Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Beautiful songwriting, charming orchestral sound, very strong album and putting paid to my hate of eighties music.
Not bad
Decent
Great album! Always a treat to listen to.
Helt bra men aldrig bättre än så... allt låter bra men de finns nån mediokritet i hu de allt går ihop för mig... idunno Shoutout Brian Griffin fö kovern :)
A grown up, warm rock album. Nothing too testing, some interesting lyrics, melodies and tunes. Obviously Killing Moon is the highlight and overall an enjoyable listen, worth another play to get under my skin. A strong, even high three.
o yay! "The Killing Moon" is one of the greatest songs ever.
Liked this pretty well
Definitely fun and ahead of it’s time
altogether not bad
Meh. Nothing outstanding about this album, except is has "Killing Moon" on it, which is a great track. 3/5
Morose samey with moments of brilliance. Moodily encapsulates the dingey, paranoid, nihilist 80s attitude. Musically: fuz guitar music, low and monotonous but absolutely worth a listen
extremely mid, even bad. not really my taste, but I get the 80s sound they were going for and were a part of.
It is ok
Funny never listen to any there studio albums just the Songs to learn and Sing, which is fantastic. Overall good album, one or two songs I never heard and were really good, though a few not so good. Once again wish I could rate 1/2 stars, this is a 3.5.
An interesting record but not my favorite Echo album (their eponymous 1987 album is). Still a good listen. Killing Moon is a great tune as well as Seven Seas.
I really like "The Killing Moon". It's a good album but not as good as that single.
I thought this was just okay. Fine, nothing really exciting here for me.
Pop tranquilo y melódico, sin destacar especialmente. Un tanto plano. Ningún corte de renombre. Voz sin muchas estridencias.
jeps
I wasn't a huge fan of their earlier album crocodiles which I got generated previously, but after listening to the killing moon like 20 times I figured I should give this one a go. glad I did. didnt know orchestral goth could be a thing.
Nope
Too much 60s psychedelic influence for my tastes. The Killing Moon is a great track though.
Okay. It's fine. I don't really care. Cool name though.
Not terrible, but very British and very 80s.
3.5
Just okay
love it, why is Angels and Demons only on the deluxe version though
Not really my thing. Pleasant enough but nothing stands out. I couldn't pick any song out of a line up
Pretty Decent. Nice voice.
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
Cucumber, cabbage, cauliflower... this is right up my alley. Had no idea what to expect, and I really liked it. I enjoyed the mix of 80s new wave with the grand orchestra. It creates an eerie atmosphere with the instrumentation and strange lyrics. Every song sounds epic, but maybe goes a tad overboard with the drama in some places. Fave Song: The Killing Moon
New wave really isn’t for me. The 80s sucked.
on the cover you can see the band trapped in the special circle of dante's hell reserved for eighties cult bands. they are condemned to sail round in circles eternally fishing for melodies. they will catch none. only dead bunnies well, okay, the killing moon is good. but the rests of this album is joyless in execution with no melodies and annoying pretentious lyrics nocturnal me i find very creepy lyrically echo and the boo-nymen
Some nice orchestration with upbeat songwriting, but nothing overly special to me
Bright and shiny, fun and psychedelic. lots of new wave influences on a beautifully melodic and symphonic backdrop. Weaves guitar into symphonic music in a way that is often missing from progressive rock ideas. That being said, it lacks a certain willingness to be creative of inventive in a bold manner.
I absolutely love The Killing Moon so much, and expected the rest of the album to be a lot more hauntingly ear worm-y than it was.
Loved the Killing Moon, but the rest never really got there. I liked the sound of it overall, but the rest of the songs were pretty forgettable. I suspect a few songs might grow on me after some more listens.
I am a total sucker for Ian McCulloch's voice.
Beautiful.
Neopsicodelia. Bastante rollo. Un 2.
The Killing Moon.
This journey is interesting as I hear precursors to a lot of stuff I like to listen to today. This sounds like 2000s indie stuff. It's so interesting what actually makes it out of a decade into pop culture because I never hear 80s' music that sounds exactly like some of the stuff I love today. Anyway it's good but not memorable. I like it better than the talking heads though.
I’m no fan of post punk but this hits all the right notes. It sits somewhere nicely between The Cure and The Smith with the positive elements of both but none of annoyances.
- Great 80s vibes - Very fun to listen to - Good production quality; all instruments and vocals are very clear - Favorite songs: Nocturnal Me, Crystal Days
- Orchestra makes it sound like a movie soundtrack - this album exists in a weird world, like it should be the Donny darko theme - It just doesn’t click for me
Didnt offer much to me
Slogging through this was like eating sand. As if the title “Nocturnal Me” wasn’t bad enough, the listener is then subjected to what evokes a creepy rapist villain in a low budget musical forcing his kidnapped victim to listen to his sexual assault agenda in advance. Let’s hope she escapes before having to listen to the entire disaster. As if to reinforce the sleazy predator vibe with zero self awareness, “Thorn of Crowns” exposes us to McCulloch’s pathetic, nauseating, and odious orgasmic moaning for 4 hellish minutes or until we leave to take a shower. You almost have to applaud this level of mastadonic narcissism. “Killing Moon” was ok. I would give this 0 stars if I could.
Great memories thanks to Chris for introducing me to this band.
really enjoyed nocturnal rain when i was younger 3.5
I remember them from the Lost Boys soundtrack. Solid sound.
