz Ferdinand songs I don't like. The remainder merely fades.
Boring.
I've tried Simple Minds a couple times and can never get into it. Did not change this time round. There's no weight behind any of it, it feels like it's trying to move me somewhere but it's so weak that it passes by me like a light breeze Rating: 2.0
Not into it. Too 80s synth.
Ya echaba de menos otro álbum de synth-pop ochentero. Pues qué decir, más de lo mismo. Tiene un par de temas muy buenos; sobre todo, "Hunter and the Hunted" es un temazo que va in crescendo, creando una atmósfera cada vez más llena de texturas y acaba resultando una orgía de sonidos electrónicos etéreos ochenteros. La guitarra es más virtuosa de a lo que este género me suele tener acostumbrado, aunque los sintetizadores y la voz llorona son lo mismo de siempre. Un álbum que no es que sea malo, de hecho está muy bien producido y es pop-synth ("new pop") de calidad. Muy entretenido, pero me podría haber muerto fácilmente sin haberlo escuchado.
The best thing I can say about this album as it wasn’t actually the four hours I thought it was when I first opened it in Apple Music.
Super generic and kinda boring 5/10
In one ear and out the other. The instrumental track was alright.
2.5
||Yeah... I don't get this... It's like take what The Cure was doing and do it with out passion or catchy melodies. It just as sounds like faceless early 80s synth new wave. To make things worse some of these songs go of for fucking ever without going any where So many bands at the time were doing this better. Soft Cell, Depeche Mode Siouxsie & The Banshees.... (5.3) ★★½
Too symth heavy. Very 80s production. 2 stars
This was very average. Started off alright but then got boring and same-y as it went on. The first half is definitely stronger than the latter half. Everything kind of falls off after the instrumental track. This wasn’t awful, but I’m sure there are 80s new wave albums that were better than this and deserved a spot on the list.
who made it to disc 5?
PRE-LISTEN: I did not know anything by Simple Minds beyond the MTV stuff (the obvious Breakfast Club hit, but I know there was another video in heavy rotation that still gets shown on MTV Classic and I can't remember what it was,) so this was an interesting selection to me. According to Wikipedia, Herbie Hancock guested on this album (solo on "Hunter and the Hunted.") POST-LISTEN: I did not recognize any of the songs but they still sounded so familiar, like soundtracks to '80s movies I've forgotten I watched. Especially the instrumental track - it really seemed like something you would hear while Andrew McCarthy brooded over some girl. An odd but cool sensation. If I were ten years older I bet I would have liked these guys a lot growing up.
Talk about finding a sound and committing to it. It could have been one long song for all I can tell. Zzzzzzzz
Listens: 2 Stand out tracks: none Largely unremarkable. Not particularly good, but not offensive to the ears. 2.5
It instantly brings me back to the early 80’s but not necessarily in a good way. Largely forgettable synth-pop.
I enjoyed echo and the bunnymen, killing moon, crystal days and seven seas all good catchy 80s. Can't say the same about simple minds album. Seemed a very bland and going through the motions
Boring.
Bit non descript
“Promised you a Miracle” is a classic. I get it….. it’s not doin it for me. 2 stars.
"Ny Gull Drøm" av Enkle Sinn er helt tidstypisk. Produksjonen, instrumenteringen, syngestilen, klaskebassen osv. er så åttitalls at det nesten gjør vondt. Jeg finner ikke mangt å si om dette albumet. Det var akkurat slik jeg forventet: uinteressant, men ikke til den grad at det provoserer. Midt på treet, i grunn.
not for me man Will I listen to again: 0%
Maybe this would make more of an impression in context, but it just sounds like Generic Synthpop Album #103.
Shitty 80s shit
I'm not into this. Tries way too hard to sound like the most important thing you've ever heard and suffers as a result. The muddy production adds insult to injury.
Album 738 of 1001 Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) (1982) Rating : 2.5 / 5 While nothing offended my ear, it was just meh. There was really nothing that made me say, "yeah, that is great". Where is the energy?
God I hate the 80s... This was better than I thought it would be.
80's music was NOT good. I was bored. this didn't age well
Wasn’t too bad, but didn’t like it enough to give it a 3.
A few decent singles, but doesn't leave much of an impression overall.
Pretty bland album. Not really interesting to me. Another album that hasn't aged well. 2/5 Won't listen again
Unmistakable 80's synthwave sound. First few songs each sounded like they incorporated a different genre's influence. Interesting approach, but ultimately I found the album boring
Boring 80's synth pop, getting a bit tired of these echoey vocals
2.5 stars. 80's synth pop that doesn't really age well.
Album is so long and though some songs are good, others feel like generic 80s songs (Journey, A-Ha) and there's just too much, also not a fan of the whispery singing and repetitive instrumentals, 2/5.
Super boring, nothing in this is particularly worth being an album you must listen to.
