Dare!

One of the original, ultimate 80s electronic albums, sparse enough not to be mainstream pop, but clever and catchy enough to get attention, Dare! hit the shops in 1981. It's a grittier and darker album, more Northern, than Depeche Mode's Speak and Spell that came around the same time, it's one of the album's that I've played to death since the mid 80s and i absolutely love it. Don't You Want Me, probably overplayed on the radio, is still a fantastic example of early 80s electronic pop - a stand out song in a decade - and Sound of the Crowd and Love Action are also great songs. Of the unreleased songs, the ethereal pipes on the the chorus of The Things That Dreams Are Made Of send shivers down my spine even now, and the gunshot percussion in Seconds drives the song telling the story of the JFK shooting. A classic album from the beginning of an era of brilliant electronic music. 5 stars.

It was… fine? That’s the thing with 80’s synth pop. I could tell you exactly how this album sounded before I even started playing it. Full of all the staples you’d expect, loads of synths, electronic drums with an incredible amount of gated reverb added, speak singing in a lower than expected register and a handful of beeps and boops to fill out the rhythm section. I don’t doubt that in the early 80’s when this came out, that it was groundbreaking and no one could imagine this futuristic sound ever sounding dated. But as with the majority of 80’s synth pop, it sounds incredibly dated today. Probably the worst decade for music aging terribly. That being said, I didn’t hate this album, but I didn’t love it either. I found it just a bit middling for the most part, hard to tell some tracks from another as it seems they found a handful of presets they liked and then made an entire album out of them. The last two tracks, which happen to be the best known singles from the band, really are the best on here. Bit of a double edged sword, though, as on one hand it left me on a high to finish, but also highlighted how much the preceding tracks were lacking. In between a 2 and a 3 out of 5. I’m going to give another listen later today before deciding where to rate tomorrow morning.

The epitome of '80s synth pop. Not my favorite genre, but this is best of breed.

Out of a group split that produced the (more fancied) Heaven 17 Phil Oakey was staring failure and ruin in the face until he got teenagers Joanne and Susan to sing on half the album - most significantly its four hit singles. I was 11 when this was released and it is a defining pop statement for my generation. There were not many records that sounded like this at the time (OMD, Visage, Depeche maybe) and Martin 'Stranglers' Rushent's production is fresh and clear. The non singles have some good tracks in there and sound a little more akin to Oakey's work with Martin Ware and Craig Marsh. I can't imagine 1981 without this music.

used to have a song from this album (dont you want me)not anymore

Not for me

not for me

I don’t know if I necessarily needed to hear The Human League’s Dare before I died, but it was an enjoyable UK New Wave synth-fest. It was smart of them to stick their best song—and really their only well-known single, “Don’t You Want Me”—on the very back of side B, making you earn it to get there.

I found this album pretty boring to be honest. Making 10 songs with the exact same synth sounds and vocals is a strange goal, but they pulled it off.

Open Your Heart sounds like Pokemon battle music

Of course my final album would be some 80s over-produced and synth heavy album.

Some bangers straight out of the early 80s

Pretty iconic sound with some bangers. You could do way worse in the genre.

Boring new wave album

First time played for a couple of decades at least. Excellent production & so many hits.

I started this and went ugh too synthy. Then I remembered I've listened to over a thousand albums here and should actually review this. There's such good attitude here. It's catchy when it wants to be, it's got a strut to the style, and these guys must've partied. Don't You Want Me is a top to bottom hit that's an effectively perfect version of this style, but the entire album is interesting if you give it a chance. Equally in approach, sound, and the choices they are making instrumentally (through the synth). I still feel it sits too heavy in a style that isn't my #1, but the review is broader than just my initial feeling.

This is so 1980s that I should hate it, but the way it is massaging my brain I can't hate it. This is pretty fun music to make up new educational lyrics to. Try singing about the food pyramid, saying no to drugs or brushing your teeth over any of the songs. "The Sound of the Crowd" really won me over. Oh come on "Seconds" Of course "Don't you Want Me" There wasn't a moment I disliked. The production is great. I think I need to give this a 5.

Its like they knew how to make good music but didnt until the end

A pretty average album, nothing stood out except the last track which stood out due to being extremely overplayed over the years. 2.5/5.

Heard it before. I do like synthpop so I like this album too. And honestly Don't You Want Me is kind of one of the more meh songs on the album 3/5

Really liked this more than I thought, so much more than "You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar". Could see a lot of influence of Industrial and modern dance edm and pop. But not the meme You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar.A cocktail bar.You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar.Working in a cocktail bar.You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar.Cock, cocktail bar.You were working as a waitress in a cock... tail bar.You... You were working...You were working as a waitress in a cock-cock-cock-cocktail bar!Cocktail bar! Cocktail bar!Cocktail-cocktail-cocktail-cocktail bar-bar-bar-ar-ar!Working as a waitress in a cocktail bar.Working as a waitress in a cocktail bar.I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, that much is true.I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar.I guess it's just what I must do. You... You were working...You were working as a waitress in a cock-cock-cock-cocktail bar!Cocktail bar! Cocktail bar!Cocktail-cocktail-cocktail-cocktail bar-bar-bar-ar-ar!Working as a waitress in a cocktail bar!

I’d remembered this being a sharper break from the sound of the earlier Human League records, but on this listen it felt much more like a gradual softening of their abrasive elements for the most part. Then “Don’t You Want Me” arrives to usher in a whole new epoch.

Solide und nicht schlecht

2.5 stars A lot of samey pop new wave stuff. But the killer well known single that ends the album makes it worth it. But not really an album I’d give another listen to.

Great synthesis pop

Enjoyed

I mean yeah don't you want me is an all time banger but they got nothing else to show for it, boring ass synths and this is coming from a synth fan

This is an album that I know. I actually prefer the earlier stuff, which aren’t as well known as being major innovations when it came to synth pop. Revisiting today, I found myself surprised by the strength of the synths in the songs leading up to the hit. They remind me to some degree of the earlier stuff, although more polished and produced. The hit holds up decades later. Overall the album is excellent even if it has aged a little bit. The synths are impressive for 1980 but not 2026. Still comfortably a four star album.

Last song was pretty popular, but somewhere between 2 and 3 stars

전체적으로 평범한 느낌의 곡이었다. Overall, it was a song that felt ordinary.

A much more forgettable album than I would have thought. The synth felt very sharp and unappealing to listen to for the majority of the runtime. There are some decent hidden gems on this album, but not a lot to dig into. To say nothing of including one of the most annoying songs created. Top tracks: Darkness, I Am the Law

This genre and style of music is just not for me. 80s pop tends to be a bit too monotonous with exception of a few artists that have more rock influence. Got bored of this one real quick, but it was cool to hear the big hit and know it's origin

Not on Spotify

I like one song

Mid. The only song that stuck out was Don't You Want Me. There was a weird whistle sound early in the album that caught my attention. It was brave! It was there!

