Ocean Rain

Amazing album, definitely a bridge between Madchester music and 90s alt/indies rock. You can hear them influencing almost every 90s non pop musician.

Genuinely didn’t know what I expected from this album. I hadn’t heard overly good things about Echo & the Bunnymen - I was pleasantly surprised. This sounds quite a bit like some of the more obscure alt/indie rock from the mid 2000s. I dig it. “The Killing Moon” is a straight-up great song.

Had to listen to this twice for it to even sink in. It just kind of washed over me. The vocal delivery is like Bono trying to channel Jim Morrison's ghost (especially on thorn of crowns). Ambitious and moody. Like a strange hybrid of The Cure, Bauhaus, XTC, and U2. "The Killing Moon" reminds me of Radiohead. I listened to it a third time (this time in the day) and it started to grow on me. Went from 3 to 4 overnight. At night it seemed so melodramatic but in the daytime it sounded a little more balanced.

I REALLY liked this. It’s got a cool art rock, post-punk vibes. Some Jim Morrison style vocals at time, with some really cool arrangements. Just liked this a lot. Surprised at how good I thought it was. Back half is phenomenal

The prefect cocktail of mystery and magic, haunting lyrics and an exquisite score underpinning it all expertly. I think if that boat was sinking, Big Sam would keep them up.

Ce qu'il s'est passé est tout bonnement effroyable. Comme annoncé dans notre review précédente, robpalombière et moi même sommes entré par effraction au sein du domicile de Robert. Ce que nous y avons découvert dépasse l'entendement. Tout d'abord, dès l'entrée dans le salon, nous découvrions une centaine d'ordinateurs diffusant en boucle le dernier album de Mike Ladd, ce qui provoquait un brouhaha absolument insupportable. Mais nous n'étions pas venu pour cela. Nous descendions alors au sous-sols à pas feutrés, chaque avancée du genous nous éloignant des sonorités slam de Mike Ladd, mais nous rapprochant d'une mélodie bien familière... "ique ton coeur", *avancée du genou*, "qui pique ton coeur", *avancée du genou*, "l'as de trèfle qui pique ton coeur"... Nous touchions au but. Dans cette cave, spécialement amménagée pour l'occasion, nous pouvions deviner la silhouette de MC Solaar, faisant face au mur de sa gêole, et répétant inlassablement les quelques vers du refrain de Caroline t'envoles pas. Tout se passa alors très vite, tandis que je crochetais la serrure, robpalombière tendit la main à MC Solaar. Il fallut peu de temps pour que nous remontions discrètement les marches menant au rez de chaussée, et nous eclipsions discrètement du domicile de Robert pour rejoindre notre véhicule garé quelques rues plus loin. Nous l'avions fait, nous avions délivré MC Solaar. Mais alors que nous laissions notre joie éclater, rob poussa alors un cri: "Merde!! J'ai fait une connerie!! J'ai oublié nos cartes d'identité sur la table basse du salon!!!" - En effet, rob avait fait une connerie, puisqu'il avait oublié nos cartes d'identité sur la table basse du salon. Sur ces cartes d'identité figurent nos pseudos d'auditeur du générateur, ce qui laisse désormais à Robert toute liberté de nous localiser, dès l'instant ou il réalisera que MC Solaar avait été retrouvé...

As I listen to this I sit and wonder. I wonder, should I let that Filipino child that I stole from the hospital out of her cage? You almost had me there for a minute, Echo. I almost let her out. She stays. The Bunnymen can come visit whenever they want. She'll be here. Caged. Ready.

Too many people sleep on these guys

hell yeah, i love this album i’ve liked Echo & The Bunnymen for years and i’ve heard most of the songs on this album already but i don’t think i’ve actually heard the whole thing front to back before and it was a really great experience. least favorite song was Thorn of Crowns, it was just kind of lame to listen to but i loved all the other songs. my favorite song has to be the one that got me into them in the first place: Nocturnal Me, and The Killing Moon is a close second. i think it’s fair to give it a 10/10, i’m a sucker for Joy Division and The Smiths, this album is great for me

Great album, know every song

Comme vous le savez probablement, la journée d'hier a été marquée par l'opération de sauvetage de MC Solaar au domicile de Robert Dimery. Je vous invite à vous référer à la critique de mon compère elgomez pour avoir connaissance de la chronologie des faits. Ocean Rain est un bon album. On notera cependant la déception qui suit le moment où l'on se rend compte qu'il ne s'agit pas de l'album Purple Rain, que beaucoup de fans d'Echo And The Bunnymen ont connu le jour de sa sortie.

p526. 1984. 2 stars Sounds like the bastard love child of Nick Cave and The Cure's Robert Smith, but without the talent. Perfectly acceptable without being exceptional in any way. A couple of OK singles, but that's it. On the plus side, it's short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.

