Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Joyful new wave album by all girls band The Go-Go's suppose it was influential to the rest of the acts of the decade and Green Day a decade later. Loved it.
Great poppy new wave
Great classic pop rock that you can still hear the influence of on a lot of modern indie rock
Better than anticipated!
Just some really fun pop rock. Would love to be a woman in '81 just gettin turnt up with my bitches to this record. 7.5/10
Pretty good. Skidmarks on my heart is a very interesting song title. The song is still catchy though.
I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. I of course knew We Got the Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed going in, and I expected that the rest of this album would be more of the same flavor, but not as good (and hence not singles), but I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of flavor and unexpectedly funky chord progressions and even some odd time in at least one song. The production quality was also excellent. I was bopping along the entire time and ended up listening twice because I enjoyed it so much. I don't love Belinda Carlisle's vocal flavor (although she is a great talent technically) after about 3 or 4 songs, so I'm giving it four stars.
liked songs: most of them Very good new wave stuff. 3.75
This is a simple and catchy 'new wave' album, and for what it is, I honestly surprised that a liked that much, because, from what I had to heard from this list of this genre, I usually dislike it. But this is a very consistent album, and kind of fun. Not more to say than it is great.
This was a surprising bop. Good fun old fashioned 80s girl pop and I loved it! Our lips are sealed was so much fun and the album just kept that vibe the whole way through!
Pretended I was in montages while listening to most of this album. That is not a bad thing
I knew a lot more of these songs than I initially thought I did. This is a really great album. Everything here is really catchy while maintaining the rhythmic baselines and drumming as expected of new wave. The guitar solo on Skidmarks On My Heart is really great. Favorites were Our Lips Are Sealed, Lust To Love, We Got The Beat, Fading Fast, and Skidmarks on My Heart.
love 🩷
Sounds like an early pop punk record. Really fun vibes. I thought it was really good and my wife enjoyed it too.
Fun listen, catchy pop songs with a punky element.
Our Lips Are Sealed 4.1 How Much More 3.4 Tonite 3.5 Lust to Love 3.7 This Town 3.6 We Got the Beat 4 Fading Fast 3.6 Automatic 3.4 You Can't Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep) 3.2 Skidmarks on My Heart 3.4 Can't Stop the World 3.4 Score: 3.572727273
A fun one! A good consistent energy and tons of solid hooks throughout. Can start to all sound a bit the same but probably ends before it becomes too much. 7/10
vibes
Tonite and Lust To Love are standouts. I enjoyed this album and think that I will like it more with more listens. A less angry Sleater-Kinney?
I was surprised to see it described as New Wave instead of pop, because I thought NW would be more experimental and electronic sounds (plus I thought of their hits as pop songs).
New wave but all-female. LETS GOOOOO
Jesus, what a monster in my college years. Every girl wanted to be a Go-Go, and the boys just followed the girls. This was not in my wheelhouse at the time, but not gonna lie, I listened. Five seconds into Our Lips Are Sealed, my wife is up and dancing. She apparently saw these gals open up for the Police in the 80's. Damn! A different era, a better time.
Pure cheesey album. I really enjoyed it lmao Somehow I knew most of these songs? Bangers 4 ⭐️
Upbeat girls rock enjoyed it
Super fun New Wave. A great listen front to back, more than just the singles.
A first time listen. Very enjoyable.
Really enjoyable. Catchy, bright, great guitar lines - slightly surfer rock. Can see they clearly influenced the likes of Lush.
It was interesting to listen girl band group. Definitely sounds like music from the eighties, sound like Spice Girls a little bit. Not that I don't like female artists, on the contrary, but it isn't really my music style, but if I had to relisten to the album, it'll be a pleasure. While you're ridin, during some holidays, it would be good to listen that type of music genre.
Solid album with some excellent bangers.
It was fun!
Essential 80s listening.
Great hit singles
8/10 A breath of fresh air. Good music, good vocals, good harmonies. Just good. Best: We Got the Beat
Extremely 80s. Fun female fronted pop. They’re playing Coachella and honestly pretty excited to see their set.
This is exactly what happens when an all-female punk band goes pop (and it's great). 8.9/10 Best Tracks: "Our Lips are Sealed" "How Much More" "We Got the Beat"
Really liked this. Got some 60s vibes, got some punky vibes. Weirdly reminded me of the manic street preachers in parts.
This album brings back many early teenage memories. Although it is a little too pop for me to have in heavy rotation, it is always a fun listen. It also paved the way for many female-fronted bands. "Our Lips Are Sealed" has always been a standout.
Und immer wieder ein Push nach vorne. Großartig!
big david dobrik vibes
Peak 80s pop-rock
Rating: 7.5/10 Punk without distortion, so many fun riffs and songs.
Listened before Favourite tracks: Our Lips Are Sealed, We Got The Beat, Skidmarks On My Heart
Enjoyable listen. Nothing earth-shattering though.
