Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Classic album with some classic songs. I Am The Law is so eerie and catchy at the same time. It’s got the best ear candy of the entire album
Kind of wall to wall bangers tbh
Verso la fine migliora, ma è comunque noioso.
poppy synth... niet veel achter zoeken, maar dat is ook niet altijd nodig
Don't think the songs are quite up to scratch, though there's some decent ones (The Sound of the Crowd, Do or Die). Textbook definition of "fine". It's not bad by any means, but it's pretty bang average IMO.
good album with a great banger ending
Cool new wave / synth pop. Reminds me a bit of Kraftwerk, but more playful and fun. And funkier too. I like that the music has a meticulous, calculated style, but you can still dance and groove to it. Ohhh, I know “Don’t You Want Me”! Funny to save the big hit for last. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that on an album before. It’s usually the other way around. I love this song!
"Don't You Want Me" is a perfect moody 80's synthy track. I really love this sound, and part of me would have loved to be alive the year this came out, ushering in the wild decade of the 1980s. Man that was probably a great time. I think it's hilarious that it's the last song on the album too. I wonder how many people didn't even get that far in a listen? There's a lot of songs on this record that are missing that one "special" thing. "Don't You Want Me" is so special; it sounds like the singer and rest of the band really feel the lyrics and they all work together to take the song to the next level. I don't really get that anywhere else on the record unfortunately. I do love this album cover. It's bold and a bit silly, which really is how I feel about a lot of artistic things from this decade.
Wanted to give this 4 stars before listening to this after so many years. Then I realized that I knew all of the tracks and loved most of them then and now.
45 years ago? WTF? I used to listen to there hire over and over... fun 80's romp. doesn't hold up for me now... just nostalgic half smile.
This felt a little like a one-hit wonder album. None of it was bad, but none of the songs quite had the star power of the final track.
Tempted to give it a 5 star but ultimately decided that it’s probably more nostalgia why I love this album so much for the time in my life when this was released!
Really hate this genre
liked it didnt love it
Not for me
A lot of these songs sound frantic and a little undercooked. I probably won’t listen again. BUT, it’s cool to hang out at the headwaters of a river that ran into all of my favorite music.
I WANT YOUR LOVE ACTION. I love the confidence of 80s synth, they said things with power, you know, the synth is ripping and it's so good. I will say, this isn't an album of wall to wall bangers, but it is generally very very good. When you think of 80s synth pop, I personally think of this. Sure there are much cooler and more experimental offshoots, but this sent me on a very fun synth binge.
Huge! When that absolutely disgustingly filthy synth line in The Sound Of The Crowd kicked in I actually shouted YES involuntarily, which is always the sign of an enormous banger. Makes you wanna dream life the way you think it ought to be, see things you thought you'd never ever sea, take a cruise to China or a train to Spain, go around the world around again and again, meet a girl on a boat meet a boy on a train and fall in love without the pain. Lags a tiny bit around the middle, before the two big bangers at the end, but I can forgive that, because this is a masterpiece. When you think about this, Soft Cell and OMD all arriving at the same time, it feels like maybe the best little period of English pop music there ever was.
Synth instrumentals are annoying. Vocals aren't bad, but the effects make it sound like he needs a better mic.
The first time I listened to this I put it in my top 50. Now, I’m wondering how his voice is so annoying. He needs to be kicked out, and that girl should become the lead singer.
mostly annoying disco synth whatever
A band that’s honesty so shitty it’s kind of inspiring. Fun garbage.
Kinda cheesy 80's synth which was probably super modern at the time. The songs are super catchy and fun. I'm enjoying this far more than I thought I would. Got a bit repetative about halfway through. Not a bad ablum but not something I'm super into.
Even for an 80s album, this one sounds so DATED.
Category: Easy to listen to on a sunday morning
Ah, the Don't You Want Me album. I still have fond memories of that evening we spent on a whim at a pub in Cardiff, when the drag queen who was performing the song suddenly jumped on my friend's back demanding a piggyback while the crowd was singing along and cheering. Balls to the walls while he had balls on his back. Fun was had. Good times.
⭐ Inte min grej. Bara tråkigt. Skulle klarat mig från att ha hört detta album och kommer inte lyssna på det igen.
How come the UK doesn't get an exclamation mark? This one is pretty fun, and there's a few really great tracks. This album has aged better than a lot of other 80's synth music, and the pop stylings are a big part of that. Favorite track: "Don't You Want Me"
3.5
Just some great synth-pop. Amazing flow too!
80s synth is something I've heard a lot in my childhood and beyond, its comforting and usually enjoyable. Found some new favorites outside of "Don't You Want Me?" and a new appreciation for the band
Esta muy cool el disco. Gran trabajo lírico, letras muy pegadizas y bien trabajadas. Me gusta mucho el estilo y el género. Creo que es un disco incónico que marco mucho la cultura del synth-pop y con toda razón, no tiene nada malo, es bueno de inicio a fin. Seguro muy genérico, pero al final bueno y eso nada se lo quita. Un disco que no tiene fallas. A ratos se siente como una canción enorme que termina en la grande Don't You Want Me, pero una vez más, no tiene nada de malo. En general un buen disco, los disfrute.
Strong GTA Vice City vibes. It was fine to listen to, there seems to be a spectrum of sub sounds in the 80’s era synth wave, whether the bands go dark and moody like depeche mode and new order, or more happy and commercial vibes like flock of seagulls etc. Felt to me like human league hadn’t really decided where they fit in that spectrum on this album
This was honestly surprisingly good!
