Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Brian Eno so based giving his proceeds from the Microsoft sound to Gaza victims. Free Palestine 🇵🇸
pretty nice
It is wild how much Brian Eno’s albums differ from one another. This one also has a good bit of variety within it, but all high quality tracks. From dance music to meditative. I prefer the first , more upbeat half, with Backwater being my highlight track. It gets into ambient style in the second half, which knocked it down from what was going to be a five star album for me. But still a really good listen. Fantastic new discovery.
I like this because I like the way his voice sounds and the melody is nice. I would recommend this because I feel like someone would like this. I give this 4 stars.
I thought the black and white cover looked cool. "King's Lead Hat" sounded cool, like a good dancing song. The lyrics were a little confusing, but the instrumentation was cool. "By This River" was good. It sounded very sad though. The lyrics are also sad. But the instrumentation still sounded good. "Spider and I" was good. Even though the lyrics were minimal, they conveyed a good message. The instrumentation was really interesting, a blend of different instruments that you don't normally hear together. The singing voice is also nice. I would recommend this album.
the first song is good i like how the instruments sound and i just like how everything sounds together there is not much to say about this song It's just good. the next song is good i like how the piano sounds at the start, this song kinda feels like it would be in the "The New Abnormal" album by the strokes. the last song is also good i like how the instruments sound at the start of the song and i like how slow and quiet it is and i like how after a while he starts singing. overall i like this album i would recommend it.
magical and serene musical experiments out of their time, more-upbeat songs and slower tracks with special uniqueness alike
- not a fan of the reverb sound in "no one receiving" - I like "King's Lead Hat" - I REALLY like "Here He Comes" that shit is so catchy - adding "Spider and I" to a playlist as well, the intro and exit music reminds me of Beach House or maybe something by John Lennon
I listened to this while cleaning my carpets and I grew to like it, but much like many things that you grow to like only through exposure, it doesn't really have longevity, especially something as deliberately artistic and unordinary as this album. It is a Stockholm syndrome of sorts, perhaps, much like the noted origin story of Ace of Base. But with this album I didn't *dislike* it to begin with. It reminded me a lot of early Björk in small glimpses, whom I adore. So, every song except "Energy Fools The Magician" eventually made it into my likes, after a few listens. I found it quite interesting and dynamic, the songs were quite varied and very... fulfilling? Like they were a journey you had successfully accomplished. There is a clear difference between the first and second halves, with the latter descending more into lower energy, moody, ambient songs that are hard to classify and the former being higher energy, more recognisable pop/rock. I enjoy when songs have hyperspecific themes and lyrics, even if they're near meaningless and bordering on nonsensical - as this album seemed to, for me. I couldn't really make heads or tales, but could see themes. Reading some background, it would appear this is intentional, and Eno prioritises sounds over lyrics. Favourite Track: Backwater was my original choice - the lyrics are delightfully silly and a really jaunty track with some interesting sounds - but something about Spider And I really tickles my brain, it's a gorgeous song and I love how it finishes the album. Completely opposite vibes between the two, which captures this album's essence well.
Pretty interesting musical choices overall, and fun to listen to. I actually enjoyed this, but I feel that I wouldn't have liked it if i didn't have a good vibe.
I can see why he ended up working with Talking Heads - besides maybe naming a song after them (in anagram form), there’s definitely a shared vision here. That’s a compliment by the way - this has more tunes than I was expecting.
Brian Eno #4 for me and I am officially enchanted by this man's work. The first half of the album is lively, featuring drumming from greats Phil Collins (tracks 1 and 4) and Jaki Liebezeit of Can (track 2). Though the whole thing is great, I favor the more somber and introspective back half of the album. Here He Comes through Spider and I is pure atmospheric perfection.
Excellent album that I have never heard before. He has a little bit of a Talking Heads vibe which I think is really nice. There are also some instrumental tracks that I liked a lot. This is an album that I'm going to listen to again. I will probably keep a look out for it in record shops too.
