Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Pre-listening thoughts: some weird track names on this one! Milk film? Baked beans? What am I getting into Post/during listening thoughts: I made the mistake of trying to listen to this while making my work schedule lol. Was so tuned out of this and had blown through half the album without realizing. Whatever review said it was like off brand Duran Duran nailed it. It’s just pretty generic new wave 80s music. But I actually enjoy this (I feel like I’ve heard these songs before though?? Having intense Deja vu). Sorry. 7/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no go listen to Rio Fav tracks: Lemon Firebrigade, Kingsize, Fantastic Day (hello the harmonies?!) Least fav tracks: n/a *Edit: bumped this to a four star rating. It's good.
great sax
Enjoyed the sound, my type of band
The saxophone solo on "Marine Boy" is the most perfectly joyful moment ever recorded.
This was really fun and upbeat. I enjoyed this album and would listen again.
A fun New Wave album. I'd really put this more around a 3.5, but I'm leaning towards liking slightly more towards the 4 side. Therefore, 4 stars.
This is great 80's stuff.
I have never heard of this new wave band before, so it was surprising to me how much I have enjoyed this album. It's funky and very danceable, and it never gets boring or too simplistic (even if it's poppy here and there). A really good album.
You can just feel that this album was made in a time when life was easier. Fun vibe, good bass, enjoyable to listen to and doesn't really go anywhere but it was a blast the whole way through. Part of my vote here is having a good time.
When I saw the cover and the year I said to myself not another newwave. This one was different. A very cohesive listenable album without that 80s vocal style front and center. A hybrid sound with great energy. Great instrumentation throughout. The songs Kingsize and Calling Captain Autumn were my picks.
It’s just a fun album. So many good songs and the music is tight and funkier than you would expect. “Calling Captain Autumn” and “Marine Boy” are standout songs. 4/5 Definitely will listen again
I wasn't familiar with this band/album, but it was a nice surprise at first. Great bass and brass, but it all sounded the same. It did make me happy though
Pretty cool energy! Nice surprise
I'd never even heard of these guys before, which is strange because this is good. It's new wave, but way funkier and way more more upbeat, with some great driving basslines, percussion and sax. I had a nice time with this. 3.5 rounded up.
Fun early eighties pop - "Love plus one" - see everyone dancing at a party and singing "Aye ya ya ya ya ya" Hard not to smile when you listen to this :-) Four just for the pure fun factor!
I remember in high school when "Love Plus One" came out thinking these guys were really lame. I stand corrected. Really enjoyed the entire album...love the horns.
This was better than I expected. I thought it was going to be one more unremarkable new wave album in a list already a little heavy with those. But this one has a lot more groove to it than most new wave, which kept me listening and enjoying
Very good
Bastante más divertido y groovy de lo que me esperaba. basicamente talking heads british
slay.
That was a fun album to listen to. I was out riding my bike while I listened to it and a couple of other gen xers smiled and started bopping their heads when they heard it
One of the better "new to me" new wave albums we have heard. Solid end to end with a really fun vibe. 4/5
Yes, the Haircuts!! this is peak 80s brilliance!! 4/5
A very fun album. I enjoyed it the whole way through, but I was ready for it to be over by the end. Favorite song: Favorite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
very good.
A delight to listen again after all these years and find it every bit as fresh sounding but even more stylish and sophisticate and – yes, even – substantive. They were having fun, but that doesn't mean it's not artful or artfully ambient. Editors are wrong to call this silly and seem so apologetic, it's straight-up quality if designed to be on the lighter slide; those who think it slighter only miss out. Pro tip: Nick Heyward's "North of a Miracle" is not to be missed.
I vaguely remember hearing Love Plus One. Sounds like a good 80's soundtrack tune. I've always enjoyed funk and horns in British New Wave. Pretty solid album. Not something I'd normally put on, so this is a nice find. I listened to this a few times yesterday. It's a grower.
Finally. Something good on the Bri’ish list I’ve never heard before.
Love the fun pop!
Not that bad for beeing new age
Pretty fun
This is pretty sweet - honestly reminds me of Vulfpeck.
This album was wild. Some of it sounded like the Smiths, some of it sounded like the B 52's. I don't know what to think, other than I like it, and I respect the guitar player. He was groovin the ENTIRE album.
This was a really nice surprise. Love the new wave / white boy funk crossover. Very fun from start to finish!
I was really into this! I know nothing of Pelican West. But it hit the spot for me. Would listen again. Varied and interesting. Punchy and fun
This was a fun and peppy 80's album. They aren't all winners, but good background noise for my workday. 4/5
I will admit to letting out a bit of a groan when reading this band, that I hadn't heard of, was another 80's British new wave act. But this was a lot better than I was expecting. Aside from the singer, there's not much that's really new wave here. There's a lot of funk, jazz and latin influences. I'm tossing up between giving this a 3 or a 4.
I had never heard of this and was very surprised. New wave but make it Jam.
Funk stuff, and not half bad. Quite sonically similar, but I like the vibe a lot. Favourite tracks: Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), Love Plus One, Lemon Firebrigade, Fantastic Day.
Yes
I loved this. I had heard fantastic day before but nothing else. I found the album a fun and easy listen. Favourite song: Fantastic day! and boy meets girl Least favourite: with 17 tracks there is a lot of filler. None of it horrid though. Album artwork: good
A really fun meeting of new romantic and sophisti pop.