You never know what to expect when being exposed to a full album of a one hit wonder. Sometimes the music is surprisingly good and you, well, wonder why none of their other songs ever broke through. This was not one of those times.
I hate 80s music. This Album has whopping 2 songs that don't make me develop symptoms, that's something!
Not my kind of music, however I put them in perspective and can value their acumen.
Reasonable, but not my favourite of the New Wave genre
most 80s album ever. some of the songs had a weird predator vibe to them.... savior complex... just an unpleasant vibe. a controlling man who thinks too highly of himself. "Success has been so easy for you But don't forget it's me who put you where you are now And I can put you back down too" and "You're lucky I care For fools like you You're lucky I'm there To stop people doing the things That you know they're dying to do You know I am no stranger I know rules are a bore But just to keep you from danger I am the law"
Listening session: march 4th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: listened to one song before Thoughts: of course Don’t You Want Me is a banger, but the rest is quite forgettable and just classic 80s stuff Favourite track: Don’t You Want Me
Better than Coldplay
Synth pop. Over 800 entries to go and hoping this is the exception genre, and not the rule. As far as the genre goes, this is a fine example. Don't You Want Me Baby? is giving me misogyny ick today, although it was a real bop when first released. Why does the album cover photo give me Vanity Fair Karoline Leavitt photo icks?) ⭐⭐
Listened to each song for as long as I could stand the vocals. Never got through a whole track...
I was going to give this a 2 until the last song
Tampoco soy de este estilo, pero seria un disco que si volvería a revisitar, bien sin más en esta primera escucha, mi favorita Don't You Want Me, es a la que le puse mas atención por lo diferente que me sono de las demás sin desentonar en el album
Alright new wave. Doesn't compete with the greats imo and some of it is pretty cheesy. Nothing too boring or offensive though.
Solid, i knew the one hit
Decent synth pop. Don't you want me is a classic. Was a little disappointed it didn't last longer, even if I thought s few middle songs had too similar bass beat
This is not my type of music
Don't You Want Me is a next level great song. The rest, could do without.
Electronic pop music that went in one ear and out the other. It’s been less than 24 hours and I don’t remember much about it. I didn’t dislike it. I do recall that at the time it came out “Don’t You Want Me” sounded different from most else that was on the radio. So I suppose they we near the start of a style that is taken for granted these days
Fun with synthesizers!
There have certainly been worse things on this list. Thankfully, the saving grace here is how heavily The Human League leans into the synth nature of their music. Unfortunately, the vocals work against them. There is a clear best track here, with the three most popular songs also being my favorites. But still, the way The Human League writes and performs their choruses here was exhausting, repetitive to a fault. Which is a shame because I could see myself easily swaying the other way and having a nice 80's time with this album. Highlight: Don't You Want Me Lowlight: Do Or Die Surprise Hit: Open Your Heart
Totally fine. It's really just Don't You Want Me Baby carrying the whole thing.
Fuuuck The Human League.
I'm not at all keen on synth pop but somehow this kept my attention and had some interesting moments and good atmospherics. It's not going to become a favourite or something I'd buy but I appreciated it. Also, Sheffield royalty so there's that.
Cool nostalgia for early 80s electronica, but otherwise mediocre. Don’t you want me is a great song, but far and away the best song on the album. Not a bunch of great hooks or feeling in most of the others. JMHO.
confused as to why this is on here. it was fine! the big song is good! not really sure what the point of the rest of it is?
interesting that they saved the best for last. the rest was pretty uninspiring. favorites: the sound of the crowd, don't you want me
One hit wonder of an album
creepy fuckin album cover ngl.
The aptest description of this album would be "a 35-minute slog to get to Don't You Want Me". Safe to say "synth pop" is a genre that does not translate well to the modern era, no matter how you spin it. Even something like Charli XCX's Brat has to be produced excellently, and make use of a great, well-established singer, for it to be listenable in any capacity. The Human League doesn't quite accomplish any of these (except for the synth pop part). The singing is poor, the production is brash and echoey (cementing Dare! firmly as a product of its time), and as far as I know, The Human League is a one-hit-wonder band with little justification for calling themselves "well-established". At least Open Your Heart is decent after the empty, lifeless The Things That Dreams Are Made Of. I think that's a recorder or flute mimicking the melody, and though goofy, it helps pad out the sound and dilute the horrendous synths. And the melody itself is passable. Do Or Die stands out mildly because it makes use of hand-percussion, which is much friendlier on the ears than their electronic counterpart. (Or, if the hand-percussion is actually electronic, it does a very good job of sounding otherwise.) Love Action is decent too, if only for its chorus melody. Nothing else stands out in the track, though. Of course, Don't You Want Me is the main act here: the singing is slightly better than usual, and the synths sound good only by imitating other instruments (staccato brass and disco-esque strings, to name a couple). And the singer worked out that he'd sound good if he harmonised with someone who actually does! Who knew? It makes the chorus not only bearable but surprisingly catchy. Songs like Get Carter and The Sound Of The Crowd are terrible. They deserve all of the lack-of-attention they've gotten. 2/5 Key tracks: Open Your Heart, Don't You Want Me
I don't get it.
Oh THAT song. Pretty fun, I enjoyed it. 6/10
This album is dated(complimentary). Everything is just drenched in synths to the point where it works for me. I need to be wearing some cool sunglasses while listening to this. The vocals are really great too. Favorites were The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Darkness, Seconds, and Don’t You Want Me.
Very 80s synth-popbwith a singer who can't sing but has an "interesting" voice
Pretty rare that the best three songs were all at the end.
