Reviews (page 6 of 8)
A little disco-soul flavor mixed in, so I'm ok with that.
Brian Eno said: "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band." Justin Yurek said: "4 million people bought that first Simply Red record, but none of them formed a band."
This one was difficult to get through. It was sort of jazzy and what I like to call lazy pop. It doesn’t make me feel anything listening to it. The vocals are nasally to the point where I sometimes think “Red” is imitating Aaron Neville. I’m assuming this is from the 80’s, I don’t recall reading it. Choice Cut: Heaven
Hucknall prejudice aside , this is surprisingly good . Shame everything that followed was MOR background music. best tracks - Holding back the years & money
heard this a lot in Rozelle in 1989, nice soul/pop record
Good album.
Shocked how much I liked this album. 80s distilled.
Fun weird vibes
It was nice. Very pleasant.
This album came out the same year as the Kate Bush album -- so wildly different. It's sort of smooth jazzy, disco-y in parts, some pop, a few funky guitar riffs. Sort of diverse but under a broad soul umbrella. It's okay, but not something I'd clamor to put on. 3.3
Not to be a crabby American, but it seems that any artist from the British isles that has one hit in America instantly seems to be on this list. The album is the worst kind of straight white male, middle of the road 80's music that is completely forgettable. It sounds like no one in this band is having any fun except the singer. and if it wasn't for that one hit and the last song which some how sounds like a supertramp song if their singer had a head cold I'd give this a 1.
2.5
Mick Hucknall sings well and writes some slightly bland songs. Nice to hear 'Heaven' again though.
Surprisingly good. There are some boring songs along the way but most of the album is really rather good. Not excellent, but entertaining nonetheless.
Fun listen and nice last song. bit repetitive
Descent 80’s dance, with a bit of slow jam. Don’t know why people hate this one a lot — it was just so-so. The first song was probably my favorite.
Adele AND Simply Red in the same week. Wow 1001 albums algorithm, you are *really* spoiling me.
This album would be far better were it to have released either earlier in the 80s, or into the 90s. However, I also think this album could've never been made in any other time, as it is so perfectly 80s, so of course it released smack-dab in the middle of the decade! It actually is funkier than expected, and judging from the appearance of a Talking Heads cover (the worst song on the album, by the way: it isn't a good cover) I'd say they were going for something relatively danceable while still being solid sophisti-pop, allowing the album to slow down and become more introspective when needed. It all succeeds in doing what it is trying to, but it's hard to not still roll your eyes at the very thought of this album. It is just too cheesy, too cream-filled (a-yo?), too passé, and too predictable. But, I can't help but get into it a little bit. Not via the major hit, Holding Back the Years, no, no, no, no 80s ballads for me, thank you. Rather, I think it does its upbeat tracks rather well, and while it is no Talking Heads in the groove department, it can still be relatively solid for what's there, and I could say I enjoyed it with relative ease. It really isn't special, or frankly, good, but I had my fun with it, and luckily the CD wasn't too prominent yet, otherwise I could see this being one of those needlessly long LPs, but we have been saved on this glorious day. Rejoice! 80s mainstream pop is still just okay!
Some songs were okay. The rest just felt like 80s cheesiness. 2/5
🎧How the hell was Holding Back the Years a US #1 single? Cover of Talking Heads’ Heaven is good.
Not an awful album, I’d even listen to a song or two again maybe. But there is nothing here that warrants a place on this list.
Helt okej album, lätt att lyssna på, bra låtar och ändå ett ganska blandat sound. Även om jag sparade många av låtarna så var det kanske inte det bästa jag någonsin hört. Inte det snyggaste albumcover heller.
This album did have a handful of great moments, but on the whole it just drags on a bit too much for my liking.
bland new wave pop
Holding back the years was played and over-played to the point where I'm good if I never hear it again...or the rest of the album.
This is about as dated as music gets. Adult Contemporary and Sophistipop were niche even during their heyday and neither were ever considered particularly cool. Listening now just reminds me of music that might now have been played in the dentist's office. It was an ok distraction at the time while heavy amounts of laughing gas, staring at the ceiling while I underwent root canal. But I'm not eager to relive any of that now. The brightest spot on the album for me was the penultimate track, 'No Direction', which sounded like it could have been a lost Talking Heads song.
2 - This was whatever. Some moments were alright, and others had me groaning, so I'd say it balances out to a 2.
Very good, very nice!
Some good tunes on here and the vocalist is very good. Personally, I dislike the instrumentation - just not what appeals to me. Jazz, some blues.
If only the could’ve held back the years. They’ve not been kind to this record.
Might be the weakest I’ve had so far. Just a ridiculous sound, super dated, ridiculous, cheesy, sometimes annoying. What is this and why is this here?prank?? Heaven is rough. Jericho is a wild ride that I’m not sure if I love or hate. I hate it but it also makes me smile and will probably be stuck in my head? What is happening… trigonomics?? Completely ignorable with only replay value being revisit f a song or two to say “did that really happen? Did I actually hear that right??”
Weirdly genre switching all the time but overall good
Some good moments. But a bit bland for anything more than a 4.
God help me, I like Simply Red and I always have. Nothing cool about this band at all. But they definitely do not sound quite like any other band. This album was equal parts interesting and cheesy as hell. Always a great listen.
Come To My Aid // Heaven // Holding Back The Years //
Simply Red. No tiene Stars.
I cannot stand Simply Red
I've always hated Simply Red with a passion, but I actually understand where they're coming from now - blue-eyed soul with an electronic edge. I still hate them though.
Not very good. I had never really heard this before and won't be hearing it again
One of the most 80s sounding records. Meh Rating: 2.7
There is some music that I would consider timeless or ahead of its time. Not this. Picture Book should be locked in a vault labelled "80s music. Do not open under any circumstances."
