Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Some were good and some were meh. Maybe i need a second go
It's ultra 80s, it's ultra new wave but it also sounds very unique within that genre for some reason. A lot of new wave albums on this list use a variety of orchestral instruments and electronic sounds but I guess I hadn't ever heard them put together in this way. There are a couple dull spots like the last track and rags to riches but there are also quite a few bright spots like tinseltown in the rain. To be honest, I wasn't super engaged by this album overall but the production was so interesting I enjoyed it for that alone.
I've never heard of this band or album, but I really enjoyed it!
Boring schlock. Nothing interesting to say about it, other than Heatwave being fine.
Not an ordinary record and sound - the sparse arrangements in some of the songs is quite Interesting and so is Paul Buchanan’s vocal style and phrasing - although it’s quite samey throughout the record and can border on the tiresome. But… it’s not a long record and it’s unique and the songs are pretty cool. Nice surprise.
This was an absolute waste of time. Whiny, whingy, soft, pseudo-pop that needs to be forgotten.
Boring. Vocals way too quiet. This is like the music you make as a kid where you find a nice 4 note bar and then repeat it again and again and again because you don’t know how to develop it.
A pleasant enough listen. Nothing more, nothing less.
Good. weird I think very very 80s.
Nah
Not very special. But some tracks were interesting.
This album owns, super chill and enjoyable.
Kind of meh. didn't really do anything for me. Good background music
Why?
I actually liked this. Pretty good artsy pop.
Absolutely fantastic, I never knew music like this had been around for so long
Not bad.
I had no idea what to expect, but this has some pretty cool big 80s sounds. It manages to be both really mellow and also mixed in a way that gives all instruments their respective limelight. It's not afraid to be bass / keys / percussion heavy, which is something often missing in modern production. I feel like this could grow on me more and more (or maybe not :D), but I'm not mad. Not bad, not bad.
This went unexpectedly hard. It was like Talk Talk (last 2 albums) with some Seinfeld music influence. I'll be coming back to this one for sure
it was just okay. nothing stood out too much. Heatwave was okay. 2
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They put the sophisti in the sophistipop
Sounds like Peter Gabriel on Valium. Pretty cool and interesting take!
Very nice art-pop offering with subtle arrangements and texture that gives a glimpse of a progressive electronic aspect. It's a true 3.5 to me, let's give it 4 as I'm glad for this new discovery.
Honestly was so disinterested I don't recall listening to this album. I know for a fact that I did, and the only thought I recall is "this is a lame Bowie knock off".
3.8 Actually really like this album. It's very So era Peter Gabriel (just a bit more mid). I'm a fan of the grandiose songs and Tinseltown in the Rain was a big fave of mine a few years ago. Fave songs: A Walk Across The Rooftops, Tinseltown in the Rain, Stay
Samalla lailla unettavaa kuin Suede, mutta tuplasti ja tylsempi. Mitä nää oikeastaan haluaa sanoa? Haluavat koskettaa rouhealla laululla ja "kauniilla" taustoilla?
Huh, olenkohan koskaan kuullut hirveämpää instrumentaatiota? Kakkosbiisissä oli haudattuna pientä potkua, mutta syvältä sai kaivaa.
Moody and simplistic. Not bad, if I’m in the mood for their sound.
I enjoyed this overall.
superb
Scottish folk ambient from 1984 that sounds timeless and reminds me a bit of Peter Gabriel. Fave tracks Tinseltown In The Rain and From Rags To Riches
Yeah, really liked this - made me think of Talk Talk when they were starting to get experimental but hadn't gotten too far yet. Talk Talk's "The Colour of Spring" is in roughly the same ballpark, so I reckon this was an influence on them. Feels like it could have been an influence on the emergence of slowcore, too! Fave tracks - "Heatwave" for optimism, "Automobile Noise" for melancholy...
OK album.... I feel like they couldn't decide if they wanted to be soft rock or prog rock while thinking that a jazzy sounds was "smart". If you can get past the title track, it definitely gets better, but never really great.
Heard before: some I'm very happy that 1001 Records is recognizing this style - pseudo-sophisticated 80s pop, dramatic vocals, synth strings, slap bass. But this really isn't the best example; it's a pretty inessential set of songs. At least it doesn't make me actively angry, like a few of the other selections so far. That's a plus. But I really hope there is some Prefab Sprout or Thomas Dolby or ABC or Ultravox or Talk Talk or Spandau Ballet… So many other acts did this better. Top tracks: Tinseltown In the Rain, Stay, Easter Parade
Productie wel onder de indruk van, muziek zelf een stuk minder
i should preface this with saying that i absolutely ADORE new wave. if you put talking heads, depeche mode, DEVO, or men without hats in front of me, i will eat that shit up. but this? eh. frankly, this made me sleepy. i can enjoy certain bands that have songs that make me tired (the cure), but for the whole album? c'mon, wake up, man; this is mostly directed to the vocalist. all in all, this was fine. not AMAZING new wave, but ok. the title track was kind of enjoyable though; put me on edge a bit and could be put to good use in a horror film.
3.5
Reminded me of Talk Talk “Colors of Spring,” except this album came out two years earlier. Hats off to Blue Nile.
It sounds like early Peter Gabriel.
Initial thoughts: - this guy's voice definitely has a David Byrne-ish quality, but I'm fairly sure it's not him... - sounds pretty experimental, while still using a very 80s palette of sounds - have I heard the second track before? - seems a bit more concerned with cinematic moodscapes than songs - kinda vibey but kinda boring - this is gonna take a second listen to decide which wins out Second listen thoughts: - I'm listening through earphones, at night, while travelling through the city, which I reckon could be the perfect setting for these songs to shine - oh, somehow I'm picking up fewer vibes than before, shame When it all clicks the effect is pretty cool, but it doesn't click all that often, for me. 2 / 2.5
Bowie influenced jangle pop, so derivative that even the bonus point for being Scottish doesn't help much. Very lush and chilled, with one classic 80s single, but just not very exciting or engaging. Background music for a flashback scene in a drama, when they want to hammer home the "80s-ness" of the situation.
