Reviews (page 5 of 8)
this is pretty solid, everything on here sounds exactly as i thought it would. yep. i liked it. low 4
Pre-listening thoughts: (in the voice of Damon Albarn) it’s dare! Post/during listening thoughts: 80s mush! I don't hate this at all but I literally could not distinguish most of these songs from each other. Definitely not essential listening as other bands did this sound better. 5.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Darkness, Love Action, Don't You Want Me Least fav tracks: Get Carter, I Am The Law (no silly that's Brian Firenzi)
The Human League is one of those groups I only knew for a few singles: "Don't You Want Me" and "Being Boiled". I did not have much of an idea for what I was going to get into with Dare, save for the one single I knew at the end and the general understanding that they are a synth-pop that underwent a massive lineup change for this album after founding members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left over creative differences with lead vocalist Phillip Oakley. This was Oakley's revisioning of the band into a more forward-thinking pop sound, and I'll admit it was pretty good. Sure, this album was always going to blurt out what period it's from with the synths and programmed drums. Opening track "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" might as well be a litmus test for one's enjoyment of this record. But even then, it's still an excellent capture of that early synth-pop. Between the eclectic synthesizer work, the occasional female vocal backup from Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley, and Oakley's distinctly English high-pitch vocals, there's an off-kilter flair with the group working these hooks that made them sound distinct as a formative act. This sounds like the kind of music that would become influential to a lot of electronic pop groups. In that regard, I consider Dare to be in the same camp as Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark's Architecture And Morality as a good introduction to the synthpop genre, which is as good of praise as I can give it.
Pelotazo absoluto en 1981. Don´t you want me brilla con luz propia en el disco, así como entre los mejores hits de los 80. El resto no está lejos de este tema sobre todo los otros singles del álbum: Open Your Heart, Love Action, The sound of the crowd y la inicial The things that dreams are made of. Do or die es juguetona, pero queda lastrada por su marcado tinte de principios de los 80. La labor del productor Martin Rushent fue, por razones obvias, fundamental. La lista de sintetizadores empleados es ingente para la época: Casio VL-1 Korg 770 Korg Delta Linn LM-1 Roland Jupiter-4 Roland MC-8 Roland System 700 Yamaha CS-15 Cierto es que ya estaban Kraftwerk, e incluso en modo más pop The Buggles o M (y sobre todo New Order), pero The Human League con este disco fueron la espita que abrió la puerta a toda una generación de música y estilos: New Wave electro-pop. Depeche Mode y OMD, entre cientos y cientos, bien que tomaron nota. I am the law y Seconds son una muestra evidente. Fuera de la banda, que no pudo igualar jamás el nivel y éxito de este disco, Oakey compuso junto a Moroder el pepinazo: Together in Electric Dreams. Este disco marcó una época por todo: producción, sonido, vídeos, estilismo, (que gente que apenas tenía voz ni sabía cantar tuviera ese resultado) y sobre todo por su tremendo éxito.
While I can't deny the great songwriting of the obvious track, this album really does make you work for it. Tracks 2-8 range from boring to downright unlistenable. If Don't You Want Me wasn't on this record, this wouldn't have been remembered by the end of the 80s. Best Tracks: - Don't You Want Me - Love Action (I Believe In Love) - The Things That Dreams Are Made Of Worst Tracks: - I Am The Law - Open Your Heart Rating: 3/10
This album is really really only here due to one song. And it's a great song but come on. These songs seemed unfinished and underproduced. Weird 80s and not in an endearing way. 4.25/10 (2.125/5)
I have to admit it - "I was a Teenage Human League fan." However, that was the Being Boiled / Reproduction-era Human League, and I bailed when they "went pop". Listening to Dare now, sure there are some catchy and very good pop tunes on the album, and they deserved their success....but, there's no real cohesion to the album. No theme, story or flow to it. Nostalgia, and I might bop around teh bedroom singing into a hairbrush...but alas, I'm folically challenged, and have no brush.
An up and down listening experience. Generally more positive/pleasant than bad. Like a discount Depesche Mode. 3/5
At least the "hit" was at the end of the album, so you had to go through the whole thing before you get to it. Kinda made a good build up to it, I was more involved with the other songs, even with the 80s synth sound. But still, I just thought it was... not memorable. And that's never good. NEXT.
Even though I have professed to not loving synth pop, I have tried to learn about it going through the albums in the 1,001 list. This album came out right before the debuts of OMD and Soft Cell, and a couple years after Gary Numan's synth-pop genre-defining album. I definitely think Soft Cell's is the best of the four and OMD's is the weakest. I think I put this Human League album in second, even though they are all trail blazers. Is it good enough to be a 4 like Soft Cell? I'm not sure. They don't quite have the fun or edge of Soft Cell, and maybe not the same synth chops. It's all synth and they lean in heavily but Soft Cell may have had better instruments. Don't You Want Me is a classic but other than The Things That Dreams Are Made Of and maybe The Sound of the Crowd or Seconds, I don't think the rest of the album comes close.
Ok album, although I'd argue you could hear Don't You Want Me and you've heard everything you need to hear "before you die." A little bit too much of the exact same electronic bass-snare-bass-snare beat. This is early in the 80s curve, so they get some credit there. Favorite songs: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Don't You Want Me (but those are some creepy-ex lyrics). Ok songs: Open Your Heart, Darkness, Love Action.
A classic. Loved it back when it was released in the 80s and still love it now.
