Reviews (page 11 of 13)
A pretty good album. I enjoyed the instrumentals and her voice. There wasn't a ton of substance to the songs, but I don't really think there needed to be. I really enjoyed it while I was listening, but now, a couple hours later, if you were to ask me my thoughts on it, I wouldn't really be able to come up with much that was memorable.
Production is really crisp "Smooth Operator" "Your Love Is King" are two nice album starters. I feel like there are a lot of nice songs on the album and only a few that stand out. I think that's kind of her thing though? Smooth and sultry R&B doesn't usually have big banger tracks. I do wish some of the tracks had more direction to them. Maybe a second half key change, a shift in major/minor tonality, or even instrument changes just to add some excitement.
So soft, so smooth
Was really enjoying the first three tracks and then it kind of fell off a cliff
3.3 - Relaxing, mellow soul with solid vocals.
Enjoyable, very smooth and listenable albeit nothing special
Another one I skipped because I wasn't in the mood. Doesn't sound nearly as 80s as I expected it to in 2022. maybe if i played it through my mum's kitchen radio then it would. It's a very nice sound - but it doesn't take long to fade into the background. samey. Frankies first affair was good. As was I will be your friend. Not very likely to come back to this often but it was good.
Solid album but it did not leave the biggest impression on me.
Soulful music, but not my favorite genre.
Honestly, I can't remember hearing any other songs by Sade between this album's Smooth Operator and their 1992 album's No Ordinary Love. But reading up on them, each album in that time (4 of them) plus their next one in 2000 were at least triple platinum. Wow. Maybe their sound was too steamy hot for radio? I still do not know jazz, or soul, so this album was just okay. I listened to it over and over, but I couldn't shake that it sounded like muzak with a very talented singer to boot. Admittedly, the lyrics are pretty good - it's not sex-based drivel but really complicated musings (listen closely to Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair, When Am I Going to Make a Living, and Sally). Put this on my list of potential future regrets but I couldn't get past 3.5.
(3/5) fue un buen álbum pero siento que ninguna canción es memorable, no hay nada que resalte ni que te haga recordarlo.
smooth. sleepy
Well done but not for me
Wish it was more compelling. Great voice, incredible bass lines. Not a whole lot more that grabbed me.
Smooth Operator is great, but the rest of the album doesn’t keep up.
Mä itseasiassa oon aina tykännyt tästä levystä vaikka tässä on nää siirappiset hetkensä. Mut onhan tää niin smoooooooooooth ettei tolkkuu. Todella kasari olematta sillai ihan liian huonolla tavalla kasari. Et esim jos tää levy olis turboahdettu huonoilla syntikoilla niin tää olis tosi raskas. Okei muutan mieleni: toi Timmy Thomas cover Why cant we live togetherista on niin hirvee että alennan pisteellä. 3/5
While I didn’t see much excitement with this album, I thought the vocal was unique and I enjoyed listening to this as an easy listening type album.
Para ser sincera, no esperaba mucho de este álbum, lo subestime mucho pero me lleve un gran sorpresa. Tiene una melodía que es simplemente buena a lo largo de todo el álbum
Not bad, but also not really my style of music.
Wasn't in love with it on the first listen, but I liked it more on the 2nd listen. I don't really have any touchpoint for this style of music. I enjoyed it, but probably not enough to revisit. 3.5/5
"Smooth Operator" is smooth indeed and the only song I know by her. Very catchy and a great voice. Not really my thing generally but enjoyable enough for sexy-time-soul. Bassline in "Hang On to Your Love" is sick.
Despite my appreciation for R&B/soul/jazz, I never totally got into Sade. Giving this a spin, I kind of see the appeal, but it’s not especially for me. I can get behind bits of quiet storm, but it’s just not a sound that I can spin for a full LP. I’ll give it credit for some solid jazzy interludes and killer vocals, but I don’t think I’ll ever fully get into them. Solid C
Smooth Operator was a hit when I was younger. I enjoyed listening to the whole album.
Diamond Life by Sade (1984) With prominent bass lines and soulful jazz/pop arrangements, lead vocalist Sade Adu delivers sensuous sound layered over rhythms that are easy on the ears. Her voice is not strong enough to dominate, but it’s disciplined enough to carry melodies with confidence. Lyrically unremarkable, Sade’s themes treat of the ups and downs of love, with enough standard advice to help keep the listener on the straight and narrow. Wholesome. Comfortable. Two tracks depart from this main theme: a closing cover of Timmy Thomas’ rather bland peace exhortation “Why Can’t We Live Together” and Sade Adu’s excellent “Sally”, a moving and redemptive paean which celebrates the heroics of a woman who rescues the down and out in the ugly underbelly of New York, vicariously “doing our dirty work”, loving the lost on behalf of the rest of us. Musically, Stuart Matthewman provides funky guitar and smooth saxophone, but the bass playing by Paul Denman stands out, occasionally expanding scales and intervals enough to provide countermelodies that complement and amplify without distraction. This album is an easy listen, and it won’t start a revolution or transform your self image, but it’s suitable background for getting your stuff done. No excuses. 3/5
Smooooooooth operator
Prefs: Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair, When Am I Going To Make A Living Moins pref: I Will Be Your Friend
When this album originally hit the airwaves I was so narrowly focused on rock, some mainstream, some not, but especially trying to avoid anything that wasn't rock on the radio. I have since expanded my musical palate and can appreciate this genre of smooth jazz that has a time and place. I always think of smooth jazz as a "pop"-gateway towards "real" jazz that introduces the masses to how potentially commercial this music can be. For me Sade was my introduction to smooth jazz and listening now I can't say I don't like it. Again, it has a time and place and if you want to create a mood of romance and serenity, Diamond Life is definitely your record. Oh, and Valentines is coming up so cue up your Sade albums. Smooth operator, indeed.
