Thu Mar 25 2021
1
I'm not even sure this album was in the 1001 top albums of 1987.
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Calenture
The Triffids
1987
- Album Summary
Calenture is the fourth studio album by Australian rock group The Triffids, it was released in November 1987 and saw them explore themes of insanity, deception and rootlessness—the title refers to a fever suffered by sailors during long hot voyages. It reached No. 32 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. In November 1987, it reached No. 24 on the Swedish Albums Chart, in May 1988 it peaked at No. 25 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album spawned three singles, "Bury Me Deep in Love" (1987), "Trick of the Light" and "Holy Water" (both in 1988). The latter track was recorded with American producer Craig Leon. In 2007 Calenture was re-released as a 2× CD with five bonus tracks on the first disc and twelve tracks on the second disc, mostly rehearsal or studio demos of the original album tracks. In February it appeared on the Belgium Albums Chart Top 60.
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Sun Feb 21 2021
1
why is this 80s wannabe record-store-shitstack album on the list
Thu Sep 30 2021
1
Was there a typo that resulted in this album getting on the list? I fail to see any aspect of this one that merits it being in a list of 1001 albums I must hear. The whole thing feels over thought and way over produced. Given the pay counts (or lack thereof) on Spotify, I get the feeling that I'm not the only one this hasn't connected with. I wonder how many of those plays are purely generated from this site recommending the album. The worst part was that track had so much reverb and chorus on it that I was effectively forced to listen to every song multiple times at once. It was like each track was actually multiple instances of the song being played; each instance's timing slightly offset from the next. I could only get through track 6 (Open for You) before I had to call it.
Fri May 28 2021
3
This is clearly a band built around the singer, David McComb. He has has an interesting voice, a bit like Lloyd Cole on the mellower songs and like fellow-Aussie Nick Cave when he gets wound up. The melodies do grow on you, but overall, the song-writing isn't that strong and the arrangements are pretty straight forward.
Fri Apr 09 2021
2
What a load of shite. It's like they were 6th form students asked to do an impression of an 80s Christian rock band at Eurovision. I started finding it funny though due to how bad it was, like they can't have been serious. I suppose I can't give it 1 star, because I did take some enjoyment from it, but absolutely not in the way they intended.
Thu Apr 27 2023
1
Huh…I didn’t know the church band from The Righteous Gemstones had put out any albums.
Wed Sep 29 2021
1
I’m a huge 80s music fan. But I have no use for this album.
Wed Apr 06 2022
1
what? who? why? WTF is this? If anyone recommends the Tiffids to you, tell them to fuck off.
Sun Feb 21 2021
4
Calenture is a misleading album. It opens with a pillowy, power pop ballad that belongs more in the opening montage of a Disney movie about some orphaned animal adopted into an interspecial family than it does the opener of a post-punk Australian outfit's LP. However, as the album progresses, cracks appear in the facade of this simple, straightforward, sickeningly sweet pop. “Kelly’s Blues” is peppered with indecipherable lyrics that sound like the scrawlings of a maniac in love with his hostage; “A Trick of the Light” reinforces this image of mania by recounting the story of a man who sees some lost love, perhaps, but it also hints at something much darker (with lyrics like “I was beating on her Iike an anvil…With that same old panic caught on her face”); “Unmade Love” seems to narrate scorned love gone wrong; and on and on. Suddenly, “Bury Me Deep in Love” sounds more like a warning covered over by its pillowy instrumentals. It isn’t just the story being narrated by the band that chips away at the album’s first impression. The sudden shift to the dark, uneasy instrumentation in “Unmade Love”; the strings that linger off-kilter in the background of “Blinder By the Hour” are almost anxious-making; the pulsing percussion of “Vagabond Holes” paired with the McComb’s vocal performance produces a song that feels desperate (although I wish both the vocals and the instrumentals in the chorus were less polished, rougher like they are in the verses of the song); the title track is an incredible punctuation of the album. My biggest complaint is the closer. The album overstays its welcome with “Save What You Can”. Not that it is a bad song (although I don’t think it is a particularly good song), but it ruins what would have been an amazing closer with the title track. The album can also drag in some places. I find my attention begins to wander when I listen to songs like “Hometown Farewell Kiss”, “Open For You”, and “Holy Water”. I also think “Jerdacuttup Man” lasts a beat longer than I wish it did (although I really love most of the song). I would give it a 7/10. It would almost certainly be a higher rating if the album ended with Calenture, but it probably wouldn’t be too much higher of a rating.
