B-52's

I know this is absurd to say but at points I think its a bit too unserious for me. and seeing these guys live for some reason made me kind of hate them lol

This was way less enjoyable than I was expecting. 3

A bit tiring

Un album qui sonne comme sa pochette Playlist pick : Rock Lobster

Decent instrumentals with subpar vocals 3/5

Decent background music at work. Would be fun at a party. Would not add it to my regular rotation.

Love it or hate it, for better or for worse, I can’t listen to the song “Rock Lobster” without thinking of the show Family Guy. The song has permanently been ingrained into the deepest corners of my subconscious because of that stupid show. And yet, I’m pretty confident that this is the first time I’ve actually heard it in full. Man, this is another weird band. Like, Frank Zappa weird. This was made with every conceivable drug imaginable, I’m sure of it. It definitely has a charm, but it’s just extraordinarily weird as well. I only recognized the hit, “Rock Lobster”, and it’s probably for a good reason. There are the other songs on this album, and then there’s that one. It’s catchy, it’s appropriately weird, and the little extra bits of flare the song has with some of the riffs and background elements are just charming. Yeah, it’s the best song on the album, and it’s also my favorite. Nice, long, earwormy, and memed to hell and back because of Family Guy. Peak song. From start to finish, the song keeps changing and always manages to keep sounding awesome. The rest are pretty earwormy too, but don’t hold a candle in the wind to the stupid brilliance of “Rock Lobster”. Now, the website categorizes this album as Rock, but I kind of disagree with that categorization. I don’t know if it was considered Rock in 1979 when it released, but this is closer to Pop, or even Pop Punk in my opinion. Some of the songs, especially the ones sung by Cindy Wilson like “52 Girls” and “Dance This Mess Around” just come off like classic 70’s Pop, with a little Punk thrown in the mix, and a whole lot of weirdness with the vocals. There were a few moments in “Dance This Mess Around” where I thought the singers were attempting to charm a snake. And still, it’s all catchy. Not in an annoying way. In a truly charming way, and that’s very tough to pull off. The biggest compliment I can give this album is that despite having some classic 70’s vibes all around, it does sound pretty weirdly unique, in a good way. The best thing I can say about it is that every single song is an earworm because of the cool instrumentation and inherent weirdness of the band members. They’re all very funny, and it shows on every song. Quite charming really. It’s still a 3, but it’s a 3 I feel very happy to have spent my day with, and I would return to this album, maybe even check out some more B-52’s later. I personally like “Rock Lobster” more, but “Love Shack” is another really good song by them that everyone should check out if they haven’t already. It’s unfortunately not featured on this album, but that’s fine. We’re living in an age where every song imaginable is easily accessible at this point. To get back on track, I’ll end my review by saying this. This was an extremely lively, fun album, and I had a blast listening to it today. I’m a fan of this band now.

Rock pop punk insanity. Who comes up with this (B52s I guess)? Not sure what the point is (perhaps there doesn’t have to be one) & not always easy, but original & fun, and rock lobster is irresistible.

Classic just not for me

I enjoyed these delightful weirdos. Good summer tunes. Particularly good use of surf guitar sound.

Unique

Bopped my head to it more than I should for a 2 star album, so I'll give it a 3. ROCK LOBSTER! 3/5 Top Tracks: Rock Lobster, Downtown

Listening to this was a tug-of-war between hate/love. Sometimes the yell/scream lead nature of the lead vocals felt like a joke but sometimes it felt very cool and very punk. I don't know where the line is between the two. The music itself is held back by the vocals and it's a real shame. Highlights: There's A Moon In the Sky

Ok not very varied. Same sound throughout. A couple of interesting songs.

Surprisingly good. Never heard of this album or this band. It was a little bit different but it was good to work to. Will defo listen again

Pretty great album. Rock lobster is obviously the standout, what an amazing song it is. The extended mix here goes in many weirder directions. I think the production on this record is what makes rock lobster so great, also the band seems really tight.

Notable Textzeile: If you're lucky you get to ride in a gold meteorite If you're not, you get a mouth, a mouthful of red Kryptonite You better move over Here comes a Super-nova Rock Lobster hat wirklich alles was man braucht: 6:52 Spielzeit, einen der dümmsten Texte der Welt mit 7 Strophen und Tanning Butter. Ich dachte schon, das wäre der Peak, aber als ich dann auch noch gelesen habe, dass sie 2023 eine Las Vegas Residency hatten hat mich das schon sehr nostalgische gemacht zu einer Zeit in der Plattenfirmen einerseits jeden Mist pushen konnten, es aber andererseits eben auch noch nicht jede*r eine Kritiker*in war und Leute mit verrücktem Quatsch von der Musik leben konnten und zwar ihr Leben lang. Da kommt dann ja auch die tragische Note rein, das für Ricky Wilson das nicht so lang war. Das Tragische passt zu dem quatschigen so gar nicht. Was mir wirklich gefällt, dass hier klar ist, dass keiner der Beteiligten, im Gegensatz zu den Talking Heads, die zum Teil ja ähnliche Vocals haben, ernst nimmt oder für große Kunst hält, das schließe ich aus Rock Lobster oder auch dem hervorragenden Songtitel "there's a moon in the Sky (called the moon). Werde ich nie wieder absichtlich hören, aber irgendwie hat es mich gekriegt.

Quite a bit more straight up 80’s DEVO esque weirdo pop, on top of the insanely catchy novelty songs. Pretty fun!

Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Very Good - The extended intro of Planet Claire sets you up well for the quirky, fun ride that you are about to go on. The way the grooves twist together on this is really cool. I enjoy every song more than I expected. The second half is a clear step down from the first but I still find it enjoyable. We will see but I can see myself listening to this a fair bit.

Slightly eccentric pop

So I audibly groaned when this popped up. I’m glad I finally listened to the whole album. I respect what they’re doing but I’m not going to spend more time with it. I like weird, but a different weird.

