Hounds Of Love

Banger

前卫流行祖师奶

Weird, spooky, emotional, driving beats, makes me think of rain. The more time has passed since I listened the more I like it.

I love Kate bush

never listened to this before now though i’ve meant to for a while. might be jumping the gun but i’d say it’s a about a 9.5/10 album, absolutely fantastic.

Magical, and an easy Five Star. Yes, there will be folk who hate it, the same as their being people who love "Smurf Go Pop", but this album is awesome. Side I has the hits...all bangers. Side 2 has The Ninth Wave, a marvellous exploration of sound, texture mood and whimsy. ...and I love it.

I'm halfway through and there are definitely some bangers (running up that hill, for example) but I don't think it's really my style in general. waking the witch is pretty insane, giving demonic another brick in the wall vibes. ok jig of life is pretty great too. maybe the second half if better, or maybe it's an acquired taste. going to need to re-listen to the album. ok wow hello earth is insane, maybe this is a great album and i was just stupid before. absolute demonic album, in a very cool way.

Great album, took me down a Kate Bush rabbit hole for hours that I thoroughly enjoyed ☺

favs: cloudbusting, waking the witch, jig of life

I wish I was listening to this in a forest. Most whimsical, magical piece of music ever made.

brilliant album!! i love kate bush

A hugely evocative and dreamlike album, with tinges of Hammer horror/sci-fi throughout. Side one is entirely bangers (especially Cloudbusting), side two is one long extended dream. Fantastic all round.

Album #250 is Hounds of Love by Kate Bush, perhaps England's greatest redhead of all time. This is her biggest commercial success and it really shows as one of the better pop albums of the 80s. My biggest highlight about this album is how Kate Bush uses the Fairlight and CS80 and wields the synths like a pro. For that, we stan. More than those Stranger Things people that got on to her.

Different from the albums that came before, and yet a wonderful thing. I haven't given this album the attention it deserves, but it is transporting when you listen in full. Almost a concept album, but not quite. The first side is the one you'll remember most. Of course "Running up that Hill" is there with it's recent revival, but Cloudbusting was always my favourite. Wish I'd seen her live. Perhaps one more show like "Before the Dawn" please. It's hard to say this is her best album, there are contenders like "The Kick Inside" and "Lionheart" , but def a 5.

Feels like pop music but so delightfully weird.

1986. I remember so clearly walking into a record store in a mall, home on summer break after my first year at college. At that time, music discovery was a combination of radio, peer influences, digging into the catalog of artists I liked, and blind experimentation. So it was with Hounds of Love. I had a vague notion that I had heard of Kate Bush, but I don't believe I had ever heard any of her music. There was something about the vinyl LP cover that stopped me in my tracks (CDs were just about to be the mainstay media, but not yet). The album was on an endcap, I bought it on a whim. Thank god I did. Immediately, it grabbed hold. There's not a moment on this record that slips—from the slow fade of Running Up That Hill to the title track, loved the heavy drum rhythms and the totally '80s but never dated production. The production, and Bush's strange, fearless, totally individual approach to songwriting and arrangement — all of it captivated me. Then the endlessly propulsive Big Sky into Mother Stands for Comfort, which veers into eclectic Bush territory (fretless bass and bizarre whistle synth melody). I was all in. Eerie, moody, totally sets up the suite of songs on side 2 (vinyl, remember?). But we can't skip Cloudbusting, which at the time seemed like an impossible feat. A recurring string bed that got more interesting and changed shape and gained momentum as the song played. I went out and bought every Kate Bush album, and found The Dreaming to be every bit as good as this record. I mean, second by a hair, but brilliant as well. And then I discovered Pat Benetar's "Wuthering Heights" was really Kate Bush's — I love both versions. And side 2... The Jig of Life, Waking The Witch, Watching You Without Me, Hello Earth, Under Ice. Damn. On my very short list of flawless records. This album opened a door for me, to Kate Bush and a freestyle approach to writing and arrangement I had never experienced. 60 stars — 5 for every song on the record.

a really impressive album. on the vein of artists that make incredible debuts while being in their 20s. it's interesting to me how underrated/ not that known is this before the appearence of Running Up that Hill on Stranger Things. And more so, how little of the other songs have been used on media. while listening i got this strange relation with the debut album of SOPHIE and how i feel that Hounds of Love feels like the Oil of Every Pearl's Un-insides of that era. Maybe is the similar pastel tones on the covers, that both artists are women, the song about drowning/cold/strong emotional poweful feelings, but more so how, Hounds of Love is more experimental and creative that i expected. Obviously is not electronic and so avant-garde as SOPHIE's album, but i think that for that moment, is a really risk-taking pop album. Songs like Jig of Life are something i would never expect from an album and artist like Kate Bush. And that makes it so appealing and surprising for me. That said, i must say that the second part of Waking the Witch is an atrocity and fails due to using that horrid 80s sounds that i detest. That makes me doubt if this album is a 5 stars one, but the rest is pretty good

Listened to this a while back; loved it. It's lush, it's dense, but it flows perfectly and is a whirlwind of a record.

I have nothing to say - this is a top 10 album of all time for me. I remember the first time I listened to it in full, I was on a ferry to Ireland. That just seems so right. This is a 5/5 if ever there was one. I will not elaborate.

What can anyone say about this masterpiece! The ethereal Kate Bush in 1985 created an album that left its mark the following decades .. The first song of the album “running up that hill” is a masterpiece with an awarded video which in 1985 and in 2022 due to a well-known television series was in the top 10 of the annual hits of various .countries. The power of “hounds of love” and “the big sky” stands out... the serenity of the music and the exquisite voice of the creator in “little earth” and “and dream of ship”... I adore also the jig of life (with strong traditional elements..)...A theatrical, deeply imaginative blend of brilliant 80s pop and dark, progressive storytelling!

Is it bad that my only experience with Kaye Bush is Neil Cicieriga's brilliant Cloudbursts mashup with California Girls? Anyway this album is gorgeous.

It's less of an album and more of a masterpiece of sprawling literary fiction, conjuring vivid images and palpable scenes. Kate Bush is one of those once-in-a-lifetime talents whose work stands out from the rest, never conforming to the styles of the times that she's composing within. Though it was Stranger Things which brought her back into the limelight, I've had the pleasure of listening to this one way before thanks to my parents being fans of her work, and I shall continue to savour this masterwork. Excellent! Favourite track: Waking The Witch Least favourite track: Running Up That Hill (Still great, but it's overplayed at this point)

Just incredible, innovative sampling, powerful, and fun to listen to.

Yes, Kate Bush is one of my favourite artists. This album is not only for the hits an extraordinary album. The second part is just stunning 5/5

This album is like a unique version of generic 80s music. If that makes sense. It’s really good. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a super artsy album and this album rules for that purpose. Maybe it’s not a 5 but I’m feeling it right now.

I've loved this album since my college roommate introduced me to it in 1985. Phenomenal.

Outstanding, she can’t put a foot wrong. Haven’t heard this in years and it still sounds as fresh now. It’s timeless! She’s a national treasure

Goddess

My favourite Kate Bush, although The Dreaming came up early on through this site, and that might be up there too. Running up that Hill is an incredible opener, good on Kate for having such a bump in popularity through Stranger Things, but the sheer overexposure of it has diluted it just a bit for me. The whole first side is perfect, Cloudbusting, Big Sky and Hounds of Love are all huge sounding, dramatic and emotional, massive pop songs without any reliance on 80s pop cliche. To be honest I do kind of lean heavier on the first side than the second, which is proggier, weirder and lighter on hooks. But it's still beautifully written and produced, and taken as a whole there's no doubt in my mind this is 5 star worthy.

Wow, what an album to get on my Birthday! Super excited for this one! "Running Up That Hill" is a hell of a way to start an album, and I sincerely hope it doesn't run out of steam from here. The drums and synths right from the start, Bush's gorgeous voice and epic lyrics. It all comes together into something truly special. Unlike her other album on this list, The Dreaming, I found that after the opening track, I had real difficulty trying to put into words what I loved with each track, so the best thing to do right now is to highlight my favourites (I always return to my reviews just for this, when I want to revisit each album). [I want to ear-mark this album, for some deeper reflection on it later]. Faves: "Running Up That Hill", "Mother Stands for Comfort", "Cloudbusting", "Watching You Without Me", "Hello Earth" and "The Morning Fog".

