Before And After Science

I love nearly everything did or even touched in the 70s and 80s. He is one of my biggest heroes. I love nearly everything about him, especially his stance between being a musician and artist (and simply a creative thinker) and how it's all one fluid thing to him. His ability to think beyond boundaries and his use of the studio as an instrument is so incredibly inspiring. He is up there with The Beatles, Lee Scratch Perry, Brian Wilson, Phil Spector, and Conny Plank in that regard. He is connected to much of the music I hold most dearly: Bowie's berlin trilogy, talking heads, john cales solo albums, roxy musics first album, and of course krautrock in his tenure with cluster/Harmonia - which shows up here on this album. Suffice to say it's hard for me to pick a favorite album by him but this one is certainly a major contender. I feel like it is a very balanced album and it does contain perhaps my favorite track of his: by this river, played with and about his time with cluster. The album has a great range of moods and I like how he intersperses the instrumentals throughout. I wish he continued more with this balance of rock/lyric based songs and instrumentals but hereafter he went onto a long jag with his ambient/instrumental direction. I like his ambient work as well but I also love his lyrics and find his voice so oddly compelling. The lineup of musicians on this album is incredible and part of it was recorded with the great krautrock producer Conny Plank. Somebody described Eno's more rock oriented albums as art pop and I think that when it comes down to it that might be my favorite genre and where I feel the most kinship with my own ideas and feelings about musical expression.

This is absolutely my jam. Still don't know if King's Lead Hat is an intentional anagram of Talking Heads (or vice versa, or neither).

“King's Lead Hat” has long been my weirdo bop, ever since I was an oddball teenager who stumbled onto the music of Brian Eno on late night radio in the mid-80s. It’s the first song I think I ever heard by Eno, which led me down into the huge rabbit hole that is his music, and all the possibilities of what music can be. My peers had no idea who Eno was, his 70s music probably considered to be obscure, out of date and just plain strange at that point. But those albums have meant a lot to me over the years. They’re a kind of touchstone to my own musical taste and my own desire to listen to music with curiosity and a sense of adventure. What I’m trying to say is, Eno is my jam. So, Before and After Science. This album might sit strangely with anyone who hasn't really listened to Brian Eno before. It's fairly accessible for the general listener as his albums go, with some very lovely instrumentation. Stylistically he is a little bit all over the place and has a pronounced weird streak, particularly on the front half. It's not a bad thing, just maybe a little hard to connect with immediately for some. Stick with it. By the time you hit "Julie With," the rest of the album kicks into a different gear, with a far more layered, reflective, and ambient sound. Honestly, the final four are some of the most spare, beautiful arrangements I have heard in any genre. I feel wonderfully relaxed and elevated by the time “Spider and I” comes to a close. “By This River” exists on a plane by itself, it’s so lovely. The instrumentation on this album is ridiculous, and I mean that in the best way. Eno has always collaborated and surrounded himself with the best musicians, but this is insane. These are some of the smartest, most creative minds in music and they just flow like they were always together in this band. That funkified bass work by Paul Rudolph and Percy Jones on “No One Receiving” and “Kurt’s Rejoinder” is insanely good. Inspired use of various forms of percussion, across the board, especially on “Kurt’s Rejoinder.” Robert Fripp’s guitar on King’s Lead hat, shut up. Phil Manzanera’s guitar on “Here He Comes” is more delicate and incredibly pretty, a waterfall of sounds when blended with Eno’s own synthesizers. Eno’s voice is distinctive and oddly affecting in a way unlike that of many other vocalists. He’s not a singer really, the voice is just another musical tool, but when he does sing he moves you. It doesn’t much matter what he’s singing about. Which is a good thing because these lyrics are characteristically off the wall for Eno. Don’t look for a lot of coherence because that’s not what he’s doing here. Just embrace the weirdness and enjoy. Fave Songs: By This River, King's Lead Hat, No One Receiving, Julie With, Kurt's Rejoinder

I’d never heard of Bryan Eno and the first few songs weren’t really up my alley, but I fell in love with: Here he comes, Julie with..., and By this river. So glad I got this recommendation, it’s made me a Bryan Eno fan

