The Undertones

Good ol early pop punk

A good example of what we called "new wave" music back in the day, but what can also be called power pop or pop punk. There were countless bands working this arrangement on both sides of the pond--The Knack, Cheap Trick, Buzzcocks, etc. and many other similar acts that came out of the UK's pub rock scene (Nick Lowe, Rockpile, and Elvis Costello most notably). If you're looking for ponderously deep music, you're in the wrong bar, pal. Get a drink, get close to the stage and start jumping around.

Fun record. Great energy. Catchy songs. Long live power pop!

What a fun punk album to listen to. Most songs are great back to back. The album is also short and sweet. Clocking it at 34 minutes.

Teenage kicks, indeed. Sounds exactly like immediately post-punk pop should sound: sweet melodies on top of thrashy-guitars, with angry-ish vocals, the occasional synth twinkle and songs about girls and other emotionally charged teenage topics (such as girls). Not going to make anyone forget Morrissey or Paul Weller or Joe Strummer, however, though it can be credibly argued that Feargal Sharkey ruled, however briefly.

One of my pleasant surprises from this challenge has been The Undertones. I find some European punk to be very tedious, but I’ve generally enjoyed what I’ve heard from The Undertones, and this album is no exception. I got one of their other albums early in the challenge and gave it 3 stars, but I want to revisit it to see if maybe that rating would go up now. Overall this is a great record. Particularly liked “Family Entertainment,” “Teenage Kicks,” and “Jimmy Jimmy” but honestly liked something about every song on here. I can definitely hear how it influenced other bands. Worthy of its place on this list.

a bit repetitive but really damn fun

can't let gang know i fw this + Teenage Kicks

16 songs, 34 minutes long. This one was really fun and took me by surprise. The tremolo that Sharkey has is phenomenal.

This was fun but did not amaze me.

8/10

Like a little grimy extension of Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Well written lyrics for the genre. I had never heard of these guys and I kind of wish I had when I was into this kind of music more.

Gotta give this a 4 to remain consistent with the previous Undertones album, Hypnotized. Truthfully, both albums may be closer to 3.5s. I like the Undertones's sound, but I don't think I can tolerate too much of them. Fortunately it was only 35 minutes long. However, I will need to give it a second, fair listen through as this was a Sunday hungover rush listen.

Best Irish punk band ever? ONLY Irish punk band ever? Either way, hard not to like.

A fun and remarkably brief album for the day--well done! I suspect if I'd had this album growing up I'd have known every song and loved every one of the 30 minutes or so. They seem to have managed to create a largely punk (pop-punk?) sound without delving at all into drugs, politics or perhaps even sex, which is both a bit weird and also impressive; it probably helped that they were all in their late teens when they created this album, I suppose, or maybe living in Northern Ireland? I imagine it might have felt a bit sanitized to some, but their enthusiasm is pretty apparent; I particularly enjoyed "Jump boys". Listening to this album, I was immediately (and consistently) reminded of the movie "Sing Street", in all the right ways (and the video for "Teenage kicks" only reinforced this connection).

A breath of fresh air in its brevity and simplicity. Listened x2

So fun! Kind of dumb but I'm loving it. Pop punk rhyming couplets without much of a point beyond the songs itself

Nice. Really catchy choruses. First half is really good.

Late 70s UK Punk. It was definitely an enjoyable listen. Songs nice and short. Good beat. I enjoyed this album a lot, and I'm glad I've been introduced to The Undertones.

I don't think there's a song on here that's worth a skip. Maybe because they're all short, maybe because they're just good songs, either way, I enjoyed each and every one of them.

This was good

punk rock, fire

Classic punk record - turns up, does its stuff really well (and surprisingly well produced, too), and fucks off leaving you wanting more. Great Friday album.

Good solid punk album, a bit dated but that's fine, it's of it's time and a good example of the genre

After punk hit new wave opened the door to a myriad of young enthusiastic bands, eager to show their own truths in 4 minutes. Most...were rubbish and were rightly ignored. Some captured lightning in a bottle, and The Undertones were amongst the best. This was the true sound on the streets in 1979. Jimmy Jimmy is still one of my favourites, and The Undertones were destined to never reach heights again. (Tho' My Perfect Cousin came close.)

Not a group I knew before Day 384, but I'd listen to them again.

Dang these guys are cool. The other one a while back was sick, and so is this. Liked the other album cover more though

Unbekümmerter poppiger Punkrock. Macht Spaß. Da muss selbst ich mich bewegen.

Great punk vibe. Definitely would’ve listened to in high school and later. Sound like what I suppose the clash sound like

"Power Pop", fun rock-ish instrumentals with some vocal harmonies

I liked this one more than other old-timey punk albums, I'll say.

Short catchy pop songs with one of the greatest pop songs ever written. All that aside, it is all a bit samey and about 10 songs too long, but i still really enjoyed the songs. I would listen to this again and I feel like a want to get more familiar with some of the songs. Its probably a 3.5 but i will up it to a 4

This one was totally new to me. Love the energy.

Good memories.

so this is where the strokes came from... super cool. idk if i was mishearing but it sounded like the vocals weren't always done by the same person which i always fuck heavy with. another album that belongs on the THPS soundtrack, well done to the undertones

Repetitive but really dug it

I enjoyed this and would put it on again. I think if you brought some nostalgia into this listen it would probably bring things up another notch... but I have no memories or connection with any of this music. I dug the singer's Jello Biafra warble and I loved the 'underground' feel and sound on this one.

jävlar vad goa dom är undertones

4/5

I liked it! It's nothing revolutionary, but it was a fun album to listen to.

