Architecture And Morality

It is interesting and unique, but the sealand song really dragged it down.

Too abstract for my taste.

not my cuppa tea

I just love the new wave/synthpop vibes on this album. Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans) is just an amazing song!

Oké album. Joan of Arc is natuurlijk een geweldig nummer. Souvenir en She's Leaving zijn ook niet slecht. De rest is niet echt benoemingswaardig. 2.9

I do like it but it also fails to get out of 3rd gear Edit - ended going to 4 for it in the end as that 3rd gear turned out to be weirdly hypnotic

Suprisingly fun little record. I wasn't familiar with this at all. The soundpatterns created were unique and felt lush and creative, which I really enjoy from electronic music, I would've liked to see a more cynical approach perhaps, but overal this was a fun piece of music, laudable for its creative yet infectious grooves. Favorite track: Souvenir. Overall score: 7.4/10

Was never a fan, but Souvenir is still a tune

A vibe

Better than expected

This was good. A little tonal and abstract in places, but I still enjoyed it alright. Probably won't listen again. Three stars.

This was a good album to contemplate my future to, but not something I'd listen to again.

Architecture And Morality is an album that didn't leave the best first impression on me but as it grew on me, i really started to enjoy it. At first, i was worried that this album was going to be overly boring or overly noisy but as it turned out, this album is neither. It has a lot of the 80s cheesiness you would expect out of 80s new wave albums in a lot of areas including the vocals to the instrumentals but this album also manages to be super melodic where said melodies can be absolutely beautiful, haunting or both. I wasn't expecting a lot from this album but it still really turned out to be a really nice listen. Best Song: She's Leaving Worst Song: The New Stone Age

3.5/5

Like the soundtrack to a cheap indie movie. Hard pass.

I had never heard of this album or band before. The minimalistic cover combined with the title made me expect a classical album, but that is clearly not what it is. This album is quintessential 80's synth-pop, which is not my favorite genre, but this album felt very experimental. I actually enjoyed it more than I had expected.

Pet fav songs: The New Stone Age; Sealand; Maid of Orleans; Architecture and Morality. Heard of OMD and listened to couple songs in the past but never a full album. This was quite the revelation. Coming out in 1981, OMD put their mark on the synth-pop sound recognizable as "aggressively 80s". (To quote my husband.) Add the minimalist album art and pretentious title, there is so much to love. Definitely will have pride of place on my list of all-time favorite albums.

Certainly, both are aspects of life.

4/10…new wave / 80er

Souvenir is one of my favorite 80s songs

I’ve loved OMD’s “If You Leave” since I was a kid, but I’ve never listened to an album of theirs. I’ve always loved those pounding drums on “If You Leave,” and the synthesizers are absolutely to die for. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen Pretty In Pink, which is a damn shame, because I love the eighties. As for other OMD songs, I got to know “Enola Gay” as an adult, and while it’s a good song, it’s no “If You Leave.” I know my brain and heart are going to want to hear thirty minutes of “If You Leave” on this album, but I’ll do my best to push those expectations down so that I can enjoy Architecture and Morality! Well, for my money, Architecture and Morality wasn’t on par with “If You Leave,” but hey, who’s painted the Mona Lisa twice in their life? Even though I wasn’t wowed by this, it had some very good moments, and it was pretty enjoyable to listen to. When this album was at its best, the synthesizers were fantastic. But when it wasn’t at its best moments, Architecture and Morality was a bit boring, and the album as a whole felt pretty uneven. “The New Stone Age” wasn’t what I was expecting in a leadoff track from OMD, but I thought the song did a great job of capturing a feeling of anxiety and dread. The percussive elements gave it a bit of a militaristic feeling, as did the helicopter-esque sounds towards the end, and the main synthesizers were beautifully haunting. “She’s Leaving” was really up my alley. I loved the vocals and lyrics, and they main synthesizer riff burrowed its way fully into my ear. It was easily my favorite song on the album, and a song I’d be quick to listen to again. “Souvenir” was pretty good too, and I enjoyed its softer synthesizer sounds and different vocals. “Sealand” was the lowest point on the album to me. I felt like it plodded along for far too long, and there wasn’t really any payoff at any point in the song. It stinks that the worst part of this album was also the longest. The two “Joan of Arc” songs were good though, which was nice, especially since the first side of the album ended in a dud. After that though, the album felt like it limped along to the finish line. “Georgia” was nice, but it felt kind of strange between the title track and “The Beginning And The End.” All in all, this album was fine. It had some really good moments, but parts of it dragged it down and made the album as a whole a fairly uneven experience for me.

An album and band I’d never heard of before, and a love it. It’s like meeting the Cure’s dad. For coming out in ‘81 some of the sounds on the album are wild. Unexpected five stars.

Great synth textures but not a fan of the songwriting that seems to go on and on.

better than I thought, will try to listen again. Probably a 3.5 star rating.

Orchestral feels like a misnomer. First track seems as though they tried to make the most sonically unpleasant music possible. The synth is just screeching with a droning beat and I forgot about the early 80’s Plinko sound that was in everything - what even is that? A few pop style songs Interspersed with someone playing around with the new synth sounds and drum tracks on their Casio.

Great album that produced 3 hit singles but is filled with good quality tracks

Synth-pop with plenty of ambience. Mainly a mix between more radio-friendly, lyrical synth-pop tracks and more ambient, noise-focused tracks. Given the time of its release, somewhat ahead of its time and could be among those records that ushered in this sort of synth-pop blend into the more mainstream electronic-laden pop music of the 80's. Not my favorite thing of all time, but I recognize its importance.

