Reviews (page 7 of 11)
Do you like Rock Lobster? Do you like a bunch of songs that sound like Rock Lobster? Then you'll love this album.
Have only listened to love shock prior to hearing this, and yes the whole album sounds exactly the same to that. Couldn't deal with the shrieking and weird vocals. Not for me.
Rock Lobster!
Such a great album. Not a clunk on either side.
Classic
Loved it! Very entertaining and I was surprised by the rock lobster
..
Loved this album. What a cool band
Not a terrible album but it's a little too much for me. It's kind of whimsical which isn't necessarily bad but I have heard it so much that I'm pretty much over it. It was kind of fun and 'edgy' when I was young but I will be fine hearing it only through pop culture these days.
If going based on pure originality, they are clearly a 10. The question I always deal with is, could I listen to this on the regular? My life isn’t weird enough for the B-52’s to be my favorite band or even in a top 50 conversation, but I do greatly respect what they did and what they stand for. There are layers to this music, it should be studied, and it will be studied for years to come. It is simultaneously retro and futuristic, rocking and irritating, introspective and simplistic. I don’t know what to with this, but yes it’s important.
Old alternative pop, hasn't dated well in my opinion
Started awesome. The middle was awesome. The last 2 or 3 son though weren't the best.
The B-52s were late to the psychedelic party, and someone cut the drugs wrong.
I didn’t like this, but I’m glad I listened to the album. I can see how someone else could just love this. I think this is just not my preferred type of music.
Very fun listen. I definitely see myself getting annoyed with it but for now I enjoyed myself
Quite enjoyed it - crisp but warm tone
It really grows on you!
Classic
Even though I've never heard a full B52s album, I thought I'd enjoy this. More annoying than enjoyable.
Nah
Noooop
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.
Could be the most fun album on the 1001. Crackin debut. Opens with the Peter Gunn inspired Planet Claire, layering groovy organ over a guitar line hugging the low notes. Interplay between male and female voices is delightful. Rock Lobster has lit up dancefloors and house parties everywhere. Only poor song is the cover of Downtown, but I'll forgive that.
Game changer. Love the use of dissonant chords. A little bit of menace always lurking. Rock Lobster is an all time great song.
I dug this album much more than I was originally expecting. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for The B-52s, and I'm not sure why.
While I don't go out of my way to listen to the B52s, it's always a good time when I do. There's something so fun and happy about listening to this cacophony of sound that always puts you in a good mood.
Hell yeah! This is what rock’n’roll is about: dumb fun, punk aesthetics and a good beat. They’ve gone completely under my radar but their influence on music I like is obvious. Especially the whole riot grrl movement seem inspired by this. And my favourite Swedish indie rock band of the nineties, bob hund, stole from them. Just listen to Planet Claire and then put on ”Bob hunds 115:e dröm” or any other of their instrumental tracks.
I call this be-bop music. I don’t know if that is a thing and I’ve heard it before but that’s what I think. It’s a niche, it’s an aquired taste and I think it’s something you can’t binge listen to. These guys aren’t at least. Choice cut: Rock Lobster
the last three songs a really good but overall kind of boring 5/10
Damn cool. 4/5
Perfect album. I like all tracks but Planet Clair, Girls and Red Lobster are very nice.
Yeah this is one of the greats. Fucking hell that outro to "Rock Lobster" is fucking HARD!!!! "Planet Claire" is nuts too and the rest of the album keeps up the fun
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!
Planet Claire - 6 (No se que opinar, molan los sonidos) 52 Girls - 7 (Mola la guitarra limpia y agresiva) Dance This Mess Around - 8 (Me encanta el ritmo y la espontaneidad) Rock Lobster - 7,5 (Cancion surfera que saldría en Bob Esponja) Lava - 7 (La más rock, pero no la mejor) There’s a Moon in The Sky (Called The Moon) - 8,5 (La mejor por ahora) Hero Worship - 6060-842 (6060 842) - Downtown -
like cosmic surf rock. reaches peak extraterrestrial vibe on the opening track populated by eerie sound effects. assimilates a lot of the 60s pop tradition, with a heavy dose of disco and funk. belongs to the tarantino school of art creation, repurposing pop/genre junk in a triumphant collage of time periods and aesthetics. very post modern in its approach, reinterpreting these inspirations with an emphasis on the bizarre core. particularly, beyond the surface level novelty of the fusion, the band embraces a sort of deliberate detachment—robotic vocals, syncopation, technically tight compositions—quite similar to devo. also like devo, heavy on the mongoloid irony, both sonically and lyrically. the imagery and chanting is engrossingly surrealist. for the most part, enjoyed vocal variety–mix between male and female vocals. however, cindy wilson's vocals sometimes fall short of their ambitions. starts with a bang; opening track, and especially rock lobster, are bangers. loses momentum on the b-side when the novelty wears off–also fewer bangers.
