Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Fun, similar to the Ramones, not the most unique thing but it sounds nice
I really like this. Very catchy - and Teenage Kicks is a banger!
Эталонный поп-панк в духе The Clash, который точно так же страдает от однообразия. Но отдельные песни разъеб. Лучшая песня - Teenage Kicks.
What energy.
Muy repetitivo pero con la marca de la banda, me supongo yo, recuerda a The Ramones o Sex Pistols, idk. Me agradó para practicar sus canciones en guitarra, tienen algo adictivo.
This band is great. Northern Irish Pop Punk from the 70s. Just an awesome listen.
No idea who they were and now I know why.
Energetic, but a bit forgettable on the songs. 3/5
Fast and tight and pretty well mixed but not my cup of tea
This is the two hundred seventeenth album I’m rating. I have absolutely no idea what this, and would never listen to this if not for this list. Adding to my Playlist - Family Entertainment, Girl's Don't Like it, Male Model, I Gotta Getta, Wrong Way, Jump Boys, Here Comes the Summer, Billy's Third, Jimmy Jimmy, True Confessions, (She's a) Runaround, I Know a Girl, Listening In, and Casbah Rock. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 14/14 songs. I really like The Undertones.
There wasn't anymore memorable about the album nor was it terrible. Another solid 3 from me.
I think the closest comparison I would be able to give for The Undertones (this album at least) would be to say they are a less good Irish version of The Ramones. I like this record, but The Ramones they are not. Nor are they the Sex Pistols. But there's something about this simple kind of punk music from the 70s that just feels right. It's true to he sense of what rock music should be - kids that, for one reason or another, were inspired to pick up instruments and make some noise. I love it if only for that. The songs are simple, rough, and easy but that's ok. 3.75/5
No está mal, aunque un poco genérico.
16 tracks in under 35 minutes. What could be better?!?
Very classic sounding punk rock, need to do more research to know what else was out then. Bit surfery and overall fun if not a bit repetitive.
5.09
Forgot I saw these live until this listen
Of all the self-titled debut albums released in 1979, I prefer "The B-52's," which I happened to draw from the list just yesterday. This is a fine album, but it suffers in the comparison. Favorite track: "Get Over You," maybe
I didn't think The Undertones was a super special album but it is one i still enjoyed quite a fair bit. This is your typical early new-wave punk rock album as it has all the things you would expect from an album like that. Everything from, the fast melodies, the vocals and the keyboards for that new-wave touch. I still think that this album got all those basics down as everything here sounds really fun and good. A lot of the songs are very samey which is why its only up to a 3.5 star rating but everything here still sounds very good. I also think i like this album more than Hypnotised because whatever odd thing i didn't like about that album, it doesn't seem to be here on this one. I thought that this was a really enjoyable album. Best Song: I Know A Girl Worst Song: Billy's Third
Punk rock de finales de los setenta que resulta entretenido, pero no muchos de sus tracks me parecieron geniales. No estoy familizarizado con los Undertones, pero aunque su disco no me pareció malo, me dejó un tanto a medias.
не в моём вкусе, как будто.
Il primo era abbastanza, il secondo è troppo. Dovrebbe durare 20 minuti
Solid punk album in the same vain as the Sex Pistols. More poppy than some punk albums, but still firmly counter culture. All about sex, rebellion, and being a teenager.
Nothing to write home about.
Bit of a standard punk album. The music is ok but I did not find it very special
Like this was good actually
Kinda liked this one.
Seems like early punk rock! Pretty good.
I love the economy of punk music. 16 songs clocking in at 35 minutes. Get to the point! This album feels familiar though it’s my first introduction to The Undertones. That’s probably why this album gave me the epiphany that there isn’t anything new. Just rehashed and repackaged. Solid songwriting. I didn’t hate it but it didn’t make me jump out of chair either.
It was short and fun, but it seemed more like demos.
Sound like a lighter version of the Ramones. Okay, but not likely to listen again.
That felt way longer than 34 minutes (derogatory)
Teenage kicks!
Better than their second album, for sure. Still, there's better pop punk.
It's been a while since I felt genuine pleasure listening to an album. Nothing like some good old-fashioned Ramones-style punk to bring me back to a good mood. 5 stars. For guys who call themselves the Undertones... they're definitely Ontone!
The best thing about this album was it only took 30 minutes to get through 16 songs
Not my thing.
Finally getting a good album after a streak of bad albums is so refreshing
Really good Good singles Fast Upbeat Short Really good
This...is so much more than I imagined! I think maybe it just caught me at the right place, time and mood, because I sort of recognise that it's basically just good punk-pop, but it's so filled with energy, attitude and joy that I'm going to give it the big five (just). It rattles through so pacily and leaves you fairly breathless by the end. A great discovery.
Loads of energy and full of short songs. Great stuff
If ever there was an album about the teenage condition this were it. Pretty much every song is about how is ball are about to explode.
Perfect punk pop. I always thought that The Undertones struggled under the weight of that great single but this didn't outstay it's welcome, unlike their second album
Out of respect for John Peel, I cannot give The Undertones 3 stars, but it didn't really move me much past that marker.
Enjoyed this, I give it 4 stars... one for each of the power chords they played repeatedly!
TEENAGE KICKS RIGHT THROUGH THE NIGHT
Starts as a 4. Remains a 4.
I’m such a sucker for old punk
Good stuff! Had a fun time with this one. Unfortunately, it reminded me of the fact that there is 100% a band I know that does a cover of Teenage Kicks and I cannot fucking find out who it is. I've been searching the internet for like an hour to no avail. What the fuck!
