Dare!

Meh... It's about what I would have expected. Not really for me

It wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t a huge fan.

A couple of songs I remember.

Generally, this kind of 80s electric stuff is a bit of fun but not really my thing. I did enjoy parts and wouldn't be adverse to listening again but it's more for banter. Having said that, Don't You Want Me is an absolute tune and Open Your Heart is pretty good. I'm going to be slightly harsh here with a 2/5, just because there are so many albums to review but it could be a 3.

Only gave it one listen. Thought it was alright, but the singing was a bit flat and dull, the choruses weren't very punchy, and I don't think that the synth-heavy sound aged so well. But yeah when it first came out I reckon it sounded proper edgy and unique, so maybe I'd have liked it back in the day. It could grow on me with more listens but it would take a long time.

Every time sounds very similar to the one before. Last song is a classic, but what's that different about it compared to the previous 9?

A little too samey for me, singers voice is good but it all started to blend a little too much

Not for me!

Tried to like it, but it’s just *so* boring. Would’ve been 1 star until the last song. Guess that means I want you, Dare! OhhhhWoahhhhh

1.5 - pretty dull melodies, basic lyrics. may have been good for its day. nothing stands out.

Not the best album but a fun 80s sound. And of course you can’t forget the banger don’t you want me

Do or die

Some fun sounds but new wave is... pretty lame

Idée intéressante et sûrement très innovante pour l'époque mais vraiment dépassée.

The big hit at the end is great but I found the whole thing a bit flat and dull, probably more into rock music these days than the synth sound.

Did not care for this at all. Very boring.

Groundbreaking at the time but, the singles apart, nothing here to get too excited about these days. Definitely of its time.

One good song does not make an album. Very 80s

Kuin olis katsonut pornoa ilman kuvaa?

Because of the ‘don’t you want me’ this album transcends decades. But every other song is bad.

overal i find the album kind of boring

Banebrydende elektronisk pop, synthesizer, 80’er

Not even my app time favorite song can save this from being a dud

Pretty good synth-pop. Don't you want me baby hit

The author of this book shouldn't have been allowed to add so much of this fucking late 70s/early 80s new wave post punk pop garbage... I mean sure it was big at the time but it all just sounds the fucking same and he's only got 1001 albums to fit in here... surely all this new wave is taking up space better albums could've had... 2/5 because that's as low as I want to go unless it's actively fucking awful. This stuff is never downright awful, just annoying.

Not for me

not for me

This is straight trash

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

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

No thanks

dnf

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

1/5

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

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

Bad streak lately

interesting…

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

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

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

Nope - plain old 80's synth pop. yawn

snark

Really hate this genre

Not for me

The first time I listened to this I put it in my top 50. Now, I’m wondering how his voice is so annoying. He needs to be kicked out, and that girl should become the lead singer.

⭐ Inte min grej. Bara tråkigt. Skulle klarat mig från att ha hört detta album och kommer inte lyssna på det igen.

most 80s album ever. some of the songs had a weird predator vibe to them.... savior complex... just an unpleasant vibe. a controlling man who thinks too highly of himself. "Success has been so easy for you But don't forget it's me who put you where you are now And I can put you back down too" and "You're lucky I care For fools like you You're lucky I'm there To stop people doing the things That you know they're dying to do You know I am no stranger I know rules are a bore But just to keep you from danger I am the law"

Listened to each song for as long as I could stand the vocals. Never got through a whole track...

This is not my type of music

Fuuuck The Human League.

Vocals were not my favorite

Just listen to Depeche Mode.

Hate this

My 100th 1/5 rating. This really wasn't enjoyable. It's like a really bad mix of Kraftwerk and Joy Division.

I imagine that this album sounded like the future when it was released. But this album is a stack of cold, digital sounds that attempt to be a facsimile of music, while never really getting there. There was one track, perhaps Seconds, late in the album that had a warmth of decent modern electronic music. Otherwise, the rest of this album, including Don't You Want Me, is an easy pass for me.

Try tried it, but couldn't finish it. I didn't like it.

Repetitive synthy drivel, last track is good though

"Don't You Want Me"? - no

i’m not a fan of synth pop

I don't like this genre/style of music. The instrumentation sounds dated and i don't think the natural vocals fit the artificial sound of the synth. That said imo the group really masters the sound they have.

