Reviews (page 4 of 8)
The Stranglers have been on my radar for a minute, but the only album I’ve ever listened to from them is their newest. This was good! I like the mix of classic punk with some new wave tendencies, and it has strong melodies. I do think that I would have rated it higher if I heard this when I was getting into punk stuff, but hey, I’m a yank. The Stranglers had no presence here. But this is probably the equivalent of Marquee Moon over in the UK. B
From the first touch of the key I was hooked. Reminds me of some of the stuff I heard when I wrangled up all the punk and hardcore I could via Kazaa, specifically the (International) Noise Conspiracy, the Buzzcocks, and Iggy. I *really* love the diversity and sequencing on this album. “Princess of the Streets” is a perfect change-of-pace track after an energetic opening trio, almost treading into Judas Priest-y heavy blues. Similarly, “Peaches” works that streetwise angle sneering and strutting while tracks like “Goodbye Toulouse“ and “Choosy Susie” charge swifter and harder. It’s focused and fearless, keyboard and guitar solos are often evocative, elevating what’s often a very “proto” kind of feel to something that’s both primitive and futuristic. It’s quirky, too, at times approaching a familiar new wave sound from a different angle. Simply put, this shit is the biz, kinda surprised I haven’t stumbled upon this earlier. 4
Was looking forward to this but wasn't expecting it to have stood the test of time. I couldn't have been more wrong. Thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely listen again.
A really great album that is engaging all the way through. It would have been a 5 but some of the lyrics have not aged well and make for uncomfortable listening.
Nautin tästä ehkä turhan paljon :D Mut siis häikäilemätöntä rallattelua eikä liian totista. Ja ah, hyvät kaahailu-urut. Pitää ostaa cdnä, jos hommaan joskus kesäauton.
This album used to be on in our house quite a bit when I was growing up so I have a soft spot for it. The arpeggiated synth parts I still love and they definitely know how to write a bass riff. Special shout out to Peaches which, as a child, I thought was about Fishes
Wasn't sure how enthused I'd be about a Stranglers album without Golden Brown on it but I thought this was very good. The emphasis on organ and bass add so much to the standard punk sound, and there are hooks aplenty. 3.5, but I'm feeling more generous these days so I'll round up to a 'IV'.
Really like the bass and organ in Stranglers tunes. Only familiar with a couple of these songs previously, but this was a very enjoyable listen
Well I would say this was a grower. Big themes of the Fall, I guess they were an influence? But yeah I got more and more into this. Found some of the misogynistic lingo a bit annoying, but maybe they were poking fun an incels rather than actually being critical of "crazy women". By the end got into the style more fo sure
Not what I would normally listen to but very good early punk
I liked it very much. Good punk-pop project; although the lyrics didn't aged very well.
This debut strikes me as the introduction to another tailor-made band. The organ is incredibly flattered by the mix, and the sleaze is the perfect level of grime except, perhaps, on Peaches.
Ah, this is what The Stranglers were about. Good honest semi punk rock. And bonus point for no 'Golden Brown', the worst single ever released?
Pretty good, singles are classics
Some good punk rock I’ve never heard before!
Rattus Norvegicus has raw punk energy mixed with psychedelic sounds that create a energetic and fun style which makes for an exciting experience.
I liked it as soon as I heard the line "Someday I want to smack you in the face" in the first song. I enjoyed the rest too, particularly the Peaches song 🥰
Great album. Calling this music punk is somehow insufficient because the Stranglers were so much more clever and musically adventurous than many of their peers. But the sneering attitude is there for sure. I love the interplay of guitars and organ, which gives these songs a really distinctive sound. There really isn't another album like this. Fave Songs: Hanging Around, Sometimes, (Get A) Grip [on Yourself], Down in the Sewer, Goodbye Toulouse, Princess of the Streets
Not bad
Perfection in old school UK punkrock. Entire album is a banger.
Fun stuff.
I was surprised. It is quite good. The sound is more aggressive than their latter hits and the melodies are catchy. A punk atmosphere with a wider sound than usual
pretty sick album. the first track rips super hard
Reminds me of the Doors minus the weird mysticism plus a nice beat. Second song sounds like proto-Strokes. A couple of the others remind me of the Cars or Talking Heads. Wire. I like this.
Never heard of them before and I'm impressed. They're a good example of English Post-Punk.
I wouldn’t term the stranglers as a punk band, they sound like the link between punk and new wave/new romantic that arrived a few years later. You can bet Adam and the ants had been listening to Get a grip on yourself at some point, stand and deliver has quite a few similarities
I quite enjoy The Stranglers, including this album. Not sure I'll put it on as a whole again though, it drags on just a bit and doesn't contain most of my personal favourites of theirs (Golden Brown, Always The Sun, Strange Little Girl).
Another that I wouldn't usually listen to, recognised some songs again. Decent.
This was very enjoyable.
The lyrcis are not inspired, but the songs are great. Remember seeing them live and it was my first introduction to a hype man!
Wanted to be in a dank pub, so good
Fun garage-y 70s rock with fuzz and keyboards.
The Stranglers burst onto the scene - "Some day I'm gonna smack your face". These droogs bring some more elaborate musicality to punk, with liberal usage of the organ
feels like I should have heard this before
260921 12:52 4
Yesss! Some great tunes here.
Yeah, all the attitude of punk but a bit going on musically. Gives a real snap shot of grimy late 70s London living.
This sounds like one of the earliest branches of the evolution of punk into new wave. Love the synths. Pretty dope.
Great band, great sound
I love the rawness of early British punk as they incorporate other genres like prog, reggae, and synth. All the tracks are catchy and have memorable tunes. Nothing extraordinary but also has little wrong with it and otherwise a perfectly fine album.
Enjoyed, reminded me of the Clash
Cool British new wave-y punk rock.
