Reviews (page 7 of 8)
I guess I see what they were going for here? They're trying to mix the new-wave sound with an American-influenced "soul" sound, reminiscent of late-60s soul acts. This is especially evident in the overload of horns used on the album, which often are overdone and seem lifeless in contrast to American soul music. Also, to create good soul music, you gotta have soul! The lead singer's voice is nowhere near soulful.
Did not enjoy this one. The horns took me way out of it. They were so prominent, but also so flat, uninspired, and often out of tune.
я никогда про них не слышала а у них два альбома тут! два! этот похож на тот что я первым слушала) норм
It's fine, but boring
This album surprised me! I only known their song “Come On Eileen” but this album was so energetic and fun.
Energiek begin, blazers niet super gemixt maar oke Leuk album, leuke stem Beter als het meer ska was 3 sterren
HORNS! 5/5
Nice, energetic. Unfortunately, the best tracks are the least original.
Had some moments, but seemed kind of bland
Brani Preferiti: - "Tell Me When My Lights Turns Green" - "I'm Just Looking" - "Seven Days Too Long" - "Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply" Note: Mi è piaciuto come i suoni di radio indicano l'inizio dell'album, così come sentire elementi punk a jazz. anche se la voce è sgraziata e tutt'altro che bella, è energetica ed eccentrica e devo dire che questo mi ha fatto provare gioia durante il suo ascolto. Si intuisce la passione che questa band ha messo in questo album.
It was out there
Liked them generally a lot more than I expected. So far the criteria for a 5 us "did I like this as much as Billy Joel's the Stranger?" No, so 4.
nothing memorable for me here.
Aika perus enklanti-rokkia. Ei harmita tämän kuuntelu, mutta ei sykähdytäkään.
I guess you have to be in the mood for a horn section, I was not.
Fun. I like horns. 3.5
Pretty middling
I don’t really care for this radio station very much.
Before Too-Rye-Ay, DMR debuts with an intriguing sound that aimed to combine New Wave with Northern Soul. I feel with Too-Rye-Ay, they forgot about their roots to make weird music to dance hard too while on speed. This record is much slower and more soulful, but still features the distinctive whiny vocals and lush orchestral sound (mostly attributed to the horns and a groovier rhythmic drumming pattern). But just like Too-Rye-Ay, I feel like they're just too loud and obnoxious here, substituting form and structure for sensory overload and unexpected interjections in an attempt to entice the audience to sing and dance along. It feels cheap and clustered, but at least it clearly shows they're putting effort into it. There's a lot of potential here, and I've seen songs they covered (like "Jackie Wilson Said") that shows their music can be adapted really well if the songwriting was done right, but that's still very much lacking here. Favorites: Geno, Seven Days Too Long
come on eileen... not even on this album again
5/10 not for me.
Why is there more than 1 Dexys Midnight Runners albums on this list? You're picking 1001 essential albums from all of music around the world and you just have to include 2! Dexys Midnight Runners albums!? That said, this band is so much more than the one hit wonders we all know them as. Still... 2 albums on this list is insane.
Well well well, third time’s the charm. The other two records by Dexys Midnight Runners on this list were abysmal and almost downright loathable - but this one is actually pleasant - almost touching on that late 70s / early 80s British aka sound that Madness made popular, but also not quite ska, the songs fun, and upbeat and the record well balanced. I wouldn’t have guessed from the way I crossed paths with this band before.
Kinda ska, kinda punk. I enjoyed it 3/5
Je ne connaissais pas du tout. C'était sympa pendant l'écoute mais honnêtement ça ne m'a laissé aucun souvenir alors que j'ai écouté hier.
Bonne découverte agréable, je ne connaissais pas le groupe, mais je souscris pas mal à la fusion rock et autres styles (genre ska ?). Ça me fait un peu penser à the Clash. Sauvegardé pour réécoute
I presumed they would have been a one hit wonder band as you never hear anything else by them, but some tracks on here weren't bad. Most were though. But some good northern soul/early ska-punk in here. 2.5*, probably would not listen again.
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.
4/11, 36%
Really liked it, "The Teams that Meet in Caffs" was my fav.
Really fun, so much more than Come on Eileen
I was initially shocked and a bit annoyed to find TWO albums by 1 hit wonders Dexys Midnight Runners on this list. This album doesn't even have Eileen on it! What's the point?? But then I listened to it. This is such a fun little album. All ska horn lines and youthful energy. Lot's of real toe tappers on here!
As a kid i grew up listening to the distinctive horns of Dexys, which is quite enjoyable, but I never liked Kevin Roland's voice.
Not great, bit chavy.
I feel torn on this one because I genuinely enjoyed the first 2 tracks and was sure it would be a 4 or even a 5... And then literally every other song was meh. I went back and listened to the first song again and it wasn't as good the second time, probably because by then I was bored of the sound as they didn't really give much variety throughout the album musically, at least nothing memorable. The second song was just as good/better the second time. I'm still giving it a 4, but not the enthusiastic one I'd hoped to. If only there had been more adventurous, memorable melodies after the first 2 tracks.
Very fun quality new wave Lots of brass instruments
Wow a ska record made it on this list? I dont like the mouth noise on I'm Just Looking. Mid shit really.