This was bad. I’ll start with a positive being the production is great for the time and that’s the only thing I liked. Other than that this was just a guy talking over great instrumentals and ruining the whole album. Every song just a guy who can’t sing and thinks he can. This is similar to how Leonard Cohen can’t sing but some how worse. Wish I never heard this and shouldn’t be on the list. 3.8

Rubbish

Oh man. Dear god why? Awful. Is this album the reason 80s pop is so bad? Are they to blame? Nearly unlistenable. This list sucks.

It's not a good sign when the first song on an album bores me this much. It'd not weird that people older than me dismiss all synth music on principle if this was what it sounded like when they grew up. Actual garbage. Putting the only half decent song at the end is a weird choice as well.

I hate that song! HATE! Until today, I never knew the name of the band that shat that song into the world. Thanks I guess?

Crappy 80’s pop

Trash

No, I don't want you

not my kind of sound.

Not for me. 1/5

Absolutely terrible sounds, we can all be glad that this era of music is now gone. Never again.

np

There is 1 good song on this album, and you already know what it is. The rest sounds like it was written by 12 year olds who just learned a few chords on a keyboard. As for influence, it’s possible that this album was a breakthrough to the genre of wingey, woe-is-me, nihilist British bands that I truly despise. So, negative credit on the influence score. Don’t need to hear this album again and didn’t need to hear the whole thing the first time. It’s a 1

Honestly the album has been pretty unlistenable, the beats and voice are so cliche 80s for me it’s not my vibe. I like “dont you want me” but outside of that I really don’t want to listen again. I’ll do a 1 out of 5, with the exception of the one song.

1 stern

That's not my taste in music - Boring

I thought this band was a one hit wonder. Only really heard the one song from them, and it seems to at least be the one song that survived the test of time, according to streaming numbers. I don't particularly like their biggest hit so I'm coming at this with low expectations. Hope the rest of the album delivers something interesting. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of Starting off with a clunky title. Extremely 80's. The synths sound kinda cheesy, especially the bass. Robotic and monotone vocal performance. Awkward chorus. The high pitched synths on the chorus don't sound particularly good. Matching the clunkiness of its title. Did not like. 2/5 Open Your Heart The vocal melody is honestly just unpleasant. Hate the whistly synths. Pretty empty sounding even with the synths playing disharmonicaly in the background. Messy mix. Awkward composition. The chorus doesn't go anywhere. Unpleasant. 1.5/5 The Sound Of The Crowd Immediately annoying as soon as it starts. Background instrumental sounds like a rejected YMO b-side made in a drunken stupor. The vocals have a bit of that 80's charm to the them. Another nothing chorus, lacks any punch whatsoever. Holds very little value. 1.5/5 Darkness With how cliché this song sounds I'm not suprised that I'd think this was a parody if I didn't know any better. Empty sounding instrumental. Messy composision and a cheesy chorus. The insturmental break sounds sort of decent. Did not like. 2/5 Do or Die I don't wanna hear a 5 minute track from this thing. This has to be experienced to be believed. The instrumental is strange... The bassline is sort of passable. The verses are kinda unhinged, and the chorus sort of sucks. The extended instrumental passage has some groove to it, when the chorus comes back at the end it almost sounds good. Confusing. 2.5/5 Get Carter That high pitched synth at the is earpiercingly loud. For the first time in 44 albums I had to turn my volume down. Should come with a warning. 1/5 I Am The Law The synths create an atmospheric landscape. Some of the effects are a bit cheesy. Reminds me of a shitty rejected Japan track. Singer sounds somewhat like a budget David Sylvian minus rverything that makes him great. Failed experiment, ends up being quite a slog to get through. Turn it off. 1.5/5 Seconds Decent transition. Stock sounding instrumental. Same boring monotone delivery. Hopelessly boring, repetitive and overly long. Absolutely pointless. 1/5 Love Action (I Believe in Love) Sounds like a parody. Headache inducing. The vocals make me wanna bash my head against the wall, bores me to tears. I think I've been Stockholm syndrome'd into liking the main synth riff. Brainwashing music. Get me out. 1/5. Don't You Want Me One of the most overplayed songs on every 80's pop station. A more annoying song than this is hard to come by. I hate the lyrics, I hate the annoying background synth that keeps going for the entire song. I can't stand the chorus. The female vocal part is somehow worse than the male one. Don't You Want To Turn It Off. If I could give it a 0 I would. Turbo shit. 1/5 I can't stand this. This is honestly baffling. I have to look really hard to find anything enjoyable in here. The inclusion of "Don't You Want Me" almost automatically qualifies it for 1/5 stars. Dated beyond belief. Terrible sounding synth effects. Extremely basic songs, those who aren't completely fail, coming off as either disjointed messes or boring slogs. I usually really like synth pop, but this just does not do it for me. Genuinely one of the worst experiences I've had with an album listening to it front to back. Glad it's over. 1/5 Fave track. N/A Least fave track. Don't You Want Me

