Reviews (page 6 of 7)
I skimmed through this album to get to the end. The singer had a compelling voice, the music was... sigh.....it sounds harsh, but the word I want to use is lame.
Steve Irwin would be turning in his grave that despite all the groundbreaking music that has come out of Australia it is only this and 75 Nick Cave albums that have made this list.
2.1 1x catchup 11/6/24
One star for each song that didn't mention lips.
Oof. Couldn't finish it all.
Etwas gewöhnlich, schnell vergessen.
Musically, instrumentally it was fine. Didn’t enjoy the vocals though. 80s are my least favourite decade for music. Didn’t hate it but didnt like it.
Kinda dull no?
Pretty generic
Eh, don't care for this. The production is goofy, the drums sound annoying...the snare drum specifically has the craziest echo on every single hit. The song writing is fine, not actively bad but just not my thing.
I didn't really dig it.
The umpteenth synthpop album on here. This one had a bit more aggressive synth drums than others, but still not wholly memorable or worthy of being on the list.
Yeah, Calenture is very 80s but not in a lot of the annoying trope ways, it manages to create a decent sound, vocals doing a lot of the work to make it sound interesting. It's not great, it doesn't belong on the list, but it's fine and worth a listen anyway. High 2.
This is fine - we've had a lot worse, and an awful lot that's pretty similar to this. It's pretty standard 80s electro pop/rock, nothing remarkable, could give it a 3 but don't think it quite earns it. 2/5
Not horrible, but nothing to make me want to go back and hear it again
Too long, too boring, two stars.
This was whiny in a creepy way, right? There was some interesting imagery in the lyrics, but a lot of it felt actually creepy.
It was quite long and honestly don’t quite get why this one is on here. Still I didn’t hate it. The singer especially sounds so much like Tom Verlaine at times who I love. So I enjoyed that part but the rest didn’t do much for me. Rating: 2.5
Idc 1.5
Rockband??? Just another Singer-Songwriter Pop style. Not so bad, but also not special. 2/5
😴
There were one or two songs on this I liked, but the rest I really did not.
A slow burner of an album that borders on CCM at times.
Dnf. No thank you.
Sort of like Terars for Fears / Duran Duran but not nearly as good
The author of the list loves this sound. Moody 80s. I really didn’t like it. Bad voice, bad songs, bad production. I feel like every day I’m delving deeper and deeper into this guys bad taste. It’s like I’m walking around his messy house, with rotting food everywhere and shit on the walls. I don’t want to hear another shit 80s/90s British alt pop landfill album
how many times will i have to listen to this album
Even with some of the albums I have given low ratings to so far, I can at least understand the significance of the work. 'Hybrid Theory'? Sure. T. Rex's 'Electric Warrior'? Totally. Elvis? Not a fan, but I can at least see his impact in the time of his peak. The Triffids 'Calenture', though? This is the first time I have audibly asked the question: "why is this on the 1001 albums list?". It's not that this LP is even that bad. There isn't anything particularly worth criticizing or praising as everything it has to offer is pretty inoffensive. It's just that there is nothing interesting happening here, and it is one of the most borderline cliche albums I have ever heard. It sounds like they listened U2's 'The Joshua Tree' a few months earlier and thought: "Yeah, let's make something like that". I could almost sense the road each melody would take in every song, I was unbelievably bored by nearly every composition, and the band isn't exactly pushing any production envelopes. I gave it a fair chance, as I did everything else so far, and I literally couldn't wait for it to be over. As mentioned above, "inoffensive" is a word I used to describe 'Calenture', and that matches up with the lyrics and vocals of lead singer David McComb. He's a pretty good singer, just not a particularly standout one; and he's a good lyricist, he just has nothing very interesting to say (at least in this album). Personally, for me - as a baseline, if the music itself is rather simple or nothing special - the lyrics need to really stand out. And if lyrics aren't exactly an artist/band's speciality - then the music and production needs to impress. 'Calenture' does neither of these things for me.
I only knew this band from a reference in a Courtney Barnett song ("and in the taxi home, I'll sing you a Triffids song"). Having heard them now, I think I'll wait and take the next cab instead.
i’m a bit baffled by this record if truth be told. it doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be, whether that’s rock, pop or post-punk. the songs felt over-produced, and were too repetitive. the lyricism was frankly boring. i did quite enjoy his vocals, but i’m not sure they fit whatever style this record is. honestly, i can’t say i feel strongly either way about this album - purely mediocre
This music sucks..
yeah it’s alright some good moments but the good songs are still just okay not sure why this one’s on here bud
Pre-listening thoughts: I cheated and looked at reviews for this before listening and everyone said “what is this generic 80s snorefest doing on this list” so idk. I’m sort of already seeing their point on track 1. Post/during listening thoughts: The deluxe version of this album is CRAZY long. It’s supposed to end at Save What You Can so that’s where my review will end. The lead singer has a nice voice but yeah this is pretty generic 80s stuff. I’m not opposed to it but I’m definitely not hooked. I appreciate the album narrative of the slow descent into insanity but sadly the songs are not sonically interesting or unique enough to elevate that narrative. It’s dragging on. I need an album by a woman 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Hometown Farewell Kiss, Vagabond Holes Least fav tracks: Jerdacuttup Man
Hmmm not sure how I feel about this one, feels like the deeply unserious soundtrack music you’d find on a cult classic, I can see myself enjoying this in a more ironic way that could circle back to being unironic but I just don’t think i’m into the music enough in the first place to want to listen to it much again I enjoyed the songs Blinder by the Hour and Vagabond Holes, everything else not so much
I think the criticism of this album is justified. While it originally seems inoffensive and listenable, it proves the be repetitive, predictable and overproduced after a few songs. This made for an experience that felt like far more than 46 minutes, and definitely not an album worthy of being on this list.
