Real Life

not bad but wouldnt go out of my way to listen again

The Temptations are a whole ass vibe. Super funky and smooth, and very much about social issues of the time. I like the experimental nature of it too. Not necessarily something I would listen to all the time, but in the right situation it's super cool. I hear a lot of influence of Marvin Gaye in this too.

Bara svona miðlungs

Solid first album, way ahead of it's time for 1979. Some big hits. Some of it sounds like spooky carnival music though.

Second listen cause I had to be sure; yeah punkish vibes Television but it didn't get over the hump of gloriousnessness.

My opinion of this swung wildly throughout the day. I don’t remember hearing these guys before now. It was a little irritating getting started, but by "Motorcade” and "The Light Pours Out of Me,” I wanted to give it another shot. The Buzzcocks lineage isn’t obvious. It sounds way more Bowie meets Roxy Music. I think I like it, maybe a lot? I’ll revisit it soon.

I would have liked this album more if the longer songs had been cut down. It kind of felt self indulgent.

This is a weird one. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, I also didn't think it was just OK. 3 stars

Nothing special. Not offensive, not particulary interesting.

Unique sound, psychedelic with good drums.

This album was pretty fun! Some weird creepy circus vibes going on haha, I enjoyed it but don’t know if I would listen again

Psychedelic punk plus the Cabaret soundtrack-ish? Can't believe I've never even heard of them before. Shot by Both Sides added to Liked

This album would be near perfect but for some reason it chose to jump off a bridge by the end.

There was a part of me as I was thinking about this band that I would get the names mixed up. I would say Television in my head when I meant Magazine. I can see this being an important album as it firmly sits between the Punk and New-Wave genres. While this might sound harsh that it excels in neither of them but was solid all around. A good album for fans of both as you won't be disappointed.

2.9 // punk, but sometimes sounded like clown - carnival music. weird, but honestly didn't hate it

Mid

Yeah I’m somewhat lost with this one. I thought punk was supposed to be the antithesis of prog rock, and yet somehow this seems to bridge both and more. The experimentation and general doing its own thing’ness is enjoyable, but at the same time it’s really hard to love any of it. Shot by both sides, is the only song I fully liked. I feel I should listen some more, but for today it’s a sit on the fence 3*.

Unfortuntely boring, would give 2.5 stars if half ratings were possible.

I appreciate the innovation for the time. Some highlights are early goth sounds and killer bass on 'Motorcade'.

Once I pushed past the opening track (which I didn't care for at all), this album got better as it progressed. I wasn't exactly sure what I was expecting to hear, but I mostly enjoyed whatever the hell this was supposed to be. Post punk? Maybe. New Wave? Not really. Either way, it wasn't bad.

Very Punk sounding but explores more production and instrumentation. Some places refer to this album as New Wave - I’d say it bridges a gap between 70’s Punk and 80’s New Wave. Notable songs include My Tulpa, Shot By Both Sides, Burst, Motorcade, The Light Pours Out of Me.

I see the vision on this one, and to be fair they nearly pulled it off. I just think that a but more polish would have done this album wonders.

Tidigare ohört för mig. Är rätt förtjust i postpunk-eran överlag och här finns absolut en del lyssningsvärt, (My Tulpa, Shot by both sides, Light pours out of me) i synnerhet när det blir mer post än punk. Som helhet höjer det sig inte över genomsnittet i genren.

Not too bad of an album. Lots of post-punk bands can be heard influenced by this one. 3/5 just for that factor. I enjoyed the album but I don't feel a need to hear it more than a few times in my life.

3.5 The first half is incredible. The songs are much stronger than in the second half. I really didn't like the vocalist, but I guess I could get used to him. I guess Barry Adamson is not completely useless after all?

I really like Howard Devoto but this album disappointed me.

Some interesting elements, particularly in the title track, but a little unfocused overall to deliver more than a light 3.

I'm questioning my taste in music a bit and also contemplating on how tastes are formed. I'd be lying if I said that I enjoyed listening to this album. Maybe I was just born too late ('93) any my taste developed differently? Whereas I liked the overall sound of the production, parts of this album genuinely felt repetitive and annoying to me to listen to. I'm sure academically / musically it's an interesting, complex dive but I don't see myself re-listening to this in the future.

An interesting late 70s album from the former Buzzcocks vocalist. Two favorite tracks on first listen were "Definitive Gaze" (the opener) and "The Light Pours Out of Me" (which sounds like a lot of the throwback to this sound indie music from the early 2000s). Some weak tracks, but an interesting listen throughout!

3.5 for me, another album I’ll go back to after this is all over.

++: Definitive Gaze, Shot by Both Sides, Recoil, Burst, The Light Pours Out of Me, Parade +: Motorcade, The Great Beautician in the Sky +-: My Tulpa 7,0/10

Kind of weird, kind of punk, it was ok, I guess. There are too many albums in this project that I cannot figure out why I “have” to listen to them before I die. 2.5 stars.

