Talk Talk Talk

generic but not bad

Not bad but sounds like everything else from 1981

Unoriginal, but still pretty solid. No complaints, but also wont listen to again

Yup this is 80s

finally some good food

Leuke muziek, wel teveel van hetzelfde en veeel te lang album (2 uur!)

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

Was this more than one song?

A high two, because i really hate these vocals. Musically not bad. Favorites - pretty in pink; so run down. Would not listen again.

Wow! The Smiths meets Beastie Boys.

01) Dumb Waiters - 8,0 02) Pretty in Pink - 7,5 03) I Wanna Sleep with You - 6,5 04) No Tears - 6,5 05) Mr. Jones - 6,5 06) Into You Like a Train - 7,0 07) It Goes On - 6,5 08) So Run Down - 6,5 09) All of This and Nothing - 6,5 10) She Is Mine - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,80 (68/100) Current ranking: 362/541

I love Pretty in Pink - but am not that familiar with the rest of their other output. Enjoyed the album but PIP is the clear standout and got a bit samey towards the end. Found the vocals slightly sneary and a bit too much sax.

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

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.

I like to listen to The Psychedelic Furs but, with only a few exceptions, there is a sameness to their songs that makes me not really care which song is which or remember them once I am done. This album is a good album by The Psychedelic Furs but other than "Pretty in Pink" which I heard a good deal of on the radio, I couldn't identify any of the other songs as ones on this album or one of their other albums.

I was more familiar than I thought going into it. Leans more pop with punk undertones.

Has a lot of the elements of music I like, but I found this one pretty dry and with no real standouts.

Not a fan. Never liked his voice.

It was good but it would have been great if his voice was more bearable to listen to. good new wave / sort of early alt-rock/pop though.

Pretty basic whatever this genre is. Not a huge fan

this was a fun one.

It’s getting harder for me to rate things on this list. Like this wasn’t awful but I wasn’t wowed by it either. It was totally fine. And I’ve generally liked songs from this band that I’ve heard in the past. Sometimes an album is just too much of the same thing. 3/5

Incomprehensible album, just like the band name.

More post-punk that just fails to move the needle for me. I think the fact this album peaked at 89 on the Billboard top 200 in '81 is proof that there are at least 88 more deserving albums to be on this list than this one... But sure, I absolutely MUST hear it before I die, I guess. And now I have. It's not as bad as other post-punk albums on this list though so 2 stars

Helt grei britisk nyveiv. De to første sangene var kule og fengende nok, men etter det dabber kvaliteten fullstendig. Alle sangene begynner etter hvert å høres helt prikk like ut. Ganske kjedelig.

Even as (generally) a fan of the genre, I found this to be boring and a bit of a slog. No real standouts here.

Pretty In Pink

This is not good. Repeating boring instrumental breaks. The singer sucks. Some of the lyrics are creepy. I had written more at one point, but I must not have saved it. And this album honestly doesn't deserve me writing those thoughts again. Favorite Song(s): -

Well, they're probably considered to be post-punk, and not my cup of tea to be honest. and for the most part they lived up to this. The one outstanding track was of course Pretty in Pink. Quite a bit more poppy, and I believe it was used in some film or other (can't remember the name, and never seen it) That's about All I can Say for this. 2

Decent

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.

Probably the most average new wave band of the 80s. Favorite track: Pretty In Pink 2.5/5

A high 3, and maybe a 4 if I spent more time with it.

I like the Furs but never felt like this one held up as well as the records before it or after it. Also, am I the only one who felt like John Hughes should have listened to the lyrics closer before making a movie around Pretty In Pink?

Even though I know they're very different bands, and different eras, I nearly always conflate Velvet Underground, Psychedelic Furs, and Depeche Mode into some sort of Frankenstein-like mashup of totally incompatible styles. And as I listened to this album, I realized that I've probably never actually heard much of anything by the Psychedelic Furs except the radio hits like "Pretty in pink". I was a bit surprised that some of the non-singles tracks on this album don't really sound like their more popular hits (the opening song "Dumb waiters" is a good example, although apparently this *was* a single), but in general they're not really a band that I enjoy listening to their songs, either for the first time or the umpteenth millionth time; that said, I thought "Mr Jones" and "It goes on" were stronger than most of the rest. Regardless, I give them credit for having nothing to do with the likes of Lou Reed or "Personal Jesus" (although there's a certain similarity to The Smiths, sadly).

I do like Pretty in Pink but mostly because it steals from Sweet Jane which is always a good thing. The rest didn't interest me too much but wasn't awful.

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.

It's nice to listen to but it isn't the most interesting.

Dull

This was entirely uninteresting to me.

Is that an electric saxophone in the first song? That sound is horrific - maybe it'd be better if it wasn't triple tracked with another version of itself slightly out of tune. If I heard that in the middle of the album I probably would've turned it off right there. It feels like that sort of out of tune and out of time feel permeates through the rest of this, unfortunately. It's hard to listen to; like you have to go fishing through the noise to hear the song in between the hooks. Even "Pretty In Pink" is subject to it, though I feel their producer must've told them to tone it down a bit for that one. Really didn't enjoy this.

I've been enjoying our 1980's English bands for the most part, but this doesn't make the cut. Even the wikipedia entry doesn't have much to go on it. Why is this significant?