Feargal Sharkey is a very interesting character- he went from punk-tastic singer to A&R man and nowadays he is a political activist and campaigner for clean rivers. Because British rivers are literally full of shit. I have a soft spot for this band, not only because John Peel, Legendary British DJ, thought teenage kicks was the perfect song, but because they’re just fast and full of fun. My least favourite song of theirs was my perfect cousin, but it’s not on here so the album wasn’t tainted. This is just energetic and youthful and if you can channel that maybe forgotten part of yourself it is a great ride.

Teenage Kicks is a favorite!

Wow... I'm on a roll with the 1001 albums. Here's another I'd never listened to before and thought was excellent. Short, poppy, punky, upbeat... totally likable with no filler or fuss.

This is a lot of fun, and nearly every song hits its mark. I got into these guys at the same time as The Buzzcocks, so I get them a bit confused. But whatever, good stuff, if perhaps falling a bit shy of 5-star territory.

Totally dig this. Another band I had zero familiarity with but not heading into the new year!

The Undertones’ self-titled debut album is a cornerstone of punk and power pop, celebrated for its infectious energy and raw charm. Legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel famously called "Teenage Kicks" his favourite song of all time, even requesting a lyric from it for his gravestone—a testimonial few in the genre could surpass. Often regarded as The Undertones' most iconic release, the album perfectly captures the exuberance and simplicity of youth. Recorded in a matter of weeks on a limited budget, its unpolished production and DIY ethos contribute to its status as a quintessential punk artefact. Feargal Sharkey’s high-pitched, trembling vocals bring vulnerability and authenticity, perfectly conveying the innocence and frustration of teenage life. Musically, The Undertones combine the raw energy of punk with power pop melodies. Their guitar-driven sound features brisk tempos, jangly chords, and concise arrangements, with most tracks clocking in at under three minutes. Standout tracks like the aforementioned "Teenage Kicks," "Here Comes the Summer," "Get Over You," "Jimmy Jimmy," and "Girls Don’t Like It" showcase their talent for crafting anthems of adolescent longing and defiance. While the band were clearly influenced by the Ramones' stripped-down style, they set themselves apart by incorporating a brighter, more melodic approach, often laced with a sense of youthful optimism that was less common in the genre at the time. That is not to say the album doesn't have its weaknesses. Some tracks feel repetitive, both lyrically and musically, offering little more than variations on themes of frustration and yearning. This simplicity, while a hallmark of punk, can feel limiting compared to the more layered, politically charged music of other punk bands from the era. Yet, these critiques overlook the unique role The Undertones played as a voice of escapism during a turbulent time in Northern Ireland. Hailing from Derry amidst "The Troubles," their upbeat music provided a refreshing counterpoint to the surrounding unrest. This album is a pure celebration of the joy and struggles of adolescence, and I would urge everyone to listen to it at least once. Its combination of youthful energy, memorable melodies, and punk spirit ensures its place as a must-hear record for lovers of this genre. Did/Do I own this release? I owned Teenage Kicks on MP3 Does this release belong on the list? Yes. It’s a cornerstone of punk and pop-punk, influencing countless bands in the genre. Would this release make my personal list? Currently no. Will I be listening to it again? There are quite a few tracks on the album I can't wait to hear again. I will definitely return to this album at some point.

Teenage Kicks is such a banger - the rest is pretty fun as well

Teenage Kicks is great! The rest also not bad, but probably would not be seeking it out.

Quality.

Bardzo przyjemny pop-rock może pop-punk. Teenage kicks na zawsze w serduszku. Niektóre kawałki irytujące i powtarzalne, ale za to wszystkie krótkie. Ma w sobie jakąś radość ten album i ja to szanuję. 8/10

Sounds like the Clash

Never outstays it’s welcome. I wasn’t a teenager in 79 when this was released, but man this makes me feel like I am. The whole feel, upbeat, the bounce to the music, the lyrics and then the highlight, Teenage kicks, a song I know well, a perfect pop punk song? Even the cover, in our media over obsessived times no one would be as non self conscious to look so real. Just an album that makes me smile and that’s never a bad thing.

4 - This surprised me, quite liked it

Fun punk

This was a fun, upbeat, and energetic album - glad it was only 34 mins long, though with 16 tracks on the album, some of them were just so short and didn't have enough time to fully flesh out their ideas. It's a bit repetitive, for sure - the tracks started to sound the same toward the end. There are only so many variations that punchy guitars, keyboards, and drums can take.

Pretty solid album of early british punk rock. Will definitely revisit.

Nice, classic British punk.

Pretty solid punk album. I knew the two big hits well, as they still get a lot of radio play in Ireland. Glad to listen to this through, much preferred it to their second one.

Splendido!

Ну весело. Поверхностно, несколько однотипно. Но ведь зажигает.

My past few British punk albums were pretty awful, so I wasn't too excited for this one at 1st. It immediately turned into a nice surprise. Feels like the precursor to early pop punk. This album is a bop.

Like it 👍

Punky poppy peppy positive. How can you not smile. Ol Feargul's voice may deal breaker for some. But if you're in then this is pre teenage symphonies to God Beach Boys relocated to Northern Ireland. Heartbreak and teen angst never sounded so fun fun fun.

Good fun punk album - this one has the bangers on it as opposed to the other Undertones record on this list, but even as an album it’s good bopping end to end.

Liked it. Happy punk.

