Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Not really heavy rock and psychedelic rock is not too bad
what a weird rock album! i'm sorta attached to it, but when i listen to it more actively, i'm not very fond of it. truly hard to grasp...
(Positive) this is a really weird album. I tip my hat to Cope’s creativity as it was an experience that feels really unique.
I like it.
Albums like these make me wonder the requirements for making it to this list. This album isn't bad, but HAVING to listen to it before I die? I don't think so
Standard art rock. This is what I imagine a Roger Waters solo album to sound like, just from remembering the solo tracks he performed live 2.5
Hit and miss, but way too long. There was a lot of fat that could have been cut.
an extra star because, you know, boobs
Звучит круто. Ещё вернусь
Loved it
I didn’t like anything about this album. Bad singing, bad songs
An interesting mix of genres here. Felt while listening that it would be the solo album if someone from a band, had the feeling of someone putting out all the stuff they couldn't get away with when other people had a day. Mostly slightly psychedelic rock but a mix of approaches to this. There was a track that reminded me of sublime half way through. Sometimes it was nice, others a bit meh. Definitely worth a listen but can't really see myself coming back to it. 3.5.
Safesurfer - absolutely cracking tune, but too long. Wish he started the breakdown a lot earlier, such a messy, crunchy guitar sound and some mad keyboard effects. It's quite hard to nail down who he sounds like - I hear influences before and from him all over the shop. Maybe something like Sufjan Stevens early albums are the closest. Decent enough, long though.
Never heard of this guy and not sure about it. There were definitely bits I quite enjoyed, but others didn't do anything for me. Felt like he had a bit of the Michael Stipes going on at times. Anyway I'm not sold on old Julian. Ah I just read he was in the Teardrop explodes.... That was considerably better than this was. I assumed he was American while listening, didn't sound British to me. What do I know 2.5
I may be long... but I don't care, I loved the journey, I was never bored
Meh. Has a certain 90s sound that is fine, but not great. Also, the vocalist’s character seems full of himself. But, there is at least some creativity here. A 3.
Safesurfer
Wrirf
I approve, it’s a high 3. Interesting tunes and the guy’s story seems quite unique.
- I'd never heard of Julian Cope... it's crazy to read how many albums he had. I feel like this is something I would have come across... - My first impression is that it sounds very familiar... I think this would have felt very fresh in '91. It doesn't feel as fresh now because I think it used lot of influences and also influenced others, but it's still enjoyable and polished, and experimental. - I'd say it's poppy art rock... sometimes veers into Nick Cave-y kind of vocals, but it's mostly melodic... I hear Velvet Underground (especially in the jangly rhythm guitar), sometime even, like, Hefner and The Church, and see the Syd Barrett references, Echo and the Bunnymen & The Wedding Present... Sometimes, a little Jarvis Cocker, too (e.g., Promised Land)... and more that I can't put my finger on. - There's some interesting instrumentation - I like the (often funk and breakbeat) drums and the bass. Enjoyed the keys, too. - Interesting progressive lyrics. - I also hear the early Spiritualized connection in the lead guitar, and which is pretty great, throughout. - I didn't listen to the double hour -- just the hour fifteen version, and it's on the long side... prob would have got rid of Soldier Blue and the second and third last songs to make it closer to an hour. - Added the album to my collection and will look into his catalogue.
Alrighty! Never heard of Julian Cope, I always enjoy listening to something new. Lets keep running notes. Pristeen - "I went down on Pristeen, now how much does it take, to go down on someone, someone that you hate." Well at least the final minute of the song he figures out how to make his flat tire voice be louder and more annoying. Not a solid start. Double Vegetation - Not gonna lie, I'm diggint the bad 80s movie bar band sound. The cheese ball arrangement and production is fun, it almost makes up for the god aweful lyrics and vocal delivery. And no, nothing will convince me this is incredible metephorical poetry. East Easy Rider - Who decided the production twist would be to push his vocals even further forward into the mix? The bad 80s movie bar band fun has worn off. Promised Land - Well I wish this song was 3 minutes and 39 seconds shorter. Hanging Out And Hung Up On The Line - "Well the blues had a baby and the bastard couldn't sing So the priest holds the candle and the parents kiss the ring Someone shouted "Let's keep the afterbirth and throw the kid away" LOL good news is the arrangement isnt interesting at all so you get to really lean into the vocal phenomenon that is Julian Cope and stew over these types of lyrics. Safesurfer - This actually has some of the best bits of the album in it. Some fun synth, a couple of well placed piano chords and an actually catchy melody part. Trouble is this needed someone to put those things together and make this a 3 minute focused song not the meandering 8 plus minutes of hoping it would end. If You Loved Me At All - Whatever the fuck that sound is he is making right off the bat I hope to never hear again. Fucking balls, Im not even half way through this album... Ok, no more running notes, this doesnt need a dissertation. Suffice it to say I did not enjoy this anymore as it went on. Things like this baffle me. How does this end up on a list of albums you must hear before you die? Who is honestly listening to this on a daily basis because its become such a core part of their musical identity? If I was at a friends house (a good friend, the kind you can be honest with and not just be polite) and this was playing I would probably say something to the effect of "dude what the fuck is this?" and then laugh thinking they were playing it just to get a reaction out of me. Far from the worst thing I have heard on this journey and yet just as far from anything I would actually want to listen to again. 2 stars.
Quirky album, singing is quite mad but I didn't hate it. Some songs are repetitive and slowly work their way into being ok
Not the best voice but I enjoyed it
Very pleasantly surprised by this album. Took a while to get going, but has a lot of catchy hooks that made it entertaining. Didn't love everything and would definitely be better if it were shorter, but carries a nice groove throughout that is easy to enjoy. Top tracks: Safesurfer, You..., Beautiful Love
bro this album is cope 1/5
I really wanted to enjoy this one but ultimately it suffers most from just being too long. Could have used an edit and that’s just the standard edition. There is a great album hidden in there that really bridges the 80s and the 90s in a perfect way but it felt clunky.
mm raro ahre
Langweilig!
Love it.
I had heard Beautiful Love before but not really connected it with Julian Cope..It was alright, I heard echoes of things that were current at the time; U2, the Mondays, Nick Cave and XTC and while it was varied it didn't seem to have much identity. It's 3 or 4 songs too long if it had finished with Beautiful Love that would've been fine with me.
Never heard of this artist. Good stuff. Not for my ears though.
Strange but satisfying, I liked this more than I would have thought.
6/10 - At no point did I dislike it. I think i really liked it for the most part. But for some reason, it just got so stale. Probs would be an 8/10 for me if it was like a 30m album. Got really tired of it sadly Heard before? --------–- ❌ Saved a new Song? ----- ❌ Saved Album? -------–-- ❌ Will Listen Again? ---––– ❌
Grew on me as the album went on. There's clearly an artistic vision with pretty interesting sounds, and some genuinely good grooves. The melodies for me are very weak though, which is unfortunate because it felt like there was quite a lot of potential.