It's interestingly uninteresting. For a Scottish band, they sound "American". Like I can understand the lyrics. Their version of Stay sounds nothing like Lisa Loeb's version.
Seems like an adult-contemporary synth-pop without any meaningful melodic hooks... it kind of just ambles and drifts all over the place. Pleasant, but unremarkable. Tinseltown is the strongest.
Pretty good
From the sound of the first note to the last, The Blue Nile demand and obtain perfection in A Walk Across the Rooftops. Seven tracks and less than forty minutes are needed to build a worldview so pristine no amount of dirt and grime could be piled on to sully its feature. Sophisticated pop has never before or since sounded this exact and this is the album that provides the blueprint for others to follow.
This was Bowie meets Peter Gabriel. It didn't overstay it's welcome.
This was fine. Not really for me. I’ve already started to forget what was on here.
I like 80s synth pop but with perhaps more emphasis on the pop.
Unremarkable background 80s
Wow. Really liked it. Never heard of them before. Little bit sounding like Peter Gabriel at times. This is a gem. 3/5
short but good
Decent album, songs that are nice to listen to. Not super memorable, but not bad either.
Made me real sleepy at work (2.5/5)
liked this a bit more than i've expected myself to do
Not bad.
I really like this. Hadn't previously heard.
Tinseltown in the Rain is one of the best 80s songs that I didn't know about
I was intrigued after the first track, but the rest of the album was rather bland. The music was a mix of synth pop, ambient, and new age. On paper this doesn’t sound too bad, but the execution was lacking throughout the album.
Peter Gabriel meets “Let’s Dance” era Bowie with hints of Duran Duran. Not bad.
Solo escuché uno de sus discos en los 80 y como 20 años después al escuchar la versión que incluyó Craig Armstrong supe que era él. ¡Qué voz! Tiene muy buenas canciones así que merece la pena escucharlo.
I mean, I want to like this but it's just so uninteresting and kind of full of itself.
listened to 1 song before the website freaked out on me and gave me the next album but honestly it was quite nice. This is the right way to do chill music. Also "A Walk Across The Rooftops" is a fantastic name.
Pretty bland 80s era stuff. Nothing special. Completely forgettable.
Decent, but I wish some of the melodies were less random and jumpy
Some great stuff, some boring stuff.
Easy to listen to, doesn't stick in the mind. Felt generic early eighties.
Yeah good, easy to listen to
Sparse sythn-driven slow-burning 80s sad-guy pop - a bit like Killing Joke or a less exuberant Peter Gabriel. The vocals are the dominant element; slightly hoarse, plaintive, searching, and introspective, operating within a fairly narrow range but using volume dynamics to shift intensities they convey loneliness, loss, and a sense of life happening elsewhere. There's a lot of lyrical repetation, emphasis on choruses and individual lines rather than extended verses. The synths are more upbeat: shimmering and arpegiatted with bright tambers. The bass and very reverby drum machine tracks are very synth-sounding too, giving the whole thing that pure-plastic post-modern sound. There's the odd bit of very compressed-clean guitar that comes in as an accent in key moments to build up tension (like in Stay). Easter Parade is a slow piano ballad and big change of tone. Heatwave is another ballad, but much more interestingly arranged, with a very layered bed of synth and keyboard parts as chill and inviting platform for the singer to float over. Favorites: Stay, Heatwave
Really good. I liked it a lot. I think it sounds similar to Peter Gabriel - which is great.
ehh
Just realised that I thought the songs were good when the album had stopped and it switched to recommended songs...
I had never heard of these guys before and based on the description, I really didn't expect to enjoy this album as much as I did. In terms of musicianship, this was even a good album and in terms of songwriting it was pretty standard. But what truly shines about this album is the stellar production. The way all of the sounds are brought out and contrasted is a piece of art in itself.
Not great.
Très quelconque pis le chanteur commençait à me taper sur les nerfs vers la fin
I quite liked this.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. Real easy listening but still fun to listen to, and the singer has a great voice to, like a midway point between Bono, Sting, and Dave Matthews
Pop elegante y tranquilo. Ligeramente instrumental. Voz melancólica
Very boring and very 80s. Not good.
super cool. some songs gave the same vibe as a slow Springsteen song
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Zzzzzzzzzzz Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Z
Really enjoyed it. Tinseltown in the rain is fantastic. The rest doesn't quite match up, but still a good listen
It's 80's and enjoyable.
A Walk Across the Rooftops by The Blue Nile is a captivating and atmospheric album that defines the band's distinct sound. Released in 1984, it introduced the world to their unique blend of synth-pop and art rock influences. Tracks like "Tinseltown in the Rain" and "Stay" showcase the band's emotive songwriting and Paul Buchanan's haunting vocals. The album's production is rich and ethereal, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that draws listeners in. While it may not be as well-known as some of their later works, A Walk Across the Rooftops remains a mesmerizing and beautifully crafted album. It's a hidden gem that deserves recognition for its timeless and evocative sound.
Ronduit kut
Never heard of these guys before. Liked it, would listen again.
Pleasant background music with a mix of jazz and a hint of electronic.
I've never heard of this band, and I was really pleasantly surprised by this album. It's immersive and moody, it's not too sonic-ally busy, it's unique, and it comes in at under 39 minutes. I could listen to this again and again.
I need to listen to this album at 11pm, not 9am. It has late night moody vibes all over it. Heatwaves is the standout track for me on first listen. 7/10
This album is more interesting to me than it is exciting. It's not my scene, but I kind of appreciate what they're doing with it. The actual musicality and skill are there, and I admire the amount of different ideas and experimentation they've thrown at it. There's some interesting things happening with the instruments, with brass, violins, weird kind of soundscapes, synth... It's just a bit floaty and unassuming for me.
