Idlewild

Sounds a bit crude, but that’s the appeal.

so so

I was pleasantly surprised by Walking Wounded, the other Everything But The Girl album on the list, so I had high hopes for this album. Idlewild however, was a bit more like I expected. A bit bland and middle of the road. I didn't dislike it, but it didn't really do much for me either.

Not terrible melancholic music. I get why some people say it’s too cheesy. Maybe I’m just partial to that.

Love Tracey Thorn's voice. Shades of 10,000 Maniacs and Cowboy Junkies. This is one of those albums that I suspect if I'd heard at just the right time in my life would have been a favourite.

Fint!

if the 80’s where a song:

#71/1001🇬🇧 I like EBTG, this record whilst being new to my ears is no real suprise stylisticly. Well crafted pop songs with great lyrics and a soulful, folky tinge. Best Tracks: Shadow on a Harvest Moon, Oxford Street, I don't want to Talk About it, Apron Strings.

5/10

I’m giving this album an extra star because of Tracey Thorn’s rich, gorgeous vocals, but it’s not a great album. It’s very slow and the instrumentals are heavy on the 80’s cheese factor (sax & synths on easy listening mode). Its a pleasant album, but lacks punch. I think Everything But the Girl found their groove once they discovered electronica.

I know I’ve heard of Everything But The Girl, I think they’re indie rock, probably. I see they’re a duo. I’m going in with an open mind, but still a bit tentative. Our good friends at Wikipedia list their genre as sophisti-pop. That’s great. Track 1 is I Don’t Want To Talk About It and it’s a cover song because I know I’ve heard it before, just not this version. I think I’ve heard the Rod Stewart version because if anyone knows anything about me, they know I love Rod. Anyway, this song is just an acoustic guitar with a bit of a country flair and some strings. It’s quite beautiful. The band is made up of Tracey Thorn, the lead vocalist, and Ben Watt, who plays the guitar, backing vocals, and occasionally lead vocals. Both are composers and songwriters. Though they didn’t write this song because Danny Whitten did. However, it’s still a very beautiful way to open this 12-track, 45-minute album. So far, I’m down. Track 2 is Love Is Here Where I Live and I now get the term sophisti-pop. This is very adult-oriented pop music. Not pornographic, but this isn’t made for teens and college-age kids, at least I wouldn’t think so. This is for a Sade crowd. The album came out in 1988, and it has a bit of that 80s sound with it. This song has some soul, and beyond the great guitar playing, the piano really holds everything together. The bass playing is also making with the sexy on this track. Thorn can sing. Wow, I really like this song. This and I Don’t Want To Talk About It were two of the four singles off this album. Though it seems none of the singles really made a dent in the U.S. charts. I Don’t Want To Talk About It was a minor hit in the United Kingdom. Track 3 is These Early Days and it was the first single off the album. It’s more up-tempo and more 80s-sounding. I’ve got to say, this and track 1 really give me a late 80s/90s country music vibe. I think it’s Thorn's voice and the duo’s harmonies. They’re kind of southern tinged. I like this song too. I’m shocked. Track 4 is I Always Was Your Girl and it’s super-80s sounding. It was also the second single off the album. We’re back to a bit of a slower tempo. The music is very subdued. It’s like it’s holding back. Reminds me of someone approaching a wild animal very slowly, not wanting to scare it. I’m weird. Here comes a sax solo? An alto sax at that! The song closes with a sax solo. The younger Lee would have hated this, at least outwardly. I wouldn’t have been confident enough to say I liked this, mostly because I was unsophisticated. Huh? See what I did there? Track 5 is Oxford Street, and it’s about the teenage years of Thorn. It’s a very melancholy song as she had good times, but realizes those times are gone, and the future is never quite what we thought it would be. Beautiful song, very keyboard-heavy, 80s sound. Track 6 is The Night I Heard Caruso Sing and it's the first song with Watt on lead vocals. He has a Morrissey-sounding voice. Just him and a piano. Another melancholy song about how much evil and wrong there is in the world, and how you need to cherish your loved ones and hold on to them. OR maybe not. These popsters are deep. Track 6 is Goodbye Sunday and it reminds me of The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, at least the music does. I hate that song, but Goodbye Sunday is really good, very yacht rock sounding. Why wasn’t this band bigger? Was everybody embarrassed to admit they liked them? Track 8 is Shadow on a Harvest Moon and we have our first appearance of a trumpet. This song,again, is a slower tempo and reminds me of late 80s/90s country music. I wonder if Watt was a fan of country guitar picking. He’s a great player. I’m not sure if all the songs are sad, but they sound like it. I guess I’m in the mood for some melancholia in my life. Track 9 is Blue Moon Rose, and I finally figured out who Thorn sounds like, it's Crystal Gayle. Maybe that’s why I’m getting a country feel from the music. Another great song with the piano really keeping you hooked in. This one is more up-tempo. I don’t think I’ve heard a clunker on this album yet. Track 10 is Tears All Over Town, and I feel like i’ve heard this song before. Though it's not a single. Maybe this is the song that sounds the most 80s of all the songs on the album. Because it does. Good song, but this has been the first song that sounds derivative of the whole scene back then. Track 11 is Lonsome For a Place I Know and it has a nice warm organ playing throughout. It also has the stereotypical Take My Breath Away 80s bass in it. Normally, I hate that bass sound, but the rest of the song is so good, I’ll give it a pass. Damn, track 12 is called Apron Strings, and it’s a song about wanting a child, but maybe not being able to have one. Or maybe it’s about wanting a child with an ex who has moved on with someone else and now has a child. It may be the saddest song on the whole album. But it’s so good. I was blown away by this album, or maybe I’m blown away by how much I loved this album. It’s weird, though. There’s nothing especially ground-breaking or historic about this album. It’s just an 80s pop record with a ton of sad songs. Maybe it’s because it deals with more sophisticated issues. See? Sophisti-pop. Whatever the case, I love this album, and if you’re a fan of pop music or 80s music, I think you’d like it too. The big question is, is it a must-listen album? As much as I loved it, I can see people thinking I’m crazy and I’ve overhyped it. I just may be in a mood for sad, more adult-themed music. Oh no, am I maturing?!? Let’s hope not.

kind of just sounds like less inspired sade. i still liked it a lot tho, love me some jazz pop

I thought this was really solid, if a little repetitive. High 3

I like Tracey's voice and the 90's

It utterly blows my mind just how much Everything But The Girl continuously gets slept on while other Sophisti-Pop artists like Sade, Prefab Sprout, and even a more modern pick like Blood Orange all get their flowers. I wouldn't call Idlewild their best work by any means but it is still an extremely charming (and slightly cheesy) piece from the group. My rating of this album may be skewed due to myself accidentally really fitting the mood of this album by sipping wine and sitting in a dimly lit cafe as the sweet serenading vocals of Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt sooth my eardrums. This feels like the soundtrack to a very over the top romantic montage in a Rom-Com film or even a slightly overpriced night out for an anniversary as the sounds here really scream romance but not in some typical Careless Whisper kind of way. This project doesn't do anything necessarily special or even noteworthy, but it is enjoyable at the end of the day and I can appreciate the simplicity of this project and how soft its' overall approach is for the audience. Not an album I think everyone will enjoy as much as myself, but it is yet another cool addition to EBTG's discography.

