Reviews (page 5 of 8)
It was a decent 80’s album
Very 80s, but with a nice little funky twist. Some songs really shine here, but the album as a whole is a bit drenched in the time period.
I had not heard anything but the singles before. It was interesting to hear all of the instruments and sounds that were in the singles rearranged for all of the other songs on the album
This was more enjoyable than anticipated. Was able to just let it go on repeat at work and was never really bothered by anything. Usually can’t listen to much music like this because the singing to me is a bit weird. I think this may be synth pop but idk. Either way solid 3⭐️
Unapologetically 80s in all the right spots and so easy to groove and grasp. 7/10
British prep school 80s pop. Was this written for Chuck Bass?They picked the correct singles the rest is forgettable. Who knew there was another version of Look of Love. Bass lines sound like Niles Rodgers in a good way.
My appreciation for the music of the day fell pretty drastically in the 80's. I would always wonder why I would want to listen to this sh.., stuff after all of the great music from the 60's and 70's. This isn't my thing but I understand the appeal. Pitting this against other 80's music, this would be on the upper half of the list. 2.75/5
This album oozes so much fog, big hair, oversized clothes and over the top cheesyness. I don't hate it, its just sooooo much 80's, like to the point of being completely over the top. There are some interesting parts and if you want a soundtrack for your 80's theme night look no further, but I don't think I want to listen to the whole thing again.
80's drama disco. It's okay. A bit overly dramatic for my tastes. Sometimes so 80's it's cringe. I like the bass playing. Lotsa boogie pop'n but not really super creative song writing. Kind of formulaic. There's a Look of Love part 1 and part 4. For some reason Parts 2 and 3 were not included on this album. Poison Arrow is a great song. The chorus is sooo disco! They hit the target on that one.
Some absolute killer bass lines can’t quite save the generic 80s sound. The orchestral flares are nice, but the vocal reverb and gated drums are just so corny.
Listened to on vinyl until it started skipping on "Date Stamp", then switched to Apple Music ;) More absolute plastic from producer Trevor Horn, and with a singer that is very reminiscent of other 80s English bands. I am outraged that this is on the list, and may God have mercy on the editors' souls... On the other hand, it's fun and I can see myself liking it more over time. 3.5 out of 5 HL: "Tears Are Not Enough", "Valentine's Day", "All of My Heart", "4 Ever 2 Gether" later on March 20, 2025
If I want to feel the 80's I might listen to this. Or something else.
Not bad, but I’m more of the synth persuasion when it comes to 80s pop.
Excellent example of very 80s stuff that’s good. Not quite 4 stars but pushing very close.
Favorite Track: The Look Of Love Pt. 1
Not a bad album, I liked "The Look of Love, Pt 1.". Good dance tune. 3.5 / 5 rounded down?
I thought this was a fun listen. Definitely the sound of the 80s.
Not bad for this style but I have a hard time listening to a whole album of it.
Pretty good
Textbook definition of white guy funk
2.75
I'm a big city pop guy, so it's natural that I would like something like this. All the elements are there. Great, groovy basslines. Drenched in synths. Sax! There's even just a sliver of this vaguely British "darkness" to it. But I dunno. I'm tapping my foot to all of these songs, and there are a lot of awesome grooves. But the album kinda falls just short of coming together. It feels like there's something missing. A bit of soul? I don't know, it's kind of intangible. It's ALMOST amazing. So frustrating! Fav tracks: Show Me, Poison Arrow, Valentine's Day, All of My Heart
6/10
enjoyable
This is pure, distilled 1980's synth pop. There are occasional, almost progressive moments that elevate it from just middle-of-the-road 2.5 stars to just over 3 stars.
classic shiny, ambitious, glossy 80s pop - striking production by Trevor Horn
Much more funky and groovy than any other new wave I've heard. I could actually get into this.
There’s some really fun instrumentation here but the lyrics are pretty anodyne.
Poison Arrow and The Look Of Love are great songs. Rest ok 3/5
This is a pretty wild record. Really groovy bass lines and weird synths. Its feels like a very poppy Morrissey. Very theatrical, camp and kind of cheesy, but overall kind of fun and interesting.
Smooth and genteel. I've listened to it before. It's pleasing in the same way having your teeth cleaned is pleasing afterwards. It's nust so polished and nice. Three stars. Not epic, not superb, good replay potential. Modest message on being human in today's world. 3 is perfect for this album.
never heard of this or the artist its an interesting album, a bit more glammy david bowie vibes
groovy
diet duran duran, not a good or bad thing.
As many stars as in the album cover. Average.
I didn't know who ABC were, and then proceeded to listen to a whole lot of "quintessential 80s pop" tracks that EVERYONE knows. I didn't actively like this album but the tracks were so nostalgic I couldn't dislike it either. Rating: 3
The Lexicon Of Love is easily one of the most 80s albums i have ever heard. Everything from the bass, the keyboards, the regular vocals, and the other types of vocals. Everything just sounded so electronic, poppy and robotic at some points but i still enjoyed a lot of these elements. Every element i listed sounds pretty good and really did add to the charm of this album. The lyrics are a bit cheesy at points considering that this is an 80s new-wave band and those lyrics are expected but some of them do sound pretty stupid in this day and age. The album was pretty short though which means it never got tiring while still giving me my fill of this stuff. This album isn't perfect but still solid. Best Song: 4 Ever 2 Gether Worst Song: Many Happy Returns
pretty good 80s pop
Yeah incredibly solid. Want to hate the 80s but can't
-more anachronistic 80s synthpop. the music on here isn’t exactly anything that hasn’t been done before, but it was still pretty fun to listen to -I’ve learned about a lot of relatively obscure synthpop and new wave artists from this project, it’s cool -Favorites are Poison Arrow and The Look Of Love, Pt.1
80s pop. Did I need to listen before expiring?
