16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
1988
Album Summary
16 Lovers Lane is the sixth album by Australian indie rock group The Go-Betweens, released in 1988 by Beggars Banquet Records. Prior to the recording of the album, longtime bassist Robert Vickers left the band when the other group members decided to return to Australia after having spent several years in London, England; he was replaced by John Willsteed. The album was recorded at Studios 301 in Sydney, between Christmas 1987 and Autumn 1988. 16 Lovers Lane was the final release from the original version of the band. The Go-Betweens broke up in 1989 and would produce no other material until Grant McLennan and Robert Forster reformed the band, with a completely different line-up of personnel, in 2000.
WikipediaIt's a bit like listening to the Smiths but without having to think about what a piece of shit Morrissey is! I dig it.
I know this record was at one point acclaimed but it just sounds like a less good version of other great things that came out in this style to me.
16 Lovers Lane is actually a crack den I used to frequent. Shit and blood up the walls and junkies everywhere. I was out of my mind for 2 years. Evil, evil stuff. Very few made it out alive.
Pleasant enough pop music, but ultimately relatively boring. There were a couple hints at interesting vocal lines early on. At least I've learned that string arrangements can't save any music for my ears.
Wet Wet Wet, but wetter. struggled to keep awake for this prosaic dirge.
The singles "Love Goes On" and "Streets of Your Town" were fantastic, I really enjoyed this, sort of like a proto-Australian The Cure.
This album was the perfect accompaniment to walking to work in the April sun. There's something so summery about this album. I think the simplicity and acoustic textures highlight the strength of the songwriting on this record. It just hit so well for me today. I'm going to go ahead and round up that 4.5 this time. Favourite song: The Devil's Eye
The songwriting duo of Forster and McLennan is at its best on this record. Half the tracks are upbeat, romantic and optimistic, and the other are sad and heartbreaking. The driving melodies and guitar work is some of the best I've heard, rivalling some of my favourite Smiths records. Fav Tracks: Love Goes On, Was There Anything I Could Do and Dive For Your Memory
This album is sooo strong. The Go-Betweens mase such gorgeous music. Tasteful, tuneful, bright. Music you just want to sing along with. The best album from a band that released nothing but great albums. An easy 5 🌟 rating
Really surprised me. Was expecting cheesy 80s pop, but has a sort of smiths like quality.
Don't really have a lot to say about this one. It's very alright I guess.
was listening along and wondering who this band is that I never heard of. I'm thinking I don't know too many Aussie bands and they're at least as good as Men At Work. Not sure this is enough to float north of a 2 rating. Then Streets of Your Town comes on and it's like: " Hey! I know this song!" Not sure I like it but I know it. "Was There Anything I Could Do?" is quite enjoyable. The violin on that tune is a nice touch. It's pretty cool to have acoustic music where the violin player is playing the violin rather than the fiddle. Unfortunately, the cool violin playing starts and stops here. For the rest of the songs, the violin is relegated to the background and really doesn't need to be there. It's like OK we have a violin player in the studio so I suppose she can play something as long as it's not too interruptive. So if I were a betting man, and I am, I'd bet $2 that the singer / songwriter met a cute, very good violin player and asked her to join (or they formed?) the band, planning to figure out how to work the violin in the music in due course. They figured it out on Was There Anything . . . but did not on the rest of the album.
Fuck yeah BRISBANE. Very tempted to give it a 5 based on that alone but I shall remain impartial. I initially thought it started a bit slow but it actually paces nicely up to a big crescendo from Streets of Your Town onward. Clouds and Was There Anything I Could Do are both very very strong songs. Can hear heeaaapps of Rolling Blackouts coming out of this. I've always loved listening to Streets and imagining it was written only with Brisbane in mind (which I doubt it was, but still nice to think about). Anyway FIVE STARS.
I relate to some of these songs I would deffo rate this 5/5 or 4.5/5 Indie rock is lit
loved it then love it now, so lucky to see F&M perform most of this live. Just excellent, so many good memories soundtracked by this
One of my most cherished albums. The bittersweet emotions you feel when you're going through a nasty breakup are perfectly balanced on this album, linking it to Dylan's Blood on the Tracks in some ways. The Go-Betweens were one of the greatest jangle pop bands to come out of Australia, and people like Courtney Barnett clearly owes to them. I'm glad this album was included in this book because it's a perfect case of a somewhat less known album that actually deserves attention.
The Go-Betweens are high on my list of most underrated artists. To me there are two types of Go-Between discs - very good and great. This is the later. Lyrical, lush, literate pop music. There are very few bands post 1980 that were able to do this and this is one of the best. How is it possible that Streets of Your Town and Quiet Heart were not hits in the US?