Actually pretty great new wave.
I'm sure if i went to look there would be loads of negative reviews of this album, a lot of 'why is this on this list?' but i know why its on the list, because its brilliant. The singles are excellent, up there with some of the albums on this list in terms of best singles. Love Plus One is absolutely incredible, Fantastic Day is brilliant, and Favourite Shirts is great too. The hidden banger is Calling Captain Autumn. Great closer. The thing i love most about this album is the production, all the instrumental breakdowns, all the uses of the different instruments, really great work I'm stuck between a 4 and 5. We'll see
Great example of the music of the 80s. Brought me right back. Fun music with good rhythms. Bit of ska feeling. I’ve seen reviews comparing them to Duran Duran but this is far better in my opinion.
Not familiar except the single, but loving this through and through! Every song reminds me of Orange Juice's "Rip It Up" in the best ways. Add to that a little Japanese 1980's city pop and Chic influenced rhythm guitar. What's more, you have some jazz piano peppered in here and there, some moments of slap bass, latin rhythms, tasteful horn blasts, and so many more unpredictable moments that only add to this collection. These are the kinds of things other bands of the era would shy away from, being too detached to make the attempt. But this album remains more approachable than baroque, it's range of sounds always sounds like Haircut at the core and only adds to the fun. No further notes, time to try to find this on vinyl & get more familiar.
Familiar sound for 80s music lovers. I actually added a couple songs to my library.
Breezy fun upbeat listening. Vital listening? Hard to argue that it is. None the less I imagine I'll be back again for more when the easy breezy mood strikes.
Never heard of this one, but was pleasantly surprised at how good it is. Kind of like a mix between XTC, the English Beat, and Adam Ant. Lots of new wave Englishness, but nothing that sounds dated or campy. There’s a solid funky riff permeating throughout that helps. This honestly could be the bridge between 80s new wave and 90s power pop even though it came out in ‘82. Baked Beans and Snow Girl were two of my favorites, but the whole thing was enjoyable. Sad to learn this was really their only album. This feels like a 3.5, but I’m rounding up for the hidden gem factor.
Not a fan of New Wave but this album was a pleasant surprise! It just slaps.
Me encantó el rollo del disco!! Muy animado
Jazzy rock similar to Chicago, but I was into it.
Totally 80’s new wave vibe pop music. Energetic and upbeat. Nice on the ears!!!
The hardest part about writing a review for an album is starting it. I’m not sure what to say to make this interesting, so I’ll just say that I thought someone describing this as “pretty boy pop” was really funny, but also surprisingly accurate. Quite a while ago, I reviewed an album by a band called Orange Juice named Rip It Up. I had a lot of admiration for that album, especially because it isn’t regarded as some sort of well known classic. I just couldn’t help it. The same thing applies to this album. Something about this kind of sound flicks a switch in my brain. Even if this album has one sound, they executed that one idea really well. And it resulted in a total vibe. This album has a real shine to it. It’s super funky and groovy, and those bits of brass arrangement are to die for. All of the percussion, particularly on the extended sections of congas have a wonderful snap to them. This is like the music equivalent to a bag of pop rocks. Small bands like this that drop one really strong project and then sort of fade into the never ending cycle of new artists are admirable and inspiring. Like Rip It Up, I can’t help that I love parts of this. Rating: 7/10
This is pretty nice frenetic yet refined New Wave pop. I was surprised at how live it sounded, nice rhythm guitar work. The admirable musicianship helps me push this to 4 stars.
4 - I don't know if I just got bored over the course of the album, or if the album is just repetitive, or if it just fumbles the B-side a little, but I really, really liked the first half and thought the last half was alright. Those songs didn't grab my attention as much, but maybe the tracks were just too similar for me. Perhaps a couple songs could have been cut to make it a bit more concise? I don't know. Anyway, that first half is very good and they really nail the sound they're going for. I was jamming along for a lot of it. I was worried that this would be something that I wouldn't remember listening to, but luckily, that's not the case. The overall vibe of the album is fun and light, which I love. My only real complaint with the album is that it feels a bit long-winded since they don't change up the sound very much. This was a pleasant surprise!
I'd never listened to this before but I was surprised by how many of the songs I was already familiar with (probably due to being raised in the UK by parents who would've been late teens when this was released). Similar to Duran Duran, but funkier and, I would argue, better. Fav songs: Love Plus One, Fantastic Day, Surprise Me Again
Take Talking Heads circa Speaking In Tongues/Stop Making Sense and give it an injection of British sophisti-pop. Think the Cure if they were less melodramatic and more fun. Pelican West is 100% funk-inspired, but leverages many elements of typical '80s pop to keep it firmly in the new wave section of record stores. Songs are light and breezy, giving way to little music elements such as accenting horns, embellishing percussion, and filling bass grooves. This album rarely hits a low, and I can't help but feel it's due in part to the consistency of Haircut 100's sound. Every part of this band works incredibly well, making for an upbeat jam machine that knows it's all in good fun. Some may find this to be cheesy or perhaps artificial, but I've enjoyed the album from start to finish.
Upbeat 80s funk pop. Nothing heavyweight, just fun enjoyable pop. I’m giving four stars not because this is amazing, but it appeals to me.