Dull generic 80s pop with a lead vocalist that struggles to generate anything that compels me to continue listening. Dire 🥱
Melancholoy without the beauty or the compulsion.
Might've appealed to someone in the 80's. But not me. And definitely not now.
Oh. Another album of earnest whining and guitars. It's fine and all, if that's your jam, but by the end when they were singing "Are we rich or poor? Does it matter any more?" I was shouting, "Yes, it does matter, if you're poor." Maybe I missed the point of the song ... Maybe I missed the point of the whole album?
This made me feel very very sleepy. 🥱
Oh this is an awesome discovery. I love this style of synth pop, must have surely inspired Talk Talk, especially in their development of post-rock. 7 tracks and they're all fantastic in their own ways, with a couple dance tracks, a couple powerful pop pieces, and the rest being ambient emotional pieces. I love how spacious and atmospheric they all are, incorporating all sorts of sudden lush sound effects that make for a very pleasant experience. Not a single second felt wasted on this record.
Solid
Insipid. Ennui. Boredom. Why is this on the list?
1.5/5 annoying
Never heard of this album before. Sound a bit like The Killers but worse.
You can really hear the desire to be Bowie but they're just not at that level. Passable but not great.
I've never heard of The Blue Nile, and all of the music from A Walk Across The Rooftops was new to me. I could hear the age of this album (early 80s) as I listened. The music reminded at times of Simple Minds, David Bowie, and even talking heads. There was some loneliness in the music that reminded me of some of the not so new-wavey, new wave - not so reliant on electronic, fabricated sounds. For a melancholic record, this album was a happy surprise. The music isn't particularly unique, and I'm not sure how to describe it, but there was something for me to listen to. I felt like I had listened to something with substance when I was done. To make sure, after finishing it the first time I turned around and listened to the album again.
A Walk Across the Rooftops feels familiar. I think I must have started to review this at one point... Really pretty song with a very 80s sounding (Victor Wooten-esq) bass tone and orchestral flourishes. This was a fine way to spend 40 minutes. Enjoyable, but not enough to get too excited about. Just nice spacious, but warm instrumentals with his calming voice over top. Somewhere on the 3-4 boundary -- going 3.
It was okay. Interesting music just not my style.
Polished, intelligent and mature carefully crafted beautiful pop. Like a less avant-garde Talk Talk. Very slick and I can hear why these guys are adored by critics. Not sure I’m going to listen often enough for 4 stars, but it is very well executed. Ok then, 4.
No thanks
Well there you go. Just goes to prove you should check something out yourself before basing your opinion on other people's views. I listened to this and lo and behold think it's pretty good. I know it'll never amount to much now and at the time due to no real label promotion it got nowhere. It's short but really well put together - kinda like a less poppy Talk Talk? Giving it 5 stars not because it deserves them but to say sorry for all the nasty reviews...
This was the one i meant to call LCD out on not throwing muses
It was a bit dull, just need a bit more of a push is be good
I know an alternate version of my really, really digs this album.
A walk across the rooftops: what am I listening to?? Very David bowie but with a lot more silent spots everywhere Tinsletown in the rain: this one is better than the last song for me From rags to riches: even better. Like bubbly and poppy and plucking sounds, very fun little energy guy Stay: good vibes overall. Would be happy if it showed up on my shuffle at probably any point in time Easter parade: very peaceful, this album so far is very much what I was hoping to hear today so im very pleased. Heatwave: very good Automobile noise: again very good This is really good for me. Basically a much more peaceful and less chaotic David bowie sound. 4 stars. It could be 5, but im happy giving it a 4
Альбом понравился. Очень напоминало Piter Gabriel...
They managed to perfectly capture the sound of indifference. The songs are way too long. Otherwise not particularly good or bad. I only knew Tinseltown in the Rain before. Favorite song: Stay
Mmh?
Quiet, gentle, fragile sophisti-pop from The Blue Nile's debut. Something grey and dreary captured here, quite beautifully rendered. Smart and will surely reward repeat listens.
Beautiful record with lots of pretty sounds and moods. A very nice vocal with introspective lyrics. But it’s somewhat of a moody record I need to have a specific feel to put on. 7,5 out of 10
Two songs into Glaswegian band’s The Blue Nile’s self-titled debut, I wasn’t convinced at all. I was ready to write a dismissive one line review: “Nice bass, shame about the songs.” This band are unhurried, understated, and appear unfussed with making any impact on the charts (the most obvious “single” here is “Tinseltown in the Rain”, and even that is a stretch). I don’t have many frames of reference for their music, but my own personal one is that their “sophisti-pop” mirrors The Police’s more downbeat, mellow offerings (think “Tea in the Sahara”) and is stretched out into ethereal vapour, by way of Talk Talk’s jazzy experimentation. There are only seven songs here to fill the runtime, and each one unfurls delicately and gracefully, in its own time. It’s the bassline that got me first: the more upbeat songs have show-stealing performances from Robert Bell (not to be confused with the Kool and the Gang bassist, which threw me when I went to Google). But then with a little more time, it was the gentler tracks which began to stand out. “From Rags to Riches”, “Easter Parade” and “Automobile Noise” might be my favourites: they’re the most subdued, but also display the strongest sense of melody. There’s a yearning in these songs for something distant and forgotten, and they hum in the silence: sparse, solemn, subtle. It’s not my favourite record I’ve heard lately, but I can appreciate “The Blue Nile” as a pensive, thoughtful listen.
Never heard of this but it has the look of something that takes itself too seriously. Jazz? Blues? Ok it does take itself too seriously but it's a new wave/AOR affair. it's from the UK, surprise. It's pretty boring, like a dud version of Icehouse. Singer thinks he's Bowie, but he should've known better. No sense of melody or flow. Every song sounded the same and none of it qualified as a "good song". It just constantly fell short. 2/5.
