Reviews (page 6 of 8)
I really don't get it. I feel like she's a knock-off Janet Jackson.
chato e datado. 3 estrelas
50/1001 First listen. Buffalo stance is a great catchy dance song. This rest of this album though? Just why? This list is so silly at times. Sounded like Do the Bartman was gonna be next. This definitely transported me back to 1989. Not bad, just not for me. 4/10
Not my scene but Buffalo Stance and Manchild still hold up well.
Buffalo Stance is the entire “1980s production style” crammed into one song.
It sounds so painfully of its time.
Confession time - I only knew about her from her work with Gorillaz on Kids With Guns. Previously tried to listen to her music but it never caught me. Unfortunately, it still didn't. Buffalo Stance was good but every other song on this album sounded the same and I had no desire to give it the customary second listen.
Heh, without a doubt this was an entertaining album. It absolutely sounds dated to it's time, which is fine, and there is some intrigue with the lyrics and the energy.
buffalo stance is my fave...otherwise, not super into it.
Sooo 80s. Only Buffalo Stance was listenable.
No no no, it's Mariah Carey
2 - not great
Dated. Some of this reminds me of rapping from Will Smith which probably isn't a good thing. Still good singles though
Raw can be a good quality but I also think it's important for Music to be well done. This isn't really either and instead just sounds undercooked.
Boring pop, with bad vocals on top.
This sounds like she tried out for coyote ugly and didn’t make it
I liked this more than I expected. It's nothing special, but it's fun.
Neneh is already on the back foot with me because I learned that she’s a nepo baby (her step-dad is renowned jazz multi-instrumentalist Don Cherry). She had four powerhouse producers at hand- three of which were involved in Massive Attack’s Blue Lines-to record Raw Like Sushi. And it's hip hop, a contentious genre for me. At the time of release, this album was refreshing for UK listeners. A pop centric hip hop album from a confident whippersnapper. But now? I found it to be cringe. It's definitely music of its time. Creatively and visually frivolous. One of many pieces of music that were a creative response to the highly conservative times the Brits were living in. PS, to the British press and anyone who rang the BBC to complain about seeing a very pregnant Neneh perform on Top of the Pops in 1989- shame on you. Overall: 3/10
So dated it hurts. Prefer her cousin Glacé
Disappointing. I like Neneh Cherry. Loved her Homebrew album (the follow up to this one), and many of the other songs I've heard from her over the years. The The's "Slow Train To Dawn", her cover of Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man", "7 Seconds" with Youssou N'Dour. This, however, sounds like music that badly written teens from the wrong side of town would be listening to in a made for TV movie.
I could see Buffalo Stance being on the list of 1,001 Songs to hear before you die, but the full album? The rest of the album sounds like she partied like it was 1989!
Correcto
This wasn't really my thing. I'm sure it was revolutionary for its time and the feminism in its lyrics and themes was cool, but I just really didn't enjoy listening to it much and it was a slog to get through. Two stars.
Really not my thing.
Not the worst I've heard, but overall did not like. A couple songs were ok but nothing great.
This R&B is not for me. Not bad music to say but not my thing. 2/5
This is so unneccessary. Buffalo Stance is head and shoulders the best track here, and that is really dated. I remember it being really exciting when it came out, and it’s still a good tune, but it hasn’t aged brilliantly, and I’ve never understood the weird Dick van Dyke mockney bollocks in the middle of it - “Wot is ee loike!? D’ja no worrae meen!”. Weird. The rest of the album apparently exists, but I doubt anyone pays any attention past track 1 - and an hour and a quarter for a debut album (for the CD version)? Nobody needed that. Boring album that should be over after five and three-quarter minutes.
Вообще не понимаю, что это делает в этом списке. Абсолютная посредственность. В те годы девушки-рэпперы были и получше.
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.
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
rep nigačica. kreće se između dosadno/zaboravljivog i napornog. sve u svemu skroz bezveze
Very dated now... "You're so Digital girl!!"
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
This hasn't aged particularly well - it's a modicum better than several of its contemporaries. 2/5
This did not age well but then, did it ever. I’m so glad no one walked in on me while I was listening.
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
Not my style, a bit cheesy
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.
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)
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.
It's dated but inoffensive. Nothing really stood out and there's nothing that will bring me back, but it's not terrible.
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.
Not my vibe.
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.
Just not feeling this. It didn’t age well at all
Idk just not into it, felt a little repetitive
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.
Commercial garbage.
