Mask

Just not really my jam. Some bizarre stuff on here.

Very boring.

Tough listen personally - a lot of moments where I hear interesting sounds (that probably influenced bands in the 90s and 00s), but a lot where I just hear “noise”.

Weird. Best song about fish cakes I ever did hear.

Yeah, good shit; I want to play it some more as I feel like it's one that will get better with time as well. 4/5

Good sometimes but meandering 2.5/5

cool album. i really liked the dark vibes this one gave. sometimes it got a little growly and aggressive, and sometimes it was sort of softer and dour. i could definitely see myself getting more into this on subsequent listens.

Good Short and sweet

Pretty boring, nothing I would revisit.

4/10 - not very enjoyable

It was fine

Why would you listen to that?

listen I like goth music but I'm starting to question the sanity of the publisher of the list because this is not casual listening here

I imagine this is another album where you could probably rightfully get on my butt for not paying close enough attention to the lyrics, or enough attention in general, and that's why I didn't like this thing as much as I should have, but... Goodness, I don't know. I just didn't get anything out of this whatsoever. The whole thing was jus' kind of this sludge that just kept going 'til it didn't anymore. Whatever subtly great playing there was, or amazing turns of phrase that were sung — I just can't bring myself to care too much, frankly. To be perfectly honest, I don't know what I can say about this album that I haven't said about every other goth album my group has gotten. I just don't understand what exactly they see in this music so much. I guess it's my fault for not really understanding this subculture beyond just an aesthetic and huge boobs, but I don't think I should have to in order to at the very least enjoy their music. Certainly I don't really get emo culture, but I love a **lot** of emo music. Even the shitty stuff like Good Charlotte or Simple Plan get a kick out of me in the right song. I suppose the difference is just that emo music is often very outwardly emotional, whereas gothic music is more than happy to just sulk and get all moody in the fuzz. So, y'know, consider me more a fan of My Chemical Romance than The Cure, I guess. Like, seriously, just the fact that I've been able to dedicate those two short walls of paragraphs to only ostensibly talking about the album... That should tell you everything, shouldn't it? And it's not like I'm not giving these albums a chance; there **has** to be one out there that speaks to me. But I'unno, this one is just mush in my mind. I didn't hate listening to it, though, goodness, if I could have been doing anything else... I like the font Bauhaus at least? And I guess I'd rather listen to this than the Dream song? Gosh, I hope there's not too many of these gothic albums left...

Don't have much to say 'sides this being pretty decent. Solid 4 Stars.

I’m at a 3. Honestly? Not that much to write home about. Perhaps it’s some distractions from the Switch 2 Direct lingering in my brain, but this album never quite found the hook to pull me in – Tracks 3-6 really worked for me, and the last track hit pretty nicely, but the rest of them (1, 2, 7-9) sort of felt flat. There’s not an expressly bad track here, just a lot of vague mediocrity, or at the very least, some uncompelling listens. This is definitely 1981 post-punk, but beyond that, nothing here really caught my ears as doing anything particularly special. A few Bowie-esque vocal patterns, some funky basslines here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary that makes me want to say “wow, I had to listen to this before I die”. I liked half of the songs, and I was less impressed by the other half. I don’t feel like I gotta expand on that too much, so… yeah, take it or leave it. I’m sure there are better Bauhaus albums, as I’ve heard the name before, but this one just didn’t click for me. It's not bad, but I'm not itching to recommend it or anything. Hence, the 3.

Peak mid

It was terrible. I loved it. I don't know.

Wow jakie teksty mocne, ale nie mój vibe

Oh look, another New Wave/Post Punk/Krautrock album. I'm only 1/3 of the way through this project and I have heard three times more of this than I need to.

(listened while cooking) Fish cakes, FISH CAKES! That made me laugh a lot. This was very interesting, and fun, and dystopian. Is this goth rock? Sometimes made me think of Joy Division and The Cure. Are they british? German Name. Funny name. Build house. Feels very british and industrial. Some songs were very dark and drone like, made me think of swans, bowie, syd barret. Also Nine Inch Nails must have been inspired by this. And then suddenly some songs felt like pop music and progressions. Kind of a relief. A strange combination. Hyper dynamic production. Sometimes there were super loud sounds that completely sprung out and sounded like it was coming from somewhere else. Don't really know what I thought about it. Very out of place, and scary. But definitely made me feel something. I was actually positively surprised by this album. I can't differentiate any of the songs from each other, and it's kinda one big mess in my head. But I was intrigued and it kept me interested through out most of the album. I enjoyed it.

Hot garbage. Did someone throw a wrench down a drainpipe? Yes, to cleanse my palate after listening to this afterbirth of an album. We really need a 0 star option.

I didn’t immediately love this album. I had to listen to it in full like 2-3 times. I saved a few songs off the album but what I really appreciate is how far ahead of its time this album is. A goth album in ‘81? That’s kinda crazy to think about. My biggest problem with this album is the ambition of it surprisingly. This album is the definition of style over substance. They have a very specific vision of what they want to sound like and they put all their eggs in that basket. They didn’t try and right like a catchy song or a “hit” punk song. Like had they just added alittle variety I think that would make me happier but I’m positive that would have compromised their vision so what do I know. At the end of the day I’d only recommend this album to people who were already fans of goth punk and wanted to see where it all came from.

78/100. Mask by Bauhaus is a good dance-punk/post-punk record with nice grooves and solid writing. The album blends dark, atmospheric tones with energetic rhythms, creating a unique and engaging listen.

did we really need this?

snooze

I was expecting a lot more. No Bella on this one. It's too bad, as I like Peter Murphy's solo work and I like Love & Rockets (the band of the other 3 guys). Liked Songs Added: The Passion Of Lovers

Bauhaus expands on their original vision and goes even darker and weirder. Their willingness to experiment is apparent, and Mask plays like walking through a house of horrors, each new room unveiling something lurid and ominous. There are no real lows to this album, just a silly song near the end ("FISHCAKES"), but even this song is sung with enough conviction to make it seem ominous and strange.

I think Bauhaus has done better than this. The album seems a bit more nonsensical and lighter than their earlier efforts. The sparse goth-sound is still there, but the vocals are a lot less impactful than before. I also think it somewhat lacks a hit or other memorable bangers in here. No idea why they picked this over the IMO much better In the Flat Field.

Decent stereotypical 80's party movie soundtrack

An exercise in beautiful simplicity whilst striking the right tone, this album explores space and repetition to paint the right picture. And what a picture it is. Rarely does moving through an expression of gloom and frustration feel this good.

This is so far out of my wheelhouse. However It played through at least three times this morning while I was reading so eventually I got used to it. Although it did grow on me, there were only a few songs that were melodic enough for me to halfway enjoy them. Too harsh for me.

It's a pretty creative album with a lot of nonsense-babble sounding lyrics. I found some of the songs unbearable, and the style was pretty all over the place. Tough to get into a flow with this one. Sort of a high 2?

Love that aesthetic, not that into the record.