## In-Depth Review of *Beauty and the Beat* by The Go-Go's The Go-Go's debut album, *Beauty and the Beat*, released on July 14, 1981, is a landmark in music history. It not only defined the sound of early '80s new wave but also broke significant barriers as the first album by an all-female band to top the *Billboard* 200 while writing and performing their own material. Below is a detailed analysis of its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its pros and cons. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Beauty and the Beat* strike a balance between playful irreverence and emotional depth. Tracks like "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat" showcase a carefree, youthful exuberance that resonated with audiences worldwide. These songs capture themes of secrecy, fun, and rebellion with catchy simplicity. For example, "Our Lips Are Sealed," co-written by Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall of The Specials, uses cryptic yet relatable lines to explore themes of gossip and resilience[1][3]. On the other hand, deeper cuts like "Lust to Love" and "How Much More" delve into more personal territory. "Lust to Love" examines the emotional fallout of a casual relationship turned serious, while "How Much More" portrays jealousy and longing with raw vulnerability[4]. The lyrics throughout the album are relatable without being overly sentimental, making them accessible to a wide audience. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Beauty and the Beat* blends elements of punk rock, pop, and '60s girl-group harmonies into a cohesive new wave sound. The album's opening track, "Our Lips Are Sealed," features jangly guitars and a buoyant rhythm that set the tone for the record. "We Got the Beat," with its driving bassline and infectious drumbeat, became an anthem for youthful energy[1][2]. The Go-Go's also showcase their punk roots in faster-paced tracks like "Skidmarks on My Heart" and "You Can’t Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can’t Sleep)," which feature crunchy guitars and energetic drumming reminiscent of their earlier live performances[2]. Meanwhile, slower songs like "Fading Fast" highlight Charlotte Caffey's melodic sensibilities and provide emotional contrast. Each band member contributes distinctively: Belinda Carlisle’s charismatic vocals carry both sass and sincerity; Gina Schock’s precise drumming drives the rhythm; Kathy Valentine’s basslines add depth; and Caffey and Wiedlin’s guitar interplay creates rich textures[2]. --- ### **Production** Produced by Richard Gottehrer (known for his work with Blondie) and Rob Freeman, *Beauty and the Beat* has a polished yet vibrant sound. However, this production style was initially controversial within the band. Bassist Kathy Valentine later remarked that the album sounded too “clean” compared to their rawer live performances[5]. While this sheen may have alienated some purists, it undoubtedly helped make the album more radio-friendly. The production emphasizes tight arrangements and crisp instrumentation. Songs like "Tonight" benefit from layered harmonies, while tracks like "Automatic" use minimalist arrangements to create a hypnotic atmosphere[3][4]. Despite some compromises in capturing their live energy, the production ultimately enhances the album’s accessibility without diluting its edge. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Beauty and the Beat* captures both the carefree spirit of Los Angeles youth culture and deeper emotional struggles. Songs like "This Town" offer a satirical take on Hollywood glamour, juxtaposing its allure with its darker underbelly: “Discarded stars/Like worn-out cars/Litter the streets of this town”[1]. This duality reflects the band’s ability to critique their environment while celebrating it. Other tracks explore universal themes such as heartbreak ("Fading Fast"), unrequited love ("How Much More"), and empowerment ("Can’t Stop the World"). The Go-Go's soften punk’s defiance with relatable narratives that resonate across gender lines[4]. --- ### **Influence** *Beauty and the Beat* is widely regarded as one of the cornerstone albums of American new wave music. Its success shattered gender stereotypes in rock music by proving that an all-female band could achieve commercial dominance without compromising artistic integrity[1][3]. The album’s influence extends beyond music. It inspired countless young women to pursue careers in rock at a time when female representation in the genre was scarce. Its blend of punk attitude with pop sensibility paved the way for future acts like The Bangles and later Riot Grrrl bands[4]. Additionally, songs like "We Got the Beat" became cultural touchstones, appearing in films like *Fast Times at Ridgemont High*[1]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Catchy Songwriting**: Nearly every track is memorable, with hooks that stick long after listening. 2. **Genre Fusion**: The seamless blend of punk energy with pop melodies makes it accessible yet edgy. 3. **Cultural Impact**: As a groundbreaking album by an all-female band, it holds historical significance. 4. **Timeless Appeal**: Decades later, songs like "Our Lips Are Sealed" still feel fresh. 5. **Band Chemistry**: Each member's contributions shine individually while enhancing the collective sound. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Polished Production**: Some fans feel that the glossy production detracts from their rawer live energy. 2. **Lack of Depth in Some Tracks**: While most songs are strong, tracks like "Skidmarks on My Heart" lean heavily on humor at the expense of substance. 3. **Uneven Tone**: The juxtaposition of lighthearted songs with more introspective ones can feel jarring at times. 4. **Limited Evolution**: Critics have noted that subsequent albums struggled to match or expand upon this debut’s success[3]. --- ### **Conclusion** *Beauty and the Beat* is more than just a debut album; it’s a cultural milestone that redefined what an all-female rock band could achieve. Its infectious melodies, sharp lyrics, and groundbreaking impact make it an enduring classic in American new wave music. While not without its flaws—such as overly polished production—it remains an essential listen for anyone interested in '80s music or feminist milestones in rock history.
Band und Album waren mir völlig unbekannt, aber ich fands wirklich gut :)
New Wave ist mein Guilty Pleasure
Very catchy Californian pop. Never even heard of them before.
Much better than I thought it was gonna be! More punk and less pop than I expected. I enjoyed it and unlike some other albums on this list it didn't drag on forever.
If the 80s sounded more like this, I'd be more of a fan of the rest of the decade. I like this though!
Feel good new wave pop done really well, could be argued it’s a bit samey but not too much for me, standouts for me is most of the album but especially automatic, Tonite and the final two songs. 7/10
S nice power pop record with cool Melodies. Also the voices are awesome.
Songs i knew: 0 Songs i liked: most of them Loved the energy on this one, more of this please. Mid 4.
where was this album in my life when I needed it most
Chad ladies.
Some great hits on here!
Some songs are a little silly, but God the hits were important to me.
cheerful 80s new wave, but sang by a girl group. make me think of the bad old 60s. but becuse it's new wave and it sound great to a certain degree, 4/5.
Loved it!
Lively tunes
Pretty cool
so fun!!!!!! beach beach beach
This was such a fun and fresh album. Just wow, these four ladies rocked it honestly. Weirdly sounded like a happier Cranberries lol. We Got The Beat is definitely a favourite unsurprised it's the single, and an iconic song. Introduced me to someone I'm gonna follow so, excited for the next album tomorrow! Some of the songs sounded similar but I think it just added to the charm, it felt fresh and fun at the very least. Fave Songs: - How Much More - Lust To Love - We Got The Beat - Fading Fast - Skidmarks On My Heart - Can't Stop The World
a super fun high energy pop-punk album that has some classic punk/new wave pop bangers that were quintessential to the 80s punk wave
I love this album! If you want to “feel” the 80’s, then the music that these ladies crafted will take you there.
really good
Lovely sound, feels like the birth of a lot of modern girl bands. Really peppy and catchy. Easy 4.
Great 80s pop rock.
I love it. I recently had a nostalgia trip through Best Coast and the thru-line there is obvious. Can’t give it a 5/5 because I don’t think it’s like… mind blowing but I think it’s poppy and fun and surprisingly fresh even now.
Great album and fun first time listen.
Fun, great beats Lost a little interest in the middle towards the end
Classic 80s album. Great songs
Aggressively upbeat
Pretty enjoyable. Had an oh its that song moment.
Like Blondie but I was paying less attention
Sure this might not be incredibly innovative or influential, but its perfection. I always ask, " does this record accomplish what the band set out to d" and its a resounding YES here
They got the beat
This is an absolute classic album that I believe is still underrated, as far as the general public remembering and continuing to laud and give it its praises. The level of brilliant pop and new wave on this record and consistency is not found in most other new wave and 80's pop albums. There are several 5-star songs on this album, but I don't think every song is at that level, and I think that brings it down a bit. However, as I said, this is a classic and deserves to be on this list, for sure.
They just made great songs. The album started to drag a bit in the back half, but still solid.
Didn’t realize I knew a couple of these songs, and enjoyed them
wow this RIPS still not a fan of we got the beat but the energy throughout this whole thing utterly rules. will be coming back
Its fun. Simple, but they have a whole defined sound and it's pretty catchy and energetic and fun.
Yess finally a fun one
Super enjoyable.
Really fun, enjoyed a lot
Finally an album with female artists!
