Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Bland
Det var fed nok egentlig, men ved ikke liiiiige om jeg ville kalde det essentielt
Not entirely horrible.. It does feel like a bit of a weird choice to have so many covers in an album..
Awful schlock. Did not need to hear this.
Cheesy and generic
2.5
Not my thing
Not terrible but not terribly interesting either
a bit boren.
Meh
Jaren '80, witte mannen met funky baslijntjes, de kopstem wordt niet geschuwd, foute jaren '80 synthjes, paar balads, wat gehijg. Met vlagen wat Michael Jacksonesque maar dan met meer percussie. Blijkbaar is het (deels) opgenomen in een studio in Blaricum, daar moeten wij het als Nederlanders qua inbreng in deze lijst zo'n beetje mee doen ook. Dit is niet helemaal mijn ding. Ik kan het uitzitten maar daar is het grotendeels wel mee gezegd. Ik kom niet hoger dan 2 sterren.
Just didn’t do anything for me - English soul just doesn’t seem like a good idea. Meh.
Sounds like the ‘80s. And not in a good way. No thank you. Even the Talking Heads cover is meh.
That was a pretty grody Talking Heads cover. I will never get how this was one of the guys at that Sex Pistols concert, what an odd influence. Anyway, not really my thing. Guy can sing, but the songs are lower case b boring. Dull.
I like a couple songs, but this was overall not good or fun to listen to.
Didn't love it!
The singles are fine. The production is really dated. And the Talking Heads song is giving American Idol week 13 stunt cover vibes. Why is this on the list? It’s stunningly unremarkable…
I could not get through it 😞
Not my favourite thing
Simply average
“Sad Old Red” sticks out like a sore thumb because it doesn’t suck or sound awfully dated, which isn’t true for any other song here. Also, it baffles me that “Holding Back the Years” was a hit, as it’s the worst song on the album. The 80’s really must have been a low point in human history. A lame imitation of Prince, but without the talent.
Ah, 80's cheese. It's a bit moldy, and not in a good way.
Good, but was not my favorite, 2.5 stars
5/10 Ikkje min greie dette.
Not list worthy
5/10
Not much that stood out outside of the first song.
This was quite a middle of the road album, with not too much that stood out and would be quite easy to forget. The song "Heaven" was a nicer change but not strong enough to carry the album further than a two.
Much prefer the slower and mellow tracks on this album. Standouts; Sad old red Jericho Holding back the years
Simply boring. Nice voice, damn shame the music isn’t more interesting
An okay album, but generic and forgettable. I really don't understand how this made the list in the first place. The biggest hit on the album is a cover. This is just another example of the UK-centric bias on this list.
I have a hard time judging some of the albums on this list because I've encountered a few truly bad albums. Then there are ones like this—they maybe aren't "bad," but they're uninteresting and not particularly unique. Some of the instrumental parts were groovy, like on the title track, "Picture book," and on the "Money's too tight" cutback mix (though I found the rest of Money quite annoying).
This is another bang average album that I really didn’t need to hear before I died. My life is unchanged from hearing this album, I’m not sure why it’s here tbh.
This did nothing for me.
Did not love. I remember the hits, and they were okay, but the other songs… they are talented people, but goes didn’t do it for me.
The album cover made me worried this was going to be some Dexys Midnight Runners shit. It does have the 80s sophistipop thing going on; this thing touches a lot of genres and runs them through the sonic filter of the time. I'm really not sure what to make of this one. It didn't bother me, but I was a little baffled by it. I don't know anything about Simply Red as a band after listening to this, except maybe what they grew up listening to. I'm not trying to say that artists can't explore a variety of sounds, but this sounded like throwing a lot of stuff at the wall and not bothering to see what stuck. There were moments I enjoyed, but as a whole I'm unmoved and a little cold about it.
A fine album. Decent jams on here, and the cover of "Heaven" was pretty good. Don't know if I'll ever need to revisit this but wasn't bad.
Drastic change from track 1 to track 2. Holding Back the Years is the standout for me, but I'm not sure I'd revisit the whole album.
Started off fine enough, then I thought I was listening to a completely different album by track #2. Just wasn't expecting the jump to a faux "live" jazz track. The album sort of became cheesy and unbearable from there, unfortunately.
