Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Was excited about this because I loved the song Ant Music before hearing this album. Turns out, Ant Music is the best song here. 2 Stars
A confusingly long career built on an excruciating gimmick, wholly and entirely carried by having good musicians behind him. It’s distressing how many of these albums contain excellent music absolutely ruined by their choice of lyricist and/or singer.
Walmart David Bowie, kinda gave me a headache
Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🫅🏻✝️😱 Production: 🙄🤔🤷 Music: 🦁🎭🌵 Rating: 🐜🐜/5
Not for me
I like the concept, but not something I’d listen to again.
Never heard of the album, artist, or any of the songs. just kinda mid but like i didn't hate
This one didn't stand out to me much, but unlike most albums that doesn't stand out it also didn't just fade to the background which would have left it with a 3/5. It kept demanding my attention by being noisy, and then not delivering anything interesting enough to justify that demand Standouts Ants Invasion Don't Be Square (Be There) 2/5
Bad
Little embarrassed to note that I bought this when it first came out--supposedly at the vanguard of a "new romantics" wave. I tried to like it but eventually had to admit defeat, though I still appreciate the punchy drums. I have no idea why it's on this list unless it's to serve as a warning to others.
I actually liked Adam Ant, when I was like 12 or so, when this came out. Even the rose-tinged ears of nostalgia couldn't save this from being pretty weak. I don't like the throwback Rock N'Roll sound, or the strange backing vocals, or the double drummers giving tribal beats, it's all just a bit lame. 2 stars because some of the hits are passable I guess.
It says absolutely nothing.
The best parts are when they get a bit XTC. which makes sense sons they were in the same scene. just makes me think of how great XTC are though.
Bizarre!
Nothing special, just some interesting moments - that's not enough to give more than 2 stars. And even one is pretty accurate note. The band have two drummers? One drummer is not so good, so they need two? Cause I couldn't hear anything interesting in the drum line that would justify two drummers...
This one was eccentric and certainly was not one of my favorites. It was never awful though, I was just ready to be done with it after 2-3 tracks. This one has more of a "high 2" energy compared to a "low 3". I can't really quantify it, but I'm sure you guys understand the difference.
Incredibly standard British New Wave with not a single exciting thing happening on the whole album. This was just a filler of an album I feel like because I did not need to listen to that at before I die. I would honestly prefer something crazy like Kollaps to come up rather than this.
Killer in the Home definitely uses the riff from Rumble by Link Wray. Have heard that in so many movies/tv shows over the years. Pretty meh don't think I needed to hear that before I die.
It was fine. I’m not sure what was special.
I had never heard of this band before going through the book, I do wonder how big they were in their day. The mix of genres like New Wave, Glam Rock, and Punk is strange because those genres all have similar origina point so it ends up sounding very much like the early-80's but as if the early-80's have been going on for far too long. I was always curious about the bizarro world Freddie Mercury on the cover. Key tracks: Dog Eat Dog Ants Invasion
Found this one to be boring. Really don’t remember much of it.
..
Here's another example of an album I listened to yesterday and completely forgot every track of. It exists, and I'm sure someone out there likes it. So, 2 stars for that.
Buff, qué pereza nada más ver la portada. Voy allá. Excepto la última, The human beings, más post-punk y oscura no me ha convencido nada. Poner otra estrella seguida me sabe mal, le voy a poner 2 por yo que sé.
It's different than I expected. I was under the impression that they were a pot-punk band, but this is a lot more new wave and pop than I was ready for. It's fun, but I don't see myself coming back to it.
Not my cup of tea
Er staat echt teveel postpunk en newwave in deze snoblijst. Dit is weer typisch zo'n wanstaltig product uit Engeland met dezelfde non-muziek, die toen in een constante stroom uitgebraakt werd. Ze gooien er ook nog eens allerlei gekke geluiden tegenaan, waar ze blijkbaar beroemd mee zijn geworden. Maar ik stoor me altijd verschrikkelijk aan muziek met gekke geluidjes er doorheen. Het is teveel theater en aanstellerij voor mijn smaak. Er zitten af en toe wel aardige stukken tussen, zoals "Ants Invasion". Dat redt het album van de prullenbak.
yeah... this sort of reminds me of when i throw all the old stuff in the fridge into a skillet for mystery surprise dinner... except my skillets taste better than this. #1 in the UK? 1980 must have been a desperate time there.
No thanks. This really did nothing for me.
If nothing else, this list is making me realise how deeply I hate new wave.
Antmusic, then a lot of nothing unfortunately
what is going on
Pre-listening thoughts: I don’t know how I stumbled upon the reviews for this album a few weeks back but I remember reading that it’s just one guy named Adam Ant and so it was stupid for him to name the band “Adam and the Ants” cause it would be like naming the Beatles “John and the Lennons”. Is this how people felt about Marina and the Diamonds cause at least her real name is Marina Diamandis and not Stuart like this chode Post/during listening thoughts: So this started pretty normal in terms of 80s new wave/pop and then it just went off the rails a little. Why are we making sex music for ant people? Why are we pirates? Why is this white British man rapping about Native American tribes? Maybe this was a big thing in the UK that Americans don’t quite get, like Robbie Williams. But who knows, I’m only a dumb American. 4.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nope Fav tracks: Dog Eat Dog, Antmusic Least fav tracks: Feeding Me to the Lions, Kings of the Wild Frontier
boring. 1.96
Not a fan. Plenty of better albums out there to be listened to.
