Dare!

I forgot about this one.

Yes, I DO want you, baby. This album has some incredible ear worms powered by next generation synths that you'd pay an arm and a leg for in 2025. Even if some of the lyrics are a little underwhelming, each track hooks you in just in instrumentation alone.

Don’t You Want Me has long been a synth-pop favorite of mine, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the rest of the album just as exuberant and danceable as its lasting hit.

I want to like this album more than I actually do, because I like The Human League and I really enjoy "Don't You Want Me" (obviously - I am a human being). There are a couple of meh songs though and since there are only ten songs at all that's not a great percentage. 3.5 rounded up

Some really enjoyable 80s pop

Good synthpop album. Nothing less, nothing more

Quite a good album with some sick beats

Love it, classic new wave! You can hear the influence on so many later electro-pop bands. Sparse, melodic hooks, great beats. Favorite song is, of course, Don’t You Want Me, but also liked Love Action, Darkness and The Sounds of the Crowd. 3.75⭐️

nothing special but fun. 4

The Human League - Dare! Very catchy album that depicts the 80's aesthetic really, overall it's great. 1.- The Things That Dreams Are Made Of = 7/10 2.- Open Your Heart = 8/10 3.- The Sound Of The Crowd = 7/10 4.- Darkness = 10/10 5.- Do Or Die = 9/10 6.- Get Carter = 5/10 7.- I Am The Law = 8/10 8.- Seconds = 9/10 9.- Love Action (I Believe In Love) = 10/10 10.- Don't You Want Me = 10/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.3/10

everybody needs two or three friends

Classic synth pop at its finest. I feel like this would've been groundbreaking at the time of release

This was hitting at a 3, totally dated synth pop. But then the last track, the classic hit Don't You Want Me came on and man oh man is that a classic that has held up despite the dated synth sounds. Uplifted comfortably to a 4, and clearly belongs on the 1001 list for that track alone.

Classic electronic pop music

DON'T YOU WANT ME BABYYYYY? DON'T YOU WANT ME? OOO-OOOOH, DON'T YOU WANT ME BABYYYYY? DON'T YOU WANT ME? OOO-OOOOH, Absolute Banger und ich bedanke mich bide Human League (Nomal e The Band), dass sie das Meisterstück je produziert hend. Und lucky us, gits bi dem Album mit Love Action und The Things That Dreams Are Made Of no zwei wiiteri Bangers wo in guete 80er-jahr-synth-pop-albe in Dauerschleife chönd gspielt werde. Absolut verdienti vier DON'T YOU WAN'T ME BABYYYYYYYYYYY?

hallo the whoman league direkt chömed erinnerige uf. und zwar nöd wie ich 1981 ih min oversized blazer schlüpfe und in miami gang go beach volleyball spiele, sondern ah die paarwüchigi ära wo "Don‘t You Want Me“ gfühlt am timon und mis lieblingslied gsi isch und mir bim gmeinsame choche ah de missionsstrass zämme chli s‘fudi gschwunge händ, good times <3 die restliche lieder hani glaub alli nonie bewusst glost, aber han öppe 4 als provisorischi staubfänger ih minere oldies playlist platziert 4 roland juno-106s uf d‘theke

7/10

Fun vibe, 80s or whatever. Not sure that the musical style and the lyrics really go together? "I Am the Law" is nicely menacing.

Great band. Great album. Great songs. Fun listen.

If you were to imagine what the rest of the album that contains "Don't You Want Me" sounded like, it would be this. I don't like electronic music as a rule, but I liked this.

Think it's mostly a testament to how much LCD Soundsystem I've been listening to but I thought this was really good. That said, Gary Numan definitely influenced LCD and I thought his album was bad so human league must be decent. Songs with a proper bass run and shorter notes were the best, ones with more wishy washy synth not as good. Had different opinions about the singing from one song to the next, when it works it works and when it doesn't it gets on my nerves. Having said all of this, enjoyed it.

Have loved this album since it was released. Still pull it out once in a while although the synth heavy sound has not aged terribly well.

I genuinely had no idea as to the depth and acuity of the Human League's song craft. I think I'd fallen prey to thinking that they were lightweights in comparison with their peers. Well, I've already made that mistake with their Sheffield contemporaries ABC, and whaddya know, I've tripped up again. However, whilst ABC's Lexicon of Love is one of my favourite ever - ever - albums, this merely reaches outstanding. You know who else came from the Steel City? Def Leppard. What a hotbed of talent. Sheffield!

80s Music at its best. I really enjoyed this album. There are some great pop songs on this album like Open your heart, The things that dreams are made of and dont you want me. Favourite song: Love action ( I belive in love) and dont you want me. Least favourite: All good Album artwork: Cool cover

Hey! Guess what! I like New Wave. And this is like. PEAK new wave. I love it.

En allant dans cet album j'avais un peu peur qu'il n'y aille que "Don't You Want Me" qui soit bonne et que le reste donne l'impression que ce n'était qu'un single feu de paille. Mais globalement c'était très solide. Je ne dirais pas que c'est le meilleur album new wave que j'ai entendu dans cette liste, mais l'instrumentation était bonne, très bonne production, très bon flux. À garder en rotation. 8/10

Liked it.

I need to know what drug some 80’s album cover artists were on. Like, whose idea is it to put your face in a rectangle window in a void. And why is Phillip Oakey staring at me with that much eyeliner? Anyway, I’m a sucker for 80’s synth. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine that gives the decade its standalone vibe. It’s a weirdly nostalgic feeling… which is weird because I was born in the 90’s. It is a bit synth overkill here, and the tracks do get a little repetitive. But it’s perfectly serviceable for what it is. Honestly, I didn’t expect to get some sinister sounds from the likes of Darkness and I Am The Law. It’s different from what I heard from the Human League before… which was really just Don’t You Want Me. Really, the beauty of this generator is making me listen to albums from bands I heard one song from, just so the song I was familiar with all along ends up my favorite. Still, this was pretty fun and I certainly got into the vibe a couple of times. It’s 80’s as hell, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Favorite track: Don’t You Want Me Other hits: Open Your Heart, Darkness, I Am The Law, Love Action (I Believe In Love), Do or Die

Classic from back in the day!!