Peaches!!! Say no more. I didn't know this was the band so I'm so glad to be introduced. I really enjoy this album. It has a good punky vibe but it's the organ in the tracks that does it for me.
Late 70's British Punk keeps on giving. Excellent bass work, some creeping Doors-style organ-powered jams, and Down in the Sewer dips lightly into prog.
Punky n funky
Great 80s pop music sound. Good listen.
Great discovery!
Yo, I like this a lot! Parts of it kinda remind me of a more punk version of early Elvis Costello. Very cool!
Solid punk album, lyrics to peaches are disgusting tho
Top album, can imagine a lot of these blaring out on a Friday night down at the 42nd Street discotheque back in the day. Best track: Peaches
Really enjoyable album for my return to the project. I think I'd have been into these if I was about in the 70s. Brash, swaggering punk rock. Best tracks: Peaches & Hanging Around
Distinctive sound with the twangy bass and keyboard with punky but not shouty singing
New wave punk rock, so cool! Attitude, rumbling bass, keyboards, all in a band! Gets me going. I like the drive of this album. This is the kind of nerdy hooligan music I can get behind. It's the right amount of edgy while also being fun. I like it a lot.
Fun and funky early punk
Solid album, loved Princess of the Streets! (or queen?) Quality dropped off a bit after that though, hanging around was a low point on the album
Blimey. Why have I never listened to a Stranglers Album before. Love this. Raw. Not overly polished. Proper attitude, nous and musicianship. Bit long but 4/5
Good album. Great vocals and variety of arrangements. Some songs I didn't know I knew too.
Peaches is a top tier track the album is a vibe
Die wollen‘s wissen und geben Gas; badass Bass, licks für die Ewigkeit, Schnodderstimme mit Genugtuung im Wiederkauen. Was ist das denn ? Hammond Punk? Rock’n’Rave ? Könnte heute erscheinen, wenn die Perfektion nicht schon in den 70ern erschienen wäre. restless 4.2
it was okay, not my favourite but not the worst
Primer punto... el título me fascinó, no sé por qué, quizá solo me ha agradado siempre la notación en latín para las ratas pero me gustó; aún más cuando entendí por qué se llama así (more on this ahead). Dos, decía que son punk... suena realmente muy poco a punk, suena más a banda de garage con unos toques de psicodelia; ese órgano le viene muy bien a su música y está bastante bien manejado, incluso en las partes en que está casi rayando en copia de órgano de los Doors suena bien. Musicalmente solo puedo decir que es agradable, este "no punk" psicodélico que casi suena popeado y pegajoso. Eso es la música pero vaya que si hay más que decir... Por partes; no se qué tanta atención le pusieron pero tiene algunas letras un poco.... problemáticas para hoy en día. Desde el inicio tiene dulzuras como “Someday, I’m going to smack your face” o “I got morbid fascination, gonna beat you till you drop." Normalmente soy de dar contexto al tiempo en que se hizo la música y no tratar de imponer reglas o maneras de ver las cosas que no estaban patentes en su momento pero aquí va casi rayando en mi límite de lo que suena normal para la época y lo que suena realmente misógino sin importar el año. A pesar de lo anterior en verdad que la música te lleva a seguir escuchando; es realmente hipnotizante y bien hecha en su estilo tan sui generis. Las letras van mejorando y al menos no se estancan en los temas delicados aunque no los dejan del todo; tenemos desde canciones sobre la destrucción de Toulouse según Nostradamus, pero inevitablemente regresa de nuevo a lo que se siente como un ataque bastante directo a una periodista a la nada sutil "Making love to the Mercy Tunnel with a sausage." O sea vamos que del Me Too no se van a llevar un premio y si pones realmente en el Face que escuchaste este disco y te gusto una buena proporción de la gente te va a medio linchar. Por otro lado podría tratar de defenderlo un poco tomando en cuenta que todo el odio que escupe a las mujeres es en misma cantidad el que se echa a sí mismo. No trata de hacerse superior o decir que fuera mejor que toda la mierda que esta diciendo de otros. De repente, después de líneas tan líricas como “Is she trying to get out of that clitoris” en la segunda mitad la banda se vuelve francamente ambiciosa no solo en mostrar sus habilidades instrumentales sino también líricamente. "Ugly" es una dosis aun mayor de psicodelia que aperte cita el poema de Ozymandias de Shelley; después termina en un gran final con 'Down the Sewer' con los decididamente poco punk siete minutos que dura. Al borde del territorio del álbum conceptual, es una historia posapocalíptica de llegar a la gran ciudad a través de las alcantarillas y encontrar que la vida no es mejor que lo que había abajo. Un ratón de granja que se cuela en la gran ciudad solo para convertirse en otro rattus norvegicus rodeado de latas de coca-cola vacías. De verdad el final parece otra banda. Disco muy interesante, problemático en estos días, fuerte, decadente, exuda odio y frustración pero termina con un anhelo de poder levantarse más allá de la podredumbre y corrupción. No es un disco agradable, no es bonito, pero es muy muy honesto. Hacía rato que un disco no me dejaba pensando tanto, a pesar de escucharse musicalmente simple y pegajoso terminó siendo bastante más.
Fun punk
Great
Similar to Jethro tull
i liked this.. sounded like bowie b-sides stuff, better than the black star bowie crap earlier this week
I understand why people like Neil Young, but I don't particularly enjoy him, and listening to a full album of his music is a bit of a chore for me. There are certainly some things to like about this album, but, but, but 3/5
Bowie X Clash. Weird, but good. Peaches and London Lady esp.
This was oddly enjoyable. '70s punk has a totally different feel, yet is somewhat familiar to bands like the Ramones. I liked how melodic everything felt. A bit too much organ at times, but maybe that's just my preference. 4 stars.
Another solid choice from a band Id never heard of, old school punk aesthetic from the UK
Proggy in part, punk in others... sprinkled with some classics!!!
