Reviews (page 2 of 9)
A couple of good songs, very 80s
Very well done pop album
A handful of absolute bangers (Look of love / Show Me and Poison Arrows) -but as an album its eighties cranked upto 11 and I found it a bit overwhelming.
So melodramatic, so cheesy, so 80s. To be fair, The Look of Love is a catchy summary of 80s soul-pop, and the song on its own gives the album an extra star. Poison Arrow is basically Look of Love with tweaks to the lyrics. The rest is 1980s in 3 minute increments.
It’s a fun and very british dance punk-ish record. I quite enjoyed it
Half as potent as the go gos album before it
Just a nice overall package of 80's pop. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m a little above a 5. I mean, that’s just right down my alley. It’s a little hokey at times & a bit overproduced, especially for 1982, but I can’t argue with the results here at all. It’s 37 minutes of Disco-esque baroque pop combined with a technical flair reminiscent of Steely Dan & the swagger of a noir-themed Miami Vice episode. It’s every single musical trope about the 1980s distilled into an album, and while it could fall apart on account of those tropes fitting together like a wobbly Jenga tower, it holds remarkably steady throughout. Martin Fry’s vocal delivery & his relatively straightlaced approach to these tracks is a huge part of what makes the album work; he balances a bit of extra Broadway flair with a similar delivery to Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon or Naked Eyes’ Pete Byrne, and that familiarity in synthpop soundscapes helps anchor the album. Lyrically, it’s a bit overdramatic, but I think it tends to work. Everything is centered around love (it is a lexicon of love, after all), and while a lot of it feels desperate to maintain it, this album also explores regretting it in petty ways & controlling it in evil ways. There’s a solid variety that keeps everything fresh, despite every track being about love. The instrumentals are truly what bring the album to the finish line; this is drenched in keyboard synths, twangy bass, heavy brass & programmed drums, but it truly feels like a TV soundtrack to my ears due to the orchestration, piano & guitars that add a needed realism to each track. There’s a purpose to each track & a pulse that drives home the point on almost all of them, and for 1982, it’s genuinely composed like it’s years ahead of schedule. There’s moments here that feel like prototypes for what Depeche Mode would explore by 1987, combined with brass segments that feel like a late-80s Phil Collins track. It’s a hell of a combination for an early era of synthpop that was mostly driven by the synths, & I’m just impressed that they nailed it as fruitfully as they did here. It all comes together with the lyrics & vocals to keep everything consistently engaging, as there’s not a single miss here. Ultimately, it just really is that damn good. Is it really a top 30 album of the 1980s? It’s hard to say – it definitely got more reach in the UK than it did in the U.S., so my answer would likely be biased, just like all the UK magazines’ are. That said, it’s probably one of the top 10 albums from 1982 on the list; this is our 18th of 19 on the list, and I think I can put this ahead of at least 8 other albums from that year. I hesitate to say top 5 (I think “Thriller”, “1999”, “Nebraska”, “Rio” & “The Number of the Beast” are ahead of it), but it’s still up there. Regardless of comparisons, it’s a damn good album; it’s a little above a 5 for me, and it more than deserves to be on the list.
Takes me back to being 13 yrs old, watching videos on MTV and running simple DOS commands on my Vic-20.
a more 'sophisticated' (read: theatrical) version of synth-pop new wave... Sweet, a more [reason a specific genre exhausts me] version of [a specific genre that exhausts me], can’t wait!
The Lexicon of love is somewhat perfect pop record - Great songs, irresistible groove, Martin Fry's passionate vocals. One of the best debut albums ever. OK, at times it sounds bit 80ish, but mostly Trevor Horn's production is spot on.
I should have almost hated this but somehow this amused me more than expected. Weak 2
#471 / 1089 Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ❌ ABC is one of those bands that was force fed to us via radio. They topped the Finnish charts in their day and keep resurfacing on regular basis, I for one can't stand "The Look of Love" anymore. This grand sort of pop music is the least offensive to my taste, but too much of anything is too much. I appreciate the disco groove and heavy bass lines. I can't give this a fair review so I'll add a star to compensate the two to 3/5.
Solid 80s pop that somehow, despite reeking of disco at the beginning, manages to sound really good. This is how disco died, not with a whimper, but with a bang. 4 stars
Disco is very fun. Can’t listen to it everyday but it is fun when the mood is right and this morning the mood was right. I love those groovy disco bass lines. The vocals here were great!
A well produced album, and the songs are well made. However, most of the music is not something that touches me on a personal or emotional level, so I think it's a weak 3 for me at the moment.
It may not be the most original music (approaching Roxy Music karaoke at times), but I'm way into it.
Supreme 80's. There is a lot to enjoy here. The pornographic bass lines, the 1940-by-way-of-1980 aesthetic, the overblown theatricality. And a few of the songs are pretty good, too. But is this the kind of album I'm going to throw on all the time? Probably not. It is significantly better than I expected, my only knowledge of this album coming from hearing "Poison Arrow" and "Look of Love" on the radio most of my life. I will say that one of my favorite moments from any 80s song is the last 15 to 30 seconds of "The Look of Love," where the lead singer is just losing it. "Yippee-Aye; Yippee-Aye-YAY YAYYYYYYY!!!!!" I mean. Jesus. I appreciate how much he's going for it and also how ridiculous he sounds. It's great. THREE STARS
Good for the genre, which is not my cup of tea.
Where did this come from? 🤩 this was so far off my radar and I wasn’t particularly excited when it popped up. What a surprise this was! The funky baselines, catchy hooks, after Show Me followed by Poison Arrow, I knew I was in for the ride. Really happy this came when it did.
I love my 80s pop slop Especially if they throw in a synthesizer
If AI existed back then, this is what synth pop dance would sound like
Like … Show Me, Tears Are Not Enough, and Valentine’s Day.
Singles are doing the heavy lifting. Littered with slap bass line though 👋
Did absolutely nothing for me! 80s garbage. Shite music and shite lyrics! Gets a 1 for sounding a bit like Bowie at times
Bass very 80's, Level 42 or Duran Duran esque. I like that sound. Can have a wiggle to it 'The Look of Love' and 'Poison Arrow' classics Rest of album nowt to note. Lyrics shite and summat smug about them I dont like Generous 3
Fantastic, but I had to keep checking to make sure each track wasn't on repeat.
