Reviews (page 7 of 9)
Sweet Dreams saved this album from being 1/5.
Sweet Dreams is a fun song and a classic but most of this album stinks. NEXT!
Sweet Dreams is big. The rest……..
Terrible garbage. Their big hit on here is pretty good but mostly for the familiarity. These guys suck
Good, but not amazing.
Other than the one main hit, the sound of the songs is very boring. I'm underwhelmed by this considering the popularity of the titular hit.
по-моему я никогда еще не слушала его целиком, хотя он кажется был где-то скачан энивей тэ бест оф классикс ;-)
3.75/5 This album really confirmed to me that I love electronic music. Even in it's origins I enjoyed it. Even though I had never listened to the album before, I felt like what had formed my love of synth and electronic music. It was fun to listen to.
I was sadly underwhelmed by this. No doubt Annie has some pipes, but overall nothing drew me in and made this fun.
Better than most 80s synth pop albums. But title track is far and away the best thing on this.
Something bittersweet is nice from time to time.
Had only ever heard the title track. A fun pop album with lots of experimentation on it. Favorite track: Wrap It Up
the title track is a classic and definatly the best on the album. The rest is actully kinda mid and even boring? I think they were ahead of their time with the sound of this album but it's not great... somewhere between a 3 and a 2... I'd say 3
two massive tracks, and the rest is a slice of 80s pop, not a bad listen
Unremarkable. Bit disappointing
Really liked it actually, I suspect they smoked a lot of pot whilst writing it. Won't make it's way into my regular rotation, but loved how out-of-the-box this album is
I was really only here for one song and one song only. The rest of the album was pretty average in my opinion. I expected it to have more heavy industrial style electronic synths - similar to Sweet Dreams - but alas this was lacking for the most part. Best: Sweet Dreams Worst: Somebody Told Me
Not looking forward to this one but was pleasantly surprised. A but repetitive but it works
The hit really stands out, making the other songs stand in the shade and feeling worse then they actually are.
Contains two of the best 80s singles with Love Is A Stranger and Sweet Dreams. It is not the perfect synthpop album, but the number of 5 star songs is such that I still rate it as a 5 star album, just like its two successors Touch and Be Yourself Tonight. 9/10
Decent album, with of course the title track standing out on a first listen. Got a bit better overall during the second listen, but still a bit too flat in places for full marks.
The hits are true classics, some other parts (especially towards the end) are not really memorable.
Real 80 sound. Good
It's fine, but I feel like a lot of the songs were too much potatoes and not enough meat, you feel me? I'm hungry.
I was pleasantly surprised by the variety on display, but still too much 80s cheese to really push into a 5 for me.
You know I don't know. It's somewhat better than I expected (esp. Love Is a Stranger). But it's just not my cup of coffee.
This sounded fresh on its release. The range of AL a joy and the twiddly parts from DS uplifting. Other than the singles which are baked in, this simply does not stand up today.
Fairly standard synthpop of its time. Nothing really stood out here, beyond the obvious opener, which was more familiar. Somehow, the Eurythmics always seem less than the sum of their parts somehow, although I am no Dave Stewart fan.
The stunning vocals work well against the cold synth sound. I might have enjoyed this better as a guitar album - but that's the whole point of Eurythmics, right? It's not exactly a masterpiece or anything to come back for apart from the singles. I didn't know Green Garside was involved.
Annie Lennox, you wonderful human being. What a powerful voice brimming with authenticity. This might be the most 80s sounding record ever made. No analogue instruments, heavy synth bass, and a drum machine. I am not a fan of the more atmospheric tracks, but when the bass and synths hit hard on 'This Is The House' and the title track (best dance song ever?), the stars seem to align.
The obvious highs are really high. But the lows are equally low. This really made me want to listen to some Yazoo.
With coming back to
I have a feeling that Touch is their better album that is NOT in the book (it's also from 1983!), but makes sense that they'd choose their big break over the confident follow-up. Still making up my mind over parts of it, like the plastic soul in "Wrap it Up", or "This City Never Sleeps" which just goes and goes, but I can't help but dig the Eurythmics sound, and Annie Lennox's voice elevates the weaker tracks and supercharges the strongest ones. June 14, 2023 HL: "Love is a Stranger", "Jennifer", "I Could Give You (A Mirror)", "This is the House" oh yeah and that title track
It’s clear this album influenced so many acts. Like on the first track I heard a ton of LCD Soundsystrm, even though I never really got into Eurythmics. Sweet Dreams still holds up and a lot of these songs are really catchy!
The title track is one of the defining tracks of the 80's, and Annie Lennox's voice is classic, but the electronic wavelength the 80's was fixated with for the most part leaves me cold. All (cheesy) flash, and VERY little feel.
В целом, в целом, было приятно. Даже не только sweet dreams понравились. Такая, 3+ Алкоальбом: апероль шпритц с гранатом кисленьким
Свит дримс ар мэйд оф зиииис! Ну конечно все знают этот трек, куда же без этого. Долгое время я не знал, как называется группа, которая его написала. Окей, как минимум, я запомнил, что это был не Мерлин Мэнсон. Его кавер кстати неплох... В остальном же - классный синти-поп, нью-вейв, ещё какое-нибудь модное название для жанра... звучит хорошо, возможно немного скучновато. Огромный респект ребятам, что всё это было сделано почти в формате DIY, на собственном сетапе и почти без помощи продюсеров.
если бы можно было выпустить просто сингл и не давать мне надежд, было бы пиздато
meh
Maybe a weird take, but I'm not loving the higher vocal frequencies of Love Is a Stranger. Seems to rub my ear a little bit in the wrong way. Sweet Dreams though: good track, nuff said. Jennifer is also cool and compositionally it's a pretty interesting track. Some good instrumentation on This Is the House (horns, decent bass line, etc.) which I was pleased to hear. Works well despite the weird Spanish vocals. Really liking the vibe of This City Never Sleeps - simple, but effective. OK album overall, but "historical value/impact" aside, I'm a bit underwhelmed. The good/great tracks aren't enough to carry this one for me. 3/5.