Unbelievable 80's cheese with not much to say, but at least it's well executed.
J'ai l'impression que cet album est uniquement là car il fallait plus de représentation australienne. Peut-être que ça a été massif là-bas, mais honnêtement j'ai trouvé ça super drabe et linéaire. 4/10
Puro suco dos anos 80. Banda australiana, sinceramente não é o tipo de som que eu gosto e não vou ouvir de novo
Opener is uninspiring pop but I like the piano on the second track. Gets a bit (maybe a lot) sappy sounding on tracks like Blinder By The Hour or Save What You Can. Overall, not one to revisit but a couple good moments. Favourites: Kelly's Blues, Open For You.
As boring as the album art implies
This was like a bad low budget movie soundtrack
Totally new to me. Sorry but it seems dangerously close to yacht rock. Much too pop oriented. I'm trying hard to give them a chance, but I don't think I'm Australian enough. Had to quit during Hometown Farewell Kiss.
This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t memorable. Fine background. I was slightly interested in ‘The Jerdacuttup Man’ but the story was weak.
This was just so innocuous, and then there's that awful '80s snare sound and this became difficult to listen to. Other than that, I've already forgotten what I didn't like about this. There was nothing that stood out.
Day184 - i can think of a handful of ‘80s artists that won’t make the list with better albums, but it’s nostalgic and i watched “the secret of my success” and “beverly hills cop” after listening to this
Meh.
I would say this band is just ho hum, not great, but not offensive, just middle of the road pop music for the 80’s.
Very much a wannabe band
80’s pop fluff music. Way too long & why oh WHY is this on the list??!
If I liked Deacon Blue or Big Country or Simple Minds I guess I’d like this. But I don’t, so I don’t. Not enough excitement to be pop, not enough attitude to be rock, not enough emotion to be soul. I have no idea what this is. 2/5
So long! Is ok
I’m not familiar with the Triffids. I don’t hate it, but a double album is just way too long!
Wasn’t terrible, just didn’t do it for me ! 2*
Perfectly cromulent 80s pop-rock.
Enjoyed the energy and diversity of instrumentals but the lyrics lacked a substance.
I hate to say it but….trash?
Meh this was some typical 80 s pop by a band with one of the worst names. it was really just okay so many other artists created more interesting catchy songs with the 80s popular sounds. This one was a pass over. 4.9/10
Mmmmmm Did not appreciated too much, maybe I should get back here for a check
Odd lyrics, unimaginative production and generally forgettable experience bar one or two half-interesting moments.
i wanted to but i did not like it
These guys must have thought they were the business cos holy hell that's a lot of tracks for such a bland band. And the re-ssued version has a second side of the same stuff again. Aussie Lloyd Cole without the tunes. Does remind me of a few of these slightly folky straight ahead rock bands of the time, maybe a bit of Deacon Blue or Big Country, but again lacking in interest. I'm sure their mums all bought a copy at least.
Welp, that was pointless. Yeah, I don't think this album needs to be on the list. There aren't a ton of Australians that I would consider legends. Among my very small list are Steve Irwin, AC/DC, and the "Democracy Manifest" guy. Notice how the Triffids aren't on that list? It's because I've never heard of them before, and to be honest, it doesn't even seem like they're that popular in Australia either. As for the quality of the album itself, it's kind of mediocre. The singing and instrumentals are solid, I'll give the album that. However, they are a bit repetitive. The writing is fine, I guess. Some songs felt a bit too similar to each other, but whatever. Overall, it's kind of mid, and didn't need to be on here, but I didn't hate it as much as other people on this website did. High 2/5.
Kirkland Signature Depeche Mode. Synth pop that has a bit of jangle, a bit of hooky new wave power pop, a bit of dark and moody, and even a bit of heartland twang, but doesn't lean hard enough in any direction to be really satisfying. It's easy listening, but most of the tracks seem like they'd be filler on the good bands of the era's albums. It gets more cloying and boring as it goes on and the endearing novelty of the unrestrained 80s production wears thin. Last 4 songs end it on a high note with more subtle radio pop bright bass forward sound (and the bonus disc demos let the instruments and songs shine through the cheesy production).
Today, someone sent me an audio clip of Nirvana's "Tastes Like Teen Spirit" if it had been recorded by an 80s band. Reminds me a bit of this. Just a bit. To be fair, I am an 80s kid and liked (still like) synth wave and (American) New Wave (if we must use these grubby terms), up until just before the point where it met what eventually metastasised into Bubblegum Metal This is a masterpiece of 80s production values – gated snares, reverb a room wide etc. Emphasis on creating a series of pocket epics. On the whole, it's a creation of its time and place. Probably belongs there.
