Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Good album. Very synth heavy sounds with a lot of different things going on. Last song is a classic gotta love it.
Last song = best song. Otherwise nothing special about this very 80s album. It is very background 80s music.
I liked it, but nothing too special.
The synth stylings are a bit a product of their time... though it is wrapped around a pretty decent set of songs. Most of them are an interesting listen, though nothing quite stands out as well as Don't You Want Me. Enjoyable.
Very 80’s. Only recognized the last song. Can’t say I’m a huge fan but glad I was exposed to it
okay
Side B is 5 star
ooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO DON'T DON'T U WANT ME
Its interesting as a cultural artifact of the early 1980s and early synth pop.
Good! Didn't amaze me but I enjoyed it and I can see it's influence.
6/10. Don’t you want me is classic, and there were some interesting synth sounds , but it really felt like a one-hit-wonder list inclusion.
6/10. Don't you want me sounded like it always does, do or die was pretty good, the rest was pretty forgettable.
This one hit wonder group was smart enough to put their hit at the end of the album! 5/10
One all-time pantheon song that stands so far above the other songs on the album to make them all sound like filler. Don't You Want Me works so well because it's a duet, which makes me wonder if the other songs would benefit from a little less Phillip Oakey, who gets annoying after a while. But they'll always have Don't You Want Me, a classic that alone warrants a spot on the list.
Sounds like something Gus listened to as inspiration
Likely on this list solely for "Don't You Want Me," which was indeed a critical pop breakthrough. But "Fascination" and some very early stuff aside, little stands out in their catalogue.
Quite fun to listen to
Decent 80s synth pop album. Liked the song Darkness. Kind of like ah ha
Sound, songwrighting and singing are all par for the course for early 80s wave music, but this is generally a pretty uneven record. Singing-wise, Philip Oakey aims for all the right notes, but misses too often. This, too, is a trademark of that kind of music, but one that I never was particularly fond of. Most songs are quite dark, but not all too memorable - except the obvious hit "Don't You Want Me". For this alone I'll raise by rating by .5 points. Without it, this album would have been very disappointing. 2.5/5.
Here’s what I find interesting about this album. The last song, “Don’t You Want Me” is not the best song on the album but a logical conclusion to it. Really cool to see the progression in a single album in a transformative era.
Surprisingly good and inventive for a synth-pop album. The synths, and the songs in general actually, are a bunch of hit-and-miss. When they did hit though, it's very nice and groovy, they have the haunting synth sounds that I love about '80s pop. It's definitely a daring, albeit monotonous, synth-pop album. The popular tracks hit it, and they hit it well.
Not as up beat as expected
Decent, but nothing amazing. I was a little bored, and could tell I wouldn't revisit. 2.75/5
New wave really is more of a singles genre than an albums. That’s probably why Substance is the only New Order album I only. “Don’t You Want Me” is a triumph of the genre, but most else os forgettable. C
This wasn’t an amazing album. It was pretty typical 80s synth-pop. Although, I did enjoy the use of auto tuned cat meows as the lead instrument for Love Action. Overall, there were three songs I kind of liked(Love Action, Don’t You Want Me, The Things Dreams are Made Of). The rest was really forgettable.
Like DJ said... I liked it the more I got into it. At first I was a bit lost and distracted by the lyrics, which are somewhat jarring. The second listen was where it started to come together for me. I read that this was a radically new sound, that really nothing like this had been done, and that nobody was clear (even up to the last minute) whether it was any good or not. That made me understand the album more... it's unintentionally groundbreaking. It does feel a little bit effortless in a funny way, and not contrived. I liked it the more I got into it.
As one reviewer on 1001 Albums Generator so eloquently puts it: “A synth-pop 80s purgatory is a better place to be than a 80s post-punk hell.” I don’t feel that I’m in purgatory listening to this album, but I do feel a little cleaner afterwards. I like 80s synth pop! ABBA, Laura Branigan, Tears for Fears. Maybe it was because I took a small taste of the first track at 6:58am, but those synths slap a little hard and that main vocal feels too forward in the mix and too gravely. I really just wanted Laura Branigan to start singing I guess. It was fun to read everyone else’s reviews first because I’m handing in my homework late. DJ, Jacob, and Charlie all had a very similar takes, which is funny. You all did some major take-backs by the end of your reviews. I don’t have the curse of listening with a producer’s/musician’s ear, so I embraced this album with no questions of irony or prejudices of commercial ambitions. I enjoyed it! I can see myself dancing to it while cooking! It’s a 3/5 for me.
I went through the whole album without knowing what the last song would be which was a fun exciting way to end it because I’ve known that song 4ever. Other than that the album was funny and strange.