Some interesting points, but definitely not the greatest album ever.
The Killing Moon is great track, the rest of the album was largely forgettable
It was alright and wasn't my genre
First time washed over me completely apart from Killing Moon. More so than their earlier work, oddly. Second listen I enjoyed a lot more.
Sounds a lot like the pixies.
An 80s pop rock album with a sick strings section in every song
The band at their peak. Great record.
Theatrical.
Was really looking forward to this album. Very familiar with a lot their songs and feel like this is an underrated band. However, this isn't their best stuff, but I enjoyed all the same. The Killing Moon is a very good song and I liked Silver too. The entire album was good, just not great. After both Joy Division and Echo, the genre it kicked into left me listening for the rest of the day. After both, the song that came on very early is Requiem by Killing Joke. A very good song. Recommend checking out some songs by Wire too. Anyway, good album, but they have better. 3
I knew of Echo and the Bunnymen prior because of Ghost's cover of 'Nocturnal Me' which fortunately is on this album! I like the Ghost version better. Perhaps it's a case of your favorite version is the first you heard, Kind of like how your first Mario Kart is usually your favorite. I just think Ghost improved upon the song without changing it too much. Adds sustains where they should be and the range is a litter lower. That's enough about Ghost though, how is THIS album? I think it's quite solid. I was afraid of another Romantic New Wave band. And while it definitely has those trope and sound this has a notably...weirder sound, with The Yo-Yo Man in particular reminding me of Mr. Bungle. There are distant and dreamy vocals but its not muddled to hell like a lot of these style albums seem to be. I did get a little bored by the end from a music perspective but there were some lyrics, mainly the stuff in the hooks that kept me listening. Pretty good. Will likely relisten. 4
3.5 A perfect segue from Joy Division. Having now listened to two of these guys’ albums, I gotta say they’re probably one of the most slept-on acts of the era. This album rivals the quality of their debut, an album I rated highly, though the production in particular is miles ahead here. Each song feels like a soundscape of gothic abstraction with the orchestral backdrop, and while that produces some very strong moments, it was a bit much for me at times and too same-y overall - I think I preferred the more stripped back approach of Crocodiles. Even if this one is a bit more theatrical and structured, fewer individual songs stuck out to me. The Killing Moon however is of course an all-time great track, and for me will always be tied to the opening bicycle scene of Donnie Darko, which I’ve always thought was a really effective choice for establishing the tone of the movie in the first minute or so (why did they change it to INXS in the Director’s Cut??) Really good, but not my favorite of theirs. Will be listening to more!
Listened to on 3/6/23 3.5/5 Favorite song: seven seas I listened to this album twice and really enjoyed it although nothing stuck out - it just kinda flowed in the background
Really just not my jam... 2/5 I did finish the album for the most part
"McCulloch has cited...Leonard Cohen and particularly David Bowie as influences for his work. He has described Cohen's song "Suzanne" as "the perfect lyric with the perfect melody" and Bowie as "so influential and the greatest solo artist of the 20th Century in any walk of art" is something I found on Wikipedia and that's exactly what this album sounds like. Almost a 4.
Not really my thing, and the list is weighed down with albums like this, but at least this one has a theme it manages to stick to without becoming too repetitive.
I found this album years ago after watching Donnie Darko, in which the “The Killing Moon” is featured. Since then I have revisited it several times because there is just something special about it. A 35-piece orchestra and songs like “Nocturnal Me” and “The YoYo Man” really set this album apart from just being another post-punk album. It's like they wrote centuries-old folk songs but still somehow made them feel modern. And then they throw in hits. Also, much respect to them for making “Thorn of Crowns” what a wild ride. Lyrically the oceanic / rain theme is scattered around throughout without being too in your face. In “Silver” we walk on a tidal wave, in “Seven Seas” we swim them so well (and we kiss a tortoise shell!), in “Over The Wall” we walk in the rain. You can't not be floored by Ian's voice when he sings about "Screaming from beneath the waves". But “The Killing Moon” is most definitely the track of this album. That final sequence where we just jam out and take a ride will always stick with me. The fact that they produced it themselves is also incredible. With all that being said the mix is a little subdued in parts. When it goes loud, like with “The Killing Moon” and “My Kingdom” for instance, it ROCKS. But when it’s quiet it’s almost muted, held back from its true potential. Idk if this makes sense but it feels like there could be more in the quiet parts. A stand out album, for the Bunnymen for sure, but for the time as well. Not perfect but captivating. For that reason I'm thinking 4/5.
Yet another 80s album
It’s a shame I’m not giving this album a 5. Because I do think it’s one of the best albums of a particular genre and musical era. Its strengths are in its lyricism and atmosphere. It knows its tone and thematic intent well and does not miss a step in addressing it over the course of the album. That said, some of these songs blend together for me. Particularly “Silver” and “Crystal Days” (the latter reminding me of the former.) And while some songs, like “The Killing Moon” and “Seven Seas” are full and lush in their sound, other cuts, like the unfortunately lackluster “My Kingdom” just lacks a certain *mmph* in its mix. It is mysteriously quieter than “The Killing Moon,” and lacks the dynamic range of that song. Wait…hold on…Okay I just switched over to the remastered version from the 2008 deluxe edition. Soooo much better! “My Kingdom” gets its due here. But the remaster only helps so much. I’ll give Echo and his Bunnymen a LOUD 4 for their best, their essential and timeless album, Ocean Rain.
