Crocodiles

Please just play The Killing Moon

It's remarkable how the sound of the early 80s branded so many bands. Musically this is similar to what Simple Minds and U2 were doing at the time. You could swap in Bono or Jum Kerr on vocals here, and I'm not sure many would notice. Big reverbs, bigger hair, flangers on the bass, all fail to conceal that this is at it's core a rock album, and not a bad one at that, although it becomes tiresome towards the end of the album for its saminess.

It's kinda boring, but there's nothing wrong with it. It's just kind of there. Rescue sounds like B-52s minus the fun. 3 stars

Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album A little familiar How do I feel about this artist? I like their sound, this is one of those artists that I have been looking forward to exploring on here Pre-Listen Thoughts: I’m generally a fan of this genre, I think I will like this. Favorite track(s): Do It Clean, Villiers Terrace Post-Listen Thoughts: I like this one quite a bit, I was busy at work while listening to it so I might give another listen and see if that changes my rating. It was very solid, but the songs kind of ran together a little bit.

A revisiting of an old friend. Moody and mysterious are good descriptors, the music and lyrics are still as compelling as they ever were. Ian's vocals are a great mix of vulnerable and rough.

Echo & the Bunnymen were unstoppable on their first 4 albums. 5/5.

Sorta goth new wave rock with a bit of a edge to it. I didn't dislike it, but it's not something I'd ever throw on to listen to. Definitely had some of the stereotypical 80s musical trappings, and the vocals were just so-so. Had a couple good songs that I liked, so it's a low 3/5 for me.

Honestly a weird listen. Fever dream-ish, in a bad way.

Yep. Echo and the Bunnymen.

Lots of familiar songs

I only know this band from their cover of People Are Strange on The Lost Boys soundtrack, and that's a shame. Every 80s compilation is full of Madonna, Lauper and McFerrin. Bands like this, Bauhaus, Siouxisie & The Banshees and overlooked. Solid example of The Other 80s for the girls (and boys) who didn't just want to have fun.

nice enough

Post-punk certified. Not necessarily my jam but I didn't hate.

no. -1

Rien de spécial, écoute agréable. Un parfait 3.

I'm not a fan of this British post-punk sound. The only parts of this album I enjoyed was when they strayed from that sound, which wasn't very often. Villiers Terrace was good.

I just didn’t like it very much

Not bad for 1980!

Echo and the Bunnymen was a band I had always heard about but never listened to before until today. I thought this album was fine. I wouldn't say I am the biggest post-punk fan and I think that just comes from not listening to a lot of artists in the genre. There wasn't anything I disliked but there wasn't anything here that made me want to check out more from the band/more bands that sound like them. 3/5

Not too bad.

A vibe but not particularly exciting

Eh, didn't really leave an impression on me. There were elements that I know I should like, like the glam rock sound and varied percussion but none of the songs really stood out to me. I wouldn't really listen to this again which means it should get a 2 but it barely ekes out a 3 because it has nice sounds Likelihood that the members of this band lezzed out IMO: 3/5 I think yes

it's good, when there's so much of this sound out there now it feels like nothing special but i understand that this was very early and kind of shaped post punk into new wave or whatever. what are we even doing what am i talking about. idk but i like their later stuff better so this is a 3 !

Okay

Solid, but didn't really stick with me

Quite an enjoyable album! Reminds me a lot of Joy Division! 4/5

This is a very enjoyable album with a distinct sound. I did not add any of its songs to my liked list, but I’ll hold myself open to the opportunity to reflect and change my opinion in the future.

You know what... would have sex to it. #4

It's crazy how both this band and album have alluded me my entire life thus far, but here we are. It's got mood, angst, grime. It's a great debut for a post-punk, new-wave outlet, and it was as equally nice an introduction to the band. Favorite Song: Villiers Terrace Score: 82/100

6/10

Meh

Alright 3/5

All good. Nothing remarkable.

It didn’t grab me for the most part, it seemed quite nihilistic and while occasionally something happed musically that was diverting it got pushed into the background by my brain pretty effectively.

It’s kind of ok but also boring at the same time .