4. Creck.
OK but disappointing
Super fun listen. Will as to the collection.
Quirky, vibrant, and other. It was a fun listen. I'm not sure why I've never bothered to check out their albums before, despite enjoying the oddness of their singles.
4.0
hehehehehee
Rock lobster is a jam. Has a real sound to it which is very enjoyable.
The soundtrack of my life. My father had Rock Lobster at his funeral. A good way to leave this earth.
Funky!!! Never listened to a full album of theirs, but it was a catchy, poppy kind of punk. Loved the bass line and the beats throughout. Made me want to dance!
Great album. Never one of my favorites but a really original sound.
Man that voice gets grating even in 30 minutes. I get why it’s on the list but after a couple songs I started to feel like I was in an asylum. High 2.
This is the soundtrack to every party I went to in college. Sounds different than almost anything I can think of. The songs are fun and definitely this band did not take itself too seriously.
Would have been cool to hear this when it first came out! What a unique sound! Lots of fun to listen to with more punk influence than I expected. "52 Girls" was great.
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.
4.5/5
. They are good but Wrong mood when I listened. Early punk influencers 3.5
Female-driven new-wave pop punk? Dame másssss. Es jodidamente excéntrico, pero eso es lo bueno. Definitivamente up my alley, de esos álbumes que me ponen de buen humor, y eso que hasta ahora solo había escuchado "Rock Lobster". No le doy 5 estrellas porque a veces es demasiado excesivo en su rareza y en chillidos.
This album was much better than I expected. While “Rock Lobster” is the big hit, the rest of the tracks carry an even cooler vibe that is quirky, energetic, and endlessly fun. It’s a surprisingly strong and cohesive debut.
Weird and goofy, but structured and accessible enough to be enjoyable.
Un groupe qui, en dépit de multiples influences, demeure inimitable par ses voix outrancières, son ludisme, son je-m’en-foutisme solaire.
Just… special
Fuck yes! The ultimate party band. Perfect album.
Fun album, I dig it.
Quite funny and entertaining album, something different from the recent records on this list. Pleasant surprise.
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
okay meh
The first time I heard, Rock Lobster was when the B-52's played on Saturday Night Live (yes, I'm fairly sure I saw this when it was first broadcasted) and my first thought was, "what the hell?". Such a kooky, bizarre band that reminded me of some outer space band from the Flintstones or Jetsons and their sound was something I had never heard before. That organ sound is soooo new wave and those hairdos and the way they dressed wasn't in my "wheelhouse" of musical preference at the time. Fast forward and this album keeps showing up on my algorithm on my music streams and it's hard not to listen to it repeatedly. It was a "game-changer" record and actually, they're retro sound, brings back so many memories of the late 70's and early 80's when my music tastes started to evolve (change for the better). I have a place in my heart for the B-52's now, though it's still hard to handle Fred Schneider's voice and the shrieky backing vocals, but there were a lot worse imitator-bands from the era. The chicks are cool and Ricky Wilson's guitar playing is way underrated.
Grandes
3.5
Postpunk met een lach, het is weer eens wat anders. De dames en heren hebben ongetwijfeld lol gehad tijdens de opnamen, maar het resultaat is desondanks niet echt een plezier voor de oren. Knullige ritmetjes, vals gekrijs en amateuristisch gitaargeklungel. Het laatste nummer drukte het allemaal nog een punt naar beneden.
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.
