Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Not bad
Awfully dated, does not embody 80s pop or hip hop all too well. Dreadfully repeative and formulaic. This is the type of hip hop your nerdy cousin listened to because his parents didn't let them listen to anything of actual poignantcy.
Good if it's your type of thing, I wasn't a fan at the time and not changed
I don't love this era of pop production. The sound to me is uninspiring. I do think the sexual subject matter explores all through the topic. But I didn’t love the album.
LOL Sweden.
Oooooh yeah, she rules
It was ok at the time and it’s still Ok-ish
Listens: 1 Standout Tracks: Inna City Mamma I did not care for this. At all. The music tries way to hard to be authentic in its approach to hip-hop and utterly fails to do so. Inna City Mamma had a nice piano/keyboard arrangement. That was the only thing that stuck out to me.
The epitome of the late 80s/early 90s sound.
I'm never not going to like this - she's hipster royalty! Jazz legend Don Cherry's daughter, teenage dancer with punk legends The Slits, and then when Buffalo Stance samples Malcolm McLaren it leapt out of the radio speaker like a bat signal saving us from otherwise shitty 1980s pop music - help is on the way! But I am pretty sure I actually like this. She clearly has a fantastic record collection, because they pick some gems to sample - lots of DC go-go, for example - and the production is so much better than whatever you would have heard before and after this on the radio. I'm in. I would love to see a movie about her life, partly just for the incredible mix of very interesting people floating through the background, but also I'm just curious to know where she's coming from and what she's been up to.
I don't think I ever knew that Neneh Cherry hailed from Sweden; this unexpected origin makes the album a bit more interesting, but only a little (although the "1001 Albums" entry provides some interesting background context for her). I'm not a big fan of late 80s pop, and this falls squarely in that slot, with a bit of edge occasionally. "Buffalo stance" is kind of mesmerizing (both song and video), but mainly because I have no idea what that phrase is supposed to mean (even after reading the Wikipedia entry for the album and that song specifically), although it's clear it provides her some extra swagger. Similarly, "Manchild" feels a bit hypnotic, especially the video to it, with an equally ambiguous meaning (but certainly more interesting than Sabrina Carpenter's similarly titled hit). The rest of the album feels like a cross between Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, although to her credit she composed or collaborated on all of the tracks; "The next generation" and "Phoney ladies" are probably the best of the lot (in a very 80s way).
I liked Buffalo Stance and want Neneh and Sabrina to do a "Manchild" battle. After the first few songs, the album started to feel a little repetitive and her rapping got predictable.
This one sounded like your prototypical 80s pop and R&B album, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s got that clean production, punchy beats, and catchy choruses that define the era. Nothing groundbreaking, but it hits that nostalgic sweet spot if you’re in the mood for it. “Buffalo Stance” is easily the standout track. It’s slick, fun, and still holds up as one of the best examples of late 80s pop done right. “My Bitch” was another solid one with some attitude that gave the record a little more bite. Other than that, the rest of the album blends together a bit, but it’s a smooth, easy listen. Raw Like Sushi might not reinvent the wheel, but it nails the sound of its time and delivers a few tracks worth coming back to.
Actually a pretty good album. Sounds are very good, even if she isn't the greatest singer.
Starts fast with the two big hits and then disappears into the early 90s at quite the pace. It makes me think of watching movies when I was a kid. When they sort of tried to bring rap to the mainstream via things like Turtle Power and Do the Bartman.
I like '80s pop. I like '80s hip Hop. Today. I learned that I don't particularly like them when they're mixed together. Favorite track Outre Risque Locomotive
Woof
Big John Studd was your Royal Rumble winner, Sushi had a vice grip on the Western World’s most insufferable people and Neneh Cherry inexplicably titled an album using the latter fact rather than the first. Westside Gunn wouldn’t fumble this. He would say something about “EATING SUSHI AT THE MAYBACH DEALER, PASS THE BRICK THROUGH THE TWO WAY MIRROR. GET THE BAG LIKE BIG JOHN STUDD IN THE BODYSLAM CHALLENGE.” Keen eyed observers amongst you will have ruled out that this review was written by Westside Gunn AND will note that it was Andre who took the bag of money and spilled some of it for the fans. You can’t blame a guy for trying. What fresh hell awaits behind the tough guy pose of Neneh? Buffalo Stance - At first glance I thought this said “Buffalo Sauce.” I am indeed too fat. I am also cringing from the very first word. This is ROUGH. There are so many good female rappers. This does not appear to be one of them. Chorus is insufferable. I have heard better songs made by insane people on instagram reels. At least those elicit mild amusement and end with a swipe. Manchild - I made the mistake of reading some reviews of this album. This is one of those days that I don’t feel like I’m a human. The singing? Dreadful. I wanted the lyrics to hit harder but they are incredibly middling including the random rhyming dictionary bridge. This is supposed to be a blistering one two punch to start the album according to the morons on the internet, but both punches whiffed here. Kisses on the Wind - We’ve got an English woman born in Sweden doing some Latin dance music about a neighborhood crush. Why is this here? I know why the song is here, because of the horrible taste of the artists and album staff, but why is this record in this list. Inna City Mamma - Ham-Fisted relatability always sells. This feels heartfelt, but it just doesn’t resonate with me. I don’t hate it as much the other songs, so we’re getting somewhere. The Next Generation - Are there weird anti-abortion undertones to this? If so, gross, if not, it’s still incredibly preachy. She’s like Queen Latifah if Queen Latifah had zero talent or gravitas. Love Ghetto - I know this was 36 years ago but can we please retire that dumb instrument that reminds me of Brazil. That’s the only reference point I’ve got. It’s bad. Heart - That “full of baloney” line had me ready to stop this whole thing. I feel like I would be embarrassed for her if I heard that in the second grade. The word “confident” seems to come up in reviews for this record. Maybe she need to dial that back a little bit. Phoney Ladies - Ladies who talk on the phone. Next. Ehh you know what. The weird little breakdown around 2:30 is actually pretty rad. Obscenely rare W. As the kids say. Outré Risqué Locomotive - Gross x2. Actually just keep that going. Oh man. The deep male background vocal “Coca-Cola Cool.” Trying to write hits 101. So Here I Come - What the sweet hell is she talking about? I was dressed in green and I wore a dress I must confess that I was the best dressed. I went to school and I wanted to learn. It goes on like this. This ain’t for me dawg. Terrible rap somehow worsens lame pop tunes with really laboured messaging. We act like people were dumb morons who were just discovering basic concepts just because this was like 35 years ago. Whoa! A confident female! What a revolutionary!! This sucks and I was in pain the whole time. Never again. 0.5 HIGHLIGHTS: The sweet release of realizing that the standard version doesn’t include the last tracks.
rep nigačica. kreće se između dosadno/zaboravljivog i napornog. sve u svemu skroz bezveze
Pure trash.
