Heaven Or Las Vegas

I can't believe I get to listen to this album. The vibes are immaculate, just perfection. It's like floating along warm summer air. Everything feels so purposeful in it's placing, with every sound, word, and visual just lifting the album above levels I didn't know could exist. My only complaint is that it gets a little same-y here and there, but man I can forgive that with how beautiful it all is. Perfection.

Oh my God. Who let this be such utter perfection? This was really really really good. Wow. The atmosphere. The vocals. 10/10.

The mystery of the lost great Cocteau Twins album: What was it on the other side of the recording studio glass that so distracted them when they made this, and what would they have produced if they'd been paying attention? We may never know. I will never care.

Beautiful ephemeral pop that I could listen to on loop forever.

A truly unique dream pop album that doesn't have one lackluster song. Fraser's vocals are the highlight of this album, purring with energy and life. Some of her vocals are unintelligible, but that doesn't take away from the ethereal sound. The guitar work and drums are amazing as well, complementing the vocals perfectly and coalescing to provide the unique soundscape. The band complements each other so well yet you get the impression of improv. Not to say it isn't focused, which it is, with songwriting about childbirth and also death. Favorite tracks: Cherry-Coloured Funk, Iceblink Luck, Fifty-Fifty Clown, Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires

It's not exactly BAD but it sure is super boring. There's nothing–literally nothing–about this album that stands out except for the fact that the vocals are utterly indescipherable which takes the album from a "meh" 3 stars to a "nope" 2 stars.

I can not tell what language this is

Great atmospheric album. Definitely worth the listen.

Cool and dreamy - good drum machine work and the bass in quintessential 80s. Probably the lyrics and vocals are the most memorable. Got me on a shoegaze kick after and I listened to My Bloody Valentine for awhile.

I'm not sure I'll ever fully understand people who do not love the Cocteau Twins. I'm sure there are some very nice people, we are just different on a fundamental level. This album is like an old jumper you have had forever that you put on when you get sick, a comfort blanket. The Cocteaus at the poppiest they got, and probably the most fully formed. One listen to Fotzepolitic and I could take on the world. Bliss.

Can you believe we wrote this beauty off as “their commercial album” when it cam out? Lush, sensual, prickly in spots and featuring some Elizabeth Fraser’s most aggressive, full-bodied singing and toothsome lyrics. Only the Twins could make this kind of music while “selling out”.

5.0 + It's hard to pinpoint why this album makes me feel like soaking in a hot bath. There's some kind of strange alchemy between the shimmery guitar and vocals that's mesmerizing. It's a gentle swirl of arpeggiated synth lines, thumping bass and soothing vocal wisps. At times, my mind gets lost in the background sounds and I'm put in a smiling trance.

hypnotic, psychedelic, and poetic. complex rhythms and melodies paired with beautiful tones and reflective lyrics. fav songs = all

Ethereal but grounded. Incomprehensible but clear in their messages. The Cocteau Twins are one of the most antithetical bands I've come across, and this may just be their masterpiece. Elizabeth Fraser is such a unique talent.

This is my go-to sleep album along with "Souvlaki" by Slowdive. It makes me feel like I'm levitating. Absolute ethereal perfection. Once the last part of "I Wear Your Ring" hits, I'm instantly teleported into the eighth dimension. Ten out of ten, you already know it.

If there was a zero I would pick that

What’s that you’re saying??? Sorry. Can’t hear your words. Is that French? I literally don’t know.

The dream pop group of all time, its not even my favorite album by them but good god is it good.

#112. While listening to this album you might find yourself wondering who or what is this for. Well let me paint a picture for you. You have begrudgingly agreed to go to a dinner party at one of your wife's coworker's house. You know the one. The one with the combover and the crooked moustache. The one that always touches your arm when he talks to you. With the crack skinny wife in the wispy dress that doesn't speak loud enough to understand what she's saying ever. Every wall in their house is the same shade of off-white and every room has like one or two pieces of furniture, and maybe some stabby brutalist "art." You keep looking over at your wife to see if you can leave yet, because every minute being here is a minute closer to your insanity. And... this is the music that's playing in the background the whole time. Oh, and the brisket they served was dry. 2/5: please don't make me listen anymore

All the songs sound the same. Very winy (as most dream pop goes) and lyrics often abandon recognizable language

like ABBA on acid.