I was hesitant to rate positive on this one given the previous two Eno records already heard. But after listening was pleasantly surprised. A much more listenable record than other Eno selections on this exercise. And songs like King’s Lead Hat and Backwater have sounds and dynamics that reminded me of bands like XTC which is a good thing.
Super cool weird album I liked it
A great album. Not is best. Maybe deserves a 4.5, but I don't think it is a 5, so I'll say it's a 4. I'm not sure I think this is one of his albums that everyone must hear, but it is solid, very good, and better than a lot of other music, as most of his music tends to be...
A long long time ago, this was the first Eno I really dove into, and to be honest, it's never been my favorite. It was good enough to charm me to keep exploring his catalog, though. Later, I learned just how busy he was in his collaborations with Cluster, Bowie, and David Byrne/Talking Heads in this era. What this album brings is a huge range of ideas that he surely was carrying around with him at this time, from the Roxy/punk sound of "Kings Lead Hat" to his ambient explorations such as "Spider And I". It might make for some uneven transitions from track to track, but on the whole, I recommend this if you're at all intrigued by Eno.
i thought the first three songs were boring as shit but then kings lead hat came on and i changed my mind and the remaining songs were so beautiful . so maybe 3,5/4 idk . what the hell why not 4.
bem a frente do tempo, legalzinho mas not my thing
Enjoyable album, more so than I expected actually. But nothing jumped out at me as incredible
While I'm admittedly lacking the knowledge currently on the scope of Eno's ambient works between Another Green World and this album, but a return to pop music form seems like a solid move from the musician in context. It proves to his audience that he hadn't run out of ideas, rather, he was following his true calling of ruling a genre, and returned to his A-B-A song structure roots to prove he is not only a creative powerhouse, but handles variety in strides. Not every song here is some great art rock song, in fact, I'd say a lot of the rockier stuff pales in comparison to his works on Here Come the Warm Jets, but those slower pieces are on equal grounds with the vocal tracks from Another Green World, and just because Eno doesn't quite have that glam appeal anymore doesn't mean he can't pull off other fresh and new genres quite well. King's Lead Hat is not only a great love letter to the emerging Talking Heads, but a great new wave track to boot. A showcase of range and scope to the mysterious Brian Eno, this album may be best in its quieter moments similar to his most recent works, but it still is a solidly odd yet catchy release that is sure to show off its influence to anyone who hears it. It's a darn shame Eno mostly abandoned vocal albums post this work because this new wave of Brian Eno rock tunes could've really altered the 80s. Oh well, he left his influence via Bowie and Byrne, surely.
Not bad
Too much ambient
Great album. Apparently the last album of his before he went full ambient. First track and King's Lead Hat have definite Talking Heads vibes. The latter so much so that apparently King's Lead Hat is an anagram of Talking Heads. And Eno would go on the following year to produce the next three Talking Heads albums.
It's the best Eno album on the list, and it also helps to fill the "gap" between his rock albums and his other (not so great to me) ambient music albums. I feel that I understand his work better after this album.
Pretty uneven album imho. Side 1- meh, it's alright. Side 2 - god-tier musical masterpiece, especially By This River an all-time undisputable classic. Not sure whether that averages out to a weak or a strong 3.5. I guess I'm gonna have to round up again because the highlights here are just so incredibly high.
man i really enjoyed that he writes some great songs i like the more art rock stuff the more ambient songs on the album are beautiful too
The first half is fun in the way of other acts of the time, some of whom Eno worked with: Bowie, Talking Heads, King Crimson, etc. but it lacks the distinct character of any of them. I can see why he elected to focus on the more atmospheric stuff, which feels much more his own!
Brian Eno is such an interesting character. Glam rock with Roxy Music, groundbreaking ambient albums, early adopter of sampling, and producer for a huge range of artists including Talking Heads, U2, Devo, Bowie, Slowdive (yay). He's also branched out into Nokia ringtones and the Windows 95 start up sound. First listen for me on this one, though I did recognize a few songs. Rock album, but not really - it gathers influences from everywhere.
I liked this more than I expected to. I was getting Depeche Mode vides during a couple of the songs, especially Julie With...
Superb!!!
Whatever that was, yes.