This album is very much a product of the 80s. "Holding Back the Years" is the one song I knew; the rest is somewhat generic. Hats off to the Valentine Brothers for working "Reaganomics" into the lyrics of "Money's Too Tight" (and having a better recording of the track).
I like how genre expansive this is. Was not expecting to like it so much but it has some good moments. Not really memorable songs
It was okay, nothing astounding.
Come To My Aid is pretty cool opener. Picture Book is a pretty cool closer. The middle varies. The cover of "Heaven" in the style of an androgynous '80s Joe Cocker viscerally upset me on the first listen but was good on round 2 once I got over the shock.
Not bad
Actually liked this a lot :)
Unlike a lot of other reviewers, I can see the value of this album on the list. Simply red were massive in the late 80's in the UK. Their brand of middle of the road, white man soul was very popular and no one can deny Mick Hucknell has a good voice. My parents had the later album stars and I remember it well. A relisten doesn't generate many more positives though. It's not a patch on more genuine soul music, and the 80's wraps itself around this like herpes.
Just another bullshit ass entry to this bogus list. There is nothing done on this album that hasn't been done 100x better elsewhere
svo svo ... ég get ekki sagt að þetta sé mitt ... en ágætt stemningsdót endrum og eins
Yet another 80’s/90s British pop band. Sheesh. Overall, this is better than a lot of these bands that dominate the 1001 albums project. The fact that I’m overloaded with these bands, and frankly bored with the genre doesn’t help my ability to enjoy this album. But it’s well done, and not every song is stereotypical Britpop. There real piano and real horns, even. At least sometimes. Solid soul feel. at least sometimes. Then it would swerve back into generic mid 80s pop. I have to admit that I liked this a lot more than I expected. At least sometimes. Of course, my expectations were pretty low. But for me it’s a solid 3, as there’s a good bit of solid music along with the ‘meh”. But too much meh to go higher. The big hit “Holdin Back The Years” (#1 in US, #2 in UK) is a probably the blandest, most soul-less, boring east song on the album. 3/5
Ok, I actually have his greatest hits album, which I have listened to once. To me, he is the quintessential one hit wonder. None of his other songs ever reach the level of smooth as “Holding back the Years.” Check that. Add “If you don’t know me by now” which is a cover, so maybe my point still holds. I really, really wanted to like his stuff, too.
gotta be in the right mood for that level of 80s. but "holding back the years" is a bop
Aight
Maybe a track at a time is bearable. Listening to this as an album is terrible.
Easy-listening and accessible 80s pop rock, borrowing from both New Wave and blue-eyed soul. You have the funk guitar, punk beat, enthusiasm and energy, atmospheric synths, some jazz lounge, and soulful vocals. Similar to artists Culture Club and Hall & Oates. Plenty of creative ideas, personality, and high studio production value. Plenty of standout hits, with fun and creative deep cuts dispersed. It's a very accessible album, with some very catchy tunes that don't get too annoying. I honestly find it to be easier, more consistent, and more enjoyable than Culture Club. There a couple weak songs, and there are some out-of-place track placements with how diverse the energy and mood can be. Yet, it starts strong, with the hits in the middle, and an appropriate closer, which makes it a digestible listen in its entirety.
Slowish pop, nothing too interesting
Maybe it's fatigue. I'm over 900 albums in, and the 80s are probably one of my least favorite eras for a few reason, chief of which being production techniques. I'll be honest, I started warming to this album slightly near the end, and "Holding Back the Years" is a pretty decent song? But I think this is just... nothing. There's a lot of grandiosity around the performances, especially vocally, but I don't think it really manages to back it up. It feels like aiming for huge, stadium-filling vocals but manages to just be caterwauling. I find it difficult to find the words for this one. I think, overall, the only way I can choose to describe it is, it's like that guy at the bar who thinks his game is immaculate but will be returning home by himself at the end of the night. It's a record that thinks that it fucks, but it just really... doesn't.
2.5/3.0 Not my bag but has it's moments. Super competent and if you like a light Jazz, early to mid 80s style, this might click for you. I liked the more downbeat tracks best. The dub vibe on the title track at the end was a pleasant diversion
Simply boring. Not horrible, though.
Basic
This is a completely forgotten vibe of pop music. Basically made for department stores. Even the well known songs were very bad. I was relieved to find this album/artist is not secretly some majorly influential inflection point and this is just bargain bin fodder. Do not recommend.
People who like this genre of music will probably like it.
Not bad.
eh
A completely inconsequential album other than 1 or 2 decent singles. Not actively bad, but also not worth listening to.
There are a lot of interesting musical choices from unique instruments to genre mixing to lyrics that don't quite go where you expect. But at its core this album just isn't deep or exciting or that fun. I can see it's appear as a pop act of its time but there's no real itch that it scratches today.
Seemed like a generic 80s album. I guess it was a big seller at the time, but I don’t think I recognized a single song.
Very enjoyable jazz album. His voice is smooth and silky and comforts like soft pajamas after a shower. Music is well done clean clear production a well-deserved inclusion. Very relaxing
Mellow album, was ok.
really boring
schöner smother pop soul
I was not a fan of this one. The first disco-y track I was ok, and I thought I maybe we were cruising to 3 stars but then it quickly went down hill. This particular take on 80s swing and soul revival was not for me at all. The cover of Heaven sucked all that I liked out of the song. I stopped listening about halfway through when I realized it was an hour and 16 minutes long. Its not offensively bad, but very bland and very much not my thing. 4/10 & 2 stars Worst album cover yet. Full on F grade.
Inoffensive but also not good
Really enjoyed this. Some of the first few songs really hit for me. I love some of the disco-esque guitar tracks, funky basslines, and the overall soul feel. It staled out for me and a couple songs dragged/felt overly 80's, which kept it from a 5 for me.
