Talk Talk Talk

One of those albums people are thinking about when they say music sounds all the same

pretty positive I'm gonna come out on the other end of this thing actually having less appreciation for new wave

Christ, another album from 1981 that has a similar name and album art to everything else from 1981 here. Is it going to be post punk/new wave garbage? Course it is. UK? Yeah, probably. Yep, English new wave punk garbage. Singer rips off Johnny rotten. Boring. 2/5.

This was very samey... but just fun and vibrant enough to earn it a fourth star. It's the type of 80's that I can't help but smile at.

Loud band with sardonic (and borderline misogynistic) frontman. Pretty is Pink was a great single, but his voice palls over the length of an album, and it all starts to sound pretty much the same. I like the breakdown at 1:33 of It Goes On. That's a pretty muscular rhythm section. I could live without all the saxophones.

I’ve become kind of allergic to the phrase “New Wave” as this project has gone on, given the number of English synth bands from the 80’s I’ve endured. I’d heard of this band, but never listened. All of this made for a very pleasant surprise. This album is super interesting and has all kinds of weird, rough edges and an artsy sensibility. It reminded me of Roxy Music a little.

For some reason, I get The Psychedelic Furs and Violent Femmes mixed up all the time. I think it’s something about their names. Talk Talk Talk occupies a space between New Wave and Post-Punk; it always seems to be oscillating between a somewhat respectable Pop sound, and a rawer heavy Rock one. It makes for compelling listening. And when it settles down to the Bowie-Esque She Is Mine at the end, it unravels into a beautifully melancholy portrayal of the absurdity of life and all it’s small characters, coincidences and events which throws the whole album into a greater perspective. This is the sound of Punk growing up, losing some of the Nihilism and embracing Absurdism, and I’m all for it

Post-punk meets new wave and pop and Richard Butler’s very distinctive voice. An early ‘80s classic.

One of the albums (just like Talk Talk's Laughing Stock) that for some reason you could practically buy for free in every record store in the nineties in the Netherlands. And so I did at the time. One of my favourite albums from the 80s and not sure which of the first four Psychedelic Furs albums is the best one. Talk Talk Talk contains the original Pretty in Pink - I prefer their 86 Americanish movie version, but this version fits the rest of the album much better.

4.0 That was some really, really good early nu-wave/punk-infused stuff. I immediately recognised that voice from "Love my Way" which I loved as a kid playing vice city. Shame that wasn't on this album, but still, this is really, really solid stuff. Can't believe I've never really heard of them until now. More to explore.

Good

Talk Talk Talk Dumb Waiters is great and of course Pretty in Pink is a classic, a new wave pop banger. I Want To Sleep With You is good too, if only for its directness, I like Mr Jones and also the subtle, nuanced Into You Like A Train. And All of This is Nothing’s acoustic intro is a nice misdirect before the band come back in. You can hear the punk and specifically Lydon influence in the nasal, confrontational vocal delivery. It’s not the strongest voice, but it is effective, even if its charm does diminish somewhat over the course of the album. I also like the new wave sound, you can hear further Lydon influence in the PiL sound with the occasional drone, synth, scratchy guitar and overall atmospherics, although with more straightforward melodies and hooks. Not totally convinced by the amount of sax, but it does give a slight variation to their sound. It’s an enjoyable album, a nice early 80s snapshot with one bona fide pop classic in Pretty in Pink. Not sure how often I’ll come back to it, but Pretty in Pink, as well as Dumb Waiters and Into You Like a Train ensure it's a solid 3. 🩷🩷🩷 Playlist submission: Pretty in Pink

Tension in the interaction between Furs' name, sound, style, and instrumentation generates plenty of satisfying spikes. The quality of songs, at first blush, is equally uneven. The pop backing is sturdy enough to hold the album up, turning into the foreground. Personally, the only thing inspiring a return is something like a string, when it appears.

I don't care how much punk you make me listen to, I'm never gonna like it

Outstanding album. I've listened to most of their catalog. It's always a nice nostalgia trip. Every track works incredibly well. The fact that all the songs groove with the same style and energy really makes this a perfect album for me.