Look, soul is not really my thing and much less soul pop. This felt like it lacked identity. It is the offend-none, lowest-common-denominator type of pop with some smooth soul added to it. Makes me just want to listen to some abrasive punk instead.
There's a lot of actual soul and R&B music out there. A lot of good singers in that genre. I get the urge to play stuff you love, but Simply Red doesn't feel very real, just "chops" before real soulfulness, style over substance. Shallow. Mick Hucknall is a good technician, for what it's worth.
Could've been worse.
Weird Talking Heads cover on this one. I really liked the first song and the rest was just o.k..
I gave this a chance but it didn't change my opinion of Simply Red. To be fair, it is competently played, in fact very well-played by excellent musicians, but the songs are bland soul-pop which approximate '60s and '70s Motown/Stax/Philly recordings without any of the emotional investment. And I really do not like Mick Hucknall or his grating voice. Another dinner party album...
2 - I don’t particularly like anything about it, It’s certainly well done and the vocalist is very talented, but the songs don’t appeal to me
First listen. Meh.
Great voice, one great track
Disco mixed with some jazzy bluesy tunes and some R&B all under the canopy of pop. No thank you. We're it just the jazzy bluesy stuff, I'd have dug it more.
New heights of banality achieved! I literally felt nothing except vague boredom with a dash of preferring to be listening to something else. Music for sex scenes in bad 80s movies.
From the artwork, I was expecting some acoustic and personal album. I did not expect bland soul. This album did nothing to me.
I didn't hate it. 2.5
Decent
Not my kind of thing.
As if it wasn't enough to make the musical equivalent of boiled chicken, they had to ruin a Talking Heads song, too.
lembrou minha avó ouvindo rádio pra dormir quando eu era criança e só por isso ganhou duas estrelas
boring mas sou grato pela música sobre ser um pobre fudido (nem li a letra)
It’s fine, it’s just fine. Why the cover look like Frodo though? 4/10
Too easy listening for me. Why was the second song inexplicably recorded as if live but no other song on the album was? There there wasn't anything terrible here, but it bored me.
We zitten weer fist-deep in de new wave, of hoe je dit ook wil bestempelen. De twee uitersten op dit album, 'Holding Back the Years' aan de blue-eyed soul zijde, en de groovy cover van 'Money's Too Tight' aan de funk zijde, zijn best behapbaar, maar alles wat er tussen in valt weet niet te ontroeren noch te bewegen. Z'n stem is na een paar nummers wel een tranentrekker, maar niet in de positieve zin van het woord. Mijn vraag is dan ook wie er destijds luisterde naar deze witte, ongeïnspireerde vorm van R&B, met zoveel zwart talent in de omloop? Ja, de witte middenklasse natuurlijk, met een plaat voor hun hoofd. 4,5/10 Highlights: Holding Back the Years Money's Too Tight
Simply Red is echt zo'n artiest die door iedereen te pruimen is en dus ook in de plaatselijke supermarkt gedraaid zal worden. Vaak is dat geen goed teken... 5/10 Highlights Money's too tight
Only knew holding back the years before listening. Much of the same really, very banal and forgettable
It's ight, it started good with the first track then afterwards I lost most if not all my interest in listening. I don't hate but I sure as shit didn't love it. Top 1 Favorite: Come To My Aid 2.50/5
A good singer in search of an identity. Not surprised the singer is the only consistent member of this group because there’s nothing here other than his (admittedly good) voice. Every song sounds like it comes from a different group - pop, new wave, blues, R&B, with no consistency from track to track. It becomes, in that way, a vanity project. Just a way for the singer to show off, and we’re not really invited into that club. It feels self-indulgent.
Jesus. I’d love to see the justification for this in the book. Like. Is it just so they can be like DAMN THIS GINGER HAS PIPES. This sucks lol
I like Holding Back the Years, but for some reason the rest of the album was sad and I didn't finish it.
I'm forcing myself through this one. Not something I would willfully choose to listen to without the help of a project like this. 2/5
I tried to keep an open mind but the over cooked blue eyed soul vocals and the selection of the worst 80s keyboard sounds closed it again. A shame because I have always like the comparatively understated Holding Back The Years. Also the one before their version of Heaven sounds like a better Talking Heads cover.
