Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

Søren Kierkegaard told us we are defined by choice. Choice its the defining feature of human existence Choice carries with it the inescapable weight of freedom, inevitable regret, and ultimately defines who we are. What we choose is as important as what we don't. The moral imperative is in the choosing more than the actual choice. I have thought of old Søren a few time as i navigate this project as artists that have entirely too many selections included while other very noteworthy artists and albums get no love. While I understand the many reasons an artist or album may or may not may the list - as a foundational principal I would think this it would be better to include more artists - especially artists that are relatively unknown . There are a number of cult artists that may exist outside the confines of pop culture that thankfully get their turn here. There are albums or artists that may be misunderstood as our artist today. Known - in the US anyway - for one very notable song. So I fully understand the inclusion of an album from that artist as it may help illuminate the artists beyond that single track which may itself be an outlier and not representative of the artist. And maybe - just maybe - that artist is noteworthy enough the warrant a second album that is truly transcendent or different enough that it represents a profound stylistic change - like Roxy Music's Avalon which is shamefully not on the list but represents the maturing of a great artist that was not only commercially successful but critically lauded and i would argue as influential as the rest of their catalog. To include three (3) album by Dexy's Midnight Runners is professional malpractice. It's lazy and teaches us nothing more about this artist because that damned yelp for a voice is always going to be there. Choice is hard. It's also what grown ups do. Even music writers. So for the love of all that is good - make a f***ing choice. And if that choice could be removing at least one DMR album - your choice - and adding Roxy's Music's Avalon even better.

Belle surprise… je les réduisais à une chanson… one hit mais c’est très solide en fait!

This is really fun, at least at some moments. But it’s not brilliant at all. This album has some nice songs and others not so good too. But it’s not memorable at all, nor an album that really sticks in any place. It has some nice arrangements, some pretty good tracks and so much energy. But it lacks of songs that really highlight. Everything in this album has some good energy but not much impact. Most songs feel the same and, even though as a whole the album works for having a nice time, it has not the flavour that may make of it something really outstanding.

very good, liked this, cool and cozy

Really cool mix of genres here! LOVE the ska influence.

Apart from Geno it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me.

I enjoy brass. His voice could be annoying/over the top at times. 3* Highlights: i'm just looking

I've quite enjoyed the other albums by them on here, but how on earth are there 3 albums represented in this list? Were they ticking some kind of quota? It's very strange. Maybe I just didn't realise they were as popular as they were...? I've not gone back and re-listened to those other two albums, but it hasn't seemed like this album is massively different. Maybe some slightly more prominent brass...? That's always welcome from me, but it's still kind of the same thing. It's quite good overall, but not hugely inspiring.

There are some good tracks in here, but despite whatever novelty it had in the 80s...it doesn't do much for me in 2026. Also, no Come On Eileen (yet), and that still beats any of these tracks.

Top album

Not a bad album but nothing amazing

A bit of a boring, whiny album. Very prominent brass section, not a huge fan ❄️❄️

The horn section was fine, but I deeply hated this album. Kevin Rowland's voice is just too whiny, and clashes with the music in unpleasant ways. I hear we get the other two Dexy's albums, and that this was their best?? God help us all.

So they include 3 albums from a one hit wonder band that's a pale imitation of Huey Lewis and the News and ... no Huey Lewis albums. Lame. Funny it ends with "Everything I do will be funky ... from now on" because this albums has a severe lack of funk.

Before this project I thought of Dexys Midnight Runners as a one hit wonder. This is their third album in this project and all have been very good. One of the biggest surprises of this whole endeavor.

After hating the first two albums by this group ( why three albums from this band?) this one was alright. At least the horns. The lyrics and singing were still pretty bad

Surprisingly good. It's basically straight up ska, whereas I think their second album with Come on Eileen was more like folk punk. Best songs: Tell Me When My Light Turns Green Geno

10/10 no notes I'm just looking apsolutno unexpected slowdance banger na albumu koji je sam po sebi unexpected banger.

Нешто попут Маднесс-а кад би били енглези (а јесу енглези), одличан албум

Rating: 7/10 First listen: Yes Would listen again: Yes Fav track: Tell me when my light turns green Comment: Stariji pop burazer kawasaki 3p-a

Tarnished by seeing them live once, but there's some anthems on this album.

I found this pretty uninteresting... More 80s nonsense.

This grew on me. Cool blend of soul/rock/pop/punk. Almost some early ska vibes

All of the bad of ska, none of the fun

The real scary thing happening this Halloween is having to listen to a third album by a one hit wonder. Why does this band have as much representation on this list as Prince??? Anyways this album is fine... they only really have 2 songs though: slow ballad with horns and mid tempo rock song with horns. Mid 3.