I've a lot of time for goths. Once I saw a group of them playing swingball in the sunshine of a local park and it really brightened up my day. Anyway, I enjoyed this album quite a bit. I'll definitely give it a few more listens.

Not for me.

This was a very... Interesting album, didn't know anything about it or the band, I was interested but not interested, they had a cool sound but just on the more meh side of it!

Post-punk mnie prześladuje. Ten nie jest nawet aż taki zły, ale przez to nie jest też interesujący. Za mało dziwny by traktować go jako ciekawostkę, ale też zbyt nieprzyjemny, aby słuchać go na zapętleniu. Daję ostrożne 5/10, bo wyczuwałam tam nutkę Bowiego i tej części muzyki eksperymentalnej, która jest bliska mojemu sercu.

This album sounds so much like early Public Image Ltd, it’s hard to believe there wasn’t a very direct influence. Musically, Bauhaus rivals that edgy, post-punk, somewhat experimental sound of PIL and others (like, say, Gang of Four). Which is to say, it’s a good sound. But I couldn’t get into any particular song, which I think is more of an issue with the lead vocalist and the general arrogance these songs exude. I didn’t listen to later CD and bonus tracks, just the original track list, and give it 3/5.

These guys feel like the middle child in the family of the Sex Pistols and the Clash. Sure, they are rebellious and angry, but not that angry. They are more technical and to themselves and happy not be front and center among their siblings.

A couple of good songs, but a pretty average album IMO.

very weird yet captivating record. honestly pretty good but need to listen again to say for sure. 7.2/10

Day422 - i feel like you need to be in a certain state of mind to appreciate this and i’m not in it

2.5/5. Meh, I feel like I'v heard 15 other albums on this list that sounds very similar to this... I suppose it's not bad, but it's not for me.

1+ Stars (3/15)

Mmmmmh

che barba, onestamente

Overall, this record is pretty fuckin rad. Peter Murphy is terribly underrated. The music is interesting and unexpected. The arrangements are more sophisticated than they might seem. This whole record is way, way better than expected. Thought it would be a drag. But it’s a bop.

Not bad - music, writing and vocals are all good enough for a dull listen. Maybe a repeat.

Like evil talking heads.

Bauhaus is kind of a mystery to me. I appreciate what they did for music, but I really have to be in the right mood for their music.

Expected to hate this but actually kind of liked it? I can definitely hear the influence it had on other artists. I was kind of surprised to see it came out in 1981 because it sounded like something from later in the decade. Some DEVO and The Cure vibes for sure. It was a little much at points, and the title track grated on me, but the rest was pretty good.

Gothic Rock Ein wenig ausgefallen, gefällt mir aber!

not a fan

too goth

Ugh. 2/5

Not a terrible album a wee bit weird at times but not genuinely awful yet. But not much I enjoyed either

The Passion Of Lovers //

Liked it lots of David Bowie influence

Excellent music, still sounds relevant today. Not really any classic songs though, just excellent front to back

I don't think the production on this was that bad, but all the music felt all over the place and erratic-sounding. Hollow Hills was a high point and didn't really like much after that. That song's baseline sounded so similar to Nirvana's Come As You Are. Low 2.

Of Lilies and Remains is an obvious standout to me. Catchy bass-line carries this one forward with some nice theremin-ish warbles and crass guitar sound. Dancing keeps things marching forward nicely, before we sink into darker realms on Hollow Hills. Honestly I'm loving the midsection of this album. The run from Of Lilies and Remains through In Fear of Fear has been great. I really enjoyed this album. Solid production through and through and I will never not enjoy some thick post-punk bass in my face. As I said above the midsection is really solid. Never felt like a chore. And for once, the bonus material was actually worthwhile. Wasn't expecting the dubby influences here, but they were really nice (although the David Jay > Peter Murphy bit was a little kooky at times). Satori is a solid instrumental jam outro. Solid 4 / 5.

What the hell was that fish cake song. Whole thing was weird. 2 stars.

Good bassist. Whole album was a little lackluster and dreary for me. Random reggae song was something. Two five

Looking at the album cover and type of music I thought this was going to be complete ass of an album. To my surprise it was only slight ass

This is pretty gothic but not in the way I have come to like. Pretty meh. Hollow Hills reminds me of Something In the Way which draws some cool inspiration. Muscle in Plastic reminds me of the Talking Heads in a good way. Started off meh but worked its way into a haunting groove. Meh 3.

This one was an interesting listen. I've never heard anything like this before and each song was dynamic and fun to listen to. There are no real standouts and I didn't feel emotionally connected to any of the songs. It's not quite my taste, but I enjoyed the experiment of listening.

This was such a tough album to rate! The tracks I loved, I really loved and the ones I disliked, were awful! I’m glad I listened to it.

There were bits of this I liked, and bits that were a little grating - particularly some of the singing. I think I'd listen to it again though. I was a bit on edge today!

One of the best goth-wave albums ever produced, it’s really quite difficult to find any objective flaws in this one. It’s perhaps a little more consumer friendly than Bauhaus’s first album, but it still hits all the right notes. In a world of Joy Division and the Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus put their own spin on the goth rock sound of the time, and really stood out. There’s no doubt that this album is still inspiring music being produced, and I don’t think that will ever change. Modern albums like Ceremony’s “The L Shaped Man” owe a lot to Bauhaus, and this record in particular. It’s an album that is equal parts a wonderful window into its own time, and timeless. Deep, dark, brooding, and just spooky enough. 5*

For some reason or another I recently put on “Bella Lugosi’s Dead” and thought “man I don’t actually like this as much as I remembered. Have I lost my youthful cool? Is it all over for me?” Luckily I found this album to be a lot of fun. It has the sorta dark and spooky vibe that I associate with Bauhaus but also unexpectedly has some really funky bass lines. There were a couple of duds in there but this album feels like a house party when house parties were still fun.

stupid confession: i like this album more when it's trying to be Talking Heads than it is trying to be Joy Division. that's not to say i don't love Bauhaus being goth, but for me, the vocals are mixed way too flat for me to get the same exhiliration i feel listening to "Bela Lugosi's Dead" or "Dark Entries". why this is the only Bauhaus album on the list is beyond me -- it's like saying the only Bob Dylan album you need to listen to is Nashville Skyline. it's not a wrong choice per se, just an odd one.

This was definitely very... different. I had a fun time looking Bauhaus up and understanding the cultural relativity of what could have produced such an interesting band. They are named for an old German art school (so emo, so goth) and they formed in 1978 in Northhampton (wherever that is... Wikipedia links to England). This is their second album and Wikipedia states that "Their 1981 second album Mask expanded their sound by incorporating a wider variety of instruments—such as keyboards, saxophone and acoustic guitar—and experimenting with funk-inspired rhythms on tracks like "Kick in the Eye"." I can confirm they really expanded their sound. I would be curious to go back and listen to their first album which almost certainly has to be better than this. The Wikipedia page mentioned "Their 1979 debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead" is considered one of the harbingers of gothic rock music and has been influential on contemporary goth culture," so I of course had to listen to that song. It was better than this album for sure.