Music my mum liked, I can close my eye and hear this playing in my mum's old VW Golf, it would be followed by Level 42, guaranteed. "Holding Back The Years" holds up but, honestly, Simply Red are an abomination and it still befuddles me how they made a comeback in the mid 90s for one hot minute..
好无聊
Can't escape the Rather Good "holding back the ears" image. I'm not a fan of Hucknall's voice.
A pretty average album, but it was better than I was expecting it would be. The lyrics are shocking in places: "everybody is trying to get to the bar; the name of the bar? the bar is called.... HEAVEN"
Lyrics are kinda cringy, but the actual music is okay background music
Kovin geneeriseksi jäävä kasaripoppislevy. 2/5
Pretty much as dull and bland as I was expecting. Mick Hucknall has a great voice, but what he does with it just isn't for me. "Money's Too Tight to Mention" is pretty good though.
Not sure what this is? Is it New Wave? Is it Funk Pop? Is it 1920s lounge music? Why does it sound like Wham sometimes. It's a little too all over the place for me, though I did like a few of the songs.
I was so hoping this would not be a one hit album. In the end its a one hit album.
2 out of 5. Interesting cover of Heaven but nothing really here for me.
The singer has a silky smooth voice, but man I just can't really get on board with the '80s soft pop-rock thing. It's got a bit of a jazzy thing going, but I just can't get the synth out of my head. I'm just not super into the sound of this overall. His voice is good, but something's missing, it's boring. Plus two of the three best songs are covers, which is not a positive for me ("Heaven" is a Talking Heads cover, but it's the best song on here, better than "Holding Back the Years" which is one of their most popular songs). I also find the term "blue-eyed soul" pretty hilarious (which is what this seems to get classified as frequently). Like, yeah I guess white people can sing R&B and soul music too sometimes. I can see why someone would be into this, but it's not for me. Favorite song: Heaven Other: Come to My Aid, Money's Too Tight (to Mention), Holding Back the Years 11/27/24
#417. Hard to get through the whole thing, if we're being honest. Never heard any of this before, and luckily I'm not likely to ever hear it again. 2/5: bad.
It's okay for background music. Never listened to them in the 80s, even then it felt like something you'd hear in a doctor's waiting room.
Ok, so the music sucks, but we already all knew that. However, I’ll add a bonus point for Hucknall having a decent voice and for his ability to punch well above his weight in the 90s.
..
Sometimes is ok. But don't like 80s pop much Will I listen to again: 0%
Definitely shouldn’t be on this list. Holding Back The Years is great I’ll round up cuz there’s nothing wrong with this album
A big time “this was ok”. It had an ok cover of a great song (Heaven). I can’t imagine ever thinking to listen to it again.
Didn't really get this one
He’s got a nice voice but this is boring
I tired to listen to this with unbiased ears. But I can't get beyond the ginger.
Fine, but this really is JCPenny's music.
Simply Red have always bored me to tears, not actively objectionable so should probably have rated this 3, but I wanted to reflect the lifelong response.
Pretty cool, and completely unfamiliar to me. It's not super well aligned with my tastes, but I have a lot of respect the quality of the work.
just okay, didn't really hit with me, typical 80's sound.
honestly a decent listen just pretty boring to my taste
not a great record in my opinion. I think this Mick guy is a great vocalist actually, but the songs are 80's-trendy synth-suck sonic vortex that makes it hard to pick that out. I bet this guy is really talented but this record was just not my thing.
Found this quite grating tbh! Sort of zoned out after a while. Not my thing
Boring music as then
Not for me.
Didn't really do anything for me
A few tracks in, I was already looking forward to the end. Not the type of 2* where the music was annoying - I can’t even say it was bad, exactly - but so bland and unremarkable that I seriously question its inclusion on this list.
2.4 1x on delta flight to SFO catchup on 10/1
Me gusta mucho más Stars.
Music to be played at the dentist’s office. Technically inoffensive, but so bland. All the instruments sound so artificial. The Talking Heads cover is so bleh. The singer’s voice is good enough I guess. Favorite song was Holding Back The Years.