This is a weird one. Some songs are very 80s pop, which I don't like, but other songs are very early 00s Arcade Fire...which I also don't like. At the same time, this album isn't *awful*. I don't really like it, but I respect its sound, which doesn't really sound like what you expect 80s pop to sound like. I'd maybe give it a 2.5 if I could, but I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt and bump it to 3 here.

really cool, definitely a good listen

It gives off video game music in my opinion. Which isnt bad, but just not something I would listen to outside of that scenario

Not for me. A step above My Bloody Valentine though, which isn’t saying too much. I do hear an influential piece of the Trent Reznor pie though. I’ll give that credit where credit is due. 3/10

2,5

Highlight: Georgia In a nutshell: Kraftwerk 2.0 (and that's a compliment) When compared to other synth-pop acts who released albums after Kraftwerk's The Man-Machine, OMD's Architecture and Morality sounds like the first synthpop album. Synthpop as we know it now. Perhaps more thoughtful synthpop compared to the calculated and danceable synthpop of The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan. I liked it. Overall: 6/10

Had high hopes for this at the start but those quickly torpedoed, overlong and uninteresting

Helt solid new wave!

This is quite a find. I love it. It’s almost a 5 star. Maybe I’ll review it down the road.

water magic music...river stream energy...just teaming with life and i can see all thru it and its cleansing and man ghsjdghjsd this had a rly strong effect on me tbh. i do remember liking it years and years ago and i think since then ive only grown larger in my love of this kind of synthesizer. sealand is an absurdly good setpiece on which the whole record pivots, just so soaky and wonderful, and everything else is pop songs that are as economic as they are lush and ornate. a huge amount of emotion, desperation, and warmth soaks thru all of it. impressionist emotional landscapes...super glad to rediscover this

Album 705 of 1001 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Architecture And Morality (1981) Rating : 2.5 / 5 Synth-Pop. A little different direction with the electronic music that I generally have a disdain for. While I can't say I think it is a great album, it was a good listening experience.

Struggled to get into it. Very, very 80s synth pop type of sound.

Better than I expected, but not by much. Pleasant enough to listen to but I'm not writing home about any of the songs on here.

I really hate the new wave vocal style but the sounds and melodies had some cool moments here

Love Joan of arc but the rest of the album didn’t really do much for me.

Too long. It was interesting but too long

80s baby

Decent album. Never heard them before. Stand out song - Extended Souvenir

New Order-y but all downtempo, the party taken out. Not a bad thing to be, missing the gift for hooks that New Order has. Hard not to think about Millennial synth pop at the worst bits. 2.5. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

This came off like New Order if New Order wasn’t for guitar guys. That does mean it’s good, but also I would like it more if it were for guitar guys. I imagine this album begets a lot of later music I don’t like at all, but I liked this quite a bit.

Omnipotent Musical Deities Obviously Much Dancing Oh My Days

Never heard of this band, but they’re more influential than I thought! Enjoyed the album quite a lot. Sounded like The Cure at times, sometimes like a primordial Radiohead. Souvenir is a clear highlight.

Did not hold my interest for more than a few moments. I know I listened to it, but have no memory of it.

I couldn’t catch the vibe of this album as a whole. There were spooky parts, bagpipe sounds?, synthwave, repetitive instrumentals, tones of sadness, but upbeat vibes? Maybe that’s what makes it good was it’s diversity itself but somehow it still doesn’t stick out extremely well amongst other albums. Confusing experience.

По мнению А: 4/5 По мнению С: 4/5 ИТОГОВАЯ ОЦЕНКА: 4/5 (22.02.2025)

I love it when you hear songs that sound like other songs and wonder if they influenced each other. The main synth part on Extended souvenir from this album sounds a lot like the main synth part from bizarre love triangle by new order.

No.

"Architecture and Morality" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark stands out as a quintessential fusion of Synthpop and New Wave, showcasing the band's innovative soundscapes and thought-provoking lyrics. However, as the album progresses, its melodic charm and rhythmic ingenuity can begin to feel somewhat repetitive, leading to a sense of fatigue by the final tracks. While the distinctiveness of each song contributes to the album's overall brilliance, the lack of significant variation may make it challenging for some listeners to maintain engagement throughout the entire experience.

Dadcore to the mega

Really just such a mix between dark, The Cure type vibes, then some poppy, Pet Shop Boys stuff, and then a little really minimalist synth ambient something another.. all in 9 tracks? Overall its decent. 6/10

this was freaking cool!!

kind of a mixed bag? there were some cool proto-indie pop songs that i really liked- almost in the same vein as the Prefab Sprout album i listened to earlier. there were some cool ambient electronic songs as well. and then there were some songs that were painfully corny 80s pop sounding. i didn't really hear the religious music influences but maybe i need to listen to it again more closely.

meeh

A difficult album to rate. The great tracks are genre defining, but the filler is incredibly boring.

..

Good stuff

A ridiculously 80s record. Some parts John Hughes movie, some parts emo woe is me, some parts tones and moods. But somehow it all sounds the same. Not my bag baby. Still three stars it’s not a bad record.

I remember when I was in high school, a friend tried to turn me on to OMD. Never did. And although this album was decent, it did not make me a fan. But, I am not a fan of electronica to begin with. It reminded me a bit like Kraftwerk, except the vocals are definitely British. I will say that as opposed to some other electronica I have had to listen to for this challenge, you can tell that this is well-structured, and they brought in a bunch of instruments (mellotron, for example) to enhance the colour and sound. Having said that, YAWN. Next.

Meh. Another perfectly average album. I think folks got it right with the initial lukewarm response; subsequent critical acclaim over the years seems unwarranted. Standard fare for synth-pop in my view. Sorry OMD but the only thing I will continue to remember you for is If You Leave (not on this album).

This is one of the reasons I love the 1001. It's not just "best" albums (even though this one is good), but also "important" albums if you want to understand the progress of popular music since the 1950s. If I heard this album without reading about it (or noticing that it came out in 1981), my immediate thought would be that this sounds like an imitation of a lot of more popular 80s synth pop acts. But OMD was one of the progenitors of the genre, and tons of acts cite OMD as an influence - the "Legacy and Influence" section of the band's Wikipedia page is impressive, including Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, and many more. OMD cited Kraftwerk as a major influence, although having listened to two of the three Kraftwerk albums on the 1001, it's clear OMD charted their own course. So, from an impact perspective alone, this album deserves respect. More importantly, it's a good album that really grew on me over multiple listens. Can't quite go with the 5, but it's a solid 4. Favorite tracks: Loved the first side (The New Stone Age through Sealand. Sealand struck me as a little weird at first, but I ended up really enjoying the atmospheric sound). The second side took longer to grow on me. Strangely, the "hits" Joan of Arc and Maid of Orleans were the last tracks to "hit" me. Really enjoyed the final track, The Beginning and the End. Would definitely revisit and dig deeper into their catalog.

