Reviews (page 2 of 7)
As a late Gen Xer, sometimes I feel like if I had been born just a tad earlier in line with my babysitters and cool uncles I'd have a more refined appreciation for early post punk. After all, I do LOVE the genre and all it has to offer. But that being said, because I was only exposed to the latter part of Echo and the Bunnymen's music, I know I appreciate the stuff that came out in the mid to late 80s a little more than this debut. So, because I have a sneaky suspicion there will be later, 5-star albums by this group in this project, I will give this one a 4 because I was just born to late. Still a great album, just not their BEST.
Melodic post-punk. 4 stars
Kult
Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 3 = 3.8 rounded up to a 4 "Can you hear it?/ The sound of something burning/ Something changing/ On the merry-go-round tonight" I listened to this just once before and remember liking it enough, but scrolling through my iPod it looks like I mostly kept a selection of stuff from various albums. That was almost 20 years back, so maybe the heart has grown fonder? Like a lot of people my age I think I must have first been aware of these guys from "The Killing Moon" being on the Donnie Darko soundtrack. That's a hell of a measuring stick for even some all time great bands' best work to go up against, but if anything, I've become more accepting of the unsung and workmanlike material from bands that in previous years I would have dismissed out of hand. I am also very partial towards the post-punk era, and the UK acts from the period in particular, so don't expect too mush drama. THE TRACKS Side one "Going Up" - Atmospheric, energetic and dark with our opener. Just what I would have expected. I think a lot of the music from acts like this owe much more of a debt to 60s psych and garage than most might think, and this comes off like a solid mix of some elements from that along with a decidedly krautrock influence in the rhythm section. McCulloch himself, like probably all of the singers from this period cannot help but to wear the Bowie influences on his sleeve. Maybe a tiny bit of Jim Morrison thrown in as well. "Stars Are Stars" - Man, that guitar tone... whoo. Perfection to me. For a debut album, the band is showing a lot of craft and the steady hand to deliver it. While maybe not fully formed, they are closer than most at this point. This one kind of does it all, and has a kind of wall of sound quality ( good connotations there) that I'd stack up against some of the more experienced bands of the time. I think The Cure ( they will come up a lot in this review as they're sort of my measure of success for all the acts that were all circling similar aural territory) didn't get there until their second. "Pride" - There's that motorik beat again to start us off. McCulloch leans heavier into the MOrrison vibes for his coals here, and we're lead along by a great bass line accented with some interested bits like a xylophone. This is crunchy in a Gang of Four way, and full of enough texture that it lands well enough, but doesn't quite make it over the edge into greatness for me. "Monkeys" - This one does though. The Band is one of the few 80s acts I think that can ( occasionally) stand toe to toe with U2 for sheer epicness. Simple Minds is maybe the other big touchstone in that regard. Here it comes across largely in the short chorus which soars very effectively over the heads of a lot of bands who try this same trick. "Crocodiles" - This one hits as well. The energy on display, generated from the driving rhythm section, and sustained by the ringing guitar lasts right up until the last note, and sacrificed not an ounce of tunefulness at the expense of all that power. Side two "Rescue" - This one feels much more in line with what their sound would develop into. A cleaner, more relaxed and confident sound, that doesn't bounce so hard off of a mainstream radio so hard. This is one I do occasionally hear on a certain satellite radio channel, and while it plays second fiddle to their biggest hit, I think is comparable in quality to "Bring on the Dancing Horses", "The Cutter", or "Lips Like Sugar". "Villiers Terrace" - Another one that's fine enough, but which never hits those great heights and stays very squarely in the middle of the lane. "Pictures on My Wall" - Here we go. Some gothy synths, the deep watery bass line, and the thunder effects on this downbeat number certainly push them towards, but not completely into, spooky bats and capes territory. Not sure they have ever been considered a goth band though. Like the Cure they probably did influence some goth bands though. they are just too bright and poppy in other regards. "All That Jazz" - This was decent if a bit simple compared to everything around it. Getting some Banshees vibes off this, though not sure who would have been influencing who at this stage. "Happy Death Men" - The goth-adjacent rep must have only been fueled by this track. Subject matter, the discordant touches, the echoey vocals, and the all around dark atmosphere serve the idea well that these guys were possibly chumming around with the likes of Bauhaus. Maybe not Sisters of Mercy though. There's too much glam left in them here to go full goth. The Doors "The End" is definitely a chaotic touchpoint for how this wraps up though. Wonderful. HIGHLIGHTS - "Going Up" - "Stars Are Stars" - "Monkeys" - "Crocodiles" - "Rescue" - "Pictures on My Wall" - "Happy Death Men" MIDLIGHTS - "Pride" - "Villiers Terrace" - "All That Jazz" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS The story goes that if Ian McCulloch hadn't been such a bell end during press, the band would have gotten a better shake. I'm not so sure though unless all this praise I'm seeing is all just 20/20 hindsight. Seems like the critics liked their stuff just fine. And in the few interview snippets I've watched it seems pretty obvious McCulloch is trying to be funny. Maybe he was more of a jerk behind the scenes and it made existing as a cohesive unit an untenable situation. Who knows. I can say it doesn't really seem like any sort of tragedy to me considering they released a good six albums during their heyday, with another six over the years as a legacy act. So I can't exactly feel sorry for them or mourn some sort of Cire-like career they might have had. I think this seems about right, and likely they got a better shake than most. Musically this was all gravy to me. The whole thing sits right in my wheelhouse, and I could easily see throwing this on in the future. I see we have two more albums by these guys waiting in the wings, and I'm looking forward to them. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nah FURTHER LISTENING - Boy by U2 - From the Lions Mouth by The Sound - Seventeen Seconds by The Cure - Script of the Bridge by The Chameleons - The Blurred Crusade by The Church
"Crocodiles" is a solid debut album. The melodies are creative and interesting, and the musicianship is first-rate.
bom pra cacete hein pqp o sentimento de escuridão e miséria nesse aqui é brutal tá doido
climinha RUIM nesse daqui, coisa boa demais. ainda tem umas guitarrinha boa pra caramba aqui hein bão DEMAIS. mas ainda nao eh o peak deles né, só um ótimo debut!!
Пост-панк как пост-панк, добавил, конечно, себе, но вряд ли часто возвращаться буду
Pretty cool. The song writing is interesting and I especially enjoyed the guitars. I think they sound a bit like U2 at times. Favorites: Do It Clean, Villers Terrace, All that Jazz. The only song I didn't like was Happy Death Man. The rest were okay and could probably grow on me with repeated listens.
I like new wave and goth. It’s just atmospheric and fun. I liked the other album (Porcupine) maybe a little more overall, but I enjoyed this debut
Did not expect to like the album as much as I did. Standouts were "Crocodiles", "Rescue" , "Villiers Terrace" and "All That Jazz". The bass and guitar was really great.
Much as I like Echo and the Bunnymen, this wouldn't be my favourite of their albums. But I'd certainly rate this a solid 4. In the club I used to frequent in the early 80s, there was a punter who looked like McCulloch. His Pernod and black got spilt on my jacket, leaving a near permanent stain. I don't think it was the real McCulloch!
Uncharacteristically huge sounding post-punk. Still rather goth-y and dark, bery anthemic, reminiscent of early early U2, I wonder why they didn't become such as big. I love the way the cover photograph is lit, such an otherworldly feel. And their two other albums on this list are even better. Key tracks: Stars Are Stars Pride Pictures on My Wall Happy Death Men
This was good. Can definitely hear the influence on The Cure.