There was much I hadn’t realised until I finally put this record on. For one, the origin story. Initially asked to sing because he dressed interestingly on nights out, Phil Oakey was barely even in the band when they rebranded from The Future to The Human League. And by the time Dare was released, the founding lineup had entirely changed out (“The Ship of Theseus” might have been a more apt band name, on reflection). Then there’s the sort of embarrassing penny drop that Phil Oakey is also the one singing about electric dreams. Under different conditions, I might have gone my whole life never knowing that. The thing that most surprised me, though, was the appearance of “Don’t you want me” right at the back of the album. Now, had this been an AOR record, it being track 10 would have made sense to me. But this isn’t AOR, it’s big pop bangers (might this record, and that song, even be the birth of the modern concept of the “pop banger”?) – you don’t put your strongest material at the least accessible part of the vinyl. And you certainly don’t fight your management and record label when they suggest releasing it as a third single from the album. Phil, what were you thinking? Track one might help get us to half an answer. “The things that dreams of” – a Kraftwerkian verse into an anthemic, singalong chorus; a formula that repeats on “The sound of the crowd” and others also – puts me in mind of not The Nolans, Brotherhood of Man or ABBA … but Gang of Four (who, it transpires, also released music through Fast Records). Sharp angles, sparse melodic arrangements, sprechgesang lead, call and response dynamics in the backing vocals – everything I love about Entertainment is here, it’s just been blown out, lacquered and given a smokey eye mesmerising enough to hold a whole generation of TOTP viewers hostage. “Darkness” is a particularly arresting tune; essentially three well crafted sections welded together with heavy atmospherics, it has – and, arguably, to an extent, sort of throws away – the album’s only big crescendo. (That I’ve felt compelled to listen to the song at least 20 times this week may indicate that it isn’t at all a “thrown away” opportunity … it’s a guarantee you’ll be back.) Not that it’s all moody dramatics, though: “Do or die” is a full colour bit of buoyant dance floor bait; and has me wondering how much The League were listening to Talking Heads’ Remain in Light from the previous year. At any rate: so far, so post punk. And then we come to that final track. I’ve been hearing this song my whole life – but then haven’t we all? It’s a song so good and so ubiquitous that I’d be surprised if there’s anyone out there who doesn’t have a story they attach to it, a memory or an anecdote. (Full disclosure, hearing “Don’t you want me” for the first time through a proper pair of headphones recently was completely exhilarating.) So what is it about the song that works so hard for so many? Is it the completely unapologetic run up and down the scale; is it how that same dynamic – up, down, building up, breaking down – bares out in the story arc presented in the lyrics, right down to the prevaricating ‘change of mind’ reflected in that pre-resolution note noodle; is it how it taps into a whole spectrum of feelings – in the process nailing the relationship between bratty arrogance and aching vulnerability; is it simply the fucking “woah oh ah woah” of it all? Yes, probably, definitely, certainly and a million other things. What “Don’t you want me” definitely isn’t is a post punk song. It’s a big behemoth of a pop banger; an archetype; an apex type, even, whose place at the top of the synth pop food chain will probably never be seriously challenged (that the group were jealous of Gary Numan feels, years later, especially cute on that score). The thought occurs that – since it sits on an album full of songs that had me drawing connections with some of the more serious reference points listed above – maybe “Don’t you want me” is the most contrarian, punkest thing about Dare. Anyway, let it retain some of its mystery. For as long as there are hearts in our chests to yearn with, “Don’t you want me” will resonate. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll listen to the nine songs before it on Dare too.
классический синти поп 80-х. звучание ретро причтное
Don’t you want me is an all time classic while the rest is just eh
Loved the classic song Don't You Want Me. I also really liked Open Your Heart, Darkness and Do Or Die. Overall a good album.
not remarkable
not good
I forgot about this one.
FIVE STARS. LOVE THIS!!!
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.
No. Just no. 1
this was fine, enjoyable. i don't really love "Don't You Want Me" in terms of 80s night classics, and the middle-end of the album otherwise dragged a bit.
that sure is one of the synth pop albums of all time
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
In a nutshell: essential for synthpop historians, occasionally rewarding for casual listeners — but no longer futuristic. Certain singles become so iconic that they practically devour the album they came from. With Dare, that’s exactly what happened. “Don’t You Want Me” didn’t just become The Human League’s biggest hit — it overshadowed their entire career. One glance at their streaming numbers confirms it: that epic slice of ‘80s pop nostalgia outpaces everything else they’ve done combined. And honestly? Fair enough. It’s a stone-cold classic, a breakup song masquerading as a pop anthem — possessive, desperate, yet strangely euphoric — and a masterclass in synthpop minimalism, with every part doing just enough, never too much. But what about the rest of the album? That’s where things get trickier. Dare is a fully synthesized album — no guitars, no live drums, just drum machines, sequencers, and icy synth textures. In 1981, that was still a bold, futuristic move for a mainstream pop record. This is the sound of a band embracing technology as both a tool and a statement. Phil Oakey’s baritone lead vocal is the album’s gravitational center. It’s not a conventionally beautiful voice, but it’s authoritative, dramatic, even slightly aloof, giving these synthetic landscapes an unexpected human weight. Meanwhile, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley’s detached backing vocals — almost robotic in their flatness — provide a perfect foil, adding both sweetness and distance. That dynamic works beautifully on the opener, “The Things That Dreams Are Made Of.” The track rides a propulsive, almost industrial synth-bass pulse while Oakey reels off a laundry list of desires — from adventure holidays to meeting John Foxx — a quirky, relatable expression of modern longing. “Open Your Heart” takes a more emotional turn, with shimmering synth pads washing over a bittersweet melody. It’s pure electro-pop yearning, a reminder that under all the futurism, The Human League could write a proper tune when they wanted to. “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” stands out for its funky, bouncing synth bassline and Oakey’s oddly conversational delivery — part singing, part playful monologue. It’s the kind of track that feels deceptively simple until you realize how much clever layering is happening under the surface. However, the album’s middle stretch stumbles. Too many tracks sit in the same mid-tempo zone, leaning on similar drum machine loops and chilly synth textures, while Oakey delivers variations on the same detached croon. As a result, some songs bleed into each other, less because of intentional sequencing and more because they’re working from the same narrow sonic palette. It’s a reminder that minimalism and monotony are always separated by a thin line. That’s also where the dated production comes into play. Some early ‘80s records — Rio, Speak & Spell — have a warmth or organic touch that keeps them feeling alive decades later. Dare, by contrast, leans into thin, brittle synth presets and stiff, mechanical drum programming, which locks it firmly into 1981’s sonic moment. To be clear, that’s not a flaw so much as a trade-off. This is an album that embraces its time-stamped aesthetic with no apologies — and that commitment is part of its charm, even if it limits its timelessness. And yet, its influence is undeniable. Without Dare, there’s no Pet Shop Boys perfecting deadpan pop duets, no Erasure dialing up campy emotionalism, no LCD Soundsystem finding cool in awkwardness, and arguably no Robyn turning icy beats into emotional confessionals. It’s a cornerstone of synthpop, a blueprint that countless others have followed — whether or not they matched its cultural impact. That impact extended beyond the music. Dare’s iconic cover — Oakey’s face split into stark quadrants, half fashion shoot, half avant-garde art — helped define synthpop’s visual identity, all blank futurism and sharp angles. It’s as much a design artifact as it is a record sleeve. So, where does that leave Dare in 2025? For me, it’s an album I respect more than I love. Its peaks are undeniable, and its influence still ripples through pop music today. But as a full listen, it can feel like a historical artifact, a bold glimpse into the future as imagined by 1981. Sometimes, that future still feels thrilling. Other times, it just feels like the past.