Almost the essence of what I stereotypically think of as an early-80s robotic synth pop sound. Completely dated but that's probably the point of this being influential - I don't know how often this kind of sound broke through to the masses before this. Even if I only know the smash single it all has a familiarity to it; giving it a generous 3 as it doesn't have much that "sticks" but at ~40 minutes is short enough to not get annoying (and I kind of like that the hit is the last track). It is admittedly kind of fun; definitely worth putting on at a party. Sneaky best song: "Seconds" 6/10 3 stars
A good record in its day but not doing it for me today
More than just the cocktail bar song, this album sets the detached vibe for the New Wave.
When will I find an album from the 80s that I actually like... Don't You Want Me is a banger tho
It's an album I'm glad I persisted with. I'm really quite fond of synthpop and new wave, but if it was only for Side A I'd have given up and would've been wondering why in the world this should be on a 1001 greatest album list. It gets interesting on the B Side of this album and the album finally gets lifted out of mediocrity with the last 4 songs, starting with the interesting "I Am The Law", turning into the great "Seconds" and ending in the classic "Don't You Want Me." 4 songs can't save an album, but is does make it stand out among contemporaries.
Not really my thing, but since this appears to be such an inspiration for so much electronic music, I'll give it a 3.
I am not big into pop music history, and if I believe in paying respect to the most influential artists, then I do in a more theoretical way – not by making myself like it. But I do have to give kudos for paving a new way musically while writing absolutely iconic lines such as "Everybody needs cash to spend; Everybody needs love and affection; Everybody needs 2 or 3 friends" I am completely deaf to bleeps and bloops, but I can't help feeling some appreciation among weirdos
Wow this was SO of an era - could you get more 80s music..!? Probs not. Certainly enjoyed enough of this and better known songs, but have to say some of it was rather repetitive and probs needed a strong drink to go alongside. Don't you want me is obviously iconic - probs the right thing to put this at the end of an album and end on something more melodic and interesting
Didn't mind it at all but it was fairly repetitive. Would enjoy all the tracks on their own but a whole album was a lot. Also, the Human League just makes me think of the electro episode of the Mighty Boosh. I AM ELECTRO BOY, I AM ELECTRO GIRL
The album feels very typical for 80's synth pop. It's still a fun listen. However, it does not feel very inspired. The synths are nice, the vocals are decent. There are some very good moments in this record but most of it feels very bland. The beginning of the record feels fun and fresh. The middle starts to drag very slowly. The last track on the record is easily the highest point. The most poppy, and most musically interesting track. Favorite Track: Don't You Want Me Least Favorite Track: I Am The Law
Made me want to do the robot. Vibes were chill.
If you mention this website when the play Don't You Want Me at Holiday Club this Friday, I'll buy you a beer
Classic 80s music. Synths out the ass. Some pretty good songs on here although I though a lot of them sound very similar. I actually dont think i could tell you a song other than dont you want me and i just finished it 10 seconds ago. Shallow and pedantic 5/10
Accidentally lisstened to this on shuffle
Solid synthpop - and unashamedly so. Melodies as solid as the synth cutting through your earholes. It dips a little in the middle but picks up the slack at the end. Best Tracks: The Sound of the Crowd; Love Action (I Believe in Love) Don't You Want Me
a lot better than i expected
Very 80s
8/2/2022 - ALBUM #187 Today's Album: "Dare!" by The Human League - This album is one of those albums that is on this 1001 albums list because it has a hit single that was massively overplayed by the public, which in this instance is the album closer, Don’t You Want Me. However, unlike most albums of this vein, there are a few tracks throughout the album that justify a full listen. The opener, The Things That Deams Are Made Of, is a fairly energetic start to the album, introducing the whirring synths and robotic drum beats that are emblematic of both this album and the developing sound of new-wave in the early 80s. I also like the slower, broodier track, I Am The Law, as I think the songwriting of the track is particularly strong and I think the ambient synths and bass framing the track create a really interesting soundscape. There are, though, plenty of tracks here that have a real lack of urgency and an uninteresting sound palette, with some songs sounding pretty goofy from the childlike sounds the band was experimenting with. The overall flow and balance of this record is ultimately heavily thrown off by this, with some of the highlight tracks sounding fairly good, but having a hard time shining when mushed together between what sound like playground experiments. There is obviously, the shining star at the end of the album, Don’t You Want Me, which really does capture the overall sound of this album and shows it off in the most flattering light. It is an extremely clean and polished new-wave song and as a genre that thrives when it sounds like digital beeps, I think it really elevates this album from a forgettable experiment to an important musical influence. Overall, though, I think this album is a pretty mixed bag of early new-wave experimentation. It has a ton of moments that are sonically impressive and a fair bit of memorable hooks to keep you hooked, but it’s mostly just 4 good songs held together with scotch tape and gum. Give this one a listen if you are into new wave and otherwise maybe just peep the highlights. Highlights: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Darkness, I Am The Law, Don’t You Want Me Score: 6/10 Early new wave album that is very groundbreaking, but is mostly held up by a few good songs
Really, really 80s sounding synth-pop which I should love but I just couldn't get into it. 3.5/5
Early example of New Wave. Heavy on synthesizers, vocal effects. "Don't you want me baby" is the biggest hit off this album. I didn't recognize any other songs.
