Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Another never heard of ‘em band & album selection. Don’t expect to hear it again.
No idea who this is, but the first track is great. “Sleeping gas” is also a good track. I’m digging this. I enjoy albums that I have no clue about and then they surprise me like this. This is a great album
This was middling 80s rock until the end, when they fell off into some really uninspired BS
Ok-level synth pop. Unique in that they’re ahead of their time - 1980.
I’ve generally considered myself to dislike this style of 80s rock/pop. This album has me questioning that. I unexpectedly loved this.
Imagine every 80’s post-punk trope wrapped into a single band and throw it in a bag, toss it around, and then dump it in a lukewarm bag of tea. That’s what this posh wankery sounds like, a total mish mash of angular rock, new wave and funk that makes a pretty flavorless gruel. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard but it is pretty insufferable.
Interesting and enjoyable, but nothing amazing Standout songs: Sleeping gas Bouncing babies
This album was a lot more interesting than I was expecting it to be. Admittedly, I love 80s music. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I kinda like this. To be honest, these guys gave me a lot of early U2 vibes, especially the heavy bass line. They’re not nearly as good of course, there’s a decent amount of similarities. Not an amazing album, but not bad either.
If you dig Julian Cope, "Kilimanjaro" by The Teardrop Explodes is peak post-punk fun—catchy, a bit quirky, and always energetic. From the punchy horns on "Reward" to the trippy vibes of "When I Dream," the album just pulls you in. Even if you missed it back in the day, it still feels fresh and addictive now. There’s a real sense of fun and weirdness here—definitely worth spinning a few more times if you’re loving it.
Felt long and repetitive
After the first 4 songs it felt like a 3 star, I liked the crossover of psych, punk, uk New Wave, etc. but it goes on way too long. I'll look into a greatest hits album maybe but I was excited for it to be over by the closing live track.
Never heard of this band. Out of the gate, sounds like a mix of Squeeze, Echo and the Bunnymen, and maybe even some David Bowie. It’s a pretty solid mix of those different sounds and that era. I dig it…some songs were goofy and it was way too long, but makes sense that it’s a compilation.
Not too bad. Parts reminded me of The Smiths and The Jam. Got a little bored by the end though.
Bass and drumming is cool which saves it from 1 star but wow this is shite.
2.4/5 Very 80s experimental british music, as if we needed more of It. The music's actually okay, but the lyrics are weird. I can't even pinpoint what to think about this. It's solid for a debut album and also way better than the trash of the last 7-10 days (Stooges, Flaming Lips, Pulp, Elvis Costello, David Crosby, The Adverts, Bob Dylan). But also not as crisp as the music I consider actually good. It also sounds like this group was trying a little too hard to sound psychedelic in some songs, yet in others some quality actually comes through. Not enough though to get 3/5 stars.
Nothing really stood out for me in this album. It all sounded similar, and would have preferred more of a swing towards the psychedelic and less towards pop rock.
80's punk, rock, super solid band I never heard of. Better than most and really good for a genre I just don't love or miss.
Decent.
So so
nothing special
Okay. A couple of decent tracks - just not my style.
Very solid album with scouse jaunt and a great level of camp absurdity. I include reward (which does stand out) despite it not being on the original recording. I'll be happy to revisit
3 out of 5. Not the worst album, but nothing remarkable.
This sounds like every British rock band of its time. I'd never heard of this band and didn't recognize any of the songs. The advantage of it sounding like everything else like it is that it's not bad! The disadvantage is that it's nothing special. There are some fun tracks but it's otherwise forgettable.
Sure, this is what I expected.
Very enjoyable, a peppy sound.
Inoffensive but a bit dull. Something I'd hear on absolute radio and not think of again
Couldn’t put my finger on the reason this pretty standard post-punk sounded off. Then I realised it was all the brass sections. This album is really channeling that 80s production before it became ubiquitous.
Good solid rock. A bit of a pop vibe that I enjoyed.
Never heard of this group. But I thought this was solid. 4/5
They were all filler songs
Interesting post punk adjacent type stuff. A little brighter in tone than some other things in this genre.
3.5
Pretty good! They sometimes sound like The Damned. 3.4
Kind of a sleeper banger. Banger sleeper? Sleep bang. Banging Sleeping. 7/10
3.5
Almost made it all the way through, but gave up on the last track. It’s another nothing burger if an album, places on this list for no reason that can easily be discerned. Most of the crap that came out of the UK post 1980 was garbage and this is no different.
underrated. influencial
Didn't really connect with this one
Grating to listen to, apart from a couple OK tunes.
I was dreading this album based on the date--1980 isn't actually my vibe for most intents and purposes, especially if we are talking mainstream rock. Plus, yet another new wave brit pop album, ya. Anyway, having expected to hate it, it wasn't that bad. Keep your expectations low, right? Second Head is a really solid tracks, and the first three are pretty good. I kind of like the driving baseline. The guy's singing sounds like every other new wave brit pop album of this era. I dunno, I might listen to it again. 3/5
Interesting, but not rememberable
Eh, didn’t feel like anything special. Listenable, but nothing I’d go back to. I’m between a 2 and 3
Sounds like every other Brit pop 80’s band
6/10… new wave / post punk
British mediocrity strikes again.
Never heard of these guys but super interested after reading what they sound like. They were pretty cool. I enjoyed the handful of songs I checked out.
I honestly don't care about the intricacies of the different post punk new wave bands and albums, it all sounds the same to me. How about we swap out one of the many examples of this genre with I don't know. Gregorian chant over the top of electronic music, or maybe some Mongolian death metal.
I've never heard these guys but have heard a heap of bands that sound exactly the same. Entirely unmemorable
a nice new wave / post punk album
It's fine, it didn't speak to me though and I won't go back. Another okay British rock album on this list. 5/10
You know that song we did earlier… do it again but this time set the synth to the ‘trumpet’ setting,
Yay, another Britpop album. They just all sound extremely similar to me. How could this be very influential if it sounds like everyone else?
Felt mostly meh about this one. I thought their sound was interesting, kind of like a mash up of something I liked (the Doors) and something I didn't (Dexy's Midnight Runners) and added horns. What came of it was fine, but didn't stand out as anything all that great. I don't really remember most of the songs on it already. So, while it wasn't actively bad, I can't say it was particularly good either. I'll give it an OK. Overall: 2.4/5
Solid album. I really enjoy 80's New Wave. I'm not familiar with this album but the sounds bring a touch of nostalgia. Glad to have heard this one today
Wasn’t all terrible, there were some good choruses and vibes in here. There just was too much that wasn’t particularly interesting, and that made it drag on too long.
nice safe 1st album from a good band
good musicians - so so music - not my cup of tea
I tend to gravitate towards new age when it comes to 80’s music and I thought this was a very solid entry in the genre, I just wish there were a couple true standout tracks I could hang onto. Best Track: Treason
Not bad. Felt quite modern despite being 70s era pschedelic, but alot of the songs blended into one
Not necessarily bad, but very generic and forgettable.