Some really enjoyable 80s pop
3 - Very 80s
I can't objectively rate this album as it's part of my youth. I bought it on cassette. Loved it. My sister then borrowed it and left it on a school trip coach. I've never let her forget. Great to listen to it again from end to end.
Luv the 80s me give me more synth Saying that, I was so bored apart from the last two songs
2.5/5 - I love all the elements separately, but put together it wasn’t my cup of tea. Standout track - do I even have to say it
I was stiltedly bopping along for a while, as you do, you know, abruptly swaying, with this music, but shit grew stale pretty quickly. And then the nursery rhyme riffs and melodies of some of those songs pushed it below 4. NEXT!
Some original synth pop.
Not a fan! The lead single “Don’t You Want Me” is fun for what it is, but this genre isn’t sustainable for an entire album, at least as presented here. “Everybody needs love and adventure / Everybody needs cash to spend / Everybody needs love and affection / Everybody needs 2 or 3 friends.” When I was listening, I was constantly put off by the shallow lyricism, but that might just be personal taste.
This is the forty fifth album I’m rating. I’ve heard some great things about the band but I’ve never listened to a song so this’ll be my first time listening. Adding to my Playlist - The Things that Dreams are Made of, Open Your Heart, The Sound of the Crowd, Darkness, Do or Die, Get Carter, I am the Law, Seconds, Love Action (I Believe in Love), and Don’t You Want Me. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 10/10 songs. This was simply fantastic. It sound a lot like Duran Duran in a good way. This was just a fun catchy album.
Love Action is an old favorite and Don’t You Want Me was an anthem when it came out. Everybody can sing that one by heart. A lot of this album is dated by today’s standards. Darkness is still surprisingly good. Do or Die could do with a little update, but there’s something good there. Seconds is still relevant. The album gets much better in the second half. This band had some really fun tracks.
Nice British synthie - pop
Good synthpop album. Nothing less, nothing more
Unglaublich öde
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⭐️
It’s not really for me, but in the first 30 seconds I said to myself, “oh, this is kind of standard, mid-80s synth-goth. Then I realized: this is probably the band and/or album that started that sound. So three stars for being inventive and influential.
nothing special but fun. 4
Album is pretty good, synth-pop with plenty of catchy hooks, will probably give it another listen
The 80s were an experimental time so it was either hit or miss. This project gave you a great example of both.
It was OK. One good hit. The rest of the music is OK, but forgettable.
Nowhere near as cheesy as I was dreading. Still too 80s for my taste. It's fine, just not for me.
Hm, I expected to like it much more than I did. Usually I enjoy synthpop but somehow here, except for the hit single which I love, I got really bored and tired of the sound. I'll try again some other time.
I don’t have that thing that makes me love 80s music like this. I can only appreciate it for about four minutes, so I’m fine with the hits. And their hit is a hit! Wasn’t really worth the rest of the album to get to that point though.
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
3.5 don't you want me and a few other nice electronic 80s tunes
everybody needs two or three friends
literally couldn't even finish this.
It's easy to see why there's only one long standing hit on this album as "Don't You Want Me" is by far the most catchy and memorable while the rest kinda blends in together and is largely forgettable. The thing that really works against this album is most of the songs lack energy and fall flat when you stand them up against the almost anthemic sing-along chorus of "Don't You". That said, the album is not without it's merits, there are a few other songs that I found rather enjoyable even if I'll likely never revisit this album or even those tracks. Worth listening to "Darkness", "Love Action"
Lifeless songs spiced with cheezy synths and affected vocals makes up a hearty shit stew...dig deep and eat your fill...
Kind of twee and fun but somehow not really super interesting.
The definition of the 80's. A lot of synths. A lot. But this is executed pretty well
Classic synth pop at its finest. I feel like this would've been groundbreaking at the time of release
Don’t you want me brings it to 3 stars. Otherwise uneven synth record
The sounds are great but the songs are not hitting like Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, et al.
I think every song had the 80s synth sound. Overall, I thought it was a fine album.
Their hit "Don't You Want Me" was a good conclusion to the album, but everything else was just ok.
VERY 80s sounding. Not my jam but not hateable.
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
Groupe connu, par le hit 'Don't you want me' qui passait beaucoup à la radio et que j'appréciais beaucoup à l'époque. C'est donc la première fois que j'écoute un album entier du groupe. Et bien je suis un peu déçu. 'Don't you want me' continue à me plaire, mais les autres morceaux sont moins intéressants. J'ai quand même apprécié 'Do or Die' pour son chorus de synthé un peu recherché. C'est peu ... Finalement je comprends pourquoi je ne me suis pas intéressé plus à ce groupe ... A la même époque Ultravox (malheureusement pas dans la liste ... incompréhensible !) avais sorti 2 hits ('Vienna' puis 'The Thin Wall') vraiment créatifs et bien plus originaux. 40 ans après j'ai une bonne partie de leurs albums, et j'apprécie toujours de les écouter en entier ! Alors que Human League a complètement disparu de mon univers musical. =>2/5
Thinking of dropping out of this list because this doesn’t fit the criteria in my opinion. More like 1001 albums to avoid
Could have saved us a lot of time by putting don’t you want me as track 1!
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?