It's the B-52s.

Smittende rytmer på de fleste låtene, men opplegget blir for irriterende i lengden.

Never heard of these guys before. Decent one-time listen.

It’s an album!

EVERYBODY had matching towels!

There is something very likable about the B-52s. Both the male & female lead singers have interesting voices. This music makes me think of Peewee. And I mean that in the best way possible.

This is just some good fun. Really puts a smile on your face

Not a long album by any means but I got really really tired of it by the end of it... Finished it but I didn't desire to

Like a lot of your people in the UK in the 80's my only real exposure to The B-52's was 'Love Shack' and 'Roam', they were huge during the late 80's and got played constantly on radios and even in pubs and clubs. This even continued well into the 90's too, more so for Love Shack than Roam. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this album, so I went in quite open-minded. It was decent, I could see a clear link between this album and their later output, there is a definite 'sound' for this band - not just instrumentally but also vocally (which I suppose is really another instrument anyway). I couldn't pick a single stand-out track, but there was nothing close to dog-shit either.

It’s rough. Quite good though. Obviously I was a big fan of the final cover of ‘downtown’

Hmmm, this is fun and interesting but do I like it? Idk

Loved the energy. Found the female vocals quite grating.

I was ready to throw this music under the bus (while acknowledging how much it means to the people who listened to it beyond the notes and chords, with the fashion and the camp and such), but a lot of the songs sang by Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson were actually kinda sick. When it started with Planet Claire I was like okay this is all gonna be Rock Lobster bs, but then 52 Girls into Dance This Mess Around I was like oh this is actually kinda menacing and fun. I’ll even go so far as to say Rock Lobster is more enjoyable in the context of the entire album. I can’t truly say I enjoy Fred Schneider’s shtick but the ladies really carry this thing even with their background vocals. The way they swap between unison and crunchy harmonies is chef’s kiss. I don’t expect I’ll seek this record out front-to-back again, but I’m leaving with a more open mind about this group and what they were doing.

Divertido pero monótono en fin

The B-52's are one of those bands that I think I should like more than I do. They are from a time period that I enjoy a lot of music from; they are from Athens; and their music is often catchy and fun. Plus their whole shtick with the retro clothes and silly lyrics is the kind of thing I generally enjoy. There is just a lot about them to like, but they kind of leave me cold. I think the reasons that I don't like them more include the fact that they are kind of post-punkish, which is a sound that just always hits my ears wrong, and the fact that I don't enjoy Fred Schneider's nasally talk-singing. But a quote I read today really put things in perspective: “I was at a dance club one night in Bermuda,” [John] Lennon told Rolling Stone in an interview recorded three days before his death in 1980. “Upstairs, they were playing disco, and downstairs I suddenly heard ‘Rock Lobster’ by the B-52’s for the first time. Do you know it? It sounds just like Yoko’s music.” In particular, Cindy Wilson’s scream toward the end of the song was reminiscent of Ono’s approach. “I said to meself, ‘It’s time to get out the old ax and wake the wife up!’” Lennon said. John Lennon was mostly wrong, as he usually was, but he wasn't totally wrong. The B-52's are like Yoko Ono in that they are screechy. Screechy vocals. Screechy guitars. Just kind of a screechy band. I think that, at its core, is why I don't like them as much as I think I should. That being said, this is mostly poppy and fun enough to be okay, despite my reservations.

overall a fun album, which i was expecting from the B-52s. nothing rlly stuck out to me other than rock lobster which is just cuz i knew that already lol i also didnt rlly fuck with their cover of downtown either tbh

The instrumentals are super good, but the vocals are just not it for me.

Estoy atrasado, algo escuché, no conozco nada de ellos pero parece ser algo lindo de escuchar y un sonido distinto para su época. Me dan ganas de escuchar algunos temas si!

It's fun, it's catchy, it's kinda ridiculous at times, it's the B-52's. Just a 3 for me.

This is just my opinion but Rock Lobster blows, worst song on the record honestly. The rest of the album wasn't bad though I don't feel the need to revisit this ever again. How this is on a list of albums you MUST hear before you die is beyond my comprehension.

6/10

Silly space noises - it’s the late 70s. Planet Claire uniquely interesting for me because it’s my mum’s name. What a thought. 52 girls is a very funny concept. It’s nice listening to music that doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s nice that it’s fun and dynamic and experimental without trying to be actively unpleasant. Obviously it’s annoying. I just like camp, I find it more interesting than other kinds of annoying. I like it when women are involved in art. I enjoyed Rock Lobster.

Rock Lobster! Classic new wave with fun songs and lyrics

Not bad actually. Cheesy and fun. Some interesting ideas here, in kind of a weird pop new wavey kinda way. Campy and silly.

3.5 stars if I could 🪨🦞🦞🦞🦞 I am gonna be more in depth next album let's see what it is

now I know how it feels to take hard drugs but jokes aside there was a vibe to this I gotta say

When this one generated I was shocked and a bit scared that I'd find it awful (I really don't like Love Shack). What a great surprise this album was. Weird, new wave anesthetic and sound, but some good variety and some really interesting tracks. This really was a pleasant surprise.

It's kind of goofy, but okay.

Can appreciate it for its eccentricity and the beep-bob-ness of it all but not my personal jam. I recognized rocklobster and it is a good song but then it got stuck in my head when i was trying to sleep and it became a nightmare scenario. I like the girls voice but the guy kinda sounded like squilliam from spongebob

This was fun, but also, kind of annoying? Like a really cool pair of socks with an irritating little burr in them. "Rock Lobster" is such an ear worm! It's great. And "Lava" sounds a lot like REM, which was fun. Overall - campy, fun, irritating. THREE STARS

This is quirky and fun but I had no desire to listen to it a second time.

I like that they took a sound from the 50’s/60’s and made it almost kitsch in a really fun way. But not my fav.