It’s just kind of crap, isn’t it. Only decent track was Heatwave but it was way too long.
Cinematic. Suiting a sunny Saturday afternoon very well. I know for a fact without looking that the band Guillemots absolutely love this record. Loving tracks 1,3,5,6 Spirit of Eden comes to mind, although that is undoubtedly a level above. The more formulaic 80s groovers that are also here are not bad, but far less interesting. This is absolutely the sort of album I'm doing this list for and found it very enjoyable. Might well check out one or two of the other Blue Nile records recommended.
Stellar debut. But there's a feeling that they are locating the Blue Nile special spot: not too eighties synth-pop (Stay); not too piano ballad (Easter Parade) - but a goldilocks zone of mournful, funereal rolling (Automobile Noise and the amazing Heatwave which emerges from this listen as the track from this album, setting the tone for the masterpiece that would follow). 4.4.
fucking hell this was bland.
As I look into my baby's eyes, I see her sadness. She goes swimming 6 times a week and can barely perform a competent breaststroke. She's slightly overweight and can't see that it doesn't matter to me, in fact, I'm into chubby women, I like their big fat tits bouncing in front of me.
🥶
Enjoyable album. Relaxing with good instrumentation and vocals
I love eighties music, but until recently, I really hadn't heard much Sophisti-pop, minus a few singles here and there (Spandau Ballet, Level 42, and ABC). But a year or so ago, a friend of mine who knows my love for eighties music and synths made me a Sophisti-pop playlist on Spotify, and I really enjoyed it. I've never heard of The Blue Nile before, but this album was absolutely fantastic. Every song was great, and the album as a whole had a really unique feel and vibe to it. I have a few notes on my favorite tracks: "Tinseltown in the Rain" has such great piano and guitar riffs. I think there was a part where a synth was playing stringed instrument sounds, and I loved that too; in my opinion, something like that is what Sophisti-pop is all about. The looping synthesizers in the background on "From Rags to Riches" were really great. The saxophone on "Heatwave" was fantastic; that's another Sophisti-pop element that I enjoy. The vocals really reminded me of Peter Gabriel, and I was shocked to learn that he really promoted the band, and even recorded a song with them later. However, when I played this album for my wife, she was getting Bowie vibes from the vocals, and I can hear that too. Either way, this album was great, and I can't wait to get more music like it.
I mean, c’mon. What are we doing here? I really hope this band only has one album on the list.
Everything that was awful about 80s music.
Strewth that was painful. I actually liked 'Stay' a lot so I'm giving this album a wholly unmerited 2 stars. Every other track, without exception, is excruciatingly bad: discordant & disjointed tunes, sounds like industrial drumming that appear out of nowhere & into where they don't belong & embarrassing 6th-form lyrics. I like a lot of early-80's synth pop & heard a fair bit of it back in the day, courtesy of being a mature student when it was in vogue, so when this one came up I was wondering how I'd missed it first time around. And know I know - it's just awful.
Sofistipop. Ni fu ni fa.
Dull sort of adult contemporary. Sometimes piled in with Roxy Music's excellent Avalon as genre leaders but this is not a patch on that excellent album
2,5
I enjoyed this a lot more than expected. There are a lot of elements of that kind of 80s pop production that usually annoy me but everything worked together perfectly here, and the songs were really well written and developed
Thoughtful, considered, excellent musician
A Walk Across the Rooftops is the debut album by Scottish band The Blue Nile. It wasn't a hit at release, but it slowly gained sales through word of mouth of pleased fans. This synth-pop album took a lot of work from the band because all of the sounds on the record had to be created/played physically, since it was produced before digital audio effects became commonplace. The downtempo, elegant, effortless feeling music on this album has a relaxing and romantic theme to it. It flows calmly and seductively from start to finish to soothe your ears. I believe this album is sorely underrated and could use some more fans.
This album makes me want to walk across the rooftops and jump off so I don't have to listen to it anymore.
I'm liking this strong baseline. Great to listen to on a rainy morning. I appreciate the emphasis on the singing, but I think Paul Buchanan's voice is *just* good, not great. I also really like another early adopter of synthesizers/electronic elements, especially these chime-y, whimsical sounds. It must have been so cool to listen to these sounds in the 80's. Really pleasant album. I would like to give it a 3.5, but I'm rounding down to 3 because I don't feel like I'll listen to this one again for any reason.
The singer sounds a lot like David Bowie I really liked the beginning of the album with the strings/synth and whatnot through the first couple songs Really slowed down too much in the second half of the album
Shit is kinda lame. Can get into Stay though. Had an opportunity to listen to the deluxe version additions....passsssssssss
This was ok, but overall kind of forgettable to me. Might give it a try again later, but there just wasn't too much, aside from the occasional use of unique instruments or Oingo Boingo-like chord changes, to grab my attention.
This was interesting. I think I sorta like the sound of any one song, but the problem is that all the songs sound the same to me. So any one song would be like a 3.5/5 or so, but overall the sameyness brings it down to a 2.5/5. 2.5/5
This has been on my radar for a while and I understand why. Very pretty music, almost Peter Gabriel-ish, and anything that reminds me of PG is worth a thumbs up in my eyes. B
Liked the first song. Rest of the album might grow on me the singers voice is just a little out there
I only know this beforehand because Destroyer cites Blue Nile as a big influence for Ken and afterwards. I hear the influence, and I must thank them.
Has it’s Bowiesque moments but they feel a bit of a rip-off, it has its cringe moments too, but the moment you realize the record is gone. Will never listen to it again tho.
The whole thing is uninspiring and unnoteworthy. I made it through without skipping any songs.