Annouing
This is the most stereotypical soft rock record I've ever heard. Blech.
Meh….I just didn’t like this all that much.
dosadan
First songs I really liked. Then slowly it lost me and by the end I wasn't having a good time anymore. His voice begins to get very annoying, and that cover of Heaven sucks. This album really drudges on too long. 2.5/3
Neuroscientists, musicologists, and other top academic researchers should study this album to analyse how they managed to suck all of the soul out of soul music. Mick Hucknall has a good voice but this is a truly dismal slice of 80s waiting room Muzak. It also features one of the worst Talking Heads covers ever recorded. kd lang does a great cover of Heaven because she understands the need for a little restraint. This version is amped up into the terrible-stratosphere. I am charitably giving it a 2 because, while it is awful, it is a dull & inoffensive background awful, and I know things would get even worse with 'Fairground'.
I knew as soon as I saw it that the US contingent would go nuts that this was on the list. A well known band in the UK and indeed one year had the biggest selling album in the world (Stars). Sadly, the US contingent are correct. This is an awful album in retrospect. A couple of songs, a lot of filler and the worst ever cover of a Talking Heads song ever committed to vinyl. It was painful listening to him kill Heaven. This "does not" stand up in retrospect.
Seriously?
Yeah uh… why is this here?
Honestly, I think this is kinda wanky, I guess it's not bad and it's probably just not my thing but it's too cheesy and feels like it should just be playing in the background of tesco.
Listening to Mick Hucknall could be used as a form of torture (No Direction is painful). 2 stars based on opening track being decent
Good but not for me
My only tenuous link I have with any rock star is with Mick Hucknell. I used to work with a woman who went to Manchester Poly with him and never let us forget that. That fact doesn’t change my opinion of this album or Simply Red in general in that it doesn’t appeal to my tastes. However, this album does have one redeeming track - Holding Back The Years which is their most famous and one which I do like. Always takes me back to those clubbing nights when that track accompanied the ten to two desperation dash for those wanting a last minute snog. It is also a song which works for me when in a reflective mood. That track aside I do know that there are other songs which are well liked to those loving this type of music but an album which I do not need to hear again. I’ll stick with the best known single. 2/5 6/8/24.
This is abysmal quality. Whoever thought this should be on the list is an absolute ignoramus. This album is just so far below anything that should even touch this list, it’s sad. It’s only saving grace is that it wasn’t a complete chore to get through. This album isn’t even quite sure what good music sounds like and to put it up here with all of these greats is almost cruel. What the actual fuck were you thinking. 2/5
Listened Before? N In The Village Voice, Robert Christgau wrote that there were essentially "only two songs on this album", "Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)" and "Heaven", but that Hucknall and the band carry off the album "on mood and groove alone". I've never agreed with a professional music review more. This album is straight up boring outside of those two songs, and the hit here "Holding Back the Years" is no exception. Mediocre at best. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Money's Too Tight (To Mention)
It's not that bad I guess but pretty boring and not really deserving to be here.
I disagree
This album could have been an email. Instrumentals are little varied, vocals are fine but forgettable, and oh my god the repetitive lyrical phrases - please stop. Listened to: on a bus to Montreal. Favorite track: Heaven
I was fully prepared to trudge through another average pop album. And then Sad Old Red started. A pop track that's fully, inarguably based on jazz?! Alright, you have my attention. Well, it turns out my gut instinct was mostly correct. Not that much interesting here beyond Sad Old Red--even the cover of Heaven was fine but not notable.
Typical 80s. Good voice but hard to sit through all at once. Fat should have been trimmed from some songs. Excess choruses and filler at the end needs to go
Crooner crap
kinda generic, didn't sound like it aged well. I even forget what thei hit song was.
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."
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
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.
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.
If only the could’ve held back the years. They’ve not been kind to this record.
Not very good. I had never really heard this before and won't be hearing it again
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).
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
Aight
Maybe a track at a time is bearable. Listening to this as an album is terrible.
Slowish pop, nothing too interesting
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.
A completely inconsequential album other than 1 or 2 decent singles. Not actively bad, but also not worth listening to.