So about 35 albums in, and I FINALLY get one that I never would have crossed paths with - except for this daily exercise... Had listened to Eno's "Ambient 1 - Music For Airports", but that's been it, so I thought this one would be interesting... I'm also a big Roxy Music fan - a band he co-founded, but I think most of what I enjoy from them came after Eno left... As for "Before & After Science", the opening track "No One Receiving" sounds very much like the Talking Heads - except before there was a Talking Heads (i.e. although I guess both came out around the same time in 1977...). Really liked the percussion in the that song... Didn't really care for "Backwater", and the 3rd track "Kurt's Rejoinder" sounded Talking Headsesque again... Really enjoyed the instrumental interlude of "Energy Fools The Magician" - just wished it was longer - as I keep putting this one on repeat... : ) But I have to say the 3-song run in the later half of the album of "Julie With", "By This River", & "Through Hollow Lands" was absolutely exceptional - and REALLY appealed to me, and is definitely my jam... While not an all-time classic, I really enjoyed this album- and glad that it came my way... This is a solid 4 in my book no doubt!!!

There's nothing wrong with this, but not much that's remarkable or interesting, either. We really didn't need this many Eno albums on the list. Best track: Spider and I

Wonky and angular are not words I normally associate with Brian Eno, but here we are. Showing his abilities as a master of soundscape even at this early stage. It's always nice to hear music with a sense of humour.

There’s much I’d like to say about this album; however, I am contractually obligated leave the following review: ANOTHER CLASSIC BRIAN ENO RECORD.

One last hurrah to the rock world before dissolving into a world of his own creation, Brian Eno lets the audience ricochet through worlds before and after science. Parts pensive, parts lurching, the seemingly early post-punk document stands tall yet alone in its aural being. Whatever one makes of his far more wide reaching (and rather definitive) ambient works later and before, one cannot deny that Before and After Science is the bridge that connects it all and that bridge, however final, still obtains joys and secrets waiting to be seen.

I'm quite impressed by this. Musically it's very interesting, and it has a great mood running throughout it. Some of it is quite unusual, but always accomplished. The melodies are still really nice. It just stands out as something quite unique to my mind. I like how it tails off towards the end, going more lo-fi and chill, with those cool sci-fi synths. Surprised and quite delighted with this one.

So this is rock Eno. Really, really good. Not flawless, but on a five point scale easily a five. Heads above most of what I've listened to recently. I'll be coming back to Julie With... right away.

A masterpiece of art rock weirdness. I almost like this record as much as Another Green World, but it just comes short. The synth sounds and pop hooks on this album are just sublime. A personal favorite of mine. Favorite song: Backwater Least favorite song: Through Hollow Lands

Not familiar with Brian Eno's catalogue, as I presume you both are, and it started out funkier than I expected, more accessible that I thought it would be. Like the drums in "No One Recieving." "Backwater" sounds like the goofier side of the Beatles, like something Paul would write and make Ringo sing. "Kings Lead Hat" was a dead ringer for the Talking Heads, and I was not surprised to find out that it was intentional. "Julie With" and "Through Hollow Lands" and "Spider and I" as more along the lines of what I expected the album to be like. It was not a cohesive album, jumped around. After hearing this I wonder if that willingness to go all over the map musically is what made him a good producer. I liked the album, did not love it.

Oh yeah, I loved this. Pop rock from a parallel timeline, dissolving into dream pop as it goes on. Fave track - "By This River"

its been so long since i last heard either eno's art rock records or bowie's berlin trilogy that i cant rly make meaningful comparisons and thus am more or less missing the two most obvious anchoring points here. that being said, it turned out not to be necessary...the cumulative effect of this album is absolutely magical and moving and even medicinal. winding up a tense storm of anxious jittery proto-talking heads thats as synesthetically and melodically satisfying as anything, and then all the tension is unwound perfectly on the gorgeous and moving back half for maximum catharsis. the unsung hero of the whole thing is the beautiful Here He Comes, which bridges the two halves and helps create an effect that doesnt hit u all at once but takes u in one step at a time, prolonging the feeling of unwinding and making the whole thing feel like a Whole instead of two halves. eno is probably among the most intuitive thinkers in all of music...every left field sound and stylistic switch-up feels absolutely inevitable. a lil bit in awe of this