Nema ovdje ništa drugo ni približno zarazan kao dont you want me ali je i dalje fora i nekako ugodno naivno

So different and unique. His voice, the music and lyrics. A good album.

Liked it more than i thought i would

8/10 Holy shit I love a synth or two. 12-21-2024

Deliberately put off listening to this in full as I know how revered it is but don't know it beyond the hits. Though I've known those hits basically as my very earliest musical memories, so they have always been with me. And it has come up so late Into my journey, in the last 100, like a delightful cherry on top of my 1088 cakes. Big fan of Pulp, and from the opening bars of this record it's influence on them is clear. Certainly on Intro and HisnHers at any rate. What a fucking banger Open Your Heart is, and so uplifting. I guess if you hate synth pop you won't like this, but I feel that the quality of the songs here should overcome even that. However, I like synth pop, because it's great, and so naturally I absolutely love this.

It's perfect pop from the 1980s and a genre defining album. I'm not into the 80s sound but I have to give credit where credit is due - it's a great album even if it isn't really my taste. And, it was clever to put the big hit at the end of the album. 4/5.

November 25, 2024 HL: "Don't You Want Me", "Open Your Heart", "Darkness", "Love Action", "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" Love some human music 🤖

# Album Name: Dare! # Artist: The Human League # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: This album was a complete grower for me. I knew their hits - love action and dont you want me. So i thought id give it a chance. Normally, theres not many 80s synth albums i can listen to all the way through. However, this album is a very good album in the genre. Despite what anyone says of Dont you want me, its an absolute classic from the era, Great song. Love action is another ive heard dashed around countless 80's albums. Another good song. Seconds was a complete grower too. Other good tunes - Open your heart, sound of the crowd, darkness, Overall, i loved the vibe and synth feel of this album. Plenty of great catchy tracks on this one. # Top Tunes: Dreams are made of / Love action / Dont you want me / Open your heart / sound of the crowd / darkness / seconds # Would I listen to it again? Of course my horse

Great album.

The first track was ok. Second track, open your heart, is really good. Track three is good right off the bat too. The lead single was the closer on the album?!? This album is really good.

Own 2 of their albums (Hysteria Crash) knew only Don't You Want Me from this album. Not all tracks are as good as that but there is enough here to like.

4.0

Kuinka paljon maailmassa onkaan hienoja pimpom-synamelodioita! Tälläkin levyllä monta upeaa. Ekassa biisissä on mahtavat sanat, ja vika ehdoton klassikko. Ne myivät koko levyn mulle, vaikka välissä on no jaa -biisejä. Vähän kuin kirjan kansi: tavallaan upee, tavallaan vähän kauhee.

Always love some good synth pop

This was fun! Plus a star for don't you want me

The Human League dropped their album with their big fuckoff hit on it at the perfect time: the tech was nerdy enough to experiment and sport rough edges to its synth sound and yet cool and cutting edge enough to avoid total obscurity. the idea that you could make a No. 1 hit with nothing but electric instruments that wasn't pure novelty probably inspired more young artists than Yaz or M or Hot Butter did. that's the benefit of going pop, everyone can see you being weird and call you a trendsetter. still, it can be a bit silly to hear some of these synths, especially with the confusing 1-2 whiff of "Get Carter" and "I Am The Law". despite how cool songs like "Seconds" and "Do or Die" can sound, there are still bits on here that remind you you're listening to a band named after a faction in StarForce who were notorious for covering the Doctor Who theme live.

first listen some classic 80s synth

You can't just keep saying "I am the Law," lieutenant-yefreitor. But for serious, I don't think I've ever actually listened to this whole album, and shocking nobody, it's good 80s synthpop - it lags a bit at points, but the bangers bang. And now I'm going to be singing Working as a Waitress all day.

OMG it’s the album we got three copies of that all skipped! Yay vinyl!

Great pioneering new wave album. You can tell it’s one of the first of its kind, though.

don't you want me beibee

With this album, The Human League took a clear step toward a more accessible, radio friendly, and commercial sound compared to their earlier releases. I’ve always appreciated their first two albums, but I have to say, this one takes the cake for me. It’s got everything that makes synthpop so catchy and fun. Every element of this album is electronic, from the drum machine driven beats to the synth driven melodies and basslines. What I really love about 80s synthpop is its natural quirkiness, and this album has its share. When it comes to easygoing electronic synthpop from the 80s, this album is always going to be at the top of my list.

8/10 Perfect 80s electro pop Excellent production, great vocals, big singles Not too much to say, love it Best: Don’t You Want Me

Did not expect to like this a s much as i did. Very cool pop album. The music is quite simple, but in an anjoyable matter. I do not find it boring. The synths are cool and the vocals bounce on top of the early electro sounds in a very pleasing manner.

Perfect example of the techno pop prevalent in the early 80s

I kinda liked this. I kept hearing thematic elements from the "Don't you want me" song throughout the album.

Why did 80's synths ever go away?

Klassiker. Kunne kanskje gitt 5 på ein god dag

Dear Generator, I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Nothing stood out, but the vibes were on point. Xoxo, Cathleen

The Human League I know not who this is. 1981, the year of the birth of my sister. Ooooh synth-pop. You know I love that! Oh crazy, out of all these songs on this album, I do actually know Don't You Want Me and that was the very last track. Im thinking 4 on this one.

Inte hört tidigare (förutom Don’t you want me) men det här tyckte jag var kul! Kanske ska sadla om till synthare så här på ålderns höst?

