Electric

Fuckin' A -- Besides Born To Be Wild, I've never heard songs from The Cult, but I loved it!

a really fun straight rock album. it's raucous in all the right ways. the only thing I wish was that the production was a little more rough around the edges to match the energy, but otherwise a great surprise!

Sehr gelungenes Heavy Metal Album. Starke Songs mit viel Riff und High Speed. Jederzeit wieder hörbar.. Gute Songs sind „Electric Open“, „King Country Man“ sowie die Interpretion von „Born To Be Wild“. Stilecht, Kurzweilig mit Starken Songs 😊

Gran disco

Gooood!!!

I thought that the only song by The Cult that I knew pretty well was She Sells Sanctuary (which isn’t found on this album). However, Lil’ Devil is definitely familiar to me. I found pretty much everything on this album to be fantastic. It’s absolutely dad-rock through and through, and I’ll fight anybody who tells me that’s a bad thing. My only nitpick is that their cover of Born To Be Wild is a little weak, but otherwise I loved this album. His voice is exceptional.

Really good album enjoyed this 👌

That’s a hell yea from me brother Love Removal Machine = A+++

Favourite songs: Love Removal Machine, Bad Fun, Lil' Devil, Peace Dog, Born To Be Wild, Aphrodisiac Jacket, Electric Ocean, Wild Flower, Outlaw Least favourite songs: Memphis Hip Shake 5/5

Not in the same league as their previous album, Love (5 star / 10/10 album) but still this is a great Cult album of course, in particular Lil Devil and Love Machine and Peace Dog and Little Flower and King Country Man and.. etc score in 1987: 9/10 score in 2024: 9/10

There are some stinkers on this record and it marks a departure from some of the darker more overt goth vibes of their previous work... But, hear me out, if a cool older brother passes the CD along to his younger brother and you all spend a Summer with this as your soundtrack street skating the best curbs and other little bits of your suburban American town then this album is going to become an irrational, emotional favorite that you will still want to throw on 35 years later. Nothing beats the feeling of a Summer breeze on your face with your friends cheering an impossibly landed sick skate trick while Love Removal Machine is blasting out a cheap speaker. Sometimes music is made better by the moment and method of introduction. Five Stars for the feels on a Three Star record.

Rocks hard with excellent guitar work from the first minute to the last. Loved this one.

Well pepper me silly, roll me in flour, and call me a metal fan. Who knew? I am a fan of the Cult. It sounds like the English cultivar of AC/DC, or put differently, if Motorhead and ACDC had a good look descendants, with a bit of polish and discipline, this would be them. Good clean propulsive fun. (Using it for housework right now) I thought it was just their tongue twister sea shell song I liked... #mymusiceducashion Thanks 1001.

LOVE THESE GUYS!

So simple but done so well. Astbury does the inter lyric yowl better than almost everyone.

Great rock album

geil

Cult perfection

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.

Great Album.

Dudes rock

Foda

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

Yes!!@

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.

Very fun listen!

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.

Hard rock

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

Aha now I get where the band Mustasch got its inspiration! Harsh vocals with fuel drenched guitars and that perfect distortion on the rhythm guitar is nothing but icing on the cake.

24/06/2026 This was quite a good listen. I had forgotten this band even existed! Spotify listeners: 2.3 million

Badass.

Classic "balls-to-the-wall" hard rock! High-octane, raw and aggressive. Love it.

I loved this album, I’ve not heard of them before and I’ll definitely be listening to more

Pretty good. Nice surprise.

Shoutout to the raving rabbids on the Wii band mini game. Born to be wild and toxic went triple platinum on that. Hearing it out of the blue on this was like that scene in ratatouille. Meh album otherwise. Specific rating - 4.0 Fav song - born to be wild Least fav- Memphis hip shake

Decent 80s rock, I enjoyed

It rocks

Guitar driven hard rock in the AC/DC vein. It was a fun listen but if anything it just makes me want to put on Back in Black. It feels like the kind of album that I might enjoy more with a few more listens. Love Removal Machine was a standout.

An old friend. This was my introduction album to The Cult back in the late 80s.

I love this band every time I put them on, and here we've got an excellent album my them. The face melting guitar, the amazing vocals, and superb songwriting. So often overlooked as a band, you can't go wrong with this one of you're looking for a great rock album.

1980 house party ANTHEMS!

Out of control. It's wild, a honey child. Dropping love on top of all. Not new, not old. But enough.

Goede gitaren, leuke muziek

Don't let this horrible cover art fool you...this album is damn good.

Okay, this album is proof(for me at least) that one doesn't need a unique, and distinct sound to be a great album. It's well produced, has a few standout tracks, and a satisfying conclusion. It's back patio Rock music at a bar. It's fun. Favorite Track: "Peace Dog".

I had my hater hat on at the start. I figured they were a clone of Danzig/Alice Cooper but they had some good southern rock tunes. Shout out Aphrodisiac Jacket.

This strikes me as the kind of music the lost boys (vampires, not Neverland) would listen to. Very into it.

No. 163 This just a good old fashioned rock album. Great licks, fun song subjects, and high energy.

Slapped as we progressed

A mix of a lot of Rock from the 70/60's but this record probably paved the road for the late 80 and 90 hard rock

Exceptional album.

This is my 1st full album by The Cult and I am impressed. Good rock n roll. Guitar player is good. Well written songs and tight playing. Will have to explore more of their LPs.

These guys were playing what my dad would call good ol' rock'n'roll, but it was before my time. I can still really enjoy it.

Wild Flower 3.5 Peace Dog 4 Lil' Devil 3.6 Aphrodisiac Jacket 3.4 Electric Ocean 3.6 Bad Fun 3.5 King Contrary Man 3.3 Love Removal Machine 3.7 Born to Be Wild 3.7 Outlaw 3.6 Memphis Hip Shake 4 Score: 3.627272727

More fun than I expected! Great drumming 3.7

A decent hard rock album but their cover if Born to be Wild is weak

I got The Cure and The Cult mixed up so was expecting emo and took me 3 tracks to realise The Cure hadn't created a hard rock album. Maybe it's because I've had 3 weeks of below average albums but I quite enjoyed this album. A foot tapper.