Light bouncy fun.
Only being familiar with the singles previously, this was good fun. True Confessions stood out as being my least favourite here, but overall a good listen. I was reminded just how good Teenage Kicks is. Enjoyed this!
I liked the guitars, mastering isn't the worst I've heard, however the songs themselves just aren't that interesting. The vocalist sounds like they are being strangled.
Fun, my favorite track was ‘Get Over You’.
Really fun album, right up my alley. Quick and energetic and easy to listen to.
Never heard of these guys, sound kind of punk. Right away I dig their energy. Varied tracks. 4* Highlights: family entertainment
Honestly i don't understand why this pop punk album is on the list. There are so many better groups of that era but as with all albums i took a listen and the following songs had some interest. Teenage Kicks,Wrong Way,Billy's Third,True Confessions, 2/5
This started as I was pouring my cereal and I immediately felt myself enter the intro of coming-of-age show lmao. also spotted a guy coming down the street with major strut during the male model song. Felt a tad @ed by She's a Runaround tho....
Some recognisable songs. It's a decent album but a lot of songs sound very similar
7.6/10 enjoyed this a lot! reminded me of the kinks/the buzzcocks, which makes sense bc this album is from that same era of british music. would listen again
Not a big fan of the pop punk songs which all sound kind of samey. They certainly knew how to fuse Ramones-like angriness with a touch of early Beatles melodies, but nothing much stood out for me in terms of composition or sound. "Teenage Kicks" is a genius song, though.
Pretty vanilla sounding. Not much that's special, and kinda forgettable. Guitar and vocals are a little too even sounding volume wise which isn't a good thing. 4/10
Solid
Giving this 3 a 4 because the muckers are only up the road
Forgot how many bangers they have. Still very toothless for a Derry band nevermind 70s Troubles punk, which is impressive in its own right.
Ashamed to admit that I never listened to this album in full before yesterday, mostly due to the post-traumatic stress of having to play and sing Teenage Kicks at every family gathering from 1998-2007. I really enjoyed this album, lyrically it's a bit weak with the most predictable relentless rhyming couplets from start to finish. Music was great though
Würde warscheinlich mies hart gehen wenn ich das mal in der Kindheit gehört hätte, aber ohne Nostalgie ist das nicht meins.
Yet another late 70s rock album that further proves that this era of music is just the type of stuff I'm looking for. This one was a little more punk than I'd like it to be and so doesn't hold up to the likes of Television and Talking Heads, but it was still super enjoyable from start to finish. And, like I've noticed in all rock entries from the late 70s, the influences of these groups on the alt rock of the aughts is undeniable and The Undertones are no exception. I'll be returning to many tracks from this self-titled album to be certain, if not repeated listenings of the whole thing start to finish.
Decent early English punk
-took a few songs to really start enjoying this but i ended up liking it more than i thought i would -it’s sort of fun and accessible compared to most punk (??) or punk-adjacent albums. nothing revolutionary for the genre by any means but not bad enough to shit on in any capacity -Favorites: Wrong Way and Jump Boys
3.5 This is a punk album I sorta missed - I think if I had spent a lot more time with it, I would have gave it a 4 or even 5 but as a missed classic I'm not going back to this so I'll go 3. Wish there was a 3.5
Default music. Fine.
Feargal Sharkey has been around my area quite a lot. Complaining about the amount of sewage being deposited into the River Wharfe and the adverse effect this has on cold water swimmers and more importantly in my view, the trout. So he’s come a long way since this album was released. It’s another one that I had on CD but stupidly sold it cheap when I thought I was going hook, line and sinker (gedit?) towards streaming. What I never realised was that their biggest hit Teenage Kicks was an addition to the rerelease so I suppose it depends which version we are reviewing and how many stars it gets. Teenage Kicks is a blast and raises the star count on its own. With that addition and Get Over You this album becomes a bit of a greatest hits. A good album of its time but not one nowadays that I will reach for. That is apart from Teenage Kicks which is a song you never tire of. 2/5 without Teenage Kicks 3/5 with Teenage Kicks so let’s assume I’m reviewing the rerelease. 26/9/25
More british pop punk... Sounds like the last 3 we've had. Nothing bad here though and some nice riffs.
This is a very fun punk album. Great energy. I'm giving an extra star for "Teenage Kicks" because the single is that damn good.
Pretty good
I really like punk, I mean, I really really like punk, and I did enjoy this album, it reminded me of the Damned, The Buzzcocks, Sham 69, or the UK Subs, but unfortunately, the latter is not on the list. It actually sounds like a lot of how late seventies punk bands of the UK sounded. Which makes me dare to question, why this album is on the list? Not bad, nothing special either. 3/5
A fun, but fairly unremarkable listen.
Forgot how much I loved this album. Good memories.
Fast furious fun, clever punk. Excellent.
Cool Brit punk sound - hearing some Beach Boys and Ramones influences. Short tracks. Favorite songs: Here Comes the Summer Teenage Kicks Get Over You
Okay, that was fun and brief. Had some moments even when its fun punk pop package reminded me of listening to X-Ray Spex (#33). Alright!
fun enough and utterly unremarkable
Meh
F yeah! 🤘
Best Song: Teenage Kicks. I do like the punk aesthetic mixed with the most corny and saccharine lyrics. Worst Song: True Confessions. The warble in his voice is really warbling on this one. Overall: They're not bad, but they also kind of sound like a budget Dead Kennedy's, even down to the vocal timbre of the lead singer. And even though the album isn't particularly long, the sameness of all the little songs makes it feel much longer than it is. Just go listen to a Dead Kennedy's album instead.