80s are alive and well here.
This album is like getting roped into an 80s dance hall filled with Tab
Reminded me a lot of Penthouse and Pavement (unsurprisingly) - and I enjoyed this one too. Catchy, quirky, synthy melodies aplenty, artfully treading the line between tacky and sophisticated - and that's before we even get to Don't You Want Me at the end. Something about it starts to grate after a while though. I think maybe I'm not a huge fan of the vocals. 3.5
Massive album of the 80s. Contains big hit singles. And from my home city. I have problems. Although I like electric pop. 1 I haye the big drum sound. 2. The lyrics are a bit inane. 3. Oakey's voice is like nails down a blackboard to me. Will never love it. Sorry. Can't take away the big tines though. 3
Total 80's album.
Some good songs but far too repetitive
Quite enjoyable.
Aunque Don’t You Want Me de hecho me gusta bastante, el resto del disco es de ese horrible género del Synth Pop que suena a Ross jugando con su teclado. El disco se vuelve un poco largo y hay tracks que de plano no me encantan. Encima, hay una versión con remixes que la neta sí me salté. Alcanza la 3ª estrella solo porque si me gusta una rola.
Listened to on 5/31/22 3.5/5 Favorite song: don’t you want me Great background 80s music with a solid banger ending
Really vacuous British voice + cheesy 80’s synth throughout made for a mediocre album at best. Don’t You Love Me is the classic on here and clearly the best song.
The more new wave albums I hear the more I realize it's not really that good. This is mostly boring and even the one song I like (Don't You Want Me) is kinda boring too. I'll give it an extra point because it was pretty influential but won't listen again.
This album is very 80's but I enjoyed it.
Not a fan of the band, especially when this album was first released. I didn't listen to any synth-based pop music on the radio, but reflecting back it does bring back a bit of nostalgia. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing their big hit, Don't You Want Me and it still remains an earwig in my mind once in a while. It's not always a bad thing.
The release year is important here, at least it is to me. The sound and style of this album sound dated to my ear now, and as someone who was a teen in the 80s, this kind of music is very familiar because it was quite common back then. But in 1981, it wasn't. That's what I mean by this album's release year's importance. Makes me understand how groundbreaking and influential this album really was. I don't particularly love the album overall, but that's because the higher frequencies that my ear hears in synth-based music kind of grates on me. No fault of the music or anything else; just how I experience it. Because of that, I don't listen to synth music. 'Don't You Want Me' is still a lot fun, though. I remember liking it back then and I still do.
Dare is the third album by English synth-pop band The Human League. This album was recorded in the new wave of pop style, after the departure of two founding members of the band caused a shift from their prior avant-garde electronic style. This change in genre for the band paid off big once the singles from the album began releasing, and this album went on to define the synth-pop genre. The final track on the album is the single "Don't You Want Me" which became an international hit - as well as the band's biggest hit and the 25th highest selling single in the UK - after it was finally released against the band's frontman Philip Oakey's opinion who thought it was the weakest track on the album and shouldn't be a single. The album was on the UK chart for 71 weeks, being number 1 for a good chunk of that, and "Don't You Want Me" was the number 1 single during some of that time as well. With all this popularity, it's no surprise that the album has been certified triple platinum in the UK. As critically acclaimed as this album is, it's still pop music, and to me this genre's songs are easily forgettable and/or repeatable. I loved the single "Don't You Want Me", but obviously everyone in the world loved it too. The other tracks on the album weren't as special, but a few did stick out to me as good. Overall, this album is pretty amazing and did bring pop - and more specifically synth-pop - into the spotlight for the foreseeable future.
Some bumper 80e Cover art 3/5
Alright. Not what I’d call a classic
Not bad, just dated. High on the synthesizer. Very new wave.
My sister bought this LP in my 80s childhood and boy I listened to it a whole lot. There is some forgettable stuff in the first half but the album, and the B side in particular, still holds up on its own terms.
Nothing I would go back to. Thought they sounded like the band that sings Don't You Want Me until I got to the last track and realized that it was!
Contrairement à mon camarade d'écoute le très peu éclairé roblumière, j?ai beaucoup apprecié cet album, qui aura même frôlé le 4 grâce à un très bon dernier son. J'ai notamment adoré le choix artistique de ce groupe, qui avant de lancer chaque piste de l'album, nous laisse nous balader pour quelques secondes dans les hautes herbes.
Pop commercial
The sound of the 80’s
A big and small hit. The rest is rather mediocre. (5/10) FT: Don't You Want Me, Love Action (I Believe in Love)
Despite the morose whine and so-so lyrics, some of the best keyboarding ever.
Not bad. I now know the group who wrote Don’t you want me Baby
It's very heavy on the synth which I really wouldn't have a problem with, but the songs really feel like they bleed into one another. And the biggest banger on the soundtrack being right at the end is just uncool.