It's always refreshing when an album just. Does music like this. Not directly up my street but I didn't mind the detour, it felt like a record with purpose
Listening on a Friday made a big difference.. on a Monday this album would have been a flimsy 2, because lyrically it is, in fairness, just bollocks and nonsense.. but I admit I enjoyed it. Backwater was much catchier than it should have been, and being a relatively short album to listen to whilst sleep deprived behind a wheel made for a fun time. The small dog, and the much bigger old woman I hit were a small price to pay.. and in a way just made the nonsense all the more vivid. Hopefully there isn't another Brian Eno album on this list before my suspended sentence is finished.
Impressive music in a time of disco and punk music, sometimes quiet, sometimes folky. Interesting pearl.
I listened through this album a couple of times and found myself drifting in and out of how attention I paid to it. Overall, I liked the sound and the style of the recording.
Turning into more of an Old Sourpuss fangirl by the minute. Weirdo funk, melancholy synth noodling, ambient excellence. I wasn't sure how I felt about this one on the first listen, and then the second round had me hooked. I expect future listens will only bring more appreciation.
I thought it was weird when it started but then I realized it was good weird
Somehow a first time listen, I've heard a lot of his work with other artists and some of his ambient work but hadn't heard this record. Funky ass guitars Drumming is so sleek Then it turns into this beautiful dark album that has insanely sweet instrumentation and fuck I loved this album so much.
Interesante, oscuro y misterioso.Eno es diferente y no fácil de masticar y luego tragar. Me gusta
Back half of this album absolutely carries
I have a habit of comparing this to the masterpiece that is Another Green World, where Eno finds the perfect balance between, melodic beauty, ambiant explorations and studio manipulations. Well Before ad After Science doesn't quite find the melodic beauty of AGW at its best aand I have held that fact against it. But it is still a great album just as worthy of exploration even if it does not attain the same heights. 4 stars
Kinda feels like he got really into ambient stuff while making this album, as the first few songs are completely different to the ones at the end. SO good though, I really like the talking heads (kinda) songs towards the start. and also the spacey vocals and vocal-less songs at the end. Favourite songs first one, last 6. Overall around 8/10
its brian eno in the studio. how could you expect less than magic? how could you expect less than a world of comforting whimsy and wonder, as treacherous as its fleetingness may be? how could you expect less than to hold that world in the palm of your hand, like eternity in an hour?
New to me! Only heard him with Roxy and Bowie, before. The first track appealed, being so reminiscent of Station to Station and Japan. Generally, I found myself really liking the music, but sometimes alienated by rather naff "quirky" lyrics ("Backwater") and boring melody lines. I loved the synths and bass, though, and when the music came together to achieve a Talking Heads-like drive, for example on "King's Lead Hat" (ha, I see what he did there) I enjoyed it. The slower songs were atmospheric, and contained some beautiful synths (unsurprisingly, similar to Low, etc) but the vocals still didn't hook me in. In fact, I thought both "By This River" and "Spider and I" would have been gorgeous with a different melody line and vocal (loved the music) but what Mr Eno came up with, left me a bit cold. As if to emphasise my point, the instrumental "Through Hollow Lands" was, I thought, utterly gorgeous. I'm not sure if any of his other solo albums have made the list, but it was definitely interesting to hear this, as a big fan of 70s Bowie and Roxy... and Talking Heads.
Brian gets points for Heros being my favorite David Bowie song, Viva La Vida being a certified Jam, and Once In A Lifetime because it's Once In A Lifetime. He also gets points for this being a very good album. Parts of this album straight up feel like Talking Heads B-Sides, even if this album came before Remain In Light, so I can see why him and David Byrne went on to do a lot more stuff together. Even if not every idea presented on this album is top notch, it's still a stellar showcase of Brian's ability, not just as a producer, but as a composer/artist. Would have appreciated more up tempo bangers like "King's Lead Hat", but the somber back half still has its shining moments, particularly in "By The River" and the instrumental "Through Hollow Lands". Fave Songs - No One Receiving, King's Lead Hat, By The River,
The first time I listen to this album I didn't care for it, I much prefer Eno's instrumental albums, while the first few songs I still don't care for the rest of the album is excellent. 3.5 stars and added in to my rotation.