Bit conflicted about this one. On the one hand they are clearly selling out and I do prefer their more gothic stuff, on the other hand it’s classic straight ahead rock which has clearly been influential (Royal Blood anyone?). Really want to go for a 3.5

At first I was worried that this was going to be a tiresome retread of AC/DC that somehow made the cut. I was pleasantly surprised by the actual album. It’s like AC/DC if someone told them their sound is actually annoying and tiring to listen to for an entire album and they tried to make it more interesting and palatable. I realized I had heard Love Removal Machine before and liked that song, and I won’t flog the album for what everyone’s reviews always hate, having the gall to do a cover. This was a good listen, and I’m fine with it being on the list.

3/10/26 - listened while walking the dog. LIked this much better than I expected. It was fun and had me jamming out. Can't go the full five because there were no classic hits but a solid four that I will probably keep thinking about. Lil' Devil was copied by STP on Heaven and Hotrods, to an obvious extent. Top Song - Electric Ocean, but enjoyed a number of them fairly equally

This is like the platonic ideal of rock to me. If aliens came down to Earth and asked me what rock music is I'd give them this album. No sappy ballads, no guitar noodling, just straightforward, no-nonsense rock. Incredibly sharp, tight playing. Lyrics are sometimes goofy but that's to be expected.

Garage blasting rock at its finest.

Quite a lot "yeah-hahs," but nice.

4.3/5 very good heavy rock prolly their best

Reminded me of eating wings in a loud and dark restaurant

(5/7) hard (but not too hard) rock

Day777 - i started with the cult at sonic temple and went back to this album. i really expect them to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame some day

I liked this one! Catchy 4 ⭐️

Great 80's classic rock option if you somehow get tired of other stuff

Good stuff!

"Love Removal Machine" is the song that got me in to The Cult. Electric is still a personal fave, but I wouldn't say it's their most influential (Love), or their most popular (Sonic Temple). It is, however, their first (only?) time working with Rick Rubin, so that's something.

good rock album with decent riffs

Great album. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys live in the 90's.

I can see why my dad liked this album so much. I mean, OK, I don't think I'd say any of this is particularly **great** 80's hard rock; I wouldn't lie and tell you that there **aren't** a few of songs on here that're a bit samey. Even at 39 minutes, there comes a point where it feels like you could be listening to something with a bit more variety in its sound. AC/DC they are not. But all the same, it's like cheap pizza: it doesn't hafta be great to still satisfy. And I think 'Electric' does, despite its faults. I can't say I'd ingest the whole thing all at once again, but on a slice-by-slice basis I'd get a kick out of it. And if I were more like my dad, I'd maybe even love the thing. And if nothing else, I know I enjoyed this album more than I would've any of their previous, "post-punk goth rock" material. It's not a high bar to clear, sure, I'm aware, but the point still stands; it's a better introduction than the alternative would've been.

Was actually pretty solid 80s rock album, i was surprised

How the hell did it take 3 full weeks to get an 80’s album? This one was a blast, you gotta love that 80s guitar sound. Wild Flower and Love Removal Machine were my favorites but I don’t think there’s a single bad song on this album. I don’t think there’s a ton of range on this one but that’s not a huge problem when they’re so good at executing what they excel at. Not gonna pretend like this is special music or that it has any kinda real depth; maybe it’s because I’m so inundated with 70s albums but I had a lot of fun with this one. Had not heard of The Cult before but will definitely check out more of their stuff later

first 80s album wooo There's something really nice about just having a good old rocker. It's tight, clean, got good energy, and can really get you grooving. After a lot of more slow-paced, artsy albums, this was really what I needed. Is it the most deep, complex music? No. The song compositions are a little simpler than I'd like, but I can't deny this is very, very listenable. Can't imagine putting it on and someone having an issue with it.

I remember the first time I heard Electric, someone at college putting it on and saying, "You gotta hear these guys!" I was instantly impressed. Electric is the 3rd Cult album, and it really announced their ascension. Strong stuff from a 3-man combo, especially considering one guy only sings and plays the damn tambourine. Banger after banger on this album. I remember the most popular song being Love Removal Machine, but over time my favorite song has become King Contrary Man. If you haven't, turn this one up and let it rip. Good power chords, changing time signatures, and strong vocals on just about every song. Good old fashioned rock and roll. 4 stars.

This album is high energy and I love it. I know that I’ve fallen behind in these albums, but this album is totally baller, it’s not boring and the songs have enough variation between them that it’s enjoyable throughout the whole album. This is a good album to have as the first 80s album. The reason this album gets a 4 instead of a 5 is because none of the songs really hit me and made me think that it was really good.

The Cult make great music for when you’re in the mood to hear something loud, but you don’t want to think about it all that much.

Good ol’ rock for when you need it; however, they really should not have covered “Born to Be Wild.”

Solid rock album. My least favorite of the first three Cult albums, though.

I’m so glad I listened to this before I die. It’s not going to be for everyone, but for those who don’t hate it, it’s fun!

Big dumb fun!

I always get this band confused with another band that came out around the same time (The Church) so I wasnt sure what to expect. But...I really dug this album. The have a power pop sound and the songs have lots of hooks. This will be an album I may seek out for my collection.

That was fun! I like the singer's enthusiasm!

Not my favourite Cult album, but still some crackers on here

Grew up with this one and yeah it's not gourmet but sometimes a greasy cheeseburger really hits the spot.

It’s maybe not a great record but, damn, it rocks. I resisted this record at first when it came out, I was of a “She Sells Sanctuary” Cult fan and figured this was selling out. Eventually I came around and loved cranking this LOUD, especially in the car. Definitely took some notes from the Angus Young guitar book.

Solid 80s rock. Hit the spot for me today.

When it comes to straight forward rock music in it’s most raw and truest form, this is a classic album.

Pure unadulterated dad-rock

A guilty pleasure. Yes it's big, dumb and dated. But it's a ton of fun and brings back memories. I might be the only person on the planet who prefers this version of Born To Be Wild over Steppenwolf's. I know. I know. it's not for sophisticated tastes but hey, you gotta let loose sometimes.

Can't say that I really knew The Cult before this, but it's not bad. Very raw classic rock. I could see myself listening to this again if I remember that it exists Standouta Born To Be Wild 4/5

Hard rock. Britain.

The nice thing about an album that knows it’s stupid is you can’t really be mad about how stupid it is. This is a stupid album. It’s also really great. Bad Fun is outstanding. I think one reason I like the Cult is they sound a lot like the early to mid 2000s garage revival which wasn’t very good but was the defining sound of my childhood. This is like that but much better. And dumber.

