Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Boring.
The title sounds like a compilation album, and the music sounds like a compilation too. Some great, some good, some terrible.
Enjoyed this lots more than I expected, it's great.
Nie podobało mi się Nie to tańczyć do tego nie to się uczyć nie relaksować Wkurwiające
It's a great album to listen to as a background for some other activity. I already knew "Keep On Movin" but I confess that club-house music is not really my thing.
Sounds like streets of rage II
Decent as background music - nothing too crazy though.
decent
Ce que j'ai aimé le plus était les prestations des chanteurs, chanteuses et MCs
Back to life, back to reality: this album is decent.
Pff, saai en repetitief. Niks speciaals aan imo
love this
3+ ⭐️Music is good, just not that into it.
What's most mind-boggling to me, is that this had a 10th anniversary edition. It implies someone still wanted to listen to this watered down and cliched amalgamation of soul and electronic music in 1999. Although looking at what was popular in 1999, maybe it's not so surprising. 1 unceremonious thumb down out of 5
tedious aside from Back to Life which is a banger
Kinda dug the beats, mostly wasn't feeling it.
I shouldn't read other peoples reviews before I jot my own. But I saw a lot of the word 'dated'. Of course it's dated!! If you listen to Sex Pistols it's clearly late 70's. Beatles sounds very 1960's, New Romantic synth stuff take you straight back to the 80's. And this is clearly early 90's so of course it's 'dated', knobheads. This album is what it says on the tin, a collection of club tunes. Great party tracks for chilled dancing to all night without being crippled next day. And for the record (and the reviews that had a pop at the rapping), I liked it. Understandable, clear, non-offensive. You can keep your illegible, chip-on-shoulder Outkast shit I'll take this any day.
some head bops here and there, an easy listen. a solid 3.5
Very cool
Vibey sure, great background music. Pretty boring tho man.
[4]
Not a fan of how dance felt like monster mash or something for a second there. But maybe that’s just me. Other than that very very disappointing moment it was chill. There were times I was really into it and prob a little more time where I just didn’t care. I liked the last three tracks the most, and by far back to life was my favorite.
I gotta say I quite enjoyed this. I really quite enjoyed this. It felt similar to Massive Attack’s Blue Lines which is an album I already love so this was a familiar and welcome sound (albeit worse by comparison). The lyrics were pretty weak and at some points so was the music, but the wide variety of textures and sounds that come from this album more than compensate making sure it is never a boring listen.
It seems some are enjoying the electronic drum machine and synthesizer they got for Christmas.
Hip hop ages worse than any other genre. This is so cheesy.
Started off strong (love love “Keep On Movin’”, very motivating way to start my morning) but really lost steam as it went on with the exception of “Back to Life” - probably not something I’ll return to. Also very clear how much Jungle was influenced by this
Dated. Not doing it for me. That being said if it came on in a supermarket I’d be groovin
Definitely a vibe
FUN FACT: apparently I'm distantly related to the lead singer Jazzie B so that's cool No fucking way my uncle (?) was responsible for making back to life wtf. Im related to a legend The rapping is kind of terrible but i gotta support the family so I LOVE THIS ALBUM JAZZIE B IS THE GOAT RAHHHHHHG
Absolute Eurotrash bangers. This, and not Nirvana or Nine Inch Nails, is what the 90s were all about.
I understand why dance tracks of this era had to come out in albums. I do not understand why such albums are considered to be essential listening
Love this, classic
Childhood memories here. This is a real example for me of 'they dont make them like this anymore' I can only imagine how great it must have been to be 19 in the club for these tunes. Vibes are real.
ok
++: Fairplay, Feel Free, Jazzie's Groove +: Holdin' On, Feeling Free, Happiness +-: Keep on Movin', African Dance, Dance -: Back to Life 5,2/10
3 - not my club classics
Club Classics are still the volume of my heart today.
Dated
It is really a time or sound capsule of 1989...it feels a bit cliche by now. Could not go through the whole LP.
I was really worried at the beginning as I identified the album as RnB (that has little in common with "rhytme and blues", which I have more than disdain for. The singers spend to much time listening to their vocalizes with no real purpose of melody. That's only my point of view. But then I felt the Trip hop vibes even recognized two tracks, the hit back to life and jazzy Groove. So I managed to get through all the album without too much suffering and even pleasure sometimes. I won't do it agaoin though. What I like is thtat for me it's the big brother /sister of the coming troip hp of the 90's British scene : Massive Attack, Sugar Cubes, Morcheeba (that I once saw live in Beijing in 2002), tricky and a lots of Ninja Tunes. But's it's always better with a real drum !
I was writing my critique first, but after listening a few times i started to like Holdin’ On and Feeling Free a lot. The beginning of the album is elevator/phone waiting music. Sounds like calling Deutsche Bahn and waiting to get picked up.
It was good nothing super exciting but I liked it
Yeah man. The album had two iconic hit singles, bit the rest feels like one loooonngggg number. Jazzy’s Groove is a nice exception.
The only song I know from this album is Back to Life. It embodies everything I don’t like about ’80s music. Here, everything is a lie, jazzie’s Groove doesn’t sound groovy or jazzy, African Dance doesn’t sound African (though I do like the flute), and the rap is depressingly bad. Despite good videos showing drums, piano or guitars, it relies heavily on machines, only to prove how huge tech progress have been since 1989. The beats are repetitive, and the vocals are unbearable to me. I get why this album is on the list—its sales, its role as the dance music of the time—but I gain absolutely nothing from listening to it, and I find it particularly painful. As a teenager in ’89, I have depressing memories of all those kind of hits which were absolutely everywhere … and the result for me was to dive more deeply into alternative music. I understand that this era had to happen to pave the way for more mature movements. If we have to talk about soul, De La Soul released their debut the same year—and it was in my opinion much better.
2.4 2x
Was für ein langweiliges, schlecht produziertes Album. Die Musik klingt wie ganz schlechte Clubmusik und die Texte sind oft so peinlich. Ganz, ganz schwach.