Holy synth! At first I was pissed at this album. What the fuck even were the 80s. How did the synthesizer corrupt the minds of the entire world to like this maximal amount of synths. Fuck it add another synth layer on this review while we’re at it. Never before and never again will the aesthetic of the 80s exist and I am very thankful for that. When the album rolls along it kind of hits though. Sounding like a defunct department store where the books are kept by hand, it pops along with one hand on the synth and the other hand also on the synth. It may not be cool by any standards, but minimum wage back then could buy you something nice and this album could soundtrack a pretty good life. I’m simultaneously disgusted and impressed by this album.

today we've got the third album from synthpop band the human league. after the founding members of the group left, the band changed their sound to something considered more pop friendly. with the remaining members in the band, including new producer martin rushent, the crew wrote song after song by simply firing up a dinky drum machine and finding the right chords and sounds. oh, synthpop... the 80s were objectively a goldmine for this genre. even when the decade only barely started, already records like these come out with intriguing love songs, perfect, consistent drumbeats, weird plucks and sweeping analog string sounds. it's so unbelievably 1980s to the point where you might love it to death or you might scoff and turn off the stereo because of how dated it sounds. is the sound great? yeah, i wanna say so. is this an album that defines pop music from this time? abso-freakin-lutely. but is this a perfect five-star album? ... no, i don't think so. besides the hit singles and few underrated tracks, a lot of tracks ended up being not as entertaining as i thought they would be... just more of the same, with all the vocal performances and synthy zips, zaps and zings. probably one of the few albums where i feel extremely guilty about giving four stars.

So new wave-y, so much synth, then don’t you want me pops up out of nowhere as the last track

Fine.

Really solid, smart pop record. And in a flip to the conventional wisdom, back-loaded the biggest hits. Undeniably worth the listen and its place on this list.

boring

Some classics !! Synth sound dates it but in a good way

Don’t you want me baby. Not really, sorry.

Very disappointing 80s synth pop drowning out the occasional stronger darker moments.

I’m not sure it’s a fair listen as such. I listened to this on holiday, through a small Portable speaker, loud enough to slightly drown out the shite nearby bar music but quiet enough to not annoy the neighbours (classic Eurocamp set up for more context), and half cut. Tbh, I enjoyed it, but I have some longstanding liking for ‘the league’ not that I’ve listened to anything other than the singles. It’s kind of a Gary Numan copy, but with enough of its own swagger to give it its own identity.

It takes off later, but it’s worth it! The later half or so was exactly the glamorous 80s British synth and I love when this project gives me these instead of another generic rock album

Very typical 80s album. Not bad, but nothing exciting really. One stand out solo song, nothing else to it really.

Listened before?: only the last track i think The Things That Dreams Are Made Of - 4/5 Open Your Heart - 3/5 The Sound of the Crowd - 5/5 Darkness - 4/5 Do or Die - 4/5 Get Carter - no rating I Am the Law - 3/5 Seconds - 4/5 Love Action (I Believe in Love) - 4/5 Don't You Want Me - 5/5 Average score: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Don’t you Want Me’ might be their biggest song but this album was much more than just that track (and interesting to put it at the very end). This project is showing me how much I enjoy synth-y 80s music but I liked the dark tones here as well.

it is quite cool, but i wouldn't say unique

Perfectly fine but nothing exceptional in it.

Pretty awful, struggled to get through the first few songs. I won't put it in as 1 star but it was close. 1.5

Well that's 80s music for ya. Don't like the production, not really my thing. 1. Don't You Want Me 2. Love Action (I Believe In Love) 3. Do And Die

meh

Very nice.

Slip noodles and rice for breakfast tomorrow night and then I will be home to fuck the monkey was in the bathroom with me and I was like I don’t know what to do with whatever

Interesting that they saved the best song on the album for the last one. This was better than most 80s albums I've heard before.

This is straight trash

Sometimes a really aggressively 80s synth pop album just really hits the spot. It ends with a banger that I can sing to any day of the week.

This album ends with such a bang... Very fun synth pop album. So aggressively 80s it almost made me laugh. It's a 3.5 for me, but I'm rounding it down.

More really weak British pop. 2 stars or D+.

An early trek into the silky-smooth commercial and *poppy* synthpop that the '80s has an abundance to offer, and it's a decently pleasant start full of pretty likeable music

I want to like this album, but i just dont. I hate the majority of 80s synth music and this does nothing to change that. However ‘Dont you want me is a truly great song and means that this cant get a one, which i fear it would otherwise be getting.

The problem with having the classic at the end is you’re waiting for it, while simultaneously comparing every other track to it. Obviously nothing matches the heights of “Don’t You Want Me” but, generally, this isn’t a bad album. Yes, it’s very dated and is almost too synth heavy for even me, but there are some good tracks on here - “Love Action” is great, and “Open Your Heart” and “The Sound of the Crowd” are solid. The rest is pretty middling filler that’s mostly fine, but nothing special (“I Am the Law” is dirge though, and “Seconds” isn’t much better). It’s probably a 3.5* album for me, but not good enough overall to push it up to a 4.

Look, Don't You Want Me is a brilliant song and almost everything else on the record pales into insignificance next to it. But here are some thoughts. I appreciate the name checking of the members if The Ramones on one of the least Ramonesy sounding songs ever made. Not that it was very Norman Wisdomy either. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of is extremely repetitive and very synthy. Open Your Heart at one point makes a noise like an alien laser beam which is random. Sound of the Crowd sounds a bit like The Model by Kraftwerk in places. Darkness is pretty forgettable. Do Or Die is a bit ska but with a billion synths - I quite liked it. The Get Carter sort-of cover was pointless. I Am The Law I liked. Seconds I didn't (more spacey synths though). Love Action is a good song and choice for a single, as it's undeniably catchy. On any other 80s synth-pop album it might be the standout song. But the final track is clearly the best song here. Overall a 2.5, but I'm rounding down. 2/5

It's actually a really good synth pop album, beyond the couple of well known tracks at the end ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great. Definitely eighties and yet not dated. Some weaker tracks so I can’t give it a 5/5 but not far off it.

#440/1001. That (449Hz) equals to A in musical scale and A is the best score in U.S, right? Well this is a straight A album. Arguably the best synth pop album of all time. The recipe for success seem to be that when the musically talented people leave the group, go to a club and recruit a couple of high school girls as backup singers and gogo dancers, get some help from musician friends and find the perfect producer - and write some killer pop tunes. While the album is great, it is also worth checking the League Unlimited Orchestra's instrumental versions on Love and Dancibg album, showcasing producer Martin Rushent's talents. Amazing to sing karaoke over to instrumental Don't You Want Me, or beer yet get people to sing over it as a dj.

Phil Oakey cannot sing at all. Dull monotone didn't particularly enjoy it

This sounds like me and my friend singing stupid made-up-on-the-spot ditties while we play the Mega Drive. By that, I mean we can't sing. I like the Mega Drive though, so it's not a 1.