Synth-pop not to my tastes. I have respect for their organization, but little for their musicianship. I do not hear people voice inspiration about their playing. Vaguely like other synth-pop bands. If I heard any of this on the radio I would not be able to say who it was.
For some reason, I wanted to be a fan of Simple Minds. I owned this and "Real to Real Cacophony" on vinyl (the latter is a strange record) before "Don't You (Forget About Me)" took over the world in 1985. I think "Sparkle In The Rain" and "Once Upon a Time" were more interesting albums — at least they were to me as a teen. And this is all a long prelude to say, back in the day, and again on this listen, I found this album rather boring. The production doesn't help, and Jim Kerr's vocals being buried in the mix is an odd (and unsuccessful) choice. Even on the tracks I remembered from my attempts at liking the album in 1982, there's no spark. Ultimately, I'd rate this as below average and not the best in the band's catalog.
The music was actually pretty cool and atmospheric. The singer, though. His delivery reminds me of Matt Berry's acting: stressing words in the weirdest way possible, making it hard to actually understand what he's saying. Of course, Berry does it for comic effect. Sometimes, giving a star rating seems besides the point. I guess I'll give this a 2 given how much I think this belongs on this list. But I didn't dislike it. It was fine.
Pretty forgettable. Nothing grabbed me, but again I’m half listening at also digesting the terrible news we are bombarded with each day, so it has been difficult to be in a mindset to be open to new old music.
4 and a half hours? Christian-codes album cover? Ain't nobody got time for that. DidnMt listen.
24/1089 - Inoffensive but quite boring. The music seems like it was produced well. Definitely "80s" sounding (and quite influential) which I dislike, but there aren't too many reverb-caked snare drums in this which is nice.
Meh, sounds like 80's pop music......
just wasn't my style - the further I got into it, i was really hoping something would jump out but alas... its gonna be a no from me, dawg
Similar to last album. Album was ok but nothing stood out. 2 star.
I like the smooth synths' relaxing vibe and jazzy pop feel but felt like it didn't have enough to dig into. A lot of elements that other adjacent take much futher and to a more satisfying conclusion.
this was certainly something i just listened to. could i write poetry to this? n
Okay, let's break this down... Simple Minds were not a "one-hit wonder." They had TWO hits! Their first (and clear greatest) hit was "Don't You (Forget About Me)." It was released as a single and was included on the "Breakfast Club" soundtrack album, making it ineligible for this list. The other hit, living in the long shadow of "DY(FAM)", was "Alive and Kicking," from the album "Once Upon a Time." This is not that album. Nothing on this recording even comes close to being as good as either of those two songs. This one may have influenced artists who went on to great success, but it would be hard to argue that it is in any way essential. Add a half-star for the cover art. Subtract a half-star for the dumb album title. Add a one-third star because Simple Minds' lead singer was married for six years to Northeast Ohio's own Chrissy Hynde.
Not necessarily bad, just boring.
its fine, i got kinda bored halfway through
Listened to it three times, really like Glittering Prize, but the rest of this sounds meh?
I feel this 5th album is *the* Simple Minds album if you are on the East side of the Atlantic. While those on the other side know them more for their 7th album. Which means, I think I prefer their later 7th album over this one. It's fine. Very 80s. Definitely a predictor of what was to come.
Meh. Alright. Not anything special really
Right off the bat, without hearing a note and only seeing the cover, my initial thought is “fuck this band”. If you’re going to put out an album and its cover looks exactly like the hymnal my church used in the 80’s, I’ve got no interest in your music. Sorry, that’s closed (and probably simple) minded…I know. They’re trying to be edgy and subversive is my guess before hearing any of this record. But even then, “ooh…how subversive. You’re making your (what I’m assuming before hearing the record) synth pop edgy by disguising it as Christian music. Stop the presses, we got some real provocateurs here!” Either that or the implication is that listening to this record is akin to a religious experience. Ok, now I’m going to listen to this record and we’ll see how far off base I am… Well, after listening, I don’t know exactly what the implication of the cover is supposed to be, but I think it’s closer to the latter (that this record should be taken very seriously, like a religious text). Anyway, it was definitely synth pop, it definitely took itself too seriously and it definitely had an album cover that reminded me of going to Sunday school - which I didn’t ask for or need in my life.
Nicht mein Musikgeschmack. Zu theatralisch.
Really boring, just uninteresting vocals and corny synths. Not my cup of tea
Pretty dull.
So uh I guess this is one of Bono’s favorite albums. How bout that.
simple synthie britpop. in my mind not reallly remarkable.
booooring
I never really cared for Simple Minds and this album has not moved the dial on this. Largely forgettable apart from the singles which aren't bad but not good enough to make my extended 80's mega mix.