Nah.
im far too out of touch for most of these albums to not sound samey to me
I mean...it sounds like a lot of other music of the time. Nothing much stood out for me.
More mediocre 80s pop music - yay! So this album made it into the top 35 in Australia, Sweeden & New Zealand and that's it? I know commercial success isn't everything and that there's some incredible albums out there with minimal commercial success (and vice versa), but I'm more curious how the author of this list even discovered this album in the first place? Was it just to give us all a taste of the Australian version of mediocre 80s pop music? If so, mission accomplished. Musically this isn't the worst thing I've found on this list, but it's pretty boring. I made it through the whole thing and there were a few very fleeting moments of something that caught my attention, but overall way over-produced and cheesy. I'm sad that Google Music is now going to consider this in my history when recommending new music to me.
Not my era.
Just okay. But not turn-it-off awful.
It started it off very pop oriented mainstream then it got darker as it went on - at least the lyrics, because musically it remained kind of bland late 80s pop rock which isn't my cup of tea. I wanted to enjoy it more but I couldn't really.
What a snoozer.
This hits like the music playing on the radio in an older relative’s car.
a little too tasteful for my taste
Kind of a chore not for me. It's spent too much time trying to sound big
I just wasn't into it. It just felt really cheesy and self-righteous. Not necessarily terrible musically. I just didn't care about any of the songs
This album wasn't good. From the very first song, my main impression was of over-the-top cheese. As songs ticked by, I formed a theory that every song on this album has one of three uses: 1. Drunken karaoke where some rando hit the wrong song button. 2. 90's movie montage background music (think of the cliche "running to the airport to try and confess your love") 3. Horribly cheesy 80's music videos in black and white with the singer appearing to be really angsty, looking off in the distance. To make it 100% obvious, none of these scenarios are things that a musical group should aspire to.
Why is this on the list and INXS - Kick isn't? It's far superior in every way to this bland effort.
A highly beige and irritating listen... Did not like this at all
eugh, really nonsense. I HATED his voice, it was so bland
Not sure if they were trying too hard, but I just didn’t get into this album. Flickers of great music but overall just mediocre. 2.5/5
01) Bury Me Deep in Love - 6,5 02) Kelly's Blues - 6,0 03) Trick of the Light - 6,5 04) Hometown Farewell Kiss - 6,0 05) Unmade Love - 5,5 06) Open for You - 5,5 07) Holy Water - 6,5 08) Blinder by the Hour - 5,5 09) Vagabond Holes - 5,5 10) Jerdacuttup Man - 5,0 11) Calenture - 5,0 12) Save What You Can - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,75 (58/100) Current ranking: 153/176 I guarantee you that we had better albums in Ex Yugoslavia only in 1987. Nothing is exciting or new on this album.
Heavy sigh... Yet another late 80's, band. Not UK this time, but Australia. I mean, it's not bad. It's just not good. A bit overproduced, a bit overbown.... And ultimately BORING 2/5
I didn't hate this, there was just nothing remarkable about it that makes me think it warrants a spot on the list. Like within a year I will have forgotten I listened to this.
It was ok
Kinda boring tbh. 1.5/5.0: Bad
Very emotional, but in an annoying, whiny, melodramatic way and too derivative to be interesting. 2/5
i usually try to have an open mind, especially when i'm presented with an artist i've never heard before. i was excited to listen to this one based on the genres given on wikipedia, but unfortunately i was a bit disappointed in this one. although i think the songwriting was fairly intriguing and the lead singer's voice was very strong, i can't get past the production on this one. i imagine if this album was produced more like a folk-y album, and not an 80s pop album, i would have liked it more. the production feels dated and not in a fun or good way, and doesn't feel like it fits the songs or the album. it took me several pauses within listening to listen through this one. sorry, not a huge fan!
The first time I saw this album's cover, there was just this vibe about it. Like it was going to become the new album I bring up whenever I make some of the inclusions on this list. "CALENTURE got on this list, but not something or other?" That sort of deal. Listening to the album certainly didn't dispel that feeling. And the thing is, actually, that I don't even really think this album is... **Entirely** bad. It's got moments here and there—check those Irish-sounding instruments on "Jerdacuttup Man", not to mention how its opening sounds like Pink Floyd's "Echoes". I think that stuff's neat. It's just all so few and far between is all, which really highlights how oppressively, suffocatingly "FI-I-I-I-INE" the rest of the album is. I just can't hear what makes this thing so special, and as a result it's so hard to give a shit about it. While I was writing this review, even, I got so bored re-listening to the first side that I didn't even let it finish. What would I even gain? It's not like letting "Open For You" play out a second time would change my mind. In conclusion, to be fair, this album's got more going for it than others I've found to be slogs—TIMELESS, MAXINQUAYE—but, yeah, it's definitely going to be one of my new punching bags. Sorry, Australia. Maybe give me some AC/DC or INXS or whatever next time.
