Reviews (page 4 of 6)
It's just okay
Ended better than it started. Worst Song: The Cutter Best Song: My White Devil, Clay, Heads Will Roll Added to Liked Songs: My White Devil, Clay, Porcupine, Heads Will Roll, In Bluer Skies
It was fine.
It was okay. It is not something I’d go out of my way for. Has a good chill vibe to it.
Pretty cool.
Like early U2 if they had been cooler. Pretty good example of what the edgy kids were listening to in 1983. I thought Ian McCullough sounded a lot like Bono from the same time period (pre-Unforgettable Fire).
2.5 Not good. Kind of what was wrong with the 80s. Grating voice, music that seems to draw inspiration from both the smiths and talking heads without any of the talent that those bands were composed of. Not much to savour here.
Decent
Not liking this at all. I heard The Cutter when it was released and was uninspired. There is a slight Doors influence, Don’t You Love Her Madly, but I don’t like The Doors.
A very clever album. I am not too sure if I agree with it.
Pretty good, well aware of the band and have seen them live but for some reason I never went into their back catalogue. It’s very of its time and a little samey but some great stuff there.
It was okay, got repetitive
Seemed interesting at first but trailed off into ok pretty quick.
6/10
I don’t know what it was, but I kind of wanted to love this one. A post-punk album with some shades of gloom feels right up my alley. But after listening to this, I couldn’t quite get into it. Something felt off. Maybe it was the way all the songs blended together. Outside of Porcupine, most of the songs sounded kind of the same, or at least felt extremely similar. This made going through the album a bit of a slog. There are some good moments, for sure, and I like the overall The Cure vibe these guys bring. But now I just want to listen to The Cure. The reviews here made it clear this will not be my last time with this band. Though, I can’t say this was a great first impression… Favorite track: Higher Hell Other hits: Porcupine, Clay, In Bluer Skies, Gods Will Be Gods, The Cutter
It’s fine in its post-punk new-wavey way, but it’s borne terribly exiting, and doesn’t have any standout tracks like some of their other stuff. I didn’t hate it.
This is the third Echo & the Bunnymen album I’ve hit on this list. They’re good, I like them fine, but there is no reason to include this alongside the others. Just do Ocean Rain and call it good
First listen
fíla safnplötuna. mörg ágæt lög, en á þessari virðist vanta hittara. gef þó aðra yfirferð, 3,5.
3.5
Buen álbum, más no imprescindible. No creo que volvería a escucharlo la verdad.
My heart sank when i saw this as i'd had my fill of dreary 80's indie rock, but this turned out better than hoped. There was an upbeat, driving rhythm that really propelled it forward. The vocal i could take or leave but the rhythm section and the production stood out.
Just overall kind of boring. Like they are obviously good musicians and write some great hits, but I was waiting for the album to be over.
This starts with two absolute classics then slowly fades away. In a different mood or a different album this would be an album I might have stuck with but ultimately it's not quite consistent enough.
Pretty cool. Maybe a 4
I enjoyed it
Echo is better than average New Wave. This doesn’t have Killing Moon which is cool with me - Spotify’s algorithm has overplayed that song for me. This isn’t mind blowing but it’s not a chore to listen to.
I enjoyes the instrumentals of this. Very 80's sounding. The vocals were fine but got a little one-note ovwr the whole album. Good album overrall though
Better than most British rock bands I have come across. I definitely enjoyed some songs enough to want to listen to them again.
This had alot of the elements of new wave that I really love, combined with several vocal performances that reminded me of U2. The first half was really good, but the second half really lost steam.
Like it. Favourite track is The Cutter 3/5
The cutter is some tune. The rest of it was alright, it sounded a little like a better version of the cure
Det är lite för långt för att jag ska orka med hans röst så länge. Hans röst blir lite för jämrig och lite för new-wave:ig på något sätt. Men på det stora hela så gillar jag det ändå. Det känns som sofistikerad musik
Second album après 'Crocodiles' assez apprécié (noté 3/5). J'aime toujours les lignes de basse, et on retrouve dans cet album des morceaux vraiment originaux (structure, harmonie, ambiance) comme 'Porcupine' ou 'Gods will be gods'. Mais il manque toujours le petit plus qui me ferait ajouter l'album à ma collection. Il faudra que je le ré-écoute. =>3/5
Didn’t knock me over like ‘Ocean Rain’, but I did like it more than ‘Crocodiles’. Psychedelic, dramatic, and fairly dark. I enjoyed the melodies and guitar textures (see: “Clay”) throughout. A dire Thatcher-era pop record. I’d give this a 3.5 if I could, and usually I would round up, but because I was so astonished by one of their other albums I feel like I have to be more critical. I will say I could see myself revisiting and forming a more positive opinion, because there were parts of this I thought absolutely smacked.
The Cutter is an excellent song. Echo and the Bunnymen are a decent band with a few real standout songs, though their albums on the whole aren't as standout.
The jangly, angular style of this music appeals to me. I'm coming to the conclusion that there's a stylistic middle ground for me. Too smooth, no thanks. Too angry, too jagged, no thanks. But a U2, a Peter Gabriel, or, as it turns out, an Echo & The B-Men - those I like. I don't recall hearing much from this release when it first came out. There were definitely other tracks that got radio play and that I enjoyed. This is interesting music.