This album has particular resonance for me - both from it being a part of my youth, but also because it captures something about being Australian.
Already knew a couple of songs - Streets of Your Town and Was There Anything I Could Do (both brilliant songs) and have always meant to check the album out. They sound a bit like a more acoustic Smiths with Tom Verlaine from Television on vocals. The album is fantastic - not a skippable track on first listen and I think I'll only come to like each one more on future listens. Highly recommended.
I thought it was pretty good. Sounded like something from a 1990 movie or something. Soft/acoustic/alternative rock with a lot of grand love ballads. I enjoyed it, but can't really see myself coming back to it over and over again.
Lyrics are brilliant Love, Regret, melancholia, not an ounce of fat on them... musically a combo of velvet underground & love. Great album. Will be listening again
I had never heard of this band or album before, but this was quite nice! Twee indie rock that's quite a bit ahead of its time. Good stuff.
Fun album! Very “Fleetwood Mac” if Fleetwood Mac were a bit later on. Some good tunes though
Quite a nice surprise, I’ve been hating all the 80’s records so far. Good one
Pues un disco agradable. No estoy seguro de por quĂ© serĂa un GRAN disco, pero me puso contento. Lo que sĂ es que suena a lo que luego muchos dirĂan que suena "indie". Quizá por eso me gusta. Mis favs "Streets of Your Town" y "Was There Anything I Could Do?". 7.5/10
7/10. I quite like this, just a super chill, straightforward brand of rock, the lyrics are hit or miss and the singing is decent. Honestly, my main complaint is that they really like to delay rhymes from when you expect to hear them, which always irritates me
I enjoyed this album. Pretty folksy. Streets of your town is the standout track. Gave me nostalgia because it was used for an ad about a decade ago for my home town.
Very easy listening and I would totally listen to this again. Super fun listening to it while I deliver groceries around my home town. I could see myself falling in love with this album given another couple listens through
typical of the alt style i've always loved - acoustic guitars, jingle-jangle clear guitar, melodic leads.
Haven't heard this before, rather enjoyed it. Felt quite a bit ahead of its time. I heard some 90s, some 00s, some 2010s. Fun album.
80 90lar londrasina donebilsem keske artik havasindan midir suyundan midir nasi bi memleketsin
Such a beautiful album...probably my favourite Go-Betweens album. Lush and subtle with poignant lyrics. Close to 5 stars, but ultimately 4 for me because it's not a style that I turn to often
Contains one of my favourite songs of all time - 'Streets of Your Town'. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn't quite match up.
I had a great time listening to this album! Very chill but engaging at the same time. I had never heard of the Go-Betweens and did not recognize any of the songs on here, but after giving this one a go, I feel they are a very strong indie pop-rock band. There has been a couple times already going through this list where this genre and decade did not mesh well and caused the record to feel dated; however, I REALLY enjoyed the production on this album as every single instrument and vocal line was crystal clear. This was well needed given the band's acoustic elements they incorporated in every song. It really made me appreciate the finer details that the band put into their tracks and was probably the strongest part of the album overall. Love Goes On! is a great opener and probably my favorite song throughout the short track listing. I did like every track on this one, but they did start to blend together a bit towards the end (this issue might improve or worsen upon further listens). Besides that, I thought this was a great album and would throw this one on again. 3.5/5 (but close to a 4!).
I am a fan of such albums, 10 songs, not too long, weak tracks are out, no bullshit, just good music. My note would be 4 stars with a minus, nice vocals and guitars, clean remaster, but nothing actually special
This is good - really good. Well-crafted songs delivered with some unashamed pop confidence. The late 80's production doesn't surrender to the trends of the time. It brings out the best in the song writing. How Streets of Your Town wasn't a massive hit I don't know.
I really enjoyed this... was made in '88, but felt like a mid 90s indy-pop band. Definitely ahead of its time.
Need to revisit this asap. Pop sensibility steering well wide of sentimentality, spacious production values. Late 80s sophistopop minus the pretentiousness.
I’ve never heard of this band, but they kind if remind me of 10,000 Maniacs. I like the acoustic driven songs.
Production sounds dated but still some really catchy tunes and some fine storytelling..
I like “Love Goes On” and “Was There Anything I Could Do?”. The rest is pretty solid as well.
À discovery for me, and a very pleasant one at that! A style of music that I relate to easily, done with freshness and style. Surprised I had not heard of them before. Perhaps they weren’t big in Canada…
I was not aware of this album in 1988, but I really would have liked it then. I really enjoyed its sound, especially the first two songs.
