Reviews (page 6 of 8)
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
Sehr gut zu hören. Fast hätte es für 4 gereicht.
I was not familiar with this album. It was not memorable in any way, but I didn't hate it.
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.
Pop elegante y con buen estilo. Ritmo y estilo tranquilo. Cierto parecido en alguna canción con U2. Me ha sorprendido para bien, aunque no me ha terminado de enganchar.
amerikan romantik komedi filmlerinde calan sarkilar gibi
Lots of The Smiths & Ferris Bueller vibe
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.
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 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.
Jingle jangle stuff. Mildy entertaining. Some nifty riffs.
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?*
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.
Solid pop music. 6/10
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
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.
Its an album
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
Good, relaxed, nice vocals
-"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?"
not bad, sounded like 90s rock/pop, lots of acoustic guitar. some darker sounds to it.
this is pretty boring. reminds me of a less interesting U2. 3 stars.
poppy, little cliche? Not sure
Inoffensive
Eigentlich ganz witzig
Ok
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.
Erinnert mich an Savage Garden. Interessante Instrumente im Hintergrund.
War ok
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.
Ligero y edulcorado pero Pop de calidad
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
Very nice, reminiscent of Lloyd Cole
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.
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.
Indie rock. Ni fu ni fa
This is one of the albums I’ve heard, with some of the songs I’ve ever listened to. 5
Chill and folksy. The kind of thing to listen to driving in Ireland
Pop. Suave. Melódico. Más bien alegré.
Enjoyed it but didn't think it was spectacular. Standard 3.
Softest of soft contemporary adult rock. Not my _thing_ but it's alright background music.
Its' fine, its just a cooing lovey album
Not bad. Kind of slightly different pop-rock. Not a ton of feelings but it's nice.
Easy listening, Streets of Your Town is a classic.
Not bad, though I don’t remember much of it
Not the best
Liked it good tracks though nothing mind blowing
Nothing too standout for me. A bit too indie, but I can see why people like it.
Starts off reminding me of REM.
Just ok Bit syrupy
Helt ok album men köper inte riktigt att det är ett album jag behövde höra innan jag dör.
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
Hear a lot of the 90s in this, was surprised to hear recognize so many of the songs on here
Above Average indie rock album with one of the worst covers of all time
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.
What if The Smiths were more annoying by being less annoying.
idk and idc
nah man, not really here for this Will I listen to again: 0%
Is it the worst 80s pop/rock album on this list? No. Is it good? Still no.
The Smiths comp is mostly justified. Maybe I’m thinking too comparatively, but I also hear a little Waterboys in there. Unless you’re song 2 on here, “Quiet Heart”. Then you’d be a blatant attempt to copy the recent success of U2’s “With Or Without You”. Or unless you’re song 6 on here, “Streets Of Your Town”. Then you’d be a sound that was already perfected by Prefab Sprout on the front half of their Steve McQueen record. I know this is a well-written Aus cult classic, but its packaging doesn’t stand out at all. The sonic direction (or lack thereof) is so bland and predictable. 2/5
S'okay.
Бритишей так много в этом списке, что я уже банально забыл кто это нахуй
Maybe the most exact middle of the road album I've listened to here thus far but trending more on the lower half of the scale for me. The most bland and inoffensive jangle pop focus tested on the most milquetoast group of suburban soccer moms. This album is like a bottle of Dr Thunder, not bad but I'd rather spend the extra on Dr Pepper (The Smiths).
I thought this was the most route one sounding 90s pop rock album but to be fair it was released in 1988, so it was a pioneer of this sound Doesn't make it any less dull to experience now though. Felt like the music and lyrics were so generic they could have largely been made up on the spot by anyone. At the time that might have been pushing boundaries and took a lot of work I suppose. So for the time maybe okay but I did not enjoy it.
This wasn’t half bad. Had some potential. The problem was that their lead never really demonstrated any range. Just way too monotone. Which is a shame, as the sound was decent.