They really took my least favorite kinds of music (English, 80s, noise) and made it into my worst nightmare

An interesting listen from a band I hadn’t heard before, but in reading about them are more influential than I realized. I’ll certainly never think about fish cakes the same way again. Some great sounds throughout the album, but I think I’ll stick to the Cure for my goth rock.

I liked their first album much better

Kick in the Eye is probably my favourite. Plenty of groove and reverb on this album.

p481. 1981. 2 stars. Average Brit Goth rock. Makes you appreciate Siouxsie and The Banshees. Bonus point for having a sense of humour.

Mjoah, so la la. Konnte man sich anhören, aber schwanke zwischen 2-3 Sternen. Manche Songs schon hart nervig, aber wäre wohl fies da jetzt 2 Sterne zu geben nach dem gestrigen Desaster Album. Long story short: 3 Bussis

Was ein Schrott. Der Fischcakes Text war so scheiße ich musste lachen. Knapp an einem Stern vorbeigerauscht.

uh

Goth

There really is nothing like Bauhaus. Moving from some sort of horror-synth pop to Clash-esque reggae punk to piano instrumental it's always weird and always interesting.

A very timeless gothic rock album. 5/5

4/5

Well damn if I didn't love this one. I had heard of Bauhaus obviously but had never listened to a full album, at least to my recollection. This is such a mood of an album. It's maybe a little more pop-friendly than the other stuff I've heard from them, almost like a gothic new wave. And that's definitely something I can get on board with. I don't know that I would want to play this all the time but when the mood strikes, this is perfect. 5/5

Not great, but interesting. 5/10

По мнению А: 3/5 По мнению С: 3/5 ИТОГОВАЯ ОЦЕНКА: 3/5 (27.01.2025)

When I first listened to this record almost 20 years ago I didn’t like. So when it came up this morning I wasn’t really happy about it. But after listening to it I don’t remember why I didn’t like it. It’s simply awesome! Every song rocks.

First listen. Heard worse albums.

Mixed reaction to your album. Some tracks made me want to dance - others didn't catch my attention.

Great gothic rock. The original goth, Edgar Allan Poe, would be proud.

1981. Post-punk / gothic rock / experimental. 7/10 The Passion of Lovers / Hollow Hill / Mask

Not atrocious, just not my thing

Not for me (-0__0-)

I will say I quite liked Mask (the song). I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the album seeing as I haven’t previously loved their stuff. Definitely a good album though, 3/5. Not a fan of Fish Cakes — 1. David Jay 2. Peter Murphy etc…

I am such a fan of tones on tail and love and rockets, it's crazy I never bothered to listen to Bauhaus much. I'll be going back to this one.

Weirdest album.ever

Pretty cool goth rock album. I enjoyed it!

Enjoyed this one, I'm a fan of the style and sound and will revisit again.

Skimmed

I had my own goth phase around 1982 but I was more of a Sisters of Mercy fan than Bauhaus, although I liked their later stuff.

Hahahah godverdomme zeg... Wat IS dit voor album? Gothrock word het als genre genoemd? Depri-rock had een andere mooie titel geweest zeg. Maar dit is dus totaaaaaaal niet mijn muziek, ik snap de aantrekkingskracht wel met de het depri gitaarwerk en de zielige lyrics, maar ik irriteer me meer dan dat ik spontaan eyeliner begin te dragen. Sommige nummers klinken juist weer heel uplifting? Bijzonder contrast op dit album, zeker niet alles werkt voor me, ik vind een hoop vrij matig, maar het 1 na laatste nummer(met alle namen, ga ik niet nog eens uittypen) dat vind ik dus echt geweldig. Super trippy, bizar einde aan een vreemd album. Gecombineerd met de duistere cover kom ik dan toch tot 3 sterren, maar dat is wel grotendeels door het 1 na laatste nummer! FAVO: Of lilies and remains, Mask, 1. David Jay 2. Peter Murphy 3. Kevin Hasking 4. Daniel Ash

Really cool and dark. I need to give this one a re-listen for sure. Could maybe move up to a 5

Listened to it twice. Didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it. Almost background music to me. 3 stars

Bowie skipped his sertraline

Good, not great. Some songs that stick in my memory but more that don't

Cool gothic album some classics songs.

Didn’t like his voice so no song did it for me

80s. Post-punk and goth aren’t my bag. The bass work is definitely the most interesting element. Other than that a lot of the elements are not for me. They’re the same, predictable and lyrically uninteresting. Bunch of sad 80s boys. These bassists needed a different decade.

absolut nicht hörbar für mich, auch wenn die instrumente absolut sauber gespielt sind und der sound cool und interessant tönt. aber „gesang“ und aufbau der tracks löscht mir absolut ab.

Schwierig. Mir zu abstrakt und düster.

I knew of Bauhaus goth but never experienced before this album. Surprisingly enjoyable!

Not my favorite kind of goth. Not unpleasant, but not my cup of tea.

It started wild

Punk music, a bit all over the place. The singer can't enunciate for shit. Stand-out: The Passion of Lovers

its nice that make a wish is now giving kids their own bands

goth. awesome

Two stars only by virtue of it not being horrible enough for me to hate it or for it to make me angry.

I wasnt familiar with Bauhaus going into this album. As someone who generally isnt a fan of post-punk, I actually enjoyed this album overall. It definitely dipped into a cocaphonous/ avant gard sound at some places, but also had some moments that were catchier. Overall- decent album.

This is all over the place. I love some of it, I hate some of it. Kind of disappointing tbh

Not a big fan but it is okay. 3 stars or C-.

Band and album were all new to me. Reminds me on "Sisters of Mercy". favourite: "Harry" 2,5

This album punks. I actually love this, it's so fresh for me because I've never in my life heard of this band before. Music from 1981 sonds new and different.

Is this really goth? More like EDM rock. Somehow enjoyed it. Maybe because Peter Murphy is my homeboy(Ankara:).

A little strange for me

Not bad. I could hear how they influenced a lot of other 80s and early 90s bands who did it better.

Heard another Bauhaus album before but not this one. Kind of weird but really good. Fav tracks: 1. David Jay 2. Peter Murphy 3. Kevin Haskins 4. Daniel Ash, Mask, The Passion of Lovers

Not totally my style but I like freaky kid music.

Album 621 of 1001 Bauhaus - Mask (1981) Rating : 3 / 5 Being a significant album in the post-punk and gothic rock genres, it is likely a favorite of those listeners. It was a fair album. It didn't totally offend the ear but still nothing to write home about.