Synthpop isn't among my favorite genres, but this shit kind of slapped. Don't you Want Me is an all time standout for the genre -- timeless and catchy as hell. Other standouts for me were Darkness (from which Shlohmo has certainly gained instrumental inspiration); I Am The Law (with moody droning synths and some weird effects that remind me of Mong Tong); and on the brighter end of the spectrum The Sound of The Crowd (which I feel like could be Juan Maclean song). Didn't expect much, but really loved this one. Solid 4 / 5.

An album of dizzying highs and plastic 80’s excess.

It's clearly an album on a learning curve. Creating a pop album on a machine that was only starting to gain prominence is wild to me, but the album is kind of a clunker until you get to that massive hit. And that song is so well done it just makes the rest of the album sound even worse. That being said the album works solely on attitude and the "idea" of this album tickles me in the exact same way that people are down voting it. I think they understand its pretentious. That's the whole point. If they didn't have attitude what is left? a bunch of nerds plunking on computers? Anyway it gets a 4 just on attitude alone. And that banger of a last song.

Have loved this album for years.. for that say they were a one hit wonder... there were two hits on this album.. "don't you want me baby" was of course a number 1 track, but "Love Action" was at number 3 and was in the charts for 13 weeks... same as the # 1 song. as a group they had 6 other songs in the top 10 and a few just outside..

Get Carter, I Am the Law, Seconds are too slow; I especially like The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Don’t You Want Me

Actually slaps insanely hard. I "Dare!" to say, this is actually a good album! *Does a backflip, breaks own neck*

Pretty cool 80s songs

bops!!!

I like it! Great beat and pleasant to listen to.

Phil Oakey's voice is a bit flat throughout. The sound is a bit samey. But it is still likeable to an oldie like me Youngsters may not be so charitable.

We all know this is a good album. There was some boring songs midway through the album, but come on - Don't You Want Me Baby is an all time classic.

A synth pop classic. Glad to revisit this one.

It's not great art, but it's about as good of a new wave synth pop record as the genre permits. Pure synth with a smash hit at the end - that's how you do it.

Ressemble à Depeche Mode.

Un album dont le son est très daté, mais assumé et cohérent, ce qui en fait une écoute fort agréable malgré quelques petits embellissements 80s de trop

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

New Romantic classic

I love 80s synth pop. I can't even totally explain why. It just hits my ear the right way. It also heavily influenced bands that I love like Future Islands or Nation of Language. I wouldn't say this is a perfect record, though. The album starts out a bit slow for me, but it does continue to build to that incredible finish. Overall its very good, and I'll be adding this to my listening collection.

„Don‘r You Want Me“, genialer 80er Wave. Aber nicht alles auf dem Album. „Do or Die“ ist ein Geheimtipp, „I am In Law“ klingt wie Depeche Mode im „Memento Mori“, „Seconds“ und „Darkness“ sind typischer Human League Sound. Aber leider sind auch manche Songs etwas eintönig. Trotzdem komme ich wieder auf „Dare“ zurück.

Pretty nice

He leído muchos comentarios negativos con respecto a este disco, pero en Chile (más específicamente en Santiago), hay una disco que se llama "Blondie", y este disco completo está en circulación casi todas las noches. Es un clásico y escucharlo me llena de ganas de ir a bailar toda la noche al ritmo de estos sonidos "vintage". No sé si indispensable, pero definitivamente entretenido.

Interesting that the two best tracks, imo, are the last 2. So many albums open with their best but this album starts off mediocre at best and picks up with Love Action and takes off with Don't You Want Me.

great album

Now we're talking! This was great. Very unusual decision to leave the big hit til last, but it kind of paid off, because I was very in the zone for it by the time it arrived. I will say this for The Human League. At their best, they remind me a little of some of the Pet Shop Boys less good songs.

It's SO FUCKING GOOD I LOVE PROG-ROCK. kinda repetitive tho. strong 8/10.

Kinda sitting around 3.5 on this one. It's pretty classic synth pop. The transition from I Am the Law to Seconds is pretty sweet... Don't You Want Me is also a classic, and I dig the upbeat music coupled to the somewhat dark lyrics. I did 3 for Duran Duran... a 2 for Pet Shop Boys... a 3 on one of the Depeche Mode albums, 4 on the other... II like the vocals and colder minimal synth vibe going on more. It seems more Kraftwerk-inspired new wave synth pop... Great synth sounds! So I'm doing a 3.5+ on this one.

Fun completely midi/electronic album. Was not too keen on it for the first half, but I did enjoy the second a lot more. When I heard the final song it all clicked, because I never knew who sang it, but it’s a great one. Standouts: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Do Or Die, Seconds, Love Action, and Don’t You Want Me.

80’s music has always been a blind spot for me, which means I’ve based my opinion of it on a very small sample size and decided based on that limited exposure that 80’s music was generally bad and that I didn’t like it. This project has helped challenge and change that perception. This album has done the most work that any one album has to do so. This is peak 80’s music. I don’t necessarily mean that it’s the best the decade had to offer. Rather, that this is the peak 80’s sound. The synths. The echo. The singer’s voice. The subject matter. All of it is what I imagine when I think of 80’s music. But what did I think of it? It was good. Not just for what it was or who it was for, but in general. This is really well-constructed music, layered and even nuanced at times. Really catchy hooks that maybe wouldn’t have been as catchy or played as well if not coming from a synth. This isn’t going to get 5 stars; it wasn’t mind blowing or a masterpiece. But I do think it was good that it’s included here and I do feel like this was a good representation of its genre and era. That, and it was just well written and constructed. I’m surprised to be saying this, but 4 stars. Standout tracks: The Things that Dreams Are Made Of, The Sound of the Crowd, Darkness, Seconds, Love Action (I Believe in Love), Don’t You Want Me

Great album but not all songs are bangers

Great early synth pop band and that final track is a bop and a half.

