Reviews (page 4 of 8)
A great album for all synth pop and 80s fans. The couple middle tracks are the best, but the beginning and end is somewhat lackluster
Relevant as used to see Dave Stewart a lot in Harringay Arms in Crouch End neighbours want to shut due to noise (the NIMBY morons). It's a great breakthrough album, little filler and Annie Lennox's voice is iconic
The eighties were a very, very strange period for music. In only a very few years whole paradigms were turned upside down, and this under a twofold influence: technology and business. Overreliance on the first and obsession about the second created overall aesthetics and atmospheres so representative of that period that, apart from the sixties, no other decade can boast being so instantly recognizable on the merits of its *sounds* alone. And this for better or for worse. During those early eighties, just as Eurythmics was conquering charts worldwide, it's for instance worth noting that even someone like Neil Young was busy using synths and vocoders (see the much maligned and frankly misunderstood *Trans*), and this mere anecdotal footnote here speaks volumes. The times they had-a *really* changed in those years. But probably not in the ways good ol' Bob had expected. Contrary to Neil Young, Eurythmics were typically "eighties" from the get-go, and that's a *huge* difference between the two, of course (one among many). By the time of their second album *Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)*, the duo had indeed fully embraced the schlock, glossy world of fatty synth bass lines and other electronic-driven pulses and would never fully depart from it, even during the nineties. But *there* was also a peculiar twist, a paradox of sorts, because Eurythmics had actually only embraced the clichés of their day and age so as to better reinvent songwriting tropes from far earlier periods, namely the ones of the good old rhythm 'n blues of days yonder. At least, that was the plan. To counterbalance the increasing power of the machines, the solution Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart found out was to inject *soul* into the 'popular mechanics" of their time, even though such "soul" could turn up being totally unrecognizable in those brand new, icy whereabouts. When replicants in *Blade Runner* claim they have their own 'souls', and that they are therefore as 'human' as you and me, there's more than a few eyebrows raised in response. It's the sort of eyebrows that Lennox and Stewart's band are still raising today, especially now that the eighties are far off into the rearview mirror. They were certainly not the only ones to step on that tightrope line in those days. In the U.K. dance scene, Soft Cell's legendary cover of "Tainted Love" had used the same mash-up of electronics and African-American, tried-and-true, melodic lines. But Eurythmics's version of that formula was a whole other level of complexity. Annie Lennox's diaphanous timbre and androgynous presence were not just masks or disguises in plain sight, only *pretending* to hide the obvious rhythm'n' blues influences of her voice inflexions. They were also an ambiguous statement about cultural appropriation and simulacrum. Music once considered "warm" or even "hot" was turning into its own *cold* self-conscious copy. It was *whitened*, in all senses of the word. And it seems audiences just took a lot of pleasure out of this without asking too many questions. In a way, Lennox's almost superhuman abilities on a technical point of view, like when she adlibs soulful pleas and performs other risky voice tremolos, only reinforces that initial ambiguity between (wo)man and machine. What do we have here? A genuine soul singer with flesh and bone? Or a robot only pretending to be one? Do androids dream of cybernetic Aretha Franklins? Not even Philip K. Dick or William Gibson had answered those queries before... Let's just address the electric elephant in the room, once and for all. As overplayed as it is, "Sweet Dreams"--that bouncy title track everyone has hummed under the shower at least once--still sounds superb today. But the apparent simplicity of that hit belies the fact that the song is first and foremost the epitome of the paradoxes spotted up there. And that at its core, it's part of that "Tainted Love" tradition of expressing doubt or heartbreak in such a lively manner (while not plagiarizing the full on minor-key vocal line of the old Gloria Jones hit, there's definitely a similarity in its "Sweet Dreams" equivalent). So if f the track works so well, it's because of those rhythm 'n blues influences first, as is the case in most of the less famous cuts in the album. The great synths sounds, drum-machines, and overall "programming" are just cream on the cake. Excellent cream, but cream nonetheless. The only problem with this track and its place on the album is that it is like a large tree hiding a whole forest. Indeed, if Eurythmics's second effort still holds up relatively well decades after it was released, it's for one reason only: the songwriting. Strip *The Walk* of all its trimmings, for example, electronic or otherwise--yes, even the horn section and that mellifluous trumpet solo at the end--and what you have here is basically a good PJ Harvey song circa *Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea*. Just imagine a different "rock" instrumentation on its verses, and the ressemblance is simply striking. Likewise (but conversely in a chronological point of view), final track "This City Never Sleeps" is nothing but a barely-veiled homage to Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues", with its hypnotic bassline supporting lyrical snapshots of urban melancholy and destitution. What links those two very different reference points (PJ Harvey and Marvin Gaye) is inspiration from the blues and nothing else. And it's an inspiration that a synth-driven act like Depeche Mode will use only quite a few years later compared to Eurythmics. So they knew what they were doing here. Other strands of black music run throughout the course of the album. The use of echoes and reverb in "I've Got An Angel" is drawing its inspiration from dub, and it's a move that feels like a weird, off-kilter way to explore the same paths Massive Attack would step on fifteen years later, musing about other sorts of 'angels'. And in "Somebody Told Me", Lennox even... raps (!), and the outcome of this experimentation is definitely not as ridiculoius as it may sound on paper. Add other decent tracks like that, plus a fantastic Kraftwerk-like, minimalistic opener ("Love Is A Stranger"), and the whole proposition holds the proverbial water like no other Eurythmics record. Speaking of water, don't miss that mesmerizing dark reverie about a drowned girl veering towards This Mortal Coil's goth territory. The girl is named "Jennifer", but she could as well have been named 'Ophelia'. There are only two duds in the album: first another Kraftwerk-inspired track, a cyberpunk cover of Sam And Dave's "Wrap It Up", which might read like an interesting or even daring idea on paper, except that it's not when you're hearing the final clunky results. And there's also "This Is The House", which sounds like a reject from The Talking Heads post-*Remain In Light*. it actually says a lot about the 'Heads that the line between success and failure when it comes to such "white funk" forays is so... thin. But the study of this thin line will surely come in its own time... The point is that if a band like the Talking Heads is enjoying such a raving critical status today, I don't see why another act like Eurythmics couldn't be redeemed as well, at least partly. So the *ideas* behind those failed experiments in the album might have been worth it and you can't blame the band for trying a little too hard. Unfortunately, they are the sorts of ideas that will increasingly come to Lennox and Stewart's minds after *Sweet Dreams...", and there again, the execution will produce many mixed results, actually far more than on this second LP. There will always be a couple of great, catchy tracks and singles to redeem those failures, but nothing that will *wholly* save any of the subsequent records. Replicants always have an expiration date, and for some non-fans, 1983 was maybe the date Eurythmics should have been "retired" by a disgruntled Rick Deckard policing good music out there. Given that it's the exact same year our endearing Roy and Pris of eighties pop broke out with *Sweet Dreams...* (and also *Touch*, released the same year), it seems that, creatively speaking at least, 'replicants' appear to have an even shorter life in reality than the ones they are enjoying in Sci-Fi flicks. You just can't always 'replicate' souls, Annie and Dave, you need to have ones of your own, too. Skills, influence or production values won't necessarily give you one. There are things that all the money in the world can't buy, even during the eighties.
