Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Muy lindo muy adelantado y sobre todo divertido. Para reescuchar Nota: 4.0

mediocre even with tainted love

Man this is a high dose of 80’s, its ok but a chunk of tracks are pretty goofy. Might be 80’s to a fault, and i love the 80’s. Standouts are Tainted Love (obviously) and Seedy Films.

Tres estrellas

No. 425/1001 Frustration 3/5 Tainted Love 4/5 Seedy Films 3/5 Youth 3/5 Sex Dwarf 2/5 Entertain Me 3/5 Chips On My Shoulder 3/5 Bedsitter 3/5 Secret Life 2/5 Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 3/5 Average: 2,9 Just not my genre.

"Sex Dwarf (Original Version)" was a real treat

Not what I was expecting, and that's OK, the album was okay too. Fun, kinky, different.

synthtastic. I think about the quote from Q magazine circa 1998 about 'raping the original with a synthesiser' every time I hear Tainted Love. actually i think it was consensual, but kinky. awww, the little 'boop boop' at the end! Sex Dwarf 🤣🤣🤣 singing slightly flat in that way that's ok in the 80s. some bangers there actually

At least one star just for the amazing title. Definitely a big swing from some weirdos but fun. Probably won't come back but enjoyed the listen

Terrible

Never really got his / their shtick. Bit odd.

I did enjoy it, could have snuck a 4

Not bad, a little samesy but I quite liked it. Added Sex Dwarf to my playlist

This album is a hard one to review. I’m flip-flopping between 3 and 4 stars. On one hand, there’s a classic 80s anthem that carries the whole thing, plus a couple of other standout tracks. On the other, some songs feel mediocre, and a few themes or melodies are slightly grating, ⭐⭐⭐

Only knowing Soft Cell for "Tainted Love," I was thoroughly surprised to discover just how weird, risqué, and bonkers this album really is. Marc Almond really gets theatrical at times, transforming what would otherwise be forgettable synth-pop tracks into some weird little gems. It doesn't all pay off, though: songs like "Sex Dwarf" are a bridge too far. Altogether, a fairly messy, occasionally brilliant, experiment of an 80s-pop album. Fav Tracks: Tainted Love, Entertain Me, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye Least Fav: Secret Life Score: 6

They did tainted love and the rest of that album feels of that same time period.

Decent.

Listened packing

Malo y Fome pero pensando en los que les he dado una estrella no es taaaan malo

I ground my teeth through the whole thing but eventually it did grow on me a tiny bit

Much better than expected

meh

I really liked this one. The lyrics are ridiculously over the top. Some of the songs sound exactly like Flight of the Conchords. I don't think they'd have to change a note or word of "Sex Dwarf." I really liked "Chips on my Shoulder" and "Seedy Films" in addition to "Tainted Love."

Hopefully this is one of very few true DNFs on this list. I just can’t dude. I hate this sound so much. I hate the shitty synth/electric keyboard. I hate the vocals. I hate the drum track. I hate all of it. Truly, nails on a chalkboard for me. 0 stars

liked this more than I thought I would. with song titles like "Sex Dwarf" and the dramatic album cover, I was expecting to laugh off a lot of this, but there was enough commitment to the act and presence of hooks to reel me in.

“Tainted Love” is a banger. The rest was good; I liked the commitment to the bit. 3.5

3.70

Tainted Love really does not prepare you for the insanity

Would love to hear this album played at 80s nightclub. Love the eroticism of it! Ignoring the obvious hit on this record, I think my favorite song is “Sex Dwarf”. I’m not kidding. That song rules. Favorite track: Sex Dwarf 3.5/5

It's camp! The tragically ludicrous? The ludicrously tragic?

Generic 80's grossness with some extra flamboyance sprinkled on top.

There are some great tracks here. Tainted Love obviously but also What?, Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. All other tracks pretty non-descript. The quality of those four tracks raises this to a four for me, albeit by a whisker.

I’ve always seen Soft Cell as a one hit wonder and listening to this album in its entirety did nothing to dispel that notion. Other than their cover of Tainted Love, which is fantastic, everything else was pretty mediocre, and too often outright bad.

sex dwarf >>>>

Is this the worst album we’ve got that has a good song on it? Elephant in the room, Tainted Love is a classic that is very obviously the best thing about this album. Just an iconic synth part that you can’t help but tap your feet to. Other than that it’s pretty unique at least I was not impressed at all with the rest of the content; it really feels like they were just building around the one good thing they did and it feels like they’re spinning in circles. Memorabilia is an abhorrent song, easily one of the worst songs I’ve heard in the last month. Vocals, instrumentals, theming, and style are just not my thing for really anything on this one; it feels so shallow I can’t justify rating this one a 1 since it’s got Tainted Love, but this album’s a great study of “how much can an album be carried by one single good song”. Kinda getting sick of 80s music actually, 1001’s been throwing 80s albums left and right at us

i can't believe they made a sequel to tainted love

It's that one album with that one cover, everyone knows that one song, why don't we know the rest? Well, because it isn't very good that's why. I'm sure hearing this in a club in the early 80s must have been pretty cool, with it's fun synthpop sound, but I can't say I enjoy it much as a listening experience now. It's almost some kind of circus synthpop honestly. I can very much see the appeal because this is a very fun, upbeat album. I just don't think it's a good album. The vocals are quite irritating, the production sounds cheap and everything is surprisingly shallow. Yeah there's all sort of lyrical exploration into sex and the weirder side of sex (which Marc Almond was no stranger to) but they just don't come off as interesting. Maybe that has something to do with the acceptance of those topics in the present and to truly understand what he was doing you would have had to experience it in the early 80s, but unfortunately I do not have that liberty. Alas, it's a fun album and isn't difficult to listen to, it's just pretty boring and lifeless with irritating vocals.

UK pop music hit a purple patch at the beginning of the 80s, starting around Ashes to Ashes period Bowie, and ending with Frankie's Two Tribes. Tainted Love dropped about a year into this, became a massive club smash and was #1 for ages. The heart-wrenching Say Hello, Wave Goodbye was another popular song. The album is very much of it's time, painting pictures of seedier aspects of aspects of some peoples lives, with some of the songs being inspired by Soho in the late 70s and early 80s. The lo fi keyboard tracks seem to compliment Marc Almond's rich vocals well, and the singer does a sneery turn when songs like Sex Dwarf come around as well. It's OK, but I preferred the League and the Mode in my electronic pop, not the Bump and Grindr of Soft Cell. A low 3 stars from me.

I think there's 2 genuinely brilliant songs on here in Tainted Love and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, both of which I've known for a long time, but this is the first outing for the album. There's a lot to like here, the synth pop stylings are there but unlike a lot of that genre, there's a raw grittiness to the production that suits the subject matter very well. I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, it's probably a 3.5 for me, but I'll bump it up for the two aformentioned tracks.