Smooth listening, kind of beach vibes

Love Planet Claire and a couple of others. It becomes repetitive quickly, though, and it’s hard to take them seriously. They just exude novelty song

Perfect for playlists, karaoke, or watching live at a bar. Would never throw on the album just to listen to.

Not sure what to expect but not bad so far Sounds like it should be a Halloween soundtrack Not bad but weird/not something I’d listen to on the daily

Rock lobstah. I know nothing about the B-52s as people but I can only imagine they would have been insufferable.

Some songs are such a slay but some songs are very weird.

Love this band and the launch point for their career, “Rock Lobster,” which is a shockingly popular song for its vast experimentation and singular sound. The rest of the album is quite a bit less subversive and as such doesn’t affect me.

I have no idea why, but I was feelin this

A highly original act for the time, championed by John Lennon and some of their sounds were not dissimilar to what Yoko was trying on Double Fantasy. It's like hearing The Munsters doing surf rock at times, and their reputation as a live act was legendary. I think they made better music 10 years later but without this album they may never have become a famous group. A lot of fun and very refreshing for the time

Going in I only knew of "Rock Lobster" and was wondering how the "non-hits" would hit me. Well I was pleasantly surprised that the group was able to step out of the norm and pull off a solid album.

Never really got the B-52s. It's fine but the talk-singing grates.

Kudos to them for doing their own thing. These guys, and Devo, were so unique when they first broke through compared to all the mainstream stuff that was out there. Fred Snyder can't sing, but nobody cares because when you're dancing and/or drunk off your ass, then who cares. Three stars because it doesn't really qualify as music, but is still very innovative in a good way.

Weird but weird is good. Not too high or low on this one, it definitely has its spot among these albums.

Didn’t leave a huge impression

Better than I remember - Still not a real chorus - It was fine

High 3, very fun and technically impressive but not quite my style!

3,7

Yea fine. Some of it is pretty fun. This list has made me hate new wave though

An overdose of silliness. Where did all the whimsy go

The gaydar is running amok! Talking Heads, Abba og G-bar har fået et barn, og det lyder crazy Rock Lobster er måske det mærkeligste nummer, jeg nogensinde har hørt Det er lidt det der barn, der sidder bagerst i klasselokalet, som man aldrig rigtig har forstået, men som man heller ikke rigtig kan have noget imod - fordi selvom de er weird, så er det da anderledes om ikke andet - og måske egentlig rimelig fængende på sådan en trafikuhelds-måde. Jeg kan ikke helt kigge væk fra de flotte farver og underlige lyde. 3.5

Honey come quick! This website gave us energy, excitement and fun by gracing us with B-52’s!!! I’ve come back to this album a few times over the past few days and hence the belated review as I never seem to finish it in one sitting, and so my views are also more skewed to the beginning of the album. It gives off the scooby doo gang all grown up hanging around a diner making animal noises. It can be weird and poppy at times with the squealing, but how can you not want to dance around whilst listening?

Funky, but a bit much for me

I’ve always thought of The B-52’s as some form of non-serious novelty act, and with good reason, so there was perhaps some scepticism and surprise on my part when this popped up. I enjoyed the listen, it’s up my street musically, blending new wave, art and surf rock together. The quirkiness of the vocals and lyrics isn’t going to put me off as I often like something more eccentric but at the same time, I wonder if it would wear thin.

One of the weirdest music things that exists, mostly one note but definitely worth experiencing

From the album cover alone, you can already tell that The B-52's don’t take themselves too seriously, and that immediately gives you a sense that The B-52's is going to be a fun listen. And it absolutely is. The album is packed with humour, personality, and energy, and it sounds completely different from a lot of the music coming out in the late 70s. There’s a weirdness and individuality to it that makes it stand out straight away. It mixes new wave, surf rock, pop, and dance music into something that feels playful, colourful, and genuinely fresh. What really works is the energy running through the whole album. The music has a brilliant rhythm to it, the vocals are eccentric in the best possible way, and everything feels carefree and full of life. It’s not trying to be deep or overly serious — it just wants you to have fun, and that attitude makes the album incredibly easy to enjoy. Even when the songs are silly, there’s something really catchy and memorable about them. It feels like a band fully embracing their own strange identity and having a great time doing it. Favourite tracks: “Rock Lobster” is a brilliant, fun, catchy tune and easily the standout for me Least favourite tracks: Nothing on the album is terrible — it’s consistently entertaining throughout Album artwork: Great album cover. I love how the image pops against the bright yellow background — it perfectly matches the quirky energy of the music

Such a fun band

😅 The B-52s just aren't my cup of tea. This was like listening to a bunch of songs that sounded kinda like "Love Shack". Perhaps today wasn't the right day for this to click but it's the day it was chosen.

Instrumentals were insane but lyrics were meh

The kitchiness isn't really my vibe but there's undeniably some good songwriting here. In terms of the compositions and the actual instrument work there's a lot to love, it's mainly just some of the quirky vocals that drag the record down for me, like the scatting (if that's even how to describe it, IDK) on Rock Lobster. I've never really listened to an album that sounded so cool yet so annoying at the same time. It's a weird feeling. Favourite tracks: 52 Girls, Lava

Ok in B-52’s defense, it’s genuinely not their fault that I was deeply sleep deprived when this album got assigned to me. I don’t have kids but I imagine the experience of listening to this album sleep-deprived is similar to being woken up by your 4yo twins because they needed to tell you about their new imaginary friend: “🫩What’s that? It wasn’t a rock? Oh it was a rock lobster. Thats great sweetie I— what’s that about the moon 🫩? It’s called the moon? That’s so true — listen honey daddy needs to close his eyes for a few more minutes…” All that being said, if I was a quirked-up white boy living in a beach town in the 70’s I totally could see myself bumping this all summer long, half as a way to troll my friends and half out of unironic enjoyment.