Apart from Sweet Dreams, the rest of the songs on the album are fairly disposable and apart from a couple others, filler. I admit, Sweet Dreams has a certain nostalgic quality to it, since I grew up during this era so I couldn't avoid it, but I never got into the Eurythmics and I'm not a fan of this genre at all. One star for the hit and one star for the rest of the record.
very 80s for me i love the synths of course but definitely not something i would listen to in general
Another first for me. Other than the title track i knew nothing. This sounded a lot fresher than i thought it would considering it's early 80's release date. Fully buying what they're selling
verrücktes Album, sehr abgefahrener Sound, Sweet Dreams ist ein absoluter Banger, der Rest klingt sehr nach 80er Jahre Synth Pop. Nicht gut, nicht schlecht, aber definitif auf der anstrengenderen Seite. 5/10
Not really my jam
I had only heard the singles off this record; I was amazed at how much of this album I ended up liking!
It's all about you know what song which is good but I'm really tired of hearing it so this album's just useless to me.
The New Wave genre already started to drag in 1983, and it shows.
Writer could have just wrote a sentence stating I like to dance on this hit - no need to include the whole album...
The song "Sweat Dreams" deserves to be in the list "1001 songs you must listen", but the album... A massive hit doesn't make an album great and legendary. Overall, it was surprisingly boring.
Not terrible. Just not my kind of music. A lot of just noise
Great
Weird but good!
One of the most classic synthpop albums of the 1980s, Sweet Dreams helped to create and establish the genre. Unlike some of their contemporaries, Annie Lenox's R&B vocals shine, refusing to get lost in the techno beat. A great listen even 40 years later and jam packed full of dance tunes, this album is part of the origin story of modern club and dance music. Without Sweat Dreams, as well as late era Donna Summers and New Order's Blue Monday, we wouldn't have modern EDM.
The ultimate 1 hit wonder. This album has the hit. So. That kind of tells the whole story here.
I was ready to dislike this album because synth pop is not my cup of tea at all. But it was quite an enjoyable and fun listen, it sounds fresh and old at the same time with some good tunes.
was aight
This album is made out of awesomeness.
Lots of album filler and I found the songs to be poorly arranged. Sweet Dreams is a banger though.
One of my favorites from before this project.
Not really much on here worth listening to except the title track.
they have a sound and they stick to it. it’s not a bad sound though so the album works. my favorite song (This Is The House) was the one that strayed from the sound a little bit though, very bass led and cool horns
This album is interesting. It's not particularly my kind of music but I didn't really dislike it either. I really only know Eurythmics by the title track of this album, so I didn't know what to expect. I was surprised/hopeful based on the first track because it was giving me strong LCD Soundsystem vibes. The rest of the album kind of dips, aside from a few standouts. 'Jennifer' was my favorite track by far. Standout Tracks: Love is a Stranger, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Jennifer
banco una bandAaa!!! 8/10
Here's an extremely lackluster 80s band that somehow wrote and recorded one of the most popular songs of the decade and nothing else of consequence. Their use of synth is semi-original, but not at all innovative. Lyrics, production, and structure are all fine. People seem to think this album is really something special solely because of the title track, but their failure to replicate such a song ever again proves, at least to me, that it was a stroke of luck. 2/5
I liked their music when I first heard it in the 80s when they broke out with this album, their MTV videos, and beyond. As the years have gone by, I have a deeper appreciation for just how good they are, this album is, and what they (and Annie Lennox as a solo artist) did in the ensuing years. Her voice is extraordinary, and what makes her stand out for me is her unique style and very interesting sense of melody. I also really, really admire what she's done publicly with her star power. She has long been a strong advocate for LGBTQIA+ dignity and rights, and as someone with family members and close friends in that community, that means a lot. We need it now, especially here in the US, more than ever. Back to the music -- it's a fun album that also has a depth of layers we don't always hear in pop records. I don't usually listen to electronic-based music like this, but it's great stuff!
After the first 4 or 5 tracks, I was prepared to trash this; but you know, the back half has some great moments on it. Jennifer feels criminally underrated, like it could fit on the Drive soundtrack, and Somebody Told Me kind of slaps. I was never a huge fan of the title track, and like many many records of the 80s, this album is built around its hit. Cut off a few sleepers here, and I might have some sweet dreams to this one.
Sweet Dreams (Is An Apt Title) 😴
- Only ever heard the title track before - Thought the rest of the songs were good but nothing incredible - Good album but not one of my favourites from the list - Fav songs: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), I Could Give You (A Mirror), Love is a Stranger
Oh my - I loved this back in the day!
Liked: I've got an angel Sweet Dreams Jennifer
Good
I listened to this album while working on one of my projects for class and I have to say, this is fantastic music to listen while coding. This album felt so short first time go around, I was just wanting more when it was over. I wish Sweet Dreams didn't completely overshadow this album because the rest of the songs are really good songs as well. This was a really solid synth pop album
The call and response at the beginning of wrap it up both gave me a jump scare and made me laugh. Jazz at the end of the walk is so cool. This album has a really cool vibe, feels like it takes me to a different place when I’m listening to it. The production also has a lot of cool layers, and I feel like I’m picking up new sounds on repeat listens. Sweet Dreams is a top 10 80s pop song for me. Wtf were they thinking with the Spanish in This is the House? Took me out of the flow of the album. Honestly, the whole album really falls apart after Jennifer. Which is a shame because the first 7 songs are an incredible run. This brings me to a philosophical decision, 7 songs I love followed by 3 utter disappointments. 25 minutes of music I love is good enough for me, and it helps that it’s consecutive so I don’t have to skip, I can just turn it off when I’m done. I’m gonna give it a light 5. Cover art: 9/10 did Kanye make this?