Easy 9/10. Just a fantastic album I will be returning to constantly. Already loved "We Got the Beat," and "My Lips are Sealed," but tracks like "Skidmarks on my Heart" and "Lust to Love" are new favorites that I never heard of before today. Also, I just want to shout-out the fact that it's an all woman band. Women rule the world and are the best to ever do it <3
Let's Go-Go und ballere mir die volli Ladig 80er Punk fadegrad in Schnabel! Ayyy ich und d 80er Jahr Punk/Post-Punk/Synthpop Szene wäred absolut besti Fründ*inne gsi (natürlich nach eu mini herzige). Für so Musig isch d front row bi Konzert erfunde worde. (krass das früener Konzert immer erst bide zweite reihe ahgfange hend). Ufjedefall sind d Go-Go-Punkerinne en grosse Spass gsi und au de Album-Name git fetti Pluspünkt. Wenn er mich sueched, ich bin de wo im Mosh pit ufd fressi bechund. Vier ellboge in Solarplexus und hasta la vista!
‚Neu, erfrischend, schwungvoll‘ The neduziner post, 27.01.2025 Wake me up, before you ? ? Sehr überrascht wurde vum sound aber fritig morge bett home office, mit dem sound us de böxli, isch e cheibe-chogge spass gsi. Mis herz hed wäred dem album beat-beats. Fritig morge im bett und d sunne shine-shines. Ihlüte vum wucheend, it come-comes Elon & donald chönted sich e schiebe abschniede vum bandname und entli go-go, oder verpiss-verpiss 4 glänzendi einhörner für das album-album
1978 trafen sich 5 Girls, die sich nicht kannten und kein Instrument spielen konnten und präsentieren 3 Jahre später dieses Album. Es ist witzig, wavig und weiblich. Ich kannte die Vand nicht und bin begeistert und werde das Album Wiederhören. Manchmal muss man auch mal was machen und nicht zu viel nachdenken. Mein Topsong ist „Lust To Love“. Gelungen sind aber auch „Fading Fast“ oder „Automatic“
Fun
How did a not know about an all girl punk band from the early 80s from LA?! Madness. Loved it!!
I’ve always like the Go-Go’s played on the radio and Carlisle’s voice. This is the first complete album of theirs that I listened to and rather enjoyed it.
Surprisingly good didn’t know a lot about them but the lead singer had a solid voice
Really nice, liked her voice and the lyrics they were better than I was expecting from an early 80's pop album. The album was more than just the two hits which is always nice to see. Sounded really good, not terribly long, very nice.
usually I don't really care for Belinda Carlisle's voice, but on this album it works. tracks were short, guitar driven, & enjoyed the listen.
3/4
Actually loved this and didn’t think I would. It’s a solid 80s pop album that is so close to being a glam metal album. I mean if you had put a shredder behind this it would’ve been right at home with bands like Poison or Queensryche or Ray. Funnily enough I think the two singles while mainstream hits are two of the weakest tracks on the album.
+Our Lips Are Sealed, How Much More, We Got The Beat
3.5 - Generally a fun sound, fairly consistent quality, but no real stand-out tracks to me (except Got the Beat which is easily my least favorite - and the only one I'd heard before) and occasionally the lyrics detract.
Fun, upbeat, familiar!
Just fun. Nothing serious, fun pop music then bop along to. A great early 80's album to show the direction music was heading. Some good familiar songs here and there, and the ones I've never heard of are still pretty good. 4.5
Big fan of 70s/80s new wave/pop punk. I’ve listened to the Go-Go’s before, and I still appreciate their influence. Good, fun, upbeat rock that’s unapologetically authentic. Women fucking rock.
On the first song, I really thought they were saying "Alex I see you" which creeped me out. This album breaks the stereotype of the 80s new wave pop album. Lust to Love is low-key punk? The fact that this album came out in early 1980s and yet boring 80s pop still dominated the decade baffles me.
A perfectly solid album with several upbeat, high-energy bangers.
listening to this immediately after jamc's darklands was such a relief. what a vibrant, stark contrast to whatever the fuck that other album was. this is bursting with youthful enthusiasm! i adore how upbeat the tracks are & how all the elements fit together to cohere into a universe of tight, intentional syncopation. good stuff!
Pretty good 4/5
Really enjoyed this, was different than a lot of other stuff here. Felt like new wave and punk with the all girl band really managed to make it feel fresh. Listened to this quite a few times to figure out which part i really liked. Favourite song was probably "Our Lips are Sealed". Weak 4 stars.
This record is a little more punk-y than I remembered. Good Stuff
A true 80s classic with more depth than the band is popularly known for.
Trochę cukierkowa, balonowa, ale bardzo wpadająca w ucho. Lekko retro, taki vibe lat 60. 7/10. We got the beat wpada w ucho jak mało co. Plus za ogólny vibe “girl-power”. 7/10
Girl power Doet me denken aan fun-fun Wel leuk album, heel slim bedacht dat je niet kan slaapwandelen als je niet slaapt
Yay!
Perfect summertime record – I can imagine it was a total breath of fresh air in the early 80s. The punk influence is nicely weaved in (more than once I felt like I was listening to a slowed down Iron Maiden, oddly). Whole thing feels like a California lost to time. Lovely when paired with a palm tree. 3.5.
As a girl child of the 80s who also really enjoys punk sounds, I fully recognize that I am contractually obligated to love The Go-Go's, and of course this album is no exception. I'm taking back one star, however, because whoever greenlit the inclusion of that fucking apostrophe in their name should be punched and then sent to grammar prison.
Fun listen. Doesn’t try to be something it’s not. 4 stars because I won’t go out of my way to listen to it again.
Fun album.
i wasnt familiar with the go-gos before this listen but i had a lot of fun!!! awesome 80s girl pop vibe! its currently summer so this was a really fun listen.
I really liked this one, fun and easy to listen to.
Fun and catchy pop tracks, especially the hits Our Lips Are Sealed and We Got The Beat.
A fun romp in pop history.
Solid New Wave album by a bunch a hot rockin' chicks who would likely drink me under the table, and I'm alright with that.
Pretty damn enjoyable 80's pop rock. Consistently upbeat and solid throughout
Tidy.
For the initial half of the first track I was a bit skeptical that it wouldn't be all that good, but it grew on me very quickly from there. The music is light but still retains some depth and it's very pleasant to listen to and holds my attention. It's not hard to see how this debut would go double platinum - especially in 1981. I would not be surprised if this album set a lot of the tone for the entire decade Standouts Lust To Love Automatic Skidmarks On My Heart 4/5
A super fun listen. Makes me wish I was riding in a convertible somewhere sunny on the west coast.
Really good. Some nice songs in there. Didn’t absolutely blow me away but was very strong and would listen again.