No
You know I can't say I'm surprised. This is the first album we've gotten that has any black people involved, and I went to check the top reviews. Lo and behold they're fairly negative, which is fine on its face. Then you see its "technically music" or that it "shows its age." Yeah, that's almost all music you dumb cunt. You're telling me you listen to Vivaldi and you're like "did this come out in 2018?" Fuck off. Art is stealing. Color me surprised that there's music now that sounds similar but "better." Unless I hear them say a bunch of slurs, I'm not going to take "it sounds like when it came out" as a serious criticism. Shoutout the review saying it "shows its age[,] could only be from 92-95." Reading skills are preferred but not required I suppose. I'm not saying this is a paragon of quality, but why do you have to question whether its music all of a sudden. I don't even particularly love this album, but I will go to war for it. A fun synthesis of sounds from African, Carribean, and African American culture. Just great vibes. Not do coke vibes (shoutout Belly), which may have been expected from a dance album in the 80s, more like keeping a good groove going in the dance hall vibes. It's a marathon not a sprint. And suck my dick, this has a timeless quality. 7.8/10 Favorite Song: Back to Life (I mean what else could it be)
8/10 This group is super important to R&B in Europe especially the UK. Learning about them and their influence on the culture as a collective was so interesting. For a group to set the tone in music, fashion, culture, and create a community around this culture is insane. The music is sick and inventive and pulling from African beats and the Caribbean while putting its own spin on it. With the UK being an island of immigrants it feels appropriate that this album pulls from that and sets the stage for the jungle/drum and bass/grime/drill music we see in the culture today. Favorite Song: back to life Acapella
Favourite song- Feeling Free Unskippable album- no Listen again- no
baaack to life, baack to RIALITIIIIII
Dance RnB, groovy, lidt moderne reggae vibes
The opening scene of Belly is so fucking good
Ehhhhhh
Love this album
Het is niet lief om te zeggen maar dit soort muziek vind ik echt enorm nietszeggend. Een soort mengeling van 80s hiphop, vroege housemuziek en R&B (zonder de B) en dan echt precies de saaiste elementen van al die stijlen bij elkaar geraapt. Met zo'n vrouwtje die eigenlijk niet niet goed genoeg kan zingen voor serieuze muziek, die gekozen is omdat haar looks zo goed bij de act passen, maar die dan wel wil zingen als zo'n North Sea Jazz type. Bij de grote hit mocht ze dan ook alleen de bank warmhouden als ik het goed begrijp. En hetzelfde geldt voor de man: Zo'n type, eigenlijk meer producer dan artiest, die door de houseinvloeden net wel/net niet met z'n matige gerap wegkomt. Ook al duurt het album niet eens heel lang, zo voelt het wel. Ik verveel me gewoon de tering. Het hitje waar ik sowieso al weinig mee heb, maar waarvan er op dit album eigenlijk alleen een oersaaie grotendeels a capella variant is te vinden kan de boel niet redden. In een wereld waarin Astrud Gilberto de kans heeft gehad om muziek op te nemen is dit nog wel 2 sterren maar daar is het dan wel mee gezegd. Anderhalve ster eigenlijk.
2,5
Not my genre.
I am bored
Thanks for reminding me of that single from my childhood. I didn't need the rest of the album to come along with it.
Niet voor mij gemaakt
Nice.
Trochę fastfoodowa ta muzyka. Przyjemna, szybko się ją chłonie i czasami wydaje się nawet smaczna, ale to by było na tyle. Nie czuję żadnej głębi, żadnej ryzykownej decyzji podjętej w imię wyższego celu. To po prostu kilka przyjemnych kawałków, owiniętych wstążką i voila! I czasem to jest ok. Ale nie dzisiaj. Nie dla mnie. 6/10
Not as bad an album as the review scores would indicate. Not anything that's going to change your life either, though. 3/5
Twas fine. Never grabbed me
I could not get into it
Back To Life was ubiquitous in 1989, and it's still pretty good. And Keep On Moving is OK. But the rest of this does not hold up to time at all. Holdin' On is painful. Most of the rest is fairly bland. I also hate whatever Do'Reen is doing with her voice.
I liked this…perfect early 90s upwardly mobile movie montage music with some wild jazz fluting.
4.5
does nothing for me
6/10
Old school rap/ hip hop/ reggae. Good band, good music.
I will never club so this may not connect to me Keep On Movin' - 3.5/5 Fairplay - 3.7/5 Holdin' On -3.1/5 Feeling Free - 3.5/5 African Dance - 3/5 Dance - 3.5/5 Feel Free - 3.6/5 Happiness (Dub) - 3.5/5 Back To Life - 3.7/5 Jazzie's Groove - 3.9/5 Total - 3.5/5
The Burleigh Tavern isn't just a bar, it is a shrine to everything shallow about the Gold Coast. Attached a little too near the beach, it attracts a crowd that seemed assembled by a casting director. Sun-kissed skin stretched tight over suspiciously perfect, plump cheekbones, lips inflated to unnatural proportions, and linen shirts with white jeans so meticulously laundered, purchased from Tarocash, Universal Store, or Connors; they almost look like costumes. The drinks as ridiculous as the clientele. A single cocktail could cost as much as a decent bottle of wine, served in glassware so fragile it seemed designed to disintegrate if you didn’t hold it like vintage porcelain china. A pint of Balter will set you back a considerable $20. Add that to the $40 you paid to enter this ridiculous nesting ground of trust fund women and crypto-scammer men. Soul II Soul’s Club Classics Vol. One blasts relentlessly from the speakers, the smooth 80's/90's grooves so painfully out of place with the two-left-footed crowed it felt ironic. Tracks like African Dance and Happiness pounded on a loop, the silky yet dated basslines and repetitive beats pretending to create an air of sophistication, and anywhere else it would - but here, in a bar drowning in fake tans and fake vibes, it just came off as pretentious noise. People shouted over the music to make themselves heard, their voices cutting through the bass with an edge of irritation. By the railing, someone in a designer shirt leaned over and emptied their stomach onto the beach below, their friend laughing while snapping a photo for Instagram. The music and arrogant voices blur into one, and you find yourself reeling for the same drugs that everyone else inside is on, to either blend in and become like water, or to cope with the realisation that your night is going to be shit, and you've already spent your last $100 in your spending account to get in here and have a pint. The Burleigh Tavern isn't a place to relax, socialise, or dance, it is a pretentious echo chamber of overpriced mediocrity, wrapped in a soundtrack acts like it's better than it is. What a shame it is, that an album that I genuinely enjoy evokes these kinds of emotions in me. There is a lot to listen to, but then again, so little. There's nothing wrong with this, record you just need to be able to switch your brain off, similar to the same process talking to any local of Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach Waters, Paradise Point, or Palm Beach. Once you do that, an hour feels like forty minutes. Once you've mastered it, you start to enjoy the album. That is not an easy feat. The redeeming factor? Back to Life, which brings a fresh air of life into this album. It's smooth transition into Jazzie's groove is really a pickup too. What a great way to end an album.
