Reviews (page 6 of 9)
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.
Rock Lobster is fun
Not really something I enjoyed although I can hear some good parts.
It's fine if you know what to expect, but it's not their best.
I’ve neither the time nor the energy to write much today—and, regrettably, not because I’ve been dancing this mess around to The B-52s' terrific debut. It’s a smart, silly record: cool, but also somehow chilling. There's heat and sweat here, but not much warmth. It reminds me of the first Suicide album—the dead-eyed gaze of kitsch and retro, more alienating than nostalgic. Really, it isn’t a dance party so much as one of those aimless get-togethers where a B-movie plays in the background. No one’s really watching, but somehow everyone ends up quoting its worst lines for months. They mean nothing, but become a shibboleth. Over the weekend, I was listening to The Dreaming by Kate Bush and thinking about the way she uses her voice. Mocked for adolescent squeakiness on his 1979 debut (the same year as this record), she doubled down by her fourth album - twisting her voice, embodying characters, leaping across her vocal range (and a handful of dodgy accents). It's - understandably - rare to hear female singers willing to make their voices grotesque, but Kate does it unflinchingly. So do Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson of The B-52s. Despite the band’s limited instrumental palette, the singers - but especially the women - offer a stunning range: goofy, shrill, sexy, disaffected, guttural, subaquatic. They embraced this wildness openly, crediting Yoko Ono, and, in turn, John Lennon recognised the influence: it brought him back into the game briefly in 1979. Without the time to think about The B-52s deeply, it was still enjoyable to listen to how it plays with the idea of the voice - not just as melody, but as texture, character, chaos. Don't listen to it too closely, as none of it makes sense. It's all the background stuff brought upfront: snatches of conversation, bits of ideas, the people at the party you don't introduce yourself to. And, yet, you end up quoting its worst lines for months. 3.5 The shadow of The Joshua Tree still hangs over my listening this week. Born in the USA invoked it by being another big seller stadium rock album about America, though outplaying U2 and throwing its lyrical shyness into unforgiving relief. I find the B-52’s have somehow also dragged my mind back to the U2 album. In general, I don’t prefer light, comic/absurdist, danceable party music. I like my pop music earnest and emotionally weighty, for the most part. So why can’t I sympathise more with U2’s effort at least? Why am I gripped today by the notion that Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For could only by improved by the guest appearance of Fred Schneider? (LOOKIN’ up the mountain/ RUNNIN’ round the fields/ SEARCHIN’ for that Jesus/ Hey, WHERE could he be?’) The B-52’s’ secret, apart from that apostrophe, is how much skill and effort goes into their version of frivolous. The wealth of ideas and careful working-out that is folded into a track like ‘Dance This Mess Around’ is more moving than Bono’s clambering up Sinai. There is also more insight into America in ‘52 Girls’ than anything Bono has ever mustered. I enjoyed this album today, seriously. 3/5
Goofy and kitschy, but the tone can wear a little thin near the end.
Great rythm and hooks, but ultimately about one song - Rock Lobster
Fun!
Always enjoyed Rock Lobster. Album was ok. This must have sounded strange back then.
The B-52's are certainly one of the more unique bands that got attention in the 80s. Not my favorite, but at least they had some interesting ideas. It's like a 1950s cheesy horror movie poster.
super bon rollero m'ha agradat molt
Couldn’t find on Spotify (https://archive.org/details/the-b52s-debut-album) ‘Planet Claire’ vocals has an Ian Curtis sound to it. Songs/instruments nice arrangements - unique, a bit messy and punchy. Kitsch. Really enjoy the rawness and originality of this album. Crazy punk, surf, sillies. Could hear some talking heads in here too and unsurprised they worked together (unsuccessfully!) and generally, just their clear influence in so much that came after. Was okay for it to finish when it did, but I enjoyed my ride 😎 Great version of ‘Downtown’ to finish. (3.5)
I like their wacky style. Never would have guessed that Rock Lobster was 46 years old though.
