Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Sounds like a synth-Bowie early 80's when this album was released. You can also hear their influence on Bono and it's lasting impression with his music with U2. It was an okay listen, but doesn't interest me beyond a listen. It's funny how I had never heard this before.
Opinió no popular, però m'enganxa més el seu debut, 'The Affectionate Punch', que aquest 'Sulk', suposadament obra mestra primigènia del synth pop i pont de luxe que va estableix l'enllaç entre el post punk/new wave tardà i el millor del treball que van fer els new romantics. No és mal disc, i el seu so és realment interessant, però no hi ha temes que arrosseguin l'àlbum cap a l'excel.lència. Ni tan sols el seu single principal, 'Party Fears Two', que és simplement un tema passable. 'Club Country' és millor, però res de l'altre món
Really like some of it.
Some interesting 80s sound
I feel like you might have to be very much in the mood for this level of extreme 80s-ness. I know this because the first part I listened to on an early run and it was just a bit much. It made me quite irritaavle, but then I listened to more another time and it didn't rile me and I quite enjoyed it. I have to say the singing style (did Bowie do this first I was wondering?) Did grate me a little bit but I know it is just part of it. The recognisable ones were fun I guess
Wow this was intense. Not my cup of tea but it wasn't bad.
It's kind of messy and all over the place, but I liked the 80's melody. Though it does sound like he is trying too hard.
Going against the catchy synthpop hooks that their contemporaries aim for, the Associates are content with building a dark atmosphere that's more akin to post-punk of the day. While they provide an interesting overall sound, nothing on the album comes across as memorable or outstanding. Sulk is competent in what it does, but disappointing in what it doesn't.
An interesting mix of post-punk, synth pop, new wave and more. Some tracks are a few steps above the rest so the album isn't consistently "good" or "great" to warrant a higher rating despite the creativity at the time. Also the production quality hasn't aged so well. 3 star
On todays episode of why is this here
Not quite sure what to make of this. Sounds like fairly typical early 80s alternative/new wave. Shades of Talking Heads mixed with a bunch of other stuff of that era, e.g. Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode, etc. It was okay but I didn't love it. A bit too much of a cabaret type sound. 3 stars.
Average album for me. Not the biggest fan of this type of 80s pop. If I could give 2.5 stars I would but I'll have to round up to 3
It was alright but there’s nothing notable about it
Pretty good. Reminds me of a little of David Bowie
Moody moods. The bridge between David Bowie and the Cure/New Order. Sounds pretty dated and the gloom is real, but it warrants consideration.
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.
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”
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Party fears two
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.)
Weird and strange.
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!
Worth another listen I reckon.
It's like a Scottish version of U2
not bad
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.
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.
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.
interesting/experimental 80s - took a minute to get into it but then started to really enjoy it
I think I could do 40 minutes of this strange vocal style on top of generic synth beats but an hour and 40 minutes proved too long. I found myself checking back to see how much was left multiple times. I think there's something here. But just way too much garbage to sift through.
It reeks of the typical 80s sound that I hate so much.
Slog of a record with shrieking vocals that did not produce many memorable moments. The 80's synth-pop and danceable production was decent, but often times the vocal performance and lyrical content were pretty distracting.
Seriously I can’t take how many mid 80s pop records are on this list please make it stop
Copy and paste any review of the hundred or so other synth pop/new wave/post punk/electronica albums on this list.
Thus marks the death knell of this project. This album wasnt anything special, and I even listened to the B-sides and extra unreleased stuff that came after the album's remaster. Wholly mid, but in the bad sense.
Really weird vocals. Loved the music but not the vocals that much. Was giving Sparks. I will return to this album though, for sure. Top bops: Grecian 2000 It’s better this way Australia
I turned 13 in 1982, so the generic sound of this is one I grew up to in Thatch's Britain. I didn't much care for it then, being much more interested in the long haired end, greasy of the market. I'm keener these days – there are some really great bands that sound a bit like this at times and that developed at a similar time. But they're better at it than The Associates – a name I knew without knowing why. I think it must be just one of those names that I'd heard around the place but never listened to the music of back in the days before easy streaming. I did know Party Fears Two from somewhere or other. Maybe it was on a soundtrack, maybe it's the Radio 4 connection, or maybe on Glasgow/Scottish related playlist. It's a half decent number. I didn't realise at all that this involved Alan Rankine, a name I knew but had to puzzle over where I'd heard it before I got the Belle and Sebastian connection – he was a lecturer at Stow College when Tigermilk was produced and gets a credit on the album, possibly even playing on it, maybe on Electronic Renaissance? That, of course, is a much better album that this. This, I'm afraid, is a bit of a mess and a bit generic, early 80s, wanna be Duran Duran style. It just doesn't really hold up and I'm not sure if there's really the "this was really influential" or "this is an exemplar for a style of music that was really important" argument – which is one I'm happy enough to accept. So, it's OK – it reminds me of growing up in Thatch's Britain and being a teenager I suppose. But that was pretty shit, and this is only a bit better. Party Fears Two pushed it to two stars.
It wasn't really my vibe.