Next to this list's propensity for late 60s psychedelic rock is its love for any and all New Wave Brit Pop Rock. Which is lame because, depending on what order one might get some of these albums generated, they might be completely over one of these micro genres by the time they receive an actual good album in said genre. This is a quintessential example of one of those albums that pollute the waters. There is nothing about this that I haven't heard done much better in many other albums. By this time next week I imagine I will have forgotten all about it.
Blends into other 80s bands sound. If you liked 80s movie soundtracks, you might like this.
Well I am not sure what about this project and app has become worse. The disposable white male musicians that either the creator or algorithm keeps throwing at us (this is literally a band of Julian Cope who we were just subjected to earlier in the week.) Or the equally insufferable and disposable white male opinions lauding this horseshit, while bemoaning actual jazz and period staples because they listen with their snowflake 2025 ears. Gangsta rap from the '90s offensive? Oh no. American songbook selections from the '40s don't hold up? You don't say. If I wanted asinine takes I could just head over to Pitchfork where at least those asshats get paid to be pretentious douchebags. This project needs to become a lot more random in its musical selections. Because at this rate 750 of the 1001 albums are going to be akin to this drivel.
loved the 80’s vibe, loved every single song. A no skip album for me!
Kiliman Murphy
Some of the beats were okay. Honestly who picked these albums. They suck.
This one was okay. Couple of tracks got me into it, but I also feel like ti generally went on too long. Nothing really switched up the tone for me, so it all ended up blending together.
boring 80s
Forgetable rock.
I quite like the sound of this, quite poppy, New-Wavy, but it's nothing too special. Not sure they belong in this list. I only knew Treason and that's a nice song. Some others have better bass-lines though. Vocals a bit too up-front for me maybe. Rounded up to 3 because they are Scousers :-).
This record has that quintessential 80s sound and vibe that I love, but the songs are extremely repetitive and not that fun to listen to.
This was not awesome. She in the worked would this be here. Why is there an extended version of the record. Boring. Thin. Uninspired. Poorly produced. Lame. So much dislike I’m giving 2 stars and I hardly do that. Dumb record.
M'évoque Duran Duran, mais les précède, donc je devine une influence. Le son des années 1980 déjà encapsulé dans la première année de la décennie. Un bon moment, difficile pour moi d'imaginer la réception à l'époque où ce son n'était pas omniprésent.
Довольно странный *-вэйв, пост-панк? Чуть более радостный, чем я люблю? По крайней мере так я это принял. Лучшая песня - Reward.
I'm very intrigued by this album. Never heard it mentioned. Never heard a song of it before. Yet this is smart, fun and energetic. I don't know if it's true but it feels like they we're enjoying recording this.
Un poco monótono 😕
Q magazine placed Kilimanjaro at number 95 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. Really? Did Q listen to it? It's a big NO for me.
Pretty great and never heard it! Will definitely return to it, but just about a 4.5 from first listen.
Enjoyed it. Reminded me of this band I liked called the Dead 60s. This guy kinda sounds like David Byrne?
Oh great, <italics> ANOTHER <italics> esoteric British new wave album!! This is the kind of band that annoying guys with spiky hair would brag about listening to because most kids had never heard them; but most kids had never heard them because their songs are mediocre and even the annoying guys with spiky hair didn't really enjoy listening to it. I wanna like it because the overall sound is pretty sweet. But it's a donut - all sugary sweet on the surface with a giant whole in the middle and no substance whatever.
Quite and nice album, gives you energy and feels like a time capsule for that music era Fav songs - Poppies In The Field, Brave Boys Keep Their Promises 3/5
I had never heard of this band before. I don't find the vocal particularly unique or anything but the instrumentation here is interesting enough that I dig this overall.
Groupe inconnu. Le premier contact n'est pas terrible. Je trouve que le son de synthé a terriblement mal vieilli. Et les morceaux sont répétitifs et plutôt ennuyeux (constaté dès le second titre 'Sleeping gas'), même s'ils ne sont pas désagréables. Cet album m'a fait regretter de ne pas avoir mis une meilleure note à la sélection d'hier ! =>2/5
Poor man's U2-Cure crossover with so-so singing. 2.8
Never heard of them before or heard this album but it was decent.
Well that was forgettable
Julian Cope was previously in this with a solo album that sounded like a big mix of other artists. This is palatable, but again just sounds of nothing original.
Une très jolie découverte!
Vrlo prosječan post punk. Vidi se da je julian cope nekad bio i glazbeni kritičar 😀
Another ho hum early 80’s Brit band on this list. You have a 7 minute song where you repeat same thing over and over, why?
Why the consistent brit pop. They started off decently but then it just faded hard
This sucked. More bland, repetitive, annoying, pointless British pop music by some nobodies that were only mildly famous in the UK for like 3 years. This did nothing musically, just was kinda there in the background while I did homework. Why did I need to listen to this before I died? The last song made me want to die low-key.
another day & another early 80's britpop band. and another meh, why is this on the list. was ok as background music but also forgettable.
Pretty good. Something about this album’s vibe really connected with me. I might have to seek out more by them. What band names are more dramatic than The Teardrop Explodes? Napalm Death? Cannibal Corpse? The Wiggles?
Fine, but not essential. Reminded me of much better bands.
Started out OK, but overstayed its welcome. Perhaps it just needed to be half an hour?
More dross, not terrible just totally uninterresting.
We liked this, had a couple of really stand out tracks that we'd heard before which was a surprise.
Okay but not an album I would add to my library.
Is it over yet?
First listen
Bombastic
Not a huge fan of this album. I do like Julian Cope's projects and not hating this one, but it would not be on my turntable often.
Wow 1001albumgen, I wasn’t familiar with your game. This is right up my alley. Sick album, great recommendations
Decent new wave album. I wasn’t familiar with it and it’s not bad. It doesn’t really have many bangers or standouts but it’s listenable.
Waiter! Waiter! More Britpop, please! I sincerely don't know why people complain about British New Wave so much, as opposed to the countless rock albums about banging underage girls, or literally anything added to this list post-2010. This album slaps, just pure energy and passion coming from these lads. Highlights are "Sleeping Gas" and "Reward".
3,5
Defs sounds like the 80s.
Bland, pedestrian affair that didn't move the needle at all. Not outright terrible but it doesn't need to be heard before I leave this mortal coil.
I can see why a lot of the reviews here complain of this being like the other tracks, but for me this is like Talking Heads meets something The Clash or The Jam. Julian's singing is competent and effectively used in each track to be part of the song writing other than a lot of the New Wave stuff where a bloke just moans over various incarnations of the same song.
It was overall kinda weird and sounded exactly like I would expect a band with their description to sound in the 1980s.
Dad- 6 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 4 Michael- NA Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 6
Average.
fine, not high on the list to revisit.
These guys managed to learn to play instruments and sing a little. Shame about the songwriting part though. British bias strikes again.