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.
really boring
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.
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.
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
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.
Mid
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.
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.
Don't really understand why this is on the list. It is not bad, but... Mainly boring.
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.
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.
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.
some slight gems in there, but rest sounds like cruise ship singing
Regular
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.
Just not for me
And you're lucky you got that
Didn’t do anything for me.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
These guys aren't nearly as smart as they think they are.
Simply not for me
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
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.
Not my thang
Not super interesting
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
Fine. Boring but not objectionable.
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.
Langweilige Musik die sich hinter Soul/Jazz/Loungemusik versteckt um sophisticated zu wirken. Bischen eklige Lyrics Oberstudienrat-Core
Feels like an album of mostly vibey filler built around 2 big songs
It’s ok
It’s okay. Not my speed though
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.
A few songs on here were good, but for the most part this one fell flat for me.
One great song doesn't make an album.
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.
cheesy 80’s schlock. not for me.
This was tough.
Not my jam.
Two absolute classics and the rest truly awful.
Not the biggest fan of this, but without any hard feelings. Of course my favourite song on the album was written by David Byrne :)
Kids, if you have one of the greatest male singing voices in the history of pop music, I beg you not to pair it with soulless song writing and vapid lyrics. This could be so much better than it is, and I'm a bit baffled as to why its on this list. It's basically just a Michael Bolton album, but with more early 80s flair. Is this album the birth of muzak? Is that why it's significant? 2/5
Come To My Aid into Sad Old Red is a really weird transition. This album is this really weird bland mashup in this 90s fashion. Money's Too Tight (To Mention) is just the most 90s song you could imagine. This kinda sucks.
1/10, 10%
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Holding Back the Years (7) 2 - Come To My Aid (1) 3 - Money's Too Tight (To Mention) (6)
The first couple of tracks are surprisingly jazz infused and led me to think I may quite like this. I was sadly wrong. The majority of it is not-very- good 80s soft rock and cheesy blue-eyed soul. Also, Mick Hucknall dressed up as the Artful Dodger on the album cover looks amusingly ridiculous. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Holding Back the Years Date listened: 17/07/23
Not my favorite 2.5/5
On kyllä niin kasaria kuin vaan voi. Ei oikein muistettavia tai erikoisia kappaleita
BAD
Just bland as fuck
Sound exactly like what you think a Simply Red album would sound like. It absolutely sucks 👍🏾
eh
Simply some pipes on the vocalist. Not particularly my jam, but it's also not terrible by most measures. I appreciate that the best or at least most well known songs are in the middle of the record from a "How am I ever going to make it through this?" perspective because I was starting to lose patience.
Ughhh...I hate this type of 80's synth soul. This is literally my least favorite type of music
Niet top dit. Beetje over the top, en slechts 1 goed nummer gehoord.
More of a 5, some solid tracks but overall pretty one note and bland
Holding back the years is the only noteworthy thing on this record.
Simply Red is apparently “immaculately polished” adult contemporary music. I simply hate it. Would rather listen to an immaculately polished turd. Oh, sorry, then we got to “Holding Back the Years.” That song slaps. Doesn’t it? Is that the rare immaculately polished adult contemporary song. Or is it just that those hits were so ubiquitous on 80s radio that I’ve got a nostalgia itch it scratches? It’s a question I’ve found myself asking a lot with albums where the classic hits don’t live up to the rest of the work.
Nice elevator music.
This was fine. But sounds so dated though I still like holding back the years
Is it easy listening? Smooth jazz? New wave? Blue-eyed soul? I dunno. Mick Hucknall sure can sing but those staid 80s synth chords need to be left behind with the Betamax tapes and the Trapper Keepers.
J'ai trouvé ca bon. pas vraiment de sens, egenre R&B disco, maracas, ca va un peu partout pour une albumq ui est en fin de compte assez moyen. Mais ce n'est pas agacant. On dirait de la musique de lobby genre grand turismo 4. 2.90
This is a pretty irritating album, especially by the time we get to No Direction. It reminds me of when Terence Trent D'Arby went off the tracks. A wonderful initial soulful album and then just it went weird, not particularly melodic, and funk without fun. It's surprising how good Holding Back the Years is compared to how mediocre/bad the rest of the album is. Would not do it again.