Initial listen gave me a solid tour of late 70’s punk/post punk scene. Rating a three…I’m way behind on my list, but when I catch up I’m definitely giving this one another listen or two (along with PJ Harvey).

rock-cito

Usually I like punk but I have no idea what this was. It was quite mediocre and boring and drab.

It was oke

Was fun enough, was kinda in the zone with work so didn't standout a lot for me. Will I listen to again: 37%

Thought it was ok post-punk, definitely understand their importance as they are an influence on some of my favorite British bands

British punk rock in this era is kinda wonky to me. I either find it really good and innovative for it's time or straight up not for me. It was both for this album. The first half I liked, the second half was eh. Not bad, but some songs I liked, most I didn't care for too much.

★★★½

Pretty good the whole way through except one bad song.

This might be a 4 in truth…

392/1001

This is hard to review, because I never want to hear this again, but there was nothing notably wrong with it.

It got better as it went along

The album itself is pretty astonishing for 1978. It has great production value that feels timeless, and the band is clearly on the same level with one another. My problem, like with so many post punk/new wave records, is that so much of it is almost instantly forgettable. I know this is pure opinion, but that's my main struggle with the genre; I can't remember any of the damn tunes.

Fun sound and an easy listen.

“The Light Pours Out On Me” is an amazing track.

Not bad, sounds like ADHD hipster stuff.

Never heard this band before, but I quite enjoyed listening this album. Songs are experimental and playful and I like the sinister undertow (both musically and lyrically) of the songs. With good vocals it could actually be really good, but with these vocals, not so much.

Finally someone I've never heard of before again! Very weird and funky tunes happening. I thought it was all instrumental and then the WEIRDEST vocals started. I don't hate it though!!! It's very interesting. Why am I really digging this lol. It's almost surf rock-ish? Almost reminiscent of the B-52s or Talking Heads. The singers voice reminds me of Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah almost. It was good! Better than I expected it to be. I would love if they were a small local band, I feel like they'd be my favorite local band but I don't think their style is my taste overall. Still, Magazine exceeded expectations. The fact that this came out in 2007 and yet retains the sounds of late 1970s and early 1980s is impressive. Good for them for finding what theyre good at and what works and sticking to it.

This was solid

A nice surprise. Good energy. Have to admit the cover made me apprehensive but I got a fair bit of joy, especially the opening 3 or 4 tracks.

the album started strong but fell off for me. I generally enjoy post punk and will definitely listen to this album again. It has the potential to grow on me but won't be a favourite. 3.5/10

3+ Stars (9/15)

It seems like a pasticbe of sounds from different genres but somehow manages to sound like punk.

LOVE / HATE

Real Life was a pretty interesting record, I really liked the post-punk blend with art rock, and there's some pretty interesting ideas in it too. I feel they manage to capture that English post-punk vibe really well, while also keeping the album interesting and mixing ideas. It did feel a bit too long, and there were a couple of forgettable songs. My favourites were "Shot by Both Sides" and "Parade".

Enjoyed… feel like it’s on the list for how it pushed the needle at the time in evolving that genre, good tunes but hard to relate not being there at the time of its initial impact. Potentially revisit.

Never heard this band before. Pretty good sound. More ska than punk. Not impressed enough to listen again.

More complex than most punk which was cool to hear, but probably not something I’d listen to again. The guitar solo on the alternate “shot by both sides” was awesome.

So so

Dave Formula's scooby doo keyboards don't always hit the spot, but there are enough good songs to call this an enjoyable experience!

3.5 stars. Upbeat post-punk debut album led by former Buzzcocks front man. Synth used well with guitar solos. Especially evident in leadoff "Definitive Gaze". Varied sound track to track, seems ahead of it's time (1978).

Full of Indy pop bliss

Punk sound and attitude at a slower, more introspective pace, which I guess is typical post-punk. This is pretty strong with some good guitar. Best song: Burst

Fine?? I think I've listened to this artist before

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 45 Real Life fusion of Television & Joy Division for a unique album offering upon the early days of the post-punk sub genre. This one required multiple listens to resonate with me, which is likely why it’s overlooked among the classics. No immediate standout tracks and the pop hooks are layered beneath a medley of rapid instrumentation. 🎧 Classic Track: Shot by Both Sides 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Recoil 🎧 Personal Favorite: The Light Pours Out of Me It was rather interesting to learn that this album came out right at the onset of the post-punk movement as it’s not nearly as well known with PIL and Joy Division receiving the lions share of the accolades. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Scarily curious Shout out to Barry Adamson on the bass who would later transcend this sound with an extremely unique solo release 10 years late (Moss Side Story which actually eclipses this record!) Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

point9.