The cheesier side of 80s New Romantic, and a little formulaic, but what they did they did very well. A couple of rightful 80s classics to their name in Poison Arrow and Look of Love
I really despise this kind of New Wave crooner vocal delivery. I also am wary of the particular kind of synth pads that are throughout this first track. Fortunately, the bass and drums are pulling me along. The reverb is a bit restrained compared to the full-blown 80's style of production, thankfully. Mark Lickley (bass) and David Palmer (drums) absolutely kill it throughout. Mark White competently plays a lot of instruments. I guess there's a sax player (Stephen Singleton)? Vocalist Martin Fry sounds a bit like he's auditioning for the Smiths or Soft Cell or something. I wish he'd get the gig and we could consolidate some of that shite into a smaller output. I think we can blame David Byrne a bit for the crooning style of vocal delivery that cuts through 80's New Wave and pop recordings like this. He did have a kind of chesty, smooth, dramatic delivery. He brought a lot more to the table than just that, too -- a certain art-school punk weirdness that the likes of Martin Fry can't aspire to. Anyway, you could get through the whole album just grooving to the rhythm section. It was a bit of a schizophrenic experience: the constant whiplash of being annoyed at the melodic parts of the music and then being dragged back by the bassline was a lot. The Steven Wilson remaster has a second disc that's all instrumentals. It's a massive improvement. We'll average this out at 3/5. I don't think I've ever listened to ABC but I also know I listened to a lot of crap 80's pop as a kid in the early 90's, so maybe I actually did. It's all the same.
What happens when you take the classic disco sound, make it more ’80s, and make it very British? Well, you get The Lexicon of Love by ABC. And honestly, I thought this album was a ton of fun. It’s high-energy, ridiculously catchy, and the instrumentation throughout the whole thing is fantastic. There’s obviously a strong disco influence here, but ABC mixes it with this really sophisticated, polished pop sound that makes the album feel like something more than just a disco throwback. There are strings, synths, funky rhythms, and all kinds of little touches happening in the background. Sure, it sounds very 1982, but you know what? The ’80s usually sound pretty damn good to me. Some of the songs do start to blend together a little bit, but the album never really loses its energy. Even when things slow down, the arrangements are interesting enough to keep everything moving. And especially that bass. Whoever was laying down those basslines deserves some serious credit, because they are all over this album and sound fantastic. Overall, this was just a really enjoyable, stylish pop album. Maybe a little dated and maybe a little samey at points, but the energy, musicianship, and sheer amount of personality packed into it kept me hooked pretty much the whole way through.
Corny ’80s vibe, but I have a soft spot for that kind of thing. Is this album exceptional? I wouldn’t say so. Does it make you groove? Absolutely. 5/10
A lesson in not judging a book by its cover
Hooked from the first slap of the bass. Slick production. Punched in the face with synths. Hilarious lyrics. Crisp drums. Danced the whole way home from work. Date Stamp steals wholesale from Wild Boys. Fine. The whole schtick is Duran Duran, but I love it. Immediate favourite from this project. I am as old as this album, yet today was the first time I’d heard this gem. 5/5
Did not like this whatsoever. I already knew Poison Arrow which I bloody hate and the rest of the album wasn’t much of an improvement.
elegante, sofisticado y deliciosamente exagerado, excelente para un viaje largo
The bass saved it
80s pop blueprint here. Stands out for solid songwriting. You wouldn't think it would be so hard in the modern world to meld the two but here we are.
judged this hard before listening - it was actually fantastic
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 has everything you might expect from polished early-80s synth-pop: glossy production, sharp melodies, dramatic arrangements, and no shortage of style. I can easily understand why so many people regard it as one of the era’s standout records. For me, though, the elegance never quite turns into excitement. The album is consistently well made, but it feels a little too polished and self-conscious to really pull me in. A good record, certainly, and an important one for its style — but not one of the great new wave albums for me.
flojisimo, muy radiofriendly, musica que si suena de fondo en algun lado ni te lo cuestionas. igual, el genero me gusta tanto que no me molesta escucharlo 5,5/10
Excellent
This felt like a musical
Again, I can't be impartial here. This album was already in my music library, I love the New Romantics. Is it cheesy? Yes. Do I care? No. Did my friends and I make our own music video to the song "Poison Arrow?" Also yes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
did not expect it to be this funky and groovy, i really enjoyed it
I recognized this album from a suggestion my mom gave me years and years ago when I said I was trying to get into more 80s music... I should've listened back then! While it's far from the most innovative or unprecedented pop album of its time, I really enjoyed how theatrical and funky it was. The lyrics were mostly very charming, but at times strayed into unforgivable corniness. Overall, very enjoyable, but never quite achieved anything impactful or singularly memorable. Fav Tracks: Show Me, Poison Arrow, The Look of Love, Pt. 1, Date Stamp Least Fav: Valentine's Day Score: 6
I actually don't mind the returning motifs too much, especially the final track. There is some fun to be had here but nothing that grabs me too much.
I bet they sell these CDs at Goodwill with their shrink wrap still on it.
Within 10 seconds and without looking it up, I knew this record had Trevor Horn's radio star killing fingers all over it. I like it, but I can't help but wonder how much of that is because of Horn.
Good 80s album. I liked like two of their songs.
That was awesome. I loved it so much. Will definitely listen again. It was alright. Better than most we’ve listened to.
3 out of 5. I enjoyed how bombastic this album gets.
Ok my first criticism is more for the genre as a whole, but synth pop (especially from the 80s) really has an identity crisis cause it’s legitimately hard to tell them apart sometimes. That being said I loved the bubbly production on this album, and I liked the songs “poison arrow” and “4 ever 2 gether”. Both of those songs, and most of the album as a whole, had great production and instrumentals. Very bubbly and poppy. But the song show me is the greatest example of why this album doesn’t work for me. Which is, the instrumentals are buried under lack luster vocals. The guy isn’t a bad singer, it’s just very generic for this genre. It’s exactly what you expect from a synth pop 80s song. So I was just underwhelmed by this album. But it’s really not that bad, just not for me.
Instantly triggered my gag reflex and never recovered from there.
This getting a lot of hate here, and I admit it’s not the best album, especially after the half way point where it grows tiresome. But it seems to me that people are hating on this particularly because it sounds so stereotypically 80’s. As with other albums here that are rated low for the same reason, I think that’s its asset. The 80’s had great music. Subjectively, I’d say it has some of the best music. So, I’m going to juice this mid-3 up to a 4 to counter all the naysayers. I won’t juice it to a 5, because let’s be honest, this ain’t in the same league as Sgt Peppers.
It's like the worst of 80s Bowie mixed in with second-rate Duran Duran and lots of other unpleasant sounds, emotions and an unhealthy dose of pretentiousness.
Really cheesy but pretty impressive lyrically
The Cure on SSRIs, Bowie on less coke.
376/1089 i’m enjoying the 80s bowie-ish Britpop vibes so far. The Look of Love is the song i definitely remember and it’s def the stand out so far but the album’s been solid
Epitomizes the worst things about 80s music.