We kennen de B-52s met name van zangeres Kate Pierson, die voornamelijk hard kan zingen, met als grootste voorbeeld een duet met de man die we 2 dagen geleden hadden. Namelijk Candy met Iggy Pop. Ik was dus voorbereid op een schreeuwende Kate Pierson, maar het begint met een man op zang. Het klinkt als een soort Joy Division die een themesong voor James Bond of een andersoortige detectiveserie maken. Even later maakt ze alsnog haar opwachting, precies zoals ik had verwacht, al wordt haar stemvolume wel iets teruggeschroefd. Of ze staat 3 meter van de microfoon af, of in een kamer naast de opnamestudio, dat zou ook kunnen natuurlijk. Vervolgens gilt, krijst, blaft en miauwt ze op de rest vh album. Het is dat ze op de wiki vermelden dat Ricky Wilson het smoke alarm bedient, want anders zouden we denken dat het Kate Pierson zelf was. Genoeg over de afschuwelijke zangeres. Het is verder een beetje punkrock en new wave door elkaar, van rond 1980. Leuk om een keer gehoord te hebben, maar ik word hier verder niet warm of koud van. Ik ben vooral een keer blij dat de hitjes niet op dit album staan (al herken ik Rock Lobster wel), want dat zijn verschrikkelijke oorwurmen. Love Shack, afschuwelijk! Twee sterretjes voor de moeite.
This is a very good listen. Some of my favorites here.
Will listen to more of them
meh
Not peak B-52's, but damn this is a fun album. Feels ahead of it's time by a few years at least.
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
Kind of grates after a few songs. plus 2 for rock lobster
Ahh yes, their debut album. Lots of feelings about this one. Obviously, everyone who's heard of The B-52's knows at least 2 or 3 of their songs, Rock Lobster and Love Shack, and maybe Roam. But, this album is the one that started it all. It's one of the essential New Wave albums, and I consider it one of the pillars to show that genre off to people. Absolutely perfect. 5/5
Made me smile listening to the whole album again.
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.
I went to UGA and still live near Athens so obviously very familiar with this one. From a national perspective, they formed their own little sub-genre of “thrift shop punk.” Their first two albums are great at exemplifying this and their late 80s album has some huge commercial hits but that’s it from a larger perspective. From a local perspective, they burst down the door and helped inspire countless bands after them. The early 80s Athens scene is the only one I’d consider myself an expert in. Some other great band recommendations of this time period besides REM are Pylon (GOAT), Method Actors, Limbo District (like an Athens version of Avant-garde Velvet Underground with a member from Warhol's factory who also helped write one of the songs on this album and for an REM song), Oh-Ok (featuring Michael Stipes sister), and current rage. Those are just my personal favorites but there are many more. Rating: 4.9
I love The B-52's ability to for some reason make a song sound dark and eery. Just add a crap ton of bass and suddenly I'm feeling like a cool villain in an animated kids movie.
Dahn tahn
Great length. I did not enjoy this much except for Rock Lobster which was kind of catchy. High 2.
this is so fun I love it. I also enjoyed the songs that aren't on Spotify.
4/10 - This was just such a weird album. Lucas said they made love shack and he knew the song rock lobster which was not great but is a fantastic title.
There’s a moon in the sky called the moon is the greatest song title of all time
Before Love Shack they were better.
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.
This is a great album! The B-52’s are the weird I want, maybe even the weird I need. I love Dance This Mess Around.
i loved it, my girlfriend loved it. i suppose everyone loves this album.
hauskaa nw pp..
Well, Spotify opens a two song album but when I read the reviews I realized there should have been more songs... My first time listening the band and it was fun and a bit chaotic in a good way.
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
It's weird. It's wild. It's wacky. But dang it's fun. One of the zaniest, most awesome albums in all of history.
Well...I love punk post-punk don't get me wrong. This is surely iconic and unique but this is well...probably one of the least favorite album of the whole genre to me. Very unique but like...the intolerable way...
Well, Rock Lobster was a great single, and I can see from Wikipedia that there were several singles drawn from this album. The whole retro-glam-punk schtick is pretty appealing, as it was for Scottish band The Rezillos, and it's a fun album to play. I don't think they really had enough material and the last track is filler. But the other songs are great, often with pretty idiotic lyrics.
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🟨🎨🥸 Production: 🤔🙂👌 Music: 🌊🦞🌋🎨🌀🤪 Rating: 🦞🦞🦞🦞/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
Wow man the B-52’s were way more surf rock-y than I imagined they’d be. Rock Lobster is a fun song. Overall though this was very same-y throughout and I got bored of it.
Such a unique sound. You can tell it’s them. Fun listen and quick. Enjoyed the mix of genres. 3.5/5 Will probably listen again
Favourite tracks: hero worship; 52 girls; rock lobster; dance this mess around; 6060-842
This album changed my life
Punk like silliness Fun loving, odd ball lyrics And surf inspired tones
Fuck yes! The ultimate party band. Perfect album.