May be a bit flat in places, but giving it some time, it's an enjoyable record. I like the minimalism and turns within the songs. Seems as though they were working pretty well with the technology available at the time.
When you already have half the songs downloaded, you know it is a great album. Overall, a great album with lots of bangers! Listened to the whole thing twice, because why not!
Really good Good time period Good pop Enjoyable High 3
Vocals were not my favorite
Fun, synth heavy but a lot of songs go on a bit too long.
Valus ja logisev brit-pop 80ndatest. Muusika on tehtud veidraks lihtsalt sp, et see oleks veider, aga sel pole mingit head kiiksu, mis selle kuulatavaks teeks. See üks hitt "Don't You Want Me" veidike tõstab albumit, aga see on tõesti üks ainsaid kuulatavaid asju siit. 2.4/5.
As a rule this process has confirmed my feelings as being enitirely and medically eighties intolerant. However, for the most part I quite enjoy Human Leagues music. The album definitely has some pretty stark troughs ... but lots of it full on pop boppage. So it's a 3. Which is like an 80s 5.
Synth driven dance pop. Some of it is darker than I remember but overall a fun record. The single still hits hard 3.5⭐️
I knew one song from them, an it was on this album. Yay! Annnnnd that was all the excitement I had for this one
‘80’s
Early new wave pop
U WERE WORKING AS A WAITRESS IN A COCKTAIL BARRRR
Just not my thing
I thought I was going to enjoy Dare, but I didn't realise how much. I knew and liked all the singles, but didn't know anything much besides that. The album starts and ends strongly, with all the hits. In the middle it's a darker work, more reminiscent of The Human League's early work. It took a couple of listens to appreciate these songs but, with repeat listenings, I came to enjoy them too. I assumed I was going to give this a four, but it just about gets into the five bracket for me.
This was far more solid and full of tunes than I had expected. It's not perfect, but if it hadn't taken a slight dip in the middle, I would have considered five stars. I'm somewhat in amazement that I enjoyed a full album of 80s synthpop, but it was just so well done. Even the annoying hit that has been played to death holds up here, and having it at the end of the album is a nice bookend. Four stars.
meh
Knowing only Don't You Want Me going in, I was looking forward to an album full of synth bangers. Unfortunately I was disappointed; most of the songs lack in energy and are clearly worse in overall production quality than DYWM.
Just listen to Depeche Mode.
Probably groundbreaking for it's time, it sounds like generic 80's synth pop by a one hit wonder
Miss me with the synth pop. I was gearing up to give this a 1 but then Don't You Want Me came on so this got the nostalgia bump.
Another album that, prior to this, I'd only heard the singles. Unsurprising since they were and are everywhere. I'm happy to report that the bits I hadn't heard are also excellent. It's just a fine album.
A superb album that was absolutely ‘of its time’ (and at the cutting edge of a certain kind of pop) but still sounds brilliant today. Fabulous beats, that are danceable but chop and change to avoid being dull, beautiful synths which sometimes texture and sometimes provide melody, great tunes with always-strong lyrics (eg I Am The Law…a philosophical disco track!) delivered in an unusual but distinctive style. Don’t You Want Me is the cherry-on-top at the end (the girl’s assertive right to reply mid-song is a genius stroke) but there are so many strong tracks on this album.
Good to hear some well known 'oldies'. I've not really listened to Human League apart from the hits so I was disappointed that some of the other tracks weren't as good. Musically pretty good, but distinctly lacking in the lyrics/vocals on some tracks. I know part of that is the New Wave style, but repetitvely chanting a couple of words in a monotonic style doesn't do anything for me.
Sounds like Geometry Dash
Really like the electronic retro dance music.
I honestly always thought the Human League were a one hit wonder. This album is mostly fine but Don’t You Want Me easily clears every other song
Struggled with this one. I get that without the building blocks of this kind of synth pop you wouldn't have other more interesting artists picking up new technologies and going somewhere else with it. But this is definitely a genre of music that grates for me. Why? There is nowhere to hide in the simplicity of the song writing and arrangements, lack of any sense of depth or anything transcendent. I suppose the 'ordinariness' of it is part of the point, but I struggle with the lack of... spirit?? It's so grey. And not ironically grey. Maybe my ears got used to it, as I think the second half of the album is more interesting to listen to than the first, but it certainly not one that I will go back to. Not as bad as yesterday's album, so it's a 2. Total number of tracks: 10 'Fave' Track: Urg. Ok so the one I found most interesting was #7 'I am the law'. I'll dance at an 80's disco to #10 'Don't You Want Me'.
Maybe more like 2.5 just for the “don’t you want me baby” song
Synth-pop. Yawn.
Don’t You Want Me is a great song
One good song at least
Hate this
Hmm - I really only enjoy that last track, the mega hit Don’t You Want Me. The rest are just fine but nothing outstanding
Fav: Don’t You Want Me Least Fav: I Am The Law Pure 80s, love those synths so much
I really do love me some 80s tracks, also really liked "seconds"
Don’t you want me is a certified classic, rest of album was good but not mind-blowing
It’s a 3 cuz Drake says so
I really can see how someone who was super into the talking heads wanted more and this is what they found an they really vibed with it in the same way that someone really into Nirvana gets into Green River through needing more grunge. That said, this is not great. Obvious talent on display but nothing is really landing for me except the occasional chord progression. Can’t imagine I’ll return to this.