Eno can be hit or miss. I was expecting to not like this record but I rather did. And it felt much more contemporary than the 1977 date would suggest.
I thought this was pretty good. I actually liked it a lot and would listen to it again.
Pre-listening thoughts: I thought this was gonna be ambient stuff (gross) but reading the Wikipedia has put my hopes back at neutral 🙏 Post/during listening thoughts: ok so I was reading up on Brian Eno while listening to this album and I would like to formally apologize to the Brian Eno fan community bc I thought he just made ambient music but oh my god this man has produced for so many of my favorite artists. I am so sorry. This is really good. Obviously well produced, the vocals are nice, the songs are varied but also all similar enough stylistically to make a cohesive body of work. Great album. I am not a fan of instrumentals so those knock it down some. 7.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nope Fav tracks: No One Receiving, Backwater, Kurt’s Rejoinder, King’s Lead Hat, Here He Comes Least fav tracks: Julie With, Through Hollow Lands
Fun!
chill and ambient but i liked the tracks where he sang - fav is no one receiving
Some songs i liked, some i didn't. Saved one to listen to in future.
82/100. If I’m honest, I was worried after the first track—I didn’t really enjoy the sound of Eno’s voice with the heavy reverb. However, the rest of the songs were so calming. A beautiful record and probably my favorite Eno album so far.
I actually enjoyed this one. Brian Eno usually means a long drawn out and boring hour. This was a lot more interesting than anything I’ve heard from him before. Solid range. The whole thing is really quite lovely, honestly. 4/5
I'm a fan of a lot of Eno's work, but for some reason I've never listened to this one until recently. It's great but still growing on me. I don't like it quite as much as Taking Tiger Mountain or Another Green World, but it covers a lot of ground, and is a clear precursor to his later ambient work. It also really sounds like it had a big influence on Talking Heads! It's an 8/10 now but could see it becoming a 9 in future.
Very high quality art rock album, an ideal example of the genre. Unique electronic elements, diverse songs and the ability to be both artsy and accessible at once. A
Really cool album. Sounds like this inspired a few of my favorite bands.
I've never actually listened to Brian Eno, but a lot of my favorite bands have been influenced by him. This album was pretty eclectic, but overall a cool sound.
Wasn't sure what to expect because I had only known Brian Eno as the producer of some of U2's best albums. This was really good--inventive, and with variety. It's astounding that this came out in late 1970s since it so cuts against the trends of that era.
I can hear where a lot of my New Wave favorites formative years were spent : listening to this. Very good.
Ég var ánægður með þessa. Annað, meira.
shockingly great
Cool
freaking it sensitive style ….. ooh quiet down ….. quiet down …… highlights: no one receiving, king’s lead hat, here he comes (jan 8 2025)
While the focus here seems to be shifted more toward the endless possibility of sound experimentation as opposed to catchy pop tunes or immediate ear worms, the level of craftsmanship and beauty of synth sounds on display is more than enough to keep the listener hooked. Recommend a good pair of headphones for this one.
Brian Eno is a master of subtlety, though I think this was a slight step back from the progress he made on Another Green World. The atmospheric/ambient elements of this album weren't as well balanced as the tracks on the album, and both the instrumental and lyrical songs have a bit less sticking power. However, this is still a great album in it's own right. I would have just chosen to omit it on such a list to leave breathing room for Here Come the Warm Jets, Another Green World and Ambient 1. 3.7/5 -> 4/5
#84 - listened to it the whole day as background music. Love the mix of ambient and 70s upbeat. Great instrumentation. I was just unable to find the cohesive link of the album.
I really wanted to hate this, not because I don’t like Eno’s music, but because each of the 4 albums I’ve reviewed has had a different rating, and I wanted a clean sweep. As it is, Before and After Science is probably my second favourite of his albums after Another Green World, with his best rock work, and more interesting ambient work than Music for Airports
Typically great Eno stuff. The first half of the album is perhaps a little stronger than the second, but the whole thing is enjoyable. Strong four, close to a five.