Very pleasant. Never heard the whole album
I like many of the tracks, but it's the nostalgia thing again - my parents frequently played this album. Good tunes, but overall felt dated, 80s bossa nova lounge kinda dated.
Cool lounge album from the 80s.
SMOOOOOOTH OPERATOR!!!! #CS55 Also enjoyed 'Cherry Pie' but that was pretty much it
Enjoyed it but probably not something I would listen to again
Almost as smooth as me
Bueno
Relaxing
In fact, despite being a not-so-special album(for a MUST LISTEN 1001), it's an album I enjoy listening to. Probably because of my love for the saxophone sound and her voice. (6/10) FT: Smooth Operator, Your Love is King , Sally
Leuk ni echt mijn ding, beetje flauw
This is probably the most dated thing I’ve heard on here. In a good way. It makes me want to meet glamorous women in hotel bars and drink cocktails. Her voice is surprisingly rough though, I assumed it would be silky smooth, but she strains when she extends her range. Oddly felt like a Karaoke version of Steely Dan.
Rating: 6.5/10 Some very good funky songs on this album.
6/10
Possessed of a stunning voice, Sade sounds crystal clear and note perfect: and maybe that’s the problem. A little less polish, a little more grit and maybe these tracks would sound a more vivid; overall, then, a disappointment, notwithstanding that the opening two tracks are quality pop singles.
Riktig stämningshöjare! Bra, homogent sound på hela skivan. Väldigt lounge-jazzigt och lekfullt generellt. Smooth Operator och Why Can't We Live Together var bäst. Sammantaget ett riktigt härligt bakgrundsalbum med rejäl 80-talsvibe.
Not unlike the operator in the opening track this album is impossibly smoooooth. The best tacks are the afore mentioned Smooth Operator and the closing track Why Can't We Live Together. These two tracks book end a syrupy smooth collection that is perfect dinner party music. Ultimately a little too polished to get to 4 for me. 3.5 stars
Slick well-crafted pop. 6/10
Liked this! Very easy to listen to
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I went in with no expectations and no knowledge and I found myself really digging it. Admittedly I am a sucker for brass instruments so that helps. If I could go 3.5 I would.
Still amazes me that "your love is king" has more plays than "Smooth Operator" on this album on spotify. Rest of the album was okay, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen again. 3.5/5 but rating it a 3 as I definitely don't think it's 4 material.
I saw the cover, and thought "Ah, an artist and album I've never heard anything about, here we go" and then I saw 'Your love is King' and thought "Oh yeah I can get onboard with this". And indeed, I can very much get very onboard with this. Go Sade. Really wanted to turn it off halfway through though. Hitting it with a 3 as it's all a bit too samey for me but really enjoying the smoothness of this.
Pretty good
Soul. Un megahit. Se me ha hecho bola.
Is ok
I like it a lot more than I expected to. Sade's voice is fierce and sexy!
80s, sultry, a little hard to take seriously personally
Very smooth indeed and enjoyable. The sac was in trend back then and it shows, but here it’s used in a nice not so much overused way
Knew of smooth operator but never knew the artist. Pretty good album. A few songs were repetitive and slow but it evened out with the first two that were substantially better. It’s a good album that’s a easy listening r&b. 6.0/10
I sit in the global coffeehouse, second hand smoke atop first. Frasier Crane sends me a drink. I resolve to later memorialise him as a neon statue.
Ajoittain tempaisi tunnelmaan. Ei ihan paska vaikkei soittolistoille tule nousemaan.
Ehjä levykokonaisuus. Ykkösraita toki loppuunsoitettu, mut kyllä sen tässä yhteydessä kuunteli ja loppulevy oli vähintäänkin miellyttävä
Me gustó mucho más de lo que esperaba. Conocía Smooth Operator pero nada más de ella y la fue muy agradable escucharlo. Muy meloso pero sin llegar a cansar, puedo volver a escucharlo aunque seguramente no se volverá mi género favorito. 3.5 estrellas que bajan a 3 porque aunque agradable, tampoco me parece revolucionario ni sobresaliente. Songs: When Am I Going to Make a Living, Hang On to Your Love, Smooth Operator
3 1/2
Je tiens a saluer le travail effectué par Robert depuis que mon camarade d'ecoute robpeucher l'a alerté sur la baisse de qualité des albums du generateur. En effet, nous sommes gâtés ces derniers jours, même si je me doute bien que dès l'instant ou je presserai la troisième étoile, afin d'attribuer à cet album une très belle note de 3/5 (le système de notation n'ayant toujours pas changé, une étoile égalant 1/5, deux étoiles 2/5 etc etc), un nouvel album de rock completement oubliable fera son apparition.