Ich wür euch gern the human review vorstelle: Guet vorstellbar dass the human album anno dazumals musikalisch revolutionär gsi isch, inkl ein human banger track. Ihri musik sehr erkennbar, aber für meh als 3 sternlis isch es doch zwenig schön zum lose. Bin scho lang nüm länger als 1 album ufm 3 strike gsi will eigentli ja eher ufm 2er trend ahcho im 2025i. Ich glaubs das isch e klassische fall vo th(re)e human stars
the human league - sinds echt würklich mensche? ich meine das wär doch genau sonen name wo sich alien invaders würdede geh als deckname aliens hi oder her, wenns so sache usehaued derfeds gern da blibe das album erinneret mich eifach immer as gliche: und zwar an noah und sini GIGANTISCHI ENDGEGNER OLDIES PLAYLIST! also wenn die da jemals chunt simmer würklich alli am arsch ezt no zum album ,hett mir sehr gfalle das ding han zerst nume "dont you want me" kennt und bin aber würklich uf mini chöste cho intenses fuess stampfe isch bi mir abgange so das de lucas vo dune mir grad bulle uf de hals gjagd hett, ai caramber drum wünsch ich eus allne 3 userirdischi buttplugs bi de nögste abduction oder wie de fischi würd sege: uhh ihh ähh öhh ehh ahh öhh ähh ühh usw
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
So dated! That classic synth-pop sound! Took me back to my heyday, trip down memory lane and all that. But they were fairly generic for the era. I could’ve been listening to one of a number of bands. 2 for the nostalgia .
Not great but last three songs pretty good so worth a 3
7/10
"Dare" is the third studio album by English synth-pop band the Human League. Founding members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left to form Heaven 17 and the band shifted direction from their previous avant-garde electronic style towards a more pop-friendly, commercial sound led by front man Phil Oakley (lead vocals, synths). Other band members included Philip Adrian Wright (slides, synths), Joe Callis (guitarist), Ian Burden (synths) and newly recruited backing vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley. The album was a huge commercial success hitting #1 in the UK and #3 in the US and saving their label Virgin Records. It was also critically acclaimed with some citing it as synth-pop genre defining. An electronic beat and bass and a synth melody open "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of." They layer the synths as Oakley sings about the simple times in life juxtaposed against a greater ambition. The third single "Open Your Heart" opens with a high-pitched organ-sounding synth and Oakley with higher-pitched vocals. Oh, there's a flute-sounding synth. "The Sound of the Crowd" is very 80's sounding with the synth, drumbeat and synth bass. There's people yelling and handclapping. Fitz and the Tantrums should be severely indebted to them for this song. The absolute gem on this album is "Seconds." An echoing drumbeat, haunting synth bass and layered melancholic-sounding synth-keys. Oakley in an emotionless voice. An absolutely fantastic synth melody. A song that was inspired by the JKF assassination. "It took seconds of your time to take his life." Laser sounds, spiraling synths and an electronic beat highlight their second biggest song on the album ""Love Action (I Believe in Love)" another catchy melody and a semi-autobiographical account of Oakley's relationship. Phil Oakley had to be convinced to release the closing song "Don't You Want Me" as a single. Susan Ann Sulley was co-lead singer by default. I bet they're both glad that happened. Not much to say here...I do like the ominous synth keys and might have sung the chorus once or twice; I might have been drinking. It's rare that you find an album so heavily back-loaded with their hits and best songs. But actually, this album is pretty much solid throughout. Very catchy melodies. You do hear the influence of their music (Fitz and the Tantrums, the Strokes). I can't think of a better poster child for 80's synth-pop than this album. And, it's a great album on top of that.
Giving it three stars because it’s like a discount Depeche Mode. There were like two songs that I could’ve used for Julia’s lullaby to put her to bed.
I like Don’t You Want Me and not much else. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
Shocked at how lame most of this is — repetitive, boring songs, uninteresting musicianship. And why are the only known songs the last 2 on the album? Still, “Don’t You Want Me” is so good it saves this from being a 1.
I knew this would be a struggle and it was. “Seconds” was surprising in a good way, though.
understand why it was so influential for eurosynth
You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When I met you I picked you out I shook up and turned you around Turned you into someone new Now five years later on you've got the world at your feet 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 Don't don't you want me? You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me Don't don't you want me? You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me It's much too late to find You think you've changed your mind You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry If you dont like 80s synth pop then you absolutely arent going to be able to get past that, because thats what this album is chock full of. BUT if you can deal with that, there are some fantastic songs on here and with more depth than you may think. 5/5
I don't know what it is with this album. I've tried listening 3 or 4 times. Everytime I forgot I was doing it and remembered near nothing of the experience. I think I like this but I can't seem to listen to it and actually process what I'm listening to
Fun vibe, 80s or whatever. Not sure that the musical style and the lyrics really go together? "I Am the Law" is nicely menacing.
Too 80's
Oooh, one of my all-time favorite synth pop bands! I don't own a lot of vinyl, but I own this one. The big hits are on here, but I also enjoy how moody and dark some of these songs get (Seconds is about the assassination of JFK). The Human League are underappreciated synth pioneers and deserve more attention - especially their early stuff. I got to see them live in 2023, and they sounded and looked just as fantastic as they did 40 years ago. I vote for Don't You Want Me as the best 80s synthpop song and video of all-time. It's very film noir...dark, brooding, and beautiful. 4.5 stars.
Great band. Great album. Great songs. Fun listen.
I enjoyed this album it was the exact poppy vibe I was looking for at the minute I listened to. "Keyboards and Cocaine" could basically describe the whole album and id heard "don't you want me" a million times but all around decent.
If ever there were a record that didn't deserve an exclamation point in its title, it would be this one. And even the band must not have been convinced, because it doesn't seem to appear on the album cover.* "Everyone needs love and adventure / Everyone needs cash to spend" might be the most obvious lyric of all time. Perfectly '80s and perfectly awful. 1.5 but rounding down because of having to endure "Don't You Want Me" at least one million times in one's teen years (couldn't have been good for cognitive development) and is certain to hear it least 100 more times in the future, which is approximately 100 times too many. (*The Human League Wiki [shudder to think there is such a thing] explains how record co added it for US release but not all covers have the "!")
-I WAS WORKING AS A WAITRESS IN A COCKTAIL BAR!! -this is very anachronistic 80s synth pop. perhaps the most anachronistic. I really enjoy the genre so maybe I’m a bit biased, but this was a really fun listen -maybe not the “best” of the genre from a technical standpoint but I love the early experimenting with electronic instrumentation. made all the songs sound catchy and unique -Favorites are Darkness, Love Action, and Don’t You Want Me
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.
