Reviews (page 10 of 14)
Classic!
synth dreamy 80s pop. well done for the genre but not my personal favorite on an aesthetic level. Fits a certain vibe.
Too weird for me
Nice pop album to listen to with a lot of great things going on instrumentation wise. Sounds very 80s with the drums and the synths. Liked Bush's vocal projection and unique sound but sometimes it felt like a little too much. 6.5/10z Favorite Song: The Big Sky
Never really listened to this when it came out. Ok, but some weird interludes and songs.
Okay stranger things pulling from the top albums, I’m curious what other albums they’ve pulled from. I liked it but not something I would play a bunch
The 80s are fun. Running Up That Hill used to be a Vampire Diaries song but I think it will now forever remind me of Stranger Things instead. The rest was fun and made me wish I was alive in the 80s and could bop around concerts all the time and sing along to a bunch of these crazy sounds. I was a little bit scared of the monster talking in Waking The Witch, but definitely made me pay attention. Have been vibing with the radio playing after the album too
Evocative
This album gets too cursed for me. It starts off really good and then it just gets too experimental for my liking. Burst out laughing at jig of life
Interesting, amazing vocals, adventurous style, I can see why this is in the list of 1000 albums.
a voz da kate eh mt linda. o album eh bem datado, claramente dos anos 80 mas tem mts musicas boas
Never gave this a full listen when it came out. Not bad.
Not bad. Not really my thing too much. I liked the other songs on this album a bit more than the famous song Running up that hill
Analog Synth ftw. Solid album, though Waking The Witch felt super out of place against the rest of the album
Nice
6/10. The album feels very spiritual, but the songs didn't really stick with me. I guess it's because I liked "The Kick Inside" more... and expected the this album to sound like the other one.
Blame my kids and Stranger Things but until "Runing up that Hill" became perpetually in my vicinity I always had Kate Bush as a slight oddity, that frankly, got on my nerves. With a bit of age, the aforementioned TV series and a bit more openmindedness (or aged conservatism!?) I found I enjoyed most of the album. It's still a little irritatingly "arty / etheriel" in places but an enjoyable listen I will possibly return to.
There was so much fun nosies and instruments. Her voice is so unique unlike anything I've ever heard. But personally not the kind of music I like. But it was a good listen
This album has always been a critics' favourite, and its stock has increased steadily over the years. So, how do I rate it as a person not particularly keen on Kate Bush's music? I actually felt that the album, side 1 in particular, suffers greatly from rather busy and overdone 1980s production styles. Side 2 is a bit better, but I'm not sure I would have this on my personal list of essential albums. Kate Bush is an admirable artist and one who has stood up against record labels for her own view on her creative output and marketing.
Honestly she just was a bit too emotional haha. It was well written and beautiful lyrics but it’s not for me.
i have been meaning to do a kate bush deep dive so this is a good start. glad to finally get a pop album. some of it wasn't an easy listen but i liked the big hits and jig of life.
Like it, but is not my style in general
nice bush
3/5
In Stranger Things (2016-2025), they repeatedly use one song from this album, which in turn causes the fanbase to use that specific song over and over until it loses its substance and sucks the enjoyment out of it completely. This is a reference to Netflix being shit. Oh wait, I'm not on /r/shittymoviedetails. This is a decent album. I liked it. I cannot publicly say I like it due to the garbage show mentioned above. Worth listening to, my favorite song on it is "Mother Stands For Comfort".
Top tracks: Cloudbusting, Mother Stands For Comfort High 3 Strange 80’s Pop
Hounds of Love is divided into two parts, and the parts differ in style and quality. The first five songs are some of the best pop of the 80s, with fantastic synth sounds and big hooks. "Running Up That Hill" is great of course, but "Cloudbursting" is nearly as good. "Mother" slows things down, but all of the little details make it a great listen as well. The second part is more experimental, featuring a lot of spoken word and sparser songs. While I don't mind the departure into something less immediate, the lack of percussion and the slow pace of many of these songs make them hard to latch onto. When the drums come in on "Waking the Witch" the song becomes noticeably more engaging. "Jig of Life" and the closer are highlights of this part, but tracks like "Hello Earth" drag. A big swing, and some immaculate songs, but it doesn't come together as a full package for me.
3l
It was okay. It wasn't particularly any good but it wasn't terrible.
Pretty good.
2,8 - Das Album startet mit einem absoluten Kracher und einem der besten Lieder aller Zeiten. Doch dann nimmt es ab und driftet in Björk-Gefilde ab leider. Highlights: Running Up That Hill, Under Ice
Running Up That Hill Cloudbusting The Big Sky
Cool! Some of the songs are BANGERS but didn’t care for the rest
Not really my jam but I didn't hate it. 3 stars.
So unique. Fairy-pop. Medieval-pop. Renfair-pop, even. I think multiple listens would dig this deeper in my mind.
-very experimental -again literally all i could think of was ST -MAX RUN FASTER -i think its more of an acquired taste but i actually really liked how weird it was -im a sucker for synth any day what can i say
got a nice sweet tone to it!! i could imagine baking with this album in the background. did not know running up that hill was by kate bush!! it had a nice sound overall x
Running up that hill
First album and I've already listened to it womp womp. It's good tho
I like her music but not her voice.
Onhan tällä ääni ja eka biisi klassikko ja aika mystinen. Mut kokonaisuus...
I'd already listened to a handful of songs on this album before, so went in with bias. Did enjoy the album, but not enough to save any songs. Might listen again anyways though.
Only few songs are actually good on here. The rest just does not sound good...