Sounded more like harsh noise at times than something coherent. Very chaotic, more than I like.

Not my jam. I tried to give it a 2nd listen and it just became irritating.

Like the poppier bounce with the attitude, but a little samey until it went full pop at the last 2 tracks. Not bad but think belongs in just OK. 3 Star

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

never liked the Psychedelic Furs, though I've wanted to and I've tried to ; theirs for me is a too studied cool that I think is a London post punk thing. too artistic, too, yes, studied. But so are talking heads I suspect so are Blondie, so are Wire. But their way I don't love and find it grates.and so, no, sorry, wish it werent so. nah

I'm sorry but the singer sounds like it's 2 in the morning and he's trying not to wake up his parents

pretty in pink tocava em saints row 2? veio uma lembrança mto forte agora é um álbum bem ok pra ser sincero new wave não tem erro

nada demais não mas é legal! besteira new wave eu aprecio bastante

“Dumb Waiters” gave me a surprising Mark E. Smith vibe, which isn’t a connection I’d ever made between The Psychedelic Furs and The Fall before. But Talk Talk Talk will always live in the shadow of its second track, “Pretty in Pink.” As a new wave goth kid, I should’ve been more into this, but the release date lands a little too early for my age. The music on this record is almost too mainstream — brightly polished and radio ready with no dark weirdness left in the corners to keep things interesting. Still, Pretty in Pink pierced through all of culture when it was used in the 1986 movie of the same name. Without that filmic boost the album might have faded further into the past.

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"

They remind me a lot of Public Image Ltd. (and their eponymous song), but more polished. It's that same sort of screechy post-punk sound but thankfully they avoid going over the edge of abrasiveness. This is a very good example of post punk and its fit between 70's punk and 80's new alternative rock. Big Star/Alex Chilton, Television, PIL, The Psychedelic Furs, The Replacements, REM. It all makes sense. And if you don't think these guys influenced 90's alternative too, re-listen to Liz Phair's F@ck and Run - borrows the beat from No Tears. Side one is great except for the too sarcastic (or not clearly sarcastic enough) I Wanna Sleep With You. Dumb Waiters, Pretty in Pink (their deserving signature piece), No Tears, and Mr. Jones are all solid and have that crunchy, new at the time post punk sound. They almost should've stopped there because side two is a bit pedestrian. I still enjoyed Into You Like a Train and She is Mine. An easy 3 but a weaker side two keeps this album from being a 4.

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.

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.

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

Nice, but nothing remarkable or anything that slaps particularly

Extremely subpar vocals and all songs that feel ordinary, I really don't understand the hook here.

I was never a big Psychedelic Furs fan, but I liked this album. Richard Butler's voice is very distinctive and almost instantly recognizable. I can see how it might sound grating at times, but for me, today, it was not. The songs are good, but none really stood out except for Pretty in Pink, which is just a great song. I prefer the version recorded for the film though. There's some very good new wave/alternative music here, definitely worth a listen.

1981's perfect run comes to an end. I should like this more but it never quite grabs me, almost annoying at times.

Peak mid

I have to admit on some levels this is a fun, poppy, new wave album with catchy melodies and danceable beats, but also feels a bit samey after a while. I do like, "Pretty In Pink" and I recognize a few other songs, so this didn't sound too foreign or unfamiliar for me. This isn't something I would listen to often or buy, but you can do a whole lot worse in this genre and is a level higher than a lot of faceless, soul-less generic albums in the early 80's.

I tried to like this, but I just, I didn't like it.. Sorry guys =(

Better than I expected but i still dislike the song Pretty in Pink and not a fan of his voice

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.

Absolutely fine faceless new wave. The fact that it sounds fine to my ears probably says that it is not good punk

better than the previous two albums but not by much

I guess maybe I’m bringing preconceptions of what this music is supposed to sound like, but wow, the stuff on the first track was super out of tune. Couldn’t hang.

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.

Yeah these guys are pretty much the best brit pop band, besides that one Blur album. Or am I conflating them with The Stone Roses? In any acse they’re both pretty good.

Enjoyable

That’s a lot of lyrics on wearing ladies clothes.

in a parallel universe the Eighties were ruled by John Hughes' classic coming-of-age flick "Into You Like A Train"

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.

Pretty in pink hold up the whole album.

Not enjoyable, hard to listen to honestly

3.1 2x very 80s

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.

Like the energy and the raw nerve, but then again there is a constant noisy sound throughout the album, which I find annoying when listening to the album in its entirety…

how is "love my way" the perfect balance of fun and scary sleaze and this is SO dull? ugh

i only knew pretty in pink going into this, and it's definitely the standout. the rest is just 40 minutes of the most generic 80s british new wave you've ever heard with a vocalist who's both incredibly excited at the prospect of getting laid but too bored to deliver a vocal performance above what we in the biz call "flaccid" favorites: pretty in pink, i wanna sleep with you, she is mine

I'm a fan of The Psychedelic Furs, and Talk Talk Talk has always been my favorite album of theirs. It’s a solid blend of pop with a touch of post-punk and new wave — a combination that really works. Favorite Songs: Pretty in Pink is a standout, and So Run Down and Into You Like a Train are also fantastic. Least Favorite: Honestly, there isn’t a weak track here. It’s a consistently strong album that absolutely deserves its place on this list. Album Artwork: The cover is cool, though it feels very much of its time — a lot of 80s bands seemed to have similar aesthetic choices and a surprising number of album titles with talk in them!