Sommige nummers prachtig (rags to riches / automobile noise) sommige erg kut
When the Seinfeld bass started I feared the worst. The production throughout makes it sound a bit dated but there are some very strong songs in there.
feels like early new wave and diluted The police
Who is this vaguely new wave / new romantics band that I've never heard of before? Their slightly The The, Aztec Camera, Style Council, Fine Young Cannibals, Yaz fronted by Scott Walker meets the mellowest side of Comsat Angels spooning the Pogues vibes has me intrigued. My enthusiasm for the album slowed around the Easter Parade (though quite a timely listen here in April).
Oh, it was love at the first sight. I feel I've been listening to it for ages. Maybe it just reminded me of Imploding The Mirage by the Killers. Anyway, I'll take it to my playlist
No thanks.
A wonderfully crafted post-punk/new wave album.
Usually with these albums, even though it's not really something I liked, or enjoyed, I could usually at least comprehend what made a particular album great enough to be put on this list. This album isn't one of them. I found this to be rather bland, really.
Walk across the rooftops sounds like it may have inspired some of Sting's early solo work. I love the arrangement of the track. Lazy bass, dreamy time, I've wandered in this fog more than once.
It was OK, I guess. I wasn't really a fan
This was good. The opening track is a bold choice. I like this more than I expected. But. Why are 2 of the first 10 albums Scottish Synth? Lol
I could see this album really growing on me. It was a cool experimental sound that wasn’t overly so and had a certain appeal
Okay, little dark, but great 80’s tracks!
Part elevator music, part a welcome exercise in *restraint* when it comes to eighties aesthetics, this record has aged miraculously well, all things considered. The title track opening the album has subtle instrumentation, "Heatwave" has interesting and addictive percussions, and "Stay" is a heartfelt cut. I also have the feeling Kate Bush most probably took a page out of "Tinseltown In the Rain" to create her legendary songs "Running Up That Hill" and "Cloudbursting", relelased in the next year (you certainly have common synth sounds and vocal ideas here and there). So does that mean I will include this album by the Blue Nile? Er... Nope, sorry. As interesting as this curio from the past is, the vocal parts are decidedly too whiny and/or bland in too many places, and most of the songs sound only half-formed to my ears. You'd need a few more "dynamic" tracks in that LP to give it the impetus it cruelly lacks as it is. Yet I'm feeling generous and will even give this one a 3/5 grade. Not enough to make it to my list. But that doesn't mean the thing is utterly bad either. Number of albums left to review: 627 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 183 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 85 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 112 (including this one)
Four albums only and 4 perfect ones. All albums deserve 5 stars. All 7 songs of this album brilliant, Automobile Noise favourite track. Saw then live twice and you can't forget experiences like that,
so different, pieces of unique music bound together with other pieces of unique music. Vocals are smooth and inviting. So unpredictable and interesting.
Nothing really caught my attention, but it was a relaxing listen. An easy-listening album, if you will. I am interested in hearing more from this band, though!
absolutely GORGEOUS I am in love with these groovy-ass tunes! 10/10
2,5
I really liked this album. Hadn't ever heard them before and was very pleasantly surprised. I'm going to spend some more time on them in the future. Those are refreshing sound. I really like musically how it moved and I do like the vocals. Very nice overall.
Will admit I didn't listen to this whole thing, but from what I did skim through.. wasn't for me.
I will admit, I was not too hopeful when I read the Wiki description, which lists it as "Scottish sophisti-pop/ambient". Thankfully, labels aren't everything, and it resulted in a really interesting album. I will admit, I'm pretty biased as I typically love the 80's synth-y sound. I was still very surprised to find that this album held up throughout. It reminds me of a Psychedelic Furs/Thompson Twins vibe, without being a copycat. Loved the overall sound and I feel like his voice fits in perfectly. The only thing it's missing is a true standout 'hit', but there wasn't a bad song on the album imo. Nothing was added yet, but I will be re-listening and adding 2-3 for sure. 8/10
Kind of liked this one.
First time listening. Very smooth, comforting, soulful late-night music. (Art) Pop music that moves at a pace of ambient without becoming overly repetitive. It has a distinct sound better reserved for the night hours, I'd say at any time other than between midnight and 5 AM.
This album is almost pretty sweet. A lot of the songs sound close to different things that I do like quite a bit. I do think the instrumentation, particularly some of the synth stuff on this record are really cool and ahead of their time. The vocals I could completely do without. It's fine, but I will probably never listen to this again.
It is impossible to overstate my love for this album. Tinseltown in the rain is the absolute stand out but the whole album is drenched in big synthy strings that sound fantastic when off set by that 80’s bass sound and Paul Buchanan’s soulful vocals. There’s so much going on in the mix that even now, after knowing and loving it for 20 years, I still discover new things on each listen
Interesting but didn’t particularly fire me up
More pretentious, early 80s new wave rubbish. I’ll give it an extra star for being listenable.
Really enjoyable album, just mellow and moody, Stay was my favourite track.
Favoritas: -Tinseltown in the Rain -Stay
Well this wasn't as bad as many of the reviews made it out to be. I didn't enjoy it hugely, but then I don't think I was "listening to it right". I probably should have fed this through some hilariously expensive speakers. At least this is all kinds of better than Thundercat or Sigur Rós, another couple of artists wheeled out by the audiophile crowd when they want to stroke themselves off over the equipment rather than listening to and enjoying the music. I would actually be moderately tempted to listen again, just to see.
The instrumentation on the title/opening track is quite jarring, it jangled my nerves, and not in a good way. It didn't get any better from there, unfortunately. There was something unsettling and disconcerting throughout the entire listening experience, something about this combination of music, lyrics, and content that irritated and grated on me. It honestly felt like it might be better suited as background music in a movie rather than focused, intent listening. There just seemed to be too much missing context for this dreary lovelorn sad sack music.