First time listen. Fun
Had not listened to this album quite some time, I would not say it is a classic and not quite sure why it should be on the list, but it is one out of many excellent UK pop albums from the 80s.
Really liked this one. Very 80s but that's not always a bad thing.
I was prepared to be disappointed but great album, very funky, superb rhythm guitar and searing horns. Great way to start Monday morning!
Love this album!! So happy 😁
I'll be damned, if I couldn't stop tapping my toe while I listened along. The blend of jazz and pop, spiced up with hints of latin, funk, and ska are an act of musical alchemical genius. The instrumental performances are flawless and the production is polished to a yacht deck sheen. While the lyrics aren't anything that will compete for a Pulitzer, their light and delivered the brightly and chorused with harmonies. An all-around feel-good album that would pair up nicely with a dance hall as easily it would segue into The Clash or The Specials.
Pretty nice nostalgia trip leading a rabbit hole of research about a group band I'd always written off as an 80s boy band
This album was surprisingly good. It had great instrumentals. Dude on the sax was playing for his life.
Two great singles to open it up. After that, a perfectly listenable album, but without a lot to distinguish the other tracks. Notable, and worthy of selection for the list as a good example of a representative pop album that definitely influenced later acts (e.g., Blow Monkeys). Solid 7/10, rounding up for serious grooving on "Boy Meets Girl".
This was some great funky 80s dance music! Reminded me of The Cars meets Duran Duran meets Talking Heads. Love all the horns especially. Stand out tracks: Love Plus One, Milk Film, October is Orange (Day 1 & 2)
Funky, kind of had a Talking Heads feel at the beginning but then fades. I liked this more than I originally thought I would, love the bass and horns, nice and clean. Could have been a bit shorter, found myself bored of the same sounds by the end.
white boy funkin
This band was funky and tight, trumpets, samba drums, groovy bass. Not bad for a bunch of english white boys. How had I never heard of this band before?! Given the right mood and setting, this could be a jam today.
4/5. A great collection of pop songs that brings vibes of pet shop boys and the beach boys, creating a fun and happy-go-lucky vibe mostly besides some one off dark ones. Otherwise a really enjoyable pop album, full of short and sweet songs about random stuff that feels unique. Can't wait to explore this one more!
I always thought these were Duran Duran songs when I was growing up. So here I am thinking I was listening to another DD knockoff group only to discover I liked this album better than most DD. 4/4
Funky new wave. I like this.
This one's a little tricky. It's "just" fun pop, but there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot of "just fun pop" from the '80s that I would give 4 stars. What makes this a little tricky is that, not being from the UK, I didn't grow up with this, so it's "just" typical 80s pop. But it's really pretty good, and it was a little ahead of its time (being recorded in 1981). I'll round up to 4 stars. Good solid 80s pop.
Funky fun
overlong and frequently outright unintelligible but man is this irresistibly groovy. stellar instrumental breaks. when you know you know.
Gøy
Zabavan album
Este sí que lo voy a escuchar más allá de la obligación de esta lista. Me gustó desde el inicio.
its a very cohesive early 80's album. I'm not terribly versed on New Wave but this seems like a great starting point. I'll admit it did seem to run together a little bit at times, but in a good way. my favorite track was probably Boy Meets Girl.
Duran Duran meets Club Tropicana by Wham. Good!
Wow, this came as a huge surprise. From the opening track, I was hooked. This sounds like a great example of early 80s music, and the grooves, horns, and vocals are really fun. Surprising that the original group really only recorded one album together, and that it was included on this list. I generally skip any bonus tracks and try to just listen to the original album, but for this, I was thrilled to get some extra content to keep the party going. "Nobody's Fool (12' Version)" and "October is Orange (Day 1 & 2)" truly are bonuses in every sense of the word.
This was a good album very retro vibes if you can call it that sounds like the background music for Donnie darko.
Never heard of this band before and was surprised how much I liked their music Favorite songs: Surprise Me Again, Favorite Day
Pretty tight and well produced
Actually reeeeally liked this one. So many good grooves!
nice
I gotta say I was pretty surprised to see this album here. I think of Haircut 100 as the dictionary definition of one-hit wonder for Love Plus One. But this album is a lot of fun --- big horns, great percussion, and some 80s sax (which I can't always abide but can forgive today). Sounds like they sprouted from seeds similar to Wham! and Culture Club.
One of my favorite 80s pop albums since I was a teen and a girl put “Favourite Shirt” on a mix for me. It’s just a ton of fun, as much instrumental as not.
Great way to start the morning
New wave muy trompetero. Me ha gustado, un 4.
I was dreading this based on the cover. It was actually a funky little number.
This album would fit pleasantly on top of any movie about miami in the 80s. It's incredibly cheesy but I still like it.
Pretty solid. A new-wave album that doesn't take itself too seriously and is good fun. This is the kind of music I can get behind.
Super enjoyable listen. Just bridges the gap between funk pop new wave. 4 stars for production and a mostly no-skip affair.
Det var swäggy!!!
I had never heard of this band but I’m a sucker for 80s pop, so this was a delightful surprise!
First time listen for me - extremely my shit. Shades of Talking Heads, Aztec Camera. Will definitely be in future rotation.
