Reviews (page 6 of 7)
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.
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.
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.
Bland, unmemorable, inoffensive. There's absolutely no reason for this to be on this list.
I enjoyed the first 2 or so minutes of the first song, and I was sure I was headed for a 4 star rating, and then after that it went downhill and pretty much stayed that way. There were moments throughout that I thought, "Maybe I could dig this" but then I didn't. It was definitely a whatever album.
Honestly, this was the biggest "whatever" album I've ever heard.
Not really heard this before. And by the sounds of things not missed much. Can only describe this as a lightweight version of the Smiths. Songs seemed to drift by without catching my attention. The only song with any kind of bite was, 'Dive for your memory'. All a bit meh really. 2 stats.
Fav Track: Love Goes On!, Streets of Your Town Least Fav Track: Was There Anything I Could Do?
kinda dull easy listening 2/5
Not for me today.
Meh
With there were several sings I did like, Missy of the album was very"folkie" which just isn't my thing.
This leaves no impact on me or my life
this era pop just does nothing for me.
extremely british (derogatory) even though the group is from Brisbane. every song sounds the same and not a single one is interesting
Not my cupa tea but I like prices
Unusually, these string arrangements don't do much for the songs, apart from possibly the strong opener Love Goes On!. But that track is mostly supported by its driving acoustic guitars and chord progressions, which the strings accentuate. The string playing in the remaining tracks is unremarkable. The singing is poor, not quite reaching the same humorously dramatic heights as Britpop giants (e.g. Morrissey). In fact, this band has quite a few parallels with the Smiths, but generally carries them out pretty badly in comparison. Quiet Heart and Clouds are two very sonically similar tracks that showcase the weak singing excellently. (Clouds tries to cover it up with octave harmonising, but I remain unconvinced.) The songs, in general, are a medium level of catchy. I could see this being a shameless chart-filler back in the 80s when Britpop was inexplicably popular. Another parallel: the track Was There Anything I Could Do? sounds extremely similar to the Smiths' Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (1986). So similar, in fact, that I'm ready to call it a knock-off song – much like George Harrison's My Sweet Lord being a knock-off of the Chiffons' He's So Fine. Still, the sameness allowed me to actually enjoy it more than most other tracks. And mere second-hand enjoyment should raise some alarm bells. 2/5 Key tracks: Love Goes On!, Streets Of Your Town, Was There Anything I Could Do?
2.5 ok favorite song: I’m all right
Assez peu mémorable comme album. La majorité du temps ça sonne comme une version moins bonne de The Smiths. 4/10
Focalist reminds of Black Francis - nice lyrics
1/2
Pretty boring Australian proto indie rock, 2.5
I'd heard Streets Of Your Town before and never really liked it. So I didn't have high hopes for this album. A couple of songs did jump out at me though. You Can't Say No Forever, and Was There Anything I Could Do? Kinda boring overall.
Kind of bland, but not totally unpleasant.
16 Lovers Lane is light, easy listening pop that didn't outstay its welcome but I will never listen to it again. I don't remember any of it 15 minutes after finishing it. Whatever, 2.
Very much easy listening, this. The Smiths with two thirds of the edges sanded off. Definitely tails off towards the end as well - the opening track is the strongest and the last four tracks are really weak. 2/5, a high 2 but not deserving of a 3.
I don’t know I feel like it was extremely mid. Like this would be in the background of a restaurant or a movie where two people are conversing just to have some background noise. I think it’s cute but I don’t see a strong significant aspect.
really dull
2⭐️/5 [11.27.2024] 01.06.2026
It was inoffensive but I just got bored and wanted to listen to something else. Skimmed through the second half. 2.2/5
begon goed, maar meanderde zijn weg uit mijn hoofd...
Just listened to this in the background during dinner…seemed fine, but not that interesting.
Zooooww....dit...is...suffff...pfff...
Another 80s boring pop/rock album. Some tracks were well arranged instrumentally. But as a whole, it's forgettable.
unenthusiastic slow boredom
I keep expecting to know one of these songs from some late 80s/early 90s serious teenage movie. Nope - just completely replaceable late 80s soft pop.
It's an inoffensive album with not much to say.
Every teenager's songwriting notebook since 2002. Boring as fuck.
A truly plodding listen. Sounds like the band picked up a few ideas from flying nun bands before leaving Australian, and then had anything remotely interesting drummed out of them once they reached the UK. ‘Streets of your town’ is quite catchy, otherwise this would be a solid 1 star
Inoffensive jangle pop that peaks with the one single I knew, and gets 2 stars due to that.