Just a charming album. Not mega long. I don't think the B-52's took themselves too seriously, and it shows. It doesn't come off as pretentious, just fun. Would I come back to this one? I doubt it, but it's still pretty good.
Loved hearing the foundational sound that inspired the Pixies’ sharper edge. Overall a one-time listen rather than a repeat favorite.
Starts off strong then steadily gets lazier and lazier.
I didn't realise the B-52's had more than one album. Heard the classics before, but Love Shack and Roam are on another album. This one does have Rock Lobster. Weird, eclectic, upbeat. Those are the main descriptors I'd use for the B-52's. I love the backup vocal harmonies! They are a bit silly but that's part of the charm.
Absurd. Scrappy. I respect it, but it's not my go-to.
Fun music, but really have to be in the right frame of mind. Didn't like this album as much as some of their other songs I've heard though. 3/5.
I’m hit or miss with The B-52’s songs I’ve heard outside their main singles. Definitely never listened to an entire album before and was somewhat pleasantly surprised. The tracks were fun and were definitely in line with what I expected based on their singles, which I generally enjoy. While I didn’t love this album, but I liked it well enough. “Rock Lobster” and “Downtown” were my favorite tracks, but nothing stood out to me in a negative way. Solid 3 stars.
I like how they drew inspiration from the psych/surf rock era and added their own style. Early trendsetters rolling into the 80’s for sure.
already a step up from the other albums so far... the magic has faded. 3/5
2.5/5 it’s ok.
Its interesting listening to this again. I remember the first time around I really liked it and it inspired me to listen to the rest of the B-52s discography. Coming back to this after that it seems that while this is a great record and you can tell they already found their sound they didn't really perfect this weird oddball sound until their next record which came out almost less than a year after this. With that perspective in mind I am dropping my rating a bit from my first playthrough. This is a great introduction to this band and their sound however so it does what it needs to do being on this list.
Full disclosure, I love surf and rockabilly, and the B-52s play with the genre beautifully. Planet Claire and Rock Lobster are worth the listen of this album, and most of the songs are fun and catchy, but some just don't hit. In an era where New Wave is about to take over, it is refreshing to see a band so unabashedly in love with old rock styles.
I was stoked to listen to this album. I like the B-52's! At least I thought I did. Rock Lobster is a killer but the rest of this album doesn't really resonate. I'm honestly a little surprised this band hit like it did and was so successful in 1979. Who knew that a band ushering in the 1980s by doing a sendup of 1960s surf rock would be so popular? Did people like things ironically back then? Nah, this is sincere as shit.
It may not have had the best songs, but that surf-rock sound kept me bopping throughout.
Some parts of this Post Punk are as publicly recieved "infectious in rhythm and guitar riffs, featuring kitschy lyrics, and party atmosphere" while others we're simply annoying (screamy, stuttering vocals).
It's very B-52's
Okay. Good
All the fun sound and upbeat humor that were the group's signature style feel fully formed in this debut.
Rock lobster was on my first iPod, one of those shuffles that was a thumb drive. I had that and love shack on rotation when I was like 9
This music sounds like the number 80 (even though published 79).
This album was fun. Not something I’d put on regularly but I enjoyed it.
There is no way to describe B-52s other than weird, but pleasantly weird! They apparently drank from the same Alt-Rock, post-punk water as Oingo Boingo in 1979. I appreciate that they were the leaders of a strange new musical world. Rock Lobster is just strange but incredibly catchy. My favorite song of the day was Hero Worship. Katie Pierce and Cindy Wilson’s vocals play off each other in a really cool way.
Random thoughts: * Rock Lobster is still a super fun song! * What a weird group? How did this group actually work or come to be. They feel like they are way out in left field. * The first song sounded like it was inspired by those 50s/60s sci-fi b-movies. * I enjoyed their punky and funky version of "Downtown" to close out the album. * B-52s feel like they are closer to Weird Al than any alternative rock but maybe they just are that connective tissue between those genres.