80s synth pop album that still sounds amazing in 2022.
Great to hear this all the way through. Some surprises along the way. Interesting how Sweet Dreams REALLY stands out among the album
Done
New waviest of the new wave.
Big step forward from Kraftwerk!
Nice sound with an all timer of a song on the album
This is a really good album. Lots beyond Sweet Dreams, though that's a classic. It's 80s but doesn't sound dated. It's a keeper 4 🌟
Refreshing and weird
fun album, very electronic feel, i think they were pioneers? dunno. enjoyed it though.
Liked it more than I anticipated and it got better as I kept listening. It didn't turn me onto synth pop as an entire genre but I enjoyed this album. Favourite songs: sweet dreams (of course), Jennifer, This is the house, somebody told me
Very good.
Great band. Leave a couple of songs sounding in our minds.
I can imagine this being spun in an underground nightclub filled with typical 80s dancing young adults. I like that, though.
7/10. Considered an 8/10, but not feeling generous today. Fun and synthy, short and sweet, would relisten to because most of the songs were solid enough and the opening and title tracks were quite good.
There are some really interesting electronic soundscapes on this album, which I was not expecting going in. Still, it was a bit low energy for my taste and many of the songs were just alright. 7/10
This is a pretty good techy sounding album. Obviously the popular song for which the album takes its namesake but it has a number of other good ones. 7/10.
I knew of this band before but only really knew one song. The Sweet Dreams song is enough to carry the entire album.
Aah, eighties nostalgia. Great opening song. Great titelsong. Some of the other songs are also okay.
4/5. Surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. Standouts: Sweet Dreams, Love is a Stranger, Jennifer, This is the House, Somebody Told Me. I also enjoyed some of the bonus tracks.
supercatchy 80s pop music. music to vogue to
Such a complete album.
Najs!!
Annie Lennox's haircut and 80's synth are inseparable. Though dated, I enjoyed listening to this woman sing. Not sure who that other guy is. They could call themself The Eurythmic and it would be just the same.
The songs are fun and great head-boppers, but they don't build up to/don't stand up to the highs of the album, which they need to if the album is going to come together as a whole. It sometimes feels like the other songs are just filler for the killer hit of "Sweet Dreams," or the less killer but still really good "Love is a Stranger." That's not to say they're bad, just secondary.
Great bops, endlessly catchy, sounds futuristic and retro at the same time
Cleaned my car to this album was pretty groovy
solid sound on classic album.
ooh don't mind if I do
Like their work.... a few songs I liked a lot but others I didn’t recognize .....seems to be filler for the LP....
Very 80s! Lots of energy and synth sounds.
All good songs
I liked this ones! The first two songs I wasn't enjoying as much, but the more it got into the album the more fun I had listening to it.
Gran álbum desconocía por completo de quien era la canción, pero sweet dreams es el soundtrack de posiblemente una de mis escenas favoritas de los x-mens cuando quicksilver rescata a toda la banda.. Animoooo miercolitos ombliguito de semana
Would give 5 if only some of the other songs than Sweet Dreams where as good buy, Sweet Dreams in it of itself carries the whole album, anyways it was very synth pop heavy, as expected
The titular song is the best, not super fussed otherwise
Oh well, this is pure nostalgia for me! I basically grew up with this kind of music, being driven through foreign countries on the backseat, listening to this for hours on end because no one would switch the CD. I don't think I'd like it very much, if I listened to this today for the first time, so this review might be skewed by my past, but then again, the perception of music is always subjective. And what could be better than to remember the carefree times during childhood just by listening to a song?
A very good classic. Sweet Dreams just blows me away every time
A classic album with a couple songs I already own. Fun to listen to the whole thing.
I don't like the song Sweet Dreams so I was shocked that I love the rest of the music on this album!
Unapologetically 80s. So many great tracks on this with some concept/wacky stuff that holds up
- this was way cooler than i expected - was expecting george michael and got talking heads - wow
Love them. .
Fun
id give it a four but that cringey spanish song ruined it all…
I really really like 1 song and the rest is kinda whatever. A very three album besides the title track which is fucking dope, so that’s where I’ll stick this.
Pretty good album. Seems like a fair amount of filler once you get past the hits though.
I really enjoy some of the music, especially the eponymous hit. I just found some of it grating and repetitive. Definitely a huge impact on pop music to be heard.
Great singles…but album? Okay
Nah 2.5/5
Enjoyable album and I'm glad to have listened, but I'm still just a fan of the hits and don't feel the compulsion to come back and revisit this one any time soon.
quite a classic, it was okay.
Better than I remember
Good album
Title track is one of the great 80s tracks then rest a good intro to this duo
I really enjoyed this one. Sweet Dreams sets a great groove almost immediately and pretty much rides it through the whole album. The synth-heavy production has aged surprisingly well, and it was a perfect album to throw on while walking. Obviously “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” is the big standout, but I enjoyed the album beyond just the hit. This was actually pretty close to 4 stars, but I think replay value keeps it at a strong 3 for me. I liked it quite a bit while it was playing, but I don't really see myself putting the whole album into regular rotation. Still, a really enjoyable listen and probably around a 6.5/10 for me.
some good tunes on this and then the obvious song is really good too, but the album as a whole didn’t blow me away
#1046. This album really lags by the end. It isn't even that long, but somehow it's a bit too long. 3/5: fine?