Slaps
This is pretty fun, and certainly proves they’re not a one hit wonder. The horns are used exceptionally throughout, and the opening couple of tracks and Geno are incredibly catchy. It did lose my interest a bit in the second half though
Pandering with ska and a poem, I’ll reward it
This is "English Pop" but I would probably classify this as early ska, or rock music that teeters on the edge of ska. Strangely enough, I have heard one of the songs on this record a lot, I just never knew the name of the song or artist. This is a pretty alright album all things considered. The slower songs/ballads bring it down for me quite a bit though. If it weren't for that this would be a low 4. I lied. It just had a snippet of a song from another band that I had heard a lot and I just thought they were the same band because they have a similar sound and the lead singer sounds very similar (British) Feeling a strong to decent 3/5
Ok, respect! Loved the feeling of scrolling through the radio. Cool songs and great vibe through the whole thing.
Bien ska, como si the clash fuera ska
This was a weird experience. I didn't hate this, but I don't know if I'll seek this sound out again.
It was alright.
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.
Not too sure why this one needed to make the list as their other more popular album was a bit better. This one sounded pretty similar with the Irish influence on it structure and singing. Some songs were catchy and worth listening again but the album overall isn’t that strong and feels like dated pop rock. 5.7/10
What happens when a bunch of blokes get together with a bunch of horns? This album is the answer. I only knew them from Come On Eileen, but I totally hear all the best parts of that song throughout the album. Really high highs, but some low lows as well. I had fun, but it wasn’t exactly Sticky Fingers.
I struggled at times with the jazzy interludes.
This is all quite fine but it also feels like a lot of build up to Come on Eileen.
Firstly, I really like the way DMR blend elements of soul music into their sound. It's nothing new - the Graham Parker Band did it a few years prior, but here Parker's pub rock sneer is replaced with a lachrymose New Wave yelp. The music is uniformly good without ever staggering, although the highlights - '...Yorkshire...' and 'Geno' are superlative, the latter featuring some lovely, strolling, brass-propelled instrumental breaks. At one point Kevin Rowlands does a passable impersonation of Russel Mael of Sparks fame. I liked this a lot.
Jesus Christ, Eileen. Come on already! I can't believe we listened to a DMR record without the one song the entire world thinks of when they think of DMR, if they ever think of DMR at all. And I'm going to stop typing DMR now. All that aside, I liked this record in a way. Specifically, I actually liked the horns. I can't say that about many rock-ish records with horns, but I liked them here. The vocals kind of drive me nuts and I kept thinking there ought to be a word to describe this type of singing, the way people threw around the term "yarling" when talking about the way Eddie Vedder sang on those first Pearl Jam records, that the guys in Creed and STP initially copied. There's also gotta be an indie band that had a moment in the oughts that sounds exactly like this band, but I can't think of who it is. Anywho, it was interesting even without Eileen.
The voice is hard to mistake from Come On Eileen. But this was all new to me. Some nice little ditties!
I never would have listened to a Dexys album if not for this project. I’d only ever heard Come on Eileen before. I liked the energy of some of the songs, but I couldn’t get into this album as a whole.
- Good vibes and emotion - Love the addition of the piano it really adds a lot tbh - Liked it more than I thought I would
- ah these are the come on Eileen guys - definitely some unique sounds - enjoyed it more than I first expected to
I'm really enjoying this album, it's got a great blend of different genres. Album kinda loses me at the end but still a solid entire.
can't be arsed with Kevins voice at all and i'm clearly not as in to brass as this lot are.
Dexy is such a little bitch. The record sounds like an old panda doing a fanny fart in a cave. I can't get even get an inch of an erection out of it.
Like taping a snorkel to your mouth and having music stand over it and shit into your throat.
Classic Northern Soul. Kevin Rowland captures the feel of late 50s/early 60s US soul perfectly. The mannered vocals, the crying/singing is very specific to the music he's evoking, and outside of that context it's a bit of a challenge to listen to.
I always thoughts Dexys were one hit wonders, but it seems they are a lot more to them than Come On Eileen. They are clearly not the pop noveltiests I once assumed. Even the band name refers to recreational drug use. This album has a soulful, brass heavy, sound and a punk spirit. It certainly sounds like a call to arms for the disaffected. The album cover depicts a Catholic boy being forced from his home in Belfast. Political. In addition to the unexpected depth, it is also catchy, energetic and fun. The vocals are also less grating than on Too Rye Ay. I like it. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Geno Date listened: 23/07/23
I really am not a fan of the production on this album so far (3 songs in). The horns sound disconnected and hollow, which is odd for a band that seems so horn-centric. This album got a lot better to me as it went on and I ended up enjoying it for the most part by the end. However, it is pretty inconsistent and I'm not sure I'd listen to the album again in full, which is why I have to deduct a couple of stars. I would put this at a 3.5 if I could. Standout Tracks: I'm Just Looking, Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply, Keep It, There There My Dear
I would like to listen to it again but I enjoyed it quite a bit.
The vocals are a little much, but overall I didn't hate this. Listened to the entire album, no skips.
Fun album. Easy to listen to.