Wrap it up sounds like the song SpongeBob’s pet jellyfish plays when he’s throwing a rave at SpongeBob’s house. This album was dope though. The three song run of the walk, sweet dreams, and Jennifer made the album for me. The walk has so many different elements that occur and build throughout the song and all of them help lift the song rather than distract from it. Sweet dreams is obviously an 80s banger. Jennifer is like Proto-dream pop and almost sounds like a beach house song. It was a surprisingly intimate song and contrasted the previous two darker songs really well. Certain songs seem a little dated but I think that’s partly cuz of how much of an 80s staple this is. 👍: walk, sweet dreams, Jennifer
Nothing crazy here tbh. Upbeat and fun but nothing really stood out.
Album was a fun listen. Not something I’d listen to all the time but something you can kind of throw on in the background and just float on top of all the synths. This album signals the beginnings of synth pop and which is pretty cool to hear. Don’t think i like it enough to give it a 4 but there’s some good tracks here for sure. Heard before : sweet dreams Favorites: the walk, Jennifer, sweet dreams MMM: STEP AWAY (step away) WALK AWAY ALL I WANT IS THE REAL THING
That was a disappointment. Based on the banger that is 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)', I expected to really like this album. As it turns out, whilst SD(AMoT) is great, the other tracks are not at all catchy or tuneful. Never mind. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Date listened: 19/04/23
Alright, not amazing, but some truly catchy songs on here. Sweet dreams is iconic
one of the best.
A classic, influential and Annie Lennox has an unbelievable voice
De titeltrack is een goed nummer, maar verder vind ik het allemaal vrij doorsnee en niet zo interessant. Prima te beluisteren, maar verder doet het me niks. 2 sterren dus.
Loved it
Bumpin’.
GOD DAMN why are only one of these songs famous? dude more than half these tracks could’ve made them one hit wonders, they’re all so amazing 10/10
A few moments I think are actually interesting buried beneath a bunch I just can’t stomach. “Love is a Stranger” is a lot of fun. The titular track obviously hits. The rest is just far too theatrical, self-serious, and synth-y for my tastes. The lyrics are gaudy and sticky sweet and the annoying inflection with which they’re sung sound to be all done in up in some reverb-y velvet that feels like a great big facade the band can hide behind. “I’ve Got an Angel” and “Somebody Told Me” in particular are garbage. There are other moments though where I was quite taken with the production. The horns on “The Walk” and on “This is the House,” plus the bass on that latter song is hoppy, happy, and rad. It’s those moments that remind me a little more of Talking Heads and play a bit more post-punky and like actual-fun. “Jennifer” is the high point of the album musically but the absolute low point lyrically. Would have loved an instrumental version of that. Essentially, all the post-punk, stripped down satire of the The Human League’s Dare (1981) is done up in some ornate, pop-friendly, radio-theater bombast that is the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” an album that I bet would have dropped the parenthetical from the title if it hadn’t meant risking unit sales. The music here feels feels genetically engineered for (then) MTV VMA shows and (now) water aerobic classes for aging retirees at community pools the whole world over. For the purposes of this review, the negatives far outweigh those few highlights, no matter how well this album was produced or influential it might be or that I actually quite like some of Annie Lennox’s solo stuff. 2/5.
It was fun, it was funky, it was creative, the production I found very playful and silly and cool FX, and yet I barely enjoyed myself at all, and that might just be my personal taste the music. Yeah, overall, it was way more interesting and fun and inventive than I thought it would be, but I wasn't super crazy about it!
1 song amazing, happy to skip the rest
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
The bones are good, thinnest possible skin stretched over them. That and the decision to keep the title track inside work. Variation is evident underneath, fine machinery that doesn't connect together but has familiar synthesized visage.
This album felt like it was just a step back from being amazing, but it just didn't quite get there
This is a terrible mix but the songs are fun. Sweet Dreams is a killer hit. The rest? This Is The House finally has some low end and that makes all the difference. This City Never Sleeps is an ambient track, so if you want an extended postlude this is for you. I'm not enthralled by it.
I wanted to like this more than I did. Annie Lennox is a great vocalist and the title track is a certified banger, but most of the songs just left me saying "meh". I wish the quality of the music matched the vocals, that would make it a 5. As it is, I give it a 3 for a classic song, a bunch of so-so ones, and great singing.
I've never been a huge fan of the title track, but I did end up lightly enjoying the full album. Pretty decent new wave project. 3.5/5
Good spacey 80s pop. Surprised this one has yet to make a grand reappearance to the masses
Excellent post punk alt record. Obviously banger title track
The more I listen to Eurythmics, the more I like them. Annie Lennox has such a distinguished voice and uses it well to layer on top of the synth beats on every song. Pretty solid collection of tracks on here, and they are all very well produced and sound polished. Cool, dark and fun. Fave tracks: Wrap it Up, The Walk, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
The lead single off this album is a household name at this point. Given the popularity of that track, I was expecting there to be a couple other standouts on this album. Unfortunately I found the rest of the offerings to be pretty run of the mill. That's not to say any of the songs are bad, I did enjoy my listen, to me this is quintessential 80s synth-pop. But beyond the title track I found nothing particularly memorable about this offering. Fav Tracks: I Could Give You (A Mirror), The Walk, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)
Played this album a lot when it came out 40 years ago (!). Not so much in recent years - and this has been a mistake. I didn't care for some of their later pop/rock stuff, but this is an excellent synth pop album.
Kind of a boring sandwich. Sweet Dreams is obviously great but the rest feels like filler around it.
3/5 Some solid tracks, mostly easy to listen to, strong vocals. But then there's some songs mixed in that definitely go against the Geneva Convention, like This Is The House
This album is really bad. It doesn't even have an interesting story behind it like some albums on here to make you realise why it's on the list. It literally just says 'Eurythmics second album'. Jennifer is one of the worst songs I've ever heard and somehow they instantly top it with This Is The House. I feel most people will probably give this album an extra star because of Sweet Dreams but I've never really liked that song either. The next album can't come quick enough
Not great, even with the title song being good. The rest of the album is just so flat and boring.