This was a nice laid back listen but I genuinely forgot to review it when I was done listening which should show much of an impact I felt it left
Competent, chill music. A little dated for my tastes but I won’t begrudge it that. Seems a little arrogant to release an album called club classics vol 1 but you’re the only artist on the disc lol.
Not much to say, great chill album. 8/10 Fav tracks - Holdin on, feeling free - Live, Dance, Happiness- Dub, Jazzies Groove, Back to Life (However do you want me),
I can’t explain it but this feels like the musical equivalent of the fake video games that actors play in movies. Highlights: Dance
Aged really well
Good for the soul
It was ok
Not into this. Also, what kind of club is this album for? The songs seemed to not be able to make up their minds between soul, R&B and dance (albeit very slow tempo dance) music. 2/5
Nah. This ain't it. I didn't care for this much at all. 1.5/5
Okay, I won’t lie, I get it. Really good R&B that somehow would have worked just as well 15-20 years earlier with some tweaking. Will look for a cheap copy. B
Honestly it is not in my genre field but I know this was a huge part of forming modern rap so I respect it.
Had this on cassette when it came up, but never upgraded to CD despite the song Back To Life. The album didn't age as well as 6th grade me would have thought. These lyrics were deep when i was 12
..
Pretty good. Not my type of music but I enjoyed it.
Not everything is great. That Do’reen sings like a goat. But overall, this is a good album.
Just not my thing, honestly. Part of it is, it's just really dated sounding (the raps are that really simplistic 80's style which just have not aged well IMO), and partly I just don't really care for it. What really turned me off was the 6 minute long African Dance which was basically one beat the whole song with (an admittedly good) flute solo. But 6 minutes of it was way too much. Then they followed up with the track Dance, which had the same exact beat, just with a dude telling me I should move to the music and how great it is. Did not need 3 more minutes of that beat drilled into my head. Unfortunately put it down there. It gets the 2 because while it's not for me and I wouldn't in a million years go back to it, I can understand why someone would like it, and despite my complaints, it's competently made.
Lots of bangers and just classic dance music. Every song hit my on a physical level which was the point I think.
Familiar with a few songs on this album. I found myself enjoying it a lot- I know it spawned a lot of remixes. Overall- good album.
Not my favorite. Standout song Back to life.
Favorite Track: Back To Life
***An ok album. Good beat.
Very easily enjoyable. Best album I’ve listened to in a while. Best track is Fairplay, so easy to dance around to. So close to giving it five stars, but some of the songs are just too long for me.
Not sure if this was ever good, but if it was it certainly didn't age well.
Couldn't be fucked with over an hour of Soul II Soul on a Sunday.
Don’t promise me club classics and then give me that.
Bright sounds with a hollow melancholic undertone, very late 80s/early 90s. Love his rapping
Um....no.
3.5!
Back to Life reminds me of Belly, strange but good movie imo, RIP DMX. Album was ok. 3.5
Not bad. Should probably listen to it more intentionally instead of just in the background at work. But some songs really stood out. Will revisit.
Totally not my style it I see it's well made and I have well tolerated some of the funkier song. Very good rhythmically. Other songs seriously got on my nerves. Not my kind of soul.
I expected nothing, but it was so fine...
Not bad
Mostly enjoyed the sound, but nothing to really make it stick in my mind
Kinda repetitive.
It’s called “club classics” but I would be sad if a club was playing this.
I was skeptical of this one and part way through the first sone I was thinking this was going to be a 2 star but it really grew on me and by the time I hit Feel Free it made me decide this was a 4 star album!
Not my jam.
Fav song: Keep On Movin’ - M Beat Bonus Mix Seriously loving the classy 90’s house feel to this album, even despite some of the dated sounding drum samples. In love with the jungle mix of Keep On Movin’. That one is going straight into my playlists.
Catchy, nice, not for me
The most boring "club music" I've ever heard. This is like hotel lobby music. It is so bland. It like R&B mixed with electronica. Not great. Not noteworthy. Not necessary listening. Garbage. Favourite songs: Feeling Free, Holdin' On Least favourite songs: Back to Life, Feel Free, Jazzie's Groove 2/5
Boring
I'm sorry, but no
Not my genre.
fine
Dance music that has some notable songs as it attempts to blend rap and dance. Owned it when it came out and it never fully clicked and that has not changed.
Sounds like someone kept pushing the demo button on the casio
I knew “Keep on Movin’”, and I think it’s gonna stay that way. Decent track, nothing huge or unique about it, and the rest of the album is unremarkable 1990’s filler.
Great hits, better fillers than I remembered.
Super cool album. Feels about 5 years ahead of it's time. 3.5/5
I always quite liked Keep On Movin' and Back To Life. I was disappointed that the original album didn't have the version of Back To Life I normally hear. Another highlight was African Dance.
Some remarkably great bits and some remarkably dull bits - the singles great, and overall enjoyed the energy it was giving, but dance music maybe you have to be in the right space
Club Classics Vol. One is good in places but has an almighty amount of filler where it's just beats with minimal spoken words over them, and they're a waste of tine. A couple of decent singles or familiar tracks does not make a quality album, 2.
Arrogant album title without much to back it up. Back To Life and (to a lesser extent) Keep On Movin' are familiar, don't know the rest at all. To be fair, I was never much of a clubber (and definitely not in the mid nineties), but there's an awful lot of not very interesting repetition and far too little that grabs the attention. 2/5.
OK. Not my thing, but okay.
Funky, hip-hop-influenced dance music. The BPMs generally don’t get too high but there’s a steady bass pulse that keeps the beats going. Great cast of guest vocalists throughout too. I really enjoyed this. It’s dance-y but chill.
Pretty enjoyable hip hop album that offers some tracks to lean back to, and a few to groove to. I like how vocals aren't exactly always the focus on the record; they come in and out and it's not formulaic whatsoever. It's also ironic and funny that the track with the most plays on it is mostly acapella and has no instruments until around the 2:30 mark. Cool album, and kind of right down the middle 3/5 for me.
Classy and elegant, and not insistently dancable – like the perfect midpoint between lounge and club music, or perhaps accurately described as dance music for people who don't like dance music. Big dropoff after the first cut, which is utterly classic, timeless.
Amazing
I had high hopes for this one but it really didn't deliver
I was vibing with this until the male singer came in and pretty much ruined the album. Doesn’t help that it feels quite dated. Best song: Keep On Movin’
Eh, not my cup o'tea but had a couple good tracks
I really hated this era of rnb, so it colours my review
I did not care for this one. Felt like I was in a Macy's.