I do not really remember these guys from growing up, but the video for "The Look of Love" is on MTV Classic's '80s show quite often (I don't remember it from childhood) and I don't really like that song, so let's see how this goes... I recognize "Poison Arrow"! I definitely heard that growing up. Most of this sounds very similar to "The Look of Love," so I don't love it. But it's not terrible. Very early-'80s British. Very Spandau Ballet/Human League. I suspect if I had heard these guys as much as I heard those bands, I would consider this album a classic. It's kind of funny - I don't usually like when the video for "The Look of Love" comes on, but when I heard the beginning of it today I thought "Hey, I know this one!" Much more positive reaction. I would give this a 2.5 - 2.75, not quite 3.
80’s music sure has a distinct sound
Decent pop record with a handful of fun tracks, will probably forget it ever existed in a month.
christ I did not enjoy this
This is pretty overblown and over the top but it's fun too. It's like a weird amalgamation of Duran Duran, little bits of Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys, funky Nile Rodgers guitars and ridiculous orchestral elements to tie off the silliness. There's even a little bit of Casiopea in the bass 3.5 Highlights: Poison Arrow
Maybe I'm missing something. A work can be of a time yet still be appreciated decades later. I don't see this as one of those. It sounds like typical early- to mid-80s synth pop. It's well-done, and the songwriting is decent enough. It just sounds like songs that would be on a soundtrack of an 80s drama or rom-com that would be played on repeat on cable.
This album sounded like the Best Of the ‘80s mixed into one: Let’s Dance-era Bowie vocals; OMD synth-work; Tears for Fears writing; Oingo Boingo horns; Depeche Mode Production. It wasn’t by any means bad but as a retrospective listener it didn’t feel original. Years Are Not Enough had the most Boingo sound, mixing in the staccato horns and falsetto disco-flair. The Look of Love starts with the same cord progression as Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time. My key track was 4Ever2Gether, which had the most Depeche Mode feel and the best bass work, and was a little darker. I wouldn’t be opposed to hearing it again but I would probably pull the other artists first. Interesting album.
Random thoughts: * I was surprised by this one! I really liked it. * for some reason, I watched 2 of the videos from this album. That definitely influenced this review some. Added some visual input to this band. * How had I never heard of ABC? Were they mostly English and never broke through in a major way in the USA? * You can hear their influence in 80s music across the board. They sound like a poppier version of Dépêche Mode. I also heard some Bowie in their sound too. * Look of Love, Poison Arrow, and Show Me were stand outs. * it kind of dragged around “All of My Heart” but they really brought it home with some callbacks in Look of Love Pt. 4 and Theme from “Mantrap”. * it is a full theme 80s pop album about love. I love it! * I could see me falling in love with this album.
while this certainly isnt the band that invented new romantic, this 82 record is early enough so that all the traits of the genre still feel like real Choices Being Made. they go rly rly hard on the operatic theatrics here , it plays so nice off of the luxurious decadence of the sound (courtesy of trevor horn!). big searing heartbreak melodrama is cushioned in silk and velvet to make it all go down easier, maybe to remove the larger context of the world, no concerns in the back of your head about paying rent to give you maximum room to wallow in Just Your Emotions. captures a lot of the comfortingly contrived Full Chest Emotion of its sick-ass album cover. and the band is kind of on fire, crazy basslines and rhythm work that creates a lot of depth and space that 80s pop of this kind can often struggle with as it turns everything into a full force wall. smiled a lot listening to this...very involving bangers
Genuinely only ever knew them from The Look Of Love and nothing else. This is quite a solid 80s album to be honest. Nowhere close the greatest albums of the decade but hey it's still quite fun 3/5
Moments of interest amidst a lot of wasted space Playlist add: "The Look of Love, Pt. 1"
Meh, I didn't love it but didn't hate it
Better than expected! Best Song: The Look of Love Pt 1 Rating: 6.5/10 Stars: 3
Un disco álbum que tiene una escena propia de su tiempo, bailable, letras melancólicas y algunos aditivos orquestales le dan un toque especial. Personalmente no le destaco algo sobresaliente.
Punk music; didn't like it much
Never heard of album or band. Another pop record, Good luck following up that Janet album. Opening production is cool, quiet tho. Show me is forgettable beyond that, but poison arrow is a really fun song. Good lyrics and production. Bullshit lyrics on many happy returns, but the production is good again. Sweet horns on tears are not enough. I’m a fan of this song, catchy lyrics too. Drums and piano are really good on Valentine’s Day. Lyrics aren’t too special but a good song. The look of love is pretty good, I think I’ve heard this song before. Definitely the catchiest so far. Cool bass line on date stamp. Works well with the rest of the production. Good vocals on this one. All of my heart is very 80s. Not the worst thing in the world but pretty generic. 4 ever 2 get her is a classic 80s pop song. Good production, simple but affective vocals and lyrics. Need more of the look of love pt 4. Awesome production. I think it should’ve ended with this. Mantrap is pretty good with that being said. Love the piano and strings. Ultimately pretty good way to close out the album. Good not great 80s pop album. A little generic but a lot of good elements. Worth a listen. 3.2/5 stars.
Flashin back!
I think it's really good? High energy, great vocals and melodies. But also hard to see it as anything other than an anonymous knockoff of New Wave + Bowie. The lounge version of Poison Arrow is so good though so maybe the songwriting is actually good and it's just the production that's dated.
Good record
This genre (80s new wave) has more albums on this list than any other, I swear. I actually think this is one of the better ones though. The voice is very generic for that era, but I liked the music backing it up a lot. Show Me stood out and really kicked off this album. 4/5
I never want to hear this album again. Glee Club do Duran Duran.
mid 4 good this, slight vibe of a dad making music on garage band for fun
Best song: "Theme from Mantrap" as it had a sound which seemed to come from a Broadway show. Worst song: "Alphabet Soup"
Ah, this is beautiful. I don't think I've heard much music like this. It feels more like a musical soundtrack than a standard pop album, with the epic synth orchestration and epic singing. I love it.
Not a fan of 80s pop. This isn't bad for what it is.
Мне очень зашло! Отличная группа и классный альбом.
Damn this app! This was an album I loved back in the day. So I thought I was going to give it five stars for sure. But actually, having used my five star scores sparingly, I have to face the fact, for consistency, that this is in fact a 4. Otherwise, I remember a criticism of this album that its over produced. That's not something I agreed with then nor now. I think the production sound is excellent.