I generally fuck with 80s pop 🤷♂️ Does get repetitive
The first time I listened to this album, I was grinding out an A-Rank on Colorful Mall; the second time, I was walking around the mall in a leather jacket. The presence of this album was a big surprise to me: I'm a big fan of Don't You Want Me, but I never would have assumed The Human League to have been a band with the notoriety or acclaim to appear on this list. The surprise was a pleasant one, however; this brand of deep-voiced alternative electropop a la The Dare is exactly up my alley. I know most of this list is gonna be more rock- or folk-leaning, so any album that represents a break from that status quo is always a welcome breath of fresh air. I imagine this is an album which I am in the minority for liking as much as I do, but all of its strengths play right into sounds and genres I have a deep love for. I still can't get a gauge on how serious Don't You Want Me is, though; I think it's deliberately creepy, but it could also just sound like that, in the same way that many "romance" songs of this era do. Highlights: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, The Sound Of The Crowd, Get Carter, I Am The Law, Seconds, Don't You Want Me
cornier than i was ready for but good !
synthy. electronic. catchy.
I wanted to like this because I genuinely really like Don't You Want Me but the rest of it is roooooough. Even for a new wave band, the synths and drum machines are really cheesy, and the lyrics are too dumb for such a vocals-focused band. This might be a 1 if not for the final track.
bold adventures in making albums where only one song is good
I can't stand the album but I'll give it a 2 for influence
Oef, een britse synthetic pop band uit de jaren 80. Dat kan voor mij wel eens een bittere pil worden. Zie wel dat Dont you want me als laatste erin staat. Dat is iig wel een lekkere afsluiter! Terwijl ik dit typ speelt overigens het eerste nummer af en het is oke. Wel echt synthesizer to the max. Het album is afgelopen en ik wil eigenlijk zeggen; hehe. Vrij eentonig allemaal en eigenlijk gwn een one hit wonder; Dont you want me baby. De rest in alle eerlijkheid vrij matig met een overhoeveelheid aan synthesizer. 2 reten
My 100th 1/5 rating. This really wasn't enjoyable. It's like a really bad mix of Kraftwerk and Joy Division.
Very creative production, and the lyricism is surprisingly good for this era of pop.
Highlights: Darkness, Do or Die, Love Action (I Believe In Love), Don't You Want Me Lowlights: Get Carter, I Am the Law Fun listen. Most of the songs could've done with being like a minute shorter. Most of the time the synths were good, but on some tracks, like the intro track, they felt rough.
eh alright
7/10 Highlights: Do or Die I Am the Law
4/5. A good album, and an excellent rep of its genre. Most people will find a couple songs that they like here, and the rest of the album is very listenable. If you like synth pop a ton, you probably already listen to and love this album already. It's New Wave, almost the platonic ideal of it. When God thinks of New Wave, a mix of cleverly arranged synths dance over an infectious beat as a distinct overdubbed British voice sings wavely over it, a perfect mix of quirkiness and then-cutting-edge music production techniques. This album, in other words. It's really pleasant. The melodies, both the vocal lines and some of the synth lines that accompany them, range from decent to great. The singer is awesome, especially when he enters the deep end of his register.
Bring me some 80s! Interesting to see this album saves its best known hit for last, and while I enjoyed the listen it did remain as the single standout.
Rushent magic
Solid
Synth-pop isn't a favourite genre of mine but there is no more essential example of it than this. Dated? Of course - that will happen with a style defined by using the latest technology of the time. But if this sounds quintessentially 80s it is because it set a large part of the template for what the 80s would be.
I prefer the older, less commercial stuff by The Human League. Some nice tracks but in total a bit disappointing tbh
at times, it felt like a chant, credence the next
if you look for "80s" in wikipedia you'll find this album
Enjoyed it...nostalgic. 3/5
No private session used for Spotify. I didn't care for The Human League in the early 80's and I like them even less after listening to a complete album. This album contains everything I dislike about 80's music, nothing but synth.
As much as I want to hate this - I don't. It's brilliant synth-pop music that went on to define some of the future directions of pop music. So much electronica, so little time. Don't You Want Me is still a song that I will pump up on the radio.
ost ok
Do or die
It’s just fine.
i enjoy the synth pop, it’s so silly go lucky and feels quintessentially 80’s. didn’t know these guys do that don’t you want me song!
Fine? Low 3/high 2? Nothing that really stands out. I was wondering what the hit off this album was then the last track came. Not my favorite one hit wonder but I at least see what they're doing
I liked this more than I was expecting to, but I really don't think I'm ever going to need to listen to it ever again. Sounds like a whole album of Don't You Want Me Baby, which I have heard enough of. Stand-out tacks for me: Seconds, The Sound of the Crowd, The Things That Dreams Are Made Of.
Quite literally made on a calculator, as one of the synths they used came with an integrated calculator. Very synthpop of its time, charming as it may be, it does sound like the rest of the era. Eh, the biggest hit was never my favorite. Couple of good songs here and that's it.
3+
Poppin' my pussy at 9am met 4.5u slaap. Een lastige qua rating, eigenlijk gewoon een nette 3.5. Maar, na een nachtje geslapen te hebben, herriner ik me er weinig van en heb ik ook niet de urge het nog eens te luisteren. 3 it is
Vond dit saaier dan verwacht
Geef me 80s synths en drumcomputers en ik ben om. Een dansbaar album van begin tot eind
Dit is niet hoe je synths goed gebruikt. Behalve Dont You Want Me, +1 ster daarvoor
De meest achterhaalde instrumentatie die ik in lange tijd heb gehoord. Vocals zijn matig tot slecht. De interlude halverwege is het allergrootste vraagteken hier. Er was blijkbaar iemand die dat matige nokia beltoontje had getikt op een synth en dacht: mijn album heeft beperkt ruimte van max 40 minuten maar deze minuut MOET ertussen. Deze plaat wordt gered van de shame-pile door Don't You Want Me, vandaar toch 2 sterren.
