16 Lovers Lane

New to me, and I really liked the catchy melancholy throughout. The voices and songs were good; my only criticism is the music itself threatens to slither off into the background.

Jangly pop that's by turns sweet and sad. Right up my street, thank you. First time I heard the go-betweens was on an Australian commercial for petrol. I kept thinking it was a great tune, but never sought it out. Mystery solved. This is going in the regular rotation.

Better than Coldplay

Esta chido, como muy british... easy

nice. not outstanding

Ein zeitloses Meisterwerk des Indie-Pop. Auf 16 Lovers Lane verweben The Go-Betweens sonnige, federleichte Gitarrenmelodien mit bittersüßen Texten über die Höhen und Tiefen der Liebe. Jeder der zehn Songs sitzt perfekt, allen voran die unsterbliche Hymne „Streets of Your Town“. Ein Album voller Wärme, Eleganz und emotionaler Tiefe, das auch Jahrzehnte später nichts von seiner Magie verloren hat.

One of the greatest Australian albums ever. The band members were romantically involved and were going through a breakup during the recording which makes this Australia’s version of Rumours. “Streets of your town” town is such a beautiful song. One of my favourite Australian bands that frequented Frankfurt Batschkapp (like the Triffids and Nick Cave). They were close and supported R.E.M. and you can hear why. The late Grant McLennan and Robert Forster were one of the greatest Australian songwriting partnerships.

Not a hugely exciting album but still perfectly good nonetheless. The Smiths comparisons are absolutely inevitable, as it's pretty clear where a lot of their inspiration came from. I don't think that they quite managed to capture the same unique sound that The Smiths had, but all the right elements are still there to make this a good album overall. The jangly guitars and sadboy style vocals are still really good, and it definitely feels like the album feels the way they intended it to feel.

Really enjoyed it, never heard of them

I’m giving this a “pleasant but unremarkable” three stars but I have a sneaking suspicion that if I listened to it again, it could be a grower.

3/5

muy tierno el álbum, tiene canciones re lindas, hay partes que me hacer acordar a los Beatles

Not a bad sound, although nothing really grabbed me.

Del mismo estilo de The Cure.... Meeeh... Mas o menos.

guay

Total bore or slow burner? Sorry The Go-Betweens, I have no time to find out!

Just meh, kinda whiny.

Yet another random album by a band I've never heard of. As such, it's an inoffensive guitar pop album, like an off-brand Smiths almost. This is probably the most mediocre album I've had in terms of just being pure nothing. It's not good or bad, it's just there. Why is this on the list?

Better than average 1980s pop but not breaking much new ground for me at least.

A solid album overall, and nice to get a too-rare appearance of an Australian band in the collection. This kind of indie-pop stuff isn't really to my taste, and seemed like a weird mashup of REM, Eddie From Ohio and their countrymate Paul Kelly, but I guess they had their devoted fanbase; I have to admit it makes me wonder (yet again) why these guys made the cut when the big Aussie names like INXS or Midnight Oil are nowhere to be seen. On the other hand, I was also confused to read that this album has been ranked in the top 20 Australian albums by multiple sources, so maybe I just don't get it? I didn't recognize anything from the album, but I can see why "Streets of your town" was their biggest hit from this album.

I quite liked this. Poppy, melodic, warm.

Easy 4 for me. The Go-Betweens influenced a lot of music and sounds I'm into and Streets of Your Town goes so hard.

boring blokes with bad sound mixing

Not familiar with this and it was a decent pop album, not sure that its one that warrants to be on this list, but it was ok.

Why tf do we need to listen to this before we die? It’s ok, but I’ve never heard any of these songs and I feel like I’ve heard them all 700 times.

Not my taste

So much of the moment!

Pleasant enough in the background, but nothing compelled me to give it a purposeful listen. Maybe it was a fresh sound at the time, but seems very forgettable now.