Kinda cool experimental pop I would call it, solid listen but not wowed
Pretty standard New Wave sound. Very 80s. I can see how this was influential to the genre, but it didnt really stand out for me. 2.5/5
idk, not my thing
I was excited to listen to this but it was just boring
Moving on
As someone who loves the 80’s music wise, the author and critics who put together this 1001 albums list sure pick the most generic sounding 80’s music out there. Simple Minds sound just like a bunch of other European 80’s groups with a male lead. Also this has to be one of the WORST album covers ever.
This album has a couple ok songs, including "Promised You a Miracle," their greatest attempt at a Cure-esc new wavey Brit-poppy hit. Otherwise it's mostly forgettable despite their admonishment.
I enjoyed the title track and the Herbie Hancock cameo was cool. Overall forgettable 80s to me
The sound and vibe reminds me of a lesser Tears for Fears. Some good and memorable songs, but overall, pretty forgettable.
I’m offended as a visual designer, and a lover of 80s new wave music. Not terrible, but it sounds like a caricature of 80s music.
The only song I know by Simple Minds isn't on this album so I kind off expected more like that song and that is what I got in many ways. Atmospheric songs with electronic melodies. It feels like a great album to have on in the background when cooking or something like that, nothing I will listen to every day though.
Yeah, nah, this is sub-mediocre 80’s new wave shite.
This could be the most 80’s sounding album on this list.
Used to like this album in the 80's but it's very of it's time and not nearly as good as I remembered it to be.
The definition of bang average. Taking a point off as it bored me just about to tears.
2 I didnt like either the general sound or how they remastered it, felt like a chore to get through
This sounds like my early high school years, which were good, but not great.
Did not enjoy. Felt it all blended in together.
Hella jesusy cover.... I always struggle to listen to more than a few simple minds songs in a row..... Reverb drenched vox and big synths stress me out.
meh not bad not good either 3/10
Never really got Simple Minds. Found this to be an incredibly bland pop album. But clearly they did appeal to a lot of people at the time
Very 80s, very much not for me.
Nothing of interest here for me.
Intetsigande
2.4 1x catchup 11/8/24
boring 80s
The cover is a good representation for what you're getting, shite. Half the time it sounds like fkn geometry dash
Really, really struggling to see how this album earned a spot on this list. I will remember nothing from this album other than it being new wave. Is it outright bad? No. Is it at all unique or memorable? No.
I found this to be fairly boring. I don't particularly like the big single off this (miracle), and the rest of the songs don't do much for me either. Competently executed but unexciting.
Oh boy more UK-esc new wave music. Nothing memorable happened on this album.
This was alright, more classic Brit rock that sometimes leans towards pop, sometimes artsy, and sometimes towards more a more dramatic sound. The production wasn't bad and the performances weren't bad, but overall it didn't do much for me. If this album is on this list then I'm sure "Once Upon A Time" will be on the list as well, as that has the classic track "Don't You (Forget About Me)", which I feel is one of THE genre-defining tracks of a decade, the 80s. 2.4/5.
great music to fall asleep to (derogatory)
I don’t care for the singers voice. There are some interesting things here and there in the songs but overall I didn’t find them very engaging. Nothing about this album hooked me.
Meh, 80s junk. Some of the textures were alright but nothing I couldn’t have heard on a Prince or Police album
I am just not digging these 80’s synth music albums; just not my decade. Won’t be listening to this one again.
This album slipped across my mind without leaving any trace of it's time there.
Maso
"New Gold Dream" undeniably captures the essence of its era, and while this isn’t intended as a dismissive comment, it’s clear that its sound is very much a product of the early 80s. At the time of its release, the album likely felt innovative and boundary-pushing. However, with over four decades having passed, its distinct 80s sound can sometimes blend into the broader sonic landscape of the decade. In hindsight, other albums and singles from that period have left a more lasting impression on me. That said, the album isn’t without its merits. The bass lines are particularly impressive and add a compelling groove throughout. Jim Kerr’s vocals are a standout feature, conveying a positive and uplifting mood that pervades the lyrics. While "New Gold Dream" may not be one I’m eager to rush out and buy on vinyl, there are certainly a few tracks that I’ll return to from time to time for their standout qualities.
I listened to 4 different versions of the album thinking it was the same
This sounds super dated, which is interesting to note but not something I'd hold against the record. What I DO despise though is the terrible vocal performance - the lyrics are mid at best and the melodies don't suit the production whatsoever.
Not anything special. Just sounds like run of the mill 80s pop
one hit wonders
It’s a meh from me dawg.
Simple Minds has one great album. This isn't it. You can hear them working thru and tinkering with things here but clearly not ready for prime time.
Unfortunately, I only have room in my life for one Simple Minds album, and that album contains Don't You Forget About Me. Tragically, that song was never put on a proper Simple Minds album, it was written and recorded specifically for The Breakfast Club soundtrack. So, I guess what I am saying is I don't have room in my life for a Simple Minds album.
