Raw Like Sushi is the debut studio album by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released 5 June 1989 by Virgin Records. The album includes the commercially successful single "Buffalo Stance". Raw Like Sushi is distinctive for its eclectic mix of genres, incorporating influences from across the trends of 1980s pop music. Cherry sings and raps accompanied by a diverse set of sounds, including pianos, synthesizers, brass instruments, guitars, and go-go percussion. The album's lyrical themes are influenced by Cherry's experiences of motherhood, and her education and upbringing. When it was released, the album was favorably compared to Madonna and Prince, though it did not reach similar popularity.
Neneh Cherry should have been HUGE. Buffalo Stance was, and is, huge because Buffalo Stance is a 5. Nenah was ahead of her time because damn does album still have it all. To paraphrase a lyric from "Love Ghetto", she hit a home run. Actual rating is a 4.5. All of the songs are good, they all just pale in comparison to the magic of Buffalo Stance.
this is the most 1989 album ever recorded. four Danger Zone bass patches out of five
Oh! This album was on heavy rotation when I was a teenager. I always loved the attitude and the swagger. And I realise now that this album influenced so many of my future explorations in music (soul, jazz, hip hop). I don’t think anyone else was making music like this and the album was a wrecking ball to the charts - all those ballads and Kylie, Stock, Aitken and Waterman. She sang about subjects nobody else was - feminism, safe sex, motherhood - not a bunch of lovey dove nonsense. I really think Neneh Cherry is a hugely inspirational and influential figure - sassy, London/ European / American, kick ass, feeling, mixed heritage and proud - a great singer and classy rapper. Incredibly talented and underrated. I hesitated when rating the album - if I give this album five stars, am I really saying this album is up there with the White Album or Hunky Dory? You know what? I don’t know. And I don’t care. This is five stars for me. I love this album.
Dated on release, this album definitely didn't stand the test of time. The samples are tired, the flow is weak, and the lyrics are a disjointed mess. It's pop trying to pass itself off as "edgy" by co-opting hip-hop but can't seem to actually pull it off. It wasn't good in '89 and it's not good now.
AWESOME
This one had some bops for sure. Hiddem gem.
The first track is great, but the rest…
My immediate reaction was to file this under the most 80s pop ass 80s pop ever, but despite its pervasive radio-friendliness, it really belongs in its own niche nestled somewhere between Salt-N-Pepa and Massive Attack. There are moments where the lyricism feels as of its time as the delightfully dated synths, but Cherry comes across emphatically on the microphone be it rapping or singing, exuding a confidence that most MCs would kill to have. My only real knock against it is the thematic redundancy that stands out listening to these songs back-to-back: there's a three-track stretch after the opening singles that all tread in the same youth/parenthood waters, and it probably would have been better off spread out a bit more. Key Tracks: Buffalo Stance, Manchild, Outré Risqué Locomotive
Some of the song material is very specific. For example, not sure how I feel about the procreation anthem of "The Future Generation". Still, it's got great energy and Neneh shows she can hold her own lyrically. Does sound pretty dated though (I can pinpoint what year this was made, same with "Pretty Hate Machine"). Favorite tracks: "Buffalo Stance", "Inna City Mama"
This sounds like a missing link between 80’s pop styles and 90’s alternative pop. “So Here I Come” is a standout and a great example. Dense samples you couldn’t get away with anymore, like De La Soul’s classic lost albums. It’s smart and fun and has things to say. I remember Buffalo Stance and Kisses on the Wind, but there’s a lot more here.
Can't believe I've not heard this before. Love it!
Great album, confident and fresh and smart, making it OK to like hip hop when you are a metaller
TOPÍSSIMO
Loved this.
Started strong with a nice bop. Not a fan of the middle part of manchild. Surprised by how much I liked phoney ladies. I actually liked a lot of this album. Pleasant surprise. 4/5 I listened a second time, it gets up to a cool 5 because I felt good about it. I'm still thinking about this album the next morning. Wow
Absolutely slaps. Love this era and genre. Buffalo Stance is definitely the standout.
Damn what a trailblazer. Watched her Buffalo Stance performance she did on Top of the Pops while pregnant, what a badass.