Drivel
This is quite dreadful and far too long.
some got the cure vibes some others are just straight up nonsense got to add a song to my mario kart playlist though also country club is and underrated banger
Very early 80s music. Tones of David Bowie. I'd prefer to listen to Bowie.
Did not really care for this. very synthy art pop which sounds like I should like it on paper. I did not. Some things described it as post punk, but again not something I enjoyed.
It's charmingly wonky and I could see myself growing to like it for what it is. This time it just felt a little underwhelming. I'd like it to be even more maximalist and druggy – even more poppy, more experimental and more psychedelic. Sometimes more is more.
I didn't care for this much. It sounds like a bad David Bowie cover band.
There’s just so many others that do it better. Wasn’t a dislike, but comparatively I didn’t need it
This sounds like the sort of music a schizophrenic would write if they were trying to write two songs at once. The entire album feels like an acid trip. 2.5/5
I put this on and then forgot about it
I didn’t love this guys Playlist add: “Bap De La Bap”
Average 80s pop. Nothing special, though not very bad.
Oh no I have never liked opera or melodrama. I kept skipping to the next cut. An hour thirty-eight minutes of this? Can't get past the moment he starts singing. Then I just quit.
So the first thing I thought of when this album started up was that goofball skit on SNL when Chris Kattan, Horatio Sanz, Jimmy Fallon, and Tracy Morgan would get together with their synthesizer and sing a Christmas song. The synths and preprogrammed drum loops, in that skit, are ill timed and the song is terrible (but kinda funny). This is like that, except not as well put together, and not really funny at all. Actually, I take that back. By the time I got to Bap de la Bap, I was actually audibly laughing. This is terrible. Like, “how was this actually allowed to get made?” levels of terrible. It’s probably getting an extra star for making me laugh, but wow, this is bad. 4/10
#1048. Like the Talking Heads, but worse. 2/5: nah
bit jarring tbh. is this underground for 80s? didn't hate it. Would've given this 3 for novelty, but why does this go on forever!
Wasn’t really great. Monotonous.
581/1089 - It's kind of a trainwreck. A diverse trainwreck but a wreck nonetheless.
Some parts are listenable, but every bit of this album is missing something for me…
Never heard of this band or album. I can appreciate how cool this must have sounded in 1982. Some songs have a good melodies. Others sound they they pressed every button on the drum machine. 2.5 stars
eh
Why?
This just didn’t quite do it for me. Adjacent to music I would enjoy but the lyrics were indecipherable and it was a little wail-y
The music was alright and on the last song the vocals were ok but I really didn’t enjoy the vocals on most of the album.
I didn't hate the sound of this and was going to give it a 3 until I realized I was only 45 minutes in to a 98 minute long behemoth. Minus one star for not knowing when to quit.
Post punk, synth pop. I’m surprised that I did not like this more considering that it probably influenced a lot of indie music that I love from the early aughts.
Not quite my thing! Has a solid foundation in the instrumentals but the vocals don’t quite hit for me here. I really liked the last 3 or so tracks but didn’t like this one enough as a whole to keep going with the bonus tracks.
2.0
This was embarrassing to listen to. Not gonna be nice here. 2 stars. So dramatic.
Apparently I'm really not a new wave fan like I thought I was? I'm really starting to get sick of all of these albums that only charted in the UK. This was quite annoying to listen to (why do none of the beats actually line up?). These guys really thought they were doing something profound and experimental, and instead it's just straight up not good. Let's just say I got excited when I realized I could skip the last 7 songs on the Spotify version of the album since they weren't part of the original release. Favorite tracks (maybe?): Bap De La Bap
The 80s are my fav music era when I came of age. There are so many better new wave albums than this….
#415/1001. This is one of those either 1 or 5 stars albums. I've listened to it before, but didn't get much out of it then. And now, after the first few songs I was thinking what a waste of money to give an untalented band £60K, and they spend it on clothes, hotel rooms (also for their pet whippets), drugs - but also for studio time, where they sonically experiment by e.g peeing inside a guitar. But slowly the album grows to an interesting whole, clearly a manifest for the weirdos and outcasts out there. But in the end I am not one of them, just glad for you that it is there for feeling at home.
Way too long...especially for an album not produced in the CD era.
I listened to it twice because I was distracted the first time. It's peak 80s synth heavy post punk. Not much leapt out at me.
This album was very unique and musically interesting which proves those two qualities don't necessarily mean a great listening experience. This is my first time hearing this album or this band, I hope it is the last.
Some cool ideas. As a whole package this was just ok. The vocals were sloppy, and nothing really drove me to need more of this.
I’m getting to the point where generic new wave is going to be an automatic 2-star… mix it up a bit
no no no. So much good news wave and this is what's chosen? for shame!
Pølsemandens David Bowie.
Its Better This Way was the first song to catch my attention. The whole album is monotone although the opening song (Arrogance gave him up) is an instrumental and while a bit chirpy is also worth a listen. Same for the Nothinginsomethingparticular instrumental. The Room We Sat in is the only other song differing from the rest of tha album with a slight Metal taste. Their later album sounds bit more rich/diverse but still all in the same style other artists do a song or two in and not a whole career.