No jaa, vähän melua, mikä vaivaa new wave -genreä. Siis että on toive kurottaa jonnekin kauemmas punkista ja sekoitetaan kaikenlaista sekameteliä kasarikolinaan. Mieleen jäivät vain ihan hauskan kuuloiset hokemat Dog eat dog ja Press darlings.
I had absolutely no anterest in either Adam or his Ants.
**An ok album, most tracks sound alike. I didn’t enjoy
My uncle has an Adam and the Ants record that I remember spending a lot of time staring at when I was a kid. But this is the first time I've listened to them. It's fine. There's some interesting stuff. 'Don't Be Square Be There' is ultra catchy and the baseline is incredible. I liked the sample on 'Killer in the Home.' but most of this just runs together. And what the fuck is Jolly Roger? New Wave pirate music sucks.
Not my fave but I will still rep for “Wonderful” (song, not album).
not my cup of tea, the cover art and album title had me thinking it would be better than it was. Strikes and Gutters dude
I was ANTicipating this one because I generally like this style of 80s New Wave, but after several listens I just cANT say anything really stuck with me. The avANT garde drumming style is very ANThemic and exciting but gets tiring after so many songs in a row. Definitely leaves you wANTing for something else. Another half point has to be taken off for the weird deep chANTing backing vocals that can be heard in “Dog Eat Dog” and “Feed Me To the Lion”. Despite my ANTagonizing complaints, I did generally enjoy most of the first half of the album. Just gets very repetitive across 12 songs.
Can't feel anything about this
The only reason this guy was a star was MTV. He was good looking, had a gimmick with his clothes and makeup, had a decently fun initial hit with Goody Two Shoes and thus he was set for his 15 seconds of fame. A couple of decent tracks (Los Rancheros and Making History) but the rest is pretty dull. Thankfully the last album by this artist we will see here.
Post punk is so hit and miss. And this was a miss for me. There are elements here that might make for something fun, but those are few and far between. I’ll pass on the ants in general.
Ant music brings it up to a 2
I did not enjoy this one
I got pretty bored listening to this. I knew some of the songs from when I was a kid and they were enjoyable enough but I wouldn’t like to listen to the whole album again any time soon.
I'm not a big fan of this album, particularly the final three tracks (Jolly Roger / Making History / The Human Beings) which leave a sour taste in the mouth after a surprisingly palatable beginning to the album. The music is primarily punk-inspired new wave, with dollops of Burundi music sprinkled in through the vocal techniques, percussion section, and modes (noticeable in some of the melodies). It's crafted extremely sloppily, though. And, as is standard fare for new wave music, the vocals are generally horrendous. Someday those 70s kids will learn to compose something palatable... someday... The top-rated review here gives this album a 4/5, citing that "the lyrics are stupid, the music is stupid, the name and album art are stupid... there's even a completely random pirate song for absolutely no reason." They also mention that "this is what the kids like to call 'penis music'." I agree with all of those sentiments, and believe that reviewer is clearly fishing for likes through the humour of giving a high rating while correctly bashing every aspect of the music itself. That being said, there are flashes of merit (through interesting riffs, basslines, melodic hooks, and so on) that push this beyond a 1. A 4, though? Are you insanity incarnate? 2/5 Key tracks: Dog Eat Dog, Antmusic, Don't Be Square (Be There)
Very British rock. Not my favorite but not bad per se
I don't know what exactly I don't like, I think his voice isn't my favorite and the lyrics were odd. Melodies could've been better. It felt very difficult to get through this with all the chanting and repetitive lyrics.
5/10
It annoyed me. It also had some interesting music.
I think The Human Beings may be the most annoying song ever written
börjar bra, dom första två är riktigt bra men sen går det raskt utför tyvärr.
This is a flyover album for me. Not a lot of reaction other than...yeah it's a bit weird and not the worst. Songs are a pretty weak and juvenile. Like something I would sing into a Talkboy just messing around as kids. "Don't be Square " top track, "Jolly Roger" bottom. A little Bowie influence on the lead singer I'd say. Should have come up with an alter ego band like Ziggy called Eve and the Uncles...1.9.
The songs are just really annoying but it’s not awful
Why
hullluuu hulllluuu!!... aivan älyttömän sekopäinen karakteeri!! juu lawrence of arabia kuultu... arens!! arens!!! pääosin housuunpaskomista albumi... miten voit astua studioon ja päätät että et soita musiikkia vaan jatkuvasti paskot housuun on yli meikäläisen ymmärryksen mutta tehkää mitä haluatte.. ilmeisesti niin kovaa settiä että kritiikit tykkää.. mielestäni kuulosti pehmeältä.... se kakka siis.... muuraha ainen------ paras muurahaistyyppinen albumi tähän mennessä! haluaisin tavata henkilön joka miettii että hmm nyt voisi kuunnella vähän Adam & The Ants... ehkä albumi Kings Of The Wild Frontier perhance.. mayhaps.. mayhance.... ants invasion
One good song.