Fri Nov 26 2021
1
Bored to tears
Wed Oct 26 2022
1
Shit was ass
Fri Dec 02 2022
1
i hate it so much it's hard to continue listening. It's like christian rock, but somehow cheesier. It sounds like it should be on a kids show, like Romper Room or Barney, with kids sitting around singing about being nice to each other.
Fri Jan 06 2023
1
💩
Mon Jul 18 2022
3
I liked Kelly's Blues and the driving beat of Unmade Love. There are other songs that are somewhat catchy, but the lyrics don't really flow well... Vagabond HOLES? really? Hoodoo Gurus are more entertaining from this era and style.
Sun Oct 02 2022
3
80s cheese to me, not bad but def. not my thing.
Sun Oct 02 2022
3
Struggled through this one.
Fri Nov 11 2022
3
This was an okay album, not a bad listen, but also not super memorable. It starts a little slow, but improves as the album progresses. Fave Songs: Open for You, Unmade Love, Hometown Farewell Kiss, Blinder by the Hour, Calenture
Fri Jan 20 2023
1
I don't have particularly good reasons but I found this utterly dreadful today. Inexcusably mundane. Really, really, really did not like.
Fri Feb 03 2023
1
Sleepy and boring
Fri Feb 17 2023
1
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Wed Mar 15 2023
1
This is terrible. Just absolutely terrible. Wanted to turn it off almost as soon as I turned it on. I cannot fathom why this album is on this list, at all.
Wed Mar 15 2023
1
Just boring. Nothing was overly terrible but there's not much else to say about it.
Wed Mar 15 2023
1
Uninspired, boring. A chore to listen to.
Wed Mar 15 2023
1
I hated this so much that I tried punching the sound coming out the speakers.
Mon Apr 03 2023
1
Atrocious
Fri Apr 07 2023
1
Is this not just super generic? Why is this here?
Thu Apr 27 2023
1
It's bad. Like, really bad. No conceivable reason why this album would be on this list unless someone was being paid off. 1/5
Wed Jun 14 2023
1
So at first it just seemed like a kinda boring, cheesy 80s album. But then as I kept going, it felt like it was just getting worse. By Vagabond Holes and Jerdacuttup Man, the lyrics were becoming nonsensical random stuff, the music got staler, and from then on I was just annoyed listening to this. How did this even make it onto this list?
Fri Sep 01 2023
1
Not even worth the time to write a clever scathing review, couldn't even finish this. It just has no place on a list like this.
Thu Apr 15 2021
5
McComb's explosive rage at the finale of \"Vagabond Holes\" should have been the Triffids' last gasp, an unsettling blast of scarred emotions that isn't easy to shake off.
Wed Aug 04 2021
5
this album was a good vibe, like wowowow i did like it!
Wed Mar 02 2022
5
I love how chill this group sounds !
Wed Apr 06 2022
5
Discovered this album a few years after it was released and it was the first Triffids album for me. Not sure if that is why I like it the most (the other Triffids albums are also great) but apart from the so-so production, this is a 5* album in every other aspect, introspective guitar rock that sounds very Australian, David McComb was one of the best singer-songwriters ever.
Mon May 09 2022
5
I thought about giving this four stars and then thought 'I'm only not giving it five BECAUSE of Bury Me Deep In Love' which is really punishing them for Neighbours. So, for the songs, the playing, the vocals. 5 stars. A high-water mark of eighties Australian music.
Fri Aug 05 2022
5
I listened to this one twice, entranced by its odd allure. Stand-out/favorite track: 'Jerdacuttup Man'
Thu Oct 27 2022
5
Man, this is good. Shades of Nick Cave and even The The. Lush, theatrical chamber-pop with real scale and depth of imagination.