This is nothing music. I may as well not listen to anything at all.
I felt nothing. I don't get this. I guess you had to be there?
Not much to say about this one. Didn't enjoy it.
Clueless as to why this album is on this list.
Synthy new wave. Some nice basslines though.
Not sure how every single vocalist from the 80s sound exactly the same
Not my type of music
This is one of those albums where the version on Spotify is four hours long and I have to go digging online to find the actual tracklist. It is thankfully much shorter. I don't know the correct way to describe the vocals of this album but they are very ethereal and echoey. The instrumentation is very synthy. This is a common sound from this period of time, and it doesn't really do it for me. The singing sounds a little like David Byrne, and there is some Talking Heads energy in the music. Unfortunately it doesn't come together in a way I enjoy nearly as much. My favorite song was "Glittering Prize". 4/10
I enjoyed nothing about this album. All the quintessential 80's sounds but bad.
Just a bit forgettable. Glittering Prize is a tune, but the rest just passed me by.
It's like Talking Heads and The Cure had an extremely uninteresting baby
Couldn't get into this at all. Atmospheric and moody (even more so than many other 80s pop records) that just didn't draw me in.
Painfully Average. Every sound sounded exactly the same.
This is timid and mild. I cam enjoy some 80s pop ballads, but this is all too familiar.
With all that time passing since, this type of booming pop drenched in tacky synth strikes as little more than irritating and dated.
Pop con sintetizadores. Un rollo. Un 2.
Good group from the 70s-80s. Good music.
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. There’s some great moments, specifically synth tones, but there’s something sleepy in the songwriting that pulls me out of it.
Olisin pitänyt tästä enemmän jos yhden instrumentaalin sijaan olisivat äänittäneet kaikki kappaleet ilman vokalistia 🤷
Not bad by any means but a lot of the same. Went in one ear and straight out the other for the most part.
Wow. A 3 record mega album. That was... a long listen. Man honestly, this was a bit of a slog. By the end, every song starts sounding the same. I'll be ok to not return to this one again.
An unremarkable album by Simple Minds. It's alright when it's used as background music. I'm not into that particular genre. I hope I get a better album next time. "Gold Dream" is OK but I expected more. 2 stars for a boring album.
When I was 18, Jim Kerr came into my uni to do a guest lecture, and I must admit I had no idea who he was, but he had some pretty cool rock and roll stories. I was expecting this to be a bit more raucous, but it’s just a bunch of easy listening 80’s music that gets a bit samey after a while.
..(.
Was never really a fan. Just another deep-throated British vocalist, sounding just like all the others (all Bowie wannabes). And I was pissed off that he beat me to Chrissie Hynde. Promised You A Miracle and Glittering Prize are the standouts.
I hate this on principle. Why is the only version of this album that's available on Spotify 4 fucking hours long?!?! That is ABSURD! If the original release runtime is 46 minutes or so, why can't I listen to that version?? I've managed to listen to the first 9 tracks representing the original release, but I still don't like it. It's middling at best. Everything about this is wrong: the branding, the album artwork, the naming of it, the music is just so unappealing and bland. I would prefer to forget about this, if I can, thank you very much.
if you took a Worst of New Order compilation and then removed the spark that implies the band must have some cool stuff around, it'd sound like this music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Maybe to my taste, new wave has to be a little bit gothy or a little bit punk, to be a good time.
A lot of the same over and over.
This barely escapes being a 1 with vocals that are nearly indiscernible and a total lack of variety from track to track. Listened to: at home.
I listened to this album and forgot to rate, listened it again because I thought I skipped. I totally forgot about it already (again)
Very eighties pop - it sounds like a lot of other bands in the genre, but doesn’t stand out above others.
Some decent songs here and there but nothing worth coming back to unfortunately
Didn't hate this, but I'm sure this will be polarizing. It's New Wave through and through, and it's SO DAMN LONG.
Very 80s.
Artsy, echoey, new-agey, atmospheric
1.5 per track.
Idc.
do something, bums
Idc
Yeah there was just nothing memorable about this. Boring and uninspired.
Not an album I would choose to listen to again
Not awful, but too blatantly 80’s for me.
Some good tunes and a great throwback to the 80’s!
Solid mid-table album, it would have had 3 stars. However they had an instrumental track in the middle which was just so boring. So it gets 2
Meh. The songs are okay but it's hard to get past the bad production.
I only know one song by Simple Minds and that was just because it was on The Breakfast Club soundtrack. That one is definitely a banger. Overall, this was quintessentially 80's with some generic stuff and a couple nice tracks mixed in. Track reactions: 1 - Straight into that 80's sound. I can dig it. 2 - A bit of a drop-off but I can listen to it. 3 - Nothing special, just some OK background music. 4 - More of the same. 5 - Instrumental track? It's actually quite nice... 6 - Favorite track so far. Nice ethereal vibe I can get lost in. 7 - Fine generic 80's music 8 - This one got better as I listened to it. 9 - Ended with just an ok track.