I was only a partial human being while listening to this. I hiked a mountain on Monday for the total eclipse and Tuesday was a total wash. I'd never heard of Simply Red before this. Unfortunately, the album did not interest me and I had a hard time staying engaged. I don't even remember it well enough to write further thoughts. Maybe not Simply Red's fault. Sorry Red. 4/10
A good Pop sound. The songs tend to come off as samey to me after awhile. Generic but good.
Enjoyed the two listens. Solid 80’s pop album. Money Too Hard, Jericho, and Come to Aid were great tracks. 4/5!
Very good
Nan would be having a field day. Yesterday Rod Stewart and today Simply Red. I have heard a lot of Simply Red but never an album, in fact I did not know he released music so early as most songs I like are early 90's. I was already quite excited because I love this genre. I get it is basically pop but I just love the enthuses on the bass and how each part is played it is so nice and groovy. There is a huge amount of classics from it, however I think artists started to fall back on it and sort of burn it out. I kind of had that with this album, the 3 good songs were really great but the rest felt a little like it blended into one. From the classics I know (including Holding Back the Years) I was constantly hoping for more from each song. Overall it was a great sound but kinda fell off as an album but a great debut nonetheless. 3/5 Stand Out Songs: Come to My Aid, Money's Too Tight Holding Back the Years
This was hard to listen to.
For a second I thought this wasn’t so bad but then I realized no it is actually extremely bad. But then I started thinking it’s so fucking weird and awkward that actually maybe it is kinda cool, but not that cool. 2 stars
keyboards are a bit cloying, but holding back the years is a solid timepiece
Enjoyed it! Always loved Holding Back The Years, it's a beautiful song
I enjoy this album in a lot of spots, but, honestly, I feel like I'd enjoy this band more as a subject on One Hit Wonderland, y'know?
Pretty damn good pop for their debut record. 80's production never sounded so better.
That’s a really good 4. When this album clicks, it clicks; those are some high-energy tracks with the 80s written all over them to me, in a good way. When I think of the 80s, this is part of the sound my brain goes to: heavy synth work, deep drum pads for percussion, a whole slew of instruments that somehow work together in harmony, plus really fun vocal work that can run the range of “basically screaming” to “really smooth” in a heartbeat. The slower tracks are what drag this album down to a 4 for me; they’re not bad songs at all, and I think they’re great to listen to, but they just didn’t keep me engaged in the way the higher paced and frenetic songs did. Some of them were a bit boring for me, even. I’ll admit, a lot of this album can be called “generic,” but I’m a sucker for this type of sound and this type of earworm stuff. If you’re listening to this and not grooving on at least one track, then I think you’re too deep into the “artsy” side of music to enjoy a good time when you hear one.
Hauska kasarienergia! Hyvä laulaja. Biisien sanomat ei jää epäselviksi, helposti nieltävää kauttaaltaan, myös musiikillisesti. Tuo pontta askeleeseen kävellessä. Mutta toisaalta ei oikein muuta. Vahva kakkonen.
Tulee mieleen Heaven-kappaleen sanat: paikka jossa ei tapahdu mitään. Mutta levy herää eloon B-puolen alussa, mikä ehkä riittää matalaan kakkoseen.
Well, it was better than yesterday. Actually, it was basically fine. Upbeat Simply Red is definitely preferable to crooning Simply Red, which there is too much of here. Money's Too Tight... is an absolute stonker though, and lifts it up the rankings. Also, the first song is very good indeed. Some killer, mucho filler.
You know how the British press lost its mind for like a half decade because Pippa Middleton had a visible ass which was seen as manna for a starving nation? Including this album on the list is the blue eyed soul equivalent. One star.
Aiight. Very 80s
A great album but having owned it from its first release it has become repetitive and not easy to settle into, every opening few bars awakes a memory but very quickly I am looking for the next track.
Everyone told me it’s not good but I enjoyed it. Not the best record in the world but still decent.
Somewhere in a parallel universe there is a waiting room for a small town dentist. The middle aged receptionist, new to Spotify and quite excited by it all puts on one of her nice records - Picture Book - for the waiting clients. Perhaps just a little bit loud but she is hard of hearing lately. In this universe is a version of me who didn't floss his teeth and gets stuck in that waiting room preparing to have his teeth extracted. The sound of the dentist's drill can't quite drown out the horrible crime of Mick Hucknall murdering the Talking Heads classic 'Heaven'. As my teeth crumble under the clumsy ministrations of this small town dentist I hope for death. But then I realise that I really don't want to die with Simply Red being the last thing I hear. I'm glad I floss my teeth.
Did the earth move for me…..? Well, no but I do enjoy a bit of Manc Motown from time to time and certainly Hucknall is much more interesting here than on, say, the mega-popular “Stars” years down the track. Top notch voice and at times genuinely soulful, which the production serves extremely well.
Red Headed Soul? One would think it was an American soul album. It is all very pleasant, some disco-ish songs. Going back to the British-centric list, where's Rufus/Chaka Kahn? Blue eyed soul but not real soul, that's an issue for me. 3*
Soulful and 80s. I actually liked it, especially “Heaven”.
Mid
A good album that I liked the style of. I Iiked the songs Come to My Aid, Sad Old Red and Holding Back The Years.
Sounded like every 80’s album ever
Simply Red. No tiene Stars.
Couldn’t get into it
Ta bonito
Fun ahh hell
Eh. Felt too long.
Good morning and welcome to my review of simply red's debut album. I avoided this song like the plague when it was released. I probably would have walked the plank blindfolded versus listening to this album if I had to. Yesterday listening to its entirety was one of the toughest things I've done in life. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Considering the time it was released I was only 14 years old and going through the change entering manhood. I was listening to ratt motley Crue and twisted sister.
Maybe I’m just not adult enough for this adult contemporary album. Sounds like a dentist office in the 1980’s.
Not a fan of this ass whiggly kind of muzak but I can cut this some slack. Hucknall‘s voice really is soulfully perfect, the band shows its talent especially when let off the leash.