Pop self-consciously elevated to Composition: That's appropriately pretentious and reflects the potential and realized mess. A Walk is ultimately cohesive and emotionally indulgent, and I dig the experiments it's willing to perform to get there. Massively dated sound, though.
A very underrated band.
Just a big load of nothing.
Hopefully walking across rooftops with a view to chucking themselves off. Shite.
Never heard this. But I’m a fan. Sort of Talking Heads style. 3/5
So much overlooked or ignored music from the 70s and 80s. This I never heard. Its has that sparse "less than zero" sound of ultra smooth 1980s. Tinseltown is good. Its atmospheric and beautful but doesnt make me feel so good. They need to subtract some of the bleak or detached feeling. Stylish and herribly depressing.
Higlight: From Rags To Riches
3 stars, like the production
3.8/5
Niet erg speciaal
What an unexpected gem! I really liked this one and had not heard it before. It has a kind of Peter Gabriel vocals meets the music of Kate Bush’s 80s albums. I will be revisiting this one often.
Meh
weird electronic pop with a heavy 80s vibe. A lot of the songs reminded me of CSI intro lol Saved tracks: Tinseltown In The Rain, Heatwave
It’s not unpleasant but man I was just so bored
2/5. The heavy bass and orchestral instrumentation on several songs really are good but I’m pretty sure he talks about being in love with me for at least half of the songs. Just not interesting enough later on to keep me invested.
Deathly dull, hideously 80s tech demo with all the soul of a Conservative peer. Mercifully short.
This one was like someone told them they could make really long songs but forget to tell them to make them interesting
The songwriting was missing a bit of something, more catchy choruses or dynamics, but album has a beautiful sound throughout and that’s what sold me!
Enjoyable electro pop without any stand out songs but still a decent listen
It never quite pulled me in. Sounded pretty and breezy enough but never fully won me over. Picked up the pace at times, I thought Tinseltown was an interesting track. Overall thought it was a nice album, I guess I wasn’t necessarily in the mood for a dreamy album. 3 stars
ha un po' la voce di Sting e un po' lo stile del Boss
Another 80s album that does little for me
Definitely has the early to mid-80s feel to it. I vaguely remember hearing "Tinseltown In The Rain" and "Stay" back then. There are some interesting aspects to certain of the tracks on this album, courtesy of the synth-heavy compositions. Their sense of melody is a little different, too, which I like. Although I can't say I am really into this album, it's better than I thought it might be when I started listening to it.
84 / 1069 I have a view on the 80’s that many people don’t like. I’ll direct them to this album when they ask me in the future. Trash - first album I’ve nearly stopped playing in 2023.
Interesting but not really my thing.
Really interesting. Sounds like this is where LCD Soundsytem got their sound.
La performance du chanteur est totalement éclipsée par les lignes de basse ultra-charismatiques. Il n'y a pas de hasard, c'est moi-même qui en tiens le manche et fais étalage de ma technique, sous le regard agacé des différents membres.
Nile est un garçon très timide, il le prouvera tout au long de l'album en baragouinant quelques phrases dans sa barbe. L'album reste par conséquent parfaitement inintelligible.
okay
Het nadeel van Bowie is dat ie een inspiratie was voor velen. Bij het eerste twee nummers wilde ik afhaken. Gelukkig werd daarna Bowie nog even verdund met wat The Cure, Sting en Kraftwerk. Ik ga positief zijn. Er zijn er leuke geluiden of soundscapes te horen of hoe je het zou willen noemen en de meeste nummers zijn ondanks het experimentele en de huismerk Bowie leadzanger goed te pruimen. 3,5 ster waard omdat ik verrast ben over tracks 3 t/m 7 (het einde). Duurt met 38 minuten ook niet te lang allemaal. Afgerond een 3.
It invokes a lot of the classic Dunedin (NZ) sound of the early 80s - minimalist synth chords on the backdrop of heartfelt lyrics designed to make you feel slightly uncomfortable. I liked it; I would’ve been more impressed if they’d noted the Antipodean version of this (i.e. The Chills, The Verlaines).
terrible
very cool
Prog rock
3 to a 4 just for Stay.
Its full of beautiful tracks but it doesnt really stir me otherwise
This was a very interesting album. Kind of a mix of avant-garde and electronica. I wouldn't call it prog but I could hear shades of Bowie in his voice. Some of the songs sounded like just noise. But the more I listened, the more subtle patterns started to emerge. I really had to listen to it twice to really get a handle on what I was hearing. I think this one is an acquired taste where you have to be in the right mood to enjoy it. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - I enjoyed listening to it but wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
Somewhat of a challenge on first listen, but overall a good album. definite 80's feel all through
3.5
I think I just found the missing link between Tom Waits’s early work and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
This album reminds me of something my beautiful wife would listen to and enjoy. While I love my wife, this not so much. Can't say it was terrible, but after a couple songs, I was ready to move on. I'll give a 2.5
2 Really sleek. Low key but addictive. Twinkly synths that reminds me a lot of Duran Duran and Pet Shop Boys. I always think of it as rich people music. High-fashion, runway kind of shit. Aside from that it’s a pretty standard 80’s sound that the aforementioned bands both did dramatically better. It was entertaining enough but it absolutely won’t leave a lasting impression. Further proof that all that glitters is not gold. Pretty boring by the end.