There are a few good tracks, particularly Buffalo Stance but it sounds of its time and hasn’t aged particularly well.
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.
Not the biggest fan, a bit too long of an album
Smooth FM shite
well produced but still kind of boring after a few tracks.
Non imaginative music.
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.
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...
I really liked the programming and pop hooks, but did not love the rapping (nothing against rap, I'm only against her rapping)
Not terrible, just seems kind of generic overall. Lots of filler.
Could not get into this...feels almost like something I'd like but it was just too much
Meh
Buffalo Stance is amazing but it's doing all the work here
New jack swing sure was a genre huh Best song: Buffalo Stance
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!!!
Not my vibe
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
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
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
hilarious
Ok so every song sounded identical to me… soundtrack starts and then droning voice begins.
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
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.
Isoin hitti kuin videopelin taustaksi tehty
i like some tunes but the lyrics are nothing special
"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
Whilst fun, it's just not my cup of tea at all
yeah cold
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?
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.
Wasnt that great then, didn’t hold up to now.
Yeah i get it
Witzig fand ich, als sie ganz am Anfang die Instrumente vorgestellt hat
2.1
n0t 4 m3
Is it going to be pop or hip-hop? Never quite decides. She is more interesting when she verges hip-hop. I can pass on the pop.
I'm not here to dis Neneh Cherry, she's fine. But by what criteria does this warrant inclusion? The songs are average, at best. The arrangements are pretty good, though the production is hopelessly dated. And Cherry sounds like she came in late in the game to lay down her vocal parts all alone in a great big empty studio. There's a disconnection to the entire affair. So, I don't get it. I'd wager there were 100 better albums released in 1989 alone.
It's a bit shit, but I feel like 1 star is too mean.
One or two good is tunes
Buffalo Stance is pretty good, and the black-market-baby song was amusing. Overall, though… really?
Buffalo stance is great everything else sounds like pure distillation of 1989 music
A fun listen - very dated.
This album has no business being as long as it is. Buffalo Stance is a classic, but everything else is just generic nonsense that I never have to hear again. She could have stopped after 8 or so. Maybe it's on here because this is a great example of how songs sounded at this time, but it's not good.
The very 90s backing beat grated on me after 20 minutes. Sounded like shopping in an Old Navy circa 1999.
Buffalo Stance is super catchy, but the album in full just reminds me of Prince, random instrumental samples and all. Not super satisfying.
Painfully of its era, I'd say. Cracked up at some lines, bewildered at others. Fine, but not my thing overall.
Fun at times mostly grating
Very generic late 80s hip hop/Soul. but when i saw the year and cover i kinda expected it. very bland, except for the opening track.
Das Debütalbum Raw Like Sushi von Neneh Cherry erschien 1989 und verbindet Elemente aus Hip-Hop, R&B und Dance-Pop. Die schwedische Sängerin und Rapperin arbeitete für die Produktion unter anderem in Studios in London und setzte auf einen modernen, samplebasierten Sound, der sich an den musikalischen Strömungen der späten 1980er orientierte. Besonders hervorzuheben ist der Song Buffalo Stance, der sich als Hit etablierte und Cherrys Mischung aus Sprechgesang und melodischen Passagen exemplarisch darstellt. Auch Titel wie Manchild und Kisses on the Wind zeigen ihre Vielseitigkeit und die Fähigkeit, eingängige Melodien mit tanzbaren Rhythmen zu kombinieren. Raw Like Sushi ist ein Album, das verschiedene Musikstile verbindet und Neneh Cherrys eigenständigen Ansatz unterstreicht. Mit einem frischen Klangbild für seine Zeit bleibt es ein wichtiger Beitrag zur Pop- und Hip-Hop-Geschichte.
Artiste inconnue. Mix de Hip-Hop et d'autres influences. NC mélange chant et rap, ce qui rend un peu moins désagréable l'album et lui évite la note minimale. Après je trouve les morceaux plutôt répétitifs et peu intéressants. Ils tournent plutôt autour du chant, l'instrumentation est quelconque. Je ne l'écouterais pas une seconde fois. =>2/5
Sounds straight out of ‘89 and not in a good way. Some cool sounds and lyrics but I’ll leave this one for GenX
Hard for me to get into this one
Definitely one of the albums on this list
Sure I guess. Maybe this is just of the time but it feels pretty hollow.