Cutter slaps, I enjoyed alternatives a lot more
Our third Echo and the Bunnymen album leaves me conflicted. I enjoyed the first two more than I thought I would. A year later, I listened to "Porcupine" in two separate sittings, which each left me with different impressions. The first half left me annoyed. I forgot the other two albums and harped on Ian McCulloch's voice, which sat squarely in a zone I'm really sick of from way too many similar whines on the 1001. But I must have been in a better mood for the second half. The vocals didn't annoy as much, and apparently as with the other albums, I appreciated the guitars and bass. But despite winding up enjoying this, it's another subgenre I'm gonna need an extended break from as soon as we're done with this.
This sounds just like U2. Still haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Banger first song, the rest is okay and kind of forgettable.
This was a good time mostly, the middle section kinda dragged but it started and finished pretty strongly.
There were parts of this I really enjoyed, others felt a bit lightweight. Decent enough
The Cutter is great The rest of this is fine at best and it’s not often at its best A generous 3
Cool. Music matches the frigidity of the cover. Feels very arctic. Never quite reaches the haunt they achieved with killing moon, but close enough.
Ooh, I actually did know Echo & The Bunnymen before this adventure started, so I guess that gives some shoegaze cred. That being said, this is another straight 3 stars on this list. I wished I loved or hated it, but I just can't. It is... perfectly fine.
Pos punk! Gostei!!
Scouse raincoat rock. Reverb vocals, spiky guitars and miserable drum beats. It is relentlessly mopey - like that goth kid standing in the corner of the house party. I'm not sure we need 3 albums from this lot on here. One is enough. Best Tracks: The Cutter; Back of Love; Gods Will Be Gods
It's fine. Nothing too cool or too bad. If I could give it a 2.5 I would but I gotta figure out if it's a 2 or a 3. Hmmm. We'll I guess it wasn't bad per say.
Weirdly dark and atmospheric, I kinda like it but I feel like I need more time with it. It doesn't really stick in your head.
Kind of surprised to see another album from them on the list. This is the second for me and apparently there's one more. Seems a bit odd to have three albums from them, but that's the world we live in I guess. I wasn't super familiar with Echo and the Bunnymen before I started this list. I really liked Crocodiles so I'm not upset at seeing this come up at all today. This record is still solid, but I think I like Crocodiles a bit better. Really, I don't feel like we needed more than one album from them on this list despite having liked both so far. I'd give this one a 3.25/5.
Bueno
A bit boring, but not bad
Sounds like U2 having more fun
# Album Name: Porcupine # Artist: Echo and the Bunnymen # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: The cutter. What a song. If that doesnt lift you up i dont know what will. Great opener to the album. The album falls off a cliff quality wise after that. It simply cant live up to the opening track. Back of love and god will be gods were good tracks. The rest seem like fillers on a first listen. Maybe this one will grow but at the moment its a solid 3. # Top Tunes: Cutter / back of love / god will be gods # Would I listen to it again? I might come back for a second listen
It was fine.
Really cool instrumentation here. I feel like my experience from this suffer because I wasn’t watching the lyrics at the same time. I’m curious to listen more to hear to see if this is indeed a ripoff
This is a good album. But I’ve gotten a lot of post punk albums and they all kind of run together.
Das Album markierte eine düsterere, intensivere Phase der Band. Mit einer Mischung aus dramatischem Post-Punk und atmosphärischen Klanglandschaften zeigt das Album eine Entwicklung in ihrem Sound – jedoch nicht ohne Herausforderungen. Die eindringlichen, oft melancholischen Songs wie *The Cutter* und *Heads Will Roll* sind von einer fast apokalyptischen Stimmung geprägt, die das Album sowohl faszinierend als auch schwer zugänglich macht. Während die Instrumentation und die poetischen Texte beeindrucken, fehlt *Porcupine* stellenweise die Eingängigkeit früherer Werke. Der experimentelle Ansatz sorgt für Tiefe, wirkt aber auch sperrig. Deswegen insgesamt solide aber auch nicht mehr.
Beetje schreeuwerige zang, maar verder wel leuke muziek. Doet me een klein beetje aan U2 denken.
It was alright. It's like the Cure but not mopey and depressing.
this was ok.
Not listened before Favourite tracks: The Cutter, Heads Will Roll
While Mr. Echo and his Bunnymen don't really ignite the spark for me, I appreciate the experimental nature of their new wave/post punk tunes in an effort to break away from the same sounds everyone else was doing at the time.
Echo & Co. always manages to pierce my psyche while failing to penetrate my musical soul, offering moments that charm without fully enrapturing me like so many of their more memorable post-punk contemporaries.
This album was fine, gave me Bowie vibes on some, Morrissey vibes on others. Not my favorite but entertaining enough, decent production. Middle of the road 3/5
Interesting! Reminded me of so many different bands I haven’t bothered to write them down. Favourite tracks were The Cutter and Ripeness. Keen to check out some more of their work. (3.5 stars)
The main thing I thought while listening to this album was 'gee this singer sounds a bit like Midnight Oil' and 'man I'm really looking forward to when Midnight Oil turn up on this project'. So, I guess that's a positive?