Spikier than their later stuff, really good
All day
Cerramos semana cortísima con el debut de los grosos de Echo And The Bunnymen. Qué género hermoso el punk y todo lo que generó: que el post-punk, que lo gótico, que el new wave y el darkwave. Y así hasta el infinito. Hasta la semana que viene.
7/10
I think I only ever had the compilation album "Songs to Learn and Sing" back in the day, so I probably haven't heard this many tracks from Echo and the Bunnymen before today, but this is a solid album and I enjoyed it, especially on what was an otherwise dreadful day. Rescue and Do It Clean are classics, but the rest is good too.
I just listened some of the first second and thi is already so cool, i love it. (but now i have to go to sleep)
I'm familiar with their later work, but not at all with this album. Which is a shame, as I bloody loved it! Fantastic post-punk tunes, with really fab basslines, wonderful songs and overall a marvellous package. Highly recommended, I'm a bit surprised at the level of hate in some of the reviews!!
8/10
Cracking album! Never heard any of these songs before but not a bad track on the album and worthy of a place on the list, for me. 4
A PRETTY GOOD ALBUM TO BE HONEST, didn't expect the vibes I got Today´s Bird: Green Frogmouth
4/5 I need more of this in my life
It's hard to rate something like this objectively or explain why you like it sometimes when something is just your kind of shit. It's a shame this album ends on Happy Death Man, though, which was by far my least favorite track. You know when you flip back over to your music app to check on how long of a song is left, because the song is that distractingly annoying? Yeah.
This band is awesome. They are referenced in the movie High Fidelity, that's probalby why I looked into them years ago. I've also heard Tom Petty mention them in interviews. I've also listened them a lot on satelite radio and random playlists, but never an album all the way through. 4/5 Bands I hear: fugazi, the replacements, the cure
love the raw sound, guess i listened to newer stuff, no memorable songs sadly, but pretty good impression of the album
I feel transported into a dark and smokey club circa the late 80s when there was only one place to be, exactly where ever you were. No phones to distract or show other places more enticing. Just one timeline. The sound of a low beat creating the heart beat for everyone - synchronicity.
Slightly jangly
Not really paid much attention to EaTB. They're a talented bunch with some great tracks. This album is pretty good, but I can't be sure I'll go back often. Some times a bit "The Cure" other times I can hear some U2. They're probably understated, so they get a 4.
Crocodiles is full of some pretty good post-punk new wave. I really like the sound this album has, it's pretty reminiscent of what The Cure were doing around this time. I also haven't heard anything they've done outside of Ocean Rain, and while it's not as good as it, it's still great, especially being their debut album. I really liked "Monkeys" and its sound, although the whole album's pretty great. Favorite Song: "Monkeys"
Pretty good
Enjoying this, 4 stars
Toto ma potešilo, ale keďže Echo bolo u mňa vždy tak trochu v úzadí, dávam 4.
imagine this is a 4.5
Enjoyed this. Chill and fun vibes.
I mean this is pretty cool. Great for a debut. I dunno if I'll return to it but I'm glad to have listened.
Legitimately very, very good. Not my usual cup of tea but I like this. Best Song: Stars are Stars Rating: 8/10 Stars: 4
It's alright
I think Kyle would love it. It's kind of dadrock-y and maybe a little psychedelic. It's fine.
It's certainly good stuff, but it's a bit basic compared to Ocean Rain. 3.5 bumped up to 4.
Höga förvätningar, blev glad då detta är mammas favorit band, men inte helt överväldigad, vissa låtar bra som hamnade i listan men mycket ganska lätt att glömma bort, men glad med musik i min smak efter ganska mycket dåligt....
As for my own encounter with Echo it would have been far from being a cool kid and seeing them in constant rotation with 'The Cutter' on MTV. The first record I bought was probably Self Titled, which indelibly imprinted me with Bunnymen devotion. Rolling backwards in the discography went from lavishly beatific with Ocean Rain, but then driving darker and more aggressive until Porcupines. It's raw, like an amateur, angry teen garage band, but with deft imagery, presentation and presence. Mad Liverpudlian Lads. Cool post-punk, pre-new wave, cool defiance like The Fleshtones. Now I'm eager to see whether there are more Bunnymen records on this list, because I'd love to give a 5 to Heave Up Here and Self Titled, which I can probably still sing the whole records by heart. Oh, and let's please not forget Ian's solo records.
I was served up their 1983 release, Porcupine earlier in the project and can confidently say that Echo and the Bunnymen rank in my top 5 discoveries from the 1001 project. Though I would rank Porcupine above Crocodiles, this is still a fantastic brooding album with excellent layers of sound and remarkable vocals from McCulloch. I found it interesting that this release had me thinking of the Doors at times, not something I recall considering on my first listen of Porcupine. I look forward to exploring more of their catalog as I can absolutely understand why they are considered such a prominent post-rock act. 4 stars
Decent rock album from the 80’s is better than I expected and the music is pretty good. I didn’t get bored nor it was corny. It was good rock music without yet reaching glam rock style in full. So yep just enjoyable
Great post punk, just let it play and even enjoy
New wave punk… que recuerdos
I really Didn’t know much about echo and the bunnymen. It always sound like a joke name to me. My favorite song that I had heard by them is the their cover of “People are Strange” for the Lost Boys soundtrack. Listening now to this album I like what’s going on. At the time between the name and the people I knew who were listening to them, I could not take this as a serious band. That’s a major mistake on my part. This is good music. I do wonder how many bands would be bigger if not for their fans. Echo and the Bunnymen fans were always depressed, cynical, knew everything and quick to tear you down for anything you liked at all. I had the same experience with Happy Mondays fans. On track two now. I really like this. The songs are good so far and the vocals and harmonies are good. I really enjoy “Crocodiles”. There’s a punk edge to it, but still rock and roll. “Read it in books is a killer track”. Listening to this album makes me realize how great music is out there that I have not heard yet and how hard it is to be a teenager. No one just lets you grow up. You’re always fighting something.
Big yes from me
I actually like this band. This album would have worked for me back in the day. Ultimately, this is another one of those albums where I would like to have a half point scoring capacity.....well see where I end up.
Album #22 Echo and the Bunnymen: Crocodiles I was already surprised to see one of my favourite bands, Echo and the Bunnymen, show up once on this list in only my second album; though it did make sense that their crowning achievement, Ocean Rain, would make the cut, but now, after just twenty more albums, they have made their second appearance. I do, however, think that they are deserving of multiple placements, of course, and can see why their debut “Crocodiles” was chosen, as it was truly an innovative album for post-punk; ushering in the grandiose and dreamlike production of post-punk whilst maintaining the short song structure of traditional punk. But unlike the other post-punk bands of the era, Echo and the Bunnymen, whose biggest influence is very openly The Doors, introduce a psychedelic aspect to the mix. What results is truly one of the most original-sounding bands of all time that would go on to influence bands such as U2 and Arcade Fire. Though I do love this album, it might not even rank amongst my top 5 Bunnymen albums. This is mainly due to the album having fewer songs that are in my constant rotation, though the album is still very consistent and doesn’t really have a miss. For what it is, this album couldn’t receive anything less than four stars, though I am awfully biased. Best Songs: Stars Are Stars, Do It Clean, Villiers Terrace Worst Song: Happy Death Man Score Out of 10: 8.5
Going Up - 4/5 Stars Are Stars - 4/5 Pride - 4/5 Monkeys - 4.5/5 Crocodiles - 4.5/5 Rescue - 4.5/5 Villiers Terrace - 4/5 Pictures on My Wall - 3.5/5 All That Jazz - 4/5 I had never heard of this band before, but it scratches that itch I needed from listen to Joy Division and the like. A perfect mix of punk and new wave that somehow isn't as nihilistic as other contemporary records. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Monkeys, Crocodiles, Rescue
1st listen 100%, enjoyed the music. Very similar to 1980's punk scene like the Stones.