Bauhaus is alright. There were 3 songs I saved to maybe try again in the future. I get the appeal it’s just not for me and while I respect the depth of some the lyrics (Mask in particular) it’s hard to get into this music fully when I am not actively being rejected by both sunshine and society. And then wtf is Harry lol I didn’t think I’d be skanking at the warehouse vampire rave but here we are. Almost tempted to go to 3 because I appreciate variety and depth of skill and expression but it’s so out of place. I would’ve like them to meld their differing styles a bit. Feels like they all had caffeine and a good breakfast one day and forgot they were supposed to be gloomy but left it on the tracklist anyways. Maybe it’s the drum machine that takes me out of it. Their music overall feels disjointed and like it’s lacking some soul or talent. Like I can’t believe they were emphatic about any of the drums. Maybe it’s meant to feel hollow and inhuman or something but to me it’s lackluster and indicative of a lack of vision or execution.

its gonna be a no from me dawg. some of the songs were just okay... but overall this band was not my jam. i will definitely not be listening to it again.

Hated it. If that’s the kind of sound these guys imagine as the “passion of lovers” then one of us ain’t doing love right and I don’t think it’s me.

All over the place. There were a couple of decent songs though. Weird, but better than some of the 1 stars.

Anyone else randomly get a couple Rock Lobster vibes at the beginning and end of the album? I didn’t dislike it but it definitely isn’t something I’ll come back to listen to again, especially with its length. The rest of the album being at least decent to listen to saves the fishcakes song from dragging this down to a one.

Yeah...... no.

Мрачно, отзвуки radioheads, есть интересные мотивы. Но я не насладился прослушиванием.

Rock muziek. Gewoon, niet bijzonder.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It wasn't as challenging as I was expecting. Not sure I'd listen to it again, but it was okay.

This wasn't as bad as I was expecting but I'm not sure it will be a regular listen. Some good tunes and some very random ones too.

Rejected

Interesting sounds. I guess it was ahead of its time in the whole Gothic Rock genre. I liked the production and I had heard of Bauhaus before, so I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did. Unfortunately None of the songs really grabbed me.

The bleakness is this is just not something I can handle today.

Nah

3.5

That's a no from me dawg

Fish cakes. It was very Gothic. Nice bass rifts. FS: In fear of fear. Kat is not a fan

Nope. Not a goth fan. This kind of sound was better improved upon by bands like Joy Division and The Smiths.

Tää ei olekaan aivan helppo levy! Synkät peruspiirteet pitää sisällään paljon, ja uskonkin että lisäkuunteluilla tää aukeaa paremmin. Annetaan alkuun kolme bongoa. Oon aina katsonut että kannessa on Komisaario Palmu 3/5

Pätevä, joskin vähän tylsän puoleinen levy. 3/5

Bauhaus like so many bands of the late 70s/80s a killer singles band - here Kick in the eye, passion of lovers - but couldn't nail a full album of consistently good tracks.

Gothic rock ain't my jam. It didn't suck, just wasn't really any good.

Not a grim as I thought. Production seemed a little muddy. Lacking the vocal distinction of some contemporaries.

Entertaining sound. I'd listen to more of their stuff.

Mask is the second album from Bauhaus, the founding fathers of goth rock. The band made guitar and bass driven alt-rock, with a distant, synthesized sound. Peter Murphy's dramatic vocals add to the generally gloomy sound of Bauhaus' work. "Kick in the Eye" was the most successful single on the album; it's a catchy, near-pop crossover song for the band. The song could be the work of any of a number of 80's bands, demonstrating the influence of this band. Some tracks are not as engaging; the title track, for example, is a bit of a challenge to sit through.

What in the Brian Eno is this shit? Please make it stop.

**An ok album nothing I enjoyed, but sure someone else might.

hey kids, gothic rock is fun! so i only heard "Bela Lugosi's Dead" before, but now i somehow like this genre. 5/5

Not for me.

Nicht meine Richtung

I didn't really like this one for some reason. Which I found odd because I liked the Bela Lugosi record..

I prefer later goth records that really turned up the dramatics.

The album started out OK, but it ended rough. Ear Wax is hard to listen to. So is the "fish cakes" song (next to last on the album).

I like this fine, but feel like it's one of those things where I appreciate them as an influence on other, later bands that I probably like more.

I don't know what to say except I have a soft spot for this kind of thing - early new wave with hints of punk rock that you can dance to. Joy Division, New Order, Cure, & these guys.

I really wanted to like this more than I did. All the ingredients are there, it just never came together into a solid meal for me.

There's a murkiness to Mask that helps establish its world while also leaving the listener wanting a more dynamic exploration of its atmospheric potential.

I sort of knew that an artist called Bauhaus would sound like it does. I found the whole sound offputting and anxiety producing. Hard to "enjoy"? Awkward.

LCD Soundsystem for old people. Blatant biting makes 'Losing My Edge' even more enjoyable. Bauhaus 'Hair of the Dog' intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqXycgODO5Y LCDS 'Losing' intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xG4oFny2Pk Bauhaus 'The Man with X-Ray Eyes': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPGkSP2wnyo LCDS 'X-Ray Eyes': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PK1OcXp1t8 LCDS 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' live (2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iix7JmtArJw Extra star for revisionist history (TY LCDS).

I liked Bauhaus much more than I expected. Though that was starting from pretty low expectations. Pretty much every song had a bit that made me cringe or recoil. But every song also had at least one bit that I really vibed to. Overall too much goth indulgence for me, but there’s some great grooves and cool guitar licks buried in all that eyeliner.

I’m stumped. I was expecting to hate this and I don’t.

Erm, hard to define. Hard to tell if I enjoyed this or not.

Why did the bands in the 80s think they could just "sing" monotone through a whole album? It's so boring and uninteresting. Even the instruments are boring and somehow monotone. The last song was the best one; there was no vocals and it sounded like a little jam session. I don't think I like any of the albums where the word "punk" is mentioned in the artist bio. Two stars but only because I can appreciate Bauhaus' effect on music.

Bad British crap

🎧This thing is kind of a mess. Nothing against goths.

Finally some edge

Ahead of its time for sure but in the end its a one and done for me.

my fiance is deep in the Bauhaus trenches, so I'm dimly familiar with this band, and with 80s post-punk generally. going into this album I expected something somewhat ominous, and I certainly got that, but I didn't anticipate how groovy and dancy it would be! I was definitely reminded of David Bowie's late 70s material more than a few times here. I don't love the tinny, reverb-drenched 80s production, but I've certainly heard more egregious, mushy mix jobs on other records from this time period. like with the Crickets a couple days ago, I think I appreciate this a bit more for its place in music history than anything else. after all, Bauhaus are one of the most beloved bands in the history of alternative music, let alone just goth rock; but goth rock's just not really a subgenre I'm as drawn to as others under this post-punk umbrella. it's possible I'd enjoy In the Flat Field or one of their other albums more, but this is the only Bauhaus album on the list, so I'll have to do that on my own time. strong 6/10.