This one felt too long, but there were some interesting songs on the second half which helped keep it mostly fresh at least. It did overstay it's welcome though.
Decent album.
Best Track - "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"
The album is pretty good for its time, but nowadays it just seems a bit meh. We all know that Sweet Dreams is a really nice jam, but the rest of the songs are just nothing special. That one song carries the whole album, and some might even say their career, but that's also a bit sad because I assume it was a lot of pressure to recreate such a hit, especially if they just wanted to make music that they liked. Overall, not too exciting, but there were enjoyable moments.
I didn’t hate or love this album. I think someone described it perfectly…a lot of potatoes but needs more meat.
Not really my thing, but decently executed Best Song: Sweet Dreams Rating: 5/10 Stars: 3
#420 Another favourite of my parents, I expect I have listened to this via many a long car journey, yet I didn’t recognise as much as I expected, and I’m realising my parents were probably a fan of best of compilation, which probably made sense for a cassette tape collection in the car. Despite the nostalgia, I appreciate this more than I like it. Annie Lennox has a great voice, and whilst I can appreciate the synthy electronic music, it doesn’t quite land for me personally on this record. Heard before?❓ (possibly) Would I revisit? ❌ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Sweet Dreams Rating: 5/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, let's get this part out of the way. "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" the song is incredible. That synth hook is the stuff dreams are made of. The lyrics are pretty interesting and the song's overall progression is just great. I have no complaints whatsoever with the title track of this album. It is iconic and it absolutely deserves to be. The rest of the album? It's fine. It's not bad at all, but the remaining 9 songs leave a lot to be desired. The synth-pop sound is probably kinda dated, but there's fun to be had. I always get at least a bit of a kick out of 80s synth-pop. Annie Lennox has a solid voice. My big problem is that none of the songs live up to the title track. Most of them are good. "Love is a Stranger" is a solid opener. Others like "This is the House" are kinda weird though. The best comparison that I could make would be the A-ha album on the list. They're both 80s synth-pop albums with one legendary and amazing single, yet they both have the same problem of the album's other tracks being fine and not much more. I gave the A-ha album a solid 3/5, so I think I'll do the same for Eurythmics.
Klassiker asså gillar ju sweet dreams
You know the single, and it'll be the only song you can remember afterwards
This is a good album and is kind of a poppy and new wavish sound. I listen to this album and think what about the guitar? I feel like this type of music ushered in the end of disco…thankfully.
A lesson I've received from this list is that when 80s music is good is dope as hell and when it's bad, it's trash. Both sides of 80s music happen on this album. Some parts make me want to dive into snow in a smoky club in NYC but the other side just makes me take a step back and ask "why"? Highlight: Sweet Dreams (ofc)
Stand-out tracks: Love Is a Stranger, I Could Give You, The Walk, Sweet Dreams Promising start, feel asleep in the second half.
Highlights: Love Is a Stranger, I've Got An Angel, The Walk, Sweet Dreams, Somebody Told Me I knew only half of the tracklist from previous listens. Now I remember why... The highs are high, but boy can this record go too hard on the mystical aura farming. The tracks that I didn't like are awfully pretentious and trying to come off as bigger smartasses than they are. And the singles are painfully obvious too. Idk, I expected a lot more.
good vibes
Funky and fun! A bit too discoey for the cold light of 2026 but it made me dream of a simpler time.
trip down memory lane... maar niet alle huizen hebben de tand des tijds doorstaan
I think this album suffers from the hit being so good and famous that the rest of the album fails to stand up against it. This is the house is the only other track that comes close in my eyes, I really enjoyed that, the rest was just a bit lacking. An enjoyable listen but not something I'll rush back too. 3.25* rounded down to 3*
Decent.
sweet dreams title is electronic groove at the best
meh highlights: sweet dreams (are made of this) this is the house
Not too bad. Sweet dreams still carries though.
Notable highlights (title song), but there are some fillers
Overall: 6/10 This album is basically one incredible song and a bunch of good/mediocre ones. I guess a lot of people really love this group but they just sound like most of the other synthpop groups of the 80s to me. The female vocalist is pretty great though, and she keeps this album from being boring. Fav Song: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
I heard this back when it came out. Loved the two big singles, but didn't really get into it fully. Glad I gave it another go. First half is great, despite having a duet with the guy from Scritti Politti. A few filler tracks in the second half ("Jennifer", "This Is the House" and "Somebody Told Me" all have some cringe moments), but overall a good listen.
Using Jack Black's proverbial bottle of Rocket Sauce. The Eurythmics pretty much used the whole bottle on one song. The little bit that was left, they sprinkled out over the other nine.
not going to lie i’ve never been big on the title track, i liked love is a stranger before this and i like most of this (the walk, i could give you a mirror, etc). then i heard monkey monkey and lost a LOT of respect for this all at once. still plenty to like on here but that was a very big blow to my opinion on it
I like the moodier and sparser stuff but the more soul influence they add into the equation the less I like it. I've never really liked the title track either. 'Love Is a Stranger' is excellent though.
Pretty good synth era album. Jennifer was a new song discovery for me that I really dug. And Sweet Dreams is of course an absolute banger.
The title track is, and always will be, an absolute heater until the end of time. And it carries nearly the full weight of this album. Their sound is good, and the rest of it wasn’t bad, but everything else pales into comparison. True neutral except for a generational bop. 3.2-3.3
Highs and lows, I expected a 5-star album. Its probably a 4 because of the two stellar singles.
is it bad to knock it down a peg because of the spanish song? i cannot handle bad spanish in music. some gems in here but also a lot that didn't distinguish itself.
I don't care for Eurythmics music and endlessly repetitive lyrics and beats ad nauseum but recognise that it was influential for its era.
