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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Electric

The Cult

1987

Buy At Rough Trade
Electric
Album Summary

Electric is the third album by British rock band the Cult, released in 1987. It was the follow-up to their commercial breakthrough Love. The album equalled its predecessor's chart placing by peaking at number four in the UK but exceeded its chart residency, spending a total of 27 weeks on the chart (the most successful run for an album by The Cult). The album marked a deliberate stylistic change in the band's sound from gothic rock to more traditional hard rock. Rick Rubin, the producer on Electric, had been specifically hired to remake the band's sound in an effort to capitalize on the popularity of hard rock and heavy metal in the 1980s. The album was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Rolling Stone wrote that "despite the hovering shades of Zeppelin, Bon Scott and others, Electric does more than pilfer bygone metal mayhem. It swaggers, crunches and howls, all right, but it does so with irreverence (not surprising with raunch expert Rick Rubin behind the board).".

Wikipedia

Rating

3.01

Votes

9420
Genres
Hard Rock

Reviews

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Sun Nov 26 2023
3

Perhaps the most generic hard rock I've ever heard. 6/10

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Tue Aug 08 2023
1

the fuck kind of joke is this? make us listen to a full album of incredibly average local rock pub rock made for men in faded black van halen t shirts and stonewashed jeans on the proviso that you will get to hear she sells sanctuary to then not be sold any sanctuary at all. my emotions have been toyed with in a way that is unreasonable.

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Wed Sep 06 2023
4

Would love to hate this band for their inflated egos and late 80's bullshit and pullin 'all the fine honeys', but the fact is that this album is an underappreciated highlight in an gluttonous rock-saturated decade. Billy Duffy is an incredibly underrated guitarist and the blast from Ian Astbury's 'yeahh-aha-ahs' put them in a league of their own. Back in the day, these guys presented a cool factor that was super-douchey yet regrettably, enviable. Time has not been kind to these guys, victims of their own success, they're still touring but withered, fat and flat... truly in the form that you'd expect them to be.

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Wed Jul 12 2023
5

“Y-air, yeah, yeah, yay-air, ye-hay-air!”Thought I’d already reviewed this because I listen to it so often, must have mixed it up with AC-DC or Zeppelin! Riffs everywhere. All the different ways to say “yeah”! Influences stolen from all over, love The Beatles in Aphrodisiac Jacket. Simply outstanding balls out rock and roll. Amazed few other reviewers agree with me - hey-ho, never mind.

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Fri Jul 14 2023
4

Highlights: Love Removal Machine, Bad Fun, Electric Ocean Leave Em's: Born To Be Wild, Peace Dog, King Contrary Man Overall Thoughts: A classic rock album that isn't trying to be anything more then what it is. I actually enjoyed this record more then I thought I was going to. The Rock and Roll sound shines through this album and I think they do a good job of not making the loud instrumentation and vocals abrasive. This album also embodies the sound that I imagine rock music taking in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Despite its predictability and lack of variety, The Cult did what they do well and produced a rock album that does rock. Score Breakdown: 3.173 & 4 -> 3.587

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Thu Aug 17 2023
4

I was all in on The Cult before Rick Rubin got involved, and I tend to favor their previous album over this one. That's mainly because of the "hits", or their legacy songs if you will. This album is more consistent overall (there's not a skippable track, I even enjoy the Steppenwolf cover). This was apparently back when Rubin actually brought something to the table, before his main role as a "producer" was to just sit back and say, "Sounds good" whenever he heard something he liked. It's still surprising The Cult never completely broke through in the states.

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Fri Jul 07 2023
5

I can't load any other reviews for this. Am I the first? Fuck yeah! Anyway, I'm a big fan of these guys. Sonic temple is better but only by a sliver. Has a distinctly 80s feel but also a timeless rock vibe. Like they knew about hair metal but only dipped their toes cause they knew it had a use by date. Perfect summertime beer music. 5/5.

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Fri Jan 12 2024
5

Wow! I was surprised by this album. I did not know who The Cult were before this list, but this is one helluva head-banging rock album. Very hard rock, 80s, glammy metal feel. I do not know why it is so low rated, but I highly recommend fellow metalheads to give this one a listen! Favorite Song(s): "Wild Flower", "Bad Fun", "Love Removal Medicine", "Aphrodisiac Jacket", "Lil Devil"

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Tue Jan 16 2024
5

Brilliant. At last! A decent album in this otherwise mediocre and uninspiring list and one which I've not heard before. Imagine AC/DC jamming with the Rolling Stones...yeah, that's right. It rocks.

