Reviews (page 6 of 8)
dig their dedication but it just ain’t my sound
Sounds like a worse David Bowie. Still not bad though.
Every time I think that I like new wave/synthpop stuff, I put on another of these albums and realize that I only do for a song or two at a time. A lot of it comes off as monotonous to me. Maybe it’s just me. C-
A bad case of new wave voice plus era clichés don't sink Lexicon. The first half is elevated by gonzo pairings: Something unspeakably eighties, arresting bass tone on the same track. The track record isn't perfect, unfortunately. The lyrics are sweet-nothing, but helped me realize something about good British new wave: There's an attention to language, the sounds of words interacting to create musical if not semantic meaning. A favorite genre trait, I think, unarticulated until now.
I like the lyrics
Was wel oké. ik was verbaasd dat ik wat nummers kende, want de artiest zei me niets
Poison Arrow brings back memories of Vice City. I'm an 80s music fan so we'll see what else ABC has to offer. Pretty catchy overall, I added Look of Love to my Spotify. A little "theatrical" for my tastes but the instrumentation is almost veering into pop territory, where I thought the band was going to be more of a new wave style.
Actually listened to this a lot in the 80’s but it hasn’t aged well. A few decent tracks but not something I would listen to in full again.
Ágætis 80s syntha-popp. Ég hugsa að ef AI fengi skipun um að búa til slíkt, þá kæmi eitthvað mjög svipað ABC út.
Kinda good perhaps
This is most apocalyptic new wave offering I've yet heard. I enjoyed the dramatic touches and Cabaret influence.
Wouldn’t had listened to this on my own. Pretty cool. Like if GTA was in the 80s, not quite a movie soundtrack but that vibe. Some really fun ones that out weigh the lame 80s parts elsewhere. Good horns throughout
Fine
I was hammered while listening and playing video games. It didn't stand out as good or bad.
29/08/2022 ABC - The Lexicon Of Love 3.5/5 This is one of those 80’s albums that could be used to define the pop sound of the era. The band, for been their first album, looks like knew exactly what they wanted to do, while still allowing themselves to slightly experiment. Working with the standards of their time, however, makes it something not very remarkable, at least to a modern listen. The instrumentals could get a bit mixed up between songs, and it can become tiresome; but the bass is something to highlight in almost all the songs. Martin Fry’s voice is one I like but is somewhat similar to contemporary singers. Show me – 4.5/5 Great intro track for the album, and a very good initial bass riff. My favourite of the album. Maybe the verses stagger a bit much. Poison Arrow – 3.5/5 Clear single track. Catchy chorus, good to average song. Many Happy Returns – 4/5 Another remarkable bass performance. It is clearly what gives the touch of brilliance to some of the songs. Tears Are Not Enough – 2/5 The lyrics and persistent singing makes this song kind of obnoxious. Valentine’s Day – 3.5/5 Middle of the pack song in the album. I like the use of the synth strings in the background. The Look Of Love, Pt. 1 – 4/5 Probably the most popular song of ABC, and it has its reasons. Very catchy, and probably the most “conservative” of all the album, in structure and sound. It is still a good song. Date Stamp – 4/5 Another bass that slaps. I would say is another strong point of the album. The female vocalist gives it something different. All Of My Heart – 2/5 This is the most generic sound of the album. It tries to be an 80’s pop ballad so hard that it sounds very basic. 4 Ever 2 Gether – 4/5 The most structurally different song of the album, and the one they took more liberty with. It is different indeed, but it doesn’t impact as much as they would think it does. The Look Of Love, Pt. 4 – 3/5 Little instrumental continuation of The Look Of Love to close the album. Maybe not necessary (and 4 Ever 2 Gether could have been a better closeup), but not bad neither.
This odd, disco-inflected, almost-big band thing that cuts a narrow but sharp-edged swath through pop music... I didn't hate it but there's a particular styling especially with the vocals that wears on me.
This is a collection of very good songs. It's just the sound that annoys me.
i enjoyed it only listened to it once
A little too cheesy, which is both good and bad at the same time.
Nice pop-funk, but a little bit too clean for my taste. Not something I will regularly re-listen to.
Very 80s (has an INXS feel) with awesome bass and synth driving the rhythm
Feels like music from lots of 80s soundtracks - fun, light and easy listening but not something I would add to my normal playlists
In the same vein of Durand Duran and Japan, ABC's debut album is a clear 80's artifact of new wave and synthpop while pulling glam inspiration from the likes of Bowie and Roxy Music. That's right, it's the UK's New Romantic scene. It's a particularly glossy and groovy record, with it's smoothed out production and danceable rhythms. ABC desperately wants to be the music for your dancefloor. I tend to take issue with 80's production because of how much is lacks personality, but ABC makes up for this with Martin Fry's passionate delivery on vocals and Brad Lang's funky basslines. It's a pointedly dramatic album that tried really hard to be the most important album of it's time. Too bad it's not. At the same time as this album, you had The Cure doing the same drama with more mood and skill on Pornography. Meanwhile, Prince was the dominating force of 80's funk with 1999, and Michael Jackson would put out the best-selling pop album of all time: Thriller. ABC might've been good, but they were in a time and place where you needed to be GREAT. I don't think The Lexicon of Love is a bad record, but it's buried under so much absurdly better music that it barely stands a chance outside of the fleeting New Romantic scene it's found itself in. An artifact, it shall remain.