Its been a run of good albums that are probably 3-4 stars and I've given each the lower rating so this time I may have slightly over-rated.

Very good

Classic pop-punk in the purest form. So fizzy and full of chocolate you couldn't help but run around and pogo about. At 16 tracks long though you can't avoid a couple of sugar crashes. Best Tracks: Teenage Kicks; Here Comes the Summer; Get Over You

It's INCREDIBLY "of its time", so to speak. So, if that's appealing to you, you should love this album. It really is a quite fun album, though. But then again, I like the sound of this specific time and place. To me it sounded like if you mashed up The Replacements and The Clash (but I don't know enough similar sounding bands to make a more accurate description). I'd really put it 3.5, because it's not enough my thing that I'll be revisiting much, if at all, but it's overall really fun so I'll round up to 4.

Fun. The Fundertones.

Pretty fun album and quick. Definitely would listen to again and the vibes are good.

I liked this one. Kinda sounds like the Clash during certain songs.

Never knew this one. Really liked it.

OH man I love me some punk in the morning just a fun time I can't hate this. Yeah the rain't-mones but still so groovy and scrappy I love it and I will be bumping this often.

I think I overlooked the Undertones when this was released and I've heard Teenage Kicks (A great power-punk song!) more in the last few years than ever before. The rest of the album is solid and the fact the songs are short and sweet and the total running time for the album is 29:29, is what you want for a punk record. Who wants 3:00+ minute songs to drag it down, this is in and out, back to back, catchy, appealing bangers that you want to crank up, then listen to again.

This was fun, upbeat, Sonics-y. Standouts are "Family Entertainment", "Here Comes the Summer", "Get Over You", and the hit "Teenage Kicks".

Pop punk. Tiene la original de una que luego versionó (cogió la melodía) la Polla. Un 4.

Rock sesentero. Bien.

This is what a British Ramones sounds like. It's got the poppiness, simplicity and similar themes.

Peppy, punchy, punk. Short and sweet. 4/5

Nice !

This was an unexpected joy. It's so joyful, youthful and almost naïve in both the lyrics and the music. It kind of brings me back to a simpler time when the weight of the world was less. The guitar on 'Teenage Kicks' reminds me of something I can't place Standouts Male Model Teenage Kicks Get Over You "In a world that's cruel being kind is the most punk you can be"/5 (4/5)

Fun poppy punk. Something like The Ramones but with its own flavor.

Альбом прямиком из детства

This was pretty rad, if not a little dated

Second in a row I wasnt expecting much from and really liked it

TIMMY!

A little more pop than I prefer my punk to be, especially if it’s not as varied as The Clash’s style. But it’s still good, impressive stuff. B

Just the short sharp shock that I needed. This rules.

This album is so much fun. I’m honestly upset that I’d never heard of this band before, it’s some of the best early punk I’ve ever heard.

I love that The Undertones are still going. At least, they definitely played in my town a couple of years ago. I think that Teenage Dreams is the only track I already knew going into this album. Everything here is in a very similar vain - I’m choosing to call it proto-poppunk because it’s catchy as hell. I wasn’t ready for the album to be over because I was having a good time. This album is a very easy one to recommend.

Quite fun, sounded like the Ramones or the Strokes.

Listed to this twice - really fun, high energy, simple, rhythmic rock 'n roll. Enjoyed it a lot - bit repetitive. That rhythm guitar can do other stuff!

The first time I remember hearing Feargal Sharkey was his successful solo single "A Good Heart". Quite different from his work with The Undertones. Seems like I enjoy punk more than I previously thought.

As 70s records go (and there are a disproportionate amount in the 1001 list) this is towards the top end for me. Fun lively punk-rock featuring John Peel's favourite track of all time, Teenage Kicks.

I mean, one listen to Teenage Kicks and you get why John Peel had it carved into his headstone, right? Rest of the album doesn't quite reach that height, but like, that seems like an unfair standard to hold any music to. Slot "Get Over You" in your punk night DJ set between The Buzzcocks and Cock Sparrer, the crowd will thank you for your service

the one about the mars bar was bad the rest were excellent

Sex Pistols sound without the Sex Pistols content. Grade A post punk greatness.

Like the Knack meets the Buzzcocks.. really good time and only song I was familiar with was "Teenage Kicks" so really glad I'm hearing the rest of this concise album. Nice to hear them tackle some other topics such as on Jimmy Jimmy as well as some other sonic palettes like the flanged out "True Confessions"

4.5/5. Early pop punk was so much fun, Teenage Kicks is truly an anthem in its own right.

Ah punk with a bit of soul to it Still good after all this time though a couple of the tracks don't hit as well as they used to. I'm giving it a 4 just cos of those songs and also because I have always found Feargal's voice to be a bit too shrill at times though he does have a good heart (and these days, that's hard to find).

Very enjoyable punk record

Zackiges Speed geladenes Rock-Album. Prägende Gitarren, Schlagzeug und Keyboards mit deutlicher Stimme in den vielen meist kurzen Songs (26 in 53 Minuten). Sie wirken manchmal wie Ska oder Psychodillic Songs. Typisch für das Album und gar nicht mal so schlecht ist “Teenage Kids”. Schöne Songs sind aber auch “Here comes The Summer”, “True Confession” und “Jimmy Jimmy”. Gernel mal wieder wenns fetzig sein soll.

Another fun record 4/5

I liked this album and I also learned that Feargal Sharkey was the singer in The Undertones before his later career as a solo artist / water hygiene campaigner. Who knew?