It's ok, bit boring
2.0
Boring
I do not care about this at all. One of the most redundant entries on this list in a long time.
this was just okay. seems like another album that's on this list because one of the songs became a one hit wonder for the band
Totally boring. Unclear why it's on this list but here we are....
God that was dull
1 - 7/10 2 - 3/10 3 - 3/10 4 - 6/10 5 - 4/10 6 - 4/10 7 - 5/10 8 - 7/10 9 - 3/10 10 - 3/10
not for me
I feel like I’d really enjoy listening to any of these songs individually, but listening to them altogether in an album ultimately made them all worse. Something about them not being distinct enough has that effect.
Didn’t sound bad but also didn’t do much for me 2.5/5
Some of it was ok. 2.5
Not particularly distinctive, rather dull.
No standouts
The poor man's Cure? Comparing the songwriters to Lennon-McCartney is a choice. Coming back to Australia after years in drab England causing an explosion of creativity is hillarious, and awesome; I'm happy for them. A little Smiths? Nothing I would ever revisit as there are other bands that do this sort of thing much better. Maybe paying more attention to the lyrics would bump this, but I'm not enamoured with the vocal stylings.
It's honestly probably a 3, but I'm not in the best mood and this was so unremarkable Favorite Songs: Die For Your Memory, Streets of Your Town
Not garbage. Not good. 2/5
I like the melancholy vibes however most songs never really had any direction (for lack of a better word) which turned them into a background noise. 2.5/5
Another I'll need to sit with
Yesterday, I feel like I was hit with an album of generic feel good music - today, I feel like I got another album of that. I feel like if I got this recommended on a different day, then I may have not been so annoyed when listening to it. I was definitely counting down the minutes for this one. I'd give it 2.5 if possible.
Optional album review? This is one of those days where I really should just take the option to not throw my two cents in the ring. This album feels like a sponsored natural gas booth at a comic expo. You didn't mean to stop, but you feel bad for the person sitting there, so you pretend to study their trifold for a minute and politely humour their greeting with a nod and a chuckle. Maybe you ask if they've been busy. They tell you, "it's been steady" as you start to formulate an exit strategy. Now you don't want to scurry away too fast so as to tip your hand (your hand being, I couldn't care less about this) but also, don't linger to the point that they start their pitch for gas and electricity 2 year bundle. It's not the most offensive sponsored booth at the expo (Why are they selling Chevrolets over there?) but you have to stay focused on your mission. You are here exclusively to meet the voice actors behind English dubs of third-rate anime series', and to pay $90.00 per interaction. 2 HIGHLIGHTS: Oh my god, is that Al B. Tross, the voice behind Glorbo the garbage imp from Octopi mist travellers 2077 Redux????
Naja, nichts bleibendes
Just sounds like a shitty version of The Smiths.
And I thought the Smiths were bland and mediocre, this is a definite downgrade from them. Like how was this album picked for this list? It's so mid, bland, and empty, with an off tune singer and incredibly bland melodies, I find it hard to believe this album could command enough respect from anyone to be selected for a list like this. Like what's the point of listening to the Diet Smiths? Meh.
"I want you so much I could bust" is not a lyric that aged well. I enjoyed the use of oboe in some songs on this album, but overall found the music to be incredibly bland and boring. Much of the percussion was recorded using drum machines, creating gaps in the arrangements that leave the songs sounding hollow and uninteresting. I'm not sure why this album is included in this list as it fails to represent any significance in culture or musical history.
Regrettable
Unimpressive mushy pop rock. Kinda almost B52's - REM adjacent.
Um? I have no patience for this today. I see. It’s late century Aussie Indie that should be left in the crate. I’ve been hitting such a streak of such offerings. 2 I’ll try it again sometime and see if I feel better about it, because today it’s: Boolean: false
Sedate rock with beautiful voices, but no stakes, no drama.
The only good thing about this is the woman's legs on the cover, yeah contrapposto!!
5/10
Pretty bland and unmemorable stuff honestly. Didn't hate it, but I can't remember a single melody or hook immediately after finishing the album.