#538. It may be mid at best, but it's certainly the best Echo and the Bunnymen album I've heard on here so far. 3/5: acceptable
I must be mellowing in my old age, this was better than I remember/expected. Not that the bar was particularly high, but even so worth a 3.
A decent album of its time. Enjoyed listening to it again but not one I’d regularly go to. A solid 3.
I don't mind a bit of Echo and the Bunny men. I grew up listening to them being played by my brother. They aren't a go to band for me, but they always brighten up my day when I listen to them. I don't think this is their finest release, but the two singles are great.
There is some cool stuff going on, but a full album of this guy's singing is too much
Three Echo Bunnymen albums on the list so I would cut at least one. It doesn't help that I'm not much of a fan of this band's work to begin with. Generally enjoyed side B more than side A, with the exception of the opening track The Cutter.
More new wavey than some of their other things.
This was a cool album! I had fun listening to it, I've not listened to them before but I quite enjoyed this album! I have heard of the band but not really listened to them, but they were very good and this album was pure fun to listen to
I feel like 3 Bunnymen albums is kinda unnecessary. I mean I like them and all but I would've been happy with just "Ocean Rain". This album is pretty average I'd say. "The Cutter" is a great opening track but after that the album does little to get your attention. Favorite track: The Cutter
First Half is great, the second half sucks
Another one with a vibe I like, though the lyrics are neither here nor there.
Kind of a fun peak into gothic UK post-punk. There have certainly been artists to do the sound better and more cleanly than Echo & The Bunnymen did here, but a solid effort nonetheless. Would be a prime candidate for 3.5 stars
Liked it, gloomy and good
Here's another band that I was never really sure what they're about. Pretty good stuff though. I kinda hated the two openers (the singles, especially "Back of Love") but the rest of these are bangers. Cool vibe. Curing, perhaps.
Intelligent and catchy, unique
2.5 rounded up
sounds like joy division with vampire energy
Great opening track, but got samey after while
I like the Bunny men- this seems a little less camp, less B52s and more a serious rock attempt than some of their other work.
Not bad, kind of a vibe - but not a vibe I'm always into.
Ok album. Nothing really stood out, but was pretty easy to listen to. 3/5
Miałam jakieś uparte skojarzenia z U2, sama nie wiem czemu, chyba po wokalu. Ogólnie: lepiej niż się spodziewałam po tytule i gatunku, ale nadal było to jedna z tych bardzo zapominalnych płyt. Zbyt pozbawiona tożsamości, aby ją docenić. Nie bolała, nie nudziła i nie dłużyła się, ale też nie zapisałam w ulubionych ani jednego kawałka. 6.5/10
some genuinely fun songs and some iffy stuff. i didn’t LOVE the vocals overall
Before listening I thought: "Great... another Echo & theBunnymen album. What's up with that? Do we really need three(!) albums by them on this list?" Starts out well enough with "The Cutter". It kind of goes slightly downhill from there for me but overall, I'd rate this as a good album.
first listen i just can't get into this stuff
Pretty good.
Perfectly alright. Not really my cup of English post punk tea. I give it a three.
Yeah it’s fine but not really notable
Was a fan of the Bunnymen from their early (Zoo) days, but drifted away once they became popular. Yes, I know. So, I'd not really listened to this album before, tho The Cutter was a hit single that I recognized. Listening now... yeah. A good early 80's "Alternative" album, but falls inti the usual mope-y shoegaze-y tropes as others. Good, but not exceptional.
3.5/5! Totally fine and what I expected, having listened to another Echo + The Bunnymen album on this journey.
I kind of enjoy this. Their voices and their vibe is very familiar, but I am not sure who it is that they remind me of...
I just don’t like post-punk. I feel like these guys are probably a decent band, just stuck in a dreary genre.
3.5
Definitely a step up from Crocodiles, though still not as good as Ocean Rain, in my opinion. McCulloch falls back on *a lot* of stock new wave/post-punk melodies, especially in the back half of the record, but I think he’s a decent vocalist, especially when the melodies are a bit more inventive. Highlights for me are “The Cutter”, “The Back of Love”, “Clay”, the title track, and “Heads Will Roll”. 3.5/5
Before listening: I’m excited for this one, a band I’ve heard about many times, but one I’ve never really listened to. Hopefully they live up to the hype. After listening:
Thought Echo and the Bunnymen was a Euro synth/pop band. I was very mistaken. Good album, wasn't expecting it to be a Cure/Bauhaus type band. I'd give it an enthusiastic 3 stars. Won't be the first thing I go to put on, but I'll be back to listen to more for sure.
I didn't get to listen to all of this, but what I was able to listen was solid!
Ok
This is the third album by Echo the Bunnymen I have had the dubious pleasure of reviewing. I find their albums remarkably undifferentiated, hardly warranting the inclusion of three entries on the list. So too then will be my remarks, which are only marginally differentiated from the other albums: Oof, are Echo and the Bunnymen possibly the most overrated band of all time? Certainly, if you listen to how they describe themselves ('the greatest album of all time!"), and they could never possibly live up to their own hype. Obviously, 1001 albums love them, as there are three (THREE!) of their albums on this list.. The lyrics are not nearly as clever as Ian McCullough thinks they are, which makes them The Doors of the 1980s. And they have dated about as well (i.e., they have a shrinking fanbase that are convinced that they are all that and a bag of chips, but the rest of the world shrugs). That said, The Cutter is a real cracker of a song, distinctive, spooky, atmospheric (if not slightly nonsensical), and side one of the original vinyl is generally pretty damn good. But not as good as Ian McCulloch thinks it is. Most valuable player award goes to Shankar for his excellent string arrangements, which lift every track where they appear.