Annoying synthpop

Again one of these one hit wonder bands that show up and apparently have a long career. 6.2 million followers on Spotify. Not too shabby. But still. Looks like like it’s all nostalgia based. One one monster hit song. I like the karaoke video where the guy just keeps repeating the lyric I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar…

hell no.

Just the greatest album to come out of the new romantics movement.

Feels very Talking Heads inspired. I love the synths.

I had this album! What a blast from the past. They took synth music to a whole new level. Great!

Crap in the 80's and it definitely hasn't got any better. I've got 80's PTSD.

Pls stop with the 80s music, this decade should actually be banned

No thanks

The biggest Dare I ever saw was Len Houmous when he wore 2 left shoes on Parkinson. 3.6 2/10 Open Your Heart

80's synth poster boys with their breakout album, that honestly hasn't lost much of its charm after 45 (45!!) years. Featuring Open Your Heart, Love Action, and of course the mighty Don't You Want Me, this was a deserved success on its release. It was nice to revisit this to be honest; I wonder what they're all up to now...

dnf

No está mal. Estuvo bien para dejar de fondo y solo mover la patita.

Some fun songs on here

A: Hmmm. Det här känns som musik som människor låtsas att är cool bara för att den har vissa element och är gjord under något ikoniskt år men egentligen så finns det ingenting underhållande där. Gillade kanske sista låten (dom hade en kvinnlig solist delvis ens). Vad jag hörde så var orden irriterande, rösterna irriterande, musiken irriterande och namnet på både albumet, låtnamnen och artisten är tråkiga. Kanske med en annan solist skulle det ha kunnat fungera, troligen inte. Skulle kanske kunna vara bättre om jag introducerats/exponerats till dem via exempelvis någo Arcane edits men tvivlar att det finns tillräckligt bra musik/lyrics för att det skulle lyckas. Iom att det här är musik som enligt mig "borde vara bra" men inte är det och jag är trött på att ge credit till musik som faktiskt inte är så bra fastän det borde vara det så tänker jag ge 1,5/5 (DE-tier) D: Skulle ha varit bra om de inte skulle ha varit utmattade och deprimerade när de gjorde albumet. Många låtar började genuint bra och hade intressanta detaljer som jag gillade stort, men själv låtarna kändes som att solisten inte lyckades hålla sig vaken. Mycket kofein och högre tempo skulle ha lett till en enkel femma. De existerade före sin tid, önskar att vissa av ljuden skulle ha hamnat i händerna på en Newgrounds-technoartist vars låtar är populära i Geometry Dash. Känns som att det nu istället var Radiohead som försökte producera techno. 4/5.

2/5. The only song I enjoyed was Don’t You Want Me. The others felt so repetitive and empty. Maybe it’s just not for me.

It’s catchy but generally unremarkable amongst the rest of the music from that era. Don’t you want me is a jam though, so one extra star just for that.

3/5 It's fine, I won't listen again

Overall: 6/10 This is a decent little pop album that doesn't do much to amaze you until the absolute all time banger of Don't You Want Me. I'm glad the rest of the album isn't that bad, but it all pales in comparison to that masterpiece. This might have actually gotten a higher rating if that song didn't exist cause now I know what these guys were capable of and nothing else they did comes anywhere close. Fav Song: Don't You Want Me

Don't you want me absoluter Banger

Teilweise netter aber lamgweiliger 80s Synth-Pop. Don't you want me und open your heart sind gute Lieder.

80s Synth mit 1-2 Highlights

Hmm. Don't You Want Me is obviously the big hit, but I quite like some early league stuff like Being Boiled which has an almost induatrial vibe to it, and this...doesn't. Is it historically important? Combining pop vocals with kraftwerk inspired music? Maybe. But other than DYWM and Love Action, not much else stands out. Not hateful though, just quite dated. Probably a 2, but gets a 3 out of affection and the fact it's not just more pub rock.

Not bad, ends with an all time hit

The Human League made the synth-pop album in 1981 — Sheffield, all keyboards, guitars banned on principle. I've now done Pet Shop Boys, New Order, OMD and Depeche Mode from this same corner of the decade. The pattern holds. I can hear the craft. None of it moves me. Nothing really stayed. Except the last song. "Don't You Want Me" closes the album and it's the only thing still in my head. The joke is that Phil Oakey thought it was the worst thing on the record — he buried it at the end as filler and argued with the label about putting it out as a single. It went to number one in the UK and the US and became the only Human League song most people can name. The two women trading lines with him, Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, he'd found dancing in a Sheffield nightclub. Both still teenagers, neither of them singers. That back-and-forth is the entire song. He didn't rate it. 2/5 — nine tracks I've already lost, and one the singer didn't want.

These synth sounds are so shitty. The lead singer's voice so weak. The songwriting bores the hell out of me. Even the great hit at the end is awful. Can't imagine why anybody in their right mind would choose to listen to this. 0.5/5 - nearly unlistenable

Not for me

Favorite track(s): The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Love Action (I Believe in Love), Don't You Want Me

Very good

The ’80s had barely begun, and The Human League were already laying out that quintessential synth-pop sound that would dominate much of the decade. Of course, “Don’t You Want Me” is the massive standout here. Absolute fire. Unfortunately, none of the other songs come close to reaching that same level. Still, I’m a sucker for retro synths, and those sounds carried a lot of the album for me. The vocals were more hit-or-miss. Sometimes they worked perfectly and delivered a catchy chorus, but other times they seemed to clash with the melodies underneath them. A few tracks also became repetitive after a while. It’s not a bad album, though. Even when it didn’t completely work for me, I could hear it establishing a sound that would lead to stronger synth-pop acts, as well as better Human League songs later on. I mean, “Human”? Amazing. Overall, *Dare* is an important and occasionally catchy album, but mostly just a decent one for me.

I really like "Don't You Want Me", which EVERYBODY loves and is their biggest hit. Other than that, there's little else on this record that I want to hear again.

1/5

Kasari synapoppia ja täähän olikin esteettisesti hyvää. Tässä on hyvä nostalginen fiilis vaikka se nostalgia ei muhun osu. Don't You Want Me oli tuttu klassikko. Parhaat: Darkness, Open Your Heart, Don't You Want Me

Overall nice synth pop. Vocals are a little off in some spots, it overall a really good record.

An influential album, I know. Some great songs, but the sound hasn't aged well.