That was ok. I was shocked that I know a few songs of them, I love them. Other thacks ware not for my taste

some bangers and some stinkers

Bimibng motherucker

A little too funky with grinding vocals at times but fun overall. Liked Lava and Lobster best.

family guy ahh album

Kind of a weird album, and aside from rock lobster there's not a ton here worth hearing.the B-52s have other good songs, they're just not on this album.

Have had a run of stuff from the late-70s and early-80s lately: punk, new wave, post-punk, and whatever this is. They all have this sneering swagger in common, even if some are angry, some melancholy, and in this case, absurdist and silly. Some indelible songs, but the pony veers dangerously close to only having one trick...

I don't think i'll ever hear another album as kitschy as this. it is kinda charming

I never took to the band’s kitsch, and, well, some of the vocals are a little shrill. But the album is still largely fun—and helped establish New Wave, which I love.

This album lived up to my expectations, having never heard it before. It’s upbeat, happy sounding, and maybe just a little erratic. When you hear it, you have to start dancing. A breath of fresh air compared to the other alternative music on this list. They may not be the best musicians or make the best music, but at least they’ll make you smile a little.

I definitely have some fun memories associated with these guys and I do enjoy some of the songs but this style can get a bit old after a while. 3.5/5

Fun

Esta cool original

Pleasantly surprised by this, as I absolutely detest 'Love Shack'. Had that post-punk rawness and oddness that I look for. Would listen again.

la primer canción parece de spys. punk girlie muy girlie. setentozo medio de película. canciones con sonidos raros medio surrealistas, sin sentido, dadaísta.

"Very funky sounds. I knew going into this album that it was about to be an experience of sounds, and it did not disappoint. ""Rock Lobster"" is a classic. "

Niet heel spectaculair, wel een aardige verrassing. Puntje extra voor de originaliteit.

It was okay, sounded a bit like spy music but rock lobster was funny and a classic.

Kinda wack but I can understand the appeal at the time

Ok, but a bit samey and not quite my thing

interesting start but gets boring real quick

Fun, kinda goofy dance rock album. Crazy that this came out in 1979, the songs all sound like leftovers from 1965. ‘Rock Lobster’ is the track everyone knows, but I thought ‘Planet Claire’ and ‘There’s a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)’ were better, and ‘Hero Worship’ kinda had a Joan Jett-type edge to it. Far from a flawless album, but a good, low-stakes listen for a Friday morning. Solid 3/5

New to me favourite: Dance this mess around

Nice

Me ha gustado mucho el rollo setentero. Un disco divertido

Rough around the edges but has its charms

It was not a good album for me! Sorry.

3 Stars (8/15)

I like the B-52s and Rock Lobster is a banger and also the morris code at the beginning of the first track is cool but ultimately the rest of the songs sounded the same to me

Contexte atténuant, la go qui crie c'était pas pour moi, mais passages vraiment très intéressants

Good

Pretty fun and goofy.

Upbeat, quirky, and proudly weird—but mostly just grating. A couple of fun moments, but the frantic surf‑pop energy wears thin fast. I’ve heard three B‑52s songs before this, and honestly? I’m not convinced I need to hear any more.

Goofy but there are some serious tunes in here that I liked or were musically inventive/challenging.

Not all of it is great, but I enjoyed a good chunk of this. And learnt where Soulwax sampled the riff for Six Days.

Could have been a 4, because while not my style I could still (mostly) appreciate the album for being fun. But good lord what an awful cover of Downtown. I know the album was already less than 40 minutes long but you could still trim that off.

Albeit iconic, fad inducing, proto indie, and a nu wave sensation. Finally sitting down and listening to the full album didn't do much for me. Some psychedelic and classic r&b sounds in there coupled with big up do's and 1960s mod essence. Its just not that important or great of an album. Rock Lobster is always a great song but standalone. Rest of it is run of the mill.

I have talked SO MUCH shit about the B-52’s over the years.. but I really enjoyed this

I don't mess with Fred Schnider's vocals, which is my main dislike about the album as a whole. There's a lot of potential here but it's delivered in such an empty and unfinished way, that the whole record sounds cartoony and bare. Most songs run way too long for their own good, and just keep repeating the same ideas. I don't get the B-52s fuss whatsoever, but I still mess with some songs on side B to an extent. I just wish they could flesh out more ideas into a song to keep it engaging. The female vocalists are out of this world though.

6/10

The music reminded me of the Aquabats and it turns out the Aquabats once opened for the B-52's!

I’ve only ever seen Rock Lobster as a gimmick song, so this was better than I expected.

It's pretty odd, but I quite liked it.

rock lobster

3⭐️/5 03.29.2026

Planet Girl // 52 Girls // 2.5/5

Iconic album, but doesn't rise to a higher level.

Rock Lobser

Not a big fan of teh first track especially cause of teh way of singing.

Listed

interesting sounds but not smth im gonna listen to

This was the band's debut album. They used classic rock elements as a vehicle for their quirky vocals and lyrics. Think like a comical depiction of aliens in television, and that's how their music sounds. It was fun for a little while, but I admittedly got bored of it pretty quickly. The guitar hook in "Rock Lobster" is iconic, and it was cool to hear where that hook comes from.

Настолько быстро забывается, что уже даже не помню ничего оттуда

Звучание интересное для тех времен, но уж очень однообразно и сумбурно.

Spiky, kitschy, kinda-sexy, arty weirdness. Plenty to enjoy.

B-52's, or: "Hear a sound go from delightfully unique to surprisingly normal to frankly a bit annoying in just 9 songs".

Enjoyed it, surf punk, lively great guitar. A 3 or 4 but I’ll err towards a 3 just lacked that extra bit of something.

3.4. Super original. The guitar sounds great. The cover of Downtown didn’t add anything but minutes.

Predictably cooky and zany. “Lava” is the only song I hadn’t heard before; otherwise it’s a nice walk down memory lane and that’s all.

niceeeeeee

3 star for rock lobster. ıraq lobster.

