Sulk

The absolute worst that the UK has to offer. Histrionic, tortured vocals on top of bland, homogeneous instrumentals indistinguishable from any other Britpop LP out there. Getting real tired of these, feels like there’s at least two a week when many other albums from the era deserve to be on the list.

Music God #1: I have a genius idea. Music God #2: Lay it on me, bro. Music God #1: Now stick with me. Some day this will lead us to eargasmic electronica. Music God #2: Uh huh. What? Music God #1: OK. We need an album with some out there experimental sound exploration anchored with some sick keyboards. Music God #2: Experimental you say. Tell me more. Music God #1: Yeah. They are going to fill guitars with urine. Make a drum set with all different types of snares. Music God #2: I’m not so sure. Music God #1: Look, we’ll pair it with some cabaret falsetto vocals. They will complement each other nicely. Music God #2: Are you worried the music will sound like a soundtrack to a cheesy, low budget 80s horror movie spoof. Music God #1: You mean 80s cult classic. Music God #2: No I mean the kind of movie that is so bad it’s making fun of itself. Music God #1: Whatever. Eventually other bands will make fantastic music and this will be a loose step in the right direction to get there. Music God #2: I don’t like the sounds of this and neither will anyone else. I’m using my veto. Music God #1: I’m using my lone veto veto. It’s happening. Music God #2: Fuck.

if this album was consistent it would be up there with some of the best of the '80s. Sadly, it's all over the place but the high points are incredible. Is there a more exciting intro to a pop record than the jangle piano on Party Fears Two? A more entertaining vocal performance than on Club Country? Why aren't bands ambitious like this any more? Refrigeration keeps you young, I'm told

I used to work at a video store and we had a section of non-Disney animated features like Simba the King Lion: The Final Battle, stuff to make grandparents stock up on garbage so their grandkids can have lousy sleepovers. Anyway, crank this up and enjoy some Zaggy Moondust and the Arachnids from the Milky Way.

Like if Morrissey joined Devo

The machine chucked an unfamiliar multitude at me today: this record is really very good, and I wish I had more time to listen to it. It's sui generis, and I'm scrambling for references to anchor it - at times, it reminded me of early Sonic Youth, This Heat, Kraftwerk, and acid house, but it's really its own thing. The vocals grated at first, but on the second listen they seemed appropriate, a choice based on the material and what Mackenzie had available to him. Really tempted to give it five stars, though I've barely made it through twice.

Meh, the synthy new wave stuff on the list has been pretty hit or miss for me.

I love you, David Bowie, but you inspired some truly bad music.

This pick was so 80s it hurt me a little bit… I wasn’t a huge fan but I could see my mom jamming out to this!

Not a fan. It's got beeps and boops like some old videogame music. Very 80's. It does transition to boring old snth music and the singing is just annoying. Maybe this was significant when it was made, but it's straight up not enjoyable now.

I knew of The Associates from Party Fears Two, but hadn't explored any of the rest of their ouvre. The music video for Party Fears Two includes Martha Ladly on the keys, formerly of Martha and the Muffins. She's wearing a suit and a hat, and looks exactly as bored as she needs to for the song. It's bizarre, because she's also got the tiniest of beguiling smiles. And that sums up the song perfectly. It is tuneful, poppy and also, 100% entirely unnerving and discordant. The vocals are perfect - slightly Bowie-ish, but in the good way. I genuinely hated it the first time I heard it. It made no sense. It was dissonant. And then the Divine Comedy covered it. If Neil Hannon likes it, I should probably pay more attention to it... but no. Its still nonsensical, dissonant and unnerving. Several years later, with the song appearing in my life from time to time, I find it has changed from being a messy, awkward track to being possibly one of my very favorites from the 1980s. Given it was written in the late 70s, it rather cements The Associates as people to listen to more of. Which I finally got around to doing with this album. Which is excellent. It is both genre-defining, and genre-defiant. It is both a product and a producer of 1980s syth, new romantic and pop. I love it, and think I will continue to love it for quite some time.

I really don't understand what there is to like about this. This guy's voice is insufferable. The music sounds terrible. The only reason it's not a half star or zero stars is because it occasionally vaguely resembles music. 1/5

Painful. Just painful.

There is a reason you have heard of Human League, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Heaven 17, Depeche Mode, ABC, XTC, Thompson Twins, Flock of Seagulls, OMD, Ultravox, Erasure, etc etc - and NEVER heard of these guys.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like if David Bowie were half as talented and twice as pretentious, well, wonder no more.