3.5
Yeah yeah v nice hounds
Frågan är om vi nånsin haft eller ens kommer ha en ojämnare skiva? För det pendlar mellan att vara fullständigt olyssningsbart till att röra sig bland de allra översta hyllorna, och egentligen aldrig vara någonstans däremellan. Så låt oss fokusera på det positiva. Vilken sjuhelvetes röst hon har, fullständigt unik och magnifik. Jag håller med Fredrik, återhållsamheten både i musik och röst är en bidragande positiv och smakfull faktor. "Runninng up that hill" och i synnerhet "Cloudburisting" är helt magiska. Även "Hounds of love", "Big sky" och "Morning fog" funkar också alldeles utmärkt, "Hello earth" har också partier som funkar fint. Men resten blir nån form av pretto musik som får mig att tänka nån imaginär medeltida balett, teatralt så det förslår, helt omöjlig att lyssna på eller ta in. Så jag sätter på "Cloudbursting" en gång till och väljer magin
Jag gillar hur Kate Bush håller igen. Melodier får ofta inte helt blomma ut, det gör dem mer intressanta och mindre förutsägbara. Det samma gäller kompet, det fläskar aldrig på, vilket annars hade kunnat vara naturligt med tanke på den tidens ljudideal. Inledningen med Running up that hill och Hounds of Love är förstklassig. B-sidan svagare än A.
I think she's overrated.
6/10 - We liked the first half more than the 2nd half, our favorite song was Running up that hill, and we found the second half to experimental for us to enjoy.
Good album mostly on the backs of the singles of "Running Up That Hill", "Hounds of Love" and "The Big Sky". I owned this on vinyl back in the day when you had to buy the whole album to find out whether you liked it or not. I want to like Kate Bush but I just don't. Unfortunately, I find I can only take her music in small doses. I think it's her (melo)dramatic soprano.
Only know Running up that Hill because of Stranger Things. Will need re-listen but for now 4/10
Kate Bush is a big weirdo and that's great. I'd score the album higher if there wasn't a bloody Irish jig in the middle. Amazing album cover. Strong 3.5
Kind of a strange album. I thought Waking the Witch was interesting. I liked Watching You Without Me, Hello Earth, and Morning Fog (it sounded a lot like Mark Knopfler's guitar). Running Up That Hill has been overplayed because of Stranger Things, so I don't really like the song anymore, but I used to before the show came out. I think this album needs a few listens for it to grow on you. That being said, I still like Kate Bush. I'd probably have to give this one a 6/10 at the moment.
J’ai beaucoup aimé certaines chansons, mais d’autres m’ont moins convaincues.
started very strongly, then didn't live up to the expectations I had built for it from then. Cool 80s pop though. Running Up That Hill is the most popular for damn good reason!
I’ve got mixed feelings on this one. It’s very unsettling at times, which is definitely its purpose and it does it well, but it makes it a very uncomfortable listen. On the other hand, there’s a lot of beauty in this album all throughout. I’m not sure if I’ll listen to it again, but it was certainly an experience.
Def hear Chappelle Roan all over this album
This was fine. I can see that it was a little ahead of its time, but I don't get the extreme hype this album and opening track get. It's just average to me.
Solid album. I like most songs but some of them are a bit weird.
Let me preface this by saying that not a single one of the songs on this album I actively dislike. I think the majority of this album is a 3/5 for me with some of it's songs being a 4/5. Her voice is incredible of course, no argument there, but the music is simply not fully my cup of tea unfortunately. I did like the 2 parts this album had and honestly found myself enjoying the second part of the album more than the first. Waking the witch and Jig of Life both have made their way into my playlist. I don't think I would think to myself in the future 'hey let's put on this album in it's entirety', but I will vibe along with most songs when they are being played (and trust me, I have a certain someone in my life that WILL make me listen to this A LOT throughout my life).
A few really good songs, but also a lot of fairly weak ones
Some of it was good. Running Up That Hill is a masterpiece. I really didn't enjoy the parts that felt like pieces from a tacky 80s musical.
Stranger things song amd what else...
Good Bush
Iconic
Lush and cinematic
It's ok, I guess. Don't have much to say about it. The change of style mid-way was pretty cool.
We all love a bit of Kate Bush. Never mind that I can't hear "Hounds of Love" without hearing the Futureheads cover (Oh-oh-oh-ohhhh-oh), it's still a fine album in her usual quirky, unique style. No two songs sound the same, and you'll likely want to go back to it because there will be bits that sneaked past you on first and even second listen. Check it out.
This is British, innit? Good stuff with a good voice. Lots of emo 1980s vibes make for a strong album. Top tracks: "Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God)," "Cloudbusting," "The Big Sky"
Kate Bush is admittedly a hole in my music knowing. It's a vibe, and in a vibes-based economy, this would be the currency of the realm. But it ain't my realm. Running up That Hill slaps, tho. Stranger Things brought it back, and it's one hell of an opener. The rest is just operatic white chick belting. It has it's place I guess? it's a 3.
--Running Up That Hill...Kate is one of my favorite weirdos but I find the resurgence of this song a little odd. Repetitive, long, doesn't really build to a climax --Hounds of Love...I like the "do do do do dos" --The Big Sky...nice energy. Why didn't this one get the Stranger Things bump? --Mother Stands for Comfort...boring --Cloudbusting...this one could grow on me --And Dream of Sheep...the title doesn't lie --Under Ice...there's my weirdo --Waking the Witch...burn her! --Watching You Without Me...is some of this recorded backwards? Girl, you crazy --Jig of Life...a menacing Irish bounce! --Hello Earth...she's great --The Morning Fog...the sheep song should probably go here
I didn’t get through all this, but I know if I was a good person I should.
5.5/10
Brilliant start, Running Up That Hill, Hounds of Love and The Big Sky are great songs and so good to listen too. Album tails off a little for me towards the end in terms of being great songs but are still nice to listen to. Overall good album.
They can't all be bangers
Liked the first couple of songs a lot but nothing after that really grabbed me.
This was fine but not my favorite. I appreciate that she’s eclectic and interesting and experimental. It works for some songs and doesn’t in others but I’m glad she’s on the list
This one truly lives in two separate worlds. The first side is good polished pop with huge hooks. But flip the record, and you fall into a completely different landscape. It becomes this bizarre, conceptual art piece. It’s a lot to take in on a first listen. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Hounds Of Love - Cloudbusting
Prefer the Futureheads
Never been a big Kate Bush fan but I can see the appeal. Stranger Things, which I loathe, has ruined the opening track for me.