It’s a 2.5 that I cannot possibly bring myself to round up to a 3… but it’s not that terrible. It’s just boring. There’s genuinely some good soundscapes here, and I’d say the vocal performance only ever dips to a real low by “Vagabond Holes,” but this album just feels like the equivalent of just getting a vanilla ice cream when there’s so many other flavors and toppings available. Most of the songs are fine to listen to, but when you look at the lyrics, the concepts of each song sort of fall apart with lyrics that are either too contrived or too outdated and “safe” for 1987, let alone 2024. Instrumentally, I think the mixing on this album is all over the place, and in terms of production, these are trying so desperately hard to sound important and bombastic with this rich variety of instruments, and it just falls flat because as a listener, it’s incredibly easy to tell where they’re just trying too hard. The problem, of course, is that they’ve tried just enough to exist within the limbo of “good enough to listen to, not good enough to care,” and that is the cardinal sin any album can fall into. If I were going by a 10… I dunno, a 5.5, maybe? Decent listen, but instantly forgettable, hence the 2.
Just plain…not exactly ground breaking
No idea why this was included
it was ok.
Fits right in with this era and genre but doesn't do much for me. Fine. 2.5
This wasn't great, but I made it through. Weird choice for the list.
Couldn’t finish it. I made it to song 5 and dreaded listening to the rest.
Gave it a couple spins. Nope. Bad.
it's like 80s pirate music? not sure about this one. again, not the worst thing on the list... and has some potentially catchy tunes. Not the style of music I would get into today, but I could see modern bands covering some of this and it sounding good.
Boring, nothing special. I was waiting for it to end.
Too long to be 3
Best Song: Holy Water. Just a real joyous chorus. Those church bells almost swing the whole production into "Hallmark-movie-cheesiness" levels, but it just manages to toe the line. Worst Song: Open for You. Sounds like a song from a children's album that's trying to teach me about how doors work. Overall: Pretty stock-standard alt-rock. You've got your occasional catchy chorus amidst a whole whack of forgettable tracks. Slightly below medium music.
Wake me up when he’s done, please.
Not for me!
Never did like Spandau Ballet, OMD, or Thompson Twins...& now not a fan of The Triffids either! The Church and Nick Cave do the Aussie new wave thing much better.
The 80s cheese was too much for me
Incredibly heavy. Who likes this?
Very boring..not unlistenable hence 2 stars, but not great!
Very middle of the road. It's not bad, it's not great. A bit repetitive. Was going to give it a 3/5 but it went on so long I lost interest and it's really got to be a 2.
Very replaceable. Like echo and the bunny men without any edge.
Has the drama of the Cure but none of the incredible songwriting. Everything I heard was just fine. There's not a whole lot of Australian bands on the list so it's a shame when the experience just sort of passes me by with barely any impression.
it's quite generic and the lyrics at times are rather uninspired, though by far not as unlistenable as the reviews suggest. however, recently, I got into the work of their fellow Aussie and Nick Cave's old friend and collaborator Rowland S. Howard, and now that I know how good Aussie music released in the 80s and 90s sounded like, I can't be too generous with my rating for this album either
This is standard 1980s fair. Nothing really exciting about it. Most of the songs just sort of fly by and make little to no impact on me. Very interchangeable in both sound and influence.
Wasn’t for me. Kind of boring and repetitive.
Mid British rock with weird lyrics 4.5/10
So average. Nothing stood out, no songs I'd want to revisit, but also not necessarily awful sounding. Just a boring album. 3/10
A bit of James and crowded house vibes but not catchy enough
Every song to me was in the B- to B+ range, and the whole didn't outperform the sun of its parts
Pop music isn’t exactly known for its lyrics but that can be hidden behind hooks and infectious melodies. This band brings the lyrics front and centre but they’re dopey and sometimes overwrought. The music is fine. But I’m never coming back to this. 2/5
Boring and generic. I already don't remember anything about it.
not really my thing- i can understand why it would be considered a hidden gem, though really i still think there are albums that could've taken its place on this list. lyrically meh, sonically kind of fun. i think i remember scott and scott talking about david mccomb on u talking u2 to me the other day so that makes me want to respect them more. i like eighties melodramatic pop but this is just blah. 5/10 fav tracks: a trick of the light
No Go
not like bad but eminently forgettable
Meatloaf from lidl. Nothing particularly interesting, until it got worse as it went on. The instrumental piano song at the end was really out of place. Stand-out: Bury Me Deep In Love
Favorites: Jerdacuttup Man, Calenture, Save What You Can. Different vocals and sound.
Tried to be Springsteen but bad. Too many songs.
I felt like I was listening to Echo and the Bunnymen but a not-good version of that. This isn't my thing, two stars.
I kept listening thinking it was gonna grow on me, but it never happened.
Australia must have been a post-apocalyptic Mad Max musical wasteland in the mid- to late-80’s
I expected to like this album more than I do; I am a fan of the previous album 'In The Pines', but the best song on 'Calenture' is an update on a song from 'In The Pines'.
How did this get on the list? Obviously never heard of this group and didn't really need to. I will finish the album so for that it gets a 2
Decent singing voices, some of the songs were easy to listen to, others not so much.
This seems to be quite a big genre and this is harmless enough, but the poetry is incredibly basic
Not a band or album I've heard or previously. I was expecting one (or more) of the tracks to trigger a memory, but it never happened. It's what I imagine AI would generate if you asked it create a bland 1980's sounding album. Pretty boring if you ask me, but I made it all the way through - so it gets 2 stars!