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Thu Feb 01 2024
5

This is just the sexiest album.

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Wed Sep 06 2023
4

The Cult has such a classic bad boy/punk sound to them, really helped by Ian Astbury's almost growling vocals. He really shines throughout this album. Bad Fun is arguably the best track on this album, and it's shocking to me that it isn't their most listened to tracks from the album. I remember absolutely jamming to this track playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater back in the day. Not every track is a hit here, and I can definitely appreciate the sentiments that this is somewhat generic. But it's also just too good to not love. This is the kind of album you jam all the way down the highway to (or skate to).

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Wed Sep 06 2023
4

This just a good old fashioned rock album. Great licks, fun song subjects, and high energy. It’s clear which bands influenced them and I think I could pick out a few bands they influenced. Tons of fun, but not so good it earns 5 stars.

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Sat Sep 09 2023
3

If you asked an AI audio model to generate a hard rock album from 1987 this is what it would give you

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Thu Sep 28 2023
3

Makes me want to wash my trans am

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Wed Jan 03 2024
3

Rick Rubin, I can smell you.

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Mon Aug 14 2023
2

Wow, was decent until Born to Be Wild. Oof.

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Fri Jul 07 2023
1

possibly the worst album i’ve ever listened to its so bad, guns and roses dupe, awful, trash

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Tue Jul 11 2023
1

genuinely the most uninteresting genre

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Sun Jul 30 2023
5

Ooh this went down a treat! Really suited a long and surprisingly smooth motorway drive, up to Yorkshire funnily enough. Seems a lot of people don't like this one, but I thought it was just a good, fun, heavy, glam metal rush. Favourite: Bad Fun

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Tue Oct 10 2023
5

I fucking love this album! I'd really only know She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult and never got deeper into the catalogue. But damn, this was a real tour de force! It gives you non-stop rock and a snarling badass delivery of it to boot. Killer record, man. The Cult rules! I'll be listening to this one again and again, added to my regular rotation.

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Wed Jan 03 2024
5

Incredible lead in to the album with Wild Flower. In fact almost all the songs have a great intro. That's the power of guitar solos followed quickly by banging drums. "Hit those skins explode my brain".

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Fri Jan 05 2024
5

Si en las escuelas hubiera una asignatura sobre el Hard Rock no tengo ninguna duda de que \"Electric\" sería el disco de texto, la Biblia. Simplemente perfecto.

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Wed Jan 10 2024
5

Love it. Rockin'. Will be listening to them more

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Fri Feb 16 2024
5

Some of my greatest memories of my senior year of high school are set to this album. Along with Rain 1985 and Sonic Temple 1988 these are the bedrock of the Cult's sound and catalog. One of the greatest albums of the 80s!

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Fri Mar 08 2024
5

lmao that was a real wacky inclusion on the list it just kinda sounded like some guys at the pub. But I do like going to the pub. But also I don't think I'd rate going to the pub as a top 1001 musical experience of all time.

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Sun Apr 21 2024
5

Fuck yes. If this were any further up my alley I'd be tasting it. Exactly what I think of when I try (and regularly fail) to explain what my favourite genre of music is. Just a straight up clean good time. I also firmly believe a well executed cover should be mandatory on all albums (insert a million qualifiers here but you get what I mean). OWWWW