I still think the term "blue-eyed soul" is objectively funny. I always enjoy an album with strings and brass and this fits the bill. Very high 3, but didn't ever catch my attention enough to warrant a 4.
There are parts I really like about this album (mostly bass) and then others that I hate (80s cheese). Liked it more than I thought I would though.
Somehow in all of my childhood of listening to my dad play 80s British pop I’d never heard of this band or at least I didn’t have any recollection of this band. The vocals are dramatic and fun, don’t come off too cheesy for me personally. The production is very of its time with its crisp drum machines and maximalist style, which might be a turn off for some but I’ve listened to a fair bit of 80s electro pop so I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for the sound. It doesn’t push the boat out too far as far as venturing beyond the defined sound of the time but it still makes for an pleasant listening experience. That being said it struggles to leave any lasting impression and outside of one or two tracks I would be unlikely to return to this as an album, but I wouldn’t be particularly bothered if this album was playing anywhere that I was. 2.5-3/5
Exudes ‘80’s. Not really my thing.
i feel like this is what lcd soundsystem will sound like to gen alpha
no one who listens to this album will ever wonder what decade it's from cool though not the biggest standout
Anything but conservative! Very 80s, loved the bass.
My dad would love this
I enjoyed this disco album.
Some ok stuff on here and some junk. Highlight is the bass
80s love ballads. Plus a funky bass guitar throughout, which really saves the whole album if you ask me.
ok. a bit generic
Songcraft was just ok. Plus a half star for the bassist and a half star for some of the ballads. I liked the theme song version better
There is 80s and then 80s on steroids and THIS is 80s on steroids. With that said, there are still some fun catchy songs throughout. I toe tapped.
Robert Smith on lithium. I almost really like it but there’s just something off that I can’t quite place my finger on
Some catchy tunes but couldn't really get into it
3.1 Yet more new wave on this list. This one's actually alright, nothing to write home about, but not an unpleasant listen. Don't think it's aged terribly well, I'd be surprised if any millennial or younger has stumbled on ABC organically. Couple saved down but all songs pretty similar to be honest. Nothing great, nothing terrible. Only recognised one track, from vice city.
Early MTV flashback
noni
3 stars
Nah.
In high school I watched some 80s movie about Michael J Fox doing a bunch of cocaine (before I knew who Michael J Fox is or what cocaine is). I don’t remember any details of the movie, yet when I heard this album that movie is all I could think of. Just sounds like an 80s New York cocaine romance vibe
Songs i knew: 2 Songs i like: about half Surprisingly good album, enjoyed most of this. Loved their sound, if I was around in clubs when this was out I could deffo picture myself dancing like a twat to this. I'd be recking the suit jacket with the shoulder pads, daft hair, a fruity cocktail in hand eyeing up the boys. Kthx bibi. Low 3.
The website has once again deleted my original review 😡 You can’t deny that The Look of Love and Poison Arrow are absolute hammers. Go on, try and deny it. See, you can’t. Idiot. But I actually quite enjoyed this, almost in spite of myself. It’s got some excellent slap bass that reminds me of Alan Partridge jamming to level 42. Makes me think of sitting in the back of my parent’s Austin Princess listening to tunes. Not sure my parent ever listened to ABC, but they were definitely ABC adjacent. Overall, I liked it. It’s so deeply uncool it’s almost cool again.
80s New Romantic music reminds me of my childhood. Enjoyed this album front to back. The singles are great and still stand up.
This is one of those bands that I knew but did not know I knew. At first I was like "who the heck is this?" but soon recognized them. They are kind of a blend between 80's music sort of stuck there and more timeless qualities. Now. The likely reason I did not "know" them is because I only ever "liked" their music. It was not bad, and not instant classic either way. This is a band that in my opinion both deserves and is worthy of exactly that three star rating. I seem to "give" some bands three stars because they don't deserve a negative rating, but some I give three stars because they deserve that rating and are not quite good enough for a highly positive rating. So there is a range within my same ratings that is unfortunate with no half star options. I might otherwise opt to give this band three and a half stars.
Very much carried by The Look of Love and All Of My Heart. Enjoyed Valentine's Day but everything else was pretty eh for me.
Mid
Yet more british new wave. It's been a while so I didn't hate this. Stand-out: Poison Arrow
Noice! Typical 80s, pašu mi sintići. Početak Poison Arrow mi je vrh 😊 Dalje kako ide, mrvicu mi je dosadno, ono ništa posebno, ništa što nisam čula prije, a čula sam bolje isto tako. Moram priznati da ne kužim baš konceptualnost tu niti osjetim njegovu bol, zaljubljenost, nikakve emocije ekšli. Mislila sam da će biti nešto više dramatično kroz album i da mi neće sjesti, ali zapravo mi je dosadno. The Look Of Love mi je dobra moram priznati, ali to je hit, tako da očekivano. Brijem da će biti 3/5 ili 6.5/10, čisto jer su i dalje 80s i zvukovi koji su mi dragi, samo mi je sve skupa dosta underwhelming.
Nisam pretjerano oduševljen, nije da me sekira. Iznenadilo me kad je došla pjesma koju znam pa sam skužio koji je to bend Za razliku od nekih od vas u ovoj grupi, uopće nisam fan 80 i pop zvuka tog vremena.
Ton of fun is the best way to describe it. It's instrumental pop instead of all electronic like we mostly hear now which I think is a really cool sound.
Upbeat and energizing music about the complications of love and loss. Not uncommon for 1982, but that SOUND. Shit like this is reserved for only the likes of Phil Collins, Sting and Prince. Loved this one less than those heavy hitters. But what a great example of 80's fusion.