Very cool album. Another band I had heard of but never listened to an album (of course, I knew Pretty in Pink. Turned out I had also heard Dumb Waiters - I recognized it as soon as it started). Every song rocks and always has a cool twist to the sound. Really love the guitar sounds on this album, and I like Richard Butler's punk style singing over the more post-punk/new wave sound of the album. Occasional moments reminded me of Bowie (particularly when the sax plays), but they have a very unique sound. Definitely a new fan. Favorite tracks: All of This and Nothing (my favorite track on the album - love the cool instrumental section at the end, but the whole thing is awesome), Dumb Waiters, Pretty in Pink (classic - one thing I really like about the songs on this album is that there are always unexpected stylings/notes in the songs. This is an 80s classic, but has some unusual notes in it, particularly in the outro section. Very cool), No Tears, Into You Like a Train, It Goes On. Really, every track - these were just the ones I liked the most.

This is a really, really good pop, post punk, new wave, call it whatever you like, this is a good album. The nerds in here will tell you otherwise, fuck you nerds but this is such a well crafted, interesting album that somehow tip toes pop and punk do elegantly. 5 stars nerds

Quintessential 80s. The Butler brothers, the saxophone, and the rest of the band create so much space to breath in the songs.

If you don’t like this then you don’t get what post punk is really about! I loved this 5/5

Absolutely love this album front to back..

I really love this record. My older brother’s best friend gave me a dubbed tape of it when it came out and it blew my 8th grade mind. The slightly discordant sound and Butler’s droney vocals but still kind of dancey style was new and unique and I still love it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this classic album.

Really great album.

Not sure how these guys have passed me by, but this is spot-on, defining both 80s new wave pop and indie rock in one fell swoop.

Didn’t listen to them way back when and kind of feel like I might have missed out

I’ve heard this before, but giving it three good listens in a row revealed a masterpiece to me. An incredible album.

"Post punk," "new wave," whatever genre you want to fit the Furs into, the music defies. Strange, hypnotic, droning, aggressive, grating, melancholic,... better to attach adjectives than categories. A work of art.

I completely forgot about "All of This and Nothing" and will be playing it on repeat. God, I love this album. So underrated.

What a killer album! How had I never listened to this before!? Such an interesting saxophone hook to open an album… got me from the first note.

Excellent! One of my all-time favorites bands from the 80s!

I liked this one quite a lot. It's infectiously catchy, with an energy that kept me invested throughout. There's some elements of post-punk and pop thrown into it, but its rock DNA shines through. There is some excellent sax-playing in there too. (RIP Mars Williams) I can totally see how this might not be a popular one outside of the UK though; there's no hiding the accent, and to an American it probably produces the same kind of feeling I get from hearing American country singers with a real Southern twang to their accent. Regardless, this was a really good album, and I bet it was somewhat of an inspiration for British indie and britpop acts that came later. Favourite: Dumb Waiters

The Psychedelic Furs as a band are a class act. I've seen them a few times live with the first show being the most memorable. It was an intimate setting & got to shake Richard Butler's hand as he was performing & caught his brother, Tim's, guitar pick. Of all the stories I hear of 80s bands still touring, I hear nothing but praises for this band & Richard specifically - he truly appreciates his fans. Pretty In Pink is an 80s staple & the movie is my second favorite all-time film. The rest of the album is classic Furs with Richard's raspy vocals, Mars William's sax, and a nice balance between post punk & new wave. RIP to Mars Williams who recently lost his battle to cancer. If you liked this album, take a listen at the rest of their work. It's great stuff. 4.5 stars.

For the second time in just a few days, we have an album that I thought I'd be luke-warm on, at best, based on scant familiarity with the artist but on listening, I find myself really enjoying the sound and thinking, I would definitely listen to this again. I didn't think this kind of 80s alternative was my thing but who knows what my thing is anymore. I liked this a lot!

Interesting that I’ve likely never heard any of these songs before, although I am very familiar with the 1986 re-recording of Pretty In Pink from the movie. This version was a bit different. That made this album a completely new listen. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting - there was a lot more going on than the 80s hits I am familiar with would have implied. Really interesting and good, and one of those albums I think I like a lot more now than if I’d heard it back in the day.