First song tried but it was all downhill from there for me. The songs sounded like "almost" so many good things but never got there. Then there was the random pirate song...
This album reminds me of 1980. In middle school in a small town and trying to figure out what the cool older kids are listening to so you can order it from Columbia House's "13 albums for a penny!" deal. And you hear one of these songs on the radio, and you don't really know what's going on in the song because the lyrics are kind of hard to understand, and it's kind of stupid to buy an entire album just for one song so you get something else that you actually know. Now you're north of 50, and apparently you have to listen to this album before you die so you dive in to a creation featuring no less than *39* versions of the same songs, and the lyrics are still hard to understand and they all sound the same. Dear 1980 Me, it was ok not to order this album from Columbia House. You didn't miss much.
Ok, maybe rockified 70s-80s British pop isn't always a banger...
Not my bag
This one kinda reminded me of Talking Heads if they were considerably less interesting. There were cool rhythms used in the percussion, but everything else didn’t hold my interest. I thought the song Jolly Roger was stupid. Favorite track was Antmusic.
Didn’t really enjoy most of this. Far too frenetic. I’ll never revisit this on purpose. I did like their sample of Lawrence of Arabia, though. 2/5
I recall being 10 and loving this...50 and not so much.
Not for me Roy
Possibly the most 80s sounding album ever created and not in a good way. 3/10
Actually it’s pronounced “Adam and the Aunts”
This was fine. Kinda washed over me
Kinda boring
Kind of boring
One hit wonder not the most creative band
Interessant.
"Kings of the Wild Frontier" — proving once again that you can love a genre and still not like an album as much as you'd expect.
Not for me
Nonce
Didnt do it for me - bit nonsensical in a fade into background noise kinda way.
Not for me
I'm really starting to dislike the euro bias of this list.
Like if British punk had a baby with New Wave - Extremely repetitive and not very interesting.
Vähän tylsemmästö päästä.. huoh.
Yeah, this was pretty painful
not terrible kinda cool but eh
1.5 Meh, didnt really do much for me. Nothing stood out except for the cultural appropriation of the drum beats
# 257 : Meh. Nothing standout at all here except for a few, very stupid lyrics. The only thing worth listening to : Don't Be Square (Be There)
I thought I'd be surprised with something other than the one or two songs by this band. I was wrong.
Wouldn't have sought this out. Won't listen again.
Apparently I am not Sex People. Because Ant music, it’s not really for me. Some bits are fun and/or funny, but not enough to sell me on the album as a whole.
Really not my bag. Some decent sounds in places, but the style just isn't for me.
Yeah nah
I tried.
Vad är det här? Första låten är hmm hur ska jag säga.. kaos. Kaoset fortsätter och jag undrar gillar jag det? Trumljuden är annorlunda. Efter ett tag känner jag att nu får det fan räcka. Vi fattar att du har hittat trumknappen Mr Ant. Jag gillar det inte. Feed Me to the Lions! Är han suicidal? Jolly Roger, hur gick tankarna där? Man måste inte ta med en låt bara för att man kan. Sjuk skiva. Den är konstigt på ett dåligt sätt. 1a eller 2a. 2a för är lite underhållande på något sätt.
Inte superförtjust i denna. Ett eget och udda uttryck förvisso, men tyckte det mestadels var rätt jobbigt, även om det glimrar till här och där.
Is this the worst New Wave album I've ever heard? Goddamn...
The fact that we get ANOTHER british mid new wave album is the proof that this list lacks variety and is only submitted to the taste of its owner. I mean, it's something inevitable, but it's becoming a joke to that point. For Adam & The Ants, the tribal drums adhesion is their most original (and annoying) take.
Quite noisy; not much that was enjoyable.
idkskskdkd
The guitars are the best thing on this album. The rest of it irritated me.
ok
What is this an album for ants?
Kind of annoying 2.5
Ouch.
Sounds nice but disposable.
Sort of a lot of nothing. Favorutie track: Don't Be Square (Be There)
Shouty pop
This might have the most whoops + yelps per capita of any album ever made. Despite all its weirdness it mostly sounds like 80s slop to me. Best song: The Magnificent Five
For me too much New Wave,
this was gonna be a 3 star but the last couple songs just pissed me off so i’m giving it a 2. just music id never WANT to listen to
should have been edited down. a few enjoyable, upbeat songs
very vintage rock? 2/5 for me
Oddly does nothing for me now. But was some of the first rock I saw on tv.