Hit and miss album. Enjoyed the new wave more than the punk. Some real duds were the circus themed “The Great Beautician In The Sky” and “Recoil”. A hit was “Shot By Both Sides” which made me actually stop working to check which song it was. It had a really good riff. When the album is at its best if feels quite like “Blondie”. The album art is atrocious though. They got something, I just wish they leaned more in to the new-wave sound. They are also very early with their sound, surprised me it was released in 1978.

it’s pretty good. there were standouts ofc but the album didn’t do all that much for me. maybe itll change if i listen again idk

Haisee heroiinille. Paska laulaja mutta hyvää soittoa

New Band-Album for me. You can definitely hear how they influenced the post-punk, new wave of more accomplished bands over the next 10 years. Overall, it was a good discovery and listen.

no thanks.

Never heard of them before but I can definitely hear the way they influenced new wave and post-punk. It was interesting to hear but it feels a little unpolished. Shot By Both Sides is a great track though

Hey this rocked! Could become a higher rating if I ever remember it exists

never heard of this but it was cool

Artful, angular, and a little too aloof for me. I admire the mood, but didn’t connect with the message.

I can see why people like it, the sound just isn't for me. Only made it about halfway through, to be fair.

This album has a cool, unique sound. Some great guitar pieces, chugging drums, and spacy synths permeate the tracks. And it still had a pretty punk rock soul. I can see why this album could have been influential to a lot of people in the 70s. The synth in the opening track "Definitive Gaze" reminded me almost of old video game music. I thought "Burst" went on a minute or two too long, but then "Motorcade" picks back up with some cool synth and a big tempo swing and guitar solo. Gotta say, I really hated "The Great Beautician In The Sky" though with its deranged circus-ass sound and the grating vocal delivery was just kinda ugh. The standouts for me were "Definitive Gaze," "Shot By Both Sides," "Motorcade" - this gets so frantic and I love it. This was a cool listen from a band I'd never heard of before. In the end it had a couple tracks I really like and a neat vibe, but I think for me it lands in the average 3 star zone of existence. Some highlights, some lowlights, mostly solid.

Some interesting stuff musically. I like the keyboards and synths a lot. I just hate the vocals of this style of music.

train ride to stuttgart

Intriguing music...it's a pretty classic new wave album, although not my favorite. In terms of musicality alone, this album is excellently composed and meticulously produced. Motorcade is a cool song. It is of a high-quality standard that is easily recognizable. However, it is not the kind that I personally prefer. The sounds of the synthesizer are quite pleasant, yet I have no fondness for synthesizers. I can appreciate this album, but I would not claim that it is the one that I would frequently listen to or like. 3.5/5.

Kind of enjoyable. Used to like them back in the day and now they are alright.

Huh. More interesting than other early British punk. Probably won't revisit, though.

Lots of interesting music on this one. 3.0/5.0: Good

Looking back at the albums I had that are labeled under “post punk”, it feels like a mixed genre for me. Outside of Joy Division and one of the Talking Heads albums (it’s not Remain in Light, I didn’t get that album yet. Someday…), I don’t think I’m really a fan. I think that realization came after hearing this album. Truth be told, I can see why some might like it. It’s a fun little romp, being a weird bastard child between punk and new wave. The guitar stuff is really good and it is certainly ahead of its time. But I don’t know, man, I didn’t really get into this one. There’s an ounce of tackiness that make it sound like a Spirit Halloween version of the B-52s. Frankly, I think it comes from the vocals. Punk, from a vocal stand point for me can be mixed. Sometimes I tend to find it annoying and this is one of those cases. It just comes off as a little whiny here. I can respect this album for its influence, and at points, I enjoyed it. But it’s not really my thing. Favorite track: Definitive Gaze Other hits: Burst, Parade, The Light Pours Out Of Me, Shot By Both Sides

new wave legal

3.5/5

It had its moments but never jumped into the “I really enjoy this” category

There is entirely too much New Wave music on this list. I did enjoy the guitar work on this album, but I just can't with the British talk-singing thing that was so popular in that era.

Not my thing but I can respect that it definitely sounds ahead of its time

Completely new to me and I like it!

Not bad. Not good. Just meh.

está bueno, pero siento que no se me quedó tan pegado. aprobado, deberia escucharlo de vuelta.

Really nice early post punk sounds. I really liked it but nothing stood out to me as incredible.

Pretty good! Enjoyable listen, some tasty riffs

definitive gaze- 6 my tulpa- 5 shot by both sides- 5 recoil- 5 burst- 5 motorcade- the great beautician in the sky- the light pours out of me-

Some of this is really weird and interesting. The rest is forgettable.