Just sound effects and strange singing. No thank you.
Sounds like the lead singer is singing a completely different song than the music playing.
I love 80s music, especially synth pop, but overall this was not good. There were parts here and there I liked (the opening of "Skipping" for example) but those were few and far between. The singing, in particular, was especially bad. Not recommended.
This is an album from an obscure Scottish band. I listened to the original UK release plus one extra track (“Love Hangover”) from the US release. The album started out nicely enough with an instrumental track, then rapidly went downhill. The last (instrumental) track also is pleasant. The lead singer is not good on many tracks. The music is standard 1980s, and there are some good tracks on the record, just not enough. Some of the songs give off a Talking Heads vibe.
A lot of these albums seem named by a random word generator, which I guess I support. Very 80s vocals. I dunno, it's not really working for me. Notably, this album includes a version of the Hungarian Suicide Song ('Gloomy Sunday'), and the lead singer later committed suicide. Good thing I didn't start keeping track of how many tragic deaths are on this list, because it's probably more than the "the"-less bands or backwards words songs or albums I own... Lowlight: 'Nude Spoons'
Album of the year? Really??
Just very very very boring. Nothing here is attention grabbing and you could listen to much better new wave.
These guys feel like Bowie wannabes
I didn't enjoy it. It was very 80's, but not in a good way. I feel like the lead singer was just trying to sound like David Bowie most of the time. Nothing stood out.
Nah
Some seconds of songs sound great others sound incredibly overproduced
They tried a lot of things - electronica, new wave, light-punk, being David Bowie - and in the end did none of them well.
Ik wil deze vage synthpop graag leuk vinden maar het gaat niet. De hitsingle is quirky én catchy, maar de rest slaat vooral door in quirkyness en pakt me nauwelijks. 5/10
Trying to be experimental but it just sounds noisy, the music isn't that great and his singing is grating. There are some interesting post punks moments but they are few and far between. There is nothing on this album that I will come back to relisten too
Ok, I didn’t HATE this as much as the reviews led me to think I would. It’s freaky and I’d put it on a new wave or gothic playlist, it’s performing within its genre. That said, it’s telling that the best song here is their cover of Gloomy Sunday. It would be hard to make that song sound anything but melancholic and sublime.
Back three tracks on this one are pretty good, which saved me from not entirely disliking the album
Probably more of a Spotify listing problem but didn’t need to hear all the extra versions. That said a couple songs grew on me a little like Party Fears Two and Club Country but not something I’d revisit.
Lots of 80's Shite. Some catchy songs though. Probably would have been better off just going instrumental like song one.
Boring
This was… not good. Sounded like bad video game music for a lot of it, and the rest I just wasn’t that interested in.
Reminded me of Let’s Dance era Bowie and some of the Cure’s more depressing things but worse. Couldn’t single out anything I enjoyed and I’m usually all for Scots doing weird things.
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Bap De La Bap This felt pretty "out there". Experimental sound with what I assume are lots of synths. A two person band, so quite minimal in its approach to making music. I didn't really much care for it. Mostly because its like the 50th New Wave/Post-punk album I've heard, and the second in as many days, by another wildly obscure band. Another reviewer said it best: If your album hasn't been talked about much over the past 50 years, there's probably a good chance it doesn't need to be on the list of albums you must here before you die.
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. 1.5⭐️
Moody, dark, dramatic dance-pop. I'd say club music but it's not as electronic as that. Sound a little like a despondently drunk Bono met Ron Mal during a bout of depression and they made this. None of that is complimentary. The album is aptly named. Again, that's not praise. What if you couldn't dance to the Cure? Couldn't screw to The Smiths? This is that. The bass playing on 'Club Country' is pretty good. But it's a bit lost under all the swirling, cursed synth. Sparks, but ominous and vaguely threatening. Honestly, it's of a piece with what other 80's dance-y music from the UK sounds like to me. Possibly important listening so that you get the full scope of how much this sort of goth-spectrum stuff took over. On the other hand, it's neither revelatory nor especially enjoyable. Protip: Spotify has the 2000 remaster, which contains seven additional tracks. As far as I'm concerned, you can skip them -- stop after 'nothinginsomethingparticular'. Or earlier. You won't miss anything. 2/5. Might be a boring 3, if I were feeling more magnaminous, today. Not insulting, which is basically the only way I give a 1.
With its glittering synths, this is engaging in places, but very much of its time too. There’s some good songs, but I struggle with Billy McKenzie’s vocals.
I like some of this, although I found the vocals a bit of a hard listen. Too much of this I did not enjoy.
Solid 2.5
The warbling vocals on this are too damned much. Nah, man
meh total. 5/10
They're throwing a lot of things at the wall and give Siouxsie crossed with Depeche with a sprinkle of Bowie...and maybe Bauhaus on a bad day. But none of it really lands and would have vastly preferred a mediocre deep cut from any of those other artists over this.
It would be a lot better if i was on lot of drugs
Not really my sound, a bit too chaotic for my taste
very interesting...