Utterly forgettable. Even by British new wave standards…
Not terrible but kinda buh
Some cool ideas, neat ambiance at the beginning of a lot of these tracks, but the execution is uneven.
Sometimes the vocals reminded me of Lou Reed, sometimes of Tom Verlaine. Sometimes the songs reminded me of The Cure, sometimes of Death Cab. But I don't think I liked this as much as any of the above. It was kinda sluggish, like that Wilco album.
Some good songs but mostly forgettable
Moody song writer vibes
If you want that dreamy 80s sound…
Who said I had to listen to this before I died? Reminds me of lost causes like Aztec Camera, the Dream Academy, etc…interesting moment as the new wave came crashing down. The romance was already over.
- This whole album is giving the type of song to be featured in a late 90s, early 2000s sitcom when the leads who have been on and off again for the past 6 seasons are currently off again
What a lukewarm glass of milk
Production is fine but the songs do not cut through.
How is this here? I'd be happy if I got so into this genre I found this kind of underground 80s band, but as a top 1000 album?
Fuck, this could have been good but is ruined by YET ANOTHER man who cannot sing and insists on being the singer in the band. Just admit it! You can't sing!
Standard love-themed indie. Missing some punch. Won't return
really not a fan of this one . some songs seemed fine at the beginning but i just didnt like them at all later . didnt finish this one .
It's just...the most uninteresting 80s soft alt rock.
I love how many people compared them to the smiths, because I don't really care about either
I really like "streets of your town".
People who say this is like the Smiths really must not like the Smiths
Are they called that because they go between sounding like U2 and fellow Australians, The Church (who had released the vastly superior "Starfish" just a few months earlier)? In fact, Australia at the time was ripe with outstanding acts who deserve a spot on this list more than this.
Not memorable
A pretty weak album in my opinion. 2 stars or D.
Nice Aussie tunes
Inoffensive bubbly pop songs. From the Trans-Tasman rivalry perspective, not up there with the New Zealand contemporaries.
For me this tailed off in the second half. At the start, I was taken by the simplicity and catchiness. It then got just a bit….. boring… Perhaps a harsh 2*
pleasant background music, not much more
Boring, nothing really stood out. Since I'm not informed, let's just say "worse REM" Favorite song: Streets of your Town
It’s almost good
Nothing memorable...
"I want you so much I could bust" is a very funny choice of words now 40 years later. Unfortunately that seems to have been the high point of this albums lyrics. I find ClownCore lyrics more interesting than this
Not a fan of this one. Wasn't into anything on this album and it was immediately forgettable. 2/5
movie timelapse music Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: doesn't feel like it 2.4
Dollar store version of the smiths
Not much to say about this one, not many standouts that I remember but it's alright.
I'm not sure why I put this off for so long, but something about this album didnt appeal to me. Maybe something to do with the very uninspiring title. Uninspiring would be my word of choice to describe this. I'm not too sure that many people would notice if this album suddenly ceased to exist as there is lots of similar music out there.
The kind of music that is passable as background music but doesn't really stand the test of listening closely
This album is so very meh! It reminds me of another band or album I’m not very keen on, but I can’t place it. Just a bit underwhelming.
I liked this more than I expected to, which is still, unfortunately, not that much. It's just not really my thing, but I did enjoy some of the pop vibes here. Didn't feel like it did anything that original or unique, and there are other songs that I would rather listen to for this new-wavey sound. Favorites: Love Is a Sign, I'm All Right
Pretty basic stuff. The music is nice and the lyrics are okay and there's not really much else to say.
2.1
The Go-Betweens go right between great and terrible. I didn't dislike the album but I forgot it almost immediately. 2 feels harsh but 3 feels too high.
Never heard of them before, nothing outstanding. This is all a bit dull, some '80s guitar pop, reminding me a bit of Echo & The Bunnymen, but the singing is uninspired and tiring.
Harmless stuff
Eh
The amount of people comparing this to the Smiths frankly isn't getting me any more excited to listen to the Smiths. Highlights: Streets of Your Town, Was There Anything I Could Do?