This one grew on me as I progressed through the album. There are some musically interesting bits, all of them sequenced before the most famous track on the album. I feel like I will revisit this one!

A nice slice of new wave. This is pretty much exactly what I want from the genre.

This is a good album. Look I don't know what you want me to say about it. Ohh fascinating use of I don't know, whatever. who gives a shit.

Very 80s. I like

That was a thoroughly enjoyable album! As a big fan of synth-pop, I loved the experimentation audible here. However, I think I’ll stick just listening to ‘Don’t You Want Me’ on further listens. 9/10

Sweet early synth pop!

I thought I’d hate this but I ended up really enjoying it, there’s some nice groovy songs on there and it’s not just throwaway 80s synth pop. The last song is obviously a monolith of 80s music but the rest reminded me of Kraftwerk at times. A pleasant surprise.

I was never a waitress at a cocktail bar idk what you're talking about

Obviously can’t go lower than a 4 for the album with Don’t You Want Me. Also really liked seconds. Is it dated? Absolutely. But it’s also very fun.

You’d better change it back or we will both!! be! sorry!!!

Better than I remembered. Love Action is a classic

Great last song. Solid album.

This synthesizer sound is just the representation of 80s era

Bastions of 80s synth pop. Some of these songs are deceptively simlple but true classics. Started and ended with dynamism - flagged a bit in the middle. I’m still humming Open Your Heart. It’s probably a 3.5 but it’s a real nostalgia hit.

This is a nice album! I love Phillip Oakley’s voice on songs like “The Sound of The Crowd” and “Open Your Heart”. The instrumentation is sparse but fluid. Everything flows like a stream. 4.5/5 Fav: “The Sound of The Crowd” Least Fav: “Get Carter”

Good synthpop

Awesome new wave album. The techno-synth beats aren’t too in your face. I can see why this album was a defining feature of the genre.

The Things That Dreams Are Made Of: 3/5 Open Your Heart: 3/5 The Sound Of The Crowd: 3/5 Darkness: 4/5 Do Or Die: 4/5 Get Carter: 4/5 I Am The Law: 3/5 Seconds: 3/5 Love Action: 4/5 Don't You Want Me: 4/5 Avg.: 3.5

Much better than I thought

There’s no mistaking the decade that produced this album. I used to say I hated 80’s music, which was a really bad take in hindsight. Plenty of music from the 80s was way ahead of its time and sounds fresh even today. DARE is an album I’ve had on my periphery for some time and I’m glad this generator had me listen to it. It’s super synthy, pretty weird, darker than expected, and totally great. Darkness and the hit single Don’t You Want Me are the highlights for me.

Don't You Want Me is one of the all time classic 80s songs and synth pop songs, I quite like the rest as well. But we know why we're here.

Fun little album. Another where I wish I could hear it with 80's ears to understand how cool and novel the synth was.

So fun!

I went to see The Human League in the 2000s but I don't think I'd listened to this album. Pioneering stuff, and now I know Kraftwerk better you can trace the influence. I don't think Phil Oakey would claim to be the greatest singer ever, and some of the lyrics are a bit creaky, but a really enjoyable, cohesive album otherwise.

It's the blueprint for 80s synth. All stems from this. It still has filler but Oakley's voice is iconic

More annoyed about some reviews on here than anything else. People talking about Casio keyboards and one hit wonders are display their ignorance about music history. You forget how massive this album was. Love it. Want to give it a 4.5

Yeessss some New Wave... Don't You Want Me is still a banger.

Classic

This was a solid 80s synth pop album. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I found this record very enjoyable throughout. I only knew the closing track (which is one of those songs one knows simply by existing), but found the album easy to get into. The groove is consistent throughout and though the synths are dated, they hold up well today and are even used in contemporary pop. From what I read about this album, it is hugely influential and is considered a herald of the second British invasion.

Interesting. This seems like the ultimate synth heavy early 80s album. It was pretty great, although vocals are so front and center in the mix it's hard to ignore how dumb the lyrics sometimes are.

new wave synth pop the way god intended

It's the 80s

Good! Don’t You Want Me is a classic.

Enjoyed this much more than I expected, would listen again. Slightly dated sound wise, but some really great songwriting. Possibly the best I've heard from this New Romantics period.

Very 80s, but in a good way.

Klassiker. Kunne kanskje gitt 5 på ein god dag

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: I adore this one, full of hits and what got me into synth pop! Favourite song: Track 8 - Seconds

Dare has a second layer of impossibility, layered since synth-pop is always in some way happy-forcing. Here, the 80s hit waits politely for prefigured '10s dance music, their convergence papering over many a dated production sin. The Human League even pull out of what one can read as Dreddian language a hopeful living conclusion.

The reputation of DYWM (which is a sensational pop song, btw) has maybe overshadowed how innovative the Human League were, and this album really was the one that put synthpop on the map. A real study in contrast with Heaven 17's debut, and a significant step forward from the earlier Human League work.

This album is so much fun!!

Wow, I didn't knew about this album before and it's a very good new wave piece! I like when the 1001 challenge surprises me positively.

Not my cup of tea, but I recognized some songs, one that I really enjoy.

Good fun album with surprisingly good songs. It’s obviously a sound of an era but the songs transcend it. And now in hindsight those synths sounds are gorgeous.

Some might describe this as the pinnacle of 80s synth pop, and in many ways they've got it right. The problem I have with this is that it's a culmination, something that almost allows no further refinement. To go further with this would mean changing it into something else, distinct and different to what it already is.

Favourite tracks: things that dreams are made of; love action; don't you want me; seconds

I really enjoy synthpop and love that big 80s feeling. There were some really standout tracks on this one.