25/07/2026 I went into it with an open mind.... came away with 3 stars. Spotify listeners: 6.1 million

Besides the Big Hit of the album, this is also just some really damn good synthpop, in general. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll just barely bump up to a 5. It took a little bit for this to get rolling after a trio of good, yet repetitive or sparse tracks to open up the album, but after “Darkness” came in with a really nice Castlevania-esque vibe, this album glided pretty easily to the finish line. The soundscapes grew a lot more complex, the vocals found a natural bouncy stride, and the lyricism really found more of a purpose. Even if some of the later tracks had a bit of repetition to them, they just blended in more naturally as moments to vibe out to as opposed to earlier on the album. Obviously, mileage will vary about how much you enjoy the more Kraftwerk-ian approach to synth arrangements here, as opposed to what the Human League would later do in their careers (once again, I must vouch for “Human” as one of the best ‘80s songs ever), but I happened to enjoy it once it got a little more vibrant. That opening track has a super sparse bridge that’s nothing more than a drum machine kick, and it gave me a bit of dread, even knowing that “Don’t You Want Me” was at the end of this album. Thankfully, it lifted up nicely, especially with the long instrumental break on “Do or Die” brightening up the album. “Don’t You Want Me” also lived up to the vibe I remembered it having (though I certainly didn’t remember how predatory the lyrics were by modern standards), and I think it’s a good thing to have an album like this end on its best track. Overall, it’s a little bit of a tight bump for me, as I can see myself maybe skipping some of the longer outros in the future, but regardless, once you find the groove, it’s hard not to move around with them. That innate sense of groove is why I’m bumping this up to a 5 – it’s just a fun 40 minutes for me, and I’m a total sucker for it. I’m glad it’s on the list.

"Everybody needs two or three friends." One of the things that dreams are made of. Nice. This was better than I thought it would be. I still like Heaven 17 better! 😝 Liked Songs Added: Seconds Love Action (I Believe In Love) Don't You Want Me

As good as 80s synth pop is going to get for me. While that’s not very good, it’s something! RYM: N Saved a song: N

These guys put the synth in synth-pop. The album is unique in that it’s probably the best example of “80s-sounding” music ever; whether you think that sound is good is up to you. I didn’t care for this, mainly because it sounds so janky and basic when compared to later 80s synth-pop acts like Tears For Fears. Songs From The Big Chair takes what was pioneered here and does it so much better. There’s a few decent songs, but too many of them were just repeats of the previous song and spamming the synth over and over. Did not care for the sort of halting/robotic singing style either. 2/5, just go listen to Tears For Fears if you want an actually good album like this.

synthy and groovy

This album was really good, like a fantastic first half but the second half was still really good, but then last two songs were amazing. THOSE BEATS AND SYNTHS THEY JUST GET STUCK IN YO HEAD, I don’t have much to say, just catchy songs

One hit wonders have no place on this list. Every song sounded like a worse, less catchy “Don’t You Want Me”, until their one banger comes on last track on the album when you’re utterly sick of pop synth and distorted vocals.

Pretty run of the mill one dimensional 80s synth pop, though I suppose it was an iconic sound and everything in the 80s sounded like this album. Not sure if this was first and influential, or just did a good job nailing this sound and style. Didn’t hate it, walked away not really remembering any of it.

Pretty average 80s pop Very easy listening Really nice songs and overall sound but also it doesn’t exactly do anything to knock your socks off Few standout tracks Singer isn’t anything special Favorites: I am the law, the things that dreams are made of, open your heart, don’t you want me 3.5/5

Typical 80s stuff, not quite on the same level as Eurythmics but similar vibe. I didn't hate it at all, but don't see myself coming back to this one.

Probably a 2, but saved by the banger at the end.

I didn't mind this one. Some decent tracks. Definitely of its time but sometimes that isnt a bad thing.

Ok, nothing exciting here. 2/5

sympa !

listened to spotify track previews and did not like any of the experimental synthpop sounds. Their big hit from the album, Don't You Want Me, is more palatable to mainstream-pop at the time. it's better and I sorta like it. shelved 1/10.

IT’S DARE! IT’S DARE! IT’S- who the fuck is this? Ohhhh, they did that one song. Hardly seems like reason to put them on some list of important albums but whatever. Maybe it’s good or something. Well, it’s at times disappointing, but also very pleasant! I very much loved it in its moments when it felt genuinely full, songs such as “Open Your Heart,” “Darkness,” and the obvious home-run “Don’t You Want Me.” Though it all too often feels sparse, there are moments that imply this album’s deeper, more innovative edges. At the end it feels much more like a holy combination of Violator by Depeche Mode and Speaking In Tongues by Talking Heads, with its otherworldly synths and vibe of being on the edge of synthpop, and its crazed vocals and surreal lyrics, topped off with a hit big enough to rival both those albums’ majesty. I was not at all disappointed by this excellent album. 9.3/10

fine

Synth. Pop. Drum machine. Not terribly interesting. I always wonder when a band makes an album like this with an obvious giraffe do they know? Do they care?

​Dare did something revolutionary: it proved that synthesizers could feel human. ​Instead of treating the machines like cold, sci-fi novelties (think early Gary Numan or Kraftwerk), The Human League used them to write incredibly catchy, emotionally resonant love songs. The contrast between Phil Oakey's deep, dramatic baritone and the sweet, untrained backing vocals of Sulley and Catherall gave the record a "party-next-door" warmth that anyone could relate to.

Highlights: Things Dreams Are Made Of, Open Your Heart, Sound Of The Crowd, Darkness, I Am The Law, Love Action, Don't You Want Me It wasn't anything crazy, I just like new wave. That being said, the middle of the record was quite a drag. I don't see it as anything crazy original because this was already a pretty obvious trend by 1981, so it's just a decent synth pop record. They could be called trend riders given their later notorious dabble into new jack. While I didn't pay much mind to the lyrics, at face value they came off as a bit pretentious or comically over positive (as if they are modern hippies or sth). For example, the first trait is noticeable on I Am The Law, while the second one is on Open Your Heart. I would really think hard about naming it a must-listen, but I must say I generally liked it.

The Human League - Dare! (1981) This was 100% an 80s albums with a bunch of synth sounds and things like that. I wasn't a fan if I'm going to be honest. I think the reason because it wasn't a lot of singing, it felt more like talking. I wouldn't listen to again. Maybe I'm not a Human League fan. Album Rank: 2.2 Favorite Song: Don't you want me

Probably the best of the 80s synth albums, an absolute classic 5⭐

A surprise hit

Good stuff!

Don't You Want Me has become so big that it's left every other song behind in recognition, but it's not even in my top 3 favorites from this album. It's that good. The whole album flows from the previous creative starting point that Martyn Ware left the band on while it transition toward a straight popish sound with a slight edge. My favorites have always been Love Action, Seconds and Things Dreams Are Made Of, fantastic fun dancey postpunky timeless songs. The rest of the album is just as good, Sound of the Crowd and Darkness sounds like classic THL that ends a fantastic side A; even though side B starts atmospheric, it takes you toward a finish as strong as the first side. Shout out to Lester Bangs who died listening to this album.

Didn't really care for it.

A couple of standout tracks, but slightly tiring towards the end.

Just what I expected.