I really like this album. I listen to quite often as background, it's nearly perfect for writing or creating. The songs just drift together with those soft mumbled vocals. I think Treasure is a but better but happy to see this on the list.

I was most familiar with Elizabeth Fraser on vocals for Massive Attack’s Teardrop and discovered Cocteau Twins (and this album) from there.

Was this album in English? Maybe it was French. The lack of clarity of the vocals did add to the dreamy soundscapes of a kind of relaxing, warm fog. In my mind, this should create some sort of timeless feel, but it still sounds like the 90s. I don't know that if that is a good or a bad thing. It's just an observation. Good day.

Perfectly listenable but doesn't thrill me. Another "won't turn it off but won't turn it up" album.

terrible, absolutely terrible

cat ham cat

Headphones on. Sit down in a nice chair. Dream away. Absolutely brilliant and beautiful.

i'm just a sucker for dreamy, ethereal guitars and vocals to match. this was great.

This sure as hell sent me to Heaven rather than Las Vegas.

Fairly unique, might come back to it

Dreamy indie.... what’s not to love? Nothing!

I love that dreamy sound, and this album absolutely drips with it. Hell, they practically invented it. I just wish there were a few more standout tracks, but overall a great album.

Really good gothy dream pop. It lays on the 90s sound a little thick, which is probably because the group pioneered the sound to some extent. Still a bit dated in that regard.

I was on the cusp of giving this a 4, Cherry-Coloured Funk has been a favourite for as long as I care to remember with its haunting synth and contrasting range of vocals, some of which are Kate-Bush-like in nature but ultimately all gel together brilliantly as a song that doesn't go on too long (unlike this sentence). And the rest of the album is, well, alright. But always found myself wishing I was listening to the first track again.

Listened. Shite. Can't tell what she's saying.

Sucked. Can I give 0 stars? Guess we will see what happens. Turns out you cant give zero stars. You have to click at least one to activate the vote button. Consider yourselves lucky Cocteau Twins.

Droll background music.

A nice mix of "is this the most 80s thing I've ever heard" and "this could have been made today." But really more 80s. It's also a little bit like babby's first shoegaze: we got the full-on sound, the Cure-like guitar, but it's all dialed back from 11. I guess dat's dream pop! Anyway, I like it but don't love it because it leaves me wanting something heavier. Personal taste that doesn't take anything from an accomplished piece here. There was really something in the water in Scotland besides industrial run-off because some of those folks can bang out an album.

Oh man, my excitement when this record popped up. Never listened to this album or the Cocteau Twins before, but knew a little bit about them. Dream pop, shoegaze before shoegaze became a thing. The second her vocals popped up in Cherry-coloured Funk, I knew this was going to be an easy five. It's got a strong ethereal vibe without sacrificing a driving force. I feel like a lot of dream pop (and shoegaze) can get lost in it's own vibes a lot and meander, but this album is laser focused with purpose. But yeah, her vocals are the high point in an album that is nothing but high points. Strong, confident, ethereal. Add in half the time I can't tell if she's singing English, let alone any language at all and it gives a beautiful, detached, alien feel that puts the dream in dream pop. Love the goth rock/post-punk elements too. The bass feels straight out of New Order or The Cure, and I love it. Overall, extremely easy five stars. Knew basically the second I put the record on and the first couple notes hit. Incredible.

I still get butterflies within seconds of hearing this album. Lush and dreamy perfection.

Один из самых красивых пост-панк альбомов, которых я когда-либо слушал. Волшебный и мелодичный вокал успокаивает и вводит в некое состояние сна, выходит за границы языкового барьера и передаёт сущность песен не через тексты, а через пение, ну и просто звучит замечательно. А гитары вписываются не менее гармонично - тонущие в тоннах реверба, они тоже создают некий колыбельный эффект, погружающий в умиротворённое состояние, из которого не хочется выходить никогда. (9 - 9.5)

Lovely. No words. A new world.

What a vibe. Couldn't understand a single word she said but agreed with every one.