The accompaniment is actually good and the vocals are ok. "Streets of your Town", "I'm alright" are my favourites
Heard streets of your town before (it's a popular advertisement tune here) but I'd honestly never thought about where it came from, and the rest is totally new. I thought I'd at least heard of pretty much every popular Aussie rock band at this point, but I guess not. This isn't a bad album, but it doesn't do anything super exciting. Nice 12 string acoustics, everything is in tune and nothing really out of place. The first song and "was there anything I could do?" were standouts. Overall I can't fault it, but there are no hard edges or legit oomph. Yet at the same time, even if this is just bog-standard indie rock from the 80s, give it to me ANY day over its 2021 equivalent. 3/5.
Above Average indie rock album with one of the worst covers of all time
Hear a lot of the 90s in this, was surprised to hear recognize so many of the songs on here
Lyrically, there's enough angst and intra-band romance/breakup going on that led to this album being known as the "Indie Rumours," but sonically, they back away when they start approaching something interesting. Wasted potential, imo. Best track: Dive For Your Memory
Helt ok album men köper inte riktigt att det är ett album jag behövde höra innan jag dör.
Nothing too standout for me. A bit too indie, but I can see why people like it.
Not bad. Kind of slightly different pop-rock. Not a ton of feelings but it's nice.
Softest of soft contemporary adult rock. Not my _thing_ but it's alright background music.
This is one of the albums I’ve heard, with some of the songs I’ve ever listened to. 5
I still have a 2CD anthology of The Go Betweens in my collection. I bought it back in the 90s based on hearing (and liking) “Is there anything I could do” and “Streets of Your Town”. I didn’t listen to it much because, while the other tracks were nice enough, they were a bit bland.
Pues sorrry, pero pos meh... No sé ni siquiera cuál canción me gustó más, todas pasaron casi desapercibidas. O sea suena bien, pero no veo por qué es único y detergente.
Pleasant background music but there’s really not a lot to it, it sounds pretty generic, the lyrics are weak, and I don’t think it’s aged very well. 6/10
This I believe was one of those "popular in Europe but not the US" type albums that didn't really land for me. Not bad, but nothing really stood out for me either.
Erinnert mich an Savage Garden. Interessante Instrumente im Hintergrund.
It was OK, but not much more than that. Basically not bad, but pretty much just a much less exciting clone of bands like The Cure.
not bad, sounded like 90s rock/pop, lots of acoustic guitar. some darker sounds to it.
-"Love Goes On!" has a cool bit where it alternates between just the singer and the acoustic guitar to the whole band, in a kind of call and response kind of way. There's probably a name for what I'm talking about but I don't know what it is. -I like the end of "Can't Say No Forever." Got a cool synth (?) And guitar jam going -I liked the more upbeatness of "Was There Anything I Could Do?"
It wasn't awful; I generally like this sound. It's a little bit bland, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I liked each individual instrument and the voices. Favorite Track: Streets of Your Town
I want t like this more than I did. I like Indie; I like Australia. The vocals, honestly, seem a bit weak. the music, overproduced. It’s very decent.Not so sure it belongs on the 1001 list.
It was different and there were some really fun tracks on it - but ultimately I found a good bit of it slightly unsatisfying, too. I respect the attempt to do something different from the perspective of still trying to make radio friendly music, and when they pull it off I'm loving it. But it's tricky
Saved Prior: Love Goes On!, Streets of Your Town, Was There Anything I Could Do? Off Rip: Clouds Cutting Edge: I'm All Right Overall Notes: Shoutout Matt for putting me on to this album a couple years ago. That being said, the three singles are the only songs of note. Not quite sure why this album is on here, can think of a dozen 80's albums that would've been better inclusions.
Liked this a good bit, just not enough to spring from a 3.5 to a 4. Reminds me of The Smiths a little bit, which I like. Also appreciate the 2020 remaster - songs sound GOOD Liked: Quiet Heart, Was There Anything I Could Do?*
I gotta admit I had no clue about this album, or even this band, and that, at first, when the very first track was playing, I was a bit hesitant about letting it even finish. However, I resisted the urge and found myself enjoying the album. Not great but not boring, either.
Solid album. Nothing in particular stood out. Feels like the bridge between 80s new wave and 90s adult contemporary like REM/Live/Spin Doctors. We know this is a British list because Brit Pop features so heavily on it.
I'm not sure if I listened to an album from a band or an album from a soundtrack of some generic romantic comedy. These songs are so recognizable like if I listened to them every day, but at the same time, they are new for me. Well, a pretty fine romantic album, but nothing exactly special.