Wasn't really in the mood for them :/ will give 3

Vintage and roaring. The B-52’s iconically themselves

This was a great thing to do in 1979. A really fun quirky idea for a band. The musical ideas are good, there are plenty of great sounds, the vocals are terrific. I’m just left wondering why I don’t like it more than I do. It’s possible that while on the surface I enjoy the style, deep down it’s just not for me (I had The Cramps recently - darker, but similar retro concept - and I couldn’t rate it higher than a 3). Maybe though, while I want to like it for many reasons, it’s just not good enough? I think I would be more satisfied with it if the songs were shorter; it feels like it should be 14 killer songs at 2 mins each.

The B-52’s are just that… the B-52’s. lol it’s a 3 for me.

I was surprised to learn this came out in 79! I always thought of them as an 80’s band. Fun album! I was only familiar with “Rock Lobster” but there isn’t a bad song on the album!

Me gustó y es simpático, pero tanto el disco como sus canciones tienen un gran problema: se alargan demasiado. Canciones que podrían ser geniales si duraran 3 minutos, las alargan a 6 y terminan sintiéndose muy repetitivas. Así pasa con el disco: parecería que estamos escuchando variaciones de lo mismo durante 9 veces. Eso sí, tiene Rock Lobster, que siempre es genial, pero el resto del disco me acabó cansando un tanto.

On the one hand it's a unique sensation of fun, cheesy glee, and on the other hand you can catch a peek of why Rock Lobster is the big one, the rest of the songs don't match up but they're still fun, though it seems like they run out of things to do

Cool to hear this group getting started. The style was there, though in my opinion the music composition isn't quite as complex as they demonstrate on some of their later recordings. Very unique sound, with hints at what was coming.

cool album with cool sonority !!! 4 out of 9. I like the audacity of the cover!

A bit too chaotic for a Friday morning, but there’s defo a right time and place where I’d appreciate it.

Definitely a unique sound.

It’s fine

Rock lobster is a track I always kind of knew, but listening to it today made me think of how improvised it sounds, but definitely isn't. The sections transform from one to the next incredibly smooth . Lava is an energy Bomb. The guitar playing is marvelous and harmony vocals moving. Track 6 quit similar and very good as well. Vocals on 7 really out there. The wall of guitars is again very good. Last two songs are great shorter once. Fun. I enjoyed this one very much. I think it's going to be a very very big 3 I should go back to this one at some point High 3!

Hab nur durchgeskipped. Fand es ziemlich monoton. Nicht ganz meins

Quirky but not bad. Rock Lobster is head and shoulders above the rest of the album.

Fun but not really my favorite music style.

de 7 min lange rock lobster gaat wel hard

I have heard of this band but didn't hear much of their music. The morse code grabbed me at the start and I found their tunes interesting. Overall, a good album.

Weird / odd but fun album. Not entirely my thing though. I liked "Rock Lobster" a lot, definitely the highlight track for me. 7 / 10

some bangers, very futuristic vibes

meh

Pretty silly but fun

Divertido. Me ha gustado mucho como empieza. Algo escuché de ellos en los últimos 80 y pensé que eran más recientes. Saber que este disco del 78 seguía haciendo ruido años después de su publicación sorprende.

mommy & me class playlist

I love these little freaks. Probably not the right album to write an essay too, but progress is progress:D I always think of mom when I listen to them. I doubt she liked this album very much, and it definitely required a mood for freaks, but it’s fun

It's alright

it's good, but none of the other songs compare to rock lobster.

An alright album! Enjoyed a few songs (rock lobster) but some were a bit too weird for me. Went on a bit long too so started getting repetitive 3 ⭐️

This is quirky in a way that I don't typically enjoy all that much. There is something about their voices that I like though. They're unmistakable. And how could I not like Rock Lobster? So many good sea creature references. "Rock Lobster" was my instagram bio for years and I'm not exactly sure what my inspo was, but the song was definitely part of it. I also just really like crustaceans.

Such a weird album. Definitely had some fun moments. Some I didn't vibe with as much

3.0

track 1: interesting ambience in track 1, takes a long time to change and get into lyrics, not particularly grabbing lyrics but not bad, fred schneider has a unique voice that to me sounds like if ian curtis smoked more and read the lyrics off of someone else's paper track 2: cindy wilson's voice is better in my opinion, track 2 has a better riff and feel to it track 3: not particularly fond of the chords but at the vocals at the beginning kept me interested and then i lost interest near the end track 4: iraq lobster, cindy wilson is the only thing keeping me interested in the vocals, the riff is good otherwise track 5: its alright track 6: cindy wilson's vocals are keeping me interested again track 7: cindy wilson i love you track 8: you know track 9: not really a fan of this one track 1: least favorite track 2: favorite so far track 3: good track 4: good track 5: okay track 6: okay but better than 5 and 1, cindy wilson saving it track 7: good, cindy wilson carrying again track 8: okay, still better than 5 and 1 track 9: tied for least favorite overall: i can see why people love this album, its a very fun and unique sound that i could definitely see a crowd for. rating around a 3 or 3.5

little to psychedelic but was fine

Rock Lobster is always a bop.

This one didn't land for me, aside from Rock Lobster, which had a real driving rhythm, the zaniness bounced off me.

Goofy and fun. Luv me some rock monster, I'll grade it B-

5/10

Without a doubt some of the newest waviest music ever made. Fun, bouncy, playful, just everything you would expect and want from this genre. So much so, that I think it does almost border on being cheesy at times, which does make it feel like it hasn't aged maybe quite as well as other new wave at the time. But on paper it still has all the same great features, and an album that's this fun is hard to hate even if it is a bit dated.