More 80's than anything else on the planet besides VHS. Good thing we've learned a bit since then.

not good

No. Just no. 1

literally couldn't even finish this.

Lifeless songs spiced with cheezy synths and affected vocals makes up a hearty shit stew...dig deep and eat your fill...

Thinking of dropping out of this list because this doesn’t fit the criteria in my opinion. More like 1001 albums to avoid

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 "!")

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

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.

Boring album

This was annoying lol. The first song felt like a parody. The rest was just goofy and not my thing.

One OK hit and a load of packing.

Classic 80s nonsense. Not my bag.

I get it, they had one song that just slaps. But much of the rest of this was just annoying AF.

Not for me. Early 80s music

Trash

With the exception of Don’t You Want Me this is absolutely awful.

80s generally suck

This was synth madness. And not in a good way.

nebavilo, nedoposlouchal

This might be the 80s est of all 80s albums… It’s not for me, I got bored and moved on.

Euro synthpop trash.

More uk trash

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

Horrible

Oh, THIS is why people hate the 80's. I get it now.

Synths as thin as paper dolls, with the songwriting to match.

Usually a band like this would put the hit first. Ballsy leaving it for the end of the record.

I stopped caring about 3 songs in

Stop letting the British make music

80s bullshit. Don't You Want Me is a banger though, and could have brought the album to a 2 if not for that awful album cover

non mi è piaciuto... non sono riuscita ad ascoltarlo tutto

One good song.

Couldnt finish

Why is this album even on this list?

as a rule I hate 80's synth music, this album did nothing to change my mind

No me gusta. Antiguo. Mucho sintetizador. No. Conozco las canciones de peliculas como mannequen

Couldn’t do it…skipped til I found their one hit from 1981.

my 6 year old sister could write better lyrics

1. the thingz - 0 2. open your heart - 0 3. the zound of the crouud - 1 4. darknezz - 1 5. do or die - 0 6. get carter - 0 7. i am the lauu - 0 8. zecondz - 1 9. love action - 0 10. dont you uuant me - 1.5

Do not enjoy this

Doesn't do it for me.

I Dare! you to listen to this album ... ... because it's boring :( 0/5 if it were possible

Meh. 80s AI pop. One decent song that was a hit, the rest cheap bubblegum used to fill the gaps. No need to revisit this one.

Despite what everyone seems to think the 80s really were a dark time for music. Absolutely unlistenable garbage

There is so much 80s electronic pop on this list. In my opinion, there is some good to come out of this genre, such as Tears For Fears. This record is certainly not that. Maybe this type of music isn't for me. It just sounds so bad and lifeless.

Ваще не выкупила прикола......

Boring. Not until the last track did they show any life, passion, or variety, which made a great single and exposed the rest of the album in even worse light.

I imagine this is what people have no choice but to listen to in places like Guantanamo Bay.

no

No. No more lamé 80’s synths. I’m done. Again, an album that’s here just because a one hit wonder. Fuck off.

Hell no. Just no. What is this garbage? Gross. No.

Meh. One good song and the rest is either them trying to sound like Devo, or them trying to sound the like The Cure trying to sound like Devo. It's like that period of the 80's new wave all had the same producer who couldn't get out of their own way.

Hated it from the first note - until the last song which, admittedly, is catchy. But it also always made me feel dirty. It's such a creepy-stalker song. "Don't forget it's me who put you where you are now / and I can put you back down too"? "You better change your mind or we will both be sorry"? Gross.

A terriblely good example of how bad the 80s could get when it really tried. Less this and more Sparks please and thank you. Have come to the unfortunate realisation that Don't You Want Me Baby was a fluke, and on reflection (or at least in the context of it's album) not a very good song in the first place.

Crappy synth pop. Lousy singer. And a song that I loathe. Great combo.