I guess I’m really into trumpet punk. I had no idea. This was really good.
Great album, really reminded me of chumbawumba.
Great till Kevin Rowland starts singing. I love those horns, but I'd rather wait til the midnight hour and listen to the real ones...
found it boring tbh
Good beats
can't get into it all, like joke singing
Punk and soul very rarely cross paths, and it’s done exquisitely on here. Rating: 7.5/10
Loving the trumpets and synt (?), makes the whole album very special imo. The vocals are also special and kit my favorite but I feel it still goes well with the album. Would gladly listen to it again for the instruments and energy. Definitely a 4/5
Una especie de The Cure animado y trompetero. Les compro el vinilo, va.
La voz se parece a la del de The Cure. Son divertidos. Mucha trompeta.
Better than expected
Meh.
I like them. Not sure why we need more than one album by them before we die. All kinda sounds the same.
It's actually pretty good. Really liked seven days.
Kevin Rowland definitely has a slight cry-baby singing style that seems overdone at times... and the falsetto approach on "yorkshire" is a hard pass. Still, the first few tracks, including Burn It Down and Tell Me When... are really enjoyable. A bit too uneven to rank higher, but an interesting listen.
Not as entertaining as their next album, and there is no reason to look for any hit or single on this record. It might be because I have listened to those albums in this sequence, because I don't think Dexys Midnight Runners is a band you can listen too often. The novelty is gone, so is my excitement for this band.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire Doesn't Apply (8) 2 - Seven Days Too Long (6) 3 - Burn It Down (1)
I liked it as bg music, but i like other songs by them better than what i heard here.
Hey this doesn't contain that famous song. It's fine otherwise. Nothing to write home about.
Tuota en ole varma okno tietoisuuden tilaa ollut heh tarpeeksi kun jokanen kappale kuullosti uskomattomalta häh paskaahan tämä on..
More of the same.
“Keep It” should have been the name of the album. This seems like an unremarkable album from one of those successfully insincere bands that every generation seems to relish.
What a delight this was to hear. Heartfelt, soulful and properly pissy. Distinctive vocals from Kevin Rowland and a rich, energetic, horn infused sound. Not a lot of bands could effectively blend the emotional honesty of American soul with the attitude of punk, but Dexy's nails it on the head. The lyrics can sometimes be a little vague or obscure, but the feeling is genuine. Fave Songs: : Seven Days Too Long, Tell Me When My Light Turns Green, I Couldn't Help If I Tried, I'm Just Looking, Burn It Down
I really liked the sound of this band!
To Rye Aye is a better album imo
Sounds experimental.
Very good. Better than the last one.
Vital, energetic and verging on chaotic at times, the first and last great Dexy's album before they ditched the sharp look and went all straw hats and dungarees with the godawful "Come On Eileen".
English acts from the early '80s really loved their horns, eh? But I must say -- they're put to good use here. The songwriting was overall much better than I expected from a band that, on this side of the pond, is often seen as one-wonders. The vocalist borders on affecting a whiny yelp at times, which occasionally got on my nerves. But beyond that, there is a lot of fun to be had here.
Too heavy on the horns. This didn't do a damn thing for me.
perfectly decent
No many feelings about this album.
I will listen again, I think it will take a few for me to get it.
Nice
- Never listened to this in full before but I've heard quite a lot of the songs already - Some of it's a bit samey, but overall a very good album - I once saw Car Seat Headrest cover Tell Me When My Light Turns Green and I've loved it ever since - Fav songs: Tell Me When My Light Turns Green, Geno, Seven Days Too Long
Searching for the young soul rebels - dexys midnight runners burn it down - 2/5 tell me when my light turns green - 3/5 the teams that meet in caffs - 1/5 I'm just looking - 1/5 geno - 4/5 seven days too long - 3/5 I couldn't help it if I tried - 2/5 thankfully not living in yorkshire it doesn't apply - 1/5 keep it - 2/5 favs: geno 2/5
It’s really giving festival band (esp 7 days too long, which was also my favorite song on the album hahah). Ummm it’s like charli xcx but for the 80s. Like it gets me pumped it makes me want to dance. Will we ever hear disco on 1001 albums? I liked the album a lot
really liked it! Too many horns but bangers
This is a great album, another one that I've only come across within the last year or so. "Burn it Down" and "Gino" always end up stuck in my head for hours after I listen to them. It's great to see that this band were much more than just the very overplayed "Come On Eileen". This album does waver a bit towards the end I find, but maybe those songs will grow one eventually. 8/10
3.5
Fell flat for me.
Has substance. Has brass. Was expecting some early 80s mediocre pop due to come on eileen, but this was more than that.
I gave it a listen and it just doesn't do much for me, sorry.
I enjoyed the punky horny brassy sound of this. The sobby vocals weren’t always as captivating. While there wasn’t any one song that really stood out, it was a good listen overall.
I didn't love the album, and I think that this was largely due to the tone of the vocals, but it was pretty fun and unexpected. I warmed a bit more the second time around, but still not the best for me.
Dexy's vocal affectations get on my nerves a bit but this was a fun, mostly upbeat soundtrack to cleaning my bathroom today. (I know his name's not Dexy.)