This is a really interesting album -- a mix of genres (punk, rock, some quieter songs) and tempos. I'm not dying to listen to it again, but I wouldn't mind if I had to. (Tim would give it 2.5 stars.)

Lots of things to love about this record.

This was a new one for me. Post punk and new-wave type stuff has never been my forte but I kinda like what the instruments are doing here. They use lots of good sounds from the keyboards, and the drums especially here are very nice. I just don't understand why it feels like bands like this have to have whiny singers. I know it's "punk" but just actually sing. Other than that this was good, but not spectacular. Favorite Song: Motorcade Least Favorite Song: Definitive Gaze

Kind of a fun late-70s sound, anticipating groups like Shriekback from a few years later (though not nearly as hard rock as that example).

РИП ИТ АП. ЭНД СТАРТ ЭГЭН! Лучшая песня - Shot By Both Sides.

I need to give this a few more listens to come to a conclusion 🤔

Really wanted to click with this more, given the huge praise this gets from Johnny Greenwood and how influential they are on Radiohead. Maybe it will after a few more listens. 5 stars for the artwork though

Really enjoyed this

Enjoyed this. I say this a lot about this genre but this sounds a long way ahead of its time. Id never heard of these at all but they were clearly influential reading up on them. Probably not enough for me to keep coming back, but good nonetheless. Strong 3.5

Had never heard of magazine I don't think although I think I recognised "the light pours out of me". Probably the best track too. I did think this was alright, but didn't fully grab me. 3

Not quite punk, not quite rock. But it still doesn’t capture me.

A little too much energy for me

Average album. The voice is grating sometime. The major part of the album is forgettable but I kind of enjoyed it. Would revisit it in the future The light pours out of me

Alkupuolella vallan meneviä biisejä, on oikeasti mietitte melodiat ja kirjoitettu lähes popia. Ja täällähän oli Syksy etsii mua! B-puolella annetaan mennä kunnolla gootiksi, biisien imu kyllä valitettavasti katoaa.

Perfectly fine sneery art punk

So much good and interesting happening in this album. I can't explain why I don't love it. I enjoy the band so much and I don't hate the vocals but something in the vibe just isn't quite my sweet spot. A little more fun, a little less swagger, I don't know, some little tweak and this would be a new fave. I do think it should be on this list and I'm not sorry about the time I spent with it.

Niet megabijzonder, maar opzich wel lekker. Would listen again.

The experience of listening to this album was like being tied to a chair and forced to witness some sort of macabre circus act. Every track somehow gave evil carnie, and that's not a wholly bad thing. I liked the bass lines, and I bounced around between a four and a three, but I'm giving it a three because it didn't hold me for the entire hour, and the vocals were too slurry for me to make out. They were just on the edge of comprehension, and that annoyed me.

Ok, but not my first or second choice.

This is decent but possibly only because I generally dig post-punk. There are a couple of standout tracks among several forgettable ones.

Solid punk album, I think the first 3rd could have been cut, it was a bit long with not a ton of variety, but I think the back 2/3rds were solid.

Circusy feel

fine but forgettable

That's not my taste in music - But ok

Solid album new wave and punk elements

It's fine, but I feel like the author's UK bias really shows in a LOT of the albums he picked for this list. I have no idea why this would be considered a must-listen to album, especially with entire genres of music missing or wildly underrepresented from the entire list.

It was ok

Favorite Track: Shot By Both Sides

2.7 2x 2007 digital remaster 55m

Shot By Both Sides //

A little bit Bowie-ish, I think.

Decent

Totally listenable

This did literally nothing for me. As generic as it comes.

Real cool album. Quality songs all around.

3.5

Not terrible and entertaining at times. 2.5

Real good

Real Life starts out pretty punky and transitions to something more synthy and atmospheric almost on Side 2. Shot By Both Sides and The Light Pours Out Of Me are perfect example of the difference and also highlights. This deserves more listens. 7.4/10

New wave. Ni fu ni fa.

Not bad. I wouldn't exactly call it a world changer, but it doesn't make me throw things.

These English bands all sound the same to me

I did not expect this to end with a cover of Goldfinger. Sure, why not, I guess?

Really good but not great

Fine but redundant and a copy of everything from late 60s/early 70s UK

Some good so far I would skip if they came on; wouldn't put any on a playlist though