Aside from "Tainted Love", a lot of this just wasn't for me really, and at times it made me feel genuinely uncomfortable with its lyricism and jarring instrumentation/singing. It's not one star levels of awful in my eyes as I can at least recognise how it was intentionally crafted that way in a clever manner, but I'd never willingly listen again.

Tainted love does not a good album make. Songs Searching for a melody.

Very strange album. I shouldn't be surprised that the lyrics are as sexual as they are based on the album title, but it still felt like a bit much. Coupled with melodic structure that is both familiar and bizarre makes for a unique listen. A lot doesn't land, but there are a few standout songs where everything comes together in a quality way. Top tracks: Tainted Love, Bedsitter

Tainted love. Don’t dig the rest of the album.

Carried by tainted love I fear

Soft Cell. Criminally underrated.

Tainted love is a 5 star hit. The rest, not so much.

I can't decide on Marc Almond's voice at all. Sometimes it feels like it's incredibly beautiful, others like nails on a blackboard. "Tainted Love" the track *everyone* knows of course, but I adore "Hello/Goodbye" more for some reason. I can only imagine how different this was in terms of vibe to life in the UK in 1981, it must have felt like something from another world.

Honestly, it's pretty not so good. It's odd too because there are parts of it that I should've really liked, but for some reason they made so many of these songs unbearable to listen to. It's like everything bad about the 80s put into one song on some of these.

#408 I only really knew Tainted Love so I came in with some expectations but an open mind. The album is very new wave, and sounds up my street but it took me a while to warm to the vocals which felt very raw, there was seemingly no attempt to polish them. But whether I warmed to them or not, I warmed to the album which I ended up enjoying very much. It’s as camp as I could have expected and felt like it was rather tongue in cheek at times, Sex Dwarf in particular delivered some level of humour. Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Tainted Love; Say Hello, Wave Goodbye Rating: 7/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As advertised.

interessting tracks, very experiemental but also some tracks are just shit

This is just too much 80s. Tainted Love is a classic, of course. But a lot of the other songs just sound too much like some dudes playing around with synthesizers in their bedrooms.

Solid

gayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

It’s fun but it starts to wear off after a while.

god those snares… a surprisingly back-loaded album, i enjoyed side 2 much more than side 1 for sure. sex dwarf was… definitely memorable

Some legendary songs on this album.

Tainted Love sandwiched between a bunch of songs I absolutely hated.

Me gusta el pop ochentero y cuando llegó el segundo track, la famosísima Tainted love, creí que iba a amar el álbum de Soft Cell. No. Increíblemente repetitivo, canciones que me parecieron muy de flojera y solo un par rescatables dentro de un disco que dura unos muy innecesarios 75 minutos. No me gustó.

Naur I don’t wannna bf said it was booty butt

Not doing a track by track because there are 18 of them. I didn't care for most. Tainted Love is by far the best song on the album and makes it easy to see why they were a one hit wonder. I can appreciate this album a "protect queer/obscene art" sort of way, but it just didn't do it for me at all. The sexual themes of the album didn't feel in any way interesting or thought out. Felt like someone made a list of fetish related terms and strung them together. Wouldn't revisit this one. Top tracks: Tainted Love, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, Where Did Our Love Go? Worst tracks: The rest of them

I only knew Tainted Love. It all sounds catchy but hardly any real instruments are used. It is recorded on a drum machine and one of the first digital synthesisers. The old fashion guy in me always said that music needs to be made by real instruments. Therefore it all sounds bit cold and distant. But I also like the early 80s sound and I acknowledge that making music with a synthesiser requires also a certain talent and creativity. And sure these guys have that. And aside from the drum computer and synclavier (which I am sure needed a lot of knowledge and craftsmanship to operate and create catchy music with) I am happy to hear an incidental saxophone. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The critics love hits and this had three of 'em. It's a very generic 80's synth-pop record but they do a good job on a cover of Gloria Jones' "Tainted Love" which hit #8 in the US and topped the UK chart. Many of the other songs are very same-y but it's not a bad record.

6/10 Of course the best song is a cover - but is it is 100% classic. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye is much better than the later cover by David Gray, which pretty much ruined it. The rest is a bit lame, a bit comical at times.

Middle of the road new wave. Two good songs and the best one is a cover… a good cover, but nonetheless… everyone reading this should listen to Gloria Jones’ original version of Tainted Love.

Meh. By no means bad. Just not really my thing.

- Ah, the "Tainted Love" group. From what I can tell, this is essentially their claim to fame. - Remarkably average for the most part, despite my interest in synth-pop. I can see why this would have been impactful for someone young and gay in 1981, though. - I believe "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" is the best track, largely due to Almond's vocals. - "Sex Dwarf" is bold. A bit weird, but bold.

New Wave/Synthpop bem legal! Não chega ao nível dos maiores nomes do gênero como Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, etc, mas entrega algo bem envolvente e animado. Tipo de música que aprendi a gostar bastante por algumas referencias do universo Cyberpunk e a vibe neon colorida dos anos 80/90.

There were some unexpected bangers on here. Could have done without “sex dwarf” though.

Marc Almond just has an amazing voice. Combine that with the synthwork, this is a pretty damn good album. Solid 4 Stars.

I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll barely bump up to a 4. This took a pretty long time to click for me; I thought the first track was fun in a chaotic way, & obviously, “Tainted Love” is one of the defining synthpop tracks of the decade. However, I just did not click at all with the stretch of “Seedy Films”, “Youth” & “Sex Dwarf” – obviously, from the title of the album I should’ve known this would get a bit horny, but that’s only part of why they didn’t quite work for me. I think “Seedy Films” just goes a bit too long in a way that drains any of the satisfaction from the track. “Youth” has solid lyricism, & the atmosphere from the instrumental seems to fit with it, but the vocal performance just feels so cheesy that it took me out of the track. “Sex Dwarf” is… I mean, look, if you like the kinkiness & the sound effects here, more power to you. It’s not a bad track if you can get into it, but it’s just entirely not my thing. With 3 of the first 5 tracks not being down my alley, I was a bit fearful this would be a one-hit wonder sort of album. Thankfully, everything from “Entertain Me” onward lifted this back up for me. The loose & unprepared vibe from the lyrics on that track worked in tandem with the unstructured vocals, and it felt like the first time in a while where both worked hand-in-hand in a compelling way. That harmony sticks together nicely the rest of the way, with “Chips on My Shoulder” being a good mockery of the high & mighty standing up against first world problems of the era, “Bedsitter” doing a good job of portraying a club-centric rut, “Secret Life” being a good bit of affair-based storytelling, & “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” being a somewhat sad track about a breakup with an elevated one night stand, albeit a little long. I’m being a little generous in bumping this up to a 4; I fully recognize that the tracks I didn’t vibe with could be better for other people (though the 2.86 on the site seems to suggest otherwise), and I didn’t think they were that bad. They just weren’t my thing. If I were being less generous, this would be a 3, but the quality of the 7 tracks I happened to like just feels a little above average for 1981 – not as good as say, “Dare!” by the Human League, but more engaging than “Penthouse & Pavement” by Heaven 17. It’s that level of engagement & enjoyment that has me going up to a 4, though it could go down over time. Regardless, I think it deserves to be on the list for “Tainted Love” alone. It’s a 3.5 that I’ll just barely bump up to a 4.