I feel like I normally wouldn't be so down for this but I had a blast listening lmao great way to start a monday morning. Bit of grooving, great voice, the cover of Heaven was absolutely killer, all round cool asf
Absolutely not.
Was absolutely shocked to realize I had heard a couple of these songs before, namely Holding Back the Years. Definitely heard on the radio but completely forgot it existed til today. Wild. Such an odd mix of styles that feels both too old and too contemporary for its time? I cant wrap my head around Simply Red. I guess I was glad to remember this is a thing, definitely different. Most adjacent to Genesis maybe? Lead singer kind of reminds me of Rod Stewart in that his voice sounds like he was born at 65 years old. It feels like quite the stretch to label this as soul. Its like the music all over the original Top Gun. 2.5, exactly in the middle, will round down though cuz its just so alien to my ear.
Pretty bad. He seemed to curate the worst parts of 80s music into a mind numbing 45 minutes.
First couple songs were great. But the rest was more or less generic 80s. Some social commentary on money issues but otherwise didn’t seem too special to me
New wave, blue eyed soul that sounds a lot like George Michael. Not bad but no reason to include this one on the list.
I’m guessing this guy was bigger in the UK than the US? Never heard of him before. The sax solo in “sad old red” was fire. VERY 80s production. I do prefer George Michael’s version of this overall vibe.
Not my speed then, or now. While I can appreciate it fits a niche, if I was scanning the dial I would punch out immediately on any of these tracks.
Simply confused. How did this white guy/jazz/RnB easy listening make it so far? I distinctly remember hearing “Holding Back The Years” everywhere. And it definitely took up much of my already limited time watching MTV just hoping I’d hear Twisted Sister just one more time. But in all seriousness, this reminded me of the much better debut by Terence Trent D’Arby that would come two years later, and I’m betting makes its way into this 1001 list. 1.5/5
Tf Is this? I know “music” like this exists, but can we pretend it doesn’t?
Do I like Simple Red? I do not like him, Mick Hucknall I do not like his first album at all I do not like its dated style I do not like it, it’s not worth my while Not on a playlist, not on repeat Not in my car or walking down the street Not in my room or on a train If I listen once more I’ll go insane I will not rate it more than just one I was so happy when the last song was done I do not like “picture book” you see, I do not like it, it’s not for me
A white dude doing jazz and soul/R&B music? No thanks! This is def not my tempo. Question is… is it Steely Dan bad? I’d argue no. It misses the mark but at least it feels like it is trying. And it has a song I recognize and think is ok [shrug emoji]. I bet peeps in mid-80’s power suits with huge shoulder pads rocked out to these tunes in elevators. Blah. 1.5/5 P.S. you know you want to punch that kid on the cover right in his stupid face.
Sucked
no
Jazzy. Funky. Enjoyable.
Simply Red. No tiene Stars.
Insipid karaoke-grade takes on Philly Soul.
Don't really understand why this is on the list. It is not bad, but... Mainly boring.
another band i have never heard of until now and DAMN do they slap. seriously, my jaw was to the floor the moment the first track played, with really awesome keyboard accompaniments, super catchy lines, and a whole theme centered around the appreciation for life, then and now... this is absolutely an album i will be listening to again and again.
Day53 - i went in fully expecting to hate this but listening to this on a slow sunday morning was enjoyable
Wow. That album is way more of a party than little orphan Funkhouser on the cover implies. I'm glad he's not sucking record executive dick for fame anymore. Sounds like he went through some dark times for a while there. But he persevered, made it through, just a boy with his jazz hands and hope. Good for him.
Better than I expected. Lis is the only Simply Red fan I have ever met, and I always chalked it up to ginger solidarity, but this is the rare 80s record that manages to transcend the incredibly shitty production aesthetic that prevailed at that time. I don't like it THAT much, though, and he lost points a few hours ago when I learned Money's Too Tight To Mention is a cover and that the original Valentine Brothers version is far superior.
I think I've heard of Simply Red before, and certainly have heard their big hits, "Holding Back the Years" and the cover of "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)", but I doubt I knew those were by Simply Red, and I also seriously doubt I've ever heard the rest of the album. I also really enjoyed the experience of listening to and watching the album through the CD+G Museum's decoding of the enhanced CD, in all its 4-bit glory (and lots of trivia and factoids alongside great pixellated photos and not-so-great pixellated graphics). I'm sort of surprised to find out this won the Grammy for best new artist, as it wasn't a particularly compelling album to me. But certainly enjoyable, and I would never have guessed they were British, which speaks to their tight sound and a well-produced soul-inspired album.
Album got off to a fun groove but then the soul vibe sort of thinned out, redeemed slightly by a nice cover of "Heaven" only to get destroyed by this horrible song Jericho. Now on the second side and I feel as if every song sounds like it was part of a Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, though I do recognize the "holding on" song. "Red Box" approaches "Jericho" in awfulness in terms of lyrics, which is too bad because they can groove.
Come to My Aid - Incredibly fun, poppy and catchy Sad Old Red - Great jazzy vibe and stellar sax solos Look at You Now - Fun instrumentation but some annoying vocal repetitions Heaven - Nice soft rock song, not too standout, a bit repetitive instrumentation Jericho - Catchy beat, great vocal work in the first half, a bit repetitive after breakdown Money's Too Tight - MJ song with (presumably) less controversy Holding Back the Years - Great ballad Red Box - Did not really like this one No Direction - Liked it more than I expected but still nothing standout, keyboards were a bit grating at times Picture Book - Amazing vocal work, great final track, maybe the best song on the album
come to my aid best song
Picture this,me shitting on one side of this album and gently pressing it on the top of your head .. Why is this album on the list...I hope you like your new hat...I do not.
This is so boring
I didn't really like this. Songs either didn't hold my attention at all, or reminded me of poorer versions of other bands from the era that I'd rather listen to instead. I don't think I would choose to listen to this again.