Very dated now... "You're so Digital girl!!"
Pure, refined 80s. Kinda enjoyed
Doesn't age well for sure. Didn't hate it, but didn't do too much for me outside the odd song like Heart.
Other than the first song, everything just sort of blended together. Not very interesting, and definitely sounds a bit dated
Didn't really fuck with this at the time. Don't fuck with it now.
Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
This album felt very dated, but it was still fun and engaging. This album is just a few months older than I am, which is great because I was feeling too old recently.
Basic 80 r&b/pop. Not great
Early 90's pop. Pretty fun. I have no connection to it, so I won't listen anymore, but I bet this album was a fun bunch of jams some years ago.
Pretty good, nice and poppy. But not really my thing generally.
Good
Zabavan album iako dosta dated
It’s not anything revolutionary or life-changing, but it’s definitely enjoyable. I can’t really think of much else to say about it. 3/5
Listened Before? N Pretty good late 80's/early 90's dance album. Buffalo Stance is an absolute classic. The rest is pretty standard stuff. Nothing groundbreaking but a good listen if you're into the style. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Buffalo Stance
I admit, I didn’t listen to the whole album, but I have some thoughts. This is one of those instances where something really is so bad that it’s good. Meaning that the songs on here were so cheesy that you couldn’t help but feel good when you listened to them even if they sucked kinda. I don’t know how to explain it. One reviewer encouraged listeners to watch the Buffalo Stance video. I second that. It did NOT disappoint. I can't give many stars for this wonderful train wreck, but I refuse to give it one star either.
Première toune catchy, sinon écoute assez difficile. Dans le genre il y a mieux.
boy, has this aged badly
Lots of synths. Some of them are pretty fun and have a good beat/melody to them, like in the opening track, Buffalo Stance. There's a *lot* of Mixolydian mode in the synths and backing vocals, characteristic of disco/post-disco and early hip-hop. Lots of harsh cut-off production too – maybe it sounded cool and fresh for its time, but man, it sounds so forcibly dated now. Record scratch sounds are fine if they're used once or twice per album, but every single darn track? Yeah. I'm good. A lot of the musical elements here are best ignored when listening through a modern lens. Manchild has to be the best song here, mainly for avoiding the quick-cut DJ SFX and sticking to the tried-and-true method of having good melody, harmony, and beat. The digital triangle sound on Buffalo Stance is quiet, but impossible to ignore once you've noticed it. Very much like Usher's "Yeah!" in that way. It's very annoying and takes some solid effort to make myself enjoy the rest of the music. But I get there in the end – at least for that song. The rest of the record is a little patchy, with the former half being significantly better than the latter. The lyrics are uneven and discontinuous, and the samples are overused both then and now. To her credit, Cherry does seem like she's having a ton of fun – but she may well be the only one. As with other parodied vocals (unless it's specifically meant to be comedic), I'm not a fan of the forced hip-hop voice. The entire project screams "I'm following a trend". Outré Risqué Locomotive and My Bitch are the two worst offenders on the album in this regard, and that's reflected in them having lower Spotify listening numbers. 2/5 Key tracks: Manchild, Kisses On The Wind, Inna City Mamma
I mean, this was of its time. Not bad musically, but nothing I’m gonna revisit.
That was an experience. Like a time warp to the 80’s. I didn’t like it but I enjoyed it.
Just looking at the cover and release year I had to will myself to listen to it. It’s the sound one would expect, but surprisingly it wasn’t a terrible listen. She has good instincts on melody and the music sounds of the era, but more fresh than I would’ve guessed. Reading her Wikipedia I think Cherry’s history, musical connections, and musical family are a more interesting story and help understand the influence she has had, but this album is not a must listen. 3 stars, but I will never listen to this again. The Buffalo Stance music video is a MUST WATCH. If I didn’t know better I’d think it was a parody of the time.
Really not great. Got a hit of nostalgia for the first track, then the rest was a disappointment.
Why it's on this list? I mean, I don't hate it, but it sounds so bland. It was fun until the second song began
pretty good! nice sound
So "of the time." Very dated sound (what I call "early CD" with lots of wide dynamic range and bright, often harsh high-ends). Musically pretty good--Nenah Cherry is the daughter of Don Cherry. She's no slouch, but this New Jack-ish sound didn't age well.
It is really hard to make earnest political/social commentary without sounding like a dork. Neneh didn’t pull it off either.
There are a few standout tracks but the rest is nothing special
Bof, un peu comme l'autre de l'autre jour mais avec une voix féminine, je crois que je suis pas très fan de r&b (si c'est bien ce genre là)
Je connaissais « woman » qui est incroyable. J’ai été un surprise que ce soit pas du tout représentatif du reste Sympa mais oubliable +1 du fait que ce soit une femme qui fasse du hip hop
Un peu comme l'album précédent, j'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ! Quelques petites sonorités à la MJ. 4/5
Buffalo Stance didn’t really hit me as a kid in ‘89. I remember seeing the video in the mall a lot. I was young but even then it felt generic and contrived, and to be honest I don’t think I ever gave this whole album a listen for that reason. After indulging the 1001 gods I’ll say this, Neneh’s voice is very distinct and I respect her for making a name for herself by being herself but beyond that I can’t say anything she did was that remarkable. Her flows were dated and cheesy, even for 89’s standards, and her singing wasn’t that impressive to me. But there is some fun to be had in this record. There’s value in the sound of it, perfectly visualizing the synths and mixing style of the 80’s. Beyond that I can’t say I needed to hear this entire record. I’ll give it a 2.5 for the nostalgia.