Boring
I dig the individual elements of instrumentation, and even their arrangement in short segments, but the songs and their structures get eye-rollingly repetitive. Don’t care for the vocal style or monotonous subject matter either. There are a few impressive guitar and percussion sections but they never develop into much. Listened to: on Amtrak to Philly. Favorite tracks: Here Comes The Summer, Billy’s Third
Loved this - kinda early 80’s vibe
The pleasures here are myriad - the Nuggets-esque bell tones (Telecaster?) on the opener "Family Entertainment," the jangle of the opening riff on "I Gotta Getta," the psychedelic organ firing up on the same track, the vocal harmonies on "Jump Boys" (which I guess is the Northern Irish term for surfers?). And "Teenage Kicks" remains as great as its reputation. It's almost like they decided to write a bunch of pop-rock songs, but only the good parts (cut to a shot of young Robert Pollard in a basement in southern Ohio, furiously taking notes).
Fun but nothing special, would listen in the background happily
fun upbeat, get your day going energy
Ok I need some variety, this is yet again ANOTHER album where each song sounds the same. Here Comes The Summer is a light hearted/fun song I’d play on the Fourth of July but likeeee early on in the day when setting stuff up. Not good enough for the actual hot dog/pickle eating festivities. A lot of the songs have the same chord progression and style where I could not differentiate much between songs. BUT, I slightly like the more summer vibe of this album than Joy Division and The Clash. My favorite song was Casbah Rock because it was 50 seconds.
“Ooh baby baby, what can I do, you know you drive me crazy, looking at you” big things coming from the Undertones folks. This album feels like it came out in 1959??? Boring and just extremely safe and repetitive? Overall I’m mad these albums are ruining my Spotify algorithm Edit: ok just finished it and honestly the second half of the album was a noticeable improvement from the first, pleasant to listen to. I apologize for my outburst earlier I was cranky about my Spotify algorithm
okay, first five tracks had me ready to GIVE UP... mindless "PuNk" music... but something magical happened when i got to "teenage kicks". it actually had musicality, there were harmonies, the instruments had purpose, and it even had nods to 50s/60s do-wop kind of music, which i thought was really fun! the rest of the album was so much better - it's almost like they made a great album but at the last minute were told it needed to be "more PuNk" by the label so they churned out some drivelous punk tracks and slapped them on the front end. i actually "liked" several tracks from the second half of the album on my spotify and look forward to them cycling into my mixes! i would play this album when a group of teenagers is going out for a night on the town. for the most part they're a good group of kids, but one or two of them are into the darker scene, maybe looking to stir up some trouble later in the evening (get in a FIGHT?! buy DRUGS?! SHOPLIFT??!)... but for now they're heading out into the city with their fake id's to have a good time and let off some steam!
Two punk albums back to back? Album generator you rascal! I thought it was decent. The carnival organ, and the lyrics about unrequited love were a interesting change of pace for the genre. I'm not sure I would listen to this album again, but there were moments when I would tap my toe, or be sent to times when I had a giant crush on someone. It does say something when Spotify started doing smart shuffle after the album was finished and I had no idea it was another artist. I listened to like 3 songs not by the undertones before I realized my mistake
estuvo bueno, cortito y conciso
Du bon punk vintage. Je ne connais pas assez le punk pour savoir si le nom de ce band revient aussi souvent que ceux des Sex Pistols et des Ramones quand vient le temps de parler des grands groupes de punk, mais il devrait. Malheureusement, ce n’était pas quelque chose que je me vois réécouter, ce n’est pas assez ma tasse de thé.
The Undertones really strikes a nostalgic chord. As a teenager, I was deep into electronic music and just starting to explore 80s new wave. I worked with a guy named Adam, 20 years older and a die hard 70s and 80s punk fan, who introduced me to this band. Its power pop vibe was the perfect bridge for me, and “Teenage Kicks” was the first track he played. Every time I hear this band, it’s a trip down memory lane.
Lackluster at best. Other better albums out there for his genre.
Unremarkable
Gotta admit, I'm kind of tired of Teenage Kicks these days. As it turns out, I've never heard any other song of theirs before. None of these are as good as Teenage Kicks, but they are fresher to my ears, at least. I wouldn't take them over the Buzzcocks or Ramones, but might take them over Stiff Little Fingers.
Fine but forgettable
Upbeat, but the songs sound too similar to each other. Got a bit boring
This one didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I mostly came away disliking the high trembling vibrato of the lead singer. Teenage Kicks was just alright, but I probably won’t come back to the Undertones. ⭐️⭐️
sai cansado nesse, mas não é ruim
pop punk setentista!! diversão purinha. 16 músicas em 30 minutos, é disso que nois gosta! bacana!!
Catchy songs with a slight edge.
Starts off strong, gets a bit sandy after a while. You’ve got my number, wrong way , Keep it in the family and TK are my highlights on this one. Well mixed.
It's 70s punk, so it's annoying, but it is more musical than you normally get with that genre. It has the decency of being only 34 minutes, which saves it a star because I was definitely starting to get annoyed with it. As it is, I'll give it 3 stars for not being Sex Pistols lite.
Some great tunes, and as often: When they left the basic punk formula behind to do something more with it, it was even great!