The Cult sound like the kind of band that you'd hear in a movie about a fictional rock band. The filmmakers hire someone to write music that sound like a stereotypical hair metal band from the 80s. The thing is, these things are fun while you're watching the movie and you exist in that world, but you wouldn't necessarily buy the soundtrack and even remember the songs afterward. It requires a small degree of suspension of disbelief to work. But of course, this isn't a soundalike, this is the real thing. This is what soundalikes are based off of. It just doesn't feel real any more because its time as passed. Instead of a movie, it works as a vehicle for nostalgia now. But what's wrong with that? The Cult sought out Rick Rubin to create a stripped back rock and roll album. We might be tempted to make fun of The Cult as four decades out of date and full of toxic egos, but let's be honest. Given the opportunity to go back in time and see them live, it would be pretty fun.

Hell yeah! Rock and fuckin rooooollll! I enjoy a lot of different hard rock and heavy metal, but this is right in that glorious sweet spot between classic rock and metal. The energy is stadium-sized. Lead singer Ian Astbury wails like he has a wind machine behind him. The music is blues-centric but heavy. It's got all the fun of a band like AC/DC, but with the politically conscious anti-war lyrics you'd expect on a Sabbath record. Ohh, okay, Rick Rubin produced this! I heard Rubin say in an interview that his main talent isn’t musical skill. It’s having great taste. I think that's on display here. This feels like the product of a band and producer with impeccable taste. It absolutely rocks, but it's smart music too. The performances are incredible with some killer solos, but the songs are also tight and focused. They get in and get out, packing a wallop in fairly short amount of time. Nice cover of “Born to Be Wild” too!

Just a real hard rockin' good time. I enjoyed this as I felt like I needed some hard hitting drums to power me through today. The singer's voice is great, the guitar parts are great, and it's consistent throughout. Produced really well too, which is nice, as sometimes with this kind of hard / classic rock I can get a bit bored with the same old instrumentation. When I hear this singer's wail I can't help but think of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and little 12 year old me driving around in the game and listening to bands like this. It's a great nostalgia hit hearing this singer.

I quite like this. Heard of the band before but never listened to any of the songs on this album. I might add a couple to my Spotify playlist. Sadly, I think it just misses out on full marks.

Couldn't stop jamming to this one.

Great album. Nothing revolutionary, just good rock'n roll. Lil' Devil and Love Removal Machine are absolute bangers

Great album, perhaps nostalgia bias but a big favourite of my dad’s. Wild Flower and Love Removal Machine absolute classics. Every song on the album is good at worst and great at best. If I could give 4.5/5 I would, not quite a full 5/5.

I could not tell you why I liked this so much compared to other hard rock from this list, but I did. I dunno, it had heart.

Very good.

The Cult's career trajectory has always struck me as an oddity. They started as a gothic, post-punk act that saw commercial success with their second album, Love, buoyed by the single "She Sells Sanctuary". As they were writing and recording the follow-up, tentatively titled Peace, they grew tired of the reverb and wall of noise sound they were known for at the time. They opted to switch their style and image towards the hard rock of their influences, like the Doors, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC, and sought out producer Rick Rubin to remix at least the lead single for their next record, "Love Removal Machine." Instead, Rick criticized the use of guitar effects the band employed, and gave them a bold ultimatum: "Do you guys wanna make English pussy music, or do you want to rock?" Thus, the album was re-recorded with Rubin as their new producer, and this new direction resulted in the third record, Electric. As someone who enjoys gothic rock, I could recognize some hard rock tendencies that The Cult utilized in their early records, so I can somewhat understand the progression they went toward. I also enjoy some cheesy hard rock, and this album is no exception. The aforementioned "Love Removal Machine", "Wild Flower", "Bad Fun", "King Contrary Man", "Outlaw", and "Memphis Hip Shake" all fit that penchant, as Ian Astbury belted out alongside Billy Duffy's flash-in-the-pan guitar soloing, and the tight rhythm section from Jamie Stewart and Les Warner. If the band and Rubin's goal was to emulate AC/DC as closely as possible, I say they got there for the most part. The only problem is that even my love for cheesy hard rock has its limits. I didn't care much for the word salad that was "Aphrodisiac Jacket", and "Peace Dog" saw the band ham-fistedly rip at their previous 1960s counterculture-influenced image. But easily the worst of this record comes in their cover of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild", where the slower tempo and Ian's warbly delivery did not mesh well at all for this song. It's not like you couldn't accomplish a heavier cover of this song. When Slade, Riot, Blue Öyster Cult, and even Link Wray got their covers right, you have no excuse. Still, Electric was a fun record overall. The Cult would continue to employ the hard rock style in their career, and even return to their gothic roots for more recent records. But at this point, they certainly struck a formula.

It's somewhat generic and that Steppenwolf cover is really bad, but this is the kind of no bullshit hard rock that scratches the dumb caveman part of my brain. I'll take this over techno any day.

The album was refreshing to hear as it is not the genre I would usually listen to.

Really fun! :)

This absolutely rocks. Never heard it before. Going on high rotation for sure.

Not much to say here really. Drummer, bassist, guitarist, singer. GO! And they do, and it is great, and The Cult remains one of my all time favorite "rock-n-roll" bands of all time. Clearly they are highly professional, the lyrics are often deep, they have the distinction of "one of my all time favorite songs" and yeah... Like I said, kinda not much to say in how more or less simple they really are. But I mean ... damn!

I'm not a big fan of The Cult. I've never really understood why they're so beloved, even though I really like some of their albums. I discovered this band through "She Sells Sanctuary" (featured on the GTA Vice City soundtrack), and from then on I started listening to their albums more deeply, and undeniably, they're all very good. On this album in particular, I loved the cover of "Born To Be Wild," but the entire structure of the album is very consistent and fun to listen to. 4 stars is fair.

Great album, classic

I'm on-board with these guys and I like their style. If you want nice grooves and tap-along beats, then this is for you. It's fun, upbeat, nicely put together, and with assured energy and personality in the vocals. A real nice, upbeat, uncomplicated time. 3.5 rounded up.

Shoutout rick, shoutout reinhard, shoutout me. Bornnnn to be wiiiiilllllddd. FOUR!

Good dirty blues rock. Similar to Aerosmith and Guns N Roses with some New York Dolls swagger thrown in.

Solid rock. Butt rock even, but solid stuff.

Good power rock album. Really like the lead singer's voice. 4/5

Love is their essential album. This is good though…

Rock and/or roll!