Solid. But too similar throughout
3/5. I think too many bands got influence from the Smiths, which were already a lot most of the time. At first, I thought the first few songs were going to be the highlight but it got better as the album went on with some great music coming from Shankar who is on all of the strings. Still not grown fully on me but much better by the end than I was expecting. And it does stand on its own from The Smiths. For one, the music is a highlight. Not all songs were great but most were good. Best Song: The Back Of Love, Heads Will Roll, The Cutter
not their best work
ganz gut aber nothing special
I was scrolling through the reviews to this on here and saw someone saw this album was inoffensive, which I think is the perfect word to describe it. It's decent, but sounds like every other 80s British New Wave/Post Punk band that are littered in abundance in this list. Only real standout quality was that I liked the bass in some songs. Everything else was just forgetful
Not very interesting. Feels like a lesser mix of a lot of other bands from the same era. Very repetitive instrumentation and lyrics. Vocal is probably better for pop than for this psych ish stuff. Feels a bit a-ha ish. Often not a fan of slapping a bunch of alternative versions of the original track list on the end of an album, and that applies here as well - pick the version you are the most happy with and stick with that. The rest can be released as singles for the collectors.
Post punk pop First? 3/5 Again? 2/5
some great songs but also a few fillers.
English post-punk, 80s. Somewhere btw rock and 80s pop. Like the Smiths but more experimental. Solid.
микс ю2 и намеренно не попадающих в ноты ю2
Not as good as ocean rain, it’s not bad but I don’t love it 3/5
3 - I wanted to like this more tbh
3.5
I like this fine. Not the biggest post-punk guy, but usually like it more when it becomes darker and more gothic, which is the case here. 3.5 stars
Fine, but forgettable. Mostly seems like B-tier U2.
De bimbi so triste
Not their pop hits but still good sound
"The Cutter" is a cool song. It has very Talking Heads sounding percussion and vocals at times. "Heads Must Roll" sounds also sounds like a Talking Heads song at moments. "Ripeness" has fun foot-tapping energy but descends into vocals that annoy me a little somewhere along the way. "Gods Will Be Gods" has a lot of the same energy as the back half of "Ripeness" and I don't love it. This album was pretty OK. It is a cool sound for a few songs, but it got old. They feel like a combination of The Clash and Talking Heads, but don't quite capture the greatness of each. They were formed a few years after those bands, so they were certainly influenced by the same musical moments. 6/10
I'm not sure how I lived with my college roommate -- a self-described superfan of E&TB for 3+ years -- and never once heard Porcupine? He had Ocean Rain on repeat for much of this time. Anyway, my first experience with this. It's BIG music, theatrical in scope. The vocals there front and center -- bellowing in their bleakness. Perfect gothy stuff for folks who are into that. As for me, now. Well, I liked it OK -- but it's not something I really need on the main. Unexpected bangers: The Cutter, Ripeness, Clay
i was vibing to this t be fair
Imagine post-punk. Now imagine "icy, anxious, slightly psychedelic post-punk". Now make it ten songs. Good job, you just imagined exactly what this album sounds like. The atmosphere, the voice, the guitar sounds, it's all there - but it's all just a bit run-of-the-mill, y'know?
Good to be back rating albums again (it's January 6 as I write this). To me they kinda sound like a post-punk version of U2 and I'm here for it. Although I liked this album, I found it a little repetitive. Would rate 3.5.
its decent but pretty samey across the board
1/2
This album is fine, I guess. I stopped it before it got to the "alternative" versions of the songs. The songs really blend together and sound the same to me. For that, it's a 3/5
More experimental and psychedelic than the Smiths. A little less whiny with still all the drama. I liked it way more than the smiths but less than the cure. Middle of the road experience to me, 3 stars.
Sounds like the missing link between The Cure and U2, but not quite there with the songs. Decent but forgettable
It’s fine for post-punk, which still isn’t my jam. I could turn this one on and let it roll without complaints. The Cutter is cool. Ripeness had me bopping around.
Kinda bounced off me
Another solid album. Didn't blow me away but I also didn't want to turn it off. I think I preferred Ocean Rain though.
I’m a huge Bunnymen fan and Ian McCulloch’s voice is arguably one of the more distinct ones out there. “The Cutter” and “Back of Love” are great songs and were on regular cassette rotations during high school. They help lead off a pretty strong first-6 on this album, but my fence-sitting was always due to the back 4 songs that I think are not as standout material. The backstory on the state of the band during this recording IMO is probably why the album is a bit imbalanced. A strong effort that just doesn’t reach what would soon be accomplished on their next two releases, 1984’s Ocean Rain and the self-titled from 1987.
Trying not to be lazy and lump this into every other 80s band that sounds like this, because there are some interesting moments on this album that sets it apart. But overall it does pretty much blend into a genre that doesn’t do much for me.
It’s like U2 without the Edge. Overall a decent listen that takes you back to that era.
