Reviews (page 5 of 8)
An energetic slice of life, hitting right at the youthful disaffection and nocturnal ambitions which bubbled along under the surface of The Troubles. Never quite had the fury of Stiff Little Fingers, but it definitely feels they were heading out in a poppier direction - there's a direct link from here to Dookie! Favourite tracks: Male Model, Teenage Kicks (of course), Get Over You, True Confessions
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.
It's so funny how 45 years of retrospect makes this kind of punk sound so essentially like 50s rock-n-roll just a notch faster and slightly more distorted, but the chord progressions and harmonies and hooks are basically the same. It works, though, hey, it's a good formula for having a bopping good time with your (leather jacket wearing and safety pin pierced) best girl!
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 fun, short album with some good energy and catchy hooks.
a bit repetitive but really damn fun
Okay 70s punk album.
I can see the appeal
Peak!
First time hearing the original Teenage Kicks instead of Kodalines version I'm so tired and depressed but descent album
can't let gang know i fw this + Teenage Kicks
Not bad, not great. 2.5/5
Punk at its finest however it was over long and got a bit samey at times.
Fun little punk rock album. Songs were quick, album was an easy listen. Grab a beer, and put this one on at a house party for a good time.
Meh
Rating: 3.5/5 | Favorite Track: Family Entertainment --- The Undertones are a fantastic classic punk band, but I prefer their singles like "Teenage Kicks" and "You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It!)". The first side of this album is really fun pop punk, but the second side really starts to drag. I want this to be a 4/5 album, but it doesn't quite make it.
This was okay. It was kinda like punk-lite.
meh, it was alright but every some felt pretty much the same
Fun music
Крутий альбом
16 songs, 34 minutes long. This one was really fun and took me by surprise. The tremolo that Sharkey has is phenomenal.
It was good, but not great - some feel good classic punk rock but nothing else above that
Man i hates this album. Only like 1-2 tracks i enjoyed. Just seems so corny and “drake and josh.”
Don’t take this the Wrong Way, but this felt like some so so Family Entertainment. I hear some Girls Don’t Like It.
Pretty middle of the road music that, by today's standards, feels like its suffering to real lack of imagination and technical prowess. As someone who's gone through over 800 albums on this list I am now confident that this is just the way punk be.
Really fun. Captures a real teenage angsty feel.
This was fun but did not amaze me.
Love this one!
8/10
Some fun punk
First time hearing these guys and they do a good job of what they're going for. The number of tracks vs total album length is hilarious. I enjoyed hearing it and can tell why people would be fans but I doubt I'd come back often. I could see this being influential to future artists. Strong 3.
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.
LOVED this album! How is it that I've never heard them before? 16 tracks in 35 minutes is perfect for this old man. I wish I would have heard this back in my middle school days when it was released. It certainly would have been one of those unforgettable albums of my youth. Now it's an unforgettable album of my elderly years.
2,5
I don’t always agree with albums being on a list of ones you should listen to, but this one definitely deserves it. The perfect distillation of late seventies punk.
This feels like punk that's safe enough for middle class white guys to like, edgy for the seventies but not offensive - "I'm so different!" You say, listening to this in the stereo in the car you bought with dad's money
I’ve heard plenty of Undertones over the years but not heard their debut until now. Liked this one though — The Undertones sit in a really warm and comforting place for me and I can’t help but have a good time listening to them. Not mind-blowing, but enjoyable.
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.
There are a few riffs that feel similar to other songs that (I’m fairly sure) came after this, so I can see how it could have had some influence. However, all in all it just doesn’t come acato me as a really strong album. After a while they pretty much start to sound like the same couple songs. I’ve also never been a fan of making the chorus just singing the title of the song eight times. That happens way too often here. It’s not an awful album - I wasn’t angry about listening to the whole thing - but I can’t see ever listening to it again.
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).
Sounds a little like a lot of things but not enough of any one thing to make you want to listen again.
I’ve had a run of mostly shit albums for a while now, so maybe grain of salt, but I was pleasantly surprised by this. They’re like a Northern Irish Buzzcocks. Fun, unpretentious (post-) punk.