Mid

Didn’t love, didn’t hate

Still sounds good, but not as good as I remember when I first heard it.

I spaced and forgot what I was listening to and thought it was David Bowie for a sec.

Suuuuuper light 3, more like 2.75 but I enjoyed myself more as it went along.

this was NOT the psychedelic album i was hoping for. had some good moments though

I didn't mind this, but it was kind of generic sounding. I love post punk and (some) new wave but this still didn't do much for me.

This is likeable enough, surpassing the quality of its punk contemporaries in terms of instrument playing. The guitar playing is strong without being too harsh or obtrusive, and the drums are played in a skilful, driving manner. Of course, as per punk standard, the singing is bad. A good measure of whether somebody is putting effort into their vocal is if their accent and "talking timbre" are mostly absent when singing. The singer in The Psychedelic Furs, unfortunately, sounds like a mere Brit talking rather drunkenly and expressively. Even in the lead single and (probably) the best track here, Pretty In Pink, this problem makes itself apparent. There isn't enough variety between tracks to justify giving this album higher than a 3, but I respect that it tries to sound different from its contemporaries (even if it mostly fails at this). Calling yourself "psychedelic" is an interesting approach to turn away punk fans that were disenfranchised a decade ago by the overwhelming presence of psychedelia in popular music. And boomer fans of psychedelia are in for a rude awakening when they put Talk Talk Talk on for a spin. I will say, though, that I really like this album art. It's a style that would be imitated by the Police a couple of years later with Synchronicity – another great album cover art. 3/5 Key tracks: Pretty in Pink, All of This and Nothing

I don't know what the difference between "noisy" (something I like in music) and "muddy" (something I don't like in music) is to my ears. The two self-defined elements are close in my mind... but this album is muddy. The singing just drones on, and all the instruments are just kinda simmered in an stew devoid of salt. The sonic equivalent of what I imagine food in the UK taste like.

This album felt like 9 versions of "Pretty in Pink." I didn't hate it, but I was mostly indifferent to their sound.

Meh

I was unimpressed.

Fun psych rock, nothing too crazy or anything I haven’t heard before. 2.7

Nice enough

It's not bad, I guess. Very new wave, I guess. I don't know, I don't have much to say about it, to be honest. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible. I've ranked MUCH better albums three stars, so that feels unfair, but it's nowhere near as bad as a 2 star review. I suppose if you were around at this time and liked this band and/or album you're going to like it, but I doubt that this is going to produce many new fans.

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

Dobar album pretty in pink je klasik ali pisme su fakat preslične

ебать ебать ебать

good

I've got to the point where I feel this type of music is way over represented on the list. I'm indifferent to it, maybe sooner or later I'll find an album that I like.

first listen kinda meh

Okay

This is a really good album from The Furs. For a reason that I can't really explain I bought the first Furs album back in the day, loved it, but never bought another - definitely not fair to this excellent band. Talk Talk Talk lacks some of the immediacy and raw energy of the self titled first album. Its a little slicker a little cleaner and a little less grungy...but I miss the grunginess of the first album. Still a really accomplished album that shows Richard Butler's songwriting is starting to evolve. 4 stars

The run is over. After 2 albums haha. Back to normal, middling new wave, service.

Cringe

Much more post-punk sounding then I was expecting, not that it’s in the same vein (or quality) as Joy Division or PIL, as the very 80’s mainstream aesthetic is on full display that could be no more evident then the peppered in saxophones. This was further showcased through lead singer Richard butler's drawling British accented vocals. Pretty in Pink is the obvious big hit here, however there are some other good songs to be discovered across the ten tracks making up the album. Having said that, it also contains definite filler. 🎧 Classic Track- Pretty in Pink 🎧 Hidden Gem- Mr. Jones 🎧 Personal Favorite- Dumb Waiters 🚫 Skipped Track- She is Mine This one interested me to garner repeated listens, however not memorable enough to move the needle from good to great. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Uninspiring Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Starts with the cacophonous Dumb Waiters, then does a complete 180 with the surprisingly poppy Pretty in Pink, what follows after that is more similar to the opener. Mostly forgettable, but occasionally interesting, not something I’d come back to again. I think this band is vastly overrated, I view them as a borderline one hit wonder.

Post-punk with a healthy dose of horns. Does it stand out in any other ways? Not to me, but maybe others will find more value in another '80s UK post-punk album.

Pretty in Pink was great, and the next couple of tracks made me think this was going to be a 4 or 5 star album, but then it immediately tailed off into mediocrity.

Don’t like this. It’s dumb.

Yeah it's the 80's!!

An underrated album that has some great songs on it, even if the source material has not aged nearly as well.

new age same same ...can hear the popier side of this album.

Solid album, might need to revist to see if I like it more after some more listens.

er almennt ekki hrifinn af eitís-nýbylgjurokki. er einhver skrítinn málmkenndur hljómur sem ég kann ekki við. hvað um það, var frekar hrifinn af þessu. 3,5.

it had it's moments but i think i like their later works better. 3.5/5

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

Mix of post-punk and new wave in such a fun way. The cover is really striking too. It definitely feels 80s but that doesn't detract from it.