Go go to go-go
meh
English accents, string ballads, dj cuts, man children, questionable social commentary, raw sushi, talking spanish, prepubescent sexual tension, slutty locomotives, mixed metaphors, incoherent writing structure, what does getting shirty mean? The nonsensical nature of the writing kind of makes sense considering she's Swedish. Can't deny it's an interesting thing to listen to.
Great album. Whatever happened to her? Shame two tracks were withheld.
Rad
Revolutionary
I was so stoked to see Neneh on this challenge. She's incredibly talented and should've risen to stardom but just didn't make it. Her song, Buffalo Stance, is on high rotation cause it's that good - perfect, in my opinion. The video is equally captivating & is a true example of late 80s hip-hop. I took a Neneh Cherry deep dive about 5 years ago & learned she's from Sweden (score another for the Swedes...they're some of the most musically innovative artists in the world). I enjoyed this album so much, I ended up listening to it on repeat. What a talent. 4.5 stars
I know maybe two of these tracks - and one of them is obviously Buffalo Stance. Such a great late 80s track. The rest of the album doesn't disappoint. Particular favourite was "My bitch" - the pure joy of both singers having enormous fun shines through splendidly.
Non stop bops. This was such an awesome trip. Dated, yes, but in the best kind of way.
Hip Hop elements a little basic but damn she has her own personality and keeps energy up all the way through the album. 4.8
I first heard "Buffalo Stance" when it was initially released in 1988, and I didn't get it. I didn't think it was 'right' to mix genres the way this track does. I thought that if you're going to rap, rap. And if you're going to sing, sing. It was probably a full six months before the penny dropped, and I understood what she is doing here. I had been wrong and extremely short-sighted about how songs could be constructed and performed, and Neneh Cherry was visionary and right. And massively influential; artists mix rapping and singing within a track all the time now, to the point where it isn't remarkable at all. But Neneh was the first person to do it (or, at least, to do it in a way that was commercially and critically successful), and she re-wrote the pop playbook. I am ashamed ghat I didn't immediately recognise the genius of what she did here, but once I understood, I got it. I bought the album when it came out, and it is an iconic album of the 80s. It sounds of its time, but still pretty fresh to my ears. I love her confidence and energy, and the deft mixing of genres. It is no surprise that the Massive Attach crew were involved in the production of this record, and they built on this formula with their amazing Blue Lines album. The album is front-loaded with the singles, which I still enjoy. As a result, I realise that I usually only play side 1 (because that's where all the hits are), so it was a nice surprise to listen to side 2, and it also has pretty strong material, that I enjoyed hearing again for the first time in a while. She has such a great voice and a fascinating and original viewpoint. I had been thinking I was going to rate this four stars, but as I listen to it again, and think about how influential it was, and how fun it still is to listen to, I really am leaning towards five stars. Dimery's list has a real problem with under-representation of female artists. i often think he doesn't understand what female artists are trying to do, and can't see the value. And this is an explicitly and woefully female album, and it changed the way pop music sounds. And I really enjoy listening it. I enjoyed it at the time, and I enjoy it now. I think it has to be five stars.
1/28 Great, eclectic 80s genre-mix of an album. Standout Tracks: Buffalo Stance, Inna City Momma, The Next Generation, Phoney Ladies, Outré Risqué Locomotive
Cool late 80s vibes. Hear a lot of things that would shape early 90s hip hop. Definitely her own style. Should come back to this one
Sehr Gut!
pretty iconic 80s dance music, some songs were a bit dragged out and didn’t have a great sound listening 40 years later, but a really clean classic funky hip hop sound that makes ya wanna dance ;)
Such good hip hop beats, OG female rapper
this album was surprisingly good! lot of catchy songs, and the beats had me moving through the entire album
Un disco muy chill, fluye bien, me gustaron mucho algunos beats, sus sintetizadores. Me dio toda una vibra janetjacksonesca e incluso, ya hacia el final, en el Sukka mix de "Buffalo Stance" se oye algo como "Does this sound like Janet Jackson?". Diría que este es un álbum que sí se quedó mucho en vibras ochenteras, pero no lo escucho anticuado. Es hip-hop poposo, con algunas salpicadas de crítica social, "Buffalo Stance" es una muy buena canción, también "The Next Generation" y "So Here I Come" me gustaron; he de aceptar que me dio un poco de risa el español en "Kisses On the Wind". 8/10
Again, it was good but songs were long and the album didn’t really feel like it needed to be an album. 7
Another 7 where I considered an 8, but I just can't see myself ever wanting to relisten to this even though it was pretty fun the first time.