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!
The definition of mid
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
Very enjoyable album, glad to have listened to it. Super 80s. Best tracks: Geno, Tell Me When My Light Turns Green Worst track: I’m Just Looking
While Dexys Midnight Runners is best known for their cheeky "Come On Eileen", this is a surprisingly solid blues-infused Irish R&B album.
It’s pop, it’s soul, it’s punk, it’s Dexys. Kevin Rowland knew exactly what we wanted and he made it happen.
more soulful than I was expecting, really lovely album. 4 stars.
Buen disco, mezcla entre sonidos que le da mucha identidad al disco. Lo volvería a escuchar sin dudas
Really fun album, enjoyed it
I was surprised two months ago when I saw that their second album, Too-Rye-Ay, was on this list, so imagine my surprise when I see that there are two Dexys Midnight Runners albums on the list. Not that I have anything against the band, I just always thought of them as a one-hit wonder that didn't really break any new ground. But surprisingly, I liked this a lot. I love the horns and the soul influence. Sometimes the singer's voice gets on my nerves, but overall this was really good. 4 stars.
With the horns I was really expecting this album to skew towards ska but that was not the case. This album is primarily a new wave album with a massive soul influence. The instrumentation stood out to me the most along with the strong sense of melody. Overall I enjoyed this album and appreciate its unique qualities and the space it occupies in the history of post-punk/new wave.
Surprised at the depth of content here after really only knowing “that one song”. The glottal singing (probably calling it the wrong thing) gets annoying and whiny very quickly. Gotta take the bad with the good. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding
Musically very interesting, I just don't like his voice at all. Horn-driven album. They do very well on pure instrumental tracks. I would have loved more "The Teams That Meet in Caffs" type of songs. Favorite tracks: Geno, the instrumentals are good enough to outweigh my dislike of his voice Least favorite track: I Couldn't Help It If I Tried
I adore Dexys Midnight Runners. However, I don't like this album very much. It's not that it's bad - it's certainly not, and I can understand why someone would like, or even love it. I've tries several times to get into it in the past, but most of the songs just don't do anything for me, unlike Too Rye Ay (1982) and Don't Stand Me Down (1985), both of which I consider to be perfect albums. In my opinion, this album sounds like a band who hasn't quite found themselves yet. There are glimpses here and there of the greatness of Too Rye Ay, particularly in the only three songs I can say I love from this album. But I always find myself getting bored while listening to Searching For The Young Soul Rebels, and this time was no exception. Standout Tracks: "Seven Days Too Long," "Geno," "Tell Me When My Light Turns Green"
Come on Eileen isn’t on this. Too many horns. I made it 3 songs.
Since 'Come On, Eileen' wasn't on here, I was disappointed, but the album is actually pretty fun. I read the Wikipedia article, and they talk a little bit about the influence of soul music on this album, and listening to it, it's so clear. There's like an Otis Redding/Isley Brothers/Bobby Womack vibe there. Maybe Blues Brothers if you think about it. It's just really clear that they love the music that they're lifting from, and they want to sound like those soul musicians of yore. I've always felt that blue eyed soul is a little annoying except when it's done by Brits. They just get it. They're not trying to talk over people, they're not trying to pretend to be something they're not, they just love the music and can name 100 musicians who inspired them, and they're all Black/brown people who are the GOATs of their genre. It's terrific. I would say this album is definitely worth a listen if you're interested in what folks in GB and England were doing with their interpretations of soul meets ska (which is a Jamaican music form!), this is a great one to check out. The melodies are fun, the horns are jumping and the soul is there! Favorite Track: Seven Days Too Long
When the “singers” voice wasn’t being overpowered by the brass instruments you could barely understand him. Definitely a product of its time, and it’s a time in music that I really cannot stand.
3.5. Very good. Soulful horns.
Meh.
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.
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."
Hardly got through it.
Loved the trumpets. Fun energy. Will have to re-listen.
Unexpectedly fun! Not a fan of punk normally but this blend of styles did it for me.
Eh I liked bits but it can drag for a 35 minute long album 3/5.
This fucking sucks, the vocals are annoying and the songs are boring, and even the horns fail to add something that sounds interesting
Really enjoyed this! Perfectly weird and wonderful, full of surprises really fun! Love the whispering randomly on one track really enjoyed the instrumental and will listen more. Never thought to listen to DMR beyond Come on Eileen so it's really nice to hear that there's more to their work for me anyway.
Overall was great listen - very unique singing style, which at first I really enjoyed then got a bit tired of by the end. I definitely preferred the more upbeat ones where the trumpets took the lead, rather than the slower more ballad-y ones. I Couldn't Help It If I Tried I did wonder if they filled certain parts with certain noises rather than writing new lyrics
Good fun, could feel a lot of different influences in here, ska, folk, pop. Enjoyable but a bit repetitive by the end.
Best: Dance Stance Worst: idk I would have given this a 4 if it weren’t so bloody long (maybe), it just feels like they added most of the songs for no reason and it had little variation making it quite boring.
Leuke britpop ska oid
jaaa amaze
Mira, no son solamente Come On Eileen.
Cool!
This album has some real bangers, music wise. Good god are the vocals ghastly, though.