An archeological relic of a genre long gone, and frankly, I'm not in tears.

Hard to pinpoint why this is so great. Probably how it seems to have overachieved in all that it attempted.

I didn't know what to expect based on the album cover, band name, or the Wiki description for that matter. My expectations were a bit low based on the release year, to be honest. And I'm a fool, because this blew me away. The second half of this album in particular is stacked with great songs--lyrically, melodically, and instrumentally. This is another one where I'm grateful to have started this generator journey so I could hear this. I might have to get this on wax, actually. Highlights: Nocturnal Me, Thorn of Crowns, The Killing Moon, Seven Seas

Loved it in the day. Happy to listen again now. Still love it! I forgive the pretentious ridiculous lyrics because the album as a whole sounds so great.

Beautiful

Loved it the ballad style is a dream

Amazing use of strings, a beautiful album that keeps my attention, solid melodies and includes what I think is their best sone, The Killing Moon.

Love this album so much. The Killing Moon has become one of the most used songs on TV and movie soundtracks and for good reason. The rest of the tracks are just as strong.

I always feel like I have to say something about my 5* albums, so I’ll try for this one. This is my second listen (as it is for all of the 5* albums, except Village Green Preservation Society retroactively) but before I listened to it, I was already drawn to this album by the album cover, which looks about exactly like how the music sounds. My favorite songs on it are “The Killing Moon” and “The Yo-Yo Man” but all of the songs have potential to keep growing on me in the future.

I didn't really know what to expect with this one. I had sort of heard killing moon previously in passing. Being greeted with an orchestra from the start was a surprise. This album is melodic, yet broody. Post punk meets goth. I really enjoyed it.

This album was great, some kinda weird lyrics and the killing moon (the only song I knew from it) was definitely the stand out but it’s still really good and I’ll give it a 5.

absolutely haunting

Absolutely iconic album & album cover. I'll never forget the times I saw The Bunnymen live. The first time was pure magic, but the second time was an utter mess thanks to Ian's alcoholism...but I digress. The Killing Moon is superb, and the video is essential 80s goth. The rest of the album is dark & romantic. I could go on about how Ian is a huge wanker, but the music he made with his band is wonderful. This album, along with others of its time, is part of my regular listening. Fantastic album.

"Ocean Rain" is the fourth studio album by English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. The album was produced by members of the band, Gil Martin and Henri Loustau. To their post-punk and new wave sound they added a 35-piece orchestra and more acoustic guitar to the songs. The album initially received mix reviews and commercially hit #4 in the UK and #87 in the US. A strumming acoustic guitar and strings begin the second single "Silver." A melodic electric guitar. Lead singer Ian McCulloch delivers strong vocals. An exhilarating ending. I think it's about someone outside yourself that can free you, supposedly his wife. Guitarist Will Sergeant delivers an Eastern-style guitar in "Thorn of Crowns." The guitar and music sound like "The End" by the Doors. McCulloch is randomly yelping and he sounds like the lead singer from Suicide. Always a fan of the soft-loud-soft. McColluch said the lyrics had no meaning. But, it's still a pretty good song. "The Killing Moon" was the first single and has that classic guitar open with a prominent bass and drum backing. Sergeant said the guitar was inspired by a Russian balalaika. The seductive pace and mood. No one has control over death. The acoustic guitar takes the lead on "Seven Seas." An underlying electric guitar. A great vocal chorus and the strings take this into grandiose territory. McCulloch goes a capella at the start of the closer "Ocean Rain." It's a slow and dreamy song. The song gains momentum with the strings and guitar. A nice song. There's a lot to like on this album; the strings bring more drama. A prominent bass. Great drumming. The acoustic guitar is in the kead a lot. The electric guitar is underlying and melodic. McColluch's distinct vocals. Imagery in the lyrics particularly of water...lots of water. Ther's more here than just "The Killing Moon" but that alone makes this worth a listen.