I'm not sure why this one is on the list. Pretty run-of-the-mill 80's jams. Buffalo Stance brings back memories. Manchild was pretty good. This reminds me of the skating rink in the 80's. I'll give this a 2.
Cool but I don’t like rap
Fun album with cool vocals, quite uneven
decent enough r&b album. reminds me a lot of her contemporaries, similarly to the janet jacksons and paula abduls of the world. not anything here that's particularly awful, but also nothing here that's mindblowing. decent. middle of the road.
I really liked the first track, but the rest of the album was just kinda mid.
Man, those first four or five songs are really something! I read that this is proto triphop & if that’s true then wtf happened to triphop. This album falls off once the electronic/synth takes a back seat. It’s a 3 star but I listened to that first track no less than like ten times so it gets a full star boost.
I liked the first half more than the second.
Buffalo Stance - 5 Everything else - 1
CDs were a mistake (also the internet, but that’s neither here nor there). An album of generic 80’s pop with only one good song wouldn’t be that annoying if it was 30 minutes long but at an hour and seven minutes this felt interminable.
Nothing but love for Nenah Cherry. I will say, the music is definitely of a time. But it is some of the best music of this time and moment. Fun listen.
This hasn't aged particularly well - it's a modicum better than several of its contemporaries. 2/5
This one simmers in the zeitgeist of 1989 dance music that I rebelled against. If I could capture a scene, it would be like coming back from far-off travels to your suburban hometown, walking into a bar where the music is so loud you can’t even hold a conversation. You’d scan the top shelf hoping for an anise or something exotic, but all you see is Jose Cuervo Gold, so you order a Bud in a bottle and try to drown the mediocrity. Good grief critics, this is one of the 1001 albums. If pressed, I think I could come up with 10,001 better albums. This one conjures up shitty memories of shitty times with shitty music. Wish it was better as Neneh has a decent voice and although some music does breakthrough in the same genre like Madonna or Deelite or from some Acid House dj booth, this one will get the lowest rating. Sorry Neneh, but you caved into the time and place to make something rather forgetable.
🙃
A slightly raunchier Paula Abdul.
This was an interesting album, it had some catchy songs for sure!
This did not age well but then, did it ever. I’m so glad no one walked in on me while I was listening.
surprised by this. obviously has the 2 hits but didn't expect anything from it. some nice if repetitive themed songs. definitely worth a listen
Once again wondering why an album has ended up in the top 1001. There doesn't seem to be any justification for it on Wikipedia. Is it because she raps and sings?
I wouldn't really say this is an essential album. It sounds very of-it's-time, and not really in a good way. It's far from the worst music on this list, but I've also heard way better R&B/hip-hop than this.
From a modern perspective, this album is a comically large tub of cheese balls. Some of the beats are passable but the bars are weak. I'm sure the brits will figure out this hip hop thing eventually
I had to teleport myself back to the 80s to appreciate this without it sounding so dated.
This is pure 1989. Good, but frozen in time. I liked Buffalo Stance when it came out, and never heard the entire album. His brother did pretty good, Eagle Eye Cherry. 3/5
Not my style, a bit cheesy
Not my kind of music at all
6/10
“Ghetto love” “inner city mama” bitch you’re from Sweden
Fuck that!!!!
I do not enjoy this album.
I kinda wanted to hate it when I saw the name, the cover, the year of the release (1989). I expected the same "bratty female rapper stuff" as it was usual for the time. Well, it was an Ok listen. Nothing you need to listen before you die, but worthwhile. That was not because of the main artist here. Ms Cherry was standard. She had a great team of producers who created great, genre-bending sounds. One of them was Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack. So in this respect you could call the sound a "Massive Attack spinoff".
I love the beats on this album and it has some hooky refrains like on Buffalo Stance. I don't love all of the raps which drops it one star. I think this is worth hearing for a great collection of beats from this era
3/5. Overall solid. Very 80s michael jacksony sound but with early rap/hip hop influences as well. Didn't especially hate any song on here.
Late 80's rap/hip-hop and it scratches (no pun intended) a very particular itch.
Haven’t heard this since the 80s. I gave it a short spin and that’s all I needed to hear. Buffalo Stance is cool. That song and this style blazed a path for other females in this space. Santigold comes to mind. She probably loves this. That said, it sounds very dated and frankly I would much rather just listen to Santigold.
Parts fun, parts repetitive. Will likely not listen again but did a little boogie.
love her attitude though
Started as a surprise, maybe a Diamond in the rough that no one talks about, but quickly rolled into so dated in sound and entertainment value (2.5/5)
I have to admit that this was a lot better than I was anticipating. Only knew Buffalo Stance, a lot of it a similar vein, although not as catchy. This feels like 1989, must be same era as when Madonna was trying out a similar vibe. I panicked when I saw 1989 and thought that this may have been included genre-wise at the expense of De La Soul's 1989 debut, but fortunately not as that would have been a rap crime.
So, yesterday I made some snarky comments about the a-ha album being cookie-cutter 80s euro-pop. I apologize to a-ha, because this album is worse. It's cookie-cutter 80s euro-pop masquerading as hip hop. If uncanny valley was a thing in 1989, that's how this album would have been described. It's *approaching* hip hop, but it's by someone who has clearly observed the American experience from afar rather than personally experienced it. It's like the book/movie The Help. The way the black women talk in that book becomes FAR more problematic when you learn that it was written by a white woman. Same with this album. It's like Neneh Cherry saw Salt-n-Pepa and thought, "I can do that." Spoiler: she cannot.
Incredibly lame. "You're a outré risqué locomotive, driving me crazy."
Neneh Cherry appreciation is every good person's duty +++ Buffalo Stance & Manchild are bangers for the ages +++ this album sounds *exquisitely* dated +++ Five stars, I don't give a shit.
It was ok. I like dip the first song but then they felt really repetitive and same. Good music though.
Interesting elements from multiple genres, but alas it still has a very deep late 80's pop sound that just doesn't do it for me
I love this album like a sister.