Sorprendente y divertido. Sólo conocía una canción de estos, y molan
La voix du chanteur me faisait penser à Robert Smith et à celle de plusieurs autres; en plus, souvent, il sonne presque comme une caricature tellement il pousse et exagère. Je trouve la musique entraînante et intéressante, quoique les cuivres soient très présents. Bref, j'ai oscillé entre plaisir et agacement.
Surprisingly solid and fun
7,5/10
One of the boldest statements of the New Wave scene and a seriously accomplished debut album. The sound of radio static shifting through Deep Purple, Sex Pistols and The Specials before pop music’s perennial shapeshifter Kevin Rowland exclaims “For God’s sake, burn it down!!” really lays out Dexys’ ambition in the opening seconds of this record. The cultural rupture ushered in by Never Mind The Bollocks meant it was fair game for The Specials or the Pogues to revitalise staple genres such as folk and ska, so why not soul? The resulting sound is so captivating and the opening salvo of “Burn it Down” and “Tell Me When The Light Turns Green” is one of the most exhilarating I’ve heard during this project so far. The sentiment of punk is preserved wholesale despite Dexys’ melodic drive coming from a brass section, accentuated by some really excellent production throughout. But the songs themselves are what elevate this record to another level. As the album’s title implies, the search for the young soul rebels remains an ongoing one, and pervading lyrical themes of disenfranchisement and cynicism threaten to undermine the lofty ambitions underpinning this records revolutionary ideals. But Kevin Rowland‘s somewhat flamboyant delivery (polarising though it may be) serves as the necessary wink to the listener to reassure us that all is not lost just yet. Almost everything about this record lands for me: from the artwork to the cleverly crafter and totally unique sound. But that being said, when the album loses steam it undeniably drags. The metamorphosis Dexys Midnight Runners would undergo by their second album also raises questions of integrity which, again, threatens to edge this album into the realm of the pretentious. But I guess that’s the whole point: Rowland saw the direction of traffic within the punk scene and figured the best course of action was to “Burn it Down!!”. And if all it gave us was this album, then I’m more than happy to pile the pyres high.
I enjoyed this more than I anticipated.
Popping album. Not terrible, but something I probably wouldn't normally listen to. Their music sounds like a mash of a lot of different sounds, but none of them done really really well. 3 stars.
Chaotic ska punk? It was alright
Ngawa.
Liked
It’s not bad.
Sympathique mélange de genres! À réécouter.
Pretty fun, sounded a bit like another album I got on this list by The Style Council. Overall 5/10
helt kiva, tyckte int om när han viskade i mitt öra
Ganska swag
Catchy tunes performed with heart and a complimenting horn section. Did they end up finding the soul rebels though??
Lite repetitivt men coolt
What is up with this list giving multiple listings to one hit wonder bands? These guys should not have three slots when the only song by them anyone knows is Come On Eileen. Hell, that one song doesn't earn a whole slot by itself. This is pretty blah.
Mitähän tää olis, jotain ihan ok synä rocki poppia. Ihan medium ja porkkana kurkussa poikittain
I enjoyed this one a little, but it wasn't mind blowing. I give it a solid 3/5
greatly good
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.
Always thought of them as more of a one hit wonder, but I guess I was wrong. Album is timely, and sounds like it's inspired by the end of the 70's with notes of early Ska. Interesting to hear the influence of American Soul on British bands. Could do without the whispering or odd sound sections
Feeling ecstatic to actually hear an other song than "Come On Eileen" Good shit! Reminds me of Fishermans Blues. 4
Boppy. I really liked the instrumental track, The Teams That Meet in Caffs.
2/3
Pleasantly surprised, enjoyable brass-sections, could be a 3.5/5 but I won't quite give it 4/5
Toffe muziek, met heel wat blazers.
3 or 4 i listened to it a lot but then again.
Thankfully not living in Yorkshire is so good but so random
Some tracks were fun. Had to listen twice to grow on me. But too often the guys voice was so squawky every other word
Jaa. Torvia. Ihan erikoista, mutta oispa saanut muustakin sisällöstä kiinni.
Konsepti välittyy, mutta illuusiota sen välttämättömyydestä ei synny. Myös musiikki välittyy - mutta se typistää itsensä konseptiin.
Early ska/punk, this is my jam, shame it wasn't the right weather for it but still great stuff
I thought it was okay. Don't know if I'd go rushing back to this one as the ska-esque horn sections got a bit old over time, but there were some good songs in there for sure. Favourite: Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply
Denys Midnight Runners are a brilliant band and if the only song you know is Come on Eileen you're missing out. This album is a joy to listen to and only gets better after a couple of drinks.
I thought this album was from the 60's so when I saw it was 2000, that made this a little more interesting. Listed as rock, but felt a little more like British punk. Nothing to write home about but a good listen.
Eh. Not bad, but not necessary. Musically it's fun but we really don't need multiple Dexys entries on here. All the horns on here, they sound like Chicago but worse. Favorite tracks: Geno, Seven Days Too Long. Album art: Just some guys in a green filter. Not much going on here. 2.5/5
Klingt teilweise nach sterbender Katze...BritRock/Pop ist nicht meine Welt...