I liked this one too, and got some Cure vibes from it on occasion. Favorite songs were Love Goes On, The Devil's Eye, and Streets of Your Town.
I was not familiar with this album. It was not memorable in any way, but I didn't hate it.
Jak to mozliwe, ze australia ma tak slaba reprezentacje na liscie, jesli mnie pamiec nie myli bedzie to dopiero trzeci piczek z kolonii karnej, przynajmniej nie nick cave kolejny raz, 16 Lovers Lane to szosty album w dyskografii rokowopopowej bandy The Go-Betweens, w ktorej sklad w trakcie nagrywania tej plyty wchodzilo pieciu czlonkow, a instrumentalnie przewija sie o wiele wiecej egzotycznych narzedzi do wydawania dzwieku, bo znajda sie smyczki, oboje, harmonijki, organy, do tego dochodzi wokalny miks glosow, sa dwa meskie wokale i jeden zenski, ktory robi robote na drugiej czesci plyty tworzac pseudoharmonie jak na trakach streets of your town, lirycznie jest to dosc oklepany album, bo przewazaja lowe songi, ktore maja byc proste zeby latwo sie dalo sluchac takiej muzyki, raczej same pozytywne viby, ale jednak nie cukierowe, ciekawe jest takze polaczenie gitarek jakie mozna uslychac lekka radosna elektrykowa gra w polaczeniu z mocniej poprowadzonym akustykiem daje ciekawy efekt, instrumentalnie na kazdym traku duzo sie dzieje, ale nadal jest to przyjemne do osluchania, bo poprowadzone jest na zasadnie sekwencji, co najlepiej slychac na otwierajacym kawalku love goes on, ktory jest moja ulubiona pozycja z plyty, wiec leci na plejke razem z streets of your town, ktorego wydaje mi sie, ze skads znam, ale jednak nie jestem w stanie przypiac go do zrodla wspomnienia, albumik z 88 a brzmi jak cos o wiele swiezszego, no i jest to pierwszy piczek z australii ktorego da sie osluchac i wiedziec o czym jest spiewany bez tekstu przed oczyma, album prosty, odpowiednio krotki i z pozytywnymi tekstami, wiec dobra muzyka popularno rokowa
A pleasant surprise! I love the moody, brooding lyrics contrasting the perky pop-ish guitar.
This is a nice album by an artist I’m unfamiliar with. I enjoy the instrumentation- the guitar work, bass, and drums are all in the pocket.
I listened to this album. I liked parts of it. Then I went on with my day and didn't think about it at all. Faint praise, I know. And I don't think I can muster that much passion to go through this album's okayness. There are striking moments; Streets of Your Town has one line that really startles. But this is essentially your standard gangly indie guitar with some clever lyrics, and you yearn for more instances of lyrical sharpness. You'll have no regrets listening to this, but you'll find little that'll make you fight for the Go-Betweens. Mind, if you pin your colours to the Go-Betweens' mast, I doubt you'd carry much weight in a fight anyway.
3.4 - If this album were a beer, it'd be a Carlsberg or something similarly inoffensive. Straightforward love songs expressing regret and longing, strummed on acoustic guitar with mostly 1-5-7-4 chord structures (from what I can tell), sung in a clear baritone, with minimal studio magic. The songs are written thoughtfully and recorded crisply.
Upon first listen there was no mistaking the era - this is 80s pop through and through. And not unpleasant, either. It's just that I feel like I've heard all these songs before from other bands. There's a bit of Psychedelic Furs, some Billy Bragg, and a little Echo and the Bunnymen in here, but all the apparent influences leave me wondering who the Go-Betweens are. And again, perfectly pleasant 80s pop - it's just not particularly original. And in that it also doesn't particularly move me in really any way. And it's not that derivative works are necessarily 'less good' than their inspiration, it's just that these particular derivative works don't add much nuance or value to the original experience.
I like the laid back vibe of this album. Streets of Your Town is a highlight as it just sounds so pleasant. I like the songs when Amanda Brown’s violin contributes. The lead singers’ voices are fine for the most part, but it’s a bit off on Love Is a Sign.
Comença de forma formidable amb 'Love Goes On!', pop lluminós i radiant, que té una bona continuació al llarg del disc amb tonades amb menys punch però que fan una escolta somiadora i agradable
nice alt rock album, imo the best song is Streets of your town, I really liked the vocals, especially female one
WTF? Sometimes I just don't understand this list. This album pales in comparison to many of the recent gems. It was a perfectly average, bland piece of music. Fine to listen to, but nothing remarkable. Lyrics were ok, musical arrangements not bad (a bit of synth though?). More violin and harmonica than normally heard in a pop rock band perhaps. So what? I just don't hear anything that shows unique ability or style.