Before we get to the music, I hate this album cover. It’s so ugly I can barely look at it. One point deduction right there. The music is fine. Unremarkable britpop that pops out a couple of standout tracks. Even “Don’t You Want Me” becomes a bit of a plod. Not much to say here.
I remember the moment I heard this for the very first time. We were traveling cross-country and visiting a friend of my Dad's and they had it playing in their recreation room. I stopped in my tracks from playing table tennis or something and listened, transfixed. I immediately started asking everyone what the song was. It was a relatively recent release in the US and it took me forever to find a copy. Still sounds like so little else that I had access to at the time.
Undoubtedly a seminal synthpop record, but it lacks the hooks it needs to be a truly engaging listen. Don’t You Want Me tacked on as track 10… holy.
It’s interesting hearing these “futuristic” sounds from a time in the past. Didn’t really enjoy the album, but was fun to listen to once
I imagine that this album sounded like the future when it was released. But this album is a stack of cold, digital sounds that attempt to be a facsimile of music, while never really getting there. There was one track, perhaps Seconds, late in the album that had a warmth of decent modern electronic music. Otherwise, the rest of this album, including Don't You Want Me, is an easy pass for me.
Classic 80s synthpop at its finest. Favorites: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Do or Die, Seconds, Love Action Would I listen to it again: Yes
When I put this album on this morning, I was ready to make fun of it, but ended up liking it way more than I thought I would. The lyrics can be pretty tough (march, march, march across the red square, do all the things that you’ve never dared) but the 80s synth really worked for me. Beyond the obvious “don’t you want me”, I thought “seconds” was the best track. Solid 3
1.8 Not that I particularly like the song but Dont you want me, drags this out of the proverbial 80's synth pop gutter.
4/5 7.89/10
Average
Fun
I'm just getting sick of new wave at this point. This album isn't that bad but it's getting harder to discern this from everything else I've heard
This is where the worst music sub-genre began (I reckon). Unlike most '80s synth-pop albums, "Dare!" isn't a disaster. The synths on most of the songs actually enhance them. "Dare!" is far from perfect, however. The first track is a real stinker. 3 stars for "Dare!".
p479. 1981. 5 stars. An almost perfect sound capsule of early 80s synth pop and UK clubs. It's dated for sure, and Phil Oakley's voice is a dirge, but it's packed with great tunes - there is not a weak track on this. "But if you can stand the test/You know your worst is better than their best"
Does anyone know any of the other songs on this album besides “Don’t You Want Me”? All the songs nearly sounded identical
I enjoyed the ride but I wanted to like this more than I actually did. Like it's good but I don't know, but also sounds like your most straightforward '80s new wave. It's missing something. Needs a little more spice.
Remember listening to this album around 1982 on the bounce from the punk/new wave movement and found this a refreshing listen. Not so sure this time but an ok listen to be fair.
very fun felt like i was in an 80s movie
I'm a little disappointed. I thought this had more hits, more interesting music, and better new wave goodness. This just doesn't hit like I thought it would. Some of the songs are great, but it suffers the same fate as Make It Big by Wham!, starting nice, but gets old and finishes on an all time classic song.
A couple of real bangers on here. Had no idea.
Sleek, tightly programmed synth lines, rubbery electronic bass pulses, crisp drum-machine patterns, and coolly detached yet melodic vocals move this synth-pop album like stepping into a brightly lit shopping arcade at night—stylish, efficient, and irresistibly catchy, keeping me entertained enough to forget the grey clouds on a winter day.
Not really my stile
Much darker than I expected and I appreciate that.
Lowkey sparkly.
I forgot this album as I was listening to it.
I think this old new wave is so fun!
Very 80's, very mediocre.
Classic sound and original eighties anthems
Try tried it, but couldn't finish it. I didn't like it.
Not my fav
7/10 A bit of a disappointment, but I did have high hopes. Don't You Want Me is an all time classic, and the rest is pale in its light. Some of those songs are decent enough, but there are bits where it all just drags a bit.
Repetitive synthy drivel, last track is good though
"Don't You Want Me"? - no
For an album containing one of the biggest hits of the 80s, this is just kinda cromulent.
The 80s were a mistake.
3 but dont u want me is good
The definitive sound of the 80’s!
perfectly fine, but incredibly repetitive and boring. at least it has some sick ass synth sounds lol
i’m not a fan of synth pop
If a fax machine could make pop music.
That still works. Don't you think so, baby?
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The Human League do a good job here of walking the line between an artsy and a hit-chasing synth pop album. The best songs here combine a lot of different synth sounds into detailed pop songs. The opening track is a really good example of this, as is "Do or Die" with all the different percussion sounds, including some that sound like steel drums. Yet on most tracks the choruses and hooks are also catchy enough to get stuck in your head. The only real experiment, and obvious miss, is "I Am the Law," a slow tedious song about...why having police is good? Luckily the album recovers from there, ending with "Don't You Want Me," which is obviously very good (though weird as an album closer). This is fun, but it also fails to stand out in the crowded field of 80s pop. If it had a couple more standout songs I might rate it higher.
Very early 80s (1981) but sets that iconic sound for the decade to follow.
I can dig it. Obviously, I have heard Don't You Want Me a million times. Never really knew anything about The Human League, reminds me of Soft Cell.
Love it. Epitome of synthpop.