This was pretty good for what it is. 3.6

Never heard of this band. It sounded a bit generic at times but overall great vocals

Great 80s hair rock

Liked the energy level , the rifts are fun and the blue influence is up my alley … fun stufff

Not sure how I've never listened to an entire album of theirs, but I'm sure glad I finally have. This is pure vocal and guitar arena rock !

gothic rock, post-punk, 80s alt rock. all very cool styles. styles this band dabbled in on their last album. all that got scrapped in favor of meatheaded hard rock with the involvement of Rick Rubin. i should be mad that i have to listen to hard rock instead of all that fun stuff on their sophomore album, but i'm not. i think deliberately hitting yourself in the head with a rock can be a fun time! i'm not above stupid crap. it's kinda funny to imagine a world where Swans just said "HaHaHa fuck you" in 2001 and made I Get Wet instead of Andrew WK. but this does fuck! it's pretty much what i want in 80s hard rock sleaze! not an original bone in its body, but the depth of sellout is compelling enough to bring me back around. this is backhanded as fuck but i kinda love this for its sheer trashiness and antagonism towards taste and originality. deserves to be one of the 1001? i mean Love certainly looks a hellofa lot more interesting.. and the fans of the band like it a lot more too. so yeah idk why this was the pick lmao

I never listened to anything before Sonic Temple but I really enjoyed this.

Good hard rock that I never knew existed (or never bothered listening to because I thought the were the Cure). My bad.

It was enjoyable for me. Even if I won't remember any song from it except of born to be wild

4/5

There's a stripped down rawness while also being slick at the same time that just emanates from this album. Pure guitar riff driven rock at its best. It's a shame we only have one of their albums on this list ("Sonic Temple" should probably also be on here, but I guess they need to make room for Spacemen 3, or some other bullshit). Fast forward almost 40 years and this album has aged incredibly well compared to most of their American glam rock counterparts from the 1980s.

This is straight up, no frills rock and roll. Ian Astbury's voice was made for this style of music. Good stuff through and through.

Къртачка

I’ve always been a fan of The Cult. Great rock n roll with a phenomenal lead singer. Great album.

Far from original or groundbreaking but executed brilliantly. What a vocalist. It’s just a happy goth/rock good time record, and that’s just fine with me.

i like :)

Tiåret over alle tiår

Solid

On way home in the car after first day back at work. Quite enjoyed this one and definitely put it in the 'not what I expected' category. Ranged between standard 80s rawk (including a pretty good cover of Born to be Wild) and some really good southern bluesy rock which I love with the Black Crows. The lead singers constant growl was really interesting to listen to. Really enjoyed!

metal guapo la vd

man i love the 80s

Groovy and captivating

very solid

Hardrock, toen ik dat las terwijl ik s ochtends mijn auto in stapte twijfelde ik wel even of ik deze niet beter iets later op de dag kon starten. Maar dit album was echt heel leuk! De zang is prima, instrumentaal is het top. Enige reden waarom ik dit geen 5 sterren zou geven, is omdat ik de variatie wel een beetje mis. Zeker de eerste 3 nummers had ik bv niet door dat het eerste nummer al geeindigd was. Maar al met al, een band waar ik meer van wil weten! Daarbij, een toffe cover van Born to be Wild! 4 reten FAV: Electric Ocean, King Contrary Man, Born to be Wild

Estupendo. Me ha encantado 🤩🤩

It's only rock n roll but I fucking love it

I don’t think I’d rate this so highly if I hadn’t listened to it so much in high school. So nostalgia’s doing a lot of work here, but I still love Ian Astbury’s unique voice and sometimes ridiculous vocal stylings. The Born to Be Wild cover is really awful, though.

Stripped down and full of energy classic hard rock sound and a thousand variations of ‘yeah’. Fun and punchy, but felt a bit generic overall.

What an awesome, underrated band The Cult is. This album is pretty great, as so many of theirs are.

Nice

Entertaining on first listen but would it start to grate after a while?

Great rock album. Unnecessary cover song, but otherwise loved it. There’s just something about the cult that I enjoy

Solid rock album. the Cult’s 2nd best album

Solid rock album. Sounds good in any era

Excellent album. All around great not really a bad song there and very consistent. Vocal range is amazing although reminded me of Glenn Danzing's style although this came before Danzing solo career. I never really had given this bamd a chance maybe because of their glam rock look and the band name which is super cheesy. Still I learned they actually kicked ass rocked hard for the time period. It was more glam than rock but some songs go the hard rock road and they work. Very balanced album with above average musicians. Their looked was really bad

"Electric" is the third studio album by British rock band the Cult. The album was a "deliberate stylistic change from gothic rock to more traditional hard rock." I might say from alternative rock than gothic but OK. The band recorded an album named "Peace" but were unsatisfied with the results. They flew to New York to meet with the eventual producer Rick Rubin who asked "Do you wanna make English pussy music or do you want to rock?'" Lead singer Ian Astbury answered "we want to rip the speakers out." And then, they re-recorded "Peace." The other Cult members were Billy Duffy (guitars), Jamie Stewart (bass) and Les Warner (drums). The album was critically well-received even though one critic called it "cornball retro-moronic." Hey, I'm a fan of that genre. It did well commercially reaching #4 in the UK and #30 in the US. A hard rock guitar riff opens up "Wild Flower" and sets the tone. Pounding drums and powerful vocals by Astbury. Yeah, his vocals are perfect for this style. That repetitive guitar riff and then the obligatory guitar solo but, damn, Duffy is very good. He's a moon child and she's a wild flower. Oh, I see where this may be going. "Lil' Devil" starts with another AC/DC-ish guitar riff. More bass in the forefront. Duffy on lead and rhythm guitars. "Come on little devil be my angel." This is simple and falling into a pattern but it's working. Even though this album could be labeled a guilty pleasure, Duffy really shines on "Bad Fun." A swirling guitar and a searing solo. The band ramps up the speed too. It's titled properly. The first single "Love Removal Machine" has one of my favorite Duffy guitar riffs: catchy and rockin.' Great timing when the bass comes in. A fantastic ending as the pace picks up and Duffy absolutely shreds it. Maybe their only mis-step is their cover of "Born To Be Wild." This does nothing for me and the album already had enough momentum going. Why ruin it? But, anyway. I bought this album when it came out. I liked "Love Removal Machine." Since I was/am a fan of their previous, more goth (OK I'll use it) album "Love," I really didn't know what to think of the rest. I eventually came around for what it was: Led Zeppelin and AC/DC lead guitar with an AC/DC rhythm section and Astbury's howling vocals. Besides Astbury, the star really is Billy Duffy's guitars both lead and rhythm: great tone, hypnotic, searing and shredding. Rubin gave them a very clean sound and mix and accomplished the mission. Sure this is formulaic, but the formula work so just enjoy it. This is firmly in the hard rock category and if you like that, you will like this. They'd take this style to their next album, even more successful, "Sonic Temple" which is also worth your time.

some nice solid hard rock

Felt a little corny southern rock - but on closer listen it's a really fun rock'n'roll album - band in a room kind of thing - every instrument sounds like it's being played right in front of you, and the songs make you want to air guitar in the most inappropriate situations. Was pleasantly surprised by this one - even if it at first I was reticent to like it.