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Sat Jul 15 2023
4

Genres: Hard rock, blues rock, gothic rock, R&B, glam metal Formed: Bradford, England in 1983 Run time: 11 songs, 38 min, 52 sec The third album by the British rock band. Combining the distinct vocals of lead singer Ian Astbury with the instrumentals makes the group's music identifiable within a few bars of starting a song. The album is essentially about love, lust and embracing life to the full. Spotify: Least popular song: >800k Most popular song: almost 22M plays. Track 1, “Wild Flower” is said to be about love. It is actually describing lust and its effects. Track 2, “Peace Dog” is critical about war and its glorification and how peace is sometimes portrayed as a dirty word. Track 3, “Lil’ Devil” is about being drawn to a bad girl and the excitement and danger she might bring to the protagonist's life. Track 4, “Aphrodisiac Jacket” uses abstract imagery to describe an energy driving life and pushing through obstacles. Track 5, “Electric Ocean” describes being drawn to something dangerous. Track 6, “Bad Fun” describes embracing life by being wild and reckless. Track 7, “King Contrary Man” discusses the desire for extraordinary experiences without considering the consequences. Track 8, “Love Removal Machine” the song begins by mentioning a “red room” and a “scarlet woman”, which suggests to me this is about an encounter with a professional lady. She provides sexual excitement but not the love the obsessed protagonist seeks . Track 9, “Born To Be Wild” is a great cover of the Steppen Wolf song. It is, however, very similar in style to the original. Track 10, “Outlaw” is about a man rebelling against authority and social norms. He takes out his anger on small towns, suggesting he’s not as tough as he makes out. Track 11, “Memphis Hip Smoke”. Memphis Hip is a dance move associated with Rock ‘n’ Roll. This is a great album with some fantastic songs. Definitely worth a listen. If you get to see the Cult live, they still know how to Rock and they sound exactly the same. Amazing. Listen Again?: Yes My Rating: ****

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Mon Jul 24 2023
4

Gros rock pour le genre de band année 80 . Très bon, pas trop long, ac cogne et c'est parfait comme ca. 4.5

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Sun Aug 06 2023
4

Excelente disco de rock con canciones muy bien elaboradas, con guitarreo trepidante y voz intensa. No baja el ritmo en ningún momento. Le faltaría algo de innovación, pero no es un elemento necesario

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Mon Aug 14 2023
4

I weirdly like this more than I probably should. Don't normally have any time for cock rock, but this doesn't put my hackles up. Maybe it's the splash of goth in the mix. That "Born to be Wild" cover isn't great though, eh? Fave tracks - "Wild Flower" is a fun opener, and "Love Removal Machine" was good too...

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Wed Aug 23 2023
4

Doubt i will ever give this one another spin, but as a one-off eighties-hard-rock amusement this one definitely rocks

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Thu Aug 24 2023
4

I'm reaching the 700 albums listened to here and was missing this kind of Hardrock. Maybe it is my mood or the fact that I got too much country and electronic music and didn't get enough glam/hard rock yet, but the energy around this album is all I enjoyed when I discovered this kind of music. I'll surely listen to more of The cult, even knowing Wikipedia that this release is different from their previous albums. By the way, his producer's Wikipedia description of this album as a mix of AC/DC and Led Zepellin is quite accurate for reference. Nice job, mister Rick Rubin.

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Fri Sep 01 2023
4

Normally I don't like it when every song on an album sounds the same, but this was awesome. Best song is "Love Removal Machine" but after hearing the whole album, I think that's because it was the first song of theirs I'd ever heard.

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Thu Sep 14 2023
4

Good alternative to the hair metal of the time

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Thu Sep 21 2023
4

Hadn’t listened to much of the cult before, pleasantly surprised by this one, up their with the best hard rock albums I’ve heard.

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Sat Oct 14 2023
4

Tof hardrock album. Niet erg speciaal of opvallend, maar heb er mij wel mee geamuseerd

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Tue Oct 17 2023
4

Classic, if fairly mainstream, rock. No surprise to find out Rick Rubin was involved. A few great songs, and possibly the worst cover version I have ever heard, but on the whole really good. Not five stars, but way too good for three!

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Thu Oct 19 2023
4

It's '80s rock in the same vein as Guns 'n' Roses, so if you're into that then you'll probably enjoy this. The sound reminded me a lot of Danzig, at times, which is odd as I haven't thought about them in many years. Something which I haven't seen other people talking about is the impressive production quality of the whole thing. The guitars sound massive and the drums are powerful, but that's perhaps not too surprising when you consider that Rick Rubin was at the helm.

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Fri Oct 20 2023
4

punchy, sounded like a group of friends jamming out in the garage on a Saturday night! I liked this album a lot but could have left out the cover of Born to be Wild without missing anything in my opinion. 3.5*

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Sun Oct 22 2023
4

Love Removal Machine and Born to Be Wild was a solid 1-2 punch. Good album overall! Songs like Peace Dog & Outlaw felt a little repetitive.