"I wanna sleep with you" has a really nice punk-ish feel and some nice riffs. the other tracks aren't really memorable.

I was disappointed: I had memories of "Into Like A Train" being quite good, so I guess that was a later version. Oh well

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.

Meh. Pretty in pink is well known and OK, but the rest of this didn't really stand out.

A bit disappointing...was expecting more than just one really good song.

insufferable British New Wave

Quite nice. For me a first listening but convinced me.

Again, thanks to this list I heard portions of this album before, to my dismay. I don't like the singer's voice, it unnerves me.

Good not great

very very very solid 80s jams

I'm glad I heard this. Did it change my life? Nope Not that it's bad it's just not good. A bad Only Ones?

Great band but they have better albums under their belt.

Encore du post punk/new wave des plus standard, j’te jure le gars qui a fait cette liste avait un étrange fétiche auditif qui commence à bien me taper sur les couilles

Not too bad, the album had an okay background vibe, it wasn't very invasive. I thought it would be more psychedelic, given the name of the band, but I am happy that it was not a crazy album like some of the ones we've gotten in the past.

Great album with that distinctive style of psychedelic furs.

drei bis vier

Weird sound

Had high expectations based on how much other artists that I like revere the Furs but it was kind of awful. The vocals I mean

Absolutely a sound of their time in the early 1980s, but still upbeat and fun to listen to more than four decades later!

Need to be in the right mood for this, butbwow Dumb Waiters is absolutely sick

The sax was grooving. I liked the song She is Mine

This almost reached enjoyable for me. The songs just all sounded a little too much the same for me to give it too high a rating. "Pretty in Pink" was the only song I'd heard before, so I was looking forward to it, but all the songs just reminded me of that one. Didn't hate it though, which I expected to after listening to all the other British new wave albums on this list. 3.7 stars, but only if I don't have to listen to all the songs in a row

Good solid post punk album, I enjoyed it. Judicious use of saxophone

Solid album. Like that New Wave sound

Bit like REM. I approve.

Album - Talk Talk Talk Artist - The Psychedelic Furs Release - 1981 Heard it before? - Y Heard OF it before? - Y I say “heard before” but it has been a solid year since I first listened to this album and forgotten it completely, except “Pretty In Pink.” Sadly, I think it’s a weak follow up to their debut, that defines the term “Sophomore Slump.” Whereas the debut was bouncing off the walls with saxophones and flanger pedals, this one wants to be both poppier and artier at the same time. It doesn’t really work out, and things start to get unbearable by the 2nd side mark. Sadly, I have to side with the “generic” crowd on this one.

Most post punk, whatever that means, but I haven't really heard of these guys other than the name. Much better than The The, which I just had before this. This is a rawer sound, and doesn't have the goofiness of new waves. Some really good songs on here. Dumb Waiters is a banger. Hot drums on It Goes On. There's a lot more here to like that I didn't hear on a first listen. I'll probably come back to this album, good discovery.

Solid 80s pop.

Way too yelling.

Up and down, but overall it was solid.

Yep it's new wave alright. the sonic landscape is really dense and layered, with lots of cross cutting textures. I Wanna Sleep With You is a good example. Mr. Jones is a little less dense and more my speed. Just fine I suppose.

80s psych-synth-rock? Not bad

how come some british people sound really british when they sing and other british people don’t retain the accent at all? this was pretty fun and i found myself enjoying it more as the album went on, especially “all of this and nothing.” a lot of this style of british rock sounds really dated in a way that i just can’t get past so that’s unfortunate but overall i think it’s fine.

At many points I was like oh this was inspo for Green Day. And at other points I was like these guys definitely really liked Bowie. Those are all my thoughts

This isn't awful and I enjoy the horns showing up but I'm not sure why this is critical listening. It Goes On had some interesting instrumental stuff going on. Could've been the day for me.

Right off the first few notes it had me interested. The trend continues through the album with interesting enough melodies. The production is a little rough, a little flat at times. I'd give this some more listens despite the saxophone. Between a 3 and 4 for me. Gonna round up.

2-3 Banger aber ich habs nicht sooo gefühlt.

Not for me

Talk talk talk and joy joy joy.

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

Pretty in Pink alone makes this album shine. Super unique vocals and solid song writing. Very catchy songs with dark undertones - Dark Pop

Art rock - squawking saxophones, dense swirling arrangements, spiralling nagging guitars, mysterious lyrics, all delivered with bohemian panache

We especially liked Pretty in Pink.

Pretty boring with some interesting moments

Absolutely love this album front to back..

Eh, it's not a bad album, it has some moments. But feels like it's a bit too self-indulgent. You can just randomly start skipping the sections in the song, and everything you'll land on will feel the same-ish, part of the same song, with the same performance.