Great! Loved the instrumentals.
I imagined I was several pina coladas in and it was enhanced
Upbeat, jazzy and pop "The Smiths" vibes or is it just the 80s?
Wow, this was a pleasant surprise. I mean, it sounded definitely from the 80s, but it sounds really really good. It's like a cross between Duran Duran, Fishbone, and the Clash. It shouldn't work at all, but it does. Really well. I don't usually go to listen the longer anniversary reissue, but I needed to hear more and fortunately there is a 40th anniversary release with a concert. The sax I think is what really did it for me. The interaction with the rest of the band, was great! Definitely enjoyable. Will listen to this again.
This was a delight. 80’s vibe with a salad horn section.
Delightful. Fun, upbeat, perfect for summer music. New wave rock with a lot of African rhythms and the occasional cheesy jazz solo. Totally up my alley. The lead singer, Nick Heyward, sounds a lot like Joe Jackson, one of my favorites from this era. The band sounds huge. Apparently there are 7 band members (which includes 2 drummers) + a brass section. Amazing. The music has a nice, full sound. Man, "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" sounds a lot like Talking Heads' "I Zimbra." Surprised to see no credit to them considering how close the rhythm + that one vocal part is.
tasty new wave pop. 4 stars.
such a pristine sounding record. slick juicy and polished yet organic. immaculate arrangements and musicianship. strong vocals. obviously something you’d play while hosting a yacht party. some of the songwriting didn’t quite resonate with me however; i felt like some of the songs would be a tad boring without the intricate and bouncy instrumentations. not the case for most of the songs tho, just kingsize, baked beans, and triangles. also the chikachikachika guitar gets kinda old after a while. you don’t have to play every single 16th note my man….
Another feel good album from the 80s. Really enjoyed it, it reminds me of XTC. Overall a dancable summer vibe. The first half was already pretty good. And the album cover is simply perfection! I don't remember which songs I remember particularly, but I think it was October is Orange and Calling Captain Autumn.
A strong funk 80s album. Standouts in Favourite Shirts, Love Plus One, Nobody's Fool, and October is Orange.
First track is really catchy
Very fun album. Much jazzier than I was expecting. Lots of sax. A couple absolute bangers, but the whole album is very enjoyable.
Excellent, shame it was their only album
Oh wow, didn’t realise these lads made funk? A little bit soulless maybe, but funky all the same. And this was pretty much all they did? 3.5 I think but I’ll round up.
I... Kinda enjoyed this! And clearly am suprised about it. I didn't know what to expect but it was funky, upbeat and never seemed to drag on. Not sure if I'd race back to it but I won't run and hide if they appear again. Nice.
The music has a definite direction and velocity... Wants to take you somewhere and make you enjoy the journey
Sick drummer
I listened to this album twice. After not thinking too much of it after the first time, I grew to really enjoy it the second time. I feel its the kind of music you want to be up and moving around or doing something when listening to it. It has that very recognizable New Wave sound, from the vocals, instruments and especially the production. Its cool to hear some horns thrown in there too! FAVORITE SONGS: - Love Plus One - Snow Girl 4/5
HL: "Love Plus One", "Marine Boy", "Fantastic Day", "Surprise Me Again" First off, bad name- I'll probably keep accidentally calling this band "Pelican West" instead of "Haircut 100" Second, I really enjoyed this, though there's not much to analyze here. Is it not enough to have an album that makes ye feel good? Cheery slice of 80's pop February 26, 2023
Love the horns on this record.
Very fun obscure new wave with some really sweet funky grooves. I'm gonna come back to this one!
Really enjoyed the music. Bass player was really great. Sad this band only lasted four years.
Serieux, c'est nice comme album. Les musiciens sont vraiment sur la coche. Ca manque parfois un peu de savoir, car c'Est très technique comme album. On voit bien qu'il s'éclate, ca manque de ce qui fait du funk, du funk, un groove. Mais en dehors de ca l'écoute est très bonne. J'ai meme des vibes d'un certain video youtube qui passait en boucle... 4.25
1 - 8 2 - 7 3 - 8 4 - 8 5 - 7,5 6 - 8 7 - 7 8 - 7,5 9 - 7,5 10 - 6,5 11 - 7,5 12 - 7,5 13 - 8 14 - 8 15 - 6,5 16 - 7,5 17 - 8
Definitely British synthpop!
Very 80s
ну 80ее и ок прикольно но не больше....
This album surprised quite a bit. I expected a bad/boring experience but it was the opposite. The music is upbeat and great. The vocals typically didn't detract from the song and sometimes added. In the worst songs, they were repetitive and the vocals were annoying. The best songs had groovy beatlines and were awesome. Favorites: Kingsize, Fantastic Day, Baked Beans Dislikes: Snow Girl, Ski Club
I'm impressed. This band is far more than their one hit. They're multi-talented instrumentalists with a mix of pop, new wave & world - this album is just a great mix of genres. My only criticism is it's too long. Aside from that, solid listen.
me ENCANTÓ kqjdjsjdjdj 8 / 10 me recordó a remain in light por momentos (?)