Was pretty good but not as iconic (for me) as something like the Ramones. Different styles I know but can’t give everyone high marks
Didn't like this. Not offensively bad, but so boring to me. Unending monotony in the structure and lyrics. Won’t really listen again
The British version of the Ramones
Every track is fun! Favorite tracks: Family Entertainment, Teenage Kicks
I legitimately didn’t know pop punk existed in the ‘70s until I heard this album. It’s certainly not a slog to get through (as the songs are both short and fast-paced), but pretty much every track is interchangeable. Something I can appreciate retrospectively for what it presumably added to the cultural conversation, but not something I can really see myself coming back to over later (and better) pop punk albums. Highlights: Male Model, I Know a Girl
this was pretty fun! a lot more listenable than some of the punk on this list in my humble onion. short and sweet which i appreciate.
decent early UK pop punk band, but not required listening imo. their sound and songwriting are pretty solid, but if i'm in the market for this type of music i think i'd rather listen to the ramones or something more interesting. someone in the reviews said something like the songs are good while you're listening to them but once the album's done, you remember none of it. 100% agree. 3.5/5, rounding up because punk is good actually? favorites: family entertainment, teenage kicks, here comes the summer, get over you, jimmy jimmy
Oh god this is fucking cool. Just some good old fashioned pop-punk. Then "True Confessions (Keyboard Version) sounds completely out of this world, and then you crash back down to pop-punk Earth. Cool album. So so cool
No longer available on streaming
Banger
Lots of songs on here I really enjoyed - a few I thought were too repetitive, but not enough to put me off the album. Fav song: Teenage Kicks - but if I try not to pick the one that’s most familiar, I also liked (She’s A) Runaround and Get Over You Least fav: Let’s Talk About Girls
Thought the whole album was decent if a little samey. Teenage kicks is a banger though . Specific rating - 3.8 Fav song- teenage kicks Least fav -family entertainment
Love me some pop-punk. Obviously have heard Teenage Kicks before (iconic) but there so many fun and good songs on this album! Favourite song: Girls Don't Like it Least: Jump Boys
Nydelig kos pønk! Veldig lang plate, men mye gromlåter.
There's something very Ramones about this. It's overall good fun and quite knockabout. Plenty of energy and tempo. It's slightly more melodic in the guitars, but nonetheless very direct and with plenty of hooks. Teenage Kicks is a perfect pop-rock song. There's something to be said for a song that's this simple, direct and earnest. It wears its heart on its sleeve, and distils a real feeling into 2 1/2 minutes. 3.5 rounded up.
Pretty standard classic rock, but there's some punk influence there too; you can tell this band is forming simultaneously as the Clash. They're not quite as raw and definitely tend towards pop rock, but that punk is still in the background for sure. It could definitely be more original, though. It's like the Beatles/Stones with an edge.
Here's a star for every pair of Doc Martens in the picture ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💅💅
Short, sweet, and catchy. If you want to do e into the England punk scene I guess this could be included. There ain't much to say I guess lmao....
I take back what I said in the last review: if forgot the Stooges. Bar the Stooges though, again British punk is just better than American punk. While I don't adore this album it has far more going for it than the Ramones or the Dictators. Sharkey's voice is a whole lot more interesting and has a range and the instrumentation (not just guitars!) also adds to it. And it has actual hits.
This is great. It sounds very fresh. I would like to have another listen. I really enjoy this type of punk (buzzcocks et al.) but I'd not heard a full undertones album before, or if I had, not this one. Cos this one is brilliant. I wonder what I'd feel without the later added hits to it. But I still think it'd be great, teenage kicks actually feels like it slows things down a bunch, it is a relatively low tempo track. All in all very good and one I'll put on again.
Fun early pop-punk. I'll admit I've only listened to more contemporary punk acts but I enjoyed this; teenage-me would have probably enjoyed it too. Simple, upbeat songs with some catchy hooks that don't overstay their welcome. Unfortunately the short nature of punk songs didn't make them the most memorable after only one listen, but I will definitely revisit this album again sometime. 8.5/10 Favs: Listening In; Teenage Kicks; Wrong Way; Get Over You
Not good. Very generic rock. All sounds the same.
Cool New Wave/punk vibes. Sounds like freshman year at college.
Yep
21/08/2025 Two of the songs I knew were on this album and i enjoyed it. Spotify listeners: 506.7k
male model almost sounded like the blitzkrieg bop
Early pop punk? Perfectly fine but very samey throughout, songs are 3 minutes or less so easy to breeze through.
Another Undertones, interesting. Solid punk, some great standout tracks, but its already 1979. Post punk is already thriving. It's got Teenage Kicks and here comes the summer! 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Some songs Owned: No, 7/1001, 7/25 (28%) Will I get? Already have Recommend: Yes
rock and roll good mood
Punk anos 70, muito bom!!!
This is fine for punk. It just hasn't aged well. I don't know off hand if it was revolutionary at the time. But it just sounds like everything else.
Basic and somewhat simplistic punk rock, but fun. A low 4, but I’ll listen to this again.
There’s so much of this stuff on here. I guess it’s pretty good, but I’m really fatigued by 70s punk-adjacent music at this point.
Great weren't they, I loved them. A brilliant singles band, perfect punk/pop. Apart from those singles and Family Entertainment which I knew from a Best Of tape nothing really stands out. But they were great, and although I never saw them live at least I saw That Petrol Emotion and they were fantastic :)
The guitar style of The Strokes but without any interesting lyrics or melodies to actually pull it together. They could really do with Julian Casablancas in the mix. Teenage Kicks is recognisable but also a bit weird now I think about it..
Fun album, sounds ahead of its time, a lot like some indie rock albums twenty years later. Was a bit like The Strokes at the start. The singer’s voice has always annoyed me though!
Love the accent coming through. Very fun album. Love the oddness of the riff in True Confessions - Keyboard Version in contrast to the rest of the album. Great riff in I Know A Girl too. Mars Bars is so funny - love the plate shattering sound.
