Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

“Searching for the Young Soul Rebels” by Dexys Midnight Runners (1980) “Dexys” is a term that apparently refers to kids in northern England who were recreational users of dextroamphetamine in the late 70s and early 80s. They wanted to stay awake all night to dance energetically, I suppose. I recently read somewhere that during the WWII Battle of Britain (July-October 1940) the British RAF aircrews used dextroamphetamine (Benzedrine), while German Luftwaffe aircrews used methamphetamine (Pervitin). Everybody stayed high during the flights and the fights. But since dextroamphetamine leaves the system faster than methamphetamine, RAF crews could sleep the next day, but Luftwaffe crews could not. The result was long term German fatigue. If it had been the other way around, the title of this album might have been “Auf der Suche nach den jungen Seelenrebellen”. The photo on the cover art depicts an Irish Roman Catholic boy being forced from his Belfast home in 1971. These bits of background have significant explanatory power for one seeking to understand the creative impetus behind “Searching for the Young Soul Rebels”. You don’t have to search very far for the rebels. They’re the ones making the music, along with all serious listeners. And the music is a call for the hesitant fence-sitting warrior to get his ass back in the fight for the long term. The best poetry in these Kevin Rowland lyrics comes to the listener in the imperative mood—anger on uppers. In “Keep It”, he scolds: “You give credit for might, inspiration and sight But you miss the point You won't join the fight . . . You hear the sounds, miss all the hooks Your best is what you least understand You hate the graft, won't join the race You're scared to scar your pretty face Safe now cause your head is in the sand”. Okay, Kevin, you’ve got my attention. Now what? Your best is what I least understand. Help me, here, dude. Well, on “There There My Dear”, we get “You're always so happy, how the hell? You're like a dumb dumb patriot . . . You're supposed to be so angry, why not fight?” Alright, then give me a weapon and point me in the right direction. Crickets. I personally wish he had been more explicit and less obscurely referential about what the hell we’re supposed to be fighting for, or even who the enemy is. But he apparently wasn’t writing for boomers raised in the Midwest U.S. (like me). This does not, however, diminish the art. It appeals to rebellious old guys with young souls. I can attest. Spoken poetry on “Love Part One” is angrily potent, demanding a second listen. And a third . . . It’s good. The sound throughout most of this album is refreshingly dominated by trombone of all things, ably performed by “Big” Jim Patterson (with significant use of dubbing, to good effect) and saxophones by Jeff Blythe and Babyface Spooner (Love that handle!). Added to this are the very musical bass lines by Pete Williams, resulting in a very attractive mix. Vocals are uniformly bad. Don’t even get me started. This album isn’t for everyone, which is fine by me. But it’s very good. I am so pissed, and I don’t even know why. And finally, don’t do drugs, kids (unless you’re hurtling through home skies at 350 mph in a single engine Spitfire defending western civilization from the horrors of fascism—then we might make an exception). 4/5

One I've not listened to before. Always heard praise for them but just thought of them as one hit wonders with "Come on Eileen" and kind of dismissed them. Love the way it starts with dialing through the radio. I'd bet this was a real fun live show to catch back around when this record came out. Ambitious punks trying to get soulful. Walking a fine line between earnestness and irony but it sure sounds like they are having a good time doing it. I think my favorite thing on the record is the verses on "thankfully not living in yorkshire..." (But not necessarily the choruses). Probably my favorite whole track is "tell me when my light turns green." I'd bet if I was really fucking drunk I'd love this.

God awful vocal style shits all over a clearly talented band. Why you'd throw a microphone at a guy having a stroke rather than ring 999 is beyond me.

Come off it Eileen

There is something simply uplifting and joyous about Dexys - the exuberance, the horns, a bit of ska, a bit of northern soul, a bit of blues, a bit of chanting, a bit of foot stomping - and a charming sincerity from Rowlands. Imaging them in their pomp, 14 band members prowling the stage, smashing out the tunes, playing soul covers… I bet their gigs were legendary. Geno is an absolute monster (and as a side note, I listened to Geno Washington for the first time and boy let me tell you that cleared out the cobwebs!). Fast, furious, infectious.