The album that made me fall in love with the Furs. A sound out of time, yet timeless. A fantastic album.

10/10 I’ve heard a fair bit from The Psychedelic Furs before, and I’ve absolutely loved all of it I’m surprised I haven’t just gone through their entire discography yet

Talk Talk Talk is where The Psychedelic Furs really hit their stride—still raw and edgy like their debut, but with more colour, mood, and a clearer sense of direction. There’s a great mix of sneering post-punk and glam-tinged melodies, with Richard Butler’s raspy, cigarette-soaked voice tying it all together. Tracks like Pretty in Pink (before its cinematic fame), Into You Like a Train, and All of This and Nothing stand out as perfect examples of that early ‘80s art-rock cool, combining energy and atmosphere with just the right amount of attitude. What makes this album work so well is its balance—jangly guitars, saxophone swells, and tight production make it more dynamic than the debut, but it still keeps that scrappy edge. It’s not as slick as what the band would do later, and that’s part of the charm. Talk Talk Talk isn’t trying to please anyone—it’s stylish, cynical, and oddly romantic in its own ragged way. A high point in their catalogue, and one of the stronger post-punk records of its time. 4/5.

Well, I had this cassette tape as a teenager and was a fan back in the day. I tried to listen to this objectively now and had two thoughts. 1. Richard Butler sounds like he just smoked 5 packs of Marlboro Red but his garbled voice works ok for the music and 2. what year did saxophones appear in every single album, and what year did that stop? Then the chorus to All of This and Nothing came on and nostalgia kicked into high gear. I listened to this album twice to make sure that I still like it.

i ended up enjoying this WAY more than i thought i would… i was never bored and i enjoyed the sound to the point i think i may even revisit a couple of these songs later. 4 stars because the vocal style really did not work for me at all and i thought i would get used to it but never did. but eventually i was able to tune that out and just enjoy the guitars quite delightfully

10/1001 I went into this album completely blind, which is what l wish I could with every album on the list. I never heard of The Psychedelic Furs nor do I recognize any of their music (listened to a few other popular songs outside the album). This album comes charging out of the gate with 3 great songs and I was amped. I figured this was going to be an epic ride of an album. That wasn't the case. The rest of the album is solid, I didn't hate any tracks, it just becomes a bit tiresome. TPF clearly have been strongly influenced by David Bowie, where at times it seems like they even said to one another, "More Bowie like!" It all comes together very well in the end though. Glad I listened, and will be adding a few of these tracks into some playlists. It definitely opened a door for me to explore more of the 80s most punk rock (a blind spot in my music knowledge). I wish there were half stars, this album is better than a 3 but not quite a 4.

I've heard of this artist never really listened to much of them. I know I have heard a track or two from them. Very interested to check this out. Very cool music. Not what I expected. Not sure if I have heard any of their stuff. Definitely can hear a lot of influences from this band in today's music.

first listen kinda meh

I give Deadheads shit because, for a lot of them, “all roads lead to the Grateful Dead”, so I realize what I’m about to type might put me in a similar category, but… Musically and melodically, this reminds me of Guided By Voices, particularly in their latter-day configuration. It’s probably the shared Bowie influence, but Bob Pollard does love his post-punk, so I think the comparison tracks. Anyway, Talk Talk Talk is a solid post-punk record and a lot better than I was expecting, given how maudlin some of the other British post-punk records on the list have been.