3,8 muy cool
I should have given Ocean Rain a 4, and this one is probably a 3. So I’m flip flopping them
i like it
Really good post-punk album. Absolutely loved the energy.
It's interesting to hear the band's nascent sound, which is out the blocks pretty well-developed. McCulloch's voice is slightly higher-pitched here, before the weathering of age, but still commands a rich baritone. It actually has a strain of the Bonos about it at times - and some of the tracks, such as 'Going Up' do have a whiff of early U2 (the latter following the former). 'The Pictures on My Wall' is a stand out, with it's middle eastern-infused hook, great Andy Rourke type bass line, and a bit of grit in the vocal. The synth gives it a bit of ambience. 'Do It Clean' was unexpectedly poppy, backed by a bouncing organ which all sounds like something The Go-Gos may have produced. Mainly though you have the slower burn atmospheres of 'Stars Are Stars', 'Pride' or the fantastic 'Monkeys'. A critical component is Will Sergeant's guitar, which is an effective tool of ambience and a means to an end rather than for show. Sure there are a number of more dispensable tracks ('Rescue', the title track), but the feel of the album is never compromised.
a pleasant surprise
Definitely a bop.
4 crocodiles out of 5
post-punk, new wave it is moody and dark. The bass lines are great with the underlying lead guitar parts and the vocals have enough range to not be boring. I enjoyed this and would listen to it again.
Haven’t heard this in a while!
This might be the sliding doors moment where I finally understand what all the fuss is about with Echo and the Bunnymen. Whenever I've tried in the past, including one of their other albums I've had so far during this process, I've always found them competent enough, but the music would wash over me. Turns out I'd just been listening to the wrong Bunnymen for where my tastes are at - this grabbed me from the word go, and never let go. Nice, rich bass-lines, a great drum sound, it occasionally goes for that angular style of playing akin to Wire, Magazine et al (most notably so on "Happy Death Men") but it also has a gothy, detached coldness to it. Definitely something of a revelatory listen, it's gone onto the purchase list.
W sumie fajne. Mogło być inspirowane trochę Joy Division albo tak wtedy grali. Ale tak na 4.
This album is filled with great tunes, but it didn't resonate with me tonight as much as I thought it would for some reason. Still great though
I love Echo and the Bunnymen, but there are only a couple albums I personally feel hold up all the way through, and this isn't one of them. It is a very good album, but this album mostly is just impressive for how original it was at the time, a couple good singles, and promise of what they would do. As a whole, it's good but not great, especially compared to some of their other albums.
Yeah…will listen to more
Clean crisp production, great sound if somewhat dated and limited. I was never a fan of this 80s vocal style which 90% of British male singers adopted. But the songs are mostly great. I first knew the band from The Lost Boys, then a few singles, then by appearing on a Manics song. Never heard a full album before.
The post-punk explosion was in full swing by the dawn to the 1980s thanks to the emerging presence of Joy Division, John Lydon's shift from the Sex Pistols to the more experimental Public Image Ltd. and some newer players like The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Liverpool had their own answer to this movement: Echo and the Bunnymen: and their debut record, 'Crocodiles', would make a determined case that popular music was looking at its hottest Liverpool property since The Beatles. With the darkly alluring vocals of Ian McCulloch, the swirling, chorus-drenched guitar or Will Sergeant, the driving bass lines of Les Pattinson and the rolling drums of Pete de Frietas, 'Crocodiles' has all the critical elements of Echo and the Bunnymen already there, although with more of the raw punk energy and less of the deep, sensual melodies that would define their peak works in the mid 80s (Ocean Rain, self-titled). With unique hits such as 'Rescue' and 'Pictures on My Wall', Echo and the Bunnymen already sound brimming with confidence and personality, which would help grow their status as one of Britain's most prominent acts from the post-punk/goth era. They may not be as musically dense as The Cure nor as witty and sharp as The Smiths, but Echo and the Bunnymen had their own unique that won them over plenty of fans in the 80s. Getting it right on the first go with 'Crocodiles' was only the beginning. Best songs: Going Up, Crocodiles, Rescue, Pictures on my Wall
It's a link between British post-punk and early neo psychedelia, great album. Happy Death Man is a fantastic song to finish the album.
Enjoyed album. Worth listen
Good, but missing the standout Bunnymen tracks, so I don't feel like a 1001 essential album. 3.5/5
Great record. I have loved E&tB since I was a teen.
Echo’s influence in the 1980s was quite broad. Dorm music!!
Always sorta liked this band, but never really center stage for me, but listening now it's pretty clear what a big (and important) break they helped form from punk, prior to the onslaught of shitty synth bands.
Darker than I thought it would be. A couple of songs were reminiscent of Joy Division. Pleasantly surprised!
115/1001 Echo and the Bunnymen - Crocodile Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ One of those bands where I'm trying to figure out why I haven't listened to them sooner... It's one of those albums that incorporates the post-punk with the more energetic sounds, along with goth elements. It may have dropped off a little towards the end, but a great debut.
Good stuff.
High 3 I think, sounds of the 90s which aren't my favorite but definitely a little ahead of it's time
3.5
Prior to this, I hadn't heard much from this band outside of the track on the Donnie Darko soundtrack. This is really good post-punk, proto-goth, new wave-ish stuff. I even have a discount shirt that I snagged in one of those mystery bag type offers -- i can wear it and not feel like a poser now.
I like it. Not as depressing as their later work. Favorite song: crocodiles.
Un buen ejemplo de lo que el rock británico en los años 80 era. Saliendo de la efervescencia del punk para adoptar formas más sofisticadas (The Cure, Siouxie and the Banshees, etc) Echo and the Bunnymen representaban una línea que abrazaba sonidos oscuros y atmósferas cargadas que ya destacaban en este primer disco. Yo los idolatré con “Porcupine”, que llevaba ese estilo a lo más alto. Pero nunca fui atrás para escuchar con atención sus comienzos. Ahora me resultan algo cargantes, pero se reconoce ese toque propio que además ha influenciado a muchas bandas posteriores. “Billiard Terrace”, “Pride” y “Stars Are Stars” están entre mis favoritas.
Quite nice.
I love how this has this punky goth vibe without losing its pop flavor.
Pretty cool, pretty fun
Fun project, wish I were around to hear this live back when it first dropped. I was already a big fan of a few of these tracks after hearing them on one of their compilations, but within the context of the album they're even better sounding. Bangin basslines and classic 80s post punk darkness whats not to love. Catchy as hell with a solid variety of songs throughout.
Show gazing
I need to check more out from them, but I really dug this.
Awesome album. Happy discovering this band. They sound like king gizzard from 1980 and the album was fresh and unique. Great vibes and I’m surprised I’ve never heard of them. Loved it
3.5 stars
Great debut album. Very moody with dark vibes. Love the post punk 80s era.
Really liked this one - had a bit of a creepy atmospheric sound and moves into gothic territory especially towards the end. Surprised it's the debut as they seem to have control of their sound already.