I was previously familiar with Tainted Love from this album. The whole album has a similar pop-oriented electronic feel. There are definitely some interesting parts here even beyond Tainted Love. It has a cohesive sound without being repetitive. While I would listen to this again, I am not really in any rush to do so.

I must be in a bad mood lately, because my ratings have been low, low, low

This was a fuck you and I love it. Soft cell have always been a singles band for me, but this album disproved that. Class.

Deliciously decadent. “Tainted Love” is essential, of course.

Tainted Love and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye are great. The rest? I dunno. I don't know if I hated Sex Dwarf or loved it.

Didn’t make it through the whole thing. Not for me.

I've heard the song Tainted Love many times in my life with no idea where it came from or who it was by. Now I now that it is on the same album as a song called Sex Dwarf where there are what I presume to be alien sex sounds. I'm so sick of this album, I just want it to be over. I don't want to listen to it anymore and not even Tainted Love can save it. At least Sex Dwarf was interesting but a lot of these songs are just bad. I'm sick of the same synth sounds and I'm not convinced this guy can sing.

Yeah Tainted Love was fun, but it's still a one hit wonder, and a cover. The rest of this album sounds like a high school student from drama club that found a Casio keyboard. Just woeful.

Avant garde,important

This is the record featuring the iconic song "Tainted Love." I believe it was played everywhere back in the 80s. The album is packed with synth-pop—quintessential dance music of that era. It’s amazing that, even 40 years later, these songs are still being sampled. I actually hadn't heard the album in its entirety before; today was the first time I listened to the whole thing. It really feels like a concept album. Much like in a traditional cabaret, they sing about the old social order, mainstream pop music, sexuality—and the extremes it reached—as well as human misery. I don't particularly enjoy the music itself, but I have to take my hat off to the achievement and the wild sounds—completely new for the time—that these young men created using a Synclavier and a drum machine. Still, listening to it once is enough; time for something else now. As I said, most 80s music wasn't for me back then, and that hasn't changed.

Milestone in electronic music.

This shit is so ass but in a way that one can’t help but appreciate. I do enjoy the way that the guys just seem to have some fun with it. Do I need to listen to the whole album again? Probably not, but I like the way that they commit to the bit.

Not my usual scene but this was decent fun.

I really did not like this one. It gets an extra star because it has Tainted Love on it, but I really only enjoy the chorus of that song.

5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background I was only familiar with the 'Tainted Love' cover before this and based on that was not expecting to enjoy this. To my surprise I enjoyed a fair bit of it.

this is just... fine. very much a product of the time and obviously they smashed it out the park with tainted love but that's about it

*1981. *So much synth and sleazy lyrics (ahem, sex dwarf...?). *There are some genuinely bad songs on here (the first track being among the worst), but there are also sporadic catchy bits. It's fun, but seems very much like a spoof album. *Tainted Love" and "Where Did Our Love Go?" are on here. RATING - 6/10

2.4 3x + videos. despite recognizing this is a solid album, it's not really my thing.

I enjoyed some of this and disliked a lot of it

Fun 80s synth.

Given how much I still enjoy listening to Tainted Love, I'm impressed at how mediocre the rest of this is. Compare it to its contemporaries (e.g. Sparks #1 Song in Heaven, Human League Dare) and you realize that these guys were simply not very talented. Both stars are for the hit.

First 2-3 songs are solid, followed by a bunch of middling songs and then ends with a halfway decent song. 2.5/5

It's alright. Some weird songs - Dwarf sex for one. Nothing really to return to. Guys voice would send you insane if you had to listen to longer than this album as well

Dragged on and on. Started kooky and fun, but got old quick. Definitely a one hit wonder if I ever saw one. Rating: 3/10 Favorite Song: Tainted Love

This was Similar to Japan in many ways; it was about the same genre and similarly too long. I appreciated this a bit more for its cynicism and entertaining lyrics. The song "Frustration" was a great musical representation of that emotion, and I thought its lyrics were cathartic and pretty hilarious. "Chips on my shoulder" also stood out to me. The instrumentation on this album is pretty sparse to make room for the lead vocals and at times a plethora of other voices and sounds that together create a somewhat unique feel. Those things make me confident to give it a strong 2, but I still don't think it's enough for a light 3. The majority of the appeal comes from the lead singer and whatever silliness he's talking about, but even that gets boring during an hour long album.

I remember hearing "Tainted Love" when I was in college, and thinking it was catchy and weird - but definitely catchy. It's a remake of a mid-60s Motown-ish song, but might be the rare remake that transcends the original. By the way, I just noticed that Soft Cell also did a remake of the remake: a dub version called, of course, "Tainted Dub" (clever title - and kind of fun). Anyway, a full album of Soft Cell is a bit much (and I feel like I need a shower after listening to it, to clean off the grime and smut, lol). Better off with just the 12" single (US version), which also contains "Tainted Dub," as well as the club version of "Tainted Love" that segues into a cover of the Supremes huge mid-60s Motown hit, "Where Did Our Love Go" (in this case, the original is better, but the cover does pair nicely with "Tainted Love"). I'd probably give that 12" 4 stars, but I think I have to give this album 2 stars, because, other than "Tainted Love," the rest of it is mostly pretty bad.

Some of the synth sounds really impressed me, but the arrangements less so. The reverb effects they use really heighten the sound, I think I appreciate the realness, the emotiveness in the singer's voice. Most of all, I appreciate its originality: certainly more interesting than hyper-processed mainstream pop, and also (I'm assuming) a pioneer of electronic dance music. That being said, I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed the listening. Musically, its not well-crafted, and lyrically it leans heavily on lust. I'm happy it was made; I think expanding the range of expression is always a good thing. But, I can't honestly say I love it or that I would choose to listen to it again

He has a strong voice, but i don't like the style or the lyrics.

not my typa thing

buenos ritmos

Another nostalgic one! I love the early 80s new wave synth vibe.

Sex dwarf

Hat mich voll auf dem richtigen Fuß erwischt.

Teilweise gut und witzig, teilweise *cringe*

Ritmos e sonoridades interessantes e dançantes mas totalmente e irreparavelmente arruinadas por vocais horríveis e letras péssimas. Uma pena. Algumas canções parecem paródias dos mais toscos Pops da década de 80. Disco descartável, no máximo, uma curiosidade do que já foi considerado aceitável em um tempo mais obscuro. Prefiro manter no passado mesmo. 1.5/5

I'm a big fan of new wave, so I was eager to listen to this one, having only heard "Tainted Love" from Soft Cell. The first two tracks on here were great - they came out of the gate running - but it was a little more hit or miss after that. I really liked the stuff that felt more like full songs with standard structure, but the ones that felt like they were just written to exist as extended beats for the clubs didn't do much for me. Lots of cool sounds coming out of their synths.