Catchy well played pop punk. I dig.

Short, fun, energetic and catchy. Quite the incredible pop-punk release from 1979.

Solid new wave/punk with some iconic tracks. But too long. These albums have a half-life that degrades pretty quickly in one sitting. That energy just can't stay at this level for that period of time.

Initially wrote this off as another 70s British punk album, but it is a fun 70’s British punk album

New band to me, pleasant surprise, some old school punk similar to ramones etc.

Een half uurtje Britse punk met een zanger die door z'n klankkleur en vibrato ontzettend doet denken aan Jello Biafra van Dead Kennedys. Ontzettend leuk en compact album waarvan ik zo een paar nummers in een playlist kan zetten. Zo'n track als 'Male Model' zou niet misstaan in een Tony Hawk game. Het haalt net geen 5.

Great poppy punk! Love the vocals and the album is full of catchy tunes. I’m a fan!

deva mäkta nice

Brilliant record.

Pretty good general rock. Kinda skimmed this one

early punk with a great beat. the singer sounds like a mix of jello biafra of the dead kennedys and johnny rotten of the sex pistols.

Just a very nice, fun burst of early pop punk (I didn't even think it existed before the 90's!) that reminded me a lot of the Buzzcocks and The Clash. And Jello Biafara in some spots, weirdly.

Hell of a slice of early Pop Punk. Energetic and lively all the way through.

Pretty fun! Kind of Clash meets Specials with some catchy stuff. Here Comes The Summer was great. Light 4.

Good punk, I liked it

A softer style of punk. The songs are catchy but they don’t have the lyrics intensity or message of contemporaries like the Clash. That said I did like this one.

Solid punk rock from a band I’ve never heard of before! This was a fun listen too! Sounds like they pull a bit from the Clash in the fusion of rough sounds with classic melody.

Whole lot of fun, hard to believe it was 1979. Earworms up and down the whole tracklist. Fav Track: Jimmy Jimmy

"The Undertones" by The Undertones is a timeless punk rock album that encapsulates the energy and spirit of the late 1970s. Released in 1979, this debut album is a collection of short, fast-paced songs characterized by catchy melodies and upbeat rhythms. One of the standout features of the album is the band's ability to blend infectious pop hooks with punk sensibilities, creating a sound that is both accessible and edgy. Tracks like "Teenage Kicks" and "Get Over You" are instant classics that showcase the band's knack for writing catchy, memorable tunes. While some may find the album's production a bit raw by today's standards, it adds to the overall charm and authenticity of the record. "The Undertones" is a must-listen for fans of punk rock and a testament to the band's enduring influence on the genre. 4/5

Never heard of these guys and enjoyed this very much.

Great stuff

right up my alley babey

Kind of a fun album. Sounded a little punky. I don't think I'd heard of them before.

Energetic and raw punk. Not particularly inventive but a quintessential spawn of the wave

Un buen disco de punk con condimentos de rock y blues

Punky. I like.

3 stars just for Teenage Kicks, plus one for the rest.

This is extremely my shit. Punchy and catchy as hell. Great jangly guitars!

35 minutes of really solid punk. It's frantic, irreverent, and nihilistically joyful. Just 16 tracks of devil-may-care fun and I'm here for it.

Pop punk? I like it. Buddy holly meets punk

A low 4

A bit basic past Teenage Kicks

Full of bangers tbf

first listen super fun for 1979

Nice bit of poppy 'New Wave' to brighten up a miserable day. I didn't mind them as a kid. However I preferred That Petrol Emotion as an adult. All the singles are excellent, even the album tracks are good. Both versions of 'True Confessions' were the standouts for me. A low 4.

I was surprised that I was not more aware of this album upon hearing it. Just a super enjoyable early pop punk album from a bunch of weird-looking British dudes. Lots of great, late 70s punk fun 4/5

Teenage Roxy had good taste!

Oh yeah, this is the good stuff! Late 70's pop punk ftw! Really good listen, you get exactly what you expect to get. I'm a satisfied customer today.

I enjoyed this a lot. Had not heard it.

fuckin right mate

Mix of the clash and sum 41, old school vocals and drums but guitar sound getting a little more modern

Lekkere poppunk, gaat vaker op!

First heard The Undertones on Angela’s Punk music Grad class CDs. “Get Over You” made it on to the Punk 254 compilation I made. Good example of British/Irish punk that avoided the straight confrontation of the Sex Pistols and embraced some melody.

Great sound, and songs don’t overstay their welcome. Obviously influenced by the Clash but I hear a lot of what these guys did in late 90s skate punk.

This album was superb, I was familiar with the big songs from The Undertones but nothing else. Full of energy and not one song felt like filler. The only knock on this for me is its length. Too many songs for how short they generally are.

Overall a fun album. I struggled whether to give this a 3 or 4, it sounded a big basic but it came before most similar-sounding albums so maybe it deserves some extra credit.

The Undertones are a strong punk rock group hailing from Ireland. They have a very exciting sound and the upbeat, driving tempo gives great energy. This music makes the listener want to get up and jump! The drums are, by far, the best part of this album. The Ramones were probably a very strong influence on this album.

I like this. Nice solid punk rock.

This project is teaching me that I like punk much more than I thought I did. This is just plain fun. Wish some of the songs were longer.

Fun! Some questionable lyrics though haha

Great album, never listened to it before, even though it was released during my childhood.