"Peaches" is extremely good
There’s some cool stuff on here but then there’s some punk stuff that I like less so they both just balance each other out. I’m still more positive leaning on this album.
The organ is fun. Hanging Around and Go Buddy Go were great. The misogyny is laughable, although I did enjoy Peaches a lot too. I liked this record and I might listen again someday but the first 2 tracks felt excruciatingly slow. Overall it’s good though, you can tell they don’t give much of a fuck and I like that lots. Guitar solo in Go Buddy Go is Delectable too
The stranglers are a great singles band, and as expected the singles on here are good- Get a grip on yourself particularly is all muscular bass and swagger, the album tracks are a bit more pedestrian but the singles have done the heavy lifting
I like 2 songd
Im a punk guy but this just didnt do all that much for me. Its more early proto punk vibes to me. Its doesn't some interesting stuff but there really was one complete song I was into, being London lady. Otherwise it was just OK. Nothign to write home about but good enough I guess
Me gustó, lo sentí un poco repetitivo, pero muy alternativo, ósea padre, relajado, solo que solo me gustaron como 3, las demás las sentí repetitivas, a lo mejor me falta ver que dice la letra.
Two "punk" albums in a row. Both with a degree of musicianship. The first song I was a bit worried this was gunna drag and bore me but by the end I can honestly say I didn't mind it. A bit one dimensional, but hey, it's punk. Although, it's also a bit mid-tempo. But that's OK. It didn't wake me up but it didn't put me to sleep and sits firmly in my 3-star region.
This one was interesting. You don’t see a whole lot of punk bands with a full-time keyboardist, and that immediately gives them a different sound than most of the other bands from that era. Sometimes it sounds like punk, sometimes garage rock, then the organ comes crashing in and it starts wandering somewhere else entirely. That keyboard is probably what I liked most about it. It adds this weird, slightly sinister feel underneath the guitars and bass, and at least keeps the album from sounding like another interchangeable late 70s punk record. There’s some good energy here too, but I wasn’t especially attached to any of the songs.
Il y a quelques très bonnes chansons, mais les mauvais sont très mauvaises.
Aussi générique que mon commentaire. 2.5 étoiles
Greit å få utvida postpunk-referansane mine
Never classed them as a punk band at the time and still don't. They had elements of punk in their lyrics but too melodious for real punk. The singles are still good to hear on this album but better ones were to come like No More Heroes, Something Better Change and of course Golden Brown (punk!?!). Enjoyed it enough although the last couple of songs are weaker than the rest.
Completely listenable. I imagine at least one of these songs raised some eyebrows back in the day
3.5. Kinda dug this.
I love how tame early punk sounds today. This was better than I expected.
3.25 - I liked this one way more than I expected. I could hear how it possibly influenced some other bands that I love like Parquet Courts.
Meh
I'm 66 percent finished with this project, and I still don't have a consensus on Punk Rock music. It's really a mixed bag, and this time around, it's just okay. I'm obviously aware of origin, and sub-genre influences my ratings. the problem is, I'm still not sure which specific version of Punk I enjoy. Favorite Track: "Hanging Around".
No lo escuché ni odeaperodn
I have nothing of note to say about it. Was a solid listen.
3/5 it’s ok
Some cool sounds here, and I might revisit, but the vocalist doesn't quite get there for me. This is like 4 different punk movements in one.
This is pretty good overall. It sounds like a mashup of The Doors and Hot Hot Heat, which isn't a combination I ever expected to hear, but it works surprisingly well. "Hanging Around" was probably my favorite track, with "Sometimes," "Peaches," and "Grip" not far behind. The album has a gritty, swaggering sound that keeps it interesting, even when not every song is a standout. It's not an album I'll be coming back to much, if at all, but I enjoyed it more than I expected and can definitely see why it's on this list. 3.5/5
Not bad The baselines are the star of the show
here comes the largely forgotten new wave albums. weirdly it’s nicer than i thought! 3.5/5
Randomly solved a years-long mystery. Really liked a song I had never heard on the radio years ago but had no idea who it was or what it was called. Today I learned it was (Get a) Grip [on Yourself] by The Stranglers. My advice, per usual: get rid of the cheesy synths and turn up that punk rock guitar.
Het is weer eens raak met de muziek van omstreeks 1980. Het lijkt wel alsof alles er expres naast zit, waarom toch? 'Alle artiesten vóór ons zongen zuiver, maakten boeiende teksten en konden hun instrument bij het juiste eind vasthouden, het wordt tijd dat wij het anders gaan doen.' Ik snap het niet, maar moet er wel naar luisteren. Af en toe klinkt het wel aardig, maar dan lijkt het zowat een imitatie van de Stones. En hee, ze hebben het zelfde zuurstokorgeltje als Klein Orkest. Poeh poeh. Zucht, het is weer eens een debuutalbum (ondanks de valse nummering 'IV' op de hoes, het lijkt Star Wars wel), de grotere hits, eigen stijl en naar ik aanneem betere nummers staan op de latere platen, die we niet te horen zullen krijgen. Het is overigens niet allemaal bagger deze keer, dus we houden het op een mager drietje. Tiende recensie van de dag trouwens, even een sprintje trekken op weg naar nummer 1001!
Intriguing album with very melodic and interesting lyrics from a disinterested front man. Not much joy amongst the sorrow here although peaches remains an excellent song.
Pretty decent. Fun baselines and organ.
Was nice to hear something decent after a few days of albums that weren't great
I like Peaches enough but the rest is just fine. This list kinda blows when finding albums.
They have talent. It doesn't hit me though. It feels like I've heard better version of this. Yeah it's just a miss for me.
Kinda punky, kinda organ-rambly
I'm not usually a big Brit punk guy, but this wasn't too bad. Less edgy, and pretty upbeat.