Pop con sintetizadores. Un rollo. Un 2.
Nothing special on this. Simple Minds have some great songs, but this album was overwhelmingly "eh". I still don't understand why the album and title track have (81/82/83/84)?
Big fan of Alive and Kicking and was hoping for a surprise here. Didn't hear the song I wanted and thought the rest was pretty generic, basic 80's pop. Not that is was terrible, but there wasn't anything that caught my attention, other than Colours Fly. And that's because I thought of Foo's album, The Colour and the Shape. Yea, I'm a strange dude, but I like me. Not mush else to say. Decent background music, but nothing to get excited for. I do like the guy's voice though. 2.5
2.5 Allegedly this album helped innovate the 80s pop sound that would go on to define the decade. I can’t say that I feel strongly one way or the other in regards to that claim, but what I can confidently say is that what Simple Minds did with it here is far from the most interesting version of it. Maybe it’s not fair to compare this to music that followed and likely took influence, but there are plenty of genre-defining artists I could point to that came out of the gates swinging, and these guys couldn’t even do that five albums in. Hell, even comparing this to their own work, there’s nothing here that holds a candle to Don’t You (Forget About Me). Why didn’t we get that album? The inclusion of the Breakfast Club song alone must make it a better listen than this. Trash talk aside, this really did nothing for me and was just kind of a non-presence while I was working. It didn’t give me anything to like, anything to dislike, or anything to feel remotely strongly about it in any particular way - this truly was just very vanilla. Normally I’m the first pretentious a-hole to call a group out as being better before they got big, but that is very much not the case with Simple Minds. Ok, a correction after a Google search later - Don’t You (Forget About Me) was a non-album single written and recorded for The Breakfast Club (apparently reluctantly). While I could update the above paragraph, I went ahead and listened to the album the song was later bundled with anyway, and it is indeed better than this, so I stand by my initial sentiment.
I remember giving Simple Minds a good try back then, and just not getting it. I haven't changed my mind. The mix is unnecessarily muddy and dull, a poor imitation of The Lexicon of Love or The Luxury Gap.
Ni fu ni fa
I may have not just been in the mood for this New Wave but it was such background music. I don't think there's anything that got my attention once.
This is the band that made quite possibly one of the most influential 80s songs of all time. This album is a big step below that and none of the songs on here get close to as enjoyable as forget about me. This album didn’t seem to have any of the lure of what made them great on their other album. This album was an interesting choice as it seemed they made a significantly better one. 5.5/10
Generic
Langsom newwave poprock, lidt 80’er synth, et par ok numre men uden rigtig at gøre indtryk
Not the best the 80s had to offer
Tellement daté. Et y a même pas de tube. Tolérable sur la longueur, avec des moment mouif et des moments bof, comme cet interminable instrumental en plein milieu de l'album ("Somebody Up There Likes You"). Mais je n'y trouve pas grand intérêt. Ce 2 est généreux.
No offense to Simple Minds, I like "Don't You (Forget About Me)", but this didn't really jazz my almonds in any way. Vocally, it reminds me of Depeche Mode, and there are some interesting bass riffs to listen to, but it struggles to keep my attention. Favorite track: "Promised You A Miracle"
Not a huge fan of the 80s synth, but this wasn’t awful
A couple of decent songs but the album is stocked of tedium and bore. I like the later work of Simple Minds but this album is lacking.
I've always been a fan of this era of music, early 80s new wave/synth pop. However Simple Minds have always been a little too shiny, pristine and poppy for me. I found this record quite hard to get into, there's lots of cool sounds and melodies, but something about it just feels lacking compared to other new wave bands for me.
I'm not really a fan. Most of it is sitting solely in the background and it's not grabbing or interesting me. There's some nice synths, but it's quite pared back. It's mostly forgettable.
Oh... I'm unfamiliar with this one! Looking at the track list... Glittering Prize caught my attention because I love Television Personalities and their song The Glittering Prizes. Doesn't seem related. Not really a fan. I thought I liked the 80's. I liked the 80's in the 80's at least.
Meh Gold Dream.
Has some bops. Has some serious production issues.
Very bland and forgettable. Stand-out: Someone Somewhere in Summertime
Meh.
Ok, I can respect that this might be a "good" album, but I'm really not interested. I couldn't wait for this album to end. The combo of driving beats with moody melodic wailing makes me queasy.
got nothing to say about this one.
2.0
Saa selvää tämmösestä ramblestä.. näytän arvostelullani etten sitä positiivista ratinkia pelkästään miellyttävän genren perusteella jakele....
Boring.
Waarom klinkt elke jaren '80 stem toch hetzelfde? Of is het New Wave? Of hoe je het ook wilt noemen? Ik vind het niks iig.