Uwielbiam takie pokręcone rzeczy. Momentami brzmią jak dwójka pijanych ludzi na karaoke, ale przez większość czasu to po prostu ścieżka dźwiękowa do najdziwniejszego filmu świata. Cały album wypełniony jest radością i dobrą zabawą. No czego tu nie kochać? 9/10
Feels like they are searching for a sound they haven't quite put their finger on yet. But Rock Lobster :D
One of those albums I thought I knew, turns out it was only Rock Lobster. I like it more than I expected. I think there is a tendency in the UK to view them as purely a novelty act. So wrong.
This rocks lobsters so clearly it deserves a 5 star revue.
kling klong
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.
I saw the B52s open for the Talking Heads as a teenager in 1978 (and got to dance with Kate for some 30 seconds). They only had the single Rock Lobster out but were incredible. When they released this, their eponymous debut, I had to ride my bike all over Long Island to find a store that carried, but it was worth it. I still have this album and it is still one my favorites. It's the purest for of B52s zanyness. Besides the funny, irreverant, and I-dare-you-not-to dance Rock Lobster, there is also weird sci-fo epic Planet Claire (complete with keyed walkie talkie sound effects), the gloriously retro 6060-842, the straight-forward-yet-somehow-still-weird Dance This Mess Around, and my frenetic favorite, 52 Girls. The B52s were always an egalitarian outfit, with all the muscians highlighted in one way or another. This ethos is evident with the prominent bass lines, featured guitar work, and switch off vocals. No one is in the background. This is the moment in time whent he B52s redefined party rock in the New Wave mold - quirky, at times sardonic, but with loads of fun all around. The B52s - the band and the album - captures the musical zertgeist of the late 70s New Wave movement, infuses it with some Southern quirkiness, and makes everyone want to dance.
Realmente muy poquito, bastante aburrido, inclasificable el género, es como los temas más punchi de sumo con batería electrónica.
- I guess it was alright, not the worst thing I've ever listened to - I liked that punk sound they had in a few of the tracks, as someone into bands like Le Tigre or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I heard some of their influence in this album - I did fade out though from time to time, and so all in all, I think it wasn't really my kind of album
Have never really liked the B-52's especially fucking love shack. Appreciate this is an earlier beast and I like the surf/punk vibe but still cannot get past the fucking love shack and annoying shouty man vocals. Should be a 3 - but its getting a 2 cause of the love shack baby.
It this point, they're meta-retro. 5/5
Ah nee niet weer een rock album... Of wacht, dit funkt? Best wel hard zelfs??? Ik vermaak me????? Ik zal niet te snel klagen, blijkbaar is dit ook geen straight up rock, maar is het New-wave, het zal wel. Duidelijk is in elk geval dat dit echt vermakelijke muziek is voor me! Rock Lobsterr is 1 van de leukste nummers die ik ooit heb gehoord, wat een topplaat hahaha Sowieso is dit album echt pure pure fun. Love dit album, ik word er echt vrolijk fan, want wie de fuck bedenkt een nummer Theres a Moon in the sky(Its called the Moon). Sorry hoor, maar dat is pure genialiteit in muziekvorm. Dikke dikke dikke 4 sterren is dit voor mij! FAVO: Planet Claire, 52 girls, Rock Lobster, Theres a moon in the sky
Always fun and enjoyable.
Having mostly heard the radio singles (“Rock Lobster,” et al), I wasn’t expecting much. But I liked it a good bit better than I thought I would. They do carry that kitschy energy throughout, but the songs are well written and very different from anything else that was popular at the time. Definitely more than just a novelty band.
hm non mi piacciono..
The music is good and interesting. I’m not totally into it, but clearly unique and everybody should hear this record.
Easily in my top 3 since I joined this thing. Brilliant fun
There are two types of B-52’s songs. One with the organ slapping you in the face whilst Fred Schneider does his unique vocal stylings. I prefer the other type.
'Love shack' is a staple of my karaoke repertoire but I was a little nervous to listen to this album (and it doesn't even include LS). I liked it. I didn't love it, probably wouldn't revisit.
So much more than (the quite annoying) Love Shack. Great look. Great stuff. One star off for the unnecessary apostrophe in their name.