Fantastic voice. But really, apart from the singles, the album was a bit samey
Bah, normal. Agradable. Electro-R&Balternative R&Belectronica. Un 3
I liked the way that she told stories with her lyrics in Sally, Cherry pie, When am I going to make a living, etc. Kind of a sexual album
Smooth operator un folded a mini memory tucked away in my brain. Pretty cool
People do be having sex
Musical equivalent of wallpaper.
fine
Non offensive background music. Is this what easy listening is?
Diamond Life's music is silky smooth and enjoyable to the point that I was pretty frequently bummed when the songs faded out in the middle of the group's musicians picking up business. Sade's a talented vocalist, but on top of the lyrics being pretty generic love song fodder (though a few thematic diversions keep it from being as exhausting as Let Love Rule), I'm just not that into her voice on a lot of these tracks. If you threw someone like Chrissy Hynde on here, though, it'd be the sexiest shit on Earth. Key Tracks: Smooth Operator, Hang On to Your Love, When Am I Going to Make a Living
3/5
Just okay. Pretty run of the mill 80s rnb pop. Smooth operator is obviously a classic. Nothing really bad but not much really caught my attention either aside from maybe Cherry Pie. Wouldn’t turn it off if it was on, but wouldn’t be the one to put it on.
I like it but nearly every song sounds the same.
Get the cultural importance, but not my cup of tea
Fine, a bit samey and borin
If I was scoring a movie in the 80's and there was a sex scene, I'd definitely try to license a track or two off this album. Also, Smooooooth operator.
I recognize that this is good music, but it's just not my bag. It's not bad ('cept for that 'why can't we live together' song, Jesus tits that's bad), I don't mind listening to it so much, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
-Smooth Operator was nice -Hang on to your Love is catchy -I like the baseline in Cherry Pie Perfectly fine, just not my style
Decent album of smooth jazz. A few strong tracks, led by 'Smooth Operator.' Glad I listened to it, but would not put it into regular rotation.
Pretty good album, solid songs.
got some good songs in the middle
Enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. Nice and funky!
The music is very well played/sung and very well-produced. But it's slick and inoffensive to the point where there's nothing interesting about it. I can't really see this as anything else than background music.
A nice chilled listen!
Okay listening.
Enjoyed this a lot. Only listened once so not completely sure of this rating, but comfortable with a strong 3 Saved: Smooth Operator
pretty cool - love R&B - i guess this is that?
Nice, simple, unoffensive. Miss Sade has a nice voice to carry away with the music, but nothing ever feels like it sticks with me for more than a few seconds after. Sometimes it picks up and gets a little funky like Cherry Pie, but for the most part I'm just sorta vibing to the tunes.
Exceeded expectations
This album was pretty good. I'm not a huge fan of this genre of pop but I thought the vocals were incredible (obvi) and it was super fun to listen to.
Yesterday I worked on Penthouse coordination items. Setting details to penetration and realigning keynotes on our demo sheets. Sade was a nice group to listen to and I am always motivated by Jazz tunes. I looked up some of there videos on Youtube and they also have some captivating performances.
R&B soft rock. meh. She has a cool unique vocal sound tho. good bass parts.
good vocals - someone will like it - not for me
Just not my style :)
I liked "Sally". I like listening to Sade's music, but the album was aight.
Está dos trenzas pero el disco entero igual si enfada
Nice
nice, but a touch too loungy for my taste : 2.5
Smooth Operator
enjoyable album!
Smooth 80s sax/synth vibes
Not bad but I like more of her other work than this. Except Smooth Operator is pretty tops. Definitely would play this again though, but only during “sexy time”.
Lo tuve que escuchar varias veces porque no estaba seguro si era un cuatro o un cinco, y luego lo escuché tanto que ya no sabía si era un tres o un cuatro.
Pretty good. Decent baselines.
Very all over the place, 4 parts that let each instrument shine Devided into the ear speakers with clear distinction where each instrument would be in the room, which can be tiresome after a while when one instrument is just having a solo If you like jazz it's probably definitely for you
Smooth Operator ist der beste Song auf der Platte, mochte ich schon immer. Ansonsten durchschnittlich, nervt mich dafür aber nie.
SMOOOTHHH OPERATOOOOR
Nice change of pace.
Pretty chill R&B album, liked it. DIdn't listen too hard but that's kind of the point. Enjoyed it, won't come back. 4/8, favorite song: Smooth Operator.
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I did.
Har lyssnat liiite på Sade innan och tyckte det känts positivt då men nu var det ännu bättre. Gillade detta men några för tråkiga låtar för att det skulle bli en fyra.
Quite like it but not blown away. Will probably listen again.
Beautiful voice, still not my cup of tea.
It's not Erik Sade.
Pop/jazz/rnb, afslappende, følsomt, Smooth Operator
Subdued bossa nova. Pleasant enough while it's on, just very... wallpaper, and all the songs are very, very similar. Favorite track: "Smooth Operator"
I've heard smooth operator before, the rest was new. It all sounds about the same as that song. Doesn't exactly blow the roof off, way softer than what I usually would listen to. I guess it's good for easy listening? It's basically elevator music. It didn't make my hangover worse, so that's a plus. And if that's Sade on the cover, yowser she is hot. 2.5/5.
sla, só curto smooth operator dela msm, toda a carreia dela parece uma sombra dessa única música.