It's another one which feels like the prototype for 80s pop. It has at least three classic singles on it. However, that very Trevor Horn 'plastic' production is either brilliant or tiring after a while. I prefer it with the Buggles or Frankie - on here it feels a bit laboured. A shame, as lyrically and musically, this is a good (but produced to not great) album.
Given how perfectly average of an 80s album this was, I want to imagine that this was a moderate hit that came out the exact same day as thriller or some shit and was just completely overshadowed. Regardless, lots of sad love type vibes and one of the later songs on the album I remember thinking was alright
First album from the 1980s.. Being a pretty big fan of music from this decade, I was familiar with their hits like Poison Arrow and The Look of Love. But hadn't really heard any of their other songs from their debut album so was appreciated to get this.. Very typical 80s sounds, e.g. base slapping, synth keys, etc.. Not my go to for 80s music but toes were definitely tapped whilst listening to!
Very classic synth-pop! I can hear its connections to a lot of Japanese city pop of the 80’s. Not my biggest thing but a cute record.
Sounds a bit dated now, but I always liked this band.
Helt ok. Hyfsat generisk 80-tals syntpop. Att det idag är trendigt med just det soundet gör att det inte känns allt för omodernt ändå. Inte så mycket som sticker ut, '4 Ever 2 Gether' är det spåret som tar ut de mest snäva svängarna, och det blir rätt bra. Annars skulle jag bli glad att höra vilken som helst av låtarna på ett dansgolv, främst den stora hiten 'The Look Of Love, Pt.1'. Bästa låt: The Look Of Love, Pt.1.
Not real sure what this is but was ok with it
Not generally my thing but I enjoyed it.
The songs are layered buzzing pieces. The production on the other hand has aged poorly. Still this is a very fun listen if you can get beyond the dated production.
Fun 80s album
Muy agradable, en general todo el disco es como una sola pieza continua
There's something about the lead singer's voice that has always rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe he's straining at the high notes? So he gets a little yelly? I found myself dancing to it now and then and I liked it more than I expected it to. So there's that at least.
I hated this much less than I expected to 40 years on for putting up with its popularity live and IRL. The engaging opener sets the tone. Still, it remains way too dancey-cheesy for my tastes. Of this ilk, give me the way cooler and much cheekier Blow Monkeys, more raffish Duran Duran and in all ways superior Style Council.
Not my favorite genre but ok.
It's a mix of 50s pop-soul arrangements, with a crooning melodramatic and decadent style in the vein of David Bowie. (6/10) FT: The Look of Love (Part One), Show Me
In the 70s our mantra was "Disco Sucks". Then again, this one is not too bad.
I enjoyed some of the funky slap bass on this album, which is a decent listen
Angry love songs with production set to 11.
the A to Z of 80s samples
This could easily be any synth poppy album of the era
3.4 - At times I like the thumping bass and some of the dramatic arrangements. The opening tracks have some good energy. But it starts to limp along with "All Of My Heart." And while "4 Ever 2 Gether" incorporates some interesting synthesized sounds, it's too cabaret for my taste. "Theme from 'Mantrap'" clinches the musical theater vibe, and I'm only too happy to see the curtain drop.
Pretty fun mid 80s pop. Sounds super 80s but that's the charm about it. 3.5/5
80s romantic dance party. Synth driven. The bass! 3.5
few tunes like but nowt special is it?
Nothing must hear about this album.
Very typical 80s disco pop, catchy tunes but all in all just too similar to each other
Oh. Trevor Horn. Now that makes a lot of sense... Everyone likes "The Look of Love" and "Poison Arrow", but I'd never bothered thinking deeply about ABC beyond this (other than once when Montell Jordan gushed lovingly about them in an interview, which was a bit of a surprise). I want to call this "polished", but I think the appellation unfair. Competent tunes carefully shaped into sums greater than their parts; complicated but never overbearing production; carefully calibrated balance of voices, instruments, and ambience, forming a pleasing whole. In short, Trevor Horn.
6/10 some of the worst lyrics i've ever heard but it had some catchy songs for sure.
Baladas de pop ochentero. Un megahit. Ni fu ni fa.