3.5 One of the more unique albums I’ve heard thus far. The singer’s voice, the electronic beats, and the heavy synth/strings are all so distinct that it feels like one shouldn’t pair well with the others, yet somehow it blends beautifully. A lot of sappy themes and lyrics about love (I swear the word itself is mentioned in every song), but it worked for me in a kind of new wave, arthouse way that makes me think of a pretentious Perks of Being a Wallflower-esque mixtape - the song Stay specifically if you’re trying to win someone back. Speaking of, I really enjoyed Stay and all the tracks leading up to it, but it felt like the back half of the album descended into slower ballads that started to lose me. Heatwave wasn’t bad, but Easter Parade and Automobile Noise were a bit of a slog. Still, the album worked for me as a whole, so I’ll likely listen again - if not the full thing, definitely a few songs. I’m also curious to check out their supposedly critically acclaimed followup Hats. Favorite songs: Stay, Tinseltown in the Rain, A Walk Across the Rooftops, Heatwave
Pop aburrido
Låter som en Talk Talk x Bowie collab vilket är en bra sak och helt bra album också men talk talk o bowie e båda bättre
Erhöll gllfbdoqkwögbeöwbf
Gotta give this a 5. Earnestly beautiful, expertly balancing heartfelt emotions with intricate arrangements to create songs that can truly captivate you. This is aided, in no small part, by the excellent production
Ett av listans bästa fynd! Stark 4
I do not really like this album at all. The melodies have little appeal, little to make them memorable. The arrangements are unnecessarily complex and sound disjointed. In fact the vocal often doesn't seem to match the music. I listened through twice and I have tried to listen on other occasions to this critically well regarded album but just like the other times it has left me cold. 2 stars.
Listened Before? N I've only vaguely heard of these guys in passing from hardcore new-wave people. It sounds like a sleepier, slower version of Talking Heads. I enjoyed it alright but it was kind of mellow for me. Sounds like alot of modern pop. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Stay
You cannot convince me that this isn't another Paul Weller project.
Competently played and occasionally lively, but a bit too cold and sterile to be truly enjoyable. “Tinseltown in the Rain” is the obvious standout.
Very enjoyable listen. The vocals reminded me of Thom Yorke and David Bowie blended together. Great bass lines and a wide variety of tunes. Overall a pretty sweet album. I'm surprised such a low key album was produced at the height of the new romantic era. Well there you go. I actually just listened to this twice in a row.... Not many of the 1001 have this on the stats list!
Shades of Let's Dance era Bowie, I'm guessing some of the curators of this list might have been Gen X with Scottish heritage.
It was just ok.
Lyrical nonsense, music was okay, pretty forgettable, not sure I'd ever listen again but it was pleasant enough
That's an interesting and quite original album on this list. The Blue Nile made an unusual choice of creating a record almost fully with synthesizers, but still keeping the tone of the early 80s post-punk and alternative group. Instrumentally, every two songs are really different from each other - the band uses a lot of gimmicks and methods to bend the sounds in new way to their will. There is a big "but" however, in this case it's about the vocalist, whose voice and style of singing is so phlegmatic, I just couldn't do it longer than a song at a time. It really brings the whole experience down to the level, where I am not even interested in giving it another chance. I'll give it a 3/5, but only because I actually like the instrumental parts.
On some of the albums with cult followings, I'm part of the cult, and think: ya Baby! I can't believe nobody's with me on this one. On other cult albums, I'm on the outside looking in and need to tap whatever generosity I have not to give it a "1"
The lead singer catches your attention early. He's like a cross between an angry and desperate Frank Sinatra and Peter Gabriel. The production is also interesting, with a bank of synths creating a faux-string section that takes center stage and a guitar that’s hardly ever heard. Not very 80s. Some of the more sparse and gloomy songs remind me of Peter Gabriel’s Security Album. The song-writing falls short of the innovative production.
I see that this album's genesis was as demo music for the audiophile stereo brand Linn. I used to be heavily into audio gear back in the day and we would typically play really well produced music that had good dynamic range to demonstrate and test the equipment. But although it "sounded good" alas the content was lacking. This album is better than most (I'm looking at you Patricia Barber, Rebecca Pidgeon, Three Blind Mice etc). The heavy reliance on synths here also unfortunately makes this record sound extremely dated. If you like this band, their subsequent album Hats is much better IMO, check out Over the hillside and The Downtown Lights.
Boring
Surprisingly great
It was fine.
Most of the pretension of U2, maybe about half the atmosphere. Whenever the bass was the focal point, it very rarely felt like it was playing along to the same song. Didn't hate it, just won't revisit. Favorite track: "Tinseltown In the Rain"
The further you get from that diabolical "Rooftops" song, the better it gets. "Stay" has a nice groove, while "Easter Parade" sounds like a Tom Waits song, sweet and melancholic. Then it loses steam when it gets to "Automobile Noise." It should be renamed Dull Noise. A couple of four star songs drag third album into three star territory. Just.
I feel like taking part in this project has changed my Spotify recommendations algorithm to the point where it's started pumping out tracks from albums on the list. Case in point: "Heatwave" by The Blue Nile, which I've definitely heard before, very recently. The album is good though, its percussive soundscape still sounds great and ensures it hasn't dated as badly as music by The Blue Nile's peers. I also assumed they were from downtown New York, not the highlands of Scotland.
Didn't get it at all
Felt like this was a pretty good pop album from the 80s. The Scottish band had similar sounds to U2. The synths and instrumentals did seem a bit dated but the singer and song style makes this not feel too old. The singer has a way of making the songs seem relatable. I could listen to this album again. 6.8/10
Looooved this. So moody and beautiful
I really did not like this very much - that however does not mean that it is bad, just that it is far from my taste in music. I actually have doubts as to whether it is music at all, given that I understand rhythm as an essential component to all music. This has no rhythm, it is a collection of sounds generated according to some kind of internal logic and with very definite time signatures - it is creating a soundscape certainly but I am not sure that I would call it music. Having said all that I can appreciate that there is something here that some people will like. It appears to be well produced and competently performed
hella boring 2.
terrible all sounded the same
Stundtals ganska soft och skönt och stundtals mest gnöl och gnäll. Mycket låter likadant. Spår två är lätt den bästa låten.
Nothing I was familiar with beforehand, parts of it reminded me of David Byrne, Tom Waits, but nothing really stuck with me or made a lasting impression.
