Don't Stand Me Down

Okay, c’mon! Three fucking Dexys Midnight Runners albums on this list?!? That is too much!! They have 1 exceptional one hit wonder and the rest is pure shite. We’ve discussed this already, topic fucking closed now alright!

From the reviews I read on this site, I understand there are two other Dexys albums on here, almost certainly SFTYSR and Too-Rye-Ay. This is the best of the three, and I love the other two. This is Rowland's "Tusk", the freak following the hit. I have to rush off to see the Taylor Swift Eras film tonight, so I cannot write an essay about how Rowland absorbs Van Morrison, the Beach Boys, golden age rock n roll and Christ knows what else before surpassing them all, or how he - along with Marvin Gaye - is the master of the chaotic concept album, or his tremendous sense of humour (he doesn’t speak Italian, but he knows a man who does), or his possession of one of the most marvellously distinctive singing voices that yet stays true to his upbringing, or his unique mix of softness and machismo. I can, however, apologise for insulting other reviewers in an early draft of this review. I am sorry that I referred to you as “ cloth-eared, verse-chorus-verse dingleberries”, or “the reason why most music is boring”, and I’m especially sorry to the chap who described this as “pub rock” for calling him “uniquely cretinous”. Forgive me. Hugs!

Another album by these guys? THREE?! Fuck, ok. Oh fucking hell was the singing this annoying before?? Just more dumb English pub rock. Fuck off for crying out loud. 1/5.

What a stupid voice. What a stupid idea to just chat over the music. What a stupid album.

No idea how this made the 1001 list.

I used to love this album. I still do, but I used to also. My favorite of Dexy's classic trio and that's saying something. "This Is What She's Like": 12 minutes of rambling conversation and interjection with Kevin steadfastly refusing to answer the question, yet answering it perfectly. Why was this not a giant hit in 1985? Feargal Sharkey was more concise, I guess "Knowledge Of Beauty" (the better title, btw): building to "... if I need strength to take bad on..." is Rowlands best vocal performance in my opinion, stupendous. Almost rivaled here by the latter part of "The Waltz" "One Of Those Things": Fuck Kid Rock, this is how you rip off Warren Zevon "Reminisce Pt II": Lola is by far the better choice Any record where "Well, you know how the English upper classes are thick and ignorant" is sung as a lilting air deserves a solid 5*. A misunderstood masterpiece

Man, their previous record was so fun, but this just sounds like they are trying to do Elvis Costello, and succeeding even more poorly than he does.

No, it is not a “neglected masterpiece” or “lost treasure” or “towering achievement”. This was unsuccessful because it just isn’t good enough. Too much talking and not enough singing. The music and songs are there, but overlong and disjointed with the talky bits. Given the brilliance of the previous two Dexy’s Midnight Runners albums, I’m very disappointed with this even if I’m left with one or two ear-worm melodies (just adds to my overall disappointment).

Is it obnoxious? Yeah. Did I have fun listening to it? Sometimes.

For years, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have been in pursuit of "Dexy's Midnight Runners". Dexy, the famous amphetemine smuggler from London diversified his operations in 1980, moved to the sanctuary city of Los Angeles and started Dexy's Midnight Runners, LLC. Dexy was great at smuggling things, but in his heart he wanted to be a musician, except he wasn't so great at musician-ing. But, he had an idea... Dexy knew that he only needed a captive audience to listen to his songs about boring stuff. And, the best way to get an audience was to offer smuggling services to immigrants. See, they'd have no choice to listen to him sing as he led them through the night across the border and into California. However, it didn't work. This album, Don't Stand Me Down is based on the revolt that his caravan led against his music. Most of the caravan turned around and headed back down south rather than listening to his music. Dejected, Dexy moved back to the UK and became involved in peddling smut with a song about Eileen. The Brits loved that one and it took to the UK charts but never did much in the U.S. Excited about a potential tool to lower illegal immigration in the U.S., the Customs and Border Patrol have been trying to locate DMR to license their music. The thought being that if Dexy's music was piped through border speakers it'd make those who've travelled thousands of miles to escape poverty, political persecution, gangs and violence for a better life in the U.S. would be compelled to stop, turn around and rethink their choices. So far, Dexy has been mum on his intent to cooperate with the government. However, sources say that one of the sticking points in the recent budget proposal on Speaker Mike Johnson's desk includes a line item under Homeland Security for "DMRs auditory repulsion" and it's understood that "DMR" is in fact Dexy's Midnight Runners... Only time will tell if the U.S. will ever pass a budget and if that budget will include services by the elusive Dexy's Midnight Runners, LLC.