I've always wanted to like lost Bush daughter, Kate Bush more than I do. Incredibly interesting sounds - sonic textures that were wholly unique to her. Laurie Anderson was doing something similar around this time but in a different direction. Bjork bit off a lot of Kate Bush stuff. Hounds of Love is the most beloved of her albums & I can understand why - it sounds unlike anything else in the world. A hodgepodge of styles but I find myself drifting in and out of it with each listen. There are some songs that I find so capturing and immediately affecting but they're tempered by stuff I could really take or leave. Bush's music is really indulgent and that works to her credit occasionally. She's certainly better than say, Bill Nelson (not the florida senator), and I say that as a Bill Nelson booster. Sometimes these opinions shake out as facts. It hits a sweet spot with Waking the Witch through Jig of Life where it briefly teases something perfect. I think part of my dissatisfaction might owe to the way the album's structure is fragmented on streaming or on CD. Initially split into two parts; side A - Hounds of Love and side B - The Ninth Wave, that split is still distinguishable but would feel a heckuva lot more important if I had to flip a record. I digress though, good album. May it grow in my estimation but for now...three. Favorite Songs: Cloudburst, Waking the Witch, Watching You Without Me, Jig of Life
40 years old, but sounds like it could have been recorded right now. Side 2 drifted into wispy nothingness towards the end, but still worth a listen. Side 1, 5 stars.
It was okay
An interesting listen, especially towards the end of the album. Didn't hate listening to it, but probably won't come back to it.
The first track is “the famous one” and if the rest were as good you’d be pleased. She has a great voice, maybe as much range as say Madonna in her heyday, but the song choices are much worse, some absolutely grating.
I wanted to love this bit I only like it.
Some great songs
That one song slaps.
after listening to this album 4 times...my thought on it is just meh. out off 12 songs, only 2 songs that i get it. not as influential as people thought it is, it is just another style that people did in her era
Opening with Running up that Hill is tough to beat, such a great song. Haunting and driving. Most of the rest of the album is really intriguing, lots of cool synth and sound effects in various songs, each on sounds unique. I liked Jig of Life. Overall, just not really my jam, but I didn’t really dislike any of it.
Like many good pop albums this one starts with a fantastic single and then settles into some less interesting songs. I don’t think Kate Bush is guilty of adding filler, but the single is stronger than anything else on this record.
Few good songs
• 3/5 • Didn't much like this when it came out, but side one has grown on me (especially Running Up That Hill); side two is still arty for me
Hot take but I mostly liked season 4. Besides the obvious complaint of introducing new characters just to kill them off (which they keep doing), the season was interesting and scary and provided an neat backstory for the mindflayer, even if I was disappointed that the interdimensional monster was just a human the whole time. I do still think the first two seasons are the best, but the fourth was better than the third. Maybe it's just because I like the demogorgons and their design so much, we need more of those in the final season. The Hawkins Lab episode with all of them overrunning the facility was the best episode of the show. Oh this album was okay too I guess.
The whole album feels like variations of Running Up That Hill but just not as good. Some were downright wacky. Not a bad album but I will probably only ever go back to the single.
Several good/great songs, but not necessarily a good/great album.
Decent, but not worth repeating
I started out as really not a fan of Kate Bush, however this album was better than expected. Still, her overall voice is not to my liking but listening to an album in its entirety places it in a much better context, so an unexpected high rating for this album. 3/5
This was weirder and cooler than I thought it was going to be.
Väga õige 80ndate produ ja kõla. Aga selliseid "jäävad terve päev kummitama" lugusid on pigem vähe. Võibolla nõuab mitut kuulamist. Kaunis kooriosa "Hello Earth" lõpus
The concept was a bit too deep for me. First side was great
First half has great tracks on it, second half has more of a theme and is definitely good but was a bit less engaging for me. Definitely a 7/10 record (and can see it growing!) but maybe a slightly weaker 7 for now.
Am I a fan of Kate Bush? No. Am I a fan of Art Pop? No. Undeniably, I think this album deserves its flowers. This is an album that is painted like a picture, with interesting elements that are so unlike the music that was put out at that time. Although, doesn't fit the sound that my ears like listening to.
As a general rule I avoid mid-80s pop/rock but this was alright. Running Up That Hill was worth three stars on its own. The rest of the album was was hit or miss (looking at Under Ice). Ultimately my opinions held but it was worth a listen.
I’m more of a Wuthering Heights gal.
Ooh. This leaves the station like an express train and after a while really loses its way and meanders around as it's gone off the tracks. Really runs out of steam by the end.
The first song, Running Up the Hill, is a five-star song. Kate Bush is very talented and a very good singer but just not my cup of tea. The rest of the songs I only gave a three.
Ihan ehtaa kasarisoundia! Ja semmoista mistä minä pidän. Tästä oli entuudestaan tuttu ainoastaan levyn eka biisi (ei, en ole katsonut Stranger Thingsiä, vaan se oli jo reilusti ennen sitä tehokuuntelussa), mutta ei jäänyt kyllä hyvien biisien lista siihen. Kovia stygejä muutama. Cloudbusting yksittäisenä esimerkkinä jäi mieleen. Toki myös vähän erikoismenoakin, mikä ei itseäni niin paljon innostanut. Waking the witch oli itselleni vähän liikaa. Pieni miinus myös, kun ajattelin tietysti heti nimen perusteella että Big Sky olisi ollut Kinks-cover, mutta eihän se ollutkaan. Kinksin nimikaima pyyhkii kyllä Bushin isolla taivaalla lattiaa. Bushin ääni jakaa varmasti mielipiteitä. Joskus soitin omille teineille Wuthering Heightsia, ja molempien spontaani reaktio oli revetä nauramaan. Itselleni kyllä toimii tosi hyvin. Ihan uniikki (ei se räppiartisti) ja jäljittelemätön. Hienosti tukee myös tässä levyllä näitä mainiota kasarisoundeja. Vähän kyllä levyn loppupuolella alkoi olemaan ihan puhtaasti täytebiisien kuuloista kamaa. Pari biisiä lyhyempänä olisi ollut neljän tähden levy, nyt valitettavasti vähän putoaa arvosana noiden fillereiden myötä.
Kate Bush frustrates me. Undoubtedly an artist with vision making art the way she wants, capable of some fantastic pieces (the singles on this were great) but often that vision is just too weird. Tracks like Under Ice and Waking The Witch are just odd.
this was good! i've heard two songs from the album before, but liked what i hadn't heard before! enjoyed this and would like to revisit it.