Inoffesive and a pleasant listen, but is that enough to be on the 1001 list? I think not.

Thought I was going to hate this but, although it might be overly mellow, samey and bland, it's somehow strangely enjoyable also. Perhaps I am just desperate after two weeks of dodgy albums.

Another one I doubted I'd like, assuming it would be dated 80s electronic-ish pop, but it was ... nice. Usually didn't feel dated, (even a song like These Early Days, with electronic drums that do recall the 80s, or the synths in I Always Was Your Girl, feel more like a throwback 80s touch from 21st century music) and it has more in common with Sade than 80s brit pop. Jazz elements, nice songrwriting, I think her unadorned vocals are ... nice. Never annoying, but not really sure it was ever more than a background for me. 3.5/5

Gorgeous lyrics, but boring melodies

Неплохой чилловый альбом

not my type of music but ok for background

Good

Thought it was actually a pretty relaxing listen. It does all blend together but it works for me. Likes: These Early Days, Goodbye Sunday, Blue Moon Rose,

3.5

I remember liking this one a little more than I did this time around. SAD. It's solid though.

6/10

Nice surprise

Not the kind of music I usually enjoy but it was good. Soft and melancholic. 3/5

- vocals are so beautiful - i am a big fan of the chord picking in i dont want to talk about it - i love the sax in the night i heard caruso sing

Bit boring at times and not a huge fan of the 80's sound but overall it's a beautiful album

Lush sounding pop music with engaging tales of bedsit romance.

Okay.

Enjoyable, nice calming music

No. 365/1001 I Don't Want to Talk About It 3/5 Love Is Here Where I Live 4/5 These Early Days 4/5 I Always Was Your Girl 4/5 Oxford Street 3/5 The Night I Heard Caruso Sing 3/5 Goodbye Sunday 3/5 Shadow on a Harvest Moon 3/5 Blue Moon Rose 4/5 Tears All Over Town 3/5 Lonesome for a Place I Know 4/5 Apron Strings 3/5 Average: 3,42 She has a great voice. Pretty easy listen, that is good on the ears. But musically the songs don't have a lot of variety.

Pleasant enough. RYM: N Saved a song: N

Rauhallista, vois sanoa vähän herkkääkin poppia. Perus kivan kuuloista, kivan tunnelmallista. Parhaat: These Early Days, The Night I Heard Caruso Sing, Lonesome for a Place I Know

2/5 Was okay

Don't know much about the band. This album feels a bit like smooth jazz. I see connections to Sade (Smooth Operator was 4 years earlier). "I don't want to talk about it" is the top song, and it's a cover. Besides that, the only song that stood out to me is "The Night I Heard Caruso Sing", which is interesting because in general I love her voice but that particular song is led by the guy (but has fantastic harmonies).

Too competent to dislike, but too dated ro get excited about. Some nice sax in there.

Solid 3

Alright

Not my cup of tea at all sadly, I can see why people like it, but I feel their later work is better.

Pretty but shit

367/1089 - Mildly pleasant but only one of the songs "Goodbye Sunday" stood out to me. I wasn't convinced by the acoustic instrumentation with the drum machines, would rather have it the other way around I guess. For this type of music I'd rather listen to Sting or Sade which has a bit more groove and energy. I am looking forward to generating Massive Attack on which she sings some songs. Mezzanine should be on the list, that's their best one!

htela sam da pisem utiske kad zavrsim ali krenuo je saksofon u pesmi i to sam prosto morala da zabelezim. i njen glas me iz nekog razloga podseca na fionu apple. opet saksofon (palac nagore). jako lep i prijatan album, bas me je opustio. mnogo postujem umetnike koji prave skoro sami svoju muziku i to je slucaj za ovaj duo, produkcija je super, miks je super, pevanje je prelepo bukvalno, pevaju o svemu i svacemu, ljubavi, prijateljstvu, engleskoj lol, veoma raznoliko, mada sto se tice zvuka i vajba, sve vreme je nekako ista energija, nema nekih dinamickih momenata ili velike razlike medju pesmama sto bih rekla da je najveca mana albuma, ali sem toga veoma veoma fin album! zanr je neki sophisti-pop sta god to bilo, svakako veoma osamdesete.

A struggling 3. The vocals here are the absolute anchor. It’s a very specific kind of mood, though. You almost need to be lying horizontal to really get it. It’s pleasant, gentle, and undemanding. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - I Don't Want to Talk About It - The Night I Heard Caruso Sing - Apron Strings

3.5 Enjoyed and maybe it is just what I needed today (01/19/26)

Again, a fine album, but nothing I'm going to listen to again

Nothing revolutionary. Moody nice music. Big thumbs up for me.

Lovely vocals. Just wish I liked the style more. Makes for a nice soundtrack to something positively reflective, but not the music I was in the mood for today.

Anne Murray-like voice, and the best songs are when she’s singing with just a guitar or piano; unfortunately, several songs add electronic percussion and ruin the music. Just pay for a few musicians!

Lovely voice. Competent, but boring music.

Kivaa, sivistynyttä pop-musiikkia.

good album

It’s easy to hate on easy listening, but there wasn’t anything too bad about this. 2.5/5

Easy listening, sounds nice and smooth but not so consistent that it gets bland, pleasant listen

Good album to go to sleep to.

Very soft and whimsical. Not what I would typically listen to, but I don’t dislike it. It’s just not something I would return to with intention. Decent enough though.

A little boring, but decent music overall

i dont careeeeeeeee

good but boring

I liked the acoustic and piano sounds in this; another background dinner party album though

Not much to say

7.3

Nice background music.

Hmm.. nice vocals and instrumentals, but do i want to listen to this album again? I do not think so.

Soft and pretty.

A pleasant album for sure. Nice voice from the lady. Not the greatest album of all time, but happy I got to listen to this one.

Perfectly good singing and easy listening. Was very pleasant.

Sure! not terrible. A bit watery

Favorite Track: I Don’t Want to Talk About It

Muy chulo. Las dreamy vibes lo convierten en una experiencia agradable.

Super easy listening

Tracey Thorn has a clear and powerful voice. Very pleasant to listen to. I'm not sure why it conjures images of quiet shopping malls, or being in the clearance section of a Macy's - maybe it played over the speakers while I was waiting for my mom to finish trying on shoes. The album sounds like one long memory. Very dreamy.

Fine enough songs. Much prefer Walking Wounded

Great start. Its very peaceful I like the style but needs attention to be valued. The group seems crazy though with a very long career and changes in sounds definitely one to sus out more

I liked this!

Pleasant little adult contemporary (80sish) easy listening sometimes folksy album. Nothing stands out, apparently a big deal in Britain. According to Spotify their biggest hits came from other records. Very chill.

Love Tracy’s voice.