Album #219 Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) This is probably the most 80s album of all-time. Smooth synthpop, most of which has been entirely forgotten due to it sounding like almost every other run-of-the-mill synthpop album of the time, bar one massive track that is beloved to this day. Add one more semi-hit song, and you have people still talking about this album like it’s a classic. But come on, even if you’re the biggest hater of 80s pop, you can’t deny Sweet Dreams is an absolute classic track, and though Eurythmics are far from my favourite synthpop act, this album hits all the bases for what you would want out of a synthpop album, if you were compelled to search one out. It’s silky and futuristic, and though now, as I write this long after the album came out, it may come across as dated, I still hold onto my enjoyment of this sound and still find it fresh. As a massive fan of this era of pop, I would be quick to recommend people like 50 other albums of this kind before it; but that being said, Sweet Dreams is still a very serviceable and enjoyable experience. Best Songs: Sweet Dreams, Love Is a Stranger, This City Never Sleeps Worst Song: The Walk Score out of 10: 6.5
An album of pulsing, rhythmic electro pop. Sweet Dreams is the standout, of course, but I don't think there's a bad song on there, although the B-side does flag at times. I especially liked the opener Love is a Stranger.
Surprisingly consistent for a one-hit wonder. It's like early Depeche Mode if the singer was trying.
The title track is great. There are 2-3 other tracks that are worth listening to. The rest is really dated synth pop. It probably sounded good in the 80s, but not now. 3.5
Interesting blend of genres
A lot less of a one hit wonder than I expected, Jennifer sounded like a proto-Jesus and Mary Chain song
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Una clase de spinning hecha disco. Temazo Sweet Dreams
I expected quite a lot from this album, but was sadly let down. Maybe I've heard 'Sweet Dreams' so many times that I'm completely biased, or maybe it just is that many levels above the rest of the songs. I don't know. But that's what it felt like after finishing the album. A mish mash of songs with different tempos and energies, but all of them quite synth sounding. 'I've Got An Angel' is decent, but what is for example 'This Is The House' doing on this album? Feels completely orthogonal to the rest of the songs. The songs sound good technically, and the synth sounds are spot on. Annie Lennox's voice is unique and cool as well. But the songs just aren't that interesting. Not sure how to describe it another way. Sad 3 star rating.
So Sweet Dreams it's an all timer, an earworm classic. I've heard of the legacy of Eurythmics, especially Annie Lennox, but in the end I wasn't very wowed.
banger song
the hot-and-cold, rigid-and-pliable combination that annie lennox makes with this kind of motorik synthpop is pretty unbeatable in any context. it's great when she's horny or pissed off, even better when she's desperately in love, as on the opening track, or desperately sad. i don't really blame anyone unable to find the highlights here, or to stand hearing the title track yet another time, or to get past the world-music tinges, but i am just pretty generally pleased by this kind of thing and the few genuine standouts are icing on the cake. doesn't blow my mind but just sturdy and beautifully made. how can you say no to that voice!
Most of the appeal of this album is the title track which honestly I'm pretty tired of. It's a good song don't get me wrong, but when it came up I barely processed it since I think my brain is so sick of hearing it. I honestly preferred the remixed version. As for the rest of the album it's mostly just forgettable but decent new wave. Favorite track: Wrap It Up
I thought this album would be more nostalgic for me, but I'm only familar with 2 songs (Sweet Dreams and Love Is a Stranger). The rest of the album is a bit of a let-down. Not horrible, but not memorable either.
Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album I know the title track How do I feel about this artist? I like their hits a lot but I have never listened to any deep tracks Pre-Listen Thoughts: Sometimes with these 80s albums, the hit is really all there is to it, we will see if this one is like that. Favorite track(s): It wasn’t a bad album, but nothing stood out aside from the Sweet Dreams. I do like other Eurythmics songs, but none of them are on this album.
Nothing quite compares to the title track but there’s a lot of great stuff on the second half
3+
She’s got a good voice, and there are some decent pop tunes on the album also. Nice album to have around if you like this sort of thing which I don’t. 3/5 25/6/26
Well, iconic...nice...but not my style...
Судячи з назви один трек з цього альбому я точно чув. Wrap It Up класна олдскульна хіпхопова музичка. The Walk сподобався, але загалом крінжова музичка. Jennifer звучить сучасно і не крінжово, класний трек.
Another synth-pop ‘80s classic; can’t go wrong with some Annie Lennox.
The sound is synthetic, clipped, and often emotionally icy, but Lennox’s voice keeps it from becoming sterile.
Not mything then, but ok
Вроде зашло а вроде нет
I had forgotten that this is the album with “Wrap It Up”! I love the muted trumpet on "The Walk."
Just okay. Carried hard by title track
mid apart from titletrack
If this album had managed to keep the intensity and hooks of "Love is a stranger" and the title track across the rest of the songs, this would be an easy five stars from me. Sadly, but not surprisingly, they weren't able to pack a full album that way (and probably couldn't have produced equally great videos either), and only a few other tracks live up to the promise, mainly "Jennifer" and the Talking-Heads-inspired "This is the house". Nonetheless, there aren't many songs as widely covered as "Sweet Dreams", and both of their big hits are still instantly recognizable and still sound great more than forty years later (I was shocked to see that their official video for "Sweet Dreams" had 1.1 *billion* views in YouTube).
Great vocals but the song choices are kind of meh.
Sticks to an early 80s fomula and probably informed a lot of synth-pop in the future decades.
i like it as an album. but it's not really my sort of thing. maybe i'd like it more if i gave it a few more listens, but as things stand, i don't really want to.
I only knew a few Eurythmics songs prior to hearing this album, so I went in with fresh ears. I was a bit disappointed in what I heard. Perhaps my expectations were too high. The use of synths is interesting but there were a lot of bands using synths at this time in the 80's. The production is very flawless of course, which only adds to the songs. My biggest issue is I just did not find the songs compelling or overly memorable. Quite a few of these songs did leave me cold (and I don't need a mirror) and I appreciate the reason for the inclusion of this album, but this does not mean I need to think it is a great album. Annie Lennox's voice is really great, of course. My favorite songs: Love Is a Stranger Wrap It Up I Could Give You (A Mirror) Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Jennifer
Only the title track was really amazing but I will admit that could be due to hearing it on the radio so much as a kid. The rest sounded very 80s still.