Having been born in the late 80s is a weird thing; I am a 90s kid, but there are residuals of the 80s, like electronic drums, pagers and He-Man, that still resonate with me. Having discovered ABC gave this sentiment more real estate in my head. Lexicon of Love sounds like the filler music I would've unknowingly heard on the radio as I sat at the kitchen table colouring while my mom made dinner. It's nostalgic in its genericity, with its era-appropriate popping bass and synths, and 4/4 drum beat. Songs like Valentine's Day sound like game show introduction sequences, and not in a bad way. With its handclaps and xylophone, leading up to the spacey synths and dance beat, this would be my favorite track on the album. As far as listens go, this was easy....as ABC.
nada tira da minha cabeça que esse album foi inteiramente escrito, produzido e realizado por david brent
This is all pretty generic early eighties stuff. Only a couple of good songs on here and I'm pretty sure they are only good for nostalgic reasons. Overall it's ok, but didn't feel like it deserved a place on this list.
The song I knew from ABC was "Love Conquers All", I still love that one, but more for sentimental reasons. Also, I learned it was from an album 10 years after "Lexicon". So I had high hopes for the album. But I was disappointed. The album sounds like generic 80s sound. Sure the songs are catchy but it lacks musical innovation. Compared e.g. to A-Has "Hunting High and Low" which is also on this list it is *really lacking*. The two tracks (4 ever 2 gether and the look of love part 4) were the only standout tracks for me on the album.
Good but not great
Genre: New Romantic 3/5 Perhaps an album that defined a movement, The Lexicon of Love is a new wave, love songs album. A harkening back to the days where every song on an LP dealt with loss/gain/then eventual re-loss of love. While Martin Fry’s “Bowie-esque” vocals, the tremendous bass playing throughout the album, and Ken Horn’s keyboard-heavy production are all great, it suffers from one thing: I’m just not a huge 80s guy. 10 songs though, short and sweet, and will certainly NOT disappoint any 80s heads out there.
Very polished, slightly bloodless, over-produced, completely lacking any sort of edge, only emotion is a soet 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
Never heard of them, and liked it but a lot of the album is so similar that I got bored by the end
Synth heavy 80's English Pop, but I found the album hit or miss. While The Look of Love is iconic, Poison Arrow was a large miss for me. (the disco-ish mix was certainly... a choice.) 4 Ever 2 Gether was a pleasant surprise however. Pretty rad song.
Ho tutto degli anni '80. Mi piace molto il basso. Alle volte mi fanno venire in mente i Muse. Simpatici.
Best lekker.
Dit heeft alles voor mij om het helemaal kut te vinden; die ranzige 80s sound, smerig slappende basjes en vieze keyboards... maar het zijn gewoon zulke goede nummers dat ik er bijna 4 sterren voor wil geven!
Toffe plaat hor. Veel herkenbaarheid.
Goed te hebben, maar ook weer niet wereldschokkend. Heel erg 80'.
sounds kinda repetitive not bad though
Pretty fun. Funky. 6-7/10
Disc de pop sofisticat, elegant, sobri però poderós. Passa per ser una joia oculta dels 80, a descobrir per les noves generacions. No m'ho sembla. Té dos grans singles, 'Poison Arrow' i 'The Look of Love', però la resta no deixen de ser bons temes pop; ja es van fer moolt millors discos de l'estil en l'època, i també abans i després d'ell
I enjoyed this more than i thought I would. It's OTT and ridiculous but so am I
Il faut savoir que j'ai écouté cet album il y a 4 jours, je n'ai donc rien a raconter dessus, mais je voudrais souligner un point important. C'est aujourd'hui la 47ème fois que nous tirons Frank Sinatra dans le générateur, et ce après une serie absolument noire d'albums absolument moyens. Par conséquent, j'ai pris la décision de m'éloigner de Robert pour quelques temps, ayant besoin de prendre un peu de recul sur la situation.
80-S pop. For me this album very typical but in same time very strange.
Interesante disco de puro sonido de los 80. La mejor canción ""The Look of Love" (Part One)" y el resto se deja escuchar.
Слушаем
the album cover has 3 stars on it and this is slightly above average 80s stuff IMO...so 3 stars fits.
Way cool pop! Not sure I’ll return much, but I enjoyed the listen very much.
I didn't think much of this when it came out. After a good listen it sounds a lot like what Bowie was doing at the time
started off dece, but overall it was there, it was a thing, I didn't hate it, but I didn't go "vow that was good"
Decent.
Decent 80s album!
I’m a big fan of early 80s new wav-ish cheese, but this one just didn’t do it for me. I mean it’s Aight. It definitely gets better the farther you go, but overall just wasn’t doin it. A fun listen, but IDK if it belongs in with the rest here. That harpsichord solo on “Tears are not enough” was pretty fire tho- and of course “The Look Of Love” is a classic 80s pop song. The overall production and layering is brilliant but the songwriting and lyricism seems kinda meh.
Yeah I enjoyed this album! Not something I would have ever chosen on my own, which I appreciate. Funky 80's groove and better than decent vocals.