Decent rock! Reminded me Of Green Day
The Undertones’ self-titled album is an explosion of infectious energy and catchy melodies that, while not presenting significant innovations for the punk rock genre, perfectly captures the essence of the music of the 1970s and early 1980s. The simplicity and authenticity of their songs reveal an impressive ability to create memorable tracks that remain relevant even after several decades. The Undertones are a band that, while operating within the traditional parameters of punk, demonstrate a creative potential that is worth following in the future.
Teenage kicks is an amazing tune. The rest of the album is fine but unspectacular. High 3
Upbeat rhythms and a spunky sound, but lyrically it’s not that interesting. These bad boys might steal your daughter, but at least they’ll remove their flat caps when entering the house.
Fun album for the punk/rock genre but no particularly memorable tunes for me
The songs were short at least and sometimes catchy
This bleary-eyed listener thought the album cover was a piece of carved flint for the duration of the first three tracks. Didn’t take anything from the music.
Enjoyable, but nothing memorable.
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
2.7 2x short but decent catch up 3/13
One special song, many pretty good songs
favorite song: I know a girl. Overall score: 6.0/10
Meh
They have a certain sound to them, kinda surf vibes a bit. I like the guitar throughout the album.
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.
Oh look, two days in a row of late 70s punk bands I’ve never heard of. Think that makes 10-12 so far. This one isn’t terrible.
I just really don’t enjoy this style of singing! It’s a shame, because otherwise I really like it. Teenage Kicks is amazing and I can’t believe I’d never heard it before.
Of it’s time. It’s okay, fine in its place. Does it hold up as great songwriting, meh no so much.
Short and sweet little album.
This is bang average.
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.
Fun Buzzcocky punky power pop music.
This is a lovely album. Very playful and young tone.I liked it
This is a good punk album, but it's a little repetitive. "Teenage Kicks" is a classic, it's always enjoyable. Nothing else stands out much. "Casbah Rocks" is raw and fun though.
Good tunes but just not my cup of tea unfortunately. Great to try it though, thx!
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.
A really fun, manic and compact album given the number of songs on offer. All tracks offer something new and interesting, while never overstaying their welcome, rarely past the 3 minute mark. Best Tracks: - Teenage Kicks - Wrong Way - I Know A Girl Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 7.5/10
Fun and easy to shake your head along to, but not especially memorable. There are so so many albums like this on the list!!!
Also das war schon was. Blieb irgendwie hängen.
Dang these guys are cool. The other one a while back was sick, and so is this. Liked the other album cover more though
Almost every single sounds same
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
fine - teenage kicks put it up a notch
I liked this one more than other old-timey punk albums, I'll say.
This is my second Undertones album. I'm questioning whether they belong on this list at all but I'm certain that they don't deserve two albums on the list when everything they play pretty much sounds the same. This album is fun and I liked it for the most part but the excessive vibrato used by the lead singer is annoying and pulls me out of what would probably be a more pleasurable listening experience if they only had a different singer.
The Beach Ramones.
Probs deserves a 3 - but looking at my previous 3 scores, it just didn't land as well with me nor excite me.
I thought there wasn't a lot of variation in the music across the album but the actual lyrics were fairly good. I like Feargal Sharkey's voice, and overall I rate the album as quite good
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
Teenage Kicks is my most favorite track on this album. It has all the wavering-voice horny angst of a teenager. The rest of the tracks are all right-sort of Ramones/ punk sound-fine for a background listen.
This one was totally new to me. Love the energy.
3.1 Second one by these. Again, some good stuff but definitely drags as it goes on, with the wobbly voice getting old by the end. Teenage Kicks is a belter though.
Fun quick listen
Too many songs that sound the same.
barnslegt pönk sækir sjálfsagt talsvert í eldri form bílskúrsrokksins. fín lög inn á milli. set 3,5 á þetta.
Good memories.
I wasn’t particularly into this one
Ja Punk ist hoid Ned des wohre Nicht ununterhaltsam aber jetzt nix wirklich spaßiges
First? 3,5/5 Again? 2,5/5
Used to listen to this all the time but forgot about it. I forgot about it so much, that when this album came up, I was like ‘who are the undertones?’ Then as I played through it, all the songs came back to me. It was like awakening from amnesia. Wow, I love this album.