POP-PUNK WILL NEVER DIE 4 because there are many boring songs

This is what I was hoping for when I started this project—someone I’d absolutely never heard of that’s just a good listen, start to finish.

Best suggestion so far

A bit of music history that holds up well.

Fun British punk album with short, sweet songs. I enjoyed this one!

pretty great, maybe 4.5 but not 5

Very good early new wave is how I would describe them

Pretty fun classic English punk. I could just tell the genre based on the album cover lol and they did not disappoint, it went pretty hard and had some fun songs.

Oh yes !!!

Classic '70s punk/pub rock from a Ireland. Scratches all the itches. Energetic, snotty, agitated, and hilarious. Better than a lot of similar bands of the era, if not quite Jam, Gen X, or Buzzcocks caliber.

Its a very listentoable album. True Confessions was cool. Very tough between a 3.7 to 4. So I'm going with 4 since this was a debut.

Just solid. The vintage punk feel with strong pop sensabilities. Nearly every song is pretty approachable and easy to enjoy (maybe Wrong Way is the one song i would skip). Impressive and fun.

Fun

I do not really like punk. Neither do I really like new wave. The undertones make both work though. It gets a little samey after a while though.

"The Undertones" is the debut album by Nothern Irish rock band The Undertones. The album was recorded in London and produced by Roger Bechirian. Punk rock and pop punk. Yep, that sums it up. The album received widespread critical acclaim with descriptions such as "great, elusive, valuable, new pop alongside Blondie, Elvis Costello, the Ramones and the Buzzcocks. The album is considered one of the best from 1979 and one of best all time pop/punk albums. A slashing guitar opens "Family Entertainment." A clear rhythm guitar and a fast punk-pop pace. A catchy melody (most of these songs are). Darker lyrics at face value suggesting incest. And there's more slashing guitar on "Jump Boys." More power pop punk with multiple backing vocals. A guitar and bass solo in this 2:42-minute song. I have no idea who the jump boys are. Drums start "Here Comes the Summer." Right into guitar power chords. Oh, the keyboards driving the melody. Sun and girls. "Jimmy Jimmy" is slower with a melodic guitar. It kicks with a more classic rock beat. Another dark song lyrically as little Jimmy gets carried off in an ambulance which no one saw. Pounding drums and rolling bass get "True Confessions" going. This is different and I like it. It's more post punk and actually sounds like Devo. A hypnotic, mechanical, repeating guitar note. "Listening In" is melodic with guitar and keyboards. It goes right into the short closer "Casbah Rock." This sounds like it was recorded in a cave and maybe that's on purpose as The Casbah was a venue they played at. I think there might be a similar titled song a few years later. This is a very good album. I can see the comparisons made to those 1979 bands mentioned earlier. Catchy, melodic, pop-punk fast. Short right-to-the point songs. A darker edge lyrically to some of the songs keeping it interesting. Yeah, it you want to place yourself back in the 1979 pop-punk era, this is a good place to start.

Cool little punk record. It’s a little bit forgettable, but the simple and more uplifting lyrics were a nice change of pace to me. The songs are also short and sweet, nicely paced album! It’s good punk, but it’s not the BEST I’ve ever heard. Still pretty good.

Good stuff! 4 stars.

Fun album. First time really listening to this band. Definitely keeping this one in rotation.

Really really fun. All sounds sonically awesome too. Teenage kicks is the tits

I've never heard of The Undertones before, but I really enjoyed listening to this album. This album was a great combination of punk and new wave. The songs were driving, fast paced, and succinct in their lyrical messages. I loved that The Undertones made their point in each song, and then moved on, refusing to beat around the bush and drag their songs on longer than necessary. The drumming and guitar playing were fantastic, the vocals were unique, and the lyrics were the perfect combination of sometimes serious, and sometimes funny. Highlights: "Family Entertainment," "I Gotta Getta," "Here Comes the Summer," "Get Over You," and "I Know a Girl."

Classic: I saw the track list and was bracing myself for the longest album ever but was pleasantly surprised when it was only 30 odd minutes long. And boy what a cheeky 30 minutes was it. Began with 'family entertainment' and from there it was a solid album throughout. A little underwhelming at points but it's for sure solid classic rock.

this was a fun surprise! i had never heard of this band or album so didn't know what to expect. but i found a pretty fun punk record that i felt combined the sensibility of the clash with the hooks of the ramones. it didn't absolutely floor me, but was still a fun listen!

Yep

Pretty cool album...fun punkish sound. Really lighthearted that works well. 4/5

Driving and lively, fun and edgy. One likes how they expanded the punk palette a touch (with some twinkly keys [as on "Here Comes the Summer] and backing vocals [as on "Jump Boys {which sure sounds like it should be called "Drunk Boys"}] while keeping legit teeth and thrash on the guitars and appropriately sneery vocals. The content is dead on track, too – mostly girls and lots of emotions.

No Teenage Kicks, but plenty of other great songs on this pop-punk debut of the Undertones. However, it is a bit too straightforward to get the full 5 stars - it does not help that its successor, Hypnotized, is a significantly stronger album. score: 8/10.

Very enjoyable punk.

sehr gut. 4 punkte

It's the type of modern pop energy and rhythm I enjoy the most!

The Undertones were one of those underappreciated British (Northern Irish actually) bands from the UK New Wave scene of the 1970s. They created excellent power pop. Their most famous song, Teenage Kicks, is on this album.

pretty good proto-punk album. I liked it well.

Really like the Brit punk/60's garage band sound, fun album to listen to. Only real issue is pretty much every song is the same, hence why I really can't give this 5 stars.