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
Why
I just realized that I have only heard three songs from this band before listening to this album: Rock Lobster, Private Idaho, and of course Love Shack. I was expecting to like this album digging deeper into their music but somehow I didn't? I don't know why it didn't click with me whatsoever but I would rather go listen to Blondie. Don't know why this is on the list
Instrumentals were fun enough. Not much else I enjoyed.
I can't even articulate why but I really enjoyed this
Fun band out of the 70’s and 80’s. Great music. Iconic songs.
Early alternative important album.....nice.
It's crazy to me how so many modern albums get criticized for lacking variety, having bland lyrics, being overproduced, etc., only for people to rave about Rock Lobster in the reviews here. There must be some joke I'm missing because the discrepancy in ratings between some albums cannot be real
Do I personally like this album? I don't know. Is it important? for us gays OF COURSE. You get a 5 just for existing.
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.
A classic for a reason.
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
another group I had heard of but never listened to. Great start but after a few tracks I was disturbed ... but why? After a bit more of a listen I realised that there was potential here but the vocals were letting it down. Male voice is weak and female voices seem fine on backing but when it takes the lead it seems to lose any musicality. I like the arrangements and many tracks have potential but end up in the same kind of tempo and groove. Disappointing given what it could be.
I couldn't stand it
S'okay. Didn't love the vocal work here. Instrumentals were fine. 'Rock Lobster' was the only one I cared for.
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.
That guys voice can do one!
like this. sounds like a spooky tone but fun vibes.
The B52's don't take themselves too seriously and that's part of the appeal. The lyrics are silly, vocals often over the top and the melodies are simple. The guitar work is my favorite part. It's just enough and fits in perfectly with the stripped down keyboards, solid drums and various noise makers like toy pianos and buzzers. Fun album!
Most annoying band ever?
Goofy energenic fun built on surf rock but claiming its own. Truly infectious (there's a cream to relieve the itch).
My first time listening to this as an album (I knew the singles) even though I own and love both Cosmic Thing and Good Stuff. Considering how annoying Fred's voice is, it's amazing how much I like the B52s. But I really do. I especially love that Kate Pierson is still going strong, dying her hair bright red, releasing music, and singing in that fantastic "I'm just singing along" voice. I should have listened to this before, it's great!
Just joyous.
One play was enough. This album did nothing for me. Two stars is the best I can afford.
Just no
great! if you like this you should listen to Live! 8-24-1979, the energy is so fun and a lo-fi touch really works well, probably my 5 star B-52s album. it's as big as a whale
The B-52´s son una banda fundamental en la música. Si no existieran habría que inventarlos, si se pudiera claro está porque sería difícil. Estilo único, estética absolutamente desbordante. Simplemente geniales, sobre todo en directo. Son el reverso bailable de The Talking Heads. Han publicado discos durante más de 30 años, además de una impagable y exitosa versión de Los Picapiedra: (Meet) The Flintstones. Apoyados en la voz de Kate Pierson y también de Cindy Wilson (que ha editado un disco maravilloso Realms este 2024) además de la inimitable voz y estilo vocal de Schneider. Sufrieron un bajón con la muerte de Ricky, que casi acaba con el grupo pero resurgieron con más fuerza que nunca con Cosmic Thing llegando incluso hasta finales de la decada 00 con el estimable Fun Plex. Este debut es una marcianada que contiene no solo Rock Lobster (ingualable canción) sino gemas como Planet Claire, Dance this mess around, Lava o una estupenda versión de Downtown. No contiene la mejor canción del grupo Private Idaho, de su segundo álbum Wild Planet, pero es un disco imprescindible. Otros discos de 1979, el año del "Disco sucks" : Unknown Pleasures de Joy Division, The Police-Reggatta De Blanc, THE CLASH - London calling, VAN MORRISON - Into the music, NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE - Rust never sleeps y Live Rust, AC/DC - Highway to hell, PAUL COLLINS BEAT - The Beat, THE CURE - Three imaginary boys, The Undertones- The Undertones, GRAHAM PARKER - Squeezing out sparks, THE KNACK - Get the knack, The wall de Pink Floyd, Armed Forces de Elvis Costello & The Attractions, We Are Family de Sister Sledge, Look Sharp! de Joe Jackson, Spirits Having Flown de Bee Gees, Breakfast in America de Supertramp, Y de The Pop Group, Voulez-Vous de ABBA , Bad Girls de Donna Summer, Lodger de David Bowie, Discovery Electric Light Orchestra, Exposed y Platinum de Mike Oldfield, Fear of Music Talking Heads, Off the Wall de Michael Jackson, Quadrophenia deThe Who, Reggatta de Blanc de The Police, Prince de Prince, Damn the Torpedoes de Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers , One Step Beyond... de Madness, The Specials de The Specials, Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" de Stevie Wonder, Metal Box de Public Image Ltd., Risque de Chic, Real to Real Cacophony y Life in a day de Simple Minds
Such a solid and funky album
I went nuts for this album in high school and it's still great! Unique guitar sound and fun punky vocals from Cindy.