Love the little nudge to the specials at the start. Definitely a very good album with a nice touch with all the horns. Love the ska vibes it gives off

I'm on record as being morally opposed to any "rock" band with a horn section. That comes into play here as every damn song is horn driven. I'm so sick of saxophones. Also, blue-eyed soul is just the worst. The. Worst. In short, this album was a trial to listen to and I didn't enjoy my time.

The BRASS. Gotta love brass in a band. Most of the lyrics sailed right past my ears, but I enjoyed every song on the album with brass

I can't pin point what it is, but there's just something special in this album. The ska and Talking Heads vibes, the talent of these young musicians, the general "mood". I don't know why, but this whole album filled me up with overwhelming joy.

I was not expecting long songs for this punkish album, but it's not bad. I must say that I love it much more than I tough and I'll surely listen to it many more times in the future. A great point to this list. I like it very much when I discover new things around here!

p451. 1980. 3 stars. The good: fabulous brass section and a handful of good songs. The bad: Kevin Rowland's vocals. He can't sing and he has the worst articulation ever. It speaks volumes (unlike Kevin Rowland) that Spotify doesn't know most of the lyrics to the songs, probably because no-one can understand WTF he is saying.

I don’t really care for this radio station very much.

This is pretty insufferable. When I started to think they might have something musically, the whiny vocals would kick in and ruin it.

4.3 - An intoxicating energy that seems to jump off the wax. For me, Dexys is no longer the "Come on Eileen band." I love the husky brass fills coupled with Kevin Rowland's idiosyncratic vocals. I'm also fascinated by its milieu within the northern soul scene. Lots of bops on here, including "Geno", "Seven Days Too Long" and "I Couldn't Help It If I Tried."

This was a grower. I guess you have to be in the right mood, as Kevin Rowland can be quite annoying. But it's very catchy, soulful, lots of horns.

Totally melodramatic but sort of leaning into it, I like it??? The crooning vocals are so hamfisted but it sounds fun. I love the punk element. It's like punk D'Sievers. Like, this live would be a fun time with friends. I didn't know these guys were the ones who did "Come on Eileen" which is a banger. I agree with Jon that "Tell Me When My Light Turns Green" might be my fav, along with Geno. I'd prob give it a 3.5 but I'll round up to 4.

L'album est bon mais une fois de plus la voix dégueulasse de Kevin Rowland à mi-chemin entre une poule en panique et un Jeff Buckley constipé vient gâcher la fête.

Groovy tunes, pretty catchy at parts but even 39 min is long for it 3.3

While I share Kevin Rowland's love of soul music, Dexys Midnight Runners are really only compelling if you have never heard _actual_ soul music before. The horn arrangement are hamfisted and Rowland's vocals are idiosyncratic at best and appallingly affected at worst, a kind of gargled sobbing. Apparently, he chose to sing like that on purpose. These faults are especially pronounced on the ballads, which are embarrassingly bad. As I am writing, I am listening to Rowland's terrible vocal improvisations at the end of "I couldn't help it if I tried" (from 2:45 onwards) -- I don't know how anyone could defend that with a straight face. It's just bad. I can see how the English obsession with Northern Soul would make the early Dexys tours a popular live act, given that nobody else was really doing anything like this. I occasionally DJ at a Northern Soul night, and "Geno" always gets a strong response when played. It's the best tune they ever released. But I do not understand why all three Dexys albums are on this list; the first two are just tolerable, and the third is appalling rubbish. This is another example of Dimery's obsession with English white boys producing inferior imitations of black music, while denying us the opportunity to listen to the real thing. 2 stars

I am a little baffled as to why this band has 3 albums on the list. I found this album to be a little tiresome.