Buen disco, digno. Ningun tema molesto, y tiene dos bangers la verdad asique bancamos. Me gusta el synth mas de lo que pensaba la verdad, y me gusta ese pop medio oscuro
I'm not sure when I first became aware of the Eurtymics but I would have been too young when this came out, it was probably w few years later with the song Thorn In My Side or maybe I remember them breaking up a few years after being a big deal. I knew I quite liked Annie Lennox's voice and style by the time her debut solo album came out and was one of the first albums I owned. Yet I've never listened to one of their albums before getting this album today. The title track is a banger and I liked a few of the other tracks but overall I found it a bit underwhelming. There's quite a bit of filler on here and not much sonic variation. The cool videos and ahead of it's time aesthetics can't quite carry them over the runtime of an album. The b-side Monkey Monkey on the expanded edition version was giving me Kid A vibes.
Outside of the title track there wasn't much I resonated with, but it's nice to see another album on this list that isn't dad rock. I did like This Is the House," which reminded me of a Talking Heads song. This album might have room to grow but for now it's a 3.
Good listen. 2nd listen improved my rating, as it often does. Nothing I loved, but it’s a solid album.
3,5 Lyon
After listening to this album I’m convinced that Eurythmics was some random experimental band that accidentally made one of the best songs of the 80s. Sweet Dreams is the only thing saving this album from a 2
I love me some new wave, this just makes me feel like my dad rizzing up my mom at sonic when she worked there. You know, like back when the girls roller bladed the food out to you. God. Too dancy for me. It’s actually very well produced, I just don’t find myself listening to this flavor of the genre. Should’ve bumped this in Miami on the bikes POV.
I imagine this is what the 80’s sounded like all of the time.
One of those albums that live and die off the big hit. Not to say the rest of the album is bad, but there's a reason I've only really heard Sweet Dreams before. And what a song it is. The rest of the tracklist generally lands on "too upbeat 80's for me", but its fine. That is, aside from This is the House. Awful song.
The title track is obviously amazing but the rest was lacking for me.
It's a pretty solid album overall. The hits are obviously huge but there's plenty to enjoy otherwise too.
Generic album from the 80s. The sweet dreams song is really the one that stands out for being synthy.
Wildly variable range of quality on this one. Averages to 2.5.
3/4 of Run Of Toss. After months of shuddering every time I look at the list on the back log I am powering through on a train journey. This is by far the best of the four. Let’s not get excited, the bar is lower than you can possibly imagine … This isn’t Toss, though. It’s just the 80s synth cheese in a really stinky shit sandwich. It is incredibly 80s. Comfortably my least favourite decade of music. It’s not even close. And some of it is hard listen. All of the naffness of 80s production on show. But Annie has a great voice, and when they use those shiny electronics appropriately it is absolute sonic gold. You don’t need me to tell you that the Sweet Dreams bass line is perfection.
Pa znaš šta, nakon niza loših albuma, ovo mi je baš dobro sjelo. Uopće nije loše. Doduše, nisu mi baš sve stvari dobre, ali dosta ih i je. 3/5, 6/10
I only knew the hits and this album is a banger but it is so 80s. Minus 1 for that.
So many tracks you know even if you don't know it came from this album. Great listen.
The title song was (and still is) huge when it came out, you couldn't go anywhere and not hear it. At nearly 2B listens this is a definitive 80's song. "Love Is A Stranger" (36M) was also a Top 10 hit in 1983 but didn't have the longevity or history of the title track. I've never listened to the entire album so this is new territory for me. That's an atrocious version of "Wrap It Up", hard to listen to (listen to Sam & Dave, or The Fabulous Thunderbirds, if you want to hear a proper version). "I Could Give You A Mirror" is so overdone with too many layers to be enjoyable, it's a mess. "The Walk" was average stuff. "This Is The House" is a 'why?' song, it's crap. This is a situation where one song is iconic and carries an average album to unparalleled heights. "Jennifer" was ok, "Love Is A Stranger" was pretty good, "The City Never Sleeps" as long but enjoyable, so it wasn't a complete loss. 3 stars for one gigantic-Mt Rushmore-of-80's-songs and a bunch of filler. The listener counts on Spotify agree with me.
The title track is, of course, an absolute classic. The rest of the album doesn't live up to it and sounds VERY dated. It's not a bad listen but it didn't do anything to really win me over.
The title track is definitely a stand out on this album. The rest of the album was a little weird, but fun. Annie Lennox has such an interesting voice to me. I would give this a 3.5, but I don't feel like it's necessarily a 4.
I feel like these records all kind of sound the same but there are some standouts that I really like
Not quite their debut album but as good as. Clearly took to their follow-up release to really hone their style and establish themselves as one of the preeminent pop acts of the decade. Some nice early 80s pure synth pop but the songcraft wasn’t as finely honed as on later releases. Another album where the standout hit is buried in the backend (at least Sweet dreams is opener to side 2) so they clearly hadn’t yet learnt to front end their best tracks on this album. I love Eurythmics overall catalogue but I would take Touch or Be yourself tonight as more complete album experiences than this. Apart from the title track and love is a stranger, it’s not one I would return to for another listen.
Very synth heavy pop / new wave album. It has a fun and experimental vibe that I enjoyed, but there's no denying that the sound is very 80s and hasn't aged so well. The title track is great but a bit overplayed at this point. Love is a Stranger is also excellent and a new find for me.
I love the Eurythmics, except it turns out I only love about three songs on this album. The rest sounds dated: thin synths and wan melodies that don’t do justice to Annie Lennox’s voice.
My memories were more positive than my current experience. Too much 80s synth pulling attention away from Annie Lennox, who is awesome.
The album is nowhere near as good as the title track. It’s good - lots of 80’s nostalgia- but not great.
Two days ago, I generated "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly, and now I get this album. In other words, they're the album with one absurdly popular title track, so they were added in the books. The album was fun at first, but had a very odd dropoff at the end. Favorite Track: "Sweet Dreams(Are Made Of This)"
Nice.