I'm learning post-punk brit pop is not my favorite genre... but this was a totally fine and average album. Not much else to say. 3.25/5
Favorite Track: The Cutter
6.5/10. The experience while listening to this album's first few tracks is nice. However, it does not linger, since it's painfully forgettable. Around halfway through, I practically forgot that I was even listening to music in the first place.
Good stuff! Proper Post Punk music.
Liked this, sounds similar to Editors. And now I don’t get them confused with Eels and iggy pop and the stooges which I always did (no musically, just the names)
Did not use a private spotify session for this. One of those bands I know a few songs from but never listened to an album, so now I am. I liked what I heard, but it won't make it to my regular rotation.
This is....fine. I never heard of this band before listening to Porcupine, and I'll be hard pressed to remember them going forward. Not bad, not great, not memorable.
I'm surprised to find out they have more than one album on this list. I enjoy Killing Moon, but this album is just fine. It gets extra credit for being 80s British music that doesn't completely suck.
Avant garde psychedelic rock. This came at an inopportune moment, since it was the most grey and depressing time in terms of weather. I think I would have enjoyed it with a little sunshine and rainbows. Musically it combines new wave and older rock, which I usually would enjoy
Ja, it was fine.
They were okay
Not bad!
I liked the Cutter. The rest is a bit meh.
Not as good as their later stuff but still enjoyable nonetheless.
Good record but I'm feeling harsh.
Not bad. Not for me though. The songs just sounded all the same to me. Favorite song: Heads Will Roll
Already knew it but not too well. I like The Cutter very much. The rest of the album is okay. It gets a bit muddled as it goes on with not that many songs standing out. 3.5
I heard this band for the first time a few days ago from this site so its still fresh in my memories. I enjoyed this album from them as well. But just as the previous album I dont have much to say other than I really enjoyed the listen. Nothing I will add to a playlist or search for in the future and at the same time nothing I would skip if it starts playing on random.
Porcupine is a decent album, but this really doesn't belong in the 1001 albums list. EATB has like at least 1 much more important and timeless album.
Three albums from Echo and the Bunnymen and zero from Weezer really should be a crime against humanity. 2.6
2,5
Wut
All very samey.
its alright
Took me a bit, but enjoyed it in the end. Not that much of a fan of the 80s sound but there were some interesting moments
I mean, what a voice!
Interesting dark gothy album with great vocals from Bunnymac. The problem is that the first 2 tracks are by far the strongest so after that just seems an anticclimax.
Why this album. 1st better
This album I actually quite enjoyed. I found it spunky and funky and I would definitely listen again. I could see why it was on this list- it’s different than other albums and au recognize parts that would be influential or different for the time this came out. Personally I would give this a 7/10, I think 4/5 is too much for me however I did enjoy this and it was very nice to listen to.
+1 for the cover - I've been to that waterfall and can't imagine trekking that trail in the winter... Great energy on this album but on my first rip through I kept thinking the songs aren't as memorable as on their next album Ocean Rain. Overall it feels like this album kind of needs a killer track, although upon second listen The Cutter is a pretty great opener. It's close. Maybe if anything I was a tad put off that I didn't love it which made me give it a second critical listen, which helped. Maybe a case of expectations here - I was looking forward to this after digesting (their next album after this) Ocean Rain last year and while Echo had their own sound by this album...it's decent and yet as absurd as this sounds being that it was just their 3rd album, it almost sounds like a cookie-cutter version of the band. Like they were still figuring out how to finish off a great idea.it wasn't completely matched by the songwriting. Yet... 6/10 3stars
3-4
There is nothing on the album that stays in your memory.
Part of me feels like this list is just a ruse to get people to listen to more 80s British post-punk. So, fine album, but (again) not very memorable - apart from the fabulous line: am I the half in half&half?
Moody, I like it!
A second solid 80s album in a row. It's nice to be reminded that not everything being produced during this era was crap.
Some brisk, urgent songs - interesting guitars and strings, especially the eastern influences. Pete de Freitas' drumming is wonderful, throughout. Mac's melodramatic vocals can become wearing after a while, though
Mah
怎么又是朋克？？？
Its a good album but very much in the "tracks become indistinct from each other" genre of albums
Never listened to this band before, but it wasn't terrible. Wouldn't actively seek them out again though.
My second Echo & the Bunnymen album on this generator (the first being their debut album, Crocodiles). It's kinda like The Jesus & Mary Chain mixed with the dark/brooding Siouxsie & the Banshees. The more I listen to this album, the more receptive to their sound I become. It's abrasive, Dark and weird at first, but settles into its own after a bit. A second listen is probably warranted for this one. Kinda like Bauhaus or Siouxsie & the Banshees, it took me a while to get into them. You definately need to be in a certain mood to enjoy it. Favourite songs: Heads Will Roll, Ripeness, Never Stop - Discotheque, The Cutter, Back of Love Least favourite songs: Porcupine 3/5
En jämn platta men inga låtar som fastnar direkt.
This was just okay, seemed pretty generic, but I didnt mind listening to the whole thing.