Drumming is iconic in early 80s
Early Bunnymen…saw them when they were touring this. Thought it was interesting then and still do. Of its time but still strong
This was great, the drums are so moody throughout. Saw them 10 years ago and I’d done some prep before hand so remember some of these. Rescue is the highlight of the album, Do It Clean could have be made by the Monkees if they did post punk but I like that. Looking forward to more
I’ve meant to listen to these guys for a looong time because I knew they had influenced so many of the bands I enjoy today. It all makes sense to me now. I liked this. It was a long overdue listen and won’t be the last.
Good shit
A breath of fresh air after yesterday's 3-hour jazzathon. Went for a big cycle up the Mournes and played this twice, brilliant stuff. Absolutely love the jangly guitars in this. The drums in the outro to Happy Death Men are unreal.
Crocodiles by Echo & The Bunnymen is one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite bands. The Bunnymen’s lyrics have always been a little surreal and don’t necessarily make sense—that’s part of their appeal. What really makes them stand out is their sound and style, and this album shows that off brilliantly. Tracks like Rescue, Do It Clean and Going Up are absolute bangers, though there are a few filler moments that stop it from being perfect. For me, that’s why Ocean Rain edges it as my favourite Bunnymen record overall. That said, Crocodiles is still a strong 4/5. Favourite track: Rescue and Villers Terrace Least favourite track: None in particular Album artwork: A very cool, striking cover
I’ve made efforts in the last to get into Echo and the Bunnymen and haven’t quite been able to have them leave a lasting impression. Their debut album is good. Not breaking new ground from what was happening in the genre at the time, but they clearly knew what they were doing and that they were worth posting attention to.
One of the great debut albums!
Loved it! Never heard this one before.
i really love the sound of their voice it’s so satisfying. really liked the pictures on my wall
Premier album de E&TB. Je connnaissais rien de ce band à part peut-être The Killing Moon. Il se passe pas graaaand chose dans cet album pour l'instant, sauf la voix de Ian McCullogh, et le band qui construit son identité, son son, le mood est important. Mais ça sonne très proche de ce qui se fait à l'epoque, dans le New Wave / Post Punk. J'apprécie l'écoute ceci dit. Le single principal est Rescue, une pièce pas mal moins dark/moody que le reste de l'album In his review of the album for Smash Hits, Ian Cranna said that the album was "proof positive that there's just no substitute for a good song delivered with power and emotion."
Crocodiles over Ocean Rain??????? They better both be on here. This is a great proto album but I'm not sure it needs to be on this list. I love Ocean Rain, I am a fan of Porcupine, but this album is very much the Bunnymen working towards those two albums. It's still very good, it has that darker sometimes creepy edge that I like more than a lot of their contemporaries but this one is a still a little devoid of that at times. Do It Clean is the standout and the popularity supports that, but it's hard to rate this higher than a high three or the lowest 4 when I know the gas that's coming.
Only knew later records by them, this one is punky and the bass is really holding down the melodies. I liked this quite a bit. I like where they end up, but this was really cool to hear after that awful Live at the Witch Trials record from the Fall. This is so much better. Also Bill Drummond produced this and I can't wait for us to get KLF. Feeling 4/5
Very good debut album of which I was unfamiliar with…familiar with later Bunnymen, this was a welcome listen, a start to hopping down the Bunny trail.
Favourites: Do It Clean, Stars Are Stars, Monkeys, Crocodiles, Villiers Terrace
Cool
I know they all rode motorbikes
Nice stuff. None of the songs stuck out but I'm interested in listening again.
not sure why i hadn't really given them a chance but they are pretty good
Good stuff
Definitely Echo and the Bunnymen. Not as iconic as some of their later work, but clearly and distinctly their style and a great debut album.
Not bad
Crocodiles nails that gritty, moody 80's alt-rock sound with raw vocals and jangly, echo-drenched guitars that make it feel like you're wandering through a rainy dreamscape in a leather jacket.
love it
The dawn of the initial wave of post-punk gave us plenty of records to choose from, and Crocodiles by Echo and the Bunnymen is one of those that proves its worth and then some, documenting the band in its beginning stages looking to become the band they were meant to be; the potential is there and the songs on here says as much. Favorites: Going Up, Stars Are Stars, Pride, Crocodiles, Rescue, Read It in Books, The Pictures on My Wall, Happy Death Men.
Crocodiles nestles very comfortably between The Cure and The Smiths
Fantástico
Really interesting. On first listen I feel like it's alternating between early smiths style jangle pop and gang of four or even fugazi. There is definitely something about that guitar and bass tone that feels smithsy. Something about the playing too! I'm now getting interpol! (obviously the later acts will be influenced by these guys)
All right, this was actually a very fun vibe. Some kind of spooky stuff, some just nice dark background listening.
Good band. Good album. Solid 80’s post-punk.
Part of the Post-Punk New-Wave movement with a bit of Neo-Psychedelia for good measure. Reminded me of The Teardrop Explodes, so not really surprised by bonus track "Read It in Books" which is a cover of "Books" by The Teardrop Explodes.
Да нормуль епт
I'd never listened to Echo and The Bunnymen before at all and I liked this. Great guitar playing and rhythm section - I especially found the drumming really good. The lyrics are melancholy and slightly downbeat but intriguing. Definitely reminds of The Cure and Smiths who are bands I love I found it a bit droney to enjoy for a full album so not quite 5* but one I might revisit for another spin
Saved
Another album I wouldn't have appreciated a few years ago. Very much in line with The Cure, it's chill but alternative. Glad I listened to this.
Highlights: Going Up, Villiers Terrace. In a nutshell: jangly emo post-punk Note: the UK LP has ten songs and the US LP edition has twelve songs. Your experience may vary. I listened to the US LP. As a debut, it's good. Is it distinctive compared to their peers also appearing in the book (The Cure, S&TB, etc)? Not really. Worth a listen though. Overall: 7/10
Oyes
I've never gone deep on this band and I hope they have another album or two on this list because this was very very cool. Was U2 trying to sound like these guys when they started out? Probably. Gloomy post-punk that really rocks. Must-listen #153.
Solid debut album. I enjoy their later work better, but this good too.
I do like the raw, dark post-punk sound on this. It might even be their best album. It’s a good one, but not in the same class as Joy Division who define the this genre.
I’m definitely an Echo fan. Very cool record with some “hits” on it.
Seemed more rock then some of their later albums. A pretty good listen.
I liked this one. Sort of got that New Wave from England vibe. Pretty decent album I'll listen to again.
Pretty good!! I was hoping for more new wave vibes but this was mostly post-punk, so I’m not complaining.
1. Going Up - 7/10 2. Stars Are Stars - 7/10 3. Pride - 8/10 4. Monkeys - 8/10 5. Crocodiles - 8.5/10 6. Rescue - 8/10 7. Villiers Terrace - 7.6/10 8. Pictures on My Wall - 8/10 9. All That Jazz - 8/10 10. Happy Death Men - 8/10 11. Do It Clean - 8.2/10 12. Read It in Books - 7.5/10 8/10
Somehow they are the missing link between the Stooges and Arcade Fire. Moody and emotional they have a compelling sound. I love the driving rhythm section. There is plenty to like here.
Grooooovy. I love post-punk like this, there's just such an energy to it.
This is just absolutely brilliant . Such a nice vibe . So easy to listen to . Didn’t feel like 40 mins which is good . And all the songs sounded different in my opinion . I just really fucking loved it . WOW
Very good!!