I had no idea this was Belinda Carlisles band!! I loved a couple of her solo songs! At first listen I thought, Another generic female punk group and album. I was wrong, I enjoyed this album. it’s a good listen. What can go wrong when an album has great music and fun lyrics. There are some great tracks like, tonite, automatic and lust for love. Favourite song: Tonite was a good song Least favourite: All songs are fun and a good listen. Album artwork: Cool cover
I was not as into this at the time of its release, I considered it more “chick pop” music based on the radio hits. I did recognize it was ground breaking. Upon listening now all the way through I hear so much more punk flair in the deeper cuts. Amazing that they decided to form a band with no hands on musical experience and just three years later came up with this. One things for sure, the moment Belinda screamed “Jump baaaak!” , she had already arrived. Almost a 5 for impact and influence. 4.5/5
Distant memories of this album on repeat blaring down the hall from my sister’s room only prompted me to dive into it myself during the 80s. Not a go-to for me then, but outside of the two big hits songs like “Lust To Love”, “This Town”, and “Skidmarks On My Heart” were real standouts and showcase a style that definitely layed the post-punk new wave foundation for many other bands, female-driven or not. Just a really good pop punk vibe here.
Chick rock! Didn’t really expect to enjoy this after the opening track, which I was obviously familiar with. But really enjoyed the rest of this.
This sounds like the 80s. I was thinking it’d be more like the middle of the decade so wild to hear this sound so early. Definitely had a massive influence on what would come after. A fun listen and has some corny moments but overall quite solid. And apparently was the all female band to hit #1 on the billboard 200 charts. Mad props. 3.5 and showing some love to my womens by rounding up.
Not necessarily my cup o tea but you can’t deny the two well known singles from this album. And the rest of it had my head bopping so I’m rounding up. 3.5/5
Enjoyed this, good vibes, worth listening to again.
Grupo de Belinda Carlise.
Just some 80's pop fun.. It also really good loud.
Wow, I didn’t remember this being such a good record. In fact, I don’t remember ever listening to the whole album before. The hits, sure, but there are a lot of fun tracks here. Power pop with a hint of 70’s punk and new wave in the mix. And it’s still mind boggling to me that Belinda Carlisle was briefly the drummer for the Germs.
Some quality 80s pop. I still love "We Got the Beat"
Really fun album! I really enjoyed listening to this. And even Anna said it "wasn't that bad" though she said she had never hear We Got The Beat before which I find crazy.
This album is upbeat and extremely fun. Big standouts are the famous ones: "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat". But How Much More would lead on lesser albums. Easy to listen to. Fun to dance to. Last 3 songs are kind of filler compared to the rest of the album.
Surprisingly catchy! I've heard the 2 popular songs on there, We Got the Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed. This was pretty good have on in the background without focussing too much on but I did enjoy this
This album is a fun listen. Elements of West Coast Punk, but pop-ier. Belinda Carlisle sounds great, even when she's doing the punk "lazy vocals" thing. Lots of interesting stuff going on with the instrumental parts, too. Much better than I anticipated.
On the world if upcoming pop princess escaping the disco ecstasy of the ‘70s roared in the GoGo’s, and this album is awesome! Combining pop& punk and feminine rage these gals lay down back to back to danceable hits! You Can’t Walk In Your Sleep and Fading Fast are contrasting pop-punk and ballad-ish feel. But they sit right in the pocket with their most famous hit We Got the Beat. I may be over rating this one but I really dig this tonight!
Wonderfully surprised at what a great album this was. usually I am not a big fan of the 80s but this album had some great lyrics with the perfect accompanyment.
Very good
A enjoyable record. I actually listened to it twice to decide whether it deserves 3 or 4 stars. It has nothing special as such, but it is very good overall.
Fun dance and singable bubble gum pop rock album.
Man, what a fun album. Seriously, this album oozes enthusiasm, fun, energy, and complete buy-in from the members. Everyone knows "We Got the Beat," "Our Lips Are Sealed," and the absent-from-this-album "Vacation." And you'd be forgiven if you thought that that's all there was to this band. But I am so happy to say that that isn't the case, and in fact there is more to like than just a few hits. Yes, it's fun and yes it's an easy listen. But the creativity on display here, the layering of sounds and the riffs are just awesome. They had a unique sound, kind of a combination of New Wave, Riot Grrrl, and some punk vibes. Really cool stuff. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Our Lips Are Sealed, How Much More, Automatic, You Can't Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)
cool songs, B side wasn't as good, not my type
Yes! Great music, great beats and catchy tunes. I knew about the Go Gos but this album shows that their best songs are not the radio plays "We got the Beat" and "Our Lips are Sealed". Best song by far is Automatic and Lust to Love was great as well. Yes to the Go Go's.
Way more to them than a couple of hits
Pretty fun album, they have a great energy. Some songs are better than others, but this album is short and sweet. Mid 4.
Much better than I anticipated.
fun, punky-pop
i bet they had so much fun.
Totalnie kupuję ten album. Świetnie się przy nim bawiłem, to zwyczajnie dobrze buja. Wydaje mi się, że istotą tego albumu nie jest jego popularność wśród współczesnych wyrażona w prostych liczbach. I to nie jest powód, dla którego on znalazł się na tej liście. Ten album jest przede wszystkim cholernie punkowy, zespół pokazał, że dziewczyny mogą grać (a nie tylko śpiewać) i mogą grać z pazurem (w tym samym czasie grać zaczęła Joan Jett z tego, co sprawdziłem - imo podobny nurt, ale Jett grała ostrzej). Jasne, to jest bardzo soft punk, bliżej mu do Green Daya (kilka fragmentów bardzo mi się kojarzyło z "Jesus of Suburbia"), niż do jakichś turbo anarchicznych hard core'owych zespołów w stylu Exploited, ale mimo wszystko jest to w pełni kobiecy punk. Po drugie, to jest bardzo feministyczny album. To jest okres, w którym kwestia radykalnej kobiecej seksualności zaczęła być bardzo nośna w Stanach i zaczęła zwiastować koniec drugiej fali feminizmu (która przypada mniej więcej na lata 1960-1990). Dziewczyny otwarcie mówią o swoim pożądaniu (Lust To Love), o porzucaniu toksycznych relacji, prawdopodobnie z narcyzem (Fading Fast, Skidmarks On My Heart), o nocnych wypadach na miasto i niezależności (Tonite, We Got the Beat), ale także o ignorowaniu społecznej opinii (Our Lips Are Sealed). Jest też This Town, które łączy wiele z powyższych wątków. Z drugiej strony nie realizują stereotypu man-eaterek albo freudowskiej zazdrości o penisa, tylko bardzo otwarcie eksplorują swoją kobiecość i uczuciowość (już sama okładka oraz tytuł albumu o tym świadczą; ale też emocjonalna dwoistość Lust To Love, czy bolesne How Much More). I koniec końców ten album jest zwyczajnie muzycznie solidny. To wszystko jest melodyjne i bardzo poprawne instrumentalnie, sekcja rytmiczna (perkusja + bas) są naprawdę dobre, z przyjemnością tego słuchałem. Perkusistka miewa całkiem ciężkie kopyto i fajnie niskie nastrojone tom-tomy. To nie takie durne placeholdery, jak w wielu zespołach, gdzie perkusja gra tylko najprostsze groove'y, żeby wybijać tempo, a basista gra na dwóch strunach i nikt go nie słyszy dopóki się jakoś makabrycznie nie pomyli. Zespół popadł w zapomnienie (po przesłuchaniu tego albumu wydaje mi się, że bardzo niesłusznie), ale wydaje mi się, że to ten casus "They walked, so that other could run". Bardzo mocne 4 jak dla mnie, ze wskazaniem na 4.5, bo serio się dobrze bawiłem. Jakby to było trochę cięższe, to już na pewno 4.5
Delightful
I have to be honest, I rolled my eyes a bit when I got this. I knew "We Got The Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed" and expected a miserable new wave-pop mess. Once again I got burned for judging too early, this album is really solid. It's definitely still a new wave-pop thing, but it's also got a lot more of a punk sound than I expected. I got a lot of Sleater-Kinney vibes from this ("Tonite" and "Lust To Love" are good examples), many of the non-hits are a bit more of a raw sound (relatively, it's still pop-y overall). Something between like them and Blondie is probably where this falls. I guess The Go-Go's formed formed as a punk band (none of them knew how to play instruments) but then shifted more in the New Wave direction in the early '80s when they hit the studio. I'm not sure where their sound went after this, but they crushed this one. I don't have a ton else to say, but I enjoyed this a lot. The New Wave thing doesn't typically work for me, but this felt like a great job of taking some of the basic elements in a way that hits. Really solid album. Favorite song: Our Lips Are Sealed Other: How Much More, Tonite, Lust To Love, This Town, We Got The Beat, Fading Fast, Automatic, Can't Stop The World 11/23/24
This took me by surprise with how good it was
🎧Fun, joyful pop music. Favorite track: Fading Fast
Favorite Track: Tonite
Love Belinda Carlisle and Slidmarks on the heart is a class name for a song.