2.1

#474. This band doesn't seem to know whether it wants to be a punk band or a new wave band. While they're trying to figure that out, I'm just going to leave these three stars over here. 3/5: decent. Song added to playlist: Dumb Waiters I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

What a boring album! The singer really is unbearable, it sounds so amateurish it is ridiculous. He projects the image of someone who woke up and was forced to sing the lines. And when he hold notes (or attempts to) it just sounds garbage, what a drag. Removing the singer from the equation couldn't save this record though, everything sounds uninspiring and the same to me. This will have to be one of those records that gets a one star because of how boring it is, and failing to evoke any kind of positive emotion.

Really enjoyed the general sound of this album. Felt new-wavy, a bit like "The Cure". With that being said I didn't find any particular hook of this album. It just seemed to noodle a long with a mixing that wasn't too favorable. Favourite track was "Into You Like A Train" but it still sounds like something I've heard before. Weak 3.

Best cool af en toe, een leuk haakje, wat blazers, een wat ruiger stuk. Maakt het niet geweldig, en was wellicht niet onmisbaar voor deze lijst, toch vermakelijk.

I never realised this is how the Pyschedelic Furs sounded, always assumed they’d be like Animal Collective. Only recognised Pretty in Pink, but most of this record is better I reckon. Kinda reminds me of The Cure crossed with REM. Into You Like A Train / I Wanna Sleep With You probably by two favourites. Will definitely be back to this

Liked this, it was sort of the cure/smiths indie for the most part but with a more angular punk thread running through it. The drumming stood out for some reason, the beats were more varied I think, always makes a song sound better than you'd expect. The singing was a bit English 80s droney but largely worked. All in all, good.

Quite surprising - pleasantly poppy New Wave. Into You Like A Train was good, as was It Goes On and All of This and Nothing. Some interesting choices of instruments and drum lines.

I know pretty in pink, but I couldn't have named the band. Actually really enjoyed this. Better than some of the other similar new wave acts we've had. More industrial, punk sounding. Liked the singers voice too. Highlights: Dumb waiter Pretty in pink Into you like a train It goes on So run down I'm going to say 4.5

It's all a bit samey. And I find his voice a bit grating. Pretty in Pink is a tune though.

Love the Furs, some great songs with Richard Butlers unique voice. Great album.

Oh wow, another British new wave/post-punk album. I'm really starting to feel the over-abundance of these things. This album's fine. It's whatever. The guy's voice kind of pisses me off sometimes but the instrumentation is pretty solid. The songs feel a bit samey but it could be worse. This album could be a lot worse, but it also just doesn't impress me much at all. The writing is okay. Some songs do it better than others, with "Pretty In Pink" probably being the highlight just for being an interesting song. I don't have much to say. Talk Talk Talk is fine. Low 3/5. 5/10 if it was in that system.

Pretty in Pink and Dumb Waiters are the stand out tracks.

# Album Name: Talk Talk Talk # Artist: The Psychedelic Furs # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Another grower. Pretty in pink the absolute stand out. Great song. First listen to the album was OK. But i felt something lurking underneath. I gave it another chance and really grew to enjoy this album. The Vocals remind me of Johnny Rotten. Very english. The first 6 tracks of the album are very good if you like that alt sound. # Top Tunes: Dumb waiters / Pretty in pink / Wanna sleep with you / no tears / Mr jones / Like a train / It goes on / All of this or nothing # Would I listen to it again? Yes.

Not great, but it was a punkish album that didn’t make me want to throw my phone against a wall in disgust, so I’ll give it a most generous review for this kind of garbage music.

I liked this. A lot of good songs. No huge standouts, but a lot seemed familiar and enjoyable.

I like it

did listen wtf wtf wtf no remember

This album really surprised me. I had heard some other Psychadelic Furs albums that I didn’t love but this was one was great.

I like it! Its good! 4/5

I quite enjoyed the hypnotic moody edge on this but there is also a pop shine with some interesting sounds like saxes. Although the early eighties had the crossover new wave period, this feels like it belongs in the eighties. On the whole, this was reasonably enjoyable.

This was enjoyable

Vocal style grated a bit after a while, then after a while longer it faded from consciousness and it all started to work again. Overall, pretty good album,one of the rare ones where I found the Spotify version's additional tracks to add to rather than detract from the whole album experience.

Something dilapidated about this, but it's got heart. It's probably a four star masterpiece, but I'm not enjoying it as much as I want to.

Feels a bit dated, but still enjoyed it!

decent as far as new waves goes

• This is the, percieved, 30th album of this kind. Come on. • I've warmed up to saxophones in recent years - as one should, really - but this album makes me reconsider. • On the other hand, I hear grains of what is or would become music I do like. Some kind of The Cure × The Cult × Warrior Soul's "Drugs, God and the New Republic"? I did not have a difficult time here. A Four, possibly. I don't feel enriched by having listened to this but it's not bad at all.

Another blast from the past! Wore this cassette out fast forwarding and rewinding to get to the hits. Now I see why. It's fun and passably enjoyable. Not great.

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.

I am a huge 80s alternative music fan. I also love Butler's voice - so distinctive. Being so early in their career, this album had very similar sounding songs. Despite that, I really enjoyed it. Who doesn’t love Pretty In Pink?