Pretty boilerplate new wave. Enjoyable and fun but not much else too it
I seem to recall other Echo albums on this list and as far as I remember they didn't stand out as anything remotely essential. This album has that 80's alternative sound that wasn't punk, new wave or electronica, kind of mainstream with bit of an edge. This isn't saying there's anything wrong with this album, it's much better than a lot of early 80's pop records, it's just that it's not something I would listen to again. I'm glad I did, but apart from their cool name, I couldn't pick their music out from the crowd.
It's fine? Looking over the 2 other reviews of mine, it's middle of the road. Did they deserve 3 albums? Absolutely not. But it's inoffensive so that's what it has going for it?
Sometimes a bit too generically 80s for my liking, but I enjoyed it overall
Not inspiring to me
01) The Cutter - 7,5 02) The Back of Love - 7,0 03) My White Devil - 7,0 04) Clay - 7,0 05) Porcupine - 7,0 06) Heads Will Roll - 7,0 07) Ripeness - 6,5 08) Higher Hell - 6,5 09) Gods Will Be Gods - 6,5 10) In Bluer Skies - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,85 (69/100) Current ranking: 185/262 Honestly, I've heard of the band, but if my life depended on it, I wouldn't be able to name a single one of their songs, so I'm looking forward to getting to know them. They sound like something between Joy Division and The Cure, a typical British indie sound of the eighties. Pleasant to listen to but not something I would want to listen to again.
Tough one this. Feel like these as weird 80s post-punk should be right up my street, but I’m not sure why but it just doesnt grab me. And I cant say why, the songs on this are very good, just something feels missing. Might come back to this, perhaps it’s a grower
Not sure how I feel about these, can't really put my finger on what they sound like. This album was very 80s, but kind of a mix of pop and indie, so I didn't know if it was more Duran Duran or the smiths. It was generally alright but I think they are missing the stand out tracks that would have made them a bigger name. Lots of bits I liked but no particular song. Can't really remember what the previous album we had by them sounded like to compare, which is telling. Decent but forgettable, 2.5.
Feels like a poppier Talking Heads with a dash of Depeche Mode. A fine enough album, on the higher side of 3
This started out pretty well and was just alright the rest of the way. Heard some Talking Heads in a couple songs. Also had some 80s sounding terribleness. Going solid 3.
That clash of pathos-soaked sound on this album reminds me a lot of Neon Bible. I think Win Butler likely gives thanks for the Bunnymen. I enjoyed this and the evolution from Crocodile. It’s not my favourite Echo, but it’s close.
this is a genuinely unique combination of post-punk, psychedelic rock, gothic rock, arty glam rock, new wave and more. Problem is it wasn't perfected till their next album .
3.66 rym non mi piace molto ma 3/5
a little bit boring
Like if U2 were goth
I can honestly say that I've never heard of this group before. Very interesting name. Right off the bat in "The Cutter", I'm instantly reminded of the Beatles with the use of stringed instruments in what one could only describe as "psychedelic" sounding. This isn't the last time you'll hear these eerie, yet charming strings either. The rest of the album is pretty gloomy, but something experimental was certainly brewing. Kind of reminded me of a discount Cure.
Nothing against Mr Echo and his Bunnies, but I don't get the attraction of a full length album of consistently similar beats layered by a singer with a three-tone range. 3/5
It's alright but nothing special. Sounds too 80's for me.
It's fine
Solid piece of 80s rock
eighties gold
I'd never heard of these guys before. It wasn't bad but I didn't love it. A bit to ambient for my taste I think.
Ok
I’m having a hard time rating this one. In some ways it feels derivative, but other times inventive. I’ve gone back and forth so many times that I have no choice but to settle on a 3.
Not bad, not really my thing completely, a bit wailing 80s for me but not bad.
Dark and moody but somehow still upbeat.
Album 449 of 1001 Echo And The Bunnymen - Porcupine Rating : 3.5 / 5 This is one I think I would like more, over time, if I gave it a few extra spins. My first impression of the vocals was an alternating mixture of Morrissey and Fred Schneider of the B52s. It began to grow on me a bit more the 2nd time. Kind of a melancholy feel. Will check out their other releases but couldn't guarantee I'll come back to this one.
I feel I should try harder to get something from this band as they are From just down the road. But ultimately I find it homogenous.
Good
Good, not great.
I respect their influence on punk and alternative rock, but I don’t think this is something I’ll listen to again.
I wanted to like this more, but after two listens I didn’t feel there was anything memorable about this album. Good, and easy to listen to, but not memorable.
Not bad, maybe a 3+.
It was OK. Sort of a cross b/w the Cure and U2, but not as good as either.
I like and respect this band, but the singer’s voice gets annoying after too many songs.
The Cutter 4 The Back of Love 3.7 My White Devil 3.1 Clay 3 Porcupine 3.4 Heads Will Roll 3.6 Ripeness 3 Higher Hell 3.5 Gods Will Be Gods 3.2 In Bluer Skies 3.3 Score: 3.38
Did not listen hard enough
3.4 this would get at least 4 if the singing was better. Inventive and good music, impressive for 1983
Love those 80s memories. Great sound.