Properly talented songwriters and musicians. Not always my choice, but clealy a cut above.
who am i to disagree?
- expected to like it more - sweet dreams has never been my favourite (overplayed) but I like other eurythmics songs. This was meh for me
once again with one good song.
Ok
There was a huge difference between what I enjoyed and what I didn't. 3 overall, personal favourites are sweet dreams, jennifer and I could give you a mirror.
Some really great songs. Some really crappy songs.
I like the hits. But further this just didn’t grab me that much. 6 out of 10
Solid pop music (from my youth), and Annie has a great voice.
Very 80’s sounding feels this album is carried by its title song, but that’s probably enough for it to make the list.
Good but not great
Not a fan
Loved Eurythmics back in the day. This is great
I’ve always thought Sweet Dreams was a banger of a song and now I think it was a banger of an album!
I don’t really like this album very much at all. Tbh
I liked it. It had a vibe. I used to write off that 80s sound but I think I quite like it now. Lots of cool sounds used interestingly. Still not sure if I'd have it on regularly but a couple of stand out songs.
- Cool synth and bass work - Songs blended together a lot and didn't seem very standout - Overall a little boring for my tastes - Favorite songs: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), I Could Give You (A Mirror)
- Feels like they played every instrument they could find - They would kick ass in a European dance club - So experimental, I dig it - Sweet Dreams is a certified Banger™️, This is the House is funky
Sweet Dreams is definitely the standout, the other songs feel more relic of the 80s than something that I would listen to on a normal basis
En god blandning låtar som håller något ojämn nivå. Blandningen ger ändå kul lyssning. Soundet har absoluta tidstypiska instrument och ljudbilden är fetnajs.
AL has a first-rate voice and there are a few quality pop songs (starting with "Sweet Dreams"), but all the ultimate '80s synth vibes and feels ulimately undo the record. It is what it is, which is very much ensconced in its era.
Done
This seems to be an album very driven by a synths and a drum machine with poppier elements. The songs so far seem to all be quite similarly paced, which I don’t like. Of the first few tracks, Sweet Dreams and The Walk are the standouts. The first real change of pace came with Jennifer followed by This is the House. That 4 track run is good. The rest of the album is mediocre. With the exception of Monkey Monkey.
Is this really necessary to be on this list? Just another generic English new wave group that had 1 hit to me.
Yes. Awesome. So many classics. Annie Lennox is a legend - and also nice to have a group where people remember the female member rather than the male 😂
Saw this was the selection for today and was excited, then bemused, then disappointed. Turns out 'sweet dreams' are actually just made of one world class track, the rest was medoicre at best. The production sounds like it was made on a bop it. A lot of the songs were rudderless. I'd have been gutted if I'd saved up for this LP based on the single.
Quite a lot of odd things going on in this album, and I like it. It might be because I can hear a lot of Talking Heads on some of the tunes. And all these backing sounds/vocals bring the eccentricity level up to at least 6 or 7. Jennifer is a stand out track I hadn't heard before. It could've been made last week.
Despite the budget album art it's surprisingly okay but can't say much more than that.
It simultaneously sounds very 80s and very contemporary at the same time. I was listening to ‘Jennifer’ whilst, very slowly, plunging my cafetière this morning and felt like I was in an art film. Aged impeccably
Surprised me this. Last half pretty big. Sweet Dreams is a tune for the ages. Dave Stewart doesn’t get enough credit. Surely the most ‘club’ of their contemporaries. Sot I Could Give You A Mirror Sweet Dreams This is The House Home is Where The Heart Is Baby’s Gone Blue 3.5/5
Bad album
Sweet tunes are made of this
one good song, rest is absolute trash
Decent record, I don't think any of these are their best songs though
Everybody knows the classic Sweet Dreams, but I didn't know the rest of the album. Overall fun, 80's bops.
Mostly dull.
Found myself humming "Love is a stranger" all day, it's the best song on the album I think. Sweet Dreams has the best synth parts though, the layering is excellent. Filler material is a bit thin but it's a good album.
The tremendous voice of Annie Lennox soars effortlessly over Dave Stewart’s revolutionary synth soundscapes. While the title track remains an all-time classic, songs like Love is a Stranger and The Walk also stick in the mind long after the album is done.
A few tracks in the second half stop this from being a much deserved 5 stars.
Whats not to like? Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart at their best :)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is the second album by British pop duo Eurythmics. It contains the hit single - the title track, that is now the duo's most recognizable song - that took the world by storm and boosted this album to be a commercial success a year after its release. This synth-pop / new wave album has been certified gold in the US. Of course I heard the single "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and loved it, so it was fun listening to the rest of the album. None of the other songs hold a candle to the title track, but they come close. It was a great album from the 80's and still holds up to this day.
Loved Eurythmics before this project. Still a great album.
The album is consistent and cohesive in its 80s new wave, synth sound, making for an enjoyable front-to-back listening experience. Nothing quite reaches the high of Sweet Dreams, but it’s placement in the middle of the album creates a good build up and cool down effect. Solid 4/5.
Another one hit wonder album. The only reason this is on the list is because of the title track. It's a really good song, don't get me wrong, but you have to remember that this same publisher also has a "1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die" book. Why not just include that song there? Rant aside, actual album thoughts: Let's just say that there's a reason why nobody in the world can name TWO Eurythmics songs. It's some of the most boring and by-the-books 80s synthpop I've ever heard. Like they were doing the any% "All 80s Clichés" speedrun category. Songs like "This Is the House" is what plays on loop in Tartarus.
Best: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Worst: I’ve got An Angel Just don’t really like this album ygm
A work on progress. You can hear how they are working through developing the sound they will become famous for. I've always been a big Lover is Stranger fan, a superb track and of course the mind blowing Wagga Wagga influenced Sweet Dreams. The rest is just unremarkable, none of the song resonated nor caused me to go back and re listen etc. Still a testament to a band on the move to great things.