Fri Jan 20 2023
5
When I first started this album I was a little disappointed. They are a very good band. They had a nice 80s feel, some good majestic choir, organ, bells, synths... so many elements that appeal to me. But the songs weren't grabbing me. I was ready to give this the lowest score of the week. As I listened further I'm not sure if the songs improved our my ear adjusted, but I started warming up to the band. After the halfway point I was enjoying this significantly more. Immediately after finishing I gave it a second listen and found myself singing along. I needed a couple of listens to this album to really appreciate it. Now I love it as a new addition to my 80s collection!
Thu Mar 02 2023
5
Blew me away. I think I enjoyed every single song. You can hear so many bands from before and after them, production and variation was excellent
Fri Jul 21 2023
5
A really beautiful complex accomplished album - for me it captures something essential about growing up in Australia in the '80s. I'm surprised at the harshness of the reviews here - it doesn't translate?
Thu Aug 24 2023
5
This is a hard one as I am always conflicted about the needless tragedy of David McComb's death (and life). This album is one of hopeful hopelessness, of loss and longing. Backroom ballads for the disaffected. All the while having pop friendly polished edges that let the Triffids skirt the edges of the Mainstream
Mon Apr 19 2021
4
Actually a pretty good album, no song stands out but overall very enjoyable
Sun Jun 27 2021
4
Really like this. Part Cult, Alarm, Prefab, Hot house all together. My 80' in a nutshell - simpler times and music.
Wed Mar 03 2021
4
I really enjoyed this.
Mon Apr 19 2021
4
Good 80s album. I truly enjoyed it. Not sure why but I did!
Wed Mar 03 2021
4
Pretty corny and pretty 80s which means I like it.
Wed Mar 03 2021
4
Always hard to judge exactly how good an album is while I'm doing homework, but this one seemed quite good
Wed Mar 03 2021
4
A little weird, the songs almost felt too disjoint to be an album? It was good and groovy if a bit aggressively 80s, and they had nice voices. A solid 4 stars.
Fri Apr 09 2021
4
***to be read in the voice of Harry Redknapp*** The triffic Triffids. They do seem to have sparked some controversy in the Spackers judging panel, do the Triffids. Harry Redknapp also caused controversy by successfully swerving tax evasion charges by claiming he had secret bank accounts in his dog's name because he couldn't read. So there you go.
Mon May 03 2021
4
Classic 80s rock/pop, so you know I'm gonna love it. A little long, but the songs I saved were very very good, even if I wouldn't come back to the entire album Saved: Bury My Deep in Love, Blinder By T!he Hour, Jerdacuttup Man
Thu Feb 18 2021
4
Amazing home town music.
Sun Apr 18 2021
4
I reviewed this already so I'm not going to write a lot. favorite songs are jerdacuttop man and calenture. Good album.
Fri Jun 18 2021
4
4/5 - I had never heard of this guy, but good for him, he's fun.
Sun Sep 12 2021
4
I’m intrigued by this album. It combines 80s elements of power pop, folk music, country music, and new wave. It is more conventional than most new wave artists and can be quite symphonic.
Thu Sep 30 2021
4
Most of the songs felt familiar even though it's my first time listening to this album.
Thu Oct 14 2021
4
Quite liked this album. Tone was somewhat dark but very melodic. Singer has a great vocal tone. Reminded me of a more bluesy Bowie.
Mon Nov 15 2021
4
Very jangle-pop uk 80s, some of the songs sound like Echo & the Bunnymen, or The Smiths, or Deaon Blue, or The Associates, or even Inxs. Wasn't expecting much, but really enjoyed it, and will listen to it again. One thing though - Spotify has the (very) extended version, with more than twice as many songs, some of them demos/outtakes.
Mon Nov 22 2021
4
80,s synth
Wed Nov 24 2021
4
Not a bad album, easy listening
Thu Dec 02 2021
4
Un disco muy raro, de esos que no sé bien cómo llegaron a esta lista. Musicalmente me gustó; de hecho creo que de los discos de la época ochentera que nos han tocado, es el que más me ha gustado. Como si fueran lo bueno de The Smiths, pero sin la voz espantosa de Morrisey. Mi único problema fue lo largo. Y encima hay un disco que trae también los ensayos y se vuelve infinito.