Right up my 70's punk alley. My rating is on a scale of 0 to Ramones for this style, so take that into account when I give this a 4.

I never heard of these guys, and the cover sets up a false image for what you can expect soundwise. I put on the album and was pleasantly surprised! Nice shorter punk songs in the Ramones vein. Songs you can easily sing a long and stick their hooks in you. I dig it! 8 out of 10

Yeah solid I didn’t hate anything off that, I think the singles are a little ahead in quality and the others can get repetitive but still great rock songs. 4/5

This was a fun one.

Kan niet zeggen dat dit heel bijzonder is. Alle bekende punk-deuntjes komen voorbij. Maar ach, het ritme is steeds aanstekelijk en er wordt gezongen in plaats van geschreeuwd. En dat buigt de emotie om. We hebben plotseling een vrolijke punkplaat te pakken. Prima plaatje voor in de auto. 3,5 ster.

Tony Hawk Pro Skater vibes. Love the relentless punk rock tempo, sing along chorus’s and classic sound.

Good one, 70s punk rock vibes, reminiscensce of Ramones, Sex Pistols and unique sound, give The Undertones a good listening experience.

I’m into it

Fun punks having fun. Hard to hate on it!

Great punk album. There wasn't a ton of variety between how songs sounded but still good. I liked a majority of the songs on here with my favorites being "Teenage Kicks", "Girls Don't Like It", "Jump Boys" and "(She's a) Runaround". I was not a fan of "Casbash Rock", "True Confessions" or "Male Model" but they were not horrible songs. Overall I would give this an 8/10. Nothing mindshattering but definitely worth a listen.

This was a fun and cute punk album

An inspiration to any group that doesn’t know more than four chords. And they were. The Undertones were such a big inspiration for so may bands forming the punk rock genre, so, respect there. As far as the album itself goes, it’s pretty good. There’s not much, instrumentally speaking, but they make up for that lack very fun and enjoyable music. Lyrically and thematically great as well. 4/5

Some brilliant songs here - and sounding so fresh!

Really solid album had a a lot of song I really enjoyed. The pace was good and I didn’t get bored of it easily.

Solid. Yet another album that I wish I could rate 3.5

I guess "The Undertones" is British for "The Ramones". I don't think I've ever heard of this band before although I must have heard "Here Comes the Summer" and "Teenage Kicks" in some coming of age movie at some point, right? Just a fun high energy album. No need to listen too closely to the lyrics. Just nod your head along with the beat.

Fun album, was only familiar with "teenage kicks". The opener was great and it held up all the way through. Two listens, and a good addition to my punk rotation.

Hell yeah! Early punk meets new wave. Sign me up.

It’s a fun album to listen to.

I never heard the album in full, but I knew a lot of the songs. They're still played between bands at punk rock shows. I think they were very influential in American punk music. Bands like Bad Religion, Descendents and 7 Seconds, the subsequential 90s punk rock boom and newer bands like Pup and Wavves. Probably not so much in British punk, because they went either more aggressive or more arty. Favorite song: I know a girl

Very competent punk album, the songs are short and to the point!

Fun pop-punk sound. Sounds more modern than 1979, can see the influence on later bands like The Hives, Strokes, Arctic Monkeys etc. I’d give 3.5, so rounding up to 4.

A no filler thriller. Great all the way through. A great record.

16 songs in just over half an hour, makes for a pretty breathless experience. No better illustration of what it is/was like to be a teenager slightly obsessed with girls.

Solid. Would check out other stuff. 8.3/10.

Decent enough, great for their time, very listenable.

Excellent. First time hearing this. Struck me instantly.

How have I never heard of this group before!? Their upbeat, punky new wave sound is right up my alley. I recognize the song Teenage Kicks from something. Maybe Derry Girls? This band has been such a pleasant surprise! Honestly I was in such a terrible mood before this and the energy and fun of this album turned it right around.

Highly energetic and pleasant poppunk album

Very good album. I feel that it's overlooked album. Also fun fact, this band influenced My Bloody Valentine which is pretty crazy.

Great Punk album that is super catchy, fun and energetic. Pretty straightforward, but consistently good.

4/5. Honestly, got better the more I listened to it. Doesn’t redefine the wheel but definitely stands out as great songwriting and rock/pop songs.

I had listened to this album before, but it was nice to revisit it. I like it a lot. Favs: Get Over You, I Gotta Getta, Teenage Kicks, Male Model, Girls Don’t Like It, Family Entertainment, I Know A Girl, (She’s A) Runaround Least fav: Casbah Rock

Great album, fun bursts of pop and some great tunes. Real attitude and enjoyed it.

High energy punk rock. Some great songs and the album definitely doesn't overstay it's welcome. Overall a very enjoyable album.

16 Songs @ 35 minutes. - Wrong Way gives off King Gizzard vibes Good album showing the beginnings of Punk Rock. Enjoyed it better than Thriller ironically.

Notes of The Clash but less political and less known.

Kesällä 2003 olin Leedsissä festareilla kaverini Paulin kanssa. Keikoista en muista juuri mitään (Squarepusher oli muistaakseni hyvä, ja Lamb), mutta muistan riidelleeni rajusti Paulin kanssa: hän tappeli teltan kanssa aamuviiteen asti eikä antanut minun auttaa pystyttämisessä, vaikka olisin saanut sen pystytettyä hetkessä. Päädyimme nukkumaan autossa, koska hänen miehekkyytensä ei antanut periksi. Paikat jumissa ja mökötyksen hiljaisuudessa ajoimme takaisin Lontooseen päin seuraavana päivänä, kunnes radiosta kajahti Teenage Kicks - aloimme laulaa mukana, ja nauraa. Melkein annoin levylle - ja muistolle - vitosen, mutta Spotify soitti seuraavaksi Buzzcocksia, ja koska Buzzcocks saisi vitosen, voi The Undertones saada vain nelosen.