Having never listened to this album, despite having really liked most of Eurythmics' singles, I was struck by how sparse and open it sounded, and how varied its moods. And of course, Annie Lennox's voice shines throughout! Definitely not "just another synth-pop album", it's got plenty to offer for further listens.
The song Sweet Dreams was one of the 80’s great dance tracks. Hard to believe it was the 4th single released from this album, because it’s far & away the best track on it. Only the opening cut, Love Is A Stranger, is in the same ball-park. For me, The Eurythmics were a terrific singles band, but their albums often missed the mark, as does this. Their cover of the Sam & Dave classic, Wrap It Up, written by Isaac Hayes & David Porter, & supposedly featuring vocals ( I can’t hear them) from an old favourite of mine, Green Gartside of Scritti Politti, is less than thrilling. A couple of years later The Fabulous Thunderbirds, featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan’s brother, Jimmy, did a much grittier version on their album Tuff Enuff. Any way, nothing else on the album really excited me, but, as I said, the title track is exceptional.
This is where the Eurythmics realize that they can write an all-time classic song (Sweet Dreams), and a pretty great single (Love is a Stranger). Most of the album, though, is pretty stripped back, showing that most of the album is in fact a home recording on 8-track tape. That stripped back 80s synth pop sound can be pretty, although (as Robert Christgau points out) it can be a bit pretentious. I disagree that it is overwhelmingly pretentious, certainly compared to a lot of the stuff coming out from similar bands (see the contemporaneous parody from Not the Nine O'Clock News; Lufthansa Terminal 'Nice Video (Shame About the Song)': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FhYOcf2_5Q). It really isn't that bad. And besides, it is nice to have a pop song that doesn't make you feel slightly lobotomized just for listening to it. I like the stripped back production. 'Jennifer' really reminds me of the Kills, a band I really like, and they must be influenced by the earlier Eurythmics. That said, I could live without the weird cover of Wrap It Up. This sounds like it was intended to be a single, but fortunately never was released as such. Annie Lennox's voice, which is one of the great pop voices of the 80s. Her range of tone and ability to convey the drama of a song lift the Eurythmics well above the standard of similar bands of their vintage. You can hear how close they came to not making it. If it wasn't for Sweet Dreams (the 4th single from the album!), I suspect they would have disappeared into relative obscurity. I find this album pretty listenable, although Sweet Dreams and Love is a Stranger are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the record. It was very pleasing that they took the lessons of those tracks and produced a string of incredibly strong singles over the next decade or so. I was talking to Shawn just yesterday about how the 1001 list leans heavily towards classic rock and is criminally short of female artists. This piece of fresh, smart, female-fronted pop arrived just in time to save me from the hell of Stephen Stills and everything he stands for. It's a 3.5 stars album for me, rounded up because it turned up on the list in the nick of time. Thanks, Annie, much appreciated.
Muy bien lograda la atmósfera del disco, lo disfruté bastante :>
All the synths!
This list includes a lot of albums that ultimately boil down to "they were a one hit wonder and this album is the song that the one hit was on". You get one very famous track and a lot of useless filler. By the end of the album you wonder why it was included on the list at all, what you're doing with your life, and if you should maybe call your therapist. But this album isn't that! This album is actually great! Sweet Dreams (Is Maybe This Album's Lamest Track).
Annie Lennoxin ääni on ihmeellinen ja muutama biisi on ihan kiva. Kertoo ehkä kuitenkin jotain minusta ja musiikkimaustani, että levyn paras biisi taitaa olla Satellite of Love - eikä sekään lähellekään yhtä hyvä kuin alkuperäinen. Tätä kuunnellessa tulee Club Kajalia ikävä - pitäisiköhän tehdä joku taideprojekti siihen liittyen.
Nyt on kyllä huonosti vanhentunut. Ajan hammas on haukannut noihin preset soundeihin niin tiukasti että huh huh. Eikä levyllä valitettavasti oikeen oo muita biisejä jotka kantais kun toi hitti 1/5
Tää levy on miksausta myöten vähän sama kokemus kuin hengata keikkapaikalla ennen keikkaa ja kuunnella tarkoituksellisen surkeeta musaa, joka soi hiljaa lavalla. Sitten välissä soitetaan kovempaa yksi oikea biisi soundcheckinä, jolloin saatat vilkaista lavalle. Meinasin antaa kaksi tähteä sen yhden biisin takia, mutta espanjankielinen biisi oli niin kiusis, että ykköseen tipahti.
Taas ollaan klassikoiden äärellä! Yllättävän hyvin kestäneet aikaa muutkin biisit kuin levyn megahitti. 4/5
My Dad had the Touch tape in his truck so I'd say we were primed for this record as a house when it dropped. And yet, only the single Sweet Dreams made its way in. Hearing this record now, most of the songs are unfamiliar to me. Of course, the sound and vibe are all familiar through hearing the Eurythmics as well as many other bands who were trying to catch that 80s synth-wave lightning in a bottle. I'm not particularly captivated by it here but it's totally listenable. An extra star added to this review for the song Sweet Dreams alone.
Synth pop. Recognized the title track, of course, but nothing else really stood out
Pretty good.
Hot take: it’s like they knew “Sweet Dreams” would be a hit so they didn’t put as much effort into the rest of the songs. There was nothing really memorable about any of the other tracks. They all stand in the tall shadow of “Sweet Dreams.” My older coworker, an 80s music aficionado, disagrees with me about the album, so maybe you had to be there to appreciate it.
"This City Never Sleeps" is great. How have I never heard that song before?
Lots of quality on this
Feels like they invested in a good synthetic for the time!