Pari leiskautusta ja muuten aika joutavaa.
I don’t usually like to slag off bands that it’s fashionable to hate, although I’m tempted to make an exception for Simply Red. There’s something about Mick Hucknall that rankles, sure, but mainly I think it’s that they deal in some of my least favourite types of music (syrupy soul, bland funk, background schmaltz, et cetera). HOWEVER, I’m a fair man, and on second listen I don’t think it’s a one star record. The first and last tracks were alright and a couple of other tracks at least have some energy about them. When it’s bad it’s really bad, though. 1.5 / 2
Wine bar singer that made it big. Ironic to see Hucknall’s no doubt sincere singing about money being too tight to mention whilst soundtracking the yuppie 80s. Can we blame him for this? Probably not. But we can blame him for an execrable cover of Talking Heads’ Heaven which fails to understand the song. Occasionally, there are songs here which pick the beat up and find a groove but really this is not remotely close to being worthy of this list.
I usually like 80s soul pop and new wave. This was bad. No.
At first, I couldn't tell what genre the album was supposed to be. Was it jazz? Was it new wave? Then, about halfway through the album, it just became boring '80s pop
Very 80s pop record, with some (smooth) jazz elements among others. Not great, not bad.
Fairly simple jazz that doesn't make any progressive moves
o cara canta muito, tem belas baladas com uma pitada de jazz mas elas todas soam iguais. tambem tem horriveis composições dançantes super anos 80 com aquela escolha nojenta de sintetizadores.
This album reminded me of something. Which is it, milquetoast or milk toast? Apparently, milquetoast comes from a comic strip character from the 1920s. The character was spineless and timid. I wouldn't call this album spineless, because that doesn't make any sense. And so, milk toast is toasted and cubed bread with warm milk poured on top. Like a homemade cereal. And much like this album, at least put some sugar and cinnamon in there to make it a little less boring.
Sounds like the score of an opening credits bustling cityscape montage in a generic 80s movie
Toch een paar nummers geskipt, simply red is niks voor mij
Is there such a thing as too much 80's? No. Except in this case, the exception that proves the rule. Why is this album on this list? It isn't the best ever, or the best of the 80's, or even the best of 85. It's fine, I guess, cool voice, but it doesn't break any new ground. I'm not mad just confused. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I was bored after like 2 tracks lmao
Perfectly acceptable 80s smooth rnb. Not amazing, Hucknall's voice feels a bit weak, and the backings a bit too synthetic. Was amused when the accents show on the shout chorus on 'Heaven'. Minus one because the singer is a United fan and fairly grim piece of work. Google "hucknall apology guardian" if you need evidence on that last point.
2.5
Not saying I hated it, but this album doesn’t belong on a “greatest of all times” list, no matter how good that one song is. I mean, there’s at least two covers on here, incl. a Talking Heads song. Nope
I wish reviews could be downvoted, so we could take collective action against morons who think it’s funny to discriminate against redheads. How pathetic a person do you have to be to try to inflate your self worth by putting down people with a different hair color. The best thing you can say about yourself is at least I have the same hair as everyone else? On the flip side, this album sucks. As an official defender of redheads I hereby give you permission to hate it on its own merits without worrying about being discriminatory. I believe the last song has an attempted dub breakdown in the middle, which is just unconscionable.
Just a very middle of the road album apart from a few gems, better off just putting those on a playlist and saving your time some nice jazz bits in Sad old Red and Holding back the years. Overall a background album but a waste of time on this list for one song.
I had zero expectations of simply red before this album. I still don’t. Really boring, generic pop. Made me feel like I was listening to the soundtrack of a b movie.
Not my type of music. I was never a fan of his/their songs, I find them boring and rather repetitive. Mick Hucknall has a very nice voice, but the music and the track in general are just bland. Every song on the "Picture Book" album sounded like a generic summer hit you would listen to on MTV and forget about it as soon as September comes. There was some nice use of saxophone or other brass instruments, few nice melodies, but most of the time I was just waiting for it to end, so that I can go back to listen...anything else actually. Simply Red was simply too red for me, whatever that means.