This has GOT to be a joke. One'est one out of five I've ever given and I hope the creator of this list has a really shitty day today. You simply can't seriously justify putting something this shit on a list like this. 522 albums in, it makes me want to stop because its a waste of time. I could have gone my whole life never hearing it. When my worst enemy goes to hell, I hope this is what they have to listen to on repeat. Matter of fact, whoever made this list should listen to this album on repeat if they think it's so fucking great. Maybe then they'll think twice about replacing it with something different, preferably not from the 80s

This is probably the most 80s album I've had to date. It seems set up to grate, falsetto singing, synth pop, experimental sounds. However, I ended up really enjoying it. I knew the two "hits" which I guess are literally all I had ever heard from this band before. I had a dim recollection of when they first charted that was dredged up from the sludge in my head from the early 80s. This one is extremely hard to score fairly. I feel it's somewhere between a 3 and a 4. It's definitely not a bad album, but it's not a great one either, and I feel I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again. I was also horrified to see Spotify stick an extra 50-60 minutes of demos and alternate versions that I wasn't prepared to listen to. I think I'm going to be generous and go for a 4, purely because I love some of the weird instruments I can hear, particularly the jangling piano in "Party Fears Two".

This walks a fine line between the synth pop sound of its time and real experimentation. So many odd details throughout, but nothing that's off-putting or alienating. Just makes you feel a bit woozy. The tales of their decadence and playful insanity while recording the album are as entertaining as the resulting work itself.

This is the opposite of U2. I don't think these guys are as good as I feel they are but I'm digging this. You can feel see Scary Monsters by Bowie on a few of the songs and their instrumental stuff is fun but all over the map. Despite all that I have to say I do dig the singer. He has some moxie and good range. Fast pace and good energy. I also have to say that cover is something bold. ... So I just did a Wikipedia dive after listening and a cited fan and person who was inspired by this bad was... Bono from U2. He said they tried to rip them off because they like them so much. That is such a miss on the attempt. I could see myself relistening to this album. I know I'm rating this either a 3 or 4, if I end up picking 3 that's me voting for the quality more than my enjoyment, 4 is the flip. More and more I'm wondering if my ranking is trying to vote for something more objective in quality or how much I dig what I'm hearing.

I love how gloriously and unashamedly over the top everything about ‘Sulk’ is. The vocals, the production, everything about it is ridiculous. Sure, not everything works, example: ‘Bap De La Bap’ which is the low point of the record is just…shit, but when everything clicks it soars, and the albums highs: ‘No’, ‘Party Fears Two’, ‘Skipping’ and ‘Country Club’ are about as good as 80s synth pop/art rock/dance music gets.

6/10. Post-punk and pop is an interesting mix here, and it works on a couple songs. But not all of them.

This was a pretty challenging and interesting listen. It has a theatrical energy, with a style mix that seems to blend David Bowie-Roxy Music-Depeche Mode-Simple Minds vibes. There are some less successful tracks that get a bit irritating (Bap De La Bap, Nude Spoons), but others that deliver a good emotion and energy (It's Better This Way, Gloomy Sunday). Their use of electronic synth sound is definitely trapped in the 80's, but isn't too tragic.

A coke fueled product of its time. If you like synths and whining, you'll love this.

I was actually pretty close to giving this a 1 but after a while, I kind of started to respect the bands decision to make annoying, vocally grating new wave music. I think this might have been another case of "you had to be there", in which case I was certainly not.

From doing this project I firmly discovered that I really don’t care for this genre of music and this album is no different. Awful shitty music.

Amazing

cool

An absolute classic. Sounds like lots of other artists (Bowie, natch) and yet also sounds very original. Mackenzie's voice is something else too. The singles are the standouts here, but pretty much the whole album is a masterpiece of early 80s British dance pop while also sounding timeless.

Aldri hørt The Associates før, men da va overraskande nice (vanskelig å hørra når folk snakke så masse rundt meg). Ohh siste sang va gøy

One of these perfect and highly influential 80s albums that sound very catchy and experimental at the same time. There is a lot going on musically and (apart from the big single) it may take severals listens like all their work, so it is also one of these albums that are not so suitable for the 1-album-per-day 1001 format.. score:10/10

electro-meh

This is such a great, undervalued band with their greatest moment. I loved this album and still do- Billy was a tremendous character with such a great voice. Brings back great memories.