6/10 Album tranquilo, pero no es aburrido. No se hace lento y se disfruta
Sonically I really don't hear anything that excites me much. Lyrics aren't bad though
Not a bad album at all. But with one hour and 15 minutes there could be easily some songs left to make an pleasant listening experience.
Zvuči tačno kako bih očekivala da zvuči album jednog muzičara, muzikologa, historičara, i kosmičkog šamana sve u jednom čovjeku. Nesumnjivo muzikalan i na neke načine impresivan, a na druge lud i nelogičan. Previše za svariti u jednom slušanju jer ovo sve čujem prvi put iako sam upoznata s nekim drugim njegovim stvarima i imam baš dobro mišljenje. Ovdje su mi neke pjesme odmah za lajk, neke nemaju nikakvog smisla, a definitivno ne guši kao brojni drugi dupli albumi. Zasad dobra trica, a svakako će se opet slušati.
Love the shugga/shugga beat, the funk, the psych, the discord. Wanders off now and then, but usually makes it back to the trail. I'm putting 3, but its like a 3 breathing down the neck of 4 in a tight race.
Didn't speak to me at all.
I felt pretty indifferent to this one. His singing is pretty lackluster and the compositions didn't do much for me. A couple of tunes were all right, but all right ain't gonna cut it. a 2 seems harsh, but i gave a 3 to Debut byt Bjork and that's definitely better than this.
I never heard of Julian Cope so I did a quick read through an impressive bio. I was liking all that I read but I can't say the same about my listening experience. At times reminiscent of Lloyd Cole
This album has so many undeserved haters. Fuck yall I love it so much. I get why Julian Cope might weird some people out but this was the first album of his I heard and I fell in love.
Bajo
I didn't enjoy this, but what made it worse was the fact it just went on and on and on Would definitely avoid in the future. I was desperate for it to end
Another long one, kind of interesting for the first couple of songs, then the funk hits. It picks up again. It's fine, some variety. 3 Heard before? No Owned: No, 101/379 (26%) Will I get: No
The drizzling shits
I like Julian Cope but I am not familiar with this album. He has a good voice. Good lyrics too. Good mix of slow and fast songs Pristeen, Promised Land, If you loved me at all and Head all good songs. Songs are a little weird and eccentric. I think Julian takes a lot of drugs. A good album. Four stars.
Nah
Somewhat underrated Brit pop/ art rock/ gloom ballad artist. He reminds me a little of Nick Cave in the way, upon repeat listenings, the prettier ballads reveal a darkness and the grimier/ gothier tunes reveal a tenderness. 4.5 stars
Sorry guys this was in one ear and out the other, I’m also ill so that doesn’t help your case Julian COPE
Unfortunately, this felt like a whole lotta nothing. Painfully long and not very memorable. Favorite Tracks: Hanging Out and Hung Up On The Line Not Raving but Drowning
This Is Not A Dainty World 1001 Albums Generator 319 (8/4/2026) The beginning of Pristeen reminds me so much of White Light-era Swans, which is definitely a good thing, but it also makes me wonder how this list has no Swans. The rest of this album is totally different from this song, and much of it is different from the rest of the songs. After the neofolk of Pristeen, we jump from the punk of Hanging Out And Hung Up On The Line to the prog epic Safesurfer to the Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies in Drive, She Said to the punky, jazzy You... This album can't stay still, and I really love that. However, it's definitely too long. By the time you get to Western Front 1992 A.D., the thing kind of loses steam and putters to a relatively unimpressive conclusion. 3.5/5, rounded down to a 3. Favs: Hanging Out And Hung Up On The Line Safesurfer If You Loved Me At All Least Fav: Hung Up And Hanging Out To Dry
Good album
tonight we've got a big double album by rock musician julian cope, an english guy who's been dabbling in a few different bands and personal musical projects since the late 1970s. his past work felt limiting in aspects, working with his record label and usually encouraged to make more than a few hit singles, but this album is the point in his career where he really wanted to do his own thing and not focus on standard, radio-friendly stuff, recording methods all spread out too. it's a big step for the guy and learning about it was pretty fascinating... very intriguing and kinda unmistakably '90s alt rock. this guy is very creative, but his voice and the guitars, he has a real habit of dragging stuff out to the point where the guitars sound like they're about to break by how much they're strummed and he sounds faint by how much he's just singing and yammering and singing and singing... like, wow. this album's length. it's super long and the more it plays, the less interested i get and the only thing that ends up being in my head is "ughhhhh my god when is this going to end"? horrifically slow burn of an a listen, and i ended up hopping and skipping a few tracks. my hopes were up, which is a bit of a shame.
Had it's up and downs was quite long, some was quite decent some quite unpleasant. Give it the benefit of doubt.
There were parts I actually enjoyed. 2
This was a tough listen.
i did not hate this just mildly long hm
10/10
Surprised I never heard this before. Always thought JC was more on the folky side but this was dirty indie rock. I think 14 year old me would have loved this. Album was a bit long but there’s a lot to like here.
Started off ok but got worse the more it went on. The album has no real structure and doesnt seem to go anywhere, just a mismatch of odd songs.
I had never heard of Julian Cope before and had absolutely zero idea what to expect going into this album given its title and cover. What I got ended up being fine. The sound got a bit one note by track 5 and although I appreciate him throwing in some interesting instruments here and there, like the saxophone on "You..." there wasn't enough here to make me give a higher rating. 3/5
Need to revisit this. Really enjoyed the originality of it.
The kind of unexpected treasure you do this thing for.
Nothing I could complain about but not the greatest stuff overall.
Naaaah
I was pleasantly surprised by this album and really enjoyed my time with it! Probably a little too long, and I much preferred the front half, but it was good enough for me!
Certainly some interesting ideas in here but it felt long and not sure anything really amazed me enough to want to go back. Pristeen and Las Vegas Basement were kinda good and I liked the expansiveness of the album as a whole. I feel like multiple songs started out sounding interesting but I couldn't fully get on board with the singing and all of the parts together.
This felt a little bit convoluted to me. There were flashes of pretty great bits and then some songs that just got a little too strange for my taste. If he followed through with one style a little more I feel like it would have been a more cohesive album and I probably would have enjoyed it more. Certainly a pretty interesting and eccentric character that probably deserves his place in the history of music, I just can't figure out where exactly that's supposed to be...
This feels like a mix of Nick Cave’s gothic post-punk, the Velvet Underground’s psychedelic rock, and David Bowie’s glam rock. It’s a bit long and there’s a lot going on, but I dig it.
It was ok , in places. When it ended , Spotify played similar era stuff. Improved no end !!
An eclectic mix of tracks, never really seemed to follow a formula. Which at least helped try to keep the interest up over the 75 mins. Probably about a 3.5 rating but bumped up to 4 as an early birthday gift to TGL.