Never heard an Echo and the Bunnymen record before. This was a great time. There's lots of energy to this.

Largely ununique compared to other albums within the same genre on this site, and definitely not as good

Rock normal. Me hizo acordar mucho a The Clash (no soy tan fan).

Really surprised, wasn't expecting much, but OUTSTANDING debut.

I love this. I love echo and the bunnymen and I don't care about separating whether that's just because I love Simon from Misfits. I love them all.

By far the worst of their entries on the list.

Just because it replaced something that was worse doesn't mean post-punk isn't horrible in it's own right.

This is great. Love this era of British post punk. Hadn't heard this album before, and I don't think I knew any of the songs, although Pride (in particular the opening riffs) sounds EXTREMELY familiar, like maybe it was sampled or interpolated in another song that I know. Regardless, this is a very enjoyable, consistent album. I love the instrumentals and the vocal effects.

Awesome post-punk record, definitely check this one out. I love the vocals. :3

Good enough, not really my jam.

I barely remember it tbh

A band that has probably suffered in my rating of them because i’ve heard too many similar bands.. its not that the music or lyrics are bad, its just that there are better in this genre.. so for me this was an enjoyable but forgettable listen

Good, not outstanding

Good, solid album that ended strongly

Great record - 3 stars❤️❤️❤️ I re-listened to first 4 the E&TB albums one afternoon about 10 years ago and was slightly surprised to find they were a singles band really, “Rescue” is an excellent one but not quite among their very best. Tom.

Toppen sound, men lite svagare material än den andra plattan på listan

Bra men vill minnas att jag gillade det föregående albumet på listan mer.

Rätt coolt ibland men inte riktigt men grej fullt ut.

1.5

a very easy and enjoyable listen. works especially great as background music, but still works well if you're focusing on it.

7/10 - I had higher hopes for this because of how much I liked the other album. I think I preferred that one but this was still a good album.

I don't think they have fully found their sound on this album. They show glimpses of what they will be. 6/10

Really enjoyed this one. I do have a knack for that early 80's British dour sound.

Really good album, I thought I'd listened to their debut but here we are lol but still really good

Much of the backing instrumentation is similar to every other song, but I think they should have added/changed them up more. Dude’s voice is cool

Very average british rock album. Similar to getting fish and chips at a pub in Britain. Very very average. 6/10 Top song... Do it clean

I like the music on the opening song,Gping Up.” The sound on this album appeals to me much more than “Porcupine” did—it’s a music taste thing. Their lyrics still elude me—“bopshow waddy waddy”—but it’s more about the sound for me. The title song “Crocodiles” is bouncy beat fun.

Vois perustaa bändin. Mikä tahansa ois parempaa ku tää. Niin tasapaksua paskaa. Katoin EKAN biisin kohalla että kauanko vielä.

Joojaa. Siis kyllähän tää on aivan hyvää musaa, mut ei oikein herättäny mitään vahvoja tunteita. Ehkä tosiaan vähemmälläkin ois pärjänny tän yhtyeen osalta.

Ihan jeppis oli tämä. Vähän semmonen The Smiths meets U2 -fiilis hetkittäin. Paperilla ois voinu siis imasta mukaansa isostikin, mut sit jotenki vähän jäi kuitenkin mitäänsanomattomaksi.

Tykkäsin tästä enemmän kuin aiemmasta Kaiku & Pupumiehet -levystä. Mut tää laulajan saundi tökkii ja huomaan et nää levyt jää mulle tosi taustakohinaksi, halusin tai en. En edelleenkään usko et tää on välttämättömyys ennen kuolemaa. Mikään biisi ei nouse massasta edukseen.

Mid album - nothing much to note there, another one for the background for me

Weird but nice in parts. Generally not great songs though and no real stand out ones

Ok

this was fine

Por inúmeras ocasiões tentei realmente gostar dos discos da banda, sem sucesso. Sua música sempre soa desinteressante e sem personalidade.

Fantastic early 80’s new wave album. You can hear their influences as well as how they influenced others as the decade goes on.

Not bad! 3/5

Hmm. While I recognize that their style and approach are creatively different, none of this was especially affecting or musical in any compelling way. Don’t feel as if this aged well.