I've been struggling recently to keep up with all the albums. Life has fully taken over dominating my free time and I haven't been able to give these albums the proper listen they deserve. I've definitely struggled to be a good active listener recently, and it shows with this one. I didn't remember a lot about this album when I sat down to write this review. I was ready to assume that was because it was forgettable and I was going to say some snarky things about that and call it a day. But when I literally saw my opinion of Roxy Music's "For Your Pleasure" evolve from the start of my review of it to its end, I figured I had to give this another shot. I didn't relisten to the entire thing (I have two more reviews to catch up on after this one), but I gave enough of it a second chance to form a refreshed opinion. This is great. Great energy, awesome bass lines, horns(!), and just a fun punky/new wave sound that really grabs your attention and keeps it. I don't know how I could've had a middling opinion of this one with even a passive listen. I must've been really focused on work or something. There's an air of mystery or just weirdness around the whole thing at times, which really adds to the intrigue of the experience. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Some of the songs overstay their welcome a little, but on the whole it feels timed out pretty well. I dunno. I have a weird opinion here where I really like some of this and would just skip some of the tracks outright. I think what holds it back for me is the fact that the singer's voice is, at times, so aggressively British that I just cannot deal. Three stars, I guess. Standout Tracks: Definitive Gaze, My Tulpa, Shot by Both Sides, Recoil, Motorcade, The Light Pours Out of Me

Was expecting something terrible when I saw Barry Adamson's involvement. But this was actually alright. Not great, probably won't listen again, but still a solid 3.

Billy Idol took some notes from these guys. And then made it better.

80s written all over it. It doesn’t hold hold up well. It’s a bit theatrical for me, but there’s some new stuff that at least holds my attention for a few minutes.

Tout ces albums proto-punk/new wave finissent par tous se ressembler, je me souviens de rien pour être honnête

Impressive stuff honestly

Found this a little mediocre for the most part, but there are a few interesting songs (Burst, Motorcade, and The Light Pours out of Me) that signal a big shift from early punk to Post-Punk.

Very very interesting sound.....need more listens....

Fine.

Unknown to me. Unremarkable to me. A fine sound, but Unremarkable. Except that it has sax. That's always a plus.

Don’t believe I’ve heard them before. Similar to Television

Wild and bombastic. late 70s sound with mega plate reverb on all the vocals and some inexplicably vibrato-ey synths.

A mash up of sounds

Kind of punky

The Light Pours Out Of Me is a great song. Rest is ok 3/5

This was a fun one. I think I this one would grow on me with repeated plays. So far, a strong 3 - had me excited to hear the next track throughout.

Another late 70s/early 80s English band. Ok, but not particularly memorable.

While I think it's a well made album, there aren't a lot of standouts here for me. The songs sound very safe for the most part and don't try anything too crazy, which I feel is a big part of success in this genre. Favorites were My Tulpa and My Mind Ain't So Open

Good overall but can get a little grating in one sitting. Perhaps a victim of this challenge and didn't get as much attention as it deserved.

It isn't art and it isn't mainstream meh

Meh... for some reason it sounds a bit older than when it was actually recorded. I mean it's not horrible but a bit samey. It's sometimes difficult to tell when one song ends and the next starts

Ok

Fine but a little dull after a few tracks.

Cool post punk album would listen again

An album i have no knowledge of - pretty good on first listen , similar vibe to the Stranglers, going to give it another go. first five tracks - great, but less keen on the more punky mid tracks and the cover of goldfinger !

I’m’a bit bored of this

Parit hyvät rallit, mutta sen ohella kosolti mielenkiinnotonta ääntä. Pitänee kuunnella vielä ajan kanssa toistamiseen.

Another brit post-punk/pre-new wave band. Nothing new here but I do like the Clash-esque vocals and the synth beats.

Art rock/post punk record with several great tracks.

Okay album

Musically a 5. Vocals drop it down quite a bit.

Good album. Reminded me a bit of Devi

This is a good example of an early post punk album. You can see the beginnings of 80's rock in here with some of the riffs and melodies. It sounds a bit like if David Bowie was more average, or if the Clash were less punk. It's good, but it's not very unique The mastering and production is great; I liked the guitar tones and levels especially. It's front and center without taking over. The bass is clear and punctuated, the drums are even and the cymbals aren't overbearing. "Shot by Both Sides" is the best track on here, it sounds like a faster and tighter Clash song, which I like. I also enjoyed "Recoil". In general the faster and more aggressive the song was, the better it sounded. On the other end I don't need literal circus music on "The Great Beautician in the Sky" at all, ever. The final track, "Parade" was also a bit of a stinker. An average album with some highlights and some turds. Good enough!

Ok british punk-ish

One of the very first post punk records. Witty and tuneful.