So delightfully upbeat and peppy. I knew and liked their big hits but I’m also really enjoying their lesser known songs.
It is simple. It is sweet. Simply sweet girl band rocking the genre like 80's icons. The familiar tracks are as entertaining as ever but hearing Automatic for maybe the first time in 40 years reminded me that every album has filler tracks.
Shows that soft rock has a place if can offer a groove. Drops off a little after a brilliant start but there is energy throughout. Would happily revisit
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would
Relentless 80s fun! Pretty samey! The kind of samey where I hadn’t realised the album had played through and I was half way through another one of their albums before I realised. 34 minutes is just about right for something samey though! Enjoyed it! 3.5
A bouncy fun new wave album that got me through US election results
Great pop album. My Lips are Sealed is one of the best pop songs of all time.
Really fun album. Isn’t trying to hard to be more than it is
4.1 - This was great! Nothing special but just good?
The music makes me feel how the cover looks
A bright burst of fun and freedom, every song brings a kind of pure, summery energy that feels effortless. The beats are punchy but breezy, like they were made for dancing down the beach or cruising with friends. It’s got that infectious, carefree vibe reminiscent of early Blondie but with a twist that’s bolder and a bit more playful. The blend of pop and punk is light and catchy, full of hooks that feel timeless without trying too hard. It’s the kind of music that’s just easy to love, no questions asked.
isch das afoch sehr guete cagchy new wave? our lips are sealed isch suuper. meeega catchy, supercoole bass. how much more au meega upbeat, macht spass. Tonite tschuttet au, halt mega in moll und so. aber cool. noch 69 love song gester en absolute gnuss. aso sowiso aber de kontrast isch heavy. hets jetz noch 3 songs scho meh verdient zum do sii als magnetic fields. lust to love fabgt mega james bond aah, super geil. this town isch chli westerbgitarre time aber s triibt mega füre au mit de akustische gitarre finds hammer. we got the beat cool gseh dases en hit usch aber lips are sealed isch viel cooler? mann es löscht sache. de surfrock stuff wod mached isch super skidmarks on my heart super. ich glaub s langet nöd für es füfi well nöd jede song so super isch und wells scho seehr simpel ghalte isch zum teil, au wenn das die ganz idee isch.
Listened to many times. Fundamental 80's album that still sounds great. A lot of the "sounds" going on at the time were wrapped in a polished pop package. Strong 4, but not enough classics for it to be a 5 star. "(This town) It is so glamorous Bet you'd live here if you could"
Really fun and upbeat, with some well-known singles. I really enjoyed this album. The quality dropped a little with the last few songs, but not enough to lower my rating. 4/5 stars
Ik kende enkel Vacation van The Go-go's, maar nu zie ik dat dit maar het derde bekendste nummer is van deze groep. Op het eerste zicht zuchtte ik bij het zien van de artiestennaam en het releasejaar van de plaat. Ik dacht "miljaarde, alweer een album waar ze met synthesizers naar je hoofd smijten." Achteraf bekeken is dit best een tof album. Doet me wat denken aan Blondie. Wijze basslines ook. 3.8
Lighthearted, entertaining, and engaging new wave. Music for the girlies but also a broader audience of pop rock enjoyers. Not really surprised at simplistic harmonies and melodies, doesn't have to be complicated to be enjoyable.
This is the best Go-Go’s album. Their followup “Vacation” a year later is a close second, but it isn’t that close. The quality on their debut is nothing they would ever achieve again. The songs are so infused with joy and youth. It’s so perfectly everything it wants to be. I only wish there was something more substantial. Something really original that would earn it five stars. No matter, I enjoy this album anyway. 4/5
This was pretty good, I liked the energy of the music, and the songs were pretty catchy. I don't really care for the lead singer's voice though, and didn't feel like I'd play any of these songs repeatedly
Hell yeah
The narrative around the Go-Go's is always about how they're the best "all female" rock groups ever. That's so niche. They're flat out one of the best rock groups - period. They're bad ass. This is a great album.
fajn
I’m a sucker for power pop and this one was huge for bringing women-led bands to the charts (along with others for sure)
This was such a fun little record. Bratty pop punk from the 80s that would not have been out of place in the early aughts.
Can’t hate on a classic. Well you can but I won’t this time.
Fun, energetic, catchy. Fantastic album.
Interesting vibe but I liked it
Great vibes, great sound
Just a pure fucking delight.
Was talking with a friend about the Go-Go's while in the car a couple weeks ago; you throw on "Our Lips Are Sealed" while driving with someone and you can really get the party going. The rest of album is top down just a lot of fun too - a really great example of new wave as party music.
I had only heard We Got The Beat before this. Good song, but a bit cheesy. I was pleasantly surprised by the rest of the album though. Very listenable, and I could hear a direct line from The Go-Go’s to bands I love like Veruca Salt, Le Tigre, The Donna’s, and Sleater-Kinney. Especially on Fading Fast and Automatic.