3/5 running up that hill
Never really been a huge Kate Bush fan. She has a unique sounding voice and has an interesting combination of influences and styles in her music. That said, I have never really found her music that interesting from an emotional perspective, her music doesn't really move me. It's nice, it's creative but it doesn't truly connect with me. I think it is connected to her vocals which are very pure and always sound to me like they quite cold and piercing, as well as echoey. This was a decent album nonetheless, some classics on here and none that lacked for diversity of sound. Best Track - Running Up That Hill (obviously).
Pretty good, not a huge fan of the singles but some of the other ones are a vibe. This feels like an album that deserves your attention, something which I can't always give.
I expected so much more omfg. The album starts with one of the greatest songs ever and it's downhill from there, especially the second half.
This one is a big improvement on the first Kate Bush record I got stuck with, “The Dreaming.” That record truly sucked, and I was not looking forward to this one. But, Hounds Of Love is actually pretty enjoyable. Still has hints of Kate Bush weirdness, but that weirdness has been reined in and made presentable here. 3.7/5
"This album starts out showcasing her vocal talent... she has a sweet tone... with the ability to go up and down... some cool production with her singing with herself and backing herself up... "Running Up That Hill" is a strong opener... the musical backing is kind of dated... but, no doubt, a single... as an American, i can say, Kate Bush never made it really big here... she is quite niche in my opinion... i also know, that to Brits... she is great and this is a masterpiece... unfortunately, i'm not a Brit... but i LOVED and LIVED the British invasion... this boat never quite landed... lolol... anyway... it's a good song to open anyone's record... "Hounds of Love" is next... which sounds a bit comical to my American ears... but, again, her quirky way of singing "all over the place" in perfect pitch... is quite impressive... "The Big Sky" was a single? lol... no way did it chart here... i heard nothing in that one, i must say... "Mother Stands For Comfort", again has very quirky backing music, some cool bass... and women must really relate... again, unfortunately, i'm not a woman... on most days anyway... "Cloudbusting"... was a single???? ok... if you say so... basically... this record has zero influences that most Americans expect from a RnR record... no booty in it.. AT ALL... but, the "witchy" aspect of it, seems to appeal to the feminine and the pagans of europe... i guess... i give this record TWO stars... for obvious vocal talent... and obviously a lot of work and thought were put into it... meh" d
Wide ranging, reminds me of Pat Benatar. Running up that Hill. I bet this influenced many artists, including Madonna, Robyn.
waking the witch is a scary type song :(
it's ok. starts out pretty good, but gets progressively weirder.
It's a perfectly fine album. Cloudburster was perfect walking speed
This one was pretty good. The track list did seem to be a bit hot and cold. One good track would then be followed by something quite different and somewhat incongruous. I did really enjoy, "And dream of sheep". I'm curious how this album was received upon release, since the leading single has become so popular via Stranger Things.
Jag hör att det är bra, men jag känner det inte riktigt lika mycket.
Started off alright but I really loved the direction it took from Waking the Witch onward. The songs felt a little more personal I guess, compared to the beginning the concepts seem more unfiltered. Little Earth was prob my favorite overall, it was like a mini journey within itself. It gave me 2001 vibes for some reason. Chorus on the jig goes crazy
Very unique album. Super strange at times. I liked some aspects of it quite a bit. The 80's ballad vibes were pretty peak on a few songs, especially the first 2. The album kind of transformed at song 5 waking the witch for the better. Even songs I wasn't crazy about I enjoyed listening to. It was a real rollercoaster, and I enjoyed the production, singing, and subject matter. Overall cool album, and I'd heard the name but definitely never heard any of her music. This was a fun one
Really interesting. Probably not going to be in heavy rotation for me, but I respect it. First female artist I've heard on this list I think.
She’s a little all over the place for me.
I mean eh?
Good, but I’m not sure this is even among the top Kate Bush albums. It’s interesting and creative, but parts of it sound repetitive— same approach to lyrics, same vocal effects settings. I’m glad I listened but probably will not listen to the whole album again. A three.
𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 is often hailed as Kate Bush’s crowning achievement, but for me it doesn’t quite live up to that reputation. While 𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘱 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭 stands out as a clear highlight, much of the first half feels more conventional than expected. The second half is more adventurous and atmospheric, showing Bush’s art-pop vision at its strongest. Overall, a good album, but not the masterpiece I was hoping for.
It's OK I guess kinda weird and it certainly got weirder as it went on
Didn't know she had game like that
Much more interesting than expected but still wonder if this is a rediscovered flash or truly brilliant album. The double weims on the cover's enough to give it 10 stars!
Front loaded with the hits Cool Irish song half way through Rest are ok
7.46/10 More disappointing than I would like to admit. After only knowing "running up that hill" i was expecting more of her songs to have that feel and not many did. 3/5
Good vibes
I would say that for me this album was pretty mediocre. I only enjoyed one song off this album but the other songs were pretty forgettable for me. I am usually a fan of 80's music but I guess this album did not really interest me as much as others. It is just a down the middle album compared to the others I have reviewed so far. Nothing to write home about.
I like certain songs on here a lot and they’re very interesting and experimental in many cases but I just can’t get into a lot of it for some reason.
not bad, really like some
Need to listen again. OK.
I want to “get” Kate Bush, understand why everyone loves her genius, but I just cannot. Her screeches and theatrics do little for me. That said, I am one of the millions who really like the song “Running Up That Hill.” This album is better than others I’ve heard by her, but I just can’t board the Bush train..
Ok-ish
Okay, so I accidentally listened to this album on shuffle, and made it ten songs in before realizing. I think that this album is meant to be listened to in order but idk LOL. I don't think I get her vision for the album, and it was a little too drama and out there for me. Fave song was Jig of Life!
Favorites: Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) Hounds Of Love Cloudbusting And Dream Of Sheep Waking The Witch (first minute) Watching You Without Me Hello Earth The Morning Fog Ethereal and epic. However, some tracks also difficult to listen and jarring. Celtic/fantasy influences are clear. A Deal With God lies a step above the rest.