About 15 years ago I was in a record shop and my mate told me how good this was and how I should buy it. I thought he was taking the piss as I’d only heard ‘Dont you want me’ but bought it anyway as it was only £5. Never bothered listening to it until a decade later when LCD Soundsystem covered ‘seconds’ and I thought ‘surely this isnt the same Human League, I’ll check it out’. It’s now one of the many many albums I put in my ‘all time favourite’ list! Absolutely bangers from start to finish, bar the overplayed hit at the end. This for me is the very best of the best of that whole 80s synth pop movement, love it
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.
Dynamic synth-pop/new wave. This is a much better album than I was expecting. Almost nothing is rote, and The Sound of the Crowd, Darkness, Do or Die, Seconds were super, and I already knew Love Action, and Don't You Want Me (also great, of course). I'm surprised how different all the tracks are - really well put together. One or two tracks drag, to be fair, but this is as solid a 4.5 as I've heard. Phil Oakley!
I get why this is here, but the synth pop thing doesn't do anything for me really. Don't you want me is a decent track though! 2
3.89/5
Really enjoyed listening to this today. Total synth pop overload! Don’t you want me was one of the first singles I bought (on 45) He haircut was next level back then and just looks a bit try hard now! Lol
Pretty fun for a one time listen, I'll continue to enjoy 'Don't you want me baby' on the mixtape b-sides playlist
Maso
This is not good. The singing is very not good. The instrumentals function as a break from the vocals, but they themselves are also not good. I thought I was starting to like a song (Seconds), but then it just kept going. The instruments on that song are actually good! But it was like 2 minutes too long. Even Don't You Want Me is not actually that good. It is the best song on the album, but the verses are hot garbage. But the pre-chorus and the chorus are kinda boppin. It does also go just a smidge too long though. Ultimately, the best part of this album though, is when it's over and you don't have to listen to it anymore. Favorite Song(s): Don't You Want Me
holy moly
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.
Nice album, not just the one or two keepers I expected.
Synth pop to the core. Of course, recognized "Don't You Want Me"
Don’t you want me is a weird album closer ngl, like it’s a great song but it’s not a finale type song. The rest of the songs are a tad awkward sounding but historically if you want to mark a point where post punk began sounding like new wave this is a good place. Darkness was probably my favourite of these kinda songs, I am the law sounds like what depeche mode would be doing a decade later, though if depeche mode wrote it I think it would have some amazing climax to it or just some oomph. Love action is like the transitional track between the other 8 tracks and don’t you want me I think hearing this, the human league certainty are one of the first artists to be doing this kinda thing and to that I give credit but there is so much better to come in the next decade. 3/5
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!
This was the first band who I liked more than one song by. And it was brought to my attention that I could like a "band". Or that songs were even done by the same people at all. For that I will always be grateful. Although I never owned anything by Human League, I do keep a warm place in my hear for them.
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.
It doesn't get more 80s sounding than this, but overall, despite me usually loving 80s music, nothing here really stuck with me
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
Grating
This list has proven it's value for me once again. Only song that I knew from this album was Don't You Want Me and I can sing it along. I wasn't even able to name the band that has made it. Now I'm much wiser, thanks to this list. Otherwise, this synth pop is not so much my thing, so two stars for that one song.
Horrible flashbacks to early-mid 80's, synths of the time were everywhere. Horrible! The tsunami of synth-pop. The horror! I did not remember how simple and one layered this music actually is, I'm sure it got better, but I still shiver just remembering their latter hits, which were all over music channels on a perpetual loop (while I do awcknowledge there where a lot less videos to put in said loop). For old school synth stuff, give me Jarre, Vangelis and Kraftwerk, this I can not stand.
It's an okay album, nothing really too great, it sounds like a not as enthusiastic Depeche Mode. The songs were a bit meh.
An average at best '80s album
Two tracks in, and I can say I am fairly uninspired, but definitely transported back to the 80s. For some reason, I am reminded of the Cold War Coca Cola and Levi's situation in the USSR. I can definitely acknowledge this album's influence on other synth/new wave artists, but to me, this lacks soul. I can imagine these guys in the studio looking really bored and withdrawn from what they're doing. Or maybe almost robotically disinterested..? 2.99
Pretty much every song on here is a classic, and the Rushent production really makes this shine. Simple, catchy, futuristic and stylish. The template for 80s synth pop.
The first album I ever bought with my own money. I'd buy it again, and again and again if I was ever left without this. Dare has a mystery throughout the tracks, yet it remains an accessible pop record. There's something lurking a little deeper underneath the lavish production, but you're never quite sure what. It doesn't even need Don't You Want Me to hit five stars. But I'd rather have it than not. Disclaimer: The League Unlimited Orchestra remix mini is even better.
80's synth-pop cheese and representative of an era of music that did little to nothing for me.
Pure '80s 16-bit synth pop. Not terribly inspired but it a cheese what it sets off to do
I guess this was really cool in 1981. It's nerdy groovy. Do or Die did have me wanting to do some blow and shake my tush. That one is probably my favorite on here. I am the Law is cool. Obviously, their hit, Don't You Want Me, is catchy and great. I can't help but to sing it every time I hear it. It was an OK album, but just middle of the road for me, so 3.
Even as a youth, I thought that The Human League didn't sound too human. Even beyond the drum machines and synths, something sounds robotic. It has its own merits, and it does set them a bit apart from sounding like others. Catchy, fun, upbeat, and at times cosmic ("Get Carter"), Dare! is a good album and likely influenced others in the dance-synth genre, but I don't find much innovation aside in the songs.
I guess my favorite song here was, unsurprisingly, Don't You Want Me. It had more energy than the others, and I really don't think I liked it the most just because it's the only one here I'd heard before--dozens of times throughout my life. That song led me to think that there was always a male and female singer in this band, but I think it was only this song that featured the female vocalist here. This album was pure synthetastic '80s, but it felt very straightforward and controlled, sometimes dare(!) I say, flat? cold? but not without its merits.
3.5/5
Boring album
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
The only real standout for me is Dont You Want Me- the rest of the album was just kind of generic-sounding synth pop. The songs all seemed to melt together. Overall- just fine
Very 80s
Ok. Not my favourite eighties album.