What a weird album! Only ever heard tainted love and my God this had some doozies lol

What a wild, sassy ride. Interesting variety of style on display; the juxtaposition of acoustic instruments and synths does a nice job of bridging popular music into the electronic age. This release illustrates the constructive interaction of two acoustic worlds, with unbounded creativity becoming evident through the result. The sky's the limit. Solid 3.

i can think of at least 4 things wrong with that title. not digging this. a song called sex dwarf shouldn't be this bad. or maybe it's appropriately named idk. dnf

Thoughts before listening: Oooh look, more 80s new wave one-hit wonders. What was their hit? "Blue Monday" maybe? Review: Oops....its "Tainted Love". Thats one of the better hits of that era, but I'm not sure about the rest of this album. I'm just not a fan of synth pop, and this album is very sleazy and sex obsessed. Its just hard for me to connect with this album. 2-stars

If it wasn’t for Tainted Love, this album would be a 1. Feels like a high school musical written and produced by a Sophomore who’s ideas outweigh their talent.

Tainted Love is an all time classic. The rest was non-stop erotic drivel. 4/10

Would have benefited from the other six sex dwarves showing up.

Going to go out on a limb and say this is a one-hit wonder that isn't going to make a future cut of the 1001 list.

A one hit wonder band whose lone hit was a cover. Not a top 1001 album.

Best Track - "Tainted Love"

Snl skit, synth pop Tainted love

2/5

was a 3 but lowk not that good

Heard some before; 2.5; Some words I would use to describe this: whack, corny, half-baked. It also sounds like the saxophone player from the Lonely Island song "Sax Man" is on some of these tracks. While not the worst thing I've ever heard, and there are some good tracks, most of the album sounds lifeless and rudimentary. I also appreciated the eerie mood on some of the tracks. Favorite Track: Tainted Love

This album turned up on the right day! Chipping away to some 80s synth pop = awesome

I think I must have a Soft {Cell} spot for pervy synths! Marc Almond has an incredible voice. Usually I shy away from most of the 80s synths and drum machines etc - but this was so much less polished and it was full of good energy. Loved it. The original of Say Hello, Wave Goodbye is wildly different from the David Gray cover (I didn't know it was a cover). What a shock! Don't touch me please I cannot stand the way you tease I love you, though you hurt me so Now, I'm gonna pack my things and go

One hit wonder album

Decent album - a fairly cool 80s sound - felt like it could be a prelude to pulp

Too long and not that great

If my kids ask me what synth pop is, I refer them to this and tell them also that parts of the 80s might have sounded like this.

You know the meme that says "kids these days will never understand the disappointment of paying $15 for an album only for one or two songs to be good and the rest to be ass?" This is that album. I don't think I've encountered a song doing as much of heavy lifting as "Tainted Love" is doing on this album (and its a cover! Which I think highlights just how poor the rest of the album is that the best song is one they didn't even write!). They're lucky that song is such a bop otherwise this would be a 1. 2/5

Actually quite fun

Very hit and miss with this album

The one star is for Tainted Love, the rest is unbearable garbage.

a new how this was going to sound when I saw 80s British synth pop and I wasn't wrong. increasingly not for me. Tainted love is a banger though

Je m'attendais à détester mais c'est pas mal du tout. J'aime pas trop le début de l'album hors Tainted Love, mais l'album est de mieux en mieux et le morceaux Say Hello Wave Goodbye m'a vraiment plu. Dans l'ensemble album moyen mais bonne surprise.

Pas si horrible on sent que c'est vieux mais en vrai ça tient la route

Okayy, one good song

Nah

I am thinking that I am kinda their target audience, love electronic pop and his voice is incredible. Was hoping for a lot more from this album from the Leeds duo. I have heard many of their hits already, Tainted Love, though a cover is wonderful, Bedsitter is evocative and has as great beat, while Say Hello Wave Goodbye is such a beautiful song (though I prefer the cover by David Gray), but it is the non-hits that not even I can rate highly.

What the heck I wasnt in the mood for this today

Really good upbeat and fun

This is soo odd. I don't think I've ever heard anything quite like it

i wasn't very on board until some of the NSED versions of the songs which are more of a vibe.

Great synthpop with a lot of rough edges, in the best way. Very fun Fav tracks: Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, Frustration, Youth, Sex Dwarf, Bedsitter

Perv rock…Los hermanos sinceros de depeche mode …honesto como Juanga

Soft Cell’s cover of “Tainted Love” is one of the best singles of the 80s, a song that helped shape the epoch as much as it was part of it. The rest of the record is janky, cocky fun, packed with tasty synth choices and Almond’s distinctive balladeering, but it suffers from having no songs close to that immortal cover. The choruses aren’t strong enough, the synth jabs aren’t as ferocious.

Three of the best synth tunes of the '80s on this, add "Torch" and you've got a best of. Would happily never hear "Tainted Love" again if offered, but hey... Rest is fun if a bit simple, enjoyably sleazy throughout. Very much Kraftwerk meets Suicide (thanks, Pitchfork!) Why does Marc Almond look like a junior Phil Spector impersonator on the cover?

tainted love! didn't know that was a cover, makes sense when you think of the rest of the music... classic 80's ugh. 2.5

Made me feel like a naughty 16 year old

I think this album was actually quite a fun listen. There were some standout tracks for me, but most of them were quite good. I think that this style of music really worked for all of their tracks, and surprisingly enough to me, I really enjoyed the electronic sound of the instruments in the slower track, 'Say Hello, Wave Goodbye'. I never thought this type of music would work with a less prominent beat or more emotionally sounding song... but it really did. The vocals are quite good throughout, giving a very unique sound to a lot of the songs. The album was on the slightly longer side, but not awfully too long, so I was able to keep some level of interest throughout. I didn't know that I had heard Soft Cell before, until 'Tainted Love' played. To the best of my knowledge, that is the only song I had heard from them until today, and it actually surprised me that one or two of these tracks weren't to a similar popularity. Favourites: Tainted Love Secret Life Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

Tainted Love was a SMASH hit. The rest of the album is decent early 80’s newish wave.

meh.

Good pop music. Some I knew and many I didn’t.

Singing well is so overrated actually.

Never heard the rest of this album besides Tainted Love and… well now I know why. Not even tainted love can redeem this slop.

Other than Tainted Love, this album is forgettable.

T'was alright, held up by 1 banger.

Interesting stuff. Pretty good but not my favorite.

The hits are great, the fillers too weird at times.

this is the musical version of bringing an ugly man home from the bar and letting him hit it from behind so you can pretend he's hotter than he is

Where did our love go has always done something to my brain

Snilldar sound. Tainted Love er meistaraverk. Annars margt fínt þarna en nær ekki sömu hæðum því miður. 3,5

Tainted love og Say hello wave goodbye er stórkostleg lög. Nokkur þokkaleg lög líka, en soldið af fillerum þó upphaflega platan sé bara 10 lög.