Well, this is a shoe-in for a list like this, isn't it? The Human League's Dare was, in some ways, the start of the 1980s, at least from a musical perspective. Synth-pop and new wave had existed to varying degrees of success in the late 70s, but "Don't You Want Me" was one of the first songs to really prove that it they would be essential parts of the 80s sound, especially in America. Speaking of which, "Don't You Want Me" is a pretty great song. It progresses in some pretty neat ways and is just a total bop all throughout. As far as the 9 songs that precede it on the album, they're all good too, though I wouldn't call any of them better than "Don't You Want Me." "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" is a pretty good opener, and "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" works well as the penultimate track. When it comes to overall qualities of the album, the synths are rather "of their time," but I like them, okay? The inclusion of multiple vocalists gives the album enough variety to not bore me. The writing has some interesting moments, but nothing upsetting. Dare is just a really good synth-pop album. It's not going to change anyone's mind on synth-pop as a genre, but it's an important part of music history that I really enjoyed. 4/5.

Don't you want me is a banger. Album is devoid of any others. Probably deserves a place for historical relevance. 2/5.

Deadly pop.

This is the type of stuff I'm looking for and thinking of when I want to hear some quintessential 80's.

Not too shabby; like Kraftwerk but noticeably poppier.

This was the first time listening to the entire album and it's pretty good. Don't You Want Me has always been a favorite, but I also found I Am The Law and Seconds to be highlights too.

That's one long slog to get to the only song with a hook. I'm sure that some of the synth tones were groundbreaking for their time, but it just doesn't hold up. Wait... The Human League had TWO female vocalists? Where the hell were they?

they have a couple of good ones...

Inoffensive, fun, pretty cool album. The singles are massive, and everything else is fine

This album grew on my track by track. I get a lot of joy out of synth pop as a whole. Thought I wasn't going to love this but literally every track was better than the last. I am the law -- seconds -- love action -- don't you want me. One of the best album endings for a while.

This was alright. The guys voice can be off putting at times but it's solid enough. Last two songs are the best well known and clearly the stand out ones

Good synths

3,5

Nice album

dont you want me, my favorit song in in 1981, synthpop unforgetable.

Great album

O sea si, una o dos canciones bien pero es cansador tanto sintetizador

It's fine

It was OK tbf I enjoyed it but I know i won't come back to it

Very fun synth pop. A very surprised 4 from me. Definitely worth the listen. *Later edit: I listened again and I am changing this to a 5!

Bad streak lately

interesting…

I feel my eyes glazing over I can't say this is bad I just do not care

I was never a fan of Don’t You Want Me. Turns out it was the “best” song on the album.

This is genuinely bad music. With some patience and time, I could reproduce most of these songs on the organ in my brother’s attic. With the exception of “Don’t You Want Me” this album is completely forgettable and one salad doesn’t make a fat man thin. Following that line of thinking I’ve gotta go with the overwhelming theme that they got lucky once and the rest of their music doesn’t belong on this project. I mean let’s be honest, they put the song last on the album because they didn’t realize the value it held either.

I would falsely confess to having committed an unsolved murder and endure a life sentence in prison just to ensure I never have to hear this again.

This is really bad. Like really really bad. They got lucky with Don't You Want Me which a good enough song, but the rest of the album is....well....really really bad.

kind of a one song album Will I listen to again: 4%

Quite liked this - lots of hits from the period

Not udder shite but derivative 80's synth pop. I have a hard time to enjoy this beyond surface value. Don't You Want Me infinitely iconic banger. I'm sure there is more of this band I'd appreciate but I didn't find much of it on this album.

This sound was why I used to say I hated 80s music Playlist add: "Love Action (I Believe In Love"

One of the better synth pop albums here. There's some real pop know how here, and a subtly dark undercurrent. The sound is very '80s, but it works here. There are neat synth lines, moody vocals and more. And Don't You Want Me is a legendary song. This was really enjoyable, nothing close to the best I've heard, but enjoyable!

Pretty weak music, even for 80s new wave. 2/5

Dad, what did the early 80s sound like?

They invented music. Things that Dreams are Made of is quality. Generally a pretty decent album.

The Human League aus Sheffield, England, lieferten mit Dare! 1981 den Durchbruch des britischen Synth-Pop, aufgenommen größtenteils in den Genetic Sound Studios in Reading unter der Regie von Produzent Martin Rushent und veröffentlicht über Virgin Records. Nach dem Bruch der ursprünglichen Besetzung formte Phil Oakey die Band neu, mit den beiden Laien-Sängerinnen Joanne Catherall und Susanne Sulley, was dem kühlen Elektro-Sound eine warme, fast naive Note verlieh. Das Ergebnis ist erstaunlich kohärent für eine Gruppe, die sich gerade erst neu zusammengefunden hatte. Was Dare! von vielen Synth-Pop-Zeitgenossen abhebt, ist die Balance zwischen technologischer Kühle und emotionaler Direktheit. Songs wie "Love Action", "Open Your Heart" und natürlich "Don't You Want Me" verbinden glasklare Synthesizer-Texturen mit Texten, die von Verlust, Begehren und zwischenmenschlicher Distanz erzählen – nie kitschig, aber auch nie kalt. Gerade die Laienhaftigkeit der weiblichen Stimmen wirkt nicht als Schwäche, sondern als bewusster Kontrapunkt zu Oakeys monotonem Bariton. Rückblickend bleibt Dare! eines der seltenen Alben, die einen Sound nicht nur prägten, sondern tatsächlich neu definierten – ohne dabei ihre pop-musikalische Zugänglichkeit zu verlieren. Ein Meilenstein des frühen Achtziger-Pop, der zeigt, wie Maschinen menschlich klingen können.

At first I felt the album sounded as I would expect from an electronic band in the 80s but as the songs went on I found myself wondering why all the songs were so long I checked the length of the tracks an realized that it was just me getting bored in the middle of the songs feeling like they dragged on. Not something I want to feel while listening through an album. The fact that I felt the same in multiple songs makes it kind of obvious why I wont be coming back to this album in the future.

What actually killed Lester Bangs? Was it the opioids? Or listening to this, making him want to take a bunch of opioids?

3/10

3.5/5

Love me some new wave

Okay, not great

So immediately I'm reminded of "human music" from rick and morty, not sure if that is intentional. This entire album feels like a very long and very 80s synth intro to Dont You Want Me. This album is a great example of an answer to the question of "why dont they just make a whole album like this song?" Because you get this. I didnt enjoy it, but Dont you want me is so good the album gets 3 stars.

cool background, but wouldnt listen on purpose

Great as an 80s time capsule but otherwise meh

It must’ve been amazing to live through this as it came out. It might lose a little of its luster with how much followed it but it’s an early synth pop staple. I enjoyed the first half more than the second. They managed to still make the slower songs interesting. Rating: 4.3

Good to hear this for historical purposes, it's good listening to a bit of 80's synth pop, but it wasn't stunning. The album ended with a couple of their hits, and that's where it'll remain. No need to listen to this again. Didn't hate it.