This is one of those albums that polarise opinion. And I'm one of those who do love this album. It's wildly over the top - Billy Mackenzie's soaring vocals and the extreme 1980s production values see to that. I absolutely love it.

hidden gem goth Sparks freakout hell yeah 10/10

I feel a bit sad how much of a rough time this album is getting on here. For me it represents more than anything an early 80s post punk optimism that music could be reinvented with new sounds and shapes and still be pop.

Classic early-80s production, no mistaking Billy McKenzie's voice ! Really enjoyed this album, full of great songs

Feels like we got the same album for a second day in a row. I’ll be fair and give these guys the same ranking as Echo and the Bunnymen but I can’t help feeling like the generator is testing me. 7/10

Super bonne première impression, mais j'ai fini par trouver ça redondant. Par contre, je dois dire que j'ai trouvé ça surprenant que ça date de 1982, je l'aurais rapproché des années 90, donc je présume qu'ils étaient plutôt avant-gardistes pour l'époque.

frenetico e inesperado. gran sorpresa.

So comforting is Sulk's fit in my mental genre map that I lose the Associate's specificity in the lull. The album's more instrumental moments are highlights, while the vocals are essential. This is of the masterfully-produced school, which unfairly hurts the effect. Very eighties, very prefigurative, etc. etc. Or maybe the lens of this nostalgia looms too large in the twenties. Either way, I'm a sucker.

Missed them and nice find.

Really fun - enjoyed some songs more than others. Overall good!

Another undiscovered gem. Not even a name I was familiar with. Loved it.

Actually really awesome, I am astonished at the low rating here Dark and very dramatic post punk Dynamic and interesting 4/4.5

Sounds like a drunk David Bowie

Jaunty brit post punk.

Strong Bowie vibes

I knew one song, Country Club. Extraordinary vocals. This is a distillation of ‘80s New Romantics/gothic indie/shiny synth-pop (Sparks/Bowie/Cure/Depeche Mode/Spandau Ballet). Takes a few listens, but glad I did because it’s infectious. The pop melodies and the swirling cure-style guitars get right under your skin.

Really great project, so 80s. Can’t believe I don’t know these guys

Pretty sweet stuff, reminded me of the darker side of bands like The Cure. Kind of funny, the more popular song (Party Fears Two) was boring to me but the album cuts were sick. Special shout outs to Bap De La Bap, Nude Spoons, and Club Country for really rocking my world. Some parts fell flat but overall this is a very strong 4 and enthusiastic recommendation.

Poor Billy MacKenzie left us with some of the most beautiful songs ever made with the amazing drama in his voice, seems like syntho-oper! In this album Party Fears and "No" give me the creeps. The synts on some songs are bit outdated, but bless the Associates

Chaotic frenzied gothic rock, very much like a spiritual successor to Joy Division. A haunting and mysterious first side with a New Wave second side to dance to. Really enjoyed it all, plenty to offer and only a few forgettable tracks.

The second half was particularly strong!

Kinda weird but I kinda love it

Extremely 80s, I love it.

Dark, atmospheric new wave with a subtle gothic vibe filled with creative ideas and arrangements. I love when the challenge makes audacious choices like this. A great discovery.

As a fan of New Wave and Synthpop, I'm surprised that I didn't know this one. Pretty good, haunting voice on clever instrumentals. Sounds like an Echo & the Bunnymen record, but less flamboyant.

Wow - this sounds like a mutant ABC; if you turned the dials up on their arrangements and vocal affectations you'd get something approximating Sulk. The production sounds busy and Billy McKenzie's yelping tenor might be an acquired taste, but for me it's effective, exciting and idiosyncratic stuff. Full marks to 'Party Fears Two' and the stomping 'Club Country'.

Better than I expected.

I’m enjoying the gothy bits and the drums mixing with the synth. Can’t say I’ve ever heard of these guys but definately one I’ll explore further.

Pleasant enough, felt very very 80s pop, and indeed it was.