80s post-punk my beloved 🖤
This band is a bit of a conundrum for me. I enjoy the whole listening experience but there isn’t a song that I feel compelled to listen to by itself. So I guess that makes it a good album? 4/5
I rate Rescue a 3 star because its like country and i dont really like country bu the guitar is good and the drums are good and beat ⭐⭐⭐. I rate do it clean a 3 star because its like country and i dont really like country bu the guitar is good and the drums are good and beat ⭐⭐⭐. I rate crocidiel a 3 star because its like country and i dont really like country bu the guitar is good and the drums are good and beat ⭐⭐⭐.
I thought the cover looked interesting. I liked "Rescue" because it was upbeat. The guitar was really good. The lyrics are also good. "Do It Clean" was good. I liked the singing and guitar together. The lyrics weren't that great. "Crocodiles" was really good. It had an element of mystery. I really liked that. The singing is also really good. I would definitely recommend this album.
the first song is good I like how it sounds and it kinda reminds me of stone temple pilots I also like the sound of the instruments. the next song is also good I like the start and I also like how the instruments sound and I like the way the words are said I also like how the drums sound. the last sound is also good I like how the instruments sound and the way the words are said remind me of the song territorial pissings by nirvana I also like how the guitar sounds. overall I would probably recommend this to rock fans I like this album.
rescue I like this song because I can hear some drums and it is talking about like there was something wrong. do it clean I like this song because when it is talking about do it clean it is like picking up the trash . crocodiles. I like this song because it is taking about like when he has blue alligator shoes.
Pretty cool
Great album. Another that makes me ask “why have I not listened to this yet?!” But I love that aspect of discovery. I may not have ever listened to Echo and the Bunnymen without this list.
Пост-панк є одним із моїх улюблених жанрів останній час. В особливості, якщо ми говоримо про його «класичний» період. У першому випуску Essentials, який був присвячений цій темі, я вже казав, що пост-панк для мене - це, в першу чергу, про артистизм та відхід від загальноприйнятих канонів, при чому як музично, так і ідеологічно. І цей дебютний альбом Echo & the Bunnymen - є одними із тих хто наявно ілюструє собою цю «естетичну революцію». В основі Crocodiles лежить вже, більш-менш, визначене, трохи готичне, пост-панк звучання, які заклали інші британські гурти, такі як Siouxsie & The Banshees та Joy Division, але у випадку наших героїв - тут присутній ще один важливий елемент «деконструкції», а саме класичного психоделічного року, та ідеології кінця 60-х. У музиці та текстах Crocodiles чітко відстежується вплив психоделічних легенд - The Doors, та більш «артових» - The Velvet Underground (дехто, навіть називає цей альбом «puncadelic»), але з акцентом на похмурість, страх та «невротичність». Наркотична культура більше не подається тут як щось «радісне» та «обʼєднуюче», а навпаки - висвітлюється її темний бік. Це дуже і дуже крутий альбом, що безперечно, буде мати величезний вплив на альтернативний рок майбутнього, і коли ми обирали альбоми для Post-Punk Essentials, то довго думали - чи включати цей альбом у список. І він, на жаль, до нього не потрапив, але не через те, що він цього негідний, а через те, що етерний, оркестровий та інтроспективний Ocean Rain (1984) здається нам «на голову вищим», тому він і зайняв його місце.
I definitely feel like I should like this more than I actually do, but I do really appreciate it. Actually, it's a good listen as well. It's not something I would turn to very often, but I can't complain about it. I enjoyed it. It gets an extra star for actually being influential enough to be on this list, as well.
Cool early post-punk with great energy. Not as polished as their later stuff but some killer guitar work. Wish I’d seen them live during this period.
A fun album, with a sort of punk adjacent sound. A good listen. I had fun, but probably won't add this to my collection.
This is a really nice album. It may not be particularly memorable and wouldn't be my first pick for this genre of rock music, but I really enjoyed listening to it. Usually I give this brand of 'nice but forgettable' music a 3.5 score, but I'm rounding it up to 4 this time because the album had no weak spots, which is rare. 4 stars
Love the early 80s new wave / alternative stuff
Love me some classic Goth music
Great
All this time I didn't know the UK release was missong two tracks. I feel short changed. The list is missing the best one out the first three in Heaven Up Here.
Bien aimé le côté sombre, dépouillé et sobre
I really enjoyed this album especially the title track
Dark and brooding, yet soothing
I like all the components - the dark atmospheric sound, the modulated guitars and cutting bass tone, the slow brooding feel, the 60s psych and 70s punk influences, the detached booming vocals - but it doesn't all come together as much as it should into great songs. Favorites: rescue, all that jazz, crocodiles,
This was a fun album. It has a really good artistic vibe, but just enough weirdness to be concerning haha. I like that this album or band definitely have their own identity and it's something I could see listening to again.
Echo and the Bunnymen's debut album is a lot different than their later works. I still maintain that Porcupine is their best overall album, with Ocean Rain not too far behind. This album is definitely a beginning to something greater. Lots of good music on it. Top tracks: Going Up Pride Rescue Pictures on My Wall 4/5
Pretty listenable, with some interesting songs, but nothing special. Feels like there's a hint of sadness in this album, and I kinda believe in it.
This album feels like a bridge to Porcupine. Thanks to this challenge, I've become a bona fide Bunnymen fan - a bit ironic since I've seen them twice live but vowed never again due to Ian's alcoholism. It's all good. I can still love an appreciate a band for their craft.
Great album.
Eerie tones cascade And reverberate inside A slow dancing soul
whew
This will be my second Echo and The Bunnymen album to review, after Ocean Rain. I gave Ocean Rain four stars, and after reading my short review, I didn’t say anything negative about it that would explain to me why I gave it four stars instead of five. But alas, here we are. I did get to see these guys in concert back in May (it was sadly not a great show, but such is life), and in the weeks leading up to the show, I checked out a few songs off this album so I would be familiar with more of their catalog. Still, I’m not terribly familiar with this album, and I’m excited for the chance to listen to it. I didn’t enjoy Crocodiles as much as I enjoy listening to Ocean Rain, but I still thought it was a really good album. Crocodiles had everything I’d expect from E&TB: Ian McCulloch’s great vocals, excellent guitar playing, and an atmosphere so thick that you could cut it with a knife. The rhythm section on this album is fantastic as well, which adds a unique element to the sound of the album, and sets E&TB apart from other post-punk bands at this time. I hear a lot of Joy Division in the music of this album, which isn’t a bad thing, because it never feels derivative, but McCulloch’s vocal style is so different than Ian Curtis’s, and that further helps separate E&TB from the bands that influenced them. Crocodiles gets better as it goes along and you familiarize yourself with its sound; “Rescue,” “Pictures on My Wall,” and “All That Jazz” were my favorites on the album, with “Monkeys” and the title track also standing out to me. There were a few songs on the album that sounded like filler, but with a fairly concise run time, I didn’t feel like they dragged the album down too much. I’m excited for Porcupine when it comes up, and I hope by then that I’ll have a good Crocodiles/Porcupine joke for the occasion.
Post punk ‘80’s goodness.
Lot better than what I was expecting given how much i disliked the last echo and the bunnymen album. Also echo and the bunnymen is a stupid name
Fantastic.
I like this album a bit more than the other two I've heard here. Being their debut, it's a bit more raw and intense. It feels very gothic and dark.
I'm more familiar with their later more-lush material but it's interesting to hear their raw origins. I'm getting echoes (no pun intended, truly) of very early U2 in production and vocals, without the passion (or tuning, at times...) but also maybe without as much annoyance? The music still had a little ways to go, although it's still eminently listenable. Particular standouts were bass (Les Pattinson) and the dissonant chordal structure which has been a slow burn... An impressive debut, I'd been thinking 3 all along but after a 2nd spin I'm giving extra credit for a first record ... 7/10 4 stars.