3.5
Nope
The music is not that great. Feels largely overrated to me.
my first album of 1001 overall, the album was a little bit boring but i liked the ironic melancholic vibe of 'ha ha i'm drowning' and 'when i dream'
Happened to get this as I was watching the mass ascent of about 60 hot air balloons. Needless to say, 👌
I have no issue with the specific album, but pretty tired of all of the average brit-pop representation.
Too long
Day 30 First listen- A decent album, the highs were high and there were some boring 80s elements but okay overall. (2.5/5)
Maneiro mas sem graça, não sei pq ta na lista
Pretty standard sounding stuff for the Brit Pop, I actually don't mind this genre but a lot of these didn't stand out too much to me.
Pl332 N0 m0R3 bR1T p0P
Don’t understand why this is I’m the 1000 albums collection.
"Kinda bollocks mate innit" Previous listener summed it perfectly.
This was okay. I liked the energy and the sound, there were instrumental surprises that were interesting. But largely nothing really stood out to me.
Never heard of this group. It was just ok. Sounds like early Erasure.
Very dreary
Good but not as great as they clearly think of themsleves.
Nice, I can definitely see how this formed British pop rock in the 80s
I found this a bit tedious. Doesn't stand out from other British music of the era
About 15 years ago I went through a mad Synthpop phase. Funnily enough, this album didn’t feature (aside from “Reward” which is still phenomenal), but what a treat it was to listen to it in full. You can dismiss them as one trick synth-ponies, but this album actually has huge range. Total classic, loved it.
One of many redundant psychadelic rock albums on this list.
I groaned at the subcategory ‘neopsychedelic’, but it ended up being okay. Not a single interesting moment to speak of though. I really question the inclusion of this one on the list. Not bad, but completely average and unremarkable in every way. ⭐️⭐️
The first song on this thing got us off to a very good start. The rest of this was pretty average new wave British slop. It sounded very familiar to The Associates. The first half of this thing was definitely listenable, but I just couldn't stop thinking as the time ravaged on; and I ask once again, why is this here? Who is possibly considering this a GOAT album? Why do we have to endure so much Britpop? Plus, old mates voice got more and more jading as time went on. I was happy to give this a 3 but once I got to Bouncing Babies I was so done. This thing is good for a bit but holy fuck it gets painful to finish.
If I had a nickel for every British album I got with only 1 hit in it this week, I'd have two nickels. At least this one was a bit more up my alley with the new wave edge to it rather than the irritating perverted Indian exoticism of Cornerslop
Listened to this while clearing massive chunks of polyurethane primer out of an airbrush nozzle that kept fucking clogging while my dogshit cheap cunt instantaneous air compressor made a sound I can only describe as coins being thrown into a garbage disposal. Didn’t like the album.
At i was like ehhhhhh Then i was like, holy shit this kinda good. I pretty much like every song off this album. Would i come back to it super regularly, probably not Still a pretty great album tho 8/10
Listenable, but no matter how many times I gave this a spun really nothing here stuck out to me and if I didn't take notes during my listens I probably wouldn't have a highlight list. Having said that, only the big hit here stuck out to me. This is definitely on here only because Blur and Morrissey cited them as an inspiration which is whatever, I can only complain about this bullshit so many times (I will continue to complain). Highlights: Reward
It's ahead of it's time in that they are playing shitty 90s music in 1980. I can't believe this was 70 minutes long
The very definition of fine. Average to mildly good. Never heard of em before and probably won’t be able to pick them out of a sea of generic 80s British rock.
I'm finding more and more that this genre is for me. Does this deserve to be in a list of the best albums ever? I'd say no. But I like it.
They try hard but mostly fail, mainly because it's full of dull, poorly sung, repetitive melodies. The music is ok but they need to sort the vocals out.
Kilimanja who?
I quite like the pop incarnation of the many versions of Julian Cope, though his more esoteric versions are somehow even more interesting/crackers/fun.
Tedious Cure-esque waffling Each line of song seemed to be split up between the singer's bit and the band's. Singing, twiddly guitar, singing, twiddly guitar, etc The lyrics were typically vague and Julian Cope's posturing a bit half arsed.
Being a scouser, I'd heard of Teardrop Explodes (and all the stories that connected other Liverpool 80s bands), but never listened to them. It feels a bit dated, (I mean it's 80s new wave after all), but I quite enjoyed it!
Another example of why this project doesn't need to be 1001 albums. I like Julian Cope (though I'm not sure I would give any of his albums 4 stars), but I'm not sure I need to hear his early work with a band. At best, it's 7 out of 10, maybe just 6. I will grant that it's somewhat innovative for 1980, but still... three stars.
It was fine, little psychadelic, little 80's/90's electronic synthesizer vibes. Never heard of the group so that was cool, but nothing all that unique and different then made me want to explore them more
The lyrics don't especially draw me in and I think they could use some back up vocals but the music is pretty awesome and lots of great bass lines. Very 80's!
Always cool to be pleasantly surprised by bands I’ve never heard of, and this is a good example of that. Love the British new wave/psychedelic vibes, and his commentary on the expectations of boys in society. Lots of catchy tunes and fun instrumentation here.
UK pop? Neo-psychedelic? Hard to pick those apart on this album. Some good tunes but also some clunkers. Might appeal to some but no to me. Two stars just as I’m highly unlikely to listen again.
Musik zum Aderlass für diejenigen, denen The Cure oder The Smiths zu hart sind. Ähnlich jammernder Gesang aber gleichbleibender Melodiebrei.
80er Punk (neo-psychedelic Liverpool) mit guten und schlechten Elementen.
Julian Cope has far better solo albums. Also, read his books.
5/10 - it started pretty good but quickly became repetitive and I wanted it to end
We’ve had like 30 albums that sound and feel exactly like this album. Even the cover looks unoriginal. If this is neither unique nor very good, why is it on the list?
Everything about this album is ridiculous, from the affected vocals, silly lyrics and beepboop arrangements to the lame album art. I don't hate it, but definitely a product of its time.
There is one person in the world who believes the 80s was the best decade for music, and he is the author of this list.
I wasn't feeling this after a first listen, but I just got done skipping around a few songs and they grew on me a bit. Poppies In The Field is my playlist pick, but Second Head through Brave Boys Keep Their Promises is a nice little section. I can hear this may have been a big influence on a lot of later music I enjoy, so I'd give this another listen for sure.
I think I liked it. Some songs would be good for movie montages
Good background music but not quite a 4 for moi
Some of it is fine, but it’s not quite as interesting as what I normalt listen to from this era
Fantastic. Pure 80s post-punk classic.
Heard Treason before. I was mildly annoyed by the fact that some songs from the album weren't available on Spotify and maybe that's why I found the album underwhelming or it's just not that great in general. It's ok but eh? 2/5
Nothing memorable, but decent enough in the background.
Very energetic post-punk, had a good time listening!