Despite its lack of any real substance, I ended up enjoying this more than I initially expected after hearing just the first track. It's packed with solid, relatively catchy, and danceable tunes that make for an easy, entertaining listen. That said, I couldn’t help but feel like I was listening to a poor man’s Duran Duran, a singular Duran almost. It was enjoyable enough while it was on, and even after it was over, I didn’t think it was bad, but it certainly sits closer to throwaway '80s pop than an '80s must-listen.
It's got a great energy to it. Super fun and catchy and engaging. Buuut ultimately feels hollow and empty. Vapid. All hook no song.
Bottom 20% of this list for sure
This was literally so much fun. Unapologetically 80s. Super enjoyable for sure. The songs did start to blend together and sound similar tho which was a downside. Actual rating....3.5 Liked Songs: "Show Me" , "Poison Arrow" , "Many Happy Returns" , "Tears Are Not Enough" , "The Look Of Love, Pt.1" , "All Of My Heart" , "4 Ever 2 Gether" , "The Look Of Love, Pt. 4" , "Theme From "Mantrap" "
I usually don't love this style of 80s music but I really enjoyed this album! It has some great moments and the vocals aren't super obnoxious.
Now we are talking peak 80's
A very enjoyable album. It's confident, catchy and the lead singer has a great voice.
1982 can keep this one.
The Look of Love wasn’t enough to save this album
Had never heard of these guys before. That funky disco pop sound is catchy af. Tossed "Poison Arrow" on the playlist.
A perfectly fine 80's pop album. Surprised something like this wasn't more well known in the USA and I had never heard any of it. Good songs here, for the genre.
Decent. Makes me think of a high schooler who dresses way too fancy all the time.
Sweet and majestic and not too bad.
It was fine. Started strong. Got worse.
Leider unglaublich langweilig für mich, andere Alben aus der gleichen Zeit von ähnlichen Künstler*innen sind einfach geiler. Vielleicht ist es auch einfach schlecht gealtert?
pretty good!
Sometimes, I come away from an album thinking “that should’ve been an EP”. Just a few songs worth my while. I came away from this album thinking “that should’ve been a single”. And that single is, of course, “The Look Of Love”. The masses got it right, thats the only song worth your time. I will say, the album got markedly better after this song. “Date Stamp” was almost good, certainly a very textured track. “4 Ever 2 Gether” was the right amount of dramatic and showy. Man I don’t know what to give this it’s like the 50th album on the list that sounds like this. Strong 2/5? Light 3? It probably deserves more but I’m tired boss. Once again, file under: probably sampled in a lot of vaporwave
A pop classic that has aged really well.
Just a lovely bit of 80s pop. All of my heart is a great tune
Not hugely keen for some reason. Bit too 80s pop for me. Could appreciate it but wouldn't return
Weirdly, I thought we’d already had this one, but my memory proved to be faulty. Three lovely stars, “All of My Heart” remains the stand out!!!!!!! Tom.
Cool new wave stuff, reminds od David bowie's 80s stuff a lot but there's like half filler here
I thought it held up pretty well. 3.5
No está mal. Parece es soundtrack de una película.
Thought this wouldn’t really be my sort of thing but actually an album packed full of great 80s songs. That appealed to me more than a lot of other 80s music. Very enjoyable.
Not the best of the synth pop/new wave from the 80s, but among the top 40% of the top tier for the decade. Favorites: "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love, Pt. 1" The favorites were already in my collection.
Мені дуже сподобався альбом. Класні диско та фанк груви поєднані із сінті-попом. Є хіти. Із задоволенням послухав. Ближче до кінця мені стилістика менше подобається. Додав в бібліотеку, буду слухати ще
Класний, майже канонічний сінтіпоп 80х. Деякі пісні настільки сподобались, що я дотягну оцінку до 4х тут, але загалом мабуть поставив би 3.5 десь.
I didn't know this band. Some good tunes. Overall a good album.
2.36
Shoot that poison arrow through my eardrums.
the 80's-ness of this album oozes out like a pustular wound. Has been relegated deep in the library for good reason.
Not horrible, but very 80s pop sound, which wasn't hitting well for me today.
Yea was some 80s new wave. Nothing jumped out at me. It was fine
Fine, than's just fine
digno disco. 2.5, me gusto
RATING: 10/10 HIGHLIGHT: Poison Arrow LOWLIGHT: The Look of Love, Pt.4
It took me a while to warm to Martin Fry's prim gold-suited shtick, but I've since grown to really appreciate this album. For a debut effort, it glides out of the gate totally complete and self-assured in its campy lamé vision. The sparkly synths and fat disco bass are a dated but irresistible combo for me, and the flourishes of sax and brass add another layer of fun. Show Me, Poison Arrow, Tears Are Not Enough, and The Look of Love (Part 1) are pure shiny joy, but there's not one song on here that's slacking off. You can hardly move for earworms and every track goes an extra mile over the top. Perhaps it's too suave and doing too much, but it's a too-much that delights me.
Ok at the time. Heard it too much then I think. Sounds dated now though and although worth a listen is not a "must hear" again for me.
This is a really fun album! Obviously of an era but I really enjoyed the vibes. I love the (slightly inaccurate) description of this album being a fusion of Joy Division and Chic from Martin Fry. It’s been a bit of a victim of being associated with the popularity of its hits (The Look of Love and the absolutely brilliant songs Poison Arrow and All of my Heart). However, I do this it’s an interesting record to listen to even without those songs. Oh and I forgot how fantastic All of my Heart is.
'The Look of Love' is a stellar song, 'Poison Arrow', 'Valentine's Day' and 'All of my Heart' are also fantastic. The panoramic Trevor Horn production across this record is very much my kinda thing, and whenever Anne Dudley's incredible string arrangements pop up they sound fantastic. It's also crazy this is a debut, it sounds like the ambitious thing a band does three or four albums in. It's a bit too slick for me at times(nothing wrong with smashing disco and post-punk together, but I don't want absolutely ever corner rounded off), but overall it's a very good time.
Loved this blue eyed soul classic
Me gusta mucho la vibra bien de la època. Como para repetir alguna vez. Nota: 3.4
music is love
still looking for a custom fit in an off the rack world? Early 80s new wave. Not that interesting to me. Something about the album cover rubs me the wrong way too. Highlight track: Maybe the regrettably-titled "4 Ever 2 Gether."
Disco. 2,8
Dull as ditchwater. Overly dramatic guff
Not bad but not something I’ll really look up in the future.
Bell’album con delle sonorità un po’ funk e molto anni 80 ha gasato
Really strong album of New Romantic pop. The bass and production techniques stand out immediately and it has a couple of genuine classics on it.