Look, I turned 30 the year this was released. Antmusic was a very listenable, quirky single. But you always had the feeling the band were more about the costumes, hairstyles & face-paint. Maybe they’d have been more interesting if McLaren hadn’t stolen that half of the bandb that supplied the Burrundi drumming sound to the band’s early incarnation. Of course he stole them so he could form Bow Wow Wow. Ant continued to feature that drumming on some tracks - listen to the drums on the title track, Kings Of The Wild Frontier, then play Bow Wow Wow’s c30 c60 c90 - you’d swear it’s the same drum track. I like some of the references to late 50’s guitar tracks - Link Wray’s guitar on Rumble is the basis of the guitar intro to Killer In The Home. And the guitar on Los Rancheros could be lifted from a Shadows’ album. The freaky guitar sounds on Ants Invasion successfully refer to the sci-fi film Them (a film about giant ants wreaking havoc). I still think it’s only a 2 star album.
One great single and filler. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty great sound, the two drummer Burundi rhythms thing, plus some pretty tasty guitar playing from Marco Pirroni, with the chants and stuff. When firing on all cylinders, it is a catchy, energizing pop that leaps out of the radio speakers or TV screen. This was even better on TV! You can see Adam in his full costume and makeup, strutting around like he owns the place. But most tracks on the album are not of that standard, and it all begins to pall after a few songs. You can tell by the cover art that the whole image was crafted to play well on MTV. Don't get me wrong, I own a copy of this record, likely purchased from a $1 bin in the 90s. But I only ever play the singles. It's all flash and bang, with not a lot of substance behind it. 2.5 stars, rounding down.
It's 1980. Everyone has been making moody little punk songs about how sad they are. You try that but it doesn't work so well. So you pivot and start dressing up as a pirate and singing about ants. You end up with this. That might be a bit of a simplification, but seems more or less what happened. Interestingly this feels in the ballpark of the glam rock of the day (which I typically like), but this just didn't work for me at all. The first half of the album has a few songs that are decent enough, but nothing really stands out much, and then the second half is pretty much a disaster. I guess it's fine as a bit of a silly album that doesn't take itself too seriously, but it's not really my thing. I think this just has a lot of the '80s new wave sound that feels overly ridiculous to me now. Not my favorite. Favorite song: Antmusic Other: Dog Eat Dog, Ants Invasion, Killer in the Home, Kings of the Wild Frontier, Jolly Roger 3/7/24
Met twee verdoofde DIIV oren me toch maar aan Adam & the Ants gewaagd. De verwachtingen zijn laag. Zij naam, uitstraling en de beschrijving van Youri maken het lastig serieus te nemen. Maar ik moet zeggen. Het zijn eigenlijk best prima new-wave songs en ik ben verrast deze nooit eerder te zijn tegengekomen. Zeker nu ik erachter ben dat de band in de jaren 80-82 veel commercieel succes had. Toch de piekjaren van de new-wave. Geen blijvertje in de Top2000 of Spotify lijsten blijkbaar. Het kinderlijke van de muziek (zoals het fluitje in Antmusic) is niet perse om heel blij van te worden, maar past op zich wel in het genre. En daarmee kan ik het wat beter plaatsen, ook in deze lijst. Zo is Los Rancheros een bespottelijk aftreksel van wat een soort Ramones of Clash song had kunnen zijn. Maar gadver, wat een nummer. Die gaat ik nooit vaker luisteren. Kings of the Wild Frontier is wel een goeie plaat. De fusion van punk en tribal geluiden is blijft wel hangen. De rest eigenlijk bijna niet. 6/10 Highlights Antmusic Kings of the Wild Frontier
not really too interesting 2/5
C’est original, un son assez unique et étonnant, mais pour autant est-ce agréable à écouter? Pas vraiment. Il y a quelque chose d’assez gênant dans cette musique sans que je sois capable de mettre le doigt dessus. C’est parfois un peu dissonant, décousu, la voix n’est pas forcément agréable, et le sentiment qui en ressort est entre l’indifférence polie et le rejet en masse, en opposition avec la grandiloquence que veut se donner le groupe. C’est peut être ça le problème : ils en font beaucoup pour ne pas m’emporter du tout.
Standouts: Dog Eat Dog, Kings of the Wild Frontier, The Magnificent Five. Those are good and the rest is quite deathly bad in a way only the 80s can be.
Pretty big variety of sounds on this album, very eclectic. Enjoyed some, but it was all so weird that it was hard to take it seriously. Which maybe was the point.. Very middle of the road ratings-wise, not my favorite but not terrible.
They kinda all sound the same!
Honestly, I can't take this seriously. This is perfectly good music that I think is ruined by shitty lyrics. I'm guessing this is on the list for the tribal-like Burundi Beat sound having an influence on a lot of what would eventually be goth, but it's like decent punky/new wave music, if a little cheeky, but goes into bad campy territory with the lyrics, flourish, and sound effects. My picks for this album are Making History, Los Rancheros (if it didn't have those stupid ricochet sounds) and Killer in the Home.
I could've lived on without listening to this album...nothing special
2/3pas désagréable, maids booof
Meh.
2/5 nope
sick of u british people
ugh dog eat dog antmusic
Definitely not my thing.
Not really into this. For new wave, it's fine, but I'm not a big fan of new wave.