This does not work for me. The voice bugs me a lot. Hard pass. The redeeming quality of this album is how brief it is. Not for me. Voice doesn't sit right with me, and even if you removed the voice, you'd be left with some mediocre weather channel music.

This is the preeminent evidence of the British bias in Dimery’s 1001 list. One band member said the best thing about this album “ is that it got released at all.” It did so badly that the band broke up afterwards. I could repeat all the things JKav noted as issues. Instead I’ll focus on the vocals. They are awful. The frustrating part is I think they have OK voices if they would have used them properly. Instead there are intonations, affects, and strange noises throughout. Some of the music is decent, which is another sad aspect of this album. The final arrow of British bias is that inclusion of this album means that all 3 of Dexys Midnight Runners album from their original lifespan are on the 1001 list. Seriously? DMR are so good that 3/3 need to be included. I haven’t found one worthy of listening to yet.

It's good music. But I'm just not convinced I needed to hear this before I die.

Carried by its occasional catchiness and theatrical elements but brought down by the conversational style of singing.

Ugh - a bunch of mumbling and little song. They sound like they’re going to break out into come on Eileen at every corner but maybe it’s a good thing they don’t, but maybe it could have made this record bettter? Still better than the other Dexy album on the list but that’s not saying much.

Have always heard this highly praised, along with the two other big Dexys records, for very different reasons. But never heard this one. Was initially baffled by all the talking, and the extremely quiet talking and singing at first leading me to turn up the volume ridiculously and getting blasted when the song bursts in. I also thought he was saying she was intermittent at first, which I thought was an odd characteristic for a person to have. But once I've settled into This is What She's Like I am fully on board here. Slow burn, mood, warmth, it's majestic really. I think this is a good set of headphones record for sure.

Like finding a Rembrandt in your Grandmother’s garage

When one thinks of Dexys Midnight Runners, one thinks of the country bumpkin, fiddle playing romantics at heart who just had that one song that's played at most 80s parties and never be heard from again. Which was what most people expected after 1983. What they didn't understand is that Dexys Midnight Runners are an adaptable bunch, willing to change at a whim to suit the musical ambitions of one Kevin Rowland and it was he who decided to take a radical new approach with their look and sound regardless of what the public wanted. The result is Don't Stand Me Down. Don't Stand Me Down is a work of art. It is a forgotten, oft neglected masterpiece that best encapsulated where they were going and what they were going to do. Surely, the press didn't appreciate it and the band didn't help matters by petering out altogether. But, in time, this album's genius would be acknowledged and rectified. Dexys are already a divisive enough band as it is, but you cannot mistake this for a lesser effort. The definition of a hidden gem.

I like Dexys Midnight Runners, however this album has never stuck with me. I know a lot of fans consider it a misunderstood masterpiece, and there is good songwriting here, but Dexys seems to do everything they can to sabotage the album, such as songs being far longer than they should be, random pauses, and of course the spoken word segments. There is a good album in here but it's trapped under all these bafflingly poor choices.

I don’t usually question my participation in this project or its legitimacy…actually…who am I kidding, I’ve done nothing but that over the last two years…but the realization that Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ *entire discography* has made this list has me thrown. I’d be mad about it, but in 2.5 hours, I’m on vacation for 9 days and the Dexy’s aren’t going to bring me down.

Nein.

Vocalist went to the Bob Dylan singing school for the deaf

I really dislike the smug voice of this ass muppet

Just like track 2, "This is What She's Like"...I have nothing meaningful to say about this album. Boring.

Not surprised it was a failure when released

Really easy to listen, I like it a lot.