2.5

Its not on this album, but I loved their song "Missing", and it was odd coming into this knowing I recognized her voice from somewhere. Her voice is the best part of this, really. 3/5

Not bad.

Ihan leppoisaa rallattelua. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The opening track is a classic but generally I’ve found EBTG fine background music but they aren’t really my thing. My favourite track of theirs is from a few years later from this album when Todd Terry remixed Missing. Overall fine.

Если это и попса, то за неё не стыдно. Музыка для фона.

Does this need to be on the list? Surely not, but I thought it was very pleasant and relaxing, if unadventurous. It strays to the edge of cheesiness but I don’t think it ever quite gets there. Best song: Tears All Over Town

Perfectly nice to listen to without being life changing

Pretty good sound

I don't want to talk about it is an excellent song that we didn't realise was on this album. Very chill easy Sunday vibes.

This is so 80s. Slow-dance music. Nothing amazing, but not bad

Passer fint på en søndag. Behagelig musikk som er fin å roe ned med.

Not bad, cheesy but nice to listen to.

not for me

its good, enjoyed it. but nothing crazy

Generic late-80's ballad snoozefest with insufficient sax.

O vocal da mulher é bem melhor do que o do homem As músicas são meio longas pra um álbum de pop Tem um negócio meio jazz que é legal 1ª metade mais legal que a 2ª Sintetizadores maneirinhos

80s smooth jazz should be something I despise yet I found myself quite enjoying this album in parts. Got Morrisey vibes throughout (especially Lonesome) and not just from the album cover. The opening Rod Stewart cover was great fair play. Decent if not exceptional.

grooviger 90er-sound, starke stimme. aber auch schnulzig. trotzdem: mal was anderes, wenn man EBTG vor allem für Missing kennt.

Schöne Popmusik.

This was a bit bland, jazzy and inoffensive, but not something I'll come back to. 2.5

Correcto

Chill and laid back with a good voice to boot. The production wasn’t bad but every next song makes what was good about the one before boring and predictable. Couldn’t pick out a favorite but listening to this in the bg wouldn’t want me peel my skin off. Which is worth a lot

Meh

I wasn't in the mood for this. I liked a few of the songs, and especially the cheesy 80's soundtrack vibe from one towards the end of the album. But I didn't care enough to go back and check which one. 3

Meh.

Yes, I know they're whimsical when it full on folk mood. But sometimes, that's just what I want. Along with endless cups of tea. Idelwild hit the spot for my whimsical needs this morning.

It's better than I remember it but I think this is easily the least of their four 80s albums. Each album has its own distinct sound but this one is the most tentative as Ben Watt begins to noodle with synths and drum machines. The Wikipedia entry even includes a section from Tracey Thorn's memoir that accepts that many of these songs don't really have choruses. Which can be cool if your arrangements are more interesting or your lyrics are more captivating. There's better tunes, better arrangements and way more affecting lyrics on each of their previous three. Skip this and listen to one of those instead.

Man, the people were right. Idlewild is the worst Outkast album! Why are there two Everything But The Girl albums on this list? Why?! They're not bad, but in no world do they have two albums important enough to be on a list like this. Walking Wounded? Sure. We can keep that one. It's pretty good and I don't mind the band being present with one album. It also gives trip-hop more representation, which I welcome. Idlewild? It's another fucking sophisti-pop album! I've gotten like 5 of these in the past month and a half! Nothing about this album is bad, but nothing is interesting or unique either. The sound is pleasant, almost a little too pleasant. I wouldn't quite say that myself, but people have said that about this album for a reason. Tracey Thorn's singing is nice, but I also feel like it fits the other album more. The writing just kind of does its job. None of the songs are bad, but they kind of blend in together a bit. I like this album, sure. However, I don't really see what's special about it specifically. Like, what does this album provide that I don't get out of better albums that I've gotten in the past month and a half like Diamond Life or, hell, even Steve McQueen? And of course, I have to bring up the fact that Walking Wounded is the better Everything But The Girl album on the list. Idlewild isn't a bad listen, but it's also not an interesting one. Maybe I'd like it more if it was the only album they had on the list. High 3/5.

Legalzinho. Lembra rumours, mas piorado

Oh God. I wanted to like this so badly. And I was grooving with the soft guitars and ballads but the middle of the album was such a slog to get through for some reason.

Mellow sophist-pop which veers towards jazz at times. Nice cover of I Don't Want To Talk About it. Has a small club feel to the album and is an easy listen with Thorn's voice at its most melodic

A little boring, nothing special

Easy listening. Nothing to love, nothing to hate. One of the most 3est 3s that’s ever 3ed.

I listened to this. Simpsons: No

This is the better of the two albums on here.

Enjoyed the vocals , fun instrumentals here and there … chill vibes

Not my thing but it's nostalgic

The Good: We are made aware that what we are listening to is “everything but the girl” The Bad: We are being lied to… The Ugly: Lies will make our noses grow… Familiar with the bandname, unfamiliar with their music, except for, one other two songs that I probably heard while also hearing the bandname being mentioned… and notice that it’s bandname, not band name, just like the title of the album. Does the singer have a nice voice? Yes. Are there issues with the arrangements? No. Did the album irritate? No. Was I looking at the album cover thinking that this band was a side project for Morrissey? Yes! Will I listen to this album again? Probably not… However, maybe out of curiosity… 2 1/2*

i actually really enjoyed most of this album. i could listen to it without skipping any of the songs, but it’s also boring as shit. would never take pride in enjoying this, because it feels like lukewarm coffee

Enjoyed the vibe.

pretty good prob won’t listen again

These songs were played at every prom in 1988, which I love as a vibe.

So mellow. So chill. Peak 80s smooth rock.

Easy listening.

I wasn't really sold on this in the first half, but the back half of the album was pretty good. Standouts Lonesome for a Place I Know Apron Strings 3/4

It is crazy that a "1 hit wonder" has 2 albums on this list, and neither of them have their one hit. Anyways, Protection is one of my favorite Massive Attack songs, but I had no idea who Tracy Thorne was for the longest time. This album sounds good, not great, but good. She has a nice voice, but the songs are a little generic. Mid 3.

Pretty, but boring

Nice enough.

Pleasant enough.

Very smooth listening, and great chill background music, but nothing really stood out.

Was good, not great. Maybe I just wasn't feeling the vibes right. Best song: Love Is Here Where I Live Notable(s): I Don't Want to Talk About It

More mellow than I remembered.

I listened to this on a summer drive in Florida with my mom and daughter on vacation. We all agreed it was “nice” to listen to, but it didn’t fit the setting at all. This is a perfect rainy Sunday morning album. It’s very samey and calming. But it’s not a car drive record at all. I’m certain had I listened alone on my AirPods I’d have fallen asleep. I’m not sure how you rate an album that feels like it needs a very specific setting for it to really work. I’m thinking it’s a 3.5 that I’ll lower to 3.

Very laid back and mellow, a little dull in places

En andra platta på listan med detta band är åtminstone en för mycket. Okej album trots allt.