Better than The Dreaming by a long shot.
Mega hit song that I remember hearing back in the day and also on Stranger Things. The rest of the album has a great vibe and unique vocal delivery. The music is great especially considering when this came out. It seems to stand out from others in this time period. I had not heard this whole album before today but I enjoyed it and will be listening to it again.
Meh
“Running Up That Hill” is an incredible opener, no question about it. It is powerful, catchy, and probably one of the strongest tracks Kate Bush ever wrote. The problem is the rest of the album just did not hold me the same way. The production is ambitious and layered, but it often felt more overwhelming than engaging, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. That said, I have to give credit where it is due. The record is unique, and Kate Bush’s vision is clear, even if it does not fully connect with me. Her willingness to experiment is admirable, even if it sometimes comes across as a little too out there. Bonus points for the way this album blew up again almost 40 years later thanks to Stranger Things. That resurgence gave a whole new generation a chance to discover her, and it proves how timeless “Running Up That Hill” really is. For me, though, outside of that track, it is just an okay listen. Favorite song: Running Up That Hill
I find it too polished for my liking, good I guess but definitely too vanilla Also Placebo's cover of Running Up That Hill is vastly superior to the original
Hard to believe this came out in 1985 other than some synths on a few songs. Dreamy, ethereal pop that could have come out in 2025. Not my cup of tea, but way different and better than I expected when I saw Kate Bush pop up.
Börjar bra men sedan blir det lite utflippat och enformigt, bättre än de andra men inget jag vill höra igen.
Nice album, benefitted from a resurgence as the lead single was a key song in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.
Stranger Things
Not bad but not my thing.
3 // "if i could make a deal with god" song that was on tiktok, spacey "pop"? Think 80s, think trying too hard to be deep. Sounds good tho
Didn't expect whatever was happening here. Pretty vibey, a little scary, kinda creepy. Good stuff.
aaah die Kate... ofwel een briljante song, ofwel complete crap... gelukkig iets meer van de eerste soort hier
No soy muy fan de este tipo de música, pero sí sé reconocer que fueron los primeros pasos de géneros importantes. La mayoría de las canciones no me han transmitido mucho, pero mi favorita del álbum es Waking the witch
Love the first two tracks and her voice but the rest was a bit too 80s
So I quite like it, but at the same time it’s got this kind of melancholy vibe which isn’t making me want to listen to it again. The plus sides are some of the experimentation in song structures and sounds (even if too 80s as a whole) are quite interesting, but at the same time the songs tend to drag for me, too much of the same tempo/mood. 2nd half of album was better, the witch song brought some welcome variety.
I’ll be honest - Kate Bush is a legend, but I don’t think this was her greatest work - it’s solid, but not great, and Stranger Things kinda killed the opening track for me. Solid 3 of 5
Far more experimental than I presumed it would be.
A great album. I knew the first song but didn’t know who sang it. Interesting use of classical piano and violin sounds with her banshee-like vocals.
I see the chiffon and soft focus and then Running Up That Hill comes on and I know I'm about to go on a Journey and Discover a lot about myself. Running Up That Hill is an amazingly uplifting track taking full advantage of digital studio techniques. The bridge in the last corner with all the toms tumbling down before it all gets drowned in reverb is great, as are the delay effects at the end. Hounds of Love is a bit weird with the woof synth thing but who can resist mapping a dog to a Fairlight? The rhythm is almost dembow though which is intriguing. Big Sky just builds layer upon layer until there's no space left in the mix. The album starts to get increasingly experimental. Mother Stands for Comfort could have been an early Rephlex release. Cloudbusting is a bit of a let down for side one, fairly conventional and stripped back. The first half feels like the perfect counterpart to Peter Gabriel's So. It still has some of the maudlin/Celtic kind of thing that So has, but its much more in the background compared to the maximalist production and uplifting lyrics. Its got a Fairlight _and_ a Linndrum. Its got a VHS _and_ a laserdisc release, the launch party was a laser show at a planetarium. Everything there is to love about the 80s in this. The second half is less great. A prog inspired cycle about birth and rebirth replete with spoken word bits. Unlike the first half it puts the Celtic bits up front. Post-Michael Flatley its a bit lame. Still great production but not really saying anything Pink Floyd hadn't already said. In summary first half is a 4. Second half is a 2 and so I'll split the difference and give it a 3.
Very good album
pretty good idk
I was hoping to like this more, but it really only sits as a 3 for me. Her voice is great - but by the end of the album it grates. The songs are flimsy, but fun. I enjoyed it but probably won't be back. Solid 3.
This was ~fine~. I feel like she was trying a little too hard to be weird. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this album when I listened, but I didn't finish it. Would definitely give it another shot later on, but it just didn't hit for me this time.
Very talented individual, some decent tunes
It says here its Pop music? It's not Pop.
There were a couple really fun songs. My favorite being Waking the Witch. But most of them were kind of bland.
Fine enough, I think too many of the songs sounded all the same and the ones that stood out were my favorites. A mixed bag but not an unpleasant one.
Klingt sehr 80er
Much better than her later stuff
I was looking forward to get passed "Running Up that Hill" to see what all the fuss was about Kate Bush. I still don't get the fascination.
Good songs: Cloudbusting, Mother stands for comfort Bad songs: Waking the witch Her cut out tremelo effect fucking sucks
Good art rock
A lot of the same song and it’s not my favorite. Some bangers though
Well it had a hit song
Interesting. She sounds like a mashup of Cyndi Lauper and Enya. I wish I had known before I popped it on that it was a partial concept album, because then then last seven tracks might have made sense that they were telling a story. Not a bad album, but I won't be putting it on rotation.
Good
Loved first song, entire album was very experimental and orchestra based. Definitely Kate bush you can tell from every song. Only listened with it in the background
3.5
Starts strong and fades on the second half. Kate Bush is so unique it makes for a pretty challenging listen. No points of reference, which is good but again, challenging. Might be a fan of her but maybe not an active listener. About to fire up "The Sensual World".