It was a fun album. I don't love the vocal work, but there were some bangers in there. 'Tonite' was my track of choice.
I’ve heard the singles, but not the rest. This was a fun album that I could definitely see listening to again.
4.5
3.5
3.5
Absolute classic from my middle school years! (9.25) ★★★★½
Great fun
I really liked this! Upbeat, refreshing, new-wavey pop with some hints of (classic) rock scattered throughout. The two singles from the album – Our Lips Are Sealed and We Got The Beat – are the two strongest tracks overall, but the entire album maintains the energy of those songs very consistently. The most noticeable common thread is the peppy vocals, which admittedly aren't the most technically good voices out there, but make up for it with sheer 80s girl-group energy and some fun overlapping harmonies that never failed to bore me. The music is deceptively simple; when listening closely, I heard quite a few rhythmic doodads (particularly in the drums) that pop music of that era often shies away from. The main thing bringing this album down from 5 to 4 is exactly what brings a lot of these down: a combination of overcommitment to a particular style (i.e. not enough versatility) and datedness (some of these lyrics and musical tidbits are almost jarringly "of their time", and not necessarily in a good way). 4/5 Key tracks: We Got The Beat, Our Lips Are Sealed, How Much More, Lust To Love
Nothing mind blowing, but solid pop
Enjoyed this one quite a bit. One hit song that you can hear in all the other songs on the album
Super fun pop rock album
Being a fan of pop music is one of the greatest joys of my life.
pop punk da década de 80? álbum bem gostosinho de escutar.
eu gosto muito de new wave, num tem jeito. pop rock da melhor qualidade aqui, viu. particularmente, "Fading Fast" me pegou demais, achei muito gostosinho. album pra adolescente dançar trancado no quarto.
What a fun album! It felt fresher than I expected, and my head was nodding along to every song. My first album on the list that I have genuinely felt like I would listen to again. Track 1 - Our Lips Are Sealed - Fun, fresh. Like it. Track 2 - How Much More - Gives me Beach Boy vibes. Again, super fun. Track 3 - Tonite - Great girls night song. Get dressed up and messed up! Track 4 - Lust to Love - Darker, confident sound, and I really like it. Track 5 - This Town - I like the western twangs on the guitar. Makes it feel like a high noon showdown. Track 6 - We Got The Beat - Probably their most famous song. Its fun, and has a timeliness vibe. Track 7 - Fading Fast - This reminds me of another song, but I can't place it. Maybe the guitar riff seems a little Hotel California? Track 8 - Automatic - This also has a spooky, Hotel California vibe. I like it a lot. Great use of silence at key moments to build suspense. Track 9 -You Cant Walk in Your Sleep - As someone with sleep problems, this can be my new anthem haha. Track 10 - Skidmarks on My Heart - The car metaphors are a little over the top. My least favorite song on the album. Track 11- Cant Stop the World - Its an ok ending track.
This band really has a feel for writing irresistibly hooky pop songs. They're not all winners here but I enjoyed most of the tracks.
I lived through the 80s and at the time I didn’t think much of New Wave. Perhaps having lived through the 70s and experienced the Titans of Musical Talent one can be forgiven in thinking New Wave as less than. But looking back now I can appreciate how much hope, positivity and generally up beat this music was, especially compared to what would be coming in the 90s and beyond. The Go-Gos are good solid enjoyable music.
strong opening with our lips are sealed, lust to love is also a bop
The album was fun and upbeat. All the songs had the same sound and it was an easy listen.
wouldn't be pop today i guess?
really solid album, have some cuts that are not 'we got the beat' which are solid like Automatic and Tonight.
I was excited to see this album come up in the list today. I'm probably biased because I've had a lifelong infatuation with Belinda Carlisle. The music is simple, the performances are great. Funny to see this mentioned as new wave ..when it was what you grew up with in the early 80s.
This is exactly how music should sound like. If every album sounded like this, we would have solved world hunger and had world peace back in 1968, the year of the blue wolf.
Grupo de Belinda Carlise
Great collection of pop
Well that was just a pleasant record. This is the exact kind of music my parents were into and would play while I was growing up. I loved it.
So rad and so fun! I love the power pop punk nature of this record. Cool 4:4 rhythms with palm muted power chords and rad little So Cal guitar licks. I also love how they're mixing sounds from the late 50's and early 60s. A lot of these songs feel like The Shang-ri-la's or The Crystals. But then its also pop punk in its chord progressions and beats. You can really hear the punk sound in later acts like Descendents or X. It's kind of the crossroads of pop, punk and surf. What was also really interesting are all the songs in minor key. For such an upbeat record, they have a lot of minor sounds. I feel like this sound is one of the most mimicked sound in the last 40 years. This is in the DNA of almost all 1990s punk and 2000s indie. (blink-182, No Doubt, all the way to Best Coast) Our Lips are Sealed is probably my fav on the album, but I obviously love We Got the Beat and Can't Stop the World.
Reading up on this album I now know why I never heard of them; they sadly never became big in Europe. I like the punky/wave sound they have going on. 3/5
Quite nice this. Can't Stop the World and This Town were my stand-outs, and They Got the Beat is pretty standard. I wasn't aware Belinda Carlisle was the vocalist. Some incredibly solid New Wave.
I really quite enjoyed this. Has that pop punk type cadence to it. Weirdly reminded me of the offspring somehow.... I'm a sucker for a female vocalist in this type of music too 3.5 but closer to 4, reckon I'll be back
-I got Parallel Lines by Blondie the previous day and this reminds me a lot of that. I fw it heavy, We Got The Beat reminds me of my own childhood because I used to listen to it a lot as a kid. I think Fading Fast might actually be my favorite song on the record though. Pretty definitive 4 -Favorites are Our Lips Are Sealed, We Got The Beat, and Fading Fast
Grupo de Belinda Carlise.
Ohhhhh this rules. This really rules. Hell yeah
I used to consider the Go-Go's and their "hits", We Got the Beat and Vacation as guilty pleasure territory, I didn't really care for the band's radio friendly fluff, but these songs and beats were so infectious it was hard to resist. The Go-Go's started as "punks", they didn't know how to play instruments, which didn't stop them and played in clubs like the Whiskey. Their cred and transformation to power-pop, girly pop was polished up for their debut, Beauty And The Beat. Time has passed and I have conceded, I like this album. It's definitely not a master class in songwriting, but it is a lot of fun. The songs are solid and energetic and what's not to love. Sure, it's still fluffy and light and there are a few duds, but I've always had a soft spot of all-girl bands and they helped pave the way for more like-minded bands, for better and for worse..
overall great album, however, at times, it felt a bit repetitive
Fun pop rock with summery vibes.