Surprised by this one, got some real Animal Collective vibes. Ended up enjoying it for the most part but probably won't revisit.
Not an album for me. I can see how it influenced the sound in the 80's but I won't return to it
Great album!
Very pleasant and relaxing. Not too interesting though, but maybe that's because I didn't pay enough attention.
Prima muziek, maar geen uitschieters.
yet another unremarkable british white guy wankathon.
Very 80s, kinda slow but not too bad
Dreamy and very slow paced. It’s not bad. I just don’t like it. I don’t ‘feel’ it.
Meh
I completely missed this at the time. Music was so much more regional at the time. I enjoyed the overall sound here, synthpop with actual guitars being played as well. Stay was my favourite track.
As I listened to this I thought it's good but something was nagging in the back of my brain and it was on "Heatwave" that it hit me, if the singer had more power and range like Peter Gabriel these songs would have a little less 'sameness' to them...like, all good, nice sound, and the lead singer's voice is nice but there seems to be no pushing past a same singing range.
3/5. Some goofy ass songs with car noises but the normal songs were alright.
Wait they were cool? Also wait what she seems real? Also wait what is going on at work, I’m not thriving, honeymoon period baybeee
its all one big song kinda like a jewish ballad
Nothing special
My first thought was "I wonder if Natalie knows this band". She was always into cool, niche bands in the 80s, not to mention David Sylvian whose rainy-day albums (my phrase) share a lot in common with the overall vibe as well as the singer's voice on this album. Anyway, sure enough, she did. As for me? I might add it into the David Sylvian rainy-day mix. Just the sort of thing to drift in and out of paying attention to. Mostly the lyrics are artsy and obscure anyway, though the melodies and arrangements are sometimes genuinely engaging. (Mind you, "Heatwave" could be reinterpreted now as a climate crisis song: "Are we rich or are we poor? Does it matter anymore? In a heatwave...")
This sounds great. If anything, the tracks are a bit samey, but there’s no doubt the band know what they’re doing. Not particularly my cup of tea, but definitely a polished effort.
I understand why this album is beloved by audiophiles; it is beautifully recorded (in that 1980s digital way), with a pleasing reliance on real instruments instead of just synths as was the fashion. But it doesn't move me.
Strange album, not my kinda music nearly turned off after 1st song. Allegedly some UK genre called sophisti-pop.
I'm going to have to listen to this again and reassess if I really like it as much as I did the first go around, but it was really well made. Some songs sounded like what David Bowie would end up doing on his album '1. Outside' a decade later, which any comparison to Bowie is high praise
Favourite track(s): Tinseltown in the Rain The opening track is pretty hard to listen to, does not make a good introduction to an album that is otherwise nicely melancholic and vibey. I just don't like the tone of the vocals that much and some of the instrumentals weigh the listening experience down even more.
Whistful. Great to doze off to.
Paar leuke nummers maar niet echt iets speciaal dat me lang gaat bijblijven
Toffe eenmalige listen
Really interesting. Like a Scottish 80s Elbow
Wow this is great, an 80s smash
Made me long for death. Old man droning on. Music was repetitive
5/10. Not bad, but not really for me.
Very meh. 5/10
Pretty solid mid-80s album that I'd never heard. Little Talking Heads, little U2, little somthin' unique to them. Kudos, gents.
It is good music but for me, it didn’t set the hay on fire.
Moody cover photo, opening to the title track quite moody as well, indeed seems to be more mood than narrative. I'm new to this band but I feel like I have a bead on them right away -- very 80's, very not happy-go-lucky, despite claims otherwise. Three songs in and I'm definitely feeling more irritated than charmed. Some of the songs are interesting, I liked Stay, but most of them are tedious or downright unpleasant, like From Rags to Riches. There was enough here to be worth a listen, especially since it is so short, but I don't think I'll be back.
It was fine. Made me sleepy listening to it. Short album though. Might listen again.
I can see how they were championed by Peter Gabriel. Kind of bland, synthy, early 80s pop. I swear the editors of 1001 must be predominantly 50-60 something Brits throwing up albums that no one outside of the UK has heard and who have minuscule followings
Unusual new wavey stuff, albeit a bit pretentious
Sort of a fascinating album with 80's Peter Gabriel vibes. Really really like the track Heat Wave. Totally palatable album with outstanding vocals.
Хороший синти-поп. Без явных хитов, но с интересным и местами экспериментальным звучанием. Напоминало некоторые альбомы Боуи 6 из 10
A good idea, but way too repetitive.
Uusi tuttavuus. Hyvii kasarihenkisii bassolinjoja! Vaatii uuden kuuntelun mutta tällä erää 3/5
Näiden Hats on upea levy ja niin on näemmä tämäkin. Tosi persoonallinen tunnelma näissä, sitä hyvää kasaria.
Olipa melankolisen kaunis ja musiikillisesti kiinnostava levy. Nautin! 4/5
Sasvim dobar album, u nekim dijelovima po glasu i instrumentalu me podsjeća na solo albume Davida Byrnea. Bilo bi ovo dobro po kiši slušati, tak mi se čini.
Timeless sophistopop where so much of the magic is in the spaces. Tinseltown in the🏃♀️Rain: perhaps only Richard Hawley's Coles Corner gets close to the same fragile melancholy.
Very middle of the road. Not something I’d listen to again and very dated by the 80s sound.
Their songs are "okay", but lacking something that would make them memorable. Also, their sound/style is such that each song is indistinguishable from the others.
Définitivement à réessayer. Un son très brit et très 80s, mais en même temps très avant-gardiste et avec une personnalité propre.
Meh.
I'm finding it so hard to know what I think about this! I love the opening track I think it's super unusual and interesting and I like the passionate almost wailing in his voice. I have quite the aversion to his voice in the slower songs for some reason maybe it's too whingy? Very mixed feelings.