325. ok

I can remember the one hit that they had here in the states. Mostly this album is very much the same, but it does have more of an r&b feel. The intro begins with a radio being moved across the dial from static to a short history of 70s radio, Deep Purple to Sex Pistols then the first song opens. Most of the songs are blighted by the vocals, which is annoyingly whiny. An exception would be "Thankfully not Living in Yorkshire" where the whiny voice goes into falsetto over a banging groove. The horns and rhythm section are tight. I just don't groove on the vocals at all. The lyrics are fun, but nothing that sends me over the edge. Maybe I'm not British enough.

Huh, I found this album to be more interesting than the other two that I’ve had here - it’s rougher, a little more to the punk or soul, and less to the Irish pub band. The horn section is very enthusiastic. Still not really exciting, but I’m glad at least that I had this last rather than first, since the others would have been a bit of a letdown.

Didn't know Dexys had it in them. Rockin' good time.

Third and last Dexys album for me. I can't say I'm sad to be finally done with them - one album would have been absolutely enough. They're clearly the most massively over-represented band on the list. That being said, I enjoyed this album more than I expected ; out of their three original records, this one is probably my favorite. Their particular brand of pop still feels very old school and hasn't yet been infected by the 80. The horns almost give off a ska vibe, the energy is real, and the tracklist is very diverse, covering a substantial range of styles. I still have a hard time appreciating Rowland's voice and delivery, but whatever. The instrumental parts are really good, so it was quite pleasant as a one-time experience. 6/10

I am a sucker for the DMR, I listened of lot of them in my teens, including this album, around 1987-88, so I am biaised.

I don’t really know what to say. This is music that absorbed punk but was clearly designed to appeal to the masses. No risks taken, and a number one hit in the UK charts to show for it. Not enough to deserve a place on this list, if you ask me.

Id watch them live or listen to a greatest hits, but this album is a bit average.

you can feel a northern soul influence, a little SKA, not bad, some a bit slow, but most with enough energy to keep me entertained.

OOOOH OOOHOH GEENOOOO Love Dexy’s got my first album for my 15th bday for Come on Eileen - this album predates and is fantastic fun, full of great tracks ♥️ imagine them live in a pub

This has a second a back alley, New Orleans vibe. You may see something colorful and full of life. A hidden passage to somewhere exclusive.

This album was okay but there were no songs that particularly stood out to me.

nice, the voice reminds me of someone else, like a band, but i dont remember which

Didn’t expect much. Very pleasantly surprised. Really dig some on the songs and the horn section really makes the band stand out. Cool blending of genres, but definitely an alt-rock record

WTF. This is awful. One of the albums that you’re forced to listen to if you die and go to hell.

This was the third DMR album I've been suggested. At this point I'm so confused on why they have so many albums on the list. This one was not the greatest listen for me, so now I'm thinking that I just don't "get" their music. I'd personally give this a 2.5, but this time I am rounding down due to DMR fatigue.

Well, they’re jumping between the genres of punk, Scott, and soul is admirable. I find the album ultimately kind of annoying. It ends up. I’m not crazy about the singer’s voice.

Previously, on Dexy's Midnight Runners: Don't Stand Me Down 2 Too Rye Ay 4 That's a pretty wide gap; I'm curious to see where this one lands. BOOM smoke on the water the Specials you have my attention. SKA Rude Boy let's go. Burn it down 2-3 Tell me 1-2 nice horns, another mid tempo in a row is a choice, voice is all over the place, like goofy sounding can work but for this no. I guess if the whole rest of the album you sound the same OK but if it's an affectation it was the wrong decision imho love that you give a horn a solo damn they are tight Teams and Caffs different tone/tempo nice 1980 pretty ballsy for an instrumental track 4-5 Just looking I started daydreaming. Ah so that's why. Cause you have a great song with kick ass musician but you have a jokey kind of voice that just doesn't fit the mood or the gravitas. Maybe a bee in my bonnet but I'd rather fucking Tom Waits singing. 1-2 for the voice 4-5 for the backing band. lol you can tell right away Geno is the single with that laid back Rude Boy style, love it! Soul punk and ska mixer OK finding your way. Seven Days fun, voice matching music more not going overboard. 3. Couldn't help it/Thankfully. it's the voice that is ruining what is otherwise a good album. One track is fine after that it's grating. 2 for an otherwise fine backing band and composer/arranger (4)

The global average being exactly 3 perfectly describes this album

Favorite Track: Tell Me When My Light Turns Green

23 Oct 2026 · 8/10 I really really enjoyed this. Was pleasantly surprised! It isn't as varied as it could be though... A little disappointing in that regard. Otherwise, I saved almost every song to listen again, and will be listening to the album again in full.

A collection of pretty decent songs, but nothing more to blow me away.