Really struggled with this one. Others clearly love this but I'm not sure I feel the same - maybe because I'm not super in to art rock. Maybe on future listens

meh

Pretty full-on '80s, no? Especially for a '78 release date. It sounds more like bands one would come to like (Jazz Butcher, anyone?) than a band one actually likes. And let's be honest, they didn't exactly work out to be Talking Heads or, for that matter, Television. One likes the edgy, driving guitars  – which even seem to chime on "Definitive Gaze;" but things a get a bit too synthy at time and they put a bit too much weight on the songs – too many tempo changes (see the otherwise interesting and likable "Beautician") and perhaps too long. The artier they go, the clunkier it gets (see synths and sax on closer), which is another way they predicted New Wave. "Burst" certainly engages and "Motorcade" (before it speeds up unpleasantly and then slows down a again) seems to foreshadow about 10 different bands that were just round the corner. But lots else are less impactful. Seems as if they were of two minds and neither the punkier thrashers nor the artier-synthier cuts fullly come off. A for effort (especialy in terms of trying to lighten up punk a bit) and or exerting a positive influence on so much good music to come. B-/C+ for effect. They knew what they were doing, but maybe they needed the '80s as much as the '80s needed them. Bottom line: Television is better than Magazine.

I had never heard of this band before pulling this album, but wow. This is a very cool era of music, and a wonderful composition. Kinda seems Bowie-ish? Definitely a gateway into the 80s era of music. This probably isn't going in my rotation but I do have a lot of respect for this record.

This wasn’t bad. Not something I’d put on again, but didn’t hate it.

Context is important. I'm sure that in 1978, Real Life was a wildly innovative record. In 2024, it sounds like a very average post-punk album. The addition of keyboard is both interesting and mildly jarring. The music is perfectly serviceable. But I don't think I'll be revisiting the album anytime soon.

I feel like I should like this more than I do. It's okay.

Reminds me a bit of The Buzzcocks. Some pretty interesting musical sections that on their own are fantastic. Vocals at times fit and other times don’t. Pretty mixed about this one as there were bits that I really enjoyed and bits that just fell flat. 5/10

Fascinating

It seems to be a huge influence on post Punk so it gets 3 from me. However, it didn't really stand out and it had that very typical post Punk voice

3-4

An average post-punk album with some great bits. "Motorcade" is my favourite track. Some songs are a bit generic. The bonus tracks are boring (They don't count). There's nothing to really write about this album. 3 stars for "Real Life".

This was an interesting listen. I'm glad I didn't turn it off with the first bits of synth started in Definitive Gaze. I could hear where some new wave groups would have picked up from them. I was not surprised when Bauhaus started playing right after the final song.

Interesting but not really for me

Glam rock a la bowie t.rex, and definitely punk and new wave.

Not a bad, not bad indeed

Very enjoyable. Had never come across this before. 3.5

Post punk gem. Lots of synths before they became popular

3+

Some sound design choices that are maybe a bit quaint by today’s standards. Had to suspend some 2024 belief to get down with it. But get down with it I did.

Never heard of them before. Pleasantly surprised. Hardly a groundbreaking sound but I quite enjoyed it.

okay

Fine. Don’t see the post-punk label much.

It's nice to discover a band like this that I knew literally nothing about beforehand. Nearly every single 'post punk' album on here I've actively disliked, but this one hits for sure. It's actually cohesive, and the kind of post-punk mania generally works in its favour. I definitely really like the music on here, across the whole album. I like all the different instruments. I like the weird sci-fi synths in particular. I like the energy and drive of the music itself. I'm not a fan of the singing though. Shot By Both Sides is great. Really nice driving rhythms and guitar in there. 3.5 rounded down.

More than many other

Interesting album Standout songs: Shot by both sides Motorcade My mind aint so open

Curious. Not unlike Black Grape.

It's giving post-punk Bowie with a Manchester accent, a little bit. Considering when this came out, it's absolutely a pioneering record. So while I'm impressed with this album to some extent, it didn't move me personally. It could be one that warrants revisiting in the future. I am curious about the rest of Magazine's work; I feel like they could be a good surrogate for The Smiths. Highlights: Shot By Both Sides, Motorcade, The Light Pours Out Of Me

I never wondered what Buzzcocks would sound like without Pete Shelley but now I know.

Ok. Reminded me of very early Cure albums

soft 3 but cant be a 2. was fine, one song had a riff that sounds just like the bruins goal simplified.

They've got a nice sound but can't sustain it for an album

This was an interesting listen. They have a very distinct sound, but I found them oddly similar to the Echo And The Bunnymen album from yesterday. Not really my cup of tea, but a neat vibe. Three stars.

I enjoyed this but I'm not sure I'd listen to it again??

in 5001 maybe

british people :(

Quite liked that. Punky yet melodic and not too whiny

Album 355 of 1001 Magazine - Real Life Rating : 3 / 5 Meh. A good solid 3. Wasn't a waste of my time but probably won't think about it again.

never heard of them before. It's interesting... clean catchy riffs. vocal style is very dated at this point so not something I am likely to listen to again. Would be super interesting to hear Dexter Holland from The Offspring sing vocals in a modern remake. Listen to "Shot By Both Sides" and tell me that couldn't be an Offspring song...

Techno new wave vs post punk. It was ok but not exceptional.

