Reviews (page 8 of 8)
Ok, but nothing that stands out. ‘Peaches’ tossing curvature references to the wind.
Lyrics were cheeky but boring. Maybe it was edgy but now just seems like that crass, drunk guy in the corner (looking at you Peaches). The constant organ in the background doesn't help. Drab curtains handing over a stage with worn shag carpet underfoot during an okay show. This album's lyrics just feel so heavily dated that they overshadowed the decent hooks.
Ok
noisy noise
Igjen, helt greit, men komme nok ikkje til å høre igjen med det første. Ga heller ikkje et ønske om å høre mer av de. 2/5
70s Pop/Punk with added keyboards. The singing is par for the course for the genre - which doesn't make it particularly good. The album fails to reach me, it's competent for the genre, but nothing I would listen to again. 2/5
Ganz cool aber hat mich auch nicht sonderlich beeindruckt
Wrong kind of energy for me, eh.
Bho, abbastanza noia.
This is what British punk sounds like in the late 1970s? It's not my cup of tea. I liked one song. It's not bad, I just wouldn't listen to it again.
This won't be any good. Yeah, not very good, but not obnoxious. First song was dece, bit doors-ey, then it hit early punk suck territory. This is why I should be able to give ratings out of ten - 2 seems too low, and 3 seems too high. This is exactly what 2.5/5 sounds like.
Like the other post punk albums but worse and more sexist.
Rattus Norvegicus by The Stranglers (1977) As Britpunk yobs who revel in comparing themselves to brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), these Anglo male sense assailants are down on everybody from ugly women to Jews. Misanthropic images and attitudes abound in this cinematic orgy of self loathing, morbidity, lust, and contempt. That about covers the lyrical themes on this album. But the music is well constructed and executed, like a (somewhat spare) combination of The Doors, Yes, Black Sabbath, and Jethro Tull. If you like innovation and compositional intricacy (I do), there’s enough on this record to sustain interest, especially in the bass lines, keyboard colorings, and (even!) backing vocals. If there is such a thing as prog punk, this is it. The Stranglers nicely sum up the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in the delightful song “Ugly”: “Don't tell me that aesthetics are subjective; you know all the truth when you see it, whatever it is.” Heavy, man, but sheesh! And wrapping up the symphonic closing track, we hear the most fittingly malodorous ending ever: “See you in the sewer”. 2/5
Interesting first exposure the genre but a bit redundant.
Some songs were decent, overall not my style.
Peaches is decent but other than that this is a very meh, samey-sounding album to me
There are some decent instrumentals, but the lyrics are pretty rough. I think 'pub rock' sums it up pretty well, sounds like listening to that one geezer down the pub who won't shut up
Not for me.
Sometimes and Peaches are highlights of this punk meets new wave selection. As is often the case with punk, I found the music too repetitive but it was interesting listening.
2/5 naaah
was ok, not my fave
I'm not joking, yesterday I watched the digital short on Disney Plus about Ratattoullie and they talked about the Norwegian Rat and that it actually came from China. Pretty wild that that is the title of this album today. Now I need to think about lottery numbers. There is a song on here called down in the sewers that has some good rat music on it but the rest of the album was mediocre. I'm sick of these albums, especially the ones where the cover and name are so cool and the music is just bland and british
Decent album, minus a star for some shitty lyrics.
Sounded like Spinal Tap at times, but without the guitar solos. Surfy rock with some punk vibes at times. Pretty meh.
not a big fan
Right out of the gate with Sometimes I got a good cross between Billy Idol and Wall Of Voodoo. Rockabilly punk with overt brit accent. Actually varied and fun.
Wasn't a vibe. Says punk, but very plucky
I don't think I've every heard anything from or about The Stranglers. "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)", and "Hanging Around" hinted at giving the band a second chance for a follow up listen, but it only felt like a hint. There were some tracks that I definitely didn't like. Another entry, where I'd like to know why they're on the 1,001. There probably is a reason, but it wasn't apparent from my first listen.
Prefer their more melodic numbers, this one was a bit too punky for my liking.