This just didn't hit for me
This album rules. Look of Love is one of the greatest pop songs ever, but the whole album is a masterpiece
I like the bass
Oh look, another British '80's one hit wonder.
Of the time. And never again, fortunately.
Very 80's, but in a way that didn't annoy me. I'd listen again.
Nice retro 80s pop built around some true classics
I don't like pop music. ABBA and Michael Jackson are artists I could live quite happily never having to hear another note of their music. And now this...the look of love? I'm vomiting in my hands. 1 "please make it stop" star.
I knew about ABC because of the song "The Look Of Love" and I'm pleased to say that after listening to this album a few times, that's like the fourth best song on this thing. Pure new wave bliss. Favorite track: Poison Arrow
Pretty rockin' bass playing, and overall not bad for early 80s synth pop.
Good album. Super pop from the 80’s with a Bowie’s kinda twist (like Let’s dance era).
This was interesting, very 80s but have never heard it before, but it wasn't terrible 🤷
I've been hitting a good streak lately, Poison Arrow/Look of Love are both classics and I had a similar degree of fun throughout the rest of the album
Peak 80s pop. Love the production man, the synths are just so cool man
Groovy 80s synthpop, very Duran Duran coded. Probably won’t seek it out again but a fun listen.
Very Bowie-esque , pretty cool
Actually really enjoying this, super funky, cool stuff.
1. Show Me – 3.0 2. Poison Arrow – 3.5 3. Many Happy Returns – 2.5 4. Tears Are Not Enough – 2.5 5. Valentine’s Day – 2.5 6. The Look of Love, Pt. 1 – 3.0 7. Date Stamp – 2.5 8. All of My Heart – 2.5 9. 4 Ever 2 Gether – 2.5 10. The Look of Love, Pt. 4 – 2.5 11. Theme From “Mantrap” – 2.5
Kitsch, camp good fun.
Que álbum incrível!!! reúne tudo de bom dos anos 80 numa produção impecável
They did not learn their ABCs well.
I watched a lot of MTV in the early 80s and I felt like ABC were the best of the bands that had haircuts and suits and strings.
Through the shitty speakers of my clock radio in 1982 - along with the equally terrible sound system in the old Volvo - this really didn't sound very good. I put them in the same category as bands I really didn't like, like The Fixx. I can't say I love it now. But something here really got me bopping along.
I always loved Poison Arrow and Look of Love, but I'd never listened to the whole album...and the rest is pleasant enough but not very interesting.
This doesn't even bring up bad memories of the 80s. Blah
Nice debut with lots of great tracks. Produced or supported by nearly all members of the later-to-be-formed Art Of Noise and founder of the successful label ZTT Records, Trevor Horn.
nice but dated album
Well what a delicious album. 80s smoothness at its best. Use of strings and synth and a great voice. What a joy.
Heartbreak, glamour, romance, one of the soundtracks of the 80s produced by the man who invented the 80s.
An 80’s gem (but with a bit of filling between the bangers)
Like the time at that wedding when your ageing uncle hits the dance floor and smashes it. Unashamedly high camp, it's packed full of bangers from start to finish. Can't bring myself to give it anything less than 5. 5*
Is het super shiny 80's productie? Ja. Is het slecht? Nee? Het is overduidelijk een niet goed geagede snippet uit de 80s muziek catalogus, maar het is niet echt slecht oid. Een magere 3
Britse man zingt over een jaren 80 productie. Klein 6'je.
What if Bryan Ferry sang for Duran Duran? The tracks have great production and the bass parts are immediately infectious. The lyrics and vocal performance is a bit much for my taste however.
Tiene temazos
Exactly the kind of 80's music I quickly grew to hate back then. 2 stars or D-.
Está super ochentero. No es exactamente lo que suelo escuchar pero lo disfruté mucho
Fue buen compañero mientras viaje hoy asi que cool, diría que es un sólido 3.5. incluso si lo escuchará más quizá llegaría a 4. Por lo pronto queda guardado pero puede irse en cualquier momento
Me: Mom can we listen to Duran Duran? Mom: We have Duran Duran at home This is Duran Duran at home.
I was so expecting to hate this based on the 1-star-reviews that I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed listening to these songs - in particular the expressive vocals and the piercing synth sounds. It was a one-time thing, however. It’s not going to happen again
Hello 80s! Like a little bit too much 80s. Favorite song: 4 ever 2 gether
So 80s. Bit saccharine, and didn't really click.
Loved 'Poison Arrow' since first hear in 1982. This is a great album, love the sound - and a few iconic hit songs - The Look of Love, Tears Are Not Enough and All Of My Heart, and good extras. Definitely a 4+ rating from me.
Standouts Show Me Poison Arrow
It was grand - a bit forgettable
Pretty groovy.
Disco/synth wave/post punk show tunes?! I knew The Look of Love but this whole thing was just too damn fun to listen to - and '80s pop gem to be sure.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for 80s New Wave. I was a little kid in 82, but I had an older brother who had MTV on constantly... which featured tons of New Wave music. This became the soundtrack of my young life. In High School and College, I would buy New Wave compilation CDs to satisfy that itch. I am certain that Poison Arrow and the Look of Love were both on those CDs. Aside from those two songs, this was my first time hearing the other songs on here... and I love it. What? There's a Look of Love part 4?? What happened to 2 and 3? I love the seamless combining of guitars with synths -- it's so well done. The processed drums with reverb, and the swagger of the singer -- it feels at times like he's channeling a Rat Pack / Frank Sinatra vibe. But the real star is the bass player with the chonky melodic bass lines throughout the album. It makes me feel like a character living in St. Elmo's Fire or a John Hughes film. Aside from Poison Arrow and Look of Love part 1, Valentines Day and Tears are not Enough (LOVE that synth trumpet line at the beginning) are standout tracks among a field of bangers. Okay, now you know that New Wave is my kryptonite. Don't judge me ;-)
Glitzy, classy, but hasn’t aged with all that much grace. Some standout moments for sure, entertaining, but just solid as a whole. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Poison Arrow, All Of My Heart, The Look Of Love, Pt.1, Tears Are Not Enough
Expectation: -> This is unknown territory. After listening: -> Another surprise win. Not sure that I was ever exposed to this band/album once old enough to appreciate music. No recall of it ever playing on our radio stations or MTV. Too bad, because this perfectly aligns with what I like. I'm hearing influence from The Cure and similar bands but I like this more. Probably would have worn this cassette raw back in the day. Having trouble moving on to today's album. Thought this was an easy 4 after first listen, now I'm going 5. Track ranking: Look 1&4 Date Heart Mantrap V-Day Show Poison Tears Returns 4
Boring Duran Duran knock off. That bass player really needed to find another band to play with. Really funky
The songs just aren't good. You can't build an album around songs that don't have hooks even though the sound is cutting edge. And the singer is meh too.