C'était pas si mal

I'm a big new wave fan, but the B-52's have never really done it for me. I never really liked the "hits" and Fred's voice is a huge turn off. First time listening to a full album though, and that turned out to be a more positive experience. There are some really great things going on throughout this album, in between what sometimes feels like forced and quirky moments of sonic retro-kitsch. Hero Worship is a great example of what they're capable of without needing to do that, and I thought it was the standout track here.

Amo muchas canciones de los b52s pero este debut...... solo rock lobster que es un tremendisimo banger que jugaba en el just dance se salva, el resto idk Igual son muy iconicos por hacer cosas asi de raras los banco

I like the fact that they are “different” in their style, outgoing and a little crazy. Some of the songs are refreshing and cool, but even if the album is quite short I get tired of the vocals. It’s a little too much at times… Favourites: Rock Lobster, Planet Claire

Pretty cool album. Has that surf vibe.

Not bad, and not what I expected. But what the hell man... I have so many questions.

Surprisingly good. I only knew Love Shack but this was kinda fun.

is it just me or do they sound like The Slits but with men added in?

Interesting sound Good jams on here I could see people dancing to this in the 80s I wouldn’t have listened to this if it wasn’t for this site but it’s good to expand the taste

Twas listenable

Really good album

Such a strange, fascinating crossroads of so many genres. It feels like I’m listening to a fictional band from a hyper-stylized cartoon. I don’t have any standout songs to speak of. These guys all seemed to be a bit ahead of the curve, especially for Americans - you can hear the new-wave wanting to bust out of this thing. Fun 3/5

Best wel vrolijk opzich.

Movie soundtrack vibes

simplistic but effective beat pushes this album along at a steady beat.

A fun listen! Not my fav but definitely would listen again

These guys reminded me of wolf alice - where there were the pop songs that i know them from, but their best tracks and their deeper cuts are actually quite similar. I find the male vocals jarring and I dont love it. but the album was fun, not the best ive listened to but by no means is it bad. 5.8

haha javel lobsteerr // jaja jeg liker det helt greit! det svinger og er gøy å høre på. jeg kan bare ikke tro at rock lobster er 7 minutter lang. hvem godkjente det jeg er ikke i utgangspunktet så veldig begeistret for 80-tallet. hver gang jeg får et album fra 80-tallet sukker jeg litt. Det glimter gjennom, men generelt er musikk fra det tiåret så fryktelig pompøst og tilgjort. Men det glimter jo til med svært underholdende øyeblikk, som for eksempel dette albumet. Jeg hadde aldri funnet på å sette meg ned å høre B-52 album. Men nå har jeg gjort det ig høydepunkt: 52 Girls, Rock Lobster

3/5

Favorite Track: Rock Lobster

Always remember Rock lobster!!

Det vore oschysst att kalla dem ett one hit wonder,men de saknar jämnt bra material vid sidan av hitsen. Det kan inte ens Kate Piersons röst rädda. En trea

not my fav

Had a slew of 3s recently. Ready for something to wow me.

I know of this band beforehand from the Love Shack and Rock Lobster songs but only that. Their sound wasn't a surprise to me because of that and this was mostly what I was expecting. Its fun music with a lot of nonsensical parts. I had a fun time listening through it but its not music that I seek out or really know when I want to listen to.

Okayish. Takie 3.

Nuevo gusto musical desbloqueado

always a bit of fun- not on regular rotation for me, but happy to listen if the mood is right!

Planet Claire: 5/10 52 Girls: 8/10 playlist worthy Dance this mess around: 7.3/10 might be playlist worthy Rock Lobster: 6/10 Lava:6/10 There’s a moon in the sky: 5/10 Hero Worship: 7/10 6060-842 (6060 842): 5/10 Downtown: 5/10

1st time i ever listened to a full album by the B-52s. Its quirky in an alright way

Quite a mixture of enjoyable and really annoying songs.

A unique and unmistakable sound this band has. Wasn't expecting the cover of " downtown " at the end but I thought it was a great version . Overall a good listen.

college art rock from athens. these kids were smarter than they look. this is the only album of theirs i’ve really listened to, but i’ve listened to it quite a bit. i like them despite their fame and how overplayed certain songs were. 52 girls is one of my all time favorite songs

Fun album, extra points for Rock Lobster, but I’m not sure it’s enough to kick it all the way to 4 stars.

Favorite Track: Rock Lobster

I’d never actually listened to this and it’s surprising how much better the rest of the record is over rock lobster, and I don’t even mind rock lobster.

3.33/5 Stars Top Songs: 52 Girls, Planet Claire, Downtown

Essential new wave building block. Underrated in what they could get done with such a sparse sound. Riffy, groovy, and, most importantly, super fun.

Slowly I'm starting to get and like the B-52s. They are sometimes too weird for me and some of the songs are annoying, but there's an energy here I like and the punkish vibe helps.

Something about this brand of art punk that doesn't work for me. There's plenty of good bits but it never coalesces into something I really want to listen to again.

For some reason only Rock Lobster is available on Spotify. Since it seems by far the most popular track on this album and even this one I don't dig I cannot bring up the energy to listen the rest on the album through another source

The only song I knew of theirs prior to today was Love Shack which I absolutely loathe, it used to play 3-4 times a day at my old job, so I was dreading this one but it was decent enough overall. While there were a few tracks I wasn’t massively fussed about there wasn’t anything that I flat out hated. It will probably benefit from another listen or two later on. Top Track - Rock Lobster

Album No. 0089 on my list. The only song I’ve known before from this album was “Downtown”, although that’s a cover song obviously. I’m general, I was curious about the whole album. And I did actually enjoy listening to it. Catchy, new wave tracks, both female and male singing, cool stuff. Plus, the whole album sounds like the band actually had fun recording the whole thing. Not all songs were that memorable and stuck in my head that much, so I’ll reduce my rating a bit, but will add “Planet Claire”, “Dance This Mess Around”, and “Rock Lobster” to my playlist. And “Downtown” (as kind of a bonus track) as well. 3/5 stars.