After the first track I was totally invested and ready to love this album, but after that it quickly devolved to be both weird and boring; monotonous.
Pre Listen: Another band I've not heard of in the slightest, to my knowledge. I like the album cover, it's pretty. No expectations. Notable Tracks: Gloomy Sunday - First song that's popped out to me. The instrumental work specifically stood out as pretty cool, but the vocals suck. Nude Spoons - Can you stop shouting and wailing? In my ear? Thanks. Ulcragyceptimol - Least favorite track. So bad it made me want to clobber the vocalist with a baseball bat or shove him into a locker or something like that. Post Listen: Even though I said I had no expectations, this really wasn't what I was expecting. I guess I thought it was going to be typical 80's British Radio Pop. Unexpectedly, I got something a lot...darker, and Scottish? I probably could've seen that coming with the title "Sulk". It wasn't awful, at their best they sound almost like a blend of The Talking Heads and New Order. At their worst though, it's damn near unlistenable. I couldn't pinpoint a favorite song, as all of them have genuinely awful moments. I didn't appreciate the vocals 9/10 times, all the other instruments varied in how much I enjoyed them across the board each song. The album goes on for longer than I'd like. There was absolutely potential for a banger album here, like having 5-star ingredients for the world's coolest cake, but then they baked the cake out of order, then dropped it all on the floor. 2/5
It's good at what it's going for, but not my jam as it's going for intentionally confusing and a little hard to listen to
no
Dull. Roxy Music "light." Nothing to see here.
The album art screams 1980s synth driven pop. The first track, a fully instrumental song, completely took me by surprise. Then the rest of the album settles into a Cure/Smiths type of vibe. 2.5
Did some reading into this band and many similar bands like this and how they were very underground and lesser known today because that era was just weak for UK music. Overall, not the biggest fan, it was long but there were some good tracks. Not an essential listen at all.
Oingo boingo with worse mastering and less interesting lyrical topics. I didn't hate listening to it. This was my 600th album of this series. I guess I was hoping for something more auspicious.
never thought i’d hear a new-wave cover of gloomy sunday, and that it would sound this bad
sounded very awkward, not a fan
There is a song that plays on the music system at work that I had deemed one of the worst songs I had ever heard. Turns out it was track two on this album. This singer is just not for me.
Gave me the skeeves tbh
4/10
Oh they are sulking FOR SURE. It’s funny how much this project is making me have an ear for decades. I don’t think I had that as much before. Anyway, 80’s, obviously. NEXT.
This man has a surprisingly wide range for his voice. Kinda felt like I was in a British circus at times.
2.5
I dislike this album a good bit. His vocal stylings feel like he's trying to mimic Bowie's Berlin period. The best parts of the album sound like a really bad version of *Loger* to me. The opening sounded like one of the new wave instrumentals that John Hughes would employ. (There's like a half dozen bits like that on the *Life Moves Pretty Fast* box set). That inconsequential piece of music was the highlight of the album. It went downhill from there. (4.3) ★★
Synthpop and new wave are not my favourites, and I don't paeticularly like the vocals either. 2.5 stars
Not sure about this band or album. At their best, it kind of feels like a Cure/Bowie kind of sound, but it also drifts into this annoying synthpop realm I don't care for. The middle section of the album was the best. 2.5 stars.
This was aptly named
That was.... Odd, not sure if I liked it, but quite sure I'm not going to listen to it again
hmm auch bisschen lang ahh
Not for me
Normally I love weird shit, but this is just bad. 1982 me would have probably loved it, but 2026 me just finds it annoying.
About as self indulgent as it gets. This record has crossed over from extravagant to bizarre, but has enough musicianship to not be a total flop.
While it was enjoyable it just reminded me of other bands I like that much more.
Music was obviously of its time. I was giving it a go but by half way through his voice was way too grating.
++: Arrogance Gave Him Up, Skipping, It's Better This Way +: Nude Spoons, Party Fears Two, nothinginsomethingparticular +-: Bap de la Bap, Gloomy Sunday, Club Country -: No 4,0/10
If the vocals weren’t that bad I might think it’s a better album then what it is.
Just very 80s, I didn't really like it
Mediocre.
Halloween music. Pretty bad
Early 80s music. Nothing notable here for me.
On paper I loved this but my soul did not.
Synths in a haunted house with a very whiney ghoul. 2 ok songs: Gloomy Sunday was low tier Bowie. Feel like Party Fears Two would be a good song with any other singer. The rest of this is utter shit. A very generous 2. And they can thank me for it
not for me i don’t think we need burping in songs
If the guy from Bronski Beat sang for Depeche Mode. There was one or two on Sulk that were memorable but all-in-all there isn't much here for me.
Not all it's cracked up to be, I really don't know how their one big hit, Party Fears Two, has endured this long, just an average 80s tune to me. The rest is meh
Favorite Track: Gloomy Sunday
Should of done track 6's name.
Acceptable Brit pop that went on way too long.
I am a post punk type of guy, but this album doesn't hit. It's trying to be different and innovative but it honestly is pretty generic and not in an interesting way.