This first track is hanging on by a thread. It has some interesting arrangements, but the vocals only work on the chorus. The flow is not good. This just feels like a record label attempting to manufacture a star. "Chocolates, bananas, doughnuts and salami Ain't gonna fit cause you're full of bologna"
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
I hate this era of pop sadly. Even the first track is like a 3 at best. I'm tempted to give this one a 1, but weak 2 is fine
I don’t really know what this is, but I didn’t like it.
Did not enjoy. All the worst part of 80's music put together Best Song: Phoney Ladies Rating: 3.5/10 Stars: 2/5
I wanted to like this album. But I got bored by some of the lyrics and all the songs are pretty similar. Buffalo Stand is overrated, but Manchild is a cool song. This is actually more 2.5.
Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🍉🥇🍉 Production: 🤔🙂👌 Music: 💡⌛😂 Rating: 🍣🍣/5
I went into Raw Like Sushi by Neneh Cherry with no real expectations, but I ended up having more fun with it than I anticipated. This album is undeniably 80s—both in production and style—which is a big part of its charm. The beats are infectious, and there are some genuinely solid tracks here. That said, some songs already felt dated even back in 1989, and they haven’t aged particularly well. While I enjoyed the listen, it’s not an album I see myself returning to. Favorite song: Nothing really stood out as a clear favorite—some tracks were decent, but none felt like a standout hit. Least favorite song: Buffalo Stance didn’t work for me at all. Album artwork: Bold, confident, and totally in-your-face—just like the music.
Gave up on it.
一般 不喜欢，太 old school 了，节奏也一般，没有 2pac 好
- "Buffalo Stance" is extremely fun and also way more cohesive than any other track here. An ideal blend of vocals, rhythms, and electronica. - Most of this album is just frustrating from a listening standpoint. Rhythms do not match. Melodies do not resolve. Rhymes do not rhyme. But these do not seem like intentional artistic choices or efforts to disrupt expectations. Instead it just feels like spaghetti being thrown at the wall? - I did not mind "Kisses On The Wind" or "Outré Risqué Locomotive" (what a title).
2.5
It sounds like a parody, but not a good one. I totally believe that these songs can easily be made by artificial intelligence.
Day402 - not really important or influential really just a late 80’s pop album and you could find a dozen that sound the same
I like the 80s sequencer/drum machine sound. It's a bit like junk food, strangely addictive
No
Really? It's like a bad prince album but worse somehow.
aka Buffalo Stance and not much else of note. I expected more tbh
I know this was critically acclaimed when it dropped but it was not something I listened to at the time. In my opinion it just hasn't held up well 35 years later.
Not really my type of rap but I'm sure it did well when it came out. I like more melodic things. It was alright having it in the background but definitely more meh than okay.
Rating: 5/10 Meh. Choice cut: Buffalo Stance
This isn’t great. I saw a review that said it was dated on release and I can only imagine. Across the whole album, the flow is inconsistent and choppy, the lyrics feel slapped together, poor arrangement, there’s commitment to some tracks and seeming afterthought to some others. “Buffalo Stance” was fine. “The Next Generation” felt like a poorly worded Miss America speech. It was pretty fun, but not good. 2/5
Distinctive 80’s sound.
I don't know about this one. It's fine, but very dated. OK for one listen, but I will probably never sit through it again. Favorite track is probably "Heart."
Doubly sucks! It's not just early hip-hop, it's early female hip-hop. Neh, neh. Big neh Even when I was a toddler having listened to like 2 rappers in my life I already could tell the bar for "female rap" was insanely low, as if the mere fact that a woman is doing something other than giving birth and painting nails is somehow impressive
not for me
"Buffalo Stance" is a classic, five-star song. "Manchild", "Kisses on the Wind", and "Heart" are also worth a listen, but the rest of the album is kind of dated filler.
I like her rapping and the use of Spanish, but in general thought this was mediocre lightweight pop and didn't finish listening to it.
This has aged badly. Buffalo Stance is ok but it rapidly goes downhill from the initial track and the beats and rhymes soon become very tired.
Uff, esto estuvo difícil. Me gusta cuando canta mas no cuando rapea. La producción es de 1989 sin lugar a dudas y a estas alturas solo funciona para arqueólogos musicales y nostálgicos
This is terrible music. I skipped through some songs and I couldn’t believe this was even real. And then I read that she was Swedish and I was so confused. So I put it back on and gave the lyrics an actual listen. My Bitch and Here I come are songs that I could have written with a friend at a 5th grade sleepover. The voices? The rhymes? It’s like some kind of slam poetry set to music. It’s actually a little hilarious overall so I’m gonna give it 2 stars.