The only thing special about these guys is that in 1982 they were somehow able to chart the most vile and disgusting song in pop music (Cum on Eileen). This album was absolutely wretched. The album title indicates there'd be soul on this one. I didn't hear any soul, but I did hear calamitous horns. Lot's of brass, actually. Saxophones(?), trombones(?), trumpets(?)... I'm not sure, all I know is that horns blow and so did this album.

One of the most interesting additions to the new wave canon. Dexys blend the style of punky new wave that was popular in the UK with 60s/70s American black soul and a hint of old mod music, the end result is a very fun and danceable album. It may not have a standout hit like Too Rye Aye (although I guess Geno could count), but makes up for it with consistency. Shout out to Seven Days Too Long, white British artists covering an old American soul song is always a risky move, but I think this version fits with the album well, and is also an improvement on the original.

This album exceeded every expectation I had for it. Like most, I assume, the only song I knew by Dexys Midnight Runners was "Come on Eileen." I was pleasantly surprised by that song's absence from this album. I love that song, but one complaint I've had with this list is that it seems like if an album contains a massive hit, it makes it on this list even if the rest of the album doesn't compare (see: "Hunting High and Low" by a-ha). So when I saw that their biggest hit wasn't part of this album, I was excited and relieved. And they didn't disappoint. I had no idea that the band used horns and other wind instruments so extensively in their arrangements. And I loved it. I'm a huge sucker for use of wind instruments in rock and pop music, and when I heard them on the very first track, I was in. And I stayed in through 95% of this album. Track after track was just banger after banger. The only duds I'd make note of were "I Couldn't Help it if I Tried" and "Keep It." The Brit-Pop voice really come out in those tracks, and I just cannot stand the whiny, annoying texture to it. Oh and "I'm Just Looking" because the whispering at the start made me uncomfortable. The instrumentals were great throughout though, including the songs I didn't like as much because of the vocals. Overall I really enjoyed this album and am really happy to be giving it five stars. Standout Tracks: Burn It Down, Tell Me When My Light Turns Green, The Teams That Meet In Caffs, Geno, Seven Days Too Long, Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply, There There My Dear