3.5

80 Elektro-Synthie Pop. Musik aus meiner Jugend. Mit dem Hit "Tainted Love" 4/5

Oh hey, this is where Tainted Love comes from. Other than that, it's fine, but not amazing.

This was new to me. Some great songs (Seedy Films, Sex Dwarf) and maybe the best cover of all time? Would listen again

I just don’t get this at all. Not for me

Hadn't previously listened to anything of Soft Cell's other than the hits. Enjoyed this a lot - worked really well as a whole album. Probably a 3.5 but I'm feeling generous

A synth pop masterpiece ❤️❤️❤️❤️ - Thank you RGP. 4 lovely stars. Tom.

This is at its best when it’s being quirky and weird. And it is weird! But in quite a fun and not annoying way. It has personality and owns it, and I kind of dig that. There’s a few meandering tracks, but it’s also really upbeat and funky on others. Sex Dwarf is a legit great track, while also being bizarre and kind of hilarious. I also want to give a shout out to the mad, mad synths! They’re rad.

This was fun.

I don’t care what Michael says; I love it

Awesome intro song into a mega-hit, two bad songs and then the rest is like some Waits-ian cabaret. Didn't know what to expect coming in and left happy.

I was in the mood for some old-school synth sound and this one delivered perfectly. It features some solid production and the songs are danceable. The themes of urban decay and sexual liberation persist throughout. The cover of "Tainted Love" has become the definitive version of the song for some people. As a whole I think that it's a solid debut album even though the sound becomes a bit stale toward the middle. My favorite songs were "Frustration" and "Tainted Love".

Everything I hate about my generation’s music can pretty much be summed up with this album. Pop/Disco revamp, the coming out party for simplistic gay nightclub crap. The cocaine 80’s were no joke, and this type of shite could not be avoided. Not easy as a hard rock and punk fan around Denver in the 80’s. Wading thru clubs with new wave twinks high as fuck, swaying to this ear-splitting drivel, spoils my good memories of the age. Just to be clear: Fuck no, not for me.

This is truly awful. Cocaine is a helluva drug.

Wild stuff

3.5 - Good

All synths and drum machines with no actual musical ability present. Cringe-inducing lyrics that rely on the type of rhymes you’d see in a 3rd grader’s poetry.

55

Tainted Love best song. Feel like 3 is too high but 2 is too low.

Very good but the instrumentation is a little too all over the place for the coveted 5 star banger

Grimy and gay and moody minimalist synth, very much an album of its moment but it’s got its own cool spot there between Depeche Mode and Frankie Goes To Hollywood and all that. I don’t think it fully works for me in how stripped back the sound is a lot of the time or in how shocky and shlocky it can get, but it’s nice to have something prompt me to go listen to the Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go single again.

i own this one. it's an OK album, but i never would have thought it would be on 1001 list.

This was a very eerie album. Very impressive that they could keep that vibe throughout the whole album. I really liked his voice, despite it being that usually annoying British pop-punk voice, but his actually sounded like it had conviction in it. There was barely any guitar yet it kept my attention. Tainted Love might be one of the greatest covers of all time. Truly truly made it their own and made it sound so good.

Sort of a B-52’s/Talking Heads vibe. Not bad but too many songs similar

Ok

A lot of hit and miss. More misses

Did not think I would like this, was wrong.

It’s a wonder why “Sex Dwarf” never took off on radio.

It is hard to judge these albums that feature huge singles from my childhood but this has other pretty decent songs on it as well. “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye”, “Bedsitter” and “Chips on my Shoulder” are no “Tainted love” but few songs are and they are totally decent. This is not a bad album.

I like Tainted Love, but nothing else on the album stood out to me. I like the beats and the voice but it does feel a bit repetitive and a bit too long of an album. I don't even feel like making it to the end of it.

American magazine Out placed the album at number 66 on their list of The 100 Greatest, Gayest Albums (of All Time) -Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret Wikipedia Weird accolade, but an accolade nontheless

I wanted to like this more than I did, shame

01) Frustration - 7,0 02) Tainted Love - 10,0 03) Seedy Films -7,5 04) Youth - 7,0 05) Sex Dwarf - 7,5 06) Entertain Me - 7,0 07) Chips on My Shoulder - 7,5 08) Bedsitter - 9,0 09) Secret Life - 7,5 10) Say Hello, Wave Goodbye - 9,0 TOTAL: 7,90 (79/100) Current ranking: 286/929

How obnoxious. If it weren't for the strength of "Tainted Love" (a cover, I might add) this would have been a '1' from me. Even the unintentional (??) hilarity of "Sex Dwarf" couldn't pull the rest of this album out of the *RUBBISH BIN*. Another fine example of this list's strong prediliction to British music AND a one-hit wonder from the peak of the 80s New Wave. It was cheap synth pop with a really, really weak singer. It seems he was afraid to a) rhyme unless absolutely necessary b) use full(-er) sentences in some cases -- indefinite articles, look em' up -- and c) sing-talk in places he seemed anxious to actually sing on. Overall, an unpleasant experience that begrudgingly gets a (2/5) for "Tainted Love". That's it.

Sure, it's good for a tongue-in-cheek laugh or three, and a few of the beats and melodies are definitely a style of 80s music that I appreciate and enjoy, but aside from sheer parody value so much of this album is just so aggressively BAD that I can't get on board. Sure, Tainted Love (perpetually overrrated, imo) earned them the moniker of a one hit wonder, but the rest of did nothing but showcase WHY that was the case, and it certainly wasn't something that I needed to hear before I died. I'll give it a 2/5 because at least it created an itch to listen to some more palatable 80s jams, but it was hard to find that many tracks that I liked.

Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 1 = 3.4 rounded down to a 3 "We can make a scene we'll be a team/ Making the headlines sounds like a dream" THE TRACKS Side one "Frustration" - Not sure there could have been a better title for this one. Almond was quite effective at smoothing the edges for something like the big hit ( coming up next) but in my experience, this is much closer to what you should expect. These guys were much more avante garde than I think people realize given that monster hit, and when you jump in with this first track it can be... overwhelming. We get some familiar instrumentation here, and this is identifiably the same band, but much more nervy and with an almost jaunty dark carnival sound. The "Cabaret" part of the album title is in full effect here, with Almond acting as possibly even darker Emcee than the one in the famous film on our tour through some various hells. But I think it's made clear that there are going to be several layers of curtains in between Almond, his stage persona, and whatever "truth" one might expect to. More so than a lot of other artists. Even Bowie, with all his literal stage personas feels ( or does an amazing job) of feeling like he's singing from the heart. even if he's telling a story. Almond's persona is part of the effect. "Tainted Love" - A perennial radio hit cover of the amazing original by Gloria Jones. Over the years I've grow to love the Jones original, maybe more so than this, but I remember the sense of discovery and amazement when I first found out this even WAS a cover. It just seems to be one of the most 80s things I'd ever heard, and I most definitely associated it with the period. Almond and David Ball do such a great job with this that they do make it their own. There's a radio mix of this that dips into "Where Did Our Love Go" which is fine, but I like the album cut which is just the one song. It's dripping with cold, seething anger where the original is more straightforwardly a song about.. well frustration. I can't help think Almond is singing this from the perspective of someone who is much more desperate, but might also be the equally responsible partner in a much more toxic relationship. Almond is a dude who can get innuendo across in his inflection, and those last lines seem like anything but a rebuke. "Seedy Films" - I find it hilarious to think of any parents who might have bought this album for their kids based on the hit cluelessly going about their business while their teenagers minds are fucking blown by the actual content content. This feels like slow motion disco to me. A literal guided tour through the backalleys and dark places that exist around the fringes, this one serves as a short form version of the album in it's entirety. Musically, this one doesn't work as well for me. The playful clarinet is funny, and enhances the punchline ending - "Hey, isn't that you on the screen?" - but ultimately just not very interesting beyond the idea. "Youth" - The brooding atmosphere on this one works a lot better for me. The influence of a band like Suicide can really be felt here with the dark electronic minimalism. Almond's voice is maybe an acquired taste, especially when he extends his range like on this one, but I dig it. In this one he tales on the role ( I think) of a person watching their lover sleep, and it's not altogether uncreepy. The band realizes this, but maybe the narrator doesn't. "Sex Dwarf" - The center of the controversy for this album, the track plays as an extended tongue in cheek look at submissive kink culture to me. I can't see how anyone could have taken this at face value without playing the role themselves of the cliche moral majority soldier. Sure, the language and imagery is rough and would not fly today, and "it was of it's time" is not an excuse for that either, but the entire goal here was to inflame and be provocative. The ludicrousness of the narrative is something beyond even the wildest deranged rock star behavior stories you might here, and I think that's the point. This is satire. Lyrically, I can take it or leave it ( while I still find it kind of funny), but instrumentally this is kind of a banger. Those driving synths and the whistly melody that comes in is some next level shit. Worth noting that Almond himself has said he will never peform the track again (2002) being the last one on record. Side two "Entertain Me" - The Emcee gets a song himself it seems on this one. To get the full effect, which is a bit unfortunate, it's worth looking up the music video for this one which feels like a sort of B-52s meets Pee Wee Herman sort of variety show performance for some unseen Purgatorial audience. "Chips on My Shoulder" - This one sounds like a darker version of what Sparks were doing on No.1 in Heaven ( sadly not on the list), with the repeating synth loop that bops along, all bouncy and brightly while Almond sings from teh point of view of the ultimate complacent. "Bedsitter" - An ode to depression and self deception. This is up there musically with some of the best early Vince Clarke penned Depeche Mode songs, but with a sense of anti-fun that that other band would not be able to pull off til later albums. The contrast between the dour lyrics and the music is not complete though, and we end up with more gray tones here as the sounds vaccliate almst constantly between bouncy and doomy. "Secret Life" - That familiar organ sound makes this sound like some alternate bizarro universe version of "Where Did Our Love Go". Blackmail, shame, secret lives and a dirty, grimy world of vindictiveness. Maybe the saddest song on here, and one where the narrator's desperation is only tempered by Almond's detached vocals, almost like he's reading from someone else's diary. Instrumentally though this feels like when someone makes a soundalike song by taking some hit and playing the notes just one off from where they should be. "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" - A pretty little ender to the show, as we get a the sole song on the album where it feels like Almond puts some genuine emotion into the vocals, for what is a much more traditional story of lost ( in the process of losing?) love. My favorite chorus on the album, and proof these guys could infuse some real feeling into things when they wanted to. HIGHLIGHTS - "Tainted Love" - "Youth" - "Sex Dwarf" - "Chips on My Shoulder" - "Bedsitter" - "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" MIDLIGHTS - "Frustration" - "Entertain Me" - "Secret Life" LOWLIGHTS - "Seedy Films" FINAL THOUGHTS I grew to appreciate Soft Cell, and Almond's solo stuff, way late in the game. Some 30 years or more after any controversy with this album had been smoothed over by time and forgetfulness. Your mileage may vary greatly when it comes to the musicality of this album, and I completely understand how it could not be a lot of peoples' cup of tea. Lyrically though, I see some people still writing it off in a huff of disgust or shock, and that's what I don't get. Sure there are still plenty of "squares" or prejudiced people out there who would balk at even the concept of some of these pieces without every bothering to listen, but I think where we are at historically, with as much media consumption and literacy as even the most unengaged person has - how can you see most of this as anything but performance? I compared Almond to the Emcee in Cabaret earlier, but maybe The Cryptkeeper is a much more apt comparison. He's playing the role of our guide as we wander through some often horrific, darkly humorous vignettes, that often end in a punchline gag or leave you feeling a bit disturbed or even frustrated ( there's that word again). What it never is though, is boring or without purpose. This is a meticulously crafted piece of dark theatre, where we the audience get to sit safely at our table and get the vicarious thrill of seeing a "basket of deplorables" stumble through the maze that's been setup for them. The fix in in though, and none of these mazes have exits. If I truly wanted to get pretentious here I'd say this is Almond's 80s dark pop synth take on Dante's Inferno, full of ironic punishments and clearly meant to get a rise out of the listener. Watch any of their music videos and this becomes immediately clear. Even the one for "Tainted Love" is high camp. All admirable artistic intent aside, this is still not one I would ever throw on for a casual listen, and I could not give it a higher rating than what the dictum of my criteria allow. Just think it deserves a closer read than what most are willing to give it. And musically, while there's a lot to enjoy here, it's spread a bit thin for me. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - "Tainted Love" and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" are definite keepers, and maybe the other highlights I could see myself revisiting maybe, especially in a best of playlist. Not one I'd be playing at any parties though. FURTHER LISTENING - Suicide by Suicide - Etiquette of Violence by David J - Journeys to Glory by Spandau Ballet - The Crackdown by Cabaret Voltaire - Welcome to the Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

One-hit wonder album straight from the early ‘80s. “Tainted Love” doesn’t do enough for me to carry this over the 2star line. What this list is showing me is that I can only enjoy synth heavy music in small doses or in certain arrangements. I actually found the campy cabaret theme kinda fun. It’s seedy and funny in equal parts. The music though is something I’m glad I left in that decade for the most part. Guess I’m a self-hating ‘80s baby.

Depeche Mode всё равно лучше, хотя и их я не слушаю

album raro

Man this gets old fast…talk about variations on a single theme, feels very programmed

Tainted Love is a Billion Play song, but other than that there isn't much to the album

Not too bad! 3/5

Oof. Really terrible. Only a bit less awful than the Pet Shop Boys. Tainted Love isn't really that good, is it.