Very interesting this little one. It feels like a slightly too upbeat version of any of the bands who play in the road house in season 3 of twin peaks the return. Its too happy even though I would be shocked if it was happy lyrically.i didn't end up saving any tracks but I for sure need to listen to this again

Cool 80s vibes, with echoey synths and floaty riffs. There's a good amount of reverb on the vocals, it seems, and I don't know if it's that, but I find the woman incomprehensible. I wondered at several points if she was singing in French. I still don't know. Highlight was the title track, 5, Heaven Or Las Vegas. Also, 8, Wolf In The Breast. Vocals on Cherry-Coloured Funk remind me of Shakespeare's Sister. This album is from 1990. I don't know how I didn't come across it before. I may have seen Cocteau Twins on "Now That's" compilations, but I don't think they would have clicked. I'm not blown away by this. It's good, interesting, but would I listen to it regularly or repeatedly, probably not. Three stars seems harsh, four too generous...

Spot the fake Cocteau Twins track name is the quiz round we never knew we needed... a) Iceblink Luck b) Fifty-Fifty Clown c) Socketface Grapefruit d) Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Some albums just scream 80s at me from the first few seconds and I immediately fear the worst (despite being released in 1990). In fairness, it has some hooks and the overall sound is richer and less cheesy for the most part than I was worried it could be. I find myself quite enjoying the shoegazy production and her vocals somehow both irritate and intrigue me, at times I swear she's singing in a strange foreign language. Spotify doesn't have the lyrics so I never bothered finding out.

Gorgeous synth washes over ethereal vocal melodies. With singing this gorgeous, who cares if you can't undersand the words?

I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4. Gotta tell you – not used to an album without proper lyrics. I just don’t know that I could personally give a 5 to an album with vocals, but without lyrics, simply because I’m a sucker for storytelling… but I think a 4 means the album was pretty damn good regardless. And this was pretty damn good. Sometimes, soundscapes do make an album, and even though this is a 1990 album, it’s very much the dying gasp of the 1980s in full effect – everything here is a sort of pastiche on every 80s trope and style you could think of musically, and it comes together really well. Vocally, I think she’s got a mesmerizing tone to her voice that usually meshes pretty well with the instrumentals, but occasionally, I think the production blends them together too harshly on some tracks where it just kinda negates the positives of both. That’s not to say there’s any bad tracks here, just some suspect mixing – this is even more of a car album than the last one was, but it’s honestly more of a dreaming album to me (I guess that’s why it’s “dream pop”). I could easily see myself falling asleep to these, or even dreaming up something close to these – good soundscapes with lyrics just out of reach, but the occasionally clear word or two to keep you a little grounded to reality. I just had fun with it – I can’t wax too much about it because the extent of my criticism is “that sounded really good, but sometimes it didn’t,” and that’s kindergarten-level criticism. It’s a very nice listen; it sounds great, it’s relaxing as hell, and while it does go a little bit too long, I think it doesn’t overstay its welcome long enough to be actively annoying. I’m fine with bumping it up to a 4.

Shimmering, dreamy musical confections. Gorgeous arrangements elevated by Elizabeth Fraser's ethereal vocals and expressionistic lyrical style. Listening to this album is the musical equivalent of floating on a cloud. At its best, this is some of the loveliest music you'll ever hear. The quality of the individual songs is a little uneven, but it's overall still a joy to listen to. Launches me straight back to my sophomore year in college. Fave Songs: Cherry-Coloured Funk, Iceblink Luck, Heaven or Las Vegas, Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires, Pitch the Baby, Wolf in the Breast

True to the mission of this project I am glad this record came up on my list. Although this may already belong to my own personal canon of soul-defining albums thankfully this might have been a backup contingency plan. This made an enormous impact on me decades ago. There was nothing else like it, the world was different after I first heard the Cocteau Twins, and still nothing else compares. This record felt like it was an opening and a big break into a wider audience. It also felt like further slipping from an ideal after Treasure that diluted down the drain awash with new age pathos and intelligible lyrics instead of a cosmic brain transplantation. I only wish I could find a giant poster again of the album cover to pin up on my wall as I improvise the lyrics to Pitch The Baby.