Un album qui dans la généralité a très bien vieilli, j’ai pas l’impression qu’il est sorti en 1989. Un agréable mélange entre du chant et du rap, la musique mériterait d’être un peu plus épurée et que la chanteuse laisse un peu plus de places aux instruments. De temps en temps les choix des notes me paraissent douteux. Les inspirations disco/electro/country? apportent quelque chose de très agréable à l’oreille. J’ai beaucoup aimé « Buffalo stance » qui est mieux équilibré que les autres morceaux. Des morceaux globalement longs, un album d’un peu plus d’1h, je pense que c’est un bon album, je ne le réécouterai pas nécessairement mais aucun morceau ne mérite d’être « skip ». J’arrive pas trop à trouver l’équilibre global entre les morceaux chantés et ceux rappés. Belle voix, forte et avec du caractère.
Sons pref : Buffalo Stance, Kisses on the wind, Inna City Mamma & Heart on kiffe la vibe disco mélangé à une ambiance un peu rappé, une forme d'indignation rebondissante
Parties RnB/Pop assez cool, moins fan des parties rap
Maybe this is a 3.5, and I think "Buffalo Stance" is strangely addictive and enticing to listen to, but most of it doesn't really stand up to me, and even in 1988, I think there were more interesting hip-hop acts that stand up better. I don't doubt there aren't other Cherry albums that are worth being on this list, but I'm not sure I believe this is actually one.
It's dated but inoffensive. Nothing really stood out and there's nothing that will bring me back, but it's not terrible.
Bizarre, pas mon style Mélange rap, r'n'b, soul
You probably won't believe this, I don't think I do to be fair. I really liked this. Don't know why specifically. She's got a good voice, versatile with style. Great tempo, music played well. It all just fits together into what I found was a great listen. It will be going on my buy if seen list. Not perfect, but a very high 4.
A nauseating jumble of pop and phoney attitude.
This was a massive album in 1989, which coincided with my conventional nightclub days, dressed in suits and the cattle market at the end of the night, which I used to sit out more often than not. Ahhh poor me. They used to play stuff like this which was on the better side of the tracks when it came to pop music. I have only listened to this once since the 80's and have even seen her daughter live in the time it has taken me to get round to it again! Its pretty good , but does sound like a product of its time, that's not bad thing as it made me remember happy times with friends.
1.9 I made it half way through, that was more than enough. The hook/chorus of the opener was decent but the rest of the track, the nonsense chatter at the start and dotted throughout ruined it. Reading after that that track was the one hit wonder dismayed me. Like a lot of 80s non-gangsta hip hop it sounds completely dated. Not sure of how it made the list.
3 1/2 stars. It started out as 2 but there are a lot of good songs. I really like So Here I come.
Not my vibe.
Raw Like Sushi is easily one of the most 80s albums that i have ever heard. It has basically all the things you would expect from an album of it's kind from this era, the samples are what you would expect, the lyrics are pretty cheesy and the production just feels like a product of it's time. It is still a really fun album because of all of this though. Many of the songs could be serious bops and Cherry's voice also really managed to fit these songs pretty well. I also don't think that there is a single song here that i would consider bad as they still all at least had parts that i enjoyed. I wouldn't say that this album is perfect but it still is a really fun listen. Best Song: Outre Risque Locomotive Worst Song: So Here I Come
good debut album
Hip hop noventero interesante
Eh. It was fine. Sounded very dated, but fine. 5/10
It’s never wrong to sample Stevie Wonder, that one song stood out. Sorry the rest sounded the same
I don’t like the music. I also don’t like her use of the line “two sixths Chinese” in “The Next Generation.” 2/6 is neither a properly reduced fraction nor a possible ancestry fraction with a finite number of parents. Only fractions of the form 2^(-m/n) are possible. Obviously that’s a nitpick and is not the point of the line, but I got distracted researching genomics, and the album never recaptured my attention.
How to make an hour feel like 3 hours
It's amazing what you can accomplish with a $40 Casio.
Ears hurt
Just not feeling this. It didn’t age well at all
This one’s got energy!! Pop, soul, hip hop, and a hell of a lot scratching. The vocal performance is far from traditional but it’s just what this record demands, and Neneh has no qualms about taking a god damn sledgehammer to the conventional. What a bang to close out the 80s. Listened to: on mushrooms on the 2 train. Favorite tracks: Buffalo Stance, The Next Generation, So Here I Come
How have I never heard of Neneh Cherry? This album is excellent
I liked it till Love Ghetto after that I wasn't feeling the music or lyrics.
Uninspired beats, mundane lyrics that often felt like free styles, and the oh so distinct flavor of the 90s. To borrow a term from the era… WACK!
Eletronic swedish dog shit
3.0
Idk just not into it, felt a little repetitive
I loved this one. Real good.
Hella good vibes when you’re stuck on a boss, I personally enjoy this style cause I love them funky
not sure if i’m a fan. i like the singing parts and i don’t like the rapping parts because it’s just outdated flow.
A fun time-capsule album. I think the artist captures the vibe if hip-hop in the late 80's through a unique lens, due to her being European. While some of the rhymes fall flat and the subject matter gets into 'after-school special' territory, there is enough here to enjoy and some beats/production elements really stand out.
love the how you can hear the 90s slipping in at parts and then it goes back to being very 80s
very 80s
Ne, das war jetzt gar nix für mich…
Die Brücke zwischen hiphop und Madonna. Zugegeben sehr überraschend für mich
3.6
2.9/5
Wasn't expecting this to be such a banger!
This was a surprise honestly. It's very cheesy and dated but man is it a good time. I do wish it was more trip hoppy because the electronic elements were definitely the highlight for me but oh well. I love getting little gems like this from the generator. Makes the whole thing totally worth it! Favorite track: Buffalo Stance 3.5/5
Prior to this shitshow, I only knew of Neneh Cherry because of the song "Kids With Guns" by Gorillaz. The opening track was fun, and catchy, but the rest of the album was forgettable dollar-store Hip-hop/pop/whatchamacallit. Favorite Track: "Buffalo Stance".
Sounded exactly like what you’d expect from the release date!! Decent but not my favorite, got a bit long for me at over an hour. 2.5/5 okay but won’t seek it out again
Commercial garbage.
There are a few good tracks, particularly Buffalo Stance but it sounds of its time and hasn’t aged particularly well.
Prince if sung by Mimi from Rent. It’s not Mozart, but fuck it, I kinda liked it.