Bass lines are on point!
🕺
A few good 80s bangers but the rest of the album was a slog
Listening to this was like the audio equivalent of jizzing through my ears for about 10 minutes, and then it quickly got very annoying. It's like when you have too much sugar and your teeth start feeling like they're rotting. Won't say no to some sugar though. Three outta five. Horrible analogy.
At least 3 80s classics on this one
Bass player: 5/5 80s Sound Production: 0/5 (no bass in dance music?.....yay) Energy: 3/5 (would be 5/5 but see the "80s sound production part) Overall.....3/5. I want to love it, but the terrible production quality of the era rob the music of it's essence and ultimately it feels kinda forgettable. How in the hell did they kick this bass player out of the band? The guy was incredible on this album.
Not bad at all. New to me and enjoyable
Very 80s
Tosi hienoa ehkä vähän rokkia ja vähän discoa ja vähän synth poppia. Kappaleet on mahtipontisia ja tyylikkäitä. Hienoa poppia. Parhaat: The Look Of Love Pt.1, 4 Ever 2 Gether, Tears Are Not Enough
Album 551 of 1001 ABC - The Lexicon Of Love (1982) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Another's Duran Duran. It just oozes "80s". Some nice bass lines throughout. Usually not my type of thing but I enjoyed it.
Still enjoyable as far as it goes, but sounds very much of its time.
Big and layered, great production, just not my kind of music
This album really encapsulates the New Wave sound coming out of the UK in the 80's and I'm pretty much here for it. The vocals real you in as completely emblematic of the times. Really a great example and I can see why it reached such high critical and popular acclaim when it hit!
Decent
This is a snapshot of the 80s pop aesthetic in album form.
Not too shabby
Good listen, pretty interesting.
I don't see how this distinguishes itself from standard 80s synth pop. Doesn't feel essential, but Poison Arrow is good
A pleasurable, listenable dose of 80s pop. I dug it!
I thought I liked this but the next day I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it sounded like.
This was a new one on me. Arguably, ABC didn't quite stand the test of time and faded into 80s obscurity. Ok, it's a very 80s album, but it's really not a terrible one. It's got a great energy and it's well produced. It's less cringeworthy and gimmicky than other reviewers would have you believe, despite the occasional sax. It's not particularly memorable though. It feels somewhere in between the dark crooning style of Echo and the Bunnymen and the quirky energy of Talking Heads, but not as great as either. Interestingly, this album led to the creation of avant garde pop group, The Art of Noise, from the various session musicians and producers. They might have been a more interesting addition to the list than ABC. There's something endearing about 'Lexicon of Love', but if I'm honest, it's not one I'm likely to remember for a long time.
Perfectly bland.
Solid album. Fun and funky
I liked a few of the songs in the second half of the album. I don't love the woman's voice. Groovy but theres only a few songs on here id listen to again and even those weren't crazy or anything.
6/10 - It was pretty decent. I liked the look of love and all of my heart a good deal but omg poison arrow got on my nerves so quickly. And the way they brought it back in the theme from "mantrap" just upset me. If that song was not on there it would probably be a 7/7.5. I liked the overall vibe.
Mid
I have always meant to listen to this album. I think it was really this one that got Trevor Horn to become the producer that he is. As an album it's... okay. I can't say it's my favorite style of music. I will say the singer is okay, but it's this trying to "modernize" a Cole Porter feel which doesn't really work. The elements were all there, I liked the bass, and the keys and such. It just... didn't do anything for me. "Poison Arrow" was probably my favorite of the songs there. The lyrics were cutting, and the music was fitting. The reimagining of the song which for the bonus track ("Theme from 'Mantrap' ") was neat, too. Production was great, but the songs themselves just didn't hit for me. Maybe this is another one I need ot listen to again, I don't know. Top tracks: "Poison Arrow"
I mean, it's fun and all but I'm kind of surprised this album is on this list. Did ABC combine a bunch of different styles? I hear funk and dance, with orchestral backing. I see punk mentioned a few times about this album but I don't get that at all. So yeah, there's some ambition there that is more than your standard 80's fare. But is there a lasting impression? Poison Arrow is a perfect example of this album and group. It comes on and you're likely to say "oh I love this song, it's so 80's" but halfway through you're looking for the next cheesy fun 80's song to put on. I'm probably not going to remember I listened to this album after tomorrow.
It was pretty average, great basslines though. Overall didn't enjoy much.
This would be fine for the days I’m feeling like listening to Brit synth-pop, which almost never happens.
It did make me grin to hear what is the quintessential sound of the 80s. However, that doesn’t make it automatically good. The only song here I know/remember is “The Look of Love” and that is easy to pass over.
Actually pretty good pop. Recognized a couple songs from my youth, which is always fun when you've almost forgotten them. Some good instrumental work, too, the bass in particular caught my interest on several tracks. 3.5*
Notable tracks: The Look of Love Pt.1, Poison Arrow, All Of My Heart
V 80’s and dramatic. Some good funky elements
Wore quick.
Soooo 80's 3/5
Is this a fashion shoot or an album? Some likable hooks and strong vocals, but the ultimate ‘80s synth-sax combos is just too much to look past. Not terrible – the ‘80s was a golden age of stylish pop, after all – but this is mostly valuable as an authentic (and overly coiffed) artifact of that era’s dance pop.