Some grand 80s pop, decent but I've heard it done better. Standout Tracks: Poison Arrow, Many Happy Returns, Date Stamp, The Look Of Love (Pt. 4)
Was ready to hate this, but they fully committed to their style and it showed. Not my cup of tea, and yet I mildly enjoyed it.
чееееетааа кактаааа хуй знает. прогнал пару раз. сначала вроде подумал, ну ньювейв, нормас должно быть, песни в меру эпичные, вокалист надрывается, пусть и сведено всё немного вырвиушно. но вот остаётся где-то на периферии сознания какая-то мерзкая мыслёнка, что наёбывают тебя. что как-то это всё не по-настоящему, декорации какие-то, клоунада. вот есть такое слово «cheesy» в английском, которое применимо к кажущейся, а не являющейся музыке. вот когда вроде слушаешь и всё по лекалам, всё то шо надо, но души в этом не хватает, и как будто делали с рассчетом на рыночек. и тексты какая-то кринжатура сопливая, если вслушаться. да и сами песни, если честно, плотно посасывают у конкурентных групп — в основном все плюс-минус на вокалисте тащится, по музыке почти ничего интересного для себя не заметил, тупо однотипные инструменталы новой волны с преобладанием гитарок. короче, говно ли? да нет, хорошие песни есть, вернее все песни плюс-минус терпимые, без очевидных проседаний и очевидных хайлайтов. послушать можно, че бы нет. но я че-то больше не хочу. далеко не самые выдающиеся представители восьмидесятых эти ABC и по-хорошему достойны быть погребены под слоем времени. но раз есть — то и пусть их. 5/10
3 1/2
Een soort show pop. Niet iets om echt naar te luisteren
Good 80s pop which serves as a major influence to the generations of artists that came after.
muy entretenido!!se echaba en falta algo q no fuera rock..
Solid new wave band
Songs are very catchy, but listening to them more than one time makes them exhausting to listen. Overall 6/10 album.
I liked some tracks but overall meh. 70s/80s sound.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this album, and the first song caught me a little off guard; louder and more in your face than I was expecting from an album titled "The Lexicon of Love." Overall it wasn't bad, though perhaps a little dated. The instrumentals blend together a bit so it's hard to tell when you're moving from one song to the next. Overall, an enjoyable listen though.
No tenía ni idea con qué me iba a encontrar y me sorprendí para bien. 3/5
Very 80s, fun to listen to but kinda felt like one long song
cheesy 80s pop. not bad but not great either. no song stood out to me
its a fun, sexy, borderline white people funk-pop album with some schmaltz layered throughout. i get serious showtunes vibes (as the cover implies). 80s sex album, yo. its an interesting and energetic affair, but also maybe a relic of its time. give it a go.
This album was alright. I previously knew the songs The Look Of Love Pt. 1 and Poison Arrow and I really enjoy them, but the rest of the songs were about average. 3.5/5 stars.
Osjetim estetiku vice citya kak izvire iz ovog albuma
When I quickly saw the album cover I was dreading some easy listening jazz or something theatrical. Pleasantly surprised by some fun and funky pop! The bass really stood out in this, especially in my favourite 4 Ever 2 Gether, which went a little bit Depeche which I liked. The Look Of Love is good but ruined by the eBay ad. Not something I'm eager to return to, but good nonetheless
Schönes New Wave-Album. Look of Love ist auch n außergewöhnliches Lied!
On the surface this album appears to be just another 80's synth pop record, and one that isn't terribly unique at that. However, this album has larger musical themes and an almost operatic approach with overarching movements and refrains of previous songs. While this may have brought others around to this concept, it sadly is still built on weaker musicianship.
Some brilliant pop songs with poetic lyrics and a distinctive sound. A bit exhausting though with every song going like the clappers and that Duran Duran / spandau ballet 80's singing style gets a bit annoying.
Liked this a good bit. Want to come back to it since I only listened all the way through once, but this was a good album
i was pleasantly surprised
Liked the horns and the arrangements, some of these songs were pretty good. But I found it a bit overwhelmingly schmaltzy and hard to sit through the full thing. Close though.
Classic BritPop!
This was a fun new discovery — some good additions to my 80s playlist. By the 2nd half it was wearing on me a little bit. Also why do bands title songs things like “4 Ever 2 Gether”
Pretty fun album that made grinding through an hour of document review more fun and tolerable. I wouldn’t listen unless I had something boring to grind through, though.
We had MTV in about day one back in 1981, and this band was in rotation back when the album was released in ‘82. “poison Arrow” and “Look of Love” were pretty popular. I thought it was ok pop, but not really my thing back then. Things haven’t changed much. “Theme From Mantrap” is cool. It’s good, but I’m rounding average.
Probs a 2.5 but a couple of bangers pushed it up rather than down
Better than the record cover suggested
It's fine, not necessarily an absolutely amazing album, but I could listen to it more
some really good songs.
ok
Tecno pop. Intrascendente.