Nice
Total time capsule from the '80s. It's got its moments.. Annie's vocals are sharp enough to cut through any decade's cheese, but it's like they didn't have batteries outside those bangers in the middle. After that high, the album coasts on retro-futuristic funk, but it's a charming drive nonetheless. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - The Walk - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Jennifer
all the other tracks are so empty.
It's got a clean sound, so typical of the 80s new wave style, and Annie Lennox's voice is above par. Other than the iconic title track, though, nothing else is particularly overwhelming.
Love her voice
5/10
Certainly dated but this was much better than I had expected it to be.
Nice music
Title track is overrated. Wrap It Up had some hilariously on-the-nose, vulgar lyrics. Last few tracks before the remixes start are actually very cool.
This album feels dated to me. I liked listening to it (and I LOVED the song Sweet Dreams of course) and I like Annie Lennox, but I don't need that much 80s synth in my life
okay the album is pretty good, HOWEVER, I hate all the adlibs and little sounds they added omg they are horrible why would u do this to me???????????
goed album, niet alle nummers zijn mijn ding
Not bad for what it is, but the Sweet Dreams track is so different that it makes it hard to assess the full album. Honestly, I'm starting to suspect that having a hit song on an album is what qualifies the album for this list...
I'm not sure if this is a 3 or a 4, maybe it needed another listen. But my new album already awaits…
I wanted this to be a 4, but 3 stars is all I can do
Good pop music. The title track is a proper classic. Ultimately, it's all too 80s for me to love. But I've enjoyed my time here.
Obviously "Sweet Dreams" was massive and influential, and the overall sound of the album clearly defines early 80s synth-pop/new-wave.
Я це прослухав))) Я зміг)))
One hit album,But discovering a good song like "The Walk"
Obviously some iconic tracks like the title and Love is a Stranger
Stark trea
Typically a big fan of 80s music but none of the songs on this album particularly stood out to me besides Sweet Dreams
Sweet Dreams - золота класика, з решти альбому мені сподобалася лише одна пісня. Уцілому більш-менш
Cool synth pop sound that features the classic title track “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Great song — one of those tracks that defines the era. This definitely feels representative of its time. Personally, I didn’t connect to it too much, but it’s definitely a notable release for the genre and time. I like the jazzy solos that pop up here and there. They’re well-placed and help give a little extra emotion to the synths and drum machine beats. Annie Lennox’s vocals are a highlight. She’s very dynamic, moving from low crooning to higher-pitched pop vocals. Again, I like that balance between synthetic music and raw human feeling.
The production is so interesting on this album. It's like they took the synthetic drums and synth instruments and made them even more plastic-y and click-y and thin sounding. I don't really dislike it, it definitely sounds kind of weak and lacking oomph but I imagine that's what they were going for. The big downside of this is that sometimes I'm hearing some bass frequencies in the vocals (which aren't exactly frequency-robust either) that almost feel lower than the instruments, which is weird. It makes the vocals stand out in a pretty inorganic way unfortunately.. but again if that's the intent then that's not so bad! Plus the vocalist is so great so in the big scheme of things it's not so bad. "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" is a classic and timeless song. It's fun, funky, unique, and is one of those songs that most people can recite if you start to sing it- which is a special quality.
I feel like I should like this more. A few fantastic tracks and the influences on other bands I love are clear (lcd sound system bordering on just sampling some of this!). But for whatever reason I don’t enjoy it as much as other albums of this time and genre.
2.5
Apart from the 2 big hits, this was very boring, The only song that remotely caught my attention was Jennifer. The rest were unmemorable and unremarkable. Love is a Stranger was the standout song by a very long margin. I honestly do not think this is worth 3, so 2.5 stars, but I'll upgrade to a 3
There are some interesting ideas through out but nothing comes anywhere near the title track and some songs outstay their welcome.
A couple of greats here
The Apple Music description for this album reads, "The title track to the British New Wave duo is so iconic, it threatens to render its other nine tracks redundant" lol. I completely agree. Favorite track: Sweet dreams
my favourite artist from my area who has the same birthday as me
Somehow this is my first time actually listening to a full Eurythmics album. I was expecting the whole thing to sound like the title track. Turns out some other songs actually had a different brand of a synth sound, more raw and nasty (meaning really good). Definitely need to get more into them because it seems their non-singles songs have some hidden gems 3/5
nice enough
very unique in his own way
7 / 10
Good synth fun… but not something I will revisit. It’s like art where you are like… that’s nice but not something I will seek out.
Sweet dreams is a great song, but not strong enough to carry the rest of the album. 5/10 Decent
I like the house one, really reminded me of talking heads
Childhood nostalgia from the title track, listened to this one a lot. Pretty okay all the way through, nothing blew me away but it was just a nice listen.
I'd say this album is better than I expect -- solid vocals by Annie Lennox and well-produced by Dave Stewart. Catchy hooks throughout the album as well, although some tracks are quite tedious.
50/50 om numrene var fede synes jeg, men når den rammer rammer den hårdt. Titelnummer og åbningsnummer superfedt. Annie Lennox er en fed sanger
Fun but the highlight is sweet dreams, the rest kinda forgettable. Good ‘tronics.
Very 80s
interessante scoprire da dove arriva l'orginale di Sweet Dreams, ma preferisco di gran lunga le diverse cover. Il resto dell'album non mi ha colpito troppo
Sweet dreams is masterpiece and this original is the best but overall vary basic sounding '80s album
Did I never know this was Annie Lennox singing?? One classic and a few bops. 3.
Some cool tracks and nice production/composition. Really cool sounds. It’s just not cohesive. I was trying to place why it isn’t as good as Violator, and I think that’s it.
not my style tbh. thats what i can only say. ion want to say "its bad" i respect others who enjoy it but i dont, sorry
2.5
Barely sufficient
I actually had a good time with this album and would have given it a 4 but I’m docking an entire point for the title track trauma I have from GCSE music
The title track, which is one of the best songs of the 80’s, is levels above anything else on this album
This is certainly a better album than its most popular single (which is amazing), but in the end, some of these 80s albums need to overachieve to enter into a regular rotation. Very respectable talent and collaboration, but still not better than some of the earlier 80s gems that have less recognition, but work better as albums.