Not quite my vibe, but respect how singular it is.
Honestly, the 80s pop side of this album is really not that bad. The hip hop stuff is a bit more cringy and doesn't really mix well. The instrumentation is pretty fun, though! I specifically like the electronic slap bass sound. If Buffalo Stance is her best song, though, this album is going to start feeling really long. The lyrics are toooouuuuughhh. "You're like one of those Cabbage Patch creatures." what??? Yeah, it gave its best right off the bat, and then just didn't really do anything else good. And even Buffalo Stance wasn't exceptional. I really could have gone my whole life without listening to this. Favorite Song(s): Buffalo Stance
I usually don't mind when music sounds like a product of its time, but something about this feels particularly dated. New jack swing is a genre that can sound more dated than other styles, and this album sounds cheesier than most. The lyrics feel cheesy. Most of the songs feature social commentary, but I felt like the messages were too on the nose or written in a way that felt clumsy or silly. I like the hook on "Love Ghetto." "Phoney Ladies" was pretty cool too.
"Raw Like Sushi" is a great album name. I was expecting some extra sexy sultry type record but from the first song on I don't really get that. I really enjoy the first track "Buffalo Stance", it's got a lot of 80's charm (that clean electric guitar is SO 1980's), along with a ton of fun hip hop elements. It's a pretty cool blend. This album dares sometimes, and sometimes it is cool, and sometimes it just doesn't hit. "Manchild" is a good story with an amazingly weird chord progression (for a pop song), but the execution just falls a bit flat. Some of the others are similar let downs, like "Inna City Mamma" just doesn't feel authentic to me? The chorus and guitar part of "Buffalo Stance" has stayed in my head though, which is great, but as I finish the album I can't help but feel like this was a super dated listen. I don't know if it's the lack of poetry- where so many lyrics were blunt and kind of corny.
Buffalo stance what a song, the whole album pops of imo nothing special but definitely chill vibes.
Not the biggest fan, a bit too long of an album
Enjoyed more than I expected as it's not my favourite genre
Smooth FM shite
Har varit sparsamt med blågula skivor här. Hade kanske inte förväntat mig denna. Kommer undan med hedern i behåll.
p617. 1989. 3 stars. Some cracking tunes here, and it sounds fresh 30 years on. At the time, there was nothing quite like it. Having said that, not my thing, hence 3 stars.
Had a fun time listening and reminiscing about a time period with this one. Wouldn't put it on - but wouldn't turn her off either.
Buffalo Stance was her big hit and it was everywhere when this came out. I wonder if the Buffalo in Buffalo Stance refers to the city or the animal? I wonder what a Buffalo Stance looks like? Is it her pose on the album cover? An hour of 80s Swedish dance music? That is not an appealing prospect especially when the big hit is the lead single. Manchild is the second single off the album and it is laughably bad. The rapping is hilarious in the context of a Swedish woman in the 1980s. This is classified as New Jack Swing for some reason. This is terrible. The Next Generation is like terrible, socially conscious MC Lyte. This is an awful album and a terrible representation of New Jack Swing if that's how it made the list. This sounds like the rap from a 90s cartoon. My Bitch sounds like a parody song The Lonely Island might do. Nothing says hard like a Swedish woman rapping and using profanity. Closing the album with two remixes is just filler. The stupid "What is he like?" line in Buffalo Stance is doubly annoying in a remix. Two awful remixes.
Another great album that I already have
It's fine
Boring. Every song sounded the same. I'm always amazed how artists get rapped up (no pun intended) in sounding of the times (gated snare drum , bad synth sounds). This album screams 80's and sounds old and dated. Not sure why this is a "must listen".
Very much a product of its era, this was a moderately fun listen.
Pretty good album, gave me pretty positive vibes troughout
Taught me never to trust girls who suck beer thru straws
First track is good, some songs I felt second-hand embarrassment for her. Dated hip-hop.
Hip for an old school late 80s album.
Just not great…
Fairly by the numbers for the time period, but Buffalo Stance and Manchild are bangers that elevate the whole
Often compared to both Prince and Madonna, this album is a mixture of Hip Hop / New Jack Swing / R&B. Meh!
Obviously two massive hits begin this album and it would be difficult to sustain this. I quite like this album as it is a good example of this particukar female hip hop genre from the time. Interesting tracks about inner city life from a female perspective.
Not my style - 1
This album sounds like what I imagine the 80s sounded like. The album comes off as very generic with most of the songs sounding like copies of other more popular songs which came before. The rap aspects of the album also fall flat, however I still enjoyed the songs. The lyrics on the album are also unimaginative
Not a bad album. Not a good one either. Very unremarkable. Not sure why it’s on this list.
Some deep lyrics that i didnt picked up on in the 80’s.
well produced but still kind of boring after a few tracks.
Again with some great songs, but not the best album from the artist. I think this guy is just pulling from Rolling Stone data from the 90s and early 00s.
Non imaginative music.
#645. This sucks. I don't know how anyone could like this. 1/5: no
Aika perus kliseistä synapoppia ja hiphoppia. Vokaalit muuten perus, mutta lauluun sekoitettu räppi versejä. En ois olettanut, että tää on ruotsalaista. Tai artisti on mutta levy on briteissä tehty. Tulee ihan Fresh Princen theme mieleen. Ei jeesus, kun tää on oikeesti niin kliseistä ysäri hiphoppia kuin vain voi. Parhaat: Kisses On The Wind, Outré Risqué Locomotive
Listening, I thought this was so 90s, but maybe that's because it was ahead of its time. Synthy, wild, pop/r&b. I don't love this record--except Buffalo Stance of course--but I respect it.
Well this one came out of left field. Never heard this one, and likely will not hear again. Good to listen through though. Sadly, I would have really dug an all instrumental version of this album. There was some really interesting sequencer stuff happening.
I owned this on cd but haven’t listened to it in decades. She’s doing some pioneering work fusing rap, funk, soul, and pop, especially as a female artist with a strong lyric point of view, but disappointingly, the production sounds dated and some of the songs are mediocre.