It perfectly encapsulates those 80's synth-pop vibes.
Some of this just sounds like an honest to God disco album to these ears, but I gotta say - the Rufus Wainwright fan in me really liked the super over dramatic moments where there are more strings in the instrumentation than slap bass and dance beats. The “mantrap” tune makes me think one could remix this album into some cabaret-meets-Portishead thing of beauty. But first they gotta change that band name. ABC? Seriously, brah?
some bangers, but wasn't my thing
oozes 80's cheese. Look of Love Pt. 1 is top tier.
Fun new wave, a bit cheesy
eh
Pretty 80s new-wave. I'm generally not a huge fan of new-wave, but this is pretty good in that regard. "Tears are Not Enough" and "Look of Love pt. 1" are prob the standouts for me.
Good 80's album
What seems like the beginning of the 80s in general
Recognizablr 80s sounds, but not my favorite flavor
Ok album. Some hits. Nothing amazing. Very 80s. High 2.5
mikey likey
Was alright, very 80's rock. Lyrics and lyrical rythem were kind of bad at points.
Some catchy love and heart-break songs
Ondanks dat ik dacht deze band niet te kennen, kende ik het nummer "poison arrow" en "the look of love". Klassieke rock met interessante compositie, zoals gebruikelijk in die tijd goede mastering en muzikale nummers. Many Happy Return vond ik niks, Tears Are Not Enough is dan wel weer leuk. Voor mij beetje mixed bag dit album, met niet echt toppers.
This is an 80s pop album for sure. Interesting in that it really embodies part of a decade and definitely catchy but not something I feel attached to.
It wasn't bad. Almost like Rick Ashley but not as bad.
2.5/5. Same old new wave. Maybe when this came out it was considered good, but it definitely did not age well. Sounded generic, most of the songs sounded the same.
No está mal. Parece es soundtrack de una película.
2.36
Shoot that poison arrow through my eardrums.
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
digno disco. 2.5, me gusto
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."
Dull as ditchwater. Overly dramatic guff
This just didn't hit for me
Oh look, another British '80's one hit wonder.
Of the time. And never again, fortunately.
Exactly the kind of 80's music I quickly grew to hate back then. 2 stars or D-.
So 80s. Bit saccharine, and didn't really click.
Standouts Show Me Poison Arrow
It was grand - a bit forgettable
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.
Not very memorable, but ok to sit though. 2.5/5
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.
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
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.
Utter crap - Pet Shop Boys pablum and more.
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.
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.
Maso
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.
Ganska kul ibland men som helhet ganska svagt
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.
..
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.
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.
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.
80s gonna 80s.
Muy de su tiempo...
brit pop crap
After the first two songs, which were actually pretty fun, I found myself thinking I couldn't wait for this to be over.
This album helped me connect some dots I had not previously connected: https://comedybangbang.fandom.com/wiki/Martin_Sheffield_Lickly
Man. I don’t know about this one.
It is what it is and it’s not for me.
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?
Not my thing
Disco, so let's go. I was there and never heard this album. Apparently, it was big in the UK and Finland. Good on 'em.
Not for me.
Jeg vet ikke ass. Egentlig liker jeg New Romantic synthpop. Vokalisten minner litt om Matt Johnson fra The The, og de står hele tiden på randen av å bryte inn i Sophisti-Pop (som jeg elsker), men produksjon er for frempå og punchy. Å kalle det generisk i 1982 er kanskje ikke helt rettferdig, men idag kan de ikke leve på lydbildet alene, som jeg mener er gjort bedre av andre. Da kommer det ned til låtene. Hvilke låter? Jeg kan ikke huske forrige låta så fort den neste begynner å spille.
Det er noe flaut ved den musikken her. Det er så funky, men det svinger såå lite
Typical 80s Brit pop.
Bland, to be honest. Not offensive, the big hits were quite fun to hear, but it's just boring. His voice is pretty decent, but I can't think of a single time I thought 'what's going on here then?'. That is both a good and a bad thing, but I think you need at least 'what's going on here then?' per album realistically.
The Look of Love is a cool song
This 80s Pop needs to stay in the 80s
Generic 80s pop
Something I think I've said before in an album review: I really respond to authenticity and artistic intent. So even though on paper this should have been absolute torture for me, I was actually sold by the group's sincerity. This is so goddamn goofy, and they put 100% of their whole pussy into it, and good for them.
La producción es muy de la época pero suena limpio y bien grabado. Las canciones están bien y hay música en ellas. Sin embargo, no es mi estilo y me causa cansancio a la tercera o cuarta canción.
Maybe remove the vocals and make it instrumental only.
Computer, make me the most generic sounding 80's pop album.