I like the sound very much. Too bad they sold out after this one.

More low-key than the single would have predicted but still a vibe

I quite enjoyed this one. Of course you can't escape Don't You Want Me, but the rest of it I liked a lot as well. Heavy synth-pop that I found myself bobbing my head and tapping my toe to. Would listen to this one again.

I do love me some synth heavy 80s pop, so this hit the spot. It has several really great tracks, and the filler is pretty pleasant and fun too. I don't know that I would listen to this frequently, but I really liked it. 3.5/5, rounding up just to be nice.

Super synthy and classic new wave 80s sounds. "Don't You Want Me" by far the most popular megahit but the rest wasn't bad either. I liked "Love Action". I've listened to alot of music from this era so far and this is electronica done right, even though it's from '81. 8/10.

3.5 Good jams, Dont You Want Me is an all timer and amazing one to end on

Still sounds great Synths rarely sounded better

This album is actually such a great listen. So many catchy beats and hooks on every song. Great fun from start to finish

Own on Vinyl

Genres: New wave, synth-pop Formed: Sheffield in 1977 Run time: 10 songs, 40 min, 53 sec I haven’t heard the first track before, but Philip Oakey’s vocals are instantly recognisable. A couple of tracks have less than 1M listens on Spotify, but most are well over 1M listens. “Don’t You Wany Me” has almost 400M listens. It’s a great album, well worth a listen. My Rating: ****

хз

Feel like this one might grow on me. I had heard Don't You Want Me and Seconds before, but never the full album. So clear how massive of an influence they had on bands like LCD Soundsystem and MGMT. 4/5

At first I thought I was getting another 80s synth-pop/nu-wave album styling. Then I looked at the song list, right at the very end, is probably one of the best songs of the 80s 'Don't You Want Me'. Looking back the lyrics are somewhat concerning, yet gives the female protagonist a voice to move forward with her life when the relationship comes to an end, and move onto bigger and better things. Overall it was a great album and really opened up the 80s to the new sound of the synth. Best: Don't You Want Me Worst: I Am The Law

Full on concentrated 80s new wave synth

Really good album. Those myths a fantastic and ends with a popular stalker about an abusive boyfriend. Great.

4 stars - super fun, will revisit.

Score: 80 Album art: 70 Penis music The lyrics are a lot darker than I expected. Some songs are just good but others are great, darkness was my favorite. Being before the 80s I feel like this was probably ahead of the game. Enjoyable album

It's Dare! It's a Casio on a Plastic Beach. This is cool Atari, beep boop, robot rock music. This is a product of its time and that is okay. It's a great, influential beginning to a wonderful decade of awesome music. This sound is often trying to be recreated, often used as a gimmick, but this one is original and authentic. Neat that their biggest hit is the last song (and it's incredible, also creepy and incel-ish).

4.5/5 I love every song on this album.

light 4

Baaanger. Except for the first two tracks of side B (they’re basically one song), those were a little wank

Koola elektronix

It is pretty decent new wave. Not my favorite from the genre, but in the range of new wave it earns its keep. "I Am The Law" was my top song outside of the closing track. Speaking of the last track, it is fucking amazing and bumps this from a 3 to a 4 star album for me. At the start I wasn't sure if it would make it there, but damn "Don't You Want Me" is an amazing track.

A true classic of 80s techno. Everyone knows "Don't You Want Me (Baby)?" but there are many other great 80s club hits on this album, starting with the lead off "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of".

Of course I know "Don't You Want Me", but I'm not 100% sure I had ever heard another Human League song before. I went into this expecting it to be alright (they are, after all, referenced in LCD Soundsystem's "Losing My Edge" so they have to be decent) but I was pleasantly surprised by an all around excellent synth-pop album. The only real complaint I have is that I feel like this mastering doesn't sound "big" enough except on "Don't You Want Me" where the synths really punch through and there's more bass. I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars but it's a very solid 4.

Not bad. Lovely synths. I vibe with those. Bit generic maybe. I dislike the last song.

I think that this album gets overshadowed a lot when talking about good 80's album. It embodies so well the capacity that good synthpop has of bringing pop sensibilities while staying very artistically interesting and genre-defining. Don't You Want Me is a timeless classic at this point, but many songs here are absolute bangers, like Love Action and Things That Dreams Are Made Of. 8,4/10

I wish I was born in the 80s

80’s flashback. Nice

You've got to sit through the entire album to get to the good bits. I'm going to ding a star for Get Carter. Why did that need to be remastered?

Nice

After two albums of attempting to be Sheffield's answer to Kraftwerk, Philip Oakley and his Human League had to undergo dramatic changes (Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh leaving to form Heaven 17) and conjure up what would become one of the more defining synth-pop sounds of the early 80s and beyond. With Dare!, Human League not only revitalized itself but assimilated themselves into what would become the juggernaut of music consumption with the sound that could only be absorbed wholeheartedly by the crowd. These are the things that dreams are, indeed, made of. Favorites: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, The Sound of the Crowd, Do or Die, I Am the Law, Seconds, Love Action (I Believe in Love), Don't You Want Me.

New York, ice cream, TV, travel, good times Norman Wisdom, Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, good times These are the things These are the things The things that dreams are made of These are the things

1980s me loved this. 2020s me may have outgrown it.

Yes! 80’s pop is very much to my taste. Even better, I’m pretty sure I only know one song from this album, which means I’ll have a lot to discover and (hopefully) enjoy a lot. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: Don’t You Want Me Favourites: Don’t You Want Me, Open Your Heart, Love Action It saddens me that nobody seems to make music like this any more. The sound of the drums, the overuse of synths, the style of singing - it all got stuck in the 80s and never made it further. Perhaps it may have overstayed it’s welcome if it did continue longer, but I do wish we still had new music to look forward to that sounded like this. My only critique is that I Am The Law felt much less exciting to me, but otherwise this was full of very good songs. If you’ve somehow never heard The Human League before, I’d be happy to recommend trying this album.