This is the sound track to my dreams, the nice dreams though, not the dirty ones I wake up from erect.

Lush, gorgeous. Like a giant blanket. Seems like a great album to get high to. Reminds me of MBV. Favorite tracks are "Pitch the Baby" and "Frou frou Foxes in Midsumner Fires".

Reminds me of Röyksopp.

Well made background music

Not my bag at this time. Some songs are fun but the sound is very dated. Not feeling the gibberish.

Wow, another Cocteau Twins album in my first 130. I had never heard of them before and I continue to be pleasantly surprised. Their ethereal sound and fun harmonies sets it apart. The 80s textures aren’t my favorite, but their creativity overshadows it.

Very synthetic, but in the wrong way for me. The instrumentation feels too sharp and brittle. I preferred “Treasure” over this one, which has a bit more meat to its sound, but Heaven or Las Vegas is not a bad record overall.

Pretty good. Kinda blends together like most Cocteau Twins albums. 7/10

I was very taken with the Cocteau Twins early albums from the start of the 1980s. They had a certain otherworldly charm that was quite unlike anything else in the charts at the time. However, by the time this album came out in 1990 I think that they’d lost something. I mean, she even sings in English at some points! The production also had that 90s plasticky, digital feel losing the analogue warmth of the earlier recordings. I guess that they were pre-cursors of shoe gaze but by this point, there were other bands who were shoe-ier and gaze-ier.

Booring

This whole exercise is so frustrating because I would swear up & down that I like fuzzy dream pop (Beach House, Bat for Lashes, Washed Out, Warpaint, Mazzy Star, etc.) But between these guys and mbv, I'm feeling totally gaslit. Like, this is just...not great. Maybe if the choruses were in English? It all just kind of blends together into a droning nothingburger of a sound landscape that NEVER catches your attention. I guess it's good if you're on a fentanyl bender, but not great if you're actually trying to enjoy what you're listening to. Maybe a low 3 / high 2 kind of scenario - but I'm going with 2 for the fact that this list makes me doubt my own perceptions.

This was ok. I have been meaning to listen to Cocteau Twins. i have now i guess

I could not stay interested in this at all. 2 stars or D+.

Cool ideas, but very one note for every song. Hooks repeat constantly and there always feels like a lack of emotion. The song settle in on one vibe, but what that vibe means is utterly incomprehensible.

Erm... lovely shoegaze soundscape, but genuinely unintelligible lyrics. Enunciate, woman.

Terrible

Not just boring music, but almost painful because of the singer's voice and pronounciation. Not my cup of tea, obviously, but this time I have a really hard time getting how anyone else could stand this let alone consider it a classic.

I'm not sure how this album ended up on this list. I'm pretty sure I could find a better album not on this list in any used record store in the world. Maybe there's political or historical information I'm lacking that would help change my opinion, but I'm not going to waste any more time on it.

"The album was voted 18th of Scotland’s 100 Best Rock and Pop Albums in 2003" My heart breaks for Scotland.

So dreary and uninspiring. Tuneless lift muzak at best. Awful production, tinny with weak drums. With the music being so much of absolutely nothing, at least the lyrics could have been profound, interesting, etc., but no.. might as well be sung in Greek. The inability to pronounce English words correctly is apparently intentional, but just makes the songs frustrating and bizarre to listen to. If I never hear this album again before I die, I will die happy.

Unlistenable

It's good, I just never loved Radiohead

This album got me back into listening to whole albums after years of spotify slop playlists. I had already been a fan of Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, but Cocteau Twins introduced me to a whole different subset of shoegaze/dreampop music. An absolute classic.

The kind of album I started this project to find. Gem all around

A lovely album. I love the vocals, production and overall atmosphere they gave off here. HOWEVER, listening to gibberish (yes,gibberish there are no lyrics and what we hear is meant to be interpretated by the listener) can get a bit tiring after a while... Sometimes I think its best to listen to the tracks isolated, but thats just me.

The ambience in this album is beautiful. The vocals and instrumentation are immaculate. My favorite track is probably Cherry-coloured Funk. Overall, this album might be one of the best I've ever heard. No skips.

Dreamy and ethereal. For the aggressively ignorant monolinguals, it’s called glossolalia.