Sweet Dreams is a really good song. I don’t love the album.
Enjoyable background music
The title track is iconic but there’s more cracker tracks here than expected (3.5)
A lot less polished which I liked. A surprising album
Fint album. Faktisk bedre end forventet. Intet slår, eller er i nærheden af title nummeret. Jeg hørte det 2 gange uden at blinke.
Albummet kan slet ikke leve op til hittet
This was an interesting journey they took us on. I loved a good chunk of it, I liked how different each song was. I usually like a more cohesive project but that didn’t take me out of it this time. Plus, there’s a timeless classic smash hit on there too which always elevates a project too.
It didn’t make as big an impact as I thought! 3.5 mostly for the single.
The title track has been in my ears for as long as I can remember. And I haven’t heard any of these other songs on this album. I’ve grown quite fond of “Jennifer” after only a few listens! But the rest, while perfectly fine, sound like any other New Wave track. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
During the first song I thought that this would be a great album, but it wasn’t really. There are two cool songs, but the rest is just so-so. Best songs: Love Is a Stranger and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
80s magic!
Not the best, not the worst. I love Annie’s voice. The cover of Wrap it Up was a fun surprise to me.
Notable Textzeile: Well there's laughter and love And there's a lot of pain I never wanna see your Pretty face again Das will absichtlich und etwas zu verkrampft arty und seltsam sein, aber gleichzeitig auch gefällig und Pop. Aber ein Überhit ist dabei. Und es ist zumindest was Besonderes, was es sonst nicht so viel gibt. 2,5 wird zu 3
They have a unique style and I enjoyed the album. Fun and different.
6/10
The album wasn't as good as I had hoped. Not bad, but not as good.
How did I not know that Annie Lennox was the singer in Eurythmics?! I feel like I've been under a rock, I love Annie Lennox. This album was too long imo. I loved her vocals and I love the rhythms but all of the songs dragged on a bit too long. By the 10th song I was getting bored. However, this is a masterclass in 80s new wave so I can't be too mad about it.
Some real high points but as an album didn't all land.
Going into this, I already like sweet dreams. The rest was very meh and better left in the 80s. The opening track has some grunting in the background, very distracting. WTF was this is the house? 3* Highlights: sweet dreams
interesting
Sweet Dreams goes so hard but many of the other songs are pretty corny.
this was awesome!
While there is one stand out song from this album the other songs show while I haven't heard of them before. Its not a genre I listen to a lot so their big it is enough for me in the future as well. It was still fun hearing more from a band I don't listen to.
3+ Sweet Dreams slays as always everything else is ok. except for that cover. what is going on here...
great song, okay album
7/10
Their musical accomplishment notwithstanding, I was never a big fan of their cold sound.
I was beyond excited to see this. The singles on this album were a big part of my childhood, I would have been 11 when this came out but have never listened to it fully. The nostalgia hit straight away with Love is a Stranger and Sweet Dream.. then unfortunately it all turns a bit mediocre, with the most of the rest of the record being nowhere near as good as the singles I remember. Damn shame.
7,02
Cool album. Anchored by sweet dreams, but some dreamy poppy floaty stuff. 3.5/5
Eins der besseren 80s Pop Alben. Stimme toll.
It’s not a bad new wave album, but personally, I’m just not that crazy about Annie Lennox as a vocalist or the kind of energy she brings to the band.
The three middle songs are upbeat and energetic they make the rest of the album fall flat, some songs have absolutely zero buildup it's frustrating/ repetitive and the vocals can't save everything. 2.75/5
I had only listened to Sweet Dreams and the rest of the songs were let downs
This was pretty much what I expected. Kinda boring, sounded fine, "Sweet Dreams" is by far the highlight of this album. Everything else is pretty mid. It's synth pop there's not much happening here.
was ok-yes Lennox has unique vocals, but still sounds very early 80's with the heavy/over synth sounds
unique vocal stylings. in some songs she almost sounds like a female version of david bowie… and i am here for it. good listen.
fun!
There's some fantastic stuff here along side some big misses. I love the big swings, though.
The title track is a classic, of course, and Love Is A Stranger is great too, but it's not all quite as good as that. A solid 3.
One classic 80s track, and a bunch of other crap.
This was pretty great. I love the cold and minimal production, because although distinctively 80’s it felt surprisingly modern at times. My standout track is Jennifer, I loved the cold vocals with the looped synth. The production created this almost abstract and lonely atmosphere which I was a big fan of. It definitely is my type of music
I found that I actually enjoyed Sweet Dreams (AKA the one we know) maybe a little less than some of the rest of this. It's a bit too hackneyed feeling now, although I guess its ubiquity is partly because it's good, so it gets played a lot. I'm going round in circles here. Anyway, the rest of the album is very glacial, led by Annie Lennox's very distinctive vocals. It's not particularly my cup of tea, but it was definitely an interesting listen. This whole review has been an exercise in non-commitment, which is probably reflected in a very middling score.
It was a good album
The album starts incredibly strong, but loses steam pretty quickly. Maybe I just don't get the vision, but a few of the tracks are very artsy.
I enjoy Jennifer and Sweet Dreams but everything else is very meh
Pioneers of synth
The Title track is at 1.8 Billion plays, and although it is a major hit the rest of the album falls short.
Has the hit, but the rest is mid
supa cute
*snoooooort*
Pleasant background music. Not really special thougthough. Except for title track, but you didn't need ththe 1001 albums list to hear that.
Gets 3 stars for the two big hits but to be honest it all sounds a bit dated now. Still there’s no denying the quality of Lenox’s vocals, which is the main thing to commend the album
The bangers of the first half got a little directionless after the title track, but Annie Lennox's voice really elevated it
Love Is a Stranger 3.3 I've Got an Angel 3 Wrap It Up 3 I Could Give You (A Mirror) 3.4 The Walk 3 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 3.8 Jennifer 2.8 This Is the House 3.1 Somebody Told Me 3 This City Never Sleeps 3.1 Score: 3.15
There’s the one timeless classic, but a surprising number of songs are pretty annoying.