Refuse to listen to this shit.
Absolutely love this album. It’s kitschy and punky and tons of fun.
Favorite Track: Rock Lobster
A classic. Great album.
A little too post-punk for my taste, but this would've been really cool to hear when it first released.
Kom á óvart. Mjög þétt og góð plata. Geggjað sound í HIGH FIDELITY! Rock lobster er svo rúsínan í pylsuendanum. Hélt ég myndi ekki fíla þetta.
Svakalega hresst, frumlegt og skemmtilegt. Ég er rokkhumar! Ótrúlegt að tvær svona risa Alt hljómsveitir eins og B52´s og REM hafi komið frá Athens Georgíu á sama tíma.
Love it, brings back memories
Love the guitar
45 years, still the freshest feelgood party music
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.
STAMP
This album made me think about the cringey tell-all novel Outline of My Lover and how much cooler it would have been if the 1990’s Athens GA indie Star had been Fred from B-52s.
a really solid new wave classic. the b-52's are always off kilter and corny and they're probably not for everyone, but i enjoy their schtick. very unique sound that is beyond referential to early 60s music. the vocals are atypical and odd but to me, that's what makes them charming. the instrumentation here is really solid. nothing flashy, but good all around. the songs here are what limit this from being a 5 for me. very clearly, 'rock lobster' (their most famous song) is far and away the best song here. there's nothing bad here, but just wish more songs were as catchy as their big song. overall, it's a cool album that i enjoyed, just wish it got to more higher highs.
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.
Wave Klassiker mit avantgardistischer bis skurriler Attitüde. „Planet Claire“ und „Dance This Mess Arround“ sind tolle Songs und habe die Blütezeit des Genres mit geprägt. Ein einfach tolles Album.
Very cool. /Almost/ sounds like The Talking Heads made a record with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Punk... gentrified punk. I mean they were Athens punk, got produced by Nile Rogers, then headlined the state fair circuit for the next few decades. Please allow some tantrum space in your lash out hearts for this mess around-around-around, down-down. Hell's magnet pulls me.. dowwwwwnnnn!
I want whatever they were on
I didn’t realize these guys were around that early
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.
Good for what it does but I don't like what it does..... 🪨 🦞🦞
R O C K L O B S T E R
I’ve always hated Rock Lobster. The rest of the album was just as bad. Painful.
Great songs by the B52s
# 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
It's only weird if it doesn't work, and this works.
Wow, childhood throwback. Trying to imagine how weird this album would have seemed in the 70s. ROCK LOBSTER! It irritates me I keep hearing the shortened version on the radio.
Fun little pop party band, pre-Love Shack when Rock Lobster was their highest draw. Not music I typically enjoy. Somebody must though.
Very good, very enjoyable. Their cheekiness is fun and the music is very good.
Such fun twisted party music! Love the way the songs can be silly but also just ride a groove for five minutes. Good stuff (which isn’t on this album)
The B-52s are so much more than Love Shack, and I’ve like them for awhile. I have this album on vinyl. This isn’t all 4 and 5 star songs, it’s got some 3s on here. And a couple fives: Planet Claire and, my favorite of their songs, of course, the legendary Rock Lobster. What a top notch song. If I went back, I might give some more songs 5? Even a three star song like Dance This Mess Around ends so weird and wonderful, I can’t really NOT like it. This is a solid four stars. Very weird, very rocking, very fun.
Understated quirkiness, it's the perfect combination of weird and very high qualify of musicianship. They were completely unique and different at that time and even 45 years later it still sounds great and interesting. John Lennon also loved them, he listened to him shortly before he died - according to his personal assistant when he heard Rock Lobster for the first time he ran out of the restaurant telling loudly to everyone that finally someone got it and were inspired by Yoko! He appreciated their music a lot.
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
52/100 Mid
ROCK LOVESTER
Weird in the right ways. I love the satirical commentary of the 50s.