I liked 'Planet Claire', it felt funky/fun while still being cool. Also lol'd when the guy just yells "WELL SHE ISN'T!". Some of the other stuff swung the pendulum too far to the funky/silly side for me. Would be interested to see if other B52 stuff is just a meme or not, because the instrumental work is great. 3⭐ feels generous, but 2 would feel harsher.
Spiky nerdy pop. Delicious.
I thought it was gonna be just another rock album, but it is not. Rock Lobster is a bop.
Some classic bangers on here and I love how committed they are to being goofy. Excellent musicianship on most of the songs, but that being said I don’t see myself retiring to most of these songs all that often.
Boooo no love shack on this album!
Favorites: Planet Claire, 52 Girls, Dance This Mess Around, Rock Lobster It's insane to me how much better the first side is compared to the second side... That being said, on the whole, this is a new wave staple. They really started to take the genre and have fun with it on this record, with Rock Lobster being the prime example of new wave at its silliest and most innovative. If only the record as a whole was as strong...
I typically listen to the B-52’s on shuffle as an entire album seems too much. This was good, but again too much. Fred is fun, but I don’t really enjoy his songs as much as the ones with only Kate and Cindy.
“Hero Worship” is the best track on the B-52s debut, probably since it focuses on Cindy Wilson’s vocals and lets her cut loose. Fred Schneider’s vocals wear out their welcome first, and the interplay between him and Wilson and Kate Pierson are never as good on this album as they are on “Love Shack.” That song and “Roam” remain the warranted B-52 hits for me, but this self-titled debut launched their pretty notable song on the cusp of the 80s, so I get why it’s the one on the list.
Fun times
I always want to like the B52s more than I do. That’s not to say I don’t like them, they always just sound like the aural equivalent of a 1950s B movie. This album is a lot of fun though and I enjoyed the quirky vibe throughout. I like they have taken the post punk aesthetic in a totally different direction than every other post punk struggler. However, the last track is fairly horrible and the album, generally, tends to tip into self-aggrandising their weirdness. I like the album well enough, but not that much.
They were unique, always tongue-in-cheek, sometimes cheesy, but always fun to listen to.
Planet Claire, Rock Lobster, and some other stuff. I think we were accustomed to the Love Shack and Roam era.
Delightfully weird record that wasn't as strange as I thought it would be based on only knowing Rock Lobster. Also, a bizarrely horny record.
That was fun! Rock lobster rocks!
Who doesn't like Rock Lobster? The rest of this album is certainly uniquely B-52s. If there's anything that can be said for them, it's that they don't sound like anyone else. Is it supposed to be funny? Just weird? Serious (hopefully not...)? I've always hated Love Shack. This album is fine. Other than the absurdity value, I don't really feel any reason to listen to this one again all the way through. 2.5/5
Decent, not enough for a 4 but better than your average 3. Quirky galore. Sounded like Yoko Ono was on one song, probs the first direct Yoko influence I was able to hear in another artist
It was okay, but not my cup of tea. It was interesting to note that The B-52's were just as 'out there' from their 1st album as they were later in their career, but that same 'out there' aspect takes me out of the music and into wondering what they were on when they wrote and recorded it.
Rock Lobster is a super fun song. Favorite track: Rock Lobster other picks: 52 girls, hero worship
it ain't bad but i think if you like it you are a theatre kid
Goofy, fun, doesn’t overstay its welcome
This music is so un-serious in the best way. Side note: I can't hear rock lobster without thinking about family guy
Pretty good
Quite enjoyable, I feel like it carried the same shtick across the entire album and it got a little repetitive with the same riff being carried across the whole of the songs but it had enough to the tracks that helped keep it fresh. I thought the male and female vocals working together worked really well, highlights were lava (my favourite), dance this mess around and the moon one which was a goofy song lyrically but it was good in that way (same with the lobster one). Overall I thought this was quite a fun album so a high 3 (6/10).
Wasn’t awful by any means but nothing really stuck out
Not a bad listen.