Znam toliko dobrih pjesama od Human League, kako je moguće da je na ovom albumu samo jedna od njih (ili dvije)? Međutim i na ovom albumu je kolekcija finih 10 pjesama, ne traje dugo, nema ništa posebno loše, ovo mi odgovara, sve je ok.
Mon écoute partait vraiment mal, le chanteur me gossait et l’instrumentation décousue de synthé m’étourdissait. Je sais pas ce qu’il s’est passé entre-temps, mais j’étais VRAIMENT rendu dedans à la fin, le groove et les tounes étaient magiquement devenues très bonnes. À réécouter
Too eighties. Sounds dated.
2:5
This was pretty fun, have to listen again. Not my favourite genre ever, but still enjoyed it.
I have to admit I'm not the biggest fan of 80's synth-pop, because the synths and effects make music very much dated and could become annoying over time; but this was a good album. Great songs, and the 80s synth textures are mostly chosen with good taste. "Don't You Want Me" was easily the best song and leaves you with a good aftertaste at the end of the album. "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" was one of my favourites, too. All in all, a good inclusion in this list, and I can see it being a very influential album in pop music.
I knew a song from this album, "Don't You Want Me". 80s vibes at their finest. Incredibly synth-heavy pop. I think is very iconic because it is synth-pop at its peak, very clean, catchy, and cool. The synths are front and center at all points, but they’re used in a way that feels emotional rather than mechanical. They have hits on this album like “Don’t You Want Me” and “Love Action” for a reason, they have a very simple structure, catchy hooks and melodies. From a production point of view everything feels minimal, nothing is flashy, the synth lines are repetitive and the vocals are restrained. The album cover is just as iconic as the music, simple, bold, and recognizable. Overall, this is a good album in synth-pop and new wave. Timeless and incredibly influential to this day, it still sounds fresh decades later. My favourite tracks are Open Your Heart, The Sound of the Crowd, Darkness, Love Action (I Believe In Love), Don't You Want Me.
Was okay
The beats are catchy, but they get a little grating/repetitive the longer they go. I think I may be spoiled by modern production. It has a feeling of someone playing around with electronic music - in a good way.
Cracking and much more like Kraftwerk than I expected, end-loaded.
Very much the opposite of "A Night At The Opera" - this is *ALL SYNTHESIZERS!* to the point that many tracks are quite sparse, carried only by warm analog squelches and some killer melodies. Oakey's voice is almost up to the task, but the story of this album is slightly greater than its actual parts. Lots of fun though, with its place in history well-deserved.
very good, didnt expect it to be this good
bland but the last song is a classic
amo ouvir esses hits que nunca pensei muito sobre de onde vem e poder conhecer melhor de onde vieram <3
Enjoyed. I like the overall feel of it, and the big single really is a cracker.
so ein Plastik-Scheiß!
Some very fun songs on this one.
01) The Things That Dreams Are Made Of - 10,0 02) Open Your Heart -10,0 03) The Sound of the Crowd - 8,5 04) Darkness - 8,0 05) Do or Die - 8,0 06) Get Carter - 5,0 07) I Am The Law - 7,0 08) Seconds - 8,5 09) Love Action (I Believe in Love) - 10,0 10) Don't You Want Me - 10,0 TOTAL: 8,50 (85/100) Current ranking: 135/764
All the early-80s features: Synthetic drums. Excessive harmonies. Peripheral noises. And all the reasons to lock the door to this era forever.
The opening track was horrendous, and the rest of the album wasn’t much better, the final track (despite being massively overplayed) was the only redeeming aspect.
Very 80’s, which is not necessarily a good thing. I, of course, knew and liked Don’t You Want Me, but I didn’t particularly like anything else.
features the finest synth-pop song about the JFK assassination out there
Yeah, everything everyone's saying here, except I had to experience this sound when it first came out (see my digression rant on 80s synth pop under Oracular Spectacular). I appreciate the irony of a band embracing robotic synths and singing style but never liked the results. The 80's had so much great music - both the robotic and the other direction - hope we more of what I call the good stuff soon.
Sounded like your typical 80s pop to me.
Its the album with Dont you Want Me, anchored right after 9 songs I will probably never seek out again. Idk i like the synth, as well as the last song, but not really my style otherwise. Vocals throw me off a bit. Album art is kind of crazy... those eyes... 👁👄👁 5.5/10?
странные голоса но довольно заводной)
Não faz meu estilo, ouvi, mas não curti
This sucked. Afforded an extra point for “don’t you want me”
Jedan od albuma za koje bih baš navijala da su bolji, ali mi je želja prevelika za taj doseg 😅 bilo bi niže, ali realno don't you want me je hitčina svih vremena. 3/5, 5/10
Much like my treatise on the relationship of Deee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart" and its stratospheric trajectory vs. the greater meh-ness of the World Clique album containing it, does something as immortal as "Don't You Want Me" make The Human League's Dare! a *must* listen? I mean there's a lot of good early 80s synth-y vibes here and Phil Oakley is a perfect frontman for this genre, but I can't help but feel my life would have been just fine if I hadn't listened to this at all...
Did people in 1981 actually listen to this and think "I need a whole album of this music"?
I don't like this genre/style of music. The instrumentation sounds dated and i don't think the natural vocals fit the artificial sound of the synth. That said imo the group really masters the sound they have.
A part don't you want me c'est un peu difficile a écouter ça a pris un gros coup de vieux. Ceci n'engage que moi! Next!