Kate Bush is my undisputed queen of maximalism, and this is probably her masterpiece.

Absolute love and respect for Kate Fav song: Jig of Life

A legend

This finally clicked with me forever while listening this time. Amazing record.

Proper 5 srar

I love you Kate Bush

What makes a great album? Great lyrics help but you also have the voice of Kate Bush things to keep things from becoming stale. It's groundbreaking and still sounds fresh no matter what year you listen to it.

Fantastic. Ethereal

I basically have no notes, this album absolutely rules - some of the catchiest synth-pop in the first half, to lushly-produced experimental music in the second half, which never ceases to grab your attention

One of my absolute favorite albums of all time and my number one of the 58 I’ve received here so far. From some of the greatest pop songs ever written in the first half to the dark, dreamt concept piece of the second half, this record has everything that I love about music. Brings me to another plane!

I loveee

Amazing to think this is 40 years old - still sounds so modern. An absolutely incredible album

Genius and way ahead of her time when making this album. So full of emotion you cannot skip any of the songs

An album I recently upgraded to a 5 on RYM as I realised how patriarchal my old ratings were and how blinkered my previous rating had been to the perfection of this album. No interest in whether these are songs or not (in other reviews on here) but the album is a work of art, moving, fun, inspirational, thought provoking and contains some killer pop songs like "Running Up That Hill", "Cloudbusting", & "Hounds of Love". She was also incredibly important with the development of music videos in this era (& previously).

I already know this one word for word. LOVE!

Very good but I can’t get into the second half for some reason

I love this album. It’s strange and theatrical and hypnotic.

It's larger than life. It's experimental (but the good kind of experimental). The traditional songs are absolutely flawless. The only problem I have with this album is that every time I listen to Kate Bush too much someone I know dies. But this album is so good that I still take my chances.

I will take any opportunity to listen to this album. My favourite tracks have to be the title track and Cloudbusting

perfect

Absolutely stellar. A dream marriage of Bush's fantastic pop chops and her more experimental side, there is nothing else quite like this album.

I have previously said that Patti Smith is my Spirit Animal. I would like to amend that and say it is actually a hybrid of Patti Smith and Kate Bush. Maybe the only good thing that came from Strangers Things was when they used Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) that made people either discover or rediscover Kate Bush. I wonder how many people were disappointed when they thought that everything was going to be like 'Running Up That Hill' and then walked into something like 'Waking The Witch' and were like "what the fuck it this".

Wish I had heard this earlier in my life. So ahead of its time

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - 5/5 Hounds Of Love - 4.5/5 The Big Sky - 4/5 Mother Stands For Comfort - 4/5 Cloudbusting - 5/5 And Dream Of Sheep - 4/5 Under Ice - 4/5 Waking The Witch - 3.5/5 Watching You Without Me - 3.5/5 Jig Of Life - 4.5/5 Hello Earth - 4/5 The Morning Fog - 3.5/5

Especially Basset Hounds!

Fenomenal. Scape your sound, and then some. Synths, computers, samplers abound (also a lot of acoustic and electric instruments), still deeply moving. That's how it is done.

9/10 No skips detected

Mother Stands For Comfort!!!!

Pretty much perfect to be honest with you

Comfy cozy

5!!!!!

Forgot how much I love Kate Bush. I shall put her in my regular rotation from now on. Oddly, this album is from a very sad point in my life but I don't find it brings me back to that, just the opposite.

I adored this album. Yeah, its weird, she's out there, but her song structures, use of percussion and ear for hooks made for a very enjoyable listen.

So many original ideas and risks taken with the production. Such a lush imagery with an amazing soundscape to support them. An absolute masterpiece that inspired cool albums that pushed the boundaries even further. My favorite Kate Bush album. Favorites: "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)", "The Big Sky", "Cloudbusting", "Under Ice", "Jig of Life" and "Hello Earth"

In my top 10 albums of all time. A classic that I will return to forever.

Cmon now

The first half is magnificent- my particular favourite is “Mother Stands for Comfort” which makes fantastic use of a fretless bass (not something that is said very often). The second half isn’t as strong but that is only because of the virtuosity of the half.

Gostei bastante da sonoridade

I honestly first heard Kate Bush from stranger things but I think now I might have to go listen to her whole discography

Iconic art rock record that works in essentially every aspect. Hypnotic, beautiful, epic, pastoral alike. The gorgeous ballad "And Dream of Sheep" and march-tempoed "Cloudbusting" are my favorite two tracks.

One of my all-time favourite albums and right up there on my most listened to. The first five songs are legendary, and Cloudbusting is probably in my top-5 songs all time, always uplifting. The rest of the album deviates with some changes of pace with some softer tunes, a jig, and the rather odd Waking the Witch - but it all works perfectly together. Kate's vocals throughout the album are exceptional and there's realy not a bad thing to say. 10/10

anabel says good album

One of my all-time favourite albums. My morning alarm is set to Waking the Witch--this is how much I love this album. Seeing it be rediscovered by a new generation of fans because of Stranger Things was an absolute vindication of this amazing music.

First half of the album has an incredible run of songs. These songs are lovely and progress in such an engaging way. Generally are layered uniquely in a way thats still very beautiful especially in songs that utilize string instruments. The progressive song structures allow songs to take a more artistic approach compared to traditional pop that makes the songs 10 times more interesting. Vocals are stunning on this album but no surprise given that it's Kate Bush. My god the second half is just completly otherwordly and odd and strangely beautiful. Just as incredible (although more abstract) as the first track. Some highlights are Running Up That HIll which is a pop odyssey and a masterpiece. The Big Sky has an addicting chorus. Cloudbusting is out of this world... the strings in this song....

Most accessible Kate Bush album, sti sounds so fresh

This made me feel feelings

When asked why they read, literary critics often have described it a search for the sublime — the transcendence of form. Secular theophany. Music rarely reaches those heights, but it’s reached that here.

fav songs: running up that hill (a deal with god) hounds of love mother stands for comfort and dream of sheep waking the witch watching you without me the morning fog art pop. dynamic, inventive 90/100

Went in only knowing the opening song and was surprised to find out it's one of the least exciting tracks on the album. I never understood why it's so popular, and after listening to the other great pop tunes on this and the astounding second half's suite, it makes even less sense. I'm two Kate Bush albums done (one to go) and the latter half of this is, so far, the highlight of her career for me. And, given that Kate herself said there's little connecting the two sides of 'Hounds of Love', I'm gonna go ahead and claim 'The Ninth Wave' is my favorite record of hers.

Really loved this, huge wall of sound throughout and an incredible voice, completely unique