Charmigt och rätt kul. Buffalo stance är klar höjdpunkt, och en legendarisk klassiker. Finns mer bra men övriga skivan lever kanske inte upp till samma stilmix och höjder. Blir lite enformigt och låter rätt daterat. Kul lyssning och ser indfluenser i saker som kom efter. Kommer lyssna igen: ja Bästa spår: Buffalo Stance (Daniel) Inna city mama (kiddo) Betyg: D: 6 av 10 (3 av 5) K: 6 av 10 (3 av 5)
Another interesting album
Interesting
10 year old me thought this was cool, so who am I to say he's wrong. Though I doubt he knew what most of the songs were about.
I can’t remember why but I once owned this CD. Must have had some aberration because listening today there not one track upon it which appealed and was glad that I eventually sold the CD on to Music Magpie for a few pence and it no longer stinks out my collection. Only dilemma I have in rating this album is should I take note of my younger self and accept that 36 years ago there was something likeable and don’t we all have a guilty pleasure? Hell No! I do have guilty pleasures but these involve the likes of Abba. Instead I plead guilty and ask the music community for leniency for my incongruity. 1/5 15/7/25
Buffalo Stance is a banger. The rest of the album less so, at times it feels like they have just borrowed the beat from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme. Now this is a story all about how...
• okay album • not my vibe or preference • couple of songs i could vibe with • probably wouldn't listen to it again
I’m surprised I made it as far as I did. Turned it off after she started talking about unwanted black market babies. This may be the most dated album I have ever heard, not timeless in the least. Still trying to understand why I needed to listen to this? Who exactly was influenced by this? Definitely not hip hop.
80s dross. Completely forgettable.
This album is actually quite unique for the time as it somewhat pioneered the Hip-Hop Soul genre that was relatively big in the early 90's, but apart from the big singles, it's just ok pop rap. However, I cannot write about Neneh Cherry without recommending her incredible 2014 record Blank Project, a combination of jazzy art pop and downtempo that honestly sounds unlike anything a was my Album of the Year that year. Go listen to that one, too. Key tracks: Buffalo Stance Manchild
One "hit" and an hour long album full of songs that nobody has listened to since 1989 that sound older than that.
Some catchy songs but still indistinguishable from other 80's pop
Bastante piolita, instrumentales para nada originales pero la tipa tiene mucho fuego. Nota: 3.1
I really liked the programming and pop hooks, but did not love the rapping (nothing against rap, I'm only against her rapping)
It's immediately apparent what era this album was made - it's so 80s it almost comes off as a cliche in 2025. But Neneh Cherry's sheer swagger is so much fun to listen to, I didn't mind one bit.
Not terrible, just seems kind of generic overall. Lots of filler.
Great album. Good mix of freestyle, early rap, pop and other popular generes. Kind of confussed about the whole spanish thingy cause she is Swedish
Could not get into this...feels almost like something I'd like but it was just too much
"Operate on a baby? Uhhnn! Sick." A 1989 hip-hip/pop debut by a Swedish artist that's maybe a little bit cornball. It has some charm and I don't hate it, but it does feel dated.
Ah, the old days. Smells like a junior high dance.
Favorite Track: Buffalo Stance
Quite a fun listen with cool beats and rhythms, but it's one of those albums that didn't stand the test of time, and it has that very dated late 80s production. I love her later songs especially the megahit 7 seconds from the mid-1990s.
Surprised I’ve never heard of Neneh Cherry because I vibed with this as I love me a female rapper. She’s also on a Gorillaz song that is usually on heavy rotation in my house. Definitely a few good standout songs. I’m surprised Buffalo Stance is the single or most popular of this album because that was a weird track IMO. Her messaging (ie the next generation) stands the test of time.
Ignore the one-star reviews. This sounds like late-80s hip-hop because that's what it is, except more European. It's not my favorite thing, but three stars because "Manchild" has been mesmerizing me since 1989.
Neneh Cherry is a cross-genre talent and I really enjoyed this album. I've seen comparisons between her, Madonna, and Prince, and honestly, I see it. There are a lot of elements of the backing tracks that feel so quintessentially 90s hip hop, which come off as a little cheesy today, but it doesn't distract from her performance too much. Favorite tracks: Buffalo Stance, Manchild, Inna City Mamma
Second half of the album was much better than the first. Still, while I can appreciate what 80s hip hop did for the genre, I am glad we moved on.
Feel like I'm back at Skater's Choice
This was such a fun rap album to listen to with so many bops and jams! I love discovering new artists and albums so I will definitely be listening to this one again and recommending it to others if you like female rappers or the genre in general.
Meh
I haven't heard that one in a long time. I liked it then, and I like it now. Some sounds and instruments are a bit dated, but most of the tracks don't sound like they are nearly 30 years old.
8/10, kinda cheesy, but also genuinely good rap
Still sounds super fresh despite also sounding super 1989.
Funny, cheesy, dancey, its good old school pop/maybe hip hop? But it has a nice personality thats fun and casual.
grooovy and also hell yeah the sounds are very good to the brain and so is her voice and the words, solid 3.75
Buffalo Stance is amazing but it's doing all the work here
New jack swing sure was a genre huh Best song: Buffalo Stance
Sex, funk, in your face attitude and one of the all time classics of the 80s. Some of the lyricism is a little on the nose but she pulls it off and tonally this album doesn't up, all of one piece without feeling repetitive.
I thought there was no way I’d enjoy this late 80’s dance album, but I was surprised. When I heard the opening notes of Buffalo Stance I thought oh this is just Roxanne Shante singing over Afrika Bambaattaa beats, which intrigued me. This soon changed when the album shifted to a quirky inventive rap/dance record. My favorite is Inna City Mama with a totally left field piano solo that would feel home on a Billy Joel album. There’s call and response, drum freak outs, and old school scratching. A favorite is New Generation, a funky horn filled manifesto. Wonderful.
3.5 stars. 80's hip hop from artist with interesting background/upbringing. Incorporates elements of 80's pop, seems genuine lyrically and has a nice singing voice. First two tracks are great, "Buffalo Stance" especially.
Tons of energy. Overwhelming joy. I mean, really overwhelming. Stuffed full of great melodies and rhythm and power. I honestly wish we had a couple ballads to take it down a notch. 3.5/5
Enjoyed this quite a bit. Inna City Mama was an absolute jam, what a killer piano solo thrown in there.