Searching for The Young Soul Rebels - Dexys Midnight Runners (1980) So I've already rated my first DMR album. Can't believe they've got so many of them on this list. Anyway, the average rating for this album is a perfect Gaussian curve, with the median sitting at 3. This is pretty much my opinion on this album. It's good, very pleasant, but is there anything in this you need to listen to before you die ? Fave tracks: Geno, Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply. ⭐⭐⭐ 6/10

Nieko blogo, bet nieko ir labai įspūdingo.

It’s alright! No my fav. Some good tracks some bad. Between 2-3.

A near peak, very high foothills just a couple of slightly weaker tracks but also some absolute belters.

Enjoyed this more than I thought and wouldn't kick it out of bed.

secret political ska album. All bangers, if I've learned anything from this list it's that the come on Eileen band rips.

fine

First time hearing this, but I really don’t like horns in songs so this very isn’t for me.

Weird…. I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen again but I did appreciate the marching band feel

What a way to make clasic english punk into sounding different every song.

Surprisingly fun and some really good tunes in here. Everyone pays attention to Come On Eileen and never bothers to dig in (I'm guilty of that). This is a great album. Couldn't help but bop around from time to time. Highlights include Geno, Seven Days Too Long, and Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply

Dexys Midnight Runners doing absolutely nothing to beat the one-hit wonder allegations

play come on eileen

All these albums that allegedly capture the sound of Britain… Maybe I don’t ever want to visit Britain.

Good instrumentals, but insufferable vocals

Ooh, nice horns! They make this superior to "Come On Eileen" and equal to "Geno," which also has horns.

It’s pretty good, but a bit samey (in a bad way) for me. 6/10.

Album #295 Dexys Midnight Runners: Searching For The Young Soul Rebels I’m pretty surprised this album made this list, but I’m definitely not complaining. Kevin Rowland just has such infectious energy that it makes it impossible for me not to have a good time listening to his music. New Wave in general is the genre I turn to if I want a quick mood increase; that shit hits for me more than drugs. There are some songs here which aren’t exactly up to the standard of the rest, and it isn’t the classic that Too Rye Aye is, but it’s still a great time. There’s just something about that 80s mini Celtic revivalism that I find so fun to listen to, The Pogues and The Waterboys being other great examples. Best Songs: Geno, Seven Days Too Long, There There My Dear Worst Song: Burn It Down Score out of 10: 7

What an album. Just to be contrary given Tom's comment I've always preferred Side 1, but the whole thing is a joy

Not listened to a Dexy’s album before but this was a joy. Certainly will listen again

Thought this was alright, didn't quite get what others got out of it but enjoyed it enough. Would be worth a revisit.

This is a fantastic album, side 2 (tracks 6 to 11 in new money) is especially strong, love the radio snippets at the start of “Burn It Down” too. Four of the brightest stars, thank you for sharing RGP❤️❤️❤️❤️ Tom.

The songs without singing are pretty good but the ones with singing make me want to ask for an angel shot

The radio snippets from much better tracks by much better bands at the start of the album was as good as it got. I'm not sure I've ever thought that an album had too much trombone on it, but alas today's the day with this one. Also what the fuck are those vocals?

honestly, kinda liked it. 80s being 80s hard on here though. Vocally, I got Joey Ramone and Morrissey. Some ska kinda horns in there was cool actually. Every album around this time seems to need some radio tuning intro like Rock & Roll Radio

3,5 stars

Admittedly I was only familiar with "Come On Eileen" and thats a great song. Having never delved deeper into the discography I was excited to get into this. While cueing this up I looked to see that Dexy is represented on this 1001 album journeys 3 times. 3 times! Considering the omission of countless artists I feel should have at least one album on here I figured I was in for a real treat here. Turns out I was wrong. These are the moments I wonder why I keep sludging through this damn project. Granted and all due credit to the Midnight Runners this is no where close to the worst album I have encountered on this list.

I didn't care for this album at all.

Album #208: Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching for the Young Soul Rebels ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Whenever I think of Dexys, I remember when I used to work as an AV Technician in corporate events and worked this highly illegal 20-hour shift, in which I had to set up and take down this set endlessly around a new hotel for a photoshoot advertising their event spaces. It was hell. On the drive home in the van, I was so tired that I played Tell Me When My Light Turns Green on repeat at full volume, with all the windows down, to keep myself awake. It did the trick! I feel you’d struggle to sleep through a Dexys song. It’s smacking horns galore. The brass really is the star of the show, no matter how much Kevin Rowland wants to be the spotlight chanteuse. The songs are good, but the brass elevates everything. It gives them an emotional lift. And I do like Kevin’s vocals. He and the music itself are highly indebted to Van Morrison. Not a bad artist to imitate! His vocals are highly ambiguous, in the same way Van’s are. It can be nigh on impossible to understand what the hell he’s singing, with this drunken, last-chance-saloon slur of his. I like it! The songs are deeply satisfying. They go and advance where you want them to. They don’t unnecessarily leave a chorus out or cut a song too short. I’d argue the lead single, Geno, is the worst song on the album. It’s a laddie kind of track, but again, the horns save the day with a beautiful motif at the end.