Another one were I appreciate the vibe and how distinctly The Stranglers sound like The Stranglers. However wasn't grabbing me the as much as I wanted.
After great back to back albums I guess I’m back to my regularly scheduled whatever 😭
Tolerable by UK punk/new wave standards.
I've been bouncing between 2 and 3 on this one. Hectic and nervous. Honestly didn't occur to me this would be classified as UK punk, but I suppose that jives with the frenetic sound. I'm landing on 3 with the thought that I'd love to experience this in a small club somewhere. Go Buddy Go was a high note.
I feel like I liked everything but the second to last song
Yikes to some of the lyrics about women and Jews… unfortunately I liked this punk vibe more than I expected.
It's alright some nice bits. Wouldn't revisit though
Fine album nothing special kinda troll. Very doors esque
the organ was interesting to drink my morning coffee to. Hanging Around got old really fast, but then it became a vibe somehow.
Are you one of the 3 people who think there isnt enough elvis costello on this list? Then you are in luck! Cause we have the strangers to satisfy your softer more thoughtful british punk and post punk hunger! Honestly, not that bad. Im just tired of this stuff.
Me gustó, aunque no creo qu como para 4.
I was expecting a punk album, but got something with more funk in it. Loved the attitude coming through each song. The rhythms were always unexpected. Don’t think I’ve ever heard skewer rhymed with sewer before but first for everything.
It was alright. Felt no butterflies for it but the song Princess of the Streets was great!
There is a fine line between good and bad that this album manages to walk perfectly. I tend to like post-punk new wavey stuff so that helps. 3.5/5
Probably my favourite band of this style of music. Some big hits, unexpectedly great less well known songs but one or two fillers. Great album none the less.
This was surprisingly good. Not throughout, but in parts.
fun! bit silly lol
6/10
A solid album held up by the good/great songs (Sometimes, Hanging Around, Peaches, Ugly, Go Buddy Go) but there are some horrid/boring clunkers (London Lady, Princess Of The Streets, Grip, Down In The Sewer, Choosey Susie). I'd imagine that live in a pub I'd be dancing.... Still the great songs are classic tunes. 3 "I'd be bored in that pub" stars.
Love the dirtiness and rawness of the album. I was 6 when this came out so it passed me by really. I caught up with the Stranglers later in life due to girlfriend who had the greatest hits album so it was good to hear stuff away from some of those. Enjoyed it yes.
Bit of a mixed bag. Some of the performances come of as a bit sloppy, I don't always like the vocals either. The energy is mostly there and there are a bunch of songs I would describe as fun, but it's far from my favorite punk record.
400th review! Didn't really like this album, but didn't hate it either. Peaches was gross, which I'm sure was the point. I liked Go Buddy Go.
It was interesting at least?
There's nothing really wrong with this album, but the constant clash between punky and classic rock soundscapes is just unappealing to me most of the time, at least in this example. I get that it sets them apart from the rest of their contemporaries, but that doesn't really win me over. There are a couple of great tracks here, though, and they are spread out in a way that at least kept me entertained throughout. Favourite track: (Get A) Grip [on Yourself]
Too new wave for me
The first song had me really excited to hear the rest of this but unfortunately it was pretty hit and (mostly) miss from there. Nothing was outright terrible though. 3/5
Occasionally rises above generic lyricism and musicianship, but too much of it is less exciting and less memorable than their peers fifty years later. It’s good though with a couple inspired gems.
Strange
This album is saved by the organ. Seriously. Not bad musically all around, but the singing and the lyrics are mid.
Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 💄🦁💡 Production (1996 Remaster): 🎧🙂↕️👌 Music: 🎹🔥👻 Rating: 🐀🐀🐀(🐀)/5
I liked this quite a bit. So different than what I knew from The Stranglers, which was only the song Golden Brown. Very psychedelic, awesome organ sounds, and production wise, this seems ahead of its time for 1977. Still, nothing in particular really stood out to me above the rest and the album did drag a bit towards the end for me, which is weird considering it is not that long.
Initial few tracks really drove me nuts. Thought I was going to hate this album. Have to say, though, it grew on me. "Peaches" and "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" are proper bangers. By the end I'd say I was thoroughly whelmed. Could've done with less organ, though.
Сара 3 Марко 3,5
Good jams, good vibes, good progression. Enjoyable album but nothing special High 3
This fun. I can only imagine watching the guy on that organ ...
Mediocre
Super average.
It's like The Doors if The Doors were a bunch of sickos. I generally like the songs, but I think it could have been recorded and produced better. The bass, in particular, is often distractingly distorted. The guitar sometimes sounds thin. The vocals are pretty rough. I get that these aspects are DIY/punk hallmarks, but I don't find them aesthetically pleasing.
Right on the line between Punk and New Wave. I liked it!
Good fun. Borderline 3-4.
Otro álbum intrascendente, esta lista está lleno de ellos. Un 3 de manual
They sound a bit like The Doors, but not quite as good.
Wonderful keyboard playing here, and “Peaches” is some kind of depraved classic. The rest are just kind of depraved, and catchy, and not necessarily classic, but at least the aforementioned keyboard playing makes it all distinctive. Best track: “Peaches”
3.5
3.0
Decent punk effort. The vocals stand out. Favorite track: Goodbye Toulouse
Me, at the start of this record: ah fuck yeah! Me, at the end of this record: I never want to listen to that again. Average it out you get a 3, baby. That's just math.
Sounds like The Doors but less interesting
MUY bueno este album!! me recontra sorprendió. No los conozco en absoluto. Son buenísimos. Muchísima influencia de The Doors. Hacen cosas muy similares pero bueno, 10 años dsp... Me lo anoto para seguir escuchando
Nice but nothing special
Great album name but the music is just kinda meh
I would have given it 4 stars if I hadn't known that they went on to record some WAY better albums. On this one, they have already found their unique sound (with the dominant organ and the wonderfully distorted bass taking over the role of a lead instrument), but the concise songwriting and the abundance of hits of their later years are sorely lacking.