Sparse arrangements and melodic in parts but there is a lack of immediacy. A bit dull unfortunately

so mid

Omg! Since I started this project, 750 albums ago and with the knowledge that it was a list of 1079 albums (not 1001), I've just spotted that there are now over 1100 on the list. What are you doing to me; my two group-mates have given up already... will I ever get to the end!? Anyway, I digress. This was better than I expected, as I don't remember it causing much of a stir (in the UK, at least) at the time. Some good tunes and some attitude in the lyrics - unfortunately, the delivery and chord progressions did stray from "understated" into "dreary" a few times, for me.

Hadn't heard of them, glad I listened

It is like a store-brand version of The Smiths. There is nothing to rave about, but I'll take it.

day 26 of not rolling Aja by Steely Dan me when i see a new band that doesn't say "The Smiths" or "Morrissey" and i get to listen to it: :) me when i realize it's a bunch of australians disguised as Morrisey and i have been tricked: >:(

A bit vapid in substance, but I could listen to it in the background no problem.

Immediately forgettable.

There is nothing original or unique about this album. I enjoyed this album. Two things can be true.

seriously the blandest album we’ve gotten

Unlucky for these guys, I was catching up on albums and had two Australian easy listening albums in a row. I liked this one better but also did not like the singing.

The very definition of mediocrity.

Average. Did get better the more I listened

Definitely was surprised and better than I thought it would be!

I really enjoyed this!!! Like way more than I expected. I ended up listening to it multiple times in a row. I'm not usually one for long albums but it truly kept me interested. I loved the beats; the songs were distinct but had a unified sound. Surprised but pleasantly surprised!

No he terminado de conectar pero suena bien perro

Listenable but boring

I feel like this is an album I’d like more than I did. It’s inoffensive and kinda just goes by. Nothing was bad but nothing really stuck out either. Maybe with more listens these songs will stick. Couple tracks better than others but everything was on par with each other Giving this a 3/5 (close to a 3.5)

1/5 Boring shit.

L-A-M-E. I swear this is the 2nd time I've been force-fed this drivel. It just goes nowhere in a very average way, it's not 80's and it's not 90's, and it's not enjoyable. Why is this a Must-Hear album?! It's so generic, it has no hooks, no hits, no impact, no legacy and breaks no ground. Weak call on including it. 2 stars, it was 3 but I was so bored at the end I forgot to click that last star. More like the Go-Aways...

The sound of a sunny Saturday morning; driving through neighborhoods, lawns being mowed on every street, running an errand with my dad. I'm not sure why this album has such a specific feel to me- maybe the late 80s production, crisp acoustic guitars, non-descript vocalist? Is that all it takes? There is some Pretenders DNA here..... particularly on "Streets of Your Town." I see reviewers here mentioning U2 and I just don't see any comparison. The Smiths, sure. Overall I like this. Ya know what, I think it's earned - FOUR STARS

Milquetoast Pop rock between U2 and REM. Nobody needs to hear this.

Fine. I think I remember reading good things about this band long ago. Or maybe bands I like saying these folks are great? On my initial listen this did not grab me.

I was anticipating not liking this, unlike NZ, the 80s and 90s Australian alternative bands I’ve heard were not great. But this was catchy, very enjoyable. Maybe more of a 3 and 3/4, but I’ll give it a 4.

There were parts of this I really enjoyed. But, bear the end, I was all like “There’s still more?” and wishing it were over. So, it’s a 3 instead of a 4.

hey gemini make me an 80s album

I really liked this. The singers voice sounds incredibly similar to Tom Verlaine's from Television, and I was so surprised to hear that this wasn't one of his other projects! Big fan nonetheless. Favourites: Love Goes On! Love Is A Sign You Can't Say No Forever

Seems to be in lots of greatest Aussie album of all time lists. I fail to believe this is all they have to offer. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.

It was fine. I really loved Streets of Your Town.

I thought I would enjoy this more but it really did nothing at all for me. The vocals are a bit off-key and lazy in places, and it just doesn't have the drive and interest of bands like The Smiths or REM or their other contemporaries in the genre.

Nice

Couldn’t even tell you what went down in this album

5/10 - Felt like they really wanted to be U2 when U2 was on top.