Very nice surprise
Probably my third best E&TB, after Heaven Up Here and Ocean Rain. It has no business being included here but I won't complain since it's really good and at least it's not some UK third rate downtempo as usual.
This album isn't necessary on this list, since the 2 other Echo albums does the trick, but hey I'm not going to spit on great Post-Punk!
This challenge offers too many Echo And The Bunnymen, but with all the shit we've been through, how can I complain about this? Awesome post-punk album!
My second Sunday in a row with an Echo and the Bunnymen record--I'm not complaining. Not as great as their other records on this list, but still pretty excellent and an enjoyable listen.
brit
Fantastic… Essential melodic garage indie rock. And so vibrant
Ian and the lads' debut, and while it holds all the hallmarks of their future great works, it's a little bit scratchier in places, and doesn't quite have the expansive sound of later epic songs like Killing Moon or Seven Seas, and certainly is more reserved than something later like Dancing Horses. Never the less, it's still great, and further cements their 'best band of the 80s' status.
Pretty chill listen. Overall, good vibe.
Not as great as Ocean Rain or Porcupine but a flash of what they would become. Definitely true originals.
This band has all the ingredients for what I love, but for some reason I just can't fully get behind it. It is very good still with some stuff that really clicks with me. I just can't determine why I like it but don't love it
It's weird that this is reflective of both late 70s/early 80s counter culture and also 50s rock and roll. Not sure what to make of that but it's interesting.
A favorite when new wave was new.
The first band I ever saw live (albeit in 2014, well past their creative peak). The Bunnymen are a true standard bearer for British alternative music in the 1980s, with their dark bent on 60s psychedelia filtered through the punk rock gaze. Ian McCulloch's surrealist but potent lyrical imagery coupled with Will Sargeant's economical twang and Les Paterson's spidery bass lines is a combination that produces a sound that description fails to do justice. That being said, I've always felt that on Crocodiles you're only really getting this concoction in embryonic form. Sargeant's playing is economical but effective on their later work, whereas here it is just slightly too restrained. Ditto McCulloch's songwriting, lacking the sinister whimsy that would appear on their masterpiece, Ocean Rain. Still, for an album release in 1980, this is still well ahead of the curve, and it remains a really solid piece of post-punk gold.
Good album. Not as good as the others but I can still enjoy it.
Kinda like the doors and stuff from the 70’s, good stuff
Sounds very 80s. Enjoyed. 4/5
Wow richtig richtig gut!!! Klingt sehr wie joy division nur bissl weniger deprimierend, ich würde 4.5 geben könnte ich
Previously rated: Ocean Rain (3/5) ********************* I liked this one a bit better. It's more rock. One song sounded kind of like Billy Idol. I liked it well enough to listen again.
I really liked this album. I do agree that this list is a little heavy on 80s British post punk/new wave but I enjoy most of it so it works out. For a first album I think this is a really strong record, especially in a genre that was so new at the time. I feel like they may have been trying a little too hard with the cover but I guess it fits with the whole theme of the album - dark and moody with a kind of hopelessness about the state of the world. Or maybe that's thinking about it too much. Anyway, I liked this album a lot and will definitely be coming back to it at some point. 4/5
I liked this and I think I could add it to my playlists with no issue. I don't know what is special about this though considering there's many similar albums.
Very interesting, I enjoyed this one a lot. It's always nice to find a good album from some group I've never heard of. Highlight is the first half, lowlight is the last song.
Love those 80s memories!
When I received it, I thought: "Do we really need a third Echo And The Bunnymen album on the 1001 list?" I was not expecting this kind of album; where did all this rawness go in their later albums? They are a good group, but this album should be much more highlighted than any of their latest releases. Their debut is the best for me.
First time listening to these guys, British new wave/ punk rock played very well. Good album, a bit on the dark side.
Atmospherically dense, low-fi but still very nicely produced. Happy to have been presented a somehow essential piece of this influential indie/wave band.
Dark and moody post-punk. Loved it.
Excellent debut album
Damn.
For something that is over 40 years old it still sounds fresh. Timeless.
This was very much up my alley! While it was less musically distinct, I liked it nearly as much as the other Echo & The Bunnymen album I recently listened to; it’s a little less melodramatic, maybe. Favorite tracks: Crocodiles, Pictures on the Wall, All That Jazz
“Post punk” is a lame way to categorize a music genre. But, for me, so is “alternative.” Doesn’t do much by way of describing what we’re hearing. But if you have to put things in pigeon holes, “post punk” is as good a term as any, I suppose. And Echo is as good as any band from that era. Too bad they didn’t have the staying power of some of their contemporaries, like U2. Wonder if it was because they couldn’t or wouldn’t incorporate pop elements into their style?
I love me some First Wave post-punk, and E&TB are definitely of that sound, but I don't see what's so particularly monumental about this album. It's darn good, but did it launch a dozen copycat bands? Introduce a new sound to an instrument that everyone scurried to copy? No. But it's a pretty typical slice of early 80's indie pop. Not bad.
Really liked it, especially keeping it tight (less than 40 minutes). Good energy.
Heard of the band but never listened to them. Definitely enjoyed this one. Reminded me a lot of INXS.
Ice cold, dark and brooding. Simultaneously released on the same day as Closer, a post punk, urban industrial sound ushering in the decade. The Liverpool / Manchester rivalry magnified differences in tone and production which time has eroded In truth this fertile corner plot of north west English produced a distinctive clang whose chimes continue to echo through the decades
This is a light score, as I think for a debut the Echo & the Bunnymen sound is already pretty established, but you can tell they are also trying to go for that stereotypical goth rock sound established by Siouxsie and the Banshees, and it can leave this album feeling like it doesn't have a sound to call its own. Hell, if I didn't know better I'd be calling this a Cure rip-off, but obviously it is much more than that. It's cryptic, but less cold and mysterious, more chaotic and warm, and it leads to a lot of odd moments that can come off as charming, but dated, and I think that's how I would describe this whole album. It's important to see the start of an important post-punk group, and it is solid, but it does little to stand-out in a crowd, and I even think their later releases out class it in every way. However, comparisons aside, this is still a good little record, with enough there to be praised on its own merits, it's only the passage of time holding it back, truly.
Very enjoyable album.
Nice.
A different flavour to this band compared to their later records - its rawer and more post punk - and has a very strong Side A. The energy tapers in the second half of the record but it’s still listenable. A good record.
Extra star because it’s the Bunnymen.
Great debut where you can already hear the sound they'll polish and improve further down track
Solid album, can see the brilliance shining through to be carried forward to future albums
There’s an intentionally isolating effect to Echo And The Bunnymen that makes them difficult to get into. I know, I’ve been trying for years. But when you get it, let yourself mire in the psychedelic soundscape for a while, it becomes absorbing in a way that only a few Post-Punk albums from this era can be. The Bunnymen are not quite as good as Joy Division or The Cure, but they’re certainly a good third place. And that’s something that nobody can take away from them
solid. does not reach the heights of the postpunk greats, for me, but a very pleasant listen. let it be said here that I regret giving the Go-Go's only a 3 back at the start of this project. I didn't realize then that I would look at 'pretty good, no particular song highlights' as a welcome reprieve from the overall 1001 albums taste. & I think that is harder to do as an upbeat band than a moody one like this Echo & the Bunnymen album. sorry Go-Go's. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
What did Echo & The Bunnymen do to warrant me dissing them in my review of The Cure? Nothing, in fact. Apparently I’ve only heard a few E&TB songs, and one of those I think I thought was The Cure. (“The Killing Moon,” which when covered by Chvrches a couple years ago I thought it was a Cure cover.) And yet, I called them out as not being as good as The Cure. I shouldn’t have judged them without really listening. So now that I’ve listened? Well, apparently there are 3 E&TB on the list, and this is our first at #818, so we’ll be getting more soon. But the songs listed as their most listened are not as good as The Cure. But the songs from their debut, “Crocodile,” are not their top songs. And they’re much better. “Crocodile” came out in 1980, before the 80s became too 80s. “Crocodile” is driven by Will Sargeant’s jangly guitar and Les Pattinson’s bass grooves, and isn’t ruined by Ian McCulloch’s vocals. I enjoyed this one, but I can’t say I’m looking forward to the next two in short order though based on my sampling of their more popular work.