Classic from back in the day!!
Great album that really expresses what 80s new wave was all about. 3.5/5
It’s fine, but I’m just not that into it.
3 good cheesy 80 synth pop
Decent enough synth, just fell a bit flat overall. It almost too glossy, on Darkness they did add the reverberating bass and that added a nice wrinkle. I understand they likely wanted a shiny synth pop album and they accomplished that. Don’t You Want Me is quite a banger, I’ll give them that. 3 stars
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.
there are some songs here approaching 'gems in the rough' territory, but nothing here, outside of the big song, is really compelling or interesting. the sound is sparse, but the synth sounds can be quite cool and a little dated. overall, it's a decent album, but nothing to write home about.
Electric 80s pop at its finest - a couple of classic tunes also
last song saves the album
What to do when an entire album builds to one song that is so clearly superior than everything else on it? That’s what we’ve got right here. I’m not sure I’ve ever listened to an album where the final song was the best song by such a significant degree. “Don’t You Want Me” is definitely one of the best 80s tracks ever and maybe I was subconsciously building anticipation for its appearance knowing that it was the final track. Nevertheless, the album is satisfyingly cromulent synth pop / new wave. Three stars
Liked it more than i thought i would
80s trash
Pleasant enough but electronics are oh so sterile and lacking in any feeling. Background music with little to commend it except that the vocals are very clear and the arrangements sometimes, but not very often, are interesting.
8/10 Holy shit I love a synth or two. 12-21-2024
Classic 80s synth pop that feels like a big bowl of ice cream - delicious to the taste, but filled with empty calories. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though.
Underrated album
I am familiar with the band and the album, but I never thought it would make this Top 1001 List. It had one humongous hit in "Don't You Want Me" (which you couldn't avoid on the radio in 1981) and one minor hit in "Love Action". They were in at the start of liftoff for MTV and they helped one another become popular. I've never listened to this album in its entirety. I can hear the influence their sound had on other 80's artists but I don't think of this as groundbreaking or a must-listen. I can hear Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, The Bravery, Thompson Twins, etc, but I also hear Devo, Gary Numan & Kraftwerk that came before them. I really enjoyed "Darkness" & "Seconds". It's a very 80's album but the sound has held up fairly well. I just don't feel it deserves a spot among the greatest and most influential albums of all time list. 3.5 stars would be my grade.
This was annoying lol. The first song felt like a parody. The rest was just goofy and not my thing.
80's synth pop! What a ride. A nice blend of instruments accompanying the constant keyboard.
10 tracks of perfect synth pop. The story of how the Human League split, leaving Phil Oakey without synth players; how Oakey found and recruited two schoolgirls in a club on the eve of an international tour; how they reinvented themselves as a premier synthpop band...every track is great.
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.
One OK hit and a load of packing.
Don’t You Want Me is the only good song on here. The rest is extremely generic 80s pop. I could see how you’d need to listen to this if you’d never heard this kind of music before, but for the rest of us it’s nothing special
Classic 80s nonsense. Not my bag.
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.
Vale a pena escutar todas as faixas até chegar no hit "Don't You Want Me", paradigma do tecno pop dos 80.
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 🤖
80er Synthie Pop
# 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
I get it, they had one song that just slaps. But much of the rest of this was just annoying AF.
I listened to this all the way through and didn't hate it. The single "Don't You Want Me" might be the weakest song on the album. I appreciated the Ramones call out.
Great album.
Not bad for this type of music, but not for me personally. I don't want you, baby, sorry.
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.
This album taught me something. There are two ways to look at 80's music. Either as "oh, THAT is very 80's" or "damn, they made some pretty good music in that era" In plainer English, music of any era is either FROM that era or more timeless, some even seems "fresh" for first time contemporary listeners no matter what the era. I felt like The Human League is very representative of that veering towards "dated by proxy" line. Most of their music would be great for an 80's themed party but kind of dated by today's standards. On the other hand they have a couple of classics that stand the test of time and overall are worth a listen to, even without the party!
classic 80s. a fun listen but nothing crazy. 7/10
Not for me. Early 80s music
Trash
If this was an instrumental album I could see myself revisiting it, but I can’t stand the vocals. Musically very cool, but the singer is not for me.
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.
It’s an odd one, isn’t it?
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.
Puoliepävireinen kasarilaulanta hieman hiertää, mutta kyllä nämä hyviä kappaleita ovat. Onnistunut levy. Tosin grande finale -hitistä poistaisin pari osaa. What do I know.
Big 80s sound with a hit at the end ("Don't You Want Me") that I didn't realize was theirs. Lots of synth and wonky sounds throughout, as expected with this decade's pop contributions. Fun record.
With the exception of Don’t You Want Me this is absolutely awful.
I know two things. One is I could have written all of these songs on my own DX-7 back in 1985. The other is I would sound like shit trying to sing these songs. Just like this singer.
According to the book Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, renowned music critic Lester Bangs died of an accidental drug overdose while listening to Dare. "Don't You Want Me" is pretty good.
It certainly sounds like a product of it's time and clearly dated, but I still quite liked it.
Brilliant
Always love some good synth pop
Dare! Is almost comically 80s. It features Don’t You Want Me and a couple other good synth pop songs I Am The Law, Seconds stand out but it’s sounds so dated 5.6/10
Solid 80s synth pop!!
This was fun! Plus a star for don't you want me
Color me impressed. This feels like generic, run-of-the-mill 80s synthpop, but that sinister undertone that gradually becomes lighter until the hit arrives is actually quite thrilling, and reminds me heavily of the other synthpop greats. Wonderfully layered production, unique hooks, and a sense of pop music pride that it still wears on its sleeve despite the new wave boom trying its best to avoid it all still. I am thoroughly enthralled by most of this album, and consider it something quite amazing.
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
Lemppari: Don’t you want me Vähiten lemppari: I am the law
Makes me want to drive around Miami at night in a C4 corvette wearing a white suit.
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!