Some of these songs do rock and are very unique and inventive. 'Hounds of Love' is especially cool and still sounds current and fresh all these years later. Still, Kate Bush kind of reminds me of my wife's eccentric brother. He's an MD/phD who I can tolerate and even (with great effort) enjoy hanging out with in very small doses, so long as I stay focused on the interesting, unusual and sometimes downright brilliant things he says and NOT his oftentimes bizarre and off-putting interpersonal skills. One time at Thanksgiving he spent a good 10 minutes loudly chewing on carrots and speaking in what he believed to be a baby rabbit voice. Across the table, he said to his extremely gruff and severe Czech father, 'Hey Dad, I'm a widdle wabbit' to which Big Vlad just sighed, wiped his mouth with a napkin and said "I'm not amused by this anymore, Alexander." About six songs into any Kate Bush album, that's about how I feel.
Wow, a rare slice of 80s pop that I enjoy 😆 This was so much better than The Dreaming. Pat aptly described that as a “Double Black Diamond of an album” and I clearly wasnt capable of appreciating it. Bluntly, I never wanted to dig into to the Bush again after my first experience Tikie tokie madness aside, this album has a real vibe with some worthy tracks to listen to. I wouldnt even say that Deal with God is the best track. I loved Cloudbusting Some tunes go too long, but I never wanted to stop the album altogether. Its like watching a weird tv show that doesnt move as fast as youd like, but youre really sucked into the story.
love running up that hill, but rest of the album didn't grab me
really good first song, the rest are kinda mid.
Honestly pretty good. Had some really fun and some really catchy songs, but also some very forgettable tracks. overall a nice listen, but nothing outstanding to me.
littered with interesting touches. creative use of sound effects. atmospheric and dramatic Side B has trippy, experimental moments and surprises Running up that Hill and Cloudbusting standouts in Side A for me Some tracks don't hit for me but definitely a fan
Vele malen beter dan het andere album, maar ik hou er gewoon niet van.
Muy raro. Sobre todo porque el primer track, Running up that hill, pareciera anunciar un disco completamente distinto, más pop, más alegre, y justo termina esa canción y comienza un viaje extrañísimo, con algunos temas buenos, algunos otros indescifrables, algo de esperimentación y una sensación final de saber que siempre que vuelva a este disco será solo para escuchar la primera canción .
My claim to fame is that I once worked with the guy from Warner Music who ended up negotiating the use of Running Up That Hill in Stranger Things.
This album is tricky. It starts off as a pop record and then goes completely off the rails into a concept album. At first I was disappointed and dismissed as not my style/overrated until the second half of the album began. What a wild change. It’s as though Kate had to put a few commercial songs to appease the label so she could make what she really wanted: a true art project. It really is an amazing thing to experience. I wouldn’t say I’d listen on repeat but I completely respect the artistic vision and execution. The whiplash is real and the result is something completely unique. Worth it.
Respect it, but don’t love it.
Top loaded by its hits but still decent
Definitely interesting in some parts.
First half- some of the songs are great, some of them sound like musical theater songs. Second half- really like the conceptual direction and instrumentation, but same thing as the first half where some have this really obnoxious theatricality to it I dislike Super unique voice, incredible production and instrumentation, but it’s really hard to enjoy some of these Chappell Roan ass songs Also, some of these songs sound like music from the “Sonatine” soundtrack by Joe Hisashi, which I do really love Final vote- 3 stars. Like the sound but not the vibe.
I don't hate it. It's weirdly pumping me up. Ok never mind, this Waking the Witch song is ruining it for me. So I guess a few songs are good?
The album started strong with Running Up, then it sounded very similar until the end. It was a bit too long and did not really enjoy the voice manipulation on later songs.
I think the witch song was a bit quirky. Starting off with your most famous song can either really help your album or just cause the rest to be a letdown which is what happened here.
All the songs on here sound the same. Bunch of synth and drum machine and then some weird lyrics on top of it. Not my jam although “Running Up That Hill” is a great song. Pretty mid album otherwise.
3/5
My first time listening a Kate Bush album. For pop music, it's rather pleasant. At least enough is happening and there is plenty of variation, in tempo, song structure, arrangements. This is clearly an album with one masterpiece: Running up that hill is accountable for 87% of Spotify-streams and yes, it's an excellent song. The first five tracks have 97% of all streams and that is understandable as well. After these songs, the candle of this album is all but blown out. Furthermore, the at times horrible eighties production gets more and more disturbing. I must mention the absolute low of this album: Waking the witch. My dear, what happened there? Sorry, but I can't give higher than 6/10 for an album that has this song on it. Oh dear oh dear. I'll just listen to 'Running up that hill' one more time, giving it an even higher percentage of streams.
Maybe I'm just getting tired of kate bush...
Интересно и необычно, но слишком артово местами от Кейт
some bangers incased in a lot of weirdness
Got a bit weird for me but I mostly enjoyed
Some great songs at the start, a little too much The Wall/Irish Jig on the back end
Sometimes brilliant, sometimes boring.
3.5
3.5
Idk... Some about her artsy fartsy way she just doesn't to it for me. I mean it's not bad, and I have a low level appreciate her work., but ultimately I end up cold. (6.8) ★★★
Too theatrical for my taste. 3 stars
I think the first couple of tracks on this album are pretty great, but after that it gets pretty hit or miss for me. Much like Tori Amos, Kate Bush too often drifts into this over-the-top theatrical vocal style that is just nails on a chalkboard for me. Still, based on the strength of the first couple tracks and a couple others, I'm going with a 3.5.
she’s so talented i jus can’t get into it???
Love the overall vibe. I can get why this is on the list. I think there’s only 3 or 4 songs I’d personally keep listening to, but I’m into the sound and feel.
I loved her so much as a teen & Running up that hill was/still is one of my fave songs. Album is great but so dated, like old Genesis - she still resonates for me, half the tracks I still enjoyed but Kate's voice gets annoying after a whole album. Maybe it's just me haha
Nothing but love for Kate. Beguiling to my young mind. Still piques my interest many years later. This album as much as anything is the sound of the Fairlight CMI. Kate and Peter Gabriel both used it to glimpse into the future but what sounded forward thinking in 1985 feels stuck there at certain points. But it's a house I never tire of revisiting. 3.5 stars.