Honestly, nothing on this album stood out for me. Reviews called it melancholy, I just found it dreary. Even the big "hit" I had never heard of. It was just all "meh."
I feel like several of these have been used in indie films, particularly 'Streets of Your Town', and I think the songs work well for that sort of vibe, pleasant and bright but I wouldn't say spectacular
I always associate top-tier lyricists like Forster and McLennan with simple yet indelible melody, which, in my mind, is more akin to great prose than rhythm, which is more akin to, um, plot? I don't know, this is the first time I've really thought about it. Anyway, I first discovered the Go-Betweens on Friends of Rachel Worth and fell deeply in love. That album is exhibit A in the case of simple melodies vs my ears (this doesn't really work--why would I bring a case against melodies I love?--but whatever), and even though I knew their earlier work through the 90's best of (why are early GB's album so hard to find in CD?), I still wasn't prepared for the strength of the rhythms here. That's all I've got to say, really: I already knew they were great melodists and wrote 300 pages deep, but now I'm clearer on their rhythmic prowess. Oh, and they have those classic great writer voices. You know the kind. Kind of wobbly, strained, only a couple degrees from just talking. But you wouldn't want to hear the material sung in any other way.
It started off strong but by the middle had started to blend into itself. It’s fairly standard new wave folky stuff with an interesting guitar sound that is almost flamenco like at times. The lyrics felt a bit forced at times as well.
Never heard of these guys. It has a very easy to like sound. I definitely enjoyed it and want to hear more of it.
Quite enjoyed this. Passed part of a Spring morning rather pleasantly. A name I know without being able to name any of their songs (although I recognised the hit single when I heard it). Jolly and well-crafted, but not sure I would play it again out of choice. Not enough variation to grab my attention throughout. May dig into some of their earlier work, however.
This album is fine but I’m confident I’ll forget about the entire thing in 24 hours.
I'm not a fan of his voice. It's not really my style but it was an ok listen. My son would really dig this.
A post-punkulent sound gives these songs a unique effect. I especially like ”Clouds” and how it uses the oboe for added escalation. This is an album you shouldn’t underestimate
Y'know, it's not life-changing but it is pretty decent. A lighter, ozzier Smiths with a lot less baggage.
Writing this a few hours after listening and honestly can't remember a single song from it. Wasn't bad but not particularly memorable.
Just fine, I feel like it sounds like a lot of the music from the era and not really distinct to me.
J’aime le vibe de l’album. Ca termine vraiment bien mai sil faut etre dans le mood. J’allais mettre 2 pour le debut et 4 pour la fin. Donc 3/5 car ca me rappelle beaucoup de chanson dans ce style.
I had never listened to this band before and liked some of the songs on this album, like "Quiet Heart." This is more folk-rock than I had expected and I appreciated the acoustic guitars and violin. There was nothing, however, that was really memorable.
Another middling indie rock album for me. There were a few good songs on here that stood out from the rest but nothing I'll likely ever go back to again.
Sounded like a slightly more upbeat version of The Smiths. Fine listening
A pleasant and catchy indie pop record with a wistful but summery vibe. Reminiscent in different places of The Lightning Seeds, U2, Crowded House and The Smiths. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Love Goes On! Date listened: 24/08/22
One of the band members described the album as the "the perfect combination between London melancholy and Sydney sunshine" and I would agree. This album also fits well into the musicsphere of the late 80s indie rock, that's still got typical 80s synths throughout. Best: Streets Of Your Town Worst: I'm Alright
A good early indie band, I really liked the first and last songs a lot.
Another "fine" album from an 80s group that tells me more about the list makers than popular music. No reason why this should be on here over any Drake, Rihanna or OutKast album
Never heard of this band. This is fine. Reminds me of a "not as good" Style Council or Everything but the Girl record. I'd rather hear those -- they're much better.
It didn’t stand out a lot for me and there are many other albums in this style I’d rather be listening to. Still, an enjoyable 80s pop album with interesting storytelling and lyrics. A pleasant diversion I didn’t mind listening to.
I got excited by the opening track and thought this might be another hidden gem. But after that, things were pretty and pleasant and rather ordinary.
Good accoustic pop music. Highlights: Streets of Your Town, Dive for your Memory.
Quite generic. But hey, it's indie rock. And it's not as synth-infected as other '80s albums. So plus points for that.
Inoffensive. Not sure why it is 1001 best albums. Ok but MOR background music for me