I had me a well deserved smoke after a long drive while listening to this one. I sat in my backyard watching the cemetery behind, thinking about how ill be the same one day. The trees round me started staring as I realized that nature will last far longer than I. The rocks and trees don't feel like we do, but maybe they are just as alive. They come into existence and have a purpose that is always fulfilled one way or another. They evolve, take different forms. Leaning on my wooden fence I thought about the young sapling it once was. I could for a moment feel it breath under the weight of my arm. Looking down, I wonder if the dirt knows it's alive. If it were, would it ponder the significance of its own life and be satisfied? I think it would be glad to watch everything evolve: live, grow, prosper, die. If dirt could think, it would be closer to God than we are.

broke: bach, brahms, beethoven // bespoke: byrne, bowie, brianeno

Read his name a lot in discussions on 1001 album topics, but I have no personal knowledge. No One Receiving - Music is really interesting; lyrics ok; vocals are unique. I'm not hatin' it. 6/10 Backwater - I like the music; lyrics average; vocals ok. 6/10 Kurt's Rejoinder - Digging the really interesting music; lyrics are likely deeper that I care to research; same vocals, I guess this is their sound. 6/10 Energy Fools the Magician - Instrumental piece with a cool sound. 7/10 King's Lead Hat - Music upbeat with punk sound; I have no idea what the lyrics mean; vocals same. It feels a bit disconnected from the other songs. As a punk song though, it gets an 8/10. Here He Comes - Music feels like 60s folk; lyrics are average; vocals are still cool enough. 8/10 Julie With - Music is really good, kinda a Pink Floyd vibe mixed with "Twin Pines" theme; lyrics aren't clear if they are speaking in metaphors; vocals really match the music. So far my favorite from the album. 9/10 By This River - Musically another good vibe; lyrically ok; vocals very mellow and pleasant. All together it works very nicely. 9/10 Through Hollow Lands - An instrumental that I'm enjoying very much. It's kinda ethereal, a little like floating through space. Solid 9/10 Spider & I - Music is really pretty; the minimal lyrics are truly unclear; vocals are . It's a very chill vibe that I can dig! 9/10 Unique experience that gradually improved with each track. I'll revisit some of the later tracks. A very chill album!

My 4th (!) Brian Eno record; considering the fact that aside from "Music For Airports" prior to this 1001 list I don't think I'd never put an Eno record on front to back - I would have thought I'd be annoyed... I feel like this album puts 70s Genesis and Pink Floyd in a cake pan, mixed it just a touch more, and came out with something even better (and I love those bands). Also you can hear a clear path to/from Eno and Adrian Belew and Talking Heads. It appears that I've become a big Eno fan, and this is perhaps my favourite. It's weird yet somehow accessible. Blessedly short at 40 minutes (not a sarcastic knock at all; I much prefer shorter albums as a general rule - get in, get out, leave 'em wanting more), there's a ton of melody, the vocals are mixed low enough so they're not a distraction and more of an instrument - exactly how I prefer it. "Here He Comes" and "Julie With..." might be my current favourite tracks - the former seems simple and light but there's a subtle oddness to it and the latter is on the surface very mellow but it's almost off-putting in a way that draws me to it. I could see how the latter part might bore some listeners - it definitely gets very dreamlike/new age-y but it's just short enough for me to be the perfect amount combined with the pop-rock first half. 8/10 4 stars.

What do you know, another classic record from Eno!

This is a lot of fun. Eno in highly playful mood, very lyrically nimble. There's a lot of the future sound of post punk in here, needly guitar and burbling synths to the fore. Very Talking Heads in places too - you can see where Brian's discussions with David Byrne would lead right here.

I recently watched and enjoyed the very lengthy and detailed documentary Brian Eno- The man who fell to earth 1971-1977. So I was happy to see this album which was produced at the end of this period before the branched out with his solo ambient works which are a completely different kettle of fish. I think the last three albums that he produced in this period, which includes Taking Tiger Mountain and Another Green World are amongst his very best. Eno's stature in the business is apparent simply by how many crack musicians he was able to gather together on this record: Fripp, Frith, Roedelius, Moebius, Jaki Leibezeit, Conny Plank, Phil Manzanera... Wow! Side 1 of this record rocks out more, and Side 2 is more languid and pastoral and foreshadows the ambient themes that was to come. The highlight for me is By This River, which is so simple, yet one of the most beautiful songs ever written. The Satie-esque piano and his gentle humming typically stays in my head days after listening to it.