Another album from a group I’ve never heard of, and genuinely thought this was going to be a weird compilation with the album title. This was just fine. Nothing really special here but also nothing downright bad in my opinion. I thought the beats and music were kinda dated, and rather unmemorable. Another good, easy chill album to be driving to where you could just zone out. “Back to Life” was most definitely the standout here, I don’t even think I’d recognize another song if it were to come on the radio (not that it would). It’s not really my style of music, but can appreciate how influential this probably was.
Not bad
Absolutely hate this. Who listens to house music outside of a club?
first song was fine, the rest, besides the last two were downright hard to listen to.
I did not feel very engaged while listening to this. Seemed quite repetitive with the beats (and remixes of songs) and overall was pretty boring.
Wow, das isch wider eine vo dene Gründe - nach all dene mittelmässige Albe - wieso das App so spass macht: Chli de grossi Zeche i guete R&B inestrecke mit Funkige zuegabe, wow wow wow. Han das Album dur de ganzi Tag sicher 3, 4 mal glost und für jede Moment hets passt. Aber trotz dene vielne Bangers hani immer no s Gfühl vode fever ray im herze, a daas das Album doch ned ganz here chund. Darum muni au trotz dem grosse spass wider Starch uf vier ganz hervorzüglichi Schinkegipfeli abrunde. Dut aber au bits weh. Zum Schluss zitiert ich gern no mini lieblingsstell vo ihrne Tracks: "Modern people tend to dance. With this music I'll put you in a trance. Hahaha, now dance!" Let's gooooo
Mage nöd schriebe hüt mi scusi. Album hed mi nöd weggfetzt. 3 wiehnachtslieder für das album
soul 2 soul 2 my ears 2 my head 2 my feet de ganzi tag soul 2 soul und denn namal chli meh absolute mood, super inegstartet und immer meh entdeckt vom album bi jedem relisten – Back to Live into Jazzie's Groove mitere smoothe erklärig was soul 2 soul isch, was willmer meh und das ganze wird abgrundet mitemem Keep on Movin' Bonustrack wos grad ih verschideni playlists gschafft hett! sehr glücklich hani da mals ganze album chöne lose ih de reihefolg da wäri also ganz truurig gsi hetti das verpasst, zum glück hani hüt chli ih de schuel umeghange und scho am morge mit de meiste lüt im study room eh yap-session gha da segi nume: vijf punten voor de ziel
intressante titel, han zerst gmeint es hed sich no en underground trance compilation da ine gschliche... aber dem war leider nicht so hed eigentli trotzdem no spass gmacht aber für d‘club classics vol. II – V heds bi mir denn doch nümm glanget bin ufjedefall froh hend sich d‘club classics i de letschte 30 jahr chli inen anderi richtig bewegt es moodentsprechends 3, ah anderne täg chönts maybe mit vill goodwill für es 4 lange
I’m, Soul II Soul was lacking….in Soul. Sorry, the a cappella songs were okay but those drum machines were monotonous. Give me some Parliament, Commodores, Earth, Wind, & Fire, or Chic for my Soul fix.
Fun to go back and to that era but wouldn’t seek it out
Generally enjoyable listen. But a lot of these songs are way too long, dated, boring, or all three. The rap isn't great, but the beats are pretty good.
2.5
This is fine, nothing special. Feels like something I've heard a long time ago but I don't think I actually have. A lot of it just started sounding the same after a while. The female vocals are quite good though I really don't have much else to say about this unfortunately Highlights: Back To Life
Just to make sure, I listened to the 10th Anniversary Edition as opposed to the original release in 1989, which did not include the radio mix of Back to Life. The original release just has the a cappella version which is kind of boring compared to the radio mix. This album really gets you up and grooving, with a downtempo groove and smooth beats. Good stuff here. 3/5
I really enjoyed this album. Great song and great memories from nights out 20 years ago. I can’t believe this came out in 1989. I can see why this is an influential album and a trend setter for this genre. Lots of songs and beats that have been heard on many different albums and nights. This is a brilliant record. Favourite song: Back to life and feeling free are great tunes. Least favourite: Nothing is bad on the album. Album artwork: Cool cover.
Yes, I'd liek to listen thjis a lot more. butnif its too slow for you, ...skip to track #9 - "back to life, back to reality" a track to a put a smile on everyones face, make you dance, and evoke youthful euphoria - clubland circa 1992 I think.. Ah, a joy to be reminded. ... classy stylish sound.
A record that I own, but don't spin nearly as much as I should. Smooth, funky, and beautifully orchestrated. Caron Wheeler's vocals (unsurprisingly on the big singles) are a real stand out. String arrangements are lush and sophisticated. This really is a precursor of Massive Attack a few years later, although perhaps with a little less grit and less depressive/gloomy. I really enjoyed listening to this. If this had been made even two years later, it would have been based on grainy loops rather than drum machines, but this really is an album a few years ahead of its time.
Super safe elevator music
Didn't start off to wonderfully but improved quite a bit in the middle and then died a death. The only recognisable track was back to life and that wasn't the way I remember it. Not a particular fan to start off with and it hasn't changed anything. Not for me 2
Lovely bit of nostalgia. Brought back memories of some awesome nights in CinderellaRockerfellas. Very chilled and smooth.
Soul II Soul, those two singles were massive back when I started to go to proper nightclubs in 1988, where you had to get dressed up in suit and tie, those were the days! Those two songs were my two favourites from those days and evoke such happy memories of Sweetings in Bedford and Golden Flamingo in Milton Keynes. Shame that the album version of 'Back to Life' is some shitty accapella version, so due to only having one decent track on it, it's getting a high 1 star. Sorry!
Not because I didn't enjoy ... but doesn't belong on this list for many reasons
That Jermaine Clement on Jazzie’s Groove?
It's fine. Not for me though.
I just couldn’t get into this one. Maybe it was innovative when it came out but it sounds very generic to me and doesn’t stand out at all amongst other albums on this list.
Seminal R&B album.
Nah.
Hell, that's aged badly
My 1001st album!! And one I actually bought at the time although to be honest time has not been kind to it. It sounds so dated now. Clean and clinical. Still, it's pleasant enough and I don't want to end on a bad note. A middling *** stars
That was a pretty good album. Lots of different but similar sounds. The rap song was pretty cool
Appreciate the obvious punk origins.