With horns and and exuberance aplenty, this sophisticated early 80s pop album from Haircut 100 is a mighty fine collection that not only captures the British music scene before the full blown invasion of the synths, but it shimmers and radiates with all the youthful optimism that was captured. One of the more accomplished yet underrated albums/bands of the era. Favorites: Favorite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl), Love Plus One, Lemon Firebrigade, Milk Film, Fantastic Day, Love's Got Me in Triangles, Surprise Me Again, Boat Party.
Earth, White Boys, and Fire
Really enjoying all these creative British bands that I had never heard of. This one was really cool, at times reminded me of Talking Heads, sometimes XTC. The horns and funky bass made it all sound so original.
Putting the “fun” in Funk. Catch me head-bobbing to “Ski Club.”
7/10. Pretty goofy but solid new wave album. The horn parts were really nice.
Shred that sax, boys. 8/10
This thing is pretty fun. I feel like it’s if Steely Dan made funk or new wave. The mix of jazz and funk is really fun and there’s lots of silly little bits throughout. 7/10
Reminiscent of Talking Heads and The Psychedelic Furs. Good, clean New Wave fun.
Enjoyed it. Sounds exactly like how the cover looks, just some good, consistent new wave music
Clearly 80s New Wave, but with some brilliant brass stuff.
Enjoyed the overall vibe of this - a little more on the pop side but Favourite Shirts was a good tune
Surprisingly dynamic record for a new wave group; songs are diverse and arrangements are interesting with prominent conga and sax action all throughout.
fine
Hear before: no, not even of the band! Great sound - the horns and extra percussion really elevated things. I'd never heard of the group, and I don't listen to much New Wave, so this was interesting and fun. I'll definitely revisit this one - I can't say any of the tracks were standout, but overall I loved the sound and will let this one sink in a little more.
It was the first album on this list I had not heard before the recommendation. I really dig it. It was the right amount of guitar jangle to hit my sweet spot.
This was actually really nice. Funky and fun new wave. Enjoyed a lot!
I actually really liked this? And the bonus tracks are better than the main album cuts? idk why I'm surprised, maybe it's because these guys are new to me and I was expecting something slightly different. But this is fun new wave, and if I ever see this in a dollar CD bin, it's mine. B
New Wave Pop flirts with Jazz and Soul and I like the results. A very well balanced mix. It's consistently upbeat, catchy, and enjoyable. To take a term from beer parlance, I'd say this was crushable.
Very chill!
ovo je zapravo dost dobar album. nekako djeluje optimistično - naravno zbog svojih ritmičnih (koje zvuče pozitivno) pjesama. Najviše volim kad čujem gitarski jingle jangle pop. Također mi je neki miks Talking Headsa (ritam), Morrissey (glas)... i još ponešto. naravno, par pjesama je uletilo u plejlistu 60ih.
This is so groovey! 4 So close to a 5 Great instrumentation, nice continuity between songs, and nice lyrics! Love it
New wave muy trompetero. Me ha gustado, un 4.
This is my sweet-spot era and I first listened on cassette, for which I had to spring because "Love Plus One" was just too good then (despite dumb video I couldn't confess to like) and remains today an all-time pop delicacy -- light and pure and effervescent. Rest of record is more substantive than I remember, crisp playing and clean production. This disc is nowhere near Nick Heyward's "North of a Miracle" but holds up well.
Groovy. Pretty fun listen!
Liked this album very much..never heard these guys before…back in the 80’s would have been rockin’out to this ..
super dope and funky for some white guys 4
I'll go with a solid 3.5 for this one. I can see this influencing Oingo Boingo
Fun oldie sound
I really don't know what to make of this, I thought the singer from Duran Duran maybe took a side gig to produce something more poppy at first? It's a unique sound, very plinky-plonky on the guitars and keys, and they have a couple of horns players which I always appreciate in a band. I liked this, just a nice listen that didn't go too hard but had nice vibes and positive energetic instrumentals to it.
Whacky sound, but I like it!
Haircut 100 is considered to be a new wave funk band, which makes the jazz and rock elements in their debut 'Pelican West Plus' a welcome addition. Scattered across the tracks are pleasant musical intricacies, with almost engrossing guitar riffs and brass instruments. Sometimes unnecessary for what's it worth, the funk elements are executed well and doesn't leave a lot to be desired.
This doesn't sound as old as it is. I enjoyed this album! I wish I had heard it sooner.
It was decent. I'm a sucker for a good horn section, so I liked that aspect of it a lot, but the album felt a little long, and a lot of the songs all kind of sounded the same. I'm also rather tired, so I'm not sure how fair I'm being.
I probably have a Jones for this for sentimental reasons, but it's still a great listen. I was four months from being graduated, we danced, wore ties & topsiders. Aaaaaaaanyway - added to my library.
first weekend album!
Really liked this more than I thought.
The sound is very much of its time, but as a debut album it's impressive
I really enjoyed this mix of fun and Britpop.
I think participating in this project is developing a taste in me for new wave, as that was a lot of fun! Upbeat, light, poppy and funky - they sound like an earnest, humorless They Might Be Giants. Fave track - "Favourite Shirts", maybe. I like "Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle)" too, but damn that's a bad track name!
Fun!