I somehow missed this album when I go down cult rabbit holes and this one went harder and resonated more with me than I anticipated. It’s a sleeper album that I’ll def come back to again.

Great band

Cool album

Classic

guitar based hard rock with riffs that have a kind of southern rock flair. ian astbury has a swagger and attitude that few frontmen have. this was a huge album for me back in the day and it was great to revisit it after all this time. highlights: “wildflower” “lil’ devil” “love removal machine”

Got some all-timers on here.

Oh this was good. A classic gold ol rock album was exactly what I needed. Thank you.

A buddy of mine turned me on to the Cult. Actually saw them in a small club in Detroit. They were awesome. Loved this album.

This album is overall pretty jammin. I could have done without the shitty Born to be Wild cover. Still, a great rock album. 1001 album worthy: yes - 69/128

Even dacht ik dat ik naar de soundtrack van This is Spinal Tap zat te luisteren. Want dit is wel leuke bouwvakkermuziek, maar het slaat ook geen enkel onverwacht straatje in. Gewoon gillende gitaren, rammende drums en een beukende stem, best geinig hoor, maar het lijkt bijna een parodie op zichzelf. Maar misschien is de top-1001 er ook om schoolvoorbeelden van het genre voor het voetlicht te brengen. En dan toch maar liever dit genre dan vals punkgekrijs.

Een beetje over de top hardrock, licht aanstellerig. Een kruising tussen INXS en Billy Idol. Als ik zo de wiki lees, wilden ze gewoon keihard knaken verdienen, dus dit moest zo commercieel mogelijk zijn. Apart dat de snobs dat dan opnemen in hun lijstje, over het algemeen hebben die een enorme hekel aan te commerciele bandjes. Ik vind het op zich allemaal wel prima wegluisteren, al beklijft me ook een beetje het gevoel van een uit de kluiten gewassen dorpsbandje dat op feesten en partijen staat te spelen. Een soort Jovink en de Voederbietels, Mooi Wark. De muzikanten verstaan hun vak goed hoor, begrijp me niet verkeerd, maar deze muziek wordt tegenwoordig door AI gemaakt als je 'hardrock' opgeeft. Qua luisterplezier zit het dan wel weer tegen een 4 aan. Dus ik ben een beetje in dubio wat ik hier aan moet geven. Een bak babi pangang is ook niet bepaald culinair te noemen, maar ik eet dat wel met veel smaak op. Geef je een snobscore, dan zit het tussen een 1 en een 2 in. Geef je een plebscore, dan gaat het richting een 4. Al gooit de hemeltergende cover van Born to be Wild nog bijna roet in het eten.

Love some of the Cult’s tracks, but have never got around to listening to this album - loved it!

Actually liked this more than I expected to. Used to clown on these guys for being cheese metal, but this is really just a heavy rock/blues style. Apparently that has really grown on me as I get older. Vocalist is especially great, and is one of those voices you know instantly when you hear it.

Nada mal rockero!

Great 80s rock/metal album! Maybe I‘m biased because of GTA Vice City but I really enjoyed this!

Blind album artist. I thought this album was kinda cool. No clue why it is on the list but I enjoyed the listen. Kinda generic but I still liked it.

Fun, heavy riffs, Danzig vocals

4/5

Dudes Rock

This is great, don't get me wrong. But why this over their Love album? Whatever, it still rocks.

i’m terribly afraid i’m just gonna keep giving everything a 4 but who cares, it’s randomly generated so i’m bound to have a few 4s in a row. each song was different enough from the last and it was the perfect kind of loud. i must say though, im not sure how they managed to remove all the energy from born to be wild, while i was listening i was certain that couldn’t be the original and im glad it wasn’t. the audio engineering on the drums was incredible i could hear every little tap and crinkle i loved it. great to listen to while cleaning, pumps you up. i can sorta tell id get sick of this album pretty quick but none the less still enjoyable to listen to twice.

I like the steady build up on wild flower, its a good intro. Was the guitar riff for electric ocean used in that one spongebob song? I really like love removal machine, but I think Love would've been a better album choice. The born to be wild cover is pretty horrible. I like Ian Astbury's voice and commitment to the fur hat, but overall a pretty generic rock album, but I'm not complaining.

Un rock familiare. Bello.

Back in the late 80s it was a battle between what is known as Hair Metal and grungey (not grunge) rock like this. I listened to way more music like the Cult than I did Hair Metal, but after nearly 30 years its clear to see that Hair Metal won the battle by how recognizable it is vs an example like this Cult album. It's raw, loud and full of gasoline. 4/5

Great rock album, a "few fillers" but some great cuts

I love The Cult, but if you're going to include only one of their albums, Electric is an odd choice. Either of the releases that bookend this one, Love or Sonic Temple, would be more appropriate. This one represents their transition from an English post-punk style to a more commercial hard rock style, but it doesn't do either very well. Would be a 3 but for the strength of Love Removal Machine.

A lot of fun.

This is a really good album! I always thought that The Cult was underrated and it is kind of unfortunate that they get grouped in with 1980's New Wave because they could really rock out. I enjoyed the album all the way through. My only complaint is that is it too short.

Solid british Rock!

New to me and I like it. Not surprised to see Rick Rubin as producer. I like pretty much everything he produces.

Now this rocks! I hadn't heard of this band before, and after an initial listen I'm quite excited to listen more to it! It is very classic hard rock or maybe even sleezeish. Very melodic, with great riffs and the singer's screams of "Yeah" scratches my brain real good. Really liked this album and am going to a song from it to my playlists!

Not sure if it’s actually meant tongue in cheek but either way I Enjoyed this one. Bad fun, THPS 4 anyone?