This album fucking sucks and I hate it. I can't deal with blue-eyed soul. It just is so bad. 1/5
Pretty nice music, soulful while being its own thing. Not so sure about that Talking Heads cover, but oh well. C
Another boring British album. Do better, list!
some slight gems in there, but rest sounds like cruise ship singing
Very surprised that I liked them so much.
Regular
A few excellent tracks, sadly the rest are not worth mentioning. Just shy of 4 stars.
Uninspired
When I put this on, I immediately prepared myself for a rough ride. I figured this would be bad, and for some reason I wanted to hate on it. I think the consensus that it wasn’t amazing got to my head. But truthfully I just couldn’t hate this. This comes off to me like a more glitzy and glamorous Jamiroquai or Steely Dan. And I kind of hate it for that. But like I said, I couldn’t pretend to not like this for very long. I’m just a sucker for this sound, no matter who does it. And this does have some genuine highlights. The stretch from Jericho to Holding Back the Years is excellent. And the vocalist has some really great and powerful moments on here. This feels so smack dab right in the middle of the 80’s, which makes total sense considering the release date. This is a combination of many things, from the new wave influences, to even the title and cover art, which have a very artsy fartsy feel. I can understand why certain people would be put off and interpret this as rather pretentious. I find that there isn’t much to latch onto as an outsider. If you like this genre, you will find enjoyment in this. If you don’t, this isn’t going to change anything for you. It might make it worse, honestly. Rating: 7/10
Great album
Nice music, great voice, some hits. But didnt amazed me.
Contains a classic, you wait for the classic, the classic passes, you wonder why.
Fun 80s pop. I can totally get why someone would nerd out about this, it's just not my thing. I was dancing a little listening to this though, there's something to be said about that.
3 stars
Simply Red's Picture Book is not good. At best, I'll begrudgingly admit that Heaven is a nice song but would be better with a vocalist who could fucking sing, which is where this album and pretty much all Simply Red stuff falls down. Hucknall's voice sucks, plus he's a prick, but I'm trying to be somewhat objective about this. I've never liked the two famous tracks off this, Money's Too Tight and Holding Back The Years; the latter is like something Spandau Ballet would've said no thanks to. It's also mixed really badly in places and has a lot of really bad 80s tropes in it just to make it worse. I'm not sure I can find a way not to give it 1/5 because it's just bad.
Well this is just awful. I didn't think it would be as bad as you lot rated it (I've heard of Simply Red, but couldn't name a song), but it really is. It's like if Magic FM decided to do Boring Hour. 2/5, it's not offensive, it's just bad.
Pretty nice
Das Soul und Pop zusammenpassen können zeigt dieses Album. Ein toll abgestimmtes Album mit vielen Facetten und einer markanten und tollen Stimme. Hinzu kommen Megahits wie „Come On My Aid“, „Money’s to tied“ und „Holding Back The Years“. Ich freue mich es wieder zu hören 😊.
Just not for me
Pure 80s smooth listening here
There was so much going on and yet nothing of any substance.
And you're lucky you got that
Love it. Very jazzy and old school like me.
Very 80s. The upbeat tracks especially were very fun. Stand-out: Come To My Aid
Didn’t do anything for me.
Might be my least favorite album so far. Two thumbs down.
nice 80er vibe :)
beautifully done!
I didn't think that the album with a forlorn red-haired child would fit the description of pop-soul, but boy was I wrong. There was a lot of good variance to the album, while still having a lot of consciousness about who was performing the songs and what they wanted to say
An album that is enjoyed by all that listen to it. Definitely a good choice to add to any music collection.
Superb! Amazing album!
Soulful and satisfying.
Didn't hate it, didn't loooove it. Was just a little bored.
It's alright for this genre of 80s pop but I feel like it's nothing memorable and would get lost amongst more talented artists
It's not bad, just very boring and forgettable. Won't be revisiting. It's essentially worse Sade
Pretty okay. If it were a bit more cohesive maybe it'd be a 4
Fine. This might be the pinnacle musicianship of a particular strain of synth pop, but it does. not. resonate. with. me. I'm reasonably sure there are better representations of the genre that don't sound like the speaker in the elevator got loose and started chasing me down the street.
I was looking forward to this one the second I saw it. I've never deep dove into Simply Red's catalogue, but "If You Don't Know Me by Now" and "Holding Back the Years" are two of my all-time favorites. Two things kinda surprised me about this one... First: How much I DIDN'T love the songs that weren't HBTY. Second: So much saxophone, and that's not a complaint. Beautiful beautiful saxophone, but all in all, I don't see myself revisiting this one a lot.
Totally dig this album and this era of pop
Pretty chill one. I think I knew a few of these songs already, vaguely.
nice surprise
I was a little distracted while listening to this. But from what I heard, decent. 3
Solid album including tracks featuring Blues, jazz, funk and the classic Simply Red sound. Slightly carried by the 3 singles but an enjoyable listen and would listen again 4/5
C'est de la bonne musique, je peux comprendre l'attrait et l'impact sur la scène. C'est vraiment très typique de son époque. Mais ça ne me rejoint pas particulièrement. Je crois par contre que ça a sa place ici. 6/10
A nice disco/funk album with some great tracks!
couple groovy ones, some got kinda stale especially with the remixes though
Internet ja, Album nö
Simply DRedful
This album is wild. It's all over the place and over the top. I struggle to agree that is something that one MUST hear before one dies. It's fine, but I will not listen to it ever again.
It's interesting how some albums sound like they are fresh and this one sounds like it is very 1985 due to the heavy brass.
Good to hear this in its entirety and I think it's stood the test of time. You can see why it had an impact, especially coming out of Manchester which wasn't well-known for smooth soulful sounds. Quality. Would be a 7 out of 10 but I've rounded it up.