I like post-punk...sue me!
this shit sounds so insanely british it is a pain in my ASS
Do people actually like this? Too many bad Brit pop albums on this list
dreamy synthpop grounded by strong post punk basslines
OK, this is actually pretty decent. The bass (Julian Cope) reminds me of the Clash in an excellent way, Gary Dwyer rocks the drums and Alan Gill and Michael Finkler play a surprisingly interesting post-punk guitar. David Balfe can fuck off with the synth bullshit throughout, though. Apparently the recording of their third album (this is their first) culminated in Dwyer chasing Balfe through the hillsides with a loaded shotgun and I have to say, it's a shame he didn't catch him. There's an album in here. It's probably a pretty good one except for the terrible stain of 80s synth all over it. The Teardop Explodes would've been a pretty good three-piece. In all, I'm not longing to forget this experience but I know I will and I'm at peace with that before the record comes to a close. Apparently this was highly influential for both Blur and the Smiths and, unless this album-a-day project changes some long-held opinions for me, I guess it's all downhill from here for Britpop. 3/5. Might've been a 4 without Balfe.
I am a sucker for punchy, new-agey driving punkish albums and this one is indeed in that bag, however, it is a strange one. Labeled as neo-psychedelia and I guess I can see why with the lyrics being pretty goddamn kookie, to me it sounds far more new-wave coded. Apparently this is another prime early goth sounding kinda record, coming up with Echo and the Bunnymen.. and even though Echo ultimately became more popular, I think this album is slept on. The instrumentation alone is a lot of fun and sonically very bold, not quite in the punk sensibilities in it's contemporaries, it's definitely more poppy and they trade in the moody dejection for more pop-psychedelia sounds. 'Treason' is super jangly. A lot of the songs beyond that sound incredibly similar to each other, and they mostly bleed together because of that. It booms, it's good pop new agey fun, even if it isn't all that memorable and can be a bit grading.
I really liked the vinylie feeling and sound. reminded me of the smiths or sublime.
Solid but not anything special
A bit over hyped. Almost falls in the British favoritism in this list.
Oh great, more Brit Pop that isn't much different than anything else. 4/10.
Solid 1980's sound - nothing I need to listen to again but certainly fine for what it is.
I liked it but some songs were pretty weird
Maybe the first miss of the late 70s/ 80s alt rock on this list for me so far. It's aggressively fine, but nothing grlundbreaking. It does feel like a precursor to something like Bloc Party, especially with the song Second Head. Couldn't wait for it to be over so I could move on though, and that hasn't happened a ton.
Не понятно. Сначала вроде интересно, но потом уже кажется что-то не то. 5,5 из 10.
It was alright, had some good songs Will I listen to again: 12%
p468. 1980. 2 star. This has not aged well. Average songs and dreadful lyrics. One great song ("Reward") but that's it.
I like it, sounds like the doors, and the cure together.
Boring
some good tracks on this, good album
it was OK. Sounded fine but nothing that stood out.
okay so i totally understand why people like this and i didn’t have a terrible time HOWEVER it was all very samey samey for me just felt like once i’d heard one i’d heard em all
## Overview *Kilimanjaro*, released in October 1980, is the debut album by The Teardrop Explodes, a Liverpool-based band at the forefront of the neo-psychedelic and post-punk movements. Led by Julian Cope, the album blends influences from krautrock, 60s garage rock, and the burgeoning new wave scene, resulting in a record that is both idiosyncratic and influential. This review will analyze the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and legacy, as well as provide a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses[1][2][3]. ## Lyrics **Obliqueness and Surrealism** Julian Cope’s lyrics on *Kilimanjaro* are celebrated for their obliqueness and surreal, almost stream-of-consciousness delivery. From the opening line “Oh use your common sense!” to cryptic phrases like “Come and diffuse me before I kill someone” and “it’s just like a cartoon by A.A.P.”, Cope’s writing is deliberately indirect, keeping listeners guessing at meaning while drawing them into a dizzying, dreamlike world[4]. This approach aligns with the psychedelic tradition, where literal meaning is often sacrificed for mood, imagery, and emotional resonance. **Thematic Range** The album’s lyrics explore a variety of themes, often centered on emotional struggle, alienation, and the search for meaning: - “Ha Ha I’m Drowning” addresses a toxic relationship, using water as a metaphor for emotional suffocation[1]. - “Sleeping Gas” critiques apathy and the sense of sleepwalking through life, with aspirations and hopes abandoned[1]. - “Treason” deals with resistance to change and the pain of adaptation[1]. - “Went Crazy” narrates a descent into mental illness and the struggle for recovery[1]. - “Brave Boys Keep Their Promises” is more upbeat, focusing on perseverance and determination[1]. - “Poppies in the Field” hints at the trauma of war and its impact on personal identity[1]. Despite their sometimes opaque nature, the lyrics consistently evoke a sense of searching, confusion, and the tension between hope and despair. **Pros:** - Inventive, poetic, and evocative language. - Successfully conjures a psychedelic, surreal atmosphere. - Wide thematic range, from personal to socio-political. **Cons:** - Obliqueness can alienate listeners seeking direct narrative or clarity. - At times, the wordiness can feel overwrought or self-indulgent[5]. ## Music **Stylistic Fusion** Musically, *Kilimanjaro* is a melting pot of styles: - **Krautrock Influence:** Tracks like “Sleeping Gas” lock into hypnotic grooves, borrowing the motorik rhythms and repetition of krautrock but infusing them with vocals and pop sensibility[3]. - **Neo-Psychedelia:** The album’s swirling keys, shimmering guitars, and surreal arrangements place it firmly in the neo-psychedelic camp[1][4]. - **Post-Punk Urgency:** The rhythm section—Julian Cope’s bass and Gary Dwyer’s drums—delivers a taut, driving energy that keeps the songs propulsive and immediate[3][4]. - **Pop Hooks:** Despite their experimental leanings, The Teardrop Explodes had a knack for catchy melodies and memorable choruses, as heard in singles like “Reward” and “Treason”[2][5]. **Instrumentation** A distinctive feature of the album is its use of horns and keyboards: - **Horns:** Trumpeters Ray Martinez and Hurricane Smith provide martial, stiff fanfares rather than the soulful, swinging brass of contemporaries like The Specials or Dexys Midnight Runners. This gives the music a unique, almost militaristic edge[2][5]. - **Keyboards:** David Balfe’s keyboards are prominent throughout, sometimes overshadowing the guitar. The synths and organ lines add both texture and a sense of unease, enhancing the album’s psychedelic feel[4][5]. **Song Highlights** - “Ha Ha I’m Drowning”: Notable for its driving horns and a 40-second drum break that propels the song to a frenetic climax[3]. - “Treason”: Anthemic, with a beguiling melody and infectious hook[5]. - “Thief of Bagdad” and “When I Dream”: Exemplify the band’s ability to craft lush, dreamy psych-pop love songs[5]. - “Books”: A