It was fun, though not amazing.

7/10

I enjoyed the first half but started it started to lose its novelty by the end. I do really admire what they were doing as they have a really interesting and distinctive take on post-punk.

This was actually an awful lot better than expected. Seeing ‘rock lobster’ on the tracklist made me groan a bit as I thought it would be a series of twee ‘lol random!’ songs but some of the rest of the album was actually a reasonable slice of pop/new wave/post punk. I have to mark it down a little as I really can’t get with Schneider’s droll delivery, but the rest of the band seemed to support it well.

Kitschy. That is the word that comes to mind. A collage of 50's and 60's music influences with a bizarre twist with the singing and the lyrics. Weird just to be weird? or are they truly unaware of how ridiculous they are being? It's an act that wears thin unless you buy in and then everything they do is genius much like a Jackson Pollack paint splatter. Is it art or is it a mess? Listening to this album made me realize that Weird Al's "Mr. Popeil" was done in a B-52's style. Only took me 42 years to figure that out. Don't hate this album. Don't love it. They have their own sound... on a later album Roam and Love Shack prove they can make more mainstream music and still retain their style for the most part.

It was a fun listen. I didn't know they did Rock Lobster so it was a fun discovery.

3.0 - Ok

This was strange... Half of me liked it, and the other half was wondering what was going on

Not particularly aurally pleasant.

fun!

Nails the late 70's/early 80's post punk sound (a la Devo). A highly enjoyable romp. Favorite track: Rock Lobster

tem rock lobster e eu gosto dessa musica

This is fine and I can see its influence. Rock Lobster is such a fun song, and the rest is very catchy, but can get repetitive at times. Cool album.

Less annoying than advertised

I only knew one track: Rock Lobster. It's a fun track. Really the whole album is kind of fun in a quirky tongue-in-cheek kind of way.

The 52s are slways fun - I enjoy the insouciance of their voice.

I have a bit of a soft spot for this band and they’ve done some great songs. However if I’m honest with myself a lot of their stuff is just a load of old cobblers!

I loved the B52s back in the day, but only really discovered them when they went huge with Love Shack and Roam. This debut is a bit TOO weird and screechy in the vocal department for me.

Solid groovy tunes - pretty enjoyable, but wouldn’t revisit super often.

Een soort winkelcentrum-punk. Al staat hun grootste winkelcentrum-punk nummer hier niet op. Er doet een madam mee die graag een keer mag keffen. Het is niet de eerste keer in deze lijst dat ik me moet weren tegen een blaffend punkmeisje dus ik kan het hebben. Ik moet zeggen dat ik niet zo heel erg onder de indruk ben van dit album. Een drie kunnen we er met wat goede wil wel voor geven, maar het houdt allemaal niet over.

I'm not quite sure what the album is trying to be - I like it - but don't at the same time(???!!)

The album cover is compelling. I feel I have worn at least 3 of those outfits. Planets, Moon,...is this space rock? (Space art pop?) Like Cat Stevens, these vocals are kinda funny, but I think that's intentional (I assume that's what they mean by "kitsch"). Weirdly, I think the bass is my favorite part. There's a lot of listing in these lyrics -- listing girl's names, listing animals, listing planets. Some annoying noises at points though. Highlights: pronouncing "Mavis" as [mɑvɪs], the song title 'There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)' (and honestly therefore the song, because that's just an insane lyric (in a good way), and they do say it in the song) Lowlight: 'Downtown' (don't do Petula like that >:()

Am I in a spy movie? Are there aliens in this spy movie? Lyrics are on drugs but the guitar rips. The lyrics of Rock Lobster are insane. It’s almost 7 minutes long. Fucking wild. Apparently it made John Lennon want to start recording music again. The beats are incredible. What even are some of these sounds? The sounds the chick makes after homie lists the (real and fake) animals are gold. This is 100% what I’d expect from 1979.

Haven't listened to a lot of The B-52's, but I do know that they're a lot of fun. Planet Claire - 5/10. Weird, new-wave stuff. Not bad, just ... odd. 52 Girls - 6/10. Fun new-wave pop. Dance This Mess Around - 6/10. More fun new-wave pop. Rock Lobster - 9/10. Iconic bass riff. It was a Rock! LOBSTER! This is one of the most fun tunes in New-Wave. Lava - 6/10. This sounds kind of like R.E.M. Fun tune. There's a Moon in the Sky (Called The Moon) - 6/10. Definitely the fun, quirky, slightly absurdist, New-Wave sound. Hero Worship - 4/10. A bit unpleasant. 6060-842 - 6/10. Back to the more fun New-Wave sound. Downtown - 6/10. Is this a Petula Clark cover? Absurdist cover of 60's music is certainly a choice. Not necessarily a bad one, either, but a bit unexpected. Overall Rating - 3.00/5 (6.00/10). My usual New-Wave preference is Devo, but The B-52's are also a lot of fun.

Very unusual and exciting to listen to. Won't be something I would return to much, but who know, checking future albums someday is a possibility. Worth a listen for sure.

I feel like there's a reason that a small number of B-52's songs break through into pop culture. A sustained listening experience withe the B-52's isn't a particularly worthwhile activity for me.

very fun. love the female vocals they have so much energy. lowkey lost interest about midway through though whoops

It's a fun album, but a bit weird. It does tend to repeat itself quite often. I do like the bigger hits, like Rock Lobster. That song is weird, but familiar so it gets a pass. The other songs are fine but not an album I want to consume too often. Great for a dance party. Not so great for a casual listen.

My brother always questioned - who is this music for? Its a good question, but it must have sounded really fresh at one time. Now mostly just silly, albeit fun.

queer joy division

One of the hardest albums to find. Ever.

I mean honestly who doesn't love yelling "rock lobster" along to the song. It was fun, it was whimsical. I enjoyed it a lot.