I distinctly remember some clown clearing the dance floor playing ‘East Easy Rider’ at a 6th Form football club party! I mean, it’s ok. He can’t really sing and it goes on a bit, but I like it. Plenty of variety and groove in all the right places.
I don’t remember who’s party or why I was DJing (badly with cassettes), but I distinctly remember clearing the dance floor playing ‘East Easy Rider’ at a 6th Form football club party (RIP Horsham FC, Queen St btw). Reading the reviews on here, many of you clearly have as much taste as my erstwhile college mates. I respectfully resent you all. This is an absolute masterpiece, and if your loins are not thoroughly girded by Safesurfer, well god rest your soul. All Hail Julian H Cope! PS. For any listers with souls in tact, the album after this, Jehovahkill is arguably better, with a more Krautrock vibe. You’re welcome.
Very varied throughout the album kept it interesting.
Some nice wee bits in here, especially at the start rather. It's just too long darling with too many mid ones in the final half
Piece of art? More like this dude is a piece of work
I didn't really know what to expect. The closing track had a nice calming vibe. Do-do, do-do, do-do, ... Beautiful Love, the most streamed song of the album, is something too
really did not like any song here
It started out okay, different, I was liking it, but had to stop and do some things. When I picked it up again the next day, I thought it was just eh! And went on too long.
Experimental?
It grew on me over it's very long runtime. Might give higher rating with successive listens. It did feel too homogenous for the length.
Lacked the teardrop explodes pop sensibilities so just left with run of the mill 80's indie that doesnt really stand the test of time.
I can’t decipher this album. I don’t love the music and the lyrics seem somewhat absurd.
This album is like pick 'n mix, but its mostly liquorice and only some cola cubes.
I enjoyed parts of this, but like so many albums, it's cardinal sin is the pairing of its length and lack of variety. 4/10
Thought all of the songs were unique and had a purpose on the album, no small feat when there were so many of them! But they stood out on the first listen and on the second listen I was anticipating them coming up again. My kinda music, ymmv.
This is, in general, the kind of music I like, but this felt too long for me to find a groove with. Probably something I'd love if I heard a song out in the wild, but the album as a whole didn't consistently capture me.
I have a mixed opinion with this record. I think it's pretty pretentious in the sense it tries to be very eclectic – which, on the other hand, is one word that could describe it so well –, but fails on delivering some songs that are not much interesting sonically. And, in a sense, that's the issue with this album, there are many ideas, some very well developed, others not much, and that makes this album feel tiring sometimes. Not because the songs are not good, which make this album, in fact, flow really well, but because they do not add much to the context or overall result. This record could be shorter, and it would make it even better. That is the main issue I find. But there are many great ideas, great atmospheres, and so many different sounds that make this album feel very rich, not just in the melodies. So, I guess I am frustrated to not love it because of, first, the lack of a clearer sound, or, at least, of a more concise delivery in the album; and, secondly, because the main direction, sonically, is not my favourite. It feels very indie and paused at times, shadowing some very interesting layers. So, I could say this album is very mid, an album with some nice ideas and a poor delivery, but it would not be completely true as there are some great moments in it that really feel very well put and delivered. So, I will say that it could have been better, but it's still pretty amazing. I have really loved some songs on it, and it really drives you through the different songs without necessarily being a conceptual album. And that is actually something I have really liked.
i don't like this
This feels way too long for what it has to offer, but it's not without its charms. There's a bit of a Frank Zappa vibe to some of the songs, though a part of that might just be Cope's voice. The lyrics certainly aren't as clever and biting as Zappa can be, but there's a maturity and earnestness lurking just beneath the surface of the humorous viewpoints that are often presented. I don't feel like I've wasted my time listening to this album, but I also don't think I'll take much away from it.
6.5/10
What a crap birthday gift, cheers Julian
I think this is exquisite. Something strange about this album with me is still unclear. I do not believe I own it, but I "know" this album straight through, and it roared back into my mind like I had heard it yesterday. Plus I find it fascinating and quite great. I must own this or a similar album of his... or I must have heard it a bunch of times and don't remember... but I DO remember him saying "Julian Cope" in one of his songs and I remember knowing of his music.. I am not sure what genre it is. I am sure it is a really really good album straight through, and I had no problem listening to the whole thing easily in one sitting.
It started off pretty interesting but then got real weird. I feel like there might have been one song early that I could actually listen to again. The dude's voice really reminds me of The Who.
-1 for that weirdo, unpleasant album art.
ni tan mal, el primer tema mola, facil de escuchar, es como un cantautor
Just not for me
Another case of right artist wrong album. My Nation Underground or World Shut your Mouth far better choices. Still, can't fault this - inventive and emotional and really not like much else out there.
3/5
just a bit mid, maybe would like it more with a few more listens
Julian Cope is a name I'd heard before, but I didn't really know what I was getting in for with this album. It's a dense but varied collection that's still interesting at its worst and phenomenal at its best. The length made it too much to get through in one sitting -- I just didn't have the time and had to break it up into about 4 sessions. I remember Safesurfer being a highlight. The repetitive vocals are a bit whatever, but the music on this track is 5/5 for all 8 minutes. Definitely need to come back to this when I have a full two hours just to sit with it, but it definitely piqued my interest.
positively surprised and i did fall asleep with this in the bg
David Byrne, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, REM but the worst parts.
Loved it - need to revisit to fully aprpeciate but was instantly taken by the sound - which was familiar due to how influential this album must have been. This is the type of album where you can hear sounds from the next 30 years throughout.
Really good I was surprised by this
Julian Cope definitely left an influence on future artists such as Ron Gallo and Sturgill Simpson. He was a very “spoken word” singing style few artists can pull off. It works here. This genre-jumping was interesting too. I was not expecting a distortion sax solo on You…. Musically I like the vibe he offered, especially the more laid back sounds like Not Raving But Drowning. I feel like the album was longer than it should have been, but if I was buying this on CD in the ‘90s I would have appreciated his filling that CD to the brim.
Random thoughts: * Julian Cope and Citizen Cope are completely unrelated. * Julian Cope is KBCO-core. Genre defying rock and blues music. I wonder if I've previously heard this music on KBCO. * This album covered a lot of musical ground which made for an interesting listen. * The lyrics really jumped out at me on this one, I actually thought the first track was Christine, not Pristine. Also, Safesurfer was interesting. * He kind of has a Billy Bragg feel/sound but less folksy. * Interesting exposure but I won't be heading back here
It’s okay
3/5 Favorite Song: The American Lite
Would be good live
‘Julian CANT Cope’ - as Len Houmous famously said! 3.1 14/18 Beautiful Love
This one might be my favorite obscure discovery from this list. Its sound is like if Nick Cave, REM, and Spiritualized had a baby. It’s weird as hell for sure, but there’s a brooding sense of melody on this songs that’s catchier than it first lets on. This may be five stars with more time spent with it.
ANOTHER NAKED PERSON??? (Somehow I feel that it's a sign that I'm gonna like it). honestly I don't think I'd listen to this one again either but Soldier Blue...