Say what you like about Mick Hucknall; the man can sing. Amazing debut and can bear repeated listenings, of which there have been many since uni. Can totally forgive a Talking Heads cover (the impertinence!). Favourite track is predictably Holding Back the Years, but it’s a tough call as they’re all belters IMO.
Oh this was such a fresh sound when it came out, that fusion of soul and pop. I didn’t own it myself but it’s so familiar, I think one of my uni mates must have had it. It was so good to hear pop music that was overtly political. “Did the earth move for you, Nancy?” Hucknall’s voice is so distinctive that I suppose it’s inevitable it sounds a bit samey now. Entertained to learn from Wikipedia that “Hucknall was among the people present at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester in June 1976 where the Sex Pistols were playing” Favourite track - Holding Back the Years
"Holding back the years" is the standout and previously known single. This was gentle soft rock. Well done, but I prefer encountering it as I did previously as an unknown-to-me some hits wonder. Also the lead singer seems to be a bit of a narcissist about being a ginger. The band's name and several tracks are "simply" references to him being a redhead. Perhaps he is just a guy and not a narcissist, but the constant references to him and his ginger hair are overdone.
Didn’t like it then, don’t like it now. Very…blaahh.
This is not anywhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. There's some reasonable tracks which actually show of Hucknall's voice quite well, and he is very much better suited to jazz than to pop. I mean, that's not to say that I'd ever listen to it again. But 80s Simply Red does seem worlds better than 90s Simply Red.
очень приятный соул поп алкоальбом: глинтвейн у камина
SR was almost a symbol of abuse way back. Safe 80s funk with a couple of hits. The pint sized ginger guy has a voice but its all so nice. Not a fan of the Heaven cover.
If it finished stronger it would’ve been 5. Great album
What the fuck is with the backing goblin vocals on some of these songs? I was bored out of my gullet listening to this and all of a sudden 30 minutes into the record there’s an Uruk-Hai snarling in my ear over the most dreadful music imaginable.
Enjoyed it more than I expected - good white boy soul, without his ego getting in the way. The famous tracks are the most annoying, a preview of what was to come. Soundtrack to many a boomers shagathons
I like holding back the years but otherwise this reeks of talented musicians put to the back to satiate the need to make a "star".
so far this first song is not bad idk what everyones complaining about but maybe ill be changing my mind later on yea it got worse.
This album was really good. Super interesting. 80s synth pop flair with soul based vocals and some touches of jazz instrumentals from time to time. Really weird in a good way. Favourite songs: Look at You Now, Money's Too Tight (To Mention), Holding Back The Years, Open Up The Red Box, Jericho, Sad Old Red, Come To My Aid, Heaven, No Direction Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, Picture Book 5/5
Sounds like running away with drugs and cash on an airboat in Savannah swamps
I actually really liked the first track but then it just kind of devolved into cheesy 80’s music (mediocre cheesy 80’s music to be specific).
He really can sing, but it’s a little too white and soft for me
Lots of songs I would revisit, album is slightly messy in that the tone/feel is often changing. Despite this, lots of bangers which all have a slightly different genre feel to them, favourite tracks: Come to my aid/Sad old red/Jericho.
These guys aren't nearly as smart as they think they are.
If I'm gonna listen to yacht rock, this will do.
This is a cool album. Really reminded me a lot of some other pop from that era like Prince. I found myself really enjoying the drums and vocals. But like most pop albums, there are some songs that really slap and some that are forgettable
Not bad for something from the 80s. But it should stay in the 80s. I did not think this was anything special.
Yuck. Steely Dan muzak, weird new wave vocals aka a softcore version of Color Me Bad
4/5 I really liked the versatility.
Hey, that’s pretty good. Love soul, definitely feel like they have some fun with it, particularly like the delivery changes in Jericho. Good times.
Pas si mal de souvenir. Aucun intérêt de souvenir aussi.
C'était pas mal, on s'approche gentillement des 1000 albums, et on a toujorus autant hâte d'en terminer.
Cheesy but I can see why the 80s mums liked them, he does have a good voice and they have good tunes
This list is still a little too Br*tish for my liking but this album's not bad
Got some good tracks, i bet this band plays at Yoshi's in Oakland. Chill Vaporwave vibes.
3+
Simply not for me
I don't know why I pictured the singer's voice differently in my head, but I did. Maybe I was thinking of UB40? Obviously 2 very different bands. Anyway, I was really surprised at how much I liked the vocals. They were different than what I expected, and made the songs more interesting. I really liked the interpretation of "Heaven," making more of a bluesy soul song. "No Direction" felt like a song that should have gone on a late 80s or early 90s soundtrack. It didn't grab me like a lot of the other songs did. And when "Holding Back The Years" came on, I was like "Oh yeah, I remember this one." So I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Don't know why I didn't listen to them more growing up.
Does one big single (Holding Back the Years) make for a great album? Between Mick Hucknail's sultry voice (and piano work) and the rest of the band's jazzy sound, this does feel like a throwback to 60's soul and Motown. But not quite the same thing. I'll admit the album got better on multiple listens, but there's a cap on my admiration for it. Besides the big single, Heaven was really, really good. Come to My Aid, Money's Too Tight to Mention (a remake), and No Direction were also good. Songs like Jericho and Open Up the Red Box kinda stunk in my opinion.
Smooth white jazz, 80s style.
Strong and steady throughout. Hucknall puts his distinct voice to very good effect across the cuts, the best of which are "Come to My Aid," "Jericho" and "Heaven" and "Holding the Back Years," which will have a long shelf life and history will continue to like – it just sounds like a song that will last forever. Overall, it holds up quite well (sophistication always does, doesn't it, when supported by tight and capable playing) and only here and there veers too annoyingly or eye-rollingly into ultimate '80s territory.