Bastante inofensivo y no se destaca tanto. Creo qué hay pop ochentoso que ha sobrevivido mejor a lo largo del tiempo. Bowie y Duran Duran great value, cómo dicen acá
i once had a life and moved in a direction, i once had a gun and a fire of questions, i once had memory and a song in my tongue, i once had to starve, ive a broken heart, ive a mind for none albums pretty good ig
Very fun album Standout songs: Tears are not enough The look of love p1 Date Stamp
Ok
Okay, hear me out. I like this album. I think it's pretty alright. The instrumental sound is interesting. It's very 80s. I really like the bass. The singing is alright. It fits the vibe. The writing is pretty decent. There's some good songs. However, while I like the album, if someone told me that they hated this album, I'd kind of get it. With albums that I've seen people complain about that I liked like Aja by Steely Dan, I don't really get the hatred. It's not for everyone, but I think it's great and don't see why someone could just despise it. I can kind of see it with this album though. The writing is a bit repetitive, it could be seen as a bit generic, and I can kind of see how someone would think that the album hasn't aged all that well. I mean, is it really one of the best albums of the 80s? It's not even the best album of 1982. I liked albums like Thriller, Pornography, and even Rio more. Overall, I can see why someone wouldn't like this album, but I think it's perfectly fine. 3/5.
I grew up in the 80s and never realized how funky a lot of this New Wave stuff was. That bassline to kick off the first track is funky as hell. Bassline in "Tears Are Not Enough" is slappin' too. Overall, I think this is a good but not great album. 3/5
Lead singer reminds me of someone - was surprised at how much I liked it considering my expectations with the album art.
new wave romantic, once it's enough
Not the biggest fan of his singing style or silly lyrics but this at least held my interest & had some very cool bass playing. 2.75.
started off very funky then got bland
A Sheffieldian's idea of disco. There are fat funk bass lines throughout this smooth album. A combination of disco and new romanticism with gold suits and gold hooks. Best Tracks: Poison Arrow; The Look of Love - Pt. 1; All of my Heart
Had some good moments, more interesting than I expected from the other user reviews.
Fun 80s sound.
pretty decent feels like i've heard this stuff before
Like the album. Early 80s and quite fun 7/10
Pop, Disco 1982 -> 3
Wasn’t really sure who this was until I heard “The Look of Love, Pt. 1”. Easy listening.
This is better than I was expecting based on the reviews and commentary. It is 80's, but it doesn't have the hollow production that a lot of other 80's albums suffer from. There's driving, funky bass, and lots of interesting instrumentation with strings and brass. The songs are dramatic. It's got plenty of catchy grooves and a lot of energy. It's still not really my thing, but I can see why it has it's place in this list.
This was alright. I could see how this could have been really important album in the 80s. Listening to it now, though, a lot of the songs are similar and repetitive. I didn’t hate this, but nothing much stood out. I was going to give this a 2, but “4 Ever 2 Gether” was a nice departure from the rest of the album, and I quite enjoyed it. But over, this was just okay.
Some good songs, mostly bland doe. 3/5
Already knew and liked two tracks (The Look of Love and All of my Heart) but that is not enough for a whole album. In total this is an album I don't really care for.
All these types of bands sound the same to me
2 80s 4 me
Don't have much to say about this.
Eh not my thing.
3.75
C'était vraiment cool
This inoffensive and upbeat 80s music that just kind of puts you in a happier mood. Overall a good album with a few odd lyrical choices.
Un album qui sonne "trop" de son époque. Ce n'est pas si mauvais, mais ça sonne vraiment comme tout ce qui se faisait à l'époque. J'ai vraiment aimé "4 ever 2 gether", mais rendu à la fin de l'album il est un peu tard pour se rattraper. 5.5/10
All aboard the ship of love We're going full speed ahead, toot toot! The ocean is full of broken hearts And the captain is a kiss! Ship of love, full of tender hugs I must steer the course right to the island of love There are pineapples and crabs there But I cannot eat them, because I am too heartbroken today It's the ship, it's the ship The ship of love I drive the ship, drive the ship The ship of love Look out for rocks, big scary rocks The rocks are metaphors for my broken heart! https://youtu.be/ZmmPLeXEtzU?t=45
All of this music, and the lead singer's voice seem so familiar. But I have never heard of the band by name or the songs by name. I did enjoy it, though.
I first heard these songs when MTV was a thing. I liked the video for "The Look of Love", so I went out and bought the album. I think it is still in my collection, but I'm not quite sure because I haven't listened to it in 40 years. It's a good album of 80's pop. It's ok, but I'm not really that into it.
Schöner Gitarrenrock tolle Harmonien.
Very solid just not a big fan of the guy's voice
ABC's "The Lexicon of Love" is a brilliant synthesis of new wave, pop, and orchestral elements, creating a stylish and sophisticated sound that defined the 1980s. Released in 1982, the album is a concept record that explores themes of love, heartbreak, and redemption, all set against a backdrop of lush orchestration and infectious melodies. The album's standout tracks, including "Poison Arrow," "The Look of Love," and "All of My Heart," showcase lead singer Martin Fry's smooth vocals and the band's knack for crafting catchy, yet emotionally resonant pop songs. The production, overseen by Trevor Horn, is pristine and innovative, incorporating elements of classical music and dance-pop to create a sound that was both timeless and ahead of its time. "The Lexicon of Love" is a masterpiece of 1980s pop music, showcasing ABC at the height of their creative powers. Its blend of sophisticated songwriting, lush production, and emotional depth has ensured its status as a classic of the era.
I'll be honest...I was expecting to hate this way more than I ended up doing so. It's still not great or groundbreaking in any way, but it is clearly art. Favorite track: Tears Are Not Enough
This would have been so refreshing at the time and now sounds so similar to what came after it.
Not bad, but really cheesy.
Some classics on here. I get it, but do I love it? No.
British new wave is always cool. Very distinctly 80s.