I'm a hard rock fan, but I can't help feeling that there is something missing from this album. It seems too... sterile? Unusually for an album in this genre, I feel no compulsion to add Electric to my music collection, and no desire to listen to it again, at least, not on a frequent basis. It's good enough for four stars though.

Okay, that was surprisingly good, maybe except for that cover. I'm not a fan of hard rock, especially from 80s, but Rick Rubin has to be some kind of savant - he just makes most of the records he touch so much better then the genre would suggest. Nice vocal, interesting guitar solos, pretty okay riffs and beats. Very enjoyable.

I liked it. Some have said "generic rock", while I don't entirely disagree I think it has enough to separate it from the others. The Cult have enough of a different sound to stand out, after all they defined that sound with "She Sells Sanctuary". Giving it a four because I'd listen to it again.

I liked this band a lot

I was introduced to The Cult growing up, I think its the closest my family comes to hair metal, and its great fun but the cover of Born to Be Wild is enough to lose anyone a star.

Hard to judge. I kind of have a sweet spot for this album. I don’t know why but I like it. Except for the „Born to be wild“ cover. That was unnecessary..

## In-Depth Review of *Electric* by The Cult The Cult's *Electric*, released in 1987, marked a significant shift in the band's musical direction and is often seen as a pivotal moment in their career. With a raw, riff-driven sound produced by Rick Rubin, the album diverged from the post-punk influences of their earlier work and embraced a more straightforward rock aesthetic. This review will explore the album's lyrics, music, production quality, themes, and its influence on rock music, while also discussing its pros and cons. ### **Lyrics** The lyrics of *Electric* are characterized by their simplicity and repetition, often prioritizing sound over meaning. Ian Astbury's vocal delivery is powerful yet somewhat cryptic, with phrases that resonate more for their phonetic qualities than for their narrative depth. - **Repetitive Themes**: The use of words like "baby" and "child" appears frequently, creating a hypnotic effect. This approach aligns with the album's overall sonic simplicity, where hooks and catchy phrases dominate. - **Imagery**: Songs like "Love Removal Machine" feature vivid imagery that evokes a sense of wildness and freedom, despite being somewhat abstract. Lines such as "Plastic fantastic... Lobster telephone!" from "Aphrodisiac Jacket" showcase a playful yet surreal lyricism that reflects the band's artistic ethos. Overall, while the lyrics may lack complexity, they effectively complement the album's energetic sound and contribute to its anthemic quality. ### **Music** Musically, *Electric* is defined by its heavy reliance on guitar riffs and straightforward rock rhythms. The album features: - **Riff-Driven Structure**: Each track is built around strong guitar riffs, reminiscent of classic rock influences like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. Songs such as "Lil' Devil" and "Love Removal Machine" exemplify this approach with their infectious hooks. - **Instrumentation**: The production is notably stripped back compared to previous works. The bass and drums are more prominent in the mix than in earlier albums, allowing for a more dynamic interplay between instruments. This clarity enhances the raw energy of the music. - **Diverse Rhythms**: While most tracks maintain a steady 4/4 beat, songs like "Peace Dog" introduce more intricate drumming patterns that add variety to the album's pace. ### **Production** Rick Rubin's production style on *Electric* is a crucial element of its sound. His approach can be summarized as: - **Crisp and Direct**: The production is characterized by a clean sound that avoids excessive effects or layering. This choice emphasizes the band's live performance energy and allows each instrument to shine. - **Influence of Hip-Hop Aesthetics**: Rubin's background in hip-hop informs his production choices, leading to a raw yet polished feel that was innovative for rock music at the time. This blend of styles helps create an accessible yet powerful listening experience. ### **Themes** Thematically, *Electric* explores concepts of freedom, rebellion, and hedonism. - **Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle**: Many songs celebrate a carefree attitude towards life and relationships, embodying the spirit of classic rock. Tracks like "Bad Fun" encapsulate this ethos with their upbeat tempos and celebratory lyrics. - **Urban Influence**: The album reflects an urban sensibility, drawing on experiences from city life that resonate with listeners seeking authenticity in rock music. ### **Influence** *Electric* had a profound impact on both The Cult's trajectory and the broader rock landscape: - **Paving the Way for Future Bands**: The album's success opened doors for bands like Guns N' Roses and contributed to the emergence of genres such as grunge and alternative rock in the late '80s and early '90s. - **Legacy**: While some critics view it as less innovative than earlier works like *Love*, *Electric* remains a touchstone for fans of hard rock and has influenced countless musicians who cite its raw energy as inspiration. ### **Pros and Cons** #### Pros - **Catchy Riffs**: The album features several memorable tracks with strong guitar hooks that have stood the test of time. - **Energetic Production**: Rubin’s production enhances the raw power of the band’s sound, making it ideal for live performances. - **Cohesive Sound**: The consistent riff-driven approach creates an engaging listening experience that flows well from one track to another. #### Cons - **Lyrical Simplicity**: Some listeners may find the lyrics lacking depth or complexity compared to other albums in their discography. - **Limited Musical Variation**: While many tracks are strong individually, some may feel repetitive or formulaic when considered as part of the whole album. - **Mixed Reception Among Critics**: Despite its popularity among fans, *Electric* received mixed reviews from critics at its release, which may affect its standing in comparison to other Cult albums. ### Conclusion In summary, *Electric* by The Cult represents a bold reinvention for the band as they embraced a more traditional rock sound under Rick Rubin's guidance. While it may not possess the lyrical depth or complexity of some contemporaneous works, its infectious energy and memorable riffs have solidified its place in rock history. With both strengths and weaknesses evident throughout its tracks, *Electric* remains an essential listen for fans of hard rock looking to understand the evolution of one of the genre’s influential acts.

The Good: actual rock ’n roll The Bad: it seems like we need to wear a dead animal as a hat to be the lead-singer… The Ugly: the fact that only the lead-singer is allowed to wear a hat… I mean, have you looked at the haircuts of the other band-members? People bitch and complain too much when it comes to The Cult. At the end of the day, they never sold-out and started making those fuckin’ power ballads like all the hair-metal bands started to do. I saw them live once, but can’t recall the venue, nor the year… guess I was wasted. Anyway, as a rock-n-roll band they could have gone further than they did, don’t know if that has to do with the ego of mr singer-man, or we can blame the dead animal on his head… Sonic Temple is a better album, and Ceremony is where they should have bowed out, knowing they did the best they could. 4* because I really enjoyed just listening to music today.