Don’t really get the hype around this one… plenty in the genre better in my humblest of humble opinions.
Cest correct pas plus.j'ai tout exoute et je me souviens presque plus. Peut être par e que à secoute bien en backgroudb? Probablement. 3.5
80's synth pop tunes
pas dingo mais je ne peux ignorer le banger don’t you want me ….
Don't you want me baby
Solidan
Sintpopični možda recimo klasik? Ne znam, ne mora biti, ali ovaj cover mi je dosta poznat, viđao sam ga, bar što se tiče ovog žanra i ružan je! Prva strana albuma je sasvim dobra, ne mogu reć. Meni taj synthpop prolazi, ali nije koji će mi ostat onako u rotaciji. Ako me razumijete. Može se poslušat, a sad da ću si pustit to, bar sad još uvijek ne letim za ovim synthpopom.
Cool synths
Flash Back
She never even worked in a cocktail bar. Frauds. Good album doe
Classic 80s pop that provides a cool sound that masks a lack of great songwriting. Most of the album follows the exact same tempo and feels like a trial of songs in pursuit of their biggest single, which is the only major highlight of the album given its domination of shopping radio playlists at stores.
Solid and catchy 80s synth pop that is unfortunately too repetitive to justify a 4 stars
An album from the 80s that doesn’t indulge in itself for once. Though some songs tend to plod due to lack of editing, the synth melodies and catchy vox are enough to keep things moving through the slow spots.
Buen disco. Muy movido, pero Don’t you want me se lleva el disco por mucho
Ah Phil and the Girl fans! what a difference from the first iteration, but I think Phil Oakey was always a "Pop Star in Waiting" rather than an Alt-Rock star. "The Things that Dreams are made of" & "Love Action" my pick of the tracks althoug I also Like "Get Carter". A good early 80's piece of serious pop.
Aside from Don't You Want Me, none of the songs really caught my attention.
Well it's a decent dance/pop/now wave record with one great song. 3 🌟
I mean, it's fun man. I think that's it at the end of the day. Don't you want me baby? Classic as it gets.
Pretty good. Only really know them for ‘Don’t You Want Me’ so it was nice to hear other, darker, material.
9/22 3.5/5. Classic 80s synth-pop, not a preferred genre of mine but it's good at what it does. Standout Tracks: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Darkness, Seconds
Kind of interesting meld of 80s new wave pop and 80s German electronica, even though these guys were from Sheffield (!?) I found it nostalgia-inducing but ultimately a little hard to listen to all the way through.
Not bad. Obviously there’s the hit at the end, but the majority of the album is some pretty cool 80s synth pop. I’d listen again.
Pretty good album, defintley a huge influence on a lot of the new wave that came later on in the decade.
This is the kind of synth pop that is unapologetic in its sounds. angular, refusing to blend. the task then is more in stacking them, which sounds like what I am in for. This almost feels like a less fun DEVO. Or like listening to a very poetic retro gamer stream. Some songs have interesting hooks but I'm just not super interested in the sounds. Don't You Want Me Baby keeps this from being a 2 star for me. Seconds is a good track.
Synthpop at its best
Unapologetically 80s. Interesting track placement but generally enjoyable
Classic 80s synth pop, Human League were one of the best of that genre. Lots of it sounds a bit dated and cheesy now but the melodies and hooks are still strong.
Don't you want me was a standout from the rest
Yup. Surprising that the #1 single was the last song on the album.
I thought this would be better, being that I love 80's new wave electronic music - but only a couple of good tunes and one banger being Dont You Want Me. 3 stars
bof sans trop d'intérêt fav: the sound of the crowd, Darkness (assez cool), Hard times aussi (DU-Dududu-dududu) On sent que ça a influencé MGMT par exemple 6/10
was one of a handful of LPs in the house in the 80s - can't say i'd give it much of a spin now other than for some curious nostalgia
Some good songs, some not so much. Don't you want me baby is an iconic 80's hit, this song alone raises the rating to three stars.. However, the first part of the album is quite meh.
I can have a good time if I am high or drunk listening to this in a party xD! The fake instruments are very funny but 1981.. Quite progressive I guess! Also the "Don't You Want Me" chorus is a hit, haha! 3 stars.
Alright. I thought I was gonna like it more.
Great singles. A bit much as an album, all very similar.
It was good but mainly because of the last track on the album
fine
Fun listen. Top quality pop musicj. I respect savin the banger til the end. And WHAT a banger!
Wasn’t interested in listening to this but it was actually ok. Pure 80s pop with all their hits made it semi-enjoyable.