Чета все ругаются на этот альбом, а я вот ругаться не собираюсь. Вполне себе песняки театральные такие, для нью-вейва вполне себе. Хуй сосите короче
This album was a decent 80s pop album with synth pop and new wave influences. The music is very much of its time, but I can't really gauge if this album should be considered influential or groundbreaking. It was certainly enjoyable and is a great example of its genre though so I'm giving it a three.
The voice is pretty terrible. It sounds like he’s trying to sing for a musical, and it comes off as “sing-saying”, which I hate. Also, his chorus hooks tend to come off as annoying, especially when he repeats it a billion times. However, barring his voice, everything sounds good and catchy. The backing tracks are just good pop/disco songs. If there was a different singer, I would probably like this album way more. Favorite track: Valentine’s Day
The lyrics are pedestrian but the execution provides entertainment. Luckily a good bass and disco beat can save anything.
Really it would be a 2.5/5. I was excited when I saw that it was 80s new wave from the UK, but I didn't find the songa very interesting. Look of Love and Tears Are Not Enough are good, but not like to be on my rotation
It was a fun album, in a department store kinda way. Where are part 2 and 3 of 'Look of Love'?
With albums like this, I understood that I don't like certain type of 80s music. In some new-wavish style with eclectic instruments, synths and repetitive drum patterns that are interrupted occasionally by baffling decisions in the form of quirky noises. But this, at least it's not as sonically insulting as others. It's well thought and complex, pleasantly.
Did not realize that ABC really helped define that new wave sound so early in the 80's.
I had no idea what to expect going into this. I hadn't heard of the artist or the album, and the album cover didn't give me any meaningful clues. I guess I can continue to round out my 1980s listening. There's melodrama on this record. I started picking up on it during the second track. The songs are catchy and flashy, creating a listening experience that alternates between fun and occasionally grating. But mostly fun. I like the prominent bass guitar, what can I say. It's a strong debut album that gives concept album energy without being obviously a concept album. It's a collection of good early 80s pop songs about love and its trappings. I'll be revisiting the highlights. Highlights: Show Me, Many Happy Returns, The Look Of Love Pt.1, Date Stamp
The Lexicon of Love is emphatically and unashamedly 80s. It's like Duran Duran, Phil Collins, Rick Astley, Spandau Ballet, Heaven 17 and anyone else, even some later Bowie, all thrown into a blender and you end up with something not quite any of those individually, but somehow they make it work as their own sound. I don't love it because it's SO 80s and new wavey that it'll never properly appeal but it is undeniably fun, has a great bouncy energy to it and songs that make you feel; Tears Are Not Enough and Valentine's Day are a terrific back to back punch and the second half of the track that follows, The Look of Love (Part One) is pretty iconic. I can't hate it, it's an easy 3, and if we've gonna have 80s pop on here I'd rather have this than many other albums.
Even the title is cringey this is over the top, mega 80s, super cheesy electro pop. Some of the lyrics are so painful that I actually quite enjoyed them. Will I ever listen to this again, probably not, but definitely raised a few smiles. 3/5.
Vibed with this, fun album
Not heard of this, 80s pop apparently. Quite a fun vibe. High 3 so far.
I don't get why this album is so polarizing. It's incredibly "of it's time" and incredibly average. It it the worst album of all time? No. Has it changed forever the way I think about 80's British pop music? Also no.
‘80’s Brit rock - felt more like an one hit wonder group
Very, very 80’s album
Good
Actually a decent UK pop album! Especially as a debut. Pretty balsy to take the name ABC.
Fun 80s music
Interesting blend of music. I was familiar with this group from only a few of their songs. This is a solid 80's album.
80s synth pop to the max, with dramatic/campy vocals
3.1
Good 80's jams.
Superior pop, but not to my taste.
Eh, I thought it was pretty good. Sounded like a quintessential 80's album, so it was fun to listen to.
Not necessarily my jam but well done. Kinda like cheesy synth pop meets disco.
Very 80s, but not in a bad way.
I was excited when this popped up as it was a huge album with my group of friends back in 1982 with many hours spent dancing to some of the songs in clubs. I was disappointed to find that as a whole, the album doesn’t quite stand the test of time, though the singles from the album like Poison Arrow and Look of Love do in fact hold up. Still, Martin Fry’s crooner vocals are fun and the sophisti-pop stylings and music make it impossible not to want to get up and groove to it.
This was really fun, but nothing about it felt outstanding or remarkable. Almost gave it a four, if there had been a few more standout bops I think I would have
Very polished, slightly bloodless, over-produced, completely lacking any sort of edge, only emotion is a sort of general whining about "feelings". However, 'All of my Heart' is one of the best pop songs of the 80s, and the other two big hits (poison arrow & the look of love) are better than I remembered. 3 🌟
Some really good songs, but maybe I've had too much coffee so far... it seems very frenetic. Maybe it's just all the energy.
A bombastic romp of 80's sounds mixed with layers of instruments. Look of Love and All of My Heart seem the strongest though nearly all have a dance energy and a general frivolity. There a couple times where the vocal delivery is a bit painful, such as the middle of Many Happy Returns. An interesting journey.
If you put all the 80's synth-wave records into a blender, this is what would come out. Cool disco bass lines, lots of synthesizers, overly dramatic vocals. It's certainly fun although I don't think I'd call this absolutely something you have to hear before you die. I can appreciate that this is not everyone's jam, and although I enjoyed it, there are better examples from this era that I would imagine are forthcoming on this list.
местами похоже на всякое (логично, артисты не работают в вакууме), но не прилегло на душу пока
Good
The instrumentals on this album are phonomenal, but I really couldn't get behind the vocals and lyricism. It worked on some of the songs, but not on the majority of them.