Sounds very 80s, for better or for worse. I like the tense, fuzzy synths on the opening track. The closer has a very powerful melody too, big banger. Darkness has a bit of a mysterious vibe which is very cool too. In general tho, the deeper into the album the more dated it sounds. The production on Seconds sounds kinda bad, and I am the Law is a very failed attempt at a more minimal sound. Multiple other songs didn't do much for me either. Overall album is not bad but faaaar from perfect.
4.1
Day698 - put this in the time capsule to represent the 80’s so no one can forget those sweet synth sounds
It's been quite a while since I've had one of these 80s synth-pop/rock albums, so I can't complain all too much. This sort of stuff doesn't displease me, but the synth gets annoying after a while. It's also rather infuriating that the best song - the one miles ahead over anything else - is right at the end.
Perfectly fine album that really marked how the following decade's pop music would sound. Don't you want me baby is a classic, the rest of the album is fine but not really my cup of tea. I can't help but feel like the onslaught of godawful synthpop in the rest of the decade somewhat soured my perception of this album. It was a novel sound at the time but it's not like there is a lack of synth-pop out there.
Would I listen to it all? No, but there are a few hits in here that I put on mixtapes (playlists) all the time.
Meh. Vey 80s
I enjoyed this a lot. I can imagine tracks from this album mixing well with more modern electronica. The appearance of the Get Carter theme threw me for a minute, but was cool. Yeah! Alright!
Classic synth pop.
Pretty generic 80s core
Strange combination of bleak sounds and uplifting themes, and uplifting sounds with bleak themes - really shouldn't work, but regularly does. My older sister was obsessed with Don't You Want Me back in the day, and even though I was probably more interested in the latest Father Abrahams and The Smurfs ditty, Dare does press a few nostalgia buttons for me. The version with the Fascination tracks thrown in might be worthy of four stars, but I'm happy to give this three. Synthy 80s pop with an unsettling undercurrent.
New Wave Pop is a burden on the ears Best Song: Don't You Want Me Rating: 3.5/10 Stars: 2
So cheesy I could have made a fondue out of it.
One of the best pop albums of the 80s. Bought it when it came out in 1981 and have loved it ever since. So many great tracks it's hard to pick favourites, but I will....Love Action and Do or Die are both absolutely perfect. Not a dud on this album. And of course it contains Don't You Want Me as well....an 80s anthem. Nigh on perfect. The companion remix album Love and Dancing is worth a listen also....that basically invented the remix album genre. Sadly they never really scaled the same heights again, but it was wonderful while it lasted. 5 all day.
Ended up really liking this
This was bad. I’ll start with a positive being the production is great for the time and that’s the only thing I liked. Other than that this was just a guy talking over great instrumentals and ruining the whole album. Every song just a guy who can’t sing and thinks he can. This is similar to how Leonard Cohen can’t sing but some how worse. Wish I never heard this and shouldn’t be on the list. 3.8
The whole album sounds like one song. It's not bad but dated and a little embarrassing.
Well I love Sound of the Crowd and obs don’t you love me. Some of the other songs prompted interest but not enough to return to.
Fantastically fun! Really enjoyable all the way through. I liked the little ways they take the 80s genre and really make it unique.
And music was made with electronic instruments!!!! real nice tunes coming from guys who were not precisely musicians.
The next step having removed actual drummers and guitarists is to remove all humans! I for one will welcome our future AI generated "music"
I always sing along to Don't You Want Me when it comes on the radio. Nice 80s synth pop. Four stars.
Starts off well, falls away in the middle and finishes with a couple of classics in Love Action and Don't You Want Me which is arguably the greatest ever synthpop song and still sounds great today.
Its got a fair bit of filler (philer?) But when its good its good Are there many more iconic, era defining tracks like Don't You Want Me? Naw, there urnae Bangin
Rubbish
Yet another early eighties new wave album. Didn't care for this. The music was just silly, and as a human I can definitively say I don't claim these guys. 1.5/5.0: Bad
surprisingly decent album
Synth
Mhmm
Not my thing
so thats who sang that song...pretty great 80's album.
The 80s had arrived. Pop but still with a darker edge and a cracking couple of singles at the end. A conservative 4
1 catchy song does not a good album make
One good song does not make an album..
Fine overall, but once you’ve heard “Don’t You Want Me,” you’ve basically heard the whole thing. The highlight is realizing just how narcissistic the guy in that song is. Synth-pop nostalgia appreciated, but I’ll take Depeche Mode or Duran Duran any day.
Eh, not that excited about this - even the hit at the end.
Great synth instrumentation but sub-par melody and lyrics. Just okay overall.
It's got that 80's vibe. Good album. really one the one hit song by them.
80's synth is not typically my jam, and there were a few bops (of course the classic club anthem "Don't you want me baby" fits here), but the rest were pretty unmemorable. The lyrics are dated and don't hold up either.
Os momentos mais climáticas e conceituais como em "Darkness", "I'm The Law" e "Seconds" trazem algo de interessante, mas na maior parte trata-se de pop dançante sem graça.