For an album that's as old as me, I find the use of instruments available at that time fascinating. And they definitely saved the best for last. Overall, I just don't think the songwriting is particularly good, I would probably have enjoyed it more if it was instrumental. 6.5/10
Had some head hopping but it’s very one paced. I was a bit disappoint, but I had high expectations. The last song creeps into a 3, I’ll prob be singing this all day now.
it was different, not bad, just not something I'd listen to every day
It was pretty solid, very fun 80s pop! I liked it
Underground-y y pop-y a la vez. Lo que me pareció cool: grandes percusiones, tanto las de instrumentos como las de los beats electrónicos e incluso las percusiones que no sé si en realidad cuenten como percusiones porque vienen más bien del bajo. Como que no son sonidos súper catchy, pero sí lo suficiente para que me mantengan entretenido. No es mi estilo y no creo regresar al disco, pero he de admitir que suena bastante cool sobre todo las canciones como The Sound of the Crowd, Darkness y Seconds que suenan postpunk (quizás por la voz y las percusiones muy graves características del género?) con una fusión movidona disco-ish. Me imagino que está cool para los apreciadores del synth pop como andruk. 7/10. Track que más disfruté: Love Action por lo refrescante que ha de haber sido escuchar algo disco con una voz que no fuera irritablemente aguda.
Really good actually
3.8 + Solid 80s synth pop mixed with some interesting experiments like “I Am the Law.” Kraftwerk fingerprints all over but with enough pop to set it apart. “Don’t You Want Me” is a radio favorite, too. “Love Action” limps along towards the end. The track ordering is a little whacky - I can’t think of many albums where the smash hit appears last.
Ganz nett
10 canciones y 40 minutos. Desde el principio es puro sonido 80. En este disco está su gran, gran éxito: "Don't you want me". El disco bastante flojo para mi gusto, va mejorando hacia el final: Seconds, Love Actions y el remate de su éxito como última canción. Le doy 3 estrellas justitas.
Nostalgia again for me. I was raised on Human League. There are definitely some bangers on here, but unfortunately it's nothing that stands out as an amazing album, except for it ending on two belters
I know The Human League were pioneers in this sound, but it never did a whole lot for me. I always found it a bit cheesy, I like the instrumentation more than than the vocal stylings, but even then it's a little cheesy sometimes as well.
I came in wanting to like this but no, I was right the first time - human league are annoying. Interesting to hear the craftwerk influences though. Don’t you want me is a tune
MEGET elektronisk, som om en kun keyboard og trommemaskine. Kun et hit og det er heller noget særligt. Ikke min stil
Similar to soft cell in that I wanted so much more from the album. Disappointed
So, it's got that one song on it. You may not know the song, until you hear it, and then you're like, yeah, that one. So anyway, it's at the very end, and while the songs you have to wade through to get there aren't all bad, they're not that great either. Best track: Don't You Want Me
A little bare for my tastes, but fun.
I'll be honest, this felt a little like a psychology experiment. I found myself giggling because of the absurdity. These tunes may have been fire at one point but now they have aged like a nearly half-century old condom and will likely see as much use.
I'm 70 percent finished with this journey, and I've now discovered another album that we should all just skip to *that* song. Oh, you know which one. That clearly the reason this lackluster 1980s cheese made this list. Favorite Track: "Don't You Want Me".
It was… fine? That’s the thing with 80’s synth pop. I could tell you exactly how this album sounded before I even started playing it. Full of all the staples you’d expect, loads of synths, electronic drums with an incredible amount of gated reverb added, speak singing in a lower than expected register and a handful of beeps and boops to fill out the rhythm section. I don’t doubt that in the early 80’s when this came out, that it was groundbreaking and no one could imagine this futuristic sound ever sounding dated. But as with the majority of 80’s synth pop, it sounds incredibly dated today. Probably the worst decade for music aging terribly. That being said, I didn’t hate this album, but I didn’t love it either. I found it just a bit middling for the most part, hard to tell some tracks from another as it seems they found a handful of presets they liked and then made an entire album out of them. The last two tracks, which happen to be the best known singles from the band, really are the best on here. Bit of a double edged sword, though, as on one hand it left me on a high to finish, but also highlighted how much the preceding tracks were lacking. In between a 2 and a 3 out of 5. I’m going to give another listen later today before deciding where to rate tomorrow morning.
used to have a song from this album (dont you want me)not anymore
Of course my final album would be some 80s over-produced and synth heavy album.
Boring new wave album
Its like they knew how to make good music but didnt until the end
2.5 stars A lot of samey pop new wave stuff. But the killer well known single that ends the album makes it worth it. But not really an album I’d give another listen to.
I mean yeah don't you want me is an all time banger but they got nothing else to show for it, boring ass synths and this is coming from a synth fan
Last song was pretty popular, but somewhere between 2 and 3 stars
A much more forgettable album than I would have thought. The synth felt very sharp and unappealing to listen to for the majority of the runtime. There are some decent hidden gems on this album, but not a lot to dig into. To say nothing of including one of the most annoying songs created. Top tracks: Darkness, I Am the Law
This genre and style of music is just not for me. 80s pop tends to be a bit too monotonous with exception of a few artists that have more rock influence. Got bored of this one real quick, but it was cool to hear the big hit and know it's origin
Don’t you want me baby. Not really, sorry.