A surprising one. I did not have high hopes when I saw the cover, the year and the genre. The art work is ugly so I was expecting the music to be equally unskilled and unpleasant. But no, they’ve got chops and it kind of drifts around the genres: punk/prog/goth/grunge. First listen I was considering a 5, mainly as a way of book marking it to revisit latter, but no, it’s not that amazing. But then I realised, I don’t really like punk or prog or goth or grunge and while this is much better than I was anticipating, it’s still not anything I’d want to listen to by choice. An interesting discovery though.

Pretty good post-punk album.

Cool. 3 stars

burst

It's OK

good. 66/100

Moderately interesting.

This was some kooky sounding music that had me thinking of the Munsters theme song lol. Overall it was ok.

No idea. Oh. I remember the principle lick in DEFINITIVE GAZE. I guess you could say this is a precursor of electronic pop. So far, I'd rather be listening to Thomas Dolby (SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE; ONE OF OUR SUBMARINES IS MISSING). Right now, song #2, MY TULPA, this is looking at ⭐⭐. The lyric "You can touch yourself any time" makes me want to go play the Tubes' DON'T TOUCH ME THERE. Vocals are punk-ish on SHOT BY BOTH SIDES, with excellent drum and guitar. Seems to have evolved into a more punk-ish album than I initially thought. [So I just learned that this is "post-punk". Meh.] Apparently, this album was influential to several bands I sorta like, so while I don't love any songs, the fact of its influence plus the excellent drums and guitar, I'll give it a reluctant ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 43 🎧 LPs left to review: 958 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 10 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Interesting new wave music. Joy Division style music alongside straight punk albeit musical. Clash-style unattractive singing. A good stepping stone from Buzzcocks forward.

I hadn't heard this so came to it fresh. I thought it was fine, but it's not my bag. It reminded me of The Strangers that my mum used to play to me as a kid

Best post punk album I've listened to on this list so far... Still never listen to it again

it's pretty fun but didn't stand out to me that much

Hadn't heard of the album nor band, I quite liked the melodies and progressions - especially on Shot By Both Sides. Probably not an album I'd listen to again, but enjoyed it enough for its 40 minute runtime.

So so

Standard post punk type gear. Unlikely to be played again by choice.

A kind of kooky bit of punk, post-punk, rock, pop - never heard of this but I had moments of enjoyment.

Pois aprobado pero non me gustou tantísimo, tamén bastante tranquilito.

Gold finger by far the worst part of this album. Otherwise, not bad.

I did this one a disservice as I got busy and listened to it over multiple days..may have been a 4

This is a weird one for me. It's not fitting anything in my frame of reference, and initally I was thinking there were a lot of much more memorable things that came out in 1978 (Elvis Costello, Police, Cars, Van Halen). I'm not a fan of Devoto's voice. It's kind of arty in a quirky talking heads way but then there are bursts of these catchy hooks, but some parts have a gothy feel to it. The sound was starting to grow on me towards the end. I may need to revisit this later and see how I'm feeling about it. Shot By Both Sides and The Light Pours Out of Me are the standout tunes for me.

This is a real unique sound, definitely one to hear before I died. I had to give it a few listens, I felt something amazing just around the corner that I just want getting at first. Unfortunately it never happened. This is good, but didn't reach my heart. Thanks though.

Bridge between and or a mish mash of krautrock, 70s punk, some 80s rock, feels like it came at a turning point. Didn't enjoy it much, but interesting to hear.

I really wasn’t feeling this at first, but this is one of the few albums I’ve had so far on this list that actually picks up in the second half. “Shot By Both Sides,” “Motorcade” (the mid-song transition is fantastic), and “The Great Beautician In The Sky” are the standout tracks. Just an okay album overall, but a few really good songs here.

Does Post-Punk just mean the songs are catchy, energetic hooks, are purposely less polished and less abrasive than traditional Punk but still sung with a punk’s sneer? Possibly. If so, Magazine got the memo. But anyone listening in 1978 might still categorize this as Punk Rock—whatever all those genre terms mean. Maybe the keyboards move it closer to New Wave, farther away from Punk, and that’s why it sounds like a gateway to the ‘80s and what’s to come. “Definitive Gaze” and “Shot by Both Sides” are immediate standouts, and the rest is capably done though not a catchy. Never heard them on American radio back in the day, and they probably deserved more attention listening with fresh ears today.

5/10 Too many muso rock albums on this list! But I liked it more than some of the previous ones. Yes, the 70s influences it took were not my favourite - too much noodling and pomposity - but you could definitely hear they knew where the sound was going. Some of the music was excellent and they could really deliver a melody when they wanted to. Bits reminded me of The Stranglers & OMD. Best: The Light Pours Out Of Me

Weird shit

слишком заунывно, не

Experimental post-punk. Pretty decent but not outstanding.

Sounded a bit rough at first. Some decent tracks.