At first I was struggling to get behind the vocals, as while they certainly aren't the most polarizing I've heard, they do catch you off guard, especially after a instrumental opener. However, as the album went on, I was more enthralled by the near perfect blend of pop with that more gothic sound, where every track has you bobbing your head, tapping your foot, all whilst this sinister atmosphere surronds you. The vocals are no longer something to fear, but rather something worth embracing in the more surreal parts of an album. It's glamorous, like a party, but grimy, like an alley, and I think this album as a whole captures the scene of the mid-80s and its music perfectly.

This album doesn't hang together as a whole. It's all the better for it. Sulk is bonkers, with grand, sweeping gestures. It's more like a musical than a pop record. There's no direction from start to finish. I like to get lost in music. Billy was one of the last great pop pantomime Dames. Party Fears Two: Song of the Century.

4.0

Oh okay, we’ve got some kind of Scottish U2/Cure mashup here. I like this. I am picking up what they are putting down, and I’m liking it a lot! It runs on a big too long, but it’s such a unique vibe, I wanted to see where it was headed. Side note: Omg! I wrote this before reading the wiki on this band and there’s an ex-Cure member in it!!! Freaking Dempsey on bass, man oh man, my ears know what the fuck is up!

Quite the album-Bowie-esque vocals and great keyboards. The Diana Ross cover is *chef's kiss*

Awesome

Synth-driven and very atmospheric 80s New wave. Lots of high-tone keys that texture and convey lead/counter-melodies. They get lots of strange and experimental tones/sounds from these keys - like a maxed out chorus pedal sound, a melting song-stopping effect. Vocals are a coy tenor, variously operatic and snapped out (a bit like Bauhaus). There is some swirling textural guitar work creating a stormy unsettling feeling on some tracks. Overall, it's a mixture of poppy major key songs and some dancey tracks but generally more minor key drones/dirges. Reverby drums add a lot of space. Favorites: Party Fears Two, Arrogance Gave Him Up, Gloomy Sunday, Better This Way

This is awesome synth pop for how demented it is, as well as there being some genuinely great cuts. The wacky cover of “Gloomy Sunday” belongs to the former category, while “Club Country” sits firmly in the latter. Overall, I find the novelty very entertaining

Psychedelic post-punk like an acid trip.

Isn’t Asaph tabular as the singles

Fíla röddina oftar en ekki, lögin eru stundum ansi töff. Mjög dramatískur flutningur og production. Svolítið dósahljóð í soundinu, en ég toga þetta uppí fjarka.

First I didn't like it much but as the Album progressed I started to like the sound. It has a crazy energy to it

I'm not a fan of many 80s albums but this is something special and otherworldly. I love the angular rhythms and McKenzies voice. Strong.

Really good! Nice gothy synthy stuff.

Slap some black lipstick on these lads and this would be goth AF! And the theatrical, overwrought vocals would probably make more sense in a gothy context... Rather enjoyed this - I like my new wave brushing up against my post-punk, and my post-punk sprinkled with experimentation! Fave track - "No". Great tune!

On first listen I wasn't really sure about this but second go through it all started to make sense. The instrumental opener doesn't really set the scene for what's to come but No is a cracker of a track and he cabaret keeps on coming. Fave: Club Country

I was pleasantly surprised by this album by an artist that I didn’t think I had heard of. Could really hear the influence they had on The Divine Comedy - from the cover of Party Fears Two, to the burp at the beginning of a song. Bravo.

Many moments of unique interest, but not for me.

Ahh, torn on this one. It goes on too long. I’m surprised how experimental it is though. I was expecting a more poppy vibe. And I do like Billy Mackenzie’s voice. It seems to be divisive. His death is such a sad contrast to the glamorous pop star image. Oh go on then, have a 4. Probably should be a 3.5 though

awesome, eerie new wave album way too Low rating here

August 12, 2024 HL: “Skipping”, “Party Fears Two”, “Country Club”, the instrumentals Perhaps I’m rating this too high, but I was fascinated with this album. Look at a song like “It’s Better This Way”- it’s not worlds apart from what the Cure were doing around this time, but perhaps even eerier with its repetitive, discordant synth strings. Or “Club Country”, one of the poppiest songs, yet the production drowns it in these aggressive, sci-fi sound effects in the background. I’m not making much of a case for why I like Sulk so much, but unlike a few of the new wave/post punks on this list, it grabbed my attention and didn’t let go.