Not my thing. But also didnt hate it. Very low 3

joo ei tämäkään pippeliäni imeskellyt muttasnoin laitetaan kolmosta kehään se on jo päätetty koska emtt.. kun kaikkki on paskaa niin vähemmän haiseva hevosenpaska on parempaa kuin iuiu kissanpaska. tämä hevosen lantaa.. sentään voidaan viljellä jos tarttee..uskomattoman energianpitoista lantaa, vitusti carbs.. mut kannattaako vermikompostoida? emt vittu.. miks multa kysyt miks kysyyt miks kysyyyt miks kyyystyyyyt??? hyvä lesbo bändi kuitenki aijaha yks näistä on mies... noh heteroseksi ei meikäläisen hakulaitetta viritä joten sinne meni sekin huvi... kalliit on huvit nykyään 3,95 sanoi pikkutyttö ja ojensi limonaadia. vedin vittu turpaan. i dont want to talk about it

So this is an ok album, auite good to have it on the background but mostly forgettable. While the production is good and pleasant most of the rracks sound the same and there is not much that Tracey can do with her performance to highlight the lyrics. . I will give 3 out of 5 but it shoukd be 2.5. And I dont understand why this album.is in this selection if there is another album of the band. Why is this in the list and huge pop changing albuns like Spice Girls Spice isn't???

Best Track - "Blue Moon Rose"

I’m really happy I got this album today. Not because I think it’s great or anything. But because I’m having one of those days where shit happens and I could use a completely inoffensive, middle-of-the-road, safe album. Nothing sucks more than getting your favorite album here on one of your bad days. Ok, snark aside, this is alright. I have a soft spot for soft 80’s cheese and Tracey’s got a remarkable voice. But this really pushes on being really bland. It really has no business being on the list at all. There’s nothing of value that demands it to be listened to. Just a very average 80’s album. With Tracey’s voice, it just kind of feels like lost potential. Favorite track: Love Is Here Where I Live Other hits: I Always Was Your Girl, Shadow on a Harvest Moon, Apron Strings, Oxford Street

I like the sounds of the '80s sound of synthesizer.

En ehkä jaksa levyllistä balladeja. Saksofoni on imelä, muttei onneksi liian. Ihan keskikastia. Aika hellyttäviä sanoituksia. Sympatiapisteet nostaa kolmoseen.

Reminded me of shopping at KMart in the 90s. Completely inoffensive. Very nice Autumn morning music. But kind of one-note and unexciting.

Not their best, bit cheesy, but it's still Tracy thorn so I'm happy

Um... I thought for a second there that maybe I had heard this back in the day, but I don't think so actually. It isn't bad or really even all that dated. it is maybe just obscure. I suppose as far as the front table and the seats in the back are concerned this band would be somewhere in the middle section. I think that this might have held true even back in the day when they were a "thing." That would explain why a college radio alternative nut would not know them. With that said, there is nothing unpleasant or unworthy in listening. The lead singer eventually gets in and I like her voice. Maybe it is just as a package there is nothing super memorable to point out? IDK. It is OK.

Lovely, lyrical and transportive to the 80s. Really no one sounded like them. This album doesn't even feature "Missing" but it doesn't matter. The songs are jazzy, melancholy, poppy, a one-of-a-kind stew. I often don't think I'll like listening to EBTG but I'm always drawn in.

I liked this a lot at the beginning but it blurred together at the end. Plus, I don’t feel like it’s all that unique compared to other releases around this time.

Not as good as I hoped. I enjoy Everything But the Girl, but this felt kind of boring. The only saving grace was Tracey Thorn’s voice.

Fine.

...

Did you know that monday means sunday is over?

I was confused why you guys hated this album so much but by the time they got to the 25th “every Monday is goodbye Sunday” I started to understand

Yes, I've shit on Everything But the Girl before in the past. Heck, I gave one of their records a 10/100. That's tied for my 6th lowest rated album ever so far. That's pretty fucking low for a softy like me. But I found this album to actually be pretty enjoyable. It does drag a lot and the lyricism is still pretty meh but I expected to like this way way less. I like the added bonus track on the reissue version of this album a lot too. Actually, that might have been my favorite if it was on this. Favs: Love is Where I Live, These Early Days, I Always Was Your Girl Least fav: Goodbye Sunday

Actually a little easier to listen to than I thought. Nothing Id really try to come back for. Ill go up from 2.5.

Hmm this is pretty....

Lovely. Long live 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱

7/10 Decent album about all kinds of love and relationship struggles. Past lovers, new lovers, family, childhood Favorite Tracks: Love Is Here Where I Live, Oxford Street

aggressively fine

I really love Tracey Thorn's voice and it's paired with some quite lovely music, but this just isn't really an album for me.

Lovely background music, which is itself both a pro and a con in my book. I previously thought this group only recorded moody electronic music.

A banda e o disco são muito bons, faltou visibilidade.

extremely bland. nothing bad but nothing really interesting. some cool saxophone here and there

It's ok but too much "jazz pop", ok to listen to but nothing special.

I first heard about this band in a Todd in the Shadows review and remember enjoying the song he clipped, and remember it sounding trip-hoppy, but other than that track, everything I've heard from this band sounds like this record. So yeah, I went in originally (Not for this record but the band in general) expecting a trip-hop vibe and I definitely did not get it, haha. This music wouldn't sound out of place as waiting music or in a soap opera. That isn't to say those are criticisms of the music, that's just the fact of the matter. I will say, the amount of 1's this record is getting in the reviews both surprise me, and don't. In no universe is this a 1/5 record, it's just too good. The sheer quality of the songwriting is amazing, so many great little ideas, licks, bass notes, etc. all over this thing. But on the other hand, the amount of 1/5s does not surprise me at all in the sense it reminds me that it's sometimes a bigger crime to be boring than it is to be bad. Because at least with bad, you have something to talk about, to have fun with ripping into something. With something that's boring, even talking about it is boring (Although there are some good one liners in the reviews. I liked the "Everything But The Tunes" one). That said, I don't think this record is necessarily boring, it's just a victim of it's style. There's no real upbeat song to engage the listener, and it quickly becomes background music. Every last track on this album is a slow ballad, with maybe a tune or two evoking a slight tropical vibe to get you out of the dirge of feeling like you're listening to the credits of Days of Our Lives. For my tastes, this is a 3/5. It's not something I'd ever go back to, or the type of music I'd ever listen to, but it's just too good to be getting all these 1s and 2s. There's too many unique, little ideas in every song. Definitely one of those, if this were up my alley, it'd be an *exquisite* record type situations. For what it is, it is damn near perfect, just not my vibe personally. (I'll reserve my opinion for when I get the other EBTG album on the generator, but one record from them feels enough, haha. Lastly, shoutout to the name Everything But The Girl. That's a great name for a band). Edit: I'm an idiot, and the Todd in the Shadows review was about EBTG (originally thought he mentioned them in passing). Also an idiot in that the song, Missing, is not trip hop, and its closer to a 90s EDM type thing, although Todd does compare it to Trip Hop even though it really isn't.