New Wave Romanticism abound, sitting in that weird space between outright punk and the likes of Duran Duran. The singles ("Dog Eat Dog", "Antmusic", and "Kings Of The Wild Frontier") are generally good, the rest doesn't hold up to the same caliber...
It was okay, even fun sometimes. I liked the attitude more than the sound
a good post punk record. a bit aged
Ingenting verkligt intressant utom en nice låt. Tråkigt. Repetitivt utan något bra att repetera.
Man, new wave is hit or miss with me. I don't think it has aged well over the years, but there was nothing bad in this album. Just not my cup of tea.
Ok
based off the description/genre/cover along I fear I might not enjoy this album very much. i can only describe this as caveman pop. it sucks. 2 stars because the percussion gave me pet sounds vibes sometimes and the pirate song was amusing.
Not 80's pop, not 80's punk, not very good.
This album has not aged well.
great cover photo. is that Tom Brady?
i feel like i should like them more than i do, but i don't :(
Favourite songs: Antmusic, Ants Invasion, Los Rancheros Least favourite songs: Killer in the Home, Kings of the Wild Frontier, Don't Be Square (Be There), The Human Beings, Making History 2/5
So honestly I really liked the actual music, I thought it was something new and very complex and different however the lyrics really diminished my impression of it and that really made it go downhill.
I was a child in the 80s, growing up in the UK, and I remember the huge hype there was surrounding Adam and the Ants. I went into this expecting nostalgia, and lots of Burundi Beat. I was disappointed. Both in terms of nostalgia, and a surprising lack of what I, and probably most casual listeners, consider their signature sound. There's only a handful of tracks with the Burundi Beat, and that left me feeling really flat because I really like that. Still, it's not terrible, but I have no desire to listen to this again. 2 stars, but a high 2 stars.
Cool but meh
It goes: 1. A Bug's Life 2. Antz 3. Adam & The Ants
Infuriatingly bad album cover and a solid amount of equally horrible production choices. There are a few solid songs on the album that keeps it from being unlistenable to anyone but die hard new wave fans.
Boff, genre de pop punk new wave. C'Est vraiment moyen J'ai pas trop aimé 2.5
Just ok.
Not a fan of Adam & The Ants, this album did not change that opinion at all.
I'd hoped to enjoy this more. 2.5 stars.
Yeah very antsy, was a little underwhelmed.
started to get interesting halfway past the album. where they went more into punk and less into that weird new wave 5.5/10
What was going on in the UK in 1981 that this was the best selling record? This had like 2 ok songs and the rest were completely forgettable or actively bad. Just seemed kind of aimless.
An unnecessary addition to the list. This is weak new wave music with little to make it stand out. Sadly, the only time I went to see Saturday Night Live, he was the musical guest.
Edit: Actually this album is terrible. I think I liked this album better when I was younger. It’s fine, and I understand why it’s on here, but it wasn’t doing it for me today.
Boring 80s quirk pop
resident sleeper tbh
I had dismissed this as bubblegum pop, pleasantly surprised by the rockabilly influences.
Me aburrió
was fine?
Vähän tämmöistä pilipali rockia
Just too weird and 80s for me
Meh
Musical stylings: not for me. Album felt like they were trying to push the boundaries and be a little odd / avant garde, but if you ask me the music doesn't hold up. Rants about sex and ants don't do much for me, it turns out (don't be square (be there)). There's also the unapologetic appropriation of the "Burundi Beat". That's emblematic for the time, problematic at best in today's light.
ok
I've finally found it; a punk album that's just too damn long. Based on their following, I'm guessing that "you had to be there." I refuse to believe that this music was written before it was recorded.
My mum loves Adam and the Ants. I think it's because they have a few bops in their discography and were colourful and flamboyant. However, a full album of this murkily produced new romantic stuff doesn't really inspire.
Melodic, and I enjoy the percussion. Nothing that is really going to stick with me though.
I would like to check out at some point I. The future. Not feeling it today. Struck me as an unfocused Cure.
Normally all for New Wave, as noted for Tears for Fears, but I couldn't really get into this. Liked the general sound, just found it a bit forgettable and inferior to other albums of the same style and at the same time. Wouldn't listen again.
It has its moments but overall very forgettable.
Like DEVO but if they were completely devoid of all that makes DEVO great, kitschy and annoying.
I'm not really sure how I felt about this album. It kinda felt like a blur when I listened to it, not taking anything in. From what I remember it wasn't the best with a lot of random noises and based off my general music taste isn't my usual cup of tea. Don't get me wrong I may come back and listen to this again but not any time soon.
The singles are ok and I quite like the African drum beat thing but tbh it is mostly a bit rubbish....(especially the pirate song.)
This is very silly, but not in any kind of charming way. The rhythm section is decent but it turned into a pretty long and annoying 40mins.
Mediocre
Sinto-me na disposição para apontar que, apesar de não conhecer nada da banda, não consegui encontrar muitos elementos em destaque, com exceção de algumas letras que talvez não sejam adequadas a atualmente.
The album cover is similar quality to the music.