Caveat: I was a teenager during the '80s During the period when The Associates were creating their music, I was in the midst of a musical transition from Stevie Wonder (Songs in the Key of Life) to Prince (Purple Rain), and most of what we called New Wave was overlooked by me until the end of that decade... I've listened to the album 3 times in the past 18 hours, and I will listen to it at least 1 more time, not because it is worth 5*, but because this old man is enjoying the momories of highschool parties, weird hair cuts, and monochromatic clothes that abounded those lovely years!

Hmm, this is grabbing my attention. I might actually like it! Never heard of these guys before, how is that possible! Gonna be bold and give 4 stars!

Cool dark goth synth vibes. A little distracted this morning with this listen. Worth revisiting.

Never heard of em, but the album is veeery pretty, caught my eye, I'd say genre is also welcomed in my taste. No high expectations, but I think I want to enjoy this just because of how good the album cover looks. Too many songs tho, I won't listen to the songs twice just because they are "different". I saw some extra ones tho, I'll try them only. Reviewers are quite against this, so I hope I won't dislike it as much. First song, start is very new wave already. Production is decent, wondering about how the voice sounds. It's low-key catchy, sounds like something else, DK what. Okay wtf, I didn't expect it to be FULLY instrumental, it was good, but no progressiveness or anything like it is boring. However, this does feel like a good album start song so I suppose nothing wrong with that, just they could have done more. Second song, wind sounds and something is rattling. Asmr vibes. Beat slowly came in and then the whole vibe, piano is doing a good job, it's in my right ear and in the middle. It's vibey, but it better have some vocals, God. Finallyyy his voiceee. It's a good one, so production and vocals are both listenable, even more than that tbh. Piano is still the best part in the song. It's kinda eerie, but also upbeat in its way. His voice makes it even more eerie tho. I expected more because of the start, but this ain't that bad. Third song, weird ass starts. What is that title, I think he's saying that now, oh he wasn't, but it was gibberish, now he's saying the title and some lyrics after it. Not bad for now, unless it gets uninteresting. Chorus is rocky almost because of the sound only though. The new waveness isn't into full action, but still a loveable song. Wonder if the lyrics contain some type of jokes. 4th song, yacht rock vibes, but there's an additional sound that progresses into an even more new wave sound. His voice is sadder here, though the song is upbeat. Sunday funday is replaced by a "Gloomy Sunday" apparently. Dunno the meaning, and apparently neither does Genius, but I'm just gonna spiritually connect to the song when it's Sunday, a gloomy one. His voice is very clear and instrumentals are kind of a background noise(in a good way), mostly voice is the one being less noisy, which iss annoyingg. 5th song, new instrument joined. The names are too funny "nude spoons" I mean, I'd never say those words together. I don't like his voice here as much. Production is fine, but feels far away. He changes the way he sings mid-singing and that's kinda fun, also vocalls a lot, but I don't see a pure talent. It's outro and there's a different sound in my right ear and it sounds extremely good, the kind of part I'll be anticipating when I relisten to this. 6th song, Suicide vibes, if you know what I mean. Songs does sound kind of same, but not sure because they are quite different in some ways too. This one has an amazing instrumental break apparently. Lyrical delivery kind of sucks. The bridge here (I think it's a bridge at least is a reaaaly good one). Him repeating the title in a weird way is the best part, it was hard to hear what he was saying at first tho. It's not even like beautiful to listen to, or in any way satisfying, it just is what it is, and it somehow makes me like it. 7th song, the production seems looooow here, I think remastered version would be better than this one, the instruments are far far away somehow. Probably the worst song for now. Rock came in with that electric guitar. Maybe it had good lyrics, too lazy to read them now. 8th song, alien-like start. Wedding sounds (not exactly tho). Oooh a happy happy song. Weird vocal delivery. The instrumental break is too good to ignore but verses are reaaally bad. Chorus isn't exactly catchy either. Every time that beat comes in, I'm like why didn't I add this to my playlist and then the verse starts. It's probably a grower so I'll just add it. The outro was fully unexpected, fits the vibe tho. 9th song, amazing start wtf. Oooh it stopped, AAAH WHAT A BEAT DROP. I'll ignore how he sings and just listen to instruments, there are a lot of them apparently. There have been a lot of headphone play in other songs too. Chorus has a catchy delivery. The instrumental break is very new wave, loving it. Ordered chaos vibes and it's too good for my ears. I think both of them are singing, feels like it. Loved this but, song quickly changed was there a transition? 10th song, quirky funky beat. Feels like there'll be no lyrics. Nothing much to write but I just realised that 11th song has this beat at the start so I LOVE THAT, but as this song being separate does not give me anything. 11th song, as I said the instrumentals are introducing 10th song's production fully, but not always. Lyrically it sounds exactly same, guess that's not what I should be paying attention to. Lyrically it's about having an affair I think, I barely read the lyrics so that's just what I think, he wants her, but she's getting too expensive. Not a banger. 