Can appreciate it for the 80s album that it was, but it was a little bit of a Snoozefest
I really like Promised You a Miracle, but the rest of the album isn't doing a ton for me. The dark new wave sound really isn't one that I gravitate to, and I doubt I would ever go back to this album. That being said, I've always thought of Simple Minds as one hit wonders so it's interesting to hear one of their albums without that one hit.
Not bad, but not my thing
not an interesting record to me, and I think I am also able to say this is not an interesting 'genre' to me. There seems to be a lot of boring british new wave with no hook/chorus/groove on this list.
I strongly dislike 80's new wave/synth pop music and this album was no different. I hate the hollow haunted moaning whiny goth vocal style of this era. It is so boring and frustrating to listen to. I understand why other people like this music, but it's not for me. While not on this album, their song "Don't You", is an absolute jam of a song and a classic from the 80's.
bored
Some notes to start is that this is one of the ugliest album covers on the whole list, and that man, do a lot of one hit wonder bands have albums on the list, for better and worse. In this case, it's worse. The album isn't bad, per se, as I like some of the ideas here, but nothing stands out as some crowning achievement in new wave, synth-pop, pop, or even electronic. Some of it is pretty okay, but nothing gravitates to me any more than anything else that blends together from the era. There could definitely be days where I could see this getting all the way up to a four, depending on how open I am to just stereotypical synth pop, but today is not it, and thinking of all the other much more deserving albums from the era that were probably axed for this makes it all the sadder.
Back and forth between 2-3 but too repetitive
It's really not bad. It's not great either, but not bad. It is, however, the same exact song 9 times over. I guess stick with what's working? But it wasn't anything that great where they can't deviate styles at least a little bit. Favorite track: Someone Somewhere
So indistinct as an 80s album.
Not horrible, but really not notable. Couple decent songs, but most sound like a rip off of Roxy Music or New Order. Wasn’t this band basically a one hit wonder? Think this is another example of the author projecting his personal interests and nostalgia on to us.
scottish rock idk it’s fine
Meh
Forgettable: I think I can confidently say that Simple Minds are a bit of a one hit wonder after listening to this. I felt it was lacking in creativity and was just overall a pretty boring way to spend my time listening to music. Could've been better but I'll probably not be revisiting.
Lo escuché una vez y no recuerdo nada.
not a big fan of music like this. after a while most of the songs started sounding the same. not my jam, fam.
Not sure what the target audience for this is supposed to be. People who hate themselves? Best track: Glittering Prize
>.<zzz
I think this album may have got off on the wrong foot in terms of my initial reception of it. I had my streaming service on shuffle the first run through. Second time around, I corrected that and kicked up the volume only to realize that some of my early feelings were about the vocal mix (sitting a little low in places). Also I realized that Somebody Up There Likes You is a real momentum killer on the records. Speaking of the album overall: it's more about atmosphere than I would've expected from Simple Minds. I think you have to look at how the album is thought of in reverse rather than how it was heard when it first came out, the number of "viable singles" on it also seems low for what I expect of this band. As you can see, I have some baggage and expectation of what I'm going to get from Simple Minds and this album also confronts that bias. Maybe on a third listen I'll finally be able to "hear it". Though I admit some impatience while I listen.
This is not really my thing, but I'll say two things: 1 - it was consistent; even though I don't really like it, there weren't really any "bad" songs I guess 2. The bass lines were dope.
I know who simple minds are but never heard them that I know of. Can't wait for yet more UK new wave. This wasn't bad at all but I forgot it was playing to a large extent. Just one giant blob of new wave nothingness. 2/5.
This was surprisingly disappointing.
It was acceptable of it's era. But it's not hugely interesting nowadays despite being one of the better of it's type
Same type of new wave stuff that plagues this list. At least this record has some cool funky undertones.
Meh
Boring and very 80s. Not for me
Fave songs: Promised you a miracle, big sleep, new gold dream, hunter and the hunted pretty mediocre synthpop 2/5
I have so many questions. Why is this on this list? Where’s the fun part? Why does the production sound like someone is vacuuming over top of it? How many more new wave albums make the cut here? I didn’t need to hear this stale, white bread equivalent of a record. 2 stars for some halfway okay songs with Glittering Prize.
I’ll keep it simple: I didn’t pay this record much mind.
more 80s than ever thought possible
This one is interesting...I only knew Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds going into this listen. I was expecting a bigger, more stadium-y sound. But I'm hearing a lot of like.. Depeche Mode in major keys / Devo/Bowie but less interesting / and weirdly a little like..El Ten Eleven/00s sounding guitar & bass work? Maybe that's what notable?
Not my favorite but not the worst at all! Seems like a filler album for this bad nothing really stood out to me but still not a bad listen!
Bad 80s synthpop that doesn't have their best songs on it. What?