Most 80s music is good... some is not
kind of like discount Bowie. i mean this as a compliment mostly
Le nom du groupe me disait quelque chose, effectivement j'ai reconnu quelques tubes que j'avais entendu à la radio à l'époque (en particulier 'Poison Arrow') mais sans vraiment les apprécier. Point remarquable : les lignes de basse sont très travaillées (+1). Mais je n'ai pas vraiment accroché à l'ambiance très (trop) disco de l'accompagnement, n'étant pas fan du genre. Je ne suis donc pas sur d'avoir envie de l'écouter de nouveau. =>2/5
Some fun songs, but it's so extremely 80s it feels a bit like a caricature.
Dreary synth-pop with all the 80s trappings and clichés. The odd enjoyable bassline elevated this above complete disgust but won’t be enough for me to be going back for repeat listens.
lol. I reject the premise that I need to hear this record. 4/10
That opening had me worried for the rest of the album
Well there were some songs that had amazing bass lines and were fun to listen to but a lot of songs that were just boring, it wasn't bad I wad just a little bored
This album was not what I expected nor what I wanted, just kind of mid.
I don't remember much about this album other than it was unremarkable.
Blimey, this is really dated. Which is easy to say about many albums, but this sounds like it's year of release more than any other album ever released. A bit of nostalgia, but that's enough now... Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ 80s ★★☆☆ (4/10) Total reviewed : 221 Already owned : 50 Purchased : 11 To buy list : 3 Nope : 157
Way too 80s for my liking.
A high proportion of these albums are one hit wonders. One classic so a 2. The rest is a load of filler. 80s ballad pop yawn.
Good and then slightly annoying. Faves in album order: Show Me Poison Arrow Date Stamp
This isn't worth hearing before I died. There are other entries vaguely from this time and genre that would probably be better suited to the list.
Bad 80s noise
Just the look, not much else
Pet Shop Boys are better.
Most deceiving album art ever. I like some of the noise they make and some tracks are catchy and amusing but the record as a whole made me cross eyed
I don't think I have ever known anything by ABC apart from 3 hits here. They are pure 80s pop and little else. Decent for that, but hardly world class
Was a weird album. Felt like it must have influenced some good albums as by itself it doesnt stand-up. Some of the lyrics seemed a bit basic and cheesey, amd it was very clichce at times
Dorky shit like this killed disco.
Take bargain-bin Bryan Ferry vocals, sprinkle on a little Bowie glamour, and you’ve got ABC. They peaked early with The Lexicon of Love, after that, it was all downhill. The real tragedy? Even their best wasn’t anything to write home about.
Never was much of a fan of this made for MTV style of music. Too slick.
New wave just ain't for me. I enjoyed a few songs at the front but the shine wore off quickly.
4/10
Sounds great thanks to Trevor Horn, of course it’s going to be polished as hell. I’m not a fan though of the genre so….
“Poison Arrow” and “The Look Of Love” are classics. Everything else on this album was way too overproduced.
This pop album drapes its glossy synths, punchy bass lines, and lavish string flourishes around theatrical, hyper-stylized vocals, all of it sweeping past like a grand romantic gesture written in gilt ink—impressive at first glance, Overall feeling more like ornate packaging than genuine emotion
The most dedicated experts of ABC are only able to state three things with certainty: 1. ABC had success with the single ‘Poison Arrow’ 2. ABC had success with the single ‘The Look Of Live’ 3. Martin Fry looks like the economics teacher who was sleeping with the mother of one of his pupils Having listened to this album I now rank alongside the greatest of ABC scholars. My life is not richer for this.
80s synth pop is one of my most hated genres of music so kudos to this album for not making me hate every single moment of it. Absolutely zero reason Lexicon of Love should be on this list though.
Potentially a solid outing in a genre I think is terrible, potentially just terrible.
This is the sound of sweating coke heads dancing like their lives depend on it, looking like they’re engaged in the mating ritual of some exotic bird species. If that’s your thing I don’t judge, but no one can convince me it’s an album I need to hear. 2/5
It was more enjoyable than I expected after hearing the first track. Basslines were way funkier than they had any reason to be, but the rest was pretty standard 80s dance music with an extra flamboyant vocalist. Didn't hate it but not something I'm eager to listen to again.
No los conocía
hard pass
Just not my preferred style of music. There's too much New Wave and Sophisti-Pop on this list.
I think this a good example of an album that could be taken off this list.
Was not my thing
One of those albums that probably get really fun towards the end of six pack. However I was sober for this whole listen, so I did not really enjoy this.
Like Bowie, but without any of the heart or interest.
Another one I could do without. 2/5
80s showtunes? Is this what Hair sounds like? I hope to never find out. According to the lead vocalist, most other bands at the time were 'writing about electric pylons'. He also said they wanted to 'fuse the attitude of punk with the sophistication of disco'. Martin, blink twice if you are ok. Admittedly I have less patience than normal after having to sit through Kate Bush and Les Rhythmes Digitales but this is no good regardless. I just finished the album and the only song I sort of enjoyed was literally a showtune. "Mantrap"...I'll avoid that.