Snoose
generic pop songs, not too exciting. streets of your town is a standout though.
This sounds like The Smiths, but it's a bit better because it's not actually The Smiths. Still not really my thing.
It's fine, pretty standard 80's pop?
Tuntuu ettei kasarilla paljon muuta musaa tehtykään kun tällästä shittiä
Olipas mitäänsanomatonta renkutusta. 2/5
Nojoo ohan tää kivaa soittelua ja laulantaa, mut ei kyl oikein erotu sitten tarpeeks kiihottavana. Pari biisiä vaikutti sävyiltään viehkoilta, mutta kokonaisuutena men laimeen puolelle. Ei huvittanut ees kokeilla uusiks kuunnella, niin menee jo sitten persröörin puolelle arvosana. Eli kägöstä kehiin.
The Go-Betweens kommen aus Australien und 16 Lovers Lane ist ihr sechstes Studioalbum, das im April und Mai 1988 im Studios 301 in Sydney aufgenommen wurde. Die Band, bestehend aus Grant McLennan (Gesang, Gitarre), Robert Forster (Gesang, Gitarre), Lindy Morrison (Schlagzeug), Amanda Brown (Violine, Oboe, Gitarre, Gesang) und John Willsteed (Bass, Gitarre, Orgel, Piano), zeigt hier einen Sound zwischen Rock, Indie- und Alternative-Rock. Auf dem Album verbinden sich klare Gitarrenlinien mit melodischem Arrangement; das Stück „Streets of Your Town“ gehört zu den bekanntesten Songs der Band und fand in einigen Ländern begrenzte Chartplatzierungen. „Love Goes On“ und „Was There Anything I Could Do?“ zählen ebenfalls zu den prägnanten Nummern des Albums. Die Stücke nutzen einfache Strukturen, oft mit Mehrstimmigkeit und sparsamen, aber wirkungsvollen Instrumentierungen, was den Albumcharakter sachlich und direkt hält. Das Ergebnis ist ein hörbarer Schritt zu einem zugänglicheren Klang, ohne sich allzu sehr von der Indie-Tradition der Band zu entfernen. Insgesamt ist 16 Lovers Lane ein konsistentes Werk mit mehreren eingängigen Songs, das die Stärken der Band in Songwriting und Arrangement zeigt, ohne überladen zu wirken. Bewertung: ein solides Album mit deutlichem Fokus auf Melodie und Songstruktur.
This one might grow on me, but came away feeling pretty humdrum about it on first listen.
I think I'm finally cured of labeling me as indy. There's a reason pop music is popular, and this isn't it. Not the worst, but it sure is boring.
not really into this one.
Boring
Kinda fine
A bit of a snore-fest
These songs were fine but I found them quite anemic and lacking in emotional heft.
Kind of a more forgettable version of the cure.
All music gives this 5 stars. Cmon now
everyone comparing this to the smiths, that probably why i don't fuck with it am i crazy are do the vocals on here sound like ass. nice instrumentation, but I just cannot get behind the vocals. The vocal melody are so awkward, it almost feels a bit spoken word at times but it just doesn't. Poetic is the right way of wording it i think. Idk usually i don't mind bad vocals but i just can't get behind this one.
Sounded a bit like a soundtrack to every late 80s summer camp movie ever made. That or a homes and gardens theme track
Not interesting. Run of the mill alt rock
An Indie Pop album that sort of bridges the genre's from its 80's and 90's iterations. Not really remarkable in any way, but not terrible either. Key tracks: Love Goes On!
Hoo boy, not often a sound is just grating to my ears
This conjured no real emotion in me. It's fine.
it was ok
background music. good background music but background music none the less.
True to the name of the album, it is a love song fest. I had my doubts when the first verse had a line about busting (which took me aback needless to say), but it was kind of cute. Not really memorable in any way (and perhaps a bit boring) but this was okay I suppose.
Average indie
Tried to get through this-it was relatively boring and forgettable 80s pop music?