Most enjoyable
What a strange beast this is - lots of chicken scratch white boy New Wave funk like 'Favourite Shirts' and 'Calling Captain Autumn', the latter of which almost tips over into Oingo Boingo territory. Liberal use of congas and daytime TV saxophone, which I don't mind - and smack bang in the middle is 'Fantastic Day', one of the most wonderfully uplifting examples of indie pop to emerge from the era. I do like it, quite a lot in fact, but a mildly puzzling experience.
This album was quite interesting. The band merged Ska, Jazz, Latin, Funk, Pop, and dare I say a bit of Punk to pretty much every song. One of those albums and groups that didn't fit with the genre they were unfortunately placed. Good album.
Just the right amount of funk, pretty cool!
I enjoyed this alot more than expected, kinda felt like what the 90s would put over the Charlie's angels TV show
Undeniably dated, totally 80’s, almost tacky, extremely top heavy. Still such a lovely listen, I danced so much 🥰.
Kinda good actually
Great!
Completely new to me. I love it when a band is made up entirely of rhythm instruments. Really digging the bongos, horn, and rhythm guitar. 4.0
I was surprised to really enjoy this album. It was what I'd imagine plays at Club Tropicana all day and night. Very easy to find yourself dancing along to it! Feel good 80s yuppie music.
Incredible guitar / horns work - really forward thinking and catchy. Definitely needs a re-listen
Fun. The Duran Duran of UB40s.
Really enjoyed. Reminds me of Duran Duran
I ended up liking this WAY more than I thought I would. Went in negative, was "meh" on the first couple of songs, but Lemon Firebrigade won me over and I enjoyed it from there on out. Why? I don't know. Probably because it reminded me of 80's movies - more fun, less serious. We can all use that from time to time.
Verrassend leuk bandje. Ik kende dit totaal niet, maar vond het wel lekker catchy en vrolijk
Geweldig! Dit vrolijke getoeter past precies bij het weer.
Fun radio
Breezy summery songs for the early 80s. I'm surprised at how many of these songs I recall, I must have played Fantastic Day a thousand times in my yute when hanging out with my Uni girlfriend. I really could use the half star rating system here, so my 3.5 becomes a 4 purely for nostalgic reasons.
Talking Heads Lite ™️
look at those respectable young men tears for fearsy with brass interesting 4 starts for calling captain autumn alone!
This has got that kind of 80s pop music feel to it. Like…I imagine smiling people bopping their heads to it when it came on in the car.
Album cover: Tired. Disco riff that kicks the album off: Wired. They are kinda Talking Heads-ish with a sexy sax backing, ands more of a standard groove set-up.
This has some damn good funk and groove to it. The kind of music you can just chill to and have a damn good time.
Slick, funky grooves from a group I've never heard of before. Definitely saving this album for later...
With a name like "haircut 100", how can they be good? I feel a bit dirty liking this as much as I did. Favourite song: Fantastic Day
Probably more of a 3.5 than a 4
This album, like the last one, is very tough to rate. I enjoyed parts of it, but sometimes it didn't hold my interest that well. I could envision a situation in which I would come back to this album and really like it. There are a lot of cool elements to it. They clearly have some of the same influences as The Clash (or else were heavily influenced by The Clash themselves) 4/5 Second listen better than the first
Excellent summer album. 7.5/10 FT: Favourite Shirts
closer to a 3.7, 3.5 ish
Catchy! Loved all the horns. 3.5
70/100 Who said that white boys couldn’t be funky? This is new wave with all the fixings. You got really funky and upbeat drumming, corny as hell guitar parts, and lyrics that don’t mean anything to anybody. It even has a ton of sax all over the place that lowkey makes it a joy to listen to. It’s a really fun album but it’s also like corporate music this is the young man’s Sports. I just thought about Patrick Bateman listening to this like damn that’s good music. I liked it a lot though enough to give it at the least a 70 but it kinda falls off a bit past the first couple of tracks. Despite apparently being pretty based not a lot of people have rated this one. I actually found it because of Favorite Shirts a couple years ago and dug that song a lot. Now not so much. Music types change I guess. Anyways it’s fun give it a listen there’s not a single song on here that you wouldn’t have a good time “bumpin” in your dad’s stereo system.
Cool. They're happy, so I didnt liked it.
Oh nice, another british new wave album. Havnt listened to one in a while. It sounds like what you would expect from it. Its not so bad but its prety far from being good. Nothing interesting here.
“we got Duran Duran at home” but Andy Taylor is in fact in your home.
3.5 down to 3. Enjoyed the 80s shimmery guitars.
Ganske fornøyelig, men går fort i glemmeboka
Hmm.. Funger fint som bakgrunnsmusikk. Ikke dårlig i det hele tatt. Blir litt lei av den suggererende, repeterende blåsinga og den litt daffe 80-tallstemmen. Men egentlig en bra skive.
22/06/2026 I was more into this than I thought I would be. I won't go back again though. Not one song even stood out. Spotify listeners: 230.8k
Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) - 4/5 Love Plus One - 3/5 Lemon Firebrigade - 3.5/5 Marine Boy - 3.5/5 Milk Film - 3/5 Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle) - 3.5/5 Fantastic Day - 3/5 Baked Bean - 3.5/5 Snow Girl - 3/5 Love's Got Me in Triangles - 3/5 Surprise Me Again - 3/5 Calling Captain Autumn - 3/5 Sounds like Duran Duran and yacht rock had a baby. It was certainly a fun listen, but this is something that I will definitely forget after a day or two of listening. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
Sunday, 21 June, 2026 Super summery and teenager coded. Nice album.