I'm betting whatever single off of this record was a total fave among college radio nerds. It's got it's charms but it also screams to me "snobby record store clerk" and isn't really my thing.
Inoffensive but somewhat bland and dull. Pass.
Pleasant enough Indie Rock 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.
Extremely mid: middle of the road, mid-brow, mid-tempo, middling. Strummy acoustic guitar driven pop rock, with an 80s indie sensibility. Some pretty & melodically phrases electric guitar parts with chorus/delay tones on the leads. Too many gratuitous harmonicas and string parts. A bit like a lot of other stuff that's way better: a thousand UK twee indie bands did it better the 80s and then the one hit wonder post-grunge alt pop rock bands of the 90s refined this formula. It's like a 0% gin Gin Blossoms. Favorites: clouds, streets of your town
2.4 1x catchup 11/8/2024
Like a bad Smiths
Perfectly OK jangle pop that went in one ear and out the other. This was pretty forgettable.
Does not give anything new. All the music was familiar to the past. I guess I’m getting old and want new expression art and interesting music. This was not.
Good listen, but not memorable. Perhaps I do not understand its significance. A couple interesting songs.
Kinda like if The Smiths were not good
Pretty Generic
Pleasant album nothing great slow pop indie rock. Well produced and flow of song is very good almost flawless. Great as background while working or just relaxing. Liked it but not my type of music.
Reminds me a bit of The Smiths. With the advantage of the singer not being as obnoxious as The Smiths'. And the disadvantage of this album being a tad bit more boring than any Smiths album I know.
Another middle of the road album that begs the question "why is this on the list". Sounded like a lot of others we have heard.
Forgettable. I just listened to this but forgot what it was like, so I have to listen to the tracks I saved while I write this. Some light alt-rock stuff, adult contemporary vibes. I don't hate it at all, but then again I'm listening to the tracks I liked. Something just feels off this late in the list when we get what feel like filler albums. We're past the 1001 mark, so obviously a bunch of these albums have been cut, which ones? This one could have been for all I know. Favorite tracks: Love Goes On, Streets of Your Town. Album art: A few people sort of standing/floating in a white void. Weird cover honestly. 2.5/5
Damn this was hella boring. And I usually love this sad boy dreary day mopecore stuff.
Boring
Just a worse version of The Smiths
Just okay. Like a lot of forgettable late 80's alternative with too much reverb and not enough edge. Too much acoustic guitar. Too much studio. Too much of the single octave where the vocals are. Songs are not memorable - not catchy, not hooky, no dynamic range, no temporal interest, everything sounds dated... there is a lot of stuff from this era that is so much better and meaningful. I don't want to say this is bad, but it is walking on that fence trying not to fall off. It's worse than bad in a way, it's boring.
so boring. just like The Smiths!
Pari iskevää biisiä, hyvät verset, kertsit ei niinkään. Tahallista? Tokkopa. 2+
I agree with another review.sounds like the smiths with a little bit less arrogance
Better on the second listen but didn't do too much for me.
Really bland and dull. No earthly idea why it's been included in the book. A bit like the jangly Smiths-y late 80s indie I’ve heard before and that’s not really helping its cause.
These peeps wish they had been picked to sing the Friends theme song. I can see why they broke up after this album.
I got in a car accident while listening to this
I'm reminded of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy's description of the Earth: "Harmless." The difference being, if this album had been disintegrated into a whiff of hydrogen, ozone, and carbon monoxide by a Vogon Constructor Fleet, it wouldn't have moved the plot forward.
uessentielt men lyder vældig fint. stor 2'er
Not interesting
This had some interesting guitar work, but really didn’t like any of the songs.
Listened twice, and it didn't engage me. Music itself was very straight-ahead rock. Lyrics were ok. 2/5.
Eh, pretty generic tbh some songs were cool but kind just sounded like the Smiths
Ouais pas mal 2.5
Not bad, but boring
Mid 2000s sit com music
This album is very reliant upon the audience's emotional response and I don't have time for that today
It has a familiar, almost Morrissey feel at times (Love is a Sign), and maybe a touch of Crowded House (You Can't Say No Forever), but nothing standout or unique here.
This had my sympathies for 5 minutes and 58 seconds but then the harmonica played and I started to wonder what if it doesn't want them? ... doesn't help AT ALL that I'm reminded of #27, The Triffids' 1987 album Calenture. Why is that 80ies sound so comically dialed to 11 on Aussie productions? Does that ward off dangerous animals? It certainly wards off me. I attest a nice vibe, but only when I'm not paying attention. If I do, some songs are painful.