I’m definitely warming up to this album. It’s theatrical, quirky, fun, if a little mystifying. There are some genuinely really cool guitar licks and arrangement choices here. It manages to be pretty approachable and never corny, I don’t know how they’re pulling it all off. I’m impressed, having a good time the more I listen. 3/5
I realized that I mostly knew Echo and the Bunnymen from 80s movie soundtracks, including "Lost Boys" and "Pretty in Pink." This album is one that I wish I had had back in the 80s, as I know it would have been a favorite. "The Killing Moon" is an incredible song I've not spent enough time with, and "Silver" is a new favorite. I've always liked Ian McCulloch's voice, and I really loved the orchestration of this music. It was interesting and enjoyable and made me quite happy today.
I might need another listen or two to come to a full appreciation of this album. I think it is good and sounds grand in production, but it also sounds like a style of music that I can like, but don't usually love.
I do like the sound of a Bunnymen song. Lots of la-las and do-dos. Pretty!
I have loved the song The Killing Moon since I first heard it shortly after its release. It’s such an incredibly-crafted song - one of the very best of the 80s. Somehow this never translated into my listening to this album. As a fan or orchestra in pop I really missed out. The lush strings give the album a darker, cinematic tone. Still there are lighter cinematic moments to enjoy. Crystal Days had me happily be-bopping along, but that orchestra lifts the song above being a lightweight 80’s confection. I love it! This is one of my favorite albums of the 80s. I’m glad I found it even if it took nearly 40 years.
Quite good. No filler. Soundwise somewhere between the Simple Minds and the Cure. Probably influenced Suede and Muse. Favorite song: nocturnal me.
This failed to make much of an impact, but there's something awkward and geeky about Echo And The Bunnymen that makes them likeable.
If 1001 albums was a genre this would be it, this checks all the boxes. This is the most 1001 sounding album. It’s alright I guess but I don’t really feel anything from it . I’m sure it was probably influential on 80’s/ 90’s alternative but maybe it is one of those had to have been there things. 2.5
Ughhhh Bonus decimals for trying to make it interesting with the orchestra. 1.3
If you have nothing to say, don’t say it. Definitely do not write lyrics about cauliflower.
Ocean man take me by the hand
Dark and fun 80’s pop/rock
In the words of the great John Prine, "Pretty good, not bad, I can't complain." Nothing spectacular either though, kind of flowed in one ear and out the other. 3 stars.
Not bad. Some jangly, riff driven guitar, nice vocal melodies, and grand, cinematic instrumentals. Second half stood out to me. Unfortunately just a little forgettable. Worth revisiting to see if it grows on me
This is a pretty solid album. Maybe it'd get a 5 if I ever chose to relisten to it. I think this is probably an essential new wave album, as it showcases the genre very well. I wonder if I'd like another album by this band. My favourite songs were The Killing Moon, The Yo Yo Man, and Silver.
I enjoyed this one
I like these guys but this isn't as good as I remember
one of a the highest achievements of human creativity
I was not really into this. It was fine, but I didn't think it was good.
Really very enjoyable, thought the best tracks were the singles, especially Seven Seas.
Un mood tipo epico, ma declinato al pop. Tutto sommato piacevole
Såg dem -83 i nån jympasal i Hultsfred. Då var det bra och nu är det bra.
Ehhh not bad but not great. Definitely had some epically dramatic songs, but nothing that really caught my ear. Def hear them as a U2 contemporary in the 80s.
a few great songs, but album gets bogged down. i'm glad they exist, but would rather just listen to the cure.
I come back to Echo a lot thinking I will like them more, but always get kind of bored. They are certainly a high quality band that made some excellent songs, but I’m not convinced this is classic.
2.5
Since I am a sucker for post-punk music I was excited to listen to this. I looked at the cover art and thought it was meh, and sure enough the music was pretty meh.
Dásamleg plata. Emo meets nýrómantík. Mikið orchestra. The Killing Moon eitt af stórkostlegustu lögum 80s.
There's some music which stands out here, but also an awful lot which blends into the background
This was great! Perfect 80s sound.
I love The Killing Moon but the rest of the album feels a bit flat in comparison. The album itself has a very early indy sound that I really dig with quite a beautiful orchestral accompaniment.
this album flips between banger and bizarre and it’s great! the goofy songs work even though they’re not particularly striking they fit well. best tracks: nocturnal me, killing moon, seven seas
Boring, sorry
You can tell through the album that they would be tons of fun live and bring all the energy. Solid.
Some great ones and many good
Forgetful
And here we have another anonymous post-punk from the land of post-punk bands and music. Echo and the Bunnymen is an okay group - they aren't original or special, just rather solid in what they are doing. Some melodies on song like "Ocean Rain" or "Silver" are genuinely good and melancholic. Vocal is also better, a little less whiny than in other bands. But as a summary, there is nothing special in this album. Putting it on a list like that might be a really big stretch. It kind of waters down the whole experience. Well, nice album, but not something I would include on a list of best anything. 1001 most solid albums of all time.
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.
There’s a reason I only knew The Killing Moon. After listening to the whole album, I know why. Still, I love The Killing Moon.