I liked it

This is a very unique album. I would not say this would be popular in the mainstream. However, this would be a good gaming opportunity if you’re just lounging in your room or doing art.

To be honest, I liked the vibe here but I could not keep my ears on it. It seems a lot like something I'd like and I'm down with that album cover, but it never got it's hooks into me.

Plucky little album, isn't it? I've heard "Shot by Both Sides" before and I can't tell you where. My guess is that it's in a movie. At any rate, that song is indicative of the others in that I frequently love the music here, but don't as frequently love the vocals. (That's the trend of the week, it seems.) That said, this cover of "Goldfinger" is the shit. Worth a star on its own.

sounded sort of interesting, maybe didn’t give it a fair listen

Easily a 4 with a better singer.

Almost good. Horns and keyboards ruin it.

Definitely a fun and punchy post punk/new wave record. I had never heard of this band, though there was definitely a vague familiarity to them. Certainly probably a likely far reaching influence I was just not aware of. Good listen for sure.

Artistic punk is not what I expected from today's pick, but it's refreshing and something unusual.

agréablement surpris. nice petit album post punk 7/10

December 9, 2023 First time listening to Magazine. Enjoyed this one.

This is pretty good for what it is, but it is not really a style that appeals to me very much, and especially the expressive but ugly vocals put me off.

Some pretty interesting guitar riffs in the songs

That was a pleasant surprise, full of unexpected detail. I'd never heard of Magazine, will probably listen to this album again.

Fun punkish listen, enjoyed more than expected

It was decent. I liked the style overall, but some of the synth sounds put me off, as did the singers delivery. When I try to think of other bands in this genre, The Quick comes to mind. I know they are more punk than this, but I just find them way more charming.

British post-punk. Whatever you’re thinking this sounds like, you’re right.

Está claro que es un album que inspiró a muchos después, no solo contemporáneos ya que a veces suena como si fuera parte de Britpop invasion. Shot by both sides, The great beautician y The light pours out of me.

Shot by both side

Semi interesting Art Rock. Listen once and forget.

Never heard of this. Interesting post punk/new wave rock

I like: Definitive Gaze The Great Beautician In The Sky

I was expecting nothing from this album and it ends up being very fun and enjoyable. +1 on my list of artists I never heard about and discovered through the 1001 list.

Background music, not enough energy

Is this the creepiest album cover yet? It just might be. Friday the 13th and this is giving me the willies. But what's actually hiding within? Oh okay, this is a quirky little oddball delight. I don't mind it at all! I respect the bizarre, I appreciate the offbeat. This is a groovy little gem.

2.5

Not my type of thing

No one song stood out to me.

Meh.

Good!

I really wanted to like this more than I did. With John Leckie producing and John McGeoch on guitar who influenced the likes of Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, John Frusciante and Robert Smith. It left me a bit cold though. Genuinely disappointed

Blev glatt förvånad, utifrån bilden trodde jag det skulle vara bajs men det var bra. Favorit låt: Definitive gaze

Bra lite konstigt album, allt låt rätt samma, men favorit va kanske Burst

Interesting post punk off shook from the Buzzcocks that is remarkablely flamboyant at times.

Decent rock! The singing is a bit too out there for me.

Didn't really stick with me.

Geinige vrolijke muziek. Ik vind het leuk om te luisteren. ***

Mostly a bit oddball but fine. 3.5

Didn’t mind that at all. Quite listenable so 3*

Enjoyed that. Probably just under a 4 star though...

sounds like the influence for violent femmes or stranglers. enjoyed it, not certain how many times I would relisten

Good punk with some truly interesting experimentation with non-traditional instruments for the genre

I liked this pretty well, appreciated the wierdness and the bridge to much new wave and alt-rock. Fair dose of that British alternative male vocalist thing, a little of which goes a long way for me.

I wanted to like this more than I did, its perfectly fine, just nothing really special

The middle got a bit bogged down with filler, but the start and ending were pretty good. I do like to think I like post-punk but it might just be the self indulgence I gravitate to rather than the actual music.

I thought at first this album would be quite bad, the first few songs really weren't good but once you get to Burst and Motorcade it picks up a little and those are good songs. It's a very unique sounding album I suppose for better and for worse but I thought Shot by both Sides was really strong. Give it a listen why not.

Not really sure what to think of this one. I liked it enough but there wasn't any songs that jumped out at me (although the cover of Goldfinger at the end caught me by surprise). But would listen again!

Historically interesting as an a link between punk and new wave. but I didn’t find the music very compelling. Fine but not outstanding.

A little middling. I didn’t hear anything super bold, but it was one that I think could grow on me.

Definitely something going on in this album that is better than I can appreciate. Feel like I need to listen to this a few more times to give it a fair rating but for now I'm just giving it an average score.