The title may be the best thing about the record, suggesting a philosophical angle that doesn't necessarily materialize. The influence of Wire is strong on a few tracks, especially the opener. "She's Leaving" is perfectly pleasing and, in a much different emotional register, so is the dirge-y "Sealand." And who's doesn't like not one but two songs about Joan of Arc? She certainly merits it. Still, synth-driven pop only goes so far for artists as ambitous as these cats seemed to have been (in their pre-Pretty In Pink days anyway). In other words, synth pop made for and by smart people is still synth pop and one can't in good faith say this has aged very well so a 4 feels like a generous rounding up (despite all the belated masterpiece citations) for all the pleasantness here and handful of effective artistic endeavors here.

My heart lifted when this popped up. I mean I bought this at the time and was DISAPPOINTED!! Can you believe it? I must have been mad. (I'd loved Organisation and didn't like the more polished sound on this album but now that's all in the past). I love the Brit Synth sound of New Wave. OMD=*****

Total pooh

I enjoyed this in the moment, but the problem is, I'm writing this review the day after having listened and I can't remember a damn thing about it. Does that say something about the album or my memory? Probably not a fair rating, but I'll come back to this one again at some point.

I'm writing this review a few days before Valentine's Day, so maybe love is simply in the air, but this New Romantic, synth-pop masterwork took me completely off guard and sent my heart to the moon.

Pretty cool, experimental and melancholic new wave. Better than some new wave examples on this list.

Considering when this appeared, I cannot but understand this as both genre defining and a technological milestone. By today's standards it might feel a little outdated, but that is rather because so much of the sounds and tools have stood the test of time and have been transferred to technologically advanced tools and environments. What an innovative record at that time. And the songs are mostly great and surely prepared the ground for what came in most of the 80ies. In retrospective, a great record with too many copyists to follow suite.

She’s Leaving

I feel like this seems like the precursor to a lot of music made by a multitude of different artists. Some really great rhythms that sounds like a lot of modern music. Winner.

first listen it sounded like a bunch of bridge songs. like songs bridging to a different one, never quite reaching the emotional high promised. second listen i kinda got it more

I will not include the bonus tracks from the 2003 remastered version for this review. I've heard of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in passing this past year, from a few of their singles like "If You Leave" playing on throwback FM radio stations. They became known as one of the pioneers of the synth-pop genre, blending electronic music with more experimental pop sensibilities. That early synth-pop style is exemplified well in Architecture & Morality. Songs on this album tend to take on a more futurist tone as the duo synthesizer work of Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey alongside Malcolm Holmes's electronic percussion made for a forward-thinking and innovative sound for 1981. It helps that these tunes are very melodic in their composition, anchored by Paul's soothing vocals. Tracks like "She's Leaving", "Souvenir", and the two different "Joan of Arc" songs are well-executed jams, while they also tackled more atmospheric pieces such as the title track and "Sealand". In the grand scheme of synth-pop and where the genre has gone over the decades, this album does sound a bit rudimentary. I wouldn't call this the absolute best among them. Rather, I consider Architecture & Morality a good introductory album to synth-pop and what the genre can accomplish. I'd say that's reason enough to give it a solid recommendation.

You can hear the electronic synth influence of that era. OMD may be pioneers but others like Depeche Mode and New Order just sound better and make you want to dance. This was a bit of a dark listen. Give me more If You Leave!!!

Somehow unenjoyable and unmemorable at the same time.

Underwhelming, sounded like two guys playing their Casio keyboards in the early 80’s

Interesting and beautiful at times

Always a fan of new wave and the early UK synth pop movement. Some ups and downs but a great couple of songs too.

Solid album. Never really listened to them, so this was a pleasant surprise. High quality electronic pop music.

A delight. Groundbreaking, genre defining, but also completely listenable. If only this whole list was full of albums as worthy as this one.

Cool

Groupe connu. Cet album fait partie de mes préférés. J'avais été conquis par les hits (Souvenir, Joan of Arc) qui passaient souvent à la radio à l'époque. Je l'avais donc acheté sur cassette, et je ne m'en suis jamais lassé. Le groupe était au top de sa créativité (de mon point de vue jamais retrouvée après), tous les morceaux sont excellents. Nouvelles sonorités, morceaux plus expérimentaux, tout y est ! Il mérite la meilleure note. =>5/5

Tolle 80er Musik! Großartige, harmonische Melodien.

+++

I felt very familiar as I grew up in the 80's but a bit flat.

The New Stone Age is the best song Cure song they never wrote. I loved the bit in Sealand when they started banging on the lid of a metal trash can. And then the two songs in a row about Joan of Arc. Seriously, this thing is magical. Very strong 4.

Not their finest release.

Not my jam, but made the wife smile.

What an interesting listening. It's not mind blowing, but the eeire textures makes this a very unique pop album

Kan je lekker op de achtergrond opzetten tijdens het leren, maar is niet echt bijzonder ofzo

This was better than expected. Certainly more complex and, at times, gothier than I thought they would be. Unfortunately, a lot of the instrumentation is annoying and dated. It’s okay, but less than great.

At first, this struck me as being pretty much the same as a lot of 80s synth pop. As it went along, though, I found some more interesting layers to it, particularly the sections with no singing. All in all, this was pretty cool.

Overall: 6/10 I enjoyed this more than I expected. The vocals are okay but it's the synths that are a lot of fun. I found the whole album to be pretty relaxing overall and I would recommend it even for just one listen. Fav Song: Georgia Least Fav Song: Sealand

It's kind of alright, but for someone who's not massively into it, it is long. If you like synthy, new-wavey, dreamy pop then knock yourself out I guess.

Mix of synth pop, krautrock, Brian Eno and just overall 80s vibes. There are some really good songs on here and some wild experimental stuff. This is the kind of album I love getting from this project.