Bruce Willis' album The Return of Bruno charted higher than this. I'm not saying the US is the be-all and end-all of a good music judge, but it's usually a good watermark.
Pass.
Bland
A lot more enjoyable than the average rating implies, but remarkably inessential nonetheless.
A bit boring
Very 1980s. I never liked the production sound of the 80s, the drum machines, the way the snare drum always sounds. This album while not too poppy, isn't that remarkable either. I'm not sure how or why this album made the list. It just sounds like the most generic soft rock from the 1980s.
So this was a decent album with a couple tracks I really liked, though the song about the cromagnon mummy gave big indie basement band energy. Still, 2 hours is too long for any album to be. Favorite track was vagabond holes
meh
Way too long. I like that they switch off vocalists though and nice instrumentals 2.1
It's like 80's music but also lo-fi? Kind of shoegaze-y. I could listen to it but didn't find it memorable/find joy in it. More like 1.5 stars.
De martin Scorsese onder de muziek. Best wel vermakelijk maar veelste lang
Leuk album met best wat goeie nummers, maar het leek wat te lang. Het voelde ook een beetje onsamenhangend, alsof de nummers niet op 1 album thuishoorde…
Competent but fatally overwrought. Way too much reverb, just so that you know it was made in the 80s. Many blame Peter Gabriel for this studio sound. Nothing compelling.
Didn't really leave an impression, 4/10
Don't think there's anything particularly wrong with this record, it's just so far away from elements I enjoy. It took me four distinct listens to get through it. The lyrics have some pretty interesting turns of phrase, but otherwise it was one note for mine. Fave track: Everything You Touch Turns to Time
Calm
Not for me but I bet Andy scores it higher
I don’t know why this should be so interesting. There are way more interesting records from the end of the 80s.
Didn't enjoy it. Cliche 80s sound.
Okay songs. Okay band. Okay singer. Okay album.
Not my type of music. Waay too dramatic for me
This album does not do much of anything for me. I'm really not a fan of the production, though I find it hard to pinpoint the issues there. I mainly find the album boring and uninspired. I was surprised to see that "Bury Me Deep in Love" was one of their more popular songs because I really didn't enjoy it as an album opener. I find the lyrics mediocre and way to forward in the mix. I didn't hate this album but I didn't feel strongly about any of the songs as standouts either, but there were a few that were OK. Standout Tracks: A Trick of the Light, Save What You Can
Sounds alright. Its inclusion on this list confuses me.
hot mess of nothing good et inspirant. 4/10
Who does this guy sound like?? It's driving me crazy. I wasn't moved by most of this, but really quite liked "Unmade Love." If the whole album was that song on repeat it'd be getting a much higher score for me. Or if it just had more songs that had a similar energy and darker tone to them I'd be here for it. As is, it's really that one song and the instrumental title track that stood out. Too bad, because I can see the potential here for something more interesting than what the album delivered.
Why
Alku oli ihan lupaava, mut vähä lässähti. Tämmöstä klassista rokken rollia
Too long
The singer has the most sterotypical 80s voice This album started out sounding like it was going to be a typical love album. But then it introduced a bunch of cool instruments and sounds. I can't tell if I like this album, it is pretty weird. Think it's a 2.5 but im going to have to round down.
BORING 80's music blahhhhhhhh some cool instrumentals though.
This album sounds like it created purely for radio airtime in the 80s. Nothing original, or different from whatever sounds were trendy at the time. Tacky and boring 😴😴😴😴
Pretty boring and seems so similar to other bands of the day. It has no business being here but it's not really 1 star bad, close, but not quite.
Perhaps the most boring album yet
2.5
One of those albums that's just an absolute slog - nothing about the execution (instrumental or vocal) is terrible (in fact I found myself bopping along to a few tracks), but the constant beatdown of cheesy synth timbres and lackluster songwriting grates after the better part of an hour.
Sweeping, grand, orchestral. Somewhere between The Smiths, Modest Mouse, and Suede. Didn't really grip me. Favorite track: "Vagabond Holes"
Vähän tuommoinen Tears For Fears fiilis tulee, ei oikein mun juttu. Folkkipoppia vai huh? Jerdacuttup Man paras koska siinä eniten sitä folkkia on. Ja Calenture ihan hyvä piano outro sille. Muuten aika meh.
6th July 2023 Listened way late due to seeing Bruce in Hyde Park! Not memorable but not terrible. 2.5 if I could.
Honestly just boring.
Dit is niet waarmee je wilt worden geconfronteerd op een verder prrrrrrrima vrijdag!
Dit zegt me niet zoveel en maakte ook niet zoveel indruk.
Als ik al in een lichtelijk geirriteerde staat ben, dan moet je niet met dit soort kak aan komen zetten.
Tsja. Beetje slappe hap en het eerste nummer is nogal songfestivalesque.
Was not particularly a fan - no songs stuck out for me, and the tunes sounded mostly like an inferior Roxy Music clone.