minimalist, bouncy reworking of an early Julian Cope song, also recorded by Echo & the Bunnymen[1][4]. **Pros:** - Innovative fusion of genres, creating a sound that was fresh and distinctive in 1980. - Strong rhythm section and memorable hooks. - Effective use of horns and keyboards to set the band apart from peers. **Cons:** - Some may find the horn and keyboard arrangements “too 80s” or overly busy[4]. - The production sometimes buries the guitar, reducing the overall sonic punch[4]. ## Production **Creative Tension** The production of *Kilimanjaro* was marked by internal band conflict and creative tension. David Balfe (keyboardist and co-producer) and Bill Drummond (Zoo Records co-founder) shaped the album’s sound, but not without friction. Guitarist Mick Finkler was replaced by Alan Gill during recording, and the sessions were reportedly fueled by heavy drug use, adding to the chaos[2]. This turbulence is reflected in the album’s restless, sometimes uneven energy. **Sound and Mixing** - The album is characterized by a “trebly” guitar sound, sweeping synthetic strings, and prominent brass, all mixed to create a dense, sometimes unsettling soundscape[5]. - The production often foregrounds the rhythm section and keyboards, with guitars taking a more supportive role[4]. - The remastered editions, especially the deluxe 3-disc version, have been praised for their improved clarity and inclusion of essential B-sides and session tracks[1][4]. **Pros:** - Bold, adventurous production choices contribute to the album’s unique character. - The remastered editions enhance the listening experience and provide valuable historical context. **Cons:** - The mix can feel cluttered, with some instruments (especially guitar) getting lost. - The “80s” production aesthetic may not appeal to all listeners[4]. ## Themes **Psychedelia and Alienation** Thematically, *Kilimanjaro* is an exploration of altered states—emotional, psychological, and social. The album’s psychedelic veneer is not just a musical style but a reflection of the band’s search for meaning amidst chaos and confusion: - The lyrics frequently reference transformation, disorientation, and the struggle to find identity (“Second Head”, “Went Crazy”)[1]. - There is a persistent sense of alienation and longing, whether for love, understanding, or escape (“Books”, “Thief of Bagdad”, “When I Dream”)[1][5]. - The martial horns and tribal rhythms evoke both triumph and paranoia, mirroring the band’s own internal strife and the broader anxieties of the post-punk era[2]. **Pop vs. Experimentation** A central tension in the album is between pop accessibility and experimental ambition. The Teardrop Explodes wanted to be trippy and hypnotic, but their innate gift for melody and hooks kept pulling them toward pop, resulting in a sound that was both innovative and approachable[2]. **Pros:** - Successfully captures the mood of its time—restless, searching, and slightly unhinged. - Balances introspection with moments of exuberance and joy. **Cons:** - The thematic ambiguity may frustrate listeners seeking clear messages. - The album’s mood can feel inconsistent, swinging between euphoria and paranoia. ## Influence **Immediate Impact** *Kilimanjaro* was a critical and commercial success in the UK, spawning hit singles like “Reward” and earning a place in Q magazine’s “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”[1]. The album’s blend of post-punk energy, psychedelic textures, and pop hooks influenced a wave of bands in the early 1980s, particularly in the Liverpool scene. **Legacy** - The Teardrop Explodes, alongside Echo & the Bunnymen, helped define the neo-psychedelic sound that would be picked up by later acts. - Their use of horns and keyboards set a precedent for other new wave and indie bands, though few matched their unique blend of styles[2]. - Julian Cope’s later solo work and writings have kept the band’s legacy alive, and the expanded reissues have introduced *Kilimanjaro* to new generations of listeners[1][4]. **Pros:** - Highly influential within the post-punk and neo-psychedelic genres. - Continues to be celebrated for its originality and daring. **Cons:** - Its impact was somewhat limited outside the UK at the time of release[4]. - The band’s internal instability prevented them from building on the album’s success in a sustained way[2]. ## Pros and Cons Summary | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Inventive, poetic lyrics | Oblique, sometimes alienating lyricism | | Unique fusion of krautrock, psychedelia, and pop | “80s” production may date the sound | | Strong rhythm section and memorable hooks | Cluttered mix, guitar sometimes buried | | Distinctive use of horns and keyboards | Thematic and mood inconsistency | | Highly influential within its genre | Limited initial impact outside the UK | | Remastered editions add value | Internal band chaos affects cohesion | ## Conclusion *Kilimanjaro* by The Teardrop Explodes remains a landmark album in the post-punk and neo-psychedelic canon. Its blend of surreal lyricism, hypnotic grooves, martial horns, and pop hooks creates a sound that is both of its time and enduringly fresh. The album’s strengths lie in its inventiveness, energy, and willingness to embrace chaos, both musically and thematically. Its weaknesses—occasional lyrical opacity, production clutter, and inconsistency—are byproducts of the same restless creativity that makes it compelling. For listeners interested in the crossroads of post-punk, psychedelia, and pop, *Kilimanjaro* is essential listening: a snapshot of a band teetering on the edge of brilliance and breakdown, and a testament to the enduring power of musical risk-taking.
1. ha - 1.5 2. gaz - 1 3. treazon - 1.5 4. head - 1.5 5. poppiez - 2 6. crazy - 1 7. brave - 1 8. babiez - 0 9. bookz - 1 10. thief - 1.5 11. dream - 1 12. reuuard - 1.5 13. jaro - 1 14. znouu - 0 15. uze - 1 16. traizon - 2 17. zleeping - 1.5
Fine. Whatever.
Not for me.
-sort of reminds me of the stuff I heard by Haircut 100. very typical yet not entirely compelling new wave. there were quite a few bops and it was a great album to metaphorically shake some ass to but other than that not too much stood out -the band does have a great sense of rhythm and stuff, i just feel they could benefit from better production perhaps? oh well, it’s not bad -Favorites are Sleeping Gas, Second Head, and Went Crazy
Chillig
Blah bowie wannabes
- irgendwie eher nichts sagend bzw hat mich einfach nicht gecatcht
Maybe one day I could love them as much as The Smiths or XTC. Not bad but nothing jaw dropping
This was very 80s British New Wave. I know Julian Cope's solo work, so this was a disappointment, certainly not 1001 list worthy.
Why have I never heard of this before?! I'll tell you why. I really like post punk/new wave, and could just fancy a bi' o' Bri'ish music, but this was quite dull most of the time. Started to get a little more interesting at the end of the album, can't tell if that was the case or I was just looking forward to it ending. Sounds like it looks. Two stars knocked down to one for their influence on Morrissey. Fuck him. One star.
Perfectly fine, but I probably won’t ever listen to it again.
you wait around, look around and wander around. yes we get it - Unfortunately this album is a little tooooo consistent for me, as in I'd struggle to pick them apart in a line up. I did like the music but the lyrics just did nothing for me.
Every track sounds identical. Why would you do this.