I've always held "Come On Eileen" as one of the three quintessential one-hit-wonder songs of the 80's. It is perfect, and so I'm very curious to see what else is going on under the hood. What?! This song isn't even on this album?? Now I'm REALLY curious what they got going on on this album. "This Is What She's Like" is half-sung, half-spoken in the fashion of a lounge singer's approach while conversing with the audience, though the music is less "dark basement" and more "department store overhead speakers," specifically in the furniture section, until the throwback to Come On Eileen at the end where you exit the store to the overly glossy white floor tiles reflecting all of the neon lights of the mall food court as you make your way to get a you-so-deserve-this ice cream shake. I keep hearing "Come On Eileen" in these songs, even the "Werewolves of London" chord patterns of "One Of Those Things". There's something rollicking and simultaneously 50's and 80's in their sound. Though I only know the one song, The Boomtown Rats come to mind. I seriously had to look up if this was some sort artistic attempt to deconstruct "Come On Eileen" and re-write it into other songs. That's when I learned that the once 10-piece band was a four-piece by this, their third album, and that those other members left the group after recording the album. Maybe that influences my headspace some, but Don't Stand Me Down does seem to take the approach of a band who has one last thing to say, not really striving for a 3-minute radio hit or caring to capitulate to marketers or producers, and just doing whatever they feel like. "The Waltz" follows suit as the final swansong, a band's last brilliant flash before accepting their own demise. Passionate, heroic, proud in the face of being ignored, and beautifully sad. I believe it.

The singular genius of Kevin Rowland - I love how he interrupts himself, gives commentary on what he is singing about, lays himself bare. I love the muttered asides, and love that his reach exceeds his grasp - who could possibly achieve everything he has set out to do ? A deep listen.

A strange, unique and wonderful album. Glad I finally managed to listen to it.

Absolute Gold

Another great DMR album. I like it just as much as the first two DMR albums. score: 10/10.

cool

why is this in here hjahahahaha the most one hit wonder band of all time. Strange dudes tho so the album was fun I guess

10/10 I’ve now heard 3 albums by this band and am absolutely obsessed with each one, but if you put a gun to my head asked for what the band’s name is, I don’t think I’d be able to tell you

This was so much fun I adore this album. This is the favorite album yet. I love how it’s just a series of conversations between friends about various topics, but all of them are deeper than they seem, at least in my opinion. Love this album!

Don’t Stand Me Down I used to really like this album but haven’t listened in at least 15 years. I can totally see how it is a bit marmite, a bit like Kevin Rowland himself. And I suppose liking or disliking it will depend on your appetite for 12 minute part spoken word conversations, clear musical nicks, oddly crooned vocals and a slightly meandering spirit. Somehow though that all works for me, and I don’t get a sense of deliberate and performative eccentricity, more a sense of a distinctive and interesting voice making an album full of ideas and moments that sidestepped expectations and commercial imperatives post Come On Eileen. This is What She’s Like is probably the key track, and it either encapsulates what’s great about the band and this record or it sums up all there is to dislike about them. I’m of course on the side of liking it, from the conversational sections to the exuberant blue-eyed soul and celtic-soul fiddle led sections, it’s a great engaging and esoteric listen. With Dexy’s in general, there is a lot more to them under the surface than they get often get credit for I think, there’s a lot of craft and skill in their arranging, Knowledge in Beauty and The Waltz show this, with some great little parts on mandolin, lap steel and fiddle, and both these track create a great and slightly doleful country tinged atmosphere, a little like Nashville Skyline. One of Those Things shamelessly steals from Werewolves of London, and I think they retrospectively added Zevon as a songwriter, but I like the idea of nicking the riff and then saying all songs sound the same. And then I just generally enjoy their pop/rocksoul/irish/country blend, evident on stuff like Listen to This. While I don’t think it’s necessarily the great lost masterpiece that many critics seem to think it is, I do think it’s an excellent, quirky, engaging singular listen, full of wit, charm and a unique sensibility that does start to burrow into your consciousness after a while. ⏱️⏱️⏱️⏱️ Playlist submission: This is What She’s Like

Fascinating. Gorgeous production. Really interesting tracks. Not sure it's one I'll ever be able to listen to obsessively. But I'm going to keep trying.

Surprisingly decent. Unsurprisingly pretentious

It is ok…just ok. One of Those Things does sound like Werewolves of London

Not for me

Robert Dimery, the fact that you got your first BJ at a Dexys Midnight Runners concert doesn't mean that they deserve to have all three of their albums on the list. "Neglected masterpiece" my ass, fuck off. 0/5.