The music is amazing but the annoying vocals ruin it for me.

Very synth. Idk. Aliens?

Not the worst of the 11 albums I chose to listen to today

Synth pop rules when it's done right. Exhibit A:

Really unsure if this is 3 or 4. A good slice of poppy post punk. Don't You Want Me Baby is obviously a banger.

I do not like this genre. Saved the best song for last, huh? 2/5

Incredibly 80s, but a fun listen.

Synthy 80s goodness, easily a 4 star album for me.

Nostalgic. Best track was the single "Don't You Want Me" but the rest were basically fine. 3 stars.

Good

The Good: We know this is going to be a challenge! The Bad: We didn’t get the “truth” option… The Ugly: Realizing we aren’t part of the league… What is exceptional about this album is how it just kind of blends into the background. At no point is this album overbearing, or annoying, or thrilling… The hit is not a hit, it’s a smash, one which we all love. Well, I am guessing we all love it… though there might be people out there who don’t like the song.. which I don’t understand, as it is catchy, simple, and to the point. Don’t know if the album deserves more than a 3* though… the hit is 5*

Ha! This was so much better than I expected. I’m mostly familiar with Don’t You Want Me. That song is super fun, but in no way does this album justice. Glad I listened. 4 Boolean: True

A very good pop-py album

It's funny this, I guess it was cutting edge moody brooding music at the time but it sounds a bit silly and twee now. Hey guys check out my synth

This was better than Don’t You Want Me + 9. I preferred the start, where it was channeling Kraftwerk, and found it lost it a little bit in the middle, where songs tended to drift by, including a weird cover of part of the Get Carter soundtrack (if you are going to cover anything from that it has to be Carter Gets the Train…). DYWM is great, though it a bit incongruent in the album, and has diminished through overplaying.

Found the start to be a bit shite, much of the sounds and textures being very dated and of their time. It grew into it a little and there are some better tracks later on here. ‘Don’t you want me’ is obviously the standout, but was surprised at how different to the rest of the songs on this album it was, texturally and in its overall songwriting style.

No es tanto mi estilo

It's good and all, but not massively memorable. When the best track is saved until last, it means everything else becomes more of a chore to listen to rather than the build-up to s something special. Definitely one of the more basic new-wave albums. Favourite track: Love Action Least favourite track: Get Carter

I love analogue synths. Could it be that the first commercially successful synth-pop album was also the last great synth album? (Yamaha releasing the industry changing FM chip and ushering in the age of synth-trash.) Perhaps. I want to hate it for the robotic rhythm tracks (that LinnDrum is, for me, a torture device). And the vocals are atrocious (technically weak AND pretentious), and yet . . . The synth work is just so interesting, and moving, and the sounds are so luxurious, that I loved it, in spite of my pathological criticizing.

Massa nostalgi för singlarna. Men precis som då känns de som ett singel and. Stark trea.

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 😐🪟❕ Production (2002 Remaster): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎛️👥🔮 Rating: ❔❔❔/5

eh not my genre really

80s futurism hasn't aged too well imo -- but there is like a decent song here and there. I think if you want synth stuff there is just much better options all around now. I respect it but it ain't for me. 2

half bangers have boring. love bloopy synths tho

It’s alright. The hit is by far the best song.

Better than expected.

Meh

Annoying synths. Overly dramatic vocals, that I don’t think are very good or very pleasing to listen to. Lyrics are blah. Basically just alt 80s schlock. Didn't like this band then, don’t like this band now.

I. love. synth rock. this isn't the best synth rock.

Best Song: Don't You Want Me. I spent the whole album wondering why this album was on this list, only to have the one hit wonder in the final position. And honestly, it's not even that big of a hit. Worst Song: Get Carter. In what world was this whistle song a necessary contribution to the album? Overall: Another extremely missable 80s record. Even the cover of the album lets you know that you're in for just that greasy, sweaty-dancefloor, bright lights style music.

the things that dreams are made of isch huere sarkastisch oder? aso ich lieb wie minimalistisch und elektronisch dass alles isch. do or die huuuere funny percussion dinger. die songs slapped alli chli uf die glich art? sehr stampfig? huuuere geil alllles elektronisch aber chli pitchy halt well analog. und don't you want me chunt erst. freu mi. YOU WERE WORKING AS A WAITRESS IN A COCKTAIL BAAAR. insaaaaane banger. es stimmt alles i dem song. so so so guet. zwei prechorus für perfekte release. ischs de einzig mit mehrstimmige vocals? und mit wibliche vocals? he faaaast es füfi. überleggs mer no.

mal luege wie ready ich bin für de symthpop😭 hahaha die synthpop-dudes hend iwie immer die glich stimm? ÖH de komisch synthi isch megaa fun bim erste lied ok bin vlt doch gwappneter als ich denkt han hahahah ich lieb die blöd pfiffe AHH DON'T YOU WANT ME KENNTMER JA MEGAAA hmm jaa han nöd so vill z sege. het na spass gmacht

Great synth pop album. Catchy melodies and love the sounds of the synths. Favorite track(s) Seconds Don’t You Want Me

Fun nondescript 80’s music

If someone said this is influential to 80s music for the rest of the decade I’d believe them. Can’t get more synth pop than this. Gets repetitive and the slower songs are not as good. But some cool grooves and Don’t You Want Me is very catchy

the first half was stinky poopoo and i couldn’t get why to this album was included but after “Get Carter” everything changed into a great new wave image, one of the best i’ve heard. the second half was good enough to cross out the drawbacks of the first one

Dope

Some great synth-pop here, also some songs seemed very similar and marginally repetitive.

Not a lot from this album that doesn’t sound the same

consistent 80s synth new wave that doesnt necessarily break ground for me, but has given me some additions that are fun, light, and *just* the right amt of 80s corny

Goeie 80’s plaat, inclusief tijdloze wereldhit, nice!

nog wel fun, laatste liedje is BANGER 3.5

2.5

3.5

S'alright but the last track is a banger for sure!

80's elevator music while you patiently wait for the last 2 songs, which are fucking BANGERS; the album.

I have a soft spot for this era of pop music. The pioneer spirit is evident. Consider how different this is to the pop music that preceded it. Would you prefer Human League or Journey? Neither are top choices but it’s definitely the Human League.

oh hey another one i actually have on cd! i only (re-)ripped my copy like 4 days ago too. good timing. yeah this one's pretty solid. obviously "don't you want me" and "sound of the crowd" are both great, which is probably why they're the ones that popped off as singles, but i really like the slightly more sinister tone of "darkness" and especially "i am the law" too. overall i don't think there's a single bad track on here, but the sound is a little.... cute? like, maybe this is just a me thing but despite being an 80s release the synths are still sounding very basic, and that's cute to me. there's an appeal to it, but like. soft cell dropped non-stop erotic cabaret the same year, and i'm more likely to switch over to that then to go back in for yet another consecutive listen of dare, yknow? it's good, but there's better synth pop/new wave/whatever and there kind of always has been. but ive still listened to it countless times over the years and will continue to do so. just, not as much as i'd listen to soft cell, or erasure, or early depeche mode, or...