Long and pretentious, like most of what Julian Cope does. The thing is, for how pretentious he is you'd expect the music could measure up to such pretensions, right? Well, it doesn't. It's just some regular-ass rock music.
Cover was cooler than the music
creo que el rock no es lo mío
surprisingly pleasant.
Decent, but not terribly remarkable. His baritone voice reminds me a little of Peter Murphy. Couple of the songs were pretty good. Couple less good. All in all,
Similar to the Butthole Surfers (who had the album before this one in the list with Locust Dayglo Abortion) you either love or hate the former Teardrop Explodes former frontman’s solo work. Lyrically it is a bit fucking weird but musically it’s genius. At times sounding like a mix of Hugh Cornwall and Jim Morrison, the songs in Peggy Suicide are musically diverse often anticipating the Madchester scene of the early to mid 90s with some tracks close to what the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays would pick up and carry to success a year or two later. This is also a very British art rock record that likely has very few copies sold in the United States. Sad really, because I bought the CD when it came out and it still gets the odd spin more than 30 years later. Not a perfect record but better than most of the music of its time and still an interesting listen today. 4/5
A great deal of variety through the 76 minutes of the album. Unfortunately, it’s all shit. Awful voice, awful songs, awful album
1/2
I wasn't a fan of this album. The sound was too rough and it feels way too pretentious. Plus (even at 1hr 16min) it's too long. I'm sure it plays well at a record store and with the music snob crowd.
A bit long, but not a bad listen at all. Solid rock album, I appreciate the funk influence here and there. There's a bit of a drone to it here and there - that tends to really work for me. Sort of like what I've heard from some post-hardcore and shoegaze bands (e.g. Rain, Husker Du, Curve). Hard to explain but it really works for me. "Soldier Blue" and "Leperskin" stand out in particular. Overall probably a solid 3.75 if we had partial stars. A lot works here for me. Not sure I'll revisit it, but I'm glad I gave it a listen.
When to listen: in the type of dive bar with lots of stickers on the bathroom walls (that may be all dive bars.) This album was... cool. But unfortunately, forgettable. I had to re-listen as I wrote this.
If this was half as long, it would be an interesting four. It wears out it's welcome in the back half. Probably the least listened to album so far by Spotify numbers
Good album. Never heard of Julian Cope, but this was a pretty nice surprise. Yes, the album is way too long, but it is also very varied so it manages to keep some interest. Some songs I enjoyed: "Pristine" (I love the Velvet's vibe, probably my favourite), "Promised Land", "Safesurfer" (very good 8 min track), Leperski (nice bass), or "Las Vegas Basement". Interestingly, the first and the last song are probably my favourites. This is between 3 and 4 stars for me. Leaning towards 3 because of the length, and towards 4 because of the variety and originality (also, 3 or 4 tracks are very good). Overall, I think I'm leaning towards 4 stars.
Musically, this could have been something......and then he opens his mouth. It's not really singing as much as is sounds like some beatnik slam poetry by someone who is an asshole, but sees themselves as a brooding genius. I just didn't get this mess at all.
Intriguing album art from an artist I don't recognize at all. It feels like a collage with deep illustrative properties, and it's dark, so it's giving me heavy-punk vibes. I'd say the album art is misleading, the album has a happier, light execution with thought out composition and production. After an initial listen I can see why I haven't heard of him, this is not a name I'd keep on record so I can look forward to it in the future. Kind of like a new Zappa with less direction. Unfortunately I hate his voice, it docks at least half a point and undoes a lot of the pretty musical aspects. Even those fleeting beautiful sonic moments are typically chased by something cheesy and far from the vanguard. And this is what critics consider his best work? Eek. 2.35/5
At first, I thought I was in for the biggest slog of an album I've generated so far. I was half-right about that. After a very wonky start, the album started to grow on me, but it really needed some serious cutting, it gets unbearable at times. There's also an air of self-importance felt throughout, which isn't helped by the fact that it's split into four "phases". Peggy Suicide really isn't as original or creative as it thinks it is, rather the opposite. Overall, I really liked a couple of tracks, but it was mostly an annoying experience. I doubt I'll delve into Julian Cope's other work any time soon.
This one has me very conflicted. The stand-out songs are pretty good, very sophisticated and experimental. There's so much filler though, I don't think I can award more than a 3
This kind of sucked. It wasn't too bad; some instrumental parts were fine. But the whole album felt uninspiring and demo-like, especially with the mediocre singing.
que jornada
Surprisingly good! Liked practically every song. Reminded me a lot of Ian McCulloch. Not exactly the same sound bus same vibes. Me likes!
Peggy unalive
pretty strange album that seemed to straddle most genres? i kinda like albums like this: "a hodgepodge". never heard of this guy but he seems talented i suppose... didnt blow me away but soild!
I'd never heard of Julian Cope before. The album was pretty cool. It feels like he was that cool that 80s/early 90s rocker that grunge killed. The songs were cool, but I felt like this album couldve used some editing. Far too long.
Ah yes another British musician I haven't heard of & probably won't hear again
Damn good music. Safesurfer is the first song that really struck me and daresay I had it on repeat before I could continue the album.
Each was song is unique and interesting. When I thought the singing were lacking, the instruments stepped in and picked up the slack. Solid musicians. Lyrics weren't my cup of tea. 3 stars because I wouldn't pick up this album again to listen, personally, but I appreciate the art.
Never heard of these guys before. This was a surprise. I enjoyed it quite a lot and moved some songs to a playlist.
Stunned by this one! I got the Teardrop Explodes record forever go and loved it, so it was cool to discover this is a person from that band. Peggy Suicide has a lot of soul to it and kinda chill vibes. It fits in an excellent pocket of things I love in particular.
You know it grew on me
Time capsule of an album.
Album #103: Peggy Suicide - Julian Cope Genre (W): Art rock, psychedelic rock Singles: Beautiful Love, Safesurfer, East Easy Rider, Head I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: This album is quite dull and dragging. I kept wondering when it was gonna end. Some songs are well-written and catchy, but overall, this album is way too long. I almost fell asleep. Favorite songs: Pristeen, East Easy Rider, Hanging Out & Hung Up on the Line, Drive, She Said, Leperskin
🎸👨✈️🌎🏍️💧
Ikke helt favoritt men stedvis funker det bra Litt sånn alternativ 90 mølje som er litt uidentifiserbart men som jeg hører mange har hentet ting fra i ettertid
- Kind of annoying - Kind of ok - Not my taste
What I remember of Juilian Cope. World Shut Your Mouth and a member of the Teardrop Explodes. I don't think I have heard a full Cope album. I was aware of his cult status. Lots of goths love this guy so there has to be something to him. This all the earmarks of the Brit Pop sound to follow. More about the 60s and 70s, politics, some twee sounds. When I listened to this album, I know that I will have to listen to it again. This will be on rotation for a while. Pristeen - reminds me a bit of Lou Reed. Easy Easy Rider - has a Cult sound. The song structure is a bit of something else. I keep thinking that this must have some meaning attached to CC Rider and Reggae. I am getting a kick out of remembering a band called Dred Zeppelin. Soldier Blue - I have heard this song before but I am not sure it is this version. Might have been on Much Music awhile back. Maybe they did a daily spotlight on Julian Cope and this could have been in it. The American Lite - Definitely heard this. Not sure where but yeah. I can't imagine this not influencing Brit Pop. Given that I want to listen to this again, it will be an auto 4 or 5. I think I'll settle on 4.