Meh...80's music that wants to sound like David Bowie. Love Hangover was kind of fun, but the rest just felt like it was trying too hard.
Too new wave for my tastes
Very shrill, not my bag
Vekkulimusiikkia, semmosia erikoisia ja ei niin miellyttäviä sointukuvioita. Ei kauhean miellyttävää. Jotain post punkkia. Parhaat: Party Fears Two
A little out of my range, but there's enough moments of high punk energy in here that it was pretty cool at times. Plus a Love Hangover cover? Wasn't my favorite but you gotta respect the taste.
Jeez. What was that? You can tell the guys thinking they are making high art
A very poor example of whiny 80s synth emo.
not the smiths
I am really sure I listened to this twice but forgot about it immediately both times.
Not a bad album, certainly underrated in the list but it does not sound interesting or essential. It is just OK, I guess? 7/10 [DROP]
La portada 10/10, el disco meh
I hear what they were going for. It's an eclectic 1980s-era mix of Bowie drama (I kept waiting to hear Scary Monsters come on next) + Devo drum machine synth structure + Oingo Boingo theatricality + a touch of Spandau Ballet dream sequence. It's a miss for me, but by far not the worst thing I've heard here.
If I've learnt anything from doing this project, it's that I'm not a fan of Nu wave music. In some cases and depending on my mood, I despise it. I'd be glad if I never had to listen to this type of music again.
It’s an ok album. Complete 80s synth new wave. Some tracks are decent, others not so much. Way too long by far though. 2.5/5
--Arrogance Gave Him Up...colorful instrumental intro. cool synths --No...do not appreciate the vocals on this. overbearing theater kid energy (takes one to know one) --Bap de la Bap...well, it's weird. they're trying stuff. but it's not entertaining --Gloomy Sunday...kind of an Andrew Lloyd Webber thing going on here. one of his lesser "The Phantom..." songs --Nude Spoons...it's just all too much. sounds and vocals too unfocused --Skipping...naming a song "Skipping" is playing a dangerous game. the bass is cool. still don't vibe with the vocals --It's Better This Way...I keep thinking of the word "unfocused". most of the tracks on here don't really lead anywhere --Party Fears Two...the vocals, good lord, I'm going to need this guy to rein it in about two to three levels. like this guy heard the theme song to the NeverEnding Story and thought to himself "this could be more dramatic". --Club Country...sick bass. my head is actually bopping to this one --nothinginsomethingparticular...I like their instrumental tracks. /glares at Billy Mackenzie
The instrumentals were rather pleasant but hoooooly crap this guy cannot sing.
The album fits into a specific genre in this generator: Bland British albums that are completely forgettable right after you listen to it. At the very least, listen to the OG vinyl version of it on YouTube from cool hand chris productions. Favorite Track: "Bap de la Bap".
I get it, it was the very early 80s and anything was better than disco, right? Right?!?
I'd personally rate these as one hit wonders....
Did nothing for me but definitely wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard.
Scottish Bowie cover band...
Just kind of annoying. Would’ve been good if it was good.
Music made for party scenes in terrible 80’s movies.
Pretty crap but not unbearable, just forgettable
The opening instrumental tune is cool and very TMNT like. Starts to feel ordinary British pop rock after that.
Certaines musiques s’écoutent Certaines Donc les autres ne s’écoutent pas Et c’est pas comme si les musiques qui s’écoutent étaient extraordinaires
Portada muy chula, ochentera a más no poder que me recuerda en cierta forma a Comité Cisne o a un Tino Casal más comedido. Por cierto es una obra de arte, literalmente, de museo. El grupo, apenas lo conocía, me pilló apenas recién nacido, y no ha tenido mucho eco. No son The Cure ni Echo and Bunnymen, de esa época, ni obviamente Joy Division. Aún así han tenido su influencia en por ejemplo The Divine Comedy que versionaron su tema más conocido (Party fears two), Ladytron , MGMT(nothinginsomethingparticular es ellos!! ), Björk o Bono El disco es extraño. Con momentos más post-punk y casi industrial y otros más comerciales, sonando a los primeros Duran Duran Arrogance gave him up, suena a Echo&Bunnymen o los primeros Simple Minds. No, es marciana y oscura. Nude spoons aún más. Skipping recuerda a Bowie con esa voz grave de Billy Mackenzie (que sufría de depresión crónica y se suicidaría daños después). It´s better this way, suena a lo más profundo de los 80, entre sueño y pesadilla.
2+ Stars (6/15)
Decent 2,5
Just not for me
Meh
boring new wave
- Really screechy and annoying to listen to! - Struggled to get to the end of most songs
Ambitious vocals and style, but inconsistent songs weaken overall listening experience
I was expecting something a lot more hardcore based on the cover art. I kid, this is exactly what I expected and I don't like it. 1.75/5
The best comparison I can make is that it’s a more experimental version of ABC’s The Lexicon of Love—it was even released the same year. This album is more experimental, but it’s also just plainly worse. There aren’t nearly as many hooks, and there are some weird parts I had to skip because they were too annoying (like the outro of “Nude Spoons”). At times it felt like listening to your friend’s pretentious 80s revival band. “Love Hangover” was my favourite track on my listen. Maybe there’s a good album in there somewhere if I could ignore the duds. I can’t really ignore them, though, so I’m giving it a strong 2.
boring.