12th song, this is a bop already because of the instrumentals, gotta say there are many extremely good production deliveries. Love how he's just casually being operatic now, also during that the beat is amaaziiiing. Lyrically it's low-key funny, definitely not a serious song in a good way. There were some girls singing some gibberish, made it better in a way. The girls voice at the end was the clearest sound of their, would love to see more of their appearance I suppose. 13th song, I've had a pause from this, so I don't even remember what this song sounded liked even tho it's just a version of the previous song. Start was kinda weird, but the beat and the voice is giving now. 7 minutes is too long tho. I remember the chorus apparently, good one it is I suppose. There's gonna be a big instrumental I sadly predict. It's dancey though. His vocal delivery is quite different from what I've ever heard. I could skip the song rn, because nothing new is gonna happen in the remaining time I bet, it's not certainly one of those crazy plot twist songs. By each chorus it's getting more and more catchy. As I said, there's this big break, which is better than I thought it'd be. The guitar is actually doing its job well. Idk what 12 version means, but it might be better than the original, don't remember that one tho. 14th song, instrumental only of the song which I apparently remember. The instrumental part is actually nostalgic, but I don't remember how he sang. It's actually been a long time since I was here, and this was the perfect album to stop midway. It's catchy af, idk how they do it. Quite a memorable melody I suppose. 15th song, dunno what alternative version means. The start was "white noise"y. Then the gibberish vocals was a good improvement. Sonically it's good too and now the verse is equally giving. I listened to the preview of the song with the same name just the original, and it sounds way different, but still good. Oh, It's the 7th song, and did NOT like it apparently, I was listening it on headphones back then, but idk why it sounded THAT bad, I'll give it a relisten I suppose soon enough. Russian talking at the end here, weird. 16th song, BURPING? So childish, love it. Guitar is giving and the whole Sonical beat is catchy. Verse is not as good, chorus will be better I suppose. The production seems experimental, saying that as a good thing btw. Verse is getting less bad. No chorus in the way. This is an alternative version, but I don't see the original one up in the album. It actually has a fast-walk-beat, basically a sped up runway. Is he mimi-ing rn‽ It sounds like Bloodhound Gang kinda, but these lyrics might not be as funny. 17th song, creepy ass start, guitar came in quickly enough, but the eerieness is still at hand. First time being spooked by an upbeat song tbh. Idek what he's saying. It's too permanent wave tho, I wish it could change at some points. Little opera vocalling. As I said it's too same all the way to actually like it, still worth a listen here and there. 18th song, dururuing already, to the guitar beat too I think. It's sonically catchy again. I heard french talking at one point. Bridge was probably the best part. Everything else stayed the same, but didn't really become boring. The outro was loud af, they're kinda screaming "skipping" I think. 19th song, John Leckie? Never heard of him. This is fully different production. It's too indie rocky. There's an actual beat and not an experimental one. Not baad, but is John singing, some new guy, because the voice seems the same. Not really impressed still. 20th song, same production start. Big ass intro. Are there even lyrics. It's progressing quite well sonically I must say. It was fully instrumental, not disappointed, but I wanted more, especially since the title was kinda interesting. 21th song, same catchy beat, but the song title isn't club country so idk why it has that beat. Lyrical delivery is majorly different though. Neither verse nor chorus standed out to me. Still fun I suppose, just idk why releasing that demo was a thing to do. 22th song, club country's fully different version with no catchyness. Chorus is still good tho. It feels like it was recorded live, it's too raw sonically so. I'm bored so I just wanna finish these songs quickly, since they are basically the same. 23th song, fully different title. Start wasn't interesting. Oop, neither the verse apparently. Sonically there's a beat in the background, the main one, that's kinda catchy, but it's too blurred out. Vocal delivery sucks, better to say, it repeats the one already used in other songs. Welp, still worth it I hope. If I rated this album based on every song in unison(which IS the correct way) it would be looow. So based on how they can make that catchy tune that hooks one in, despite how many times it's repeated. The vocals and the way of singing is another remarkable thing this guys do. I don't remember the songs above 13th song, but I do have some of them added in my "liked songs" so I'm just gonna say that 4 star is prolly the best choice. It's just not as good to get the highest rating, there were albums that deserved that status more, there's no real artistry here I think, the connection between songs and stuff like that(might be lyrically and I missed it but I can't help that rn). I enjoyed it quite much as I remember and as I did in the past half hour, I do hope I'll listen to their other record here, or I'll do it myself.