Generic
fantastic album. Full of intent and conviction and heart
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.
Once again it's the vocals that ruin it for me. Otherwise, it sounded okay.
Yes, another pearl from the 1001 catalogue. Great songs performed by intense vocals and swinging brass instruments.
Canciones con un estilo definido de pop ochentero. Fáciles de escuchar, sin grandes estridencias. Varios grupos con las mismas características
One of th greatest albums ever made. In my all time top 5
Great debut album.
7/10, gotta be honest this band was only recognizable to me when I realized they were the come on Eileen band. But, enjoyable energy and I’m impressed at their ability to keep it fresh for a whole album, I imagine if I heard this as a teen in 1980 I’d probably be crazy about it, but to adult Claudia in 2022 it does get a bit grating here and there
5/10. Very blah. Might have been more forgiving if there hadn't been so much blah in my albums of late, but then again there was a spoken word poem on here, so maybe I am being too kind with a 5.
There were 3 songs in a row that were pretty good but nothing else of note for me. 6/10
This wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be but the lead singer's whiny voice got annoying after a while. It's absolutely insane that they have three albums on this list though. 3.5 stars
cool
Dexy's midnight runners made an album that doesn't have come on eileen? really? There was one song, idek which, that I remember liking but that was it.
Love this - a real classic album, both timeless and completely of its time.
72/100: I don’t know what makes an artist a one-hit wonder after listening to this album. I thought one-hit wonders only produced one good song and the rest of theirs are awful. For a band considered by many to be the prime example of a one hit wonder, this seems to be far from the case for Dexy’s Midnight Runners. This album was an absolute bop full of really good songs. To be fair, “Come On Eileen” is certainly miles better than any song on this album, but that’s just because that song’s so good, not because these are bad. It seems to me that being a one hit wonder doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of your discography sucks. It just means one of your songs is relatively considerably better than the rest. I wonder if this group, in hindsight, wishes they’d never released “Come On Eileen,” because I think this album would get a lot more respect if it weren’t constantly held in comparison to that magnificent song. Truly suffering from success.
Little rock
Punk but meh
Interesting. Not much else I could add
The horns, the accent, and the voicing are just too much for my head. Hidden underneath are some pretty decent jams and pretty intense lyrics. It is a real slog to get through to that level and that is a bit of a shame. There was maybe more here than I ever gave credit for--one-hit wonder issues. That isn't enough for me to actually want to listen again.
Cool album. I liked it. 7/10
Didn’t expect to enjoy. Better than anticipated
I never thought I’d become a Dexys Midnight Runners completionist
It's fine, though not entirely my taste. Also the vocals get a little grating after a while
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.
Oh it’s the Come on Eileen guys! This wasn’t the album with that song though. Generally enjoyable and I like the vocals in particular, but definitely falls under “forgettable pop” for me
the more I listen to this bands stuff, the more amazing it all sounds no complaints - easily a 10/10
meh
This is the debut album by English pop group Dexys Midnight Runners. It is a new wave pop album that combines aggressive punk rock with soul music, and it was very popular in the UK. It was an interesting album with quite a lot of use of horns which I found both pleasant and overbearing at times. However, I liked the album and enjoyed my time listening to it.
Like most Americans, I knew nothing of this band outside of "Come On Eileen". A couple of songs have a heavy The Specials influence. I can't get past the vocals. I appreciate hard-to-understand singers, but something about the recording quality of the vocals and his accent makes a lot of it incomprehensible.
Does working class New Wave exist? If so, this might be the album that defines the genre. A temporary stop on the evolutionary timeline between The Specials and Fun Boy Three. The production isn't great. I find the lyrics hard to make out and Rowland's vocal delivery doesn't help. The record has its moments with a few good tunes that are held back by the rough sound and a dodgy singer.
This album has some good hooks and interesting ideas, which is what I've come to expect from them. I think the use of horns on this one was pretty excessive, and the vocals were very hit or miss. Not as memorable as some of their other albums
Bug
Didn’t finish the album. It wasn’t bad just too many songs/too long.
An album from a one-hit wonder, and it doesn't even have the hit. Apparently this is the first of 3 Dexys albums on this list! Overkill much? Anyways, the music is alright, kinda upbeat, it's nice that they went with a horn section, but the horns just sound so flat on most of the songs, like, they're missing that spunk. And the vocals, I realize the whiny crying type voice was all the rage in the 80's (ala The Cure, Soft Cell, etc.), it just, one or two songs are fine, but do you have to fucking weep over every song? Even the upbeat ones? I'll wait for one of their other albums where the band comes into their own a bit more to properly appraise them, I really struggle to see what makes this a must listen.
I guess the band name is fitting cause this really does feel like 40 minutes of a manic high in an English pub in 1980. Singer is annoying. Don't need any more of this stuff. 2/5.
i like this more than the other dexys album. at least I gave the other a 2 and this feels higher than that for me. this has more of a rocksteady / soul vibe… i think I thought the other album was just forgettable 80s new wave outside of Come On Eileen. According to Wikipedia they came out of the Northern Soul scene in England... the spotify "The Sound of Northern Soul" is really good motown. 3/5 (good)
Found it about as good as the last one without come on Eileen.