I really liked this album. Short, with multiple smash hits and a lot of fun songs in general. I would never have associated these songs with this band. The Hilary and Hailey duff version of Our Lips are Sealed can’t hold up to the OG!!
What a fun album! This is one of the rare cases where an album ends and I was disappointed there wasn't more. I thought this was going to be a one hit wonder with "We Got The Beat", but the rest was just as enjoyable. Perfect for what it is.
8.5/10. It was a pleasure to listen to this. Female-fronted punk music is great, and I also enjoyed its retro vibes. Its first track is amazing!!! :)
4/5
Enjoyed this a ton, especially the driving basslines.
Cool, cohesive, catchy. Three out of the five classic Cs.
This one caught me by surprise. I liked it more than I thought. There were songs I didn’t know that were legit bops. I liked the instrumentation and the vocals. Overall, a fun listen.
Nothing about this entry - from band name to album name to year of release - made me particularly optimistic about what I was about to hear, but I really liked it! Just a consistently strong collection of indie-pop songs with choruses and hooks and guitars. I've not come across any all-female bands (or many bands full stop) that were making this kind of music at that time - certainly not as fully realised as this. It sounds fresh enough to have come out last week.
Excellent album; consistent throughout.
Enjoyed this album, especially after having watched the documentary of the band which is also excellent
Album slaps So 80s
Love it!
Excellent listening
I like new wave. This has good songs on it, but i tired of it quickly.
Very good, better than I thought. Has some more texture than I imagined
Ok disco!
A really fun collection of tunes! Surprisingly fresh, even after all these years.
Thoughts before listening: 80s all girl pop rock band that has some massive hits. My favorite thing about the Go-Gos is that they started in the LA punk scene before hitting it big. I've always enjoyed the songs I've heard so I'm glad to hear a full album from them. Review: There's definitely a pop punk inspiration here that I'm really connecting with. Sure the hits are fun, instantly recognizable ear worms in "Our Lips are Sealed" and "We Got the Best", but theres a lot more to this album. I'm especially enjoying "How Much More" and "Tonite", both of which have a slightly more polished take on what bands like the Descendents and Bad Rel this is aigion were doing around the same time. This is a 4-star album.
Solid, enjoyable punk
Simply amazing! I have never heard of this band before so I was a bit afraid it was gonna be another new wave band with weird Brit as a vocalist but no, I was in for a surprise. Immediately upon hearing the girls singing and harmonizing I was locked in. What a relief. It's so refreshing to hear a girls band rocking so effortlessly. There's not much substance to it but that's not the point, it's simply cool. I loved almost every track on it and I'll be looking out to find it on vinyl. Potential for growth to 5, for now I'm leaving it on 4/5.
Equipped with both beauty and the beat, The Go-Go's arrived right on time for the start of a new musical era. Crossing the punk threshold (think The Runaways) onto something brighter (think Blondie), The Go-Go's provide a poppier side to the proceedings and, in the process, establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Although the band would not last as long as they should have, there is no mistaking that Beauty and the Beat is a record worthy of further consideration beyond the hits, as their deep cuts suggest that there is more to come with this kind of beat. Favorites: Our Lips Are Sealed, How Much More, Tonite, This Town, We Got the Beat, Automatic, Can't Stop the World.
Enjoyed this a lot. Could imagine a lot of these riffs in a 00s indie rock song. It's a little punky but has a lot of melody and vibe still. Best Song: How Much More Worst Song: Lust to Love
Best Song: Tonite Worst Song: Skidmarks on my heart
More listenable 80s to my ears.
Vibey
Um álbum bem divertido e alto-astral. New-wave com alguns toques de pop punk. Não é bem o estilo de música que costumo ouvir, mas definitivamente recomendaria para mais pessoas.
In the late 1970s, Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, and Margot Olavarria were at the infamous last gig by the Sex Pistols and realised that they could do a lot better than the shambolic mess on stage. They played gigs for a couple of years, tweaking their sound to pop punk (with a hint of surf guitar) before releasing this phenomenal debut album in 1981. We Got The Beat is the ultimate new wave banger and is guaranteed to get you moving!
Such a fun 80s sound. Some great classic songs on here!
Initially, I thought “We Got The Beat” was one of the cringiest songs from the new wave era, so I wasn’t exactly thrilled to dive into this album. I went in with a bit of a bull-headed attitude. But once I put my guard down, I started to appreciate it for what it was. As I progressed through the tracks, I found that the music had more credibility and a raw edge than I had anticipated. All in all, it turned out to be a pretty decent album.
Female vocals are always going to be an initial win for me, and this was banging! What a treat in amongst some of the terrible picks I’ve had recently! Kinda like the Bangles? Good either way!
Pretty decent songs 🎵 👌 👏
Listened to many times. Fundamental 80's album that still sounds great. A lot of the "sounds" going on at the time were wrapped in a polished pop package. Strong 4, but not enough classics for it to be a 5 star. "(This town) It is so glamorous Bet you'd live here if you could"
I liked this a lot. I hadn't expected to but yep, I really did. Fun, 80s pop-rock. I'll take it!
Really enjoyed this one. Fun and upbeat. The 2 singles are stellar.
A really outstanding and uptempo girlsband It sounds as they have a little punk references in some of their Music , and all in all its pretty good, the 4 star is given for their abillity to Stick to their genre, the quality surprised me
Not hard to pick out the singles but they are great!
I don't think I've ever heard any of this album beyond their two singles, which of course I and everybody else in the (western) world has heard ad infinitum. A fun album, and impressively cohesive, and definitely harder-edged than I'd have guessed based on their singles. I remain perplexed about how exactly this album got pigeonholed as a "cornerstone New Wave" album (but no more than having them described as pop-punk either, although I can see the surf-rock label a bit more), but that doesn't make this any less fun to listen to. And an incredibly impressive performance as a debut album. I also like it that "Fading Fast" seems like an alternate universe version of Nancy Sinatra's "These boots are made for walking", and I really enjoyed "Automatic". I was torn between a three- or four-star rating, but it feels like they deserve 4 stars for some of their unexpectedly catchy tunes, and also for how much they inspired a lot of women by being the most successful all-women band of all time. Also, what a crazy origin story (if the Wikipedia article for this album is to be believed): after seeing the Sex Pistols' final performance in 1978, Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, and Margot Olavarria decided to form a band, and "although none of them actually knew how to play instruments, they quickly learned..." Talk about paying it forward--if only the Monkees could have also gotten into that! Also hilarious that they supposedly returned the towels used in the front cover photo shoot to Macy's the next day.
Some pretty iconic hooks here, and to think that this was the Go-Go’s debut album too. This album and group melded pop and punk together nicely (call that “New Wave” I guess). You could argue that the Go-Go’s paved the way for many pop artists too, especially female-led groups. A pretty fun listening experience overall.
Punky pop, great
Cool album. NU wave
released in the 80's but sounds like 60s music to me
Love Belinda Carlisle's voice.