It's a tough one to rate, this - on the one hand it's an album that's been around me for most of my life, with a couple of songs that are undeniably 80s bangers, but then it's not quite as varied as you might hope, and the synth pop sound is definitely a bit more aged nowadays... I don't think I can give it more than three, but the standout songs are definitely putting it up to three with no difficulty. Faves: The Sound of the Crowd, Love Action
Great pioneering new wave album. You can tell it’s one of the first of its kind, though.
don't you want me beibee
Kind of refreshing hearing an 80s pop album that was completely unrecognizable. I will admit though, I grew tired of it about halfway through. This album just doesn't really hold up to the test of time in my book.
Needs to be listened to at volume, but a great album of its time.
Going strong for the "Worst of the 80s" prize, aren't ya? Close but not there yet, honey. "Worst COVER of the 80s" though... A cover as fascinating as it is horrible, and yet the more I look at it the more it intrigues me. What's the deal with that woman's face? Is she trapped in that rectangle by the ugly fonts above her? And the look in her eyes doesn't even remotely suggest "daring"—I would say "frightened" or "slightly confused" or maybe even "awaiting your answer to her extremely difficult riddle, which could either let you pass freely or kill you". Nevertheless, the 80s were a terrible time for music.
2.2 1x too 80s
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.
Dare! is quite bad really, terrible 80s synth pop with only one notable, massively overplayed song. Open Your Heart is the only other song I didn't mind really, new wave was crap, tempted to give this a 1 but I didn't hate it, it's just rubbish. Might squeak a 2 because Don't You Want Me Baby is still a little bit cult in spite of everything.
Bit of a comedown after Nas, this. It's actually better than I thought it might be - lyrically it's pretty weak, but as 80s electro synth goes (and we've had a LOT of it), this is pretty well put together, the vocalists are decent. Other than don't you want me, none of it is really catchy, I guess if you listened to it over and over it would really stick, but it's not good enough to make me want to do that. I think it manages to squeak a 3, just.
Don't like Birt Synth-Pop
80s generally suck
This was synth madness. And not in a good way.
Definitely one of those: there's that one really catchy song on it and the rest is just kind of fine new wave albums to me.
These guys are one-hit-wonders. Do yourself a favor and skip to the last track, then never turn it on again.
nebavilo, nedoposlouchal
Perfect example of the techno pop prevalent in the early 80s
This might be the 80s est of all 80s albums… It’s not for me, I got bored and moved on.
Euro synthpop trash.
Better than I expected. Definitely gets monotonous at times, but regardless is a very palatable album from a band that is not talked about enough in the genre of Synth Pop. "Get Carter" is such an unnecessary track. -1 for that track alone.
I loved this, the 80s vibes just dripped off this and it climaxes in a banger of a song, campy OTT and cheesey AF
I kinda liked this. I kept hearing thematic elements from the "Don't you want me" song throughout the album.
One of my favourite early synth pop albums
I had this album, love the nostalgia and enjoyed it as background. Hard to think of it as essential though.
Somewhat enjoyable. Very same sounding
Didn't know lcd soundsystems did a cover for seconds, I like the original version, super cool
More uk trash
It’s not bad, but pretty inconsistent in quality. If they were looking for an early example of synthpop, there are several better albums.
This album had not right to be this good. Each track is a world in it's own.
Why did 80's synths ever go away?
Sounds sweet, but the tracks here are mostly weak
I'm shocked that a hit 80s song that represents almost the entire modern legacy of a band comes from an otherwise completely forgettable and/or annoying album! probably the only time that's happened
The epitomy of 80's synth pop cheese. Unfortunately, one stellar song does not an "essential" album make. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this record, it's just that it is "average". Nothing stands out against the backdrop of literally hundreds of other synth pop bands of the time. Good listening, but not mandatory for sure. Favourite songs: Don't You Want Me, The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Do Or Die, Seconds, Love Action (I Believe in Love) Least favourite songs: I Am The Law, Open Your Heart 3/5
Many years ago I went trekking in Nepal with a bloke who was at art college with Phil Oakey. He said he was a foppish twat. This album is better than I expected, not that I had very high hopes. It's fine.
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
Might be the most 80est album of all time. Most tunes are catchy enough though.
It was through and through late 80s early 90s and feels like each song came straight out of a movie I watched growing up. Good, nostalgic but nothing stunning. Sort of blended together as it went on.
I am the Law kinda sucked. I liked the first and the last song. Everything between was okay.
This is SO 80s. Definitely makes me want to dance. Do or Die felt like running through a happy video game. I didn’t care for a few of the songs, but it was overall a pretty fun time!
Clearly it’s dated, but if you look past that, there are really some very good songs here. The first few tracks are great, especially the opener and Darkness. Do or Die is pretty bad, so is I Am the Law. Seconds is a good recovery before closing with their most famous song. Reminded me of a more synth, more pop, version of Echo & the Bunnymen, but also a fair amount is owed to Berlin era Bowie. A solid genre piece from a decade that will forever sound tragically dated.
I guess you had to be there.
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.
I had never heard of this band, and was listening to it and was nonplussed. Then the last track hit and I realized that they have a song that everyone has heard hundreds of times. Which I'm not sure if that's why it's on this list or if the album itself is considered worthy on it's own merit, but regardless the whole thing was kind of run of the mill and underwhelming for me as far as English synth-pop bands from the 80s are concerned.
报听
Friday night, window seat, Malt & Hops. Student soundtrack.
Wow "that" synth in The Things That Dreams Are Made Of sounds terrible. The next song also has a terrible synth around the two minute mark. What is going on? Who thought these sounded good? Track 3 has this really annoying popping sound in the right headphone. I thought my headphones were breaking for a second. I should say, that despite some annoying noises here or there I am enjoying this album. Nothing is blowing me away, but I have a surface level appreciation. It really is funny how 80's one-hit-wonders can write some of the most forgettable/passable songs and then everything will come together, like the perfect storm, and they will write one of the greatest melodies of all time. I Am The Law is barely a song. I get what they were going for, but I don't think it turned out like they wanted it to. Don't You Want Me really is (Human) Leagues above the rest of this album low 3.
Really? Well … I actually kinda liked it. Not an album I had to hear before I died but I expected to want it to end and it was alright. And “Don’t you want me” is an excellent song.
Don’t You Want Me is a classic but the rest of this is just ok. extremely 80s pop in sometimes not the best ways
Synth pop masterpiece. I remember seeing this on cassette when I was at the record store growing up. First time listening all the way through. This whole thing is outstanding. The motorik beat in Seconds is a highlight. I hear a Kraftwerk influence and that's a good thing. Easy 5 stars for me.