“Don’t You Want Me” is such a sonic stand-out. The detail work on that song, the attitude, the back and forth — fantastic. Holds up great. But the rest of the album pales in comparison and does not age gracefully. I will say, the opening song gave me hope. But alas, as much as I hate to go as low as 2/5, I think I have to this time. But with the caveat that “Don’t You Want Me” still deserves its place in the synth pop hall of fame. By the way, isn’t this a rather ironic name for a band so committed to electronic music and drum machines?

I love the vocalists, and "Don't You Want Me" still holds up well above all the other tracks (1st track should get a mention). In many ways, this mirrors a lot of 80's music.

3/5

I didn’t hate this, but I am maybe more willing to indulge 80s pop than some. It doesn’t go fully overboard with the pop tropes and I think it’s pretty reasonable to listen to, but there’s nothing to elevate it. I have a soft spot for Don’t You Want Me from when it was a bit of an anthem at a previous job but that couldn’t lift the album on its own. Derivative.

It's quite mushy.  "Open Your heart" is a little coy with its little alluring blurps and whistles (it certainly doesn't end there either it's a feature by design in the album).  It's all quite tame for me and a little too pop gloss for me.  It's got a deep 80's synth and while it might have been innovative at the time it has a very retro feel to it and not for the better.  Camp pop and not so fun.

It's a rare situation when the genres listed for an album essentially describe everything you need to know about the album. This is just a nugget of new wave, electro/synth pop. It is what it is and not a lot more. The question is, do you like the genre? If you answered no then you are in for a rough 40mins. This is interesting as a cultural snapshot into a place and time but nothing more. Quite a few tracks would be fine in isolation but a whole album is a bit much. Just listen to one song and you've heard it all.

i was excited for this one. but nothing really grabbed me here as i'd hoped.

Had to sit though the entire album for the one good song. Rest was fine, a little boring. Do or Die reminded me of Macchu Picchu by the Strokes.

Not bad. Fun EDM-y vibes. Liked the last song. 3/5

Made the list because of one mediocre song

70s synth-pop. Tou know what it sounds like, no surprises.

Inoffensive

Of course the dynamite is saved until the very end here with the big hit. But overall this is a fair album. Mostly upbeat and pleasant to listen to. It lacks the real exclamation mark, with the exception of course of the final song, but it takes a bit too long to get there. 3/5

They wrote a synth pop anthem that defined the genre. Unfortunately the rest of the album is ass.

The Human League’s Dare stands as a definitive, if uneven, blueprint for the heavy dance-pop era, successfully blending "whacky" synth melodies with a rhythmic groove that keeps the listener engaged—at least initially. The album opens with the anthemic "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of," setting a high bar that tracks like the MJ-influenced "The Sound of the Crowd" and the impeccably mixed "Do or Die" manage to maintain through sharp production and clever instrumental layering. However, the record’s momentum is frequently hampered by a lack of vocal range and tracks that feel musically stagnant; "Open Your Heart" leans into an interesting Galactica-style sci-fi vibe but quickly becomes tedious, while "Love Action" suffers from uninspired basslines and remarkably weak lyricism. This inconsistency peaks during the album’s later half, where experimental tracks like "I Am the Law" and the overly repetitive "Seconds" leave the listener more confused than compelled. Fortunately, the album recovers with the undeniable "Don't You Want Me," a melodic masterpiece that ensures the experience closes on a high note. Ultimately earning a 3/5, Dare is a landmark of its genre that remains a "vibe" despite its technical limitations, though it ultimately leaves one wishing for more musical variety and a more dynamic vocal performance to bridge the gaps between its brilliant highlights and its more "boring" lulls.

Just no. One good song

This was not fun.

I had fun with this one. Its just solid early synth pop. Kinda has a slight darkness to it. Just a little goth. But the synths are the star here. Every song has some section thag stands out with that instrument. Don't you want me is obviously the stand out song here. Its one of those songs thay everyone knows but maybe they dont know the details. Its just been placed in the public consciousness forever. But darkness and do or die are my other standouts. Both killer songs. Very enjoyable in all aspects. Not the creme de la creme but very great indeed

Moving today and this was the perfect album for it, but maybe only here for 1 song.

Favorite Track: Don't You Want Me

Its a good album. You can feel the 80's in the album, the music genre makes it statement here and it was solid album.

Два альбома подряд из 80-х, да ещё каких! Обожаю.

Some good songs, some not so good songs. 3/5

Loved it. The singles are great - but some of the album tracks are really good - sparse, brooding, electro particularly I am the Law . On the Gary Numan album I liked the electro but not his voice - on this I really like Phil Oakey's flat delivery.

Dare Thinking about this and Gary Numan the other day, it's a shame that growing up in the 90s that 70s/early 80s synth music was often derided as a novelty and not ‘proper’ music, when in reality it was not only great, but also hugely influential and important. It seems to me a natural continuation of punk’s DIY spirit, and it's interesting how much British Synth Pop came from Sheffield, with the percussions and sounds of the music echoing the sounds of factories and declining industry. Phil Oakey’s hair, the slightly flat female response and the reference to aspirational-cocktails of the excellent Don’t You Want Me I think also probably skews the perception of The Human League, as the rest of this album is far more than the catchiness of that song would suggest. The synths obviously recall Kraftwerk, and the Bowie influence is a given, but you can also hear the influence of Soul and Northern Soul, not only in the music, but also in the emotionality of the lyrics, although lyrics filtered through a British (and Sheffield) prism, arguably founding the lineage of Pulp and Arctic Monkeys The first 5 tracks really are excellent, mixing darkness and lightness, heaviness and brightness particularly the combination of the gloomy The Things That Dreams are Made of and the shinier Open Your Heart. They kind of pull the same trick with the atmospherics of Darkness between The Sound of The Crowd and Do or Die. Get Carter is very Low-esque, with the similarly Bowie-esque I Am the Law and Seconds making a nice trio of songs before the excellent synth-soul-gospel of Love Action and then Don’t You Want Me. It’s a great album, with excellent hooks, melodies and lyrics all demonstrating their songwriting skills, and it sounds excellent too. Another 5. 💇💇💇💇💇 Playlist submission: Love Action (I Believe in Love)

Shadowy, first-wave electro-pop, with some indelible high points. 'Dont You Want Me' is the enduring classic and stands head and shoulders above all else as the classic encapsulation of pop and synth. The rest of the album doesn't try to be as commercial, exploring some interesting darker corners. Lyrically there's much of the kitchen sink about it - clubs, relationship struggles, bleak news items, snippets of normal life - putting them at odds with most other electro-pop contemporaries. Melodically it's on a par with 'Lexicon of Love', but leaning more into the colder sound of desolate, Krautrock synth (rather than lush than 80s bass and strings). The pop sensibility, Krautrock influence and gothic leanings put this in another league. The Human League! Haaahahhahaa

Very good record but not their finest. Certainly early days of New Romantic, electronic pop, synth music. Not too complex but still a lot of fun.