Some of the music was really fun, but the lyrics mostly ruined it. So many bad love songs..
It didn’t sound like the singles I remember.
Decent early-'80s new wave.
I like ABC well enough, I guess. But when I wanna take a trip down 80s New Wave "memory lane" they're pretty far down the list of things I'd pick out.
-i have never heard of ABC before -excited to see what this is -oh yeah this is 80’s MUSIC!!!!! -this is giving fun dance music -i really like how cherry this is. fully makes me want to get up and dance -the songs do all sound very similar to each other tho -i do really like the look of love part 4 -yeah overall this is three stars for me! theres drama theres lovely instruments theres groove!
A cool pop/new-wave synth sound that took you on a journey through love and heartbreak. With most of the songs quite catchy and great to bop your head to. Best: Poison Arrow Worst: Theme of "Mantrap"
Cool energetic new wave Torn between 3 and 4, could enjoy again
it was perfectly average 80s music. I expected worse based on the cover, but also I wasn't blown away. Poison arrow is pretty good, the rest was listenable
Sure! Okay! Vibes! Kinda weird though.
git yo 80's vibes
bass lines are pretty sick. but i dont actually like this very much. i'll let it slide with a 3
Good pop
I like this style of 80s pop! I would listen to more in the genre one day 3.8
Head bobbing and funky with heavy bass and disco galore
I discovered this group. Very nice 80s rock pop, some funky rythms too. 3.5
Favourite songs: Poison Arrow, Show Me, Tears Are Not Enough, Valentine's Day, "The Look of Love, Pt. 1" Least favourite songs: 4 Ever 2 Gether, Theme from "Mantrap" 3/5
Despite I think being earlier than a good chunk of bands I would compare this to, I still can't shake the feeling that this is like if an AI was told to make a sophisti-pop album. It is certainly surface level solid, but past that nothing here grabs me, with it being funky, but no baseline being memorable, and the singer has a great voice, but I'd never be able to pick it out of the crowd. I'll give it credit for being something I'd say I enjoyed, but it doesn't go much farther than that.
Weird and 80's
Pas si raté que ça
et si tous les albums des annees 80 n etaient en fait que des side projects ratés des cure ?
Good new wave, new romantic album. "The Look of Love" parts 1 and 4 are the standouts and the former is necessarily a big 80s hit. The rest is of its time.
OK I'm a sucker for the 80s and this was enjoyable!
Alright got me moving with first song
80s romance ballads ok
Saw the cover and thought I’d get it, i didn’t. Very theatrical and fun. Had some humour worked in. Got me boppin’ around a bit, can’t guarantee I’ll return to this but i liked it. 3.5 stars
This is clearly a movie soundtrack, but i dont hate it! 3*
Had heard the Poison Arrow song before and enjoyed it, and liked that the album felt cohesive.
If there's one thing I've learned from 1001 it's that I do love some early 80s new wave. This one didn't scratch the itch as much as some others, it feels a bit more kitchy or something. But it was alright.
80s pure pop. Enjoyed and had never heard of the band prior to this. 3/5
Very standard 1980 new wave Duran Duran-ish. My fave was The Look of Love Pt 1
En tiennyt mitä odottaa kannen perusteella, mutta juuri tätähän sen kuului olla. Nautin tästä jostain syystä joka minuutilta enemmän. 4 ever 2 gether on todella hyvä. Mitä draamaa!
💁
It's just too melodramatic and cheesy for my tastes. It's very evocative of the era but not necessarily in a good way. To me, this album has not aged well.
Catchy, very VERY 80s. Was like listening to 45 minutes of very energetic Tom Jones with an 80s band. Liked it, but it needed more changes of pace to hold attention. Was a bit much for me I’d give it a decent 3
Definitely reminded me of the 80s. Poison Arrow was a big hit. Nice stroll down memory lane but not going to seek out this album.
first listen ho hum
Delightful
80s fun
Can spot that Trevor Horn production a mile off; some tracks sound like Frankie Goes to Hollywood songs but with a different singer. There are a couple of decent songs here, but most of them are pretty bland. I quite like "All of my Heart"
a refreshing listen. was not too long and didnt felt short. a 3.5 tbh
This is a bit of a surprise for me. Was expecting something dreary for some reason, but instead it’s a bit of a new wave / new romantic / Spandaeu Ballet esque record. Some cracking bass riffs and a lot more funk than its peers in that respect. It’s cheesey as fuck at times, but then it is an 80s pop record… Doubt I’ll ever return unless I’m making a wedding playlist, but it’s a decent listen nonetheless!
Really getting both ends of 80s music the last couple of days ey. 80s pop takes itself far too seriously and I find it hilarious a lot of the time so hard to judge it properly but there's a lot of guilty pleasures in there. Love a bit of Wham. ABC: the bass lines are mint, I prefer the hard hitting stuff with over the top drums and they had a lot of this. The look of love is hard not to like. But it's all so overproduced and stiff that I can't listen to it too often. In this single listen I didn't mind it but I wouldn't come back very quickly, if ever. 2.5.
Second time listening to this. More to it than just the one song. Worth a second listen.
In 1982 I was barely a teenager, in jeans, a t-shirt and the default pair of Doctor Martens boots, listening to The Specials, The Selector, The Doors.... but definitely hadn't really considered New Romantic music, although by this stage I was already dipping my toe into Japan's Quiet Life album, so my ears had got a taste for new wave music by that time. ABC released this album, and it kinda broke my barrier to New Romantic music, these guys were able to produce some differbt music that sort of got my interest at the time, even though it was heavily synthed and had the cheesiest lyrics to pluck on the hearts of the teenage girls fan base, these guys were up running in the new romantic pack with Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet. The fun thing about the cheesy lyrics was that, for pubescent teenage boys, we would take great amusement to reword the lyrics into something more enjoyable, like, you stole my heart became, your stinky fart, and many other childish and teenage hilairballs alterations. All in all, it's not too shabby an album, for the early 80s, but it is incredibly samey between tracks. The music and the look were both aimed as pure marketing to a teenage girly fan base, a recipie that the music industry manufactured recipie music continues to apply today.