Nice 90s electronica , only one single worth it though

It’s a bit silly overall. But this captures a specific moment in time pretty accurately. Marc Almond sounds almost like he’s making up the lyrics as he’s singing. This record feels low budget and advanced at the same time.

Conocía Tainted Love. Interesante

Apart from Tainted Love, there is very little melodic coherency or semblance of pulse within the vocals. It’s a grating contrast, where the instrumentals are classic 80s synth-pop, but the vocals are more like meandering spoken word passages superimposed on top. There’s a lot to enjoy within the music itself, but there’s not much to sing along to, unlike what the beats would suggest. It’s like the promise of a pop song, with none of the deliverance.

I get why Tainted Love was a big hit. And that’s all I have to say about this album.

The 80’s were weird in the UK. We had a deeply conservative government that melded capitalism and traditional views and figures of authority were almost Victorian throwbacks. But….. on the other hand mainstream pop music was like this. Subversive, slightly grubby and erotic. Not sexy, because this was more clandestine, more hidden. Even now this album, feels forbidden. Synths burble darkly and Marc Almonds theatrical reading takes us happily into a Demi-monde that feels real and drawn-out.

A little too intentionally absurd for me to fully lock in to, but the highlights (Tainted Love, Sex Dwarf (of course)) do indeed continue to rock.

I love this album and always have, silly + fun hehe

I don't think I'm feeling a record that's this sexy right now. Favourite Track(s): Tainted Love Least Favourite Track(s): Sex Dwarf

A product of its time I would say. Trying to push being edgy and angsty. Feels pretty British punk. Ok there's Tainted Love! What banger song.

Most of it is really bad, but Tainted Love and a couple of other songs take it to a 3.

Muy largo no me dio tiempo, pero gabinetes love temazo. Darle otra escuchada

this like the most unappetizing album title of all time freaky as hell. sometimes a little too much but i still really like it. exactly what i want out of 80s disco pop

I had to turn it off. DNF. Why do I have to listen to this before I die again

Tainted Love is an overplayed turd and still somehow the high point of this album

pretty chill , good vibes

low 4.0. Produção bem diversa e consistente, indo para vertentes como darkwave e new romantic de forma coesa.

I’ve only given it as many stars as I did because I’ve always loved Tainted Love. But clearly that song was an anomaly for them because the rest of the album is pretty bad.

The biggest issue this album has is that the run time is an hour and 14 damn minutes. Other than that I really enjoyed it considering I expected it to be mediocre outside of the smash hit “Tainted Love”. I really enjoyed the album though, and I think if it didn’t have the stupid album length, I’d be more inclined to give this more than a 3.5. Since this site doesn't allow half stars, it will be rounded up to a 4

Très peu objective pour celui-là parce que je l'écoute avec mon père depuis des années J'aurais peut-être détesté si ç'avait été ma première écoute, mais étrangement j'adore le côté chaotique et un peu BO de cauchemar ou de trip sous acide Fun fact : ma dernière séquence de LLCE s'appelle Say Hello Wave Goodbye

It’s alright, the couple of hits on here really carry it

should learn how to sing

An excellent version of British '80s funky pop.

Soft Cell will forever be the band that gave us Tainted Love — a song so overplayed and perfect it basically is the 80s. But once you wander past that one flawless synth-pop miracle, this album turns into a chaotic carnival of camp, zesty, fruity melodrama, emotional over-sharing, and synths that sound like they’re trying to escape the studio. I'm a child of the 80s and I will always defend 80s music but it would be irresponsible to support this record. Especially when 1981 gave us New Order Movement and The Cure Faith. This is not a good record.

enjoyable

Dudando entre 3 y 4. Tainted Love me subió mucho

Tainted Love is an auto 1 star bump. But other than that song, this album is okay. Comfortable 3 stars

Two good songs, with hints of creativity. But dude can’t hit the notes. I’m sure it was influential on a lot of gay, sex positive music that came later - for that, it rates an extra point. But it’s not great as an album on its own. A 2.

This is not a must-hear album. I've tried in the past because it was recommended but tune for tune it's not worthy. This gets here on "Tainted Love" alone (plus the "Where Did Our Love Go" mix) The opening track, "Frustration", is hard to listen to or enjoy, wow. "Youth" is a drag and pulls you down. "Sex Dwarf" is just weird. It's like a circus madhouse on "Chips On My Shoulder". "Fun City" is anything but. This gets on the list based on the merits of the one hit song which has an impressive 1.2B listens. Nothing more. It's really weak from top to bottom.

I think this is one of those albums best enjoyed in the 80s

Bons souvenirs 😉

I like Tainted Love but there is also a song on this album called Sex Dwarf and it’s bad

오글거리고 짜증난다

Expectations: Some fun but not really exceptional synth-pop, that’s on here because they had a massive and iconic hit. Results: What the Velvet Underground would probably make, had they stuck around to see the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the rise of neo-conservatism, and Roland drum machines.

I didn't like the album (whiny electro pop with juvenile percussion and unremarkable elsewhere) but I do have a story about it. When I was a kid I would go to music camp at this old CCC camp. When we weren't practicing or memorizing music, there was old school, wifi-free entertainment. There was one night where we would play a game called Word Bag of Death. The goal of the game was for each team to think of and sing as many songs with a particular word in it as possible, to avoid elimination. Sometimes the words were easy, like "love." Think of lots of songs that use the word love, and there was a good chance you could avoid elimination. But there were challenging words too, words so weird they didn't have a big pool of options. And every year, there was one word that could be counted on as guaranteed death. "Tainted." That's the extent of my interest in this album. Tainted Love, the eliminator song, the first and only highlight of Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. I won't be adding any other Soft Cell tunes to my collection any time soon, but I do appreciate the songs that incorporate words like tainted, mausoleum, transcendental, and Prometheus in their lyrics. They all exist! Isn't that fun?

One hit wonders som kun har suksess med en cover er gjerne et eget nivå av dritmusikk.

This album was released right around when I was getting into music, but I was into ska like the rest of my mates, so it passed it me by. Tainted Love is a classic, an absolute banger, but I couldn't have named another single track on the album. It was ok to listen to, a bit like a nostalgia trip looking at pictures but you don't really remember the pictures or the people in them.

Captures the mood incredibly well.

Yeah this sucks. Couldn’t finish. RYM: N Saved a song: N

8/10 Tainted Love obviously banger, surprisingly short track, took me by surprise. Overall really good 80s party music

This was a good album.

I didn’t enjoy this very much. Besides “Tainted Love” which is obviously a great song, these songs range from silly(“bedsitter”) to creepy (“sex dwarf”, “seedy films”) to annoying (“chips on my shoulder”).

Sex Dwarf????

Went into this album thinking 2.87 is way too low. That opinion was based on just knowing the hits, there are some stinkers as well 3/5

Great record from my teen days.

Okay. Not as good as other 80s bands.