It's punk rock that is mostly fine but occasionally annoying (e.g. the last track: Peasant in the Big Shitty). Altogether it's kind of a low 3 for me.
Waffled on this. Do I like it fine, or really like it. And, even within songs I'd be like "this is cool" one moment and "meh" the next.
Given how much I love 'Get a Grip on Yourself,' I had high hopes for this one. & oddly enough, much of the music sounds similar to that well-known hit - but somehow none of it hits as hard. Maybe with more than 2 listens, things would get catchier - but leaving this as a passable 3 given no one's got time for that.
Correcto
Another very average album. 3 stars or C-.
Doors influenced punk
Despite the vocal mumbling, I enjoyed this. The instrumentals were fun to listen to, and stayed dynamic for different and enjoyable sounds the whole way through.
Welcome! Come on in. So what do we have here… Ah. Yeah—no. We don’t allow that kind of language in this house. …sigh… fine. Just keep it loud and don’t touch anything.
I am completely indifferent to this album.
Cool album, but not my style.
4/16/26. Cool punk rock sound! I hear a lot of Doors influence, specifically from Light My Fire. Liked the incorporation of jams and the solos playing with rhythm.
sure, why not
This is probably one of the better British punk albums I've listened to. I enjoyed the variety of instrumentation here, and there are some evocative (and provocative) lyrics in here. I do think, however, it could've been a bit more unique or maybe abrasive? I'm not sure. It's unfortunate that London Calling was only a few days ago, because I definitely enjoyed that more compared to this album, but this was still decently good. Favorites: Peaches, Down in the Sewer (Medley), Choosey Susie
Never gave The Strangers much of a listen outside of the "hits" (of which Peaches is one, shout out SEXY BEAST)... this is definitely more new wave than punk. Maybe even just regular ol' classic rock. Good bass lines, keyboards reminded me of The Doors. Goofy, more than a little kitschy, and fun. Good bar music, decent record.
1. sometimes 7/10 2. goodbye tolouse 6/10 3. london lady 6/10 4. princess of the streets 8.5/10 5. wow neta ya no pude esque es la misma csncion como 7 veces ajajja
Interesting album Standout songs: Sometimes London Lady Get a grip on yourself
Rats.
nice
Perhaps the most maybe a 2 or maybe a 3 album on this list
Pretty good listen, a lot of it sounds kind of the same bar Peaches which is the standout track I had heard of before
The organ certainly makes this different from other British punk albums. It's a weird combination of punk, The Doors, and early 80s New Wave. It's only half as annoying as most British punk too. 2.5
Variety: 2 Adequacy: 4 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 2 Emotionality: 2 = 3.0 "It's all about sex supreme/ We likes to cream jeans" Love me some Stranglers, but a bit annoyed this was the album they chose as their sole representative. That being said, I always think of them as a great singles band, and hard to think of an album from them that completely works for me. I have not heard this one in a very long time though, so maybe that opinion has changed. THE TRACKS Side A "Sometimes" - Can't help comparing this to the Doors given the bluesy melodic drive of the keyboards. Hugh Cornwell is a bit rougher than Morrison though. Solid opening track and already musically ahead of most of their punk contemporaries. Or at least not afraid to court pop like most. Seems like they started with one foot firmly already in what would become "post-punk". "Goodbye Toulouse" - More hard leaning into that pop sound here with the vocal harmonies, though the chuggy guitar work tries hard to disguise it. This was ok. One thig the band is great at is getting in and out at the right time. "London Lady" - A bit closer to that generic punk sound, but they can't help throwing weird hooky bits in to stir things up. The combined vocal/ guitar line is the major hook here. Lacks the energy of similar stuff that The Damned were doing around the same time. "Princess of the Streets" - Some of that trademark Stranglers humor ( or is it?) on display here with Burnel delivering a parody of the dark crooner Jim Morrison type. Even a bit of "People are Strange" in the bass line melody at one point. Solid. "Hanging Around" - Starts strong and only gets better. More Question Mark and the Mysterions than The Doors on this one, and feels like an early stab at their later more radio-friendly stuff. A great showcase of most everything the band does well, and a good closer for side one. Side B "Peaches" - One of the all-time great bass lines. Sleazy, skeevy, just as intended. Not sure how anyone could see this as anything but parodic of the gross macho stereotype, but I guess that's always a danger. While not as baldly a piece of comedy as the stuff Tenacious D did, eve their fanbase eventually swelled with a certain type of guy that would also take this at face value and be ready with a "Hell yeah!" and a high five at the thought of celebrating exactly what these lyrics are poking fun at. Anyway... the music - supremely hooky and 100% deserves a spot on their greatest hits comp. "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" - Very good stuff here. Forward driving momentum after the languid, lazy sun-dolloped sludginess of "Peaches". The organ dances all over the place here but falls right in line with the core melodic line. "Ugly" - More roadhousey Doors stuff here, and maybe the most pub rock sounding thing on here. Not the biggest fan of Burnel vocals and while capable on the harder tracks especially, feel more or less the same here. "Down in the Sewer" - A band could do worse with their leftovers than this. Ultimately feels like a collection of lines they dropped from other songs but couldn't find the courage to toss away. Veer into Mark E. Smith talk-singing territory very briefly before descending into an extended jam. Not terrible by any means, but feels a bit listless until the end when it gallops at full speed to the finish line, and ( conceivably) makes it out of the sewer back into the welcoming arms of mother nature. HIGHLIGHTS - "Sometimes" - "Princess of the Streets" - "Hanging Around" - "Peaches" - "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" MIDLIGHTS - "Goodbye Toulouse" - "London Lady" - "Ugly" - "Down in the Sewer" LOWLIGHTS - Clean bill of health here FINAL THOUGHTS This will never be my favorite Stranglers album, but then do I even have one? Looking back at my old iPod playlists, what I have of the Stranglers seems to be a core of what is largely represented on their greatest hits compilation plus another 2-3 songs per album. Still, this was a more than solid outing and a fine debut. All the pieces were there from the beginning and their later stuff doesn't seem to cone out of nowhere. They just get more and more melodic as time goes by. Would say you are in pretty good hands with them at least all the way up through Dreamtime, which is the Hugh Cornwell's penultimate album with the band. I can't vouch for anything after that, but given that Cornwell was creative force behind their best songs, I'm guessing they limp on as a legacy band. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - All the highlights will remain FURTHER LISTENING - Damned Damned Damned by The Damned - Greatest Hits 1977–1990 - by The Stranglers - Down by the Jetty by Dr. Feelgood - Real Life by Magazine - Love Bites by Buzzcocks
Having a hard time describing this album without referencing the hundreds of British punk albums in this list. It’s a collection of punk and rock songs with bits of new wave. Sounds grimy. (3.5)
This tickled me (the lyrics!). In a good way.