It absolutely boggles my mind that Dexy's Midnight Runners have ALL THREE of their albums on the 1001 Must Hear Albums list. That's a 100% batting average for a band that were barely more than a one hit wonder. 'Come On Eileen' isn't that great and isn't even on this record.   I really don't understand the way some people worship Kevin Rowland. He seems to me to be the King of Bad Decisions. For example, wikipedia suggest that he deliberately chose his strangely affected singing voice in order to be unique. It certainly is that, but also sounds shit. And the choice to radically change the band membership (cutting from ten to four members, one of whom left immediately after recording this album), and changing the sound radically from the previously successful model. Now, nobody would want to stifle a band's artistic growth, but you have to wonder about the choices here. The extended and aimless spoken word passages, the weird kludged together song suites, the lack of singles. It is easy to condemn the mercenary decisions of record companies to not support or promote records, but I have to say, in this case I agree with them. Everything fell apart for Kevin after this record career-wise and personally, and I feel for him. I certainly think the hate he received as a result of his "My Beauty" solo record in the late 90s had a disturbing undercurrent of trans- or homophobia. But in all fairness, it was a sincere but terrible record of naff cover versions, with a challenging choice of cover art. Another example of Kevin not really reading the room, methinks... This is not a lost masterpiece or hidden gem. It's a pretty shit record. Critics may champion it, but, in this case the record company and radio stations and buying public all had it pretty right; it's a crap album, best ignored. Objectively, it's a 1.5 or 2 star record, but I am so incensed by Dimery's audacity in putting it on the list, that I am going to give it 1 star. Fuck you, Dimery.

Can't believe how shit this is. Loads of guys mumbling at start tracks. Minutes of silence. Weird noise vocals. Come on dexys midnight runners

Any musical intrigue generated by this weird-ass album gets immediately dispelled by Kevin Rowland’s rambling, pointless conversations with his band mate in the middle of his songs. It’s not even spoken word poetry; it’s auditory litter. This does not belong.

Terrible stuff really, why is there so much talking!? It's crazy someone decided that was a good idea. They recorded it, listened back to it and said "yeah, love it leave it all on the album". So fucking annoying. Why is this on this list?! 1.5*

Theres a right and a wrong way to do theatrical music, and this definitely does it wrong. Why exactly is this on the list? Especially over a bunch of albums that are both really good and have proven to be super influential.

Hangulatoooos.

Three Dexys albums, three 5s from me! (And the fact they seem to infuriate a certain subsection of weenies doing the project is just sprinkles, as far as I'm concerned, heh 🍧) I was introduced to “This is What She’s Like” when the full video was played in the chillout tent of a festival I was at - it’s such a weird artifact, I instantly fell in love with it… Highly recommend you watch it if you haven't seen it before - it helps but all the pre- and mid-song chatting into context. Fave track - as well as the aforementioned, "One of Those Things" and "I Love You (Listen to This)" are both standouts. But really, this is a vibes album - do the whole thing.

Astonishing - one of my favourite albums.

Not as good as their other 2 albums but it’s still good.

Dexys Midnight Runners pushing their own boundaries by writing long-as-sin songs and playing around with song structures. It's still the same Runners to know and love from the first two albums but stretched out a bit more. Just as enjoyable as Too Rye Ay, but with more jamming than fully fleshed-out songs. Really the band is just faffing about, but they're excellent musicians and they're not taking themselves too seriously so it's a good time.

a neat album. my second dexys album of the project and i find i really like their style. they are very unapologetically british but their hooks are great and the music is quite sensible. this album i enjoyed a lot but there were some artsier and slower sections that i didn't care for as much. but when the horns and the fiddle hit on this, it's pretty great (like in the climax of 'the waltz'). i also really liked the title track, which has a fun interpolation of the piano riff from 'werewolves of london.' it's not my favorite album of all time, but i enjoyed it!

I guess they had to get mature after releasing an all time banger. Not bad but nothing to write home about.

I hadn't heard of them before. Fun album.

Skemmtileg og lúðaleg plata. Engir óþarfa hittarar eða neitt rugl. Bara 80's rokk, píanó, spjall og bull. Besta Dexy platan IMO.

Góð plata sem kom skemmtilega á óvart. Ekkert Come om Eileen stuð, heldur bara mjög þétt og góð lög með mikið af talsöng.