Morrissey but not as interesting. At least it’s short.
i dont think i could care less
Boring vocals and boring instrumentals. I could barely remember anything about the album the next day.
Good for Aussie music, but like is this really an essential to hear before you die?
This was vanilla and oh so bland. It was subtle but I don't think I felt or heard anything along with the subtleness to make me feel this album was anything else but fine.
Very repetitive. All songs blurred together. They got a record deal, so there’s that.
Great song writing but not really my cup of tea
It was a certain kind of sound. I was thinking 3, but now the next day I don’t remember it at all, so 2?
Plain jangle pop that is so generic in it's influences it sounds like they steal styles.
I'm sure they're lovely people, and it's clear they know how to play their instruments, but they definitely lack imagination and creativity.
Really not good.
I've listened to this 3 or 4 times, but I struggle to recall anything about it. Memory-wiped. This is the Men in Black flashstick of music.
It sounds familiar, but I know I've never heard them before. I didn't love it, but I definitely didn't hate it. The songs are pretty good individually. But, I don't see myself listening to the whole album again.
Nja
Music to fall asleep to. 2/5
Just okay, probably wouldn't listen again. 4.3/10
Never heard of 'em. It wasn't bad. I like the reviews that compare them to The Smiths ... WITHOUT the crying Morrisey whine. That's about sums it up.
Pretentious without the music to suit
Didn't interest me at all
Couple of decent tracks
Groupe inconnu. L'album est très pop, et très ... standard. Seule originalité (+1) : le violon, plutôt rare dans ce type de musique. Ce n'est pas assez pour avoir envie de l'écouter une seconde fois. Il sera vite oublié. =>2/5
I don't want to dis this, but I couldn't get to a 3-star.
This album has me more fascinated than ever about the metrics and ranking associated with this project. I thought the album was OK. Reminiscent of that late 80s sound and reminded me of a diluted version of Prefab Sprout. Sure some nostalgia was felt with track 6 (Streets of Your Town) but everything else about this was very unremarkable. A two star feels like it says I did not like the music, which is too strong a statement. But a three star feels like I think this album is merited for the list, which is too strong a statement. It's a 2.5, which means for me this was unremarkable and meh.
How tf are you going to put this sub average, mediocre crap on this list, to represent Australia, but no INXS??? The author is tripping with this.
Ahhh. The 80s. We meet again. It's fine. Just a million miles from the kind of thing I want to actually listen to.
I swear I am not biased toward 80s and 90s indie Australian bands, but I cannot digest most of their albums.
Very inoffensive pop - sounds fine but it's just soooo forgettable. And... how dare they compare this to The Smiths!
The biggest thing going for this album is that it is short. 2/5
as much as I like this list for showing me stuff I've never heard that winds up being great, this is the other side of the coin. Never heard of this and it wasnt really needed on this list . It feels very stagnant, all the parts are there for something better, the songs are somewhat unique enough to warrant listening through but its always a letdown. Like you're ready for a beach day but it starts pouring rain.
The blandest beige pop music. Absolutely nothing interesting going on but the author must have had this album on cassette while growing up so it HAD to make the list. Feel free to replace this album with Three Dimensions Deep - Amber Mark Euro Country - CMAT Made In America - Brad Goodall Possessions and Obsessions - Parallel Dance Ensemble Eterno - Prince Royce
Started off well enough but the album failed to carry the momentum and I was tuning out for the last half of the album. Not terrible but not breaking any new ground here. A solid meh
British adult contemporary?
Boring.
This is pleasant enough pop music. Decent guitar work, decent vocals, but ultimately it's relatively boring and pretty underwhelming. There's no dud tracks, but I also wouldn't say there's any standout ones either. I can't remember any vocal line, jangly guitar riff or anything. This album is just there. It came, and 40 minutes later it's gone, and I honestly don't see any reason to relisten to it ever again. It sounds like a less good version of this type of music. At times it sounded like a really tame version of The Smiths. It very rarely kicks into a higher gear. 'Was There Anything I Could Do?' goes for a slightly more urgent and dramatic sound and is probably the best track on here with some really nice strings in the background but other than than, it's not very memorable at all.