Reminded me of other British albums/bands of the time period. While I like it, I think I like some of their later work better. I'd give this a 3.5 if I could.

Allow me to describe this album's experience. So, you're at a restaurant that advertises live music on deck. The band at the restaurant is named The 40 Year Old Virgin Band, and you've obviously never heard of them. They're the typical four piece band, and just play mediocre Rock 'n' Roll music in the background. You don't hate it, but you also don't want to listen to it again; it just fills the void. Favorite Track: "Going Up".

This sounds like something I would expect to really like, but just didn't quite do it for me. Also sounds like it was recorded in a tin can.

This sounds like every other British new wave band, and nothing particularly stands out as unique to me. That said, the music's not bad, it just doesn't really do anything for me. It makes for decent background noise I guess. This is one I doubt I'll be going back to any time soon, if at all.

3.5

Top notch sister core.

If The Smiths are entry level to alternative music, Echo And The Bunnymen are the final boss. Not sure I’m quite there with them yet. But never say never.

Just perfect post punk. Its no ocean rain but its top. Going up the song itself is perfect. Its missing a hit like. Needs the cutter or summut.

2.5! Just one of them bands that do absolutely nothing for me.

Theyre just alright arent rhey. Dont excite me or make me have any strong feelings either way. Can imagine em writing a song about anything. Like a handful of crisps or their favourite pencil Theyve got the same tinkly samey guitar vibe as The Cure in my opinion. If 'The Cutter' was on here id like it more

Although eclipsed by Ocean Rain Crocodiles is a class album especially for a debut. Very accomplished bands like Interpol and Fontaines DC haven’t topped it after several attempts. U2 and Simple Minds ripped it off badly and played stadiums.

My second album by these guys. I think I'm officially a fan.

This is ok, but it’s very samey. It’s not a surprise they developed and became influential, but it’s not very exciting.

interesting phenomena here where only every other song is a banger to me.... like perfect 1:1 split on yeses and nos. the lows mean i can't give it a 5 but the highs are too good to leave at a 3 still glad this album ended up solid tho i was a little disappointed to not like the other EatB tracks ive heard before this