3.6/5
People on here calling this a budget Duran Duran are pretty much right on the money. Except this is more enjoyable for me than Duran Duran ever was (I never understood the appeal, to be honest). Interesting choices were made as far as instruments and arrangements go on this. Honestly, I thought I was going to hate this when it started up, but it’s not half bad. I’m not sure I’ll ever come back to it, but I’m not rushing to the skip button either. 7/10
it was okay i guess
achei meio elevator music mas é legal
This surprised me with the funkiness.
7 / 10
Positive vibes and great musicianship on all instruments. The brass instruments and percussion elements were especially nice. However, what this album lacks is variety. I grew tired of the sound on the back half. Funnily enough, right there in the track "Love's Got Me In Triangles" the German speakers among us very clearly hear a "Scheiße, mir wird langweilig" at 2:40... coincidence? I think not 🥸 3/5 - good
fun
Nothing wrong with a little Haircut 100 every now and then. 3/5
I didn't love it, but the horns at least made it kinda interesting. 2 days in a row I'm rating a new wave album higher than a 2; what is the world coming to? Who am I? 2.6
Swap the sax for a synth and this album is a banger. But really it’s a fun summer vibe. Good playing, tasty arrangements and production, and just enough interesting songwriting to make a solid pop album. Shoutout guitarist for the heavy rhythm work, good driving bassist too. Fun percussion. I really just got tired of the sax solos and feel like it kinda sapped up the whole thing, some more edge or grit would have been cool. But these are polished pelicans after all.
hese are tight pop songs that aren’t quite memorable but so pleasant - especially when the rhythm guitars and percussion create a bright little “pop jam.” In the best moments I’m reminded of early Talking Heads, or live Talking Heads, or if the horns kick in…end game Talking Heads. I wish I could round up to 4 but it’s not quite there - best 3 you could ask for.
There is a lot here that doesn't work or endure, and it makes you wonder why they are on the list. To me, the funky vibe tacked on to the new wave pop sensibility is unique, but not enough to warrant a high rank for me. I give them a solid to low 3.
I was vibing
Not the best of the 80s but some great nostalgic tunes here.
3.5
Weird album. It's like a strange beachy pop smooth jazz fusion. I dunno. I didn't absolutely hate it. The guitar was interesting and well played throughout. Some songs were catchy and the album does have a pretty fun, light, airy vibe. Standout tracks were "Snow Girl" and "Love's Got Me In Triangles." You need to be in the mood for this kind of stuff. It's not something I'd normal play. 3/5 though, could have been worse.
Didn’t love it then, though I have a bit more appreciation now for the percussive jazziness that underpins their sound.
I think i liked this
Very fun to be honest, funky and groovy. Also the song names, as well as the band and album name are fun and different. It was nice.
pleasant pop
pretty mid 3/5
Not sure why this is on the list. It is inoffensive but nothing really sticks out that would grab me, feels innovative or annoy me tbh
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Ganz nett.
spoko miły album, podobał mi się bardziej niż talking heads, ale myślę że też szybko zniknie z mojej pamięci
6/10
Let's start with the answer to your very obvious question. No, this does not belong here. It's a fine listenable record of early 80s pop. The hit here, Love Plus One, is good. It's all fine. I don't regret hearing it but I certainly had no actual need to do so
This was decent but absolutely did not need to be on the list
Pretty solid album, I do enjoy it, but it almost feels too polished? So it’s definitely enjoyable radio tracks, but almost not enough for what I’m looking for in music. Three stars
I bought a lot of albums in 1982. This was not one of them. Never heard it until today. The singles are OK however the rest is rather uninspiring jazz funk workouts. To be fair the band are tight and nice clean production. Just not my thing sorry.
This album was quite a bit of fun, albeit not very remarkable. I think I enjoyed the instrumentation and beats more than anything. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention but it felt to me like some very well-made background noise.
never heard of em. Funky yeah, all sounds a bit samey on the first listen. But saved Kingsize for driving.
This album is a lot of fun if listened to without a critical ear. The 2 singles are very catchy (love plus one and fantastic day) and the album as a whole although very samey is very 1983. Nothing wrong with that.
Floats by like a funky sailors cap caught in a summer breeze. 3.3
This is fine. Upbeat and funky. A bit too OTT and cheesy at times, but it is quite a fun record.
I really only know Love Plus One ... but other than that its a solid 80s album!
Not really anything remarkable. Pretty 80s.
It's got a real "just a recording sesh with the lads" type sound but did go on and on. Overall decent, not impressive. 3/5
A cool 80’s gem I had not heard better. It did get a little repetitive
Is asked AI why this album is on this list. Here's the answer: It's the kind of inclusion that reflects genuine compiler affection for a specific moment in British pop rather than rigorous curatorial necessity. Agree. Coll bass, though. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5
= the Beatles The very definition of middle of the road
Álbum bem legal com algumas músicas de destaque. Eu não conhecia e curti a experiência. Celest x Versekeys Ultra-Sense Planet.
Not bad.
Don't care
Alright.
Giving a 3.5/5 in spirit cause it was generally pretty nice to listen to. The sax solo in Marine Boy goes absolutely insane
Ahhhh 80s New Wave. what comfort it brings me now.