Somewhere between the Beatles and new wave lies this. Also get a lot of Talking Heads out of it, which makes sense since Eno and David Byrne have been working together forever now. Loses steam a little near the end. Favorite tracks: "Blackwater", "King's Lead Hat", "By This River"

4.5 + Another intensely dynamic record from Eno. It starts off with pop songs whose rhythms seem to bounce against the skin of each track's bubble ("No One Receiving", "Backwater", "King's Lead Hat"). Some of Eno's more experimental instincts and quirks are still here but he's dialed them down just a little. Towards the middle, he explores more lush and unctuous territory creating soundscapes of seemingly disparate sonic textures, most notably on "Here He Comes." The record then glides into ambient terrain that previews what will define the next phase of his career.

Was... Was the point of these songs to be some before "science" and more rock-based, then some after, and more synth-based? Or is the album name irrelevant?

Oh, Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno, wacky scientist of 20th century rock- it was fun to hear you having a blast on this album. I'm familiar with a lot of Eno's production work from this period (particularly collaborations with Bowie, Devo and Talking Heads) and it was fascinating to hear the cross-influence of some of it in his own work. It makes the late 70s seem like a constant cycle of the same few musicians picking from each other's plates at an all-you-can-eat buffet. As for the songs: "King's Lead Hat" is an absolute banger which I can't believe I hadn't heard before. "Backwater" has a catchy (if slightly obnoxious) chorus which I couldn't help grinning at. "Kurt's Rejoinder" and "Energy Fools the Magician" have very obvious seeds of "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts"' atmospherics and arrangements. Like Bowie's "Low" of the same year, the second half turns to more weightless instrumentals, but these are much warmer pieces, with strong melodies and more discernible structure. "Spider and I" was a gorgeous closer, even with Eno's simple and modest vocal. It's pretentious and a little unfocused at times, of course, but hard to complain when the highlights are this good. Recommend this to any Eno/Bowie/Byrne fans out there.

More science required

This drives home why Eno is known as a producer more that a recording artist. Most of these songs left me thinking "I bet if Byrne or Bowie were to write take one of these songs, write more interesting lyrics, and sing in their more interesting voice, they'd be pretty good."

I was wasn't expecting much, as I know some of Eno's work is challenging to listen to, so I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't bad. Sounds similar to bands he was producing around this time, Talking Heads, Bowie (not surprising) and his music is somewhat interesting without sounding commercial (also not surprising). A solid listen, but not for all tastes.

It’s not objectionable but not inspiring in any way. Much better musically than vocally or lyrically …. Meh ….

2 good songs and a bunch of duds, drugs recommended

probably cool in theory but not for me

I know Eno is this prolific musical genius who has innovated more in one day than most musicians could ever hope to throughout their entire career. But… I just don’t really enjoy this. There’s some pop rock sounds here that could be cool in the right setting. I just don’t care for it. Meh.

Not my jam. I didn't find it interesting and the songs didn't stuck with me. This is my second Brian Eno album and it's the same as the other one which is just alright, nothing more.

10/10 I’ve heard one of Brian Eno’s albums before but I had no idea he’s made more than just awesome ambient all the cool prog and electronic is so nice I mean come on, the man worked with Robert Fripp! I have to love him! anyway, I obviously love this album I see no reason to give this anything other than a 10/10

Eno will introduce and repeat a musical idea that shouldn't work, and then it does. Highlights: Backwater, King's Lead Hat, Julie With, By This River, Spider And I

First, few songs... i like this. By this river played - OMG! 5 STARS!!! this so calming, im gonna cryyyyy lol also spider and i huhuhu is this a deaf anthem ang gandaaaa

Amazing

Great stuff.

This is my second Brian Eno album to review, after Here Come The Warm Jets (3 stars). I’m not terribly familiar with Eno’s work as a musician, so I wasn’t sure what to expect on this album. This album wound up being a really pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the Avant-pop sound of this album, and I felt like it was really accessible and easy to listen to. The album was musically varied, but still had a very cohesive sound. There was a little bit of everything here: funkier songs with more emphasis on percussion and bass, up-tempo songs with more focus on pop-driven synthesizer melodies, and even some guitar playing that sounded like a preview of what was to come with new wave music. I enjoyed the songs that focused more on synthesizer melodies, like “Backwater,” but “No One Receiving” and “King’s Lead Hat” were fantastic as well. Brian Eno’s talent as a producer and arranger is really evident on this album, but he’s also incredibly proficient at all the instruments that he plays on this album as well. Eno’s vocals are really great too, and I especially loved his style of rhyming on “Backwater.” This album was really great from start to finish, and it’s going to be an album that I’ll revisit several times, and I know that each time I do, I'll discover something new about it.