I am shocked how I didn't at any point in my life buy this album for myself and listen to it endlessly along side Depeche Mode and The Doors...maybe because I never got past the "D" section in the record store. But it was so close! One more letter man, just shuffle to your right and there's "E"...I mean, come on! Put in some effort.
'Killing Moon' is amazing and stand out. The rest of the album, less so. A little more diverse than I expected but still very English new wave.
Oooh, I really like this one. Nocutnal Me grabbed me from the first listen and I think I like it more than Killing Moon.
Nice! It's gothier than my mental model of Echo and the Bunnymen would suggest, I dig it. Fave track - "The Killing Moon" is an obvious choice. "Nocturnal Me" is maximum goth. "Angels and Devils" is a tune too, if we're accepting bonus tracks....
Didn't enjoy the droning at time Some tracks leaned a little more on the rock side and reminded me of the Tragically Hip who were forming in Canada the same year as this release Not as enjoyable as some of the other new wave records on this list
Dramatic wavy guitar pop with wimpy vocals. Greek, mediterranen, arabic licks on some of the songs cannot hide the fact that this kind of music has been outdated. Nothing personal but compared to „musical milestones“ this sounds pretty ordinary to my snotty and spoiled ears.
It is a bit too depressing for my taste. Songs about collecting the bones of friends, or others that think they are vegetables - really not too uplifting is it. If you find black moods appealing then this is your album. Musically it is well constructed, the vocals are clear and tuneful, the only problem is the mood.
Yeah not bad, need to give it more listens. Very Julian Cope.
Not my cup of tea. Как будто такая немного театральная музыка, такое что-то странное, что играет перед антрактом иди в кульминацию 😁 Голос такой звонкий, надрывный, драматичный.
Nocturnal Me прикольно звучит и интересно. В целом почти в каждой песне есть какие-то интересные тычки и прикольные моменты. Не так затягивает как те же Ladies and Gentlemans, но по-своему прикольно
Ой, хорошо прошло воскресенье... особенно под этот альбом. Мне, видимо, очень хорошо заходит новая волна и дрим-поп. Интересно звучание, поскольку вроде по всем элементам и картам складывается, что это немного пост-панк альбом, но от него не так сильно хочется повеситься, как он Unknown Pleasures. И обложка очень гармонично вписывается в общую картину: реально в какой-то момент представил, что плыву где-то на лодке посередь озера. Ставлю альбому 4+/5. Опять же, здесь как и с "Ladies & Gentelmen...", звучит всё очень круто и офигенно интересно, но мне не хватило вот "той самой песни", чтобы прям можно было только ради неё альбом каждый день переслушивать. Да, они все звучат интересно для меня, но не так, чтобы поставить этот альбом в один ряд с теми, которые хочется переслушать в любой момент времени.
Ну... Если бы я играл с этим альбомом в мафию, то он был бы серым. Есть пару интересных моментов, в основном вообще нейтральное. Не плохо, но и не впечатлил. 3-
After the first listening I was quite doubious, but no, that's good, now I can see that
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.
Has that one song
favorite tracks - silver, the killing moon, seven seas, my kingdom, ocean rain least favorite tracks - nocturnal me
Ganska schysst pop.
One recalls feeling frustrated with E&tB in ral time that they only rarely went all in and many songs sounded half-baked or only half-committed to. Today, that seems very much a design feature, rather than an executional shortcoming. This record shows a band stretching its wings a bit and taking its time – either because they had the confidence to do so or because it was who they were, fundamentally, as a band. The use of strings in particular and the layered instrumentation are a plus. The "hits" hold up well, as does the record as a whole. The lesser known cuts offer value, too (see the twinned guitar solos on the mid-tempo "My Kingdom," a real highlight of the record and which really shoulda been longer). The closer is lovely and languid. It must be recognized that they've held up better than many of their peers, though this could be generational bias talking.
Yeh I enjoyed that. Feels familiar when though I don't know them. Sway worthy
Pretty good dark UK rock. I think it would keep growing on me if I listened a few times
pretty good. started slow but then turned into more rock, like the smiths but more upbeat. the killing moon was my fav
So boring
My favorite teacher of all time taught me World History and World Area Studies in high school. He loved U2, who I was very familiar with, but he also really loved Echo & The Bunnymen, who I'd never heard of (if my parents didn't listen to them, or if they didn't get any airplay on the local classic rock or modern rock station, my chances of hearing them was very slim). A couple of years ago, an Echo & The Bunnymen song came up on some random Spotify mix that I was listening to (I'm pretty sure it was 'The Killing Moon'), and I really liked it. I'm pretty sure I stopped right then and listened to all of Ocean Rain. I really loved Ian McCulloch's vocals, and I felt like Echo & The Bunnymen sounded like a better version of early U2, and I could see why my teacher loved both U2 and Echo & The Bunnymen. I love the ethereal quality of their instruments; it almost sounds like their songs were recorded in this cavern that's somehow massive and open. On this listen-through, I'd definitely say that 'The Killing Moon' is my favorite track, but 'Nocturnal Me' is fantastic as well. This is a great album, and I hate that I discovered it so late in my life.
Talvez sirva para eu tentar achar alguma versão que me agrade do hit Th killing Moon. De resto, nova confirmação que pós punk oitentista não é pra mim.