David Bowie after a bad acid trip.
Boring
Horrible Gloomy Sunday cover. Taking a star off for that alone.
Too sulky for me
very electronic, very 80s. Good for a different vibe, but not immediately enjoyable
This is bad. Albums like this make me question the entire list. Grating vocals over generic synth pop from the 80’s. (2)
It was okay. A bit repetitive
Felt like the vocals were created entirely separate from the instrumental but maybe that was what they were going for?
después de los primeros dos temas pensé que me iba a encantar pero la verdad que no, no lo termino de entender. skipping es medio virus o capaz yo estoy loco
This was all over the place. Some of the songs were sounding ok, and then one of the guys would pull out a Jim Carey-like "Hey, do you want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?". There are definitely cool ideas here, I just really dislike the execution. My favorite song is the last one, The Room We Sat in Before, which is only a distorted guitar and the guy singing. Would not listen again.
Way too long of a David Bowie clone album.
Some fun production. Even their biggest song wasn’t that great
“Nothinginsomethingparticular” reminded me of an MF DOOM sample, which was nice. The rest of the album was not so nice.
once again, i listen to a poppy 80s album and once again i am left disappointed. i am ready to prepare a prompt that i can just paste into this review box every time one of these albums appears on the list
Aptly named because I associate this sound with better artists (2.5/5)
Some mid 80s shit, nothing great
Moody 80’s Didn’t move my needle much
Reminded me of the Cure mixed with Bowie. But mixing my least favourite parts of both of them
At first I didn't mind it but it got annoying pretty fast
what
Basically my review of that Heaven 17 album from several days ago but I think this is a little bit better. Favorite track: Gloomy Sunday
This album is soulless, and that is something very sad in music. I did not like any song on here, they are all just plain music, with synths and whatever they want to add but with no actual intention, or relevance, or interest. The songs try to be atmospheric at an extent that they become bland and... boring. There are nice parts though, but they are never a song as a whole but a good idea that, by repetition or the atmospheric feeling of the album, becomes tiring or irrelevant. It is not the worst thing I have ever listened to, by far, so I guess I have to be a bit generous this time when rating, but this album is not something I would ever listen to again. With one listen I had enough. And not at the extent to like it in any way.
This has a lot of dated 80s production, with weak drums and uninspired synth parts. The two instrumental tracks that bookend the original UK album track listing do absolutely nothing for me. Mackenzie's vocals has the same theatrical flair that Morrisey has, but he's a much worse singer. Whilst Morrisey can croon, this guy yaps! By the time I got to the band's biggest song 'Party Fears Two', I was actively annoyed by all his vocal theatrics. I'm not completely negative on this. 'Country Club' is a catchy pop track. This is inoffensive yet largely forgettable, sounding like a much weaker version of bands like Duran Duran and Depeche Mode.
I almost gave up several times during this needlessly long album, but I powered through because it feels good to finish an album as challenging as this. That unfortunately was not the case here. My heart is saying one star but I’m in a good mood this morning, so two it is!
Tidvis slitsomt. Noe er litt catchy.
I love me some wacky 80s synth music. This however feels like a knock-off of some of the greats. Still not entirely unbearable though.
I couldn’t. Not thing.
really thought i was going to like this...but it leaves much to be desired. there's just so many better options when it comes to this type of sound. 2 stars for me
This just kinda sucks.
It's giving the music that would play in the liminal space that is an old 80s Kane's store.
This was a rough one for me. There are elements I enjoyed- moments of lush atmospherics, unusual drum patterns, but the vocals and majority of the songwriting just didn't do it for me. "Club Country" got some legitimate laughs out of me just with the sheer audacious shittiness of the vocals and lyrics. The whole experience read like a group poorly ripping off Bowie. Again, there were some interesting moments, but not enough to save it from being my first 2/5.
Arrogance Gave Him Up has this awkward drum beat to create syncopation that I don't like. It's unnerving. Otherwise, ok, fine.
Wasn't interested 2
I found this record quite extreme. The vocals are so exaggerated, it's almost as though this genre requires a performance like this - like how Black Metal needs growling and screaming. It's an odd mix of melody and dissonance. The lyrics are a bit creepy, but maybe that adds value? I didn't like it that much.
This was all over the place. I was varying wildly between hating it and loving it, sometimes in the same song. I feel like overall it was a no for me though. I did enjoy "Love Hangover" though
I mean, this album is unique and has… ideas. The problem is that most of these ideas did hit for me, and the whole thing felt chaotic and disjointed not in a good way. There are a couple of fun parts, but this album mostly felt quite boring. 5/10
One of the most unusual and undeserving entries. I don't mind a bit of synth pop but I'd rather listen to some of the early poppy Cure or Shriekback or XTC than this jumbled mess of synth stabs and shoulderpads.