A simply a sucker for this sound

I'm sure the Bowie comparison is exhausted at this point, but it really just feels like Scary Monsters if he stuck more to a rock sound. Not bad, but nothing I'm itching to run back again and again.

solid 80s new wave

Into You Like A Train and Pretty in Pink are staples, but the accompanying tracks are great too.

not bad, nice sound, really enjoyed certain songs

Hey, a popular 80's album I actually enjoyed! I was expecting something insipid and empty like a lot of what made up the 80's sound but it was more substantial than I thought it would be. I'm rounding this one up because I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. 3.5/5

No conocía ninguna canción de este disco de los Furs. Todas las que ubico son del Forever now. Este me gustó y me pareció potente, pero siento que para conectar bien hay que darle varias escuchadas. No es un disco tan accesible a la primera. Pero bastante bueno, me pareció.

All the songs sound super similar. I happen to like the sound so it's okay, but gets pretty repetitive. Really like the horn sections in a few of the songs. Sounds like early kings of Leon were influenced by this stuff

Saved Prior: Pretty in Pink Off Rip: She Is Mine Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Mostly just 10 variations on the same song. Pretty in Pink is the best of those variations, but even that is my least favorite of their hits. Cleansed my palette with the quintuple queue of Heartbreak Beat, Heaven, Love My Way, The Ghost in You, and their 2020 single You'll Be Mine which are all better than anything on this album.

Very much of it's time but it's a time I love to listen to back to now. The bands that managed to stretch out their hits across multiple albums were certainly more successful but for a chart like this it's difficult to judge the best albums. I think I liked their first album as more spare and dark. This one was more upbeat

Proto-Britpop sung in an annoying flat tone.

Boring

I enjoyed this.

Enjoyed this a bit less than I expected to, but I did expect to like it a lot. Clearly a good album, with potential for me to like it more. Perhaps just not in the right mood for this one today.

eh

Sure, ok

All of these songs sound the same and are a bit aggressive toward women. Not a fan.

Interesting bit of post-punk and new wave. Feels a bit raw.

More new wave that I don't hate but don't find that interesting either.

Sounds like so many other bands of the time, and every song sounds very much the same.

I never fully appreciated how diverse this album/band is in blending New Wave and Post-Punk influences. Some tracks lean more into punk's raw intensity, while others embrace the melodic polish of New Wave. It’s a dynamic mix of grit and gloss that gives the whole album a unique edge.

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 only knew Pretty in Pink. This was better then I expected. Dumb Waiters was a stand out track for me.

Really enjoyed this. Nice blend of new-wave/post-punk and fun songs. Had never listened to this before and I liked it a lot.

Siendo el segundo trabajo de The Psychedelic Furs, "Talk Talk Talk", entrega una colección de canciones inspiradas por el sonido gótico establecido por otros actos como The Cure, Joy Division e Iggy Pop. Sin embargo, el entrega una mezcla con el punk más duro a través de la voz del vocalista del acto, quien presenta una inflexión bastante más agresiva a pesar de cantar las temáticas más clichés del new wave ochentero. Disfrutable, pero claramente no prescindible. El bias de esta lista por los artistas británicos es impresionante.

David Bowie aping new wave act that isn't just coasting on their big hit; there are some solid tracks here .Best Tracks: Pretty In Pink; I Want To Sleep With You; Into You Like a Train

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

(Having been more familiar with the Psychedelic Furs’ name than their actual music, I approached Talk Talk Talk with curiosity. Reading up on the album, I thought it might be a gem that would slot right into my tastes. The truth, however, is somewhere in between. While the album has its highlights, it ultimately falls short of being truly exceptional, though it does deserve recognition for its place in post-punk history. The music leans heavily into the jagged, angular guitars and restless rhythms of early post-punk. Tracks like "Pretty in Pink" stand out as a high point, where the band’s blend of sharp riffs, melodic hooks, and Richard Butler’s distinct tone come together beautifully. The album opener "Dumb Waiters" also deserves praise for its infectious energy and smart use of saxophone, which adds an unpredictability that works well in this context. These moments showcase the Furs at their best, combining abrasive post-punk energy with just the right amount of polish. However, not every track reaches those heights. Songs like "I Wanna Sleep with You" and "She Is Mine" feel more like filler, and Butler’s vocal delivery—a sardonic, aloof style—doesn’t always land. That said, there’s something intriguing about his phrasing and attitude. While it’s not entirely my bag, there’s an undeniable charisma to his approach that shines through on the stronger tracks. The issue lies more with the production than with Butler himself; Steve Lillywhite’s reverb-heavy, layered sound, while possibly groundbreaking at the time, simply feels dated today. This production style doesn't always benefit the arrangements, making the vocals feel disconnected from the music. Despite its flaws, Talk Talk Talk remains enjoyable overall. It’s easy to see why the album holds a special place for fans of the era. My average track rating for the album landed at a respectable 7.2/10—decent, but far from the heights of the top albums on my list. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? From a musical perspective, I question its inclusion in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, but its historical significance as a bridge between punk’s raw energy and new wave’s melodic ambitions is undeniable. Would this release make my personal list? No Will I be listening to it again? Probably not as a whole, but I’ll revisit the highlights like "Pretty in Pink" and "Dumb Waiters."

This album isn't bad, but its only got one outstanding track and I wouldn't recommend the album to anyone. 2/5

I like this a lot more in theory than in practice.