Electric is the third album from British band The Cult. Rick Rubin produced this album, and he helped the band shift from their goth-rock sound to a metal sound. The result is a great example of guitar-led, 80s metal band. Electric includes "Love Removal Machine," one of the band's biggest singles. Ian Astbury's soaring vocals and Billy Duffy's wailing guitars makes for great metal. These songs are all well produced enough to account for the band's popular appeal.

3.5/5 Solid album. Wasn’t paying super close attention to it cause I was doing other stuff while listening to it but I enjoyed it and was never bored which is really good. Pretty basic sound; it’s just classic rock but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Fuck I really needed this - It's very much a stoner rock vibe before stoner rock was really a thing. I really enjoyed it when I was listening to it and I will probably listen to it again, but I have to admit it's not particularly remarkable so I feel like I can't give it 5 stars

Knowing only their older stuff, didn’t expect something like AC/DC. A bit generic, but I found it enjoyable.

Good road trip music!

This is really good.

4/5 Loved some of the guitar solos.

Pretty good

Landed on the right day for me. Really enjoyed the straight ahead louder rock. I can’t listen to a lot of The Cult but really enjoyed this. Good example of the style and nice to see on the list.

LP

Exceptional start and maintains a degree of classic rock throughout - lil devil and born to be wild are standouts

Not sure why this made the list. It doesn't seem particularly impactful nor outstanding for its genre, but it's still quite a bit better than some of the other albums these past few weeks. The guitars are pretty good and songwriting is tight and fun. I did enjoy the album, but not to the point that I'll re-listen.

Never listened to this one before. It didn't have any of the "Cult classics" (pun intended), but it actually might be my favorite of their albums. I'm not even sure why really. It just spoke to me.

Fucking love The Cult. Their early goth rock is incredible, but I also dig their pivot to AC/DC hard rock here. Ian Astbury’s voice is just as well-suited for the latter as the former and his bandmates deliver. Top-tier shit. B+

This rocks pretty hard. Clearly influenced by AC/DC. I liked it a lot.

Plain, old fashioned rock and roll. Nothing groundbreaking here but it was a lot of fun to listen to. Rick Rubin loves AC/DC and that comes through in the production here. The lead guitarist was on fire and I wonder why I've never heard of this band. It sounds like Lenny Kravitz may have been inspired by the cover of "Born to Be wild" and “The Removal Machine” sounds like “Start Me Up”.

it's like, so many of The Cult's songs sound the same to me, but FUCK, they sound good.

Favorite Track: King Contrary Man

Oh, this album slaps. The Cult came here to rock hard, and they went hard. I am a sucker for the classic eighties, hair metal, hard rock sound. Even the song titles are super reminiscent of their contemporaries. The lead vocalist has such a gritty voice, which lends itself to the genre well. And those guitar riffs? Damn. I didn't and still don't know much about the Cult, but Electric departing from their original gothic sound is a bummer. Their most well known song is gothic rock and slaps pretty hard. Regardless, I enjoyed this album a lot.

Warbling by numbers.If you start me up, if you start me up, I'll never stop. Whoops. Wrong song. But yeah, The Cult do little to disguise where they wanted to head with this change in direction. It's a MONSTER of a guitar album, without swaying into the silly metal category. The riffs are basic, but beefy. The stop start drumming paces the songs well. It has more in common with Run DMC of the time than Gawd awful Metallica. A whole lotta fun.

This album feels raw and gritty, like a mix of AC/DC and early Aerosmith. The guitars have a sharp, bluesy edge, but there's something almost primal underneath. It’s got that driving, no-frills rock energy. The vocals are bold, a little untamed, with a swagger that fits the stripped-down sound. It’s simple, in a good way.

Lots of fun

This is really fun, sounds a lot like ACDC with distinctive and crunchy riffs plus heavy rock vocals that are catchy enough for the pop charts. I guess it wasn't that ground breaking for 1987 but I enjoyed it. One criticism is that the lyrics are kinda basic.. with all the "yeah" and 'baby" it's like Austin Powers came up with them. Fun album though

It wasn’t genre changing, but I liked the straight ahead Van Halen/ Bon Jovi style. 4/5!

Офигенный альбом, открыл для себя группу!

Really solid hard rock album with production that still sounds fresh today. Lacks some variety but consistent at what it does

if they trimmed down the songs at/over four minutes and maybe killed the steppenwolf cover this would be perfect "in the garage" music

It's actually not that often we get a hard rock album on here, which is a bit mad really, and so I'm happy to see Electric on here even if it's not my favourite album by The Cult; I very slightly prefer Sonic Temple that came just after this, it has the epic Fire Woman and Edie on it for starters. This is pretty good in itself though, with Lil' Devil and Love Removal Machine being the famous songs a lot of people will know, the rest of it is good, tight rock (except for a piss poor cover of Born To Be Wild), solid if unspectacular riffs and solos that don't extend into silliness, easily listenable any day of the week (I listen to Planet Rock most of most days and they're on regular rotation on there), an easy low 4 for me, it's punchy, fun and bursting with energy.

I remember having this on cassette back on the day, probably close to the time it came out. It rocked back then, and it still rocks now. Astbury really channels The Doors and Steppenwolf (obviously with the cover there), but kicks it up a notch or two. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this band, I think it's the "yeah"s that I got a bit tired of in EVERY SINGLE SONG. But if that's what you got, that's what you got. Really goo hard rock album, everyone seems to be clicking on each track. Top tracks: "Wildflower," "Born To Be Wild," "Love Removal Machine"

I wanted to see their previous album Love on this list because of how much She Sells Sanctuary came out of nowhere and knocked people's socks off with its deft musicianship and Ian Astbury's howling vocals. But it's only a so-so album, sort of a Joy Division/The Cure goth wannabe. And this album is not that - it's hard rock / hair rock through and through. But it hurts a little that they sort of sold out to be a Bon Jovi/Def Leppard (even AC/DC) retread thanks to Rick Rubin's production. It is a damn fun album but it has no authenticity, simplifying their playing and doling out not-at-all subtle sex-fused, bad boy lyrical drivel to emulate that 80's rock style. This one had me so torn because I crapped all over Bon Jovi's over-produced Slippery When Wet and gave it a 3. But I think this album is better and more in line with Def Leppard's also over-produced but super slick Hysteria. Based on pure song count, this album has a lot of head bangers - the worthy big singles Wild Flower, L'il Devil, and Love Removal Machine as well as other fun lesser knowns like Peace Dog, Electric Ocean, Bad Fun, King Contrary Man, Outlaw, and Memphis Hip Shake. If it wasn't for the downright awful Born to Be Wild remake, there's pretty much no holes on this album. So maybe I should give Rubin and the Cult some credit for making a catchy rock album.