Nostalgia is a powerful thing, one of the first bands I saw live. Still evokes powerful memories of that time in my life
OK
Apart from the title track, the rest sound quite dated now. 2.5
Another 80s singles band
Idk sku hellre ba typ lyssna på nå annat
Fine
Dexent synth-pop. I like the songs with wind instruments
Sweet Feed
Fun pop album - it verges a bit on the overly cheesy, lyric wise and even song wise - but it has quite a few timeless classics in here. The synth sounds though - wow - impeccable production and arrangement. The whole record has a strong start, but kind of tapers off towards the end after the title track - which is kind of expected since it overshadows this whole band's career. But don't get me wrong - it's not a one song album.
one hit wonders are one hit wonders for a reason, only one good song on the album.
bad.
Annie Lennox slaps
Great album with memorable moments. Classic title, of course. Makes me wanna listen to some Blue Oyster Cult for some reason. Solid.
Annie's voice is sooo good. Good album but not a five.
This is the house….it’s a little thin. That seems the more apropos lyric. I adore Sweet Dreams but these three stars are for that and that alone. The rest of this is also-ran synth-pop blather.
Seriously? Good voice but the music is irritating.
I always forget that Eurythmics had soul.
Its a solid 3 Not that interesting for being a electronic album but Annie is a godess
I like Eurythmics, I don't love them
Interesting ideas, not really my jam
Decent. It's got the hits for sure, but other songs fall flat.
6.3/10 would listen again: maybe heard before: yes note: some good catchy songs and some that gave me a headache the general vibe of the songs could be catogarised as rhythmic pulsing
meh
Not my sort of thing but I am grateful it isn’t greetings from LA 4.5/10
Its an okay album, there are a lot of subpar to bad songs. Despite this there are some hits. Sweet Dreams is great, and wrap it up and somebody told me are also solid. The song Jennifer was quite bad
Perfect Annie Lennox vocals and distinctive Eurythmics beats. Solid stuff.
Sweet dreams is great but there were also some very bad songs I would give it a 1.5/5 stars but I’m rounding it to 2
The title track is one of the most potent and iconic songs of the 1980s. The album as a whole is an unusual mix of new wave/blue eyes soul that while interesting is very rooted in its time. Unfortunately much of this album lacks the timelessness of its title track
- ok
I like Annie Lennox. The best song: "Sweet dreams".
Pretty good but not a favorite. The songs were long and there was a lot of repetition. Some good songs too though. Sounds like a score for Bounty season 2. My favorite was This City Never Sleeps.
Solid euro new wave synth album. Sweet dreams is the standout but a lot of really catchy basslines and synth textures if you like 80s stuff like me.
Love it
Personally, I was not a big fan of this album, it is not a genre that I like, although I liked 2 songs
Transformative in every conceivable way. Transcendent. 4/5
Kinda surprised that this album doesn't have another stand out song. I guess its just a sweet dream.
Good but not great, with the exception of 'love is a stranger' and the peerless title track. Annie is one of the oddest humans, and Scottish too, but overall this is just too 80s for me
This album is surreal. At face value it’s just a lot of catchy pop songs that at times can be cryptic and almost nonsensical, that alone makes for a good record for some people. What takes Sweet Dreams to the next level for me is the amount of charm and nuance that reveals itself with repeated listens. That is what I want from an album, an empty space for my imagination to live inside of. For example, several songs lead me to believe something far darker is going on, and this mysterious energy is exactly what draws me into this album and in turn leaves me wanting more.
Started out ok, but progressively grew more annoying. If I had a time machine, my priority would be to go back and tell Annie and Dave to cut it short.
Finally an album that breaks the 80s one-hit wonder plague on this list by being really good in addition to having one really great standout song. Get fucked a-ha and soft cell annie lennox can actually make both a classic song and good album to go along with it that has fantastic use of synthesizers and sounds ultra 80s but also not dated. I also really liked somebody told me and jennifer.
It was okay
Overall pretty enjoyable -- somehow never knew Annie Lennox was in the band. Anyway, "Jennifer" was a the big standout, loved that one!
Classic 80s. Another band I know largely through best of records. Nice to her a full record.
It was ok.
8/10
Annie Lennox has been around for so long - and definitions of androgyny have become so, well, flexible - that it's easy to lose sight of her voice as something otherworldly.
Still figuring out my rating system, so I guess this is a low 4 for me. I’d already heard Love Is A Stranger and the title track before, and as expected they were my favorites. This Is The House was pretty bad, though.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Not really, I respect the group but this just doesn’t appeal to me over the length of an album personally, hits is a certain feeling and catchiness in certain songs but other than that, feels dragged out Favourite song: Track 6 - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Pleasant pop
I hate to say this, but other than Sweet Dreams the song, this album was not good. A few of the songs were alright, most were just too weird for me.
I was excited to see this album pop up because I’ve always considered Sweet Dreams to be a top tier song. But the rest of the album was a little disappointed. That one song basically carries the whole thing
I appreciate the originality
Didn't really care for it
Best Song: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). Call it nostalgia, but it feels like there's a reason this is the song people instantly sing along to when it comes on, be it on the car radio or at a bar. Honourable mention to "Wrap It Up" for being the safe sex anthem I never expected. Worst Song: Jennifer. I'm really not looking for such a ballad in the middle of these other dance tracks. Overall: Pretty groovy throughout, with soulful vocal performances on top of some decently dance-worthy beats. Would have been rated higher with some better editing, as the album didn't need to be this long.
This album brings back memories, such a good album with so many songs worth listening to, its made a difference in my life when I was young
Yikes. 80s. Irritating drum sound alert. Some massive singles though I'm not fond of the title track. The synth leads date really badly. I like Lennox as she is so distinctive. Sorry will never be tempted to play again 2.5.
Electro
the beats are really cool, can definitely see how it’s influenced todays music, some catchy tunes
Ok.
not my sound, but nice
3.5/5 I liked it. One dimensional but good catchy tunes unique. Sweet dreams
Not into this, it's just a bit weird and not connecting with me in any way, musically or lyrically.
I would say closer to a 4 than a 3, but somewhere in there, I would say that I was more impressed with the back half than anything, I felt like they experimented a little more after sweet dreams. Can't argue with a hit like that though, great track.