Pleasant enough pop songs but a lot of them sound the same
Ok 2/5
Was a very 90s sounding album.
Not really sure how to evaluate this album. Very much not my style. Kinda hated it.
Completely meh, very forgettable, not terrible but at least that would have made it interesting. Really a 1.5 but they get off easy.
Pleasant, but somewhat unmemorable songs…the singer sounds like a more limited version of Marshall Crenshaw (who i like better), and “Quiet Heart” sounds like a U2 song. The use of the oboe is certainly different. I’m fine with it but don’t know why i needed to hear it before i die. “Streets of Your Town” is a good catchy song…would go 2.5
Mild background music, started to drone a bit the last third of the album.
Lots of reviews comparing them to The Smiths. The Smiths are bad. This is worse. Very very dull.
meh
Not bad, but also nothing of note.
I might like this if I was Australian and I grew up with it? All much too jangly and twee and unmemorable for my liking.
Meh.
Maso
I’ve given this one a few go-overs before. I thought it might click with me this time because the 2nd track felt a tiny bit lovelier than normal but then the plodding greyness started blooming again with a vengeance and I went back into unclicked mode. It’s all a bit Deacon Blue if they were vigorously more boring. The band would make up for it though if they were to ever do a sequel album called 123 Fake Street.
A pretty middle of the road album. Nothing too noteworthy. I did enjoy Streets of Your Town and wasn't surprised to see that's the most popular song on the album. 4.75/10 (2.375/5)
I fully expected to dislike this, but there’s a kernel of something here that stopped me from turning it off. More to the writing juts 80s pop. Maybe I’m just feeling good cause I’m full of turkey but I don’t hate this and the single (streets of your town) is great- such a nostalgiac vibe.
Pleasant enough.
perus diipadaapaa
bleh
OK. 2/5
I’ve identified some potentially good cry-in-the-car songs in here but this doesn’t even remotely strike me as deep as The Smiths :(
I thought that was incredibly dull, surprised to see a lot of love in the reviews and so many Smiths comparisons. I was doing other stuff and wasn't as focused as usual so I should give this one another go sometime in the future. Rating: 2.0
At least he's a better singer than Morrissey, but turns out even invoking the imagery of him is enough to turn me off to your project
Nothing too special.
I really liked listening to this. I think an older version of me would have especially appreciated the indie vibe here (it's a good one) but perhaps my tastes are shifting. Positive listen. Fave songs: - Quiet Heart - The Devil's Eye - Streets of Your Town - Was There Anything I Could Do? - I'm All Right Edit: it appears my tastes continue to shift. I maintain that this is a worthwhile listen. But, I like this a lot less on a re-listen. I feel like the songs generally start strong (beautiful, in fact) but that they just go nowhere. They could really benefit from some modulating...or any sort of risk-taking. Oh well.
Couldn't finish the album. Nothing memorable here for me: sounds like songs written and played on an acoustic guitar with some basic band arrangements. They sound British. If I had to guess I'd say it was released around the Brit pop, Oasis time, what was that, late 1990s, early 200s?
Getting crazy deja vu bc I just listened to Achtung Baby. It's like a record label executive brought U2 and The Smiths into their office and demanded they produce a hot and fresh batch of Toyota Corolla Music.
Very mid to my ears. Meant to not be too complicated or demanding when driving a car.
I know exactly the kind of audience this music goes for.
I feel bored listening to this album :/
Sappy pop songs for 80s teenage coming of age flicks.
Indie Pop? didn't do much for me. kinda just middle of the road but worse because it sounds like a knockoff? Nothing really stood out. it's fine, but yeah, I don't need to listen again.
Indie Pop. Their Sixth album. Smith's inspired sound only with less depth lyrically. Very middle of the road, safe and chilled album. Nothing really stands out. I mean, it's nice, but yeah, I don't need to listen again.