Fri Jan 07 2022
4
This was a real treat. Very underrated group.
Fri Feb 04 2022
4
mitt nya favorit album. älskar verkligen gubbar som rockar sockorna av mej
Fri Feb 18 2022
4
Not heard of this band before but enjoyed this, any song with loud "Huhs" all the way through screams 80's and I love it.
Sun Apr 10 2022
4
I ressslly dug this. Solid Melodies
Thu Jun 30 2022
4
-"Kelly's Blues" comes in heavy. It's also got a sweet bass line. Then the scream and bridge jam are totally awesome -"A Trick of the Light" is clearly a rip off of "Trick Of The Light" by The Who -"Holy Water" is a catchy track with quite cool instrumentation -"Vagabond Holes" is just a solid, catchy tune. Nice upbeat drums and simple lyrics seemed to make it stand out -Overall solid enough. Probably a low-mid tier 4. If more songs had a little more oomph like "Kelly's Blues" it could have been higher
Tue Jul 12 2022
4
Wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it probably wasn't this. So this album seems to be a mix between a much tamer version of contemporary darkwave and oldschool folk rock songwriting. While the album seemed unexciting at first, it started growing on me after a while. It's definitely a rounded up 4 for me, rather than a solid one. But I enjoyed it more than the last few 3's.
Wed Aug 24 2022
4
A clear tune throughout and non offensive. Pretty cruisy
Wed Sep 21 2022
4
No, me neither? Not even in these listings of 'Best Australian Bands of all time' that run out at 8. But yet this is lovely pleasing blues gentle rock, and I rather enjoyed it.
Mon Oct 10 2022
4
Quite nice, though softer than I usually like the music to be.
Sun Oct 16 2022
4
Yet another band I have not come across before. For some reason I thought it would be 60s psychedelia. Definitely od the 80s, but that's not a problem. Like it a lot.
Mon Oct 17 2022
4
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Bury me deep in love, Open for you, Vagabond holes
Mon Oct 24 2022
4
I totally get why everyone seems to hate this but I was IN THE POCKET for it the whole time. I loved this! Heck yeah. Triffidshead 4 life. Reminded me a lot of the underappreciated Irish Band "A House", so maybe that's why I dug it.
Wed Nov 02 2022
4
Not bad
Wed Dec 14 2022
4
Extremt 80-tal, verkligen på max. Nice!
Fri Jan 06 2023
4
PREFS : Bury Me Deep in Love, Kelly's Blues, Trick of the Light, Hometown Farewell Kiss, Open for You, Holy Water, Jerdacuttup Man, Save What You Can MOINS PREF : Unmade Love
Mon Jan 16 2023
4
It reminds me of Edward scissor hands especially the song jerdacuttup man. I really liked the album especially the sounds on it. Didn’t love all of the love songs as they were a bit cheesy. Overall it was a win and grew on me as I listened. Low 4
Fri Jan 27 2023
4
This is a very interesting album. I am not exactly sure what to think of it. I certainly hear the Nick Cave influences in this album, I also hear a bit of Scott Walker at times. I do really enjoy it, but like when I got my first Scott Walker album on the list, I just have a hard time actually digesting it. I think it will get a 4 from me today and a revisit at a later date. Pretty good album.
Wed Mar 29 2023
4
Perhaps their ultimate statement, Calenture sees The Triffids rhapsodizing about varying obsessions, be it they love, hallucinations and spirituality. A sprawling collection that looks to satisfy whatever corners of humanity it reaches, Calenture is one of many hidden gems from the Eighties. Do not be put off by the amount of songs accumulated here, there's plenty to tickle the ears. Favorites: Bury Me Deep in Love, Kelly's Blues, A Trick of the Light, Hometown Farewell Kiss, Unmade Love, Holy Water, Vagabond Holes, Save What You Can, Baby Can I Walk You Home, Bad News Reminds Me of You, Everything You Touch Turns to Time.
Wed May 03 2023
4
Nice atmospheric post-punk, good.