### **In-Depth Review of "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" by Dexys Midnight Runners** Released in 1980, "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" marks the debut of Dexys Midnight Runners, a band led by the enigmatic Kevin Rowland. This album captures the zeitgeist of the post-punk era with a unique blend of soul, punk, and brass-driven pop, establishing Dexys as a distinctive force in the music scene. In this review, we will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. #### **Lyrics** Kevin Rowland's lyrics are a cornerstone of the album, brimming with passion, introspection, and a sense of defiance. The songs tackle themes of youth, identity, and social issues with a raw and unfiltered intensity. **Key Tracks and Lyric Analysis:** 1. **"Burn It Down"**: This opening track sets the tone with its urgent plea for authenticity and rejection of superficiality. The lyrics "I don't care if you're young or old, let's burn it down" encapsulate the rebellious spirit of the album. 2. **"Tell Me When My Light Turns Green"**: Rowland's introspective side shines through in this song, reflecting on personal struggle and the search for direction. The repeated line "I'm so confused and full of fear" conveys vulnerability and a yearning for clarity. 3. **"Geno"**: A tribute to soul singer Geno Washington, this track celebrates musical inspiration and the impact of role models. The lyrics "You were my torch / Now I wanna be like you" highlight the admiration and aspiration that drive young musicians. 4. **"There, There, My Dear"**: This song is a scathing critique of the music industry and phoniness. Rowland's sharp wit is evident in lines like "You must be joking, oh man, you must be joking." The album's lyrical content is a mix of personal reflection and social commentary, delivered with a poetic yet direct approach. Rowland's emotive delivery adds an additional layer of sincerity and urgency to the words. #### **Music** Musically, "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" is a vibrant fusion of genres, primarily characterized by its brass arrangements, soul influences, and punk energy. The band employs a variety of instruments, creating a rich and dynamic sound. **Instrumentation and Arrangements:** 1. **Brass Section**: The prominent use of brass instruments, including saxophones and trombones, gives the album its distinctive sound. Tracks like "Burn It Down" and "Geno" showcase the brass section's ability to drive the melody and add a punchy, rhythmic element. 2. **Rhythm Section**: The bass and drums provide a solid foundation, propelling the songs with infectious grooves. The rhythm section's tight, energetic performance is crucial in maintaining the album's momentum. 3. **Melodic Hooks**: The album is filled with catchy hooks and memorable melodies. Songs like "Seven Days Too Long" and "Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply" demonstrate the band's knack for crafting sing-along choruses. 4. **Vocal Delivery**: Kevin Rowland's vocal style is impassioned and raw, often teetering on the edge of control. His delivery adds an element of emotional intensity, making each song feel deeply personal. The music on this album stands out for its eclecticism and the seamless blending of different influences, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking. #### **Production** Produced by Pete Wingfield, the album's production is both polished and gritty, capturing the band's energetic performance while allowing the rawness of the music to shine through. The production choices reflect the era's DIY ethic, with a focus on authenticity and immediacy. **Production Highlights:** 1. **Live Feel**: The production captures the feel of a live performance, with an emphasis on the interplay between the instruments. This approach lends the album a sense of spontaneity and vibrancy. 2. **Balanced Mix**: The mix is well-balanced, ensuring that each instrument is clearly audible without overpowering the others. The brass section, in particular, is given prominence without overshadowing the vocals or rhythm section. 3. **Sound Quality**: While the sound quality reflects the limitations of the time, it also adds to the album's charm. The slight roughness and imperfections contribute to the overall authenticity and character of the music. 4. **Use of Dynamics**: The production effectively uses dynamics to enhance the emotional impact of the songs. Quiet introspective moments are juxtaposed with explosive choruses, creating a sense of drama and intensity. #### **Themes** The themes explored in "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" are deeply rooted in the experiences and struggles of youth. The album delves into topics such as identity, rebellion, social consciousness, and the power of music as a form of expression and escape. **Core Themes:** 1. **Rebellion and Authenticity**: The album's title itself hints at a quest for genuine expression and a rejection of conformity. This theme is prevalent in songs like "Burn It Down" and "There, There, My Dear." 2. **Youthful Idealism**: Many of the tracks reflect a sense of youthful idealism and the search for meaning. This is evident in "Tell Me When My Light Turns Green," where the protagonist grapples with uncertainty and the desire for direction. 3. **Social Commentary**: Rowland's lyrics often touch on social issues and critique the status quo. "There, There, My Dear" is a prime example, with its pointed criticism of the music industry and societal expectations. 4. **Musical Inspiration**: The influence of soul music is a recurring theme, particularly in "Geno," which pays homage to the impact of musical idols. This theme underscores the idea of music as a transformative and inspirational force. #### **Influence** "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" left a significant mark on the music landscape, influencing both contemporaries and future generations of musicians. Its fusion of genres and innovative use of brass instruments set it apart from other releases of the time. **Impact and Legacy:** 1. **Genre Fusion**: The album's blend of soul, punk, and pop elements paved the way for other bands to explore cross-genre experimentation. This approach influenced the development of new wave and alternative rock in the 1980s. 2. **Brass Revival**: Dexys Midnight Runners' prominent use of brass instruments helped revive interest in brass-driven music, influencing bands like The Specials and Madness. 3. **Lyricism**: Kevin Rowland's candid and introspective lyricism set a new standard for emotional honesty in music. His style has been cited as an influence by artists who value lyrical depth and personal storytelling. 4. **Cultural Impact**: The album's themes of rebellion and authenticity resonated with a generation of listeners who were seeking their own identities in a rapidly changing world. This cultural impact extends beyond music, reflecting broader social and political movements of the time. #### **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Innovative Sound**: The unique fusion of soul, punk, and pop elements creates a fresh and dynamic listening experience. 2. **Emotional Intensity**: Kevin Rowland's passionate vocal delivery and introspective lyrics add depth and sincerity to the album. 3. **Strong Musicianship**: The band's tight performance and skillful use of brass instruments set a high standard for musical excellence. 4. **Cultural Relevance**: The themes of rebellion, authenticity, and social consciousness resonate with listeners and reflect the spirit of the era. **Cons:** 1. **Production Roughness**: While the raw production adds to the album's charm, it may be perceived as unpolished by some listeners accustomed to modern production standards. 2. **Niche Appeal**: The distinctive style and eclectic influences may not appeal to all listeners, particularly those who prefer more conventional genres. 3. **Intense Vocal Delivery**: Kevin Rowland's vocal style, characterized by its intensity and occasional unpredictability, might be polarizing for some audiences. 4. **Inconsistent Pacing**: The album's pacing can feel uneven at times, with some tracks significantly more compelling than others. ### **Conclusion** "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" by Dexys Midnight Runners is a landmark album that combines lyrical depth, musical innovation, and thematic relevance. Its strengths lie in its passionate delivery, eclectic sound, and poignant social commentary. While it has some rough edges and may not cater to all tastes, its impact on the music landscape and its enduring cultural significance are undeniable. This album remains a testament to the power of music as a vehicle for personal expression and social change.