A few very good songs. Very uneven album.
She has a lovely voice and I enjoy her music. There are some songs that I enjoyed parts of more than the whole song. Like she would take a good song then add something unusual to try and be unique, and sometimes it works and sometimes it really doesn't. Only one song got favorited.
la de Stranger Things con toques irlandeses interesantes
Definitely a brave and genre bending album. One moment I’m in an 80s music video, and the next I’m having a jig in an Irish pub! I’d say the album slows down a little in the second leg, but it’s hard to keep up with the quality shown at the start.
Lush and dense , i tried to give this album a few tires as it sounds like something i can grow to appreciate , will reviver
It’s an alright album. A song like Running Up That Hill is very iconic, so in terms of icon likeness, it has very big influence on pop culture. But other than that, I don’t believe this album is really as amazing as people always say.
El principio me dio recuerdos de Vietnam con "Running up that hill", canción que tengo bastante gastada, pero el final del álbum me gustó mucho más con ese royo irlandés. Le daría un 3.5/5 pero como solo se pueden números redondos pues le doy un 3
Está sorprendentemente guay. No es mi estilo pero el albun se va haciendo experimental a medida que avanza. Destaca la 3 y 4 cancion. Subjetuvamente le doy 6/10 pero pq está muy lejos de lo que suelo escuchar
A little weird but it works I guess
Some decent songs but pretty dull to be honest
ES 11-6-25: Interesting album after the big hit has passed. Not entirely my taste.
First half was really good, Kate Bush has her own sound of experimental 80s pop, only comparison is Bowie really. Second half waned, the song quality dropped leaving only the weirdness which sounds a bit forced when it doesn't work with the music as well. Think a Kate Bush singles album would be more appropriate for me, not enough of a fan for a whole album. Still decent though.
Waking the witch was wild. Weird but cool
Pretty decent 80's pop. Running up that hill has become a classic. Also liked Cloudbusting.
I expected this to be a standard 80's pop album and once again learned the lesson not to judge an album by its cover. It did still have some cheesy 80's sounding effects but went pretty hard off script too. Super creative album and feel like it's captured a different take on the 80's female vocal pop sound.
2.5
Overall this is a record with an amazing atmosphere, and Kate Bush’s voice and performance is great. Jig of Life pulled me out of it all, unfortunately and I think that side 2 of the record is a little too much at some point
Running up that hill saved this album. Everything else kinda meh and forgettable.
I’ve never listened to the full album before, although I’m familiar with the hit song Running up that hill. My strongest impression was that this is an album that can handle multiple listens and might get better with each listen.
Some absolute bangers but the album's a bit 'patchy' for my liking.
Running Up That Hill is a great song, but Kate Bush is just, in general, too weird for my taste.
I was aware of Running up that Hill from it's recent resurgence in popularity from the Stranger Things show. But can't say I knew anything else from her. She's got a great voice that can bring the emotion out of her songs. Probably a good album to listen too if you're in a bad mood. That said, it didn't really do much for me. Good, but not great. "Running up that hill" will make the best of 1001 playlist. ~ 3.2 Stars
I often see Kate Bush mentioned on the Reddits, and was looking forward to her coming up on this list. This album was not a bad listen, but I can't say I've ever heard any of these songs before or have any desire to hear the again. The album was overall just boring. It's melancholy and often repetitive to the point of boredom. It started off better than it finished. The B side was extra special - a bit scattered, more melancholy, and often wierd.
Turns out I like Kate Bush more today than when I first heard her around the time this album came out. I'm drawn to the taut urgency of songs like "Running Up That Hill" and "Cloudbusting," and "Waking the Witch" has some nice spooky atmospherics but sounds like the recording went haywire after the 1-minute mark. But there's a theatrical, show tune-y quality to a lot of these songs — Ren-fest prog? — that is just not my jam. As for "Jig For Life," Irish fiddle music just drives me batshit.
I like it. I don't think I love it. But there's obviously some great tracks on here. Maybe burdened a bit from 80s production. But that voice. There is no other.
Perfect vocal!
Running Up That Hill changes it from a 2 to a 3
Running Up That Hill is a banger, but the rest of the album is kinda meh.
Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) 3.3 Hounds of Love 3 The Big Sky 3.2 Mother Stands for Comfort 3.1 Cloudbusting 3.3 And Dream of Sheep 2.8 Under Ice 2.6 Waking the Witch 3 Watching You Without Me 3 Jig of Life 3.2 Hello Earth 3.4 The Morning Fog 3.2 Score: 3.091666667
Different from what I expected.
Stranger things ass album
If it weren't for being resurrected by Stranger Things, Ms. Bush would have remained in the upside down that is mediocre mid 80's music forever. Give her credit for escaping that abyss.
I could've sworn we already had this album, but no, that was "The Sensual World". At least this starts with 'Running Up That Hill', which is the only Kate Bush song I really know, even though I think it is inferior to the Placebo cover. Running up a building is a lot more impressive than running up a hill, you know, but nobody talks about that part. I liked the album OK. It certainly has an 80s witchy vibe, which I appreciate, but it didn't particularly compel me on a first listen. Highlights: 'Running Up That Hill', 'Cloudbusting'
Top draw first 5 weaker back ens
Was previously only familiar with Running Up That Hill, so nice to listen to the entire album. I think the vocals are playful and unique. Feel the album misses a guitar and drums at times.
This is such a weird album. I think for casual listening, I don't like it, rating around a 2. But the type of weirdness and occasional non-weirdness boosts it slightly. Waking the Witch was tripping me out.
Вроде бы неплохо, но всё-таки довольно непривычная для меня музыка. 6 из 10.
Voice is beautiful and the Irish influence songs are pretty cool. mostly forgetable execept for "running up that hill"(it kinda feel like a endless rise with no real chorus, tbh) not bad as long as she don't go falsetto. a bit wanna be artsy but not to much i'd say.
It was ok.
Yeah I still don't like this album, Idk, maybe art pop just ain't my jam, but I found most of this really boring, the singing didn't really interest me & the beats were really slow & uninteresting, none of the album really stuck with me as it just wasn't really catchy or memorable to me, it's just too slow & boring to me, that being said, there were some really nice tracks on here that actually had some more memorable beats & nice singing that actually stuck with me, but mostly I just found it boring, it just really didn't stick with me at all, sorry I'm still not into this one.