Cool vibes to bump and jive to
Flash back to life, back to reality that this album is a one hit wonder ... a fun one but not enough to save a 2 star rating
Θα λεγα οτι ειναι μουσικη για να χορεψεις... σε αδειο μαγαζι. Οκ καποιες καλες λεπτομερειες στην παραγωγη εδω και εκει και 1 2 τρακς που αξιζουν αλλα αρκετα βαρετο. Βεβαια δεν αξιζει 1/5 οποτε 2 αστερια Rating: C-
This isn't my favorite style of music, but this was fun nonetheless.
Maybe it wasn't my cup of tea, but this album was awful.
This is great. Its a super conditional rating but I am just vibing to the easy loops. There isn't anything too crazy happening in the sample work, just locked in grooves that make your body move.
It was, something
5/10…etwas eintönig…
You can't be serious.
LOL, a one hit wonder London dance club group. Of course. The editors of 1001 are so clearly young boomer/older Gen X Brits. And what's up with a band naming their debut "Club Classics Vol. One"?? Talk about jinxing yourself guys.
Had never heard of this group or this album, or any songs for that matter. This was a pleasant surprise that I enjoyed.
Back 2 Life does slap! 3.5
Some one thought this was a good idea, worse of all they thought it belonged in this list. You know what, maybe it is great, but I just don't get it. It's the same song for an hour isn't it?
The odd cool moment, and it takes influences from a great diverse selection of genres and backgrounds. But on the whole, I did find this quite boring. Maybe this album would have sounded better if I listened to it in a night club instead of while doing my laundry.
I found it a bit repetitive - very rhythmically hypnotic which might be very good for a certain mood, but that was not the mood I was in and not a mood that I recognize myself being in often. Outside of that mood it just serves to almost lul me to sleep with that predictable monotony Standouts Keep on Movin' Fairplay 3/5
A few cool songs, but was not super interesting to me.
This is #day87 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... listening to Club Classics Vol. One (for the very first time) feels like tapping into an endless beat that flows through time... Released at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, this album serves as a time capsule, reflecting the vibrant sound system culture, Belgian New Beat, and The Second Summer of Love, all intertwining to create a dizzying mix of genres: dub, reggae, house, soul, gospel, downtempo, jazz, and more. When they sing "with this music I'll put you in a trance" on "Dance", they don't joke, they will do it. The record brilliantly reflects the spirit of its era. And I love this era! This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day88.
Too long but whatever. Fine.
Idc
This Shouldn't Be in the Book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, Vol. 739
''I too could make club classics, check it out!" *Proceeds to write the dumbest tracks you've ever heard*
If this album was released anywhere else than in the UK, it wouldn't be here. As long as I love UK music with all my heart, it's not the center of the world as the author of this list may believe.
Back to life
I could barely get through this. Just boring. Admittedly I'm not a big fan of the genre; so I'd have to ask: was this highly influential to other artists? Because I don't get it's placement here otherwise. It comes off as super generic and uninteresting the whole way through.
I wanted to like this album, but couldn't. It's not my vibe
No lo conocía. Música negra agradable y bien grabada.
Thoroughly enjoyed. A good find. Some heard before, some worth discovering. 4 stars plus bonus 1 for rediscovery credits.
Groovy
Top
Never heard of this album but I recognized a couple of songs. It was alright. 6/10
This album was disappointing, it starts off with some good potential but quickly devolves into 80s dance cliches. I recommend you replace "Back to Life" with the single version of the song (subtitled "(However Do You Want Me)") as it fits better and is also probably the best song on the album.
This one just has a nice vibe to it overall. I would basically never actively choose to listen to this, and it's still not particularly my thing, but it definitely has a good vibe to it. Apparently these guys rose to prominence on the Brixton club scene in the '80s, and I definitely get this being solid '80s club music. It's definitely more in smooth '80s land slash early hip hop land though than the more electronic music to come. It does have a fairly diverse sound, there's a few songs that lean a bit more into a traditional African music sound (there's a song called "African Dance" which kind of sounds like Prince meets African music), it's a bit jazzy at times, it's got a little bit of everything. I'm not super into the male vocals on here (though the female vocals are generally strong), but it's solid overall. Not really my thing, but also not bad at all. One interesting note, their biggest song seems to be "Back To Life", which was interesting to me when I first heard it because it's mostly a cappella (until the last minute or so when it picks up a bit). It turns out the version that got big was the single version (called "Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)"). It's significantly more dance-y given it has a real beat. I'm not exactly sure what made them choose the more barebones version for the album, but the single version is better I think. Favorite song: Keep On Movin' Other: Fairplay, Feeling Free, Back To Life, Jazzie's Groove 10/17/24
Soul and funk produced via a mid-90s bedroom DJ aesthetic. It's ok for what it is but I'm not blown away. 'Back to Life' is the clear highlight here but even there, you need to dive into the bonus tracks before you find the more iconic version of the song. Give me an album worth of that level music and we can talk. The rest is fine but a bit boring and dated.
Ik vraag me oprecht af wie je er blij mee maakt als je dit aanzet in de club. En dat zal eind jaren 80 toch niet heel anders geweest zijn?
2 out of 5. I like how chill this album is, and we all need one every now and then.
2 listen
Pretty good
Wasn't in the mood for this but I appreciated it.
There was one song here I liked, a big hit when I was in my 20’s and into the club scene, brought back memories, but they had the version that was the hit, then 3 or 4 different versions of the same song.
The album cover sums up the exact vibe of this album. 90's r&b a la C&C Music Factory
this one was a bit rough for me. ordinarily, my interest in dance music almost entirely hinges on the beat, and unfortunately here I felt like most of the beats and production were pretty middling. this meant that a lot of the songs for me hinged on the vocals, which unfortunately for the most part were not good. what saved this album for me was the final two tracks, ' back to life' into, 'jazzie's groove' which had the album's best vocals into the album's best production. but as a whole, sorry, really not a huge fan.
I was walking to work, listening and enjoying the vibe of this album on a beautiful fall day. But at the same time I was wondering why on earth this album made it to the top 1,001. It’s pretty generic house music. Then Back to Life came on and I realized why it’s here. But is an individual song the reason to put an album on the list? It’s like the Eurythmics and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). Awesome, influential song, and a great addition to a 1,001 greatest songs list. But when it comes down to it, the album is boring.
Must be some pretty dull clubs. Backhalf has sole decent moments that incorperate female vocals. But mostly it’s just vaporous.
Everybody dance now!
Well that took me back to a different version of myself.
Meh, could've been worse...
Around the time that I would have really started getting into music, showing an interest in the charts, watching TOTP etc. Found "Back to Life" pretty dull then, and it's still pretty dull now. There's nothing fundamentally bad here, laid-back beats and vocals, but doesn't do anything for me.