I liked it. Really wish I could give it 4 stars but just isn’t quite worthy enough unfortunately
Virkelig skør plade, men ekstremt committed til at være skør. Havde list svært ved at finde ud af hvad jeg synes om det, men er ret positiv i sidste ende! Gad godt feste med dem!
Just ok for me.
Pretty cool and funky. If I'm in the right mood wouldn't mind revisiting.
Fun listen in a museum exhibit type of way. Probably won’t revisit
If it’s good enough for John Lennon…. What an assault on the senses this was. I really couldn’t tell if I liked it or not. Certain songs were just bonkers but I found myself tapping my toes along to quiet a few. If nothing else it was great to hear something very different to most of the other stuff on here and made me smile at times. So certainly bonus points for that.
A lot of fun and some catchy tunes. Seems very ahead of its time and not out of place now. I guess her vocals can be a bit grating and the album tailed off a bit, but an enjoyable listen.
It could have been a 4 star album but after having the Rock Lobster riff stuck in my head all damned day I lowered it to a 3.
Fun and pop-y. The songs sounded more “real” than Loveshack which was their only other song that I knew and found to have a novelty song sound. I especially enjoyed the cover of Downtown that ended the album.
3.5 alternately interesting and grating
Not too long, and not terrible to listen to, but no real enjoyment. They have a distinct and competent sound that does absolutely nothing for me.
Not bad. Simpsons: Yes (glove slap)
Pretty good. Expected the sound, but was impressed overall. 3/5
Lots of fun, silly, catchy tunes, but the style can get a bit grating after a while
Classic
Very fun listen. I definitely see myself getting annoyed with it but for now I enjoyed myself
Seeing them live was one of the stranger rock moments of my life. Listening to this was a weird experience, and I dug some of the deep tracks I was not familiar with.
A point in time and a joy to rediscover, but not much on the need for repeats in listening.
That's not my taste in music - But ok
So THIS is where the meme comes from!
OK but disappointing
hehehehehee
fun and quirky. music that will make you wanna clap ya hands and shake ya ass. but in regards to fred schneider and his presence on the album, less is more.
Fun enough, I guess. Fred Whatshisface gets annoying pretty quickly, though.
. They are good but Wrong mood when I listened. Early punk influencers 3.5
Weird and goofy, but structured and accessible enough to be enjoyable.
Just fun goofy rock. Some better than others but I can understand how it set the stage for bands that came later that have similar style
3.5
De B-52s. Bekende naam. Maar waar zijn ze ook alweer van? Opzetten maar. O, dat nummer. Dat is super fijn. Zo'n oud nummer dat fijn in veel moderne elektronische mixen een prima plek heeft weten te bemachtigen. Nou, nu heb ik wel zin in de rest. Maar dan komt vanaf het volgende nummer een dame door de vrij relaxte muziek heen blèren. Zonde. Af en toe wordt de muziek ook redelijk vervormd. Soms werkt het ook nog wel, het lijkt soms wel een soort vrolijk makende punk. Toch bijzonder. Het is een eigen geluid, kan ik ook niet omheen. Maar luisterplezier beleef ik er niet aan. Het eerste nummer tilt het album naar een krappe voldoende.
meh
I only knew “Love Shack” so interesting to hear their other songs. Did not know they had albums from the 1970s! “Rock Lobster” is fun! “Downtown” is like the mellow precursor to “Love Shack”. Also kind of reminds me of Petula Clark’s “Downtown” from 1965.
Never heard of them. Only four years before Murmur. I’m not a Limburger.
6/10 Highlights: Rock Lobster Planet Claire
Non il mio genere
S t r o n g 3 o l i g h t r p e r b 5 2 s d i b 5 2 s
Vaya vaya. Una banda que siempre me pareció kitsch, pero con onda y buenos ganchos y ahora descubro que tienen un excelente álbum debut. La primera mitad me ha gustado más que la segunda.