Good background album

Appreciate the musicianship and quality production, bright and vibrant. But this sophisti-pop genre is not my cup of tea.

I’ve never listened to early Everything But The Girl, I did recognise some tracks. It was an ok album

I liked the overall sound of this one.

2.5 rounded up because their top Spotify songs are actually bangers. It was just a little too one note sounding for me.

I suppose that, whilst I do appreciate and value EBTG, I've never been mad on them; they never excited me much. I'm fond of them, I guess. Saying that, this album was new to me. The "sophistipop" label on Wiki isn't wrong; this is a very polished album. Really nice songs, but a bit like something I'd put on in the background if I didn't want to offend anyone. I found the song about Caruso and Apron Strings most affecting, which were the most stripped-back. I liked Tracey Thorn in The Marine Girls; she maybe just got a bit serious (and "sophisti") for my personal taste, although her voice is beautiful. Quality and talent, just not really for me.

Decent

Not a bad album, but not a group for me.

Sophisticated pop. Some it is quite nice, but none of it is as memorable as their later trip-hop incarnation.

3 stars

DNF

At first I thought: a little too clean, low energy, some pop clichés like the smoky sax solos and drum programming. But some of these songs were really touching, clever, and they really sound good even if it's not my favorite style. Tracy Thorne's has a lush, expressive voice. Enjoyable easy listening, kinda jazzy (I guess). Just the opposite of challenging. Pretty good.

Ósköp þægilegt eitís en alls ekki ein af þúsund bestu plötum sögunnar.

This album is getting a lot of hate, but honestly, it's got some nice pop to digest. It's pretty good sounding new wave in an era where there was a lot of noise clutter. Some of the synth work is lame, but the songs that don't rely on it, like Blue Moon Rose and Love is Here Where I Live are easily the best parts. There's also a suprising amount of groove in some of these songs, much more than some lesser new wave. Good album from a mediocre genre.

舒服溫柔

Overall, a very pleasant listen, but nothing that stands out from all of its contemporaries apart from some solid two-part harmonies. These songs lack substance or excitement. The singing and atmosphere are good enough to partially justify it, but the fact still remains that having twelve tracks with (roughly) the same tempo and combination of instruments is not enough to make for a "great" record. An album is more than just a collection of songs - it needs to make some kind of statement or musical impact to achieve bigger and better things than the thousands of other artists fighting for a handhold in the savage music industry. Two harmonising vocalists, acoustic guitar, electric keyboard (usually on a "synth" setting), and extremely simple drum percussion. The presence of balladesque piano in The Night I Heard Caruso Sing is unexpected and refreshing, making the track a standout. The opening track/lead single, I Don't Want to Talk About It, is also a really solid track - though it kind of dictates the feel of the rest of the album (which sounds generally the same). The soft acoustic arpeggios are soothing, a bit ethereal even, when combined with strings. I'm glad strings weren't particularly overused in this album. In fact, I think they could've been incorporated even more, with more complex arrangements and experimentation. The bass-percussion interaction in Oxford Street also makes that song a standout, cancelling out the bad-sounding 80s production. 3/5 Key tracks: I Don't Want to Talk About It, Oxford Street, The Night I Heard Caruso Sing

okay but didn't interest me much

It’s good but doesn’t change things up enough throughout its runtime. Love the saxophone playing here and the vocals are all great. Far from the Everything But the Girl that I’m familiar with.

I think this is very much a location based album. It probably didn’t make it across the pond but was hugely important in the UK in the 80s. I was never particularly a fan of sophisti-pop or that neo Jazz that was all over the place à la Style Council. I actually really like the people behind it, Ben and Tracey - they have a great backstory and always interviewed really well - they’re sweet and humble but their music, barring a few dance tracks never particularly grabbed me. Ben Watt did open a nightclub - Cherry Jam - round the corner from my house in the early 2000s and I went there a couple of times. I quite enjoyed that. I also had a few friends in the 80s who played this album non-stop, so it kind of found an alcove in my nostalgia armoire. And Tracey’s voice is very distinctive- check out Missing from 1994 - that’s a good track!

Meh, more 80's music that I am unable to differentiate from other 80's music. I feel like it should be two stars, but I can't say anything bad about it. I just don't care if I ever hear it again.

Once again people on here are overreacting to a totally passable album. Not everything can be a big epic Led Zeppelin or Beatles album. This is a perfectly good album. Its light and airy and Tracey Thorn's vocals are quite beautiful. What's there to dislike about this? Favorite track: Love Is Here Where I Live

Романтичные 80е, в начале было скучновато, но к концу вроде поинтереснее. В целом приятный ненапряжный альбом.

A very nice record. Great vocals, very good production. Bass playing is great. Very 80's in a good way. Every song so far has nice point to it . Favorite so far is 2, 5 especially 7. 9 11 good. Good ballad ending with 12. Overall a sweet and good time record. I liket it and it helped me relax a bit today.

I like EBTG but this album is a bit of a yawn fest...

Kiinnostava ja monipuolinen levy sovituksiltaan. 3.5/5

I've read Tracy Thorn's memoir (recommended) but haven't actually listened to much outside of the obvious tracks. I think of them as indie-ish, so I totally wasn't expecting the album to sound like Sade! Thorn's voice is great, and I love when she's a guest on other stuff, but not sure I'd return to the album itself.

Nice band and great voice, but slightly boring and too downtempo/minimalistic for me. I knew the band only from the song Missing, like probably moat of the people here. Their discography seem to be much more diverse, but ultimately really not in my style.

7/10. The vocals are quite pleasant. However, the overall vibe felt a bit too beige for me, personally. It is pleasant, but also fairly boring.

A win for minimalist production. A loss though because I did not love this as much as gideon

It’s okay. Nothing stood out.

A new genre for me

I liked this, not as dark as I thought it would be, Tracey's vocals are great. I wasn't expecting an anti-war song about nuclear submarines in Scotland (The Night I Heard Caruso Sing), beautiful stuff. It gets a bonus point for making me cry, so a 3 from me

Was about to hit the roof when i realised that this started with a cover but then looked at the original track listing and that wasn't on it. Dizzy highs but some bits a bit dull

So… I appreciate anything from the 80s that doesn’t sound like the set of The Wedding Singer, but this is what I imagine the voice accompaniment to that elevator music they used to pump through Dillard’s might sound like.

Bland. But 1) one of my favourite bags in the world. 2) was the wedge which opened my life to good music

7/10

норм

Eh, it was fine. I liked Tracey's voice a lot, didn't much care for any tracks Ben was singing on.