Good disco era beat. Kinda liked it
I liked the 70s art pop vibe, got a bit boring at the end
Art rock, art pop, avant-pop, experimental pop. Un 4 por las últimas canciones, son más tranquilas, relajantes y preciosas.
I seriously thought this was the talking heads album from yesterday. And then remembered that album was yesterday and that David Byrne worked with Eno at some point. There has to be a talking heads connection here. I really dig this album. I can’t believe this is from 1977. It sounds more like the 80s. Now I get my people gush over Eno. What a record.
Fav: King’s Lead Hat Least Fav: Kurt’s Rejoinder Ok I can see why Brian Eno is a big deal
Has some highs
Interesting and weird in the best possible way. Further investigation required
There are moments here that are plain goofy, a few tracks that fall just this side of slick - but when it gets to side two and Eno fully embraces a sound that points towards ambient - well, that's when I start to toss around words like 'beautiful' and 'transcendent'. One of these cuts sounds like early Devo, which is cool.
Better than the other one!
I like Eno, he has done great sound engineering for some of my favs like Bowie, this album was a bit slow tho.
I love Brian Eno, first album I’ve heard of his with his vocals so that was really interesting.
A really great album! I can see a ton of influence it had on future bands (Talking Heads and LCD in particular). May need to review more old Eno. 4.5/5
wow - I expected ambient - 4.5 stars
I don’t like Roxy Music I find weird ambient stuff very tiresome So imagine my surprise to discover how much I liked this
I thought the first half of this album was fantastic! King's Lead Hat was a really good song that I enjoyed. I thought the second half was still decent but I wasn't feeling the slower pace as much. Overall I enjoyed this album. Not sure if I will come back to the whole thing, but there are definitely songs I will.be listening to again. Another album I wouldn't have known about with this list.
I thought this album was better than ok, but wasn't completely sold until the last 4 tracks that it really hit me. I'm not sure it would have normally but it's been an incredibly hectic day and from Julie With onwards I just felt the stress melt away. I listened again later and the first half of the album is actually pretty good, I just wasn't in the mood for it earlier.
С одной стороны в этом всём уже слышится то, что засияет далее в его сольной карьере, буквально через год. С другой стороны это всё еще вот эта "берлинская" музыка - доступная и понятная, но будто бы из будущего. Лучшая песня - Here He Comes.
Etwas langweilig aber grundsätzlich nicht schlecht
I kind of drifted out of this one, it was very calming. Need to revist when I'm more focused
all hail eno
Before and After Science, "No One Receiving" is straight up before and after LCD Soundsystem. Give me that 70s Eno who looked into the future and brought back songs that stand the test of time. Not every Eno track shines on this album like some of his others but there are plenty of delights to be had; e.g. "By This River" is a gem.
8/10 Uff right up my alley. Album nije cista desetka jer imaju neki dijelovi koji mi nisu bas top, ali u globalu, ovaj album je bas po mom ukusu. Pjesma King's Lead Hat je anagram, ako ga ne prepoznajete, kliknite na wikipedia link ispod albuma. Tu cete isto naci popis ljudi koji je radio na ovom albumu, a popis je stvarno impresivan, ovo je prakticki super group kind of deal. Pogotovo na B strani se cuje koliko Eno cesto odlazi u njemacku i druzi s narkomanskim kupusarima :D B strana mi je, kakvog li cuda, draza i zvuci mi puno bolje. Generalno volim ove albume gdje je aranzman bogat, zvukova koliko hoces, a glazba me jednostavno vodi. Mogao bih tripati na ovo sam u sobi s lava lampom i imati smijesak na licu. Generalno mi Eno ima i boljih albuma, meni osobito dragi su albumi s Cluster i Harmonia bendovima. Ne znam zasto, moguce zato sam dosta vremena proveo sam i high as a kite pa mi odgovaraju ti albumi koji te vode na putovanja. By This River mi je najbolja traka s albuma. Jednostavno me dirne tamo negdje. Jao popracena s ove dvije trake na kraju, kao da sam usao u ambijentalnu crkvu. Bit ce na kraju cetvorka, cuvam peticu za albume koji me bas sto posto izuju iz cipela.