Nice mix of like John Mellancamp, Talking Heads and early U2. I like it. Four stars.
3.75 stars. Pretty catchy tunes and are pleasant to jam along to. Sounds very 80s with the dark guitars and distant vocals. Notable songs are "Do It Clean," where I thought the line was "I got a barrel of piss" and "Monkey" which is also catchy. You could pick any song and it would sound cool.
Rating: 8/10 Great album overall. Really enjoyed the gothic elements mixed with interesting and melodic instrumentation. Favorite songs: Going Up, Do It Clean, Rescue, Villiers Terrace, Read It in Books, The Pictures on My Wall, All That Jazz, Happy Death Men. Worst song: Stars Are Stars.
Oscuro melódico.
I had a nice pithy zinger about replaceable UK post punk bands loaded in the chamber, but damn it, this band is pretty good. This album is how I want REM to sound.
Ian McCulloch's greatest songwriter of all time is Ian McCullouch. Songs to Learn and sing is such an engrossing greatest hits that I never gelled that much with the albums.
First listen to this, and to an Echo and the Bunnymen album TBF, and it's okay. 👍
Really enjoyed this. Have to engage in some re-listens, and I'm hoping to, before it climbs any higher.
You had to be there
They have a unique sound, but they don't seem to write much that resonates with me
Very solid album. Standout songs: Crocodiles Rescue Stars are stars Pictures on my Wall
The jangly guitars shimmer in an otherwise dark landscape. Really, the songwriting is pretty undercooked and average, but it takes me away to a dreamlike place, and this sound will almost always work for me.
Moody af. Great soundtrack for letting the inner misanthrope out to play, but catchy enough to not just wallow in a pit of despair. This sort of punk-adjacent sound that I think works across multiple decades.
80’s New Wavy tunes
Early 80’s British rock
Gloomy, doomy, and atmospheric, ‘Crocodiles’ is a solid debut from the Bunnymen that gives me early Cure, U2, and Joy Division vibes, with songs full of that distinctive, jangly guitar and cavernous bass sound that seemed to be everywhere in the late 70s and early 80s. ‘Crocodiles’, ‘Monkeys’, and ‘Pride’ are my favourites here. Also ‘Do It Clean’, which is on the US version, but not on the original UK version. It should’ve been as it’s an excellent track. 3.5/5 but feeling generous today and rounding up to a 4.
I know a couple of their tunes which i really like so was delighted when this appeared. Great vocals and greats sounds i love the melancholy and the drive. Really good.
Really enjoyed revisiting this, definitely earns its place on the list
I was hoping this would happen. This album of the day thing. I had three wishes: discovering something new, Re-discovering something from the past, and making me more aware of music and genre, etc. in general. The last one is an automatic and I enjoy that aspect of this project quite a lot. The first one has, and will continue, to happen as a natural result of listening to random albums every day. The middle one, the re-introduction to something I had (sort of) forgotten is most special. Echo and the Bunnymen is a great band, I love this style and the gritty feel and always was a big fan. They just happened to slip off my radar even while going on Joy Division binges. (which I feel they share genre with). So this "re-discovery" is super appreciated and wonderful!
I think this would improve with more listens as it has an early REM feel to it and the sound of it resonates with me, so I'm going 4 here as it's a 3.5 after 1 listen.
Oscuro melódico.
Soft 4
Enjoyable
That was pretty catchy
I enjoyed many parts of this album
Pretty cool album, but the songs weren’t all that memorable.
Echo And The Bunnymen before they became *Ocean Rain*-famous. Reading the wikipedia page about this nice post-punk debut--mixing the worlds of Joy Division and Jim Morrisson--I discovered that it actually reached number 17 on the UK album chart in the year of its release. Not so bad. About the album cover, love that future KLF member Bill Drummond (who took part in the album release as a Zoo Records funder) saw the giant head of a spooky pre-Donnie-Darko rabbit in the shape suggested by the most prominent tree trunk on it. That's fitting to this hallucinatory album. Actually, now I see *two* spooky bunny heads as I'm looking at those tree trunks... (a note as I'm reading this paragraph again after having written most of my review--it's also quite spooky that this "double-vision" actually foretells what I *didn't know* I would write in my second paragraph--but more on that very soon...). So I don't have much else to say about this record--most of the tracks are great, and they all go in interesting directions. I was thus about to directly include this Echo And The Bunnymen debut in my own list of keepers when something very strange happened... Indeed, once *Crocodiles* was over, Spotify played a very nice track by another English post-punk band named The Sound--also released by the Korova label--and a band that I had never heard about before. And following the lead that this track gave me, I fell into another sort of "rabbit hole" (not related to Echo's "bunnymen" this time). Currently listening to *All Fall Down*, a supposedly "bad" album by the Sound that critics had cruelly panned at the time, and yet filled with gems. Seems like the critics were just not ready for this mix of pop and extremely dark post-punk aesthetics. And don't get me started on the (this time) critically-praised albums that were released before such a supposed artistic failure. The names of those two wonders are *Jeopardy* and *From The Lion's Mouth*. And of course, they have their share of absolute jewels as well... So now I'm kind of embarrassed. How come Ian McCullough's band reached success and Adrian Borland's did not? Not to take anything away from Echo And The Bunnymen, but at the end of the day, such *huge* difference between two equally good acts all seems so... random. And so unfair, in a way. Maybe lists such as this one should be used to make you discover even *more* obscure acts. Because world-famous bands always hide other far less famous artists, just like a bunny-head-shaped tree hides the whole forest behind it. Plus, this situation is all the more heartbreaking when you consider Borland's tragic fate, and the fact that when his band didn't manage to break out after many, many attempts, his psychological condition actually worsened. Not saying this is the root cause--you never really know about the inner workings of such diseseases. But probably an amplifying factor. Under that light, it suddenly becomes hard for me to give a 5/5 or even a 4/5 grade to *Crocodiles*. It's a nice record for sure, but even as an example of the first years of post-punk, it's certainly not as striking as early stuff by Wire, Gang of Four or... The Sound, for that matter! Rest assured that my 3.5/5 grade--given for the purposes of this list of "essential albums" and here rounded up to 4--still equals an 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5+3). Another way to say that I still consider this record as a fine example of the genre, and that it has all my respect. That said, Echo And The Bunnymen's fans should probably be well-advised to listen to The Sound's *Jeopardy*, released the exact same year as *Crocodiles*. Just to make sure they're not missing out on something actually *better*. Number of albums left to review: 271 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 322 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 179 (including this one, most probably--except if a The Sound album takes its place!) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 234
A classic 80’s album
I have never listened to an Echo and the Bunnymen album before. I love it. Really enjoyed finally hearing these guys, and will explore more of the catalog for sure!