I think the most damning-with-faint-praise thing I can say about this record is that I see its potential. It's clearly deeply indebted to Joy Division, noting the slow, dour post-punk atmosphere with a surprisingly deep voice (well, maybe not as deep as Ian Curtis), but I think the atmosphere is where it falls short. I wasn't enjoying it a few songs in, but once I tried imagining the songs with a more modern production (or, initially, a live setting), where the atmosphere is heavier, dark, and more... full, I found myself enjoying it. Unfortunately, the record doesn't capture the songs the way my imagination does. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Porcupine", "Higher Hell", "Ripeness"
It was a fine experience to listen to, very quintessentially 80s. Not sure I’d choose to revisit it though.
There was nothing wrong with this album. It was fine, but I wouldn’t call it essential by any means. I enjoyed the music but I don’t care for the vocals. The singer has that 80s voice. I think the most popular example of what I’m talking about is tears for fears, but other examples are Modern English, Icicle Works, Naked Eyes, The Monroe’s. These were all one hit wonders, as were, as far as I know, Echo and the Bunnymen. I think it’s pretty obvious why too. It is grating to hear that style vocals for an entire album. It works for a song here and there, but gets annoying when listening for 45 minutes. I’m giving this a three but it’s really a 2.5.
I should stop reading reviews until I've formulated my own opinion of the albums. Many painted this album a generic gloom britpop. However what strikes me is the unconventional instrumentation (cutter, white devil). The vocals are ok for their lyrics and not impressive for their quality - bit warbling and atonal. I only knew Killing Moon from this artist before this listen.
The opener was absolutely fantastic but the rest of the album did feel a bit like more of the same and lost quite a lot of momentum
I'm a bit tired of this post-punk. Maybe it's just my mood today, but this list is so full of this kind of music that I like the style, but I dislike how much I got here.
Next up in the mix-singles to hear before you die: The Cutter/ Back of Love single. By far the best of the material from Porcupine. I am a fan of Echo and the B, but still didn’t find much standout material from the remainder of the tracks. Fuel was a good ending track, but that just kind of reinforces the point. Not sure we needed 3 albums by these guys, especially when Heaven Up Here was not one of them.
The Cutter - 4 Back of Love - 3 My White Devil - 3 Clay - 3 Porcupine - 3 Heads Will Roll - 3.5 Ripeness - 3 Higher Hell - 4 Gods Will Be Gods - 3 In Bluer Skies - 3 I really liked the music for a number of songs, however the vocals seem to be lost in a sea of similar sound.
The cutter - 3.5 Back of love - 2.8 My white devil - 3.2 Clay - 2.5 Porcupine - 2.3 Heads will roll - 4 Ripeness - 2.4 Higher hell - 3.4 God's will be God's - 3.5 In bluer skies - 2.5 Fuel - 2 2.92 Not a the worst I've heard but was monotonous and uninteresting
06/06/24 S Tier—————————5 A Tier—————————4 B Tier—————————3 The Cutter Back of Love Porcupine C Tier—————————2 Clay My White Devil D Tier—————————1
Porcupine by Echo and the Bunnymen Thursday 6/6/2024 10:03 A Tier————————— The Cutter Back of Love B Tier————————— Clay Heads Will Roll Fuel Ripeness Porcupine In Bluer Skies C Tier————————— Gods Will be Gods Higher Hell My White Devil
I like this sound and style. Opening track “The Cutter” was a highlight. I didn’t like this as much as the other Echo & The Bunnymen albums on this list but I still enjoyed it. Some of the songs were tough to get into but a lot of them hit.
Neutral
Feel like Echo and the Bunnymen are a little slept on. Definitely a strong Joy Division sound...which is fascinating given how contemporary they were to one another. 3.5/5
Not really my thing, but I can appreciate some of their ideas here.
You can't question the ambition here. The Bunnymen were never short on balls. But they didn't always deliver the grandness that was expected. Porcupine is a great listen. The scraping guitars, Mac's FUCK YOU vocals and some killer melodies. It's enough to make you want to put on your overcoat. Porcupine falls short by not having that killer blow. It needs a theme to hold it all together. Decent, mind.
My rating here is partially a response to the album itself, and partially an artifact of having listened to far too many consecutive Britpop/post-punk albums. At a certain point, it really takes a toll, and not in a good way. Now, like just about all of these identical-sounding British 80s bands, I: - hate the monarchy - hate the government even more - desire a healthy gossip about the Silent/Boomer generations while sipping a good Earl Grey - dislike the music industry, but not quite enough to go against the brutally unvarying trends I guess this is how Echo and the Bunnymen felt. Even so, I can't bring myself to love the music. The singing doesn't quite fully commit to the punk genre, but instead has that kind of wobbly, unpolished quality that's so commonplace in this decade of music. It's put through a sort of distant, metallic filter here, but rather than masking the poor singing, it just makes the music seem emptier and less passionate. In addition, within the tracks, there isn't much progression or change of moods. It feels a little disorganised and chaotic, yet still manages to be (energetically) monotone. Wacky. (There is a healthy variety of moods and energies throughout the album, though, so this isn't too much of a fault.) The drumming and guitar playing is nothing incredible, but it's solid. Just about any fast drum fill will make me appreciate the percussion as a whole, and this album is no exception. The world-music gig going on in the instrumental is also pretty nifty. Not sure what a lot of these instruments are, but they add a seriously cool atmosphere that singlehandedly brings the album up to 3 stars. Well done, Bunnymen, you saved yourself. 3/5 Key tracks: Heads Will Roll, Porcupine, Back of Love
Oh boy another Echo and The Bunnymen album. This wasn't as aggressively bad but still sucked.