I never heard of them, which is a surprise since they are right in line with some other 80's Australian alt-rock bands I encountered like The Church, Midnight Oil, Crowded House, Icehouse, Hoodoo Gurus, ... and so on. Though the Go-Betweens distinguish themselves as the most flat and diluted in style and texture. I felt like I was listening to on hold music for 37 minutes.
Like yesterday with The Dandy Warhols, for a band I didn’t know a lot about, this album also opened strongly. So strongly that I did stop what I was doing to study the relevant Wikipedia pages. However, I had only got halfway down the page when it dawned on me that the album was nothing special. It did remind me of something and I eventually realised that it was Lloyd Cole and his commotions. But a second rate version of him. Wonder if there is a lack of Antipodean 1001’s doing this process hence the low average rating? 2/5 5/8/25
It wasn't horrendous, just boring.
Boring as shit.
Late 90's alternative is very hit-or-miss. This was definitely a miss.
Great Value Smiths
This is fine, but not in any way exceptional. Singer sounds a little like Lou Reed, and is probably doing his best impersonation. But, like Lou Reed, he can’t sing that well and, Lou Reed he is not. The band is good; the songs are ok. I don’t know why it’s on this list. It’s a 2.
Meh, middle of the read sorta just there. Didn’t love, didn’t hate. Made a sandwich.
I have often heard The Go-Betweens compared to The Smiths. Might be a fair comparison, but The Smiths were never this boring. There are a few tracks (like "Streets of Your Town") catchy enough that I can see the appeal...but as a whole, this record is pretty mediocre. The talk/singing love songs to simplistic guitar doesn't really do it for me.
The Smiths
Never heard of this group. Pretty uninspiring album, outside of a track or two. This was the era where jangle & alternative rock were breaking through, and I just didn't feel that this particular work added much to that scene. It's a collection of love songs and not much else. (Could also be the fact that I'm 500+ albums into this thing and I'm a bit more critical that I was at the start)
Have never heard of the Go-Betweens. Not sure I have missed much. Generic 80's jangly tuneful guitar pop - a bit derivative and largely forgettable. A little bit of U2, deacon blue, smiths, crowded house. I only listened to it twice and I'm sure its a grower - and I can imagine if you grew up with it you might love it (like I love the saw doctors) - but coming to fresh it unfortunately left me cold. A high 2.
I don't get the appeal :/ but it wasn't bad and enjoyed some moments
Yeah, that was pretty meh. I knew one song, it's ok. It wasn't unpleasant to listen to, but it didn't keep my attention. It sounds like a lot of stuff I like, there are bits of badly drawn boy, crowded house, the Mary chain etc in there, but none of these songs really got to me. One track sounded like a rip off of echo beach.
This is what I imagine the coffee shop on the show Friends sounds like.
I have rarely been this bored by an album.
Ignoro por qué no podía vivir yo sin escuchar esto. Geniales canciones de iglesia con una producción en la que todo parece una caja de música. No están mal algunas melodías, pero como es habitual, no hay nadie al micrófono para cantarlas.
Although an easy listen, I’m unsure of why it was included. A few good songs but nothing groundbreaking.
Meh... Favorite songs: Love Goes On!, Was There Anything I Could Do Least favorite songs: Love is a Sign 2/5
Mediocre 80s Aussie rock. Drifted along without ever taking off.
Is this AI generated?
Don't see what the fuss is about
Doesn’t really stand out from the other 80’s albums on here
One marginal hit should not lift mediocre music to such lofty lists. Ho-frickin-Hum.
Where does he find this shit?
At various points this is reminiscent of the Smiths, the Cure, U2, a cleaned up Jesus and Mary Chain etc. It sounds like a tribute act to those bands decided to make original music... that's not really original.