Not so my thing but nice enough to listen to
Olin iloinen kun loppui. Mutta nyt mun sporify alkaa taas pakkosuositella mulle tätä bändiä... Joku tässä on sietämätöntö vaikka sinänsä on pätevää poprockia
Jousilla ja sen sellaisella sävytetty yritys korvata hyvät kappaleet miellyttävillä ja/tai mielenkiintoisilla äänillä.
This album starts off on a high note, showcasing all that the band has to offer. Glamorous, poppy, dream-like sounds combined with the moody and emotional vocals over top. As well as the orchestra that mirrors every part and feeling. There is also a very bombastic, over-the-top feeling that suits the dramatic sound of the band very well. The lyrics are very well written, but at times feel like just words that sound good with each-other, as opposed to lyrics with actual meaning. This normally doesn't matter much to me, but with the impactful feeling that you get with the other parts of the composition, it does suffer a bit. I don't normally like comparing artists or albums to other artists or albums, but I do recognize a big Doors/Jim Morrison influence, especially on the song Thorn of Crowns. The last song on the album, Ocean Rain was a solid closer that does a good job of wrapping things up, and making the album feel very concise. The last two songs on the album seem to match the energy of the opening two songs, creating a sort of overarching arc. Overall, this album was great, and felt very consistent in quality. Favourite song: Killing Moon (obviously) Least favourite song: Thorn of Crowns (I feel like it may grow on me though.)
More of a stereotypical ‘80s sound compared to Crocodiles, by which I mean less along the lines of synth pop, and more grandiose, lots of orchestral stings, etc. A Bigger sound that I think benefits them
Bueno
Музыка похожа на нью-вейв, в целом, приятно звучит, но не по моему вкусу, из-за схожести с The Cure.
Ei nyt yhtään missään järjestyksessä, mutta mulla on surkea mieli ja halusin kuunnella jotain tuttua ja turvallista ja aidosti hyvää, joten tää, halaa minua kuin lämmin peitto, on ollut rakas alusta asti ja oon monet itkut tätä kuunnellessani itkenyt, muistan yhdenkin kesän Ateenassa, 40 asteen helteessä hikoilin ja itkin - en enää muista mitä itkin, mutta Ocean Rain auttoi silloinkin.
ärsyttävää musiikkia
Nicht ernsthaft!
Faded into the background
not bad at all
Classic 80's English Punk mixed with haunting strings and echos. It feels comfortable and all together wholly different. I enjoyed the listen, and the artistry involved, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to it again.
Album was decent. Nothing terribly interesting to me, but it was an enjoyable listen. Favorite track: Thorn of Crowns
I didn’t really give this a fair listen but what I heard was OK, not outstanding so a fair or unfair 3*
Wasn't a big fan.
2.9
Ocean Rain is so much more than just “the album with that one song from Donnie Darko.” Filled with dreamy arrangements and obtuse vocals, it’s strangely reminiscent of the alt-pop that would develop in future decades.
Very classic jangly post-punk sound
Love Killing Moon one of my favs also a good album I like his haunting voice
Dreary but good
Very nice,
It's cool but forgettable
This seemed like a demo tape for what would become a concept album and then that didn’t happen. The hit songs are great, but a lot of this is not for me. Not really sure why it’s here.
Absolutely enjoyable, glad to know the album. Both sides kick off very strong. Side A ends with a head-scratching choice with Thorn of Crowns. Side B is pleasant throughout but doesn’t quite make a huge impact other than Killing Moon.
Pretty decent, I enjoyed it.
I like but don't love this album. Some of the tracks are really solid, 'The Killing Moon' in particular is one I've known and liked for a long time. Not an album I think I'd ever find myself adding into regular rotation but if these songs came on, I wouldn't turn it off either. Standout Tracks: Silver, Crystal Days, The Killing Moon, My Kingdom
The Killing Moon is a sensational song. The rest of the album is also worth a listen.
I really like Ian McCullough's voice and the overall alt rock vibe of their music. Silver, Crystal Days, Seven Seas and Killing Moon are strong. Most of the rest is meh, though Thorn of Crowns is definitely a pass. Pretty enjoyable but it's missing a bit of catchiness to push it higher.
eliza would like
Echo And The Bunnymen sounds like the kind of act you hire for your kid's birthday party. Do not do this. Ocean Rain is filled with dark, dramatic post-punk just the way I like it. 'Nocturnal Me' is a prime example, and the erratic 'Throne of Crowns' takes it to the next level with its manic, energetic rambling. And 'The Killing Moon' is just incredible - easily a top three moon-mentioning track.
Ocean Rain is one of albums I return to once or twice a year without ever being disappointed. It’s dramatic, melancholic and incredibly grand. The accompanying orchestra does wonders to the songs. “Nocturnal Me”, the beautiful title track and “The Killing Moon” are especially breathtaking with the latter being one of the absolute peaks of the entire post-punk genre (just listen to Sergeant’s solo). Looking forward to join the Bunnymen’s gloomy gondola trip once again.
Very synth.
Thorn of Crowns made me uncomfortable. Music was alright.
Another very clean 3/5, not a yay and not a boo
I was really pleasantly surprised by this album. Loved it.
I'll swear by The Killing Moon and title track all day long and twice on Sunday. The rest of this just comes across as overlay pretentious. For those who look down upon The Cure and Joy Division.
As always, this was fine
Great record and listened to this a lot ! Paved the way for alot of good alternative bands. And I like the use of the orchestra too!