Better than the Sex Pistols, but damn that's kind of a low bar.
Enjoyed some of this one but not all of it
Me gustó, no se si lo escucharia en la vida diaria pero para que esté de fondo o en el auto esta bueno. Siento que es un buen album para correr también porque estan como enojados🫰🏻
Some pretty atrocious lyrics, even for a punk band trying to be edgy. But I still kinda dig the sound, just not the snarl.
never really got into the Stranglers but ok
Solid
Solid.
Who even knows what the goal is here? Throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks I suppose. Is it "Pub Rock?" Is it The Fall? Is it Prog? Dudes aligned themselves with "Punk," but really it has little to do with punk. Maybe that's why The Stranglers piss me off, they're poseurs. Everything is marketing, though. The music isn't that great on this record, some incredibly fun riffs ("Peaches," "Get a Grip.."), and the organ/keyboard being the MAIN VOICE on this album is oh so great. Extra point for being unique. Minus a point for the shoddy fecking vocals. "The Stranglers are an English rock band formed in 1974. Scoring 23 UK top 40 singles and 20 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the UK punk scene." oof
3 - decent album
Some kind of fun punkish vibes with a lot keyboards that remind me of the doors. Some weird choices in vocals or effects occasionally but definitely seems like they were having fun. Some vocal style reminded me of Adam and The Ants
it aight
Organ punk. I'm here for it.
This album was all over the place, not bad at all
it's alright
6/10
But we have The Doors at home…
Almost like The Doors meets early XTC. I liked it, but it doesn’t hold a candle to some of the other post-punk bands thriving at the time (Talking Heads, The Damned, the aforementioned XTC) from a sheer songwriting perspective. Glad I listened, but I wasn’t blown away.
I was quite entertained w the lyricism
New wave |------X---| Punk
Pleasant surprise, the organ is a welcome addition to the punk canon. There are way better 70s punk albums, though.
Had never listened to The Stranglers. Actually enjoyed this one quite a bit. Good songs.
I've got to admit, I'm not an edgy guy. Nor am I British. Not that being either of those things is a pre-requisite to being able to fully appreciate this album, but I imagine one or both may help. This was undoubtedly part of the British punk wave, and what it does it does fine. Lyrically it's pushing the societal boundaries of being politically incorrect. Musically it's a relatively easy rock album with a couple of songs and moments that stretch the boundary, for example the heavy instrumentals and organ in Down in the Sewer. But ultimately I'll have a hard time remembering this one. Highlight: (Get A) Grip [on Yourself] Lowlight: Choosey Susie
Thought I'd like this more. I like the singles, but listening to the whole album, it's too angry for me - maybe not in the right mood for this!
This is the sleaziest record I have listened to in a while. I liked it, though it sounded very similar to a lot of punk rock from the time, but the writing is so focused kn sex I was amazed listening to it that it was allowed to be released. Good album, but my God: Peaches is maybe the sleaziest song I have ever listened to. Highlights include, purely for surprise and shock, the aforementioned Peaches and (Get a) Grip (on Yourself).
I was jamming a bit. 3.4.
Felt like i was in a 60's spy movie. Amazing use of bass. Would listen again, definitely
I was completely unfamiliar with the Stranglers other than Golden Brown. I was pleasently surprised by this album, i'm a sucker for post-punk and this album was energetic and catchy, I don't know how they're not much bigger. The album was on and off throughout, ill stick with some select tracks like Hanging Around, Peaches and Get a Grip on Yourself.
Enjoyable but nothing really stood out to me, I think I prefer their later stuff.
I appreciate their sound as it isn’t just another early punk band. That being said it’s not my thing.
hay algo en estas banditas new wave que no me termina de cerrar. Es como que los temas están buenos, son llevaderos, pero hay algo demasiado repetitivo que hace que no entre, no me dan algo nuevo puede que sea algo de la época y que en ese momento era algo innovador, pero siento que se queda a medio camino entre el punk y el pop.
This album is alright. It starts off pretty cool and kind of peaks with "Peaches", but nothing else really reaches those heights. 3.5 stars.
This was fine.
Favorite track: Peaches other picks: hanging around, down in the sewer
Cool band, cool album. My personal favourite of The Stranglers. When I was first getting into punk music I had a compilation album that featured Get A Grip On Yourself and I loved it then and still do now. Playlist track: (Get A) Grip[On Yourself]
I quite liked this one. One of those that I’m sure would have been better to hear the tracks live at a gig but some good stuff on here.
I’ve always generally liked The Stranglers sound. The bass style and organ combo is pretty unique in the punk context. But you know what, an album worth gets a bit samey, and the almost slightly prog like songs towards the end got a bit silly, which seems somewhat anti-punk.