Who’s picking these things? This album is nothing but a generic late 80’s early 90’s hip hop album with nothing special standing out. Maybe it would have sounded better if I was wearing one of those airbrushed Bugs Bunny shirts where he’s got on baggy pants and a backwards hat.
Track one and two gave me high expectations for this album. I feel like 'Buffalo Stance' was in heavy rotation on the radio when I was a wee one. That hook bangs, for sure. The rapping on track two is actually decent for someone from Europe in the 80's. ...then the album quickly goes downhill. The rapping and subject matter are REALLY 80's. Typical late 80's/early 90's new jack swing...nothing too memorable, in my opinion. (Only listened to the 10 tracks from the original vinyl release)
Was alright. Definitely sounds like 80s/90s
Wasn't my thing. Sorta interesting but overall I wouldn't listen again. 2.49/5
Buffalo Stance is, unfortunately for Cherry, one of the great singles of the 80s. The rest of this album is half written, half made and half arsed.
Generic 80's album. No idea why this would be there but 100's of others wouldn't. It's repetitive and just not that great.
When I found out that the artist is Swedish, I expected nothing but perfection. Turns out I was wrong. Two or three good tracks, especially "Manchild" (which, no wonder, was produced by Massive Attack's 3D). There's some interesting sample and synth experimentation, but nothing more than that. Cherry is trying too hard to sound alternative, and to incorporate too many genres and styles at the same time.
Oh man. This album brings back memories of one of my cousins having it on tape and making up her own dance moves to Buffalo Stance. This album wasn't for me then and isn't for me now but that song is a bit of a banger. NGL Overall it's so late 80s in its production its bordering on parody but it's not a bad album. It's just not my jam. A high 2.
When the first song is her best known and I hate it, you know you are in for a rough listen. Cheesy, shit lyrics, too long.
Nothing that I liked, but not bad (not crappy Brazilian Heavy Metal).
A jumbled pop mess. No thanks.
This is on par with late-80s Madonna I suppose. I don't necessarily mean that as a compliment. The whole thing seemed pretty cheesy and juvenile. Who knew Eagle Eye was the more talented Cherry?
Christmas Day! And the generator has brought me a lump of coal. Pop album from the late 80s. I didn’t want to write it off before it even started but I did write it off pretty soon after that. My Christmas treat was discovering that the Spotify version contains 4 bonus tracks that I was quite happy to bin off. I recently gave a sort-of similar Madonna album a 1-star and this feels a bit more authentic and interesting. But I won’t be rushing to listen to it again.
It was fine, but I wasn’t sad when it was over
buffalo stance is a lot of fun but not finding reason to revisit this one after track 1
Без этого, предположительно, не было бы всех Карди Б, Сексиии Ред, и Доечии, и в зависимости от твоих жизненных ориентиров это одновременно большой плюс или огромный минус. Музыка устаревшая. Лучшая песня - Kisses On The Wind.
Not really list worthy. Its like music a late 80s teen sitcom or drama would produce to be played at the promise or whatever
this was okay, has some grooves but it wasn’t the most engaging
Nah
Hittet åbner albummet. Som meget andet med hip hop elementer, så bliver det hurtigt meget dateret. Jeg tænkte mest på hendes rap som Sir Mix A Lot... På den dårlige måde. Sang delene var ok. Men det fremstår langt, og kedeligt.
Buffalo Stance was the only song that I knew from her. I wish I had kept it that way. Buffalo's dance is a weird little pop song but it's good. Everything else on this album feels tortured and like a sickly representative of its era. Not a fan.
Very late-80s, very mid-Atlantic. Very mid.
more rap, got a couple of good sons, but overall meh
Very mid. I didn’t hate most of them necessarily so a 1 star would just be lies but anything higher than a 2 star is also a lie so 2 stars it is.
I think it's kinda cute that music like this was once so popular
I don't think I'm finishing this one
First listen. Ok.
I don't get it.
Ooh, admire the attitude, like Buffalo Stance, but it just sounds so tacky now.