Ambient art. Brian Eno is brilliant. One of the most talented people in the history of music.

Caynt beat it, thinking of Bobby Burvant

I had to sit and contemplate it briefly, but I think this project is really cool. The first half harkens back to Eno's more energetic rock/pop efforts, and the second half bridges into more future synth/ambient territory. I'm not as big a fan of that first half, but the transition into "Julie With..." is absolutely chilling, and followed by the lovely but dark "By This River". Everything Eno touches turns a shade of gold, and this is no exception.

genius

💖 backwater 🗣️ 9️⃣

The first half is good, the back half is great. Unlike some other artists who keep popping up, every Brian Eno album is a welcome sight.

I'm a big Eno fan, but somehow I've never heard this. And it's so good, one of the few albums on here I listened to twice. Just immaculately produced and tuneful and whimsical and somehow not as dark as his other work but still breathtaking.

I’ve seen him in liner notes everywhere, but now I get it.

I don't know how popular of an opinion this is, but I think this is Brian Eno's masterpiece. So much more coherent and pleasing to the ears than "Another Green World". A fantastic blend of pop and ambient. Gotta be a 5/5.

This was a pretty cool album. I like the experimental style.

The comparisons to Bowie's "Low" are clichéd enough, but for my money this album has an even better "poppy"/not-as-experimental A side than Low. And that would mean this album is pretty great.

5* because Brian Eno.

5/5. A very weird album but so very catchy. There is a sense of New Wave and Glam Rock here but also Ambient thrown in. None of the songs make any sense and there isn't a pre-established concept, just songs with no concept. They somehow still create a world inside Eno's mind that feels so real, I want to have whatever he's having. The first half are some pretty upbeat pop/rock songs. The second half is starting to become my favorite with its slow and brooding ballads, quiet and dark. Overall, there is a lot to like from this one, high 4 but I'll give it the 5.

Holy moly

I really liked this. I will definitely be coming back to this album!

Another excellent album from Brian Eno. The mix of upbeat songs and more atmospheric tracks, tied together by the tasteful and unique arrangements and rhythms, makes listening to this album a very enjoyable experience throughout.

Classic Eno album - not as good as his first three albums but still 5 star of course.

For me personally, rhe lows in this are extremely annoying, repetition being one and experimental bits being another. But the highs are incredible and beautiful at times. Overall

Very nice.

So cool and pretty, glad he's not just a crossword clue anymore

New favorite in there

I’ve always had this idea that I like Brian Eno because he’s had a hand in music that I adore, but I haven’t really taken the time to listen to him. This album does not disappoint. I love (almost) everything thing about it. Also, today is his birthday! Happy birthday Brian Eno!

Brian Eno is a legend. I can see his influence on the talking heads specifically in this album. The album was a journey for sure but the ambient soft songs were my favorite on this.

I reeeeally enjoyed this. The descent from the more energetic songs at the beginning into the meditative ones at the end was really impressive; I feel like I didn't notice a jarring shift while listening and then all the sudden I was at the last song and listening to something completely different from where I started. By This River is probably one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard also. Fav tracks: No One Receiving, By This River

Fourth and last of the 70s Eno pop albums and maybe the best. Side two gets let’s pop but so atmospheric and great. He’s simply the best.

I do agree after listening to this that Eno is at a Zenith between his traditional sound and his Ambient experiments, and it sounds great.

It’s got punch. And ambient music.

While Eno was involved with so many acts I enjoy (Bowie, Talking Heads, U2, Fripp, so many more), it took me a while to appreciate his solo work. This is definitely one of his best, although I know he's an acquired taste. Favorite tracks - King's Lead Hat (anagram for Talking Heads - nice how Eno even sings like David Byrne on this track. The lyrics are absurd but sound great, like "All I know and all I have is time and time and tide is on my side." Great track), No One Receiving (sounds like it would be right at home on a David Bowie album - great bass and drums on this track, Percy Jones on bass (Brand X and a great session player) and Phil Collins on drums - the guy who wrote the review for this in the 1001 albums book was like "Phil Collins?" This song is a great reminder of how good a drummer Phil Collins was, especially in the 70s), and the trio of Here He Comes, Julie With..., and By This River (these tracks just take you floating away). I don't know if I would have said this 25 years ago, but these days Eno's song-based solo albums are all an easy 5 for me.