I'm a little torn on this one. I really liked it, but is it a 4? I want to say its like a 3.8, but at that point might as well round up. 4/5
Not their best compared to their commercial success.
Solid album, not much overly standout but good sound overall
Eh just ok. 3/5
biggest surprise so far - loved the sound
Fun, light rock. Not my thing.
Not my sound, not terrible, okay for background, but nothing gripped me.
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!
This has to be the best band with the worst vocals I can think of in this genre.
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.
I missed this one 300+ albums ago. I was reminded of it by “Don’t Stand Me Down.” Luckily, “Searching For The Young Soul Rebels” is much more tolerable than “Don’t Stand Me Down.” But the latter was intolerable, so that’s not necessarily saying much. How did Dexys Midnight Runners place three albums on the strength of “Come On Eileen” alone?? That song is on neither of the albums we’ve listened to so far. And I have no idea if the rest of “Too-Rye-Ay” will be as good. “Searching For The Young Soul Rebels” is a very horny album. Sometimes the horns are exciting and peppy, but sometimes they are just annoying. Kevin Rowland’s vocals were also not a highlight, though anything is better than “Don’t Stand Me Down.” “Seven Days Too Long” was a standout, and felt familiar, even though “Geno” was apparently the “hit.” The falsetto on "Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply" was terrible. By far the low point. But overall this album was… well, much better than “Don’t Stand Me Down.” Listening to it immediately following that stinker may have impacted my tolerance of this one?
Not a great sign when my favorite track on the first half of the album is instrumental. Why oh why did Kevin Rowland ever think that "putting that 'crying' voice on" was a good idea?!
Too much brass, too much sax, wake me up from the bad dream.
Oh for fuck's sake. Whoever sent out the memo to 80's artists to "sing" in that mopey-muppet-whinge-whine voice was a proper douchebag. Music here is pretty fuckin musical, then Dexy (or whoever he is) just SPLATS that mopey voice all over it like a fecal Jackson Pollock.
I should like this stuff, white boy soul, horns etc. Indeed a couple are quite fun, but his voice isn't great and I can still hear the insidious evil of Come On Eileen and too many ruined nights as a kid
This was new to me, and might be a 4 with a few more listens.
This guy's voice is the worst. It's like somebody dared him to use the most ridiculous delivery possible and play it straight, and he followed through, the madman. Also the saxophone player is out of tune half the time. Best track: The Teams That Meet in Caffs
3/5
I have to commend the band backing the singer. They’re doing amazing with this jazzy rock sound. The singer, however, is fully ruining all the songs with his crying voice. He sounds like the cowardly lion on every song. I can see why the band has a high turnover rate because they are way too good for him. I would give 5 stars if the singing was better because I really like the music besides that.
Seems like I underestimated Dexys because of the Monster smash they had after this album, I had them pegged as a novelty pop act. I’m really glad I listened to this debut to actually put the band into real context. They were a legit soul/punk project with vision and purpose. Northern Soul Rebels, but they also had the ability to pen a massive pop crossover which overshadowed their authentic* beginnings.
annoying MTV vocals
Nothing special
Hugely fun, british soul. I love a good horn section, and they use it well.
Solid release, not my favorite but a decent listen.
Didn’t enjoy this one
This is different Midnight Runners. I wasn't expecting horns and bleated vocals. I enjoyed the last one much more.
I listened to this two or three times, it really grew on me. A bit more ramshackle than the other Dexys album a few months ago, but a really happy vibe.
I didn't really care for this album. The style of the music and the style of the vocals were a strange mix
I liked all the parts where there was no singing. I couldn't stand the guys voice but really enjoyed the instrumentals.
Whiny slightly out of tune 80s. Not my thing.
I always thought Dexy was a one hit wonder and... I still think that.
Love the horns! 3.5
Kind of reminded me of a lighter, more ska version of The Clash. I liked a couple of songs but probably wouldn’t listen to it again.
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.
Listened to on 5/17/22 4/5 Favorite song: Geno, I couldn’t help it if I tried I had no expectations for this album but it was SO fun to listen to, very British, upbeat and just wildly entertaining - Eileen would be proud
It was alright I guess. The voice can be a bit much at times. Biggest disappointment is Come On Eileen isn’t on this album.
Liked this. More to Dexys than Come on Eileen.
There were beats that I enjoy, but his over-affected accent was a turn-off. And at first I was like - ah, a predecessor to ska, like the horns on every track. But then the further into the album, the more I found the horns distracting and taking away from the songs.
first listen great horn work, great mix of styles, but ultimately kinda meh
extremely british and extremely good pop music! this album just makes keeps you in a constant state of happiness for 50 minutes. simply great
I had only ever heard come on Eileen from this band, and assumed they were a one hit wonder, but wow this was a great album!
litt rotete - alt var ikke på spotify. men det var helt greit. vanskelig å finne høydepunkter - samme med lavpunkt. Usikker på bruksområder. det passer like dårlig til alt
A splendid album with quality songs and excellent arrangements. The singing works but is a grating on the odd occasion. And really it's just fun and who would not jump in and sing along with their mates.