Never heard of this group before but this album is awesome. Its like psychedelic clash. tons of variety
Already know Reward and Treason from this album. Alt rock with post punk influences from early 80s. Also some experimental instrumentation (synth brass and organish). Some similarities with The Cure (guitar line on Poppies) When I Dream has a nice synth line Strange House in the Snow has a nice creepy industrial feel Solid album overall - 4 stars Best track (not Treason or Reward) - Went Crazy or Books or When I Dream or Strange House in the Snow
ha ha im drowning- 5 sleeping gas- 5 treason- 5 second head- 5 poppies in the field- 5 went crazy- 5 brave boys keep their promises- 5 bouncing babies- 5 books- 4 thief of baghdad- 5 no more too british
This ends up feeling messy like the singing is more important than the music. Sometimes it works out but mostly it’s a jumble that leaves little musically for me to enjoy. Maybe seeing them done live would be better.
Psychedelic
Another day, another BritPop band I've never heard of. Throw enough of them at me and I'm bound to like some, right? Well, yeah, in this case I did kind of like it. This one seems to have pre-dated the Smiths, but that's what it reminded me of. Not amazing, but I'll give it another go one day and include the bonus tracks.
7.5/10 Very good. This reeks of musical class, then I saw who is involved. No wonder it’s a quality production. Really nice post-punk-pop driven by fantastic bass and drums. Really enjoyed Cope’s vocals too. Best: Reward
Rough listen. It was kind of generic and didn’t feel like they knew what kind of music they wanted to make, nor did it feel like they really cared.
3.5
Kind of interesting New Wave. But still too New Wave for my liking. 2.5
Folks. This isn't Britpop. You cannot call everything that's British and has a slight pop feel "Britpop". Britpop was a brief music thing in the mid-90s. Now back to this album. I'd heard of The Teardrop Explodes but never heard any of their music. This is a lot of fun, actually. You can immediately hear who they've influenced: Bloc Party, Maximo Park, The Young Knives and even Franz Ferdinand. The jagged edges of the rhythm section and the detached vocals. Fun! Personally I would have loved some snarly guitars instead of the synths and the horns, but you can't get everything. Treason is probably the most radio-friendly track and one you could sneak onto a playlist, but I like the more meandering tracks better. All told, a very high 3. I was tempted to throw it a 4 but I'm stingy like that.
Early 80s music, did not enjoy.
I halfway expected this album to be various jazz covers of Toto's Africa given the title and cover art, honestly I probably would have liked that better than what I got. It's very uninspired. I really don't have much to say about this album. Quicky faded to the background. I didn't find any qualities that would lift this album above more well-known 1980s britpop New Wave post-punk. 2⭐️
3 verging on a 2. Some of the songs are quite repetitive and I don’t care for the style of vocals, but overall short enough to stomach
Another long boring struggle.
I was on the fence with this one, I liked it but there isn't anything outstanding on here. The only reason it scores a 3 instead of a 2 is because the original working title was 'Everyone Wants to Shag the Teardrop Explodes' That's the sort of confidence I wish I had when I was younger.
Why is this in this list?
I loved the trumpets jajajaa really nice I would definitely listen to this álbum with a candle and a mary in my hand
mais um pra categoria: tão genérico que deveria ter a tarja amarela na capa do álbum mas não é ruim, na vdd é um new wave/pós punk bem saudável
não sei se eh ESSENCIAL, mas é divertido. bem normal mas faz bem feito o que se propõe!
De synths staan aan, het ruikt spontaan naar haarlak. Ja hoor, dit is een echt jaren '80 album! Er word een saxofoon behoorlijk afgemat, de zang is voor mij echt typisch jaren 80. Met mn ogen dicht hoor ik dit echt zo op Veronica of zo'n andere oude mensen zender. En dat is meteen ook een beetje mn issue met dit album, het is niet super bijzonder ofzo. De muziek is vermakelijk, ik vind de synths enzo echt wel geinig, maar uiteindelijk vind ik nou niet dit een album wat echt uit de tijdsgeest springt ofzo! In tegendeel, zeker richting het einde word het wat saaiig. Moet wel bij gezegd worden dat de zang echt dikke prima is en nummers als Kilimanjaro lekker duister en onheilspellend zijn. Die trek ik dan ook een stuk beter dan eerdere nummers. Eh, ik denk niet dat ik dit album ooit nog eens zal luisteren, maar ik ben niet boos dat ik het ooit wel heb gehoord. Dit was best ok. FAVO: Went Crazy, Reward, Kilimanjaro
Sounds very recognizeable as generic 80s band despite never hearing of them with dips into punk
Whoever the bassist is, give him a raise. Some great work on this record. Especially on songs like Second Head. That said, its generally just a fine record to me. Throw another late-70's/80's post-punk/new wave/goth rock record onto the list I guess. I'm definitely getting a deeper appreciation for the genre due to this project, but this is definitely an overrepresented genre. I'm 130ish albums in and have gotten a ton of post-punk, and there's no end in sight, haha.
Assez mid, pas un son qui m'a particulièrement parlé.
Pretty good post punk new wave brit pop rock 80's record.
Deram uma exagerada ai no trompete galera rsrs 🎺🎺 ... Mas suave, o baixo é bem saboroso e mais do que compensa. E eu particularmente aprecio o estilo lirico e sonoro desses vocais, apesar que as vezes as repeticoes me cansaram. Enfim. Algumas faixas bem notaveis mas outras bem esqueciveis. Mediano. 3.5/5
My Reward is still fantastic, but the rest is a little same-y.
Shitty brit pop where every vocal sounds the same
The poppy parts were jolly, the rest jolly awful.
Nice poppy punky music
79% Best: Sleeping Gas; Went Crazy; Bouncing Babies; When I Dream Must-Hear? I'm split on this one... the songwriting is good and the basslines are absolutely killer. However, a ton of the synths sound tacky. They are interesting parts, it's just the sounds used that leave a lot to be desired. Therefore, I have to give this one a maybe.
Liverpoolidan
Beautiful sound with exciting use of dynamics and crafted songs.
01) Ha Ha I'm Drowning - 7,0 02) Sleeping Gas - 6,5 03) Treason - 6,5 04) Second Head - 6,5 05) Poppies in the Field - 6,5 06) Brave Boys Keep Their Promises - 7,0 07) Bouncing Babies - 6,0 08) Books - 6,0 09) Reward - 7,0 10) Kilimanjaro - 5,5 11) Strange House In The Snow - 5,5 12) Use Me - 5,5 13) Traison (C'est Juste Une Histoire) - 6,0 14) Sleeping Gas (Live at Club Zoo/1981) - 5,0 TOTAL: 6,18 (62/100) Current ranking: 422/558
Synth pop
Didn’t really grab me.
I liked the bonus tracks on this album more than the original release, but I won't count those in my rating (with an exception for Reward which seems to get an honorary inclusion in what people consider the official version of this album). Overall, pretty forgettable. 3/5 Highlights: When I Dream Reward
Holy fuck, the vocal scatting in "When I Dream" is one of the worst things I have ever heard and was so gratingly annoying I turned off the record. Has some of the ingredients I enjoy, but the record itself feels uninspired and derivative. Like if you took all of the bite out of Depeche Mode and replaced it with a collection of songs that between them lack a single musical hook. I'm finding that the longer records (over roughly 40 minutes) seem to lose focus and include a lot of filler--this is no exception.