Einsder schwächeren Echo & the Bunnymen Alben 3-4
I liked this album, 3 stars
Not too much to say about this one really, it's new wave, decent enough but we've had loads of new wave albums and this one doesn't stand out as being particularly good or bad. Feeling generous so will give it a low 3 rather than a 2.
This is their third album on this list. It was alright. The dial did not move much on it. I didn't skip any songs. Unremarkable but I will round up.
я не знаю как это оценивать, пусть будет так
I like this band's sound a lot. However, the album suffers from every song sounding relatively the same. Decent background music and individual songs are good, but not something I'd listen to again.
100% þeirra sánd. Mest megnis gott.
Ocean Rain is the one you need to listen to.
I can't fault anything here - it's that sort of 1983 vibe that is great background. It doesn't cut through but I'll give it another listen sometime.
6/10. Was leaning 5 throughout because I thought it was overall good but nothing stood out to me. Some cleverness caught on for me toward the end in songs like Higher Hell but overall still not my favorite.
comme ci comme ca
A perfectly acceptable effort. Could have tried harder with the lyrics though.
Not bad.
It’s not bad but they needed a jam or two on this album to keep me invested. The Cutter is good but not enough to hold the album.
Yep. Another good one. 3.5 stars.
3 stars for the nostalgia.
That was good.
Some cool moments but mostly blended into the background of all the other rock albums. 5.5/10
Just kinda boring, 5.5/10
Ok, I was bored in the first half but the second half really picks up and gets way more interesting.
This is the epitome of a three star album for me. I’m way too old for the angsty lyrics, and the music just kind of sits there, no momentum. It doesn’t make me mad, I can listen to it. But there’s no real reason to want to listen to it again.
Like an amalgamation of so many 80s bands. Hints of Peter Gabriel, U2, Talking Heads, and The Cure. Nothing particularly exciting on this one .
Average album, not interesting at all. It's not the worst one ever, but certainly a waste of time. Just moving on.
Good!! Enjoyed the cutter the most.
the transition between gods will be gods and in bluer skies genuinely tripped me up. all in all it’s a solid 80s album some parts stood out but a lot of it kinda blurred together for me
Ok. 3
Better than anticipated
Had its moments, but do I think it’s a must listen ?? No
I enjoyed this, though I think it was a wee bit long. So I'm rounding down from 3.5 to 3 instead of up. But yeah, I dig the vibe on this one.
This is another band that gave me so much angst when I got to college. So many good bands that people were talking about and I had no clue! How to explain to kids today the anxiety of not knowing the music all the cool kids were listening to?! Thank god for college radio. I dig it but can’t quite get to a 4.
Similar to some other British punk, this album was fine. It fades into the background, nothing is really keeping my attention. I liked my white devil, and some of the other songs that showcased unique uses of instruments.
I quite liked it. Some Cure/joy division Elements. I don’t know why it’s on the list though
aight
Yawn!
Good overall album.
Descent enough album
I like the instrumental better on this one than the other. Rhythm section is better. Cool tones and some nice arrangements with the strings and synths.Still a bit hard to get past the vocals. I feel like I would actually really like this with another singer- this would be cool with Bono it would be like if U2 got weird. I feel like I get it now, I can hear how this could of been influential. Favorites: Back of love Ripeness Gods will be gods Cool intro in In Bluer Skies but vocals ruin it Least favorites: higher hell
fulgte ikke med, men viben var mid tier
Okay, but pretty bland
It's a worse version of what The Cure were doing around this same time (this dropped a year after Pornography, for reference), and I'd also argue it's worse than it's own follow-up album Ocean Rain, but this is still a good time. Even so, as much as I like this, these guys are nobodies. Echo and the god damn Bunnymen do not need three spots on this list. They barely needed the one.
It's an okay album. 3/5. Favorite Track: The Cutter
Good
Clay was fantastic. Really enjoyed , wasn't into them when it was released, but very cool blend of Punk and Psych pop
I feel I should love echo. I don’t. They are fine enough and I’ll listen when they come on but just doesn’t grab me.
Nice to discover that Bono (U2) learnt singing from someone. I think U2 had better melodies, but after Dacapo torture, this sound quite well.
I'd heard and enjoyed a few Echo songs before, the full album is pretty good and very 80s. I don't know that I need to listen to more than a few songs by this band at a time though. It's a fine album!
Not too bad
the cutter my white devil heads will roll ripeness higher hell gods will be gods
Some good riffs. Interesting vocalist
This was a decent album surprisingly as I didn’t care much for their other work. They say post punk but it really felt like a precursor to U2s style with the alt rock pop sound. This probably isn’t anything I would revisit as there are much more enjoyable options of similar sound but I didn’t dislike it. 6.1/10
when u2 met soda stereo
3.0 average per track.
Enjoyable listen.
I've never been much for Echo and the Bunnymen, but this is still a decent album to put on in the background.
Not sad Morriessy
I feel like I'm getting a lot of three stars albums, yet here we are.
could i write poetry to tbis? y
The okayest early-80's-British-post-punk/new wave band ever.
Dark poppy synth. The Cutter is great, as are a couple other songs.
Good album...didnt strike me as top 1000