Not bad
I feel a little ashamed rating an album without at least giving it the decency of listening to its entire content. I then feel even more guilty for only giving it 2 stars. Alas, I am willing to wager $10million my review would still be the same even if I did force myself to endure the remaining three songs. I’m not entirely sure who actually listened to this album back in 1977 (or anytime since) let alone be voted into the best 1001 release of all time. I found it quite a hard listen even while at the same time acknowledging not all music will be to my taste. I get art and avant-garde but this is neither...it’s just songs made up of irritating vocals/lyrics repeated over boring up-tempo elevator music.
Better than I thought!
Niet slecht, ook niet heel boeiend. Wel geweldig bas geluid. Dat dan weer wel.
Eerste paar nummers waren best aardig maar daarna begon het me toch wat tegen te staan.
Just okay. Nothing to really go nuts over. Likely won’t listen again.
Only the one song I enjoyed on this album (Peaches), the rest were below average.
2/5
2.7 - Fun and cheeky but not special enough to warrant more than the single listen.
Psssh. Estilo entre el post punk y el pre new wave que no dice nada. canciones sin sangre
Reminded me too much of The Doors
Kind of dreary and generic rock. Punkish?
maybe if I heard it then
Started a bit slow. But then the guitar solo hit for "Hanging around" and it started to pick up and I enjoyed the guitar/keyboard from "peaches" but then it dropped back off for me. The singing isn't so great kind of talking and yelling with notnso much melody. The guitar is still solid through out the album and I enjoy most of the keyboards but some songs had some un needed 'noise like "ugly" and the 'ufo' sounds. The singing seems to lack flow in most songs which isn't my thing.
uk punk but all the songs sounded similar, i tried to get into it but it seemed like an album of outtakes
Musicalmente el disco me recordó algo a The Knaks, con un toque de The Doors. Por las notas acerca del disco en Wikipedia, parece ser un disco muy influyente en la escena del punk, además de tener letras muy profundas, pero simplemente no me gustó
Not for me.
Meh
Joa. Ganz in Ordnung
More of a singles band...
DNF, not my tempo
idk its fine, nun crazy
Yea meh. Didn’t even really feel like punk. Nothing about this was that exciting. Some of the instrumental parts were fun but even that was mids. I wish we had an album by the clash instead of this
Really good drummer and keyboardist, but too bad everything else sucks, especially the singer. I can’t believe this is defined as punk, though. That’s really funny. Lyrics are also very unimaginative.
This bad record was the start of a bad day so it never really stood a chance.
I absolutely hate ‘Peaches’ so this record was actually a (relatively) pleasant surprise, as thats easily the worst song here. Having said that, this still isn’t very good, kinda dull aggro pub punk, with an organ on it. The lyrics often veer into some pretty grim misogyny, too (first track is about beating his girlfriend, right?). Either it’s poser nonsense or they’re just filth, either way I ain’t interested
A pile of misogynistic garbage.
Punk is not for me
They can call this punk all they want to, but this is New Wave and it sucks. These guys are one of those Brian Eno bands that heard The Velvet Underground and then started a band. This is the first 80s music album...from 1977. (Get A) Grip [on Yourself], aside from have a stupid title, is I guess the best song on the album. Ending with an eight minute instrumental is not a good choice.
No!! Didn't care for this at all.
Huh. Never heard of this one. The keyboard playing kind of sounds like retro video game music in it being kinda pixelated and off tone, then with the droning organ in the back like the doors. I don’t really like the lead singer’s voice. They sound fun to headbob and smile at in a live setting but I don’t know that it belongs on this list. But I guess it’s cool to hear the theater kid goth throughlines from this to the cure to MCR. But I prefer the later iterations when the singers have pipes instead of the shouty pub vibes on this. Whether satirical or not, the lyrics eventually got to me (derogatory).
After a careful listen, I found this to be stupid, boring, tepid pablum. I think they are trying to be snotty and funny but they are just dumb. No bratty energy or interesting music, just the grating organ, grating voice, and just not great.