This band perplexes me. Before the project, I was only familiar with Come on Eileen. That gave me NO indication as to why they were so well represented on the list. 3 albums are ALOT of representation. I believe I have heard all three albums at this point. And I STILL don’t get it. Perhaps this one really IS because I am not British. But I will say, this is the second time I have listened to this debut, and I now fully believe it is their best. It’s growing on me. But it’s still not a 4. 3 Boolean: Null - really- I just can’t say if I needed to hear this before I died.

Maybe the most beer soaked pub band ska out there.

I didn't think I'd heard these guys before, but apparently they're the ones who sing Come on Eileen. And this is supposed to be soul-punk / new wave / Northern soul-inspired post-punk. lol that's a mouthful! That was actually a really good album. I loved it 4 stars.

This is so bad. So muddy. The horns sound out of tune. It plods along. I’m so upset that anything this poorly made is on the list. Suppose it could get two stars but they have other albums on the list and this put me in a bad mood so I’m not going to be generous.

Bangers and horn parts fantastic.

Enjoyable

So incredibly British. Like so insanely British that I’m afraid my music is gonna get colonized

3/10 Nothing wrong with the music, but omfg I cannot STAND the vocals. The whole time it sounds like he's deliberately straining his voice (in a very 80s technique) just for the aesthetics - it sounds awful.

Now I see why they only had the one hit (Come on, Eileen). It's no longer a wonder. Wailing, plaintive lead singer. Backing music sounds like SNL's house band.

Ska-esque decay (which has nothing to do with drugs, allegedly) offer up a plate of fun for your ears. A sound meal; 3.5 stars

426/1089 i‘m just never going to love this style of singing as a whole maybe i slightly preferred it ofver the other algums of theirs i’ve heard but nothing stood out to me particularly 48/100

Not sure why this was here. Once song might have stood out as kind of work listening to again, but most of the album just did nothing for me. Don't think there's any reason to hate on it, but not anything I'd ever think to say people should listen to

They played a trick on me This album is fine though

That was pretty fun for being the one that doesn’t have Come on Eileen on it. The horns were a nice change of pace and gave it some ska feel at times.

Pretty cool ska influenced 80s pop rock. Not groundbreaking, but certainly a good listen.

No redeeming qualities. Terrible vocals, boring “melodies”, and I assume the lyrics were bad too but I couldn’t really make them out. Not a fun time.

1980 new wave, great horns Burn it down Geno Seven days too long

I love Dexys, so I was really looking forward to giving Searching for the Young Soul Rebels a proper listen today. The first thing that stands out is just how brilliantly put together this album is. The brass is superb throughout and gives the whole record so much energy and personality. Kevin Rowland’s vocals are instantly recognisable as well. They’re raw and passionate and work perfectly with that mixture of soul, pop and punk running through the album. There are some cracking tunes on here. “Seven Days Too Long”, “Burn It Down” and “I Couldn’t Help It If I Tried” are all great, but the showstopper has to be “Geno”. What a brilliant song. That brass opening is instantly recognisable and the whole track is an absolute classic. What I really like about this album is how much energy it has. It takes the sound of classic soul and mixes it with something much rougher and more British. There’s loads going on musically, but underneath it all are simply some really well written and catchy songs. I really enjoyed this today. Dexys are such a distinctive band and Searching for the Young Soul Rebels captures everything I love about them. Great songs, brilliant brass and loads of character. Definitely one I’ll be listening to again. Favourite tracks: “Geno” is the obvious standout and an absolute classic. I also loved “Seven Days Too Long”, “Burn It Down” and “I Couldn’t Help It If I Tried”. Least favourite tracks: Nothing. It’s a really consistent album and everything is worth a listen. Album artwork: Love it. A great photograph and a really distinctive cover that suits the album perfectly.

This album is pretty obnoxious, but it's not bad. They're not trying to be anyone else and honestly basically every song is better than Come On Eileen. Really not that bad. At times it does feel like a lot of third wave ska was influenced by this.

Not for me. 2/5.

Now you’re talking - one of the best albums ever

Over the course of the album, the horns and general style gets grating, but there are some great tracks here like Tell Me When My Light Turns Green and the closing track. And most songs are fine sounding. Liked it a lot more than I expected.

This was pretty good. I'll give it a 4

That's weird. Like when someone fucks you in your ears, but for some reason, you like it.