7,21
The Unloveables - Crush Boyfriend Heartbreak is my favorite pop punk album ever. It will never show up on a list like this but if there is anyone out there who reads this review and liked Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat, please check out CBH. Beauty and the Beat is as much an album of the 80's as CBH is an album of the 00's and Team Dresch/Sleater Kinney and the Riot Grrrl bands were of the 90's. I'd assumed The Unloveables were influenced by those 90's bands but I had no idea there was an early 80's album that so much effect on them. Too often, women have to "prove" their genuine interest in male-dominated spaces but I think The Go-Go's do enough just musically for it to have been obvious from the start they paid attention to rock music and were very much a part of it. Songs like We Got The Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed have a fun surf rock quality to them that proves these girls had been keyed into the music scene for a while. The musicianship is just as competent as literally any band on the radio at the time. Belinda Carlisle sings great melodies, I especially loved on Fading Fast how wistful she sounds. In saying that, there needs to be more room for female-vocals who aren't amazing singers but have all the passion required. If the public can stomach Bernard Sumner singing they can handle off-key women singers too. Belinda's voice has more than enough emotion to match both the music and the content of the lyrics. I'm glad this band existed and were successful. It's possible they could have still had the influence they did on the bands above even without the commercial success a la The Velvet Underground but this album rocks on its own. Anyways, please listen to The Unloveables.
Good one
that was just plain fun!
Whoa! I think I willed this one into happening! I know I'm getting close to the end, so there's only so many records left. But I was thinking about The Go-Gos the other day and how I probably won't see them on this list, but that this is a great album and it should be included, so I popped it on for personal listening. Two days later here we are! Manifested it. I'm so happy it's on the list because it is such a fun album but it's also badass. The Go-Gos rock, mainly because their songs are catchy as all hell but also because they don't pull their punches and the don't fuck around. They're girls having fun but they won't take any shit. I live for it. Vacation all I ever wanted, vacation have to get away! They are singing the songs of the people. (Yes, I know that song isn't on this album, but it's such a banger it should be on all their albums). This is an early 80's pop rock staple, a must have for any record collection. Vive la Go-Gos!
80s pop of the good variety.
I don’t know a ton about the go gos but I saw a cool documentary about them. Lol. I’m not a huge fan of this sound, but I remember being a kid seeing their videos on MTV. They were kinda everywhere, and their connections to other bands at the time like the Specials was cool. This album is definitely a huge departure from the yucky LA punk scene they came up in but it’s not a bad one by any stretch. They do the new wave sound pretty good but I’d argue it’s more like… power pop? Fun little pop songs you can sing along to? Gotta love it. The sound is like a cleaner garage girl group, and it’s a quick listen so there’s not much to critique. Boys, the beach, having fun with your pals? Hell yeah.
Pleasantly surprised to see this one pop up. Don't know them outside of the hits but glad to have this as an introduction. Belinda's vocals remind me of Delores from the Cranberries (Rippity pippity). The songs of heartbreak from the female perspective in pop music, very often, are from a position of submission or capitulation to a masculine, but "How Much More" is level-headed and feels realistic in its lyrics. Love the instrumentation throughout. "Lust to Love" is just a solid songwriting example. Great album beginning to end, unlike this review.
We Got The Beat doesn't impress me as much as I thought it might, honestly. But the album on the whole is a lot of fun. And the songs are varied enough, even though they all have the same high tempo and vibe, that I'm engaged to every song throughout the album. Favorite Song(s): Our Lips are Sealed, Can't Stop the World
This is a pop punk album. The punk influences ring out like a siren. And it's an easy 35 minutes
its a good album. Has a few bangers and is definitely important if only for its influence.
How fun!! 🕺
This album is the perfect fusion of pop and punk. It’s fun and satisfying throughout. Insane that only IRS would pick them up.
Fun
Loved it. Made me happy from start to finish.
Nice and surfry, vibey. Fun to listen to. B teir
This was far better than I was expecting. Some slapping base and great songs.
5/31/24. Great, fun album! Really good new wave/punk-ish sound. I definitely hear their sound in newer all-girl bands.
Muy buen disco, sólido. 8/10 Our lips are sealed
I've always loved this album!
thought it was a very good classic
was fun and fresh YYM
Pure pop perfection
Incredible post punk example of how the rule was there were no rules.
The Go-Go's played at my college back in the early 90s. Honestly, I would have rather had seen the Bangles, they always seemed more rock to me. But the problem is that if you listen to their hits and not to the deeper cuts, you realize that the band was doing more than just doing "pop" songs. Songs like "This Town" had a bit of a punk feel to it, with one or two extra beats thrown in, which is interesting. I liked "Lust to Love", too. All in all, there was a lot to the album I dug, and not just the two "big" hits. The few songs I did not care for: "Tonite". It just kept reminding me of The Ramones' "I Just Want To Have Something To Do" (to-naht. Tooo-naaahhhht...). "Skidmarks On My Heart" (ew) and "How Much More" which just felt like a poor follow-up song to the first track on the album, "Our Lips Are Sealed." I enjoyed this album, even most of the deep cuts. It made me respect the band a bit more than I did even way back from college. So I'll give it a 3.6, which rounds it up to a 4.
There were some great new wave bands, with a little bit of synth, pop-punk, or post-punk sprinkled on top of their rock. I did not realize The Go-Go's were one of those bands. But this is a solid album, particularly side one. Not as good as Blondie or the Cars, but I hear them in cool all girl bands that have come since - Sleater Kinney and the Beaches are two that come immediately to mind. The lyrics are a bit poppy, but there's a little bit of bite to them every now and then. And the songs are catchy as hell. Not just the two big (big!) singles (Our Lips are Sealed, We Got the Beat) but also How Much More (maybe my favorite), Tonite, Lust to Love, and Can't Stop the World. Probably a 3.5 but I'm giving them a bump, if for nothing else that they were a female group who did it all themselves (songwriting, composition, playing) in a time when male music execs wanted their hands all over everything (not sure how much that has changed).
Pretty much bubble-gum pop, but it's all good. Our Lips are Sealed and We Got the Beat are classics, deservedly so (especially Our Lips are Sealed - great song). Other standouts include How Much More, Automatic (my favorite of the more "dramatic" songs), Can't Stop the World. Worst named song AND lyrics with the most dragged-out metaphor - Skidmarks on my Heart.
I likely haven’t listened to this album since the mid 80’s. Belinda Carlisle can flat out sing. It’s a pretty short album and I was honestly bummed when it was over.
Não conheço. Gostei do título e da capa Sonoridade excelente. Muito gostoso de ouvir, ouvi inteiro sem nenhum esforço. Com certeza vou ouvir novamente.
love the Go-Go's although they sound kind of cheesy these days. Belinda Carlisle is always fun and carries the vocals well.
More than just the hits.