The idea of 80s synth music must be destroyed. Dorkiest music genre made in the last 100 years hands down.

As far as New Wave goes this is an entertaining listen. While Don’t You Want Me is a classic, I’m not sure I would go back to this anytime soon.

Classic 80’s sound. Electrical. Moving. A little bit dark in the middle, as if you can’t stop the vice, you keep moving with ups and downs.

Fun 80s album with an all-time 80s banger at the end.

So stereotypical 3/5

I think I just have to accept that I dislike most 80s synth-pop. Don’t You Want Me is an all time banger but this is 1,001 Albums to Listen To… If this was a 1,001 *songs* list then that track alone should be an auto-include but the rest of Dare was just too uneventful and occasionally irritating for me to ever want to listen again.

The major shift from Disco to the 80s we know and love. Don't You Want me (to play more Synth)

"don't you want me" it's the only banger.

There weren't any songs that I completely loved, but I do like their overall sound. New Wave and 'futuristic' sounding, but somehow not to the detriment of the music. I liked a lot of the lyrics too.

Muy 80s pop, muy comercial; anticipa el pop electrónico. Es bueno pero no lo volvería a escuchar. Lo más emocionante fue escuchar la última canción que es super icónica "don't you want me". Overall, va bene.

sooooo 80s. ‘don’t you want me’ was fun, don’t think i’ll revisit this one

Quintessentially 80s. It’s suit jackets with shoulder pads and the sleeves rolled up. It’s Max Headroom, Roland Rat and Loadsamoney in album form. It’s synth-pop gloriousness.

I thought I'd like this more than I did.

One of the pivotal albums of the 1980s. The Human a league made electronic music accessible to everyone. The complexities of the production created a warmth and personal character to the music and even softened Phil Oakley’s sometimes impersonal vocals. It’s music to dance to, to enjoy and to bask in.

Pretty funny to realize that both Human League and Soft Cell helped plant the roots of synthpop, both had a smash runaway hit, and both of their debuts are completely tonally dissonant to their hit songs. Dare (ha) I say, shockingly brilliant and an essential synthpop recording. Veers towards weirdness occasionally but tends to stay pretty well aligned.

Obviously all 4 stars are for Don't You Want Me but the rest of the songs are not really my thing.

The '80's.... what a time to be alive. This was fun but nothing revolutionary. "Don't You want me" is classic though. 2.5 stars

Actually enjoying this one more than I expected. Usually this new wave/electropop stuff sounds really dated, but this one holds up. Also recognized Don't You Want Me, which is a classic. But still, not my style of music, just a solid album.

Solid listen

Nope - plain old 80's synth pop. yawn

Shiny pop and a bit weird

I've had a passing familiarity with The Human League for years, and like many, mostly only knew "Don't You Want Me" prior to listening to Dare! The Human League produces the synth pop casual listeners would expect. It's pleasant, a little cheesy, but otherwise enjoyable. Most of the music is actually fantastic, but the vocal melodies and lyricism occasionally fall short or flat. If you don't hear any earworms right away, rest assured that the album is pretty backloaded. Highlights: "Darkness", "Seconds", "Love Action (I Believe In Love)", "Don't You Want Me"

I had fun with it. This kinda started a lot of 80s sound

It's not bad.

The first thing the first track on this album made me think about was: Does "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" have any relation to "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"? It seems like one is "answering" the other. But only at first glance. I always insist that all electronic music should have followed the Synth Pop style of the early 80s forever. This, for me, is the peak. From then on, it's all downhill.

Dubious going in, but the beeps and bloops kind of work. Especially if the primary objective is to make people sing “Don’t. Don’t you want me? Doo Dee doo dee doo deet doo doo, doo dee doo dee doo dee DOO Dee” all day long.

I put this one off for a while, thinking it would be something I would despise. But I’ll admit it, I bopped along. I tapped my foot under the desk as a wrote my little reports. I felt good inside.

Don’t you want me is a banger. The rest we pretty forgettable.

An album with a history that couldn't be further from the truth: before its demise, two co-founders left the band, and the third, vocalist Philip Oakey, decided to replace them with two schoolgirls. It all smelled like a fiasco, but the result was an album featuring the band's greatest hits and, arguably, electronic standards for the just beginning 1980s. While The Human League had previously produced music in the vein of Gary Numan, here they simplified it a bit, thereby "revitalizing" it. The synthesizers are still neon, the drum machines are still as combative, and everything still sounds like music from the future, but something makes it more human and dreamy, sometimes dark, sometimes romantic. The Vogue-style cover seems odd at first, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. And with the epic Don't You Want Me, surprisingly the last track on the album, the band has secured a permanent place in the electronic music pantheon.

So good! And so energetic. Darkness is my favorite.

the synths

The "singing" is more a talking. Some southern dutch people talk roughly the same way this person "sings"...

What I liked about this synth pop album is that it focus way more on creating interesting textures with the synthesizers instead of prioritizing more in crafting just catchy melodies. I think this approach makes the album distinguish itself from the more generic products of the style and makes it closer to acts such as Kraftwerk. However, this only really works for the synths, as the voice seems to be trying every track to create some catchy New Wave phrases. Some work, like the intro "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of", and most notably, "Don't You Want Me". The rest I think are decent performances. Some infectious hooks here and there, but nothing as memorable as the ones mentioned. And what's more about the album? Not much really. This is Minimal Wave, so there are only synths, vocals, drums and an occasional bass, so all the work here is carried by the first two elements. The second one is decent, and the first one, while they do some interesting textures with the synths, I don't think it does enough to make the album super memorable. Maybe I'm sounding like I'm contradicting myself, but I think it lacks an immersive aspect. What they do sounds nice, but I'm not here saying "I absolutely love what they are doing". So in the end, a decent synth pop album with some nice textures.

I’m not convinced I actually needed to hear this before I die, but it was a lot of fun.

The last song is one of the greatest singles of the 80s

offensive

One of the first and biggest synth-pop albums with Don't You Want Me. But there are other good songs on this album too. I like Love Action.

Mostly really bad. Ends with a banger though.

New wave 80s that won the hearts and minds of the British.

There is some really cool synth on here. Some of the songs I already knew so it felt quite nostalgic to hear them again. Some songs I dont really care for however, like I Am The Law.

A beginning of the 80s? I think it is. Very good album, even there are some mid tracks

Classic 80's sound. Solid album from front to back.

Lowkey everything I dislike about 80s music - stupid synths, boring drum tracks, singer that pisses me off. Great!!