Some good stuff for suuuure, but the hyper 80’s sound… not sure it works for me as a whole this time
Very fun(ky)
A little disappointing. Two great classics but no hidden gems for me. I think I’m good with their greatest hits.
Not, in fact, what sweet dreams are made of
It's a bit unfair to ask me to be objective since this is one of my all time favourite bands and albums. Annie and Dave. What a team! The greatest since Beauty and the Beast. I could listen to this all day. Perfect production and perfect New Wave Synth. And what a voice she has.
A great electro-pop album, at the height of new wave and yet more future-forward than "new," this album was ahead of its time. No one can argue the unique creative power of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart together. But also no one should ever cover "Wrap It Up" (certainly nobody this melanin-deprived, but honestly i would argue NOBODY EVER).
Zeer pop-achtige new wave. Erg dansbaar en wat meer aan de vrolijke kant
Yo they really are - Always loved the single, and fun to listen to the whole album - essential 80’s, amazing synths Wrap it up is WILD hahaha I Could Give You (A Mirror) ‼️ THIS is a 🏠 Loved this, but loses some steam at the end
Good jams, songs all go hard
it's only that song that's decent
This album just isn't very good. Sweet Dreams, on its own, somehow managed to capture the era in a way that few can match. Everything else just feels generic or out of place. 2/5
It has that one famous song on it, but the rest is kinda dull
I expected this to be too poppy for my taste but it’s certainly unique even with that pop classification, I went back and forth on throughout the album, it’s not great song to song but the title track is of course a classic and I found myself nodding my head to the music a lot more than I expected. Love is a stranger was a good opening and one I didn’t know, however didn’t take much else from the album and is a soft 3 at best
damn, this was good. Pretty sure the only song I'd heard on here was "Sweet Dreams" but the whole album was really strong
cool
I was a big Eurythmics fan back in the day. I thought they were leading edge back then but if I think about it objectively, they really weren't. As far as electronic / synth pop goes, they weren't groundbreaking. Even Gary Numan's album was 5 years old when Sweet Dreams was released. There was just something about Annie Lennox that was so fucking cool. I saw them in concert a year two after Sweet Dreams was released. She had a boy cut, and wore a man's coat - this androgynous look was beautiful but not sexy. I expect this was the objective although she took off her coat and shirt and wore only a red bra for the encore. I guess she thought she should set the record straight before the show ended. Dave Stewart also had a good look and it was cool that the band's name didn't start with "The". The title song was quite good in the day but has been overplayed. "This is the House" was not overplayed and might be my fave song today. The South American girl's vocals make it.
I remember hearing Love is a Stranger the first time and thinking the vocal sounded dreamy and unique. The next song, I've Got an Angel has the same quality, whereas songs like Wrap it Up and This is The House borrow more from R&B. I've tired of the title track but that speaks to its longevity
Well to state the obvious, the title song Sweet Dreams is a monster hit, easily one of the top 10 songs of the 80s I recon. Its only surpassed by their even better hit - Here comes the rain again. Annie Lennox's voice simply soars on Sweet Dreams. However, some of the other songs like Wrap it Up, Somebody told me and This is the house are painfully 80s sounding. Cringe! Fortunately there is some minor redemption with Love is a stranger and the atmospheric, This city never sleeps. 5 stars for Sweet Dreams but its pulled down by the 6 weak songs on the album.
Milestone... !
The titular song is amazing. Past that it is just mediocre still gets the bump to a 3 because of the legendary song.
Way too 80s for me
Bops, bops, bops. All the bops are bopping. Thank u, Eurythmics, for the this.
Cool album- title track is best. Some notes: This is my house- sweet bass line City never sleeps ostinato groove Home is where the heart is / interesting how rhythms weaving through eachother. I hear some influence on 90’s industrial rock
Cool album! I usually don’t like electronic/dance music much because the tones are too sterile and the songwriting is lazy, but I thought this album was really thoughtful and creative and the tones were nice and warm and sounded like the 70s. Cool synths and drum machines.
Wrap it up is so strange and I like it a lot. Fuck yeah. I was dancing down the street to Sweet Dreams. I really never got sick of this. It’s weird. It’s dancy. Good for them.
Bangers all round , fantastic
Obviously, Sweet Dreams is the star of the show here, but the whole album was definitely really good. I'll be revisiting this one soon!
One of the greatest new wave albums of the early 80’s due to strong production and Annie Lennox powerful voice. Pure nostalgia in a nice way
God how I loved Annie Lennox. It was the orange hair that did it for me, along with her overall presence in the Sweet Dreams video (far be it for me to state the obvious, but Sweet Dreams is an absolute all-time 5). She had my favorite voice since Linda Ronstadt wailed about going back to Blue Bayou. And Eurythmics follow up album to this one had Annie on the cover, shirtless and wearing a Robin mask. I might prefer that album (Touch) to this one, but along with the aforementioned title track, there are plenty of bangers here. I should have made my move on Annie Lennox when I had the chance. Follow up: I never had the chance.
Not a fan of eurythmics. Was a tough listen
This album swings wildly between jazzy electro-swing and dull house music. There are a couple fun standouts like Sweet Dreams and Love is a Stranger, but as an album it does not stand out at all.
Can't hear Love is A Stranger now without thinking of the LCD song that massively ripped it off (I Can Change). They're both great though, the original, and the pretender which took the ball and ran with it. Never listened to them beyond the singles but their value is obvious. The big synth sound is great. Probably wouldn't listen again given I don't have the nostalgia pulling me back in, but no doubt it's a decent and important record.