It took me a bit to get into this one. A colleague showed me the video fo This Is What She's Like and the album started to make more sense. I'll give this the benefit of the doubt and add it to my check out again later list. Fave: This is What She's Like

Don't Stand Me Down is the third album from Dexys Midnight Runners - the follow up to their incredibly successful second album, Too-Rye-Ay. This work was a commercial flop, and received little critical attention as a result. Dexys Midnight Runners made rich, orchestrated pop songs, with support from a string section and a horn section. Kevin Rowland, vocalist and driving force in the band, incorporates soul and Irish folk influences in his songs, which have an uplifting, energetic sound. Don't Stand Me Down is considered something of a "lost masterpiece;" a great album that flopped badly enough for the group to break up, and take 27 years before recording another album.

For someone who practically only knew DMR from “Come on Eileen”, listening to this album was a beautiful and very pleasant surprise. A solid 4 (and maybe I'm being a bit greedy here)

Weird but I love it

crazy that there’s two dexys midnight runners albums on this list but ngl this is pretty good

I’ve apparently been sleeping on Dexys this whole time. Another banger of an album. The attitude, the charm, the HORNS, all of it. Elements of new wave, soul, funk, maybe even some Motown influence. I don’t know man, they might be the most underrated artist on this list for me coming in. I’ve enjoyed both albums from them. For once I’m not complaining about the potential for a UK bias by the authors/editors of the books. This is just great. I didn’t love it like I loved the first one if there’s I got (“Searching for the Young Soul Rebels”), so they won’t get five from me this time. But a very happy four stars for this one. Gotta stop sleeping on them and wake up. Standout Tracks: The Occasional Flicker, Knowledge of Beauty, One of Those Things, Listen to This

delightfully inscrutable! esp as it seems like an artistic climax of an arc of which i only know the one big hit. extremely confident mix of new wave and soul and stretches of spoken word to create something ornate and at times melodically decadent but somehow super casual...like its simply giving voice and form to a bunch of thoughts of no consequence. ends up feeling deceptively huge by the end, some rly great arrangements help a lot with that but i think more than anything its that even if something is small, it ends up feeling like it Matters, somehow, or should at least be treated as such

Kind of a weird mix. But somehow I liked a lot of the songs. Come on Eileen is obviously a banger. Maybe my rating of this is just so high because Spotify played that song so often, because I think it outshines the rest of the album by far.

Voða kjút plata.

I really enjoyed this. The songs are probably a bit too long, but the last 1:00 to 1:30 of basically every song is fantastic.

Af hverju voru Dexy's að gefa út spoken word (góð íslensk þýðing óskast) plötu árið 1985? Hvers vegna fóru þau í jakkaföt og dragt? Og hví í ósköpunum virkar þetta svona vel strax við aðra hlustun? Ég fíla þetta svona líka vel og ég veit ekki alveg af hverju.

I HATE "Come On Eileen," but it turns out that they're pretty good songwriters. Every now and then this album threatens to go into "Eileen" territory, but, thankfully, it never commits.

Surprised. I thought another Dexys Midnight Runners!?! But then I listened. Surprise!

It's a lot more ambitious and odd than prior efforts. I don't love it as immediately but I feel like I'd fall for it over time.

4.0

I can't really explain why but I quite enjoyed that. I would only know Dexys from the hits and I can't say I'm a massive fan of his voice. But the confidence to give this the space they have, the still strong pop hooks and melodies and the overall feel sucked me in. A surprising treat.

I like Dexys, but I'd never heard this before. I believe Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and Too-Rye-Ay are also on this list, so I'm saving my 5s for them. This is a solid 4 though.

Three is too many albums from these guys on the list, but I did like this one the best out of them. They're better mellow instead of hyper.

It's a puzzling album... I'm genuinely not sure if I like it or not? Didn't expect Bearwood to be mentioned.

Irgendwie unerwartet cool - macht einfach Spaß zu hören!

Clearly not their best work (come on Eileen isn't on this one) but I still enjoyed it

See! Not everything from the 80s has to be tacky and synth drenched. Some of it could be the soundtrack to Withnail and I. One of Those Things would've been better if they'd switched up with other familiar melodies. Reminiscence Pt. 2 was quite beautiful. Good exam of the list showing a deeper side to a previous surface level one hit wonder knowledge

Whopper

And we all laughed when Homer Simpson said we haven't heard the last of Dexys Midnight Runners. So here we are! And it's an interesting album. I can see both why people didn't take to it right away and why some people find it something special. Mind you, I didn't really love it at first, but I found something compelling about it, and it definitely didn't sound like everything else on the radio.