Good album. Enjoyed more than I expected to!
Typical 80s baloney. Liked it.
an album that sounds familiar, but nothing stands out
El álbum debut de la banda ABC es una entretenida recopilación de canciones pop. Las letras, si bien bastante dramáticas, son lo suficientemente divertidas como para mantener atento a quien escucha el trabajo, sin embargo, viéndolo en perspectiva desde el 2023, “The Lexicon of Love” no envejeció muy bien. La pista más destacable de todo el disco es “The Look of Love Pt. 1”, y el resto puede hacerse monótono y repetitivo. De todas formas, es un un álbum entretenido y ligero de escuchar, pero de ninguna forma lo llamaría un “indispensable” de las despensa de cualquier melómano.
I needed the happy ish disco echo today.
Surprisingly fun. A bit too old school for my tastes but not bad to listen to
I remember hearing The Look of Love everywhere during my senior year of high school and first year of college. I liked it but never got further into this band. I think they're pretty good, reminiscent of the Cars and other bands of that ilk. Not bad, but probably won't listen again. 3 stars.
Cheesy 80s,but the good kind. It would maybe be a 4 if the whole album wasn't essentially just a buildup to one song.
Highlights: "Date Stamp," "Valentine's Day," "Show Me," "Tears Are Not Enough" Although running behind Prince, Duran Duran, and Genesis, this album comes in early for its particular blend of disco, funk, and electropop. It beats Bowie there anyway, although it's obviously indebted to his range of vocal deliveries. It's consistent in the feel and energy while having enough variety to keep things fresh, but the production can also be frenetic, dumping jarring one-off gimmick fills in the middle of the mix and doubling down on weak falsettos with blatant boosts and reverb ramps. The lyrics have glimmers of intelligence that are mostly bent in service of vindictive breakup slop. It's way too salty overall, but there are moments of campy conflation between romance and commercialism that hold up alright, a snarky perspective where everything is objectified. Not bad for its time, but almost everything about it has aged poorly.
Some catchy hooks and riffs, still has the classic 80s cheese
Surprisingly great, thought this was gonna be a musical or something or something composery.
Classic 80s radio pop vibes. Nothing stood out to me specifically, but it’s a good album to just let play. This music makes me nostalgic and happy! Listen again: probably Purchase for my collection: nah Best Song:
Alles wat je maar van een jaren-tachtigalbum mag verwachten: elektrische drums, een overdosis keyboard, geëxalteerde zang en een oorwurmhit. We hebben er weer kennis van genomen.
Pretty average 80s pop, fun stuff and some of the songs were pretty good tunes
Mason Greenwood listens to this in the bath
Baladas de pop ochentero. Un megahit. Ni fu ni fa.
Jollain oudolla tavalla tykkäsin tästä! Mut eihän tää mikään Duran Duran ole. Pari tiukkaa hittiä. Voisin soittaa klubilla. 3/5
Well... the title of this album tipped me off to the likelihood that I wouldn't dig it. I give it a 4-star rating for attention to craft and establishing a vibe and... making this list, I guess. But in terms of my personal enjoyment, it's nestled in 2-start territory. Way too cheese-synthy for me, not a fan of the lyrical inclinations, compositionally it's not awful but it's not something I'd choose to listen to. So... let's meet in the middle and go our separate ways.
I thought this album was fun- good singing, good band, etc. No complaints, just nothing AMAZING or out of this world. But fun!
Rock bien de los 80's. Tiene algunos buenos temas con unas vueltas de tuerca, pero nada del otro mundo. La voz del chabon particularmente no me gusta mucho, pero no es mala.
Surprisingly good catchy synth based '80s pop. Much better than I expected overall.
It is OK. It is definitely an 80s album. Not sure if I really recognized any of the songs but some sounded familiar. I wouldn't seek this album out again, but i didn't skip any songs. The album is better than a 2 but not really a 3.
Started listening to it a few months ago, didn't finish. Harmonyfm vibes. Listened to the Deluxe Version. Funny how there's so many versions of Poison Arrow on it. + Poison Arrow + Look of Love, Part One + Overture + Alphabet Soup
I’d say it’s just fine. Not too much caught my ear but still mildly fun throughout. 5/10
I think that ABC might be a band that my mum has mentioned before. She might have said that she used to listen to them. Then again, I may very well have confabulated that. Let’s listen and find out if they are any good! Songs I already knew: Poison Arrow, The Look Of Love Pt 1 Favourites: Poison Arrow, The Look Of Love Pt 1 I enjoyed this quite a bit more than I was expecting to. The guitar and slap bass if somewhat funky throughout which is never a bad thing. My main criticism here is that aside from the two songs mentioned above, nothing else really captivated me. There were two excellent songs, and plenty of forgettable songs which makes it difficult to rate this album too highly. I did enjoy it overall, but there’s a fairly big difference in quality of songs here in my silly little opinion.
I like his voice and I like the bass lines, but I feel like something here just isn't drawing me in. I understand why their hit is their hit, though the rest of the album is still good. My favourite song was The Look of Love (Pt. 1)
Favorite song: Poison Arrow
3.5 / 5 stars
Strong and unique. Standouts: Poison Arrow, The Look of Love, Others: Show Me, Many Happy Returns, Valentine's Day, All of My Heart Rating: 3.5
Poppy and enjoyable
Sounds almost like a lost David Bowie album. Overall fine, I guess it was an important album historically because it had some hits in the UK?