This is pretty perfect for me. Sort of a weird art-pop-experimental record with lots going on in a great way. Its simple and complex at the same time. Brian Eno is the boy like, I’m more familiar with his ambient stuff and the records he’s helped produce, but everything he does is gold (from what Ive heard anyway, his back catalogue is ridiculously big). You can hear his influence on Bowie, Talking Heads, etc., and I’m sure Roxy Music wouldve been a much better band if Bryan Ferry wasnt such a dickhead and let Eno do his thing. Ive already listened to this a few times and itll be on repeat for a while yet. Superb

Great album. Listened 3 times today. Keeping on the phone for at least a while.

"Before and After Science" is the fifth solo studio album by British musician Brian Eno. Art rock, art pop and experimental pop. Yep. Eno collaborated with a bunch of musicians from the UK and Germany (Fred Frith-Henry Cow, Phil Manzanera-Roxy Music, Phil Collins, Paul Rudoplh-Hawkwind and members from Can, Soft Machine, Fairport Convention, Free and Cluster). Eno wrote over 100 songs for the album in a two year period settling on ten. The album is noted for its pop and rock side one and ambient and pastoral side two. It was his last foray into rock as a solo artist in the 70's as that ambient side two took over. "No One Receiving" begins the album with guitar; it's funky with great percussion and polyrhythmns by none other than Phil Collins. I can see the direction Eno would direct The Talking Heads in the next few years. Isolation. Space travel. Technology. "Backwater is more upbeat. Danceable. Horns. Eno rapping to an extent. The highlightlight of "Kurt's Rejoiner" is the analogue delay bass used by Hawkwind's Paul Rudolph. Synthesizers. Mystery. Intrigue. The only single and really rock song is "King's Lead Hat." It's an anagram for Talking Heads. Look that up. An ode to new wave. Cool synth. I think science vs.non-science and nature vs. Science. "Here He Comes" kicks off the ambient side. This is softer, slower and pop. It's has nice vocals. About a boy floating thought the sky trying to get to a different time. "Spider and I" ends the album in a dreamy, atmospheric and very ambient way. Church organs. Another song about a boy and the sky. This time he's dreaming about being carried away by a ship. I liked this album quite a bit, both sides. The polyrhythmnns, the creativity, the atmosphere. The music fits the lyrics with the first rock and pop side towards understanding science (before) and the second ambient side towards going away from science (after). I'd say this is my favorite Eno album but I like his first three albums as well. All worth a listen and owning.

Thanks to my uncle, who was/are ahead of his time, I was fortunate enough to hear this either when it came out in '77 or soon thereafter. It's a masterpiece and after so many years, you can hear its (and Eno's) incredible influence on generations after. Thanks, Carter!

Absolute classic. Proper songs, but with a fresh approach to sound that makes them pop through as something both familiar and different. Some tracks are surprisingly funky (\"No One Receiving\", \"Kurt's Rejoinder\"), and often catchy (\"Backwater\", \"King's Lead Hat\"). When I was about 14, I borrowed from the library a compilation of Eno's 73-77 song-oriented albums. I did not get it at the time, but since have learned to love the tangential approach to song-writing. I still love this album every time I listen to it.

Great, this album has been a constant companion since I first bought it in 1990. I love it.

Loved this album - this will be in my permanent rotation.

Jævlig bra, hørte masse på da mens eg gikk permisjonsstien i sommer

Amazing sound, huge variety of musical flavor in one album. Kings Lead Hat sounds exactly like a Talking Heads track

Not sure why this is one of my favourite albums but it is. It's so quirky and low key without fanfare or technical brilliance. It's lowkey pop really. Not even that groundbreaking but it seem it's the way Brian does things- this album means a lot to me and always hits the spot when I play it so will alwys be a solid 5*****

Peak Eno where he balances ambient with his subversion of pop .

Psychedelic and ambient while still having some of the vocal sounds of the 70s. This album flows very smoothly from front to back. The guitar on "Julie With" is beautiful and haunting as it flows into the piano of the next track. The second half of this album is so calm and different than the first half but still tied in so well. This is great music and wonderful art.

This is a transition album between Brian Eno’s earlier rock based work and his later ambient work. This album is all over the place. It starts with rock based post-punk but as the album progresses, transitions to more experimental music with hints of the electronic and ambient themes that would define his legacy. There are even shades of country music and symphonic pop throughout. Overall, this was an incredibly expansive album.