I know I love this album. Dance this mess around is a low key GOAT of mine.
Fun, weird, quirky
Maybe on another day this could have been a 3. But it was just not my thing.
A fun one. Rock Lobster for the agesssss!
Peak 80s kitsch.
no new wave please
One dimensional, spawned is career
4.5/5 Planet Claire opens this album with a funky, mysterious feel. Then 52 Girls is a fun, slightly goofy groove, before Dance This Mess Around is just a brilliantly crafted track. The vocals from Cindy are exceptional, and the playful back and forth is so cool. The bassline for Rock Lobster is fantastic, and Fred's vocals and lyrics fit perfectly. I love the weirdness of the whole experience so far. Lava is a more straightforward banger with not much else to say. There's A Moon In The Sky is a bit funkier and more interesting, with a great outro. Then Hero Worship is again a rocker which hits the spot. 6060-842 is a fun little song and finally Downtown feels like a bit of filler to be honest. Not unpleasant at all but just goes on too long. Planet Claire 5/5 52 Girls 4.5/5 Dance This Mess Around 5/5 (FAV) Rock Lobster 4.5/5 Lava 3.5/5 There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon) 5/5 Hero Worship 4.5/5 6060-842 (6060 842) 4.5/5 Downtown 3/5 (LEAST FAV)
I don't even know what to do with this. This album started a long conversation of are the B-52s a paradoy band. They for sure aren't playing it straight, and they also aren't going deeply artistic. Strange listen. I kind of wish I had never heard them before just to be shocked at a first time listen on the list.
I had previously only heard Rock Lobster and never understood it. I don't get this. Like an ironic camp homage to the 1950s and 1960s. It is all too distracting for me to notice the music.
That FUNKY bass! Perfect.
No one is like them.
Fun, weird, interesting
A solid groove, and a special style that has never been and can never be repeated. Always sounds fresh and silly and underground, even many years later.
#330. This is exactly as weird as you'd expect. No more, no less. 3/5: strange Song added to playlist: Rock Lobster I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Though remarkable, I’ll always hold “Wild Planet” slightly more favourably.
5/5
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.
Surf punk? Is that a thing? This album's answer is an emphatic "yes." "Rock Lobster" is such a fun, funny relic, and I'm glad the world over knows that tune. Aside from that, some great deeper cuts on here too. Just a fun ride all the way through, such an anomaly of an album and band, I'm not sure what else they did but I want to pretend it was just this, like a meteor striking earth. Not true though, but this is their debut! Talk about dialed in from the get-go. Also the B-52's is such a great name for a band, they really nailed that. Favorite tracks: Rock Lobster, Lava, 52 Girls, There's a Moon in the Sky. Album art: Drop dead classic, iconic cover. Bright, vibrant yellow, and I'm assuming this is a band photo but nothing like any other band photo, looks like a lounge-style ad from the early '60s. Perfect aesthetic choices made all around. 4/5
I love the B-52s for how weird and kitschy and unselfconscious they are. Bops up and down this album.
All songs sounded like a parody of themselves, like a cover sung at a karaoke
Quirky style but Rock Lobster is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here
IRAQ LOBSTER?! Favourite Songs: Planet Claire, 52 Girls, Dance This Mess Around, Rock Lobster. Least Favourite Songs: There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon), Downtown.
You know, they're actually pretty good. I don't think I'd heard anything but "Rock Lobster" by them. This is all a good assortment of vibes, very silly, little crunchy, good stuff.
Weird proto rock and roll. Wasn't really for me.
Excellent
The B-52s basically created a genre. It’s The B-52s. Such a unique sound! 3.7
I wish I could have heard this with new ears to understand how truly weird and wonderful it is. Now I'm used to it, so I just think it's wonderful.
I hate the male singer's voice, he just sounds like he's trying to be ironic or something. It's also hard to take an album seriously when its centre point is a 6 minute song about a lobster. Better than 1* because the B-52s sound like a band that could make proper music if they wanted to, but instead they veer into joke territory too much for my liking
Rock lobster is an all time fav.
Flexi Tour from Planet Claire
Not really for me.
THEE debut pop album of all time argue with the wall
I may be biased, one of my favorite bands.
Death to America And butter sauce
Is it essential? No But is it fun? Yes!
Lana is too slow; I especially like Planet Claire, 52 Girls, Rock Lobster
Perfect record with a perfect blend of Rock & Roll, new wave and madness. Except for rocklobster. I’ve heard that too often.