Better than I anticipated, I thought it remained fun throughout, I enjoyed her energy and was bopping along the whole time. Fun little Hip hop record
It might have been 'groundbreaking' at the time, but it's not working for me today. Sorry Neneh.
I first heard Buffalo Stance on the Simon Mayo breakfast show!
First track was the only one I was familiar with and it is with pretty good reason as the rest of the album is not worthy of this list. Oy!!!
I liked the first song on the album and the rest were just okay.
Bi dem Albom esches vorallem crazy, dass es scho 1989 use cho esch. För das tönts vel neuer. Während dems scho no rächt vel 80er sounds denne hed, esch t Rhythmik huere starch. Au geds einigi Stelle woni jetzt eidütig im Hip-Hop wörd zuewiise, was krass esch för es 80er albom. Vorallem Buffalo Stance ond Manchild fühli rächt. S einzig negative esch, dassi gwössi Songs oder Teil vo Songs mer relativ onnötig ond wäg dem lanwiilig erschiined.
Not my vibe
man, da kommen Erinnerungen hoch :-)
Aww, a wee blast from the past. Love her attitude and style and there are some cracking collaborators on here. Starts to grate slightly towards the end. Buffalo Stance is an enduring banger though
Cringe
2.5
This might be the most of its time album in this whole list. If I didn't know a thing about this album ahead of time I would have said this is straight up 1989. It has every pop trope of that year. Listen to any Billboard Top 40 countdown from that year and you will hear at least a dozen songs that sound exactly like this album. Quite frankly, other than the mega-hit "Buffalo Stance" I really don't find this album essential or influential. It jus is what ever 1989 is. (5.4) ★★½ (two on the app)
Nor a genre I enjoy a lot, and generally quite boring. 2 stars
I've only ever heard "Buffalo Stance", and hearing the full album, it's kind of evident why. Where that song is really hooky, the rest of the album is sadly really mediocre, dated pop. Definitely not an essential album. Put "Buffalo Stance" on a playlist and call it a day. 2.5 stars.
2.5
Feisty raps. Blammin beats. Smexy album cover. Squishy, smexy album title. First track and main hit single Buffalo Stance is the turbocharged crown jewel here but there’s a good stack of fair cool, old-skool hip hoppity dancey RnB goodness sloshing around here. Also Massive Attack-adjacent with Andrew ‘Mushroom’ Vowles on turntables and Robert Del Naja aka 3D aka Banksy co-writing Manchild.
Did you know this album came out in June 5th, 1989? It's also my birthday so hell yeah to that coincidence. Anyway, this album... is a lot of things, it's funny to remember that Neneh Cherry is not only Don Cherry's (step) daughter but also that she was involved in a lot of weird punk bands of the late 70s. Then you have the fact that she helped to plant the seeds for what would become the trip hop wave in the 90s by helping many of the artists in the whole Bristol sound scene. It's interesting to think about the many punks who were very into the sounds of hip hop and electronic music (Bjork, The Beastie Boys, Blondie, to name a few) and just were there for it when it started. All of that makes listening to Raw Like Sushi interesting, because it's both very ahead of the curve but also SO painfully of it's era, someone on RYM commented: "the most 1989 album to ever be recorded" and it's basically true. I can't exactly say that Neneh is a bad rapper/MC when this era of rap wasn't what it is now, it's very simple rhymes and flows which weren't uncommon during this time; despite this though, I think she is still a really fun presence and hypeman (hypegirl?) even if it isn't the most technical bars ever, and plus she sings great in some of these songs (Buffalo Stance's chorus is killer). I think the part that shines best in this album is the production, not every beat is amazing but the smooth and chill beats and some of the more cut up and intricate stuff sounds a lot of how the later trip hop and electronic stuff in the UK would, it's so easy to hear this and go "oh yeah, make it sadder and it's a Portishead beat" for me and I think that's part of why I enjoy this album way more than I would if I wasn't already a fan of trip hop and other 90s british downtempo shit. All around, a messy but fascinating album
I actually enjoyed this way more than I expected. To my surprise, I knew the opening track and it was also fun to hear that Stevie Wonder sample on Inna City Mamma. All songs were very groovy and although the album is quite long, I was not once boring while listening. This is not something I’d normally listen to, and I’m not sure if and when I would ever return to this, but it was a nice experience. It’s like a 3.5 but I’ll round up.
Good album.
Great 80's beats
rythmic, fresh and funky, although i'm not very fond of the sound i can't escape it fully either!
Eh I apologize there are some aspects that are well done but I cant get past the first few tracks. A giant hodgepodge
divertidinho, mas muito muito datado. muito rap bobinho dos anos 90.
This was described as an eclectic, but it sounds more like they just tried throwing everything on this album. A few days ago, I had The Band’s self titled album, which was a great sample of only playing what the song called for and not overplaying. This album is an example of the total opposite.
That was VERY dated
Hip hop - strike one. Electronica - strike two. Highly representative of 80's music - strike 3.
- nicht meins, aber keine schlechte Musik 1-2/5
Buffalo Stance is amazing, and it's all just mediocre after that.
Not a fan of her singing and rapping, however most of the beats are pretty good from an 80's perspective. The best song was Love Ghetto.
★★½
The album is OK with a few great hits. But as I remember I eventually got tired of those in 1989, I got tired of this album before it ended. The my bitch song must have inspired the fresh prince but then without the humor.
Nah.
Strong start, fell flat
Really liked it but all of the songs sound very similar.
Pas eu trop le temps d’écouter
Highlights "Buffalo Stance" und "Manchild". Interessanter Mix aus Pop, Rap und Dance-Musik. 4/5
Очень приятный и мелодичный альбом, с весёлыми хип-хоповыми зачитками и сильной атмосферой 80-х. Музыка перемещает в ту самую ретровейвовую фантазию о неооновом прошлом, и, что круто, она и была сделана в 80-х. Очень нравится!
hilarious
Love Neneh Cherry! But this album is spotty at best. Not the sound she would grow into, but would rapidly grow out of.