interesting/experimental 80s - took a minute to get into it but then started to really enjoy it

This album is difficult to listen to with the proper mindset. At the time of release, this synth-pop/new wave/post-punk album was highly lauded and was seen as a record that pushed synth-pop forward. To my ears, the album sounds incredibly dated from the crooning falsetto vocals, the synth itself, and the punchy new wave bass provided by the Michael Dempsey who also played for the Cure. This album does have a darker edge to it taken straight from goth rock that I quite like. This album is just so of its time that it makes it hard for me to assess (though that's not necessarily a bad thing). I can't quite suss out if it's as great as some of its contemporaries.

Heavy David Bowie influence on several songs. All around liked this album more than expected but in reality I will probably forget all about this album shortly after I submit this rating.

Arrogance gave him up - Nice melody's but becomes repetitive and not a fan of the drumming No - nice use of instrumentation, track feels very dark and haunting, Robert Smith style vocals. Bap De La Bap - Really not a fan of this, vocals are annoying and music sounds like you're queuing for an Alton Towers ride Gloomy Sunday - lovely intro, feels like the smiths but more electronic, big fan of the vocals here both in terms of melody but unsure on the delivery. Nude Spoons - Another one with a good intro. Once again not a huge fan of the delivery on the vocals. This track has a relentless feel to it which I do like. Feels like the bass is too quiet in the mix towards the end. Skipping - Quite a fan of this track, vocal delivery much more to my taste. Baseline is lovely. It's better this way - Great baseline once again too quiet in the mix for me, love the guitar solo, nice tone there. The screechy vocals once again not for me. Party Fears Two - Love the keys in this. Vocals again... Club Country - Love the instrumental on this, by far the best so far, vocals annoying again. Outro has a great mix of a funky bass line with some nice dark effects in the background, however this does go on a bit. Nothinginsomethingparticular - Nice melody but not interesting enough to repeat itself over two minutes. Sounds like a video game theme 18 carret love affair - Really big fan of this track, despite the melody from nothinginsomethingparticular continuing into this song Love hangover - Has a very funky guitar riff, very danceable. Think this is my favourite track on the album and I would listen again. SUMMARY - Think this album is great in terms of production and instrumentation. Has a great goth and early post-punk sound. However, I think that the vocalist really stops many decent songs from being good or great songs.

not bad

It's like a Scottish version of U2

Worth another listen I reckon.

Sulk is the second album by Scottish post-punk and pop band the Associates. It was a well produced art rock / synth pop album that blessed listeners' ears in 1982. Although this album was a critical and commercial breakthrough, the original duo in this group broke up four months after release. I loved this album's sound! The overproduced musical arrangements combined with the beautiful falsetto voice made for quite the head turner of an album. I can't believe the Associates changed up their roster after this album, because they were onto something. Great work!

Weird and strange.

It’s something that I can imagine people would like, but I’m not one of them. There’s too much chaos, especially in the vocals. They singing is all over the place, lots of tremelo, pre-emo. The music is well done, with some cool blends and that classic 80s drum-beat. I can tell this pushed the genre into new directions, just well past my preferences (I imagine the couple from family vacation that hate the griswalds are avid fans of this music.)

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Party fears two

3.3 - A “challenging” record without much payoff. It sounds like a combination of an Ariel Pink soundtrack for a haunted house, and B-sides from Bowie’s “Scary Monsters” era. Kind of a shame because they’re clearly a good band and Billy Mackenzie shows some impressive vocal chops. It just rarely comes together into a compelling sound. Standouts: “Club Country”, “18 Carat Love Affair”

A little too much fiddling here, such was the thing in the early electro pop. The singer providing moments of joy but more often annoying. It does sound dated but when it hits the mark it is fun and stands up today.

Moody moods. The bridge between David Bowie and the Cure/New Order. Sounds pretty dated and the gloom is real, but it warrants consideration.