Hmmmm. It's ok at best
The B-52s are always fun, dug their cover of Downtown. But not enough to give it 4 stars.
hauskaa nw pp..
B-52's have their own sound for sure. Not bad but in no rush for another listen.
I think the Fred’s voice is annoying. Always have. I can stand Kate, but there’s just something about the band that I can’t stand. Everything feels disconnected and janky. The instrumentation, the vocals, lyrics, writing, melodies, timing even. The whole thing makes me feel anxious. Good on ‘em if that’s what they were going for, but I don’t enjoy it. Sorry, but the B-52’s ain’t for me. 3/5
The Peter Gunn homage was fun - a solid pre-80s pop album which in its day must have sounded fresher than it does now.
B-52's was a pretty solid album. Even though this album did come out in the late 70s, it still feels so 80s and i still find that a really fun quirk of this album. The songs here are a pretty mixed bag though. There are some really good ones and some that i would remove if i were given the choice for one reason or another. Though the main thing that helps this album to be as good as it is has got to be Ricky Wilson, He is an absolute beast of a guitarist who pretty much does the majority of carrying this album. The other instruments and vocals were good too. This album is most definitely a good listen. Best Song: There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) Worst Song: Downtown
Unique, punchy, goofy, lobsters rock. I like it
Feels like they are searching for a sound they haven't quite put their finger on yet. But Rock Lobster :D
So weird. So fun. It's inspiring how brazenly they brought their unique styles to the genres they played in. I love them on principle, even if I may never listen to this album again.
The music is good and interesting. I’m not totally into it, but clearly unique and everybody should hear this record.
Always struggled with rock lobster, but overall really enjoyed this.
I do love the singles Roam and Love Shack, and have always meant to explore the musical world of the B-52's in more depth. Apart from Rock Lobster I did not know any of the tracks from this album but really enjoyed them. Arguably, the sound and style is timeless, and if released today could prove to be successful. I loved it and will explore more of their material....BIG UP THE B-52's with your fun crazy nonsense...it's not just about a Love Shack!
Rock lobster fun mobster not awful just joyful
Giving this three stars rather than two on account of the fact that Rock Lobster is a classic song. I’m giving it three stars rather than four or five because the B-52s have a unique singing style which is difficult to stomach in such a large quantity. Also, all the songs are so similar that it gets slightly irritating.
Quirky is too much of an understatement. The kind of band people who love to think they're a bit different from others probably love - you know the type: they wear bowling shoes and carry a biscuit tin purely for affectation. Come on, you know - they'll laugh way too loudly to make sure everyone knows they're laughing and they'll hate everything you like. They'll dance wildly at parties and stand way too close to you while talking. That's this in album form. Best Tracks: Planet Claire; Dance This Mess Around; Rock Lobster
Post-punk quirkiness ahoy. Punk spikiness combined with late 60s surf-rock vibes, I can well imagine that the reaction to this on release was "well, this isn't something I've heard before". It's not all gold for sure, and Kate Pearson's finest work was obviously "Out of Time", but I have no beef with it being included on the list.
like this. sounds like a spooky tone but fun vibes.
Favorite Track: Rock Lobster
A little too post-punk for my taste, but this would've been really cool to hear when it first released.
It's the B-52s, so this album is exactly what you expect - a little wacky, sometimes a little 80s screamy, but still overall fun! Featuring Rock Lobster, a classic.
Very interested to see what they really sound like. I know the popular tunes but not much else. Very interesting, not really my style. Got lots of influences in this, punky, almost Devo-ish.
a little chaotic and strange
3 really weird but alright
The B-52's is the debut album by the B-52's, originally released in 1979. I really don't think Love Shack is representative of this band's sound. This record is much more punk-influenced than I was expecting. It was really cool to hear those early new-wave vibes that were starting to seep into music around this time. That's not usually my type of music, but I sure respect it. This album is pretty out there for a debut. It has some weird moments such as Rock Lobster but it's kinda endearing to me in a way. Like they were just having fun and weren't afraid to put songs like that on record.