Yet another one that I've never heard of... After listening to the first three tunes, my initial thought is that this album would be better as an instrumental. Vocalist doesn't have a "great voice," but cramming extra words/syllables into the beat calls attention to it. Not to mention...lyrics are meh. "Was your day hard you can barely answer 'Yes my world's Tumbling down Stone by stone To the ground' Please take out the garbage." It's a shame, really. The lyrics are like what a high schooler would compose while stoned and trying to be deep while everyone kinda just looks at their shoes in embarrassment for the poor guy. Ultimately boring. I'd like to give it ⭐ ⭐ ⭐, but excellent instrumentation and production can't compensate for whatever the hell it is that I wrote above. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 59 🎧 LPs left to review: 942 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 17
Not my cup of tea
It was alright. There wasn't really one song that was a big hit for me, but I didn't think it was bad.
2 - fine but not interesting in any way
Saai, niet boeiend, niet origineel
A blend of U2, the cure and the smiths, but not nearly as good as any of them. A couple of decent songs, a couple of boring ones, and only one good song: streets of your town.
Love goes on was nice. Everything else didn’t really stand out to me. I wasn’t waiting for it to be over but I also wasn’t really into it. 2/5
Nothing on here struck me as being list worthy. The few tracks with harmonica were not good and the fact that it didn't hurt my ears or just make me angry kept it from getting 1 star.
This isn’t bad. But it just seems like a morrisey knock off.
2.5
This is gonna be one of those albums that, when I look back on this project once I'm done, I will have absolutely zero recollection of ever listening to it. It's been a day and even now, I can barely remember it. I know it sounded like really boring Smiths. Another addition to the "British 2/5 nothing-pop" stack, that makes up roughly 25% of this list (and that's a low estimate).
Just not doing anything for me, although it's not offensive. The instrumentals and songwriting are alright, if cheesy, but the vocals are so bland.
Boooorrrriiinnnngggg
This was fine, but didn’t speak to me. Not great, not terrible.
Ik las ergens dat dit album klonk als The Smiths, maar dan zonder het gejank van Morrissey. Ik snap het punt, het is jangle pop in dezelfde ader, en de zanger is inderdaad geen Morrissey. Er mist echter naast de whiny vocalen van Morrissey nog wel meer, waardoor het zich distantieert van The Smiths. Het mist de magnifieke melodielijnen van Marr, de funky bass van Rourke, en ja, toch ook wel de welbespraaktheid van Morrissey. Gros van de nummers zijn echt wel enjoyable, maar hebben moeite om zich van elkaar te onderscheiden. De songs die dat nog wel voor elkaar krijgen zijn de - voor mij van te voren enige bekende - 'Streets of Your Town' en het Echo & The Bunnymen-achtige 'Was There Anything I Could Do?'. Prima pop uit Down Under, maar meer dan 'enjoyable' was het niet. 6/10 Highlights: Streets of Your Town Was There Anything I Could Do?
Starting an album with jangly acoustic guitar doesn’t immediately ingratiate an artist to me. Following that with awkward lyrics performed by a lad of limited vocal ability, set to quirky arrangements, continues the downward spiral. String quartets and harmonica solos push this album to the bottom of the abyss. Certainly, there are a couple of hidden hooks and satisfactory choruses that catch you unawares, plus one successful single that might be holding onto Paul Kelly’s coat-tails, but these are nowhere near not enough to pull me into the Go-Betweens arc. Thought: Did they not have enough cash to pay for electricity in their share house, or did it not occur to them to steal some amps like so many other budding musicians did.
Ok
where is the high octane gaming action??????
Never heard of them or any songs. Total 80s vibe.
Feels like something forgettable I would’ve downloaded on Apple’s free music Tuesday in high school
I would have liked them better when it was the 90s
It's a decent effort of jangly acoustic pop, but what lets it down is the soupy sound. There's way too much reverb on every track, and the songs really drag as a result. If there was ever a remixed version with a drier production, I would probably rate it higher.
Pound shop smiths, just sounds very 80s.
In Australia, Jonathan Richmond meets Badly Drawn Boy. This was instantly forgettable. Maybe I've heard it many times before? I've definitely heard the round and round, up and down song before, so that one might be better and less forgettable.
As others have commented, the sounds a bit like an Australian jangly pop version of The Smiths. I enjoyed the songs that didn't feature a bloody harmonica! 2.5
why is this on the list? super boring
In one ear, out the other. Except for 'Streets Of Your Town', but only because you've heard it before.
Completely harmless effort by these Australians. The quality of the songs varies a lot, with the drum machine songs being mostly bland and the full band songs delivering some needed energy. I don’t actively dislike it. It’s just harmless and easily forgettable.