Pretty good synth-pop

2.0 - Weak

I've been curious about this album for a long time and wow, it's impressive. My first impression was Gary Numan meets The Smiths, but as it goes on, I really hear more Brian Eno and NEU. This is definitely an album that deserves to be heard in its entirely, and multiple times, as the whole thing really opens up the more you listen. The choral religious influences lift the synth pop style into new territory and forms a template for many 80s bands to come. But it's also balanced out by some really beautiful and interesting ambient music. It's a very influential album on a lot of artists and I can now see why. I'll absolutely be spending a lot of time with this one.

Generally I thought it was okay. For some 80s synthpop, it was a cool listen. Usually I have enjoyed a lot of synthpop in the past, however I feel like there is a big difference between the synthpop of this time (1981) and that of it today. Back then the genre featured slightly different and/or a lack of certain conventions - such as distant and echoey vocals, very high (almost winey in my opinion) notes or vocals, and just very synthetic production. Not a bad album but pretty annoying at times.

I didn't listen to them in period, although I was "aware" of the band. This album came as something of a surprise. A pleasant one. "Sealand" is a bit long and self-indulgent. I am really not sure what they were aiming for with that. Otherwise, pretty good. 3/5

It started interesting and quickly became so experimental that it wasn't fun to listen to

Wanted to be surprised and absorbed by this, but wasn’t.

... wow

Nawet ujdzie. Turbo brytyjskie. 3/5

The Bore

Nice

Meh. Boring. Didn't do anything for me.

Always had a soft spot for OMD, even though never really liked electronic music much. Think they blend the vocals with the synth sound so well, the exploration of soundscape and what could be achieved, just a good record.

Me too 80’s

It's moody and atmospheric but something didn't really click with me. I think each song felt very long and drawn out because of the way the slow and dramatic vocals (with huge amounts of reverb) sit over the much faster paced tempo of the music.

Cool sounding but I found it a tad samey, I will probably return to it one day but I’m fine without it too. 3/5

Three banging singles, a band whose first four albums are remarkably consistent, but after that nothing much for me. Still, one of the best bands of the early eighties and this is probably one of the first fifty albums I bought. Great Peter Saville album design as well.

Pure '80s. Really grew on me as it progressed.

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Architecture And Morality After listening to the first track, I expected it to sound really great throughout, but in the end, it turned lackluster most of the time. I get that they were trying to do something innovative, but it just didn't hit that well personally. There are still some songs like the first one and Souvenir which are really great, considering that it was made in the 80's, but the rest of the album doesn't really bring any good ideas into fruition. To be honest, this is decent. 1.- The New Stone Age = 9/10 2.- She's Leaving = 7/10 3.- Souvenir = 8/10 4.- Sealand = 5/10 5.- Joan Of Arc = 7/10 6.- Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans) = 6/10 7.- Architecture And Morality = 5/10 8.- Georgia = 7/10 9.- The Beginning And The End = 6/10 FINAL SCORE: 6.7/10

3.4 Started strong and not what I was expecting. Worth another listen at another date

I don’t know if I’ve ever listened to this all the way through before. It’s up there with Upstairs at Eric’s as a classic 80s electronic album. Brilliant.

I don't remember here I first heard it, but there's a saying that media can be good or bad, but the worst sin a piece of art can commit is to be boring. Listening to this hour of interminable samey electronica almost-music, there were multiple points where I looked at the queue and thought "Jesus, is this still not over?"... So no, I can't recommend this.

OMD is highly influential minimalist post-punk electronic pop that was not unenjoyable on first pass and became more interesting subsequently. More vital at a higher volume. Still don't know what they're talking about really. But it's okay, our vocalist is a good singer and contrasts the artificiality of the tracks nicely. Again, this bears repeated listening. A lot of what i thought was derivative at first sounded much more purposeful, experimental and passionate the second time around. Interesting record.

Much better than I anticipated! Love the lo-fi interpretation of synthpop here. 4/5

10/10

Almost a 3 star, just not fussed on track order

Clearly brings me back to the 1980's. It's good, but I am not sure i actually want to go back.

Ciekawy album, ale okładka i tytuł obiecywały nieco więcej. Odnoszę wrażenie, że przesyt brytyjskim indie rockiem, który wprowadza ta lista, jest zgubny dla odbioru pojedynczych albumów. Fajna, eksperymentalna muzyka, trochę nietypowych dźwięków w drugim planie (w jednym utworze przez chwilę zastanawiałem się dlaczego woda w czajniku gwiżdże, skoro jej nie wstawiałem), ciekawe teksty, zdecydowanie bardziej lirycznie rozbudowane niż w standardowej muzyce rozrywkowej. Brakowało mi jakiegoś porywu, czegoś co mnie wciągnie instrumentalnie i muzycznie, raczej nie trafi na moją stałą listę rotacyjną, a dla mnie to warunek dla czwórki. Stąd trzy. Ale serio przydałaby mi się 10-stopniowa skala, bo byłbym skłonny dać temu 7 wtedy (czyt. 3,5 w obecnej skali, jeśli miałaby połówki).

"Architecture & Morality" ma momenty błyskotliwej melancholii, ale zbyt często wpada w sterylność i monotonię, przez co bardziej imponuje konceptem niż angażuje emocjonalnie. Mocne 2

A strong week - another 5. Have listened to this about 4 or 5 times and was a little dismissive on first listen as there was no enola gaye equivalent. Definitely rewards repeated listening - interesting lyrics, surprisingly dark vibes and great tunes. Going into my saved album list.

weird but good?

Ahh yes, OMD before they became "mainstream" in the US. This is really one of their best albums. No, it didn't produce the major hits like their latter works did, but overall, this is album was so influential to other synth-pop groups that would come later in the 80's. Sounds a bit like Depeche Mode and The Cure, mixed with New Order with more pop-friendly vocals. However, their sound is very unique. 3.75/5 which translates to a 4/5 on this scale.

I like this a lot. The Cure-adjacent

Solid. Great tunes.

Boring. Like a mix between the Cure and Wham.

androgyny, hair spray, synthesizers. these things were commonplace in the 1980s with a plethora of bands. nothing special about this one, and i found it kind of boring to be honest.