This wasn't great. First song quite catchy, but it quickly degenerates into pretty generic beige new wave, not a lot to distinguish it from a lot of other stuff at the time. Every song outstays its welcome, it's overly repetitive, and just not that interesting. 2/5.
Поначалу альбом показался довольно динамичным и многообещающим, но под конец я не то чтобы хотел выключить, просто устал от однообразия 2+
Not really for me. Nothing stood out.
- Love the instrumentals - Vocals are okay but I guess add to the vibe - Background music - Major 80s vibes but not super my thing
En tiedä voiko kuulostaa enempää kasarille niin hyvässä kuin pahassa? Taustamusaa.
Ei mun juttu. Peruskakkonen
This was alright but I cannot remember a single thing about it
I'm not into the 80's New Wave screen, it all feels too much the same.
This is the early 80's alright, didn't necessarily stand out for me.
Best Song: Promised You A Miracle. Just the right amount of 80s pomp and cheese to make me think it's funny-good not funny-bad. Worst Song: Somebody Up There Likes You. Yawn. Overall: Another British album better off left to the annals of history.
liked songs: someone somewhere big sleep glittering prize
Bill
Basen är helt cool men låtarna e så mid att de int e klokt, förtjänar inte sin plats på listan.
Interesting at times but quite boring and dragged
very 80s
I like Simple Minds and understand the significance of this album. Just don’t think it is great.
It was OK. Started blending together quite a bit. There are better new wave early 80's bands IMO.
Ok album, some cool 80s synth sounds, but overall pretty forgettable... no real bangers :(
Didn't get it. Don't get it.
First things first, that is a horrible album cover. Is that Papyrus? Why does the design look like the cover of a Bible knockoff? Onto the music. It had a darker spin on new wave which I liked, but sadly most songs were pretty forgettable. The only two that are worth a relisten are Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) and Promised You a Miracle. Maybe this is why Simple Minds only ended up having one hit.
Unremarkable New Wave. Nothing stands out as something I'd want to listen to again.
I never could get int Simple Minds honestly. My mom loves them but i think it's just because of nostalgia. This album was pretty boring, all the songs sounded exactly the same, the lyrics are quite bad and it overall feels really dated. The only people that could like this album are Simple Minds fans, people who reeeally like new wave, nostalgic Gen X people and Tik Tok teenagers that feel that they were "born in the wrong generation".
Idk pretty boring I thought
devoid of hooks or melody
You had me at “‘82.” I just love the 80s vibe, so it’s a good start for me. Didn’t get much of a chance to listen to the rest of it
Good, classic music. Really enjoyed it but didn’t absolutely love it.
Not very exciting, interesting sounds though for the time.
Oh, well, Simple Minds. I remember liking *Street Fighting Years* when I was a teenager. And also *Life In A Year*, from their early, more post-punk phase (was it the name of the album, or the name of one of its songs?--can't honestly remember, and I have betterthings to do now than to check out those things). Sadly, whenever I tried to revisit this band, I found most of everything they've done cheesy and quite cringeworthy. Which is very ironic given that I have warmed up to a lot of other British eighties pop bands since my younger years. This album is no exception. A few decent songs here and there, but the whole has definitely not aged well compared to similar acts of that area. Now, I've noticed that this list singles out a lot of records that hit the charts when they were released. Hey, Robert, just because a record meets commercial success at some point in time, helping the band that recorded it to "break out", doesn't always mean that what they've spawned is... essential. Number of records I've reviewed: less than 800 Number of records I'll keep on my own list: half so far, approximately. Number of records I might keep: a quarter. Number of records I won't keep: another quarter (including this one).
Not really my thing.
This was ok. Grand for some background music but nothing to write home about
Slightly bland new wave
Really similar to the smiths, not bad I kinda liked it but had trouble staying interested
Beetje traag, wel leuk achtergrond muziekje.
Awfully dated sound. Expensive production in the 80s that sounds like factory effects for karaoke on a 90s boom box. The low end has lovely punch, but the rest is just meh. (Prior listen)
Not my cup of tea
80s synth pop is fine, but not something I would typically seek out. Didn't realize that Simple Minds had such a history. Overall just decent. 2.5/5
this album just made me bored. it was unexciting and unremarkable. it was rather soft, too, and simple minds had a rather lethargic sound here. the one redeeming quality is the instrumentation on "somebody up there likes you". that was rather pretty and felt like a fantasy. overall, i didn't hate the album and i do like synth, but i couldn't get enthused even after several listens.
What a bleh album. Its decent 80s synth pop, but its all bleh and mashed together. There’s little substance besides droning boops and blips, and the occasional generic lyric. This is not how you do synth music.
This has to be the worst album name and artwork combination I've ever seen. I thought I was going to be listening to gospel garbage. It's... kind of whatever honestly. Like most of this 80s synth-heavy stuff, it hasn't aged the best. There's something missing here. The mixing is very weird. I couldn't pay attention to the lyrics at all because the guy's vocals sound like they're coming from the bottom of a well. There's better and more influential synthpop out there. I don't really get this album's inclusion, but meh who cares. It was listenable.