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
Derry represent! Fun, infectious, silly pop punk with some timeless classics included. Fuckin belter hi
A bit boring to me
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.
I honestly really don’t have much for this record, since it didn’t give me much to chew on. Or at least there wasn’t much that I haven’t already hear before that was done better by other punk bands. I’m sure this could’ve been massive if you were a British teen in 1979, but I couldn’t connect the dots. 2/5.
Very original band and sound. No mistaking the sound of Fergal Sharky's voice. Brilliant, takes me back to an era I loved.
Meh
Meh
jävlar vad goa dom är undertones
jimmy jimmy was OK. Not bad.
4/5
I only knew Teenage Kicks, and liked it. The rest of the album is more of the same, but usually not quite as catchy. Well sung and played but a bit plain for punk, for me.
Slapped better than I anticipated!
The Undertones sound like they existed on the cusps of classic punk rock and early New Wave. At times it sounds more like The Ramones and at others, it almost resembles early Talking Heads. The songs are very short, doing what they need to do and then ending as quick as possible. That could sound exciting, energetic, or frustrating. In this album it's a bit of all three. The Undertones seem to have paved the way for some of the pop punk bands that would take a similar approach in the early 2000s. It's an ok album with a few stand out tracks. But ultimately, for punk, post-punk or new wave, there are better options out there.
Is this punk?
I liked it! It's nothing revolutionary, but it was a fun album to listen to.
This was pretty good. I think almost Clash level stuff. Strong 3
Feel good summer time punk. The singer reminds me of Dead Kennedys Favourite Song: Male Model
Punk soleado, excepto por la voz del cantante que tiene una voz muy apagada, no me gustó mucho, le quita bastante fuerza. Riffs típicos de punk, púa para abajo, algunos punteitos, nada de otro mundo. No me gustó tanto, es bastante verga, seguro tiene una importancia histórica pero no me gustó. La banda tiene teclas, eso está interesante, pero tampoco le agrega tanta riqueza, es súper limitada armónicamente y melódicamente. Tiene los típicos coros con varias voces masculinas del punk. Puedo escuchar dos canciones, todo un álbum te deja PELOTUDO. El punk es la cumbia del rock, sirve para bailarla (cagarte a piñas un rato en un pogo) y no mucho más.
Not great for me but not a 1 star album, some moments of enjoyable catchy tracks but i'll go 2 star here.
This did nothing to change my opinion of late-70s British punk. Not a fan. Nothing here for me. 1 star.
Bright boyish punk rock, full of loud hooks they keep hammering on you. Not my favorite, but pretty fun. Best song: (She’s a) Runaround
The Undertones is solid and fun, has a couple of iconic tracks, the rest of it has a high floor low ceiling vibe, listenable and enjoyable but not something that stands the test of time aside from Teenage Kicks (not originally on this I believe) and Here Comes The Summer. Still, a 3, better than many recent efforts.
This was decent - wants to have a similar vibe to the Stooges album, but really it's a bit more cuddly and poppy, with the singles being a lot close to pop than punk really. Nothing super memorable (other than Teenage Kicks that has really stood the test of time), I think it's a straight down the line 3 for this one.
Punk opened the doors and the Undertones crashed in. I think I recognized that wall and half the people sitting on it. And half the riffs and half the attitude, but the other half of everything is totally original and mad. The simple algorithm is perfect.
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!
not a punk guy but this had its charm
Not bad but not good. I found it fairly forgettable, but I did hear many other bands in this. An influence for things I do care about, and that isn’t nothing!
Great rock
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.
quite boring
OK.
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
I listened to this but I dont remember it at all. 2 stars. Stinks to be a boring white band haha.
Not very impressed so far. First song to stand out to me beside Teenage Kicks is True Confessions (Keyboard Version). Pretty forgettable, 2.5
Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 📸⬛🧱 Production: 🎧😐🆗 Music: 🧷🍀⏳ Rating: 🍀(🍀)/5
Sounds like the Clash
While this was a fun punk album and slightly ahead of its time, I found it a little repetitive. Still a fun quick listen for a Friday morning, and I enjoy any album in this project that introduces me to a new punk band. Notable Tracks: - Family Entertainment - Here Comes the Summer 5/10
ok - but not more
Teenage Kicks Here Comes the Summer Get Over You Jimmy Jimmy True Confessions
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
I don't think this is really terrible, but its just it feels like any teenage boy with a guitar and an understanding of power chords could have made this. 2.4/5
Fine
Fun punk
A perfectly middling record. Sadly, also very forgettable. I found myself unable to remember the band name several times while listening. On the other hand. It's certainly not bad. The production is good throughout, but it can't save the record.