This album was really enjoyable. Idk almost a 4 but I’ll stick to 3 for nkw
I’m the type who eyes new names with a mix of hope and suspicion, especially when the label shouts “post‑punk.” This record flips that script, delivering a fresh cocktail of instruments and a thump that feels almost tribal. The verses sneak in clever wordplay, making the whole thing feel like a conversation I actually want to keep. Somewhere between the vibes of The Smiths and a modern indie‑rock lounge, it finds a sweet spot that’s both nostalgic and forward‑looking. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - East Easy Rider - Safesurfer - If You Loved Me at All - Beautiful Love
I know I know the name Julian Cope, but none of this music is familiar to me. A cursory Google suggests that might have been thanks to City Limits and The Wedge on MuchMusic in the early 90s. Some clear future echoes to other bands I like. A tonne to dig into (it might be a touch long), but this one's getting marked for revisitation.
For a record this long & so-called ambitious, there's an unwonted naïveté & a naturalness that renders the whole experience not only worthwhile but an organic enterprise. & I go for that sort of thing. 'Each day we get closer to the big bad fire / I looked down at the sickness in you.' Eclecticism is not the same thing as random variety, but Peggy Suicide has a sense of both cohesive diversity as well as scattershot energy: Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, oh I don't know, how about Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, & Alex Chilton, all these styles & more are featured, but I also get the feeling for a personality that I guess we can only attribute to Julian Cope himself. Whoever he is, I don't care much for the looks of him, but this album in a vacuum, yeah, real deal.
so far hated all of them except "Safesurfer" also "Solider Blue" i really really like "las vegas basement" this song is gonna change my whole rating tbh
I remember the DJs on the radio going nuts for this when it came out. Never understood the fuss. Still don’t. How exactly is this special? It’s fine. There’s range, but this needed editing. Stopping after 13 songs. That’s enough of this. 3/5
Not my style
Bland
Some interesting ideas, plenty of sprawling psychedelic, artsy experimentation and enough variety to be found on here. However, at nearly 80 minutes, this is a very self-indulgent affair that I'd struggle to see myself returning to by choice, and not all of the experimentation is a resounding success.
Pretentious dreck. Especially the latter half of the album, and by god was I tempted to not go that far. That's an hour and 16 minutes I'll never get back. And here I thought Morrissey was the most insufferable man in the British post-punk and indie scenes. Jesus Christ. For ever song that has a part I can bob my head to, for every song I think, "it's kinda growin' on me," there's a 'You...' or a 'Hung up and hanging out to dry,' by far the most irritating tracks here.
Very surprised with the quality of the songs. Especially after reading some of the reviews. The vocals were cleae, the music felt good, and overall i found myself really enjoying the album. That said, I would really like to be able to read the blurb for each of these from the book, and I really want to know what, if anything, differentiates an album you have to hear before you die from a sometimes mediocore collection of songs.
Good
This album makes me want to be Peggy ⭐️ How many more shit albums in a row am I going to get? Ffs
Gives off Madchester energy, which is a good thing in my eyes. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
Surprisingly, I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Perhaps the most UK-centric pick of the entire list, somehow. Julian Cope is the former lead singer for The Teardrop Explodes (we got Kilimanjaro & it was totally fine), & someone with a deep enough love for Scott Walker to curate an entire selection of Scott’s music just to try and rehabilitate his image in the early 1980s. He’s here with a 76-minute art rock album to tell us exactly what he thinks about the world. Going in, I didn’t have high hopes, if I’m being honest. It already felt bloated & preachy & a little self-serving, and that was just from the cover art & synopsis alone. I’m pleased to announce that my low hopes were quickly surpassed in a way that made me feel foolish for doubting the pick here – this is not “Kilimanjaro”-esque at all, with Julian Cope & the team he put together crafting a wide net of musical styles & topics to touch on, and for a 76 minute album, I’m VERY pleased to announce that it only feels just a little too long as opposed to being unbearably too long. Hell, I found myself thinking some tracks could go on longer to really sell more of the instrumental atmosphere / vocal performances at hand here. If you’ve got me that invested in what you’re saying & how you’re choosing to say it, you’ve done something right. It’s a UK-centric pick in terms of how Dimery & friends got here, yes, but it’s also a UK-centric album in terms of how much Julian Cope seems to fucking despise Margaret Thatcher. There’s at least 3 or 4 tracks here devoted to hating on her, and I can’t help but respect the commitment. For the most part, however, this is an album loosely preaching about the climate issues that were apparent even back then. Obviously, we have a bit of a crisis on our hands with how much water we’re currently using to create some Suno-driven slop & a whole bunch of other LLM related issues, so it seems like Julian’s words fell on deaf ears here. He did focus a little much on hating car dependency, to be fair, but that was incredibly valid back then & something we haven’t solved now, given that they’re adding yet another lane to that highway right by you that’ll solve everything. You know it’s coming. When this album isn’t tackling climate issues & the horrors of predicting 35 years ago what has clearly come to pass today, it’s talking about other decently relevant topics for the time; “Double Vegetation” seems to tackle the Western desire to stop the spread & influence of Islam that was carried out in the Gulf War invasion & certainly into today. “Hanging Out & Hung Up on the Line” is apparently about anxiety bubbling up in potent forms when you need it the least, and I’d say that’s pretty damn relatable. “Safesurfer” tackles sex in the age of AIDS, & while it’s a bit one-note, the instrumental atmosphere is rad as hell. “If You Love Me at All” is also a bit one-note, but gaslighting like that has clearly stayed the same. “Soldier Blue” is about the government crossing the boundaries of peaceful protest; arguably, more relevant than ever. I’m just impressed, really; there’s an almost Beck-like quality to Julian’s work here, with this album touching on everything from grunge to ragtime to trip-hop and somehow feeling totally cohesive in spite of everything, managing to make all 76 minutes flow in a way that never REALLY bit at me. Obviously, there’s some longer outros & a bit of one-note repetition in ways that could’ve been trimmed down, but sometimes, simmering in that repetition gets the point across a little more. “Drive, She Said” wouldn’t feel the same if you didn’t have to get nagged at for a good chunk of the track, nor would “Las Vegas Basement” hit the same way if you didn’t have to hear the guitar solo go on just a little too long. I understand why this has a 2.77 on the site, as it’s a bit of a commitment to go past the surface level & really dig into these tracks in a more meaningful way. One might also just say that it’s trite nonsense, but that really disregards all of the effort put in to make this appealing to a casual listener as well. Seriously, there’s great soundscapes & instrumentals across the board here. Overall, I’m at a 4.5 bumped up to a 5, if only because it is a bit long & some tracks do get a little repetitive, along with some rehashed topics in ways that don’t add too much to the album. I think there’s a world where, had this been tightened up a little more, it would’ve been a really big album. At the very least, if anything other than “Pristeen” & its slightly oversaturated wall of noise had been the opener, maybe people would’ve taken more kindly to this album from the get go. I can’t think of a more natural opener though, so what do I know? Regardless of its flaws, it’s a surprisingly strong album, at least compared to the expectations I had going in, and I think it deserves the bump up to a 5. Not bad at all, Julian.