Listen To This musiquita parecida a LHR.

Los Dexy´s son un grupo esencial en los 80, tanto por sus 3 excelentes discos como por sus éxitos: Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (con Geno como punta de lanza pero otros temas my buenos), Too-Rye-Ay (que incluye su tema más conocido, el genial Come on Eileen y también está lleno de grandes temas) y este controvertido Don´t stand me down. Dexy´s combinaban con exquisita elegancia Soul, pop, punk, folk... también es cierto que la voz de Kevin Rowland es muy particular, parece que le falta aire, aunque tiene su encanto. Una de las razones del fracaso de este álbum siempre se ha atribuido a que no se editaran singles del mismo y a su nula promoción. El cambio de imagen, pasando de ropa harapienta a elegantes trajes, tampoco ayudó. Empieza al ralentí con The ocasional flicker para ir subiendo el nivel hasta la preciosa This Is What She's Like, que se lleva más de 10 minutos, algo poco radiable. Hubiera sido un gran sencillo, de hecho lo fue, pero demasiado tarde. Sin embargo es una maravilla. Knowledge of the beauty, suena a sedosa balada con base country, pero se lleva 7 minutos, a pesar de un violín que le queda inmaculado. Listen to this (I love en posteriores ediciones), surge del empeño de Rowland en la problemática producción del disco. Es un temazo, potente y elegante como pocos. One of Those Things se basa en el Werewolves of London de Warren Zevon, autoría que se corregiría en posteriores ediciones del álbum (hubo 3, con cambio de canciones y para bien de portada). Es una maravilla, que hubiera sido otro éxito/homenaje. Reminisce Pt.2 incluye un diálogo, en lo que parece una acústica sesión de ensayo. Sin embargo no pierde su encanto. The waltz, cierra el disco con 8 excelsos minutos. 1985 es el año del C85, Psychocandy, This is the sea, Low-life, Once upon a time, Brothers in arms, Hounds of love, Steve McQueen, Love not money, This nation´s saving grace, Fables of the reconstruction, Around the world in a day, Rain dogs, Meat is murder, Slave to the rithym, Songs form the big chair, What Does Anything Mean? Basically , Rum, sodomy and the lash y Picture book.

I really liked the violin and keys instrumentals in this album. Vocals didn't super do it for me, but I'm going to come back to this album as I try to improve my keys work

Prima albumpie hoor

I had never heard this one. Pretty good sound all the way through. Pretty clearly a Warren Zevon riff used in one of the songs.

All pretty enjoyable to listen to with a vibe similar to Come On Eileen. I enjoy the vocals!

I had fun with this one. Like Elvis if he were a British hipster who took a bunch of psycadelics. End of That is What She’s Like rocked

Nice

This is very good music, not much more to say!

Dexys Midnight Runners is one of those bands that seems like a quirky one-hit wonder at first blush, but has a very interesting history. This album is the followup to the album that birthed their smash hit Come On Eileen. Most of the band had left, and this album ends up being a much more subdued synthy album. It's well worth the listen 4/5

No idea why this is getting pelters from some folks on here. Album 754 & I've listened to literally hundreds worse than this.