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Of Lilies and Remains, Hollow Hills Cutting Edge: The Passion of Lovers Overall Notes: Shoutout Bela Lugosi's Dead, nothing is as cool as that song here (Hollow Hills is the closest we get). Still, it's not the worst thing ever. 2.5 rounded down.

interesting stuff

In my second year of university I wrote an essay on Bauhaus. I didn't particularly like abstract art at the time and did dread it, but an assignment was an assignment and I took my lack of investment as a chance to learn. Quickly I became enamoured in all the modern art of the time, not just in Germany but in Denmark and Russia as well. It really was a special time to be a creative with raw experimentation and a lot of pushing boundaries. When it came to third year and my chance to write my dissertation I decided to write a follow up comparing the art of abstraction with the rise in video games and how some indie games are the modern day interpretation of things like Bauhaus. The idea never hit me to look into music as I wasn't that big of a music person at the time, but I can't help and think if I did stretch to another modern interpretation I would have found Bauhaus a lot sooner and would have known that this album would disappoint me despite the artists name. Favourite track: Of Lillies and Remains.

Still need to listen.

I wish I had more to say about this album. I really dig the bass lines in it. Nothing else to report though unfortunately

Strange group. Is electronic, jazz, etc. Not sure. Never heard of them.

I only knew Bela Lugosi's Dead, which isn't on this album. And also Love and Rockets who formed from the pieces of Bauhaus. Innovative and influential, but buried in gloom. And reverb. Lots of reverb. Good album, would have loved it in my earlier days. Except Fishcakes, I just don't know what that is about.

Not for me

Truly never heard of this band. Very interested to hear what they sound like. These guys are interesting, very cool stuff.

The run of awful albums continues. How the fuck did this end up on the list? I have a rule that if I listen to the whole album it gets 2 stars - and while I did make it the whole way through, I did so while composing a couple of emails complaining to companies that have messed up dealings with me. The true awfulness of the music was obscured by my pre-occupation!

One of the better Bauhaus albums

Started off exactly as I expected. Finished off exactly as I didn't expect. On the whole not bad, better than a 2 so 3.

No, not for me. If I want gloomy and dark (and I often do), then there are so many bands that do this so much better. It does get a bit of a groove on at times, when the lead singer gives us a break, and that’s when it’s at its best.

What a surprise. The masters of Goth on Halloween! Having been a Goth back in the 1980's, it's always a pleasure listening to something from the dark side. Mask has two fine singles in the shape of 'Passion of Lovers' and the album remix of ' A Kick in the Eye' (I do refer the single version). The album features the immense 'Mask' at the end which is so atmospheric. This lot were more on the camp/ glam side of Goth and plenty of ghostly death inspired lyrics, add together some great guitar work and funky bass playing, you end up with what is probably the best thing to come out of Northampton since Doctor Martens. 5 stars.

Halloween week. Good timing for some Bauhaus. Tbh I don't know anything besides Bela Legosi's dead and whichever that one is from the meme clip with the bats the right way up. Not sure anything here comes up to the quality of either of those. Kick in the Eye is good. Mask is alright. Kind of average really, a shame.

Not as bad as I anticipated it to be, but it really goes to show the author was out there just digging deep at random records to fill out this album. It's not my cup of tea, but, it was a damn of a sight better than some of the similar genre album's I have had. It didn't pain me to listen, but wouldn't say I got anything out of it either. Really curious how this project is going to mess up my Spotify wrapped in a few weeks :-)

Very much that mid- to late-80s sound, with maybe a bit of Frank Zappa influence mixed in. Mostly forgettable, though.

I saw these guys live at Cruel World 2022, and it was absolutely incredible. Kick in the Eye is definitely a favorite, and the rest of the album is dark goulish goodness. 4 stars for being godfathers of goth and for a memorable live experience.

Fantastic album. Always worth a re listen.

++: Hair of the Dog, Of Lillies and Remains, Dancing, In Fear of Fear +: The Passion of Lovers, Hollow Hills, Muscle in Plastic, The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, The Mask 7,8/10

Spooky!

Here's a band with uneven records demonstrating that you can have a place in my heart with a few well-crafted songs over the course of a career despite wild fluctuations in quality on their albums.† Favorably we might call that bravery. The high marks, the brilliant moments of Bauhaus are a little further in between on this record, however. Is it my least favorite or second least favorite of their 1980s studio albums? Tough choice. † Though we have to remember to only rate the original release (tracks 1-10) given how much we might side-eye the CD bonus tracks.

It's genuinely impressive that the one album can consistently make odd 180 degree turns between the genuinely interesting and *incredibly* annoying.

Evokes images of the Peanuts gang, wearing all black, dancing along to these songs.

The album reminds me a lot of wave and especially of the 'Neue Deutsche Welle' at the beginning of the 80s. I think I've heard something similar from DAF, Extrabreit and early gothic bands. It was interesting to hear something like that again. But that's enough for now. 3/5

More like Boo-haus.

Got a little better as it went on. The dub other weird stuff was ok but unlikely to revisit. I'm feeling like 2.45 but will round up.

I knew that Bauhaus was seminal to if not the originators of goth music (and culture), but what I failed to recognise were the spin-offs of their breakup, including Love & Rockets and the one-hit wonderful Tones on Tail. I bopped to about 50% of this album (the part that sounded like vintage mid-70s Bowie) and got serious Joy Division vibes from the other 50%. I’ve 5-starred both of those, so what choice do I have?

Started well enough - darkly ethereal but driving tracks, music to headbang to horizontally, basically what I love about old Cure as in "A Forest" and it made me watch that funny video of some bats in their cage but it's flipped upside-down and becomes black weirdos dancing in a club - but then quickly lost me with its post punk noodlings/vocals and that respective 80ies white guys' "funk". [...] Why isn't their first album in here instead? That one seems much more meaningful and focused as a moment in music history and as a goth rock companion/contrast to The Cure's Seventeen Seconds. The CD's bonus tracks seal the deal here: I don't know what "Mask" wants to be, but it's not much of anything.

I definitely started liking this much more on a second listen. I dont think the second half of the album very good, but The Passion of Lovers, Of Lilies and Remains, and Hillow Hill are very good underground Brit rock. I really enjoy the simple but addictive bass groove in Of Lilies snd Remains. The singing still has some goofy 80s twang to it, but overall, good album.

Very much enjoyed this. One of those bands I always knew I should listen to, but never really did. Feels like a mix of The Clash and The Cure, which is a top notch combo for me. Feels like this will be a grower over time.

I haven't listened to these guys since the 80's but quite enjoyed it.

Not sure what to think

Super sloppy production and poor mixing—most of the songs are overtly underwhelming. Nothing against goths, but Bauhaus is definitely not 'one of the best' in its genre.

Tiene mucha onda darketona muy cool, el inicio de muchas cosas que después serían una locura. Buen álbum.

Boring, dull, uninteresting, etc.

Not a fan of this kind of music at all. Also, why did one of the final bonus tracks go from gothic to reggae?

Hair of the Dog is ok, rest of the album felt like track 6 ( Kick in the Eye) won't be listening to these boys again

Love the Bauhaus Movement, some great art and design came out of it, it’s my vibe. Bauhaus the band though? I didn’t hate it, it felt like they were doing something interesting but I didn’t love it.

Its not so bad

Fucking terrible to listen to. This did absolutely nothing for me.