I once won tickets to see Simply Red at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and didn’t go because I assumed it’d be terrible, regardless of the beautiful venue. Now today I learn that they butcher a Talking Heads song!? Feeling vindicated. This sucked.
Rating solely based on vibes
Funky! Great instruments! Weird lyrics! This album has it all.
Wait I loved this
Started out as like WHAM but less upbeat, fizzled out by the end. I'm kinda disappointed really
Kinda weird, like the Carrot Top of electronic music. It was okay, but can’t say it was amazing in any way. Groovy.
Watched the CD+G version for the full 80s experience. See The CD+G Museum on youtube for all the videos. Even the graphics they chose was fairly bland and inoffensive.
Pretty great, tbh. Wouldn't seek it out though
Simply Red. No tiene Stars.
It was simple that’s for sure
Pull out your pointy shoulder pads and pastel linen pants for this run-of-the-mill-mid-1980's-blue-eyed (and red-haired)-soul-synth-pop. Could have been the soundtrack for a Jim Belushi and Gregory Hines buddy cop movie that includes a montage, a love scene, and a dance sequence.
This deserves a 2.5 but not a two or three
It's possible I just really dislike blue eyed soul
Halfway through “Come to My Aid” and I don’t know if I have the strength to go on. I soldiered on to “Holding Back the Years”, which is passable if only because the band seems to have worn themselves out overplaying the previous 8 songs. The singer has a great voice, but this album is something I’d put on to get people to go home.
Man, this took me back. Mick Hucknell's vocals are soulful and land in the dead center of the blues. I listened to the whole album with pleasure.
Absolute classic. 5 Stars.
5 Star album right here. I think it's their best work. I'm not the biggest fan of Simply Red, but this album is phenomenal!
I did not know who Simply Red was before listening to this album. Overall the album was better than I expected and there were several tracks I really enjoyed! I recommend this album to those who enjoy 80s new wave, pop rock. Favorite Song(s): "Money's Too Tight", "Come To My Aid", "Jericho", "No Direction"
Mixed bag
Ganske fælt
I almost gave this a 3, but then got to the end and yeah, no. This album had no idea what it was, or what direction it wanted to go.
Simply Red reminds me of a neighbor that lived next door to mom and dad around 1990. The Nolans? The lady was a big SR fan. "Holding back the years" is a dope song. But a lot of the tracks are cheese.
4.1/5
Soulful and smooth. 4 stars.
Pretty, pretty good
The majority of the album is so-so, a pleasant mix of pop-rock-soul-funk-jazz, very much an album from the 1980s. But then you have their hit "Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)" and the massive "Holding Back the Years" with Mick Hucknall's superb vocals.
Nice funky soul album. Favorite track: Sad Old Red
An album that cranks up the 80s aesthetic and sprinkles in some thoughtful lyrics.
Hele rare combi van super poppy en prima soul. Echt om en om ook, in ieder geval aan het begin. De soul is goed, de pop: not so much. Dus we pakken de middenweg met 3 sterren.
6/10
Not my thang
Much better than I expected. Went in with very low expectations, but this album exceeded them. Not necessarily something I’ll go back to often, but a good album nonetheless. 7/10 Top 3: 1. Come To My Aid 2. Sad Old Red 3. Picture Book
This was a decent album. Had some catchy songs. It works well as background music, but for a dedicated listening session it wasn’t my vibe. Very groovy though.
interesting sound - surprised I've never heard of him before.
Not super interesting
Unique voice. Good singer. Some songs were ok to dance to, but I never got into Simply Red. Couldn't recall a single title.
Was expecting my memory of this band being bad to ruin the listen. But a few songs were unexpectedly pleasing and I hummed along to the two radio hits.
This album did nothing for me. ‘Holding Back the Years’ was a big deal when it came out. It was different from the typical 80s pop sound and it got a lot of attention. I remember really liking it and it still sounds good to me. ‘Money’s Too Tight’ also got some air time. Did not work for me then or now.
Mostly bad to mediocre. I'm surprised that Holding Back the Years was number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, given how nondescript it felt. The instrumentals were good, but nothing mindboggling. 3/10. Favorite track: Come to My Aid
To paraphrase the best review written about this album on this app: ATTENTION K-MART SHOPPERS: SPECIAL PROMOTION ON DETERGENTS IN AISLE 4. BUY 2 GET 1 FREE! Gosh, I can see those horrid eighties haircuts just listening to the many sophistipop songs plaguing this album. I think the radio-friendly "highlights" of this record are the worst for me. All those "Come To My Aid", "Look At Me Now", along with that overplayed signature song "Holding Back The Years". Those tracks are more than decently produced, but the results still sound terribly hackneyed, with overkill-mode synth licks, bland funk guitar riffs, and syrupy, smoochie singing from Hucknall--each of these tasteless elements relentlessly screaming "eighties square" at my poor ears. Speaking of singles from this album, the rapped chorus of "Jericho" is also a cheesefest of unprecedented magnitude. That's a damn shame, because the vocal performance at the end of this track was inventive, layered and technically impressive. But when that finale surged, it was already too late. My cheesometer was already too high. Just as it was high from the very first seconds of "No Direction", an aptly-named song that goes nowhere as it rehashes all the clichés available in the "blue-eyed soul book". The thing is, as terrible as some of this music is for me, I was *also* often pleasantly surprised by the supposed "deep cuts' of *Picture Book*. And I have to say that I can still appreciate the various styles Simply Red went through, without making any jump between those different styles too jarring overall. This suggests that a lot of thought has been put into the way this record should flow from one track to the next at least. I usually like this sort of dynamics in LPs. And even if most of the music on this one is not for me, I can still appreciate the effort. One of those redeemable deep cuts is the jazz lounge tune "Sad Old Red", quite a predictable and not overly original track, but at least a welcome change of pace after the stinky opener that "Come To My Aid" is. On a sidenote, I can also respect Mick Hucknall's concern for socially relevant topics. His heart is in the right place, and coupling those lyrics with those