There were a few decent tracks in here but mostly fairly mediocre.
i listened to this album in a lecture hall and my god i might of thought whatever the teacher was yapping on that week was better then the music playing in my ears. isn't bad enough to give it a 1 tho
Ah, art-rock mixed with post-punk new-wave, my FAVOURITE genre. Apart from that, obviously, sarcastic comment, this album is just boring, gets repetitive and overstays its welcome. I did not mind Safesurfer at all, but the rest is just terrible. Just pretentious crap.
p659. 1991. 4 stars. Cope channelling his inner Jim Morrison/Nick Cave, which ain't a bad thing. When it works, its great. On the downside, it's a double album and there is far too much filler. This could easily have been a 5 star single album.
Decent enough I suppose but I doubt I will ever want to hear it again.
ich verstoh NULL. es isch sehr 90s alternative rock ich glaub de dimery liebt dad afoch. aber häää. es isch au all ober the place. check nöd was das söll gad. ich hans au bitz passiv glost aber da git e zwei.
tönt nacheme coole dude aber au koooomisch s macht no spass bis jz? s isch au zuegänglicher als ich denkt hett de schluss vo double vegetatiom het mich gad ah led zeppelin erinneret lol VÖLLIGE VIBEWECHSEL aber de bass immerno am durregeh hanging out erinneretmi recht an nick cave safesurfer findiiii recht cool, v.a. wenner immer chli s gliche singt und d orgle innechunnt, fast scho hypnotisch AHH ES GAHT UM AIDS OMG UND DENN CHUNNT D GUTARRE INNE WO IWIE CHLI Z LUUT ISCH ABER EGAL ok de schluss hett er echli meh chönne chille aber WAUW was füren SONG NOMAL LOSE es gfalltmer villll besser als ich befürchtet han you... isch meh das woni erwartet han joo langsam hanis ghört wnl hahaha am ahfang würkli ufeme 4er-kurs, s het echt spass gmacht aber iwenn ischs halt chli nervig (wenn au immer kreativ) worde und VILL Z LANG
avg as fuck 1/5
I liked a few songs on this but not most of it
I wanted to like this more than I did. There are some genuinely cool ideas here. I thought Western Front 1992 C.E. was genuinely awesome. I really locked in at You... though. Julian Cope is one rock star that has been covered by the sands of time, but he also wrote a pretty seminal book about krautrock called krautrocksampler which hasn't been reprinted in years and goes for like $300 on eBay. There's some of that here!! But there's also a lot of jams here. A lot of jams here. Like, a lot of jams here. Like actually Jesus Christ. This album is so bloated, and it's a bummer. I had really high hopes based on his love of Krautrock. I still liked it, but not enough to relisten, and definitely not enough to explore his discography further.
like barrett said... he had Ideas. my biggest complaint was with the annoyingly affectless vocals, which really only worked for me on 'if you loved me at all.' great song. reminded me of yo la tengo. but my god there was a lot of BULLSHIT on this album. so much filler. why is 'safesurfer' just hotel california for like 6 minutes and then only get interesting at the end?? why is the big hit from this album just some weak-ass reggae song?? why is this on the list?? 2.5
julian cope? with what? archeology? i don't hate it. but i'm confused. OH. i got it now. achtung baby if it was made by a manchild. would love an explanation on that negro line. 0.9-2.1. genuine struggle to get through it all. top review (hung up's the best {he finally shuts the Hell up} before it becomes gibberish Hoopla) as Fuck. alt: https://youtu.be/murk6bZszys
Okay
Churn out a shorter, better album every 2 years instead of a longer, worse one every year
Ik kende dit nog niet. Het is met vlagen best aardig, maar gedurende de 75 minuten dat dit album duurt valt Julian ook wel een paar keer lelijk door de mand wat mij betreft. Omdat het altijd lekker is om dingen die je niet kent te categoriseren zou ik dit willen omschijven als een iets veelzijdigere, maar toch meer vergeetbare Nick Cave. Ik twijfel net als gister over 2 of 3 sterren. Ik zet deze op 2 sterren omdat ik 75 minuten wel echt veel te lang vind. Echt de helft te lang.
Deduct one point for Pristeen - horrible opener. Deduct another for the album art and another point for the album title. Add one point back because it's not so bad musically. Interesting for a single listen. Peggy Suicide feels less like hearing music and more like being scolded by a man who just discovered activism yesterday. Cope piles on themes — politics, ecology, mysticism — but the result is a cluttered, self‑important slog. I do dig the Manchester vibes. The songs blur together into a swamp of mid‑tempo grooves and vague cosmic warnings. It’s the kind of album that insists it’s profound while offering the emotional impact of a damp leaflet. If this is Cope’s grand statement, it’s delivered with all the subtlety of a soapbox sermon shouted at passing pigeons.
Overall: 6/10 This was way too long. The songs were good but not good enough for the amount of songs they put on here. Maybe if they trimmed it a bit I'd like it more. Fav Song: If You Loved Me at All
This one was interesting. I ended up quite liking and saving a handful of songs from it, but then there were quite a few that did nothing for me, and several I disliked as well. 2.75
Was it probably considered good when it came out? Sure. Was it enjoyable to listen to now and not just rambling on and on? Yes
I listened.
honestly could've been seperated into two albums and it would've been better imo. it is a bit too long as it is now, it ends up feeling very plain, repetitive and, at the very end, boring.
Wow...Off to a terrible start with that "song" Pristine. I have never felt more irritated in my life. The vocals on this album, especially the first few songs are just terrible. East Easy Rider, Safesurfer, If You Loved Me At All were OK at some parts. The rest of the album ranged from okay to straight up grating. It was kind of dull and boring at times and unlistenable at others. I zoned out during a lot of it and the only songs that stood out to me were the ones that were really really bad. I'm sure some people could find something on here that they enjoy and so maybeeee it deserves a 2 because it wasn't all bad. BUT I really did not enjoy this at all. So I will give it a 1 personally. 1/5 stars
Nope.