This bored me.

flowed so semi gut aber eigentlich ganz cool

Nothing too exciting but okay as background music. 3 stars or C-.

Yeah, Yeah...okay. Next!

Moodier than what I wanted today, but vibe-y and fun. And dig the Bauhaus-y album art.

Not too bad.

- Ich würde mich in den 80ern ja als relativ Sattelfest bezeichnen, aber habe noch nie auch nur im Ansatz vorher von denen gehört, weder vom der Band, noch von dem Album - Habe ja nun eine große Schwäche für Synth-Pop und New Wave - Der Opener war mir aber direkt deutlich zu experimentell, fand ich nicht so geil - She's Leaving fand ich dann cool - Danach ging es so weiter, dass ich immer wieder Songs ziemlich cool fand und manches dann wieder zu weird. Interessanterweise spiegelt sich das in den Hörerzahlen auch wieder. Ziemliches auf und ab zwischen den Experimenten und den konventionelleren Songs. Wobei mir auch in den experimentelleren Tracks einige Sachen gut gefallen haben - Of All The Things - Insgesamt würd ich mir die Platte aber wohl eher nicht nochmal geben Rating: 2,25/5

Jävligt bra! Souvenir och båda Joan of Arc-låtarna är kanon

Surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I still don't love 80s synth music, and this album drags after a few tracks, but this is better than any of the rest I've heard. That said, LCD Soundsystem did it better.

electronic funky weird

Good quality stuff, but it pulls me toward a low mood. So it'd be hard for me to go above two stars.

Not the worst by any means but preferred soft cell or depeche mode with this kind of electronic style.

The vocals were not my cup of tea. However, the production, mostly because of it its prominent use of synths, had me engaged throughout.

Some chill vibes, good listen.

I had the good fortune of running across this album in my youth when it came out. I ended up going on a bit of an OMD binge, and paid attention to them for several years. This record has some great atmospheric songwriting, and was way ahead of its time. This is a great example of a record that needs to be on the 1001. There are so many people that will never hear this record -- I feel sad for them.

Not what I expected. Not bad. Though l little long for what it was.

Only ok

brilliant

I remember me and mates, we were long haired rockers at the time, taking the piss out of Andy McClusky in a club in Liverpool as we thought Maid of Orleans was “a bit girlie” Oh well sorry Andy it’s actual a pretty good listen.

Pretty good, but it didn't grab me like I think it should. It made me think of a more electronic sophisti-pop.

was ok

I was too young at the time that this album was released, but remember the hits from the radio and later bought The Best of OMD. What a gem this is. A great blend of soundscapes and synth pop hits.

I love electronic music, but this one didn't grab me as much. I definitely hear it's influence in britpop bands from the 90s, so I can appreciate it from that angle. Otherwise, not for me.

This album felt like an art project to me. Like the band was using music to depict the struggle of the populace trying to maintain autonomy when confronted with neoindustrial technocracy and hypocritical messaging vis a vis an ever expanding lack of awareness. And like most art, I didn't get it.

curecore highlights: the new stone age, souvenir, georgia (jan 15 2025)

Interesting new wave music, given the year of release it must have been quite an influence on later bands

I'm 50. Loved it since 87. By the time I turn ~20 I will probably stop loving it so I have to make the most of it while I still can

I do not consider the sounds of microwaving popcorn and hammers beating on empty containers to be music

Nice

I found this irritating.

very average to the point of boring

This has been a really interesting listen, somewhere between pure synth, post-punk and pop. This is going to be an album that I already know I'm going to have to give a bit more time than the two times I've been able to hear it today. It's going to be 4*, but I'm sure I've missed more than I heard

Like if Brian Eno's atmospheric albums had a love child with ELO. Very cool listen. Background music in the best way possible.

The electric sounds in this album has a romantic feel to it somehow. Very calming to listen to, and the fee vocals in it are nice

Not a fan. 2/5

LOVED!!!!! Luv the 80s me

Boring, but some tracks sounded like videogame levels, so that's alright 2.5/5 Standout track: - Souvenir 3.5/5

Dare I give this one a 4? I shall. I feel like I heard so many 2000/2010s Indie riffs in this album from 1981. I'd never heard of this group before and yet I thought I had listened to half of their album before. I wonder if a lot of Indie Rock artists found inspo from this group because it sure sounded like it.

Part of me feels it's unfair to give this one a 1. It didn't necessarily sound bad, but it was so unbelievably boring. Considering I didn't enjoy a single track, I have no other choice.

This is just too much 80's synth for me to get behind it. Not the analog synths, but the hollow and sterile digital synths that followed. Soulless and grating. I keep trying to listen with fresh ears, knowing they repelled me in my younger days. But then things like Sacred Heart come on dragging me back to this just being something I don't enjoy.

Why does he want us to like this band so much?

Very 80's Brit pop. Tears for Fears/Dexy's vibes for sure. The album progressed nicely and although some of the songs were a bit boring, I liked it overall. 3.6

Masterpiece album that was a cornerstone of me at 19 years old. There isn't a bad track on this album at all. Standouts: Souvenir, Georgia, Joan Of Arc.

I can see why a lot of people would happily enjoy this but it just isn’t my thing. It all sort of blended into one sound and it just went on for far too long. It wasn’t terrible but I feel like I could definitely have died happily without hearing this

Favourite tracks: joan or arc; souvenir

става, ама не мн , 2

Music made by people that like smelling their own farts.

I find it interesting how many, including the author the I spring this site, choose albums of artists before they hit it big. Why wouldn’t the album that put them on the map be the chosen one? That being said - I did enjoy this album but not as much as later work. It is much more mellow than one would think.

Ooh 80s synth pop! Now we’re talkin’! This was good but the middle section lagged for me. I much preferred the faster-paced songs. 5 for the fast songs, 3 for the slow songs = 4

Not something I would have chosen based on the description, but it's good. The singer doesn't have much control. That makes the synth music sound more alive. Favorite song: Georgia.

Another one of these ones that would only be on this British dudes list

Wasn't a huge fan of this one.