80's pero hard. Si les robó el Indio, deben ser bastante buenos. Particularmente no me gustaron.
Meh. A good album, just not my thing. 2/5
This just seemed kinda grating, didn’t enjoy it.
This is pushing the abomination line. Not quite there only because for the era this would have at least been unique and strange. Still, not very good
i listened to 9 of the 38 (!!!) songs on this album and they were all a british dude just absolutely yelling over guitars. that's three things i don't like. Ants Invasion had cool instrumentals though.
It’s ok, very much fits into the 80’s new wave genre, not one of the best, sounds a lot like the Clash which I prefer
Better than expected doesn't always mean good.
Not a moving record, not a sing-along record, not a play-along record. Not a re-listenable record.
Meh
Definitely sounded not good but points for hitting some tracks in a XTC sound
Outside of antmusic there’s nothing good here. Inside of antmusic, it’s too dark to read.
This isn't for me, but I see why it's on the list. It's repetitive and punky, and I'd say it made quite a few parents nervous back in the day. For the most part I found it a bit bland though.
It was okay
Not too keen.
I had high hopes for this one, and I dig that they were doing something different, but this never came together for me. The opener and title were cool, but man did I get tired of this thing.
Really couldn’t get into this. It’s not bad but nothing I would want to listen to again.
Adam & The Ants blend art-rock, punk and new wave and add some tribal drumming and chanting on top. And that's where it all seems to start feeling plastic and kitschy. It makes it very suitable for movie soundtracks and it might've worked incredibly in concerts, but listening to this album on its own is like you're walking in on a lot of weird theme parties where people used enough substances already and you're the only one sober.
Another underwhelmer, although I went into this with lower expectations. Nothing that stands out at all, it's not awful but it's not something I'll ever be tempted to come back to. Falls somewhere in the cracks between punk, glam, and new wave without seriously troubling the best of either. 2/5.
Eh, a little too weird for me. It had it'a moments, though.
Hmmmmm
The lat 70s, early 80s were a wild and untamed era of musical experiments, and one of the more interesting ones was Adam and the Ants (fronted by Goodie Two Shoes Adam Ant). This album however is probably best relegated to the late 70s, early 80s.
I can’t take them seriously
Never heard of them and didn’t particularly like them
I had a wild time with this. I was climbing in the car after visiting my mom and she asked what I was listening to. I said "Adam and the Ants," described the project and went on my way. Halfway home, I had this inescapable waking nightmare where I get into a horrific crash and my mom takes up listening to my last album as a way of mourning. Then at some point she becomes familiar enough to kinda dig it, and thinks of me fondly while nodding her head to "ant music for sex people, sex music for ant people." In summary, I did not have a great time. The apparent "Burundi beat," however, did remind me of the excellent Naked Eyes song "Always Something There to Remind Me" and I learned it's actually a cover of a very good 1964 version by Lou Johnson. So there is a silver lining.
Ouains.
Didn’t find this one too enjoyable. Felt like it was more popular in the 80s than it would be now. Some of the songs lyrically are quite bad. The sound is just a very strong 80s sense which was decent I guess but I don’t see myself revisiting this one. 3.8/10
Their fashion was more interesting than their sound
It's fun and there's some good songs (especially the run of Ants Invasion/Killer in the Home/KotWF) but there's a lot of filler especially towards the end The US version with Physical would probably get a 3, but it's not on the UK version so a 2 it is
Shite that coulda only come from the insufferable 80's
I've heard of Adam Ant. But not Adam & The Ants. I wondered, was I wrong the whole time and there is no Adam Ant? Just some guy named Adam with some ants? No, it turns out he really is named Adam Ant. But none of the other members of Adam & The Ants are ants. Why not Andy Ant or Lester Ant? Maybe they weren't as committed to the gimmick. Because Adam Ant was certainly committed to the gimmick. Which was a pirate gimmick? But what do pirates have to do with ants? A legit pirate named Adam Ant would not inspire much terror on the high seas. The makeup and silly facial hair is ok - see Jack Sparrow and De Niro's Captain Shakespeare. I just don't think ants wouldn't make for good pirates. I wanted to hate "Kings of the Wild Frontier." But they sounded like they were just having so much fun. Extra star for embracing it, even if it sucked.
Do you ever wonder if Zack Attack (the Saved By The Bell friends’ imaginary pop band in season 4 episode 22’s Rockumentary) actually did exist then broke up but Screech started a side project in 1980 instead of searching far and wide for the meaning of life from the High Geek? Weirdly, I did and I think this album is exactly how that would sound, like a parody of pop music in 1980. In some ways Saved By The Bell’s Rockumentary is a parody of the early 90s. There is waaaay too much color blocked clothing. Post Zack Attack break up Lisa was a US Gladiator, Lethal Lisa. Casey Kasem hosted the Rockumentary. And of course Zack Attack’s hits include too many rock ballads. In fact Screech, Kelly, and Slater demo a song in the studio to ego maniac Zack called School Is A Bore that sounds too much like this album (11:49 mark). 1980 side project Screech should have learned that it was terrible and never played it for 1991 Zack.