Know this very well from my first attempt at doing the 1001 albums (only had managed 3 in a month haha) Good tunes with a strong booming voice and the band feels like it’s doing quite its own thing on this record. It’s also well put together - each songs belongs with the others in the order they are - and they are all good songs. Lyrics are a bit too stream of consciousness but it also goes well with the theme of the album so.. it’s a good one.
I guess he's called Echo because he likes repeating the same melody and the same shitty lyrics ad nauseum. He should also get that stutter checked out. I guess he's called Echo because he likes repeating the same melody and the same shitty lyrics ad nauseum. He should also get that stutter checked out.I guess he's called Echo because he likes repeating the same melody and the same shitty lyrics ad nauseum. He should also get that stutter checked out.I guess he's called Echo because he likes repeating the same melody and the same shitty lyrics ad nauseum. He should also get that stutter checked out. I give them one broken, skipping record out of five.
The Killing Moon is amazing obviously... The rest is quite good, probably needs more listens.
So happy this was my album today!
Progenitors of Emo show their chops on this mostly mellow, moody outing.
Sounds a bit like the Doors.... Forgettable
This album impressed me. I knew Seven Seas and of course Killing Moon, but there were a lot more songs on here that captured a great atmospheric whole.
Niet slechte indierock, maar iets te langzaam/zacht. 3*
-"Thorn of Crowns" is a great series of buildups to a crescendo -The other songs were just okay -A very plain pink album, honestly bordering on 2
"The Yo Yo Man" had a nice hook. But the best that can be said for the rest of the album is that it is doesn't suck.
It's always nice to look back on old listening notes and see consistent observations of a band's wont. In the case of the Bunnymen, it's the Arcade Fire connection. Ocean Rain was a shocking listen thanks to how timeless it felt, the vocals and drums I noted of the debut blending into a much more mature and robust texture. Yet, as songs, the effect is that of carefully blanched post-punk, basic and, most of the time, just lush enough. I was deeply feeling for most of the runtime, save a dip into melodrama at the end that didn't quite work. The lyrics I paid attention to were worth one revisit, and suggest returns on a Bunnymen deep dive.
This is a lovely album, but it's so flat. I almost thought that I was listening to a long 40 minutes song. Not bad, but the only remark is its flatness, so 3 stars are enough
First time I heard of this band and their song "the killing moon" was from Donnie Darko. The other songs are good as well.
I hear a lot of David Bowie in this album, specifically in nocturnal me. Also definitely some Smiths influence. Weird that the band tried to market the album as greatest ever made. Not a huge fan but also not atrocious.
Killing moon and ocean drive make it a 4
A great album. McCulloch is a gifted writer and in many ways the Bunnymen embody the *spirit* of the Beatles that still hangs around Liverpool (& music generally) better than most others. This is not the mimicking of the sound and melodies that bands like Oasis indulge in, but a distillation of that essence somehow. It starts with the orchestration of the first track and carries on from there. I don’t love every song on here - to me Bunnymen are a perfect singles band (sacrilege, I know) - but as a body of work it’s a huge, swaggering statement.
Another album that I never got round to buying back in the day. Record shop decisions on a Saturday afternoon were random. Different factors could influence your choice. The common theme was usually girls and how my latest purchase may - or may not - impress them. I didn't do too badly by turning down Macca and Co. This album is dramatic in places, but equally lame in others. The singles stand out with Silver in particular punching strong. The rest of the record sounds like dodgy Doors demos. My memories of Echo & The Bunnymen are of losers wearing long coats, lurching around at Youth Club discos. I was having all the fun with my Streetsounds compilations and snogs.
Amazing how all 80s-era Britpop albums manage to sound exactly the same across the vox, instrumentals, and general melodic feel. This was a pleasant listen but lacks any distinguishing features to make me feel it warrants inclusion here.
The Killing Moon is a great song. The rest of this album is decent, but doesn't come close to that song. It reminds me of The Cure, which is why I like it so much.
weirdly feels like the smiths and the doors had a kid. high 3
Blast from the past! Great album
Just listened and cannot remember a thing about it. I don’t even think it was bad, I just can’t remember. Album cover: 3/5 I like all the blue
Didn’t listen
Not bad. The killing moon is pretty good. The rest is decent with some interesting sounds, but nothing show-stopping
Nocturnal Me var meget god, resten var meget... britisk?!
Just alright
Perfect atmosphere going into fall. Killing Moon is awesome, rest of album is fairly standard goth-tinted new wave.
Eurythmics had me in a mid 80s frame of mind but Echo and the B could not keep me there. I sensed struggling in the vocals perhaps due to trying to figure out how to make the vocals work with the new found orchestration. The music wasn’t interesting enough to save the vocals.
I would say that Echo & The Bunnymen nailed it with this album, as far as finding that signature haunting & moody sound. The orchestra adds a lot & separates them from all the other post-punk bands. Ian M reminds me a bit of Jim Morrison, but Jim is easier to listen to for a full day. Between a 3 and 4 for me.
The Killing Moon is simply a magnificent post punk song. Ian McCulloch does a serviceable hommage to Jim Morrison with his strong booming voice. There are a few other good songs here including Silver, Seven Seas and Ocean Rain.
Liked it, jangle pop sort of stuff (right?)
Nice easy listening
Enjoyed much more by the second listen
Killing Moon is nice but I was a bit disappointed by the rest
Okay
Almost a 4...