1.5/5
Never heard of these guys. Rather generic '80s new wave type of album. Sonically similar to a lot of others we've had. Very long, lots of tracks on this one. I tried to chop off all the deluxe tracks but I think I missed a few. "Bad News" is not on the core album. It's not bad, a few songs I'm keeping. But boy does it become hard to distinguish these bands. Favorite tracks: A Trick of the Light, Jerdacuttup Man, Bad News Always Reminds Me of You. Album art: Just a guy's face in a strange sepia filter. Extremely moody. Boring. 2.5/5
Sounds like church music
Very 80s vibe here. The first song is great, but not sure about the rest of this. Nothing really clicked for me here.
Þunglyndislegt ástralskt popp. Fær góða dóma en ég tengi ekki.
I don't see why this album is on this list... It's just so mediocre
I was hoping this would be as good as The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, but it was not, in fact, as good as The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham.
Just mid Rock honestly. Nothing special here.
80 Aussie post punk band that never really made it big. This later album doesn't really have any punk in it.s Its a tad over produced but earnest and sincere but not really doing anything for me. Strikes me as a bit of an oddity on this list.
Like someone trying to explain New Wave and Goth five years after it happened to someone living in a cave.
? People listen to this haha
Based on it being on this album, I'll assume this was influential on other albums. But, having not heard this on release, it seems 80s bland to me.
Boring shite for the most part but there is a track that's quote fun at the end. Though if I listened to that one in isolation it might further prove the boredom I was inflicted with at that point.
Oof. Unremarkable musicianship, mediocre lyrics, and cheesy vocals. Nope.
I just could not get into this. Definitely not my bag.
muy sods stereo, 6/10, nada esplendido
Trying to be weird and funky in the 60s, no thanks
Ik ga dit een 2 geven. En niet eens omdat ik er heel veel last of onvreugde aan beleefde, maar dit is zo ontzettend nietszeggend. Je kunt dit gerust missen. 13 in een dozijn. Als ik een hoogtepunt moet kiezen dan kies ik track 10: Jerdacuttup Man. Klinkt piratenachtig. Geen echte dieptepunten, behalve dat dit album een plek inneemt in de lijst.
Ok, but completely forgettable
Interesting voice and a few nice tracks, but mostly found the album incredibly 80s and not in the good ways. Corny and melodramatic
For transparency, I'm rewriting my review. When I pulled up the album on Spotify, it said '2005', and I thought ' frickin how?'. From the album cover to the music itself, it screamed 80's. Confusion ensued. I'm really happy I did my 'research' because I was about to say "this album is out of place for 2005. What were they thinking?'. That said, this album is alright. Maybe my love of punk, and overtime learning punk was in response to rock shifting towards this kind of sound, gave me a bit of a negative view off the bat. It's fun, it's upbeat, but it's just not for me. Maybe another album with a similar style and sound will sway me to think otherwise, but for now, I cannot. Holy Water was kind of fun. Had this album been the first I listened to in this quest, it would get a 3. However, now I'm a little more seasoned I suppose. 2.
I pretty much knew when I first put this album on that I was not going to enjoy it. It is just so so so unbelievably cheesy. A Dollar Store bargain bin version of Echo & The Bunnymen. The lyrics remind me of a dentist office waiting room. Lines like "We used to take turns crying all night but oh that was so long ago", "I left the door open for you and you can walk through and through and through and it will always be open for you", and "With your lips for food. and your skin for sheets // Your eyes for light, and your blood for heat // And your two white arms for an overcoat" just make me hurt inside. Musically it is really not compelling at all. Things like the "shoo-shoo-op"s in "Hometown Farewell Kiss", the weird dissonance in "Blinder by the Hour" feel so forced. I mean the name of the songs give you all you need to know about this album. It's just cliches on top of cliches. The only songs I remotely enjoyed were "Jerdacuttup Man" as it at least showed that there is _something_ there musically speaking what with this Dylan-esque lyrical delivery backed by some sort of Celtic vibe and "Love the Fever" as it kind of danced the line between '80s and '90s which is cool to hear. Honestly, I feel embarrassed listening to this. The musicians at least tried so I'll give it a 2/5.
Incredibly generic, bland, new wave (although Wikipedia calls it "folk rock"?) that is not worth listening to. I guess if you really feel like you have to you could listen to just the first song and you will basically understand the whole album.
Wholly uneventful. Seriously, nothing happened during this album. It started and stopped in the exact same place. I was checking my watch over and over to see how much longer I was going to have to listen to this. Boring, tiresome, and just a bad time.
This was incredibly boring for me. Musically it did not connect with me at all. A lot of the album kind of struck me like some Christian pop which always feels empty to me.
Not my era and just not very good
Boring
Alkoi kivasti, mutta ei ihan kantanut loppuun saakka. Tykkäsin tyylistä, mutta jotain koukkuja olisi kaivannut lisää.
Kädenlämpöistä auringonlasku-hempeily-pop-rockia. En innostunut, 2/5.
White boy music from the 1980s that I have literally never heard of? WHERE DO I SIGN UP? But really - this is utterly tepid. If it were any more middle-of-the-road it'd have cats eyes. This is the biggest "Huh?" in just over a year of doing 1,001 albums. It isn't terrible, but it sure isn't good.