1 - Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) (the song we've all come to know and love through various means - mine was the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels promo with the Placebo cover. There's nothing much to say aside from this song being practically perfect and magical in its every facet. A Voyager record-worthy track) 5/5 2 - Hounds of Love (some big post-punk styled drums thunder through this track, much more grounded than the opener. There's a weird little effect that sounds like yipping dogs, hence the title. It sounds about 15 years ahead of its time as so, so much indie rock aped this track and its aesthetic. Bush herself gives an excellent and impassioned performance throughout; an excellent follow-up to the already iconic opener) 4/5 3 - The Big Sky (much more upbeat than the previously serious and sullen tracks. This is almost a city pop track with how sweet and airy it is. The thunderous drum machine and guitar grounds this song back down again, and I like how Bush isn't at all afraid to have the song get too busy and, to be quite honest, messy. A very daring choice for something so accessible) 4.5/5 4 - Mother Stands for Comfort (a much more sparse and pensive track mostly led by a sparing piano performance. The distant but still blown-out drum machine anchors otherwise very separate elements together. Bush herself sounds very distant on this one. A nice break from the high-octane melodrama of the previous tracks) 3.5/5 5 - Cloudbusting (much more refined, this song features an elegant violin as its primary melodic anchor. Bush herself sounds sweet and kindly on this one A synth partway through the song kind of sounds like a horn instrument to my ears and comes back in full force with the marching band beat to bring this all together neatly. This is rightfully among the better-known songs from this album) 4.5/5 6 - And Dream of Sleep (another piano ballad but this time it's Bush's voice that leads it. This song really captures the full spectrum of her instrument; clear and brassy, wispy and lovelorn all at once. A serene end to the first half of the album) 4/5 7 - Under Ice (an austere piece with only a violin and Bush's multilayered voice that creates an uneasy medieval atmosphere. While it may be the shortest track on the album, it's also among the most memorable) 4/5 8 - Waking the Witch (the first minute of this is incredibly scattered and downright icy. Some bizarre voices flit between the piano that treads carefully. All this immediately evaporates when the off-kilter synths, distorted voices and out-of-place church bells all stumble over each other. Despite how cutting-edge most of the production is on this, the medieval vibe of the previous track continues especially when Bush pushes the upper limits of her voice against the hideous growls in the bridge. Needless to say I was NOT expecting a song like this on the album) 4.5/5 9 - Watching You Without Me (a softer ballad led again by Bush's vocal performance and a soft and steady beat. It's a soothing dreamlike state throughout this song and another welcome shift from the relentless preceding track) 4/5 10 - Jig of Life (Bush gets folky on this song with a hurdy-gurdy and pounding Celtic beat, returning somewhat to the medieval sound that opened the second half. The tin whistle during the instrumental break seals the deal; a very unique addition to this album that blends the traditional instrumental with Bush's forward thinking approach) 4/5 11 - Hello Earth (the longest song on the album shifts between nearly a capella sections to a church choir to a vast and spacious synth-heavy instrumental. The instruments start off acoustic and organic before proverbially leaving Earth and entering increasingly electronic territory. A truly monumental song on this album that invokes the homeliness of Earth and the terrifying but fascinating expanse of the cosmos) 5/5 12 - The Morning Fog (the closer is oddly the most conventional song on this, sounding like a wake-up call from a lengthy, vivid dream. After so many heavy songs the album definitely needed a feather-light song like this one to close it out; it's genuinely beautiful in parts and leaves an impression despite its brevity) 4/5 OVERALL - 8.5/10

I was a little worried in the first half by the more straightforward drum patterns and pop ideas. The unbridled creativity in the second half, however, won me over. This album has a lot to offer I've said it before and I'll say it again, I appreciate an album that takes you on a journey. I might not have loved every moment of it, but I'm glad I went

zo goed!

Such a fun album, baroque, loved it. Started kind of normal and then went totally crazy in the second part. Probably need to have a second listen.

10/10, no bad songs. I loved it fully and completely. Fav songs: Hounds of Love, Jig of Life, Waking the Witch

Kate made a perfect album. The more I listen, the more I love it. (And for the uninitiated who only know “Running up that hill,” you are in for a treat.)

i love kate's first few records, but she finds her pop goddess voice on this one. "running up that hill" is rightly praised as a brilliant pop song, but she also has "cloudbusting", "waking the witch", "and dream of sheep", "hello earth", and "under ice" on this record. it's brilliant top to bottom

Poetry meets music, some duds and the wailing is sometimes quite odd but in the end this is a masterpiece. Cloudbusting, Mother Stands For Comfort, Hello Earth, absolute god tier stuff

Die erste Hälfte des Albums besteht ausschließlich aus Bangern inklusive für mich vorher ungehörter Momente wie Riffs aus Streichern in Cloudbursting. Dann wird es zugegebenermaßen sehr experimentell, aber irgendwie holt es mich dabei voll ab und gipfelt mit lustiger irischen Kobold Musik (Jig Of Life) - Um Ende kommt wieder ein spaciger Teil und sie spricht so grundlos deutsch zwischendrin Einfach ein großartiges Erlebnis! 5

Fascinatingly theatrical with stunning vocals

Fav song: Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)

muy lindo

Yeah, this is basically perfect.

For Music League, one of Marnie’s round ideas is songs by artists you have a crush on.” I think if we ever do it, I’ll have to submit a Kate Bush song.

Beautiful, brilliant, and strange (in all the right ways). I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything quite like it. Then I check the credits, and she wrote and produced every track with no co-writers/producers. I went into this knowing only the “Stranger Things” song, and came away with an album I will absolutely be coming back to regularly.

This album is a true masterpiece. Kate Bush shows another perspective of her universe of sound, forever unmatched.

Okay I definitely understand the hype now.

Deserves to be on the best 100 albums let alone 1001. Kate Bush wrote, recorded, and produced this album in her private studio in her barn. Layering the vocals, synthesizer, and sound effects herself. Always innovative and ahead of her time, this album’s influence can be heard in artists to come a decade later like Bjork, Fiona Apple, and Tori Amos and less obvious artists like Placebo, Radiohead, and Big Boi.

Running up that Hill is already worth the album four stars. The whole album sounds otherworldly, like you're on some weird drug that's somehow good for your brain. Some songs have a more "ordinary" tone, but the overall experience makes you want to just lie down and listen for 45 minutes.

Stunning album that rewards repeat listening. Innovative music and affecting vocals. Maybe her best work?

4.5/5. Heard this about 2 years ago, and I haven't stopped loving it!!!

Brilliant dark synth pop. Good use of drums throughout. Best tracks: Running up that hill, Cloud Busting, Worst tracks: Mother Stands for Comfort, Waking the Witch

Zo avant garde, fantastisch leuke productie, mooie en quipy text writing. Fantastisch hoe pop sounds en progressions worden gebracht met een theatrale en baroque instrumentatie en zangstijl. Zo veel persoonlijkheid in dit album

as this is a list of the best of the best, this is not the best of the best of the best, its bottom rung best.

It's another five. Call me soft if you want.

Per my will, I'm to be buried with a few select items. This album is one of them.

Kate is probably not everyone’s cup of tea. I can’t even say I loved all of this. She doesn’t sound like anyone else though, and she has an arsenal of tools she uses to deliver a magical, grand experience. I preferred the Dreaming over this. Probably due to Running Up That Hill being so overplayed at this point. But this was still well received by me.

One of my favorite all time albums (I've been obsessed with Kate Bush for some time now). The "Downward Spiral" of 80's British synth pop. Huge couple of hits (Cloudbusting is my favorite single and song off the album - and the video is ridiculously fun and a bit on the nose, like the cover art of this album I suppose), yet The Ninth Wave is where this album truly shines. If you like this, please check out The Dreaming, Sensual World and especially Aerial, one of the greatest "comeback" albums of all time imho.

Mcncj

Me encanto sobre todo la parte experimental del lado B

Absolutely love this album. Kate Bush does some amazing stuff and she very heavily influenced one of my favorite singers (Tori Amos). It was really interesting to read reviews of this from before Running Up That Hill was on Stranger Things vs after and how she was virtually unknown in the US vs how many people knew her after. The whole album is worth a listen.

Don't know why I haven't previously listened to this before. Decent

So much love has gone into this album. Total genius

Fairy-tale esque. experimental and unique which is very often a good thing in my opinion. takes risks, reminds me of the feeling of watching a studio ghibli movie for the first time.

Of course I already love “Running Up That Hill.” The coolest thing Strangers Things ever did was make that the song of the summer 35 years after it was originally released. But what a delightful experience to learn every song on this album is as beautiful and fun and rich as that first track! So Baroque, so theatrical, so layered and esoteric and weird. Her beautiful voice can do so much, and the production is just oddball and experimental enough without losing the pop sensibilities and fun choruses. A truly lovely piece of art that I listened to thrice yesterday!

I wish it wasn't one of a kind

so weird and kooky, I love it

I love "Running Up that Hill," and Cloudbusting is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard. I started writing this too soon, because I hated the eponymous track and loved so much else. I definitely think this should be on here, there's nothing like it in a sea of Brit Pop.