Until last week, I'd never heard more than a couple of their songs. I was at their concert, it was good. This album is fun too.
Reminds me of The Ramones, which makes sense, it's the same era (1979). It's a fun enough album, but it doesn't have the same level of catchy hooks as the Ramones.
Teenage Licks is another one of those songs I've heard a million times (probably on Kexp), but never knew who sang it. The rest of the album is solid punk/rockabilly without being exceptional.
Kind of surf rockabilly punk? Not really anything worth writing home about, tho.
This one is in the record collection. I love this record so so so much. teenage kicks, and the rest of it, is a masterpiece.
Good old fashioned classic 1970s British punk rock. Good enough for me
It bops but I do feel like I'd rather be listening to the Jam
6/10 Punk isn’t my thing, but this was at the upper end for me. Did its thing efficiently and melodically. 16 songs in 25 minutes is real getting it done stuff. Best: Teenage Kicks
Awesome! Maybe a bit too simple to get to 5, but might be 4.5 for me right now.
A solid example of early punk rock done right. Sixteen songs in 35 minutes, all fast and loud with zero wasted time. “Teenage Kicks” is the obvious highlight, still buzzing with the same raw energy decades later, and “Get Over You” keeps that momentum going without missing a beat. The hooks are sharp, the attitude feels genuine, and the whole thing is over before you’re ready to stop listening. This is punk rock exactly how it should be.
Favorite songs: Get Over You, Jump Boys, Listening In, Teenage Kicks, Girls Don't Like It, Male Model, Here Comes the Summer, Billy's Third, I Gotta Getta, Jimmy Jimmy, (She's A) Runaround Least favorite songs: True Confessions 5/5
Lol, JUST had an Undertones album the day before yesterday. I guess I can’t say I was underwhelmed this time because I had an idea of what to expect. To use a cliche, I was whelmed. Well, that said - maybe from going in with expectations - I thought this album was better than “Hypnotised.” Maybe a little more genuine, like it wasn’t trying too hard, and it didn’t get as close to the edge of being irritating. Overall, a fun, if forgettable, pop-punk album.
Kinda good for some reason.
Tight adolescent-themed rock band!
not bad but probably won’t ever revisit
I'd never heard of these guys. This was a fun album, typical teenage boy/young male adult material.....it's been awhile, but I can still relate. A gentler punk style than some of the other bands of this era.
Heard Teenage Kicks before and after listening to the full album can I just say it was one of the most boring songs on it? There were other more interesting tracks but overall it wasn't that great 2/5
It's fast. It's more pop than punk. Nothing memorable
Underwhelming soft punk from The Undertones. Seemed a bit formulaic, very simple thoughts and lyrics. Middle of the road listen, not bad but no songs stand out. (2.49*s)
The Undertones took a queue from the Ramones and cleaned it up a bit. A lot of the same sound but right off the bat I was in so the whole album was a good, quick rock-punk romp. "Jump Boys" and "True Confessions" stood out as top tracks with the later straying from the standard formula. Not sure why they threw on what sounded like an early, gravelly demo version of "Casbah Rock" at the end but whatever...it was only a minute long. 2.58 stars.
I've said it before that the punk rock formula of a handful of short-burst, high-energy songs works to an extent but only for so long. Luckily this is a pretty short album so as the novelty wears off, the albums gets ready to wrap up. I wouldn't call The Undertones anything special. Seemed like another run of the mill early punk album. There's a bit of a weird twang to the lead singers voice that throws it off a little bit. It's short and mostly un-memorable but could be worse I guess. 2.21
2.5/5
Nice cock
American-sounding Irish punk. Strongly reminded of the Ramones. Some of the softer tracks sound like 50s rock and roll. Teenage Kicks particularly, it's real Buddy Holly stuff. Family Entertainment - I have heard this many times without realising. I really like the fact that most of these songs are just 2 minutes. The songs are as long as they need to be, no longer. Whole album is a lot of fun, except Mars Bar, parroting a corporate slogan, very un-punk. Get Over You my favourite track? Single version of True Confessions I also like a lot.
Punk is not my thing, but happy overproduced sing-along punk is the worst. This what I imagine a punk album by the Monkees or the Partridge Family would sound like. It’s very annoying and earns a 1.
Pop-ish punk for the time had a snappy beat to many songs, but nothing really stuck on me. Not bad though.
Pretty good, paints a vivid picture of the times effectively, groovy.
Solidly fine. Fun but nothing special. 2/5 stars.
7/10
Somehow enjoyable and forgettable at the same time.
Very solid British pop-punk. I really enjoyed the whole album. Great riffs and hooks throughout.
It was just so easy to listen to and fun and enjoyable.
Life was tough for young people growing up in Northern Ireland in the late 70s - unemployment, poverty and the troubles all loomed large, as well as the universal concerns of teen angst and heartbreak. The Undertones focussed mainly on the last two with their songs that were instantly relatable to anyone who has ever sat in their bedroom wondering if they will ever get a girlfriend / boyfriend (delete as appropriate). The late John Peel famously declared that Teenage Kicks was his favourite song of and played it twice in a row on his show. It’s still as good as it ever was, but there is a lot more to discover on this album with 16 songs clocking it at just over half an hour. It’s punk played with considerable verve and sung by Feargal Sharkey with his distinctive warbling vocals that were unlike anything else in the charts at the time.
Punks playing punk, and not reinventing the genre. But it's still good.