Like a better version of AC/DC.

like it sounds like oldies rock

Judging by the cover I didn't think I was going to like this as I thought it was going to be emo. Turns out it was a great hard rock album!

this absolutely bangs. Hardcore and each track truly felt like it brought something individual to the table, which I find was pretty difficult to do during their era of music. I feel like this album alone would have been enough for me to be alternative in the 80s. i will say though, it kind of sounds like it came from a bit earlier in the decade than what it's actually from. I would have expected this to be a lot earlier than 87. 1.) love removal machine (what a classic) 2.) wild flower 3.) peace dog

I liked it. Has some acdc influence but the singer here doesn't sound like a muppet. I immediately recognized the guy's voice cuz they have a song on Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 on PS2 from 2001 haha

great songs, really enjoyed

An electric romp, hehe, from start to finish, The Cult take no prisoners for almost forty minutes that would leave the listener impressed whether they know of the backstory of the album or not. Have fun getting Love Removal Machine out of your head and getting bowled over by Aphrodisiac Jacket over and over again. Favorites: Peace Dog, Lil' Devil, Aphrodisiac Jacket, Electric Ocean, Love Removal Machine, Memphis Hip Shake.

Very good but sounds a lot like their other music. Born to be Wild cover was probably a mis-step, but enjoyable overall.

fire

A great hard rock album by The Cult. Not very original as the album sounds like a 1987 mix of The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Aerosmith. The album contains some strong guitar licks and hooks though.

This album slaps Sick licks and a dope time

LFG!! I was jamming to this. The one weird thing was that there were times where it seems like the sound engineer forgot to turn the mic up for the lead singer. It’s rare in these types of albums where I actually want to hear more from the lead singer

I’m sure this band has some unique genre attached to them but it’s just classic rock to me. It’s good classic rock but that’s what it sounds like. Some pretty big hit on here even though Born to be wild doesn’t sound like it was made by them and I’m too lazy to fact check that. Perfectly serviceable classic rock. 7/10

Always loved the goth rock side of The Cult within the world of hard/glam/classic rock. They have that little something the other hard rock acts were missing at that time, being more dark but as punchy and energetic as a rock band should be. Sorry for the "Born To Be Wild" cover... I know it's embarrassing.

Great album. Only misstep is Born to be Wild - it was the only time I didn’t enjoy the lead singers voice.

Can't believe I've never heard this album, banger

Fantastic

Late Eighties glam metal you gotta love it. I have enjoyed The Cult since first hearing them as Southern Death Cult but really got in to them when they changed to the more radio friendly songs that adorn their back catalogue now this was the follow up to 85's Love which has the massive hit She Sells Sanctuary. This Album is widely regarded as their best and it m The rest of the album ay be but if you like this I would recommend checking out the predecessor Love and the follow up Sonic Temple both are great, as for this it's great but not perfect while Love Removal Machine, Wild Flower & Lil Devil are all bangers their cover of Born To Be Wild is terrible. The rest of the album is good with Billy Duffys excellent guitar work and Ian Astburys Jim Morrison like howling its worth a listen. Does it belong in the book possibly but I would have thought Inxs - Kick would be more deserving.

I don't like his singing style for more than 4 songs. It started to really bore me near the end.

This album brings me back to my college radio days. I forgot how much I enjoy them. A bit louder/harder than my typical go to listen, but they pack a solid rhythm and punch that is contagious.

I only knew this band from the song Fire Woman. This is a surprisingly great rocking album. There are guitar solos and everything! I think Peace Dog may have been my favorite track on first listen, though I wasn't paying much attention to the song titles. I'm definitely going to put this on again. It's right up my alley. Even the cover of Born to be Wild was pretty good, and it's hard to cover an iconic song like that and do it well.

Never heard them before and really enjoyed this album!

Well, this rocks. Straightforward, uncomplicated rock.

Sonic Temple is a favorite album of mine and I've listened to other songs from The Cult. Not sure why I never stopped to listened to other albums of theirs. This is a solid album and, to me, it appears that this is when they cemented their own sound that continued to evolve. A solid album and I like their material. Not sure why they included Born to be Wild on it.

\\m// One of the best 80s hard rock records. banger after banger.

I really enjoyed this album. It's heavy, but melodic. It's fun. It has moments where it feels very 80s and a product of it's time, and a lot more where it feels innovative and fresh.

Hard rock. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

Hard rock. Good, plain, simple late 80s hard rock. Not at all to say it was average; it was quite great. Normally not my thing, but there's a lot of energy and passion in this album. You can hear it clearly in the vocals and guitar work. It's not like they do anything mind-blowing, but it's completely fun. Just great riffs to turn your mind off to. Might revisit. 4/5

This one really surprised me. Not really an amazing creative triumph, but tons of energy, and power without pretending to be super complex.

Went into this thinking it would suck but this was a fun album. Just good solid rock. Nothing groundbreaking but very enjoyable.

When it comes to straight forward rock music in it’s most raw and truest form, this is a classic album.

Does anyone else think Love Removal Machine is a Start Me Up ripoff? I didn't care for this when it came out, but I mostly listened to thrash and speed metal at the time and this wasn't heavy enough. Now it's a nostalgia trip. Tons of swagger in the riffs and vocals. Give me a fuck yeah yeah yeah baby baby.

Hard to knock this one. While it’s not Classic, there are enough hits going for it.

This is a great example of I’m gonna rate this higher because the albums I just listened to. This was such a breath of fresh air compared to the sleepytime music I’ve been listening to

4.0

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.

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

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

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

Great Rock and Roll

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

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.

Really nice

netter Rock, prö-acdc?

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

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.

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!

Always forget how much I enjoy the cult

Really enjoyed this album.

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

Great album, one of the reasons I came here was for groups I knew I needed to listen to more of and never would get around to on my own. The Cult is great, added 3 or 4 songs, could've easily been doubled

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.

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

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.

Soft 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.

Fun driving rock n roll

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.

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

Rather enjoyed. Great 80s rock. 4/5

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

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

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

Not particularly innovative but it rocks

Hard rock. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

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

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

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

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.

Had a couple of classics on there.

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.