Not really my speed
Not my cup of tea
I don't mind the smooth jazz, but does sound a little samey by the end of the album. Wasn't a fan of the vocals on the album, but wasn't sure if I just didn't like her voice or if it just didn't fit with the album. 2/5
Skuffende, for jeg kan godt lide Smooth Operator. Ikke nogen særligt god sangstemme, i hvert fald ikke i den her produktion. Og for meget porno-blød sax.
i realize her talent but it’s just not for me.
Love her voice. And love the lyrics on a few songs. I’ve never really listened to her much before, but I can see why she is treasured in the music world. That being said, this album is not something I’d intentionally reach for but I would definitely not be upset if I heard it playing overhead wherever I was.
Just got a bit samey, very sexy tho
Reminds me of working at CVS as a teenager, when the store played “Smooth Operator” every couple hours.
Nice background music and smooth operator is a classic, but I found myself mostly bored with this 2.5/5
Not a fan off this jazz soul type stuff. Obviously it's not shit, but there's nothing would make me want to check this out again. Dinner party 80s background music.
Just really not my thing, but it’s well done
Elevator muzak. Can’t stand it!
Too smooth for me. Like I know that sounds like a joke but it was
Woof
Pretty slow paced for my taste.
Not my cup of tea
For those feeling nostalgic. First steps of smooth jazz. And smooth whatever...
The greatest compliment I can give this is that it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I was expecting. I still never want to hear it again but it was not horrific.
I’d listen to it in the background, but didn’t do much for me lyrically.
Disappointed to get this album. Yeah it was a big hit and I can appreciate why people might like it, but definitely not for me. 2
Nothing bad about this album at all... but it all sounds like background music to me, the sort of thing to have on the sound system in an '80s wine bar while drinking colourful drinks in martini glasses and smoking pastel shaded Sobranie Cocktail cigarettes and having conversations about nothing.
Is this Sade or George Michael? They sound the exact same. It's not terrible. Very '80s. Good voice, decent musical style. Not on my top list, but it's not offensive.
This is exactly what I expected it to be, unfortunately. Some interesting stuff on here, but mostly just obnoxious.
Grows tired but my god she is beautiful
wow genuinely could not get past the first three tracks. iv'e only ever heard love deluxe and do like some of the songs on that record but damn this is disappointing.
Klinkt als iets wat ze enorm veel draaiden op radio1 in de jaren 90
I can see why some people like this but it’s just too synth poppy for me. 2.5
Garbage
Really not my thing
Eh. Listened to it while doing work which was a good vibe but lowkey liked the songs spotify played after it more.
The album starts off with the 2 hits but from then on it sort of meanders. Not the most interesting of albums unfortunately
An okay album with some nice background music but no memorable songs that I wanted to listen to again
The positive reviews of this record all talk about how smooth and easy it is which, if you think about it for a moment, is essentially highlighting how totally vacuous, derivative & undemanding this music is as though that's a good thing?
неплохой, красивый низкий голос, но песни не слишком запоминаются. добавила smooth operator, frankie's first affair, when am i going to make a living 2/5
Great first song. The rest reminded me of Chris Rea mixed with cruise ship music. But really great first song!
The everpresent saxophone makes it almost impossible for me to listen to this record. Sade‘s voice is the clear center, framed by pretty boring soul standard. Fav: Hang on to your love
Smooth'n'saxxy with a nice singing voice, but a rather dull listening experience overall.
Her voice is good, but the music is really annoying for me... Some nice moments, but, unfortunately, not an enjoyable moment for me at all
So. Very. smooth. Nice production values and surprised to see it was a 1984ish release. I would have said into later half of eighties as this was absolutely made for CD! I would compare it to a Dire Straits Bros in Arms - just in terms of production quality but more style than substance. Still it would have been a soundtrack to a thousand mid eighties dinner parties. I can only give it 2 stars as, apart from the singles at the front, i really struggled to make it through to the end.
Not for me
I mean, it’s OK. Boring. I guess it has an atmosphere that is sustained and very consistent. Chill to the point of vacuous. Not sure I see the point. Maybe there isn’t one.
Not really a fan of smooth jazz pop 90s 🤷♀️
Good looking girl with a nice voice phoning it in 1.5
Nice enough but not something I would regularly listen to. Background music really
Música de ascensor
"Smooth Operator" is a classic, and some of the other tracks on this album are mostly in the same in vain. A decent soft rock album. Highlights: "Smooth Operator"
noia
Smooth and slow. Didn’t hate jt but it also didn’t really draw me in.
I wasn't around for when this was popular, and frankly most of the appeal is lost on me. It's easy enough to listen to, just nothing here that makes it special to me.
first song good, rest mid
Very repetitive. Not my thing.
Nah I'm good...
20 - Sade - Diamond Life - Rating = 2 Opens with Smooth Operator… such a dated sound and soft-jazz… but this is a smoooooth song… gotta sort like it. Goes really soft jazzy from there… I can’t say it gets that interesting but it’s a sound… like the Sade sound… has a place, but not a big one. Much like other albums, the monster song really saves the record. Definitely not something I’d go to, but if it’s on at a cocktail party it certainly offends no one.