Definitely paved the way for many modern bands today, some absolute classics in this album. Pretty solid
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.
That was great! Why haven't I heard it before? Better than the Ramones and all those other guys.
Teenage kicks is one of the best songs of the 20th century the rest of the album was pretty meh.
Nothing made me hit repeat. In the end its forgettable.
Pretty solid album of early british punk rock. Will definitely revisit.
It's just classic british punk, what more could you want.
I simultaneously have heard every one of these song and none of these songs before. If you played the first song and last song and last song and told me they were the same song, I would believe you. 99% of this album is songs about chasing girls, 1% is an ad for Mars Bars. 3/10
Not feeling it
Nice, classic British punk.
Good Punk Album. Songs were too short it feels like this stupid tiktok music era with songs sitting at maximum 2 minutes. This triggers me a lot when every song feels like an fking interlude... But the songs themselves were pretty solid but mostly forgettable
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.
The Undertones! The band that wished they were Houmous & Chuntey. Almost as fun but nowhere near as funky. 3.4
First album I've been given that I've already completed, and I love it, actually got me into the Buzzcocks more than themselves
Pretty rockin
I think this might the punk album I like the most so far.
Splendido!
Liked it a lot more than anticipated. Good song writing
Fine but unremarkable
Nothing stood out but sounded fun. Reminded me of the Ramones
A little tame at times but mostly good punk from a band I've never heard before.
Just a high quality succinct and to the point early pop punk record. Catchy and a lot of fun.
The guitar was cool in some spots, but generally a generic British punk record.
This album is among the most perfect blends of punk rock's drive and aggression with pure pop instincts, all made by Northern Irish hobbits. Essential.
Ну весело. Поверхностно, несколько однотипно. Но ведь зажигает.
2.5
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.
Nothing says punk more than a turtle neck and puffy jacket
Two undertones records?! This is the only one that should be on the list.
Day305 - underwhelming by the undertones
Einfach, schnell, laut, gut!
British Ramones. I liked a handful Rating: 3.3
Forgettable Punk Rock.
Like it 👍
Literally just a carbon copy of Never Mind the Bollocks. Same exact sound but without the edge. In a world where that album doesn’t exist, this ranks higher. As it is, though, this just shows zero originality.
I like other bands in this genre more, but this was solid. Also, I get anxious when I see 16 songs on an album. So that played in a bit here, too.
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.
After a year or so of receiving these albums I need to hear before I die, a handful have been actually great albums. Sadly, the majority of recommendations are not standout works at all—rather mediocre or outright poor albums are the norm, it seems.
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.
nice but really fucking long. i like it though. but listening to a punk album that long, i tend to get lost in the songs
Love hearing NI chime in with their interpretation of (at the time) Pop Music. The Undertones have two albums on this list and at first I was thinking they couldn't possibly have a need to be so overrepresented here but after a listen to this, their first album I am corrected. Very different and a wide variety of Pop, Post Punk and New Wave make a cosmic sound for this disc. 3/5
Going into The Undertones, I was optimistic, knowing Feargal Sharkey’s voice from his solo work. But overall, this album left me underwhelmed. None of the songs really stood out, and even their most famous hit, Teenage Kicks, was just “okay” for me. Some tracks, like True Confessions, felt like unfinished ideas. It had a nice drumming sound, but that was pretty much the whole song. Ultimately, it was a disappointment. Standout track: Teenage Kicks. Score: 2/5.
Brilliant, so it is.
Dull
Liked it. Happy punk.
This is punk I can get behind, unlike most other I’ve heard. Catchy, poppy vibes going on here. Teenage Kicks and Family Entertainment were my faves.
First listen. Nah.
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.
I found out that I really dislike this kind of UK 70s punk records. The Clash really were the greatest of them all. If not for this one particular song, I would have given it 1/5
Good
Definitely enjoyed this!