It must've been the historical context that made this album important, because I'm just not getting it out of context. British art-house post punk with an overtop smack of zeal that borders on being campy and self-satirizing but could also just be a leadman who can't help from being over the top.
It was an ok album. A little eccentric. A couple songs were recognizable, however, it is not an album I would listen to again.
Wtf happened to the second half
Silly and energetic throughout, but a little same and sometimes the dissonant parts of this album take me out.
I can imagine this was new at the time it came out and it is not that bad. But it was okay for one time. Wouldn’t return to this album probably.
Адам и Муравьи. Не понравилось
Best Song: Dog Eat Dog. Punkish rolling beat with overlapping vocals. High energy. Worst Song: Don't Be Square (Be There). Elements of this sound like they are intending to sound bad, as if that amounts to punk rock. Absolutely inane lyrics too. Overall: Another album seemingly pulled from a very specific time and place in England that doesn't belong on this list. I easily could have died having never heard this.
didn't enjoy this as much as I thought
It looks like he wants to be avant-garde but it really doesn't feel very creative
Hmmm, not really my thing
At first, this album sounded like a carbon copy of the album I got the day before, but the more intently I listened, I found it to be far less enjoyable. I"m very much not a fan of the vocals and the overall sound is just average
Meh. Didn't love or hate it. Nothing really to say about it.
Blijf de hitjes "Goodie two shoes" en "stand and deliver" toch het leukst vinden
Muziek als een soort soep die je maakt van alle net niet meer houdbare groente uit je koelkast die je sowieso al lang geleden eens goed had moeten schoonmaken. Smaakt niet naar meer.
Tja, hier vond ik vrij weinig aan.
Real score 2.5 - the further I got through the album the more bored of it I became
I loved Adam Ant when I was young. But it was all about watching them perform the singles on Top of the Pops. not sure the album stands up.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug. Its like British, Glam, Pirate Indian music with a twist of punk. 2.4/5 Enjoyment
Got annoying quickly. 4/10
Turned something else on on the way home, so must’ve not liked them that much.
This is a weird one. I dig the percussion, but everything else just slides too close to punk-y crap for me.
Dog eats dog kicks it off and is a really good song. After that everything's just flat and directionless. The pirate song is pretty fun though.
First Listen. Didn't know any of the songs. A few of them grew on me by the end of the day. I look forward to hearing this one again. 2/5 (for now)
The Adam Ant entry on this list needs a recount. To my ears, the album that should be on the list is Adam Ant's "Friend Or Foe". Yes, that's the one with "Goody Two Shoes" as well as the title track, "Desperate But Not Serious", "Something Girl" and a great cover of The Doors' "Hello I Love You". It's full of absolute bangers. This album really has only one: "Antmusic". The rest of this is wildly inconsistent, and only hints and the magic Adam Ant would find on his solo work. An apt comparison to Adam Ant and Adam and the Ants would be David Johansen and the New York Dolls.
fun listen, a little too poppy for my taste, but interesting style
I have long wanted to appreciate this band, but their estimation by many as a "joke band" does ring a bit true for me. I was a big fan of his solo stuff when I was like 10 years old though. Also I appreciate his role in the punk and new wave movements, but this music falls into some hybrid category that just sounds too glam+gimmicky to me. I'll take Devo instead.
Couple of songs ok
some okay songs, mostly eh
Not my cuppa
I listened to it yesterday but I can’t remember it really which means it probably wasn’t great
Didn’t like
A couple of good tunes, but lots of filler.
Meh
Nothing there to interest me really.
Boring
Adam tried to start a new music trend with his make-up and burundi drums and it's certainly the kind of thing the Brits would be all-in for in the 80s. Some of the tracks are catchy, but it's more style over substance.
Boy here's another album that didn't age well. I guess in the early 80s after Punk had run its course this was a bridge and precursor to New Wave. Thankfully it was a mercifully short bridge. Back then cultural appropriation wasn't a thing, but Adam and the Ants did it in spades with Burundi drums and Native American costumes, what a hot mess. Back in the 80s it may have been novel, but its too gimmicky for me now.
I remembered listening to this as a kid and enjoying it, either thats a false memory or it really hasn't aged well. Couple of hit singles and a lot of filler
Don't really know what to say other than quite irritating.
The weirder side of the 80’s.
Another new wave album! Unfortunately not my favorite new wave band, but they still have a lot to offer musically. I like the glam, weird and unconventional approach to these songs, it feels kind of wild (which suits the album title perfectly). The songs do get a bit repetitive though, and I found myself zoning out about halfway through each song. This album is decent and has good ideas, but I would definitely say its not the best of the new wave genre. I honestly don't have much more to say about it. Favorite track: Kings of the Wild Frontier Least Favorite Track: Feed me to the Lions
Not the worst
yawn
Nope.
A little weird, a lot eighties.
1980: Antmusic
fav songs: none repetitive, gimmicky, quirky 20/100
This is album is probably the most effective form of punishment I have ever witnessed. Woeful album, I counted down every minute until it was over.