I'm definitely not gonna be a Sade fan, but happy to discover here more than ever before. I don't feel that CLASSIC quality, but the second half finally feels like something.
smooth operator is a classic, rest are not really memorable, but okay i guess
Dull. Repetative.
Slinky jazzy adult contemporary. Lots of Rhodes, fretless bass, sax, and bongos. Perfect for the elevator and retro boutique hotel lobbies. Nothing to complain about, but nothing particularly amazing either.
4/10 I just really dislike this. It's so smooth it is causes a kind of nausea on me. And so much bloody sax - yuck.
The sound of 1980s dock lands a warehouse redevelopments , too smooth too sweet too predictable. I’m being generous with 2 for the so gwriting
I'm not sure how smooth jazz has become such a running gag in music culture, yet Sade's snoozy-ass smooth soul music gets a pass. I'm sorry! I just find Diamond Life overwhelmingly polite, an adjective I never want to use to describe a soul album. all the elements of quality pop music are present here, but they're presented in a package I find kind of sterile. in undergrad, one of my music professors told me I had "the heartbeat of a hamster," which I felt a bit slighted by at the time, but I'm starting to understand what he meant. this challenge has made me realize how apathetic I am about albums where every song rolls along at more or less the same slow-to-medium tempos. the understated nature of Sade's voice, and her eponymous band's blends of soul and funk with a subtle undercurrent of jazz, are sort of the whole appeal. unfortunately, that's my main gripe with the album overall: it feels like elevator music. if I'm listening to soul music, I need you to hit me with everything you've got more than once per LP! actually, no. my main gripe is with the saxophone playing, which is uniformly garbage. I hate those scoops, the total lack of articulation, the tone that sounds like it has a sock in it, the vibrato that sounds like teeth chattering in the cold. any song without sax here is so much better for it. strong 3/10.
Ouais c'est un bon album mais pas pour moi.
Not my jam
Uncomfortably easy listening. Good thing about the streaming era is that now you don’t need to make an album full of filers if you really only have one song.
First is a classic, rest was just unmemorabe
Reading the reviews, I can see why people seem so split on this album. It has all of the trappings of yacht rock/easy listening but there's more going on under the surface than all that. Aside from Sade's great voice, the band does a great job comping and playing off one another, particularly the sax and keys. However, it's not that far under the surface. I find I mostly fall in with the "meh, boring" camp here. Like, I can tell this band doesn't have a drummer, because rhythm truly seems like an afterthought in this songwriting. That, and they really make you wait for those few nuggets of fun. It's just not for me. If you like this album and want something with a similar mid-80s vibe but musically WAY more interesting, just put on some Donny Benet and get 100x sexier.
27-28/02/26
Not bad and there are good songs, but it didn’t make any lasting impression.
too smooth 2 jazz
I was quite enjoying this at first, but every track was so similar. Probably a lot of them, including the album tracks, would work as stand alones, but as an album it didn't quite hit it for me.
This was fine. I love smooth operator. The other tracks sound similar but don’t hit the same for me. What is shocking is I thought this album sounded like it was from 89-90, but it’s from 1984. Crazily ahead of the curve.
Easy listening
Decent the first time. No need to listen again except smooth operator was fun because I already knew it
Didn’t love
Not my thing but still good music
I know this is good music but it’s just a little boring to me. I do love a sassy sax, though.
Great voice but meh
Smooth cool and jazzy. Feels so designed to sit in the background that it draws very little attention to itself. Pleasant enough, but otherwise unremarkable.
Smooth Operator Hang on to your Love When am I Going to Make a Living Cherry Pie
Smooth Operator Your Love is King When Am I Going to Make a Living
It's not personally my taste, but she does have that whole niche absolutely dialed right in.
Sade Adu as a person is a graceful seraphim walking among us mere mortals. That said, her band makes music that is utterly not my thing. Notwithstanding, someone's great aunt is sipping chardonnay somewhere near a marina at sunset listening to this sexy saxophone music on a dockside restaurant PA system, or leaning on a champagne-colored 1998 Chrysler Sebring convertible with the stock radio set on a smooth jazz station being caresses by some liver-spotted geriatric hands. And that great aunt is getting absolutely soaked with the whole experience.
2.5
2.5
It's fine. Good background music. Highly polished soul/pop. She's got a great voice, of course. Musicians are all solid. Sounds nice. 0 feelings stirred or generated.
It’s funky, there’s so much sax, it’s a good time, just not really my kinda vibe.
not my scene but appreciate iconic songs
Some catchy hooks, but it just doesn't resonate with me yet. I was hopeful this whole album that something would really impress me. Smooth sax just simply ain't my vibe. The use of the name Frankie for that song just doesn't work. So many lyrical choices are so cheesy and difficult to get through. The quality musicianship on the instrumental unfortunately can't do much to cover for that flaw. The hook and general vibe on When Am I Going to Make a Living is the best on the album so far. By a lot. I enjoyed this track enough. It's not all bad. I was hoping to be swung by one of these last few songs. Didn't quite happen. I respect the artistry, and I get why some people really enjoy this, but I am apparently not some people. It seems to land in this spot where to me it's easy to have on, but hard to listen to. 1.5/5
I really want to like Sade. She has an objectively lovely voice, but her music is dreadfully boring. I don't dispute that a list of 1001 albums to hear before you die should include Sade, but it just wasn't my thing.