I didn't listen too hard to the lyrics of Sex Dwarf, but I'm not completely sure about it. Sounds quite like a parody album (Memorabilia particularly fun), so up a star for that

This gets 2 stars purely on the basis that their cover of Tainted Love is the de facto version of the song now. I’ve never seen an album so heavily propped up by one song before. What’s being sold here as early synth-pop with minimalistic tracks and discordant vocals has been done a million times better by others in the years that followed. Maybe you just had to be there. Very little here that was redeeming for me.

high highs (tainted love) and loooow lows (sex dwarf)

80s synth pop- tainted love.

Nah, never was a soft cell fan - it does absolutely nothing for me. Almost non-music to me

Interesting

(38/100)

The sleazy synth does have it's moments and there is a time for it, but it got boring around half way through, especially with that album length

The Tainted Love cover is an all timer and justifies the inclusion on its own. Which is lucky for this album because by and large the rest of this is rubbish.

This kind of sucks. I'm surprised I'm writing it. The cover of Tainted Love is all I knew and is good. It's what stops this being a 1. I feel like these guys would be sassy and doing coke in a club and would get wedgied after giving the bouncer attitude.

It's almost amazing how bad every other song is compared to Tainted Love. I don't have any creative takes, this is bad. No one needs to subject themselves to this before they die.

Good group from the 80’s. Good songs, and 80’s sound.

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 😎🤵💈 Production (2008 Remaster): 😐👍🆗 Music: 💔🪈🙄 Rating: 🍆(🍆)/5

What in the sex dwarf is this piece of crap!!?

Un album un peu long avec quelques morceaux planants et agréables.

Nul Le côté "ahahahaa on est provocateur on parle de sex avec des nain ahahaah comment on est originaux ahaha" m'énerve Les sonorités de l'album me gonflent, j'étais pas fan de tainted love mais c'est la seul chanson qui tient la route, le reste est fade et sans intérêt avec des paroles pénibles. Il y a peut être qq chose que je n'ai pas compris dans l'album mais en tout cas à la première écoute j'ai passé un très mauvais moment Je le met honnêtement au même niveau de sonorités que les shaggs qui elles au moins on essayer de faire qq chose Un album que je ne considère pas comme un must listen dans votre vie

Déjà fan de Tainted Love, mais Sex Dwarf est une révélation ! Assez répétitif, mais la TR 808 offre quand même des supers rythmes - un solide 3 au final

Non-stop synthpop slappers. Banger after banger.

Despite its flaws — occasionally pitchy vocals, rudimentary arrangements, first-draftish writing — I found this album to be irrepressibly charming. Must-listen #334.

“Oh yeah, Soft Cell! I wonder why I never heard more from them after that one hit?” * 11 minutes later * “No further questions!”

Took me back

Aside from 'Tainted Love' which is a certified banger I was mostly just flipping between uninterested and slightly interested for most of the rest. Standouts Tainted Love Sex Dwarf 3/5

funky, groovy, head nodding

3.25. new record for me, I liked it.

Man those early synth-pop albums with a giant hit single really could do whatever they wanted sonically. WTF is even "Sex Dwarf"??? And why is it actually not too bad. The best albums seem to have an air around them, a place you can see in your mind clearly. This album certainly has it for me, which is incredible for an album allegedly recorded on the super cheap. I'm a sucker for these 80s synth sounds and these guys do it pretty well, and the singer has a nice charisma.

Never has a song spoken to me as much as opening track ‘Frustration’ does. “I have life I have cage I’m going bald I want to tell the world I’ve done nothing I’ve achieved nothing I work for a firm But I want to burn it down, down” As for the rest of the album, I wasn’t expecting much, but ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ is a seedy, sleazy and surprisingly good time.

Ok, let’s be honest - this is pretty bad. Tainted Love is now the standard, and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye is a good tune, but the rest of it is pretty much uniform shit. I’m almost tempted to add a star for the total insanity that is Sex Dwarf, but I don’t think it warrants it.

So difficult to listen to. I cant. One-hit wonder band, where the hit song is a cover.

Fun, although it gets pretty repetitive sonically.

Tainted love is a great song …

I love their version of Tainted Love, but that was pretty much the extent of it. I kind of liked the last song on the album - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. The rest of the songs were kind of odd. One song was called Sex Dwarf.

I did not realize how bad this disco band who tried to sound like the cure was. Sexy Dwarf and similar songs were poorly written and offensive.

It's a good synth pop album, nothing mindblowing outside the obvious hit which is probably the definitive version of the song. It's not an experience that will stay with me forever, but it wasn't unpleasant and the time spent with it was fun. 3.5/5

This was rough. “Sex Dwarf” was bizarre in a way that mostly just made me wonder what the hell I was listening to, and the album as a whole really hammered home my general feeling that 80s pop is usually the worst. Too much of it has that cheap, plastic, overstyled sound that gets on my nerves fast, and this album had plenty of that. “Tainted Love” probably saved it from a 1 star, because that song is still great no matter how many times I’ve heard it.

Tainted Love is the only thing saving this from being a 1.

I always wanted to listen to this album as a whole but unfortunately It’s repetitive, it’s long, it’s super dated and sounds like a product of the time. It has one good song on it which is a cover. Not one I’ll be revisiting as a whole will only come back for tainted love

Another Dimery special. A one hit wonder in the US that for some reason had more impact in the UK. It gets two stars solely because of Tainted Love. Then another star because Say Hello Wave Goodbye allowed David Gray to make a gorgeous cover many years later.

I enjoyed this one. It's classic new wave. Doesn't hurt that I have this on record and that I saw them live last year, which meant I knew quite a few of the songs. Probably not everyones cup of tea, but it's better than Human League and some of the other older new wave bands.

Ooohhh how rude!!!!!

Generic 80's with some misguided horniness

3/5

So many have already said it, but I'll say it again. "Tainted Love" is a great track, sadly the only good one here. 1, 2 miss a few then moved on. Hoped for better.

holy hell tainted love carries this…..

I never knew I needed a song called Sex Dwarves in my life

Cheap synthesizers, tacky vibes, cherries in a glass, pink plastic jacket, and a bad vocal to ruin everything.

I wish i had listened to this before and will listen to their other albums. I only knew this band from the single and didn't expect "Sex Dwarf."

I wanted a comedy album with some okay tunes. This wasnt that. It tried to be funny so bad but it hit me with so mutch nothing. The popular songs hit hit everything else just doesnt. I have had sutch a non reaction from any album. Wow.

This is so amusingly bad. Tainted love is kinda a banger, but even on there the singing is just straight up atrocious and it does not get any better. The synths are also badly mixed. It sounds like music made comically bad for a sketch. I'd like to give it a 1, but it has entertained me more than any country record before so I'll settle for a 2/5

A strange album, kinda weird disco, does live up to the name of erotic cabaret. It was a fun album but not very good, I struggle to see why this is included, but even stranger that is not a criticism. Normally each album in here is either, highly influential, very good, or has a special story. This particular album feels like it had none of these things. The most special part is tainted love which has a better cover.

Tainted Love Bedsitter Say Hello, Wave Goodbye