This album is so good. A shout out to the stranger things track "running up that Hill". And the wuthering heights song (and the best cover by metal band Angra)

Kate Bush is perfect

Hello Earth

The most free space album you could give me up to this point. I adore this one. I went way too long (years ago) only knowing Kate Bush because of Placebo’s cover of Running Up That Hill and there was a brief stupid time where I thought the cover was better than the original. Ha! No. Not even remotely true. I know up through Waking the Witch (which is in lovely argument with Cloudbusting, The Big Sky, the title track and Running Up That Hill for which is my favorite song off the album) much better than I do Watching You Without Me into The Morning Fog, but this is an great excuse to revisit a mild blind spot.

such an easy 5*!! a no-skip album for me, i absolutely adored it. the way the vocals are layered throughout to build such a fantastical soundscape is incredible. the grandiosity that builds is exciting every time, and make the softer, more dreamlike tracks shine. it's hard to pick just one as a favourite. the first three tracks provide this sense of invigoration, and feel almost feverish at times. the instrumentation pulses in a way that is borderline hypnotic. then there's tracks such as under ice, waking the witch, and jig of life that provide a more storied approach lyrically, with each track developing into separate chapters of a book. under ice feels ominous, almost haunting before transitioning into waking the witch, a more claustrophobic atmosphere, waking the witch specifically felt like i had been put into a musical sleep paralysis, in the best way. then there's jig of life, turbulent, emotional, and so fun. again, easy 5/5 for me. i completely understand that it's not for everyone but this is such a unique album and should be considered as influential as something like the velvet underground, in my opinion! average track rating: 4.2/5 album rating: 5/5 thank you to the person who did this format in the reviews, I hope you don't mind me taking and adjusting for my purposes :') number of albums left to review: 1,080 number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 3 albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 1 albums from the list I won't include on my list: 8

I love when an album feels like I'm listening to a musical... Purple is my favourite colour... I stopped watching Stranger Things after the third season and I usually have social media on mute, so THE song didn't get ruined for me... All these things and more is why this album is perfect for me.

One of the most beautiful albums of all time. It has no skips and is so enthralling yet innovating for its time. In my opinion the greatest album of the 80s. 10/10 [KEEP]

The first half is deffo five stars has a lot of Kate's real classics. 2nd half is weaker but in balance still going to give it a 5.

Unbelievable album and artist. Still love this as much today as I did when I discovered it. Brilliant

One of the easiest 10/10s ever

i don’t get what this one review is on about, there’s no barking in this ♡: Waking The Witch, Running Up That Hill

Still the absolute gold standard for weird, experimental pop

What a wonderful excuse to pull out the album, sit down and listen to it in one go.... It's just a piece of musical genius. There are so many levels it works on. The songs are all gems in their own unique way. The production is timeless....it could have been released last week - most albums from the 80s show it, but not this. It is practically it's own Genre for me. The second side (The Ninth Wave) is simply sublime - I love that it is an album of two parts. And Dream of Sleep is simply one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever recorded. It's been a favourite of mine for 40+ years and it's wonderful to me that more modern ears have now discovered it thanks to Stranger Things. It might just be THE best album of the 80s. 5

One of the best albums of all time!

80s art pop classic. Production is very dense/reverb-heavy but works in favor of the songs here. I love all the various synth string arrangements scattered throughout almost every song. Not as overly experimental as "The Dreaming", but Bush can still write some eccentric but catchy songs on this album as well (Waking The Witch, most notably). 9/10.

The variety here is really something special. Really love the stories she's telling in Cloudbusting and Jig of Life, and Waking the Witch is the absolute deep end of her experimentation. Safe to say I'm a fan now

9/10 Feels experimental without being overwhelming. I love how this album has several different sounds while staying thematically consistent.

Damn good album

Well goddamn. Kate Bush has been having a resurgence lately because of the use of “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” in the Netflix series Stranger Things. Even before the show, that song was iconic with its synths, programmed drums, and of course Kate Bush’s ethereal vocals and lyrics, but there’s so much more going on here. To name a few highlights for me: the drum programming on “Mother Stands For Comfort” is exceptional. “Waking the Witch” wouldn’t sound entirely out of place on a Skinny Puppy album of the era. Two songs later there’s a full-on jig. Somehow this all works and it sounds coherent. There is a bunch of stuff that’s kind of proto-glitchy, and this album came out in 1985! There’s so much ambition here, and she flawlessly pulls it off and in the context of a pop album. This is one of those albums that feels absolutely massive. I hear her influence in so many places, and yet it’s still so much larger than that influence. I’ve listened to a little bit of Kate Bush over the years and I’ve never totally connected with it but today this album is hitting me hard. Unquestionably a five star album.

Obvs heaven. Quite Florence & the Machine

Well good. Had running up that hill stuck in my head all day!

Absolutely stunning album!!! Charming, magical, and whimsical. I was OBSESSED with Jig Of Life, the transition to that song made me go ooohhh out loud. Nobody does it like Kate Bush!!

Great

Ymmm, peak nothibg mkre to say

Tengo que decir que amo a Kate y todo del disco es fantastico, las letras, su voz y su historia.

1: Hounds of Love 2: Running Up That Hill 3: Watching You Without Me

YES YES YES

Good

Easy five stars

The first half of this album is nonstop, top-tier, polished but creative pop songs, and from there it transitions into something that feels like a surrealist dream. The second half may be a bit too weird for some listeners, but it’s a journey, and one worth revisiting. One of my favorite albums of the 80s.

LOVELY, truly amazing. The Big Sky, Cloudbusting, Jig of Life, Running Up That Hill are terrific.

MY QUEEN!!!!! This is such a classic holy I forgot how much I loved this aged 15. Bit miffed that my first suggestion from this damn website was one I’m already familiar with but I had fun with this in the end so I can’t be too mad :3

timeless masterpiece…. i’ll be listening to this album till my last breath

SUCH AN AMAZING ALBUM CLASSIC ALRWADY. This album was so unique when it came out in the 80s. This album is so good, it’s one of those albums that’s underrated with a big hit. (for example hot fuss by the killers with mr brightside). first of all the intro song is actually amazing besides it being the stranger things song. listening to this album is a whole outeorld experience. i don’t kno why but it’s like running through clouds. i love her voice too, it’s so perfect with the production. th use of the instruments use of everything. everything is so sparkly in this album, this album is th world beautiful. she needs to be talked about more, her discography is amazing. an obvious classic

Just superb

Right, need to find a criticism. The typeface used on the cover (ITC Zapf Chancery) looks terrible now. This is a magnificent album. Starting out with Running Up That Hill, it never once settles for the ordinary; Kate Bush resists the temptations offered by the digital technology of the time to throw everything into each track, and instead builds an incredible sound world that supports some absolutely world beating songs. The thing is, many of the sounds and elements are so familiar as to become cliche, but they’re brought together with such warmth, creating an utterly idiosyncratic soundscape. Even “Jig of Life”, which is the sort of diddly-diddly thing that’d send me over the edge has enough interesting musical twists and turns to make it work. It’s a wonderful album.

Still stunning. This is the album that proves why I’ve been in love with Kate ever since she both frightened and enchanted me on Top of the Pops in 1978 — equal parts genius, drama and beautiful oddness. The big hits soar, but it’s The Ninth Wave that seals the deal: eerie, theatrical, pure Kate magic. And the thought of people buying this after Stranger Thing, then hitting that bonkers second half? I’d pay good money to see their faces!!

Absolute classic

До чего же красивый альбом… мне очень понравилось начало, а также шотландские мотивы в конце. И жизнерадостная детская песня по середине. Прелесть, определенно вернусь к этой шикарной певице. Как же красиво она передала те эмоции, которые испытывала и я… те же страхи и те же мысли

like most people hearing this album in recent times, I am only familiar with Running Up That Hill which is still a banger, but its also the most normal sounding song on this album, if that makes sense? I suppose I mean traditional, and I'm usually not a fan of artists being different for the sake of being different but damn Kate really puts her heart into this. The closest I can approxinate her sound is probably Florence Welch and sometimes Hikaru Utada (specifically Face My Fears, Sanctuary and Simple & Clean aka the main intro themes for Kingdom Hearts 1-3 sound very thematically similar to some of Kates entries) She has this really interesting dreamlike quality to her music thats hard to do properly but she absolutely nails it.

Damn dude this album is witchy as frick. Obviously Running Up That Hill is the most accessible track but the whole album has such a great vibe and sound. Even the hella weird Waking the Witch was great (and I’d wager is the song that turns off most listeners. Embrace Hell my dudes!) Good stuff overall and I already have this on vinyl so it’s an easy 5

I absolutely loved this. I think Kate Bush is a bit of an acquired taste. Is it weird? Yes, indubitably. But it *works*.