Very punk rock
Thoughts before listening: Oooh....I just recently listened to their sophomore album on this project, and while I thought it was okay, I was shocked that an Undertones album without "Teenage Kicks" would make the list. Good news I guess, cause here is that album. So I know this is early punk rock that leans more toward the power pop side of things. "Teenage Kicks" is an absolute banger, so I look forward to hearing that. Review: The roots of pop punk. "Teenage Kicks" is the true standout here, but the rest of the album stays in a similar lane of fast, catchy songs about girls and other obsessions of adolescence. This formula would be repeated by 1000s of bands, including many that spent countless hours in my cd player in my own teenage years. While the Undertones may have been beaten to the pop-punk punch by the Ramones and Buzzcocks potentially lessening their legacy, this is still a highly enjoyable listen. 4-stars
Like so many other early eighties punk influenced bands both musically and lyrically.
Too easy-listening and compressed 80s production.
Not life changing, not instrumentally mind blowing, not a cavalcade of comedy or variety. And yet it still somehow wins me over. I’m always a sucker for a fast and short punk albums and 16 songs at just under 35 minutes is what I like to see. Yes this album is not reinventing the wheel, but not a single song will overstay its welcome. This is a no skip album, but not because the album is chock full of masterpieces. It’s just the perfect length for every song. I might not have saved every single song. But I was never tired of a song or needed a break from an annoying riff or beat. This album held my attention for the full time and I enjoyed it. What more could you say?
Dead Kennedys meet The Beach Boys?
if I was 12 years old, I would probably like this album more. It’s deafly punk or packages sent and maybe a prototype for nu punk or pop punk
Some good stuff here. But I can’t figure out if it feels too slight or too rushed, however I ended up zoning out by the halfway point. 3/5
Such a great punk vibe
When I bought my cheap copy of this on the Fame label in 1985 I thought I was acquiring an ancient relic. The album was six years old. A blink of an eye to me now. In more age related pondering I don't understand why armed with this, The Ramones and Buzzcocks you would ever want to listen to stagnant genre bound 90s/00s pop punk. People ten to twenty years younger may disagree. Pro tip: search out the punk version of True Confessions live on The Old Grey Whistle Test to fully access their youthful exuberance.
Fairly innocuous pop fare. Nothing stood out as great or especially bad.
for most of it i thought it was a fairly standard brit/punk type deal which is not really my thing. it did get kind of funky and more new-wave-y near the end though which i warmed up to
What I'm starting to realize is I really don't like this genre very much
I’m riding a rare wave of 5 star albums this week, mostly from artists I’ve never heard of. Today is the Undertones’ self titled debut. A very early example of pop-punk, this one immediately grabbed me. As someone who grew up in suburbia in the 90s and 00s, pop-punk is near and dear, so it’s cool to hear the beginnings.
Solid late 70s punk/rock album. However, compared to their contemporaries like The Police and the Clash, nothing really stands out.
Very mod and very mid. I used to listen to Teenage Kicks and I’m unsure how I ever heard of it. I remember that some British music critic thought it was the best pop song ever (after it went on Top of the Pops). Kinda tough to listen to now though, right? “Teenage sex, ba da buh buh bah! Teenage sex, buh duh buh buh buh”
Was prepared to be a hater, but actually enjoyed this quite a bit. Very punk. Very fun. Really enjoyed “Get Over You”. You win this round, Robert.
7/8/25. Starting to really like the Undertones. This is the second album I really enjoyed, just straight up punk and unique voice.
jako dobar zarazan pank rok!
Classic. Still a good listen.
When WKRP originally aired, they used real rock songs. Popular stuff you’d hear on 70s AM rock radio. They didn’t get perpetual licenses, though, and when it came time for reruns and DVDs, they couldn’t afford any of those songs, so they replaced them with generic knock-offs and sound-alikes. For your listening pleasure, an entire record that sounds like that.
Groupe inconnu. Punk rock dynamique et entrainant. L'album est court malgré ses 16 morceaux, mais je l'ai trouvé un peu lassant. Aucun morceau ne sort du lot. Pas sur de l'écouter une seconde fois. =>2/5
Love me some English punk!
83% Best: Family Entertainment; Teenage Kicks; Wrong Way; Jump Boys; Get Over You; I Know a Girl; Listening In Must-Hear? Sure
This is a pretty kick-ass album. They pack a lot of great tunes into 35 minutes. Favorites: I Gotta Getta, Teenage Kicks, Jump Boys, Get Over You Would I listen to it again: Yes
A pretty cool record! I just knew the name but never heard a song. But it’s very good.
Ei ehkä mahtavan mielenkiintoinen, mutta pitää kyllä loppuun asti otteessaan! Hieman tanssittavakin. Ei kuitenkaan villi.
Loistava soundi (putket kuumana). Ihan ok biisit (plus yksi lähes ansaittu klassikko). Kuuntelin kaksi kertaa putkeen. Matala 3, koska luotan heihin.
Good songwriting. Sounds similar to the Ramones.
It was alright.
These boys bring the juice… right out of the shoot it was game on..
Not my deal
Classic brit-punk sound, but Irish. Don't hate it, clearly influenced by the Clash and the like. Good but not amazing really. Singer vibrato irks me a little.
Decent classic punk. Songs about girls, relationships, girls, job, girls.
pmo a little ngl
A non-defining punk album for me. Really short, lot of samesy songs.
The Clash lite. Great songs
Cover 6 Good songs. Overall, a good album but not great. Many of the songs sound like typical rock-era songs. Highlights: (She's A) Runaround and I Know a Girl.
This is kinda what I imagine the Archies sound like
Fun and fast punk.