No pude entenderlo. No lo disfrute mucho. Tal vez en un futuro cambie de opinión
Dit album voelt als een voorloper op allerlei muziekrages van de jaren 90, en dat is een pluim waard voor een album van vóór de decenniumwisseling. Het is super Europees, en doet me daardoor telkens herinneren aan dat aftandse Eurodance. Maar tegelijkertijd is het eigenlijk ook een soort proto-Trip Hop. Het deed me meermaals denken aan Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy, en heb zeker gecheckt of zij daar niet in zong. Dat nummer staat op de plaat die vaak wordt gezien als het officiële startpunt van de Trip Hop hype. Maar dit album van Neneh Cherry is bijna 2 jaar eerder uitgebracht, en kauwt toch al wat Trip Hop elementen voor. Het verbaasde dan ook niks dat er een link bleek te zijn, die deze meid uit Zweden verbindt met Bristol, UK. Haar man destijds was één van de oprichters van Massive Attack. Enfin, de ogenschijnlijke pioniersrol van deze plaat daargelaten, ben ik op muzikaal vlak niet heel erg ondersteboven van haar stijl. Het is best creatief, en haar enthousiasme lijkt puur en 'raw' te zijn zoals de titel van het album aangeeft, maar waar het een voorloper was toen hij uitkwam, is hij veel minder goed met de tijd meegegaan dan 'Hip Pop' albums uit de 90s. Ze trekt naast het Eurocentrische dance gehalte ook wel les uit urban USA, met jazzrap achtige songs als 'So Here I Come'. Dat pakt wel m'n aandacht, maar vind haar rapstijl té 2 Unlimited. Ik snap dat rap zich in de 80s nog erg aan het ontwikkelen was tot de meesterlijke flow en complexe rijmschema's van de 90s, maar het voelt vaak wel aan als een parodie op de Golden Age of Hip Hop. Pluspunt voor haar lef en inventiviteit, maar het oor wil ook wat. En die krijgt te weinig. 5,5/10 Highlights: Buffalo Stance So Here I Come
Started strong with Buffalo Stance, then faded quickly. Save this for (maybe) 1001 Songs list, but the album isn’t strong enough.
Well, it's got enough catchy pop hooks and irrepressible attitude to raise it safely above the 1-star dregs. Buffalo Stance is a good track. But... it all sounds a bit naff and dated really, and the album feels like it goes on for longer than it actually does, which is never a good sign.
Decent first song and nothing else
I really tried. The only likes/appreciation on this pop/rap album from me is from the refreshingly wholesome, feminist lyrics. I wasnt there when this came out. It sounds like a Madonna album.
Pretty fun listen but nothing stood out at all.
Run of the mill 80s female-led pop. Not bad but not sure how it made this list.
No, Neneh Cherry is not for me. It's not bad music but it's too R&B for my tastes.
didn't really like it all that much.
It’s OK. Not for me so much.
I'm gonna go straight to the question: does it deserve the place on the list? I don't know. Maybe as a missing link between 80's and 90's. Even as a missing link it's too mediocre and forgettable.
Snippets of songs aren’t bad. Collectively, this is bad.
Not a fan of this type of music, but some of the songs I didn’t mind too much. I would like to hear this artist in another genre, as I liked her singing voice. Not really fair to rate it, but my ratings are for my own edification only.
# Album Name: Raw Like Sushi # Artist: Neneh Cherry # Rating: # Comments: The name Neneh cherry did not ring a bell. But as soon as i heard the opener i knew it straight away. Buffalo stance. What a tune. Great song even to this day. The scratching make it sound a tad dated but i love the tune. Same again with manchild. Its all flowing back. Manchild is interesting mix of pop, synth and abit hip hop. I liked it. The album is then followed by inner city mama and kisses in the wind. Two weaker singles imo. Unfortunately, the album starts with its strongest 3-4 songs and then tumbles quickly downhill. Next gen goes into full blown pop/rap mode. And from there it kinda continues on into a mellay of 80s pop/rap. Sounded very underwhelming and dated. I have no idea how she has been compared to prince. Its nowhere near the same level. Sadly the album goeeessssss wayyyy too long clocking in over an hour. I would never have guessed she was swedish though. I'd give this a 2. It would have been a two if it was not for buffalo stance. # Top Tunes: Buffalo Stance / manchild # Would I listen to it again? Nope. Except for buffalo stance and manchild.
Not terrible but didnt enjoy it. Very dated.
One okay song that now sounds dated. Very "of the time"
Fine in increments, but painfully stuck in the 80's.
oh yeah, I know this ONE song. The rest is some cringy late-80s pop "hip hop".