What an amazing fucking album. Holy shit. I've known about and have even heard this album. I have many friends throughout my life who love Kate Bush and this album specifically. Yet I've always more-or-less passed on Kate Bush in general, even when I've loved the song Cloudbursting for a long time. This is one of those times where I realize I've been wasting my time not listen to Kate Bush. Why haven't I fully embraced this album prior to now??? I feel foolish, but happy to at long last finally receive the brilliance. It's on another level. Kate Bush delivers a world onto herself. This album engulfs. It's also at moments so personal, so sentimental. The final lines of The Morning Fog end the album with: I am falling Like a stone Like a storm Being born again Into the sweet morning fog D'you know what? I love you better now I'm falling And I'd love to hold you now I'll kiss the ground I'll tell my mother I'll tell my father I'll tell my loved one I'll tell my brothers How much I love them So sweet and beautiful, it gets me all teary-eyed! Waking The Witch gets into almost Skinny Puppy territory. There's other moments that have glitches and subtle oddities. It's a world that has a bit of adventure and risk in with the gorgeous gauze gradients of color and emotion. Just absolutely lovely music.

Phenomenal record through and through. Love the concept on the second side it sounds unreal and so distinct from anything else. Just excellent pop songwriting too. She’s the absolute best and I love her.

Kate Bush is one of the few artists who have managed to leverage 80's aesthetics in a way that I really enjoy. The reverb and the synths and all the other 80's isms are used to create a dreamlike atmosphere that elevates what would have already been excellent pop songs. The 5 songs on side 1 are all pretty much pop perfection, I can barely pull out favorites. Not to even mention Kate Bush's powerful, unique vocal presence. If this album was just perfect pop songs, that would be one thing, but side B really shows just how ambitious and daring Kate Bush really was here. Side B is all loosely interconnected mood pieces and experimental songs. Under Ice is almost eerie, the tape effects on Waking The Witch almost sound like early glitch music (it's kind of shocking), and Hello Earth is just floaty and gorgeous. Although, what I think really epitomizes why this album is a 5 for me is Jig Of Life. The idea behind Jig Of Life, as like an Irish folk song or something out of absolutely nowhere is, on paper, just straight up bad. But the execution and the vision of Hounds Of Love is so strong, that Jig Of Life is just as emotionally complex, and nuanced as anything else on here, without any real cheesiness. It's as though Kate Bush is operating on such a high level that she simply willed it into being a good song. And that is a hell of an accomplishment. Hounds Of Love is beautiful and compelling, and nearly perfect. And I cannot praise it enough.

Of course I already knew and loved this. Listening carefully reminded me just how strange and varied it is. Embarrassingly, it's also only now that I realised how few women there are on this list. Shameful.

most songs in this really felt like diving into the mindscape of a villainous queen of a fairytale story. incredible experience. would listen to again

Theatrical and beautiful. Happy to see this getting a resurgence with Stranger Things using the opener.

Turns out I love Kate Bush. Not something I would’ve guessed, but there you have it.

“Cloudbusting” has been a favorite song of mine for years, but I’ve never played this album from beginning to end until recently, and I’ve been missing out. I recently made a review explaining how most ’80s art rock and art pop falls flat for me and lacks connection, but this one is the opposite. This is ‘80s art pop done right. It’s a very ambitious album with innovative and meticulous production. The extensive use of synthesizers, especially the Fairlight CMI, gives this album its unique soundscape and texture. Kate Bush was one of the few artists to push this instrument to its max potential. Although this album was innovative on the electronic and studio production side, it also incorporates traditional percussion, orchestral strings, and both electric and acoustic guitars. Lyrically, the album is divided into two sides. The first side, “Hounds of Love,” features more accessible pop songs. The second side, “The Ninth Wave,” is a continuous story through multiple songs about a woman adrift at sea, struggling to stay awake and survive through the night. Each song represents a different aspect of her ordeal. When I listen to music, my brain naturally focuses on the sound, instrumentation, and technical production, often overlooking the lyrics. But this album inspired me to look up all the lyrics. Her lyrics are deep and driven with strong emotion, which really enhances the storytelling.

I may be biased as this one of my all-time favourite albums ever (and let's face it, it's everyone else's too), but this really is one of the best albums ever made - an album to listen to before you die, perhaps?????? Kate Bush has a unique ability to take you through literary and Celtic myth, combined with her own fictions too, all to the tune of stone cold bangers. I'm Irish-jigging over here, I literally can't stop myself!!! Seriously, this hardcore, boundary pushing shit; a truly transformative piece of media. This is the canon of music!!!! This probably should be the only thing in the canon maybe?? Who can say?? We're two paragraphing it for our queen and saviour Ms Bush: I had been indoctrinated to the church of Bush from a young age having a mother who was a dedicated follower, but this album was a real leap into a new realm from her girlish genius on The Kick Inside (the album I was personally raised on). The first time I listened to this album properly with adult ears, I was completely taken aback by the ambitious production that felt really fresh and contemporary to electronic musicians of the 90s and 00s that I was listening to at the time. There is something magical about this album that is more than just the rapid genre chopping, the breathless extremity of Waking the Witch awash with samples and backwards/forwards cutting, and the fact she embodies a ghost on Watching You Without Me (imagine the satanic-icity of her- as a ghost- saying "don't ignore me" backwards) - all of these things are great, but the album as one, complete artistic piece remains something much more than the sum of its parts.

Definition of a stone cold classic tbh! Not my favourite Kate Bush (that's The Dreaming) but still a five star record which gives you an idea of just how incredible 80s Kate Bush was. Just such an insane amount going on here, massive prog conceptual suite about ghosts! esoteric references to machines that control the weather! incredible emotional range! crazy production! a cheeky Irish jig for the lads! and all the songs absolutely slap at the same time. Masterpiece!!

Weird and cool

i think this is a masterpiece

<3

Hauntingly beautiful, love it

i love it, this one deservs to be on the list.

Really nice album

Really really fantastic. I’d been meaning to listen to this for a really long time and it totally lived up to expectations and then some. Didn’t really expect it to sound so modern. It feels like it could’ve come out recently. Glad to have a new 5/5

9/10 23.01.206

LOVEEE KATE BUSH . Knew only few songs so happy I could listen to more

#15-1089 : Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush Art Pop/Art Rock 1985 As Of 2025-26 Kate Bush's " Hounds Of Love " Is considered as a masterpiece album and it's worth of every praise it receives. This album is famous for being of two separate concept-s and released after her most experimental and hard to understand (was hardly criticised) album " The Dreaming " , This ( Hounds Of Love ) album was her's massive and highly acclaimed among both masses and critics. 9.5 / 10

The rythm, chords and theatrical/literary conceptual references works so well with the overall excentricty of Kate Bush. It’s really remarkable how she could make an album so immaculate and influential in every sense of the word. For me, this is a definition of the perfect album: not necessarily one with zero skips, but one that stucks with you forever.

The arrangements of these songs are so unique. The performance is also really deserving of praise. This is a record that doesn't really emulate, it's experimental and fun in a way that is still refreshing. The fact that it was self-produced as well is remarkable. The pop hooks are so catchy, and the instrumental on it's own is so demanding of my attention. The vibe goes anywhere from electric pop to orchestral rock and lots of places in-between but somehow it's all glued together by Kate's vocal performance. I really dig it. The B-side of this album really dives into the experimentation with all parts of instrument choice, arrangement, performance, and production. I don't think it's quite as well done as the A-side but it is still really cool. For example, the way that Waking The Witch is done is stunning. And it does absolutely stick the landing with the last few songs. There are a couple tracks that bring it down, but largely it is very easy to get past those and enjoy this record as the wonderful experience that it is. 4.7/5

maybe the best album. kate bush supremacy

LOVEEEE.

It took me and second to get it, but once I got it, I GOT it. I'm normally not the biggest fan of her style of singing, but I really enjoyed listening to this album. It was so so good.

Jig of life is a fav

Кейт Буш и её лучший альбом. Все композиции невероятны. Определённого жанра нет, но в этом и прелесть. Первая половина — зажигательный поп-рок 80-х, а вторая — сказочный мир/сон Кейт. Вокал, музыка, тексты — всё великолепно. Легендарная работа, вдохновившая многих музыкантов.