Again I think in isolation these songs are a bit of fun at a disco. Just don't love as an album listen
Annoying and aged poorly. Didn’t need to listen before I died
Too plain and pop-y for me
Cringe 80s pop
Dated, not for me Shoot that poison arrow The look of love
Not my thing at all, but here's how ChatGPT said to appreciate it: Listening to ABC’s The Lexicon of Love (1982) is like stepping into a glossy, theatrical world where heartbreak is sung with exaggerated elegance and pop precision. If you’re coming at it from punk, jazz, soul, or art rock—this might feel almost too polished at first. But give it time, because this album is camp, cleverness, and high drama set to some of the best pop production of the ‘80s. Here’s how to get into it: ⸻ 🎯 What You’re Dealing With • Genre: Orchestral new wave / synth-pop / post-punk sophistication • Producer: Trevor Horn (same guy behind Owner of a Lonely Heart, Grace Jones, Frankie Goes to Hollywood)—expect lush layers and perfectionist polish • Theme: It’s a concept album about heartbreak, infatuation, manipulation, and emotional performance. Think Scott Walker fronting a disco band. ⸻ 🎧 Tips for Appreciating Lexicon of Love ⸻ 1. Embrace the melodrama • Martin Fry isn’t trying to sound “cool” or detached. He’s performing heartbreak, fully committed. • The lyrics are theatrical, full of irony and longing. Let lines like “When your world is full of strange arrangements…” wash over you—they’re poetic in a stylish, almost overblown way. ⸻ 2. Focus on the production • Trevor Horn’s work here is legendary. You’ll hear: • Real strings and lush orchestration • Tight, gated reverb drums • Layered backing vocals, funky bass, shimmering synths • If you like Steely Dan’s polish or Pet Shop Boys’ grandeur, you’ll love this. 🎧 Start with “Poison Arrow” and “The Look of Love (Part One)” to get the feel—hooky, glittery, emotionally explosive. ⸻ 3. Listen like it’s a stage play • This isn’t meant to be subtle or raw. It’s emotion as spectacle. • Each song feels like an act in a romantic tragedy—misunderstandings, betrayals, self-delusions—all sung from a spotlight. ⸻ 4. Don’t overlook the irony • Fry knows he’s being dramatic. There’s tongue-in-cheek wit behind all the hurt feelings. • “Valentine’s Day” or “Date Stamp” are fun, biting takes on modern romance and emotional capitalism.
Sort of a poor man's Bowie... not terrible, honestly
Can't remember if I listened to the whole time, but im not gonna relisten to it just in case I haven't, not worth it
2/5
Eh, I guess some tracks make you move. 2/5
Eh…
Fun, but nothing memorable. I did enjoy the vocals, which I typically don't on these 80's pop records.
If the Cure weren’t moody and depressed, and instead were a vacuous pop band, they might sound like this.
No. No thank you. I had a big lunch.
Prob the cheesiest 80s synth slop. Like not the worst thing ever but rlly nothing special either, some songs hit nice highs ig, look of love is solid. Yea whatever pretty inoffensive 2/5
White guy ruins funk music.
A worse version of better pop. Probably sampled a lot by newer artists.
Better than I thought it would be
80's pop is so hard for me to get into. Not as catchy/groovy as good disco hits. Singing almost satirically falsetto at times which brings this down quite a bit. Cheesy lyrics ("Poison Arrow"). The orchestration can be good at times, same with some decent funky bass lines ("Date Stamp").
Sounds like a divorce album. I can see how so many can relate to sell Platinum
Apparently, I have to again question the editors' and Brits' fascination with '80's synth pop. I'll give you two albums for this list in that category (three if that's what you call Devo), but there seems to be at least a dozen here. This album was just mind-numbingly boring. Despite my guidelines for reviewing, every album in this category after this one is getting a 1*. Please stop the madness. Zero influence, zero hits, quality was nothing to complain about (nor to compliment), and I fell asleep listening to it.
Overall: 4/10 I'm a little dissapointed in this one. It started off really strong with two great songs in a row, and then it just became a kind of generic, lame 80's british pop album. Way too many on this list. The bass parts were pretty great throughout though. Fav Song: Poison Arrow
ABC has more sophisticated lyrics and arrangements than some other 80s bands. I still really like The Look of Live and Poison Arrow as songs, but not sure the whole album hits. Another questionable inclusion as 1001 albums to listen to before I die… 2.5⭐️
This was so fine. I didn’t hate it but I certainly didn’t love it - I was questioning through a lot of this why this is included in the 1001 Albums list. Nothing felt super special or noteworthy to me.
More bland 80s pop
Never heard of the group, but had heard 2 songs from this album previously.
Mom, can we have some Duran Duran?” “No, we have Duran Duran at home.” Duran Duran at home
It was fine.