Early '90s R&B is one of those genres that I just. Really hate. Sry
Generic AF
This is not great. Kinda all over the place. Also, it didn't age well.
The tracks I already knew were as good as I remember, but everything else is pretty underwhelming. I encourage readers of this review to check out re:jazz's cover of Keep on Moving.
Albumi #64, 30.09.2024 Soul II Soul -kollektiivin debyyttialbumi vuodelta 1989. Vahvat 80-90-luvun taitteen brittivibat ja rutkasti nostalgiaa. Aikansa R&B/dub-klassikko mutta ei kuulu omiin suosikkeihin.
Good R&B.
From their name, I thought there would be double what I don’t like, but they brought the funk to each and every song.
I liked enough tracks to round 3.5 to 4.
Seems to be pretty good dance music.
Durante los años 80-90, en el Reino Unido, hubos unos pocos grupos y solistas que mantuvieron vivo el testigo del soul de por ejemplo Maxine Nightingale o los Heatwave de Rod Temperton (dejando al margen a Dexys Midnight Runners y a George Michael-Wham!) , hasta la explosión revival a cargo de Amy Winehouse y todo lo que vino después (Estelle, Joss Stone, Duffy, Paloma Faith, Florence Welch, Adele, Floetry, Noisettes, Jessie J, Leona Lewis, Rumer y deslumbrar con Michael Kiwanuka . Sade (a su modo), Terence Trent D´Arby, The Pasadenas, Lisa Stansfield, Carmel, The Style Council, toda la pléyade Acid Jazz (Incognito, Us3, Brand new heavies, etc.), Jamiroquai... fueron buen ejemplo de ello. Soul to Soul, lo hicieron combinando bailables ritmos electrónicos y un estilo muy elegante, con gran y efímero éxito, pilotados por Jazzie B y producidos por Nellee Hooper (que luego haría una descomunal carrera con el Debut de Bjork, Protection de Massive Attack o el I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got de Sinéad O'Connor entre otros). Todo ello en los años del Second Summer of Love y con el House y todas su variantes pegando bien fuerte. Los evidentes éxitos del disco son Keep on movin´y sobre todo Back to life -con estupendo video-, ambas con la voz de Caron Wheeler, además de otros sencillos anteriores como Fairplay (cantada por Rose Windross) o Feel free, esta última con la voz de Do'reen (que luego cantaría para KLF). El resto, publicado un año después de algunos de los temas mencionados, no baja apenas el nivel. Back to life, todo un pepinazo de elegancia que sonaría durante décadas, sería usada por otros artistas, por ejemplo en el éxito de Enigma- Sadeness. Holdin´on tiene pulso jamaicano conjugado con ese piano y cuerdas house tan Soul to Soul (en realidad tan Rhythm Is Rhythm - Strings Of Life). Feeling free usa la misma base que cuatro años después emplearán en Where I´m from los Digable Planets (nada menos que el Band's Ain't Nothin' Wrong de los KC & the Sunshine). African Dance es un instrumental con deje reggae. Dance sigue esa estela, aportando algún rapeado. Happiness es otro tema cantado por Do'reen, todo un lujo de House music, y Jazzie's Groove es otro tema marca de la casa. Es un disco muy fácil de escuhar y bailar, mezcla de Soul, Hip hop, house, reggae, y sobre todo elegancia, con gran influencia en su momento aunque hoy en día ha perdido bastante de su efecto por la producción. Publicaron otro buen disco (peor que este debut, a pesar de algún tema brillante como Get a life, A Dream's A Dream o Missing you), con éxito también y a pesar de editar alguno más, su momento había pasado. Son parte de la base en la que se apoyaron M People, Brand New Heavies y como hemos citado antes todo lo que hubo entre Michael Kiwanuka y los años 80. Otros grandes discos del 89, el año del Milli Vanilli-gate: Stone Roses de Stone Roses, Playing with Fire de Spacemen 3,New York de Lou Reed, Doolitle de Pixies, On Fire de Galaxie 500, Disintegration de The Cure, Paul´s Boutique de los Beastie Boys, Technique de New Order, Freedom de Neil Young, Let Love Rule de Lenny Kravitz, The Seeds of Love de Tears for Fears, Automatic de Jesus and Mary Chain, Love and Rockets de Love and Rockets, Dum-Dum de las Vaselines, Spike de Elvis Costello, Rhythm Nation de Janet Jackson, Mind Bomb de The The, Mothers Milk de los Red Hot Chili Peppers, Full Moon Fever de Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Ojalá Que Llueva Café de Juan Luis Guerra, Shahen-Shah Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, The Raw and the Cooked de los Fine Young Cannibals, Primal Scream de Primal Scream, The Whitey Album de Ciccone Youth, Lōc-ed After Dark de Tone Lōc, 3 Feet High and Rising de De La Soul, 101 de Depeche Mode, Like a Prayer de Madonna, Nick of Time de Bonnie Raitt, No More Mr. Nice Guy de Gang Starr, Raw Like Sushi de Neneh Cherry, The Real Thing de Faith No More, Liquidizer de Jesus Jones, Heart Shaped World de Chris Isaak, Bleach de Nirvana, Velveteen de Transvision Vamp, Pump de Aerosmith, The Healer de John Lee Hooker, Crossroads de Tracy Chapman, Hats de The Blue Nile, All Hail the Queen de Queen Latifah, Done by the Forces of Nature de los Jungle Brothers, Back on the Block de Quincy jones, Me and a Monkey on the Moon de Felt, Ninety de 808 State, Hallelujah EP de los Happy Mondays o Pump Up the Jam de Technotronic. Y como placeres culpables: Cuts Both Ways de Gloria Stefan, Foreign Affair de Tina Turner, ...But Seriously de Phil Collins y Neither Fish Nor Flesh de Terence Trent D'Arby
It felt like each song had potential but just didnt hit. I think you gotta be faded at the club for this music to be consistently good (some songs are still just aight though; one song took 2:30 for the beat to drop, it was a 3:30 song). I like back to life though, heard parts of it in different songs.
It's alright; it just kind of fades into the background, though. Background rhythms and beats, a bit boring for the most part. Put it on at a party when people are mingling and need something that's not too intrusive.