The Killing Moon.

This is incredible. I only really knew them from The Killing Moon (which I love). I hear where all my bands come from in this though. Like Arcade Fire, The Killers, Coldplay and Radiohead. This is of its time in the best way.

Loved it!

I've never heard of this band in my life, but this album is great. A lush and interesting 80s album with well written lyrics and a consistent vibe and sound. Except for the song thorn of crowns which has purposefully stripped back and bad production except on the chorus. I kind of like that they took a chance to do something weird but on the other hand I'm not sure how much I love the sound of the singer cumming over and over right in my ears. Definitely the weirdest song, not 100% how I feel about it. It does make the production feel even more deep and lush when the next song plays, and it's a great song. Wasn't super crazy about the final song as well, I feel like this album deserved an epic closer. Other than that I loved it front to back. I think crowns will grow on me in future listens. Score: 90. Album art: 80

I am a total sucker for Ian McCulloch's voice.

Beautiful.

The Killing Moon.

An 80s pop rock album with a sick strings section in every song

I do like the sound of a Bunnymen song. Lots of la-las and do-dos. Pretty!

one of a the highest achievements of human creativity

This was great! Perfect 80s sound.

Brilliant, perfect, moving, highlight of the Echo catalogue. Killing Moon of course the classic track, Thorn of Crowns my favorite. Memories of Ian McCulloch performing it live, concert hall in entire darkness, only light to be seen his burning cigarette. Much of the music of then now is outdated, this one alive as can be.

Oooh, I really like this one. Nocutnal Me grabbed me from the first listen and I think I like it more than Killing Moon.

This album is a full blown classic! Lush, atmospheric, melodic and flat out beautiful from beginning to end. The guitar work from Marc Sargent is fantastic. This is the high water mark for the Bunnymen.

Love Killing Moon one of my favs also a good album I like his haunting voice

Lush Orchestral Moody Melodic I enjoyed this - I missed a lot of the 80s new wave in my teen guitar-solo-oriented days and often to my detriment. Most of this is an enjoyable and elegant-sounding slice of early80s British music that at the time I thought was moodier and more somber than I do now. Or maybe I'm just moody and somber at this point in my life. Possible. "Thorn of Crowns" is an odd one... I can't decide if it's ridiculous or I actually like it. ... although maybe both apply. Overall the minor keys with a soaring production is a combination I find myself enjoying - even though it's very "of its age" is that a bad thing here? I say not. A keeper. 7/10 4 stars.

I like it. I came of age in the eighties and was an indie kid, but for some reason had an aversion to this band. I should have listened to this album.

Pretty familiar with this album. This band will always be a band I had written off due to their name, until I listened to them and was blown away. And it seems, if I listen to one Echo and the Bunnymen album I'm usually listening to la ot of their albums. Ocean Rain is a great closing track, it really hits my kind of melancholy.

😊

Great album!

killing moon is a masterpiece

Iconic indie rock masterpiece from the Bunnymen. Nothing less.

I’m starting to feel like this kind of music (late 1970s through the 1980s, British, reverb-y) was engineered in a mad scientist’s lab especially for me. (Also, re: the Beach Boys album I neglected to say anything about yesterday, it is very good early 70s psych-pop. Like the rest of their music, it took me some time to warm up to Surf’s Up, despite being a fan of the genre.) 4.5

My favorite album from one of my all time favorite bands. Ian McCulloch has never been in better voice. The lyrics are beautifully obtuse but fun and provoking and at times achingly beautiful. Will Sargeants guitar is tasteful and never overdone, alwaysserving the song. And there are so many great songs; Silver, Seven Seas, Thorn of Crowns, Yo Yo Man, Ocean Rain, Kingdom and of course The Killing Moon. A 5 🌟 album if I've ever heard one.

This album really impressed me. I would even hesitate to call it post-punk due to the wide musical scope this album encompasses. It is clearly influenced by 60s garage rock and the Doors, has a driving post punk feel, and is backed by well placed string arrangements. This synthesis of influences is not limited to a backward looking focus. There are melodic moments that wouldn’t be out of place on a 2000s indie record as well.

I loved the vibes

Spooky, retro, edgy, solid

One of my favorite albums from the 80s

Brilliant album, played it non stop when it came out & still sounds epic today

Lovely little album

Top Scousers.