Not my favourite Kate Bush album, recently been listening to Never for Ever and really enjoyed that one. This one has a good amount of bangers though ❤️
Kate Bush har aldri vært min kopp te.
hate to admit it but stranger things did one thing right putting “running up that hill” on the map my fav song at the moment is “cloudbusting” 3,5/5 💜
Interesting album. Pretty good but not something I'll likely come back to
She has a nice voice, but it is a single listen. The songs seem to be the same. The second half is less boring than the first. But yeah, wouldn;t recommend listening to this album per se, but it is nice for in the background.
Wasn’t exactly the biggest fan but some good experimentation on the second side. 3 stars
front loaded for sure
What an absolute banger of an opener! Surely the rest of the album can maintain this quality? Eh, it wasn't far off.
Kate Bush är alltid Kate Bush, och detta är bra även om jag föredrar hennes äldre album. Quirky men poppigt som bara hon kan!
Riktigt bra första halva men tappade mot slutet
Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God): 8/10 Hounds Of Love: 6.5/10 The Big Sky - Special Single Mix: 7/10 Mother Stands For Comfort: 5.5/10 Cloudbusting: 8.5/10 And Dream Of Sheep: 7/10 Under Ice: 5.5/10 Waking The Witch: 5/10 Watching You Without Me: 6.5/10 Jig Of Life: 7/10 Hello Earth: 6.5/10 The Morning Fog: 7/10
It was about 4/5 songs too long, otherwise pretty good
This is some bush league shit right here.
Ist fine
I know this is supposed to be some sort of genius record, but I just don't like it that much. It's OK. Just. Obviously her voice is amazing, but I just don't enjoy a whole record, even with the 80s styling, which is very much my era. The jog in particular is just odd in this context – and, trust me, I love a jig and reel. But not here. I don't dislike it and I recognise totally that it belongs on this list. But it's not my cup of tea at all
Good but not for me
I'm surprised I never heard of her before. This feels like something my Ma would have loved listening to. "Running up that hill" is an amazing start to an album. "Mother stands for comfort" has a dreamesque vibe. The first minute of "waking the witch" is pretty memorable.
Man, this was fucking weird! In a good (and sometimes bad) way. Kate Bush reminds me a lot of Robyn & The Knife, and was clearly an influence on both (whether they know it or not). But this album also had elements of Phil Collins, Talking Heads and other 80s sensibilities. I'm glad I listened to this precisely once before I died. I definitely won't revisit it, but it was certainly interesting.
Love Kate Bush and a lot of these songs I view more as singles. The album as a whole felt like it veered off track at certain points, but respect the art and witchy vibes always.
It was great until it wasn’t? Turned into an Irish spooky folk tune? 4 to the first half, 2 to the back half, respectfully
Goddamn Running Up That Hill is such a good opener wtf this whole album fucking rips EDIT: wait wait wait I wrote that after 4 songs and the back half of this sucks
This was a much better Kate Bush experience than the last album I got on this list, but I can’t say any of the songs were that memorable to me. I can’t say any obviously remember Running Up That Hill because of its recent cultural impact, but the rest was just nice sounding 80s pop. Still a fun listen, but unlikely I would go back to it.
3/5
I bet I would have liked this better if I'd been able to hear it when it came out. There are some edges that just haven't aged super well. But overall a very strong album. Not something I'll run back to, but not bad at all.
Like it 3/5
Fantastic album, with standout tracks like Running Up That Hill and Hounds of Love, which just about anyone over 30 will already know. Kate Bush blends art pop with emotional depth in a way that's both experimental and accessible. The album flows beautifully, especially on the second half, The Ninth Wave, which feels like a dreamlike journey. Timeless, bold, and still ahead of its time.
Very 80's. Was not bad
Sympa, mais un peu expérimental. Favs : Running Up That Hill ; Cloudbusting ; The Morning Fog
Honestly better than I thought it would be. Classic sounding 80s synth and powerful female vocals. There were a few tracks with interesting deviations and they were a welcome change from otherwise similar sounding songs. Aside from personal preference and not being overly fond of that musical archetype, I was surprised by this album and found myself enjoying it more than I assumed I might.
I feel like a bad sapphic woman for not having listened to much Kate Bush before, and even worse now for not liking her more than I do. I get that she's doing an experimental kind of pop music, but it just didn't resonate with me that much. There are some good tracks on the album. Running Up That Hill is a classic and a genuinely good song. I also really liked Hello Earth, but the rest of the album was pretty forgettable for me.
Nice. Pretty good.
Listenable, still do not dig her mostly
Complete
"Running up that Hill" as now been too overplayed for me to like it. but the rest of the album is really good. Nice melodies, chords, drums and mix. It's surprisingly more experimental than what I expected. maybe juste too long for me. a 3,25 rounded up fav song : Hounds of Love & Waking the Witch
I'm not a fan of her Running up that Hill song so I expected to suffer through this album. It was better than I expected. She certainly doesn't make cookie cutter basic music and I appreciate her creativity and vocal style. Also, extra points for dogs on the album cover!
One great song, but the rest of the album didn't do much for me.
Leuk soms ook vaag
Nice and experimental.
Better than Sensual World, but still not something I'd come back to. Experimental pop is a difficult genre.
I want to like this album because of that great 80s sound, but none of the songs really wow'ed me beyond the first one. I just don't get it I guess.
I personally think this album's average global rating is skewed upward just because "Running Up That Hill" is on here. It's a great song, yes, but you have to weigh the other tracks. This album just progressively gets worse. Starts with an absolute banger, then drifts into tracks that are a bit repetitive/boring, and then gets into tracks that just sound like noise. "Jig of Life" was cool though, until the dude starting yapping. Finished off alright with "The Morning Fog." A final rating for this album is tough…a true rating would be 2.5, but I'll round up because of the ripping first track.
Had a pretty modern pop sound. Like a Billie eilish precursor. Didn't enjoy the weird experimental aspects. I feel pretty neutral all together about it.