Kaunis kansi ja ihan kaunis levy. Ostin tän joskus kirpparilta. Toivoisin lisää tempoa! 3/5

Varsin kiinnostava ja vaihteleva levy. 3/5

I've known the band name for a long time but never listened. Absolutely nothing special however it's under 40 minutes which is an absolute win for me at this point.

Have always enjoyed the complexity of the simplicity.

Very good! Earns a 4 for new discovery.

Great tunes very enjoyable

I don't really find much to connect with here.

No thanks .

More background music than what I normally hear from them.

It was fine. It was very good background music.

Reminds me of the Cure but more electronic. Interesting use of instruments. Beautifully 80s. Very atmospheric. Very early 80s, so must have inspired the decade’s sound a lot. Makes me happy. Interesting soundscapes. Varied, experimental and still cohesive. Fabulous.

70% of this record is great and everything I hoped it would be. I see these being cited as influences for the likes of LCD Soundsystem and MGMT, so I had high hopes. And for the majority it lived up to it, somewhere between The Cure and New Order for me. Quite a fan of that whole 80s synthy type thing, especially the darker side, and when it is darker and ‘empty’ sounding, it’s class. When it ventures too close to the poppier aspect I tend to lose interest. A solid 3.5-4 I think. Not sure. Will be back though

Very 80s new wave electronica, reminded me of Ultravox, Depeche mode a bit and whoever do that Only You song. It was alright, there were a few songs where the sound came together but it does sound very dated. Had the thing where I thought the last track sounded class but it had actually already finished and Amazon had started playing Metric. So definitely better places to get this sort of sound out there.

Really not bad at all - slightly prefer the male voice-driven tracks, however Souvenir was my favourite track overall (She's Leaving was my second favourite). Quite fun, ethereal, but got a little old a little fast. 3.5, but not a 4.

Listened to this twice. Wasn't convinced initially, but about half way through my first listen it was growing on me. Got the early electronic elements which I quite like. I'm not sure how much I like new wave though. When it's good I really liked it, "souvenir" was the best track. "Of all the things we've made" was good too. 3.5

5/5. The minimalism really works here and yet there is grandness about it that makes it sound maximalist. A perfect balance with great song writing. The instruments are diverse and the singing seems like amateur holiness, like a young person's heaven. It kind of feels like Bowie's Heroes and Low second half of each album, but just continued past the end of the album and this came of it. It's a mixture of beautiful and haunting. And it's short enough to just throw on repeat. Best Song: Souvenir, Joan Of Arc, Georgia

Interesting

A real classic and ahead of its time back then, but despite the nostalgia most of the tracks seem dated. 3,5 Stars.

I know this is supposed to be their seminal album but it doesn't really do anything for me. It's just okay 1980s synth pop. I prefer Yazoo (Yaz), Blancmange, Erasure, Human League or Heaven 17 to OMD and New Order. 2/5

frekar gott gáfumanna rafpopp. 3,5.

Amazing classic EDM with more depth than its modern counterparts

This album does a great job of mixing electronic sounds into orchestral themes. They also do fun stuff like seemingly hammering sheet metal in the middle of songs. Though, I’m am curious if this sometimes clouds the songwriting and emotions they’re able to inspire. Cool album.

This album bored me to tears. Musically, it was bland. Vocally, it was depressing. I appreciate the religious themes that were used throughout the record, but, overall, I just didn’t get it. Not my thing.

Got about ⅔ of the way through this one. Frankly, I'd got the gist midway through the 2nd track...

Very interesting. Liked it quite a bit actually. I hear a lot of samples I recognize today. 3.5

Miksi kansi näyttää tietokirjalta? Miksi sisältökin oli yhtä kuivaa? Tai siis kuin monessa tietokirjassa, on aineksia hyvin kiinnostavaksi, mutta se esitetään liian etäältä, verhottuna kieleen jota kaikki eivät osaa.

Tämä levy alkaa pontevasti, mutta heti sen jälkeen yhtye jämähtää tunnelmointiin. Miten LP:ltä on saatu poimittua KOLME hittiä?? Tunnelmointi itsessään ei ole pahimmasta päästä.

I liked it I think, I'll have to revisit it a few more times

It's a decent album as far as 80's synth pop can be. There wasn't much nuance but at least it was somewhat fun to listen to. Top 3 Fav: Georgia. Souvenir, and She's Leaving Top 3 Worst: no bad songs besides a few songs being mid 2.75-3.00/5

Shout, derivative.

When Architecture and Morality is at its' peak, it is thrilling and absolutely beautiful - like on 'Joan of Arc' 1 & 2. But often times there's just... nothing really going on? OMD didn't really need all those quieter pieces ('Sealand', the title track) to build an atmosphere - it's already there in every thick synth sound.

Great, great record, made slightly worse by the inclusion of two very long and very unnecessary instrumental sections on “Sealand” and the title track.

I expected to see Dazzle Ships but this album and OMD and Organisation and Crush are also all 5 stars.

This sounded okay. Interesting synth work, but I could only really vibe with Souvenir, Maid of Orleans, Sacred Heart, and especially Romance of the Telescope.

I recognize two classics among several uninteresting parts.

3/5 Meer van hetzelfde

This is an album I’d never heard of (although I swear I’ve listened to Sacred Heart before, either as a sample, a cover, or just out in the wild). But, this is an album I’ll return to. I put it on again immediately after my first listen, which I think really says something.

the new stone age- 6 or 7 shes leaving- 6 souvenir- 6 or 7 sealand- 6 joan of arc- 6 maid of orleans- 6 or 7 architecture and morality- 6 georgia- 6 beginning and the end- 6 extended souvenir- did it need to be extended? 6 it was ok i just dont wanna listen to more.

This is an odd one. It's like new wave/synth pop crossed with electronica. It's like shittier Depeche Mode. This album is just full of 80's cheese. This album is nothing to write home about. Favourite songs: Extended Souvenir, Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans), She's Leaving Least favourite songs: Sealand, Architecture and Morality 3/5

Another record that's got a pretty derivative sound. Even at the time, this sounded like 100 other artists. I don't see the big deal.