Quite consistent and good, precise sounding post-punk, new wave album from the early 1980s - I was expecting a more synth-oriented 1980s sound but I was surprised that it had a more pleasant sound overall. I enjoyed it though it was a tad too samey throughout the whole album. I was considering it a 4 but I will rather round it down to a strong 3.

Voor Britse postpunk anno 1981 is dit nog best aan te horen. Meer complimenten kan ik er eigenlijk niet over maken. Erg goed is het ook niet.

De bandnaam belooft psychedelische geluiden. Dus ik bereid mij voor. Het eerste nummer voldoet daar wel aan, maar op een positieve manier. Het komt over als filmmuziek. Wellicht iets minder duidelijk, maar die associatie maak ik wel vaker op dit album. Je moet de zang dan even wegdenken. Die zang verdient ook een paar zinnen tekst trouwens. Het is wat raar namelijk. Het heeft het stemgeluid van oude punk. Maar het stemgebruik komt meer in de buurt van meer klassieke rustige rock. Per nummer varieert deze balans wat en daarmee ook mijn ervaring ervan. Wat ik er in totaal van vind, vind ik nog moeilijk. Die stem haalt mij in elk geval steeds van mijn werkt, trekt mijn aandacht naar het nummer. En vanaf daar krijgt de band het voor elkaar op mijn aandacht weer bij de stem vandaan naar de muziek te trekken. Dan moet je toch iets goed doen.

De psychedelische bontjes halen hun inspiratie duidelijk bij de Sex Pistols en Velvet Underground. Verder zitten ze redelijk met the Cure en andersoortige postpunk bands uit de 80s in dezelfde sferen. Het tweede nummer ken ik, is het bekendste nummer denk ik. Het is niet de mooiste of meest gepolijste muziek, met die krakerige verveelde zang, maar ik vind het ook ergens wel wat hebben. Doet me ook wat denken aan punkrocklegendes Social Distortion, die hebben eenzelfde soort zang. En het geeft toch gelijk een eigen gezicht aan de muziek, net zoals Morrissey ook meteen zijn eigen signature over de muziek heen drapeert. En het is een zang waar je wel wat aan moet wennen, of in ieder geval het moet je niet irriteren. Dat doet het bij mij niet en daardoor hoor ik ook de muziek die er achter zit. Die goed in elkaar zit. Het is uiteraard wat gedateerd, de drums klinken wat hol, alsof hij op een paar omgekeerde emmers aan het slaan is met een pollepel. Maar ik hou wel van dit sfeertje, galmende gitaren in een oude fabriekshal. Voor mij zit dit tussen een 3 en een 4 in. Laat ik weer eens een keer positief zijn, in deze maand der vergeetbare muziek.

I love it!!

A few really good tracks but the rest was very middle of the road

Enjoyed this more that I expected.

I liked this more than I thought I would! I can see how they influenced a lot of the groups that came after them.

ta bueno pero nada nuevo

Un punkcito entretenido. Es un 3.5 pero tampoc vamos a ir haciendo caridad.

Following the initial heavy start in Dumb Waiters, this excessive 80s-fest plunges into the unrecoverable depths of the sort of music that’d be played on a cheap BBC coming-of-age period drama set in the aforementioned decade. At least there’s some solace in longer tracks such as All of This & Nothing, showcasing that the Psychedelic Furs have artistic credibility past that of the woeful punch-punch-punch of the 80s charting drummer. I’ve spent two paragraphs somewhat berating this, but it’s not all that bad. All songs are bearable and fit for background listening just fine, and those that are relisten-worthy are excellently arranged.

very catchy new wave. this guy is very horny but damn he can write a good song

This is an enjoyable album, which gets it 4 stars, but it doesn’t rise much above the other 80’s new wave albums from the UK.

I liked Talk Talk Talk more than I expected going into it; it's not really really good or anything, and it's not worth a place on the list, but it's got enough about it to keep me interested, mostly in the lead singer's vocals, which despite being new wave-adjacent in style, work for me because there's an urgency to it that works with the music. The one-two punch of Into You like A Train and It Goes On are great, they remind me a little bit of Faith No More during that little run, which is good. I dunno, probably wouldn't listen again but found it good enough for a solid 3.

He's got quite a distinctive voice which I like, but the music is much of a muchness really, ends up sounding pretty samey throughout but there's a couple of decent tracks - All Of This & Nothing is probably my favourite despite it going on too long. 3/5, but a relatively low one.

One of those bands where I knew a few songs but never took the time to listen to. Great and distinctive voice and some good early synth work. Probably better as a 'best of' rather than an album band.

Some good songs ("Pretty in Pink"!); some noisier ones.

I did not enjoy this album

Un rock de principios de los 80 que anda muy bien

just eh. not a bad alt 80's record but something about it just is bleh.

Okay. 5/10

A new one for me that I quite enjoyed. Will listen again

Never a massive fan of this type of music. That said. Didn't mind this

Solid example of that year's music. Good beats

I liked this quite a lot!

It was OK and I do like a lot of post punk, but it didn't really grab me.

Oh boy, more middling new wave nothingness. Nothing to like here, sounds like new wave.

The were more rock than punk - and polished. Who knew. Dug it way more than I thought I would.

I forgot where I was when I had to stop listening to this the other day. Couldn’t figure it out because they all sound the same.