I really enjoyed this! Bit high energy but fun. 8 for me
Pretty corny but a fun listen overall 7/10
Pop, rap, freestyle, funk, destellos de house, breakbeat. Pensaba que iba a estar ya muy passé la producción, pero incluso en los momentos más aywey tiene mucho charm. Grande por lo que representó, pero también grande porque tiene buenas rolas.
Buffalo stance!
Heart reminded me of BUSTED from Phineas and Ferb
in a normal situation, I don't know if I would have enjoyed it as much, but I was vibing this shiiiit
Fun album. It sounds exactly how I think 80s-90s transition should have sounded like.
Extremely catchy
Sounds great, my kind of thing. I didn’t know how varied her music is, and different from the radio hits Manchild, Woman and 7 Seconds.
Buffalo stance...wow so good. Such a fun vibe, this chick can rap and her confidence oozes.
Love this album. Eminently danceable. And thought provoking. This album got me through that summer. 4.5.
So many memories!
Disc d'estrena d'alta volada, començant amb 'Buffalo Stance' i 'Manchild', les dues millors cançons del disc i del millor de l'r&b de finals dels 80. També destaquen 'Inna City Mamma', 'Love Ghetto' o 'Phoney Ladies', però sobretot l'actitud i personalitat de Neneh Cherry, que ja no va poder igualar aquesta fita (fins al 2021 com a mínim), però aquí la seva estrella brilla amb molta força
I enjoyed the music but the lyrciss were a bit basic.
This is kind of like a female inversion of Beastie Boys MCing, in the best possible way. This was a lot of fun to listen to, provocative and tongue in cheek the whole way through
Salt 'N Pepa meets Prince?! Hell yeah. The sound is definitely of it's time, but we all need some cheesy hip hop in our lives! My top pick is of course 'Buffalo Stance' but I also really liked 'Manchild', 'Love Ghetto'. and 'Outré Risqué Locomotive'. This is more of a 4.5 - I think a 10 star scale would be better!
What's 'e like? WHAT IS 'E LIKE? Buffalo Stance is a six (all hail Bomb The Bass), the rest is a three-star pottage of late '80s production tics, and none the worse for it.
Like Madonna, but way cooler
Lekker album! Heerlijke popmuziek, goede zang, vrolijke muziek. Precies zoals ik 80s popmuziek voor ogen heb. Geweldig!! ****
Classic in its day. Very good now. 4/5
Hadden die plaat thuis, goede teksten
Funky and catchy. Absolutely not a genre for me, but this album somehow won me over - so a 4/5 from me is probably a strong 5/5 for somebody who's generally a fan of hip hop. Heart's my favorite track because it sounds like a Phineas and Ferb song.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Buffalo stance, Love ghetto
Nice surprise. Gets kinda boring throughout, but pretty cool.
Swedish punk? Who knew? Very talented with a cool mix of rapping and singing, she’s tackling some big issues but also showing a good sense of humour. I didn’t know she was so involved with Massive Attack and the Wild Bunch. A little bit drawn out and dated for top marks though.
loved this
I really enjoyed this record! It sits within this liminal space between hip hop, R & B, and dance while also feeling like the perfect decade-spanning record. There's a few misfires, but overall, the vibe was something I could get behind. "Buffalo Stance" has not been far from my mind since my first listen! Favourite tracks: Buffalo Stance, Love Ghetto, Phoney Ladies, So Here I Come
3rd Listen. Great album. Brings back a lot of memories of the times. :) 4/5
This one caught me by surprise. I loved the '80s pop that slipped into the hip-hop. The songs were catchy as hell.