7/10
This list is oversaturated with 80s British pop, which is a shame, because then you get stuff like this, which is genuinely good 80s British pop, and it just doesn’t quite hit the same.
Not very memorable, but ok to sit though. 2.5/5
THE BASS
Funky, energetic, and honestly such a vibe. Loved the vocal play whether it be through technique or overlap. Overall great disco and dancy album. 9/10, Favorite Song: Many Happy Returns
Meh
The music itself is nothing really that bad, although it's definitely nothing special either. But the main thing that turns me off this album is the fact that it was clearly a big part in laying the groundworks for the super cheesy and overproduced sound that dominated the late 80s (I'm looking at you, Stock, Aitken, and Waterman). I can forgive this album for being generic, it's not exactly my first time listening to one that triggered pretty much nothing of an emotional reaction. But the it's clear that the sound this album goes for is a very primitive style of something I hate with a passion, so it definitely loses points for that.
a fun album. reminds me of my mom. look of love will always be my favorite. it's such a funny song. also liked poison arrow, theme from "mantrap" and 4 ever 2 gether
This was endlessly funky and a totally addictive listen, to the point where I had to get myself home from my daily walk and start it all over again so I could have a proper boogie to it. Love a bit of 1980s new wave, and this perfectly scratched a particular itch I've been craving to be scratched for a while. Smooth melodies, powerhouse vocals, and timeless lyrics. More of this please. Favourite track: Poison Arrow Least favourite track: All Of My Heart
Сара 5 Марко 5
Mid to no like. Not for me. 80s pop is very hit or miss. Mostly miss.
Not as bad as some other 80s albums on this list… still firmly in 2-star territory
Just a perfect pop album. One of the finest the 80s gave us. So many beautifully crafted songs. It’s deserving of it’s place on the list for sure. Easy 4
Little bit different but just not my cup of tea. Not that much inspiration behind
Very 80s disco/electronic pop.
5/5!!!!!!! Such a romantic and tragic album. There's a charm in old Synth-pop and New Wave music that I just can't help but fall in love with.
Orchestral synth disco pop, with histrionic over the top Bryan Ferry singing--so much drama--kinda clever kinda lame. The big (US) hits are fine, but without nostalgia they don't really land for me. Though I do remember being entranced by those early MTV videos.
I love “Poisoned Arrow” and especially “The Look of Love” so much. They’re perfect early 80s New Wave pop, with bursting horns and classic synths, and I’m fond of Martin Fry’s voice. There are a couple of other good songs but also some disappointing filler. Might not deserve a 3 but I’m erring in that direction.
Two great hits, the rest just didn’t.
A good album, very catchy, but it feels so manufactured. Like a team of writers sat down only trying to make a whole pop album for radio. I enjoy it but it doesn’t feel as human
Utter crap - Pet Shop Boys pablum and more.
A five star scale without half stats really limits my ability to accurately rate an album. I never lived the singles from this album so to find how much I enjoyed them in context was a delight. A fun sexy silky synthy danceable New Romantic gem. More than a 3! Less than a four but not as far from four as from three so I’ll round to four. Looking forward to another listen. I don’t know. Maybe a four. A surprise!
Great 80’s tunes
Brings back huge memories of a 19 year old version of me enjoying the endless variety and brilliant quality in the music scene of the early 1980's. This album is so good, full of hits that are incredibly constructed, so much so that 20 years later the album gets played in it's entirety in classical concert halls with a full 72 piece orchestra. Fry's voice is amazing, big and soft in range, notes of Bowie at times. The production is just amazing as well. For a debut album this is as good as it gets, slightly dated but who cares.
Excellent excellent record, has 1 or 2 weaker tracks that stopped me from going 5 initially but definitely going to revisit this one
Never listened to this one but I remember seeing it back in the day in the tape section next to Accept Balls to the Wall (another whiff by Dimery) and AC/DC Back in Black. The vocals are solid, the songwriting is pro, the production is great, it flows really well, but the bass player is the MVP on this. Nice melodic lines sitting perfectly in the mix, groovy stuff.
This is the "all gas, no breaks" of 80s pop records. Undeniably dripping in cheesy, glistening, over-the-top tunes. I am curious what happened to Look Of Love parts 2 and 3 tho
Pretty great, not sure I ever really explored these guys past Poison Arrow
Leans into schmalz too heavily for me. Overly thumping without any real cleverness or doing something new. Good singing voice. Someone give this guy some better lyrics.
Loved it. What fun listening. The recalls throughout. Going into this I thought I'd never listened ABC before, but I was pleasantly surprised I knew a large amount of this album which was nice to relive.
Synth pop album #300 so far (I've only had 460 generated so far, and the other 160 albums are Bowie or Bowie-related). Some tracks are tolerable, others overblown love tracks. 1/5 mostly because why must I be subjected to this.
I feel like I can't rate anything like this that's 80s and British after this list. It's so overly saturated I feel disappointed each time I see another one. I feel like the sound engineer decided he was sick of the vocals so he just turned the bass up a lot.
I like some of the instrumentation and production. I'm just tired of the 80s UK skew of the list. There is just so much new wave on the list, this is a fine example but maybe unnecessary. I'm confused.
The smooth, savvy sounds of ABC, a band that brought a lot of class to the decade. Ahhhhhh.......maybe. Here's to hoping Martin found true love!
Pleasant enough, some great early 80’s songs on here that I grew up with but does that warrant a place on this list. I don’t think so!
I feel like, at some point, I heard the single "The Look of Love" on FM radio. ABC is one of those groups I don't think come up as often due to the sheer number of British pop bands that saw mainstream crossover to the US in the 1980s. When they do get brought up, it's usually when discussing their debut record, The Lexicon of Love, which many consider to be their best record, thus leaving me to believe that they never quite continued the momentum of success throughout the rest of the decade and beyond. They're certainly not the only case of a band peaking with their first album, and in any case, I was at least curious to hear what the rest of The Lexicon of Love sounded like. Well, I do hear what ABC were going for at the time, which was the amalgamation of everything pop music was up to that point. The prominent syncopated basslines and four-on-the-floor beats of disco, the angular guitar riffs of new wave, the polished arrangements and synth incorporation from sophisti-pop, alongside a mix of programmed and organic percussion and sweeping brass and string instrumentation. Polished and refined with Trevor Horn's production, all of these elements provide some swaggering muscle to these compositions behind Martin Fry's blue-eyed soul vocal delivery. Sure, some sounds come off dated, such as the canned horn lines of "Tears Are Not Enough", the prominent synth of "Valentine's Day", and the gurgling, altered backing vocals on "4 Ever 2 Gether", but it is a genuinely catchy record overall. As for the lyrical content, I'm admittedly more split. On the one hand, I get that Martin Fry's intent was novel in trying to write more eloquent songs of love and hate, compared to the more technology-themed synth-pop acts he was inspired by. Yet on the other hand, I feel that there were opportunities to go darker with the imagery. I feel I got hints of that edge from the depression endured on “Many Happy Returns” and the acceptance of the rejection on “Poison Arrow”. If more songs had that lyrical bite to them, I'd probably be enamoured. Also not helping matters was how perfunctory an ending "The Look of Love, Pt. 4" was; "4 Ever 2 Gether" could have been the satisfying conclusion. Still, I did enjoy The Lexicon of Love as a well-defined debut from ABC. They may not have recaptured the same success, but at least this once, they had something truly potent in the works.