Really enjoyed the first half of this. Was a bit less excited in the second half as it felt it lost its edge

Some fun new wave bits, some got a little too weird

Quite interesting sometimes. Never heard of them and yet I knew their song Joan of Arc from the radio.

First track really threw me, I did not like the sound. But I enjoyed the rest of the album (why do I like new-wave so much?). This was more of a background album as I was pretty busy. Going 4/5 as ‘New Stone Age’ was a turnoff

As with many of these records, I can appreciate the significance and innovation of it without actually enjoying it that much.

Not the worst thing I’ve listened to, but wasn’t really enjoyable. The screeching on the first track pretty much let me know what I was in for and there wasn’t much to celebrate past that.

I usually hate some of the British techno/synth pop that we’ve had before but I actually liked this one a little more surprisingly. Had some good melodies. The synth sounds have not aged well and sound super cheap, like some of the sounds are identical to this $50 electric keyboard I had when I was a kid. Also British people are so obsessed with Joan of arc. Haven’t we had like 3 albums have a song about her?

I feel like this type of album would normally be a 2 for me, but I liked it. A bit long, but interesting and unique. I’ll give them points for the intentionally artsy and pretentious title as well.

Would definitely listen to it again as background music to get some 80s vibes going, just might skip a couple songs.

Solid album. Definitely has that 80s sound. It wasn't difficult to listen to, but I probably won't be going back to it.

Fantastic!

Cool little electronic record. There’s a few duds and meh tracks. Georgia and Joan Of Arc are great though.

Good stuff

Boring.

A brilliant reminder that once upon a time, electronic music was diverse, creative and highly original.

It wasn't bad, but not sure I would actively listen to this again. I preferred the more experimental stuff over the pop tracks

This is a great synth pop album that sounds a bit like someone forced the Smiths to ditch any kind of connection to rock and pop music. But that might give this album not enough justice. The first track makes the album feel a harder then it will be in the end.

Not really for me. A solid listen. But I won't come back to it.

Great album. Souvenir and Sealand are brilliant. Sounds like a synth heavy slightly chippier version of Joy Division

First few songs are great but then Sealand really slams the breaks on this album, adding in the random banging noise to the end of the track just to really remind you of how awful it was. I really was enjoying this one up until that. The rest is fine too.

New Stone Age, Souvenir, Maid of Orleans are all great. Everything else is fine to good. 3.5/5

First listen. Decent.

Lowkey good for what it was, good sound I just didn’t really find myself thinking I’d wanna come back to most of these songs. The best on this album were really good but the worst were just average at best. I can’t rate this a 3 but it’s a high 2 in my opinion. Using this website has helped me realize what a true 1/5 star album is & this was not one.

Yet another example of a new-wave album that I just couldn’t get into. Extended Souvenir was an ok song with a catchy synth lick but it’s the only one that vaguely captured my attention.

Never a big OMD fan. Listening to this a couple of times didn't change that.

Pushing for the worst so far

When I was young, I often listened to Dazzle Ship, the successor to this album, and was thrilled. Much of this album reminded me of it. I only knew Joan of Arc from earlier times. Overall, I really liked the album. I should add OMD to my music feed more often. 5/5

The iconic album from this formation.

Architecture & Morality is the OMD's third album, and their first to become an international success. Driven by the success of singles "Souvenier" and "Joan of Arc," OMD hit pop charts around the world. They were one of the first synth-pop bands, and they help create the sound of pop music in the 80's. This album is a collect of simple, melodic pop songs that are have a melancholy sense. This is decent, but not particularly memorable pop.

I really enjoyed this, from the tone and the mood to the emerging new wave sound.

Boooring

A certain vibe which is unique to their sound but no smash hits

This album almost immediately got relegated to background noise until Georgia. There are a couple of other highlights, but overall minimalism in synth records just feel like such a waste to me. Electronic sounds are so far below the sound of actual instruments in my interests that I need to hear something that an instrument genuinely could not create on its own to be interested. These minimalist sounds are definitely not that.

Interesting album. I remember Joan of Arc from the radio. The rest is also interesting

I was surprised by how listenable this was to me as I don’t care for the new wave sound usually. I won’t go back to this, but it’s not as pretentious as the album title or band name would have you believe.

Has some amazing moments but plays out too long

As far 80s synth albums go, this one is not terrible. At least it isn't shitty pop music about sex/women.

Synth heavy Depeche mode inspired 80s music. Standouts are Souvenir, Georgia, and Gravity Never Fails.

This is what I love about this list, finding the gems that I’ve never heard before. This album is great. Atmospheric, with jangly guitars, 80s emotion, and just enough pop sensibility to reel you in. The run side two run from Joan of Arc to Georgia is excellent, but I really enjoyed the whole thing. This is borderline 4/5 - I’ll go 4 for now but will definitely be back.