Very nice and groovy
For the record, Holdin On is one of the worst songs I have heard in a long time. Terrible lyrics poorly delivered. Also, this record suffers from the shitty drum sounds that pervaded (perverted?) early 90s dance records. It didn't have to be this way but it was. Hip hop, acid house, freestyle all had much better drum sounds then. This 1001 list must have been made by a British person, because Soul II Soul wasn't so big over here...and there is nothing about revisiting this today that is making me regret ignoring it when it first came out.
Although I kind of expected a different style of music based on the album title, it's still an interesting slice of late 80s musical styling, giant shoulder pads and all (at least in the video). It's always disconcerting to realize how much slower the beats, rhythm and rhymes were in the 80s/90s (and earlier), at least compared to the more manic and accelerated 21st century beats. I guess the songs on this album might have played in clubs in the late 80s, but many of them seem pretty mellow for the club scene. "Holdin' on" and "Dance", though, seemed like the 2nd cousins to many Faithless songs, while "Feeling free" had interesting De La Soul vibes (but so painfully s-l-o-w). And of course there's the quintessential "Back to life", which seems strangely different than much of the rest of the album, but a true classic (and very entertainingly vintage video). Although it wasn't painful to listen to by any means, I'll admit I'm a bit mystified why this album made the cut for this collection. Perhaps simply because it was a strong debut album? The book seems to suggest this album single-handedly created/revived British soul, so I guess that's a factor too...
really enjoyed this and recognized a few songs. Smooth stylings though Soul II Soul feels more like an organization than a band
actually better than the 3 rating - - but not a 4
Overall, this was fine. It was a bit generic, but still groovy and funky. The production was clean and I think has held up to this day. I really liked the female singer, but the male singer sounded like Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Concords to me and I couldn't take that seriously. I also enjoyed the instrumentals in "African Dance." Favourite tracks: Keep On Movin', African Dance, Back to Life
01) Keep on Movin - 9,5 02) Fairplay - 8,0 03) Holdin' On - 8,0 04) Feeling Free - 7,5 05) African Dance - 7,0 06) Dance - 8,5 07) Feel Free - 7,0 08) Happiness - 7,5 09) Back to Life - 10,0 10) Jazzie's Groove - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,10 (81/100) Current ranking: 98/310
Good, as expected, would prefer more of a "proper album"
Some outstanding moments on here along with deep dub - yeah I liked this. Sounds great in the spring sun. Oddly one of the few times the remixes at the end actually lift up the album and make it worth the runtime.
I knew one of these! Surprise surprise! The rest was blah.
This is definitely an album of its time. Even the songs I didn’t know had a nostalgic feel just from the style of musical accompaniments and production approach, it feels very Nellee Hopper. I wouldn’t say those qualities warranted it as a must listen before you die for me but I can see how this could be considered an impactful album. The more I listened the more I gained appreciation for it and the innovation it had for that particular era. Of course Back To Life is a classic that I remember hearing everywhere that year, I especially remember hearing it in the mall. I started out the first couple songs giving this one 2 stars but as I got acclimated to the production that bumped up to 3.
Not sure why this is on the list. I remember one of these songs, but overall the album just didn't move me. I'll give it a 2 for the nostalgia aspect.
I forgot about Soul II Soul; I thought that would be a justified chip on my shoulder for this album, but I was surprised to discover that this album has more good songs than bad. "Keep On Movin'" demands you to keep moving, both lyrically and via its constant thumping bass. The next two tracks are throwaways, but looking past that, the rest of the album is pretty good. All of it keeps an upbeat pulse with a focus on keeping you on the dance floor. With the lead 'singer' sounding a bit like musical comedian Jemaine Clement, the best qualities of the album reside in the rhythm, solo jazz instruments (flute, vibraphone), backup singers, and production. The mix of dance, funk, hip hop, and jazz feel natural, and the sound palette on Club Classics Vol. One evolve throughout the album. Before the album feels too predictable in its house beat and rhythm, they add vibraphone on one song, trumpets and orchestral hits on another, and congas and piano debut on yet another song. The track I was looking forward to most ("Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" is mostly a cappella. Nice change of pace, but I don't remember this version; dare they release a remix of the song as a single but leave the less known version on the album? Yes, they dare. This album makes it easy for a DJ, and these beats can be interspersed in most any set. Club music isn't really my jam, but this is enjoyable for what it is.
I was pretty excited to see this on here. I like a lot of those old club/house singles from this era, and I do consider many of them to be, well, classics. I can never remember which artists go with which songs, so in the filing cabinet of my mind, Soul II Soul exists in a jumble along with Black Box, La Bouche, SNAP!, and the artists who did 1989's Belgium techno anthem "Pump Up The Jam." I knew I would get at least one of those club hits on this album but I couldn't remember which one. I felt a little disappointed after listening, to be honest. Other than the instrumental "African Dance," which was flautistically cool, I didn't really find most of these songs measuring up to "Back To Life," the only song I really knew and liked from the album. Even when Back To Life came on, I was confused at the stripped down vocals-only track that didn't have any drums kick in until the 2:39 second mark of a 3:39 song. I found the remix I was used to later on the album, along with a second remix I'd never heard before. Overall, I'm not sure the album was strong enough to merit inclusion here.
As strong a song as Back to Life was, I was expecting a bit more from thiis album. I ultimately felt like the whole album was underwhelming which was disappointing because Caron Wheeler is a good singer.
Not as many memories with this one as with Vol 2.
Ah, 1989, a golden age. Not my kind of music, even when I'm at the club, but the vibes are solid.
Whole lotta skips. Not terrible enough for a 1 star. But close.
When hip hop Lena’s towards R&B I don’t really like it. I wasn’t a fan of Soul II Soul back then and this hasn’t changed. I find it a bit boring. Rating: 2
Did not like it or hate it so 2 stars or D.
I’m a fan of R&B and soul from the 70’s and this was really enjoyable
Loved this.
En mä suoranaisesti vihaa, mitta välillä miettii että miksi tämäkin levy on tällä listalla. Ihan jees, mutta ei kyllä mitään erikoista. Jotain hiphop tyylistä, mutta ei niinkään räp. Parhaat: Happiness Dub, Jazzies Groove
I'm seeing way too many 1s and 2s for what is a perfectly passable album. I don't even like dance or soul music, but this album isn't even close to as bad as people make it seem. I think the beats are actually pretty good, especially for 1989, and the guest vocalists are also really good. The biggest problem here is that the lyrics are really surface level. They sound like stuff I would write (and I consider myself a terrible writer). I think that the mix of RnB, soul and dance music is really interesting and there are a couple funky little tracks here. Some of the beats even remind me of the Talking Heads, so that is a huge plus. high 3, nowhere near as bad as people make it seem.