My sense of this album is that opposed to individual tracks serving as hits, the overall album is a fantasy adventure where our protagonist goes through many trials and tribulations in a world filled with fairies, elves, and witches. It's giving me Never Ending Story/Labryinth/Willow/etc. nostalgia. Strings are used beautifully here, and almost every track provides an emotional payoff. Kate Bush uses her vocals, literary inspirations, and beautifully creepiness which can be jarring at times (I love the deep demonic voice in "Waking the Witch" juxtaposed with 80s synths). Of course, there's "Running Up That Hill" but I also adore the sadness of the scientist father-son relationship in "Cloudbusting" and the otherworldliness in "Hello Earth", which has moments of mourning chants, but also has lyrics that indicate rebirth? There's a lot here I don't fully understand, but I am so appreciative for Kate Bush for paving the way for future quirky female artists who artfully portray emotional depth, like Bjork, Florence and the Machine, among many others.

This isn't a perfect, five-star album. It has one blemish in "Jig of Life" in that when the vocals aren't singing, the instrumentals make no sense with the rest of the sound of the album. But in all other ways this album is a beautiful narrative that makes sense in how it all sticks together thematically, so I'm rounding up and consider myself lucky that this was a Friday album so I could listen to it all weekend.

Kate Bush.

Kate Bush is an absolute genius. I still have no idea what the hell is going on with Side 2 of this album but I love it dearly nevertheless.

Absolut bangers

What a great album, it feels so ahead of it's time and the voice and lyrics are just otherworldly 9/1/26

Another artist that I've always liked but have never actually intentionally listened to entire album. And for Hounds of Love, that is entirely my loss. Most of the Kate Bush songs I know well are dramatic and theatrical, but the more subtle and subdued tracks on this album surprised and touched me - with out any loss of passion or dark beauty. - Heard before? Not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Absolutely. I regret not having this in my life earlier. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Definitely.

Ah Stranger Things feelings here I come. Running Up That Hill is mind-bendingly phenomenal and I don't know if it's because of Kate Bush's artistry or the association I have with Stranger Things, but still the song is 10/10. I love how chaotic this album feels. Like it goes from synth pop to whatever on earth was 'Waking the Witch' (the absolute not terror but discomfort that song made me feel... yikes) to the folk/trad instrumentals of "Jig of Life" (second favourite off the album). Kate's vocal range/tone is also incredible. This whole album was incredible.

Ouvi muito pouco da Kate Bush antes disso, e esperava algo bem mais pop e menos experimental, mas tiveram várias tracks super interessantes e diferentes. Gostei, acho que um 8/10

Amazing album. I only knew Wuthering Heights before this so wasn’t sure what to expect but this one blew me away. Every track was great. I’m a long way from the end of this list but when I rank all my five stars at the end I reckon this will be quite high up the list. Top Track - Hounds Of Love

I’ve listened to before and still love it, this is classic

really inspiring and maked me feel creative and calm

This album is in my regular rotation. It always slaps.

💯perfect album, no notes.

An absolute classic, a perfect mix of pop, folk, alt rock and gloriously delicious vocals. A new favourite song in Jig Of Life

Theatrical

Really good album. Nice dreamy atmosphere. First half gave me a dreamy feeling. Second half was more dark in my opinion. Fav song: either Running Up That Hill or The Jig Of Life. Worst song: Hello Earth. Rating: 9/10

There truly is nothing else quite like this record - people try but no one else comes close. It's one of those records that seems to exist in its own universe where even Kate Bush's other albums don't comfortably sit. It's a beautiful, bouncing, jarring, wonky, melodic, cinematic, pop masterpiece by a true artist.

How does one describe Kate Bush's seminal album, "Hounds of Love", especially when it has been a personal soundtrack since its initial release? It remains astounding that an album so fiercely experimental achieved such massive critical and commercial success. Central to this is Bush herself. Her vocal delivery is identifiable and utterly unique, less a traditional "pop" voice and more a versatile instrument. At times, on this album, her voice is a haunting whisper; at others, a powerful, rhythmic force. While her style may not be for everyone, her boldness is undeniable. Side One: The Hounds of Love This is a collection of expansive, "accessible" progressive-pop. These tracks explore the "hunt" of love and the vulnerability of relationships. Here, her voice is at its most melodic and soaring, driving songs like "Running Up That Hill" with a grounded, soulful intensity. It is, quite simply, a near-perfect side of music. Side Two: The Ninth Wave The second side is where the album transcends into the cinematic. "The Ninth Wave" is a conceptual suite following a woman drifting alone in the dark Atlantic ocean after falling overboard. (In later live performances, it was revealed the ship, Celtic Deep, was in distress). In this suite, Bush’s voice becomes a survival tool. She uses vocal layering to create a sense of disorientation, switching from icy, detached tones of a ghost to the frantic, warm desperation of someone fighting to stay awake. It is a compelling listen that demands to be heard as a single, uninterrupted piece. If you are only looking for "Spotify saves" or isolated singles, you are missing the power of the narrative. As a whole, "Hounds of Love" is exquisitely written, arranged, produced and performed. For me, it is a near-perfect album. Five stars. Side one: Hounds of Love 1 "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" (5/5) 2 "Hounds of Love" (5/5) 3 "The Big Sky" (5/5) 4 "Mother Stands for Comfort" (4/5) 5 "Cloudbusting" (5/5) Side two: The Ninth Wave 6 "And Dream of Sheep" (5/5) 7 "Under Ice" (5/5) 8 "Waking the Witch" (5/5) 9 "Watching You Without Me" (4/5) 10 "Jig of Life" (5/5) 11 "Hello Earth" (5/5) 12 "The Morning Fog" (5/5) Total - 58 Average - 4.83 204/1001 114/204 albums reviewed were new to me.

This stranger things tease

Astonishingly good. This is my perfect pop. Huge, creative, romantic, dramatic, beautiful orchestra production and vocals that are campy and operatic. I adore this so much. The opening tracks are an insane start to the album. The vibe is so strong, softness mixed with drama and huge feeling that explodes, the way these songs build is a masterclass. Jig of life sounds like teenage engineering medieval sampler, earth song sounds like LOTR elf ambience.

One of my favourite albums of all time! Kate bushes voice is one of a kind, I love the instrumentals in this album too. I like how creative Kate is when it comes to storytelling

4.7095

"Now hounds of love are hunting I've always been a coward And I don't know what's good for me" listening to this while watering the garden was the closest i've ever been to a religious experience

This is such a great album by such a singular artist.

When I first opened this website this morning, I was excited to find out that today's listen was an album I've already wanted to listen to for a while. I've heard the song "Running Up That Hill" before, obviously, and it truly became a favorite of mine. And honestly, thank god I got to listen to this album. It's just so wonderfully unique and creative, and every time I thought I figured it out, it managed to surprise me yet again. Notable favorites: Running Up That Hill, Cloudbursting, Mother Stands For Comfort, The Morning Fog, Jig Of Life (surprisingly enough). This album is not just music, it's a journey full of vibrant sounds, captivating singing and well written lyrics- as corny as that all sounds. It represents everything I love about music in the first place, and I'm convinced anyone who ranked this album low just doesn't have the maturity to appreciate it.

In general, not my style but there are a couple of bangers and you can tell it’s top quality.

J'adore les chanteuses pop qui osent! Très éclectique mais ça marche très bien pour moi. Je trouve ça à la fois empreint de kitsch, d'humour et d'émotion forte. Elle a une très belle voix en plus. Ça me fait penser à notre Diane Dufresne. En plus j'ai lu que c'était une grande fan des Monty Python et c'est notre marathon de Noël cette année (au grand dam d'Alice))

J’adore! Quelle popstar interessante, c’est débordant de créativité. Une jig vers la fin? Faut le faire! Je vais devoir y revenir plus.

Perfection. This is an all-time favorite of mine and I feel like I find something new to love about it with every listen. I’m not going to wax poetic about it or try to convince you to like this. You either get it or you don’t.