I shockingly really liked this album more than I thought I would. I definitely thought this group was more meme-y because of Love Shack and Rock Lobster but I REALLY liked Planet Claire. Sadly that was the biggest stand out and my praise really ends there. I don't think they are as meme-y as before but I still don't think they are my taste. At least not this album. I get why it's on here for sure, the group is super popular and very pretty famous, at least I knew who they were when I was younger. I guess I just wanted more songs like Planet Claire and less songs like Rock Lobster. Still, I enjoyed the album overall quite a bit more than I thought I would. I really thought this was going to be like an easy 1 or a 2 but I struggled to give it a 3 or a 4. I think I am going to settle on 3 ultimately but it was a much harder choice than I thought it was going to be.
# 337 : Laugh! I've been waiting for a feel good record to come through this list for ages! Not very good technically, Musically or vocally but still a very fun record and I am all the more better for hearing it. Favourite track : Rock Lobster
Un po' edgy
I'm so glad this music exists. I don't think any group of people with the musical understanding and ability of a band of 13 year olds and fortunate enough to know a very competent drummer with nothing better to do could make music any more interesting than this. It never rises beyond novelty-act status. But it never feels like anyone wanted it to. I started high school in '83. Rock Lobster was a staple of our dances and we always went NUTS for it. I can only imagine what the house parties in Athens must have been like four years earlier.
3.5
Weird in the right ways. I love the satirical commentary of the 50s.
Fun, weird, quirky
A fun one. Rock Lobster for the agesssss!
#330. This is exactly as weird as you'd expect. No more, no less. 3/5: strange
A very fun album I’ve been waiting for. I remember when I was younger watching family guy and first hearing that song. I knew other B-52 songs but not that one and it got stuck in my head. Dance This Mess Around also got stuck on this listen. And I really enjoyed the opening of Planet Claire.
Not really for me.
Is it essential? No But is it fun? Yes!
Kooky, decent but after listening to thrash jazz felt relatively normal. Rock lobster is a better tune than I remembered. Enjoyable listen but didn't grab me 6/10
I'm in the middle of the road for this one. Me personally I didn't really hate much about it but I didn't like much for this album either. The fun quirky bits in this are nice to listen to but it doesn't really do much for me. All I got from this was a bunch of oddballs making an oddball album with a goofy album cover to top it off. Rock Lobster will always be a bop tho. Best - Planet Claire, 52 Girls, Rock Lobster, Lava, and 6060-842 Worst - Dance This Mess Around and Downtown 2.50-3.00/5
3.8. I liked it
The B-52's created their own lane in new wave music; they make danceable music that is quirky and goofy - both musically and lyrically. Their self-titled debut album contains one of their most famous songs - "Rock Lobster" - which is a great example of the type of music the B-52's make. These are fun, danceable pop songs with catchy, memorable hooks. This is a good collection of songs that showcase the band's work. Their version of silly, upbeat, new-wave pop songs made the B-52's into a successful band with an enduring career.
B-52's are one of those really quirky acts for which I struggle to understand how they attained popular success. Maybe the 70s/80s were just different, but the wonky vocals paired with surf-rock influences just don't seem to me to have the makings of mass appeal. In any case, four songs in I don't dislike it. Sure the vocals are weird, but the songs are tightly written. And the stand-out single "Rock Lobster" does nothing to shy away from the campiness. But what it lacks in traditional appeal it makes up for with a damned catchy bass riff and infectious yet silly chorus. I'd say this was fine, but I doubt I'll be back. Straddles somewhere on the 3/4 boundary for me. Going 3 because there wasn't enough there to really get me going.
I just can't take some of the lyrics seriously but can def get into some of the instrumentals. Rock Lobster is is so ridiculous it's good idk something about it. I enjoyed this one, but feel like I need this band in small samples.
The album wasn't a big hit.
A wacky but definitely fun. A bit too noisy for me though.
Solid album - good tunes made it all the way through :)