Minus the last 2 songs, this was a great album. The guitar work is awesome, super catchy, very memorable, instantly gets your attention and keeps it throughout the song

This album is a whole bunch of sillyness. Ok if you're in the mood for that.

Lyssnade väldigt mycket på en b-52-skiva när jag var liten. Från tidigt 90-tal. Min syrras. Gillade den, men det känns nästan som musiken passar ett barn mer. Rätt plojigt och när som barn tyckte sången var mer lattjo tycker jag idag att, åtminstone snubben, "sjunger" väldigt jobbigt. Kluven. Två känns för taskigt, så det får bli tre. Men inte givet. Ändå rätt lattjo musik i övrigt.

Lite kul lyssning då det onekligen har karaktär, men inte riktigt min grej i längden. Förstår att man kan tycka det är fantastiskt bra om man gillar stilen, men blir inte mer än en trea för mig (andra halvan lutade nästan mer åt en tvåa).

Honestly this is the best new wave/ post punk I've heard. I liked the vocals, i like the spookiness. I was starting to get into it but just got bored. I was expecting rock lobster to grab me more than it did.

different. cool. classic.

It sounds like the album cover, surreal and kitschy

This one was a little rough at the beginning, and it felt rather dated to me. However, towards the middle I had come around a lot more on it. There's a playfulness here that is infectious. I could see myself scoring this album higher in the future. Favorite track: "Rock Lobster."

What's not to like about the B-52's?Quirky, clever, fun. I always enjoy hearing their music. They remind not to take myself too seriously.

I mean, ok I guess.

You know, I kinda fuck with "thrift shop aesthetic"

It's a kitschy blend of 60's surf rock blended with punk. It's alright for what it is.

Nice n bouncy.

Yeah, it was okay but just very whacky. I didn’t like the (female) vocals very much either.

It was very quirky, I didn't like any songs tbh

Definitely one of the of the weirdest things I’ve ever listened to. If no drugs were consumed in the recording of this then I’m staggered. The Dee Reynolds sound effects in Rock Lobster were bizarre. But why did I quite enjoy it? It’s like mental asylum Talking Heads. Love Shack would have bumped this to a 4

3/5

Kind of fun. Don’t love their signing voices. But the songs were entertaining

Pretty fun album.

From being familiar with the hits I was expecting a lot more of the bouncy new wave stuff and was surprised at the post punk edge on a lot of these tracks. Fun surf influences, nice gritty passages, but despite some good stuff from the band, the vocals are so annoying that they make the whole thing sound like a novelty act.

Only the first song was available on Spotify, so I had to listen to the full album on YouTube. Overall, quite a bizarre album, a bit futuristic in a very old kind of way, but then I saw the year - 1979 trying to make it look futuristic. The Rock Lobster song was actually quite cool and has this tune that I think is another song because it sounds quite familiar, so I assume they sampled it from this track then (UPDATE - I move away from my computer and I realised that it's actually Miley Cyrus' Fly on the Wall). Overall, quite a knee-shaking experience back in the day, whereas now - it is not that exciting, although it still has a nice sound to it sometimes.

Unique band/sound!

There were several major musical themes of the 80s. The Big Hair Rock Bands, The Metal, Punk, Disco, Pop and then there was the "weird / quirky" type stuff. A B52 album that doesn't have "love shack" is definitely an interesting choice

I wanted to like this so much more. The B52s are such fun, Rock Lobster and Planet Claire are great fun tracks, and they're so different to everyone else, but it just didn't reach the heights it could have. Fred Schneider's vocals are fun at first, but I really start to tired of them by the end. Can't go any lower than a 3, but there we go.

Rock Lobster and Love Shack is how I know this band and I hate both those songs. Mostly because they were both waaaay overplayed on the radio. Thought this was a gimmick band and never paid much attention. Well surprise surprise, I enjoyed this album. Well except Rock Lobster, but I just skipped during my listens. The girl singers make this band and the dude voice annoys me, but there some pretty good songs. A few that stood out, 52 Girls, Dance This Mess Around, Lava, There's a Moon in the Sky and my favorite, Hero Worship. What can I say, this was kinda fun, kinda punkish something that would go over well after a few beers at a party. The girls make this band! Their cover of Downtown is better than the original. 3.5

Generous 3.5

Hress plata

A funky & wacky little album.

I just feel like this hairstyle has to be so much effort to maintain

I unfortunately could only find the first 5 tracks on this album. Most streaming services did not have the album so I had to resort to listening to the live version of some of the tracks. Based on what I did listen to, I feel the album is a little bit too weird for my taste. Rock lobster is an absolute gem though.

Holds up well. Great follow up to Blondie.

With the exception of the lead track (Rock Lobster) I really enjoyed the sound and aesthetic of the B52s. Deducted a point for the nonsense lyrics , whilst fine in small doses over a whole album drags. High 3/5

B52s was a high 3 for me, novelty wore off towards the end but what a fun album

Hear me out, it's like joy division meets kero kero bonito.

Don't overthink it: grab your lover, make sure your towels are matching, and get down to these beachy new-wave surf-rock bops.

определённый угар в этом есть, но где-то за посылом не успевает форма

I always forget how long Rock Lobster is. Lots more animalistic screaming than the parts you remember. Props for these guys for being quirky, but a whole album of quirky is a lot.

Planet Claire 3.4 52 Girls 3.2 Dance This Mess Around 3.4 Rock Lobster 3.1 Lava 3.6 There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) 3.4 Hero Worship 3.5 6060-842 3.5 Downtown 3.3 Score: 3.377777778

This is so weird - but delightfully weird. I like it

Music for people who think family guy is hilarious >Shortly before his death, John Lennon said that he enjoyed the album This sentence was funnier than any Family Guy episode I've seen, but the music was alright tbh

slightly disappointing tbh

Would not buy.

It's a little weird, but not really outstanding. Probably forget this by tomorrow.