Kate Bush possesses a truly unique and mesmerizing voice. It instantly captivated me the moment I first heard “Wuthering Heights.” Her album Hounds of Love is an absolute masterpiece. I’ve listened to it countless times already, and I know I’ll return to it many more times in the years to come.

Two sides of this record, and it shows. The first side is good, a series of singles. I like "Cloudbusting" and "Running up that Hill" a lot, but otherwise would give it a 3. The second side, named after Aivazovsky's The Ninth Wave, is a concept piece that is deeply unsettling. It's a genuine masterpiece and I look forward to listening to it again. Taken as a whole, the first side gets a 4, but The Ninth Wave is Kate Bush showing off what she can do. EDITED: I loved this album so much I bumped the whole thing up to a 5.

HELL YEAAAH i knew the first song already but ive never listened to the whole album before and im so glad i did it now. It just sounds so majestic idk i love it

No one told me that the "lol Stranger Things" album turns into a concept album about drowning halfway through? Awesome. I don't even love Running Up That Hill that much to be honest with you (I'd like it more if they let me cut out the bridge...) but the rest of this really bangs

First listened to while reading Samantha Harvey's 'Orbital' and it seemed a great companion - music to float over the Earth in a space station to. Running Up That Hill was the only track I knew (still brilliant) but Cloudbusting is maybe even better with its strings and slightly off-kilter rhythm. And Dream Of Sheep is a beautiful paino ballad, then Under Ice has creepy synths and vocals, it's very sci-fi. So is Waking The Witch, a deceptively soft intro transitioning sharply to something more energetic, schizophrenic. Watching You Without Me concludes a quite special run of songs. I don't care for Jig Of Life as much, but Hello Earth delivers a good measure of grandiosity before The Morning Fog brings us home. It's lucid, upbeat. The music is delightfully weird at times and Kate's voice is so interesting - you can easily hear the influence she's had on Bjork, etc. The highs are high enough to earn top marks.

Don't get it twisted: I only ever watched season 1 of Stranger Things Mouth type shit ....vad fan händer? Nä men fan vad trevligt asså, plus lite tyska på det. Wow!

Amazing. The perfect album for introducing someone to Art Pop!

Probably my favorite album I've listened to so far! Faves: cloudbusting, under ice So cool.

Necessary this week

Classic album. ahead of its time, definitely top 5 80's album for me. Her voice is incredible, haunting but beautiful. I only wish that she was involved with more collaborations in the 90's/00's with some of the successful electronic/trip hop artists out there, I mean imagine a collaboration between Kate Bush & Massive Attack eh?

This is some very good shit. Weird and wonderful

Fantastic synth pop. Much better as the sum of its parts. Driving, haunting melodies flow so wonderfully together.

COME ON MAMAAAAA LETS RUN UP THAT HILLLLLLL IM LOOKING AT THE BIG SKY BITCH!!!!!!! IM CLOUD BUSTING DADDDDDYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! COME ON WAKE IT UPPPP 🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣

What a treat

About 100-ish albums ago, I got Dreaming by Kate Bush and I thought it was eh. Kate had the vocal talent, but the album was too far out for me and it just felt more annoying than interesting. Now here’s come this album, with that single that everybody knows from Stranger Things. I don’t watch a lot of television or streaming so that kind of means nothing to me. I’m going to be honest; I thought that the praise for this album was only due to its renewed 15 minutes of fame. I mean Running Up That Hill is nice, but I wasn’t going crazy for it. But after that… oh boy. I think that every issue that I had with Dreaming was resolved. Hounds of Love is more accessible, but still retains that weird side; an ethereal vibe that no one else can really replicate. It works as a pop album, but doesn’t feel studio-manufactured at all. Kate has more control of her vocals unlike Dreaming. Now she sounds fucking phenomenal, literally like a dream. This might be one of the biggest improvements I have seen on this list, coming from Dreaming. It’s honestly worthy of its second coming thanks to Stranger Things. But regardless, I’m just glad I got a chance to listen to it. Favorite track: Cloudbusting Other hits: Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God), The Big Sky, Hello Earth, Hounds of Love, And Dream of Sheep, Waking the Witch, Jig of Life, The Morning Fog

I adore this album. The songs are complex, engaging, and diverse, yet clearly belong together. Her voice is captivating as always.

Banger.

So good

YES btw i have this on cd but havent listened in about 2 years so going through everything really quick. running up the hill is literally what im thinking about every day. if i got to own the talent of people i admire that will be the best thing ever. transitioning into hounds of love, establishing a tight atmosphere between facing the emotions and denying them, all over onto the big sky tinted with whimsy and changing shape every moment. mother stands for comfort is far more eerie than the other songs with the crystal clear piano and the lyrics. literal overprotective parents. cloudbusting is nothing but beautiful. now to the second side: the narrative of this side is just really cohesive. waking the witch is the only song that feels out of place due to its experimental nature. also is the helicopter in the song from another brick in the wall, part 2? also as somebody who don't like irish folk that much, jig of life is weirdly a high point on the album! the album is really coherent and best to be viewed as 2 eps and i love it! <3 5/5

I LOVE THIS ALBUM! Kate Bush has such a unique voice both artistically and literally and I adore her entire output and this is her masterpiece. Split in to one half some of the best pop tunes of the 80’s and one half experimental genre dabbling, this one is right up my alley. Not a misstep on here, such an amazing listen every time. 10/10 Favorite tracks- All

Iconic. Absolutely amazing as expected

Nice

majestic

I love how Kate Bush's music is so esoteric, so sensual and so carefree, she has the soul of a child and it shows in her music. The mood is dreamily light-hearted, cinematic and utterly captivating. This is intelligent pop music at its finest and I'm so glad it found appeal with the masses.

Batshit crazy and wonderful.

Uniquely brilliant!

It's quite magical really.

Vocal performance is amazing and so is the opening to the album. Wasn’t expecting this much texture from the production. Every song is atmospheric and I love it. Just got into the second half of the album and I have no idea what’s happening anymore. All I know is it rocks

I was finally given a reason to listen to an album that I’ve heard many good things about. Now that I’ve listened, I can see why it is beloved. There are few albums I know that are so utterly captivating. Bush takes full advantage of the album format to create a wholly complete listening experience.

Un disco en donde usar el término "obra maestra" se siente hasta corto en lugar de irresponsable. Joya.

One of the most graceful and inventive ambient pop album I’ve ever heard

One of the greatest examples of amazing Art Pop!

This might be one of the best pop album ever recorded. I am obsessed with this album... The sounds, the efficiency of each note and melody, I listened to it countless times just to try to understand how Kate Bush was able to achieve that. 5 stars.

This was the first album where I already really enjoyed a song that was on it, so I had some sort of expectation. I was hoping for more songs like "Running Up That Hill" and I think the album really delivered in that way. Kate Bush has a very haunting voice that works well for what she was trying to do. I think the music had variety to it but was still unique, and I can see this having had an influence on modern music. It seems kind of proto-florence and the machine to me in a way I enjoyed. I didn't love every song on the album. But I overall thought it was very solid and well done, and offered a sound that was both unique and powerful.

nice

When I bought this on release it was side one that hit, with the 'Before the dawn' concept album on side two a bit of an anti-climax. Forty years later BTD sounds as fresh as a daisy and full of wonderful music and surprises. Side one is one of the few sides of music I've over-listened to. Having said that, Cloudbusting is my favourite ever KB song and is an astonishing piece of music.

Waking the Witch hurts my brain, but the rest is legit. Not just Running Up That Hill and Cloudbusting, but so listenable all round.

I dont come back to this album often but when I do, I dont understand why I didn’t come back sooner. Tbh I blame stranger things for playing running up the hill to death. I forgot how incredible to rest of the album is. Still haven't watched stranger things.

An easy 5 stars. It's an album that I love more each time I listen to it.

Love this album forever and ever

Many similarities to aspects of Bowie’s Berlin trilogy and its soundscapes. Hounds of Love is dreamy, conspiratorial, and otherworldly. It’s such a singular record.

another Kate Bush album I didn't listen before (apart from the first track). and the whole record deserves 5 stars. it is inspiring, progressive and conceptual

A series of haunting dreams and nightmares. Completely drowned in 80s art-rock, but refreshing. I wish I had heard her albums back in the day, they are so wonderful. 4.5/5

Soft, bold, sometimes abruptly ending songs…fully realized character arc. Strong record overall.