C'est un petit supplice d'écouter tout cette album. Je suis en retard sur mes écoutes donc je n'ai pas vraiment le gout de le terminer. Surtout que c'est probablement l'album qui sonne le plus générique que j'ai écouté de toute ma vie. Chaque chanson semble être la même. C'est pas mauvais, mais tellement répétitif. Mention spéciale au joueur de basse qui brule l'album. 2.75
A little boring.
It was fine. Nothing memorable for me
This is not good.
This album managed to be so stereotypically yet inoffensively 80s that it really went in one ear and out the other. Couldn’t name you a single melody beyond some vague gestures at chorus-heavy guitar if I tried.
Meh
Listened to this on a road trip. It's ok. A little repetitive, but some good songs on there here and there in between all the synth.
Not as earth shattering as Jim Kerr thinks it is. Simple Minds belongs on this list, but not for this album (I'm a sucker for "Once Upon A Time").
Not much variety to what I’m hearing here. And I’m not much of a fan of SM except for Give me Don’t You (Forget About Me) and Alive and Kicking, which aren’t on this. This album isn’t for me.
podsjeća me na soundtrack nekih angsty filmova iz 80-ih, al nije nešto šta baš slušan samoinicijativno
I wanted to be more interested...
Don't know why I find music from this era so boring, but it really is. 2/5
Meh.... a basic new wave without much to say.
A couple ok songs.
Didn’t much care for these at the time, although I loved ‘Someone, somewhere….’ Quite enjoyed this listen though, particularly Glittering Prize.
Pure 80's music. The traditional beats, keyboards and synthesizers.
A small number of fun singles. The rest... nope.
Kept waiting for 'don't you forget about me' to come on and it never did. Didn't really matter as all the songs sounded the same and when the album finished I listened to their famous song which was a bit boring.
I can see how this could be someone's thing, growing up in a town suddenly they discovered this album and no-one else got it like they did. I found it hard to focus on, like trying to catch a worm, it just kept slipping away and something else would pop into my head.
I wasn't too familiar with Simple Minds, for some odd reason I keep confusing them with Tears for Fears. The album wasn't bad, I recognised the singles, rest of album didn't grab me on first listen. I did read the Wikipedia page about The Breakfast Club song, I didn't know it wasn't their song. They initially said no, kept getting asked so agreed, recorded it within half a day then forgot about it - until the movie came out and it got big radio airplay in the USA.
I think Simple Minds peaked with Empires and Dance (1980) and Sister Feelings Call and Sons and Fascination (1981). Even Real to Real Cacophony is good (1979). New Gold Dream is where they smooth all the jagged edges, and it's a great loss.
Why "New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)"? And why the crucifix with a sacred heart? Are Simple Minds really simple? Well, upon listening to it, one would infer that yes, it's definitely simple. Just a generic '80s synthpop that didn't age well. "Someone Somewhere (in Summertime)" is a nice mellow pop track. But the rest is just a bunch of boring pop songs. The synth riffs are interesting sometimes, but the songs themselves are not that great. In the end, "New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)" just aged together with the other synthpop albums during that time. And no matter how interesting its name is, its sound is still indistinguishable from its peers.
Awfully dated sound. Expensive production in the 80s that sounds like factory effects for karaoke on a 90s boom box. The low end has lovely punch, but the rest is just meh.
Two half decent songs. The rest is boring.
Never really cared for Simple Minds back in the day and listening to this now doesn't change my opinion. Nothing for me here as their music has always been meh. Let's move on...
Meh. 5/10
I can do new wave. I can do angsty. I can do post-punk. But all three at a time? It's like mixing m&ms, skittles, and gum. Not a fan.
Boring, didn't know these were the people who made the song from breakfast club
2nd listen. I like Simple Minds, but this isn't in the same league as some of their other work. 2/5. Maybe it will grow on me in time.
// Favs: Score: Decent to Strong 2
Track 01 - 1.75/5 Track 02 - 1.5/5 Track 03 - 1.25/5 Track 04 - 1.5/5 Track 05 - 2/5 Track 06 - 1.5/5 Track 07 - 1.25/5 Track 08 - 1.75/5 Track 09 - 2/5 Overall: 1.75/5 Album Art: 2/5
It's fine. but i'm never going to listen to it again. Of the synth pop 80s, there's stuff i enjoy a lot more.
i have no idea why this album is dressed up as a bible. 2 good tracks and a load of filler - just read one of the other ones about this format of album. strong 80s vibe, just doesn't really do anything with it.
Background music for a Jesus-based circle jerk.
Not my taste in music. But a decent listen
Just okay. There are a lot of repeats on this album