Any album - well, there's probably only one - that contains the lyric "You're supposed to be so angry, why not fight? Let me benefit from your rage" is going to get five stars from me. Dexys are a strange act. Kevin Rowland drove the band relentlessly, mercilessly. Finding out about it makes it seem cultish and worrying. One cannot argue that the result isn't some of the tightest band work it's possible to imagine. The legacy of Come on Eileen makes Dexy's seem like less than they are. Geno is a superior song in almost every way, but There There My Dear is just sublime. The uniform incomprehensibility of the lyrics notwithstanding, the lyricism is unbelievably strong. It's hard not to nod toward Feargal Sharkey, especially "It's going to happen" - released a year after this album, the horns are clearly drawing inspiration. Talking of inspiration - Quantic's Sol Clap - released 30 years after this album - is one of the only times I can point to horns with such macho pomp. Such confident, balls out joy of strutting around. What fun! Anyway - Dexys. The album is a hoot. High energy, high talent, and with more than a few absolutely stand out tracks. Not to mention that Come on Eileen is central to the opening of the best episode of Spaced. It has to be one of the best albums of the past 50 years.

I was surprised that I enjoyed this so much. I knew their one hit, 'Good night, Irene', when it first came out, but knew nothing else about the band. This album has a lot to offer.

Love this - a real classic album, both timeless and completely of its time.

Okay. I know Geno, and that this is a band which had a very loyal following. A strong couple of openers to start. I'm not sure I love the strained singing voice, but it does make Dexys sound unique beyond their brass led music. Bold to then have a four minute instrumental, The Teams That Meet In Caffs. It had to be good not to lose me, and thankfully it is. The run from Geno (an all timer) to Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire..." (an odd falsetto Northern Soul stomper) is bloody good! Even a poem being read out doesn't offend me. Have I mellowed in my old age, or is this band just dead charming?!

This was quite an enjoyable album from an important time and music scene. I found it to be a fusion of punk and ska. The vocals are a punk growl that is Johnny Rotten like while the horns remind me of The Skatalites.

I have tried to get into this band before - beyond their one hit - but the singer’s voice is always a pretty difficult obstacle to overcome. I like a rock band with a brass section and enjoyed this album but the vocals kept me from enjoying more.

Too horn-y for me.

😴

Can dig some of the horns here and the soul influences, but honestly, just give me The Clash.

What's with the British music scene in the '80s that they looooved vocalists who sound like men suffering from severe menstrual pain?

His voice is not pleasing to me. Kinda marching band like. I thought I'd like it but no. At least it's short

Awesome album!!

One hell of an energy. Driving. Fun. Heartfelt. Seven Days Is Too Long - one of my favourite songs of all time (original Chuck Wood version) - so the cover here is most welcome. Yeah

Geno play those horns for me 🎺🎺🎺

Some fillers, but such a great atmosphere. And some hits.