One of the best records.

I sincerely wish there was a way for me to live inside of this album forever. It always hits impeccably well when I put it on. Sunny, cloudy, cold, warm, happy, sad. It just fits while carrying me away on dreamy, floating melodies. Utterly obsessed. Highly recommend listening to the highest quality audio version of this album with the nicest set of wired headphones you can find. 5/5

𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘴 𝘝𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘴 feels like the provisional peak of the dream pop/shoegaze scene—though the towering classics that would follow soon after might overshadow it, this record still radiates timeless beauty. Liz Fraser’s voice is so otherworldly she could sing a cookbook or a gardening manual and it would still sound transcendent; on photos she may look unassuming, but here she’s simply luminous. Robin Guthrie’s shoegazey, dreampoppy guitar textures complete the spell, making this one of the genre’s most enchanting records.

10/10 Favourite: Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Least Favourite: None

Un classique, son éthéré, un peu perché, un bon souvenir musical que j’aime retrouver en soirée pendant mes sessions de lecture.

10 Lav it Lav it

Gorgeous album. Never really appreciated it until recently

beautiful album

Love this, one I often return to when I want to feel like I am sinking into eiderdown, albeit usually for a 3 or 4 song fix. That said I think more than half the album is very strong, the vocal performances on Pitch The Baby and Frou Frou Foxes are incredible, sounds almost like she is singing in tongues

I told a friend who really likes this group that I had this album today, and she described it as "ear candy." I have to agree! It has all these pretty layers to it that create a dreamy and delicious soundscape. The lyrics are mostly impossible to understand, so much so that apparently even Spotify doesn't know them. But I kind of like how her vocals became more of an instrument in all the layers because of that. She has a beautiful voice, and these songs carry so much feeling and soft intensity, if that's a thing. Really enjoyed!

My first time hearing this album and it was a revelation. My college roommate listened to their earlier albums and I remember thinking that I liked their sound but it was kind of formless and opaque. This album, though, has hooks and the songs are tighter, more focused. These are lovely arrangements and melodies that I liked so much I listened a second time. Elizabeth Fraser could sing the phone book and I would still listen. Truly unique and gorgeous.

A foundational album in the realm of dream pop, a genre I really enjoy. Like most people i dont understand a goddamn thing Elizabeth Fraser sings but it doesn't matter - her Kate Bush-esque vocals are stunning and perfect for the music. It's truly heavenly, so swirly and soothing. Impressive to me that only three people can achieve this sound. I love the title track and Fotzepolitic the most, but every song is fantastic, no filler for me. Feels timeless too, an album that continues to influence and I'm sure will for a long time. Enchanting listen

Is there a band that's more feel than real? I have tried several lyrics sites...and I still don't think anyone has gotten these lyrics right. but like I said, it is the feel of the music not the exact words. I still loved this album: 5/5

pretty good! The vocals and the sound production stand out to me, a real dreamlike quality to it. Also this album feels like its a decade or so before its time. It felt like a fun journey, best way I can describe it. Those sweeping synth notes just take me out and I feel like I'm on the open road in the 90's to a new town.

From the opening notes I knew I was going to love this album. Ethereal female rock with great harmonies and bass. Fantastic!

I've never even heard of this group, let alone heard anything from them, and now I'm wondering how I missed out on them. This tickles my brain so nicely. "Cherry-coloured Funk," "Iceblink Luck," and "I Wear Your Ring" are particular favorites.

I can’t understand what they’re saying, but it sounds great

These harmonies blew me away! I have been recommending this album to anybody who would listen!

Very dreamy album. I honestly couldn't hear the lyrics but it didn't matter

This album is finally starting to click, it went up from a three to one of my very favourite dream pop albums

Ah the Cocteau Twins ‘go commercial’ in the way only they can. Soaring guitars laden with chorus and delay and multi part harmonies in a mixture of tones. For me not their masterpiece but still ‘a’ masterpiece.

➕heaven or las vegas, frou-frou foxes in midsummer fires ➖NOTHING!!!!! one of my favorite albums of all time, truly. had almost everything saved already, and its a JOY to revisit. its the album i always put on the jukebox at bars….