7/10 Dosta zanimljiv album, definitivno me potaknuo da nastavim uskoro dalje po Enovoj diskografiji. Svidja mi se kako je album podijeljen na Before i After, gdje mi osobno prvi dio djeluje puno zanimljivije. Posebno mi se isticu Energy Foold The Magician od laganijh te King's Lead Hat (Fripp je samo bonus ovdje), koja mi je najdraza s albuma. Malo su me razaocarale krace i laganije stvari s After dijela, koje mi nisu toliko sjele, cak ni nakon drugog slusanja ali zato mi je bass Percy Jonesa (svirao i u Brand X sa Phil Collinsom) jedan od highlighta, pogotovo u E.F.T.M. Skroz solidno i odlican start za zaronit dalje u njegove albume.
Wow, I really enjoyed this. The non-ambient stuff reminds me a lot of Talking Heads.
I liked this one much more than other Eno albums.
I quite liked it. Some songs were rather silly, but that made for a fun time.
Not the Eno I'm used to hearing, because I've mostly listened to the ambient music he also made. But this was a pleasant surprise.
At first I got Kraftwerk vibes, and towards the end I got Pink Floyd vibes. I like the album and will listen again, but not sure I love it. I'd give it a 3.5 but will bump up to a 4 because it was good background music for working.
4 stars simply for.. Kings Lead Hat = Talking Head Kinda blew my mind
I'm getting close to the end & getting verklempt but I need to say Brian Eno is probably my biggest take away from the generator. I knew the name but only peripherally & fuck he made a lot of cool music. Solo & obviously all the collabs like I just had no idea how much shit he had his hand in. Bravo Brian Eno!
This contained a fair old whack of filler, and two of the most extraordinarily beautiful songs I've ever heard in my whole life - Here He Comes and By This River. Honestly, I've listened to Here He Comes about eight times and just want to cry. It feels like those are the jumping off point for his move into ambient, while the rest are more obvious homages to Bowie and Talking Heads etc, only done less well. I'm so glad to have heard this, even if it doesn't get a super high mark.
The A side of this is really great. I love the energy and there's some really great instrumentation and playing. The B side really slows things down though and I didn't like it quite as much. If A is a 4.5 and B is a 3, then it's like a 3.75 overall.
A very nice collection of music. Thought it was going to be weird, perhaps to some it is. I thought the music was quite haunting. Perhaps a little samey but that didn't detract from the enjoyment of the album. Remember Eno from the days of Roxy Music when he always looked like the weird one 🤣. Very chilled out and relaxing collection. Worth a listen
Laura liked it
I think this is the second time I've listened to an Eno album and both of them have left me wanting more. I honestly like this better than most Talking Heads albums in their entirety. Beautiful music.
I already know Eno from his production work which I've loved. This is my first album of his music. The man has impeccable taste. I'm not a huge fan of ambient music but there is not a single note out of place or over played on this project. I don't think this will go into my regular rotation and it didn't change my life, but I liked it and look forward to exploring his other music.
wow i did not expect such a switch up from side a to b. ive always heard of brian eno, but never actually took the time to listen to his solo albums. initially, i thought this sounded like talking heads on side a, but the switch to ambient pop on side b was such a refreshing surprise. yea i know it sounds like talking heads cause eno produced that album and this came before them but still. i thoroughly enjoyed both sides, but i still feel like i need a couple more listens to really appreciate it. perhaps its because this isnt the typical genre i listen to. 4 personal favs: no one receiving, by this river
The first song’s vocal line reminded me of an LCD Soundsystem song! I guess that’s where LCD they got the inspiration from. I sort of saw the rest of the album through this lens - like a 70s LCD. I wasn’t so keen on the vocals though. It sounded like when a sideman takes over vocal duties from an actual singer and really should stick to their instrument. But then a lot of prog rock singers sound like that to me. Overall, I enjoyed it though. I haven’t listened to a Brian Eno album before despite being aware of his influence. And I look forward to listening to more.