Catching up on yesterday's... I used to listen to a lot of punk and ska. This was great fun but I pretty much like anything with this style of drumming 🤣
They were called the Irish Ramones by some, and they sound like it. The lead vocals are great as well. If I’m being picky, by 1979 other punk bands were doing more in the space (and this is harsh because they were so young on release). I am giving this a strong 3. Because even though I consistently enjoyed throughout, there aren’t enough memorable tracks to keep you coming back.
It's worth checking out the video for Teenage Kicks. Puts the record into context when you see how young they were. Northern Ireland's answer to the Ramones. Would love to rate higher but quality veres from the sublime to the ridiculous.
To my ears the Undertones are on the more sugary, poppier end of pop punk than Ramones - perhaps being a better indication of the future direction of the genre. It has an adolescent charm, like time travelling back in time to a school disco. It would be difficult for me to totally get what it would have sounded like as a teenager in 1970s Northern Ireland. There are some nostalgic qualities that almost sound like their harking back to traditional rocknroll. Teenage Kicks is the clear stand out track, but I was also quite struck by the quite strange True Confessions which sounds like a Joy Division bassline with Gary Newman meets XTC vocals. The 48 second closer Casbah Rock mission statement “you won't get pop at the casbah rock” is a genuine headscratcher that's a silly way to finish the record. Others passed me by leaving a smile on my face but without much incident.
Not for me, a high 2 because it has clearly influenced a lot of music I love but I just found it boring, especially the vocals.
Fun
Late 70s punk. I like this sound a lot.
Fun! I had never heard this band before. Nothing particularly revolutionary but certainly not something I disliked.
Mixed feelings here.
The album has a cool 70s punk sound, similar in parts to The Clash or even some Sex pistols in the riffs. The rhythms and overall sound are very upbeat and all the songs are quite fast and short, averaging at about two minutes each. They also have simple, easy lyrics and simple vocal lines as well as groovy drum fills and catchy riffs, which makes it fun to listen to and sing along, maybe even dance a little. There is a little variation in the details, sometimes the guitar fills have more of a vintage rock’n’roll feel instead of the classic punk sound, the vocals vary somewhat between punk, rock and more mainstream calm feels. However, after a while it does get a little repetitive and even though the album is only 34 minutes long already, perhaps it could have been split into two shorter EPs to avoid some of the more outstanding songs, like the iconic “Teenage Kicks”, being lost in the mix. The alternative would’ve been to add a little variation, even though the sound is cool overall and some might prefer it this way, the band does show the ability to add a complete break in the sound with the outro song and this is missed on the rest of the album.
Meh
really good, sounds very ahead of its time
fyre
Rock, but not necessarily melodic. Seems to be a precursor to thrashing rock.
Good stuff, reminded me a little bit of an artist I got a little while back on here, that artist would be the buzzcocks. The sound is similar though I will say I enjoy buzzcocks more, this album is still perfectly enjoyable. The songs are easy to follow and have that energy and carefree style you recognize from any other punk album like this, this is to me a good thing because you can just put this album on and chill out to it. The guitar work is pretty run of the mill in my opinion, nothing super special but fine nonetheless. In my opinion this album doesn’t offer much you wouldn’t get from any other album like this but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a listen because it’s still a fun album. Favorite Tracks: Teenage Kicks, (She’s a) Runaround, and True Confessions.
It is fast paced, it’s uplifting, and the simple lyrics about girls and doing hood rat shit with your friends is enough to set the mood. Honestly though, Undertones debut album is largely forgettable.
its serviceable british punk rock thats more listenable than most, kinda gives Ramones vibes. I feel like if there was less of the genre on the list, then this would stand out a little more.
Slightly better than the other albums that sound like this one. Still won’t be returning to it
Music doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. Each song is a wonderful stand alone vignette. Urgent and refreshing. I enjoyed all the tracks not just the well known couple.
These guys seem like they were ahead of their time. But, sadly, they’re behind my time.
Not bad!
Enjoyed
British punk rock
Early British punk
Saw these guys live. Tore the roof off.
This is clearly a precursor for some of the more modern bands i like. Pretty cool. A side was much better than B tho
In a parallel universe, all of these alternative rock bands from 1979 are the hottest thing. Now this Undertones album is a little more punk and beach rock than some of the other bands I'm thinking of, but it's still damn fun. This album was a little less memorable than Hypnotized album, but still good and jjst what I needed now that the summer weather is about here. Appropriately, my favorites are Here Comes the Summer and Teenage Kicks.
Pretty cool, but kinda dated
Simpatico, ma niente di che
Fun listen, pop-punk really, suffers from being a little repetitive, Teenage Kicks the standout, which is truly a great song. Sharkey's vocals are the star of the show, band is great but his vocals are another level.
Decent.
Great proto-pop-punk sound. Can definitely hear echoes across all kinds of bands: the Hives, Futureheads, and so on. Alas, the catch with The Undertones is they are deliberately singing about teenage concerns, half throwback to 1950s/early 60s bubblegum rock and doo wop, half Ramones impersonation. Which partly makes sense, they were 18 and 19 year-olds - which is pretty dope considering the guitar sound, rhythm bed playing, and vocals. But, even at the height of my own teenage punk phase I’d’ve been like guys, let’s grow up a bit eh?
Great energy at times more melodic that other late punk bands. Feargal’s voice gives the band instant recognizability. They are almost as fun as they are disgruntled.