Un autre album qui ne m'inspirait pas au départ et qui s'est avéré une expérience fort agréable. Quand naturellement tu as envie de remettre l'album, il y a quelque chose là. Je ne dis pas que tout est vraiment bon sur l'album, mais le côté hip-hop old school est pas mal ce que je préfère dans ce disque et il y a tout de même des éléments mélodiques très forts. J'aime beaucoup le fait d'avoir un album hip-hop d'une femme de cette époque. Je trouve également intéressant d'entendre cet album qui met en contexte les débuts de Massive Attack. La pièce Manchild co-écrite avec Robert Del Naja a vraiment la vibe Massive Attack. Pièces préférées: Buffalo Stance, Manchild, The Next Generation, Heart et So Here I Come
A pretty fun album, including some huskier wails. I’m sure I recognised the first track from when I was very young
A pretty slammin early hip hop album! I enjoyed it from top to bottom, although Buffalo Stance is hands down the best track. Feels like a bit of a misnomer to call her "Swedish" when she was raised in the US and has spent her entire adult life in London, but that's on wikipedia and not 1001 albums.
Had a couple of late 80s albums this week taking me back to my youth. But really striking how contemporary they sound these days, ten maybe 15 years ago this would sound as dated as hell but not now, aside from the odd scratch noise. This sound is everywhere in modern music. All time bangers front and centre, it's a blast at the beginning. I drift off halfway through as nothing can compete with the absolute classic singles particularly, but it's still a great, fun, pop album.
Never have heard of this, but I kinda love this... Sounded like a better version of one of the many Prince proteges from the 80s.
Really enjoyable late 80s / early 90s RnB vibes.
I am a big fan of this release. I knew of Neneh Cherry through Rip, Rig & Panic. It took me forever to find the RR&P release back in the day. The disparate elements she integrated was nor commonplace at the time. Nor was the focus on womanhood. At a time when there were clearly drawn lines between pop and what would become hip-hop, Neneh Cherry blurred the lines in the best possible way.
Rätt Lit
Great classic rap, meaningful lyrics
Hip hopnew jack swing. Un poco cansina.
Hip-hop y R&B. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Really enjoyed it. Wasn’t expecting a vibrant synth pop based album and it delivered!
Great lyricism in this album and it was clear to the listener what her messages were. Loved her vibe!
This was a fun album. Not my usual genre but I really liked the feel of the album and was entertained the whole way through.
Thought it was a'right at the time. In retrospect, I enjoyed the singles and began considering it a classic. On actual listening it's got some great tracks but doesn't consistently hit every ball out the park I like the originality it shows.
10/10 navn på album Dette vokste på meg, fra masse plagsomme lyder til å bli en bop
Quite good stuff!
So perfectly 80s
Weird late 80's pop with huge late 80s rap influence
I need to wear more neon 90’s gear
Solidly good album, she's got a great voice and the grooves are excellent. 4 stars.
Good, I enjoyed the album, especially the instrumentals.
Pas mal!
I love her sound & voice. Big fan of this album.
Buffalo stance is one of my all time jams. You can’t help but move when that song comes on!!
This is better than I expected.
liked and still like whole album, smart version of bubblepop, produced well and e.g. Manchild and Buffalo Stance and Next Generation as strong as when released. She was part of underrated Rip Rig+Panic, bit less smooth.
Stranger song is such a good track. I do like Leonard Cohen, been a while since i heard this. Knocking it down to a 4 though because it gave the animal house vibes when Belushi smashes that fellas guitar.
Hip-hop y R&B. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Super fun!
Not my thing, but actually I quite nice.. reminds me off my childhood
So much fun, dated, but great
Fun, super feminist, late 80s pop/rap here. It's not really my favorite kind of music to listen to, and I'm not sure I'll be coming back to this one often, or ever, but I do feel like it's worth an extra star just for the confident feminism, which is rare in this genre. I feel like the production is a bit dated and it all sounds a bit same same to me, but the lyrics are killer. I'd give it a 3.5/5 but I'm rounding up because of the great content.
Ég dýrka þetta albúm. Verð 16 ára aftur við hlustunina.