"Dexys Midnight Runners," a band known for their distinctive blend of soul, pop, and Celtic folk influences, released "Don't Stand Me Down" in 1985. This album marked a departure from their previous hits like "Come On Eileen," embracing a more experimental and introspective direction. Here's an in-depth review of the album, focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence. ### Lyrics: The lyrics of "Don't Stand Me Down" are deeply introspective and poetic, reflecting frontman Kevin Rowland's personal journey and philosophical musings. Tracks like "The Occasional Flicker" and "One of Those Things" delve into themes of love, identity, and self-reflection with profound sincerity. Rowland's lyrical prowess shines through in his ability to convey complex emotions with vivid imagery and introspective storytelling. ### Music: Musically, "Don't Stand Me Down" is a departure from the band's previous work, incorporating elements of jazz, soul, and folk into their signature sound. The album features intricate arrangements, with layers of horns, strings, and keyboards weaving together to create a rich tapestry of sound. Tracks like "This Is What She's Like" and "Knowledge of Beauty" showcase the band's versatility, blending genres seamlessly to create a sound that is both unique and compelling. ### Production: The production of "Don't Stand Me Down" is polished and sophisticated, with meticulous attention to detail evident throughout the album. Producer Alan Winstanley masterfully captures the band's dynamic performances, allowing each instrument to shine while maintaining a cohesive sound. The lush arrangements and intricate production techniques contribute to the album's overall sense of depth and complexity, elevating it beyond mere pop music into the realm of artistry. ### Themes: Thematically, "Don't Stand Me Down" explores a wide range of topics, from love and relationships to existentialism and spirituality. The album's title track, "Don't Stand Me Down," confronts issues of identity and self-worth, while songs like "The Waltz" and "Reminisce Part Two" reflect on the passage of time and the nature of memory. Throughout the album, there is a sense of searching and introspection, as Rowland grapples with life's big questions in his quest for meaning and understanding. ### Influence: "Don't Stand Me Down" had a significant influence on subsequent generations of musicians, inspiring artists across genres with its bold experimentation and emotional depth. The album's eclectic blend of musical styles and its willingness to push boundaries paved the way for alternative and indie artists in the years to come. Additionally, Rowland's introspective lyrics and passionate delivery have left an indelible mark on the singer-songwriter tradition, influencing artists from Jeff Buckley to Florence Welch. ### Pros: 1. **Lyrical Depth:** The album's introspective lyrics are thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, inviting listeners to delve into the complexities of the human experience. 2. **Musical Versatility:** "Don't Stand Me Down" showcases the band's ability to seamlessly blend genres, resulting in a sound that is both unique and compelling. 3. **Sophisticated Production:** The album's polished production and meticulous attention to detail contribute to its overall sense of depth and complexity, elevating it beyond mere pop music into the realm of artistry. ### Cons: 1. **Challenging Listen:** The album's experimental nature and introspective themes may be off-putting to listeners expecting more straightforward pop hits. 2. **Lengthy Tracks:** Some tracks on the album, such as the 12-minute "This Is What She's Like," may test the patience of more casual listeners. 3. **Limited Commercial Success:** Despite critical acclaim, "Don't Stand Me Down" did not achieve the same level of commercial success as the band's previous albums, which may have limited its impact at the time of its release. In conclusion, "Don't Stand Me Down" is a bold and ambitious album that showcases Dexys Midnight Runners at the peak of their creative powers. With its introspective lyrics, innovative musical arrangements, and sophisticated production, the album remains a testament to the band's artistic vision and enduring influence. While it may not have achieved the same level of commercial success as their previous work, its impact on subsequent generations of musicians is undeniable, cementing its status as a classic of the genre.

Really enjoyed this. Better than people give it credit for

-his voice reminds me of someone I can’t place but it’s so whiney, I don’t like -the musicality of the occasional flicker -one of those things is giving werewolves of London / all summer long right??? -I really love the instruments, from the strings to the keys, both piano and organ, and the occasional brass -it’s giving a little bit of talking heads vocal wise -the guitar is understated and I love it

I wanted to hate this one. I think the general affect of the people in the band is that they think they're better than you and that they couldn't be bothered to stop their sidebar conversation to record an album. I don't think I could stand to be in a room with these people for more than five minutes before wanting to smash my head against a wall. Unfortunately for me, they're really talented and damn good musicians. I said out loud 'Oh you fuckers' half way through This is What She's Like when I realized how good they were. I hate it.

At first listen I was sure I was going to give this 2 stars. I know a little about Dexys Midnight Runners and how Kevin Rowland would constantly change their sound and their look seemingly every other month. I also knew they were more popular across the pond in their native land but they’re just a one hit wonder to me. As it turns out I was out and about for work in my car a lot and absentmindedly listened to the album 3 times in a row and it grew on me. “Knowledge of Beauty”, “One of Those Things”, “Reminisce Part 2”, and especially “The Waltz” have ended up on my Spotify Liked List.

Listen To This musiquita parecida a LHR.

This album takes it's time. "This is What She's Like" doesn't sound like a drag even at 12 minutes in length. Includes a variety of genres and elements. A pleasant surprise for an album from right in the middle of the 80s.

Very good. First time and I loved it.

I really like the general style and vibe. Not as good as some of their other albums to me.