Not really a fan.
Ok, but mostly for the Donnie Darko single
A so-so album with not much going on, and then BOOM, The Killing Moon enters the frame. And suddenly the inclusion of this album kinda makes sense. One track shouldn't be an album-maker, and while there's some other good tracks here, but nothing stands out like The Killing Moon.
Some good songs, some bland songs. Honestly, with this list, I think I'm getting a little oversaturated with post punk. It's making it hard to judge them fairly.
Suffers from 80s syndrome hard. I enjoy individual tracks, but the whole is a lot to consume at once. That being said, it is lean, which does bump it safely in the middle.
Everyone has one annoying friend who would spend an hour explaining why this album isn't bad and is actually foundational to an even worse genre of music.
Didn’t blow me away. Didn’t hate it, but didn’t hear anything special personally.
Good 80s New Wave. Made me think of the Purple Stuff Podcast!
Zwischen 3 und 4. 3 weil es eher mittelgute Echo&theBunnyman Songs sind. "Killing Moon" hat aber eigentlich 5 verdient. Ich gebe 3. "Heaven up here" hätte was zwischen 4 und 5 verdient und sollte in dieser Liste enthalten sein.
I like the Killing moon best so far
A compelling album with varied, beautiful sounds. Though I'm not sure if this deserves a full 5 stars, I'd have definitely given this 4 and a half if I could. Very strong showing.
Would give this a 2.5, but given our 5 star scale it deserves a 3, despite it not being an album I'd add to my rotation
Ok 7/10
This was pretty great! I'd heard the one song from Donnie Darko but the rest of it held up and more. Would definitely explore this band more.
Me ha parecido un poco monótono, salvo alguna canción muy concreta (de hecho, creo que dos, la primera y la última), pero es posible que estuviera con la mente ocupada en otras cosas.
Muy buen disco, muy de mi estilo. Aunque no me parece un disco redondo, me ha gustado la estética que transmite, me ha resultado original, y tiene algún tema bastante icónico.
Not my style of music
This is some truly terrible singing within some extremely mediocre music. I got about 2 songs through before I had to quit. Really - this has no place in the list.
Interesting sound, would like to hear again.
Pish
Afwisselend vrolijk en triest. Goed album
Pretty good, but unfortunately just another British band that fails to distinguish itself. I will not remember this album if my life depended on it.
I loved this one :)
I want to like this more than I do. More listening perhaps...it reminds me of more than itself and tells a tale, need to swim with this a bit more than one listen.
No real stand out songs, all songs kinda just flowed by without any real good ones sticking out to me
Great album!
Killing moon will always be a favorite of mine but there aren't a ton of other great tracks here
2.7 - atmospheric and interesting, especially with the use of the orchestra - but not something I’ll come back to often. Killing Moon is a classic and I enjoyed Silver, too.
Was unfamiliar with this band and album but it was definitely something I would listen to again!
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.
The first half of the album is excellent: moody new wave with some orchestral bits. But approximately after the halfway point, it just turns into average alternative.
that one song was really good
Solid album, I enjoyed most of it except a few tracks.
Ooff, are Echo and the Bunnymen possibly the most overrated band of all time? Certainly if you listen to how they describe themselves ('the greatest album of all time!"), they could never possibly live up to the hype. Obviously, 1001 albums love them, as there are three (THREE!) of their albums on this list, of which this is probably the best. Orchestral arrangements that walk the tightrope, staying just on the right side of bombastic. The lyrics are not nearly as clever as Ian McCullough thinks they are, which makes them the Doors on the 1980s. And they have dated about as well (ie, they have a shrinking fanbase that agree that they are all that, but the rest of the world shrugs). That said, Killing Moon is a real cracker of a song, distinctive, spooky, soaring, and side two of the original vinyl is generally pretty damn good. But not as good as they think they are.
Trying to hard to be edgy but just coming across as pretentious instead. Very disappointing.
It's OK, I don't hate it at all but its not for me.
The central piece of the album is obviously The Killing Moon. I could sense some Jim Morisson kind of vibes in some of the delivery. Overall a decent album but nothing exceptional
Average Brit sounds
This was fun! And great name.
Pretty cool
pretty good, not stellar
Didn’t like this one
A couple of good songs on here including The Killing Moon which I know I've heard from multiple things. Interesting album but nothing to write home about.
Never heard of these guys, another British band. Perfectly inoffensive '80s alt rocky stuff, which means we'll probably get another few albums from them too. I liked a couple songs, "The Killing Moon" even sounded familiar. But yeah, it's one of those that I will forget very quickly. Indistinct. Favorite tracks: The Killing Moon, Crystal Days. Album art: Looks like these guys are boating in some deep cave? I don't know what the surrounding sky or scene is supposed to be. It looks pretty cool, but hard to decipher. 2.5/5
3.0 - Besides a stretch of three songs on side B (“The Killing Moon”, “Seven Seas”, “My Kingdom”), this record feels underrealized. The mix on the other songs, with the instruments placed way in the back, mostly sounds wispy.
The first time I heard the band name 'Echo & The Bunnymen', I thought it was a novelty group, like Weird Al. And since I already loved Weird Al, my first thought was the Echo were a copycat and I never gave them a listen. Having listened now, 'The Killing Moon' is the only real standout for me. The rest of it just never gets there, wherever there is. It's not here, though, I know that. What do I want - more Cure? More Erasure? More Depeche Mode? Yeah, probably something like that. This one never broke through.