A bit all over the place as a pioneering album should be. Plenty to like here.

Huhhuh mikä pakkaus sävellykset niin bauhaussia ja selvä linjat biiseissä ja koheesiota albumissa, natsaa natsaa

First time I hear about these guys, and this is supposedly goth music? I always thought goth music is supposed to be some depressing stuff but this is actually pretty fun

FISH CAKES (2.5/5)

It was ok, and became less ok as it went on l. Not quite as bad as we expected though.

This album is at its best when they embrace the more sincere, dark atmosphere that they do so well. However, there tends to be a bit too much «We are punk and to cool to be sincere»-foolery.

Post-punk, gothic rock, experimental. Rollo

Started off a little slow but got somewhat better toward the middle of the album. I hear a bit of Brian Eno-type soundscapes that were engaging in moments but I never felt fully wrapped up in the musical tapestry. I think the lead singer’s voice and amorphous genre mixing and “just okay” songwriting left me a little cold.

Enjoy this. Quite Nirvana like 7/10

This album didn't quite live up to the high expectations that I had based on their brilliant debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", but it grows on you.

listened to this while watching the original dracula. good vibes

The school of Bauhaus sought to create practical objects that have the soul of artworks. Sadly the band of Bauhaus did not adhere to this philosophy as their austere, angry, dour music is utilitarian and lacks beauty. It’s the sort of music I would have revered as a late 80s teenager but today it seems distant and dated and of its time. The modern world is barren enough without adding to its bleakness. Let’s leave the band of Bauhaus as a curio of yesterday.

Fun stuff. I can’t really tell if it would go up or down in my estimation with more listens. That makes it a solid 3 for now.

Not crazy about the sound on this one. Didn't give it a very close listen, but the only thing that caught my attention was fish cakes. 🐟🎂😵‍💫

Very cool

Like so many of the artists on this list... it's fine. As I reach the end I think my patience for these types of band is just wearing thin with like "yeah it's fine... I feel like I've heard this 200+ times already". The thing is that it is short so I can't really complain a ton which is great.

Considering my favorite time and place for music is 1977 to 83 in England, its a bit weird that I've never owned or heard a Bauhaus album. Not surpisingly I liked alot of things about this album; the ringing guitars, the huge drum sound the prominent bass and he monotone vocals all sound familiar and comfortable to me. I lke both the atmopheric songs like Of Lillies and Remains with its simle walking bass and stabbing guitars it sounds like it could have come directly of of PiLs Metal Box and the foreboding creep of Hollow Hills as well as the hard driving songs like Kick in the Eye with its funky bass line and hard driving In Fear of Fear. But for me they really hit their stride on mid tempo songs like The Passion of Lovers and Mask. A nice discovery who's place in my library is long overdue3.5 stars

### "Mask" by Bauhaus: An In-Depth Review **Album Overview** Released in October 1981, *Mask* is the second studio album by Bauhaus, a band often credited as one of the pioneers of gothic rock. While their debut, *In the Flat Field*, established their raw post-punk aesthetic, *Mask* represents an evolution in sound, production, and thematic complexity. The album blends gothic rock, post-punk, and experimental elements, pushing the boundaries of what could be done within these genres at the time. Let's break down the album in terms of lyrics, music, production, themes, and its influence on the wider music scene. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *Mask* are heavily symbolic, often surreal, and explore themes like existential dread, alienation, and psychological struggle. Peter Murphy's writing is more abstract than literal, which allows multiple interpretations. - **"Hair of the Dog"** explores themes of self-destruction and disillusionment. Lines like “The man who was mortified, you know / They just don't cut it these days” reflect a feeling of societal disconnection and individual angst. - **"Kick in the Eye"** is marked by its ironic playfulness, contrasting its danceable rhythm with lyrics that suggest frustration with superficiality and social facades. Phrases like "Searching for a token that will buy you an illusion" point to themes of consumerism and hollow identities. - **"The Passion of Lovers"** juxtaposes romance with death, as seen in the lines "The passion of lovers is for death," reflecting on love's dark, consuming qualities. It plays on gothic tropes of fatalistic love, but with a twist that makes it feel more personal and sincere. - **"Mask"** delves into identity and the masks people wear to conform. The lyrics “The face I hide takes a new shape” suggest the fluidity of identity and the pressures to conform to societal expectations. Bauhaus's lyrics across the album are characterized by their vivid imagery and metaphors. Murphy often sings in a theatrical style that heightens the dramatic tension of the lyrics. At times, the abstract nature can be seen as a con, potentially alienating listeners who prefer more straightforward storytelling. ### Music Musically, *Mask* is a step forward from *In the Flat Field*, integrating more experimental elements and a broader range of sounds. The band moves beyond the relentless, driving post-punk sound of their debut to explore more diverse textures and moods. - **"Hair of the Dog"** kicks off the album with a thick bassline by David J, overlaid with jagged guitar riffs from Daniel Ash and Peter Murphy’s dramatic vocal delivery. The rhythm section, with Kevin Haskins on drums, provides a tribal beat that gives the song a primal, ritualistic feel. - **"The Passion of Lovers"** balances pop sensibilities with a sinister edge. The song’s jangly guitars and catchy bassline are offset by unsettling lyrics and an eerie melody, creating a juxtaposition that is both alluring and unsettling. - **"Kick in the Eye"** offers a funk-infused rhythm, which was unexpected from a band often associated with a darker sound. The danceable groove contrasts with the haunting vocal delivery, showcasing the band’s willingness to experiment. - **"Of Lillies and Remains"** is an example of Bauhaus's avant-garde approach, featuring an almost spoken-word performance over a disjointed rhythm, with elements of noise and sound effects that create a disorienting atmosphere. - **"Hollow Hills"** is a slow, atmospheric track that relies heavily on reverb-laden guitars and an echoing bassline to create a sense of space and mystery, akin to a gothic soundscape. The band's ability to combine different genres—funk, dub, goth, and even ambient—into a cohesive sound is a notable strength. However, this eclecticism can also be a con, as some tracks may feel disjointed or out of place to listeners expecting a more consistent sound. ### Production The production on *Mask*, handled by the band and engineer Hugh Jones, is a significant advancement over their debut. The album benefits from a clearer, more polished sound, which allows the intricate arrangements and experimental touches to stand out. - The use of **reverb and echo effects** enhances the gothic atmosphere, particularly on tracks like "Hollow Hills" and "Mask," where the spaciousness of the sound is almost a character in itself. - **Layering of instruments** is more sophisticated; for example, in "The Man with the X-Ray Eyes," there is a meticulous balance between the clean, bright guitar tones and the murkier, more distorted sounds, creating a dynamic and engaging listening experience. - The production choices on "Of Lillies and Remains" and "Muscle in Plastic" exhibit a willingness to embrace more avant-garde and industrial textures, using unconventional recording techniques like reversed tapes, abrupt volume shifts, and strange panning effects to disorient and surprise the listener. However, the production does have its drawbacks. Some critics argue that the clearer, more polished sound strips away some of the raw intensity that defined their debut. There are moments where the production feels almost too clean, potentially undermining the visceral impact of certain tracks. ### Themes *Mask* dives deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of identity, alienation, and existential dread. While their debut was more raw and direct, *Mask* is introspective, challenging listeners to confront their own fears and anxieties. - **Identity and Alienation**: The album's title track, "Mask," is a meditation on the different "masks" people wear in their everyday lives. This theme is echoed throughout the album, in songs like "In Fear of Fear," which explores paranoia and self-doubt. - **Existential Angst and Mortality**: "Hollow Hills" delves into themes of death and decay, as does "The Passion of Lovers," but with a more romanticized view of mortality. - **Social Commentary**: "Kick in the Eye" and "Muscle in Plastic" comment on consumerism and the superficial nature of society, questioning the emptiness of material pursuits and societal expectations. While these themes are deep and thought-provoking, the abstract nature of the lyrics and the use of metaphors can sometimes make them less accessible. Some listeners might find the themes overly obscure or pretentious, a potential downside for those seeking more direct emotional engagement. ### Influence and Legacy *Mask* has been a critical album in the development of gothic rock and post-punk. The album’s experimentation with sound, production, and genre fusion has influenced countless bands across different genres. - **Influence on Gothic Rock**: Bauhaus’s blending of theatricality with a dark aesthetic set the template for gothic rock. Bands like The Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim, and Christian Death drew heavily from Bauhaus's sound and thematic focus. - **Post-Punk Experimentation**: The eclectic musical style of *Mask*—merging post-punk with funk, dub, and even proto-industrial sounds—paved the way for a more experimental approach within the genre. Bands like The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees took cues from Bauhaus’s willingness to step outside genre confines. - **Broader Cultural Impact**: Beyond music, Bauhaus's visual style and thematic content helped to define the aesthetics of goth culture. Their art-school backgrounds and commitment to a multi-sensory experience (combining music, fashion, and visual arts) have inspired artists and performers beyond the confines of rock music. ### Pros and Cons of the Album #### Pros: 1. **Innovative Sound**: *Mask* demonstrates Bauhaus's willingness to explore new sonic territories, blending genres in creative ways. 2. **Thematic Depth**: The album's lyrics are rich with symbolism, offering layers of meaning and interpretation. 3. **Diverse Musical Palette**: The integration of funk, dub, and ambient textures adds complexity and diversity to the album, keeping it dynamic and unpredictable. 4. **Improved Production**: The more polished production quality allows the musical details to stand out, making for a more refined listening experience. 5. **Cultural Influence**: As an essential album in the gothic rock canon, it has influenced countless artists across genres, helping to shape the sound and aesthetic of the 1980s and beyond. #### Cons: 1. **Abstract Lyrics**: The highly symbolic and abstract nature of the lyrics may alienate some listeners, making the songs feel distant or overly complex. 2. **Inconsistent Tone**: The eclectic mix of styles can feel jarring or disjointed, disrupting the album’s flow for some listeners. 3. **Polished Production**: While the production is clearer, it sometimes lacks the raw intensity of the band’s earlier work, which some fans and critics might miss. 4. **Niche Appeal**: The album's dark themes and avant-garde approach may limit its appeal to a broader audience, reinforcing its status as a cult favorite rather than a mainstream success. ### Conclusion *Mask* by Bauhaus stands as a landmark in the development of gothic rock and post-punk, an album that refuses to conform to any single genre or style. Its strengths lie in its experimental approach to music and production, its deep thematic content, and its lasting influence on music and culture. However, its abstract lyrics, inconsistent tone, and polished production may not appeal to all listeners, particularly those looking for a more straightforward or cohesive album. Despite these potential downsides, *Mask* remains a bold and innovative work that continues to resonate with fans and artists alike, nearly four decades after its release.