Criminally underrated album thats full of strong influences but in turn influenced so many others through the late 80s and 90s.

One of my favorite albums of all-time, though just my 2nd favorite Bunnymen album. Love me some Crocodiles. 5 🌟 without question.

really good

fkin great

bueno bueno

I think I've heard of this artist, but never gave them a listen. I can see the appeal, the vocals are definitely interesting and engaging. The guys voice is something almost enigmatic? I'm not sure if that's the right word, but it draws you in and captures you.

Echo and the Bunnymen have achieved a rare feat here, combining thoughtful lyrics with interesting melodies, backed by a 35-piece orchestra. Unfortunately, I had a hard time feeling much of anything while listening to the album, mostly because the lead singer is horribly bland and generic. Best track: Seven Seas

A band well and truly in their pomp!

Fluctuates between really good and forgettable. I was only familiar with "The Killing Moon", and that's probably the best track on the album as well. I had a similar album, "Pornography" by the Cure, a few days ago and I definitely enjoyed that one more. Brian Griffin did the photography for this album apparently. Didn't know they were hiring dogs. Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.

Musically simple and uninteresting. Lyrically puerile. Just bored me.

Nothing to write home about. Pretty amusing psychobabble by wannabe weirdos who don't mind sounding silly, which is just as well, but struggle to sound fun, which isn't.

Why? Just why?

Killing Moon, Crystal Days, The Yo Yo Man,Silver, Ocean Rain. Fantastic ride.

Pre-listening thoughts: well this is strange! Spotify literally has been recommending me songs from this album on the search page on those “Discover something new” tabs that function kind of like tik tok. Like literally yesterday 2/3 of those tabs started with songs from this album. And I was like “nah I won’t listen to these yet cause I know this is on the list” but hey the universe must really want me to listen to this album rn cause here it is! Bizarre Post/during listening thoughts: I like the song where he lists the vegetables and says cucumber because cucumber is my favorite vegetable :) 🥒/10 *EDIT: okay but like I heard this album calling to me after I listened to it the first time. The strings!!! I love the instrumentation so much. This is a really beautiful body of work. It's very much a product of its time but if you isolate these backing tracks they would make an insane video game soundtrack. I mean that in the highest regard. I feel like a really cool pirate rn. Bumping this bad boy to a 5 from a 4. DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: well no I guess not Fav tracks: Silver, Crystal Days, The Yo Yo Man, Thorn of Crowns, Seven Seas, Ocean Rain Least fav tracks: n/a

Already heard this, I love how instrumentally it’s quite simple, but the use of strings and uncommon instruments really gives it a real sense of atmosphere and personality, I think that’s why it’s called. ‘Baroque pop’ or something. Lyrics are also amazing, really surreal at times, especially songs like the yoyo man, which I think is what stuck out to me at like 7 years old or whenever I first heard this. Its the kind of thing where even if the song doesn't totally jump out as being great, you can try to like it, because there's amazing stuff throughout. Overall I feel like this album creates an amazing atmosphere, while still being a 'pop' album (not in a derogatory way). Favourite songs: all of them. Overall around 9/10

Ne bi reka da je ovo najbolji echo ali je svakako najelegatniji. I ima killing moon jebiga

Pocos grupos tuvieron el empaque, calidad e imagen de los Bunnymen. La voz de Ian McCulloch, heredera del mejor Morrison, y la guitarra de Will Sergeant, elaboraron una discografía excelsa (no solo en su primera y más exitosa etapa la de Crocodiles (1980), Heaven Up Here (1981), Porcupine (1983), Ocean Rain (1984), y Echo & the Bunnymen (1987), sino en aquel fabuloso regreso en los 90 con Evergreen, What Are You Going to Do with Your Life? (1999), Flowers (2001) y Siberia (2005)). Consiguieron que se hablara de otra banda cuando se citaba Liverpool. Hallaron la fórmula justa entre The Jesus and Mary Chain, Joy Division y The Cure. Lleva un disco suyo era sinónimo de elegancia. No fueron ajenos a las críticas, que les tildaban de tomarse demasiado en serio a sí mismos (aún no habían aparecido Héroes del Silencio, que se estudiaron cada milímetro de los Bunnymen). Este Ocean Rain, otro título y portada para recordar, es el 4º de esta tacada, y no es un título menor, es el mejor y más equilibrado. Nocturnal me, con esas cuerdas siniestras, oscurece el brillo de la inicial Silver, single junto a Seven seas y The Killing Moon. Crytal Days y The Yo Yo Man (presentada meses antes como Watch Out Below en las sesiones con John Peel en la BBC) suenan sin duda, a los Doors actualizados. Thorn of Crowns (Cucumber) es otro blues crudo, que en directo suena aún más áspero, y cierra la primera parte del álbum. La cara B abre con la canción por la que es y será siempre recordado es, la mejor de toda su carrera y una de las mejores de los 80: la eterna The Killing Moon. Solo por este tema ya se jusitifica el álbum (y toda una carrera). Seven seas es otro de sus clásicos y My Kingdom es una fabulosa canción, con una melodía y orquestación de lo mejor que llegaron a hacer. Cierra la maravillosa Ocean Rain, que finalmente bajó revoluciones frente a versiones anteriores, con mejor resultado. Cuatro temas para una cara realmente prodigiosa.