Frig off. 2/5
I didn't get into this. I'm not a huge fan of this type of music. I don't think I have a good understanding of what this is, or what this is trying to be.
Quite annoying. Unclear if this was based on my current mood, but I didn't enjoy listening to this at all. I have a suspicion that on a different day I might be in the mood for this type of thing.
- i hate when albums are super long because they have all the demos and weird versions like no one cares but that seems to be a common thing before the 90 -so no words for the first song -yeah no is a no immediately -it’s like they are trying to be david bowie and failing idk this is whack -some of the production i actually really like and then they ruin it with their weird vocals -like nothing is something in particular i actually like but it’s because it’s no words -
Despised by everyone on 1001's reviews? Likened to Devo, David Bowie and Can in said reviews? I had very high hopes, and was instead kind of... well this is some vaguely Echo and the Bunnymen 80s music.. it did nothing for me and just sounded like background noise.
Sounded like a stray cat yowling against synthesizers.
Meh, sohdns like a rip off talking heads. Not my vibe, 2 stars
Not awful, but also not good. Some jingles are nice enough, but largely forgettable as a whole album.
Synes egentlig musikken var fin nok, men Temu Morrissey på vokal trak ned
Bit boring, more new wave than post punk imo
Denso y oscuro new wave. De momentos algo gótico. No estuvo mal, pero no me volvió loco. 4/10
I don't like this.
First song has prince vibes. Pretty good pop tune. No is a really cool sound. A lot going on but I like it. Not a fan of bop, very dated. Gloomy Sunday is pretty cool. Jude spoons too. Nothing crazy but good enough song. Middle part is bullshit/unneccasary. Skipping was forgettable. Better this way is ok. Party fears two is definitely the best in the album. Very 70s. Not a lot of uniqueness on this album. No one instrument stands out. Club country is more of the same. This album seems more like pop than rock. Can’t believe it’s not even halfway done. Another album with great critical reviews that I just don’t agree with. This album is nothing. 18 carat love affair is pretty good I guess. Kind of catchy. Not a fan of them I read a book. Australia is pretty fun tho. Good songwriting. Good piano/bass on Grecian. Rest of it is pretty whack. Room we sat in is only good because it’s the last song. This album is very 80s pop. If that’s what you like then you’ll like this. I think it’s generic and lazy. Not at all life changing or “influential” from what I can see. 2 stars.
Their cover of Diana Ross’ Love Hangover is cute
Really amateurish sounding knock-off of Bowie and Bauhaus. The programmed drums are very off-putting to me. Absolutely shouldn't be on this list.
I do not like this album, i do think though if you enjoy the genre of early 80s goth rock, you’ll like this
Why, why, why are there so many bands like this on this list. Tedious 80s post punk/ nu wave Brit pop. Mostly dreadful 1.5*
Random 80s music.
Amazing album cover. Unnecessary long album. I had enough after just 30 minutes.
2 80s 4 me. Is there any other type of music that can be so easily assigned to a period of time? I suppose this was kinda interesting in parts, but it's got that artsy talking heads type thing going on that I don't get on with. I also don't really like the 80s synth sound as a rule. 1.5, but maybe closer to 2
Typical punk rock. Nothing special.
I recognised the enjoyable and jaunty ‘Party Fears Two’, but nothing else. Inoffensive enough listen but nothing inspiring.
Influence for New Wave? I don't know, but lots of bands did this style much better.
mm, not my thing
I normally have a lot of time for dark 80s pop but the vocal on this is jarring.
A bit messy and uneven overall, but “Gloomy Sunday” stood out for me, and “Love Hangover” is an excellent cover of an already classic track.
there might be some occasional decent melodies on here, but they're well buried under layers & layers of overblown 1980s production
01) Arrogance Gave Him Up - 6,0 02) No - 5,5 03) Bap de la Bap - 5,0 04) Gloomy Sunday - 5,5 05) Nude Spoons - 5,5 06) Skipping - 5,0 07) It's Better This Way - 5,5 08) Party Fears Two - 6,5 09) Club Country - 6,5 10) nothinginsomethingparticular - 6,0 TOTAL: 5,70 (57/100) Current ranking: 637/757
I didn't enjoyed the vocals and the record dragged a little, there are maybe a couple good songs, but it isn't my style, nor to my liking as well.