When this album came up, I was prepared for some weird stuff once again. It's surprisingly good.

Fav: Kick In The Eye Least Fav: Of Lillies And Remains I was expecting to hate this based on the first track but I was pleasantly surprised. Not all of the ideas it’s going for manage to stick but it’s an admirable effort with some great songs.

Meh

Was pretty good. thought they were a German techno type bad but I was very mistaken. 8/10

2.5 stars. Experimental goth rock. Some nice melodies at times and the sax and keys are a nice touch but overall a bit too out there for me, especially with vocals that I'm not into. Cool bassline in "Passion of Lovers".

Don't mind a bit of post-punk. Heard of Bauhaus but first listen

Nope

Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to, having spent a considerable portion of the 1980s making fun of their "hit" song "Bela Lugosi Is Dead" and goth in general. Now that I'm old and crusty, I have developed a soft spot for goth and am looking forward to checking out Bauhaus and giving them an honest listen.

I'm pretty sure I'd heard of the band before, but I doubt I ever heard anything by them (at least knowingly) prior to listening to this album. The album is OK, I suppose, but a bit hard to listen to it with an ear to what this might have been like in 1981 (instead of 2024), so I don't really know how ground-breaking or earth-shattering this might have been for fans and neophytes alike. I kind of enjoyed the spoken-word "Of lilies and remains", and "Dancing" was a bit more hard-edged than many of the others, but overall not much really spoke to me (although I didn't mind listening to it, and found the student-film-esque video for "Mask" more interesting than the song itself). Sadly, the Wikipedia entry was brief and completely unhelpful, and the book entry not much better. It's like everything conspired to keep Bauhaus from being intriguing or compelling....

It was okay. The only track I really liked turned out to be one of the bonus tracks: "1. David Jay 2. Peter Murphy 3. Kevin Haskins 4. Daniel Ash" This is like the Hot Topics of albums

Exactly what I expected from a Bauhaus album. 3.5 but as it is out of 5…

“Bela Lugosi is dead” has long been a fave. Their debut ”In the flat field” is also great. “Mask” is disappointing and dated post punk experimenting. Thin and annoying sound.

Got next to nothing out of this entire album

Een soort hele vroege, heel erg Britse, pre-grunge met een dosis theateropleiding. Wat ska invloeden erbij, veel gekke synth-effectjes. Ik heb dit album aangezet, ik ben aan het werk gegaan en na een tijdje was het album voorbij. Ik ga een 3 geven, maar ik kan hier eigenlijk niet zo heel veel mee.

The list continues its parade of English musical acts. At least I wasn’t completely disappointed by this one. Solid, cohesive album, turns out goth rock is pretty fun. A solid 4/5 from me

8/10

7/10

This was probably the hardest album to rate so far. It was weird and hard to get a grip on, but once it clicked (on second listen) I think I might really love this. I had never heard of Bauhaus before, but now I'm intrigued.

Idk ik kon er niet helemaal inkomen. Paar prima nummers, maar nogal vergetelijk.

It's at its best when it truly leans into its camp and pomp and weirdness. It's definitely made me want to spend more time with Bauhaus, as I thought it would all be serious gloom, but really it's that and fishcake recipes.

A cold, musical meander where the noise of the guitars echoes into an infinity of I guess it made sense at the time?