Canciones un tanto monótonas y con el mismo tono y enfoque. Disco pausado. No he encontrado ningún punto que me guste especialmente
Wasn't hard to listen to, but not really anything special either. Started off with what felt a bit like a Christian rock anthem, and then it was less engaging thereafter
Can say nothing better than the reviewer that says "I'm not even sure this album was in the 1001 top albums of 1987." 2/5.
If you think that “The Triffids” is a great band name, then you will think think the music is great too! You could definitely judge this album by its cover…. That “hometown” song was the best I guess. Am I on a hidden camera?
Eh. It had that 80s feel to it but not in a good way.
Meh. Too pop. Not for me at all
This wasn't great. All sounds the same and nothing stood out. Way too long an album for something so mediocre/forgettable. 5/10.
Detta skjønte eg ingenting av. Høres ut som masse ting som eg egentlig like, men samtidig ikkje??? Fikk sånn uncanny valley-følelse
I did not care about this
It's fine. It's like if The Smiths made sub par music while still having Morrissey on vocals. Could skip this one. 2.5/5
Okej.
Meh...
Rubbish 80’s rock, not sure why this made the list. But not quiet bad enough for the bottom rating.
not for me
"50 Or So Albums You Should Listen To Before You Die And Then An Unending Parade Of Mediocre White Men"
Decent thai, decent hang, mediocre work, spending money
Didn’t finish
Why?
T3B 1. Unmade Love 2. Jerdacuttup Man 3. Open for You
Nothing special, just an standard soft rock album. I think they are not so bad, but all the songs are just mediocre. Not special enough to be on the list in my opinion. Favourite song: - Vagabond holes
I like a good bit of Aussie pop/rock from this era but this album was bland. It didn't have incredible songwriting like INXS, Crowded House or Icehouse, a standout singer a la Barnesy/Farnesy, or even a Diesel-level guitarist. It wasn't bad, I could easily enough listen to it again, but it was... remarkably unremarkable. I couldn't even say it deserves a place among second-tier stuff like Dragon and 1927. Guess there's a reason Electric Blue still gets daily radio play but I'd never heard of the Triffids. 2/5.
Escutado, e esquecido.
It's alright, only liked a few songs though.
Meh
Never had heard of this band before. But overall is was just unremarkable 80s pop. Probably would never listen again nor really care to hear any singles. 1.5/5
Normal
Vraiment pas mon style, un peu trop egale pour moi, un mix rock pop synthetize que j’aime pas vraiment mais ca secoute en fond comme si il ny avait rien. 2.60
Getting go-betweens ad less flattering Crowded house vibes. Maybe a bit a the the. Super clean but poorly dated production. Some good bits but far too clean for my liking. Mehh not for me!
Nope
I listened to this a week or two ago and I can't remember a damn thing to say. Must have been memorable....
05/12/2022 Pretty average 80's lite-rock. Album length is crazy.
Loved the review which stated this wasn’t in the top 1001 of 1987. This is no REM U2 Waterboys or INXS or Elvis Costello or …. or …. Cover art 2/5
If rock and roll was breakfast food, "Calenture" by The Triffids would be unsweetened oatmeal. Sure, it'll do the job but it's not going to be interesting and you're going to be thinking about bacon the whole time. I can't imagine anyone actually wanting to listen to this. But then, some people actually choose to eat plain oatmeal so I guess there's no accounting for taste.
A bit too soft for me. Post-punk is really hit or miss.
2.8 - "Unique" and "different" don't necessarily mean "good." Not that this record is irredeemably offensive - there are at least some interesting elements. But overall I just find it strange, and a waste of my time. Perhaps the most judicious thing would be to say I simply don't like it and move on. But since I took the time to give it a spin I'll name a few gripes. First, it's got a treble-heavy mix that just sounds weak and wispy. Second, I just couldn't get past David MacCombs' voice. It's actually a powerful baritone but I'm constantly distracted by the effete way he pronounces "s" sounds. Third, the songs explore some strange and pretentious subjects like spirituality and the afterlife. Resulting songs like "Holy Water" and "Jerdacuttup Man" are utterly ridiculous. Listening to this record, I'm somehow reminded of bad dinner theater.
Another dull poppy thing
its alright folk rock but i dont get why this is on the list or what special about it
Not for Me. The Cure-like?
MOR stuff here. Vocals a little to prominent for my taste
“Vagabond Holes” is an alright song and an excellent song name. Otherwise album forgettable + way too goddamn long
Bleh
Some wild lyrics
Hasn’t aged well.
Only listened to one track and that was enough.
Not great.
Not for me
How is this on the list? Obscure Aussie Jangle pop from the 90's? I guess the author has a soft spot. I don't
Intensely boring.
Very 1980s vocal style (Lloyd Cole-y), not unpleasant but no stand-out songs- all same standard. Just an average band. Again, the same question keeps cropping up: why is this on the list. I can turn on the radio randomly and hear music like this. Why is this in anyway special? It's not actively bad, so I suppose that's a step up from the avalanche of dross that makes up at least half of this list.
No idea why an album like this makes the list. Random 80s theatrical dreck. Almost was comical.