Good post punk record. Not the classic Echo and the Bunnymen sound yet - but still a good listen.
This album was a great post-punk record. I’ve enjoyed this band throughout this project and found this album to be more straightforward in that it features more of a mainstream rock sound within the post-punk format. The songs are well balanced and accessible and the length of the album is perfect.
Song: Rescue Me I liked this vibe. I don't remember having too many strong opinions about this, but I thought it was a solid track and felt very funky and fun.
Pleasantly surprised, had no idea what I was about to get into here and was given a lovely new wave album that gave me Talking Heads vibes. Do It Clean and Happy Death Man stood out and got stuck in my head randomly. I found myself going back over and over and honestly this felt ahead of its time and musically solid and well produced. 4/5 bunny men.
Cool post punk album. Worth another listen sometime.
Good album in my opinion. I love their hits, but never bothered to dig any deeper. So, I wasn't enthused about listening to this album with a bunch of songs I have never heard of before. But I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it.
Solidan alt rokic
I love when you listen to an album you don’t listen to all that often but you have friends who do but they inspire a band you listen to all the time. Like there’s no real shoegaze without Echo. You hear so much My Bloody Valentine in this. So much Sonic Youth. Even Marilyn Manson.
A cool sounding album that would do well with a second listen, got new order vibes which is good.
This was a nice surprise. Really liked it and it’s added to the library. A different sound to their later stuff. I like Joy Division et al so why wouldn’t I like this? Sounded better on headphones and I reckon it will grow on me with more listens
Not bad. I don't like this as much as Ocean Rain but it's still pretty good.
Surprisingly good. Haven't heard of them before, but I really enjoyed the sound. Reminds me a little of the Cure mixed with David Bowie.
A great piece of work from the Bunnymen that has stood the test of time.
Cool
Excellent, groundbreaking sound. Not as good as their other album on the list.
Post-punk 80s stuff: whail-y vocals, overcrancked bass, trippy lyrics. What's not to like here? Titular track probably my favourite
love these guitars and the atmosphere, this album comes at a right moment in our 1001 albums journey, as a wake up call
Inte hört en låt från denna platta men det är ju bra. Med lite fler lyssningar så skulle det kunna bli en femma. Är inte där riktigt än.
Listened Before? No Album Art: 3 / 5 (blurry shot in a bayou type backdrop setting a shoegazey mood) I've had this on in the background while doing some mundane script writing and I've been vibing without complaint. I have a certain soft spot for these early 80s post-punk entries (a la Joy Division). First impression is that this is of a brighter (poppier) variety than the, bleak by comparison, Joy Division. I enjoy the tight drums and overall cleanliness in the mix. Also really dig the guitar and bass tone. Look forward to giving this a more focused listen in the morning. On initial impression I'd say a middling 4 / 5. After a second listen, I feel like this is a solid entry for the genre. A couple of standouts while I was listening, but I doubt I'll go out of my way to come back. So based on this, I'm going to say this is a low 4 / 5. Added to Library? No Songs Added to Playlists:
Pos punk bem tri tchê
This album surprised me, it has that raw post punk angularity but also hints at what is to come. Reverb over guitar bursts and Ian's beautiful crooning. It will all come together on the majestically cinematic Ocean Rain in a few years. But this is great it lags a little towards the end, but you can see all these interesting influences that other bands were not brave enough to explore. Its psychadelic at times and the landscape of songs vary internally. I have never really listened to much aside from Ocean Rain and I am not sure they get any better than this and Ocean Rain. Look forward to listening again.
Not too bad, nothing jumped out at me though
Crazy strong debut. The bunnies really are a vibe
Those Bunnymen really were up to something great right from the get-go.
Even though they had been kicking around in the UK for a while, this album is what introduced most of us in the U.S. to Echo and the Bunnymen. Rescue and Do It Clean were heard on New Wave/New Music stations but especially college stations. While not as popular as Porcupine or Ocean Rain, it was a solid debut, and much better than the follow up Heaven's Up Here.
intressant
I quite liked Ocean Rain, but probably haven't heard a single Echo song outside of that record. Let's see how their debut compares! God this sounds like early U2 sometimes, but since this predates U2's Boy by several months, maybe it's more accurate to say U2 sometimes sounds like early Bunnymen The moodiness & spook factor is noted & appreciated HL: "Pride", "Villiers Terrace", "Pictures on My Wall", October 16, 2023
Really seminal album, even if it is not Echo and the Bunnymen's best album. You can hate post-punk, but this is the template for other bands that would follow. The songwriting isn't the strongest it could be here, but an album that needs to be on this list.
If you're familiar with the hits, their debut is fascinating. More raw and angular than the sound they became more famous for. Will Sergeant is an underrated guitarist.
This kind of dark and brooding post-punk sounds right up my street Favourite tracks: Stars Are Stars, Crocodiles, Rescue, All That Jazz
4+
I really didn't think that I would like Echo and the Bunnymen. I recall the name and that they had a hit or two...but I struggle to recall any from memory, and I do recall not being all that interested in them. So, I was surprised when I started the album and I kind of dug it. Ultimately, I didn't love it. I think if it ended after like 5 tracks I may have (not saying the first 5 necessarily)...it just kind of got a little droney and boring at times, I guess I would say.
I am often pleasantly surprised by E&tBm. They've got quite a pretty sound to my ears.
Vibes of Simple Minds and other 80s bands in my favorite songs, while a few seemed to drone on more than I might have liked. Still, a very good album!
Definitely enjoyed this more than I thought I would
It's taken me far too long to really listen to Echo and the Bunnymen, a band that sit comfortably next to the likes of The Cure, New Order and other early 80s moody post-punk bands of that era. I only really knew The Killing Moon before, so I wasn't familiar with anything from this debut. I look forward to exploring their discography more.
Really fun album. Great base work and vocals to boot.
Can see the influences on a lot of later bands. Reminded me a lot of Joy Division.
More raw and dark than some of their later releases, it makes for an excellent debut. Even though this is clearly very moody and brooding, there is a weird coziness to these tracks, like they all sound very familiar. There is barely a spare moment or note, nothing sounds extraneous, no solos, nothing meandering, it’s very to the point and I love that about it. They have a punk ethos at heart.
Surprisingly good, I’ve never heard of Echo and the Bunnymen, but I’ll definitely be looking into them after this album.
The post punk dissonance of this record is great, feels like I'm listening to a darker version of U2's October record, but with more urgency and drive to it. McCulloch's vocals in particular are interestingly vague at times, talking about themes of sorrow, dispair, horror, and other rather dreary topics. The chunky bass lines in coupled with the driving drumbeats make a great background for songs like Crocodile as well.
Without ever getting amazing, this has quality all the way through it
This was a funny one. I never used to like Echo and the Bunnymen. By the time I heard of them they had released a few hits and I didn't particularly like any of them. I had some friends who liked the band, but I had already written them off and wasn't convinced otherwise by listening to their later albums. However, this album I enjoyed. There seems to be a strange mixture of sounds here, synth pop, psych rock, very jingly guitars and a few songs I was singing along too without knowing them. Some of it grated, so it's not a 5, but it's a decent 4 star album.
Good album. This is what i should have been listening to in the 80s. It's a shame it's taken me 40 years to realise that ffs. Anyway, this is good music.
A decent album for sure. Dark and sorrowful, with a sort of spooky and eerie quality. I think there would be times I could quite fall for this album, though it didn't really draw my full attention today. I may well come back to it when I expect it to hit better though. Favourite: Crocodiles
decent but absolutely nothing that stands out. the donny van de beek of albums.