Jag älskar det här albumet! Vill bara göra klart det direkt så det inte råder några som helst tvivel. Det hade kanske kommit några syntpopalbum tidigare där betoningen låg på pop, men dom är inte många i så fall. "Dare" är det första kommersiellt gångbara syntpopalbumet, det sätter tonen för 80talet fem sex år framåt. Depeche Modes debut "Speak and spell" med "Just can't get enough" som hitsingel släpps samma höst, men det är ingen tvekan om vilka skiva som vinner det kommersiella racet i sin samtid. Syntslingorna sitter som ett spett och soundet är sparsmakat utan att bli minimalistiskt och är skitsnyggt. Inte alls lika leksakssyntaktigt som på DM's skiva. Just denna epok (säg 79-82) i Storbrittanien i gränslandet mellan punkideal, experiment, tekniska begränsningar å ena sidan och pop, den kommersiella syntvågen å andra sidan fascinerar mig väldigt mycket och här finns väldigt mycket jag tycker om. Det finns en lekfullhet och upptäckarglädje där innan genren blir cementerad, som är framtvingad av begränsningar och avsaknad av facit och mallar. "Dare" är ett perfekt album för att definera denna tid, det är klockren pop som fortfarande lyckas vara edgy och egen med det melodiösa i centrum. Det är singelkvalitet på i stort sett varje låt. Grälsjuka "Don't you want me" är en odödlig pophit med en av historiens mest karaktäristiska synthookar. "Sound of a crowd" var en låt jag nästan alltid spelade när jag DJade, jag älskar den. Funkar utmärkt som brygga mellan techno och dansant pop (tänk Pulp eller New Order). Att just New Order lyssnat sönder och lånat från "Dare" är ingen vild gissning. Vad som också gör "Dare" stilbildande är fokuset på och själva estetiken i sig. Det är verkligen bye bye 70tal och ett rejält kliv in i 80talet. Omslaget är en ren stöld från temanummer som tyska Vogue (magasinet) hade nåt år tidigare, typsnittet, albumtiteln och de hårt beskurna porträtten rakt av, hörde jag postmodernism (?), väldigt 80tal. Rent objektivt är det kanske en fyra men för mig blir det fullpott, den kryssar i för många boxar hos mig för att inte bli det
Att de lägger megalåten Don’t you want me allra sist på albumet kanske säger något om hur bandet själv såg på den. Det är i alla fall en ovanlig placering för en så given melodistark dansgolvshit. Men det är också en udda fågel på albumet som helhet. Jag som aldrig hört något utöver hiten tidigare, förvånas över att det är en överlag mörkare synthpop som presenteras på skivan. Gillar särskilt New Order-aktiga öppningsspåret och Seconds som hade kunnat vara en Cure-låt eller långt senare något från Eskilstunabandet Yvonnes debutalbum. Den lökiga baktakten i Do or die vill jag däremot helst glömma.
Ännu mera new wave. Nu i synthförpackning. Frågan är om detta tillsammans med grunge kan vara den mest överskattade genren inom populärmusik. Allt som oftast med stor brister i i själva låtsnickeriet. Ett sound blir då mycket viktigare än en i grunden bra låt. Flera av spåren kunde lika gärna gjorts av ett gäng finniga tonåringar på en fritidsgård i en medelstor bruksort i Mellansverige.Don’t you want me är så klart en bra låt och ytterligare en eller två låtar är okej (second) men i övrigt? Nej det här håller inte. Svag två.
The things that dreams are made of tycker jag är rätt bra. I övrigt är jag inte särskilt förtjust i albumet. Låter nästan som Freestyle emellanåt.
Oh man. Dear god why? Awful. Is this album the reason 80s pop is so bad? Are they to blame? Nearly unlistenable. This list sucks.
I think the eighties sound is cool again. I dig it.
goes crazy style
makes me wanna dance in leg warmers
You just know if they showed the full pic of this guy his hair would fill up the rest of the space
Ну и хуйня
кайфовт
Too god damn long
This one came out of a time capsule. It’s fun but doesn’t hold up. Kind of like mom jeans. No one really likes those yet they exist.
British beep boop music
I've never realized how much I appreciate human drummers.
Synthy as fuck! Pretty fun to bop around to. Wear some good headphones when you listen and its like you're getting laser massage on your brain.
Loved this one! Very 80s… very Sega Genesis. Don’t You Want Me is a banger but I really enjoyed Do or Die. Listened to the album back to back today
A great experience.
More dated rubbish. Saving the best track til last was smart.
I've heard of this band. Not sure if I have listened to any of their stuff. I am interested to hear them because I do know what they are. Pretty cool stuff.
Pretty good synth pop album
Ahead of their time for being the 80s. Personally not a big fan but I se the appeal and impact it had on future electronic music
Don't you want me é um clássico, mas tirando essa não ouve outra música que chamasse a atenção
It's not a good sign when the first song on an album bores me this much. It'd not weird that people older than me dismiss all synth music on principle if this was what it sounded like when they grew up. Actual garbage. Putting the only half decent song at the end is a weird choice as well.
Dare! I say, this was a lot of fun.....!
one thing i like about british music is that its kinda inherently gay and lots of straight musicians were sorta forced to make music for gay guys
Essential new wave album of the 80s, still holds up
This was good. They certainly have a vibe that doesn't change much from song to song... But there were a few songs that I quite liked.
I hate that song! HATE! Until today, I never knew the name of the band that shat that song into the world. Thanks I guess?
Know what, I liked it.
Listened Before? N The Human League is awesome! This album is no exception although its a bit unusual in it's arrangement - with their big US hit sitting at the end of the album. I really liked this one. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Don't You Want Me
Fantastic
Hey I know that last song! I didn't know the name of the band or album it was on haha.
It's coming up It's coming up It's coming up It's coming up It's coming up It's coming up It's dare
So very 80s!
really loved this a lot of bangers and great instrumentals
With whiney lyrics and incelian veiled threats of what life would be like without him it's a wonder the lead singer is single at all! Super '80's synth riffs that is instantly recognizable plus their one big hit. Otherwise not much to recommend here.
Loved this album back in the day, was great to listen to it again
I am robot