Was a bit disappointed with this. I like Annie Lennox, am partial to 80's electronica and Love is Stranger / Sweet Dreams are absolute classics however was underwhelmed by the album tracks (apart from Jennifer which I thought was ace) with This is The House being an absolute stinker. A high 3.
Not bad
Album 987 of 1089 Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics (1983) Rating : 2.5 / 5 The title track itself is permanently etched into my memory, having been everywhere during the latter half of my senior year of high school. It’s one of those songs that instantly pulls you back to a specific time and place, and it still holds up as a defining moment of early-’80s pop. Beyond that standout, though, the album as a whole just didn’t do much for me. Nothing here is bad or offensive to the ear - it’s clean, well produced, and clearly competent - but the remaining tracks all seemed to sit at the same level without ever really breaking out or grabbing my attention. After a while, it just started to blur together. I can absolutely see how others might find more depth or charm in it than I did, and I won’t argue its place in pop history. For me, though, this is very much an album carried by one iconic song, with the rest landing firmly in the “meh” category. Sometimes that’s just how it goes.
Obviously I'd heard the title track a billion times. It's good, but I'm a bit sick of it. On the whole, though, this exceeded expectations. I like the gloomy synths. I love Lennox's voice. I thought the cover of "Wrap it Up" was really fun. Good album.
Completely forgot about Love is A Stranger!! What a great song! Never cared for the title track, though. A solid enough album nonetheless. 3.7
Great Songs: Good Songs: I’ve Got An Angel, Wrap It Up, Jennifer, This Is The House, The City Never Sleeps Mid Songs: Love Is a Stranger, I Could Give You (A Mirror), The Walk, Soembody Told Me, Bad Songs:
Nice
One good song couldn't save this from mediocrity.
Another one on here for one song. I’ve actually never really liked the title track, but it is catchy. Jennifer was the only one that grabbed me. The rest was standard synth pop we’ve heard about 50 times on this list.
good but not great
From what little I knew of Eurythmics I expected more of a dance / disco / pop album. Sweet Dreams is such a massive hit with such a specific and iconic sound I also expected the rest of the album would be more similar. I was surprised at how experimental this album was, it sounded more post Punk / industrial than pop or dance to me. I did like some of the experimentation and was surprised that this album held my interest the whole time. All of this surprise aside , the album still didn't resonate with me super well on any emotional level. It felt objectively interesting but from a distance, happy to know more about Eurythmics but unlikely to look to listen to this again.
Trevligt
Genomgång bra vibe, men utöver titelspåret stack det inte ut.
Definitely on the better side of 80’s music. “I could give you (a mirror)” is a banger
I enjoyed this more than I expected to.
Respect, enjoyable, diverse enough to not be one note but not enough to keep me dialed in...Sweet Dreams is an all timer, points for that.
I enjoyed the last few songs more than the first half. Having only heard the singles, I have a new appreciation for Annie's voice, wow. This also aged very well compared to many albums from this era. Not exactly my thing but pretty good stuff.
My dad remembered alice’s name :) t-3 track i think waa bangin. THARY!
Should've checked out more Eurythmics sooner. Great synth driven beats. Although, after sweet dreams the songs kind of became less interesting
Rating: 7/10 I was really into this Eurythmics album as an interesting take on fun and weird early 80’s synthpop. Its dark and mechanical tone combined with singer Annie Lennox’s great vocals worked for me. Love is a Stanger and Sweet Dreams are highlights but also the last track is awesome. Tracks 3 & 8 were the only lower points and are skippable.
I weirdly really like it 6.9/10
I've never been a fan of the song Sweet Dreams. It fits better in the context of the album, and certainly better than Nut Gone Flake. In our dynamic rating system, 5 nightmares out of 10 lizard wizards
'It's noble and it's brutal, it distorts and deranges / And it wrenches you up and you're left like a zombie.' Like A-ha's 'Take On Me,' 'Sweet Dreams' is heard more than it's attended, but unlike the Norwegian outfit, Eurythmics can make a full album, or at the very least, a respectable one. Besides the international hit, the record has tracks like 'Love Is a Stranger,' 'The Walk,' 'Jennifer,' songs that don't send a shiver up your spine but are good enuf. Nothing here isn't catchy, and some of it can even be called sexy, but too much is uppity and, in the end, like a mealy apple: it's all bountiful 'til it's exposed to the better air and presents you with something edible but no longer delicious. In fact, it's too 'eurythmic,' too tepidly symmetrical. K?
If I could give this negative stars I would
In the 80s there were two certainties at the Brit Awards - firstly, the Best International Band would be Bongo and The Hedge and their two chums, and secondly that Best Female Vocalist would be Annie Lennox. There is no denying she’s a great vocalist, and this is very well produced, slick synth-pop … but I don’t find synth-pop, however well it is crafted, very exciting. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it, but I also couldn’t say I did. Meh.
It was ok. However, I will say that " Sweet Dreams " is so overplayed commercially.
Fine
point2.
Mildly interesting
I don't think I've ever heard any other Eurythmics songs other than Sweet Dreams, which is very different from the rest of this album. Interesting background music at work, though.
Not my cup of tea. Too 80's electronic for my taste. Lennox has a super voice though.
It’s good. Annie Lennox is a legend
Love Annie Lennox, nice to hear her in context with where things started.
Okay - don't really get it to be honest. Struggle with 80's music.
10/1001 прикольно и не так сильно "отдает" временем своего релиза, звучит легко в сравнении с другими песнями того же периода хотя иногда есть ощущение будто трут наждачку + если каждую песню урезать в 20-30 секунд из нее ничего не потеряется, будто просто растянуто и все таки больше да, чем нет
En tiennyt että Annie Lennox on alunperin Eurythmicsistä. Jotenkin suoraan sanottuna taas niin keskinkertainen levy. Sweet Dreams tietenkin taas iso hitti, mutta levy muuten aika tylsä ja mitään sanomaton. Parhaat: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)