An absolute belter
Nothing bad, but also nothing incredible either. Just a solid punk album.
Late stage punk. Maybe call it ‘bubble gum punk’. Basic tweenage lyrics and not so edgy. Parent friendly for kids who don’t want to be grounded. Heavily produced. Not sure why it’s on this list. Nothing to see here.
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
Alright
Un muy buen álbum de punk-pop de finales de los '70s, con tintes incluso de Power Pop. Sumamente, disfrutable, y lo más importante de todo, corto y poco denso. Aunque, no sé si este deba ser uno de los LPs incluídos en la lista de los 1001 álbumes, ya que no sé si realmente cualquiera debería "escucharlo antes de morir". De todas formas, no se lo salte, es una muy buena experiencia.
hmmmm. thought this was fine
endalaust af þessu til bara
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.
The Good: songs are short. The Bad: early Feargal Sharkey. The Ugly: Feargal Sharkey. So yeah, short songs are good, and pop punk just isn't. But I did enjoy it once I realized I was listening to good ol' Feargal, whom most people only know for that '80s smash A Good Heart. Gonna give this 2 1/2*
01) Family Entertainment - 7,0 02) Girls Don't Like It - 7,0 03) Male Model - 7,0 04) I Gotta Getta - 6,5 05) Teenage Kicks - 7,5 06) Wrong Way - 6,5 07) Jump Boys - 6,5 08) Here Comes The Summer - 7,0 09) Get Over You - 6,5 10) Billy's Third - 6,5 11) Jimmy Jimmy - 7,0 12) True Confessions - 7,0 13) (She's A) Runaround - 6,0 14) I Know a Girl - 6,5 15) Listening In - 6,0 16) Casbah Rock - 5,0 TOTAL: 6,59 (66/100) Current ranking: 244/320 The only song of theirs that I know (My Perfect Cousin) is not on this album... This is nothing special to me, happy little songs that all sound a bit the same. Their only advantage is that they are short.
I love punk. This is a very solid record. The issue is i don't think it really rises to a level that necessitates. A score above 3. It probably influenced lots of bands, but taken on its own, I'll say 3.
A perfect little album. Songs about chocolate, girls and growing up. Will resonate with most generations in the early stages of coming of age.
I was a social distortion fan in the day and this has that same feel. This type of music was very popular back in the late 70’s and 80’s. This spawned all the Green Day’s and alternative rock of the 90’s. This isn’t easy listening, but it really is very good. This is what you like to hear at a bar from a live band.
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.
Late 70s pop punk that gets in and out of the way in under 35 minutes. Nothing really noteworthy in my opinion. True confessions was my favorite track, then I realized the version on Spotify is the “keyboard version”, not the version from the original release. So the best song isn’t really even from the album.
Another unknown to me. I dig the energy. I heard some Buzzcocks influence, which is always good.
Fun upbeat early pop punk. Nothing special IMO but I guess that’s what hindsight does. The opening track is quite literally “we have the clash at home” vibes. Also seems like they took a page out of today’s streaming world with the super short songs but fill up the track list. I’d definitely revisit this one. It’s repetitive but fun, and thankfully since it’s so short the repetitiveness really doesn’t matter.
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.
Competent but not memorable 3.2
Eh this one was ok.
This list is so random. That was fun! I loved how short it was. Honestly might come back to this in some moods. Short, aggressive, fun, feel like I'm there. 3/5
It’s been nearly 3 years since I listened to The Undertones’ sophomore effort but I remember feeling almost exactly the same about that album as I feel about this. That is to say: generally likeable with its peppy, poppy take on punk and youthful humour, but I never found myself thinking ‘wow, what a great song!’ (although this one does at least have Teenage Kicks on it) So while I’m really not sure that *both* albums qualify as ‘must-hears’, either one of them in isolation would be a worthwhile inclusion, as each seems to be a decent representation of what The Undertones contributed to music.
5.5/10 The frontman's voice is pleasant, but there's nothing special or catchy in these songs. 🤷🏼♀️
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.
not bad but not for me 3
I feel like I'm supposed to like this, because, hell, John Peel loved "Teenage Kicks" to his dying day (and beyond)... and I do like that one song a lot, but the rest doesn't hit the same highs.