Very disappointing 80s synth pop drowning out the occasional stronger darker moments.
Well that's 80s music for ya. Don't like the production, not really my thing. 1. Don't You Want Me 2. Love Action (I Believe In Love) 3. Do And Die
meh
More really weak British pop. 2 stars or D+.
I want to like this album, but i just dont. I hate the majority of 80s synth music and this does nothing to change that. However ‘Dont you want me is a truly great song and means that this cant get a one, which i fear it would otherwise be getting.
Look, Don't You Want Me is a brilliant song and almost everything else on the record pales into insignificance next to it. But here are some thoughts. I appreciate the name checking of the members if The Ramones on one of the least Ramonesy sounding songs ever made. Not that it was very Norman Wisdomy either. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of is extremely repetitive and very synthy. Open Your Heart at one point makes a noise like an alien laser beam which is random. Sound of the Crowd sounds a bit like The Model by Kraftwerk in places. Darkness is pretty forgettable. Do Or Die is a bit ska but with a billion synths - I quite liked it. The Get Carter sort-of cover was pointless. I Am The Law I liked. Seconds I didn't (more spacey synths though). Love Action is a good song and choice for a single, as it's undeniably catchy. On any other 80s synth-pop album it might be the standout song. But the final track is clearly the best song here. Overall a 2.5, but I'm rounding down. 2/5
Phil Oakey cannot sing at all. Dull monotone didn't particularly enjoy it
This sounds like me and my friend singing stupid made-up-on-the-spot ditties while we play the Mega Drive. By that, I mean we can't sing. I like the Mega Drive though, so it's not a 1.
Annoying synthpop
hell no.
No está mal. Estuvo bien para dejar de fondo y solo mover la patita.
2/5. The only song I enjoyed was Don’t You Want Me. The others felt so repetitive and empty. Maybe it’s just not for me.
The Human League made the synth-pop album in 1981 — Sheffield, all keyboards, guitars banned on principle. I've now done Pet Shop Boys, New Order, OMD and Depeche Mode from this same corner of the decade. The pattern holds. I can hear the craft. None of it moves me. Nothing really stayed. Except the last song. "Don't You Want Me" closes the album and it's the only thing still in my head. The joke is that Phil Oakey thought it was the worst thing on the record — he buried it at the end as filler and argued with the label about putting it out as a single. It went to number one in the UK and the US and became the only Human League song most people can name. The two women trading lines with him, Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, he'd found dancing in a Sheffield nightclub. Both still teenagers, neither of them singers. That back-and-forth is the entire song. He didn't rate it. 2/5 — nine tracks I've already lost, and one the singer didn't want.
Not for me
I really like "Don't You Want Me", which EVERYBODY loves and is their biggest hit. Other than that, there's little else on this record that I want to hear again.
These guys put the synth in synth-pop. The album is unique in that it’s probably the best example of “80s-sounding” music ever; whether you think that sound is good is up to you. I didn’t care for this, mainly because it sounds so janky and basic when compared to later 80s synth-pop acts like Tears For Fears. Songs From The Big Chair takes what was pioneered here and does it so much better. There’s a few decent songs, but too many of them were just repeats of the previous song and spamming the synth over and over. Did not care for the sort of halting/robotic singing style either. 2/5, just go listen to Tears For Fears if you want an actually good album like this.
One hit wonders have no place on this list. Every song sounded like a worse, less catchy “Don’t You Want Me”, until their one banger comes on last track on the album when you’re utterly sick of pop synth and distorted vocals.
Ok, nothing exciting here. 2/5
Synth. Pop. Drum machine. Not terribly interesting. I always wonder when a band makes an album like this with an obvious giraffe do they know? Do they care?
Didn't really care for it.
Just what I expected.
Don't you want me is a banger. Album is devoid of any others. Probably deserves a place for historical relevance. 2/5.
That's one long slog to get to the only song with a hook. I'm sure that some of the synth tones were groundbreaking for their time, but it just doesn't hold up. Wait... The Human League had TWO female vocalists? Where the hell were they?
they have a couple of good ones...
Good synths
This is genuinely bad music. With some patience and time, I could reproduce most of these songs on the organ in my brother’s attic. With the exception of “Don’t You Want Me” this album is completely forgettable and one salad doesn’t make a fat man thin. Following that line of thinking I’ve gotta go with the overwhelming theme that they got lucky once and the rest of their music doesn’t belong on this project. I mean let’s be honest, they put the song last on the album because they didn’t realize the value it held either.
This is really bad. Like really really bad. They got lucky with Don't You Want Me which a good enough song, but the rest of the album is....well....really really bad.
kind of a one song album Will I listen to again: 4%
Not udder shite but derivative 80's synth pop. I have a hard time to enjoy this beyond surface value. Don't You Want Me infinitely iconic banger. I'm sure there is more of this band I'd appreciate but I didn't find much of it on this album.