1. buffalo - 1 2. man - 0 3. uuind - 1 4. mama - 1 5. nezt - 1 6. ghetto - 0 7. heart - 0 8. ladiez - 0 9. rizque - 0 10. come - 1 11. bitch - 0 12. heart - 0 13. ztance - 0 14. child - 0
Ok so every song sounded identical to me… soundtrack starts and then droning voice begins.
Dug some of this, and some of it was corny as hell
EHH. KINDA BAD
It just doesn't hit the way it really wants to
Not sure where Neneh is getting her sushi from but it can’t be any better than a New Jersey gas station. Cringey lyrics. No flow. This is an album made by your people pleaser friend’s “tough alter-ego” and thinks it’s fire because no one stopped them (they didn’t show it to anyone ahead of time) Inna City Mamma was alright tho
cheesy
Late 80’s, female led, power hip hop? Didn’t really enjoy this but I can definitely see why some would really dig it.
Very 80s, like Temu Madonna. Don't know why this deserved to be on the list. It's ok, but not needed to hear before dying.
Very surprised how much I liked this one. Yes it has dated effects that instantly place it in this era, but honestly that makes it more impressive that despite knowing that I couldn't help but enjoy it. Also really cool to read that she was in the Slits when she was younger along with some other cool groups. There's gotta be some cheesy 80s albums that are genuinely good and this feels like my personal go-to for that. Rating: 4.7
Isoin hitti kuin videopelin taustaksi tehty
Syrh-heavy 80s pop/hip-hop is usually not my favorite but I thought this was pretty good at points. It drags by the end but “Buffalo Stance”, “Kisses On The Wind” and “Inner City Mama” are all quite good.
This album had some really fun elements, especially the 80s style pop production with its sharp synth stabs and the way Neneh Cherry blends hip-hop, pop, and house. On the flip side, her sassy rapping, along with her word choices and overall flow, just doesn’t work for me, instead it feels dated and hasn’t stood the test of time at all. Thankfully, she doesn’t rap through the whole album, switching between singing and rapping instead. When she’s singing, especially in the more pop-driven parts, I found those moments enjoyable. But when she’s rapping, it’s like Chinese torture to my ears. After listening to the album, I looked into Neneh Cherry’s background and learned she’s been deeply involved in music since the late 70s, even playing a role in the UK punk scene as a member of The Slits. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of The Slits either, and I think they too are kind of annoying, but I’ll give her credit where it’s due for her contributions and how she’s crossed over through so many different style of music.
neneh mi starai pure simpatica ma più di tre stelle non te le meriti
i like some tunes but the lyrics are nothing special
I only listened to the first two tracks, didn't like them and looked her up on Spotify. It turns out they are the most popular two on the album. I won't be giving it another listen.
It's alright but nothing special and it felt a bit long.
Un álbum al que me parece que le pesan mucho sus casi 40 años. Temas de protesta, de rebelión, pero enmarcados por una música que parece salida de un disco de Paula Abdul o Janet Jackson de los 80 o 90, lo que me mata de la flojera.
Some good stuff on here, generally liked pretty much every track and thought she her unique perspective helped set it apart from other contemporary 80s pop, as well as the blending of styles. Unfortunately, the production is very dated and of its time which doesn't help. Pretty good listen overall though
I've never listened to this before, but it's oddly reminiscent of that style of pop when I was just starting to take notice of music. Makes me think of listening to Weetabix Top Track cassettes on my walkman (even though Nenah Cherry wasn't on any of them - I checked). Also reminded me about Save Tonight by her half-brother, Eagle Eye Cherry - a 90s banger
"Raw Like Sushi" is a very 90's name for an album that came out in the late 80's. It's obviously meant to imply authenticity and that you're getting a raw version of the artist. I just kind of rolled my eyes and put it on. "Buffalo Stance" was a little confounding. What is a buffalo stance? I assume something portraying strength and defiance, but I don't know. It's a weird name for a song and I really understand why it's the opener for this album. The album itself is fine. A pretty typical 80's/90's pop album, with all the production trappings and trimmings you'd expect. A lot of it seems to be spent on telling the listener who she is over and over again, ensuring that we understand that she's interesting or cool. It grows boring over time. On the whole, it's a fine listen but largely forgettable. Two stars. Standout Tracks: The Next Generation, Outré Risqué Locomotive
On sent bien l’attitude frondeuse de la jeune femme qui cherche à se tailler une place dans le milieu du hip-hop de l’époque.
Buffalo Stance still whips, bubbling with energy, but not every track has stood the test of time so well. Three stars for the glorious, chuckled, "what is 'e loike?"
Fun! Before my time, but somehow nostalgic.
344/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Whilst fun, it's just not my cup of tea at all
3 er måske generøst, men den gjorde mig meget nostalgisk for den slags musik der var i Halløj i Klosteret 2 og jeg elsker New Jack Swing. Buffalo Stance er en kæmpe banger
Produktionen lyder SÅ flad. Gjorde ikke noget for mig.
Horribly dated
Incredibly of its time, probably too much of its time
yeah cold
Just rating this album while in a Buffalo Stance...
I saw the other ratings and was expecting the worst— it’s not quite the worst but I don’t understand how this is on the list. It just sounds like STEREOtypical 90s club music, right?
Robert man what are we doing here?
Sounds to me like a classic late 80s pop album with some hip hop and Latin influences
Delightfully unique as not a lot of Latina girls were making rap around this time and with it only being 1989 there was still a lot of room to experiment. That is the proper word to explain this album: experimental. Not much that will excite but a solid album with nothing obscenely bad that will show you a bit of what happens when a new genre is being invented.
In a Buffalo Stance forever
I hated every minute of the album, due to the terrible fad of the production (New Jack Swing?) Neneh did her best with the vocals but the music was bad back then and hasn’t gotten any better since. A short era of R&B/Hip-hop that deserves to be forgotten.
This has Paula Abdul vibe with more rap-esque content. I'm sure this album is some 1980's-ophile's guilty pleasure, and I'm not gonna try to convince them they should think otherwise.
The most interesting thing I learned today is that Neneh Cherry is from Sweden. One of the reviews on this site said the album is like teenage Disney channel music. Spot on assessment.
I kind of liked this album. It was nice to recognize a song!
Wasnt that great then, didn’t hold up to now.
Yeah i get it
Great blast from the past. My feet feel like moving on this one.