Cheesy 80s pop. Might be good for one song at a party but not a whole album. I don't understand why this is on the list when there are definitely better 80s pop records out there.
I have an anti 80s pop thing, the sound never clicked for me, so I listened to the album with an open mind. “Poison Arrow” works for the genre. Singer seems to be having a good time. “Tears are not Enough” has some interesting music. “All my Heart” worked for me. “4 Ever 2 Gether” was the song I enjoyed most.
Duran Duran, is that you?
2* music, 5* bass parts, averaged to a 4* album! (Why is the bass so ridonkulously excellent!)
The Look of Love is great, the rest...well I'm sure Dad loves it.
Fun 80s tunes, eventho that decade is not my kind of music some really good songs on it standing out from the rest. 1. The Look Of Love, Pt.1 2. All Of My Heart 3. Poison Arrow
Hated every second
Quite a production!
Smokin"
(4/7) more 80s
Unapologetically 80s, errs on whiny but pretty listenable
It sounds a tad dated but there are some sounds here that probably seemed innovative at the time.
Had higher hopes for this one, it was just ok.
Maso
I actually started listening to The Lexicon of Love a couple of days ago after ABC came up in a documentary about 1982, so this one felt like perfect timing. This album sounds like the 80s in the best possible way. It opens with a belting track and doesn’t really let up from there. The guitar work is superb, very reminiscent of Nile Rodgers in its rhythm and style, while the bass is vibrant and gives each song a real groove. It’s a very easy and enjoyable listen from start to finish. Favourite tracks: Poison Arrow, a brilliant pop song Least favourite tracks: None, every song earns its place Album artwork: I love it, it works perfectly even if I’m not quite sure why
Mi ricordo di averlo ascoltato dai vinili di mio papà, ma come non mi piaceva al tempo non mi piace tutt'ora, è monotono e dai ritmi ripetitivi.
Fin memory lane besöktes. ABC snurrade ofta på VH1 snurrade. Sheffield-disco. Ojämn och har väl åldrats sådär.
Bra bas! Resten var väl så där. Inte så förtjust i sången.
Ganska kul ibland men som helhet ganska svagt
Fan va fint med reverbindränkt, jättepretto, jättevit funky Duran duran-pop. ”Tears are not enough” är en riktig banger! Nån eller ett par svaga spår, men absolut en 4a.
Fan vad fint det satt med lite discoo
det var dåligt men det var också lite najs
Smäktande 80-tal! Hade kanske varit bättre om det släppts fem år tidigare.
🎧Is this Martin Sheffield Lickly of Comedy Bang Bang?
It's a mini 69 Love Songs
I really liked theses songs it was a good vibe, kinda sounds like david bowie
I'll hijack my local high school sound system for this album if I have to.
This was so 80's & came out the same year I did. Sounded like Boy George as Four Loco Circus Ringmaster. If this was a joke, then very well done. I guess the name's a take on ABBA but I don't like ABC as a band name, pretty boring. The bassist can jam and sounds like they lifted "Time After Time" from "The Look of Love, Pt 4."
What the hell was going on in the early 80s, and why is this album on the list? Another cheesedick Bowie ripoff with cartoonish production and soap opera vocals. Maybe that's harsh. It's not an awful album I suppose, I did get some good laughs out of some of the tracks, and some of it is passable as like dentist waiting room background fare I suppose. The best thing this album has done was inspire the character Martin Sheffield Lickley on Comedy Bang Bang. 2/5 from me.
..
Very 80s sound. Started strong but got tiresome.
What a great trip down Memory Lane! Martin has a great voice, and of course the rivalry with Spandau Lexicon of Love was an astonishing debut, and unfortunately also their career highpoint before the bland takeover Maybe four fantastic songs herethat have stood the test of time, the rest are filler in comparison
Album très agréable
Somehow I've heard this whole album before...or maybe it's that it has a motif. Either way I wasn't an enormous fan despite my love of new romantic stuff. This just felt a bit repetitive and twee.
Already done by better bands.
Groovy and fun listen
Super fun very danceable
The Lexicon of Love appears as a witty, articulate, and deliberate mix of disco, post-punk, and show tunes. For me it lands in a place I don't typically go — I prefer darker, dissonant, deterritorializing musics. This record is dripping with 80s ambition and confidence that I can admire for its pluck even as I ultimately tire of the album as a whole. For me it was at the track "4 Ever 2 Gether" that the total exhaustion with the formula set in. Perhaps it's akin to the experience of fully reading a dictionary or lexicon in one sitting — you begin to feel bombarded by format and feel how the expression is proscribed and certain impulses curtailed. I am cured of any desire to hear it again.
It's ok. It reminds me a lot of the Jon Lovitz-led band from the movie "The Wedding Singer". It's sort of hammy and EXTREMELY 80s, lots of synth, poppy bass lines, subtle backup singers, dramatic lead singer, and all the other classic hallmarks of quintessentially 80s bands. It's not the worst thing I've ever heard, but it's also in no way timeless. Some albums from decades ago are still extremely listenable and relatable, but something happened in the 80s that just glues certain bands to that decade. This is emblematic of that. It's not bad, it's just from a decade's style that I don't care much for.
285/1001 ABC - The Lexicon of Love Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ Overblown, over the top production, everything is far too clean and polished and the same goes with the vocal. It's not bad enough to get a one star, but far from my thing.
devastatingly rated the "a grand don't come for free" with what was supposed to be this review. THIS ONE is the new wave 80s. I guess I'll just switch them. "a grand dont come for free sound get a 1 or perhaps a 2 - white british rapper just...talking a bit off beat. not good.
80s gonna 80s.
A solid pop album. Somehow so cool. The drama of it really works.