Well-made, for sure, but kind of a big yawn sadly.
Standard 80s pop rock. Not bad to listen to, but doesn't grab me.
This album has all of the 80's staples with none of the charm. Boring track after boring track and after a while they all start to blend together. I will say though, the lead singer has quite a voice on him, too bad it's not enough to elevate the album to a listenable spot.
Early 80s pop, fine for a historical snapshot, but not great 80s pop. Couple distinctive tracks, but disposable, and pretty weak in the context of this list.
but C knew all the words to one of the tracks!
Old school, minner meg om filmmusikk
This sound is stupid. ABC had to be aware of it. A lot of tracks are violently lacking in hooks or memorable, musically sound parts – especially in the vocals, which are generally pretty bad. Poison Arrow, one of the album's released singles, is bland and generic. It's strange: even though every instrument is technically played well (barring the vocals, which are average), they don't combine into something special. The instrument playing is extremely cheesy (e.g. instrumental breakdown around 2:40 of Many Happy Returns), but that's to be expected for 80s pop. The Lexicon Of Love is actually above-average for this era, but the bar is pretty darn low. It took until The Look Of Love, Pt.1 on this album to really impress me. The singing is good and soulful on that one, as well as the vocal and bass on Date Stamp. Compare the sound on this album to something from The Nightfly, released the same year. While Fagen's record essentially carries the baton from Steely Dan, incorporating meticulous instrumental arrangements that don't fall in line with 80s musical trends, ABC doesn't really achieve this. (I guess the competition was pretty steep.) Or compare it to Thriller, which features a much slicker and catchier setlist. Or Rio, which is Duran Duran's analogue of this record but is near-objectively better. An online review said of this album: "[the songs] demonstrate [producer] Horn’s signature style of rich, bombastic, borderline campy pop in full force." I think that's accurate, but really it reflects a producer making the best of some fairly patchy material. 2/5 Key tracks: The Look Of Love Pt.1, All Of My Heart
I really hate this schmaltzy British 80s shit, and there are a lot of these albums on this list. I guess it is two stars for being marginally listenable, but I’m in a bad mood so I am very tempted to give it 1 star.
This was a slog
Loud
Very 80s and kinda forgettable IMO. Not sure I'd say this withstands the test of time (though maybe that's not the point).
❄️
fine.
When pop music was New Wave. I have a theory that every rock star wants to be a crooner, deep down. Martin Fry skipped the first part and went straight to crooner right out of the gate, so I respect him for that. Very melodramatic. Not my favorite style and too polished for my taste - but this isn't music that can really have any edge to be successful.
This sort of sounds like The Cure if they weren’t goth. I think that may be all I have to say about this. It has structure and style it just has no purpose for me. Cheesy 80’s music. There, that’s another example. Choice cut: Tears are not Enough
Nice
A great opening 50 seconds ruined when the vocal begins.
Not my thing.
Too 80’s pop for my liking.
The epitome of generic 80s.
Can’t tell who they remind me of but sorta feels like I got rick rolled
Ehh very 80s, not really my kind of music
Cheap new wave Duran Duran knockoffs. Not terrible but no reason to have had to listen to that before I died.
eles queriam ser o duran duran mas n conseguiram mt bem né porém temos que admitir que o baixo desse é um monstro
Hat mich nicht so wirklich abgeholt, vielleicht muss man dafür in der richtigen Stimmung sein? Für mich war es sehr generic und die Lieder irgendwie alle gleich. Am besten fand ich noch Poison Arrow
This is more 80s than any 80s album ever. I feel like I’m there. And I want to leave. I’m going 2/5 for sheer dedication to the aesthetic. Albums like this are fearless. Instrumentation is nice. But I would never play it again.
This pissed me off. Valentine’s Day was fine. Disco/Pop/New Wave. June 21, 1982. British/English. 11 tracks. 41:44 run time.
A little too disco Duran Duran for my tastes.
When I was in first grade my mom used to wake me up by playing Crazy Frog on her phone. Little did she know I would get up much faster if she would play something like this
Extremely easy to date this to the early 1980s, which means it's not the most pleasing listening experience. It just about squeaks out two stars, as it's not actually painful to listen to, but I wouldn't go out of my way to ever listen to this again, and I would certainly be encouraged to leave a shop playing this music over the speaker system.
Heel erg 80s. Totaal niet bijzonder. Had er ook nog nooit van gehoord. Misschien was het toen populair?
Not my taste in music but not bad. This would've been good back in the day I bet.
ehh
One hit surrounded by a bunch of keyboard demos. One of the best things from the vinyl era is that records like this are a maximum 42 minutes. I couldn’t handle the Spotify version with 33 tracks of this…
Very 80s, some good synth sections. Overall 2/5, the filler tracks almost made me turn it off, but the hits were enjoyable enough for the genre