Teenage kicks on megasöpö biisi. Harmi ettei se varsinaisesti ole tällä levyllä muutoin kun uusintajulkaisussa. Mutta itse levystä… Täähän on symppis tämmönen katupunkin esiaste. Ihan hölmöjä sanoituksia ja hyvä meno. Tykkään! 4/5

Hauskaa punkkia ja meneviä biisejä! Keskimääräistä parempi, joten pyöristetään neloseen saakka.

What a blast of an album. Energy en masse and with great melodies and hooks and surprisingly good playing for a bunch of kids just rocking out. One of the classics of the British Punk era from these lads from Notrthern Ireland. 4.5 stars

Encore une pensée émue pour mon moi adolescent

Legendarno ali ipak malo dosadno

"Teenage Kicks" and a couple of other cuts are instant classics. A great early pop-punk album. Its only problem is that, even for this genre and particular time period, some of the songs are a little samey. But they're all good nonetheless. Truth be told, the Undertones never pretended to be more than a decent punk band with catchy tunes. This key album from them is refreshing enough to make you forget about its obvious limitations. Understated, but also slightly underrated, maybe... Number of albums left to review: 707 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 147 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 70 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 82

Kult punkete album Ganske kort, med mange sanger. Gøy

Get Over You is an amazing track

Listened to this album while shoveling the wet snow from the driveway. It was a perfect album to get me going.

Punk

4 Really thought these guys were one-hit wonders on the poppier side of punk, but this album was great through and through and went harder than I anticipated. There were quite a few tracks that really stuck with me, and a couple I actually even liked more than Teenage Kicks (the aforementioned hit I knew prior). With all that in mind, I’m kind of surprised this band isn’t held in a higher regard, or at least brought up in conversation more alongside other first wave punk bands like The Ramones and Sex Pistols. In any case, I will be from now on. Favorite songs: Male Model, Jump Boys, Teenage Kicks, Family Entertainment Also, am I the only one who thought it was interesting there’s a song on this album called Casbah Rock, released three years before fellow punk outfit The Clash released their iconic hit Rock the Casbah? Can’t seem to find anything online that connects the two. Coincidence? Or major punk conspiracy?

This was a good listen. A very beatlesy punk album. Ferghal has an interesting voice.

Great record, nice simple punk pop which’s sound reminds me of a marriage of The Clash and The Feelies. The subject matter is all very stereotypical teenage this and that. Not very moved by the lyrics. There is some debate as to whether “Teenage Kicks” is considered part of this album, which is one of the best songs. Big fan of True Confessions and Runaround as well.

Who in the world are the Undertones?? Awesome uptempo kindapunk sound.

Just a really good early pop-punk album. There's not much else to say, it's just 35 minutes of fun. Favourite: Teenage Kicks

War ok, soft punk, den einen song kannte ich

Good vibes

Voice didn't annoy me as much as last time

Just plain, good rock songs. No posturing or fretboard wanking. Songs never overstay their welcome.

Now I get where the Auteurs come from.

This was a good punk album with some 50s undertones. The music was crisp and well produced. Overall, the album can almost be seen as a quintessential late 70s British punk albums. It’s not experimental like the Clash, but it does its genre very well.

A perfect pop punk record of that period: all the tracks are really catchy and danceable but also punky and crazy.

Short but sweet, good album, engaging throughout

Punk takes on a more melodic bent here, but doesn’t sacrifice its spirit of rebellion in the process. When one of your songs ends up having its lyrics featured on John Peel’s grave, you must be doing something right.

Free Derry

I've thoroughly enjoyed this. It may have been somewhat influenced by punk, but is really an excellent power pop / rock n roll by, and about, teenage boys and their preoccupation with girls. The singing by Feargal Sharkey mostly sets it apart from shouty punk and the musical ability and sheer catchiness of the melodies and riffs is very much like 60s and early 70s power pop. I've been looking forward to The Undertones and am not disappointed! Excellent.

Beautiful, early punk rock.

Sounds like if the Bay City Rollers made a punk album. Which is another way of saying it's right in my wheelhouse.

Never heard of them before. Really liked it!

Raw, fresh, powerful. A real classic from the punk era

Gut, aber wird irgendwann langweilig

This album was 25 2 minute songs. They were better than i expected but it got repetitive

Second song is as simp as it comes. whole album is simp city 2000 shout out jimmy jimmy good album. 3.75/5

definite Clash vibes.

Fun, catchy album. Probably won't save cuz the songs are all quite short, but will probably add some more singles to my 70s playlist.

What a great rock and punk album! You can hear the 70s punk influence, but the melodies are very similar to Buddy Holly and the harmonies at times like the Beach Boys, with cool guitar riffs and fun all throughout. I would have made the album 10 minutes shorter to just make it a tad more effective as a whole.