Smooth, but that's kind of it?
I fell asleep multiple times while listening to it, but it wasnt bad
I can tell ”objectively” that it’s a great band. They do their thing and they’re great at it. I understand why so many people love Sade. But for me it’s too smooth and too stylish.
This album has the song "Smooth Operator". Described as "Sophisti-pop", this album is mellow in sound and non-controversial in topic since it's mostly about love and relationships. I feel like this album was ahead of its time in this genre but it's not for me. It reminds me of elevators and doctor offices.
Not a fan, composition is fine and mix is all good, clean and balanced. But man this didn’t age well to my ear, sounds like corporate music. Lyricism feels pretty uninspired to me, vocalist performance leans amateurish sounding to me- not particularly interesting or inspiring. Sax sounds good at times, a few melodic lines that are nice and satisfying but overall sounds like elevator music to me. Not for me.
Slightly better than lift music
Timing is everything I guess. Coming up in the list immediately following Kanye West this mediocre music sounds positively impressive by comparison- but she’s just another 1980s one hit wonder. Nothing more or less.
Smooth sound from Sade. First time listening but no real suprises for me. The album begins with the well known singles and the sound continues in same vein throughout. Late night music.
Technically competent, thoroughly not for me
The hit was a hit for a reason. 1 other decent track id say.
Good Voice...Good Instrumentals...Just Kind of boring...2 1/2*
Lovely voice and lots to admire, but not really to my taste.
Checks all the boxes for my Cheesy Eighties bingo : - Keyboards and fake claps everywhere. Who needs actual drums ? - Pseudo-soul voice that will make actual soul singers cringe. - Over-the-top "smoothness" that people somehow used to find sexy back in the days, but now sounds like the soundtrack of a softcore porn flick. - Kitschy sax oozing with bad taste. For the love of God, LEAVE THE SAX ALONE. Saxophones are for jazzmen, funk bands and Lisa Simpson. - Oooh-hoo, yoo-hoo ! Pa-pala, pap-palala ! - I think I’ve literally heard this music in an elevator. I’ll admit that Smooth Operator is a nice hit, and Hang On To Your Love is a semi-enjoyable song... But everything else just painfully reminds me of all the reasons why I hated pop music during the 80s. Still, the 80s produced far worst crap. This album feels caricatural, but it's not entirely unlistenable. 3/10
Thanks to a tube and the voice of a "smooth operator", the rest of the album is just to be forgotten
Lovely voice but god I hate smooth jazz
It’s nice and soft, however the songs are too long and didn’t draw me in. It can’t be called bad, cause it is definitely not, but it just didn’t grab me the way I would have liked. Smooth operator is a highlight, but everything else kinda meshing into eachother and I don’t really want to listen to it again
Banda que soa aquele som genérico dos anos 80, como algo superproduzido tentando ser jazz mas sem muita alma, soa mais como música de elevador na verdade. Dois está ótimo, até pq tem muita coisa pior por aqui...
Smooth. Easy listening. Good quality pop though I guess. Too cheesy for me.
I don’t like this type of music. It’s sax heavy, dinner party jazz, as favoured by yuppies in the 1980s, and I don’t think it has aged particularly well. It points to mid eighties aspirationalism to my mind. Sade’s smoky, smooth voice is perfect for this polished, wine bar vibe. Definite nods to the Crusaders and Minority Report in this, and it will influence all the super-polished RnB that comes later. I still didn’t enjoy it.
Not my type.
Descrição retirada das notas do livro: "sonoridade elegante, contida e sofisticada... experiências sutis com ritmos latinos, caribenhos e outros sons exóticos". Nada de meu interesse. E o título da faixa 6 (Cherry Pie) resume meu sentimento em relação ao disco, doce e enjoativo.
Eh
Too smooth? Well played, though.
不感兴趣
A bit too sickly smooth for my liking but inoffensive
2.1 1x catch up 11/18 - nothing wrong, just not my thing
A little monotone to my ears.
Lite FM staple and the soundtrack of Boomer mom's who weren't getting enough attention at home. At least that's what I think of when I hear this. Also, porno backing music.
Not for me
Extremely not my shit
The last song was the worst. It was all okay. If it wasnt 1001 albums to hear id say 3.
Then it’s are fine but not my jam; the rest does little to elevate it to something I’d want to listen to
This is not for me. Every so often there was a great baseline, like Quincy Jones was suddenly there, but alas, it didn't turn into a Michael jackson hit, it was just another slow Sade track invoking a nightclub with dim lights in a seedy area of town. If it wasn't teasing Jackson pop it sounded like the music backing to an 80s film I really don't want to watch. If anyone asks me why I dislike the saxophone they should sit through this and it should all be explained. Like the vibe wasn't intrusive. And the odd bassline was great.
Perfectly pleasant. A must-listen? Absolutely not.
Litt dølt
This type of music is not for me.
Remember some from watching vh1 as a kid.
Very 80's feeling. This type of R&B/adult contemporary is not my vibe. Nice voice, I guess. Was this really groundbreaking or something?
Something about Smooth Operator is like nails on a chalkboard for some reason…the rest is nice, but not my tempo or what I really connect with.
Sade has a great voice for this kind of jazzy soul. Good stuff on the background but not one i would listen to with intention
Not really my vibe. Okay album.