This is another 80's album that's just a good album. No idea why I need to hear it before I die.
Fun album, reminds me of Mom
Not a fan of the vocals
Best Song: The Look of Love, Pt.1. Pure theatre, with a rather catchy melody. Worst Song: All Of My Heart. Much, much too sappy. Overall: Firmly in the "Buffalo Bill" style of 80s music. At times the theatricality was able to overcome the camp, but at other times the camp wins. An album that toes the line between catchy and annoying.
Wow hello there 80s!! I don't get why he wouldn't accept that it's a concept album?? Concept albums are great, were they not very cool in the 80s?? They released a film of the music videos and it has a running story... Aside from that I do enjoy the synthy sounds and the 80s film soundtrack feel to this album. However, listening a little further, I feel like this is a joke haha. Like is this actually serious it's so insanely cheesy. This is a cheesy 80s musical in an album! I love and hate it and confused how to rate it! I can only enjoy this really for about 3 tracks and then it's enough, also the majority of the songs aren't catchy enough for me they get a bit rambly - apart from The Look of Love - which is GENIUS, so so fun.
Decent sounding early 80's new wave stuff. Liked some of the bass lines. Didn't love or hate any songs in particular. Favorite track probably Poison Arrow.
Brings back memories of tunes I liked and music videos that made me laugh. However, I wouldn’t consider this anything more than a fine representation of early eighties pop music; nothing to die for.
Even if Poison Arrow - the song that propels this album to the list showed up on a list of singles you must hear before you die, or even the top songs of 1982, I'd skip it. This album has absolutely zero reasons for being a 'must listen' and is just another example of the author's insane logic for forcing 80s and 90s Euro-Synth onto a place it doesn't belong.
Gillar ju inte sån här 80-tals synthpop egentligen men det här är rätt bra faktiskt. Känns som all dålig 80-tals synthpop man hört försöker härma det här.
Good, Playful Power-Pop
Standard 80's pop music. Good for vibin'
I’ve never been much for this style music, but it was nostalgic. It’s one I don’t mind, but I wouldn’t seek it out.
A completely fine piece of ‘80s music. The single is the obvious standout on this release. A very good, underrated band from this decade. Worth a first look if you enjoy that decade.
A grand pop album. Heavy horn fills soaring strings and tight rhythm guitars. A true reflection of it's time sounding like the epitome of the 80s
Urgh. On paper I should hate this, as it covers all the worst bits of 80s pop. Yet somehow I just can’t… resist… those… funky… hooks…
This should be right up my street, but I didn't much like it. Might take more listens, but I think there's something about the singer that I'm not going for. Definitely good, but not great.
Wow, that was a lot more fun that I was expecting. Fave track is Show Me, really sets the scene as the opener. And the track Theme from "Mantrap" is the perfect closer.
You know what, I didn’t hate this, and the younger version of me definitely would have. Maybe not even all that much younger, too - I think this project is doing a lot to rehabilitate me to 80s music. Fave track - "The Look of Love (Part One)" - quite enjoyed "Date Stamp" too...
Fijn hoor.
Ah Martin Fry and his Steel City Electro-poppers, this is a good debut with some cracking tunes on it. I love both the "Look of Love" and "Poison Arrow" and a good all round debut. Interesting choice for this list and to be honest not on my list.
Можно послушать
Unique sound, catchy, hooky songs. Poison Arrow is an all time classic.
jooo alko hyvin alko nii mietin että vitosen chäänssi on tässä tulla sitten seurvaapa pari piisiä... noh voidaan nelosta antaa rohkeasti... levy pyöri ja pyöri.... no ei kolmonen huono ole........ onneksi loppuu alta aikayksikön muuten tippuisi vielä enemmän herran jumala THEY DROPPED THE BALL PALLON PUDOTUS...... ALAMÄKI KUIN KÄNNYKÄN AKKU.... show me baras
Trevor Horn brilliant procedure and nice campy music. Still prefer Propaganda and Frankie GTH, more classic albums than this one. 3 stars
Weirdly pretty good
Ochentero a más no poder con piezas instrumentales entre canciones, muy agradable para escuchar de fondo. No es música que te cambie la vida ni creo que lo intenta ser. Sólido 3.
Wow c’est tres explosif. Pas mauvais mais un peu tropmpour moi. 3.60
I listened to this in very enthusiastic company - this was one of Natalie’s first discoveries of new wave music in the early 80s, thanks to her local library. I was happy to hear it, surprisingly complex and interesting arrangements and definitely part of the sound of my 80s too. I’d enjoy hearing it again but I wouldn’t pull it out myself. 3.5 stars.
Catchy and vacuous, but I think that was the intention from the melodrama of the lyrics and the pulp fiction artwork. I'm tempted to give it 3 stars.
This feels like a Jeopardy answer... "Which album is considered to be the epitome of UK 80s pop music?" Still, I found myself bopping along.
Groovy
This is a weird one. It feels like 80's pop, but it's unrefined. It's like the most generic 80's pop music you've ever heard. I wonder if this was the inspiration for a lot of artists. It's not very good, but I could see how it might have inspired others.
Definitely 80s, dig the bass lines, singer was meh.
I actually enjoyed more than I thought. Some tracks had a great vibe, very "Pool Suite". Not boring bubblegum pop.
Not as bad as the reviews make out, but not amazing
Classy synthpop, not a lot of standouts but I had a good time nonetheless.
Sounds like Duran Duran, but better? They might not have hits like DD, but at least they're not mostly made of fillers.
3.5