Enjoyable and catchy album, reminded me a lot of a mixture of Pop-Punk and Celtic-Folk-Punk

Definitely one of the better punkish albums we’ve had. Not too self serious. Short, which is important. And well produced. Better than neutral, but not a 5 for me

i found this really fun! there’s an earnestness to it that’s been missing from a lot of the punk from the same era i’ve gotten before. i think part of it could be that it’s a belfast band playing during the troubles, which lends a real authenticity to everything. it can’t be a 5 because it’s musically too simple, but it’s a solid 4.

This is fun. I love punk but this is a band I never really took the time to get into. They predate the Descendents, but its easy to see their influence on the pop punk scene; pop punk like The Queers, Screeching Weasel, etc not the dreck that is All Time Low and what have you. Anyway: this is really good and goes down smooth in a fairly brief play time. I'll be going back to this and their other albums in the future.

Much like The Buzzcocks, The Undertones are masters of playful punk. Fun listen as my day got started.

I've never heard of the Undertones until now and I regret the gaping hole that was unknowingly part of my late 70s punk experience. This album is right in the pocket for me.

I’ve never heard of them but enjoyed this album

Def a fan

3.8⭐️

Loved this. Not sure how I missed it before, but I'll be making up for lost time.

This is the kind of album I was expecting to find out here a little more, something that seems like I should know it, has a sound that kind of resonates with me and yet I am completely unaware of.

Go brittisk rock. Lagom skramligt och skränigt

Actually really enjoyed this

Got to love a Mars Bar.

viiiiiiibbbbrrrrratttttoooo

Impressed with how fully formed their sound is, both as a punk band as early as 1979, and as a debut album. Delicious face smashers.

Kind of surprised there are two albums by this band on the list, but it's fun, catchy stuff.

Very fun, high energy, danceable punk, it seems to be giving roots to pop-punk here. However, it gets a bit too samey on start-to-finish for me to want to sit down with this record too often.

góð plata og nauðsynleg í samhenginu

An upbeat, apolitical take on UK punk with unmistakable vocals and endless hooks. When an album contains John Peels favourite track, you know it's a good one!

I feel like this one could grow on me and I gave their other album 4 so let's go with that. Hard to pick a fave, so many short fun moments.

De estas ondas que nos han tocado de punk/alterno/pop es de lo que más me ha gustado. Conocía Teenage Kicks en cover, y ahora me gusta la original.

Nearly peerless in its influence on post punk bedroom heroes. It is not without it's flaws but damn me if Teenage Kicks isn't one of the best pop songs of all time. This album makes me want to crush up a couple of dexies and wash them down with the cheapest vodka I can find.

I'm now 166 albums in to the 1001 journey, and one thing I've learned so far is that my liking for punk is much stronger than I'd expected. This is partly because songs like the fourteen on The Undertones' debut lend themselves to a "one-album-a-day" listening experience. Every song on "The Undertones" is bright, snappy, short and on the nose. They wear everything on their sleeves and don't need repeated listens to realise any hidden meanings or memorise subtle melodies. The whole album is done in less than half an hour in a sugar-rush of adolescent adrenaline. So it's easy to dismiss The Undertones' efforts here as throwaway, but there's great songcraft at work here. The guitar riffs in "I Gotta Getta" and "Family Entertainment" haven't dated at all in the forty-five subsequent years of alt-guitar rock, "Here Comes the Summer" and "Jimmy Jimmy" bounce by with such irrepressible energy, "Girls Don't Like It" and "I Know a Girl" boast instantly familiar melodies. Even "Casbah Rock", in 47 seconds, lodges itself in the listener's head and leaves a lasting impression as a closer. It's unmistakeably Ramones-esque in delivery and pace, but no complaints from me. Sometimes three chords are all you need, and The Undertones even have a bit of an edge with Feargal Sharkey's supple vocals, reaching towards a tenor range in the likes of "Billy's Third." Lighthearted, sure. Disposable, if you insist. But it's hard to argue with an album where nothing can be seen to outstay its welcome and every track gets the pulse racing.

Pretty good album, never heard it before but enjoyed a lot of the songs, Teenage Kicks being the standout track.

We already had one Undertones album, two is probably unnecessary. But Teenage Kicks and Jimmy Jimmy are undeniably perfect. Enjoyed this way more than expected. Fergal Sharkey's voice is a bit marmite and I'm on the wrong side of that divide, but there's no denying the infectious energy. Interestingly and unusually for rock music, I think almost every song is in 2/4 time. In any event, all the same beat, and all the song lyrics are variations on either "it's not fair, he's got more than me" or "it's not fair, she doesn't love me" but nevertheless I still loved it. Avoided this sort of stuff like the plague in the 70s (along with all punk/new wave) but happy to discover I was wrong.

Pop-punk för boomers, bra

albums from the 70s are either wild and make no sense or just the band having pure fun. This album from the undertones feels like they were just having pure fun in the studio and letting whatever happens happen..It's not a too bad album.

So many short and fun songs. It is hard to choose my favourite songs out of so many songs. But it’s a great album, fun to listen to with the strange and funny lyrics. Favourite songs: - Teenage kicks - Get over you - Here comes the summer

Solid pink, amazing vocals

a mix between punk and rock with a clear irish sound it doesn't seem to bore

this stuck out to me. enjoyed many of the songs.

Of course I know the hits but first time listening to an album. I love punk but generally not the classic stuff. This is better than average though and reminds me of The Dead Kennedys.

Enjoyable early popunk

Wow!! Great candy pop punk!! Reminds me of the Ramones but more joyfull and "Beatlesque". Will indefinitely stay in my playlist!

important northern irish album

Decent tunes and fun times

Good. Should revisit this one. Not sure how I missed this until now.