Not really very good. There were a couple interesting sections, but nothing that really held my attention. I did not enjoy this album, but at least I finished it.
The mix quality really is fantastic from the first second of music. What's funny is that this album is next in the list immediately after "The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace" which also came out in 1985 but had a completely different fidelity level in the audio quality. This mix feels like walking on grass after crawling through some mud. Everything is so clear and distinct and yet still homogeneous. I'm just realizing now that I'm listening to a remixed 2008 version. My bad. Leaving my comments. Track 2 to 3 is a fun tone shift. Track 5"Jericho" was super cheesy and the vocals didn't feel right. Ok Track 6 I don't like either. I feel like this album got off to a good start and then started to get cheesy? I really don't like the choruses + the bridge "we're talkin bout money money" in this one.. Track 7 goes back to an overall sound that I like. But the last 2 tracks have definitely soured my experience so far! Track 9, "No Direction" is sweet, it sounds like a Living Colour song. ugh and then Track 10 "Picture Book" i really don't like. "We beseech thee, we beseech thee." I hated having a "Money's Too Tight to mention" reprise. It wasn't great the first time. Yea I didn't love this album.
An example of 80s British Soul - Pop that is bound to the constraints of the genre. While a gifted singer, it isn't enough to make up for the largely uninspired lyrics and lack of uniqueness. Overall, this sounds like so many other artists of the era and unless it was sentimental, it can stay in the past.
There was that one song
This was really boring
Meh
I guess I know that one song. But not sure what I head to hear the rest of the album.
Lame, dated 80s music. Kudos for dissing Ronald Reagan though.
Background Music
Aburrido. Ha envejecido mal. Excepto "Jericho" que sigue siendo una gran canción. 2 estrellas y gracias.
Pop oitentista que apresentou dois hits de fm.
p541. 1985. 2 stars Bland, middle of the road faux jazz/soul, only without the technique or the soul. One massive hit and a lot of filler. Not essential listening. Q. What’s the difference between Simply Red and a bull? A. The bull has the horns at the front and the arsehole at the back
I really like some of the more synthy jazzy prog of the early 80s, but this is just too "doctor's office music" for me. Super elevator-y and unmemorable.
I actually don't mind Simply Red, but this album may not be his best work. Not bad, but not particularly memorable. Stand out tracks: Holding Back the Years.
Mostly awful
Strong start and enjoyable album until it gets a little bit boring halfway through. Overall it's an OK album. It's very 80s.
I disliked this album, but among the 1001 albums, I was missing this type of music. I can't name this style correctly, but it's something like a grew-up millennium child listening to some "Flashback '80s or 70s" album with cover art that is a poster of some movie from the '80s. It's much more a feeling than a musical style, but it was lacking on this list before this album. Nice to listen to it, but 2-stars is my maximum
Hard '80 really don't enjoy the album To mellow and soft. Heaven is the only enjoyable song.
What wrere we thinking, much blander and slower than I remember
Cover art 1/5 Album a two
Simply Red were always one of the bands I said I HATED! All the singles I've heard have been atrocious and headache inducing. I went into Rhos with an open mind, and you know what it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting!
Simply Red
It does instantly make me feel like I'm in high school again. That's not a bad thing. But I don't really love the music - it's just more than a little dull and smooth. Very distinctive singer, not sure if I like it or not, but I'm sure it wouldn't matter - it's just sort of non-memorable. Funny - there are albums I disliked a hell of a lot more than this one but understood why they could be on the list. This one's a mystery. 4/10 2 stars.
Lots of covers... ok, but the mid-80s production is wretched.
Maybe I'm too harsh with this album? I don't know. Just give us better albums and it won't happen again.
Boring. I'm giving a 2 stars just because I know it's a cult album. Pale copie of other artist such more talented. So Beige...
Ehh... pretty middle of the road 80s schlock. Not that great and sounds very dated. 2.5/5
2, was ok but generic
Simply Shite.
It's a good album, and there are a couple of good songs, but just overall not something I enjoy.