2.75

Tracey Thorn's voice is lovely, but it instantly makes me think of Massive Attack's "Protection" and then I realize I'd much rather be listening to trip-hop than sophisti-pop. 😒 Much prefer their other, later, album on this list, where they have indeed moved in that direction. Fave tracks - uh, "Goodbye Sunday" maybe? "Tears All Over Town"? 🤷

Fav: Blue Moon Rose Least Fav: The Night I Heard Caruso Sing Whilst this was the better of the two, how have they got two albums on this list, not to mention the countless Tracey Thorn feature jumpscares on other albums

Phew, how cloying and boring. Even Tracey Thorn's good voice didn't make a difference. I didn't have to listen to this album and won't do so again. 3/5

"Sophisti-pop"... Look, I hate to pre-emptively judge an album by its genre, especially because I doubt these two were actively aiming to make it, but goodness me, if I ain't never seen a genre name so up its own ass. To me, it evokes, like... Assholes, honestly. Both the psh, snobbish asshole musicians who think what they're making is **so much better** than "regular pop," and the snooty, elitist asshole critics who agree with them. I think only IDM clears it as a more "Oh, stop sniffing your own turds" name. And, look, I'm not judgemental enough to assume that's who Everything But The Girl is. I mean, I've seen Todd In The Shadows's One Hit Wonderland on them and "Missing"; I know this for a **fact**. But I can't lie to you, seeing this album labelled as "sophisti-pop" already leaves me expecting a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, it's not like I was too big a fan of the last "sophisti-pop" album my group got (PICTURE BOOK by Simply Red, who I also dinged as a One Hit Wonderland subject), so... And actually listening to the album doesn't really do much. Sure, it does prove itself to not be as teeth-gratingly elite as I was worried it'd be, but it's not like it's any more interesting beyond that. It's chill, it's jazzy, it's atmospheric, and normally I'd be really down for all of those things, but... Gosh, I'unno. There's just something about the way it's all done here that causes the album to hit a bit of a wrong note for me. It's not nothing, clearly. Tracey Thorn has a really nice voice. It's, like, a third to a half of the reason why "Missing" is so good. I won't deny that. But as for the rest of it... I mean, I'm just trying to imagine this album soundtracing some part of my day, right? And it— I can't picture where exactly it would fit. Not while I'm making art, not while I'm doing dishes or cleaning, not while I'm taking the dog out, not while I'm reading... Not even when I'm listening to music for its own sake. Not unless I'm tryna listen to something to feel smart. It's wallpaper, and I don't begrudge it for that, but it's just not the right kind of wallpaper for me. It's... Honestly, it's just too sophisticated for me. There's not even a sick dance beat under any of it to keep me engaged. Still, all said, I'm not so much of a jerk that I'll give it less than a 3. It's not bad; it's perfectly fine. It's still nicely chill and synthy. It's just not something I'd really reach for outside of partaking in this Randomizer. Like, this album is a really nice piece of fine art — but I just don't have much use for it next to my framed Beatles photos and LOVE LIVE! posters stuck to the wall with blue putty. Pass it on to someone else; they might get more of it than I could.

Some are boring. Some are good.

Kinda chill, kinda cute, I didn’t pay much attention to anything contextual. Even still; I liked their other album better

This is ok, bit not particularly memorable; I prefer their later stuff that's more electronic; I'd put Walking Wounded on the list over this. Their recent album was pretty great too.

Seemingly little range across this album.

I mean they sound really nice, production is great, overall sound is really solid. Every song has a very similar vibe though which just kinda makes the album drag a bit. Not really my jam but they sound nice so if you like them good for you.

I don't particularly love the vocal tones here which is the most important factor in music for me...

Non mi ispirava affatto poi ho letto tutte le recensioni negative e ho pensato “lo devo ascoltare” e wow, perché ha fatto schifo a tutti? È caruccio, molto tenero

cose interessanti di questo album: - la voce di lei. ho un grosso debole per le voci femminili profonde e androgine. - il sassofono in I was always your girl, sarò démodé ma credo che i sassofoni migliorino sempre tutto. - questa voce di wikipedia: Il nome della band ("tutto tranne la ragazza") era lo slogan pubblicitario di un negozio di arredamenti di Hull, oggi demolito, che prometteva ai clienti di fornire tutto per la loro camera da letto eccetto, appunto, la ragazza. saranno anche un pelo noiosi e schifosamente anni 80, ma sono inoffensivi, ci sono elementi apprezzabili e hanno un nome simpatico, quindi, amici, tenetevi le tre stelle. mi state simpatici.

I actually found this to be really dull , I don't think it's bad, but I do think it's extremely middle of the road. It felt like the sort of music that would be played in M&S...it's 2.5...

I had no idea that EBTG were even active in the 80s, let alone churning out the hits. I say “hits”; most of this record is new to me – I’m giving it 3 stars rather than 2 simply because of the enduring brilliance of “I don’t want to talk about it” – and it’s mostly miss. Some real twee stuff, musically and lyrically, to the extent that when they do find a bit of edge (“Tears all over town”, or the lyric “a widow on a honeymoon” in “Shadow on a harvest moon”) it’s sorely appreciated. The drums, the sort so lively in, e.g. WHAM! or Tears for Fears, here drag and distract. The guitar licks don’t, but do need, to stop. Thank god for the richness of Tracey’s voice (as I’m sure Mr Watt c.1988 would agree). The second half of the record marks an improvement - more than a bit of The Smiths about songs like “Lonesome for a place I know – but the record never really recovers from the high heights it drops you from between tracks one and two.

I reviewed EBTG's Walking Wounded some time last year, and I really loved it. I went into it thinking I didn't know any of their songs, but by the second song, I'd realized that I knew their song "Miss You." Since I loved Walking Wounded so much, I've really been looking forward to Idlewild, especially since I love pop music from the late eighties and early nineties. This should be a great way to spend my Saturday! I thought Idlewild was fine, but it certainly can't hold a candle to Walking Wounded. Of all the things that I loved about Walking Wounded, the only thing that was present on Idlewild were Tracey Thorn's fantastic vocals. The songwriting was good, but I really missed the atmosphere that EBTG created on Walking Wounded. The more straightforward pop ballads were fine, but I think EBTG is at their best when they’re branching out and going against the grain. I really enjoyed the songs on this album that relied heavily on synthesizers. “These Early Days” was really good, and the synthesizer worked really well with the percussion and guitar. “I Always Was Your Girl” was really good too. The synthesizer arrangement was really beautiful and exactly what I would want from a pop album from this era. While I didn’t necessarily like “Apron Strings” from a musical standpoint, I thought it had the best songwriting on the album, and it was incredibly moving. Idlewild was nice to listen to, and a great showcase for Tracey Thorn’s singing, but it really fails to show how talented EBTG are at crafting great music, and most of this album just blends in with a lot of other pop albums from this era.

Not my favorite record by them at all. In fave I really didn't like this too much. Tracy Thorne does have a great voice though.

I wasn't expecting this sound just based on the cover art, still I thought the music was pleasant to listen to - just not usually the genre I would put on around the house nor when out.

Meh, alright.

Background music. A touch bit boring. Nice voice.