Can't imagine what club these songs are considered "classics" in... Boring ahh club.
Listening to Soul II Soul feels like discovering the fossil of form that evolved into something more successful. It provides context for its more successful progeny. It's a transitional form.
Rating: 7.5/10 A fun dance and R&B album, nothing too revolutionary but a damn good time. Favorite songs: Keep On Movin', Holdin' On, Dance, Feel Free, Happiness, Back To Life, Jazzie's Groove. Worst song: Feeling Free.
Maybe this is great but unfortunately I hate dance music
I've heard of them, but never listened to this record. There is a huge amount to admire. Smooth and expressive soul/R&B vocals. Samples and loops. A cerebral spoken word sermon. A hip-hop track that puts me in mind of Native Tongues questing. A flute-led dance track. Funky electric bass playing. It's an adventurous and varied album. The house-adjacent beats feel quite dated, and that's very nearly a deal-breaker for me. I also probably don't know enough about modern R&B for their innovations to mean that much to me. But it certainly is a groovy and enjoyable record. 3.5*
Only listened to half. Was alright
Maybe the most boring album I've ever listened to.
Some slow songs, but overall I kinda dig the vibe.
That's the first time I'd found soul boring. There's one good thing though, thanks to this album, I've discovered similarities between soul and rap/hip hop.
Keep on moving, nothing to see here.
smooth II snooze
This is not for me. I find this RnB stuff uninspiring.
I'm sure it was good at the time but now it just seems boring and repetitive, something you'd zone out listening to. Some long tracks mixed in that don't go anywhere. Some parts do seem like later house music but less inventive.
Enjoyed it! Probably sounds a bit different outside of the club context. Pretty good background music. 4
eh
No idea why this is on the list. Even for club music, it was repetitive.
The change from African Dance to Dance is jarring, because it's essentially the same track except just generally worse. Asides from this mistake, and I can only call it a mistake, the album is kinda soulful, as you'd expect from an outfit called Soul II Soul. But it's also jazzy, funky and building up around a central core of just lovely house music. Some of the bass work is great. And crosses nicely with some of the soaring symphonic strings.
Late 1980s, Soul/R&B/Dance Music - not for me.
This is what's playing in the background in a trendy bar. Wildy uninteresting beats.
The irony of this review, where I'm probably going to refer to the album as "forgettable" at least once, and yet clearly I'm going to have a lot of thoughts. The record straddles a line between 90s R&B, and early house music. It seems like, in the latter genre, lyrics aren't as huge a focal point as the groove. The record delivers on neither: the instrumentals are fine but forgettable (hey!), and the lyrics really just feel very, very, very off-the-cuff and "yeah that's fine man, sound". It feels like a record that got into this book on vibes alone, if the vibes are a middling club or party where people are having an alright time. I think you can sum the record up by looking at the last track: over a decent instrumental, the male vocalist discussing the future of the band spontaneously, as if anyone would fucking care the moment the record ended.
I was very much a fan of "Back to Life" when it came out, so it was somewhat unsatisfying to hear the album version. However, although I don't often say this in this project, hooray for bonus tracks! Other than that, this was a good, solid listen, and hard to imagine that it was 1989 as I agree that it influenced a lot of music to come with its smooth beats.
This appearance of this one excited me. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I thought that I would, but it was a great feel of college times for me. So, it gets credit for that.
A solid late 80s hip-hop groove. Loved it.
I was familiar with back to life from back in the day. The album is along those lines with a nice groove. Not squarely my thing but a nice listen.
See, soul and hip hop can actually be uplifting. No cursing, no killing, no anger for anger's sake.
This was fine but got boring and not my favorite genre.
Back to Life is a classic but this album wasn’t that great.
This is what I missed not going clubbing? Is Holdin' On a real track? The vocals on that sounded incredibly sour to me. You guys, what is this? This isn't even background, this is actively annoying me. And the single wasn't on the actual record? What was happening in '89?
You know, it's absolutely not my thing at all, but it's not unpleasant. There's a cool, laid back groove underpinning proceedings and the music, for the most part, is alright! Female vocals are on point, and I was surprised with how arresting some of the strings were. I'm giving this a generous three, although there should be points off purely on the basis that Jazzie B's son played so long for Millwall, a veritable bogey team for the lads from Loftus Road.
Correcto
Täydellisen bland blend
Not for me. A little to repetitive and mellow.
well this is an album that was straight up not made for me, its nothing like music i enjoy judging from the length of wiki article: NNN
Asian restaurant music in the mid 2000s
Did not like the voices
I was ready to jump to the defence of this one since it's lead singles are so influential on Trip-Hop. This and 'Raw Like Sushi' by Neneh Cherry preceded Massive Attack by a few years, and pioneered slower more soulful dance and rap music in the UK charts. Also Caron Wheeler's vocals on 'Keep on Moving' and 'Back to Life' are absolute benchmarks of UK soul. But it's a pretty shite album to be honest. A lot of the tracks are bland and it doesn't settle into the theme set by the songs I mention. Probably hard for people who weren't listening to the radio in the UK in the late 80s to appreciate how original this was, but yeah as an album it's not amazing.
This is basically just slightly elevated shitty club music. For the most part it's fine. There's some parts that aren't good, and the style is just boring.
Yeah quite entertaining to begin with but soon wore thin and I didn't care anymore. Samey
Pretty meh, just felt like a random clubby album but nothing special
I hadn't listened to Soul II Soul before, though I found that they were nominated as Best New Artist for the Grammys in 1990. After listening to this album, I feel that their recognition made sense for the time. This debut album is easy to listen to R&B and dance, with occasional record-scratching and various vocal leads. It's not bad, as there are a couple of genuine bops like the opening single "Keep On Movin'" and "Back to Life" with how it transitions from acapella to full-on groove. However, not every track pops off well, and the production quality is inconsistent such as how "Feeling Free" was recorded live instead of in the studio. Again, it probably made sense for 1990, but decades later this Soul II Soul does not feel like it needs to be listened to before you die.
I kind of like Fairplay, Feeling Free (Live Rap); I almost like African Dance, Happiness
I’m so sorry but I only half listened to this one, it was stressing me out due to unrelated reasons
This feels very dated to me now. I remember it being interesting at the time. It seems very slow. I certainly wouldn't consider it "club music" at all.
I'm a big fan of 90s jams. But some reason this didn't overly do it too much for me. Some decent songs but some absolute turds
This does nothing for me. I don't hate it, but I don't like it. It's just a bit above bad.
2.75
a bloated collection of singles