My mom used to listen to this in the car when I was six or seven years old.And I swear it used to make me car sick
Hell have no fury like a woman scourned kinda vibe, going thru the emotions 😭
98/1001 Sade - Diamond Life Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ There's nothing offensive about this, however, even at 44 minutes this album seems to drag, as it just seems so monotonous. It's too polished and for want of a better word, too smooth for my taste.
Smooth.
Smooth Operator ist cool. Der Rest war leider nur so zum nebenbei hören und hat nicht meinen Geschmack getroffen.
15 mins was all I needed to hear. Not for me
2 out of 5. I have been pondering how LA to Chicago is considered coast to coast for 40 years.
This should be right up my alley, but I didn't quite click with it. I enjoy Smooth Operator, but much of the album just struck me as being too pop.
I recognize this as being good, but definitely not my thing
Not my style I think. Fav song was “your love is king” otherwise it was maybe a little boring.
Smooth Operator is OG, and this is a nice, chill, easy-listening album. She has an amazing voice, but this just isn't my type of music unfortunately. 2/5 stars.
I was broadly aware of who Sade were coming into this, at least _Smooth Operator_ which is really unavoidable in life. This was my first full taste though. And unfortunately that blend of smooth soul and sophisti-pop is just not for me. It's too smooth and too clean and the bright, jangly production makes it sound very much of its time. I suppose it's pretty inoffensive to listen to but there's just no bite to it. What it really needs is a little more edge and a few sharp corners.
Smooth operator is good, she has a great voice but just not for me.
"Yeah, but that's Liz's!" "Yeah, but she did dump you." *throws Diamond Life* Through this project I've identified adult contemporary as one of my least favorite music genres. This is possibly a better example of the genre, but I still wouldn't want to return to this.
So much saxophone. 80s R&B has never really been my thing. There’s nothing bad on this album, but there’s also nothing I loved. Without Sade’s smooth voice, it’s just synthy elevator music. Her voice is very soothing, though, so it was kind of relaxing. But definitely not something I will ever listen to again.
Was pretty bullish at first. That evaporated quickly. This album is so one-note it’s unreal.
Sultry vocals tried to entice me, but ultimately, the smouldering tones failed to light a fire in me.
Just not my cup of tea
Two hit songs. Songs are well written and the performances are very good. Songs are recorded terribly. All treble and too much separation.
The very best of Mom Jazz/Yacht Rock. Not really inspiring stuff. I remember my mother listening to this in the early 80s. As a kid, I didn't register how bad a singer Sade was. Now, I hear the flat notes, the constant corrections, and I'm in disbelief as to how she was considered a quality vocalist. Oh, she was gorgeous. Now I've got it.
The smooth sounds of Sade are pleasant enough, but time has damned it to the kind of light, jazzy music that soundtracks any number of public spaces. Put "Smooth Operator" on a playlist, and you're good to go.
All songs kinda sounded the same. Knew smooth operator.
Inoffensive background music. Formulaic and bland.
Look: it's not that I don't get this album. It's "cool music." It's the kind of smooth rhythms, silky voice and soaring sax you're supposed to look over a nighttime balcony and smoke a cigarette to. I can totally picture that, and I get it. Here's my issue: what if I **don't** actually think this is all that cool? What if — and follow me here — I think it's, at best, incidental music for a hip 80's TV show? And at worst, extra-produced elevator muzak? I didn't wanna be too unkind to this album. I mean, Sade Adu herself is obviously not a bad vocalist, not by a long shot. Besides, while I might implicate this album as "background music" to insult it, I'm by no means someone who'll hate an album for being wallpaper. If it fits the room it's put in, how can you complain? But this sound, sophisti-pop: it just glides right by me. It's too smooth, dangerously to the point of almost being plastic. If I'm supposed to feel cool while listening to this, I don't. I feel like this should be hearing this stuff play over a department store PA system. And not a cool department store, either, if those things exist; I mean shit like Zeller's or... I'unno, Big Lots? It just feels like they're trying so hard to come across like they're not trying hard. I can see them playing this stuff on stage, trying **so hard** to make it look like they're effortlessly cool, but it's just not working for me. I mean, I said it before: "sophisti-pop" comes across like a genre of music made by assholes for assholes, who act like they're **so much better** than **regular pop artists**. And like with Everything But The Girl, I don't wanna accuse Sade of being assholes; I'm sure they're nice people... But it's a **lot** harder to **not** think it this time around, y'know? Really, more than anything, it's just a feeling like every song is going on ten times longer than they actually are. This smooth jazz soul thing wears out its welcome **real fast**, and there are still 40 minutes left in the album when it does. I hardly ever actively wish for albums to end, but if I wouldn't have preferred to listen to anything else towards the end of this... Again, I didn't wanna be so unkind to this album. I'm sure, in the right atmosphere, it'd hit a lot better. Hell, even with my complaints I can't say it's a totally bad vibe. It just didn't inspire any stronger emotions in me than, "Yeah, sure, fine — can I move on already?" And I do love me a good sax solo, so the fact that this one couldn't deliver for me says something. I mean, I really wanted to give this thing the benefit and give this thing a 3. Honestly, I did. But when I checked where I was in the album, and I saw I was in the middle of "Sally" and had two songs left, and my legit kneejerk first thought was, "Oh, my gawd, why aren't you **done** yet?" Yeah. Yeeeeaaaahhh. I gave this album a shot. Believe me, I did. Honestly, I get this album and what it was going for. But I also get that this album is **not** for me. I'm gonna get the hell off of this elevator.