Very meh

3.5

Full disclosure: I was a sucker for "Enola Gay" as a kid, and it's only very recently that I have discovered the album including that world-famous OMD signature song (found in a secondhand records shop). The name of that album is *Organisation*, and it had a bad rep, critically speaking, which is maybe why I had never listened to it before, in spite of my love for its lead single. Turns out I really, *really* enjoy many of its darker and moodier cuts, with only a couple of duds in the tracklist that I need to skip when I spin that LP... How come this album received some very skeptic reviews at the time of its release? Beats me... The fast-paced transitions of many music styles at the end of the seventies and start of the eighties sure got many professional critics unsure of where pop music had to go at the time. Hence why they could easily be misled? Flash forward to today, as I listen again to *Organisation*'s 1982 follow-up *Architecture and Morality*, supposedly their magnum opus. It's not bad either, and the tracklist starts strong with abrasive, borderline-post-punk opener "The New Stone Age", catchy-yet-melancholic cut "She's Leaving" (which would have become a terrific single in the UK if the band had not unfairly nipped that idea in the bud), then followed by pop ballad / lead single "Souvenir"--probably OMD's *second* most famous tune, and still a highly melodic gem after all these years... Too bad the album then loses its way (and its steam) as it negotiates the curve between side one and side two. With its title winking at Neu!, "Sealand" seeks to take a page out of the kosmische / ambient masters of the seventies (think also: Brian Eno), but it's as if McCluskey and Humphrey here confused the terms "ominous" and "darkly meditative" with "nothing much happening". And nothing much happens either during the instrumental found on side two that gives its name to the album by the way: OMD could sometimes dive headfirst into musical dead-ends for deep cuts, and I have always found that flaw maddening. Just as I have always found the two *very* repetitive singles about Joan of Arc at the start of this album's second side musically underwhelming to say the least, in spite of their "conceptual" ambitions and their interesting use of singular vocal parts "floating" over the all-too-linear proceedings. Full-blown repetition gave "Elona Gay" its hypnotic power. But what works for one melody doesn't necessarily work for another. Maddening, also, that OMD never learned that lesson, which other important electronic acts such as The Human League, Pet Shop Boys or Depeche Mode learned so well through their verse-chorus-verse aesthetics. Leaning too much on the idea of "vocal" textures, through background choir effects and the use of mellotrons, McCluskey indeed forgot a key element sometimes: real compositional work. That work on voices and their "religious" potential, which was the avowed, paradoxical goal that atheist McCluskey had for some of the album's tracks, was commendable on paper, surely. But the execution leaves to be desired sometimes, especially when the band's reach exceeds their grasp at the moment of finding memorable melodies that would carry out that program in a somewhat striking fashion. That middle part of the album is not exactly a borefest, but it's nothing to really get excited either... For true mysticism as expressed through new wave aesthetics, please check out Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins or This Mortal Coil first... OMD fortunately injects a little energy again on the penultimate track "Georgia" which is, let's say, an interesting experiment in synth pop terms. And closer "The Beginning And The End" is an absolute gem. That last track, both dreamy and tense somehow, oddly foretells XTC or Talk Talk's later elated pop experiments many years in advance. And as it does so, it thereby saves the whole album at the very last minute. So not so bad overall, yet to me, *Architecture And Morality* falls short when the time comes to select "essential" albums in that particular synth-pop subgenre. OMD wrote a fistful of amazing singles, yet all of their early full-length releases are mixed bags to an extent in my honest opinion. Including this record often selected in retrospective lists such as the one used for this app. And by the way... Just discovered that many music critics and long-time fans of the band now think that OMD's *real* magnum opus is actually the LP released right after *Architecture And Morality* instead of the latter. The name of that subsequent LP is *Dazzle Ships* and it looks like it was unfairly maligned at the time--mostly because of a couple of weird spoken-word interludes featuring lengthy "radio transmissions". I have also listened to that other record for the first time today, and I have to say that it contains quite a few lively songs, some of them very catchy on a first listen. Which suggests a tracklisting that's far more dynamic than any of OMD's previous LPs if you ignore those weird interludes. Looks like the "architects" that McCluskey and Humphrey were at the start of the eighties always had trouble building sound foundations for their ambitious musical endeavors. In one way or another, they would hit quicksands of some kind, between far too linear moments and sudden left-turns which could lose large swaths of their potential audience. But that doesn't mean some nooks and corners within their monuments could not be illuminating at times. Perfect albums are not the only way to appreciate good music. So to be continued, I guess... 2.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 3. 7.5/10 for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 118 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 384 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 226 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 284 (including this one)

Was a bit wowed by this at first. Good listen but not sure I really loved it in it’s entirety

Considering how big this band is, I don't know why I have not really heard of them. Saying that this is not the type of music I have ever sought out. Album has the feel of the 80's new wave dance / electronic movement (which is what it is). I can see the value in it however its just a genre that I struggle with and that include Kraftwerk and the ilk. For an album that sounds very of its time its is excellently produced and sounds very full. Stand out tracks: - Souvenir - Joan of Arc - Georgia

I kind of like The New Stone Age, She’s Leaving, I almost like Joan of Arc

A little formless for my tastes. But still pretty good.

I liked this album way more than I thought I would. Started off rocky, but by the end, they had won me over. What was in the water in the UK in the 80's, they were doing some odd stuff.

Megahits: Souvenir, Joan Of Arc

This is why I love this project. This album is like the soundtrack to an 80s movie. I also feel like it could have been just released. Either way, I’ve not heard of the ban or the album or a single song before today and I LOVED it.

This was not as good as I remember OMD being and I do not remember them being good

OMG. OMD was once a BFD. But now this sounds like outdated EDM. Maybe now most suited to being BGM. Frankly boring AF. CUL8R.

Meh.

really quite enjoyable 4/5

Reading the description of bands like this always sounds interesting and then it's always 80s synths with droning English singing. So many bands sound like this, what was going on in the 80s?! Tedious for the most part 2*

Didn't hit he that much. Thought it was ok

loved it. new wave proto synth pop? sign me up! souvenir is 🫦🤌

there's some really neat stuff on here. love the dark 80s synthpop new wave sound and the variation between the tracks. some are immediately gripping while others are kind of dull. all in all, a neat album and worth listening to, especially if you've only heard enola gay from them like I had. favorites: souvenir, joan of arc (maid of orleans), Georgia, extended souvenir, motion and heart

Yeah nah Some catchy beeps and bops Bad vocals

I appreciate the newness of the synth sounds for that time. And this is pretty good, but just too boring. I need some more oomph in the songs.

Can be nice dinner music

I'm genuinely pretty shocked by how much I loved this album. Its totally brilliant. I've never listened to OMD before and am now going to have to go on a journey learning all about them. This album is excellent - lots of changes and difference in the tracks, Its a very good listen. Favourite song: Sealand and Joan of Arc Least favourite: Architecture and Morality Album artwork: Great cover

I enjoyed it, but who is this really for?

Bad English music.

Weird artsy 80’s music. Me likey.

The first song is SUCH a banger that it makes me sad the rest of the album is not more like it. 3/5

Right on that 3-4 border

I liked the sound, just thought it was nothing special. Joan of Arc are the two exceptions.

All sounded pretty similar Standout song: Souvenir

This was far more interesting that I was expecting. Didn't have any of the 'hits' I recall but a really diverse mix of songs. Sounds way ahead of it's time.

extended souvenir is laced with crack

A pitch perfect slice of clattering and industrial early synth pop.

Shit was ass