So a big of The Psychedelic Furs, and was really looking forward to diving into this album… Always thought they were more of a mid-80’s band, but was really surprised to find their debut album came out in 1980 – so kudos for being one of the bands that defined the sound of the 80’s… Of note – I got the Furs album 2 days after having to listen to a band called “The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators” – who apparently was the first artist to add the term “psychedelic’ to music – so there’s that, and not much else with that band… By the way, their album “The 13th Floor Elevators” is dreadful as hell, and totally sucks ass - if you haven’t gotten to that one yet… Anyways – liked the rock-based foundation of The Furs take on alternative 80’s pop, and have always been a fan of Richard Butler’s unique vocal style… Also enjoyed the guitar work on the album, as well as how they strategically worked the sax into their songs – as it really added a unique twist… Seems like they are one of those bands that always had 3-4 excellent songs on each album – which really helped to sustain momentum in the music industry over time, and “Talk, Talk, Talk” is no exception… Those 3-4 for me on this album would be – “Pretty In Pink” – 5-stars out of 7… Staple on the soundtrack to the 80’s… “Mr. Jones” – 4-stars out of 7… Nice straight-forward rock track… “Dumb Waiters” – 5-stars out of 7… Really unique sound to this one… “All Of This & Nothing” – 4-stars out of 7… Nice closer to the album, with great instrumental sections… There really isn’t a bad track on “Talk, Talk, Talk”, though there do seem to be bits and pieces of the more popular tracks, embedded into some of the lesser tracks (i.e. “No Tears” & “She Is Mine” sound a bit like “Pretty In Pink” at times…). Got to see the band at an 80’s festival a few years back, and they were awesome live – and you would be shocked at just how deep their catalog is when you listen to them… Highly recommend… This album definitely represents a band on the rise, and a clear step forward in the evolution as compared to their debut album… Not fully developed by any means, but you can see exactly where they are going… Would probably give this a 3.25 if I could, but definitely can’t get this to a 4, so a really good 3 in my book…

"I had to pay the doorman just to let me use the door. I had to use a muscleman to pick me off the floor" I was pretty excited to listen to a Psychedelic Furs album, as I really love the song "Love my Way," and my dad (having been a teenager in the 80s) told me that The Psychedelic Furs were one of the bigger bands, influence-wise, in his high-school, along with the Cure, the Smiths, and others. Upon listening to the album, I was pretty disappointed with what the furs had to offer. There were some songs with fairly good musical ideas behind them, such as: T1- "Dumb Waiters," and T2- "Pretty in Pink" (playlist track). But, much more frequently I found the songs to have very surface-level lyrics that were borderline embarrassing to be listening to, with uninteresting vocals over mediocre music, even if the music is in the genre that I prefer over most others. Due mostly to the genre, the band's influence, and those first 2 tracks, the album will not get a 2/5, but rather a... 3/5

Punk

This album is very much punk having an exotential crisis in the face of New Wave. And David Bowie.

"Talk Talk Talk" is the second studio album by English rock band the Pyschedelic Furs. New wave and post-punk are the Wiki-listed genres. That's appropriate. The album was produced by Steve Lillywhite and "introduced a brighter, poppies side to the underground rock edge of their debut album." The Furs at that time were six members including Richard Butler (lead vocals), Roger Morris (lead guitar), John Ashton (rhythm guitar), Tim Butler (bass), Duncan Kilburn (saxophone, keyboards) and Vince Ely (drums). The album had solid reviews and, commercially, reached #89 in the US. The album opens with "Pretty in Pink." An edgy, jangly guitar riff, drum beat, swirling synth and forceful vocals. A song that would be smoothed-over for the 80's John Hughes movie of the same name...yeah, since the lyrics describe Butler's observations of a girl with questionable behavior (i.e. she sleeps around). The band kicks it harder in the next song "Mr. Jones." Layered post-punk and even punk guitar riffs, slashes and echoes. A punky sax break in the middle eight. Butler vocals alone create a melodic chorus in "No Tears." Melodic guitars, a bass upfront in the mix and a sultry, sexy sax solo. Butler taking a look at himself and his relationships in this great deep cut. The saxophone takes a front row in their lone single "Dumb Waiters." Underneath guitar feedback. Butler with rapid vocals. He's alone in his room and I'm not sure why. A comment on the times? Drugs? Side two comes out a roaring with "Into You Like a Train." It's fast with Butler repeating the song title. Obviously, he's going to use a different approach in his relationship. The album closes with "All of This and Nothing." A dark post-punk guitar. The song fades in and out throughout. Various noises and a creepy vibe. Butler is very bitter in this break-up song. This album sounded fabulous to me. Maybe, it's been my increased liking of early 80's post-punk music. It's definitely related to the fact that there's an edge to these songs that the Furs would never repeat. They were a six member band and would lose two members after this album. Their albums would become more polished throughout the 80's. The album excels in layered post-punk guitars. The sax has a sleezy and sultry sound matching up perfectly with the guitars. There are a few lighter songs which recall Brian Ferry and Roxy Music. Butler vocals are raspy, exhausted and angry adding to the edge. This is the Furs at their best and this album matches up with the best of that early 80's post-punk/punk era. An album every rock fan should give a listen to. A high recommendation.