Pretty weak music, even for 80s new wave. 2/5
At first I felt the album sounded as I would expect from an electronic band in the 80s but as the songs went on I found myself wondering why all the songs were so long I checked the length of the tracks an realized that it was just me getting bored in the middle of the songs feeling like they dragged on. Not something I want to feel while listening through an album. The fact that I felt the same in multiple songs makes it kind of obvious why I wont be coming back to this album in the future.
3/10
The music is amazing but the annoying vocals ruin it for me.
Very synth. Idk. Aliens?
Not the worst of the 11 albums I chose to listen to today
I do not like this genre. Saved the best song for last, huh? 2/5
It's funny this, I guess it was cutting edge moody brooding music at the time but it sounds a bit silly and twee now. Hey guys check out my synth
No es tanto mi estilo
80s futurism hasn't aged too well imo -- but there is like a decent song here and there. I think if you want synth stuff there is just much better options all around now. I respect it but it ain't for me. 2
Annoying synths. Overly dramatic vocals, that I don’t think are very good or very pleasing to listen to. Lyrics are blah. Basically just alt 80s schlock. Didn't like this band then, don’t like this band now.
Best Song: Don't You Want Me. I spent the whole album wondering why this album was on this list, only to have the one hit wonder in the final position. And honestly, it's not even that big of a hit. Worst Song: Get Carter. In what world was this whistle song a necessary contribution to the album? Overall: Another extremely missable 80s record. Even the cover of the album lets you know that you're in for just that greasy, sweaty-dancefloor, bright lights style music.
Ah, interesting, blah blah, the foundation of punk, blah blah, provenance, blah blah meh meh.
Not a lot from this album that doesn’t sound the same
2.5
“Don’t You Want Me” is such a sonic stand-out. The detail work on that song, the attitude, the back and forth — fantastic. Holds up great. But the rest of the album pales in comparison and does not age gracefully. I will say, the opening song gave me hope. But alas, as much as I hate to go as low as 2/5, I think I have to this time. But with the caveat that “Don’t You Want Me” still deserves its place in the synth pop hall of fame. By the way, isn’t this a rather ironic name for a band so committed to electronic music and drum machines?
I didn’t hate this, but I am maybe more willing to indulge 80s pop than some. It doesn’t go fully overboard with the pop tropes and I think it’s pretty reasonable to listen to, but there’s nothing to elevate it. I have a soft spot for Don’t You Want Me from when it was a bit of an anthem at a previous job but that couldn’t lift the album on its own. Derivative.
It's quite mushy. "Open Your heart" is a little coy with its little alluring blurps and whistles (it certainly doesn't end there either it's a feature by design in the album). It's all quite tame for me and a little too pop gloss for me. It's got a deep 80's synth and while it might have been innovative at the time it has a very retro feel to it and not for the better. Camp pop and not so fun.
It's a rare situation when the genres listed for an album essentially describe everything you need to know about the album. This is just a nugget of new wave, electro/synth pop. It is what it is and not a lot more. The question is, do you like the genre? If you answered no then you are in for a rough 40mins. This is interesting as a cultural snapshot into a place and time but nothing more. Quite a few tracks would be fine in isolation but a whole album is a bit much. Just listen to one song and you've heard it all.
i was excited for this one. but nothing really grabbed me here as i'd hoped.
Made the list because of one mediocre song
They wrote a synth pop anthem that defined the genre. Unfortunately the rest of the album is ass.
Just no. One good song
This was not fun.
The idea of 80s synth music must be destroyed. Dorkiest music genre made in the last 100 years hands down.
"don't you want me" it's the only banger.
Muy 80s pop, muy comercial; anticipa el pop electrónico. Es bueno pero no lo volvería a escuchar. Lo más emocionante fue escuchar la última canción que es super icónica "don't you want me". Overall, va bene.
The '80's.... what a time to be alive. This was fun but nothing revolutionary. "Don't You want me" is classic though. 2.5 stars
Don’t you want me is a banger. The rest we pretty forgettable.
The "singing" is more a talking. Some southern dutch people talk roughly the same way this person "sings"...
offensive
Mostly really bad. Ends with a banger though.
Lowkey everything I dislike about 80s music - stupid synths, boring drum tracks, singer that pisses me off. Great!!
I had rock bottom expectations for this one. Heard a few tracks down the years and they’re just not for me at all. I would’ve given one star but Open Your Heart is a decent enough track.
I didn’t gel with this album. The singles are ok but the rest was just pretty bland New Romantic synth pop, no other tracks stood out. 2.2
I can appreciate that songs like Love Action and Don't You Want me are well written and I can understand why they are popular. But there's nothing about this style of synth pop that wants me to hear more. It's a lot better than Heaven 17, however the bar there is low.
wasnt the best
And I like the 80s but this was too much.