I can almost always get behind some music that's played fast and loud even if, as the case is here, it's only a little bit fast and a little bit loud. While it's not as immediately catchy as the Buzzcocks you could hear them sharing the same bill. This is pop-punk before the genre was redefined and packaged for broad consumption in the 90s and 00s. That said, if we're being honest, this record is also a bit more pedestrian. You take the Buzzcocks and a tiny dash of the Clash mix it with a British take on the Ramones...you water that all down, throw in a hint of vocal warble and you kind of have The Undertones. 2.5 stars.
don't know the band and I couldn't listen this album
Quite basic and outdated lyrics
Nice, early punk rock/post punk, or whatever it is, just worse than the genre itself. Ultimate garage band, with quality of everything as low as humanly possible. Not really my kind of jam.
This was fun, upbeat, Sonics-y. Standouts are "Family Entertainment", "Here Comes the Summer", "Get Over You", and the hit "Teenage Kicks".
Meh, very samey. Could be worse if every song sounded like Casbah Rock, I guess. It was bad and annoying, while the rest was just bad
if these people weren't born during the 50s they would've had to get real jobs
An influential band with some great power pop punk songs.
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.
Energetic but of no other appeal
Peppy, punchy, punk. Short and sweet. 4/5
Typical punk lad rock. Not bad, but doesn't jump out at me. 3/5
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.
So freaking fun and some full on certified Slappers
It completely lacks the interesting variation present on the follow-up album, leading to a pretty generic pop punk album that struggles to separate one song from another during its short run time. What helps its case is the fact that the formula is strong enough to make it almost hit for most of the album, but it rarely if ever hits its mark, and so it's just mediocre instrumentals with lyrics that admittedly are weird enough at times to grab your attention, but, still, it could be doing a LOT more.
Made it about 3/4 the way through. Anothers 70s punk / garage rock type album. This one didnt really captivate me- a lot of childish themes. Instrumentation was mostly simple (as is typical for the style) and sometimes effective, sometimes bland. Overall it was fine but not really my thing.
Okaish Pop Punk. No need to relisten.
Got some good songs on it for sure, I really like true confessions. I think it's The Understones best song, was a shame for it to not have the guitar version on it. The One spotify linked to had "Teenage Kicks" on it also, which I don't actually think was on the original version of the album.
Альбом прямиком из детства
This was pretty rad, if not a little dated
2 or 3 decent 'songs' but it is pretty relentless pop punk, and not really my bag
Not as good as their other album and a lot of these songs sound identical, still decent
Second in a row I wasnt expecting much from and really liked it
TIMMY!
Fui pego de surpresa aqui. Achei que seria mais uma banda punk britânica, do início do gênero - que por mais que goste e valorize, hoje só consigo ouvir as músicas que realmente se destacam - mas não. Aqui trata-se do começo do pop-punk. É um álbum rápido (26 músicas em 56min, e apenas 1 com mais de 3min), como um álbum de punk tradicional, mas com mais elaboração melódica, variação e movimento. A elaboração não se estende para a parte lírica com letras menos políticas e mais "bobinhas", o que não acho isso um demérito por si. É um "Beach Boys punk" ou um "The Clash pop" e é muito bom de ouvir.
Fun…..zu lang…songfragmente….mars bar??!
Sweet, sweet, pop punk.
Bubblegum punk. Who knew?
Super fun pop punk. 3.5.
Pretty good, but Hypnotised is better and also on this list, so I think just that one would be better.
I think the title to one of the songs might have been "Sounds Like All The Others". It's hard to remember as the whole album bleads together. It's all fine as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far. Listening to American Idiot and The Undertones back to back really brought the relative unambitious nature of this into sharp focus.
So not much to say about The Undertones debut album, which for 1979 was a bit ahead of its time… Short, simple, succinct songs – with a fairly decent sound for that time, and nothing that really sucked, is an accomplishment as far as I’m concerned… I also run it through the lens of – if I had just turned 18 in 1979, and this is what my band and I created – I’d be pretty proud of it… Does it mean that it belongs in the pantheon of great albums of all-time, hell no – but far better than a lot of the “swill” that I have had to listen to on this 1,001 journey… Solid 2 from me…
This album is dope! I've heard Family Entertainment on random play a bunch, but this is the first time hearing a full Undertones album and it was great pretty much the whole way through. 4.5/5
This album rules. I was surprised to see that we already listened to a later Undertones album earlier, and have no recollection of it. Apparently I thought it was decent but nothing special. This one rules though. 4.5/5
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
Punkier than I'd imagined! Quite enjoyed it
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.