8/10 An excellent album with a couple of key reservations Really great showcase of the production talent of Eno. Great mix of tunes from rock, pop, electronic. Can see why he likes of Talking Heads worked with him - very much their sound here Production is at times big, but you can always pick out individual elements. Great use of synth. Unfortunately the vocals and lyrics don’t always reach the highs of the music. Some of them drag songs down a bit Best: Spider and I
More accessible than other albums by Brian Eno that I've known so far, but still experimental. Very good and different. I would probably need a few more listens to get into it more, at my first listen, it's a solid 4 now.
Ol' sourpuss does it again.
Some good ambient music with some funny lyrics thrown in. Didn't feel too serious and mostly enjoyable. Nothing overly memorable about it, but good music nonetheless.
This was a very listenable Brian Eno album - some of the ones on this list were too abstract for me and they didn’t stick much - but this one was actually on point. Liked it.
My first Eno album and very enjoyable. I loved the vibe from Here He Comes onwards. Look forward to more.
Eno Beano
glambient
Really good! At times, mostly towards the end, it got a little too ethereal for my tastes. I loved "Backwater" and will be keeping it on my phone.
Overall, a very good album. I don't think any of these songs would necessarily go straight on my playlist, however, as a whole the project is very well produced and put together. The songs are a new territory for me as I don't dabble in electronic music all that often, so this album is a first for me. I feel like the theme and feel of the album was consistent throughout as each song had the same mood to it. This album also opened me up to Brian Eno, who I did not know prior to listening to this album. Additionally, I found out he has a documentary coming out so that will be very interesting to watch. I will definitely check out more Eno projects as according to Apple Music he has 6 essential albums.
I've been aware of Brian Eno for a long time now but never listened to any of his original music before. The first half of this reminds me of Little Creatures era Talking Heads or something. I enjoyed a couple of songs off the first half, but the second half is so much better. I really enjoyed the slow ambient pieces. I am excited to get more of his albums later down the list.
Wow! This album has a ton of blend of experimental sounds and accessible melodies, creating a unique experience. The tracks are diverse, ranging from ambient pieces to more structured songs with clear rhythms and hooks. Some moments feel a bit aimless, but overall, the production is detailed. It's a solid effort that highlights an innovative approach to music.
Not really an Eno’s fan, but this one is a very decent album
i added half the songs to my library to put into my 70s playlist. overall liked it but it's not memorable for me, maybe due to it being a little more atmospheric than i usually prefer. not a bad album though, and i know brian eno is a skilled producer and musician. giving a 4 because i still think it deserves one
I wanted to hear more of Brian Eno's music after not enjoying his elevator music album and now I have the opportunity. This is really a great album and I am glad I heard an Eno album that had actual vocals. This was really good, though I did enjoy the first 6 songs more than the last four, which were reminiscent of where his music ended up going. I would give this album five stars if the back half were stronger, but maybe there is something to be said for this Brian Eno guy. Really enjoyed this.
The second half of the album is where the best tracks reside. Here he Comes has that Iconic Eno sound. Kings’s Lead Hat standout out on side 1. Love his sound and dreamy feeling I feel with many songs.
At first I thought I was in for some old school Eno which I didn't enjoy last time it came up, but this feels like the turning point for Ambient Eno which is my favourite type of Eno
👍
I enjoyed Another Green World a bit more, but solid Eno tracks
I love ego's earlier non ambient albums
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Brian Eno is a visionary. "Before and After Science" could be a total 80's album released years before the turn of the decade. Art rock, this album is peculiar, heavily electric and has high production value. While the music itself isn't stellar by any means, the album showcases a broad variety of sounds and rhythms which precede some of the greatest acts of all time, including the Talking Heads, Devo, David Bowie, and U2.
First few songs were promising as heck but then he had to do too many sound-scape/genre songs to follow up and brought down the party he started.
I had only listened to Eno's ambient work. This is not that. Weird for sure. I think I enjoyed reading people go on about this album more than I enjoyed the album. Tracks 7, 8 and 9 are standout. King's lead hat might be the weirdest semi catchy tune.