Released in 91, I can see why this didn’t cut through the grunge noise. But it’s still kind of good.
no big deal or lasting impression. Onward
Went in thinking this would be terrible and left thinking pleasantly surprised! I might give this another listen but the length of it puts me off a bit.
I really liked this a lot, and that's was a surprise, given the album title is a pretty terrible pun. It was super varied, but not in such a way that it became hard to bear, and there were moments of extreme beauty in there. Safesurfer is that great rarity - an eight minute song that really justifies it. Overall, a very excellent discovery from someone I'd only vaguely heard of before.
dense album but really enjoyed a lot of it. some songs are already outdated sound wise, but the guitars are grungy and the vocals are usually pretty solid
Was surprised by this one. Great variety of sounds, good composition and lyricism, an overall great time. Just didn't like some of the tracks towards the end.
Post-punk should be short and punchy. This is 2.5 hours of some of the most self-indulgent non-sense I've ever heard. One of those “you had to be there when…” albums. 2⭐️
Decent record
ging so. außerdem zu lang
Couldn't really keep attention to this album, which I guess means it wasn't that interesting to me. Another "post punk" effort that seems to fall a little flat. It's too long as well. 2/5 Won't listen again
Never heard of this artist, but actually enjoyed it quite a bit!
This was a fun listen, enjoyed it
Trop long
J'ai adoré Safesurfer et l'album en lui-même est une bonne découverte alors que j'avais très peu d'attente. Bien joué Julian Copium
Alguna que otra joya, me gustó en general. Nota: 3.5
Not quite the prophet he thinks he is, Cope here delivers a 75-minute sermon-slash-variety-show where the gospel is pagan, the delivery is Lou Reed by way of a psychotropic smoothie, and the punchlines are mostly buried in bongwater. Nominally political and spiritually “awakened,” but mostly just loud, long, and trying really, really hard to be the coolest shaman in the indie rock commune. The alt-dance-noise cocktail often hits a familiar mid-tempo shuffle—think INXS on mushrooms (“Double Vegetation”) or George Michael in a haze of incense and irony (“If You Loved Me at All”). When he does settle into a vibe, like the noir-funk of “Head” or the echo-chamber mourning of “Las Vegas Basement,” it can be haunting. But too often he’s just Not Raving But Rambling. You’ll need stamina, patience, and maybe a chart to track the vibes.
18 songs and a run time of an hour and 18 minutes is on track for this pretentious attempt at psychedelic blues or something like that. The combo of his voice and lyrics just irritated me the entire time.
I am so bored of hearing this mediocre, self indulgent guff.
Kinda off-beat and interesting. I'd listen again. 3.
DNF
Good first time listen.
Slow start instrumentals aren’t bad.
Pristeen East Easy Rider Safe Surfer Drive, She Said Head Leperskin Beautiful Love
Pristeen Safesurfer Leperskin
meh
3.5
It's alright, pretty relaxing. Kind of reminds me of the singer from the 90's band Live. Nothing really stood out for me. Not bad but not great either.
Whoops - I might be about to get really into Julian Cope.
Haven't heard of him before. What kind of bullshit is this, this is not even good. The guy was in The Teardrop Explodes and I like their song Treason but his solo music sounds nothing like that. And the album is so damn long!!! For what goddamn reason. Spare me 1/5
fajna okladka idk
It's giving Lou Reed but I can't really explain why
It’s not horrible but it is an endless and incoherent jumble.
interesting
La primer canción daba vibes a jolene y acá bancamos el girl power asiq arrancamos mal pero nose cool
Much like Mark E Smith, I find his voice hard to warm to. Maybe it’ll grow on me over time
i liked some parts and disliked other parts
I did not expect to like this anywhere near as much as I did. There's a load of really interesting, varied stuff here and although it's arguably about 20 mins too long, it had loads of tracks that I added to my playlist to come back to so I'm not sure how loudly I'd call for it to be shortened. It has enough experimentalism to keep you on your toes but also enough melodic and structural sensibility to make it really accessible and listenable. I'd buy this.
kinda boring ngl
There’s some good stuff here but the album is way too long. It feels like a lot of the songs are similar and the ones that are not are very different and don’t always work.
listened to this years ago and it didn't stick. it's fine, nothing terrible here. maybe i'll try again next decade
Art rock, psychedelic rock.
Eclectic mix with a little bit of everything. It was a lot to listen to at once, but I really appreciated several of the songs.
I get that this might be influential for somebody, but it's hot garbage. I didn't like the way his voice sounded, I didn't like the topic of the music, I didn't like much about it. The guitar work is decent in spots.
This is annoying and not very musical. Why are these albums here?
The cover art had me completely fooled for which type of music this is. Felt like some metal or rock-like thing, but turned out to be one of the most pop-sounding records that we've had on this list. Sounded like a boring version of early R.E.M or something similar. It had its ups and downs, but in the end it all felt too forgettable. No song really stuck with me. While the vocals weren't particularly interesting, the issue wasn't really with the production side. The songs just sounded a bit generic somehow. Weak 3.
I really tried to get into this album but I just couldn't. Like a mix of 90s grunge, Nick Cave and sometimes a bit of ska/punk (mainly thinking of the sax in "You…"). It was way too long at 1 hour 15 min and it never really to pass my boredom threshold except during “Hanging Out and Hung Up On The Line”. Maybe when I’m more in the mood for this album I could actually find something I enjoyed. Weak 2.
Listened a bunch bc I couldn’t get a grasp of the album and couldn’t listen start to finish. Don’t get it
5/10 There were some decent moments, but its all over the place, incoherent and way too long. Highlights: Safesurfer
Not for me
This album is confusing and long but interesting and full of Easter eggs. Need to re listen a few times
This is a generous 3*. It didn't capture me but the variety made it not tedious to listen to. Nothing really stood out, overall forgettable.
Not particularly memorable for me, sometimes the music/guitar reminded me of U2 but with much worse singing. Kind of a “whatever” for me
3 out of 5. Not bad music that ran a little too long but not the end of the world.
🚨⚠️ PSA ⚠️🚨 The original album is 18 tracks, and 1 hour 16 minutes! https://open.spotify.com/album/5XuAHc6MWOsYa0x26LMSfu Y'alls don't need to be listening to the 2.5 hour Deluxe Edition
I probably need to give this another listen because I spread it out over several days. It was fine. Nothing special.
An interesting listen that deserves further album looking into.
"How much can you take" After that first song not a lot apparently
God make it end
flashes of some great stuff and some boring not so good stuff 3 stars
It's alright but I instantly forgot the songs once I'd completed the album. Also, I'm confused as to why he goes off key sometimes.
I wish I could give this a negative number. I’d rather listen to myself getting eaten by lions.
Interesting album. I actually quite enjoyed it. It go down by the end but the beginning is pretty good.