Human League is a group I've always had on my "need to check them out more" list. This album has highs and lows for me. I love all of the synths being used, but there are some tunes where the use of portamento is kind of exhausting. But songs like Do or Die and Don't You Want Me are undeniable bangers. Overall good, I would give this a spin again. 3.5/5

Запомнил только Don't you want me baby, пушто единственная раньше была в плейлисте. Годные синты, тот самый "дебильный" по моим детским меркам звук, который стал нравится в 20+. Но хочется уже выйти за рамки 20 века, и особенно 80-ых. Может, новый альбом хотя бы 2000ых?

Lovely little album. Can't help but feel that they're a one hit wonder with Don't You Want Me, but I don't know anything about The Human League.

At first I really disliked this album. Mostly because the suite of retro synths, drum machines, and digital reverbs used in "Dare" has become so associated with 80s tropes that it was difficult for me to access it as anything other than a gimmick. I also feel like lyrics were less of a priority for the members of the band than were sound design and melody. As a result several songs on the album sounded like perfectly decent synth instrumentals that had been retrofitted with lines from a children's book or a teenager's diary. I'm not sure if saying that the writers were being intentionally trite for ironic effect would be giving them too much credit, or if my "modern" ear (trained on the irony of such genres as vapor wave and hyper pop) imbues anything so directly commercial sounding with an implicit sardonicism, or if indeed this was all part of the intended affect. Despite all this, perhaps I was rewired by the sparks and glam and 80s circuitry, because I was really enjoying this album by the time it ended. "The Sound of the Crowd" was the first one that caught my ear, because of the strange vocal processing at the end of the chorus and the unconventional songwriting style in general. I also really liked "Darkness", "Do or Die", "Seconds" and "I am the Law" for similar sound design reasons. There were times when the drum machines struck up a great groove, and the synth arpeggios tickled the stereo field in a way that still felt fresh to my nostalgia-suspicious ear. The weakest song for me was actually the single "Don't You Want Me"; the writing feels a bit clunky to me. As a whole, this album is pretty good! I wish I could have heard this when it first came out to hear how it was situated in its contemporary cultural environment. I don't think I had a good angle of approach from the launch pad of all the "Stranger-Things"-type shows and reheated synthwave tropes that abound in today's cultural repertoire, but the trail that "Dare" blazed still feels interesting, if now a little over-trodden.

So this is at least an automatic 3 if only because of "Don't You Want Me", which is an absolute monster classic. But Open Your Heart and The Sound of the Crowd have a lot of the same DNA as that monster classic, which makes them very enjoyable in their own right. Do or Die is alternately bouncy and dark and moody and totally works even though the vocals and synths don't sound like they should work together at all. Side 2 is a bit more scattered - I Am the Law doesn't work despite having a similar template as Do or Die. A couple of friends and I are all doing independent listening projects concurrently - I'm maybe 15 albums in front of them. One of them rated this album 1 star, which I think I can understand since I was 7 when that monster classic hit #1 in the US, and a lot of what I listened to or saw on early MTV sounds somewhat similar (and was everywhere), while they are a few years younger than me. I was harsh on Dylan in an earlier review for seemingly coasting on older folks' nostalgia, but here I am doing the same thing with The Human League of all things. Hmm.

One of the first albums to incorporate synths into pop so flawlessly, thus affecting the way pop music sounds to this day. I believe the influence of this album reaches recent pop stars such as Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Dua Lipa. It's a fantastic and short album, with highlights all throughout. Pulls in audiences with the energetic tracks and ends with the hits. As sad as it is for bands to break apart, this album is much more polished, accessible, and coherent than anything Heaven 17 put together. The synths are fun, loud, exciting, and all over, feeling spacious and a bit industrial or futuristic. The vocalists are enthusiastic and almost robotic-like, continuing this trend once started by the likes of Kraftwerk. I appreciate the supporting female vocalist, not necessary, but adding another layer to the club singalong vibe. "I am the Law" is the only "weak" song but also the most atmospheric and still nestles tightly between the others. Last 3 tracks are just incredible.

i love synth pop

The lyrics are actually good and thoughtful. The music has a date on it but is still good enough to hold up to fresh ears.

Have a soft spot for this brand of synth-pop. I know in good conscience this could be left out of a 1001 albums list, but Don't You Want Me is just perfect so this gets a 4 from me.

I could get down to this. 6/10

Deeper than I expected

Excellent, and probably light years ahead of its time. Haven’t listened to Side B yet though as I am too sleepy

So fun

I do love this 80s full on cheese! I think the synths are amazing and it's such a feel good vibe. Don't you want me baby is such a classic but also reminds me of lockdown days when I created a cover and music video fueled by about 10 gallons of rosé... I really enjoyed bits of Do or Die with no vocals and it's an all around great album for me apart from the track called Seconds I didn't enjoy the shouty vocals and I'm not sure why other than that I just don't like that one lol. I already have quite a good appreciation for the Human League but didn't know any other tracks on this album before so that's fun too. Good start to the week as I'm listening on a Monday!

A real mixed bag of an album. The singles are the stand out tracks - Sound of the Crowd, Love Action, Open Your Heart and especially Don't You Want Me. The other tracks less impressive, even after repeated listens. The singles get Dare an extra star

Leuke popsongs waarbij ik al snel meezong of neuriede. Spijtig dat geen enkel nummer een deftige Outro heeft

An easy 4 stars!

“You’re really going to give this album a 4 because of the last song being so iconic?!!?!? 😡😡” “Yes.”

Never listened to it at the time, but actually quite nice as background music and that 80s feel.

Disco rock style. Don't you want to listen?

I'm now a Human League fan.