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Tue Oct 24 2023
4

Had a couple of classics on there.

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Thu Oct 26 2023
4

This was a fun album and it was easy to get into and enjoy. The singer has the typical 80’s rock and roll voice that compliments the music so well. I don’t think I would listen to this regularly, but I can appreciate some of the forefathers of hard rock and roll and their contributions to the genre.

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Wed Nov 01 2023
4

Cheesy & predictable, but somehow more fun than I had any right to expect

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Thu Nov 02 2023
4

pretty good, for hairmetal, though there's not a lot of variety to the music.

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Sat Nov 04 2023
4

Hard rock and I'm not sure why I don't hear more about The Cult now.

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Sun Nov 05 2023
4

Hard rock. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

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Mon Nov 06 2023
4

Not particularly innovative but it rocks

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Sun Nov 12 2023
4

Definitely uncool and working in established tropes, but tbh flat out rocks hard

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Wed Nov 22 2023
4

Some great 80s rock. TIL The Cult did a cover of Born to be Wild... Not huge on it. Good finish.

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Mon Nov 27 2023
4

Great AC/DC-like guitar riffs! Standouts: Wild Flower, Lil' Devil, Born to Be Wild, Love Removal Machine Others: Peace Dog, Aphrodisiac Jacket, Electric Ocean, Outlaw, 4/5

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Wed Nov 29 2023
4

Rather enjoyed. Great 80s rock. 4/5

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Sun Dec 10 2023
4

this was a very bold move at the time, pre-grunge nobody was mixing punk & classic rock, it’s obviously a bit cringe in places but duffy is a rock god and astbury means every stupid word he says

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Mon Dec 18 2023
4

Not sure I’ve heard of them. Another “Hard Rock” album from 1987. Not sure what makes rock ‘hard’ - apparently driving melodies, few ballads, guitar solos, loud drumming, vocals near to shouting/screaming. Quite enjoying so far. Another low 4/5 - not adding to library but enjoy hard rock clearly.

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Wed Jan 03 2024
4

This is great raw smokey-bar rock band swagger. High energy and old school rock band, with guitar solos and sneering vocals. Really enjoy this, though I'm deducting a star for how bad their Born to be Wild cover is.

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Fri Jan 05 2024
4

A hard-rocking post-punk album with some elements of proto-desert sludge-rock and a 'power' backbeat reminiscent of AC/DC. Although the album's sound is not unique in the modern context, that is due to its imitators than any lack of ingenuity by The Cult. Overall, it's an accessible album that, while a hard-rock revival of sorts, sounds *fun* while it rocks. Arguably the weakest track on the album is "Born to be Wild" which seems toothless and sleepy in its slowed version -- an old wolf waiting to die.

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Wed Jan 10 2024
4

Si me gustó , no es mi estilo preferido pero está bien

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Wed Jan 17 2024
4

4.2 - Besides "Back in Black" I struggle to think of another album with a more cock-forward rock sound. It'd be a shameful self-parody if it weren't so goddamn spectacular. Ian Astbury's voice is a triumph, and William Duffy's guitar solos on "Bad Fun" and "Love Removal Machine" are breathtaking.

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Thu Jan 25 2024
4

Blast from the past. Crunching hook-laden riffs. Inane lyrics. Fun ride!

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Fri Feb 09 2024
4

Always forget how much I enjoy the cult

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Sat Feb 10 2024
4

I wasn't ready to actually enjoy this? But ok. Reminded me a bit of Billy Idol while his voice also sounded a tiny bit like Glenn Danzig. Fun stuff!

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Tue Feb 13 2024
4

1987 is still in the era of my fav music ever. The production quality is just awesome has the best sound of any era of music. Lil' Devil is a hit. Killer Guitar solo during Electric ocean. Definitely heard Bad FUn on the radio at some point. Pretty good but the verses sounds kinda generic. Chorus bops tho. Love Removal machine is a great hi energy good time jammer too.