I almost feel like I should like this more than I actually did. There’s nothing bad about it, it’s a perfectly alright album but for me it was nothing more than alright. Maybe another few listens and it will be different but as it is now it was grand but won’t live long in the memory. Top Track - Goodbye Toulouse
Punk album, kind of reminds of early Clash. Enjoyed it, probably look into the band more. Notable tracks include Goodbye Toulouse, Princess of the Streets, Hanging Around, Get A Grip On Yourself, Choosey Susie, Go Buddy Go.
I like the sound. Especially the dirty bass that’s really prominent on Goodbye Toulouse. His fingers had to be spent after recording that! Otherwise, the songs are okay, but not something I’d listen to very often.
Досить добре, мабуть 3,5
It was fine, but not all that innovative in my opinion. Maybe it hit different when it was first released though.
Rhythmic force
good and gritty
Alright punkish album.
5.5/10
Lil quirky story whilst I was listening to this album. I was holding a cup of water in panic to not drop it whilst being on a bus. I needed to focus hard on it. This album wasn’t bad enough for me to be annoyed whilst doing but not good enough for me to be distracted on my main goal.
It's just straight punk; the start of the album is quite fun, but it gets a tad dull, but there is enough interesting stuff where I'm not not enjoying it.
Cool organ. Meh album. Heard this 12 different times on this list already. 5/10
Really good early punk from my favorite music year. New York Dolls and Television influenced, high quality songs. Taking it down a half point just as a nod to all the other excellent 1977 punk that’s a bit more memorable or catchy. 3.5.
achei bem qualquer coisa. por um lado, acho interessante como eles conseguem ter um pezinho no proto-punk (me lembrou um pouco o television) e outro no new-wave (aka post-punk) com esses synths - e tudo isso ao mesmo tempo em que foram precursores do punk, sem serem exatamente punks. mas tipo assim... galera, se decidam. peaches é divertida, mas nas outras músicas senti falta de uma característica marcante do punk: as músicas curtas.
I didn't love this album but the line "Walkin on the beaches lookin at the peaches" is just truly on repeat in my head maybe forever. Faves: Get A Grip On Yourself
I enjoyed this more than expected. I knew some but most were new. I like how moody it was and how it sounded.
Seems like fun punk. Will revisit.
Proof that punk, substance and skill weren't necessarily mutually exclusive. Great stuff. Peaches will always remind me of Sportweekend, Flemish television's Sunday sports show. Irrepressible. Just one of a good number of more than decent tracks here. Jean-Jaques Burnel's basslines are brilliant throughout.
What if the Clash wrote longer songs?
More punk for the halloween season with a Doors inspired keyboardist, but I like it more than the previous one whose name slips by at the moment. 3/5
This album is cool. The tones are really nice, especially that bass guitar. It took me a little while to come to terms with the vocal timbre, but once I got used to it I can vibe with it. It grows a little bit stale in the middle, but that's not because the middle songs are necessarily worse than the first songs, It's just a little bit too much of the same thing. Not a very dynamic album. It's absolutely a product of it's time, and slots in nicely to rock music of that era. But I don't think they do it better than many of the others. I'll be saving a few of these songs. A lot of them are cool but some of them are a bit too much. Wish they left off the live track and let the album close on Go Buddy Go 3.3/5
Pretty accessible as punk goes. Not exactly a lyrical masterpiece though
I really like this era of music where it's a bit punk a bit rock a bit of this and a bit of that. Really enjoyed Peaches.
2.8/5 Never heard of this band before but I really dug the sound. I will definitely be checking out their back catalogue. I'm sure if I listened to this a few more times I'd probably rate it a 4 but still a solid listen first time.
Never heard of this band. Very interesting and cool stuff. Not what I expected. I dug it. no more than 3-star for me.
Kind of shouty. I don't like the vocals, but kind of got into the instruments. So overall it balances out as average. Also felt too long
This was ok
alright
Ihan hyvää punkkia. Oli kiva kuunnella eka albumi näiltä. Peaches oli mahtava
7/10
More accessible and varied than I thought it would be - good album cover
Sure why not. I prefer The Undertones.
Didn't leave much of an impact, but it was fine.
Cool vibe, decent rock
gute hintergrundmusik
It was ok
Album was not overly memorable in one way or another. Was honestly expecting a different sound for a punk album.
3.5
The album cover is eye catching. The opening track, “Sometimes,” comes in strong with instrumentals that feel distinctly rooted in the British punk scene but feel very different. Momentum dips a bit on the second track, “Goodbye Toulouse,” which feels repetitive. “Hanging Around” is a standout, channeling subtle Talking Heads energy that works really well and adds personality to the record. Unfortunately, the album starts to lose focus toward the end. Tracks like “Ugly” and "Down in the Sewer" fall short of the earlier highs and lack the sharpness and creativity that define the stronger moments. Overall, it’s a solid album with clear highlights, but the back half doesn’t fully deliver. 7.5/10.
Very different to ‘Golden Brown’ which was the only song I knew from The Stranglers. Some very unique songs on this album. Fav song is ‘Peaches’.
Alors heu... je ne sais pas vraiment quoi dire sur cet album. Cette sorte de post-punk, c'est pas mon truc. Y'a effectivement de la personnalité (enfin, je suppose, puisque je n'y connais rien), j'ai l'impression qu'il y a une atmosphère un peu menaçante et glauque, un peu comme la pochette, mais je ne saurais pas faire un commentaire pertinent sur cet album. Mais j'ai pas détesté. 3/5
Good listening, I enjoyed it.
truly a less harsh version of sex pistols. decent listen
I feel like Rattus Norvegicus is the type of album you really have to buy into,.to appreciate. There is nothing to me that particularly stands out as especially unique or special (except possibly how much organ they use....). They're not especially at the top of their game as musicians, they weren't the first ones to create this genre, and the songwriting isn't amazing....yet there is some endearing quality to this album. They obviously don't take themselves too seriously and seem to be having fun playing. I think if I really tried to buy in, or had a friend who told me this was their favourite album ever and I had to give it a listen, I might come a way feeling more inspired or impressed. After one listen the whole thing just falls a little bit flat. Though I will probably have the song Peaches stuck in my head now for some time to come..
more 70's British punk rock. I get the author wanting to stuff more music from their home country but surely there must've been an influential Japanese punk album or Romanian folk music or I dont know, something other than another 70's punk rock British band I havent heard of with songs I dont recognize. Also its really nothing we havent heard before on this list. plain jane punk music doesnt really make sense, but here we are.