Dated. Makes you wish every song was Smooth Operator. Did people listen to this full album in the eighties?
Not bad, but definitely not my kind of stuff. Smooth operator is dope tho.2.5/5
None of it is "bad", not at all. Completely inoffensive, perfectly adequate, laid-back background music. I'm fond of jazz, even smooth jazz, but this just feels so sterile and lacking in nuance. She has a wonderful voice for sure, but idk this just doesn't do it for me, there's no soul in those horns man. If I wanted to throw on some jazz I would choose almost anything else.
Very dull overall! And a particuarly meandery underwhelming end to it. Even Smooth Operator was more dull than I remembered.
Didnt like
2.5
Great voice, repetitive songs and album not exciting.
Talented but not my style at all.
Lovely voice but becomes boring after a couple of tracks.
I found this album very dated sounding and more muzak than expected given I generally respect her as an artist.
That album was like one long boring song.
Ooooh, haven't had many of these. Very firmly in the "deserves to be on the list even though I can't stand it" category. Can fully appreciate how different this was, and how well the album is put together whilst it absolutely bores me to tears.
this was better than i thought it was going to be but it was still pretty bland
Les morceaux sont trop ressemblants.
Smooth Operator was a big hit middle 80's and the entire album evokes images and memories of TV shows and movies from the 80's of NYC yuppy apartments, dinner parties, candle-lit dinners, etc. This is upper middle class mixer music...very smooth, inoffensive but, in short, really boring. Just not my thing. 2/5
Very much the definition of easy listening. It wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t really my thing.
Not my cup of tea
Not at all my jam. Didn't dislike it enough to give it a 1 but I also didn't finish it.
I don't dislike this album, but apart from Smooth Operator I just didn't really feel it.
I tried to like this album, it has slick arrangements, hits and the beautiful voice of Sade....but it just didnt do it for me.
A better singer than Maxwell but the same sort of relaxed/smooth vibe that isn't really for me,
"Smooth Operator" is excellent. I listened to it twice. The rest of it I can take or leave - though in fairness I'd probably grow to appreciate it over time.
No era lo que me esperaba realmente. Estuvo bien. Pero hasta ahi.
I really really dislike smooth sax-heavy 80s R&B. Smooth Operator? Much too smooth for my liking.
One song (I don't remember which) had nice vibes. Rest were shite
hang on to your love was kinda interesting but the rest of it was just not for me. i can't listen to this kind of 80s soul and not cringe...its like it was designed to be a satire of itself
Duidelijk geïnspireerd door Soul en Jazz, maar niet ontkennend in welke tijd ze leefden op het moment van opname. We beginnen met de hit Smooth Operator. In het begin maakt dat enthousiast. Maar eigenlijk raak ik het nummer halverwege wel zat. En dan wordt het vervolgd met het tergend saaie Your Love is King en door een Long Version van een nummer dat echt te saai is voor een lange versie. De eerste klanken voor 30 seconden in een loop gooien voegt buiten extra seconden echt niets toe. Ik word hier dus niet vrolijk van. Maar tegelijk ken zelf ik de eerste drie nummers al en is er weinig op de kwaliteit af te dingen. Ik snap dus best dat dit in de lijst staat.
Ik moest even wat moed verzamelen voor dit album, want sophistipop zit ik niet echt op te wachten over het algemeen. En met de openingshit weten we al een beetje wat ons te wachten staat. Maar goed, get it over with, zo snel mogelijk door de zure appel heen bijten. Het is in ieder geval geen hiphop zullen we maar zeggen. Dit is echt van die skyradiomuziek waar ik vroeger van moest kotsen. Ik dacht dat ik een hekel had aan jaren 80 muziek, maar daar ben ik wel van terug gekomen. De jaren 80 hebben namelijk echt wel veel toffe muziek voortgebracht. Deze Sade, dat is precies waar ik een gruwelijke hekel aan had in de jaren 80. Net niet lekkere gitaren, teveel getoeter gesynth en gepercussie, net geen fijne zang, maar zo'n lichthese vrouwenstem die door merg en been gaat. Gelukkig gooit ze er niet teveel gekkigheden doorheen zoals Joni, maar het ellenlang vasthouden aan 1 toon is net zo ergerniswekkend. Vooruit, zo slecht als ik doe voorkomen, is het ook weer niet. Misschien omdat ik me had voorbereid op het ergste. Maar ik blijf niet zo'n fan van de iets te trage jazzy 80s soulpop. Quiet storm kom ik tegen als genre ook, als ik doorklik op de smooth soul. En dat deed een belletje ergens ver weg rinkelen, omdat ik dat ergens als stijl heb opgeschreven. Na gebruik van ctrl-f blijkt het bij Anita Bakker, die een vergeetbare 3 kreeg, uiteraard. Want ik was het alweer vergeten. De oorwurm(en) van Sade gaan we helaas niet vergeten. Dus kan ik geen vergeetbare 3 geven. Dan maar een 2.
nice sounding just not rly my vibe