Surprised by how much I liked this. 4 Boolean: True

*Crocodiles* is Echo & The Bunnymen's 1980 debut, a dark, brooding record that arrived at the height of the UK post-punk scene and immediately established the band as one of its most distinctive voices. Forged in the crucible of Liverpool's Eric's Club, the album blends the raw energy of punk with a fascination for 1960s psychedelia, creating a sound that was both of its moment and entirely its own. ### 🎸 Music and Lyrics The music on *Crocodiles* is defined by a sharp tension between atmosphere and aggression. Will Sergeant's guitar work is a standout—chiming, echo-drenched, and often avoiding conventional rock phrasing in favor of something more textural and unsettling. The rhythm section, anchored by Les Pattinson's propulsive bass and the arrival of drummer Pete De Freitas (replacing the drum machine used on early singles), provides a relentless, almost tribal pulse that drives the album forward. Ian McCulloch's lyrics are impressionistic and deliberately oblique, favoring mood and imagery over clear narrative. Reviewers at the time noted that his words were "scattered with themes of sorrow, horror, and despair," often reinforced by stormy, animalistic, and sexual imagery. Songs like "Villiers Terrace" offer a vivid, unsettling snapshot of drug casualties ("There's people rolling round on the carpet / Mixing up the medicine"), while tracks like "Pictures on My Wall" and "Monkeys" explore themes of isolation, paranoia, and psychological tension. ### 🎛️ Production The album was recorded over three weeks at Rockfield Studios in Wales, with "Pride" and "Rescue" tracked separately at Eden Studios. It was co-produced by Bill Drummond and David Balfe (credited as "The Chameleons"), with Ian Broudie handling production on "Rescue". The production strikes a careful balance: it's spacey and atmospheric enough to match the band's psychedelic leanings, yet retains a raw, garage-like immediacy that prevents the record from becoming self-indulgent. The result is a sound that feels cavernous and cold, perfectly suited to the album's anxious themes. ### 🌑 Themes The overarching mood of *Crocodiles* is one of dread and introspection. As *Rolling Stone* noted upon the album's US release, McCulloch doesn't romanticize drugs or escape; instead, he "trips out on his worst fears: isolation, death, sexual and emotional bankruptcy". There's a strong sense of place, too—a melancholic, rain-soaked Liverpool aesthetic that pervades the record and creates a cohesive, immersive world for the listener. ### 🌍 Influence *Crocodiles* was released on the newly formed Korova label (named after the milk bar in *A Clockwork Orange*) and reached No. 17 in the UK charts. *NME* ranked it among the 50 greatest albums of the 1980s. Its impact on the emerging indie and alternative scenes was significant. Terry Bickers of The House of Love has cited the record as a major influence, noting its "punchy, well-arranged songs" and the way it "created a world" that listeners could immerse themselves in. The album helped codify a strain of post-punk that was moody, literate, and atmospheric—a template that countless bands would follow. ### ⚖️ Pros and Cons **Pros:** * **Distinctive Guitar Work:** Will Sergeant's playing is inventive and atmospheric, standing out even in a crowded post-punk field. * **Atmospheric Production:** The record creates a vivid, cohesive mood that feels both spacious and claustrophobic. * **Strong Songwriting:** Tracks like "Rescue," "Villiers Terrace," and "Do It Clean" are memorable and well-crafted, blending accessibility with experimental edges. * **Historical Significance:** A landmark debut that helped define the darker, more introspective side of British post-punk. **Cons:** * **Derivative Tendencies:** The band's debt to The Doors is sometimes so pronounced that McCulloch's vocals can feel like pastiche, which drew criticism from some contemporary reviewers like Robert Christgau. * **Opaque Lyrics:** The impressionistic writing, while atmospheric, can occasionally feel like style over substance, with meaning deliberately obscured. * **Dated Production Elements:** For some modern listeners, the drum sound and certain production choices may feel distinctly of their era, lacking the timeless polish of the band's later work. *Crocodiles* is a striking and influential debut that captures a band on the cusp of greatness, already in possession of a unique sonic identity even as they worked through their influences.

Smooth rock

its okay. A good example of post-punk new wave I guess. Although its always interesting to hear stuff from the early 80's before the synth stuff started making its way into so many albums. I cant get behind this style of vocals, and I think its taken me 1000+ albums to realize that it just sounds like yelling statements instead of singing. It works just fine as some background filler music, but I cant really sit back and give this a recommendation unless the genre itself is your thing.

Listened to this album twice and it washed over me like warm piss. I retained absolutely nothing from it other than it was very 80’s new waveish.

Day986 - listened,liked,probably won’t return to it

Perfectly adequate. Nothing stood out for me.

6/10 Good but not great new wave. There is, unfortunately, nothing particularly spectacular here, but some of the music is pretty good - which is sort of messed up by the vocal aesthetic choices and production, which is very standard for this genre at the time but is never really good.

Formative tape for me. I got it from a bargain bin at the mall after seeing Urgh! A Music War on Night Flight and I made my own badge of their lead singer Echo (bc I didn't know any better) from a page I ripped out of a Smash Hits, also from the mall. It all still holds up.

I've always liked Echo and the Bunnymen — “The Killing Moon” and “Bring on the Dancing Horses” are among my favorite songs from the 1980s — but I had never really investigated further. That’s a pity, because this is excellent. Rooted in the dark thrum of postpunk, laced with pyschedelia and married with a songwriter’s sense of pop, the band sound sophisticated and fully formed right out of the starting chute. Musically, they’re on par with the talent of The Smiths. And they’re still going; I just learned with dismay that I missed them on their recent tour in June.

High school me loves these early records, but current me still cant forgive the insipid breakthrough hit "Lips like sugar" that came later.

A decent album, and I thought the somewhat darker sound of this album fits Echo and the Bunnymen well. There were several tracks I thought were pretty good although it is not the most memorable album all told. It's been a while since I got the other two albums by this group, Maybe it is time to revisit them. Favorite track(s): "Read It in Books," "Do It Clean," "All That Jazz"