Tremendous. Fun. Loud. Memorable
Just another quirky punky new wave record... It is basically Talking Heads, just worse.
yes I love this album. this is precisely the type of weirdness and fun and joy that's missing from current pop culture. once I played Planet Claire for some of my friends and they hated it so much <3
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
Fantastic album
solid, over rock lobster but the rest is good
Yes... I love this album. Have for a long time. There's a moon in the sky. It's called the moon
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
Such an unappealing album. From it's annoying sound to the screeching vocals and goofy lyrics, this could not have been more of a miss for me. I'm not the biggest fan of catchy music, but this is an extreme that just dies not work for me at all
Incredibly fun record. As kitschy and campy as you remember from the Love Shack video. But if you accept and get in on the joke the result is joy.
Such a fun record, and really unusual, one of a kind, unique.
Rock lobster does not make the album one you must hear
Quirky, surreal and campy party music. Overall: 4/10
Wildly fun debut. Their voices make me wanna Dance This Mess Around. Despite their perhaps unconventional beauty compared to many musical icons, I've always loved Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson. They are so outgoing, sultry voices, and their eyes suggest unpredictability at full throttle. I've mostly listened to their singles, so this was a real treat. Thanks 1001 & Geoff.
Dance This Mess Around is killer. Great title for a song, awesome guitar, outrageously good vocal. They do all sixteen dances. 5 stars.
This rocks. The guitar is so good, the vocals are so good. Every song is so good. A novelty act that overcomes being a novelty act.
I could not finish ... 1.5 for the instrumentals
5!
Really fun album
3.8. I liked it
4.5
I like a select few B-52 songs. Rock Lobster is one of them. Everything else on this album is absolutely grating vocal-wise.
Too much kitsch for me. Rock Lobster should not be 6:50. I know people dig the B-52's. But I am not one of those people.
My wife always sings Love Shack and it drives me insane so I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed this album so much. The B-52's are nothing short of quirky but the music on this album is actually really good. It sometimes reminded me more of a punk sound like the Dead Kennedys but if they were wearing beehive hairdos. I really was surprised at how much I enjoyed this because Love Shack became so popular and kind of ruined any chance of me listening to their other stuff until now. I'm glad I did.
perfect boost for a plain day
There is little music as fun as the B-52s. No other band could pull off the line "There's a moon in the sky and it's called the moon." And actually have it land. And my son was humming the Rock Lobster riff for hours after. Perfect gonzo pop.
Classic 80’s Athens, GA alternative rock
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.
Unique. 2.5.
The B-52's are quite the pinnacle of twerpy music. I can imagine their impact at the time being akin to Ed Sheeran or whatever prematurely married straight white people listen to these days.
Imma da rawk lobstah. Make music silly again.
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.
B-52s are a weird band. No love shack in the album so it was hard to listen to. 2 stars
Rock Lobster has some incredible animal limitations. Other than that this is some fairly basic rock music and the girls voice sucks.
So weird. I wasn't a fan of the B-52s coming into this and I still am not after listening to a whole album. I really cannot get down with either one of the singers and the lyrics so so strange. Some of the instrumentals were pretty cool.
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.
Very surprised. Really fun listen.
How did this album ever get made? They are so unique and gimmicky. Their hits are annoying.....the rest is too.
It's the B-52's.....how can it not be 5* ! Brilliant, weird stuff
buen descubrimiento osi
Side 2 is only 3/5, but thankfully side 1 is 7/5. Dropping bombs.
B-52's
Had only heard a couple of songs from this album but really liked several of the new songs
This album is a lot of fun. It's just a total bop from start to finish, and my foot was in a constant state of tapping. I like the groovy beats. I like the attitude. It's refreshing. This album will be making an appearance at some summer barbecues this year for sure.
Liked Song Rock Lobster
The album wasn't a big hit.
The B-52s made what they wanted to.
ok 6.5/10
A classic!
Loved
Been a staple for 3+ decades. Maybe not the most diverse set but still sounds good.
Even though the whole thing seems to be steeped in irony, I couldn't enjoy the annoying voices.
what an album. what a group! 1979 was such a great year for music.
A great album, original and fun
A wacky but definitely fun. A bit too noisy for me though.
this is such a beachy album. i wanna go to the beach now. i wanna look like this album it is so fun.
Solid album - good tunes made it all the way through :)