Loved the production, sounded crystal smooth. Lyrics were interesting but vocals hidden in production made it tough to really appreciate. Not my vibe but as an album a pretty cool project
I thought I was going to like this a lot after the first track, but it lost me very quickly. I just didn't want to listen to it anymore by the halfway mark
Meh sounds like the era and nothing really outstanding
its... different
I don't know what to do with this album. I've never heard of these guys. I was 12 when it came out so I have no context for them. I just know that 12 year old me would've hated this. Indifference at best. I'm sure it's a great example of the band and genre. It's just not something I havw experience with. To me this is poppy, gothy bullshit. (Bullshit might be too strong. But I don't know what else to use)
I hated this. Not necessarily because it’s terrible (which it is), but because there’s some potential in here. As someone who actually doesn’t mind the synth, there some good instrumentals here. Some of this, I swear to God, got my head bopping. It’s just that the vocals sound like a discount Bono trying to add ambience to a haunted house. I felt like I was having a good sleep, only for the anesthesia to wear off and I’m on the operating table with the doctor’s sawing through my rib cage. I keep trying to enjoy this, but it keeps hurting my ears. You know how Gloomy Sunday has an urban legend that hearing it makes you commit suicide? I think they were talking about this. As someone who identifies as a 80’s synth defender (basically a heretic), even this was too much. Bonus star for the instrumentals though. Favorite track: the ones without vocals (Arrogance Gave Him Up and nothinginsomethingparticular) Other hits: Nude Spoons, Party Fears Two
This was not my thing. Disc 1 was especially grating, and while disc 2 was an improvement it still wasn't a great time. 2/5
Kind of a meh album, nothing really exciting, but it was okay having it in the background. The popular song with the most listens was not that great, but it was definitely manageable.
The drummer sounds like he's having a good old time on "Arrogance Gave Him Up", but it might also be a drum machine, it's the early 80s, its hard to tell... it might all be drum machines, all the way down...
Det här var inget för mig.
Wanted to like it but couldn’t get there. Felt like a worse Bowie
not my cuppa, seemed like bad synth pop to me.
Oh wow I had no idea temu Bowie teamed up with the Cure to make emo music for daleks. But somehow in the worst way possible.
So many 80's bands had this slinky malinki vocal style, warbling wail. Some I love, others just grate my ears. Hadn't heard of Sulk before. Great elements, but I just found the 80's drums and synths operating in the same small window of possibility. Lots to love in New Wave, maybe not this.
I would have been more forgiving of this album if it was half the length. The full 1.2 hours was daunting because the music did not make me want to keep listening. A lot of this sounded just find, albeit strange and random. I'm all for strangeness when it feels more intentional than this, but there was just way too much going on in these songs. They all felt very similar too, so it was difficult to differentiate between songs or pick favourites. There are some cool sounds in the mix though and I don't mind the vocals either, even though they're a bit wild. They remind me a bit of the Talking Heads at times, which is a redeeming factor. I'll give this 4/10.
An 80's album that passed me by and I don't think I missed much. Seems like the band trying to do an update of Sparks material from the previous decade.
1,5/5
not my type, but there is golden music
Ça sonne exactement comme Talking Heads du point de vue de quelqu'un qui n'aime pas Talking Heads.
Should get 1 star by rights because of the utter tuneless nightmare of it but its intense operatic campness was hilarious
No conocía esta banda, pero solo por la portada está diciendo a gritos años 80. Me guardé "Party fears two". Interesante como cultura musical.
Movano, HDH - Gerstetten, Deutschland. Öde. Ultra öde.
Nja, helt ok.
Synthpop liebe ich ja. Aber das Album hier schafft das "Kunststück", unfertig/demo-artig und dabei total prätentiös zu klingen. Bin gerade so eben noch durch gekommen, war schon knapp.
Mom can we get Talking Heads. We have Talking Heads at home.
Музыка иногда адекватная, но вокал - никогда.
Sko tónlistin er alveg æðisleg. Byrjar á þvílíku stuði sem ætti að gera alla spennta yfir framhaldinu af plötunni en svo byrjar söngurinn og allt verðir bara hrikalega leiðinlegt og maður bíður bara eftir að platan klárist sem virðist aldrei ætla að gerast. Eiginlega bara of löng og hefðu mátt sleppa söngnum.
Music for dozing off in a valium haze in the back of a limo
Not that great.
Too much effort of the persona and gimmicky falsetto wailing; this was mostly a chore to get through, with occasional glimpses of enjoyment here and there. 2/5
O álbum é OK. Esquecível...Celest x Versekeys Ultra-Sense Planet.
Boring af.
Okay man.. whatever you say. I’m suuuure this is a top 1001 album ever.
Sulk: Interesting Wikipedia read. A lot of weirdness for weirdness sake. Drums often sound like they are at different tempo than rest of band. I lt had some moments but I mostly hard to listen to. I like the over the top dramatic vocals - definitely prefer it to typical sleepy post punk.
20 albums in: huh, it's weird how I keep getting these albums by British bands I've never heard of that aren't particularly good 589 albums in: we must declare war against the United Kingdom immediately and inflict punishment for their crimes
Meh
I enjoyed the instrumentals that begin and end the album along with the two big singles near the end. The rest didn’t have much I enjoyed but respect them for trying unique production ideas. Synthpop is one of my less favorite genres but I didn’t hate this nearly as much as most it looks like. Rating: 2.5
Party Fears Two Club Country
Estranho
Not my favorite
The title of track 2 pretty much sums up my reaction to this album: "No"
2.5. Not for me but interesting. Singer sounds like Bowie.
Something strage here - from completely unlistenable to some great tunes
Awesome instrumentals: great baselines, synths and some physicadellic touches to make it different. I do sometimes wish that this was a instrumental album, the vocals were a bit to much at sometimes.
Okay in places but give me ‘The Lover Speaks’ debut album any day.