Opens up with a banger! So immediately it's not at all what I expected from a band whose only song I know is Come On Eileen. This is solid post-punk with a soul influence. The horns give off a ska feel even without always following the off-beat. Not going to lie, I REALLY don't miss the banjo and fiddle I was expecting to have to endure. I don't know what happened to this band between here and there, but it's damn shame because this whole album rocks!

Remember absolutely stuffing Kevin Rowland at Short Tennis during Houmous & Chutneys Tour of Japan in 89. Terrible loser. I told him not to wear his dungarees in that humidity! 4.5

This was awesome. I had only really heard one Dexy's Midnight Runners song before (Come On Eileen), which isn't even on this album, but I loved the sound of every track anyway. Their sound -- both instrumental and vocal -- is so unique, and I just love the freshness and vigor they have. Really punky, but also just well-rounded and clearly gifted musicians (unlike a lot of popular punk bands). I listened to this twice -- five stars.

Boom, there go my expectations. Blown to pieces! This album is so cool, it reminds me of the modern band HMLTD - a group of outcasts who come together to make a racket and have a fucking blast doing it.

A magnificent debut album.

When I see its 80's British rock I fill with dread as a lot from that period in time where just not great, but as soon as those trumpets kick in I can tell this is not the same as a lot of the complete misery from that time period. I have never listened to them before and will be trying to listen to more of them enjoyed it a lot.

Mind blown to smithereens! I knew 'Come on Eileen' & a couple other songs by Dexys and liked them fine but never enough to seek out a full album... I've been missing out big time! How have I not heard this work of art in 23 years of being alive? I've heard it three times already & will play it at least three more times today, ordering the vinyl record & CD after I click 'Comment' and submit to you my scattered thoughts. This at once has become one of my favorite albums of all time! I'm obsessed! No music has hit me this hard since I discovered (and by "discovered" I mean my dad saying, "hear this." as he hands me an album, this time The Queen is Dead) The Smiths when I was 14. Moments like this are a big reason why music is, has been and always will always be a huge part of my life. What an eargasm!

Los metales dan la magia definitiva para mi nota.

Great record.

One of my favourites. Still sounds amazing.

Wow. This album is pure joy. I’d never listened to Dexy’s apart from Come on Eileen. They call it pop rock, but it really is just the perfect ska record. Melodic & upbeat with some unexpected vocal samples and spoken word. Will be on repeat forever.

I did not know they were so prominently a horn band. A second listen was essential, and I’m looking forward to many more. Rounding up.

Geno gets all the praise but to me it's 'There there my dear' that's the stand out track on this album.

Five stars because: 1) It doesn't include "Come On Eileen" 2) "Geno" is great

im not mentally all here rn so youll have to forgive the lack of specific observations but oh my god this is so good lmao. a weird combo of styles (ska and soul and new wave in this case)? hyper-melodicism? constantly varied and unapologetically bright colors of timbre? barrelling forward momentum that doesnt sacrifice variety?? thats azzy miniike's music.......might have to give this band a real serious dedicated shake!

Marvellous. And I do hope I’m the first with a “they’ve got the horn” joke.

Fucking marvellous.

Really enjoyed

Wonderful sound! thanks for introducing me to this jewel!

A lot of fun! They’re more than just Eileen.

I had only ever heard Come On Eileen by this band, which I love, so I'm not surprised that I really enjoyed this album! I love the incorporation of the horns - almost every song on this album is a bop.

Joyful, like all Dexys albums. But these three in particular. Tempted to take a point off for the verses for Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire... I mean what But then. The brass!

This was great. I was one of these who had only heard Come on Eileen and didn't really get why this group has multiple albums on the list. This one at least I'm glad was here.

I dunno. Would rather listen to their soul and reggae influences.

This was a really fun album and enjoyed it.