Going into this album, I had pretty low expectations. Some of the reviews I read on the generator and app painted it as underwhelming or overly quirky, but there were a few surprises that made this a more enjoyable listen than I anticipated. When researching the album I learned the reason it’s on the list is because it was one of the few bands that reinvented British post-punk and did so by adding brass elements and reviving neo-psychedelic sounds. At first, Julian Cope’s vocals came across as loud and abrasive. The brass elements also felt out of place to me, they didn’t add much initially. But over time, they started to click, especially in “Sleeping Gas.” Oddly enough, I didn’t like the recorded version of that track much, but the live version was incredible, raw, chaotic, and full of energy. One of my initial issues with the album was how repetitive the first few tracks felt. The sonic palette didn’t change much, but after a few listens, certain tracks started to pop. “Poppies” reminded me a lot of Franz Ferdinand’s style even though they come from a more post-punk/dance-punk era. Makes me wonder if they ever cited this band as an influence. Similarly, “Use Me” felt more acoustic and emotionally raw, it gave me The Smiths vibes, which made me curious if there’s any documented influence or overlap there too. As a fan of Khruangbin and psychedelic rock in general, I usually enjoy the more transcendental, groove-heavy textures of the genre. That’s not exactly what The Teardrop Explodes is doing here. Instead, they punch through any dreamy atmosphere with a brash, synth-laden 80s sound that’s impossible to ignore. It’s hypnotic in moments—especially in how Cope delivers his vocals—but it never fully lets you drift off. That might be part of what makes it distinct. Ultimately, I found this album to be a decent listen. It won’t make it into my regular rotation, but I appreciated the journey it took me on—even if I wasn’t always sure where it was going. 2.5/5. Standout Tracks: “Ha Ha I’m Drowning”, “Second Head”, “Poppies”, “Went Crazy”, “Thief of Baghdad”, “When I Dream”, “Reward”, “Use Me”, “Traison”, and “Sleeping Gas (Live)”
This was such a difficult era of transition and music, pretty much like we’re in now in 2025. Is it technology that’s going to influence it or style or Message? This music is very unresolved.
This sounds a lot like The Jam. Interesting to hear something of what would become Echo and The Bunnymen in the future, but it's just a well-made copy of Paul Weller's band. 3 stars is fair.
I’ve never heard of this band before but it reminded me of my high school years. I loved this album!
I put this on while Laura was shredding cabbage. She said "Oh I don't like this" That said its grown on me a little. It's pretty samey, definitely an album with a sound that it does not deviate from. Also they repeat lyrics a lot.
It's been a minute since I got an LP I own. One of the best post-punk records ever made. It's just as good as hearing it for the first time as a teenager. How could you listen to this and not want a shaggy mop top haircut and a shearling coat? I already kinda dress like that, I'm gonna attribute it to wanting to be as cool as Julian Cope. I wish more contemporary post-punk albums had the effortlessness that these older ones did but most of them are a bit obnoxious to me. Love this record so much :-)
4/5. Labai įdomus klausimas. Labia sava atrodo, gal ir girdėta n kartų, bet lyg taip ir turėtų būti.
An interesting album. I'm not familiar with the band or the album. The sound reminds me of early The Cure. The album was fun. It's quite possible that I'll listen to it more often. 4/5
Man, no way this belongs on the list. Post punk with occasional spacey keyboards. Extremely boring. One star. Another case of a band that’s only on the list because it’s from the UK.
Not the worst britpop on the list, but still is another britpop album on the list.
That's such a lame and unimaginative 80ies Brit Pop blur. Annoyingly uninteresting. There are moments in there if done properly would have been nice on the dancefloor, but the the production chose to involve the most cheesy synth-horns ever. Thanks, no, why is this on any list? I cannot even understand any historical relevance.
3/5. Teardrops for Fear of Exploding. It's fun and the songwriting is well done honestly, but it's not better than Tears for Fears, which does it better later. I give it credit for innovating a sound that will be much popular down the road. Overall, it was a pretty solid album, and maybe I just wasn't super feeling it, but I wasn't inspired to repeat listen. If someone did like it a lot, I can definitely see it. Best Song: Treason, Sleeping Gas, Went Crazy
Cool band name, shame about the music. It was actually relatively catchy generic British 80s stuff, but when I started listening to the lyrics it got worse, and then we got to the wah-wah-wahs at the end of the track Use Me and I was pretty much over it. Rating: 2
I can definitely hear shades of Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure in this album. Probably wouldn't listen again as no one track truly stands out to me, but not bad.
getting kinda sick of 80's brit pop garbo...
This is a random album from 1980. I believe it made some top 200 list in the UK at that time. If you do the math from 1960 to 2010, that should put it on something like a list of 10,001 albums to listen to before you die. If you ever attempt that task, take my word and skip this album.
This was another brit pop band from the 80s sounded like they wanted to be Duran Duran which is a great band to rip off but they just weren't as good lol middle of the road album
I don’t know how else to describe it, but the overt “British innit” thick British accent singing is terrible to my ears.
One might say there's too much alt british punk rock on here
Add another New Wave Brit band to the list of mediocre sounds of the 80’s. I know… I lived it.
h: ha ha i’m drowning c: traison
Very Duran Duran. They both came out about the same time.
Well this fucking sucked
The end of Sleeping Gas might be one of the most annoying ends to a song I’ve heard in a while. The rest of the album isn't quite as annoying but it's not particularly good either.
I don't think this is really for me. Not my style and didn't grip me. I've relegated my thoughts from a potential 4 to a probable 2 over the course of the album. Probably didn't help that I listened to it in fragments...
Very nice listen! Made the morning drive go well
Ladies and gentlemen, I think i have found it, I have found the most 80s album to ever exist with Kilimanjaro. Pretty much every single element of 80s music that has appeared in those albums, it's all here from the keyboards, to the synths, to the bass, to the guitars, to the vocals, to the lyrics its got everything you can think of which means it really earns that new wave tag. As for the album's quality, it's fine albeit nothing all that special. Beyond some decent melodies, there isn't really anything that stands out about this album, neither good or bad. The album was only around 37 minutes long so it is a pretty harmless listen. Best Song: Poppies In The Field Worst Song: Books
this was good, i was a little distracted i think though.
Odd lyrics, felt flat and repetitive, 2/5
Mid.
totally generic and forgettable. it's certainly not bad and if i had gotten it anywhere in the first 100 albums it might have gotten a 3, but now, almost 800 in, I'm just absolutely sick of listening to all these totally milquetoast 80s and 90s english bands; on no planet is this an album everyone should hear before they die, there are plenty of better, more interesting and more influential albums of very similar stripes on this very list. we get it, Robert dimery, these were your formative years, maybe next time let some other people pick out a few albums
The first 40 minutes are a slog. At best the songs sound like soundtrack filler from a forgettable 80s movie. The back 1/3 is much better as it shifts into slower less synth based songs. I'm glad I listened to it but never again.