I doubt Jim Morrison was cold before these blokes ripped that awful organ from the studio to make this
This sounds as if a few drunk frat guys had stumbled out of the pub, broken into The Doors’ studio, and recorded an album as quickly as possible (pretty sure the album cover is them striking a pose upon entry). The playing is sloppy, the hooks pale in comparison to The Clash, and the lyrics are offensively bad. While I appreciate the grit, it’s gonna be a no from me, dawg.
"An ugly fart attracts a good looking chick, if he's got money / It's different for Jews somehow" ...are honest-to-god LINES on this album and the only reasons you need to listen to London Calling again and forget that The Stranglers ever crawled out of the afterbirth of the British punk scene. Oh wait, here are some more... "Is she tryin' to get outta that Clitares / Liberation for women / That's what I preach" Are they joking, horny, stupid, or all of the above? Zach—am I closer to theosis now?
Nothing about this was good.
lyrics are shockingly bad, and that bloody 3 note keyboard never shut up. Pretty dreadful
i don’t care
Some of the cringiest lyrics I've heard with some of the cringiest delivery too. The melodies are bland too and the songs just bleed into each other. Had an abysmal time listening to this.
#40 Uuuuuhhhhhhhhh
I didn't really like it. Not my thing, I guess.
Misogyny
avoid.
Blah
I didn’t like this.. at all.
I really don't like the vocals and the instrumentals and lyrics are too goofy and not in a fun way
Don't have much to say except glad it is over.
Just noise. Whoever added this to the list should not be invited back.
No
I found this annoying. Didn't finish
Really didn't do it for me. It was kinda punky which was cool. But otherwise not my thing.
Poor execution of what could have been great
Nope, shitty attempt at edgy Brit Punk. Frogs in heat sound better.
Horrible
noh ei nappaa
Please no more punk.
Angry young man music. Not for me.
Nope
Not good
No thanks 1
Pretty bad
Lame
I often find punk rock overstimulating and aggressive. Like why are you so loud, and do you have anger issues? Not even singing in tune most of the time, and I don’t care for the unnecessarily long instrumentals. Also the lyrics are very questionable.
Interesting choice. Back to the 70s punk era.
Nope, nope and more nope. Peaches is just 70s sleaze talk with background music.
These guys SUCK
- Found this album pretty boring
Sounded exactly like I thought they would. Could have just been one long track and I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.
Nah, not for me.
Not feeling it
I hate it
i hate new wave i hate new wave i hate new wave i hate new wave i hate new wave I HATE NEW WAVE I HATE NEW WAVE I HATE NEW WAVE I HATE NEW WAVE I HATE NEW WAVE I HATE NEW WAVE I HATE NEW WAVE I HATE NEW WAVE I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE
Hey. Are you a cis white male guitar based band from the late 70's/early 80's that's vaguely mad? Why don't you be on my best of album list! Seriously just shitty version of the Doors.
I thought I could tolerate the Stranglers. Turns out an entire album of their shit is just too much for me. This whole thing is weirdly horny while also being pathetic. I hate the 70's with a passion.
Meh
Strooooong dislike
not super into this UK garage punk stuff
musically it's an interesting combo of post punk, punk-rock, pub rock, and art rock. Lyrically it's weird, and i wasn't in the right headspace to appreciate it.
Did not enjoy one single song.
1. zometimez - 1 2. goodbye touolouze - 1 3. london lady - 0 4. princezz of the ztreetz - 1.5 5. hanging around - 1 6. peachez - 0 7. grip - 1 8. ugly - 1 9. douun in the zeuuer - 1 10. choozey zuzie - 1 11. go buddy go - 0 12. peazant - 0
"Some day I'm going to smack your face" is sure a bold start to the album.