Great album, full of bouncing brooding electronic beats and melodies

A trip down memory lane..clubbing in Honolulu…great tunes

Classic 80s band with their best song

Generally extremely catchy and entertaining. Some of the lyrics may be a bit silly or repetitive, but it really, strangely, doesn't take away from the enjoyment I got from listening to this album. Of course it has the absolute masterpiece of 'Don't You Want Me Baby,' but I think it starts with a sleeper hit with 'The Things That Dreams Are Made Of.' The energy in the song is easy to catch, and it carries through the majority of the album. 'I Am The Law' unfortunately slows things down a bit, but leaving the big hit for the end makes sure you're left on an upbeat, positive note.

7/10 DON'T YOU LOVE ME BABE?!

For Christmas one year didn't George Costanza  hand out cards that said "A donation in your name has been made to The Human League." Anyway, "Don't You Want Me" sure was a kick ass song. It was played like crazy during university but I'm still not sick of it. Some of this album sounds a tad dated now but it sure was cool back in the day. Another notch in Virgin's pistol.

I think that the opening side is a killer, especially the first 3 tracks, Sound of the Crowd being my favourite. Side 2 drags a bit, then redeems it self with "Don't You Want Me". I agree with Oakley that this hit isn't one of their stronger songs, but the opening chords are unforgettable, like "Cars" by Gary Numan or "The Model" by Kraftwerk. It's funny, the story about how, three days before having to go on tour (without a band) Oakley saw these these two teenage girls dancing in a nightclub and invited them to join the band as "incidental vocalists". They got consent from their parents and they're still touring!

This is seminal synth-pop. A logical evolution from Kraftwerk with enough danceable hooks and melodies to make it appealing to the masses. I think they did it better than many of their contemporaries, eg Duran Duran, Gary Numan and Depeche Mode. I really like it when they get a bit darker on Seconds. They only had relatively simple electronic instruments but they really make the best of it with some very humanistic melodies.

Let's be honest. When I first heard of Human League... way, way back when, on Solid Gold with Dionne Warwick, I didn't know any better than to think it was DEVO. Reflect and consider. Am I wrong? Are we not men? We are De-Vo. I also never went back and listened to an actual Human League record since then, but they were undeniably part of 80's synth and beyond. I only really magnetized back to them thanks to George Michael kind of (really) ripping them off with Shoot The Dog. But he really gave respect (I hope that gets through) except for the political disrespect. Tony's lonely wife. Whatever errant directions they might have tried later this record is imaginative, regardless of whether 80's synth pop is now considered cringe. But this is Phil talking... I wanta tell you, what I've found to be truuue...!

Phil Oakey's voice is perhaps the bit that's aged least well.but the songs are bulletproof.

Fantastic album full of analog synth goodness. Slight dip at the beginning of side B but starts and finishes very strongly.

I'm not entitrely sure what Love Action is, but they've got it in spades.

"we thought that hair styles would be the first thing to date"

Quite uneven, but the hits are classics

classic pop, with really human synths, and great tunes.

very 80s.... kinda sassy growing on me tho!

4/5. Don’t You Want Me is an all time banger, album is kinda inconsistent tho

This is the proudest I've been to be from Sheffield, apart from when "The Full Monty" was screened on a flight I was on and I ran up and down the plane singing "You Can Leave Your Hat On" with nothing but a sick bag over my jaffas, all the way to Bangkok. "Seconds" is the best song about an assassin since Peter Gabriel's the year before.

Songs for my wife to be. Fabulous album full of memory.

Saved Prior: Love Action (I Believe In Love), Don't You Want Me Off Rip: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Open Your Heart, The Sound Of The Crowd, Do Or Die, I Am The Law, Seconds Cutting Edge: Darkness Overall Notes: Despite the large quantity of songs saved (all but 1 were at least on my Cutting Edge playlist) and Don't You Want Me being one of my favorite songs of all time, this album was simply above average. It's good and most of the songs have multiple good elements to them, but they rarely come together to form a truly transcendently great song (Don't You Want Me being the only exception good lord is that song good). I liked it better than the Eurythmics album for sure, but nothing close to Depeche Mode. Lots of good songs, a couple very good songs, one incredible one.

“Chock-full of precise, memorable melodies delivered with style and humour.”

Oh how excited I was for this. Early 80s English synth-pop was my jam back in the day, and one of my favorite songs ever is "Don't You Want Me." The first couple of listens through, it seemed like too much of the same thing, and I got a little bored. Philip Oakey's monotone, so cool in each song on its own, gets a bit much over ten in a row. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy it! I did! But maybe I had my expectations too high. Maybe sometimes it's okay to love a single more than its album. I will keep listening to this one, though, until I know for sure.

I am familiar with The Human League, but not this entire album. This is authentic synth-pop of the 80s. I enjoy being taken back to this time in music from time to time.

This is good, synth-y 80s pop. I don't think I'd ever heard the whole album. I liked Don't You Want Me well enough when it was released but I think I've heard it enough in the last 40 years. I really liked the songs on this album that were less familiar to me, especially The Things That Dreams Are Made Of and Seconds.

So many sounds, would sound amazing on vinyl. 80s overload. WILL BUY.

Very good formative synthpop album. The opening track is almost "violently" 80s. The rest is a little same, but still very enjoyable. Best tracks "These Are The Things" "I Am The Law" "Don't You Want Me"

So much more here than just "Don't You Want Me". A glorious slice of synth-pop. 1 mark deducted for Phil's hair though - sorry.