Fast

Very good! Energetic and fun.

This was great! Heard of the band, and probably have heard Pretty in Pink, but I really liked most of the songs. I can totally hear their influence on a lot of more current bands that I like. It Goes On is an instant playlist add and a total banger.

Me gusta mucho

All time fave from the beginnin.

Eerste plaat die voorbij gekomen is die ik nog nooit had geluisterd. Met de disclaimer dat het 1-5 sterren systeem erg beperkend voelt en ik moeite heb met een 10/10 by way of 5/5 uit te delen voor iets wat nog geen tijd heeft gehad om te bezinken, is dit meteen een hit. Bewijst maar weer eens dat postpunk een term is waar je echt geen fuck aan hebt. Meer Go-Betweens dan The Fall, wat een goed ding is. Minder b6 voor de 420-serge-it lezer, zo u wilt. Heeft veel elementen die toekomstige genre genoten uit het oog zullen verliezen. Groove, melodie, humor et al. De sax is geen gimmick en de texten zijn doorspekt van het charmante soort adolescente geilheid. Nadat de snappy 41ish minuten (maken jullie aantekeningen War on Drugs?) voorbij waren begonnen we gewoon weer bij het begin, en toen nog een keer.

album is just pretty in pink. Isn't trick?

I love it!!

Classic 80s alt rock

I love the first two and last two tracks and the rest are dirty and sexy. I Wanna Sleep With You is a banger too ; ) Some of it sounds like Bowie which is a plus for me. One of my favorite new wave albums that makes me think maybe this genre can be rewarding after all

5/5

Love moody men from the 80s tbh

I knew the song Pretty In Pink but hadn't realised it was The Psychedelic Furs - I don't even recall the name. The album is much of the same, I really liked it, post-punk goodness

Rating things is so scary and hard so I’m giving every album five stars. It’s nice that they wrote a song about my dad. Overall I don’t respect British people but I did like this album

There were times while I was listening to this when I thought it was perhaps one of the greatest albums I've ever heard. Other times I felt it was just really fucking good. I usually don't fall in love on the first date, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't screw.

ohne 80er Vibes schöne Schrammel-Melancholie

Loved it then and still do today.

Loved it!

Oh my god, love this whole album. I only ever knew them from Pretty in Pink. Wish I had heard it back in the day.

This is a nice album full of poppy and rocky hits that seem so 80s that you wanna go to a mall and get an Orange Julius. 4.6/5 Fav: Pretty in Pink Least Fav: All of This and Nothing

cool

LOVE the opening. Very cool new romantic with lo fi production. Pretty in Pink is so beautiful!!! Bauhaus does The Mamas and The Papas?? Gets better and even slightly funkier. Loooove it. Into you like a train, slay slay slaaaaay

Great album I have missed. I don’t know why but it was not on list.

Not the kind of music I like to listen to so was extremely hard to listen to.

Really enjoyed this one. Never heard of them but will definitely listen again

Fajn

This album's pretty good. Some interesting beats and the singer sounds perpetually drunk after chain smoking. Some bangers and some I totally forgot about as soon as they ended. But more bangers than that so it squeezes a 4. I like the bass solo

Listened to before: No I love the energy of this album, which sounds pretty unique to me. From second one on it is an exciting ride on a powerfull wall of sound. For me, more songs could have gotten an individual spin. Also sometimes it is a little bit too muscular/rock-n-rolly, if that makes sense. Still, I enjoyed listening a lot

I think I like their debut more but still pretty solid. I like but don't love most of the tracks. Rating: 4.0

Iconic and distinctive voice— moody and gothic rhythms. I realize that I’m using some of the same adjectives as I use for the Cure. I think the Cure are better, but this is really cool

++: Pretty in Pink, I Wanna Sleep with You, Mr. Jones, Into You Like a Train, It Goes On, So Run Down +: Dumb Waiters, No Tears, All of This and Nothing, She Is Mine 7,9/10

Great stuff. Massive deduction for singers voice tho.