Surprisingly didn't age well. Sadly sounds a bit naff now IMO
I remember when her half-brother Eagle Eye Cherry had a breakout hit with Save Tonight, and a good buddy said "that's Neneh Cherry's brother!" I had no idea who he was talking about. So on listening to this album I thought ok, I'll hear her big hit Buffalo Stance and it'll come back to me. Nope. But knowing some of my buddy's favorite music from the late 80's (think New Edition), I get why he'd be into that song. Aside from the lyrics being better, I'd say the sound of that song is just as tragic as other rap/pop wannabes of that era (think Marky Mark's Good Vibrations). How much of this album is Cherry vs. a bunch of producers turning dials in a studio? It's sounds and style like this that make us embarrassed to talk about the 80's. The only reason I'm not giving it a lower score is because I think she had some quality lyrics, and she probably had little power to dictate the sound or object to sounds that others wanted to put to her words. Though Love Ghetto made me rethink that - terrible lyrics. And from there I wasn't sure how good her lyrics were on the rest of the album; they also sounded a bit trite. And without lyrics, it's back to the terrible musical production. Ugh.
Incredibly dated sounding
I had some nostalgia during the first three songs on this album, but then remembered that it goes perilously downhill from there. I’m still a sucker for this 80s sound, but nothing too amazing here.
Sometimes I listen to tunes like this, but Neneh wouldn't be my first choice normally.
The first song is good the rest is mostly cheeks
I used to think Neneh Cherry was cool. I don't think anymore.
"Buffalo Stance" slaps. What a riot of a chorus (and what a terrific synth hook just before said chorus surges!). And so does proto-trip hop ballad "Manchild", co-written with Robert "3D" Del Naja, from Massive Attack. Its slow beat is infectious, and its string section, following so many great harmonic twists and turns, modulates the hell out of the song. With such a lush canvas, Neneh Cherry only needs to spin her yarn through both enticing crooning and youthful rapping to take that cut to a whole other level. Unfortunately--and apart from a third cut nicely winking to Marvin Gaye ("Inna City Mama", a little above the fry)--everything that follows those two great singles is absolutely grating and has aged pretty horribly. Neneh Cherry is an endearing figure, but the music she sings to is here pestered by all the worst clichés of the pop / R'n'B commercial fodder of the late eighties. Case in point, "Heart", which could have been a highlight without all those awful choices for the instrumentation and arrangements. And I'm not even gonna bother mentioning all the songs that are even worse than "Heart". OK, maybe that terrible, *terrible*, supposedly goofy duet with whoever that r'n'b clown is on the last proper composition of the album (just before the mandatory-yet-absolutely-useless remixes of the LP's singles), whose name I don't even care checking out again... *Raw Like Sushi* "almost comes across as satire," as that other reviewer puts it. Except that it's not. If there is one thing that the bulk of this album comes off as today, it is that it appears as totally cringeworthy. Incidentally, second Neneh Cherry LP, *Homebrew*, is far, *far* better than this very mixed bag of a debut. Had "Buffalo Stance" and "Manchild" found their way into that other record attuned to much more interesting strands of music that were popular at the time (namely trip hop, indie rock and old school funk), you would have a perfect album for this list. Alas, I'm daydreaming about an alternate universe here. In *this* universe, I still have those two CDs at home, and once in a while, I return to my favourite moments in them. But you can't label them as "essential" albums. And neither can you say that their contents are striking enough to become mandatory listens for anyone who was not born in 1989 yet. At least as a whole, and not by a long shot. After all, sushis are delicious, but they have a very short peremption date, don't they? 1.5/5 for the purposes of this list, rounded up to 2 6.5/10 for more general purposes (5+1.5) Number of albums left to review: 95 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 390 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 228 Albums from the list I certainly won't include in mine: 287 (including this one)
Not my thing at all - dated sound.
Very late 80s hip hop. About twice as long as it needs to be.
Don't like this one. Will I listen to again: 0%
Don't really know what to say about this one. It has its moments, but I'm not sure I really care for much of it. Also never been a fan of the incessant record scratch sound.
Nothing special in my eyes. Why would anyone compare this to Madonna? Are you crazy?
Just not fully my jam
Kind of fun, somewhat naïve, and a little bit shit? It does kind of get better as it goes on, and there are some nice beats, but this one just doesn’t land for me. Feel there are similar records from this era that are better.
Ooh, baby, I like it raw, but outside of “Buffalo Stance,” this whole album is pretty whack.
Bleh - it was fine. It is probably the most 1989 album of 1989.