sophistipop shenanigans is, against all odds, surprisingly effective. Yet it's only a couple of songs after "Sad Old Red" that Simply Red *almost* becomes great. First, there's that cover of Talking Heads' "Heaven"--so different from the original version, with its Stax and Motown overtones, that I didn't immediately recognize it. Nice touch, I'd say. I still liked that track even when I didn't recognize which song it was: it sounded like a far older standard, and so the idea Hucknall and bandmates had with this one makes sense, I guess. Speaking of Talking Heads, "Open The Red Box" is the sort of rigid blues rock / hard funk track could have been written by David Byrne and co at a later stage of their band's career. Those sudden interruptions of the rhythm section bring a tension unfortunately lacking elsewhere on this LP. Which is another nice touch. Finally, the title track is a very subtle and deeply atmospheric closer that was well worth my time, thanks to its ambient synths and proto-trip-hop sonic landscapes. Wish there had been more leftfield compositions like that in this album, even with an eighties slant. So all in all, not as downright terrible as I thought it would be, at least *from time to time*. I reckon this app is the most useful when it takes you out of your comfort zone and counters your prejudiced opinions about such and such act. So even if I won't include Simply Red in my own selection, now I can honestly say I gave them a fair try, and that I have nothing but benevolent feelings for old fans of this band. It's not because they have very different tastes from mine that I cannot picture why this record would catch their attention. 2 stars for the purposes of this subjective list of "essential albums", which translates to a 7/10 grade for more general and "objective" purposes (5 + 2). Next, please. Number of albums left to review: 398 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 271 Albums from the list might* include in mine later on: 144 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 188 (including this one)
Ugh
I enjoyed this more than expected for reading the reviews. Upbeat vibes were a nice break.
Wonderful voice particularly in the never-bettered Holding Back The Years. Good mixture of 80s polished jazz-pop as well as some real jazz in Old Red. Enjoyable.
My dislike for this album is completely unjustified but it's still there. Every song just feels a little bit off. Can't really explain it though. Talent is obvious though so 3.5 stars
Really liked this one. Surprisingly amazing. Kinda loved it.
Don't know why this is hated so much. There are some duds there but fun album nonetheless.
simply...
I loved the album and especially Holding Back the Years which can often make me cry because of our video that goes with it. Consequently it has to be 4* ( sorry Tom !)
Fine. Boring but not objectionable.
I created a playlist on Spotify called "Cheese" that includes songs I really enjoy but that I'm ashamed to admit I like. That list includes, as it's title track, "Holding Back the Years", so admittedly, I was a little surprised to see this record on the grand 1001. Reminiscent of Hall & Oates but missing some of their pop appeal and catchy hooks. Even so, I found this mostly enjoyable in a fluorescent lights, smell of popcorn, Woolworth's nostalgia sort of way. Notable tracks: "Holding Back the Years", "Money Too Tight to Mention" (unsurprisingly).
Felt in love with simply red with this recommendation, absolutly amazing music.
It’s not the worst ‘80s throwback album (and quite representative of the time), but it’s really not my thing. Maybe one or two tracks are passable, but nothing that makes it worth revisiting.
More a function of the rough day I’ve had but I’m somewhat saddened at how warped the list selection feels day after day. 900+ albums in and time after time I’m presented with some new British monstrosity of a band that somehow makes the same music as the 500 others before it. I would redo this whole project from scratch if it meant the selection contained exciting, underground albums that deserved the praise and recognition of being in the top 1001 of all time, not whatever this shite is Dimery be damned
Kommen wir je wieder heraus aus dem meh Loch?
Langweilige Musik die sich hinter Soul/Jazz/Loungemusik versteckt um sophisticated zu wirken. Bischen eklige Lyrics Oberstudienrat-Core
Best Song: Holding Back The Years. A nice, laidback, gentle soul track. Well-measured. Worst Song: Heaven. There are limits to where blue-eyed soul will take you, and this cheeseball mess is mashed up against that limit. Overall: More soulful than I expected, less than it could (should?) have been.
Already better than the Sinatra. First song I’m in a disco dance. Jehrico and picture book are my favs. Groovy, dark, perfect 80s music
What a likable pop album. The songs are catchy, the sound is full, the lyrics playful, and the guy's voice is great. Plus, where else have you heard a dance tune about Raegonomics?
Feels like an album of mostly vibey filler built around 2 big songs
It’s ok
Mycket bättre än jag förväntade mig.
No
A fun album with some good tunes. Underrated band.
An interesting album but one that I was not crazy about. It’s definitely serviceable, but nothing special in my opinion.
The fuck is this?
It’s okay. Not my speed though
Not the peak of sophistipop, but listenable. The cover of Money’s Too Tight (to Mention) is the highlight.
I'm familiar with Simply Red thanks to "Holding Back the Years," which I like well enough, but I was a little surprised to find that the rest of the album didn't really do anything for me.
80s blues & soul. Great voice & I enjoy Holding Back the Years, but it's not my speed.
A few songs on here were good, but for the most part this one fell flat for me.
Molto Simply Red, la prima, 'Come to my aid' è quella che preferisco
Fake ass soul from a bunch of Manchester United supporters. Rubbish. Here's hoping Bayern Munich crushes the red scourge in the Champions League and I never have to listen to this tripe again.
One great song doesn't make an album.
Didn't hate it, compared to some albums where I have had an immediate visceral revulsion to this was fine, just a bit meh though.
Such a meh album, and how I felt when I seen a simply red album this morning. Nothing offensive but such dull music I don’t know why it deserves to be on the list.
great vocals (for a ginger) song writing and arranging, pretty good (for a ginger)! i like the jazzy thing, it’s cute haha. solid three star album. however i have to knock off a star simply because i’m prejudice towards gingers. sorry they’re just nasty and i think they deserve to die! haha.