I liked it but I'm not sure why...

Novel but I didn't really want to listen to it

It's okay if you want to make fish cakes.

Dobry album, czuć innowatorstwo i coś innego, chociaż nie do końca moje klimaty do słuchania na codzień. Czasami wrócę do pojedynczych utworów ale ostatecznie nie zagości na stałe w bibliotece. Ostateczna ocena 3,5. Faworyt: "Harry"

Definitely some goth rock. Not terrible, but not my first choice of listening.

Erm .... what was that? Hello?!? ... Never mind. 2/5

It's ok

Stark and dark post-punk but still makes some attempts to be palatable and catchy which balances it out well. It has just enough sense of humor to lighten it up a bit without feeling too cheesy for the most part.

I've got a real soft spot for post punk, even the ones that border on early goth. I only knew Bauhaus from their earlier singles, 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' and 'Dark Entries'. Truthfully, they're not quite as good as some who came before or after, such as Joy Division or the Banshees. But they do occasionally hit just right. 'Mask' is considered more accessible than their debut album and sure enough some tracks are very catchy and danceable. 'Kick in the Eye' is a highlight. The album drags in some spots. In others, Bauhaus maintain their experimentalism, which is good or bad depending on who you ask. If you're not a post punk fan, Bauhaus are unlikely to convince you otherwise. For the rest of us though, it's still a good album.

You can taste the eyeliner.

tried the fishcake recipe, unpleasant texture & taste, avoid

Maximum ass kicking - just stripped down production, cranked reverb, jamz.

Post-punk, gothic rock. Incredible album. Took me a few songs to get into it but loved it. Best songs: Kick in the Eye Hollow Hills Mask Verging on 4.5

Goth. Sounds super sloppy and incoherent and the vocals were wholly unenjoyable. Some passable beats occasionally. 2.0 stars.

Some of it was good, but overall not very enthused.

I liked the title song but not much else

I can easily see not sticking this one through. It definitely has the feel of that one guy in college whose name was Steven but wore black turtlenecks and introduced himself as Dieter before his one man backed by boom box set at the open mic. The album seems to open in a way as to make itself hard to listen to, with an intentional discordancy and trying to mask the broad technical competence of the musicians. Although, I'm not sure anyone in the band can actually sing. Still, there is definitely something *there* right from the beginning. You can see why they were influential, even if you don't understand why they'd be popular enough to actually sell records. By the time I got to the second to last track, I went "Of course they are going to have a song that's really just 4 nearly unconnected snippets that's just named for each of the 4 members of the band. And then they are going to end with an instrumental with 5 seconds of dead air in the middle. It makes perfect sense." I can't really even rate this properly. I think if I was in the right head space I'd probably listen to it on loop for days. Other times I'd turn it off instantly right after I threw up in my mouth a little. I guess that makes it a 3, but it's a very confused 3. Probably what they were going for, a strongly held ambivalence.

Not sure which I find more appealing, the music or the vocals…

So I saw Bauhaus at a music a festival a awhile ago, and thought their set was pretty decent… Now of course I was getting the “Best Of” set-list, so was curious how this album would sit with me… Turns out not-so-much… It is fairly original, but there’s not a whole lot you can really do with that “sound” as it gets pretty repetitive after a bit… The only tracks that were mildly interesting – and I emphasize the word MILDLY, were “The Passion Of Lovers”, & “Kick In The Eye”… I see people going on and on about the “David, Peter, Kevin, etc.” song – so I was kinda curious about that one, but what an utter waste of time… Gonna give this a 2 since seeing them live – albeit playing the best of their material over the course of their career, was at least interesting, and doubt they would have gotten to that place without albums like this that moved them along the process of developing their sound…

I'm sure in 1978 this would have lit me up. In 2024 I can't imagine myself listening to it more than once - and then only because the 1001 albums generator told me to.

Gothy

Dark and unique. Not my favorite, but good.

I didn't connect with this album at all. I thought it was sloppy, poorly produced, and downright incoherent at times. Not a very enjoyable listen either.

I love Bauhaus. I love how their singer sounds like he's desperately trying to squeeze out the last bit of turd. I love how unhinged, dark and goofy this album is. I love that zonked panda dude on the cover. Still would have preferred their debut (that's THE goth record, come on now, how is it not on this list?), but this shit rocks regardless. Strong 4 outta 5!

I was really not into this

This album was very impressive to me. Despite being released in the early 80s it has a very modern sound (like a grittier version of Depeche Mode's Violator). The random dog noises that screech at you twice is a good touch. All in all I'm a fan. 4/5

It's got a vibe to it. I don't know if it's a good vibe, but it's definitely a vibe.

Not as good as their debut, but still sweetly dissonant.

Average

I like this stuff. Should listen to more gothic stuff from this time. Will I listen to again: 90%

It's so shitty that somehow it works out. It is dark and goth with crappy vocals.

Not bad but not good either

Early goth rock that would benefit from better production. Not bad.

I've heard of, but never heard, Bauhaus. I like some of the experimental aspects and it's fairly palatable with a few songs having radio potential. It's not something I'd seek out though. Good for today's spin. 3.4

Wanna feel like being trapped in a smoke filled crypt. We got mad vampiric delivery there that cuts through the band’s jagged, abrasive noise. While occasionally leaning into dated art school posturing, it remains a slab of cold-wave gloom.

I don't really know what to say about it. It's later than you think it would be, given the style. The strange bedfellows of austerity and avant garde is interesting, and I always enjoy experimental new directions - but on the whole I didn't exactly enjoy it.

I grew up with this album, but as time has gone on, I prefer their first album more. Side one of this is a bit ploddy, which I guess makes sense, being as Bauhaus pretty much invented the 80s Goth thing. Side 2 has a lot more of a spark about it, Kick In The Eye still sounding lithe and fresh. As does X-Ray Eyes. One of the band's great strengths was mixing funk and dub into their post-punk, and they are the best bits here. The ending of this album is still wistful and beautiful, too. They did - at times - have a way with a poignant tune. Not one I would play often these days, but still a great album.

An unlikely hybrid of goth meets funk. That's going to be quite a look. The bass is bloody brilliant throughout. I'd forgooten how good Bauhaus were.

Wow, wow, wow, what a pleasant surprise. I've been getting into Atmospheric Indusrial Goth Noise so maybe it makes sense

The ´80s - some songs are working even in 2024, others not

This album was exceptional. At times it felt like I was attending a prom for vampires. The album oozes with spookiness and really interesting noises for the time it was released! The second half of the album sort of carried but all in all it’s a fantastic project. 8/10

At best, a poor man's Cure. Yes, dark, but the sound is thin and tinny, as if it's being heard on a distressed cassette tape in an underpowered Japanese-made compact car with a weak stereo system in the early 1980s, which in one's case, indeed it was. "Of Lillies" is of some interest. One likes some of the shearing guitars (e.g., on "Dancing") but the overall feel of even the strongest moments ("Kick in the Eye") is of being quite dated.