Love Is Here Where I Live 3 These Early Days 2.8 I Always Was Your Girl 2.9 Oxford Street 3 The Night I Heard Caruso Sing 3 Goodbye Sunday 3 Shadow on a Harvest Moon 3.1 Blue Moon Rose 3.2 Tears All Over Town 3.2 Lonesome for a Place I Know 3 Apron Strings 2.9 Score: 3.009090909

I love the vibe of Everything But The Girl’s records. Tracey Thorn’s voice always has a calming effect on me

at some point i thought to myself "man that's a really long first song" and when i checked spotify i was on the 5th song i hate the 80s so much

Decent enough

Everything but the Girl came to us pleasantly enough, with their quirky "Eden" and "Love Not Money" - some horns, some witty British pop, and above all , the gorgeous voice of Tracy Thorn. Unfortunately, for nearly the next decade their albums descended into what appeared to be an attempt to revive Yacht Rock, before dabbling in ("Amplified Heart"), and then firmly committing to ("Walking Wounded") soulful electronica. I found their mid-career output uninteresting, and the re-listen for this project has not changed my opinion. Ms. Thorn's voice is lovely, but the songs on Idlewild leave her with little to express. Any of the four albums listed above are superior (and I know that several of them are already on the list). Let's just cut Idlewild and make space for someone else . . .

Day347 - i listened. i didn’t hate it but i feel like there was a handful of these ‘80’s-‘90’s groups that sounded like this. and once again this band had one big hit and it’s not even on the album. grrrr

This was alright, pretty mellow and forgettable but I did enjoy the vocals and fingerpicking melodies. Favorite song was: 9. Blue moon rise 5/10

I normally would hate this, but I didn’t. It was alright. 1001 album worthy: No - 9/17

Mellow and warm. Also, kinda samey and boring at times. I think this is one of those specific mood type of albums. Highlights: "Love Is Here Where I Live" (jazzy piano and vocals), "I Always Was Your Girl" (heartbeat-like drums are a cool touch), "The Night I Heard Caruso Sing" (similar to the other songs, but a male lead), "Blue Moon Rose" (a bit more upbeat)

Another one I don’t think belongs on this list. It’s fine. Listenable. But not classic have to hear.

wennmer das album gno hetti und so dezent zwüsched es paar sade oder george michael songs platziert hetti, wärmer das sicher nöd ufgfalle hett aber au chli so de vibe als hettmer eifach uf so keyboards und drum mashines eifach mald presets gnoh und denn no chli dezue gsunge - was ja nüt schlechts mues heisse *hust* clint eastwood *hust* aber dennoch sind bi so sache für mich denn doch de kultfaktor de tribendi spassfaktor, oder dases no es ganz tolles musigvideo dezue gitt wommer den so 35 jahr spähter lustigi memes drus chan mache *hust* last christmas - michael checking you out at the dinnertable *hust* bin scho fast chli erschrocke vo mir selber dasi eifach immer es 3 gibe aber ich schwör es chunt bald mal wider es 1 oder es 2! dasmal machemers aber wie bi 90 prozent vo de spanische chuchi zerst mal mitere sofrito starte :)

die wenige moment woni wüki aktiv zueglost han, hani eigentli no recht gnosse… aber insgeheim hani gwüsst dass i de für mich massgschniiderte "balearic chin stroking shoegaze thursday morning" playlist vo spotify besseri bangers schlummered isch das album s‘tüürste feld bi monopoly? will das isch für mich genau es paradeplatzbispiil für 3 stern

Okay her jeg troede jeg skulle høre noget 90er elektro… Men min underbevidsthed havde også læst udgivelsesåret som 1998 😅 Det her er nærmest smooth poppet jazz. Det har en sofistikeret lyd. Det er lækkert, men bliver også lidt kedeligt hvis det ikke var for Tracy Thorns dragende vokal

This album will never cross my brain again

I didn’t get the whole thing listened before today but interesting.

This album isn't particularly for me, but the vocals are really beautiful. The music is soothing, but a bit too 80s muzak for my taste 3/5

I know EBTG from their song 'Missing,' but that's really it. Honestly they're a lot different than I imagined. I assumed most of their music would be like that song, dancier electro-pop, but this album has more variety than that. Still not my favorite music but better than anticipated. 3/5

Vrij saaie, nietszeggende muziek, maar het vrouwtje kan wel zingen en het is gewoon simpele jaren '80 popdrek. Op de achtergrond kun je dit prima aan hebben staan zonder er moe van te worden dus. Hoe meer je aan het doen bent ondertussen hoe beter. Af en toe zit er een lekker orgeltje in en een aardig gitaartje. Uiteraard ook een overschot aan standaard jaren '80 drumcomputer effecten, maargoed. Af en toe is het ook een soort The Cure maar dan in het wit gekleed en vrolijk. Een soort standaardmuziek die niet misstaat op wat vroeger Radio 10 Gold was. Tussen de 2 en 3 voor mij. Omdat de lijst de afgelopen dagen een wat taaie uitdaging is geweest ga ik een keer een 3 geven, maar eigenlijk hoeft niemand dit anno 2024 nog te luisteren natuurlijk. Zeker niet als heel album.

EBTG is always a welcome listening experience. Tracey really does have the most delightful voice, and the songs are beautifully rendered ballads. All in all, worthy of a thumbs up, and something I may return to at some point.

I loved the other Everything But The Girl album and have been a fan of them for a while, but this album is definitely a clunker. Prefer their later electronic stuff.

Das ist doch mal ein sympatisches Duo. Habe ich bisher noch nicht aktiv gehört. Die Musik klingt ziemlich nach 80er.

Not bad, not great. Solid vocal band vibes with som good drums, albeit sounded a bit cheap.

Tracy Thorn has a lovely voice. (She was q guest singer on the recently rated Massive Attack album) I Don't Wanna Talk About It is a nice cover. The Night I Heard Caruso Sing is a pretty duet. Apron Strings is also pretty.

Tracy Thorne has an amazing voice, but I very much prefer EBTG's later, more electronic albums. The music on this one could have been straight from the Simply Red songbook. Still, this is just a precursor of what they would become.

Best Song: I Always Was Your Girl Worst Song: Shadow on a Harvest Moon

Was pretty good. Little distracted while listening but didn't jump out to me.

Just a lovely, soft, at times gritty lil alternative pop album.

It's solid background music, but that's all it is. The other on the list from them was a bit more interesting. Sort of music you'd play around your mum or grandma.

Gentle pop

One of the most 80s sounding records on this list so far... sounds like surely most things on this record ust have been made with DX7 almost. Got all the 80s bells and chimes etc. Very uninspiring drum machine sounds as well. The album definitely lacked some variation, and it hasn't aged particularly well. For what I was, though, I actually enjoyed it more than I expected to. It doesn't really have any hits, but I just thought everything was fairly nice. I was a bit sad when I found out that my favourite song on the record 'I Don't Want To Talk About It' was a cover, but still a nice song. Not a record I would really recommend to anyone, but wasn't half bad. Solid 3.

Just a nice, cozy album with some good vocals. Nothing really stood out when listening except maybe the first track. A lot of albums get 3s since they just pass me by without leaving an impression. This did leave an impression, but again, no song really stood out. I can see me putting this on again for some relaxing music. Solid 3.