This was ok, not my kind of vibe. I don’t know much about the album, but imagine it was very inspirational to the Brit pop era, which made it worth a listen
Much like other reviewers have said, kinda reminds me of the smiths and some lyrics sound like they were written to mimic nick cave but lack the gravitas of his delivery Not a bad listen just kinda middle of the road for my ears
Didn’t hate it. But there’s nothing essential on this either. 2.5/5
This didn't do anything for me. I'm going to go with a 2
As a kid who began to explore music during the 1980s, I find it interesting when an album from that era appears on the list that I am unfamiliar with. My first impression is that it bears some resemblance to the Smiths, infused with the pop sensibilities of Crowded House and maybe even a hint of Lou Reed ('Love is a Sign', 'Dive for your Memory'). The strongest tracks 'Love Goes On' and 'Streets of Your Town'. This album sounds similar to other 80s music that was on top 40 radio. Overall, it is a decent pop record, though not particularly remarkable or innovative — there is nothing inherently wrong with it, it just lacks the exceptional qualities that would justify its inclusion in the 1001 list.
1001 forgotten British bands from the 90s
it's fine background 80's music. nothing stands out. kinda boring, effortless writing...both musically and lyrically.
Kind of sounds a bit like Morrissey. Boring but there were some random guitar parts that give it a 2.
Unnecessary. 2.5 stars.
5/1/25. A real deep cut, never heard of this band from down under! Pretty catchy tunes; don't think it stands out much on its own but still enjoyed it.
This was fine, think I didn't really need to hear this before I die.
Very friendly and very nice, but that's what makes it kinda dull.
Not my cup of tea.
This album was okay. A little bland, with some weak male vocals. It was decent background music but not an album I would choose to listen to again.
hawk me-me-me-me-me hawk me-me-me-me-me (that's me sleeping through this boring album) 3/10
Appreciate the artistry that went into this, but it's not the sort of thing that tends to attract me. Listened carefully to the lyrics only in bursts--they never really called to me.
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 👈🫵👉 Production: 🤔😐👍 Music: 🕰️🎸🤷♂️ Rating: 💌💌/5
This is a worse version of a random one-hit wonder 80s band whose name I can't remember because they were also terrible.
Never heard of these blokes. I'm not hearing anything that would warrant being on a list of "must hear" albums. It isn't bad, but it isn't groundbreaking or special. I do like The Smiths vibe, and the violin solo on Was There Anything I Could Do? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is no. I would never intentionally play this again. I'll give this a 2.
Pretty inoffensive, but also pretty uninteresting.
Pretty medium
Another album for thise of us with synesthesia (I feel sound) to avoid the vocals are grating, the music mediocre.
Just didn’t seem to get going, complete background music
This is a pleasant album but somewhat unengaging to be honest. I literally don't know what to say anymore about this album. I can see myself in a pub with a few pints, hearing one of these songs and being intrigued because it sounds familiar but still unknown, talking about it with buds. It seems like a very Austrialian thing judging by the reviews and Wikipedia, so some social context might be missing.
Well this was very beige! Like a not good Smiths. Did not care for this
booooring
Fine. An easy listen, but nothing stood out to me.
Well I guess someone has to produce the low cost accompanying background music that romantic comedies like to use. Also mandatory to mention: Sounds like the Smiths
who is this band? never heard of them before
I got nothing from this album, utter indifference
Dull. Safe. Middle of the road.
..
I missed the Go-Betweens heyday probably because as I was living in England in the 1980s. I didn’t recognise any of the track names but as soon as I heard them, I thought: this sounds so Australian! Then I recognised Lindy Morrison from the APIA household insurance ads from a few years. What a comedown. But anyway, nice nostalgic music for a scene I wasn't part of: 2
So unremarkable that it’s irritating.
All very pleasant, nothing objectionable. But nothing to grab me either. Nothing wrong but nothing special either. I wouldn't put it above Neu, so 2 it has to be.
Firstly, I find Australia a desolate barren place with nothing much going on in the centre. It is echoed in 90% of this country's musical output. This is ok, pleasing enough, but it has that empty Autralianness about it.
A load of nothing album. None of it sounds bad or offensive, but it all sounds like other artists from the same time, who usually did the same thing but better. The first track was pretty nice, the rest really wasn't that memorable. Not much to say about this one, doesn't really feel essential.