Above average post-punk. It's pretty poppy actually.
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!
At first I liked it, but got tired of it midway through. Still decent.
I hear a little of what the Dead Kennedys are going to sound, but nothing nearly as good.
It's supposed to be pop punk. Not enough catchy to be pop, not enough rebellious to be punk. I don't know what it is then.
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.
(Not) The Clash
Simple pop punk. Quite repetitive- but I didn’t hate it.
some good songs, sounds kind of generic. Nouvelle Vague did a great cover of Teenage Kicks though
Instead of making overtly political punk, they wrote about chocolate, girls, and boredom. It sounds like five kids in a room just trying to get the songs down before their ride home shows up.
I listened to four songs and that was three too many. Nothing creative on this album. I don’t understand why it’s on the list.
My favorite candy growing up was Coffee Crisp. Its slogan was, "a nice light snack". Being that this was a Canadian treat, the slogan was also translated into French: "Un goûter léger". I think that suns up The Undertones: "Un goûter léger".
Punky. Poppy. British. Nothing else really outstanding about this very mid album. At least it doesn't wear out its stay. 3/5
Clásico instantáneo Lleno de estupendas canciones más allá de las clásicas, Jump boys es un buen ejemplo. Get over you (el segundo single del disco), True confessions o Listening in, también. Teenage kicks, Jimmy Jimmy y Here comes the summer son las más conocidas y brillantes pero el resto conforman un debut histórico. Male model presenta unos coros que resuenan a lo mismo que los Ramones: el pop de los 60. Los mismo sucede con I gotta getta con ese órgano surfero. También es evidente la influencia de The Buzzcocks (otro grupo fundamental). Wrong way podría ser un temazo de los B-52´s. Canciones de apenas dos minutos, ritmos y construcciones sencillas pero con un gran sentido melódico. Todas son tarareables y disfrutables. Pero todo se minimiza cuando llega una de las mejores canciones de la historia: Teenage kicks. No está en absoluto nada mal para una banda que empezó alrededor de 1975, pero tardó tres años en grabar porque tenían que aprender a escribir y a tocar la guitarra... Otros discos de 1979, el año del \"Disco sucks\" y también de maravillas como: JOY DIVISION - Unknown Pleasures, THE CLASH - London calling, VAN MORRISON - Into the music, NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE - Rust never sleeps y Live Rust, AC/DC - Highway to hell, PAUL COLLINS BEAT - The Beat, THE CURE - Three imaginary boys, THE POLICE - Regatta de blanc y zenyattà Mondatta, THE B-52'S - The B-52's, GRAHAM PARKER - Squeezing out sparks, THE KNACK - Get the knack, The wall de Pink Floyd, Armed Forces de Elvis Costello & The Attractions, We Are Family de Sister Sledge, Look Sharp! de Joe Jackson, Spirits Having Flown de Bee Gees, Breakfast in America de Supertramp, Y de The Pop Group, Voulez-Vous de ABBA , Bad Girls de Donna Summer, Lodger de David Bowie, Discovery Electric Light Orchestra, Exposed y Platinum de Mike Oldfield, Fear of Music Talking Heads, Off the Wall de Michael Jackson, Quadrophenia deThe Who, Reggatta de Blanc de The Police, Prince de Prince, Damn the Torpedoes de Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers , One Step Beyond... de Madness, The Specials de The Specials, Journey Through \"The Secret Life of Plants\" de Stevie Wonder, Metal Box de Public Image Ltd., Risque de Chic, Real to Real Cacophony y Life in a day de Simple Minds
Very good for what it is. A respected guitar oriented punk band, and it’s legit stuff, I just don’t hear the melodies or the color in the music to encourage repeated listening for me…
This was fairly enjoyable early brit-rock-pop. Sounds similar to a lot of other things I've heard through this experiment but was a solid outing.
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