Okay I guess. A bit samey after a while.
Supposed to be punk soul or something like that, according to some review I read online, but couldn't get into this mish mash of whatever it is.
Okej album. Ništa prerevolucionarno.
Očekivo sam više nakon prve pjesme.
I actually really enjoyed the sound on this one. I suppose it was the brass. Consequently it scores above average and is a 4*
I feel like I should've liked this more than I did. Perhaps I didn't give it enough attention what with my first day back at work for a week and a bit.
This is a fab album- love the sound!
They have other music
I'll dance my ass off to Come on Eileen every goddamn time that song comes on and love every minute of it. I'll never get sick of it! But I always thought this band was a one hit wonder. Was pleasantly surprised by this album. Contrary to everyone else who hates the sloppy vocals and horns I love those things! I like uniqueness and going against the grain. This is the kind of band I'd love to have seen live at a small dingy shithole bar before they got their 15 minutes of fame. Ooo-ooo ah ah indeed!
Beter als verwacht, beetje ska achtig
Unoteworthy album, save for a couple of brief tracks
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.
'Come on Eileen' is one of my favorite songs, so I was excited to see more from Dexys Midnight Runners on here, because I really wasn't familiar with them other than the album with that one song. Some really enjoyable songs, but also some unenjoyable ones, unfortunately. Love 'Geno' and really disliked 'I'm Just Looking.' Kind of a hit or miss album for me.
Hress og skemmtileg plata!
Although not the first time listening to this, I only discovered this recently. For me it is and still remains a very surprising and original album. The 80s update on classic soul which doesn't even sound like R&B, and his voice, also so typically 80s; alright, I might be alone in this but the way he sings reminds me of Robert Smith. It is not supposed to work but it does!
Not really my thing
Pretty good.
Correct... 2.75
This is a much more interesting band than I would have given them credit for based on Come On Eileen. I watched a YouTube video about their history, and it was pretty cool what they were trying to do. I liked the album after Too-Rye-Ay, so it's cool to get to hear the album before it Overall it's a neat album. I didn't have a lot of time to make notes while I was listening, but the variety of instrumentation was great 4/5
I was surprised to see an album from a band that I have only known as a one-hit-wonder, and this time it's an album that does not include their one hit. The music was okay. I didn't find anything that made me want to listen to more from the band, but not much to make me not want to listen either. The listening experience drug down a couple of times for some spoken audio, and there were a couple of times that I said "Oh look, they decided to include a swear." I think that Searching For The Young Soul Rebels comes out as "okay".
Annoying
Listened Before? N This is interesting. Not really for me, but interesting. Reminds me of when I used to be cool. Pros: Early Ska and late Punk influences here make it a historical piece. Some of the horns are very nice sounding. Cons: The vocals are not particularly nice, and they're not enunciated well so I don't know what he's singing about. The slow songs are a terrible grind to get through. Added to Library? N Songs added to Playlist: Tell Me When My Light Turns Green, Geno
Didn’t enjoy the vocals, music was interesting ska
One Dexys Midnight Runners album is enough (the one with Come On Eileen), but this one is pretty good too. Lots of personality, energy, horns. God, there's so much brass.
Genre: Blue-Eyed Soul 2/5 My second album of theirs that I’ve received throughout this project. Out of over 1,000 albums, I’ve gotten two of three(??) Dexys Midnight Runners albums in the book. Much like the other one, I was over this long before it finished. The horns in this are so absolutely bizarre, and so off-putting, the entire time. I could never feel comfortable throughout this entire project, as the horn flares were bound to jar me loose, and completely break me. I was laughing throughout a large majority of this. Although I would never listen to this again, and new wave is DEFINITELY not for me, and the enjoyment I got out of listening to this was not from the music itself, this album tickled me. It’s a complete joy bomb. But it’s way too much for me.
Una especie de The Cure animado y trompetero. Les compro el vinilo, va.
Not a fan. Sounds like pub music, but the lead singer was castrated before singing. "Keep It" has to be one of the most annoying songs I've ever heard and the fact that it's 4 minutes long is painful. My favorite track was probably either "Geno" or the instrumental "The Teams that Meet in Caffs", but I still wouldn't call them good, just above-average.
Wasn't expecting a Dexy's album without Come On Eileen, but I get how they work for some people. The instrumentation was surprising, I wasn't expecting the horns to be present throughout the whole thing. Dectn but not my jam
Hadn’t heard of these guys and really enjoyed the ska punk type vibe
More varied than I expected, but hampered by a not very good singer. Geno is the best song, burn it down is pretty good, and the rest are fairly forgettable
Surprise 0-3-5
I really dug the ska vibe. The music was nice and bouncy….but lawwwwwwd this album was long AND repetitive. I mean, I dug it for the first third and then I had to check to make sure that I wasn’t listening to it on repeat. I’d like to give it a 2.5, maybe a 2.75, but these is ruthless times. It’s a 2 for me dawg.
Tough! I hear that emotion, and a couple of tracks really pulled me in. But it’s not an album I’m going to toss on unless it’s background to a party, and even then probably not? The voice would edge into whiny too many times. Not enough mix in the mix… just not enough. But E for effort.