Didn’t know what to expect from this one but it was a lot stranger than I had anticipated. Real fun art rock, very 80s sounding but not in a bad way. Yeah, enjoyed this a great deal.

A band I have always meant to dig into. Need to dig ear the page in the book to ensure it happens one day. Very enjoyable.

Fred Armisen on whichever talk show doing a skit about the nuances of specific time-periods and genres in music: "You know punk in the 70s was all like "oi oi oi" and then we get to the 1980s new-wave and post-punk and then it was all like [does exact impression of this album]."

Had not listened to this entire album, just have heard Pretty in Pink. I acutally like this original version of that song rather than the one used in the movie soundtrack. This is more raw. Overall, I liked the album and am still a big fan of Psychedelic Furs music. Mirror Moves may be a better album though. Check it out. 3.5/5 = 4 stars

I got to know them around 1990, when they weren't very good anymore. It didn't make me want to check out their back catalogue. This is actually pretty good. It reminds me of late 80s skateboarding videos. Favorite song: into you like a train

kind of part devo-esque highly unsentimental borderline deconstructive take on rock music as a Cultural Idiom, and part a fuzzy lush escapist landscape. into you like a train made me emotional for reasons i cant even understand, and if its the best song its got like three or four other competitors im p sure. theres something at the core of this emotionally that is deliberately undiagnosed but still felt and poured over the whole thing...v strange experience, equal parts jagged and silky, with a ton of great songs with great Sounds and vocal performances and little melodic pockets that are just Held Onto

Nice vibe, like the vocals a lot

finally some good food

Their radio hit was the least interesting of their album. I was very surprised

Wow! The Smiths meets Beastie Boys.

An album given so much of its character by Richard Butler's distinctive vocal. Not quite sneering, not quite in tune, not quite arrogant. It's instantly recognisable and stamps every track. 'Pretty in Pink' aside, 'No Tears' is the cream of the crop. A showcase for many of the 80s sounds that speak to me - some Bowie-influenced sax touches; a verse that surely was to inspire Morrissey; and a guitar-line worthy of Marr. An album that carves a fantastic path between post-punk and new wave and bringing in their predecessors, with sax, some glam guitar, some jangling guitar. Some rock bangers and some impeccable melancholic melodies; all delivered via the nearly out of tune sing-speak of Butler. In amongst it some distinctly average tracks in a mid album lull. Falls just short of top marks.

Pretty In Pink

This is a great album, yet another 'I haven't listened to it in years' album. It's a bit post punk/goth so I'm bound to like it. Amazingly enough it was produced by Steve Lillywhite who is renowned for his polish and sparkle. None of that here thank goodness. A dark fuzzy mess is the best thing I can say about it.

81/100. A strange but ultimately rewarding album. While I didn’t fully enjoy it during the first listen, with the singing coming off as a bit annoying and the instrumentation feeling underwhelming. It grew on me the more I reflected on it afterward. Over time, its raw charm and iconic punk energy became much more apparent.

3.5 stars. Rhythmic and fun upbeat New Wave/Post Punk. Standout is "All of This and Nothing".

The opening song was interesting to me. The saxes reminded me of Van Der Graaf Generator. The vocals felt more and more like the singer had left, and they got a person last minute. There's no smooth in his voice at all. Even with that, I enjoyed a lot of the pieces on this album, and some fo they lyrics were pretty good ("Into You Like A Train," "All Of This And Nothing"). As a fan of early punk, Psychedelic Furs has been a band I have been meaning to listen to more of. This album reminded me of all that. It's probably a 3.6 for me, rounding up to a 4. Top tracks: "Dumb Waiters", "Pretty in Pink", "Into You Like a Train", "All of This and Nothing"

Good sound, albeit a bit generic. Overall enjoyable instrumentals, though vocal work got a bit annoying at times. 'Into You Like a Train' was my fave.

Really enjoyable.

Peak mid

Yeah these guys are pretty much the best brit pop band, besides that one Blur album.