This won a Brit Award? Must’ve been a slow year
I thought Adam and the Ants were really best known for their singles and but their albums. Turns out that's true, and this album didn't have any decent single hits on it. Terrible drivel overall
Nope 1
meh.
War damals schon albern
4/23 Boring and bland
2/10 Fun but not for me
Lo unico que vale la pena de este album es que a veces parece que estas escuchando a los b 52s pero de una forma mucho más aburrida y sin esencia. Hay un ant kink del que lamentablemente no estoy formando parte por lo que no puedo sumarme a la movida que se ve mucho en otras reviews de "odio este album pero le pongo un 5", a mi de verdad me parecio malo y la portada es horrible 2/10
First things first. I was not in the mood for this album today. When I saw it come up on the generator I laughed, never imagining anything by Adam Ant would be on the list. I knew them from the early days of MTV, but didn't care for their music at the time. All of that being said, I tried to go into it with the right frame of mind but never really could. As soon as the record started I was immediately put off by it. There were subtle reminders of artists I like, but the whole of it just got on my nerves. I listened as I was driving home from work and there was a lot of traffic on the roads which didn't help, but I think if I was enjoying what I was hearing it might've not mattered as much. There were a couple of songs I thought I might like, but then something (usually the vocals) would change my mind. This was a very unenjoyable listen.
Je had er denk ik bij moeten zijn
Like a dollar store Oingo Boingo. Mixed so flat I couldn't even tell if the backing track was any good. There's some good material here but it's buried so far in the mix it was hard to pick it apart from the whiny vocals. 1.5/5
Eech
A bit gimmicky, not for me as an album, antmusic is the only hit 1/12 liked
i don't like the way he's staring at me...
Don’t think I needed to hear this before I die. Not my forté.
1. dog - 1 2. ant - 1 3. lionz - 1 4. rancheroz - 1 5. invazion - 1 6. killer - 1.5 7. kingz - 1 8. five - 1 9. zquare - 1.5 10. jolly - 1 11. hiztory - 1 12. humanz -
I do not get it. I've always been a bit surprised that this group with their unconventional sound are a well known pop hit. I'm clearly missing something. It's quite rhythmicaly driven which is usually a huge plus for me. Unfortunately it just doesn't hit at all. If there's more Adam and the ants on the list I'll be curious to listen again
Was never a fan then or now.
Yet another group of Bowie wannabes
Tbh didn’t care for any of this, had to turn it off. Not a fan of this era of 80s new wave
Bad. Not like Michael Jackson. Just Awful.
One of the most uninteresting albums. Like musically. Yes, there's a sea shanty and some choruses and percussion here and there, but none of it sounds good or relistenable. Half of it seems like random talking over some backbeat. Just got me angry halfway throughout as it never improved and seemingly got worse.
I liked the first song then struggled to listen through the rest. Not sure why this is on here.
TL;DL
No.
Not special and not good. There are maybe a few good minutes in this album, and unfortunately they're not on the same song.
Not for me
A truly awful listening experience.
I dont know what to expect, but its probably going to be some classic ahh rock. Yea this is pretty bad. I wish someone on this platform had the opportunity to explain why this shouldnt be considered the bottom of music. I cant stand this guys voice damn. This reminds me of the danger of buying music you dont know. But thanks to this website I know now to stay away from this dudes. easy 1 star 2,5/10
As much as I do very much like digging through the 1001 albums to hear challenge in its' entirety, I have to say there are quite a few duds all throughout the list, and Adam and the Ants' Kings of the Wild Frontier happens to be one of those dated duds. I don't know why this list has to keep picking very mediocre New Wave albums but it is pissing me off because there is some really solid New Wave out there, this author just doesn't know where to find it. This album feels so out of touch and very much a product of its' very flamboyant and over the top time period. I truly see nothing on this album worth noting in the current year of 2026 as relevant or even essential in any manner other than showcasing how poorly a lot of 80s antics have aged. What is the point of hearing this project other than to suffer?
listened to a few songs and lost interest
Weird
I honestly think I know 1001 albums that worth a try before this one
Meh. Elements of new wave I enjoy but generally just boring. I like that it’s called Adam & the Ants but it’s just Adam Ant. Funny funny.
No business. None. Kings of the hairy hills of my ass!
No thank you. A cocktail of a lot of things that make me nauseous: prog, concept albums, 80's production, white boy ragga, random pirate songs.
Not for me. 1/5
new wave? pop punk? pop? poo? what actually was this noise? never really digged it in the early 80's & frankly don't dig it on this listen in 2025 either.
It was okay for a little while, but grew old quick. Another album I didn't make it through.
Vibes: 2/5 Instruments: 0/5 Production: 2/5 Emotional Value: 0/5 Storytelling/Lyrics: 1/5 Stand Outs: Dog Eat Dog, Killer in the Home Overall Rating: 1
Absolute incoherence. Could not get into it no matter how hard it tried. Sometimes it would start to feel good and then fuck it up New wave can stay where it belongs