This is a hulluva good electro dance/pop album. Every song has something to offer. One of the best pop albums of the 80s / new wave era. The only negative I can say is it may one song too long. 4.5 stars
Awesome ethereal synthpop. Atmospheric with a dreamy lead singer who shows both a beautiful and quirky side. Has pop hooks, weird sound effects, and is just fun to dance to. Very polished production, distinctively 80s. I can hear the Talking Heads influence, especially with the use of funk and afrobeat, but also things like the random shrieks and multitrack vocals. I also like the synths and horns, with plenty of diversity to maintain interest. I'm a bit biased because this is my type of music, and I admit many of them can be improved, especially in the last few, but it's really solid and I enjoyed every track. Favorites: Love is a Stranger, I Could Give You, The Walk, Sweet Dreams, Jennifer
Not mad at it. Has some catchy jams
Decent nu-wave/electropop album, Annie Lennox's distinctive vocals complimenting the squelchy synth sounds
Sweet Dreams is one of those songs I never tire of singing along to on the car radio. And I wish other songs like Love is a Stranger or Wrap it Up got more radio play.
It was good background music for the crossword
Wonderful spacey and rocking.
Eponym song = ICONIC. Good rythm I like
Absolutely iconic album with some of the most influential songs written
Classic electro 80s sound
Meh.
Better than expected. For once the title track isn't the best jam!
This City Never Sleeps
The ethereal beauty of Annie Lennoxs voice never ceases from taking my breath away every time.
I really like the title track… The album opens with love is a stranger and it’s a really boring pop song where the only interesting bit is the bridge, really disappointed. I’ve got an angel does have a really interesting rhythm to it and her vocals performance is good the lyrics though are poor. Wrap it up is kinda good everything is pleasing I really like her vocal performance across all the songs so far but that guitar solo was really Really poor. I could give you (A mirror) is the first song I actually thought worked in all areas will (hopefully) go back to this song! The walk is also fairly pleasing and another great track! Sweet dreams ( are made of this) is perfect pop song! Jennifer is really drab and dark but it’s solid. And after 4 good songs this is the house does nothing for me really. The penultimate track somebody told me again does nothing to be fair like everything is nice but nothing is special. The album closes on a decent high though with the city never sleeps it’s repetitive as hell but it works in the songs favour. I don’t hate it but it’s honestly a disappointment. 3/5
4/10
TBH I'd never listened to this before and had only heard the Marilyn Manson version of Sweet Dreams. I can see why people like it but not my cup of tea.
I feel like this is a weird inclusion on the list. If there's gonna be a Eurythmics album on the 1001 album list, shouldn't it be "Touch"? IDK - there are plenty of contemporaneous synth pop albums that I love, and of course I like the title track as much as anybody else, but this doesn't do a whole lot for me as an album. Great moments: I do really like the Sam & Dave "Wrap It Up" cover and the trumpet solo on "The Walk"
I've always enjoyed the hit song on this album, but had never listened beyond that. Was a little slow and underwhelming. There was one song that I did enjoy, Jennifer, that reminded me a lot of Daniel by Bat for Lashes.
I liked the middle where music felt like it was going places more. A little too free form in terms of directions it could go for me.
I respect the talent and their presence in the 80s, but have never been a Eurythmics fan.
A few great timeless songs. However, overall not my style.
Love is a Stranger - always known this song, but didn't know that this was its title. Great track. Next few songs not grabbing me on first listen. I've Got An Angel might benefit repeats. The Walk was a single but I'm not familiar with it. Sweet Dreams song is a classic that feels catchier than much of what's come so far. All very synthpop, songs built around bass synth lines.
Great 80s album. 80s synthesizer sound.
the title song is obviously great, but i wouldn't come back to this just because of one song
Eurythmics slaps, so this album slaps fr.
pling plong detta är bra.
A few great hooks, but an excess of synthy cheese overall. AL has a rich, resonant voice and she's a dynamic vocalist. But there's a lot here that feels dated, even terminally time-boxed in the '80s ("Wrap It Up" being exhibit A). Synths like this have a very near expiry date or statute of limitations, meaning this plays today as neither nostalgic art song or particularly durable pop. 2.8 / 3
Dave and Annie. They bestrode top of the pops like mid-80s colossi, making the most of that new MTV thang to the max. Received wisdom: she had a great voice and presence. He wrote snappy pop songs. My wisdom: cynical industry chancers who were so in the middle of the road they've got white lines all down their faces. Inescapable at the time, irrelevant now. Two stars only for the last track which hints at what they could have done with a little less slavery to the machine.
Lekker vrolijke popmuziek uit de jaren 80. Heerlijke sound. ***
Fairly typical early 80s album of some killer singles and a bit of filler. A fairly average early 80s album, despite Annie Lennox's voice. It still sounds contemporary and fresh though. Can't think of Eurythmics anymore without thinking of the Matt Lucas/David Walliams 'Rock Profile'.
When it's good it's GREAT. When it's not, it's ehhhhh.
Another 80s synth-pop album that I thought was actually rather decent, with or without the huge, iconic smash hit contained within. Not mind-blowing, just a solid listen. A textbook 3-er.
The album doesn't maintain the quality of Sweet Dreams throughout, but it's still very good. I found my foot tapping throughout. Such a good voice
Overrated
Good all through, more than just the title track.
I've been listening to this album for years now and it's always such a joy. Everyone knows Sweet Dreams, but there is a lot of other really great stuff on here (Jennifer, This is the House, Love is A Stranger). Really pure 80s perfection here.
That first track has the weirdest background noises that I am pretty sure are the same as Legend of Zelda II on the OG Nintendo NES! Hahah. Track two brings on the flute bounce which is pretty stressful. Anyhow, overall, I think if I never heard Annie Lenox sing to me again, that would be fine. Glad she's out there and I hope she made someone happy.
És curiós que una banda coneguda pels seus singles tan radiables, com el que dóna títol a aquest disc, sigui un dels grups de synth-pop menys comercials dels '80. Més enllà dels hits, la música de Dave Stewart, tan bé complementada per la veu d'Annie Lennox, és hipnòtica i freda; complicada i distanciada de l'oient. Aquesta barreja de cançons que van donar banda sonora als estius de la 'década feliç' amb temes gens coneguts que encaixarien millor amb un hivern a Sibèria és el que fa del duo un conjunt tan interessant i que va bé recuperar décades després dels seus grans moments