Pop ochentero, uso de piano, sintetizadores y bajos muy marcados, fácil de escuchar y dejar de fondo, pero no mi tipo de música
I love the bass
3.5/5
good labum
man is really going through it
Cool, this band. I know of these guys because I took a flick through Colin Larkin's Encyclopedia of Popular Music a few months back, where these guys were one of the first bands to have an entry in the book. I'm pretty sure they were listed as an 80s rock band, though this album cover looks nothing like a rock album. I'll lock in dance for my prediction, but the more subdued, not-necessarily-electronic kind of dance music that was popular throughout the 80s. Here goes. Nope. This was just a straight-up disco album, albeit with some early 80s flavouring. I could get down with this album. I like the opulent instrumentals and punchy vocals, though it can be a little much at points. The sax is blown out and the singer is overzealous on occasion, but for the most part this album toes the line quite nicely. The funky bass is a consistent highlight of this album. It has a ton of bite and is tied into the songwriting and general aesthetic of this music quite well. The reverberating ambience and electronic synths are quite good, too. "Date Stamp" is my favourite song of the album because I view it as the best meeting point between these three strengths. As I've alluded to earlier, my only real gripe with this album is that it can be incredibly hit-or-miss. This music doesn't have much in the way of a personality or creative identity, which can leave the music feeling vacuous and empty on occasion. Fortunately, it doesn't do much to curb my appreciation for this album. Overall, this was a solid listen. Oh boy, there's "All of My Heart". Yet another song I know of because my Dad used to play it in his car - I've been getting a lot of those lately. I'm pretty sure this was at the top of his alphabetically-sorted music library since I remember hearing this song plenty of times. It's a solid tune. The verses have a good vocal flow and are underscored nicely by the bassy, almost bluesy instrumental. There's also a bit of a jangle pop sound in the sparsely-featured acoustic guitars. It's interesting how this song is able to take genres I traditionally dislike and blend them together into a greater whole. Great songwriting, too. That chorus is pretty golden, though the verses have a nice rhythm to them as well. The last two minutes of this song are kind of a deadweight, but the rest of the song carries itself nicely. Solid tune overall. Book time. "...a marriage made in pop heaven." The album was arranged on primitive digital equipment and then recorded over with studio equipment, which resulted in a precise musical approach. The lyrics about love and beauty "...so perfectly embodies the delicious contradictions of the slick, clever, "new pop" agenda of the early 1980s." Wikipedia says that all four of the singles from this album made it into the top 20 in the UK. The album has also received a warm and enduring acclaim by critics, who consider it to be one of the best albums of the 1980s. The album debuted at No. 1 on the UK charts and also topped the charts in New Zealand and Finland. Furthermore, the album performed very solidly across the West and Europe and was the fourth best-selling album of the year in the UK. Yeah, this is a very solid pick. A historically significant and critically acclaimed release - big thumbs up from me. I cosign this inclusion.
fun listen!
Muy de su tiempo...
"Show Me", "Poison Arrow" and "Many Happy Returns" are my favorites. Most songs resonate with me in a way that calms and unsettles me simultaneously. Genuinely not bad, pretty bittersweet; I love it.
This Duran Duran soundalike induces guilty pleasure. Love the bass lines.
Very solid 80s pop
I like this a lot more than I expected to. It really hits the mark on fusing Nile Rodgers era disco with British goth/post-punk like the Cure and Depeche Mode. It's maybe a little too dancey for me, but the funk influence makes that more palatable. Overall it's a fun, upbeat listen.
brit pop crap
I know in my heart that if any of these songs came up randomly while listening to the radio it would be an immediate channel change; but the last 7 albums on this list have been so God awful (only 1 above a 2) that I’m going to give this a plus 1 for simply not making me have to skip any tracks to survive the album.
After the first two songs, which were actually pretty fun, I found myself thinking I couldn't wait for this to be over.
This group wasn’t quite on my radar when this came out. Decent, but nothing special.
This album helped me connect some dots I had not previously connected: https://comedybangbang.fandom.com/wiki/Martin_Sheffield_Lickly
There's one really good song on this album. Repeated 14 times. ABC is a formula - tight disco funk overlaid with synthpop and orchestra. Kinda like what Nile Rodgers wanted to do when he first saw Roxy Music. Great guitars and bass, and they occasionally forego the bass for a Moog. Trevor Horn was in the business of making hits, he saved the experimentation for the Art Of Noise.
Man. I don’t know about this one.
Absolutely insufferable. How the hell is this on this list?!
Such a good album, every song could have been a single. It exudes studio brilliance and really feels like where 80s music began.
It is what it is and it’s not for me.
Pretty funky
I honestly wasn't expecting much from this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. I went in thinking I would give this a 3 and then write some snarky review claiming how boring it is. Thankfully this album is a lot of fun, some great funky bass playing and some really cool synths. This reminds me of the Let's Dance era of Bowie. My only complaint is that a few of the songs are just filler, and the singer isn't all that captivating, but beside that this album was pretty good. Mid 4.
Weird early 80’s pop. It’s got that happy bounce to it. Smooth throw back vocals and great style.
Awesome, another early 80s Brit-pop album that nobody gives a flying fuck about.
mehhhhh well produced but a little souless 80's stuff to me.
This is just about peak 80s, meant both positively and negatively. It has some creativity to it, but its a bit much singing over simple keyboards and drums?
Fun!! 3*
Disco needed more lovelorn emo drama and eyeliner! The Lexicon of Love feels like it SHOULD be ridiculous, yet lands with such poise and precision that resisting it begins to feel straight silly. Sleek, synthetic, theatrical, and a dash smug, but OH SO absurdly catchy that the smugness becomes part of the pleasure. The vocal delivery is a huge part of why it works here. The personality in his voice makes all the romantic scheming and smug sexual wordplay feel like cheeky fun rather than nonconsensual assault. Pop tunes for celebrating Maury's announcement that you are, indeed, NOT the father.
Give me a slinky wrap dress with shoulder pads sharp enough to cut glass, the floofiest updo Aquanetted to perfection, a Fuzzy Navel that’s 80% peach schnapps, and cue the wind machine - because we’re about to make a theatrical entrance! “Show Me! Show Me!” an album bursting with everything I despise about 80s music wrapped up into one glossy, cheesy package. And since “Tears Are Not Enough”, neither is this. Let’s just leave it in 1982.
Ik was al bekend met de absolute banger: The look of love. Maar dat de rest van het album ook zo goed is verbaast me. Consistent vette nummers, en de laatste 2 platen, voegen ook echt wat toe, ook al zijn het bewerkingen van eerdere nummers op de plaat.
Ik ga best wel goed op dit soort hyper corny 80s pop shit