Right what I needed today. Beautifully bizarre.

Classic

Sounds like you're in a fairytale

Such a vibe, I listened to it twice in a row. Great album to listen to on good headphones. It’s just a whole world, very transporting and kinda mystical but also catchy and poppy. Must-listen #243.

Super album. Intelligent and immersive.

When I'm in a top heavy album of all time competition and my opponent is hounds of love. fav song cloudbusting

This album is really excellent. I wish I had the chance to know it before the Stranger Things hype hit but I really liked coming to it now. There are some pieces of the album I don't resonate with, especially the more chaotic vocal layering that goes on in some songs, but overlal this is fun, innovative, and exciting.

One of a kind, always an attempt to duplicate, never replicated. Eccentric though her creative journey. She's ambitious for her strange blending art rock, pop hooks, theatrical twists, complex beats with a beautiful vocal performance as always. Is a one of a kind. This album is the bases of a sub genres called witch house. Fight me on this :) Favorite tracks are Hounds of Love, Cloudbusting(guess who used this as a sample) Under Ice to Waking the Witch is completely unexpected but holy hell that's shit is metal as fuck and finally top it off with a beautiful Celtic beat in Jig of Life 5/5 easiest rating so far

I hadn't realised how great the production is on this. There's so much going on behind the lyrics, the spatial mix is brilliant in headphones. I've no idea what she's going on about half the time but your attention is draw all over - the drums, guitar solos, endless reverb, phil collins esc snare drum. I don't know why I've never listened to this album in its entirety in one go before - what I have missed! And Dream of Sheep and Under Ice - never heard before, wonderful. So descriptive!

One of my favourite albums and easily one of the greatest of all time, end of story! Every time I listen to it, which is quite often, I hear something new, a sound, a noise, a nuance that just keeps adding to the whole experience. Side 2 or the Ninth Wave is a work of absolute genius and she probably should be burnt as a witch just for creating it!

All the reviews I've read have been either glowing or awful. I see why now. Personally, fall on the former side of the debate.

10 like Ariana grande and prince on an album

I'm actually going to listen to this later, but I still have it 5 stars because of "Running up that Hill" 🤣

This knocked my socks off. I suspected this album was far more than "Running Up That Hill", but I had not truly understood until experiencing it. This is one of the best first listens I've had. Every track is an eclectic feast of sound, never uninteresting or conventional. Yet it works, in what is both pop and avant-garde. It feels like a folksy celebration of humanity and also a reflection on modern despair and disillusionment. I don't know, it makes me want to wax poetic and laugh and cry all at once. The pure vocal range and emotion in Bush's voice, both stunning and weird all at once, maybe only rivaled by someone like Bjork after her. Pair that with the songwriting which is powerful and never cliche. And on top layer sonic choices that are sometimes windy Irish folk sounds, sometimes 80s glitching synth or electric strings, sometimes the deep droning of Eberhard Weber, sometimes a bright stinging piano, sometimes choral wails and chirps, sometimes the sounds of wind and storms and everyday people, and on and on. It all somehow comes to together for something coherent and not even overproduced, just amazing and breathtaking. I'll be listening to this again and again.

Phenomenal album — half great pop singles (Running Up That Hill, Cloudbusting), half progressive experimental pop à la Talk Talk.

I have loved Kate Bush since Stranger Things and will always love her.

I really came to Kate Bush through Stranger Things (sue me) but when you delve into her mysterious melodies you see why it fits an epic dark fantasy so well!

Loved the album in the 80s and still love it. A great singer with lots and lots of very creative music.

Oh wow. Did not expect that.

I love Hounds of Love. A few duds on the rest of the album - but more than out weighed by the classic singles and few other gems.

Hounds of Love I’ve not listened to this nearly enough, it really is a fantastic album. It's got to be up there for one of the best opening triptychs to any album, Running Up That Hill, Hounds of Love and The Big Sky are absolute bangers with brilliantly layered synths, percussion and rhythms, simultaneously expansive and intimate. Mother Stands for Comfort is also great, a slight change of pace and mood before the equally brilliant Cloudbusting. The second suite isn’t as immediate as the first side, its more ethereal and dreamlike, and more of a musical journey, but it's also excellent, definitely rewarding repeat listens, and again it opens with three superb songs, And Dream of Sheep’s piano is lovely, the stabbing strings of Under Ice and creepily cool, before the pointed rhythms of Waking the Witch. Watching You Watching Me has slight echoes of Remain in Light, particularly the synth bass. Apart from the drums The Jig of Life seems to be all live instruments, which is a nice contrast to the songs before and after, and I love how The Morning Fog ends things on a sunshiney, optimistic, folk inflected feel. Easy 5. 🐕‍🦺🐕‍🦺🐕‍🦺🐕‍🦺🐕‍🦺 Playlist submission: The Big Sky

Any album that opens with 'Running up That Hill' and 'Hounds of Love' has to subsequently fuck up beyond all proportion to fail to get top marks. They are such a unique take on 80s pop, that all at once sounds 80s and timeless. Synth, gated drums, feature but it feels the distillation of 80s tropes into utter heartfelt and idiosyncratic perfection. As if if that wasn't enough the album throws up one of the most perfect songs of all time in 'Cloudbusting'. A real masterpiece.

Big Bush energy! Something new every listen

Buenísimo, me ha encantado.

Just an absolute monster.

Kate Bush is Magic, obviously!

Well this was really good, some excellent tunes throughout. Simpsons: Yes

I just love Kate Bush.

First time listening to Kate Bush. I can see she is one of those composers that do not fit into the norm of a trend. Good for her! A hidden gem in the rough!

Banger.

Muchas ganas le tenia a este álbum. Conozco a Kate Bush por los singles que exitosamente han ido sonando en la radio en su momento, pero nunca busqué ni salió a mi paso un álbum entero. Nunca es tarde, y me alegro de sentir la sensación de esa primera vez que dejas que un disco te penetre y te remueva cosas. Al final no es más que un álbum de pop, pero qué pop. Único y peculiar. La capacidad de creación y composición de Bush están fuera de toda discusión. Ella solita se inventa canciones redondas, accesibles pero impredecibles, te hace soñar entre brumas y te muestra el camino, a veces sinuoso, de la perfección. El álbum es mucho más que la eterna “Running Up That Hill”, sobre todo cuando se inmersa en un folk medieval en “Jig Of Life” o acomete baladas como “And Dream Of Sheep”. No hay tema que sobre. Y es difícil destacar uno entre tantos tan bellos.

Great album! Closer to 4.5 than 5, but they don't have that

Wish I’d have listened to this 10 years ago. Haunting, beautiful, awesome. A new fav

It’s funny this came on the day of Taylor’s newest album because it’s everything that Swift’s latest isn’t. This is innovative, inventive, fun and interesting. It’s well written, well scored and is actually rewarding to listen to. The ideal pop album. There’s a reason that 40 years on this feels fresh in a way that Taylor won’t in 6 months.

Insane that "the song" is track 1! What a strong opener. I have never heard the full album, this is very cool. I love the double bass on "Mother Stands for Comfort" - it's so haunting, I've never heard anything like this. This entire album is gorgeous, lush, haunting and honestly sounds amazing. "Waking the Witch" comes out of nowhere! "Jig of Life" is a great track. There are eclectic influences everywhere on this record and I can't believe I had never heard it before in its entirety. Not the most bombastic pop experience of the 80s but incredibly deep and inspired. Kate Bush made *exactly* what she wanted to make and what she felt - in today's era of streaming numbers and engagement coming over artistry I am so impressed by these past albums.

Beautiful album, beautiful voice. Absolutely incredible piece of art, I hear something completely new every time I listen

This album is great. I’ve been a Tori Amos fan for a long time. Kate Bush was clearly an influence. They have very similar singing styles. This is one I will listen to again.

Kate Bush was revolutionary & this record is amazing ❤️

What is there to say, fucking adore Kate Bush. Any chance to dive into her world is gripped by both hands. 8.0/5.0 Best Song: Jig Of Life/Hounds Of Love