This wasn’t a bad album but nothing really grabbed me. I think in the arena of ‘80s pop there were so many greats good just doesn’t cut it. Nothing really caught my attention on here.
It sounded a lot like something I’d like but I couldn’t get along with it. Each song sounded similar to the next.
Bland - one half decent pop song and 9 dull ones
Taylor-Made for the radio seems to be a fitting summary. Songs ar solid, 1-2 rememberable nice.
Wow, this is extraordinarily mediocre!
Zzzzzzz… oh sorry were you talking? It’s not terrible but it’s not enticing or exciting at all.
Decent but didn’t leave much of an impression at all, there are already so many Smiths albums on the list that a poppier knockoff the sound doesn’t register as anything special.
meh
Het doet me heel erg denken aan een soort synthpop achtige band. Weet niet of ik er heel wild van ben. Ik krijg een klein beetje Depeche Mode vibes hiervan, maar dan wel iets minder goed uitgevoerd. Of misschien niet Depeche Mode, maar wel een soort 80s poppy/rocky/new wavey band. Het is wel prima, de zang is prima, de muziek is prima, het album is prima. Prima. FAVO: Streets of your town, Was there anything I could do
Super 80s. Lol. Kind of lime The Cure and kind of lamer.
Pleasant enough to listen to, didn't feel very strongly about it
well that was dull. 2e chanson on dirait du U2 with or without you. deflating album. 5/10
"16 Lovers Lane" by The Go-Betweens, released in 1988, falls into the realm of indie pop with a mixture of jangle pop and folk influences. The album is a reflective journey into relationships and emotions, featuring Grant McLennan and Robert Forster's distinctive songwriting. While the album has its moments, it tends to hover in a middle ground without truly standing out. Tracks like "Streets of Your Town" and "Love Goes On!" showcase the band's melodic sensibilities, but the overall impact feels somewhat restrained. "16 Lovers Lane" may find its place in the indie landscape, but its middling quality prevents it from leaving a lasting impression. It receives a moderate 2.5/5 for its okay-ish indie sound, with the potential to connect more deeply with those who appreciate a quieter, reflective musical journey.
Extremely boring
I get the love i suppose but The Go-Betweens have never really done it for me
Blind album and artist. It sounds like an indie band from the 80s but that dont mean I have to like it. Nothing special at all really in my mind and I don't wanna go back and listen to this again cause I'll fall asleep. Even at a concert if they were playing in front of me.
Þessi var ekkert spes. Algjört meðalverk í mínum bókum þar sem ekkert stóð upp úr. Ekki leiðinlegt bara rosaleg bakgrunnstónlist sem maður gleymdi strax og hlustun lauk.
There were probably so many heartbroken and just sad in general kids listening to this in the 80’s. Not necessarily my cup of tea but it wasn’t terrible
Didn't even realize the album was over. Completely non-rememberable.
Los dos temas principales los escuché en su época o pocos años después (Que viejo soy!!!). A día de hoy "Love goes on!" y "Streets of your town" siguen pareciéndome grandes canciones en su estilo pero no lo suficiente para remontar el disco. Pasable pero no imprescindible.
Was a 3 star album until the final track. That song sucks.
I mostly found this to be a very dull experience, where instead of the side of jangle pop with cutting lyrics and unique vocals, you instead get something that feels cobbled together to be a hit, without any of its own flavor. Almost every track is bland, and you can see the inspirations on the wall, to the point where they're more like poor imitations. This leads to songs that aren't bad at first glance, but I only wish my time is psent elsewhere, and when there is something worth listening to, it is but a fleeting moment on an overall sleepy experience.
Discount The Smith's, and I'm not a fan of The Smiths. 1st listen 1.5/5
Echo and the Bunny Boys.
bunnysmiths
I am bored. So bored
Meh. Generic 80s
Not my type of 80s music
Better than some of the recent picks I've been getting, but still nothing to get excited about. It's pleasant enough and I can see myself coming back for an 80s fix from a band that hasn't been played into the ground.
-reminds me of a stones record -has the song where the guitar hook was lifted as a sample!
Pretty generic. Really nothing particularly special about this album. 2/5 Won’t listen again
It sort of passed over me, then suddenly the song I knew was played, then it drifted by again.
Nothing to write home about. 2/5
Its like knock off Bono
Perfectly nice pop music. Well written but lacking a bit of oomph. Didn’t me want to dance or cry, generally signs that music has energy and soul.
So forgettable, why is this on the list. It's not even memorably bad, just so mid..
A bit dated now.
Prima te luisteren, maar raakt me nergens echt.