There are a couple of songs that are worth coming back to but it's a middle of the road album outside those. 5/10

3,5 stars

This is the most boring album I've listened to so far but I suspect it wont be the last one. It sounds like pop rock and stops short before trying to make catchy melody. Was there anything I could do was the only memorable song, but even that wasnt interesting enough to make me want to listen to it again.

Have to admit that I have never heard of the Go-Betweens even though I was around in 1988 (17). For the most part it was quite a good listen and a nice addition to my morning walk. It hasn’t made me seek out any of their other stuff but I will listen to this again.

There was nothing inherently wrong with this album, but equally nothing stood out to me to capture my attention. A little bit the vibe of U2 if they coincided with The Pretenders, but it just didn't work for me.

Like sitting in a bar listening to a friend eloquently and honestly describe his life

2005 indie coffee shop music. I speak from experience (RIP Thunderbird Cafe).

Like a less annoying Smiths, but still annoying.

A bit The Smiths light and poppy. Some solid tracks.

Pleasant enough listen but it doesn't quite make it to a 4-star.

Actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but I see no reason to go back to it

The Smiths with no Morrissey, sure, but also no Andy Rourke. And they're Australian. I guess that's not really The Smiths anymore, is it? This was pretty nice to listen to! Very breezy overall. Standouts: You Can't Say No Forever • Streets of Your Town • Clouds • Dive for Your Memory

This is a very pleasant album that lives in an odd space for me. Individually, there are a ton of songs here that I enjoyed or would happily add to a playlist. As an album, though, there isn't really enough variety to make me want to listen to it as a unit or put the entire thing on, which is a shame.

Song 1 was great. Song 2 less 3 was lovely. Absolutely. 4 less my thing. 5 isn't aswell. 6 is a charming alt rock banger. Great song. 7 is kind of darker version of the previous. Another very good one. 8 I liked less 9 was nice. 10 is a good fitting closer. A very nice simple album. Lots of positives. Some meh songs aswell. A good classic 3.5

Quite a fun poprock album.

Painfully boring.

Boring & uninteresting

I need to relisten, and this is the first time I've heard of the band or album but first thoughts- perfect pop record, no notes.

a great time! really enjoyed this. sick

There's parts of this album that's really close to something I'd enjoy. It hits the right beats, has the right tone, but there's something off about it. Something boring. I wasn't enjoying it, I was rolling my eyes.

What if The Smiths were more annoying by being less annoying.

The cover made me think it was going to be tacky shit - it was mostly alright. 2.5 stars?

REM + enjoyable parts of Morrissey. Probably gonna rescore some of his stuff, cause I enjoy this more than most of his ‘woe is me’ stream of consciousness bullshit.

Not all 3s are created equally. This was more than serviceable and became a download

no thanks

idk and idc

Ehh, it was fine. Unobjectionable. There are a lot of albums in this project that I'm like, why is this here. Maybe it's more culturally significant in other countries or to other age groups.

Decent, if a bit boring. I like the song that The Way You Are later sampled.

solid, bohemian indie pop

I wouldn't remind if someone put it on but it's fine, pretty generic

Interesting band, I can tell they paved the way for many bands that came after them

Never heard this band before so pleasantly surprised

Just a beautiful wonderful record this is

Bland and soul-less.

勝手にもっとエレクトロニカ寄りだと思っていました。 完全にオルタナでした。明るい系の あと、ジャケ写がとても良いと思う。個人的には好き 曲については、音が綺麗なポップで、浮遊感も少し感じます。まあ好きな人は好きなんじゃない？

I'm a jangle pop fan, generally. There's some interesting little ditties here. I think if I'd discovered it at the time I'd have easily been into it, but it comes across as a bit wet now.

Great to see an Aussie band on here. The music is good, but too many slow ballady songs.

Not bad in the background. ★★★

Singer uses the word ‘blue’ a lot in these songs. The music and the choruses are enticing throughout the album. surprised how many songs I liked. Aussie 1988