Look I listened to it. What more do you want? It's getting 2 instead of 1 because it's not actively offenseive, unless you have to listen to it all the way through like this
I remember a few of their songs. While back then, as I do know, I find their sound overall to be just too syrupy for me, I can appreciate Mick Hucknall's voice. I listened to this album and I was bored for the most part. Although it was played a ton back in the 80s, I was surprised to find I did enjoy "Holding Back The Years". I like the groove and it showcases Mick's voice nicely. When I hear this song, my ear wants a grittier, darker version, and I think that applies to this whole album for me. I'll bet there are some great covers out there.
Started off pretty well, got a bit tedious by the end. Simply Meh
Lacked bops but some nice bits.
There were a couple of good songs, but it was mostly very bland soft rock with generally godawful 80s production with every single worst cliché of that decaee
nähädu, den gubben går inte. det är som att picka sig själv under nageln med en nål
Belangloser Pop-/Disko-Kram. Aber auf hohem Niveau.
This is an actual enigma. It's so bland that I completely forgot every song, every word sung and every note played the second the album ended. I didn't gain or lose anything. Can't decide if this is a 1/5 or a 2/5 - probably like a 1.75, so I'll be generous and round it up.
MOtR
meh
On the cheesy uninteresting side - but it’s got its own sound
I don't think this has aged well
5/10
I don't know Simply Red enough to tell you what music is theirs. Before listening to the album I was pretty sure that I do not like this band. I've heard "Holding Back the Years" many times and I've never liked that track. I listened to the whole album, but it was kind of a slog to get through. It's not bad music, it's just not for me. I wouldn't know who to recommend the album to.
I'm going to be open minded about this record.... but I just cannot like Simply Red, just not interested in 80s soul.
Kolejne wyspiarskie granie, tym razem banda Simply Red rodem z manchesteru, rocznik tego debiutanckiego albumu to 85, a gdyby klasyfikowac gatunkowo to najbardziej pasuje niebieskooki soul po dosc popowej stronie spektrum gatunku, 44 minuty na 10 trakach, gdzie wiekszosc kawalkow miesci sie w 4 minutowym radio pleju tajmie, pomimo tego ze dlugosciowo plyta jest akurat, nie za dluga nie za krotka, to jednak czuje, ze za tydzien juz nie bede pamietal z niej zadnego traczka, zarowno lirycznie plyta niczym nie przyciaga uwagi, instrumentalnie kawalki takie jak sad old red czy jericho grane sa jak cool jazzowe numery, ktore pod tym wzgledem slucha sie dobrze, ale obok nich czuc kontrast bardziej soulowo rokowych numerow jak otwierajacy come to my aid, ktory krzyczy swoimi trumpetami i klawiszami, to sa lata 80, nie potrafie zrozumiec jak banda chciala polaczyc tak dwa rozne style grania na jednym materiale i kto byl zadowolony z finalnego efektu, ze az album znalazl sie na liscie 1001 albumikowej, ale tak juz to jest z wyspiarskimi materialami, na plejaka wrzuuce sobie moneys too tight ktory najlepiej laczy dwa swiaty plyty w jednym traczku, takie zdziwienie dlaczego ten traczek tak rozni sie lirycznie od reszty materialu, a okazuje sie, ze jest to cover murzynskiego soulowego kawalka od the valentine brothers z 70s, wiec pan Hucknall, ktory jest tutaj glownym wokalem i klawiszami jest tak bialy, ze tego pietno jest odczuwalne na liryce tej plyty, z ciekawostej jeden traczek pisany byl przez pana Bryne z Talking Heads, to jest heaven, ktory rowniez pasuje tutaj jak piesc do nosa, im dluzej sie tej plyty slucha tym gorzej chce sie ja oceniac, wiec koncze ten wymeczony odsluch
Wat een aalgladde shit is dit toch met die simpele rooie zanger! Wel in Blaricum opgenomen dit album, lees ik net. Helpt geen zak.
Best leuk die Simply Red, maar snap nu waarom ik niet een heel album volhoud. Veel te glad allemaal! En van die stem moet je echt houden.
Op de hitjes na loop ik hier niet heel warm voor.
En dan ben ik nog mild. Ik vind Simply Red echt verschrikkelijk, komt door die neuzelige stem.
Mostly inoffensive. First half much better than the later tracks, which drag this down from being middle-of-the-road.