An album I’ve never heard of by a band I’ve never heard of and surprise surprise they’re British. Absolutely nothing essential here. Only on this list due to where the author is from
Solid power punk pop. Vocals are like The Fall mixed with The Doors.
I don't get it.
Solid album. Nothing stood out to me much, but I'll be listening to this album again in the future.
Interesting...got an early punk vibe but I'm also hearing some Doors, which is kind of weird. It's weird that I haven't heard of these guys. "Peaches" is an interesting song. Made me say, "what???" out loud. This whole album is kind of bizarre.
Having keyboards seems like it would've been heretical back in '77, but then again, X-Ray Spex had a saxophone, so maybe punk was less dogmatic then? Regardless, this is a fun time capsule from those early days. The bass and keyboards stand out, but the songs don't do a lot for me in general.
S'alreet
I understand why it's on the list and I didn't hate it, but I have no desire to ever listen to it again. New Wavey Punk is not a genre for me, but it does get points for originality. 3.0
Random thoughts: * I actually "discovered" this band a few years ago thanks to the song "Golden Brown" that was used in the show "The Umbrella Academy" on Netflix. I ended up listening to that album title La Folie. * I prefer La Folie over Rattus Norvegicus but maybe just due to familiarity. * Some of the same horny and raunchy elements are in both albums. See Peaches and Princess of the Streets. * I do like the sound of this band and am glad to have another album to dig into. * This would be a good 1001 discovery if I hadn't already discovered it.
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album, so I was not sure what to expect. This is rock, I guess punk rock is the closest description, but leans into garage and psychedelic as well. I enjoyed this quite a bit. The songs are catchy and the sound with guitar and keyboards gives it a pretty unique sound. I would listen again for sure.
Kinda weird! Low 3
Very cool, wish they leaned into the synths more
It's...fine? Tame by today's standards,.or even by the standards of five years after release. Does Punk music really need keyboards? Obviously not, but at least they sounded different from the usual snarling and three chord guitar attack. Again... It's fine.
They feel like if the Doors did prog-punk with a less charismatic vocalist. It's the vocalist that makes this the kind of effort I wouldn't normally visit twice, dead-pan delivery that was "refined" or abused in the '80s. But give this a couple of listens and you realize why they're on this list, it's not boring, it's thought, and it's the evolution of multiple genres. I wish I could appreciate it more, I won't be listening to them on a regular basis, but at least I can put a name to the Peaches song, and appreciate what they did for future generations of punk and sub genres of rock and roll. Some of my favorite punk bands were definitely influenced by this sound. 3.1/5
Det här var lättlyssnat och lite spooky. Gillar orgeln, får mig att tänka på halloween.
Pas mal mais rien de marquant.
i think it’s a 3, i don’t know i didn’t hear it
Nothing earth shattering or sophisticated here but who really cares? I liked it enough to listen to everything all the way through and I'd listen again.
This feels like a perfect midsection of the 70s. Not only are there late 60s and early 70s influences and sounds, it also seems to throw framework down for the new age and art proto punk to come after.
2.75 is this the soundtrack to Rocky Horror Picture Show?
3.5
I mostly liked the album. Towards the end, I found it a bit exhausting. However, none of the songs really stuck in my memory. 3/5
3/5
All the elements are here: the propulsive rhythms section and those long ascending/descending lead lines from Hugh Cornwell and Dave Greenfield. The 70s pub rock influences are still there, but you can hear how they were moving towards their Punk Doors era. They released more interesting records afterwards, but an important statement of intent which showcased their musicality and approach to melody
3.5
I’ve never heard of them, but this album seems to pave the way for Joe Jackson’s debut album.
Pretty decent.
Some decent songs on there, i like the sound and would listen again
I think these guys have been on here before. Over a year ago. Pretty good but not exactly memorable
Probably my favorite of the heavily over represented punk genre. It's good, well made, and doesn't feel like punk for the sake of punk nor chained to the genre.
I always wondered how 'The Stranglers' got bundled up with the whole Punk scene; a coincidence of timing I guess. They're really not a Punk band. They can play, they're intelligent, there's some musical structure.. Oh well... 3/5.
These guys weren’t too bad. It’s hard to rate an album from a genre I really don’t care for, but when I compare their sound to other punk bands, this was definitely a cut above. The lyrics were entertaining, which I appreciated, and musically they sounded pretty decent.
Rather evil album in both tone and content. Can imagine the devil relaxing to these tunes after a hard day of cattle-prodding Kissinger’s anus
Pretty rad, knew some songs form pop culture. Didn't fully dive into it
Not bad.
I owned this album, probably listened to it once. A pretty good set of songs, even the three bonus tracks (tracks 10-12 on Apple Music), which are more rocking. 3.5 rounded down.
Comme à chaque fois avec le punk en fait : c'est pas que c'est nul, c'est que ça n'a presque aucun intérêt.
Taaskin tuttu bändi nimeltä, mutta en ollut aiemmin kuunnellut yhtään levyä kokonaan. Tässä oli hyvät soundit bassossa ja uruissa. Biisit oli aika tasapaksuja, eikä yksikään biisi jäänyt mieleen.