Boring. Pretty bland
Weak start, grew on me a little by the end. I don't really like this record, but Don't You Want Me is still a banger.
truth!
One hit wonder
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.
Synth instrumentals are annoying. Vocals aren't bad, but the effects make it sound like he needs a better mic.
mostly annoying disco synth whatever
Even for an 80s album, this one sounds so DATED.
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
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!
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
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?) ⭐⭐
Don't You Want Me is a next level great song. The rest, could do without.
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
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.
Very 80s synth-popbwith a singer who can't sing but has an "interesting" voice
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.
Just not my thing
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.
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.
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.
One good song at least
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
I prefer the older, less commercial stuff by The Human League. Some nice tracks but in total a bit disappointing tbh
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.
It’s just fine.
Vond dit saaier dan verwacht
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.
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
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.
Average
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
Does anyone know any of the other songs on this album besides “Don’t You Want Me”? All the songs nearly sounded identical
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 80's, very mediocre.
Not my fav
For an album containing one of the biggest hits of the 80s, this is just kinda cromulent.
The 80s were a mistake.
perfectly fine, but incredibly repetitive and boring. at least it has some sick ass synth sounds lol
If a fax machine could make pop music.
Too eighties. Sounds dated.
2:5
Was okay
bland but the last song is a classic
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.
This sucked. Afforded an extra point for “don’t you want me”
Did people in 1981 actually listen to this and think "I need a whole album of this music"?
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!
New Wave Pop is a burden on the ears Best Song: Don't You Want Me Rating: 3.5/10 Stars: 2
The whole album sounds like one song. It's not bad but dated and a little embarrassing.
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
Synth
Mhmm
Not my thing
1 catchy song does not a good album make
One good song does not make an album..
Eh, not that excited about this - even the hit at the end.
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.
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.
Ну и хуйня
Too god damn long
I've never realized how much I appreciate human drummers.
More dated rubbish. Saving the best track til last was smart.
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
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.
Rating: 2.3 Could have been absolutely fantastic but so many boring repetitive fucking around songs in the middle. This is an epidemic and needs to be remedied immediately.
Had higher hopes for this but, it’s boring. And surprisingly repetitive
meh
Generic 80s pop that was probably big back in the day, but I do not care for it now.
1. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of - 4 It's really of its era. It's very much a track that hasn't stood the test of the time. It's just so rigid in its composition and the vocals are very monotone in nature. Like a poor version of a Tears For Fears track. 2. Open Your Heart - 1 Lyrically it's pretty poor and instrumentally it's even poorer. Really bad track. This hasn't aged well. 3. The Sound Of The Crowd - 4 More really cheap synthpop. Just really aged like milk kind of music. 4. Darkness - 4 It's alright. Kind of bubblegum pop, kind of cheap synthpop. It's enjoyable but it's not anything phenomenal. 5. Do Or Die - 6 Instrumentally and lyrically a lot better even if it is a little repetitive at times. Genuinely the best track on the album so far. 6. Get Carter - 0 Terrible sounding track. There's only one instrument and it sounds like nails across a chalkboard. Like a rejected Chrono Trigger song. 7. I Am The Law - 1 Instrumentally this is awful. Overall the lyrics are boring as well. It's like a cheap/budget David Bowie. 8. Seconds - 1 Extremely repetitive and dull. A track that could put you to sleep. 9. Love Action (I Believe In Love) - 4 More of a melancholic song. Repetitive and very cheesy, cardboard cut-out lyrics. Forgotten with the passage of time and for good reason as there's not anything remarkable about the track. 10. Don't You Want Me - 8 The more memorable song on an otherwise forgettable album, it's very 80s sounding but it somehow survived the test of time. Probably the only good track off the album. Average Rating: 3.3 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 1.65 Rounded Up: 2 Stars
I don't know, man. Is it a Must Listen? Nah. It's ok, especially if you love the 80's and keyboards. But, it's a little too same-y throughout. Not much that bugs me, except the 2 in the middle that are super repetitive. (Not going to go back and listen yet again, but the one about killing a guy in a minute. and the next one.) Their voices are fine, even adding some drama through inflection now and again. Could give it a 2.5 because it's not really bad and it does point musically at a point in time as a good representative. But if I'm asked to round on this one, I have to round down.
Don't You Want Me is obviously a banging classic, but there's not much else to engage.
I loathe the cover art of this album so much. The excessive white space, the incredibly uncomfortable cropping on the photo... it's like a graphic design "what not to do" sample. It's taken me weeks to convince myself to actually listen to the music lurking behind that awful image. I already know and dislike "Don't You Want Me" which doesn't help, but at least it's the last track so I can hit the stop button without remorse. Ugh, more of the same. Cold, naked synth and a pretentious douchebag on lead vocals, without much else to distract. It's not "catapult this into the sun" awful but it's getting buried in the "do not relisten" pile so I don't have to look at that awful cover again.