It was okay
Sista låten har man ju hört och den funkar men fram tills dess är det en öken av meningslös synth.
Habil 80-tals pop. Med en skön hit. Men överlag är det inte riktigt min kopp te.
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?
This album sounds like ripped stonewashed Jordaches, neon leg warmers, and Member’s Only jackets. That’s not a compliment. There’s really only one good song on here (Don’t You Want Me, obviously), and if I’m being honest with myself I probably only like that out of nostalgia.
I remember classical pop music from the early eighties. If I remember correctly, I already found it boring back then. That hasn't changed to this day. I'm not wasting my time listening to it again. 1/5
I'll admit I liked it when it came out. Didn't age that well.
Considering how huge Don’t You Want Me is, the rest of this album felt a bit repetitive and monotonous throughout. Like one big synth noise that then culminated in the aforementioned track. Meh, it screamed peak 80s
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.
An album filled with a bunch of forgettable songs and one hit at the end doesn’t qualify for this list. Try again. 2/5
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.
Lot of build up for Don't you want met. Boring 80s album that is not my jamb. 2.5 stars
Sounds like a poppier Depeche Mode. Some of the electronic work is really enjoyable in this album, but I can't get over the singers voice and the lyrics. It just sounds like a hopeless romantic stalking a girl. Low 3, saved by the nuggets of electronic goodness
Holy synth-wave 80s noises. This album teetered on the line of being pretty cool or quite terrible. I did like a lot of the synth sounds that they put in that were all super unique sounds that I have never heard. This album makes complete sense now that I heard Don't You Want Me as the last song I thought they sounded familiar. This teetered upwards into a 3- mid 3
This certainly has some 80's cheese to it, but also has some parts I really like. Idk maybe this whole thing is opening my eyes up to 80s music is a better light. Going with a 3 on this one as it was interesting. Plus Don't You Want Me fuckin rules.
Fond memories of this album. There are a lot of nuances picked up on a close listen that I missed casually listening to the album. Lots of layers that create a depth you can get lost in.
Electronic pop. an immensely fun album that had me grooving the whole way through.
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.
Great single. Okay album.
80s proto synth pop. Prefer the darker songs vs "don't you want me"
Horrible
i dont like it
I have the vinyl, some 12" singles, and the cassette... This is one of those things where honestly the absolutely worst thing on the record is the big hit! Rare, but something which does occur in the wild, just not often. There are a ton of great tracks on this record, it's interesting, lyrical, dark in places, great vocals, good songwriting, fantastic drum programming... amazing that it came out in 1981. Outstanding. Easy to dismiss it as synth pop but it's so much, much, much more. I probably listened to this record hardcore for several months, and it was on regular rotation for three or four years. Many new wave records never achieved that for me... I thought this was a great record then, I think it's a great record now... and "Don't You Want Me" is a very catchy single, just not something I'm terribly interested in revisiting, it was way overplayed and there are much better tracks on this record. Even "Love Action" is a better track, and I don't think it's a particularly strong one... great bass line, incredible hooks, fun to sing along with. My favorite tracks are probably the opener "The Things Dreams Are Made Of" and "The Sound of the Crowd" though "Darkness" and "Seconds" show some real range for this band.
This was okay. It's open of those albums I feel I ought to rate higher because of its influence - and I do like a bit of eighties synth pop! - but most of the album felt fairly forgettable. (Except, of course, that closing track...)
This was jazzercise and retro bowling alley music - stereotypical 80s synthpop, although it was one of the pioneers of the genre. I'd argue that this *is* essential listening, especially to appreciate how synthpop has evolved, but it sounds so dated compared to modern synthpop. I didn't realize that "Don't You Want Me" is on this album and I nearly fell over in shock when it came on. It's a classic banger that has stood the test of time for a reason, and, of course, by far the best track on the album.
Oh, THIS is why people hate the 80's. I get it now.
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..
I am a fan of synthpop so receiving this was nice. I found the album to be rather enjoyable although it is a little repetitive.
Fond memories of this. Pure 80s.
Most noted for its closing track, “Don’t You Want Me,” which heralded the breakthrough of the new wave sound (and essentially telegraphed what the next decade would sound like). Nothing else on the record hits quite as hard, but Philip Oakley is a decent singer.
Enjoyable. I forgot about the song Seconds, which is a highlight. Some rather boring songs on here also.
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
2.3
Meh very 80s
Boring. Monotone. Repetitive Not for me thanks. But I have to say Don't You Want Me is a banger. Only good song on the album 2 ⭐️
One-dimensionally synthy, despite the the singers all having strong voices. "Don't You Want Me" is uniquely hooky and relatable, a near-perfect artifact of its day and era, but lord knows one's heard that song more than enough time for life and there's no good reason to hear any more of this record. Thank god at least that the editors didn't try to convince us this was like Kraftwerk or Neu.
Another one where most famous song is best song by far
Great record. Classic 80s vibe
The good thing about early 80s UK Synth Pop!™ is that when its good, its good and when its not, you know it. Dare! by The Human League plays easily in the background or for your 80s retro game night. 3/5.
Actually slaps insanely hard. I "Dare!" to say, this is actually a good album! *Does a backflip, breaks own neck*
Pretty cool 80s songs
Aside from that classic last song the rest made for a reasonable if forgettable listen. I do enjoy 80s tunes but found some of the songs a little repetitive.
bops!!!
Super fun synths.
This wasn't great 80s music. The one hit on here isn't worth it, either. 2/5
I like it! Great beat and pleasant to listen to.
Yep. That's 80's music. Gonna leave that right there....
Nothing major to note. The best track was last—have to agree with another reviewer that it was a pretty neat trick.
"Don't You Want Me" is the reward for making it through this album.
Really buried the lede here with the big hit being the last song. Anyways the album sounds super dated and cheesy with these synths and really simple melodies. Not my thing
Very 80s. I liked the synths, but the repetitive lyrics on some tracks got annoying. Not bad, not particularly memorable.
Their one hit is on this album (in case you were wondering).
Synths as thin as paper dolls, with the songwriting to match.