Highlights: Poppies, When I Dream, Strange House in the Snow
Julian Cope and the lads overcame one of the goofiest names in music to produce a solid album of psychedelia-tinged Britpop. The origin story is a winner.
And i go ABAPAABAPAPAPAPAPAPAPPAAAAOOOUUH
Not my cup of tea.
After the first three songs this got very ‘samey’.
new wave, post punk, 1980 -> 3
Looks promising from the Wikipedia article. Never heard of this band though I'm usually a fan of this genre of music so I'd be surprised if I hate it. Ha Ha I'm Drowning Has some interesting synths. Great bassline. The vocals are pretty intense. Don't really care much for the horns, they come across a bit crass. The song is catchy enough and has a really intersting instrumental passage, which sounds pretty powerful. Love when the vocals come back to finish of the song. Good. 4/5 Sleeping Gas The fade in is a strange choice, really intersting. The guitar riff is pretty diffuse and watery. The organ is definitely unique for this era. Don't love the vocals here, really repetitive. Decent. 3.5/5 Treason Feels like a much more conventional post punk song. Has a very prominent bassline, dreamy guitars and yearning vocals which I all feel are very typical for the genre. Really like the chorus. The instrumental has a lot of texture. Could do without the backing vocals. Great. 4.5/5 Second Head Really moody and deep bassline. Has a lot of atmosphere to it. I tgink the scarce instrumentation really works with the vocal style on this track. Love when it lets itself get a bit more psychedelic. The lyrics seem pretty well thought out, adds to the paranoid almost horror like feeling that comes with the bassline. Great. 4.5/5 Poppies In The Field Starts off as a continuation of the sound of the previous track, though when the strange effects come in the vibe shifts. Love the guitar played in reverse. Adds a sense of uneasiness. The drums also add to this effect with the heavy use of cymbals. The track does a lot with the post punk sound, innovating with a lot of effects without going to hard on the synths. Great. 4.5/5 Went Crazy I maintain my opinion that the horns don't sound good on this album. The more upbeat tempo is refreshing. The vocals are really intense and agressive, almost uncomfortably so. Don't really care for the lyrical writing of this one, it's a bit dull. Fine. 3/5 Brave Boys Keep Their Promises Don't like the guitar at all. Sounds terrible. The vocals are also quite irritating. I don't think anything about this track works. At least the lyrics are somewhat interesting. Bad. 1.5/5 Bouncing Baby An agressively British man screaming "I WAS A BOUNCING BABY" at the top of his lungs following by some spooky synths is not something I expected to hear today. The track has a pretty alright atmosphere, but it's incredibly chaotic. It's interesting, but not pleasant in any way. The vocals and the synth are both really intense, battling for your attention. Decent. 3.5/5 Books Doesn't sound great. Can really feel a lack of production quality here. Sounds really flat and compressed. The bassline is pretty cool. Instrumentally it's an interesting scattering of instruments that all feel underimplemented, to the point where you only really remember the blazing horns and the underlying bassline. Vocally he delivers a charismatic performance in line with the rest of the album. Fine. 3/5 Thief of Baghdad Interesting opening. Great instrumental, really builds upon the strange and psychedelic vibe promised by the intro. Lovely use of synths. The chorus is memorable and distinct. Good. 4/5 When I Dream I like the electronic feel. The chorus is extremely dumb, though I do find it quite charming as well. Really like the instrumental passages, they feel simple yet contain plenty of texture. They add an additional layer to a fairly simple song. The ending segment takes way to long to change and evolve, makes it really repetitive and annoying to start off with. Never really gets much more interesting than that, as all you get is this meandering synth playing over the same backing instrumental. It's fairly atmospheric, but not enough to keep it engaging. Feels uneccessarily long. Decent. 3.5/5 It's an alright album with some interesting ideas scattered throughout. In a post punk landscape full of instrumentally similar bands I really like their attempts to mix in horns and organs as additional pieces to their sound, even if the ideas are sometimes better than the final result. I also enjoy the psychedelic elements employed in some tracks, which is a really interesting innovation for the genre, where the blend of the different musical styles worked strangely well together. Add the really intense vocal performance and you get a unique but often inconsistent experience. I'd say the main culprit for this inconsistency is the lack of production quality, making many of the songs sound muddy and cramped as a result. There's also some inconsistency in the songwriting here, resulting in several songs that either sound a bit directionless or just generic and bland. Finally I feel it lacks any real highlight moment, any one track that really makes you want to return to it. While individually several tracks scored highly, none really made me jump out of my seat. In the end I found this album quite middle of the road, plenty that worked, and plenty that just didn't leave much of an impression. 3.5/5 leaning more towards 3/5. Fave track. Second Head Least fave track. Brave Boys Keep Their Promises
Pretty good. Not the best genre but I enjoyed the music.
Nice fun 80s post punk very cool
This album started out feeling very generic and typical, but as it went on it definitely got a bit more interesting and grew on me a bit. Unfortunately the singer does sound very generic, even if some of the lyrics and music are pretty good. In the end it just doesn't do much for me, but it was enough to make me listen through more than once, so it just clears 3 stars for me.
Sometimes I get an artist I've never really heard of and I'm like oh, cool, and sometimes I get one that I'm like, yeah I see why this didn't pass the test of time.
Idk I liked it
Reward cracking tune
Some very good tunes first couple and reward. A far bit of filler though
Very cool album as I’m kind of a sucker for that 80’s new wave sound. This was good.
This is a perfectly nice 3/5 album. It’s competent, with some nice melodies and grooves. I’m not massively into this era or genre(s), but it has some personality to it and that works in its favour. I like the bass-lines and touches of keys in there. I felt there was a bit more filler as it went on, but overall it’s not bad.
That killer 80s sound at the cusp of the decade.
This wasn’t bad. It was a lot better than my knee jerk expectations of English psychedelic rock from the 80s. Kind of enjoyed the Julian Cope from a while back, kind of enjoyed this.
Terrible, innit. Boring and repetitive riffs, nonsensical lyrics, just couldn't listen to it. I found myself skipping a majority of the songs.
no no no no no no no no noNO NO NO NO NO NO NON ONO
I struggle to tune into a lot of 80s pop, and this album is no exception. I can hear that there are qualities, especially in the bass department, but neither the sound or the song writing do it for me.
pretty decent record. really adjacent to a lot of music that i like from that era. it's kinda psychedelic, kinda college-rock-y. it's pretty fun. my only two gripes are that the production is not great, even for a record of the time. it feels kinda flat at points. also although i enjoyed the record, there's not a lot on it that really stood out to me as truly great. a lot of good, but nothing that pushes it to the upper eschelon to me. still, it was a fun listen!
Listened before Favourite tracks: Sleeping Gas, Bouncing Babies, Books, When I Dream
0/10. Shit.