Boring
Not a fan of this the singer was just poor and did not car for the style. The Stranglers should have been left behind
I'm finding I really don't like whatever punk was in Britain in the late 70's-early 80's. Subpar singing, mediocre guitar, and honestly not much going for this. Had so skip through some songs because they just didn't go anywhere. I don't plan on ever listening to this again. 1.5/5
I'll put it this way: there was vast improvement in The Stranglers output after this album.
these guys could make a spooky scary halloween album. it's fine, but not my fav
i'd be sad if this was the last album i listened to before dying
THIS IS MUSIC FOR GIRLS
I am a lyrics guy. On the one hand, this means I can really get into shittily produced bedroom pop with a great story. On the other, even if the production is fun, I can't stand by while lyrics like 'Walking on the beaches looking at the peaches Will you just take a look over there (where?) there Is she tryin' to get outta that clitares? Liberation for women That's what I preach' Or 'Little choosey Susie help me find eternity You and me, we're gonna be free We're gonna make love until you bleed Yeah, take it from me Hugh...' Rubbish, awful, not a good album.
Boring.
Finally, an artist I've never heard of. True music discovery. Three songs in, and I'm not feeling it. Sounds like a punk/new wave hybrid, and not much in the way of musicality. I know that's a feature not a bug, but it's not my thing. I'm going to push through and finish the album because who knows Eight songs in and my opinion hasn't changed. This sound is so spot-on new wave, it could be satire. Welp, I made it. Honest opinion: I hated it. I can see why this could be seen as the genre-defining album for New Wave, and I guess I learned that I hate New Wave. Rating: 1/5 No favorite song I'll probably listen to some 90's rock now, to cleanse my palette.
To be honest I kinda skipped this cuz it was just not the vibe
Oh look- another punk album.
this album is... really sexist?? why is this on here i get being mad about a girl cheating on you but christ almighty man this is just silly sorry she cheated on you bro, have fun being an incel i guess at least the new wave instrumental stuff is interesting
I didn't like this album. Maybe old school punk isn't my taste. The songs weren't very catchy and the singing didn't do it for me. Idk why, just not my thing I guess. Favorite song: N/A Worst song: Ugly
Creeped me out couldn’t finish
1 or 2 decent tracks. 1.2⭐
Awful
Je connaissais de nom J'attendais le hit que j'allais reconnaître... ... Un peu comme si les doors avait un peu moins de choses à dire, qu'ils avaient un bassiste un peu lourdaud, un claviériste et un guitariste beaucoup moins talenteux et trippaient sur jerry lee lewis au lieu de coltrane😆 Pas ma tasse de thé, j'imagine qu'ils ont d'autres albums meilleur, à ce que je comprends c'est leur premier...
Quirky. Like early B-52's. Pretty stupid.
This was a painful listen. There was very little to enjoy and I couldn't listen past peaches.
I was introduced to the Stranglers as a wide-eyed innocent singing along to "Golden Brown" in primary school. This was my first exposure to their hateful roots, realising why the teachers didn't go with a leery, irritating track like "London Lady" or "Peaches." Semi-competent musicianship, nice scalic basslines, organ a novel addition to the standard punk line up. Very mid-heavy sound across the record, with the guitars crunched up and fuzzed out to a point that they just murk up the production. Nevertheless, a scattering of half-decent instrumental passages, particularly in "Down in the Sewer." What lets it down? They're sexist pricks. "Sometimes" is a diabolical track with skin-crawling sentiment that should have been the first and last we all heard of the band. I can't, in any good conscience, enjoy a record with the opening line "someday I'm going to smack your face", written and delivered for Cornwell's girlfriend without a hint of irony, commentary, persona... It's the dark, regressive underbelly of 1970's Britain, and it's a shame to spotlight it in an appraisal of music's 1001 "greatest" albums. Interestingly, the "1001 Albums..." book addresses the album's misogyny. Its response to including the album despite its ugly violence? "WeLl WhAt DiD yOu ExPeCt FrOm An AlBuM nAmEd AfTeR a RaT?" Probably something better and more enlightened than this. And less dull.
horrific
Stopped after the second song
well his voice was a shock but at least its not another whispery type. music is okay lyrics are dumb. ewwww @ peaches. just not for me.
nah not for me
Vreselijk. Ik heb echt helemaal niks met die ouwe punkmuziek. Veel te staccato en noemen ze dat zingen. Pfff
Trash
just dirgy - not that good. Seems like a kinda half punk / half rock thing that i don't get.