Well well well Let's hear it For the boys
I was halfway into “The Killing Moon” when our home internet went out. It still has not come back on, sadly, and I don’t have unlimited data (phone plans are dumb and expensive in America, Alex) so I haven’t made it all the way through the album. I’m loving it so far except that “Crown of Thorns” seemed to be in the wrong place and killed the momentum. Give that track the boot and I’d be a very happy bunnyman. Can’t wait to hear the rest of it once Spectrum gets their shit together.
Bit too hippyish for me
Hmmm. This album started out not really doing anything for me, but 'Crystal Days' got my attention. I feel like it should have been the beginning of the album; it feels like there's life to the song. A lot of the other songs just feel deadened. They're haunting, but at times there doesn't feel like a point behind them or much emotion. I don't know if I just can't relate to the main singer's voice, or what. It wasn't terrible, but it's not something I would probably seek out again.
meh. not overly impressed. not my first bunnymen rodeo. still remained uninspired by them in general. i'm sure they have a niche, kind of like how crocs have a niche in footwear world.
It's alright. A little overrated in the post-punk scene but it's still pretty good. The Killing Moon is obviously a classic. 6-7/10
A voice to die for
Apparently some people think this is an influential record. I don't (6/10) FT: Nocturnal Me, The Killing Moon
It's more than a little overblown is my first impression. Did they really need the symphonic orchestra on every track? It's a bit like if the Smiths of The Bad Seeds were fronted by Liam Gallagher or Mary Whitehouse (or even post 2005 Morrissey). All the drama, none of the humour or beauty. Killing Moon is a good song though. That's about as good as I can do. Other than that, this was a slog.
Nice!
Some really good tunes and some fillers. I liked them at the time, but I don’t think they ever did an album full of great tunes.
um dia essa banda ainda clica direito
That’s the Bunnymen that I like!
On first listen I was going to give this a 2 because I was largely bored out of my mind by it. Then I heard the last/title track and loved it, so I thought I might have missed something on the rest of the album so I listened to it all the way through again but no turns out it’s mostly just boring
I was in a bit of a bad mood, so that didn’t help but I couldn’t get into it and it felt a bit repetitive
i’m surprised more of these songs didnt become popular, this album has a distinct radio feel to it. not really my cup of tea, but some good stuff here
Rock
Interesting classical/punk-new wave, not what I was expecting, but worth a listen.
killing moon is a masterpiece
The songs could have had more memorable choruses and melodies, but the production and instrumentation was great! Lots of orchestration, catchy motifs and musical experimentation not as common in new wave.
Good album that was carried by its dense mystical atmosphere, created by the instruments and the singing. No song really stood out but the album was an enjoyable experience
Indies 80s fan. But never pursued Echo etc , this album has the 2 best tracks they recorded. Cover art 3/5
A couple of really good songs on this, but some of this album dragged a little
Iconic indie rock masterpiece from the Bunnymen. Nothing less.
I liked this more than I remember liking this band. There are some really nice melodies and songs here, and it's all full of a dark atmosphere. I think my mood has become more Echo & The Bunnymen as I've aged, I was in the wrong mood when it first came out.
I really enjoyed this album. Songs were on fly and there were some really nice guitar parts
A favourite Echo album of mine, I played this to death when it came out. Not listened in years and loved hearing these songs again. Always envied Will Sergeant’s guitar tone
Olipas tylsää menoa, mutta onneksi oli kovin lyhyt teos ja ei kerinnyt mennä pahemmin ihon alle. 2,4*
Jäi sellanen fiilis, et tää vois olla toisessa ulottuvuudessa U2, mut tässä maailmassa samanlaisiin hitteihin eivät ainakaan tällä levyllä pystyneet. Mut siis hyvä levy
A solid, but not spectacular piece of ‘80s alternative. Enjoyable, manic and overall a worthwhile endeavor for fans looking to dig into all that the ‘80s can offer from a rock perspective.
21st April 2022 Listened in the morning and while at amoeba records in Hollywood! Listened again on the drive home. Really liked this, it grew on me and sounded better on second listen.
I'll get my long coat...
Raincoat rock from Echo. They have the tunes but do occasionally sound like a Cure cover band (not that is necessarily a bad thing). Best Tracks: Silver; The Killing Moon; My Kingdom
As good as the The Cure!
Pretty boring. To me.
Amé.
Didn’t know what to expect going into it. It was okay, wouldn’t search it out.
Didn’t finish—slowly getting weary of this genre.
Not a massive fan on first listen. A bit like the Smiths if I didn't like them. May grow on me, but won't be jumping to listen again.
Wait, there are two Echo & the Bunnymen albums on this list? Why? Seriously, why? I guess this one will be rated moderately higher for having The Killing Moon on it, but I don't even remember what the other one sounded like. Outside of their one hit, this band was an entirely forgettable new wave act. Not worthy of being on a list of essential albums.
i actually liked this album quite a bit. i thought it had a melodic sense at some point but also just a very pretty sound. i would give it like a 3.47 but it’s too good to just give 3.
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.
didn't like it, couldn't get through it
4, nostalgic vibes won me over
It was ok, nice to passively listen to 5.5/10
Låter som nåt en kille som gaslightar dig lyssnar på för att bryta av från the Smiths, nice
bretty nice