Mediocre pop punk fairly executed. Not a fan.
meh
Wrong Way
Solid punk album. Good strong driving riffs and drumming, just wasn’t overly interesting. Short and sharp which was a plus because I was already waiting for it to be over halfway through
Another day another underwhelming new wave, post punk or whatever the fuck this album is from the UK… 1.5
Hey my birth year! I immediately like the genre :) Soft Punk? lol that's not a thing is it? Reminds me of I Wanna be Sedated by the Ramones. Dude this album was fucking great! 5 stars.
Hard to get past the overly nasal affected vibrato of the vocals...plus the solidly amateur musicianship...this works out to a loud clunk for me...
Like a precursor to The Ramones maybe? Who are also not great.
Not bad but nothing special either
Irish pop punk, enjoyed it 3.5
>The Beatles
Teenage kicks is a classic song.
More punkpop than punk. Not the worst but nothing memorable
Album 762 of 1089 The Undertones -The Undertones (1979) Rating : 4 / 5 My 2nd album from this band and I wasn't disappointed. Some awesome punk-pop focused on teenage life and emotions. 16 tracks packed into 36 minutes. Some adjectives that have been associated with this album that I can agree with: "raw energy", "simple yet effective songwriting", "distinctive vocals", "infectious, feel-good tunes", "relatable and timeless".
Very indicative of late 70s/early 80s punk(especially BritPunk). Much like the Buzzcocks. Energetic and bouncy fun.
Pretty standard classic punk.
Great example of early punk
This is the kind of pop punk soft new wave that defined my musical listenings of the 80s. Easy to get through, not bad, but also not terribly memorable. Solid 3.
No thanks. 1
Good, rock
Ugh
I enjoyed most of this but became very repetitive. Multiple less good versions of teenage kicks became slightly tiresome
it's just a great album.
Uugghh, this is mediocre. I really don't know how this could be an important album. In 1979 I wouldn't have listened to this. It's not bad, but bland. The "pop" in punk pop is way too heavy here. The Police faked it better.
Not for me
This band walked so pop punk as we know it could run, and it is a pretty brisk walk. These guys know their way around a hook.
I enjoyed this. Hadn't heard of them before - interesting that they're from North Ireland.
The Undertones really strikes a nostalgic chord. As a teenager, I was deep into electronic music and just starting to explore 80s new wave. I worked with a guy named Adam, 20 years older and a die hard 70s and 80s punk fan, who introduced me to this band. Its power pop vibe was the perfect bridge for me, and “Teenage Kicks” was the first track he played. Every time I hear this band, it’s a trip down memory lane.
Never heard of these guys, but why did everyone waste so much airtime sucking off the Sex Pistols rather than elevating the Undertones to a wider audience? So good.
A pleasant surprise. Very listenable early pop punk. Kind of feels like they merged a lot together here from various 60s and 70s influences to create something that is now well-established.
This feels like very accessible punk. Straight to the point and pleasant to the ears.
Own and love this album. Lived live with this band. Some of the best sounds of their generation.
The name of the band sounds familiar to me. I don't know if I've heard any of their music before. You can still hear the punk. The album was fun, even if the music sounded a bit thin. 3/5
I don't know what so different about this punk album but it was feeling particularly bland today.
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.
2.75
I like this style of music but this specific album felt forgettable
Fun record. Great energy. Catchy songs. Long live power pop!
Thought this was a pretty cool punk album. Fast paced, fun to listen to.
OH FUCK OFF. THESE MOTHERFUCKERS HAVE TWO ALBUMS HERE???!! And with this, we have my first repeat album from an artist that previously gave me a 1/5. And of course, I had to get this immediately after my first 1/5 in over 5 months. Suffice it to say, I was not excited in the slightest to listen the the Undertones' 1979 debut album. However, after listening to the album, I can't really say that I actively hate it. In fact, I actually have some praise to give to this album. Don't get me wrong. I still have issues. The lyrical repetition of Hypnotised is still here. I'm still convinced these guys only know how to sing about girls and boys (mostly girls). But hey! At least they didn't say "Boys will be boys" in 20% of the songs! They actually managed to not say it at all here, which I'm very glad to see. I never liked that phrase anyways. Something about it just doesn't resonate with me. So yeah, I still have that major issue with this album. I'm also not huge on the singing. More often than not, punk vocals just aren't really my thing. Where this album really has its successor beat though is in the musical department. My complaints regarding Hypnotised being repetitive weren't just with the lyrics. They also had roots in the songs, which also all sounded the same. I can't say that about their debut though. Some of these songs actually kind of stand out from each other. I know, right?! "Teenage Kicks" is probably the highlight. I'm still not big on that song's lyrics, but sonically speaking, it's a solid song. Overall, I can't say I'm too upset to have listened to this. It doesn't make me want to go back to Hypnotised, and I sure as hell wouldn't call myself an Undertones fan at all. But I can definitely say that they aren't the worst band in the world. Of all the bands to have previously given me a 1, these guys are probably the only one I'd be okay with listening to again. Too bad I still have a second Orbital album to sit through. High 2/5.
This album is so bipolar, it's got some really solid songs followed by complete trash...I think the good outweighs the bad but the bad is bad enough that I can't really give it more than a 3
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.
I don't do so good with pop punk albums generally, but I guess less so with pop punk from the early 70s rather than the late 90s- early 00s stuff. This one is... fine, it's cute really but there's nothing within it that interests me or held my attention much. At least it was short!
- kurze und knackige Platte (was auch auf jeden Song zutrifft) - insgesamt unterhaltend und launig - werde ich sicherlich mal wieder hören
Early British punk is honestly hard to appreciate for me. It's not as sharp and angry as the bigger bands that came later, and not as comforting as traditional rock. I like my coffee hot or cold, but never lukewarm.