Sounded a bit like REM at first. It was an interesting album
I had never heard this album. I was pleasantly surprised! This album would have been really solid if it was trimmed down to 12 songs or so. But none the less, still a good listen. 90’s sounding, but in the best way possible
A little Nick Cave, a little Billy Bragg.
what in the tom waits did i just listen to
Didn’t know what to expect going in but it was mildly enjoyable
Has a few places where some fat could be trimmed, but overall I enjoyed my time with it. Very fun listen. Safesurfer is an amazing track that's both dark and psychedelic and takes you on a journey all by itself. Head stood out for making me imagine stereotypical little green aliens playing the song on futuristic sci-fi instruments. Las Vegas Basement was great to end off the album. The Spotify description for Julian Cope being a "musician, writer, historian, and cosmic shaman" made me giggle. Not sure why the reviews for this album on this website are leaning negative (apart from people listening to the longer deluxe version - always check the track listings on Wikipedia people!) - I didn't find anything egregious enough to warrant it.
I'm a big fan of Julian cope, he's like the ultimate prog punk hippy. Teardrop explodes, pop solo, books on standing stones.. eric. And here's another transformation.i loved it when it was released. It hasn't aged very well... sounds a bit like him jamming in a barn with his mates, sounds under rehearsed. But it's Julian so it's great
Oh, this is new to me...long and sprawling, so I haven't given it a good enough crack yet, but this is my sort of gear.
The vocals just don’t do it for me.
3.87 is my rating but uniquely awesome.
Moody wannabe Jim Morrison.
This is a very interesting album because some songs are mediocre at best, others are super experimental and there are some real gems tucked in between. I genuinely liked my listen through but I got light whiplash with the different levels of quality on the songs.
Very enjoyable album with some bangers in-between. I liked how experimental he got sometimes.
Very British
Not for me. 1/5
pretty interesting i liked the album
The grungy postpunky aspects of this album weren't appealing enough for me. There's some interesting aspects, but i'm rather turned away by most of the production and recording of the album. Sounds very standard 90s alternative alternative, not enough to repeat.
Started rough but by the end I loved it. What an experience.
Definitely falls into the repetitive trap, which detracts quite a bit from it. Some of the songs would have been pretty enjoyable if they hadn't just been the same 5 words repeated for 2 minutes straight. I have to say though, there were some beats that got me unintentionally foot tapping.
Def opened up my mind. There is genius here bit some of the tracks are just jams with no point -- others are keepers.
Not the worst thing I have heard.
Some cool moments, some really meh moments
Exactly the kind of nice discovery I signed up for. I don’t understand the hate for this album ; it's absolutely not as strange as people make it sound. It’s a fascinating mix of styles – mostly late 60s psychedelic rock, but also a bit of new wave and krautrock, and even a small pinch of punk. The experimental bits are nicely done, and never overbearing. The end results works really well in my opinion, mainly because the band is competent. I’m not completely sold on the voice, but the instrumental parts are solid. Overall it’s a very original but very accessible album with a distinct personality and strong spiritual themes. There’s a lot of diversity in the songs, so they never gets repetitive or boring. Safesurfer is an banger, while Western Front 1992 and Hung Up are bewitching experimental pieces. As for the culture-impaired among us who are “offended” by the cover art – please open a book before getting on your comically high horses. The image is an explicit reference to the Paleolithic Venus, a figure commonly associated with (speculated) matriarchal societies and the worship of Mother Earth (as a matter of fact, Julian Cope wrote two books about megalithic cultures, and mentions her in several songs). It’s also used by British new-age and neo-pagan movements that revere the Goddess, a feminine and motherly deity. So no, it’s not "a naked chick" – you’re actually getting offended by the symbolic depiction of Womanhood as the incarnation of the divine. Anyway, I really enjoyed this. Subjectively, it’s closer to a 3* for me, but it’s creative and different enough to warrant a little boost in the stats. 6+1/10
Out of time , difficult to define with some Leanord Cohen vibes in the voice, I had never heard of this Coppe character before but his wikipedia is interesting.
Nice overall vibe despite the messy side. Makes me want to dig a bit deeper. Had never even heard of Julian Cope before. There’s a noisy, slightly Lou Reed kind of feel I like.
I wasn’t loving this until ‘Hanging out and hung up on the line’ and then I really started to enjoy myself. Not sure it’s a must listen but there were some bright moments.
Genuinely awesome voice but instrumentals leave some to be desired.
Not the biggest fan of this
I didn't like it. I think it's his voice. Pretty sure I didn't like The Teardrop Explodes, either.
Pretty good.
There is a lot going on here and it wasn’t all that bad!
Pretty boring
Hello my old friend I knew you when I was young I understand now
Had this album on cassette in the early 90's and wore it out. Sonically adventurous and diverse, Cope is like a mad pied piper, leading listeners on a sprawling journey to the heart of darkness. Cope explores every genre and, for such a long album, there's not a track on it that should have been left off. Can't believe the average review for this is 2.7. Come on, people! This is so much better than that. It's a modern psych-rock masterpiece. Too many favorites to mention but "Pristine," " Hanging Out and Hung Up on the Line," "Safesurfer," and "Beautiful Love," stand out on a fantastic album.
2.77 rating, wonder how it feels to be so wrong. Goddamn it, I love it. Sounds like a more unhinged, more fun Nick Cave taking you on an insane journey through basically most alternative styles of the 20th century, and then throwing in funk music and even hymns. Also, given all that, it's weirdly still poppy with some great hooks on songs like Beautiful Love. A new to me artist and legendary pull from the generator, rounded up from 4.5 to 5 to offset that atrocious 2.77
Never even heard of this fellow! Wowie that’s some groovy 90s rock baby!
This one didn't really speak to me, but I do like some of the songs individually
Way too long. Have to revisit sometime
I actually came around on this album by the end. At the start I assumed it was another self-indulgent British addition like so many other albums on the list. But by the time it was done I could see how bands I like would have liked it, and how it could be my kind of album to show people. The biggest issue is that it is just too long. Multiple songs have 2-3 minute musical lead ins before the lyrics. By the time you’ve finished the album it’s an exhausting process of trying to decide how much of a song could or should have been cut down or removed to make the listening experience a bit more palatable.
This is interesting and not at all what I expected. That said it’s still not really for me.
A couple good songs but I don't want to listen to the second half to see if there are any more.
Decent but went on a bit too long. 3/5
Album long as hell, but honestly, one of the best discoveries I've made through this page, I LOVED it!
Has a little appeal, but not much
1.5
Good, but I think his next album, Jehovahkill, is better and much more "important".
Peggy Suicide is a bad pun, a dark Dad joke. I liked it, it's a bit long of an album. The music varies at times, which can be refreshing. Lyrics are interesting & darkly odd. About in the middle 3.5
There's some neat ideas and interesting blends of rock and psychedelics, but I found it really peters out after the second half. "Safesurfer" is certainly the highlight, I just didn't find myself captivated nearly enough to give a damn about any much else about this record.
570/1001 2026.03.13
It's ok, but nothing special. A little too long, but not unpleasant. Ranges from great to incredibly boring. Perfectly in the middle. 3/5