Interessantes Album mit dem gelungenen aus Klassikelementen und 80er Punkrock. Beeindruckende europäische Tango-Rhythmen in „ Nocturnal Me“, guter opener in „Silver“ und tiefgründige Spannung in “The Killing Moon“. Das Album brauch sich nicht hinter R.E.M oder Simple Minds zu verstecken. Sehr gutes Werk 😀

I love this album so much. One of my favorites.

Echo and the Bunnymen departed from the gloomy, isolated rock of their previous album, "Porcupine". That release felt like it existed within someone's depression. "Ocean Rain" in contrast, is huge and cinematic, without losing the dark edge. It's like coming out of the winter into a rainy but beautiful spring time. Arguably, it's their best album and contains some of their best songs like "The Killing Moon" and "Seven Seas". But there's loads of experimental and diverse elements as well, which flow perfectly through the entire album. It took me some time to really appreciate Echo and the Bunnymen. If the other albums on this list got me interested but this one made me a fan.

The greatest album ever made 5⭐️

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

I love Echo & The Bunnymen. I especially love The Killing Moon, a high point on an album I already enjoy. Yeah, this is a biased review, but music taste is subjective, right? I'm happy, that's what matters.

The soundtrack for my teenage years.

80s perfection.

12/10

WOW!

Love this so much! It’s lush and elegant and just perfection. This might be THE new wave album. Crisp and incredibly produced, over the top and melodramatic, but never boring, never uninteresting. Killing Moon is an all timer.

This is by far Echo's best album, although personally I like Porcupine on the whole better. This one has everything going for it, just amazing songwriting, and I pretty much love every song on it. Pinnacle of their career and never made an album close to this. 4.5/5 which rounds up to a 5.

One of the finest album I've ever heard and it just gets better and better. I could listen to this everyday for the rest of my life.

Some of the best songs ever recorded are just there.

Randomly, I heard The killing moon on TV yesterday and wished it would pop up on our album list. Amazingly, what I wished for came true. This encapsulates so many memories from my teenage years. Wonderful in every way. So good I played it twice.

# Playlist track - Silver # Notes - I stumbled upon this album a few years ago, and it was an incredible experience. Listening to it again, I'm glad to say it still feels the same. - The delivery is cool, the album got an interesting rhythm and under 37 minutes, it's gone before it starts to drag itself. Good call.

I bought this when it came out, but haven't played it in ages - a big mistake. Probably the band's peak, and definitely 5⭐

Such a great vibe! Happy to have been able to see them live this year.

SO good. 10/10

Excellent! A beautiful range of instruments, creative jumps through the album to keep me engaged. I didn't think very highly of the other album of theirs on this list - Porcupine, but this was a great surprise. The kind of indie rock that I love.

First four E&B albums are 5-star classics. This is number 4. It is hard to say which of these albums is better. Compared to their previous album the singing has toned down a bit. Overall, the quality of their pop songwriting might be the best there was in the 80s. (I also thought those two recent books of Will Sergeant, together covering the first couple of years of the band were worth reading.) score: 10/10.

Good

The Killing Moon.

Fun

Wow! Heard of this group but never really listened to them. Well composed, intersting to listen to. The orchestra really fills out the sound. This one goes on my buy list.

back to Uni days with this one, still sounds great