Unfortunately all good things come to an end, and our funk train seemingly ends here at another new wave Brit pop album. I had never heard of them before and that was an appropriate response. A almost totally forgettable record with just a few even outside the normal tracks. The saxophone and synths make a valiant effort and for that reason alone it gets bumped up one star, but in total these pasty lads couldn’t get funky for their lives, and I got bored.
Slapping och funkgitarr går hem hos mig! Sången var däremot inte min stil. Hade nog hellre lyssna på en instrumental version av skivan. En trea, instrumentala hade det säkert varit fyra.
Mycket mysigt, men lite väl safe för att nå ett högre betyg än en trevlig trea.
Partiest album of 1982! Bättre än vad jag trodde, men hann bara en lyssning. Hmmm, mycket svårt. Stark trea!
Trevligt
this was great!!
Glamorous
Well crafted but not really my bag.
I enjoyed this. I’m sure I had this on cassette as a young kid. Obviously it’s very 80’s, but the band are tight and it’s really good at what it’s supposed to do.
Blind album and artist. Generic 80s that was okay I guess. I liked the opening track.
Surprisingly decent musicianship on otherwise routine New Wave Britpop fare.
Enjoyed this, but won't listen again
Intrigued at first and then it quickly wore out
unique british pop.
There were a lot of good songs but also a lot of forgettable ones too. Nothing bad about the album though.
Solide 80er Jahre Mukke inklusive epic sax guy. 🎷
Am Anfang ganz cool, lässt aber schnell nach und wirkt wie der Soundtrack von einem super Nintendo Sports Game...
Fun boppy little album, if a bit samey throughout. I had a decent time but wasn’t mind blown.
I've never heard of Haircut 100, but there's always a certain thrill surrounding an artist I had never heard of before. I've found with other relatively unknown artists that they could either be buried treasure lost to bargain bins and second-hand shops, or very of-the-era one hit wonders that recieved a lot of attention at one time, but fizzled. Haircut 100 is kind of delightful. Part Men At Work and Duran Duran with hints of The Clash. Pelican West is as airy as the album title suggests. This is nice weather music; it grooves, there's saxophone, and I spent a lot of the album's 40 minute runtime just wiggling in my seat. Not all of the album is brilliant, and I don't know that I'd call it 'essential' but I enjoyed listening to it!
Als je liefhebber bent van New Wave popmuziek uit begin jaren '80 dan is het lekker dat deze in de lijst staat, anders is het eigenlijk overbodig. Ik heb het idee dat ik dit genre via deze lijst al heb wel uitgespeeld inmiddels. Maargoed. Het klinkt wel vrolijk. New Wave op een tropisch eiland met één muzikant erbij die ooit nog twijfelde om een ska band te beginnen, zo klinkt het. Ik ga toch weer 3 sterren geven, vanwege dat vrolijke tropische. Ik ben een vies positief mild mannetje aan het worden. Of ik ben eindelijk als een magere, bibberende hond in het gareel gemept door Robert Dimery.
If Postcard Records had actually aimed for international success, then Haircut 100 would have been a smart signing for them - funky, a little odd, a band that created their own kind of space. Loads of catchy little bits, with a very British urgency and precision about the funkiness - no dawdling here, no slow drags. A couple of splendid singles, but a bit more of a Level 42 vibe than I had remembered.
🔥🩰⚡️
Solid
algun tema me gusto otros mas normalitos un 7
I really enjoyed this debut album from Haircut 100! I thought this was a fun and catchy new wave album and I loved the addition of the saxophone. We need to bring back the saxophone in modern music! Overall, I had a great time with this album and I would listen to it again in the future.
Funky yet soulless.
me gusto mas la primera mitad que la segunda, igual bastante bueno
I I can tell it's an impressive debut album but it's not my thing. Like most of the New Wave I've listened to, it feels tinny and artificial to me.
Slightly reminiscent of Duran Duran (Rio was released around the same time). Makes heavy use of brass. The songs are ok. I can see why Boy Meets Girl might have been popular.
Not bad vocals, not bad background music in a mainstream 80s kind of way. Wore out its welcome tho, and way too mediocre to be on this list. Solidly mid.
honestly i liked it more than i thought i would! i don’t have anything against new wave but sometimes it can get a little repetitive imo. but this pleasantly surprised me!
Iconic ‘80’s. A fun, nostalgic listen. I’m fine waiting another 20 years before I listen to it again.
Pretty standard surf rock
Nice sweaters on the cover also enjoyable music
Had never heard of this before and didn't really know what to expect. I kind of enjoyed it at first, but as it went on it kind of got old. I dont love sax heavy music which didn't help.
It hits that 80s sound to a T.
I know this doesn’t make sense but this album is hyperpop to me. I enjoyed it. Not too familiar with the scene but I can hear XTC and Orange Juice in there. October is Orange and Marine Boy are favorites.
3.5 nice discovery for me
Pleasantly 80's. 3.5 stars.
Fun, boppy British New Wave album. Nothing too remarkable. Easy to digest. Fun stuff.
The more of this list I listen to, the more I embrace 80s pop.
Love “Fantastic Day,” though the rest was a bit samey
God bless the guitarist’s wrist