Pretty good and even-flowing piece of post punk, good album.

I thought this one was cool! I really liked She Is Mine, wasn't expecting to hear a saxophone in that one. Reminded me very much of Green Day

This is another one filed under "I know the name, never heard, had nothing against." Putting it on the first time was too stop-and-go, so I waited until my morning rush of meetings was done and started again. I'm digging. Reminds me of Dramarama.

I like this more than I expected to. Nice late UK punk sound with a poppy new wave influence. There's a few down-tempo Joy Division-esque tunes on here, but when it rocks is when it's really on.

Who knew melody could be find amidst such cacophonous energy?

Pretty in Pink is a classic but in my opinion many of their better songs are on some of the other albums.

One of those instances where I'm not quite sure why we get an album from a band that doesn't include the big hit(s). Granted, I'll always give them a chance, but there's nothing on here that comes close to "Love My Way" or "The Ghost in You." Not a bad album by any means, just a little puzzling. Favorite tracks: Dumb Waiters, She Is Mine. Album art: Really like this cover a lot, some scattered colors over an otherwise desaturated shot of the guys. Love seeing the "compact disc" logo on the image too. 3/5

It’s mid, just plain mid. Dude sounds like he’s on the verge of being blackout drunk. Horrid vocals. The only reason this isn’t getting a 1 is cause the instruments HARD CARRIED this album.

Kind of pleasingly ramshackle, but too much of it is pretty forgettable. Thought it might stand up a bit better.

It's perfectly fine music but eh... nothing special.

Grating voice. Modern English did it better.

If you want to listen to Pretty In Pink about eight times on this ten song record, then you'll love this! However, I'm more of a Love My Way fan.

Reforça para mim que é muito disco, assim não percebi nada interessante, foi irrelevante.

His voice and the Samey sound of some tracks prevents a higher rating. That said a few tracks have made it to my Spotify likes

Classic 80s alt rock

First few tracks are solid but not grabbing me. I'm liking Dumb Waiters and She Is Mine though, which lean more new wave than (post) punk. Lots of layering of sounds here, like in the strong It Goes On. Surprisingly good hard driving riffs later on (ex: the intro to I Wanna Sleep With You). The closer All of This and Nothing is catchy too. Very cool 80s rock vibes. Strong album overall even if some of the tracks are less memorable.

Idk, didn't do it for me

I really only knew the band from their big Hollywood soundtrack hit and, as far as I had given them any thought at all, I probably figured they were American. Pretty In Pink is still a banger but the rest is more of a slog. It throws all the appropriate new wave shapes but the actual songs are quite leaden and the guy's voice doesn't particularly help in that respect. Can't see myself returning to this one any time soon.

Not too bad, still not for me

This one is hard to judge because it sounds good with certain moods and at certain times of your life. If you're not a melancholy teenager, then this probably isn't good.

Started strong but fell off.

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

3/5. The riffs and rhythms carry this album. It sounds like they are trying for a Talking Heads and Stooges vibe. They have their own sound for sure but I don't think it's as exciting as it could be. It's loud and upbeat for sure but it feels like it is missing that soul. It's not a bad album I think but it definitely feels more like a fun listen than anything more. Thankfully this was actually listenable post punk, but does sound more like New Wave than punk. Best Song: Dumb Waiters, Into You Like A Train, Pretty In Pink

Punk

Good early 80’s album with pretty in pjnk

Pretty in Pink 3.2 Mr. Jones 3 No Tears 3 Dumb Waiters 3.4 She Is Mine 3.2 Into You Like a Train 3 It Goes On 3 So Run Down 3.2 I Wanna Sleep With You 3.1 All of This and Nothing 3.3 Score: 3.14

The biggest knock on this album is that the sound doesn’t change too much throughout. Luckily I like that sound. Pretty in Pink is the obvious standout but I also really liked She is Mine.

Pretty good late punk/new wave sound. Less synthesizer driven than later albums.

Fine. Not unhappy I heard it, but will likely never listen again. Too much like 100 other things on this list.

First song is a banger. Rest of the album was good overall.

Доста приятни като за дъждовно време, макар не мой стил

Love the Furs. Not best album but still good!

Decent but not memorable 2.5

Great post punk

man gillar ju psychedelic furs. detta är kanske inte deras bästa album men jävligt bra.

This is a tricky one to rate, because there's quite a lot of post-punk angriness that I quite like, but also a lot of noisy thrash that I don't. I think I'm going to have to accept that it's probably better than I first give it credit for.

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

A solid 80s album. Pretty In Pink will always slap.

Want to listen again but the first song rules

Pretty good post-punk. Only heard the debut by these dudes and this album was better. Not as goth-y as I expected, which is a shame.

Iets te psychedelic voor me

This album fits firmly in to the overrepresented category on this list of UK music from the early 1980s that all sounds the same. It was fine for sure, but man this list is problematically homogenous.

The Psychedelic Furs brought strong seventies Bowie vibes--the vocals in particular but the music, too. I hate to rag on artists that seem to only mimic another artist's sound, but I didn't hear too much originality. Despite this, this album was very far from a miserable listen. The best part of Talk Talk Talk was absolutely the saxophone! The songs ran together too much, but there's something to be said about every song on an album contributing to the flow and the same vibe.