Charming nostalgic romp through 80s multicultural optimism. Interesting that she’s Swedish given how much it sounds like NYC but then the monoculture of the times, from Madonna to Fame to Paula Abdul that influenced the sound, made this more an assemblage and a performance of all those identities. Some fun songs. I was between a 2 and a 3 and ultimately went with 2 but keep in mind 2 isn’t bad, and generally I liked it but probably wouldn’t play it again.
"Eclectic mix of genres." Interesting. After a passable beginning it settles into a predictable late '80s meh. Every song has that same beat and embarrassingly familiar instruments. The genre is cringe.
An average hip-hop/pop album from the late 80s that was perfectly innocuous with nothing to write home about. A lot of the beats sounded quite generic like they came from a basic keyboard synth with nothing that really stood out. Best: Buffalo Stance Worst: My Bitch
It's a nay nay from me.
It’s an average pop rap record. I lean more towards disliking this album than liking it but it really could go either way. Nothing special or anything.
Not bad but totally dated.
Better than I thought it would be.
Couple of good songs
Meh
The first two songs were pretty good. The rest did not grab me.
Terrible. I don't like that kind of music at all. Simplistic, commercial urban pop is very far away from my tastes.
I tried with this album but it just didn't land with me
There are some parts that were interesting and started to pull me back in, and then it would just be awful bars set to the worst beat available in 1989
Not my particular cup of tea when it comes to hip-hop (a little too old school), but I imagine it was pretty groundbreaking at the time. I don't remember much representation for women in that genre then.
I can tell this is very well done. I just don't particularly like it. 2/5
There was nothing that good on here. I have heard buffalo stance on the radio before, but never really listen to it properly. The most offensive thing about this album is that she drinks beers through straws, absolutely disgraceful
I just didn’t enjoy this at all. That being said it wasn’t bad
Buffalo Stance und Manchild: ok Rap: no
probably a good example of what it is but what it is is not for me
Unlike sushi, this didn't have the freshness that I seek in a hip-hop album
eh, i got pretty bored with this one, and did not listen multiple times. There's nothing really wrong with it, just not the style of music for me
Not really my jam. There’s probably some decent lyrics in there, but not really my thing.
Very eclectic and sounds exactly like an album recorded in 1988-1989. Learned she is half sister of Eagle Eye Cherry. On first listen I felt she was likely from NYC and surprised to find out she is Swedish.
Early hip-hop and rnb hasn't aged too well, and this isn't an exception. The opener is pretty fun but after that it's all some basic beats and rhymes that don't hold up anymore.
No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't connect with this album.
im so tired wth
Not my cup of tea. This was just bad pop late 80’s music.
What makes it make this list because it did not seem to reach any threshold at all
Boring and stupid. This should not be on this list, the amount of sub par pop/hip hop albums on this list is astounding. Really dumb. Not impressive at all, just stupid. Did not like.
uuuuuuggggghhhhh. no thanks. this is why late 80's pop music was so lame. overly synthesized, over styled, weak vocals. pass. 1.5
I was on board with the opening track Buffalo Stance, but had a difficult time getting into the rest of the album. Some fun songs but nothing great. I guess you had to be there.
Meh. Early example of rapping. The best I can say is that it doesn't have the swearing or braggadocio of modern rap - but it's still awful and I still hate it. No tunes worth remembering.
Wow: zurück in den 80zigern, wobei mir nur der erste Titel wirklich bekannt vorkommt. Nach dem Hören des gesamten Albums weiß ich heute auch warum...
It's not a good hip hop album, it's not a good pop album. It's just not good in general, with boring tracks, unspecified style, all just levels below than the stars from that time. Record true to its name.
Wasn't a fan. This is lower tier 80s/90s hip-hop for sure.
Buffalo Stance 2.5 Manchild 2.4 Kisses on the Wind 2.5 Inna City Mamma 2.5 The Next Generation 2 Love Ghetto 2.3 Heart 2.1 Phoney Ladies 2.8 Outre Risque Locomotive 2.2 So Here I Come 2.4 My Bitch 2.4 Heart (It's a Demo) 2.3 Buffalo Stance (Sukka Mix) 2.6 Manchild (The Old School Mix) 2.5 Score: 2.392857143
Stevie wonder sample!
Gets some points for Buffalo Stance and Manchild, but quite irritating listen
A testament from a past era. Does not stand well the test of time IMHO. 2 or a bit more.