That was so hard to listen to and none of it was enjoyable. God, I hate early 1980’s synth-pop type music.

Es war nicht alles schlecht in den Achtzigern. Das hier allerdings ist sehr schlecht. Depeche Mode für ganz Arme. Don’t You Want Me ist der einzig gute Song.

I don’t like the eighties unless it’s ladyhawk

This is the kind of electronic music that people hear, and then they decide they don't like electronic music and write off the genre.

Seguramente tuvo alguna importancia para el desarrollo de la música y sentó el precedente de algo y tal, pero fuera de la canción muy muy conocida, este disco no me dejó nada.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was bothering me about Dare! until it finally hit me on the eighth track, ‘Seconds.’ Vocalist Philip Oakey, who was also involved in the collaborative writing of most of the songs, seems to be more of an observer than a participant of life. Or, at least he’s a very passive participant. The song following ‘Seconds,’ ‘Love Action (I Believe in Love)’ states as much: ‘I love your love action. Lust’s just a distraction. No talking, just looking. Watching your love action.’ On the opening track, detailing his list of things that dreams are made of- ‘like fun and money and food and love’- he manages somehow to, well, take the fun out of fun. No doubt it’s the purposefully monotonous synthesized music and vocals, the utter lack of dynamics, or instrumental solos, or a bridge, or some kind of deviation from what was just played on the song before, not to mention that one to follow. To be fair, there were two that were different, the first two on side two- ‘Get Carter,’ an odd instrumental played slowly, one note at a time, and ‘I Am the Law,’ an equally odd song void of percussion. I think it was meant to be a ‘thank you’ to the police for protecting us from the evil deeds of criminals, but it didn’t exactly exude gratitude. Philip and the League, true to form, just sounded bored. The German pioneers of this kind of danceable electronic music, Kraftwerk, are never going to win any awards themselves for stage presence (although they do offer some very interesting and creative surrounding visual accompaniments in concert), but their music does successfully communicate emotion and heart, even if in a stereotypically ‘cool’ German fashion. I’m a fan. So, maybe its because The Human League are likewise stereotypically stoic British mates simply keeping a stiff upper lip and all that rot; but, its confusing when on the first and second songs of Dare! the listener is encouraged, at least lyrically, to ‘Do all the things you’ve ever dared,’ and ‘Open your heart. Dare to feel,’ but to a sound that hardly conveys adventure, or passion, or any emotion at all other than apathy. Weird that they named themselves The Human League. Inside joke? Satire, perhaps? I don’t get it. Some of the songs did contain some melodic hooks, so important to pop music, so I’ll give ‘em that. But I dare you to try and find any kind of soul on Dare! I sure couldn’t.

Y'a peut être des albums qui méritent plus d'être sur cette liste quand même..... A bon entendeur..

No.

D sög? Lite (lite) bättre mot slutet men början av plattan var helt värdelös? Hade gärna levt klart mitt liv utan att höra denna.

Kolejny raz wyspy brytyjkie pokazuja, ze moze byc jeszcze gorzej jesli chodzi o brzmienie lat 80 i synthowe urojenia popowe, bo dare jest wlasnie uosobieniem wszystkiego co wzbudza we mnie muzyczne obrzydzenie, na blisko 41 minutach udalo sie zawrzec tak wiele, a jednak tak niewiele, muzyka oparta wylacznie na elektronicznym brzmieniu z wokalem, ktory brzmi jak kazdy inny meski wokal, ktory jest wspierany dwoma zenskimi glosami tworzy mieszanke tak nudna, ze przesluchanie tych 40 minut stanowilo jedno z najtrudniejszych listowych wyzwan, ciezko mi znalezc pozytywne aspekty tego picka, moze tylko, ze jednak album sie konczy i piec minut po zakonczonym odsluchu czlowiek nie ma pojecia co go tak ogluszalo przez ostatnie 40 minut

There's 80's and then there's "the most 80's singing ever over the background of a Casio keyboard". Stereotypical, in a bad way.

Just another typical 80’s vibe. Nothing special but it wasn’t grating.

I gave it an honest try but most of this record veered between obnoxious and forgettable. “Don’t You Want Me” is a fine single of its era, but it’s obviously the only track they seemed to focus on, everything else is under-written and poorly produced. Or maybe this era of synth pop isn’t for me. Either way this record turned me off.

Ass80s

Ass

awful hated it!