I loved this I can't believe I haven't listened to Brian Eno before

It started strong and just kept getting stronger, absolutely NAILING the landing. This was a delight, and the type of Eno record I was hoping to discover.

Brian Eno surprises me yet again by being excellent. I quite liked the more upbeat first side of the album but it really shines in its soothing mellow second side. I felt great listening to it and want to listen again.

I’m more familiar with Eno the producer than the artist. But from this listen you can absolutely hear the incredible producing talent in his own work. A lot of Talking Heads, a lot of Bowie, and it is all great.

Most of this sounds like it could have been on a Roxy Music album but the last 3 songs sound like what I expect from Brian Eno. Both styles were great.

I love how groovy it is and how the songs all have a different feel to them

Great material.

I was immediately drawn in and as I was finding the album losing its luster just a bit, it switched gears and kept me in.

One of my favorites so far. The avant-garde rock of the first few songs is great, with ‘Backwater’ and ‘King’s Lead Hat’, which sound similar to The Beatles and Talking Heads, respectively. I love the more ambient stuff, specifically - well, everything, but ‘Julie With’ is my favorite. This album brilliantly shows Eno’s genius and I’m excited for the 4 other albums from him.

Super dope

I liked this album quite a lot. Some songs were better than others, but this is definitely one of the better albums I've heard so far. By This River is my favourite song off this album, with Through Hollow Lands a close second.

JESS, sitä hyvää. Melkeinpä rakkaaksi muodostunut levy, jonka tietenkin löysin teininä, kun katsoin Cuarónin leffan Y tu mamá también, jossa soi By this River. Levyhän on helppo romantisoida hetkeksi, kun rock-nero muuntautui ambient-jumalaksi.

Another fantastic art pop record by Eno. He's certainly matured a lot since Here Come the Warm Jets and Another Green World with masterful production techniques in repetitive (modeled after krautrock) yet beautiful melodies and a confident voice that can play many roles depending on the mood. Our first few songs are simple pop songs, but do what they do marvelously and in different ways. Those synths are multi-layered and gorgeous. Many tracks like "Kurt Rejoinder" and "King's Lead Hat" show the influence Eno would have on David Byrne's music. This quickly changes as we get into dark ambience with "Energy Fools the Magician". It's a bit out-of-place before the high-energy "King's Lead Hat" but serves as a nice break and forecasts what's to come. The whole second side carries on this calmer moodier vibe reminiscent of his ambient works, but confined to short (non-traditional) pop structures. "Here He Comes" serves an amazing blend between the two styles, still very accessible and loud but peaceful. The last four tracks tone down the volume into sparse bright arrangements. It's probably his most consistent album excluding that small misplacement (that serves a better purpose though). The pieces aren't as shocking or memorable as Another Green World, but I'd still this is more proof that cements him as of the greatest producers.

Art rock for weirdos. 5 stars.

Great album, love this creative period from Eno

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I downloaded it in college after becoming obsessed with ambient music. I didn't understand it at first since it is clearly NOT ambient, but it grew on me over the years.

One of my all-time favorites. Expected ambient and was puzzled by this. Quickly grew on me and has remained amazing.

Отлично! Моя музыка!

I love a lot of Eno's 70s output up to and including My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, technically from 1981. I love it when he is still producing material with enough connection to pop music that I can understand the form (and possibly even dance to it) but weird enough to be surprising. Much of his later work is overly conceptual, and by the time it has devolved into generative music, I'm bored and over it. According to wikipedia, they recorded over 100 songs during the sessions for this album. This is a testament to the benefits of good editing (I'm looking at you, Robert Pollard - just because you hit 'record' and captured random sounds on tape, doesn't mean you have to release it). Before and After Science is an absolute classic for me. Proper songs, but with a fresh approach to sound that makes them pop through as something both familiar and different. Some tracks are surprisingly funky ("No One Receiving", "Kurt's Rejoinder"), and often catchy ("Backwater", "King's Lead Hat"). It's a smart album and conceptually driven, but he still understands that you need to feel the music in your gut. It's got to work at that level. Side 1 is uptempo and energetic, and side 2 is more open and emotional. Both sides have their secret pleasures. I've listened to this often over the past 40 years, I confess I did not initially get it, but once I did, I always hear something different and exciting when I listen to it.