There’s a such thing as having too many ideas at once. I’m normally a fan of this era of turn-of-the-‘90s pop that blended hip-hop, dance, r&b, and synth-pop into a chaotic soup, but normally, all those artists either had a) a standout hit with a couple supposed-to-be minor hits [because most were one-hit wonders], and/or b) a dominant genre they fit within, where they used all the other genre aesthetics as textures to their sound. This album doesn’t have either: “Buffalo Stance” charted, but it is really difficult to imagine how or why with today’s ears; meanwhile, the rest of the album is just an onslaught of different of-the-era sounds, all of which are done poorly for the time, and sound worse together today. I see the appeal of Neneh Cherry on paper, especially for 1989, a year of changing tides and potential, but the execution is subpar. It’s not bad in a campy way, either, it’s just deeply forgettable. I guess it’s valuable to see how weird pop music was at this time, but there’s better reference points than this.
not for me
hi hat...some good musical bits and singing voice. But nothing particularly earthshaking going on. Lyrics all come across as run of the mill.
Der erste Song ist ein Pop-Knaller, der Rest naja. Andere Rapperinnen aus der Zeit (z.B. SaltnPepa) fand ich authentischer.
Buffalo Stance is a stone cold classic Man child is pretty great But there’s a lot of filler outside of those two
almost hated this
Ugh. I don't like the genres of dance music overall, but this lacked distinction for me.
Neneh Cherry - Raw Like Sushi This album is a time capsule for the late 80s. I had only known the song, Buffalo Stance. However, this album was not for me and I found a lot of it unlistenable. Manchild and My Bitch are the worst offenders. 2/5
I wanted to like this, but I just didn’t. I like Buffalo Stance. This just feels so very dated.
...It's like a 2.5. Pretty fun at times, but certainly cheesy and a little hard to listen to from front to back.
3/13/24. Meh, just okay. Feels a bit dated to a specific sound and time. However, this is far from awful and has a couple fun tracks.
Buffalo Stance is a banger, but the rest of the album feels bland and outdated. Salt-N-Peppa albums have aged better.
Feels incredibly dated.
I feel like this album started with potential and then just flatlined into something mid. The first song was super fun and vibes then the rest just got mid and boring. Listened just to finish it.
If you weren't around to experience what 1989 life was like... just listen to this entire album - it was pretty much this. I secretly always liked "Buffalo Stance" when it came out even if I was almost exclusively listening to shitty hard rock at the time. Never heard the rest of this and it's kinda fun at first but really chintzy-1989-sounding at worst - and definitely that sound carries throughout the album which makes it ...not *bad* in any way but kinda tiresome. Not sure it all holds up for me, but I'll take Buffalo Stance on a mix and move on. 4/10 2 stars
Noy my style, nice mix of genres but feels too over the place for me. Interesting album though 4/10
Starts ok but gets shrilly and grating quite early. At points Neneh Cherry is rapping like an adolescent - a far cry from future acts like MIA who are more honest and articulate.
I remember listening to the single for Buffalo Stance constantly as a kid. This is still a fun song but it is very dated. And long. The song could have been cut down a minute or so and been better for it. The whole album is pretty dated and does not hold up. I did not enjoy any of the other tracks. This is a 2 only because of my nostalgia for Buffalo Stance.
This is SO 80s, in a very fun but dated way. I can't imagine my kids enjoying this, but the nostalgia hit is great with this one. On further listening though this started to get very old very fast.
I liked the energy, but overall wasn’t really my thing.
Not bad but not for me. DNF
Fun, groovy and easy going. Like that friend from High School with whom you have not talked ever again.
Listened to the album again after a long time. The first two songs still stand out clearly and still sound contemporary
Neneh Cherry is cool and all and her debut album is at times quite the fun listen. It’s also exhaustingly dated. I know it’s from 1989 but even back then nobody could have thought that releasing “The Next Generation” would be a good idea. Later she even raps: “Chocolates, bananas, doughnuts and salami Ain't gonna fit coz you're full of boloni”. You’re better than that, Neneh.
Some 80s music sounds timeless today, but a lot of it doesn't. Unfortunately for me this fits the latter. Struggled to get through this one.
RnB, Rap, 1989 -> 2
This is bad in the classical 80's way. It just sounds so dated. The bits where she's singing definitely work better. There's some more upbeat numbers that are quite good, but overall it's just dated and feels hollow like so many other 80's mainstream pop albums.
Awful 80's sound effects and cheesy raps. Not good.
Another pick out if left field. I mean sure track one was entertaining, and there was a fantastic piano breakdown somewhere in there about 20 min later but....