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Sun Feb 18 2024
4

When the Cult first came out, they hewed more toward a post punk/gothic sensibility. But what became quite apparent by the time this album came out was that the band was able to straddle a musical line like few artists can. In addition to fitting quite easily in the college rock/proto-alternative scene, the band had solid rock chops. They were popular with metal fans and straight ahead rock fans. It's a assertive, lusty, riff-forward sound that seriously rocks. Lead singer Ian Astbury has the kind of natural charisma and swagger that you just don't see too much this side of Jim Morrison. The songs on this album are sexy, energetic and great fun to listen to, preferably at full blast out a car window. Lots to enjoy here, but "Love Removal Machine" is one of the great rock songs of that era. Fave Songs: Love Removal Machine, Wild Flower, Bad Fun, Peace Dog, Lil' Devil

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Mon Mar 11 2024
4

This was some solid 80’s hard rock - something I enjoy much more now than back in the 80’s. Listened to this while taking a shower then driving around… perfect for both occasions! Favorites were Wild Flower, Lil’ Devil, Ocean of Love, King Contrary Man, Love Removal Machine, Outlaw.

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Wed Mar 20 2024
4

surprisingly delightful hard rock album lots of fun - 7/10

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Mon Apr 01 2024
4

Hell yeah. A lot of fun to listen to...nothing groundbreaking here, just some good hard rock to have fun with. Favorite track: King Contrary Man

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Mon Apr 01 2024
4

I really enjoyed it, although the Born to be Wild cover was pants.

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Wed Apr 03 2024
4

Ég er með rosa soft spot fyrir The Cult. Fíla þetta mjög vel.

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Fri Apr 19 2024
4

Rick Rubin works his magic on the Cult by cutting out all the gothic fripperies and allowing them to be the arena rock act they always secretly wished to be. You can't listen to Billy Duffy's gleeful soloing and tell me otherwise. They were built for it, too - Electric is basically a bunch of recycled Zep, AC/DC and Stones riffs tightened up and freeze dried for a new era. It's good! I always found Ian Astbury's whole Native American shaman schtick goofy, but he has a voice made for hollering to the back of a concert hall. Electric is no more, but also no less, than a very decent hard rock album. Love, Electric, Sonic Temple - there are some top tracks sprinkled across this trilogy.

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Tue Jul 11 2023
3

Sounds like a perfect Lost Boys soundtrack

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Thu Jul 13 2023
3

I'm into the 80s glam rock sound, but that Born to Be Wild cover is the kind of mistake that casts a shadow over the whole project. I shudder just thinking about it. Best track: Wild Flower

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Thu Jul 20 2023
3

Situat entre 'Love', on van sublimar i donar per acabada la seva etapa gótica, i 'Sonic Temple', que els va impulsar a la primera divisió de bandes de rock als 80, 'Electric' és més un meritori exercici de génere que una obra mestra del rock, com de vegades se l'ha volgut catalogar. Les seves virtuts són les pròpies de la banda: riffs potents, composicions originals i diferents, i la veu inigualable d'Astbury

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Thu Jul 20 2023
3

This sounds like a generic 80's rock album, trying to be the next ACDC. Electric starts off strong then falls flat early in and turns to average riffs and samey-songs, although I cannot deny some songs are pretty perfect. Astbury's vocals are nothing special and sound rather generic, this is a mountain of consistency. Favorites: Wild Flower / Peace Dog / Lil' Devil / Outlaw

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Wed Aug 02 2023
3

Overall a decent album but can't understand why it's on the list

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Sat Aug 05 2023
3

+1 for "Love Removal Machine" -1 for "Born to Be Wild" 3/5

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Mon Aug 14 2023
3

Pure fun rock and roll. Fave tracks, Electric Ocean and Love Removal Machine.

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Tue Aug 15 2023
3

Awesome guitar riffs. Great heavy metal, but nothing original.

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Thu Aug 17 2023
3

That was unexpectedly good. I was expecting dumb hard rock from late 80s and that’s exactly what I got only it somehow sounded really good. I wonder what made the difference and I think that it was this characteristic vocal tone. I read that they were doing more gothic stuff before making this record so that makes sense. It made the album stand out among all of the bands that sounded almost exactly the same. A nice dose of refreshing fun. Only the Born to be wild cover is reaaaally bad. 3.5/5

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Sat Aug 19 2023
3

Pretty decent hard rock with some cool moments

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Tue Aug 22 2023
3

Quality 80s rock that thankfully doesn’t sound too 80s. I don’t think I need to return to this one but it was fun Great album cover. Great guitar work 3

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