First impression: So 80s sounding. Something about the drums specifically just scream 80s. Really curious why this drum sound so strongly evokes this era of music - is it a massive amount of reverb? First 4 songs were quite rough for me. Was about to give up on this record until "Unmade Love" - which was a bit better with a hard driving rhythm some noisier guitar work. But I think this was an outlier because I didn't much care for the rest of the album after that. Very 80's sound, some pretty cheezy songs/lyrics (this Christmas one at the end being the worst), and some vague theme of religion (allmusic practically calls them a christian band) add up to a bad formula for me.
An uninspiring album.
Not great
Remarkably boring
Had not heard of this band or heard their music (not that I recall, but as they had a hit or two in the late 80s, I probably heard those on the radio and just don't recall). The lead vocalist's voice is strong and clear, and they play well. The sound is very familiar to me as a lot of pop bands in the mid to late 80s sounded like this. It's a good representation of that sound. Nothing wrong with the album, just didn't engage me. Everything kind of blurred together as one long song with different sections rather than distinct tracks.
Another one that wasn't really for me. Sounded almost like a tears for fears but without many of the redeeming qualities. Moving on!
From British mediocrity to Australian mediocrity this book has it all
This book sucks man
My theory is that all of Australia mistakenly believed that the Cult was banned from the country and that all of the critics responsible for this list mistakenly believed that the Triffids were British, meeting the book's criteria by default. There are times where the lyricism pulls the band from the brink of generic, largely thanks to the album's loose themes of illusion and isolation giving a slightly different complexion to the same old rote love songs, but I still can't shake the feeling that I've heard this all plenty of times before. I'm thinking I might be a little too harsh on this one, but cut me a break: a fucking bug flew into my mouth during the first track and probably colored some of my score here. Key Tracks: Trick of the Light, Vagabond Holes, Jerdacuttup Man
I learned too late in life that there was actually a really cool music scene in australia in the 80s so I was pretty excited to hear a band I hadn't heard before. So that didn't work out.
I could barely finish this one. Not for me.
2.75. There are better ways to scratch this itch. It’s fun to think about which 3 bands you’d mash together for this sound. Simple Minds/ABC/Deep Blue Something
Oh lord... Tasapaksua huttua ja vitutti kuunnella loppuun asti.
Ei oikeestaan mitään ihmeellistä sanottavaa, peruskakkonen
I listened to this a week or two ago and I can't remember a damn thing to say. Must have been memorable....
That corny 80's reverb-for-days drum sound, cheesy keys, emotive vocals with lame lyrics. Gave it a few tracks (then skipped through a bit of the other songs) to see if there was good stuff lurking in there but, alas, there was none to be found. In terms of other bands from that era doing those kind of songs with that kind of instrumentation and that kind of production, they're a dime a dozen. Don't know how this album made the list, but glad to have listened. There are always treasures to be found in bands & songs you haven't heard before. This wasn't one of them.
no, 80's just... no... again, dated, cheesy, unmemorable and all that
Vagabond holes was good but the rest was pretty boring
Pretty unmemorable
maybe a good album, but my first and second listen didn't do anything for me.
Hmm, långt. Jag gillar ändå stora delar av albumet, men det var en märklig upplevelse. Jag lyssnade i flera olika vågor vilket kanske inte har gynnat albumet i mina öron. Uppdelat i två diskar, varav den senare är demos men det var inte precis samma låtar som på disk 1 så jag lyssnade ändå igenom det. Men gällande soundet är det ändå mycket som funkar. Sångarens röst är kraftfull på rätt sätt, det blandas in lite roliga instrument som inte hör till det absolut vanligaste, lite fina stråkar som sitter fint exempelvis. Vid andra omständigheter som hade lett till en genomlyssning i ett svep hade kanske kunnat gjort denna till en 3:a men som lyssningen blev nu räcker det inte riktigt till. Bäst: "Blinder by T!he hour"
Rätt standard 80-tals album, inte mycket att hurra över. A Trick of the Light var rätt bra dock
It was okay. Tried to get into but never did. Never heard of this band.
Not my style.
Kommt an mich nicht ran
Melodic tunes, but just a bit boring.
Boring inoffensive middle of the road pop.
I don't like this at all. It's soooo boring.
just all my least favorite conventions of 80s music. sounds very cheesy, lyrics are so over the top and the vocal style is a bit annoying. a couple of them bang though if you don't listen too hard.
Didn't find anything special about this tbh, standard 80s soft rock as far as I can tell
Too sugary for me. Not a fan.
Sounded like a poor mans version of Morrissey
Nope. Just not for me.
yawn
Favs - Vagabond Holes - Rehersal Demo, Jerdacuttup Man - Rehersal Demo. Okay - Baby Can I Walk You Home, Region Unknown. Wouldn’t listen to the rest again.
Hmmm. Not really impressed.
Soft 80s heartbreak
Good enough. Pleasant
Dated, boring, way too long. Did not finish.
Listened once, album length was daunting, NEED TO RELISTEN!
Australsk folk-pop, tematisk, violin
What a frivolous bullshit.
Sounds like a Mentos commercial. I wouldn’t listen to a whole album of that. Not even a week in and I am being tested. I’m sure I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of the music I don’t really want to listen to. Only three more years of this