Passable elevator music 2.7

Ok

Idlewild is the fourth album from Everything But the Girl, a British pair that makes folk-pop. These are soft-rock songs, with extensive used of synthesizers. These songs sound like they are made for the soundtracks of romantic comedies. This is a collection of pretty songs, but ones that are not particularly memorable. The elements are all there - voices, melodies, and arrangements - but in this case, the combination does not amount to very much.

Our second from this group, and I distinctly remember the other album being more electronic, with a techno edge, so I take it they changed their style up. This one is more adult-contemporary, very pleasant music. Easy on the ears, with a few songs that really grabbed me. The singer has a great voice. Really enjoyable listen, though not sure how I would compare it to the other we got from them. Favorite tracks: These Early Days, Oxford Street, Shadow on a Harvest Moon, Lonesome for a Place I Know. Album art: Just a picture of two people. Is this the group? No idea, and it's not interesting enough for me to look up. 3.5/5

Das Album ist eine Mischung aus Sophisti-Pop, Indie-Pop und Jazz-Pop. Das Album bietet eine interessante Mischung aus akustischen Instrumenten, Synthesizern und Drum-Machines, was für eine abwechslungsreiche Klanglandschaft sorgt. Die Texte behandeln alltägliche Themen wie Familie, Beziehungen und das Aufwachsen in den Vororten, was dem Album eine persönliche Note verleiht. Einige Songs neigen dazu, ineinander überzugehen, was das Album stellenweise etwas monoton erscheinen lässt. Die Produktion und der Einsatz von 80er-Jahre-Drums und Synthesizern versetzen den Hörer in eine andere Zeit - spannend.

An ok sound; not great. A couple of songs were nice. Overall it was boring, although it wasn't totally unpleasant. Best use would be background music.

Don't want to sound mean but this is just a hip Simply Red isn't it. Lounge coffee table music.

Beautiful music, perfect for a cloudy day train ride to work. Bland but I didn’t mind it.

3☆/5 08.17.2024

Sehr schönes Album, angenehm produziert. Aber man kann sagen, was man will: "I don't wanna Talk" ist der Übersong. Fast schon besser als das Original. Spricht das jetzt gegen das ganze Album?

Idlewild is just like a lot of the other albums i have looked at for this project when it comes to quality, Its not a very remarkable album but it is still fairly solid for what it is. The songs were all generally good sounding and never really felt annoying or super boring but there isn't really anything interesting i can really say about the majority of them. The saxophone and trumpet solos were cool and some of the songs did have that Super Nintendo sounding keyboard which i just like about it. This album is a fine listen, especially on valentines day with your significant other but it doesn't really do anything that other new wave albums from this time period haven't done. Best Song: Goodbye Sunday Worst Song: I Don't Want To Talk About It

Soft pop music

Soft rock / high-pitched vocals almost a cranberries sound

Very 80s pop that is a bit dreamy but not really dreampop yet. I liked the singer more in her capacity working with Massive Attack. So I'm very neutral towards this album.

Ok

Good listen.

I was looking forward to this when I saw it on the list. They have always been one of those bands Inlet play when they come on but never listen to record. I’m glad I have now. There is another record on the list as well. Looking forward to it.

Pretty generically fits into this era of music. Voice is nice but not much else does it for me. 3.5

2.5

It wasn't Idlewild that introduced me to Everything But The Girl but seeing their name immediately makes me wistful. Tracey Thorn's voice reaches into your chest. Heart wrapped in sound and pulled forward, exposed. While I prefer the more electronic stylings of Amplified Heart, this album gives me the EBTG feels I expect.

This album is silky smooth with its production and subtle grooves, but it also feels like a warm blanket with its nostalgic lyrics. Tracey Thorn sings passionately about love, loss, and a yearning for days past. Felt like a more complete album than Walking Wounded, solid songs throughout. The most notable were Love Is Here Where I Live, Oxford Street, and Goodbye Sunday. Not a classic, but definitely a band worth exploring. Borderline 3-4.

Very soft, not great, but not terrible

Loved the first song but the rest were pleasant enough

Starts with a beautiful cover. My main criticism would be, I feel like they do slightly more alive numbers, and this has too many ballads, everything on it is good. Probably not as good as the other album of theirs on the list. But a solid 3

80s Easy Listening

The moment I saw this I was hoping “Am I The Same Girl?” Was on this album. Oops… that’s Swing Out Sister. For some reason I confuse the two. Well, what I found instead was a pleasant enough listen although it never really rose to the heights of “listen to before I die” status for me. Maybe I just can’t shake the feeling that Swing Out Sister and many other interesting groups will likely be omitted from this list to allow Everything But The Girl two spots, which doesn’t feel exactly right. Anyhoo… as I said pleasant. Nice. I even listened to this twice. But it doesn’t really catch fire for me…

nice

Nice if unmemorable album. Reminds me of Joan Armatrading or Barbara Streisand. 6/10

A bit dull

Pretty smooth pop music. It gets a little boring after a while.

Tracey Thorn has a lovely delicate voice and some of the lyrics are poignant, but this album blends into much of the other adult contemporary around at the time. You could make killer vaporwave from some of these tracks, though.

Pretty mellow. Fake drums very apparent. Overall, pretty average.

80's cheese. It's like pop but smoother, with the addition of brass instruments. Definately different from the first album of theirs I reviewed (not necessarily bad, just odd). Favourite songs: Apron Strings, Goodbye Sunday, Oxford Street, I Don't Want to Talk About It Least favourite songs: The Night I Heard Caruso Sing 3/5

How is there a second album by this group on this list? I mean it is pretty enough, but surely one album made the point? I'm feeling belabored; minus one star.

Cute lounge music , but nothing really outstanding

Chill music, but can get a bit samey

Favourite tracks: Oxford street; apron spring

Solid apartment cleaning music. No need to focus on it but good enough to actually get stuff done quickly.

Some stand out tracks but some fillers too. Overall decent but not their best

3/5. Pretty chill and catchy. Not very much going through each song though so it is nice, it is also the same song throughout. I want it to be exciting but it really is the same drum beat throughout, sped up or slowed down. It does save itself by having some songs with no choruses, mostly just verse after verse, which is unique in pop and keeps me entertained. It was not a bad listen, just not something I haven't heard before. Best Song: I Don't Want To Talk About It, I Was Always Your Girl, Lonesome For A Place I Know

Ok. Bit same same

#11 - Very chill, makes for good vibes background music. No earworms or songs kept for any playlist.

I didn’t mind this album but there’s just something about Tracy’s voice that I don’t gel with. I really want to like them if that’s any consolation? Possibly it’s the dance stuff that put me off.

3/5

I listened to this early in the morning in Majorca on a run. What a funny sound track this was. I have no idea what a made it. Cringe-core ennit. But like it wasn't terrible other than some dubious lyrics! Wouldn't listen again

I think I'd heard of this band but didn't know their music. As soon as it started I recognised the vocals as from Protection by Massive Attack, then found out it's Tracy Thorn. I've got one of her books are home to read. Interesting stuff! As for the album, it's quite cool, weird and ballady but she's got a great voice. I really couldn't place it. It sounds really cheesy but does have a bit of edge to it in places.

Quite nice