Fri May 05 2023
4
Pretty great find for me. Reminded me a bit of Springsteen.
Fri Jun 09 2023
4
This was a nice little record. I've loved the Australian albums on here and this was a fun listen. Nothing super ground breaking but at the same time, not super stale. 3.5/5
Thu Jun 22 2023
4
I gather this is what Nick Cave sounds like if you like Nick Cave. A couple stinkers lurk in the middle, surrounded by hemispherically rotated earworms. As the production floats out of time, so does the lens on love float out of reason. It all feels accurate to a funky country.
Sat Jun 24 2023
4
I think from all the one star reviews up top I was expecting something much worse. In the end it's alright. It reminds me of so many other things. Get Echo and the Bunnymen vibes in Kelly's Blues. Hometown contains what seems to be a bad Springsteen impression. Unmade Love reminds me a bit of early James. Jerdacuttup Man is a Nick Cave song, I'm convinced. INXS float around as well. His singling style is like Bono, Nick Cave and Dave Gahan merged into one. Aside from the very good opener, I think Blinder By The Hour is one of the few I genuinely like, but there's generally enough interesting going on somewhere else. There's some 80s shlock though, and Vagabond Holes is pretty awful. I dunno, I might listen to this again. I don't remember it getting played when Madge and Harold got wed though, the main thing I remember is Harold falling off that rock into the sea in a comedy way. Least favourite: Holy Water, Vagabond Holes. I listened to it again today and enjoyed it again. Hit the same cues. 4 stars
Wed Jul 19 2023
4
Grew on me.
Wed Aug 30 2023
4
Hadn't heard about this group before but it was a really good surprise!
Thu Aug 31 2023
4
Se parecen a James, pero más suaves ...
Wed Sep 06 2023
4
Had never heard of this band and this was alright! Nice, easy listening
Wed Sep 13 2023
4
Surprisingly good. Thought I knew most 80s bands but never heard of these
Mon Sep 18 2023
4
ett fint album ändå! lite som lloyd cole and the commotions fast inte riktigt lika bra
Thu Jul 15 2021
3
Some potential here, but didn’t catch me on the first listen. Might be worth a revisit!
Wed Jan 27 2021
3
Vagabond Holes was a great song, everything else just kind of blends together. not bad , just down the middle rock
Tue Sep 22 2020
3
Blinder by the Hour is the standout for me
Sun Mar 07 2021
3
This is a fine record and everything, but almost everything else I've heard by then has been better.
Thu Jan 28 2021
3
Is alright.
Sun Jun 13 2021
3
This is a band that hasn't quite determined their sound. Could be Pop or rock or, what I'm going to call, Australian country.
Sun Apr 18 2021
3
Wow, a band I've never heard of! this album was pretty good, not great, but I enjoyed it, as it kinda felt like a mix of New Order, The Smiths, and every 80's rock band music. I don't know if i'll ever add these songs to my go-to playlists, i'd have to listen to it again a few times, but this was very enjoyable!
Fri Feb 05 2021
3
Not bad, but a bit boring and one-note for me.
Mon Mar 01 2021
3
New band for me! Massively produced late 80's Aussie rock. Best Tracks: Bury Me Deep In Love, A Trick of the Light, Save What You Can
Mon May 03 2021
3
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Bury Me Deep In Love, Hometown Farewell Kiss, Blinder By The Hour, Save What You Can, Baby I Can Walk You Home*, Region Unknown*, Love The Fever*, Bad News Reminds Me Of You*, Everything You Touch Turns To Time* Cutting Edge: None * = bonus track Overall Notes: Never heard of these guys even though they're in my musical wheelhouse. Reminded me of a more guitar driven Go-Betweens. Like this a fair amount, especially the bonus tracks, all of which I saved. If they were on the original album I would've rounded this up to a 4, but as it stands it's a 3.5 rounded down.
Thu Mar 25 2021
3
Easy listening. Inoffensive. Just what I needed at the time. Wouldn't listen to it again.
Mon Mar 15 2021
3
Had genuinely never heard of them before. First track was super catchy. Reminded me of a “less sad” Cure