I’ve listened to a lot of the tracks on the album individually but never as an album. This was released just before I came of age musically but the tracks have always been there in my life. I enjoy the synth and electronic sounds of the new wave/romantics it has aged a bit but it was the start of a new musical direction. I didn’t realise that seconds was a homage to JFK, quite an interesting song

as with so many other albums on this list, this one was a distinct moment in time. it happens that this was a moment i was there for, and remember pretty well. i didn't know what any of it meant at the time, but i was very happy to hear disco's influence fading, and to see whatever new wave was going to bring. it felt, in the best possible way, like living in the future - and a future that was full of possibility and all that stuff, even if it knew it was a weird future. that said, love action was a nice surprise. i'm sure i've heard it any number of times, but this was the first time i really paid attention. seconds was a good surprise, too. and naturally, the big hit is always cool to hear.

A classic early 80s synth pop album, a lot of fun to listen to. It was one of the first cassettes I owned, so it saw a lot of play in my house. Coming back to hear it now, I'm struck by the simplicity of it. The sound is crisp, the arrangements deliberately flat and cold. Phil Oakey's commanding baritone vocal is a centerpiece of this music, another instrument in its own right. The songwriting is simple but sophisticated, touching rather poetically on themes like alienation and sexual politics. And surprisingly for such a aloof sounding band, Phil Oakey for the most part comes off as an optimist, someone who still believes in love, who still believes we hold the power to find what we need in this life... if we dare to look for it. "Don't You Want Me" is incredibly catchy, a perfect pop song and a stone cold classic that belongs in any time capsule of this era. Funny to find out it's the last song on the album because Oakey didn't particularly care for it. Fave Songs: Don't You Want Me, Darkness, Love Action, Open Your Heart

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: The things that dreams are made of, The sound of the crowd, Seconds, Don’t you want me

This is very 80s. Like the most 80s thing imaginable. I liked it though. The Sound of The Crowd and I Am The Law are highlights.

Loved it. So funny and clever.

Synth-tastic! Paved the way for the shit I listen to today.

Really cool album Most songs have an interesting sound and speak to me. Cool use of piano and guitar 4.5/5

Fun to listen to, had only heard "don't you want me" before, was happy to hear some more from them.

Classic synth-pop album with some all-time great songs from the genre. The lead singers voice might get grating though on repeat listens.

Großartiger Synthie Pop / New Wave. Don't you want me - Smash hit!

Don't you want me baby! Don't you want me oooooohhh! Great album, think I'm learning that I generally like 80s pop?

Great 80’s pop. Catchy and fun

I've always enjoyed this. Has some slower and darker album songs, but six of the 10 are outstanding.

really good album. wasnt sure if i was going to like it but it does work well and i do indeed like it a lot

8/10 ta gueno y don't you want me es un rolololololon.

Esa cancioncita de entrada qué cursilería y el álbum es un poco eso, pero qué disfrutable. Sus sintetizadores (algo que disfruto tanto de la música) y los beats son algo a lo que puedo regresar con un mood específico. "Do or Die" quizá fue mi preferida, con ese motivo que se repite en ciertas partes de la canción. Y ni cómo negar el hitazo "Don't You Want Me", aunque me parece desigual respecto al álbum... con todo y que creo que es similar a la primera. Quizá el problema que tengo con el álbum es que de pronto, me esperaba más en ciertas canciones. En fin, 8.5/10

Another 80s album with great synthesizers and off-putting vocals, but this one quickly grew on me. I still think the vocals are kind of kitschy and camp (and I don't know if they were intended to sound that way or not), but they work fairly well here.

This band is funny in a Kraftwerk and Devo sort of way. Hard not to like it, it's weird and friendly. Oh, I actually know "Don't You Want Me", that was a surprise. I like that song. This was a good listen.

Nice eighties pop

Synthy jams.

Das good shit. Funky, part disco, poppy, just a classic and more

Synths. Synths everywhere. And I loved it. The Sound of the Crowd is SO SO good - I could have that on repeat for hours.

really fun!

Is sort of a generic 80s synth-pop album (which isn't a bad thing) until the last track. "Don't You Want Me" is quite possibly one of the best (if not THE best) pop songs from the 80s, that song alone bumps this album up a full star from 3/5 to 4/5 for me. Such a banger of a song.

Album : 24/1089 Songs known going in : 1/10 Favourite song : Don't you want me (or darkness if i was to pick one not previously known) Cover Art: remind me of elvis on the bauble Rating :5/10 notes : I love a synthesiser where have all the synths been so far in these ratings. I cant help having a little wiggle. It's wigglable music I wouldnt put most of it on (other than my GOAT Don't you want me) but I wouldnt turn it off if it came on.

An archetypal slice of 80s new-wave pop. It’s shimmery, glossy, and drenched in neon, gliding through your head as easily as it goes in. Most of the album is stylish but non-adhesive: pleasant in the moment, forgettable afterward. The lone exception is the closer, “Don’t You Want Me,” which radio programmers correctly identified as the only truly sticky track. It’s the one Human League song that survives on every Best-of-the-80s compilation for a reason. Overall: a perfectly fine listen, but not one that lingers. Rating: 3/5

It was all right. Bizarre that their seemingly most famous song is just dropped at the end of the album

My subjectivity is showing on this one. I have a natural aversion to anything that sounds so 80's as this does. Lots of keyboards and faux electronica and not great vocals leaves me cold, although i can admit they write a good pop song now and again. On the positive side, i have a pro sheffield bias and know how high this is held. I'll never chose to listen again, but its a good example of its time and place

Pretty weak 3, feels dated

I was quite torn, idk if it's a 3 or 4/5 (it's a 3,5). I like the bass, but not many songs stood out apart from the famous single (which is awesome)

This was pretty enjoyable 80s synth pop that I enjoyed a bit more than I expected I would. First side was stronger than the second side, I think though. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.

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

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

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

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

Solide und nicht schlecht

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

I like one song

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.

Vaca catch up

Fine.

boring

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

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

Perfectly fine but nothing exceptional in it.

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 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.

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.

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…

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...

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

"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

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.

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.

fine

A surprise hit

Deadly pop.

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.

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

3,5