Love it

Great poppy funky jazzy 80s stuff

Wow what a wild album. Great horn section - and just felt like a precursor or early ska album. I would definitely listen again.

Whole album felt kinda sloppy and uninspiring

Such fantastic energy - I bet their live shows were amazing! I was introduced to Dexys way back when (along with the Waterboys, who I haven't had yet in this project, but I'm pretty sure there's at least one of theirs on the list) so have a certain amount of nostalgia for them, but I gotta think I'd be super into this even if I was hearing it for the first time. I guess Kevin Rowland's vocals can be a bit divisive, but I think they work. Love the radio dial intro - here's some hard rock, punk, ska, and brass band music, and while that's not what's coming next..... it kinda has elements of all of those! Fave tracks - "Burn it Down", "Geno", "Seven Days Too Long". "There There My Dear".... I mean "Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply" could make the list too, it's a laugh!

Großartig!

HORNS! 5/5

What a fun album to listen to. The pacing of the entire thing was perfect. You can hear how the mix of punk, reggae, and disco that this album explores would influence ska music that would rise in popularity a decade later.

Slaps

Una especie de The Cure animado y trompetero. Les compro el vinilo, va.

Tuota en ole varma okno tietoisuuden tilaa ollut heh tarpeeksi kun jokanen kappale kuullosti uskomattomalta häh paskaahan tämä on..

I wasn't sure I needed another album from Dexy's Midnight Runners. Isn't there just "Come On Eileen"? Turns out there is a lot more. I love the horn section and the organ with the punky attitude. It's a surprisingly effective combination that would see revisited later in groups like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. A trombone with attitude is always welcome in my house. Glad to experience this album!

One of the best blue-eyed soul albums out there. You could really feel the combination of new elements and the tradition of soul. England is the best country for modern music, hands down.

Unexpectedly fun! Not a fan of punk normally but this blend of styles did it for me.

jaaa amaze

Thankfully not living in Yorkshire is so good but so random

Early ska/punk, this is my jam, shame it wasn't the right weather for it but still great stuff

Classic album from one of the best UK bands from the 80s - does not contain a single weak song. Ome of these like-it-or-not albums and this factor is more or less determined by whether or not you like the first song: Burn It Down / Dance Stance, one of their best singles. The bonus edition contains the Plan B single which is very different from the version on the follow-up album when they (that is, Kevin Rowland) changed style. I do appreciate that album as well and although concerts from that lineup must have been great to attend, a concert by the original Dexys lineup, with horn section, must have been more special.

Yes, another pearl from the 1001 catalogue. Great songs performed by intense vocals and swinging brass instruments.

One of th greatest albums ever made. In my all time top 5

cool

the more I listen to this bands stuff, the more amazing it all sounds no complaints - easily a 10/10

biggest surprise so far - loved the sound

This is a fab album- love the sound!

The first side of this is just astonishing - six, even seven stars. A fully formed sound from nowhere. If the second half can't quite sustain the extra-ordinary first five tracks (of which Geno is perhaps the weakest. Think about that.) then its just by comparison. An album so in love with a form of music it seems entirely natural to have a cover from that genre that fits perfectly. ps fun fact Burn It Down was called Dance Stance on original release, as I have the 45.

Una especie de The Cure animado y trompetero. Les compro el vinilo, va.

So so good omg

I really dug this album with its punk sound meets some classical/jazz instrumental ensemble. It gave me some pep in my step and swing in my jive Top Tracks: Tell Me Why My Light Turns Green, Geno, Burn it Down, There There My Dear

vibey but old

Fantastic

Fantastic album.

Que pieza tan maravillosa de la música, bonito rock steady, bonito ska, bonito blue eyes Sin duda un gran aporte al New wave

Wonderful

Far better than I’d expected. Already knew a couple of the tracks as they were popular in the UK, but the album as a whole really stands up.

Surprised by how much I liked this. Learned about northern soul and how this band was inspired by that. Fun album!

Really great music tracks. I just can't get on board with that 80's british lead vocal style a la Morrissey