The was a very interesting album to listen to. Initially I did not like it. I can't put my finger on anything specific other than it just didn't seem to resonate. A few songs in though, I was becoming intrigued by the music. Not what I was expecting. I will definitely listen to this again. I didn't care for the denouement. The slow songs towards the end weren't that special to me. Having said that I will listen to it completely again, and perhaps other works of his. Giving it a 4 because it was a challenging album.
I heard the name but not familiar with any of his songs.
Surprisingly entertaining
As much as I enjoy ambient Eno, I wish there were more fun art pop records like this one in his catalog. Listening to this, it's very obvious why the Talking Heads chose to work with him.
Bra album. Men musiken låter som Brian Eno tror han e kingen.
Kósý og mjög góð.
Frábær plata sem varð betri og betri eftir því sem ég hlustaði oftar á hana. By this river óskaplega fallegt lag og Kings lead hat (Talking head) ótrúlega gott. Margt þar sem síðan heyrðist í póstpönkinu. Smá Adam Ant meira að segja. :-)
Only really know Brian Eno as a producer, didn't really know what to expect with this. First half was quite interesting, bit talking heads, some synthy stuff. By the River is brilliant, by far the best track, and together with the last two tracks is the best part of the album, very dark (something something Brian Emo). I'm not sure if I'd listen to the whole album again but I'll definitely come back to that last part.
I enjoyed By This River and Spider and I. Backwater was good, in a "this is cheesy and moronic" way. Liked the gist of the album. Mildly experimental - sounds like he was making the music he wanted to make. Nowhere near a 5.
Obviously know of Brian Eno as a producer, but pretty sure I've never listened to anything by him before. I can hear similarities with talking heads here (king's lead hat), which doesn't fill me with optimism.... However also Peter Gabriel similarities too, which I like. Some of the more slower, atmospheric, melancholy songs I thought were quite brilliant. "By this river" and "spider and I" in particular. 3.5 but 4 because we finished on some great tracks . Interested to hear more of his stuff
Now this Eno I can vibe with.
Lyrics: The lyrics in "Before and After Science" are often abstract and open to interpretation. Eno's lyrical style tends to evoke vivid imagery and themes of science, technology, nature, and human relationships. Tracks like "No One Receiving" and "King's Lead Hat" feature cryptic lyrics that invite listeners to delve into their meaning, while songs like "By This River" and "Spider and I" offer more introspective and personal narratives. Overall, the lyrics contribute to the album's enigmatic atmosphere and provide ample material for listeners to ponder. Music: Musically, "Before and After Science" is a rich tapestry of styles ranging from ambient and electronic to pop and rock. Eno's use of synthesizers, tape loops, and unconventional instrumentation creates a sonically diverse listening experience. Tracks like "Backwater" and "Julie With..." are driven by infectious rhythms and catchy melodies, while pieces like "Here He Comes" and "By This River" showcase Eno's knack for crafting immersive ambient soundscapes. The album's eclectic mix of genres keeps the listener engaged from start to finish, making it a rewarding listening experience. Production: One of the standout features of "Before and After Science" is its meticulous production. Eno's background as a producer shines through in the album's immaculate sound design and attention to detail. Each track is carefully crafted, with layers of instrumentation and sound effects woven together seamlessly. Eno's use of studio techniques such as tape manipulation and overdubbing adds depth and texture to the music, creating a sense of sonic experimentation that is both innovative and captivating. Themes: Thematically, "Before and After Science" explores a wide range of subjects, from the mysteries of the natural world to the complexities of human emotion. The album's title itself suggests a journey of transformation and evolution, reflected in the music's dynamic shifts and evolving textures. Throughout the album, Eno grapples with themes of identity, memory, and the passage of time, offering listeners a thought-provoking meditation on the human condition. Influence: "Before and After Science" has had a significant influence on the music world since its release. Its groundbreaking blend of electronic and traditional instrumentation helped pave the way for the emergence of genres like ambient, electronic, and experimental music. Artists ranging from David Bowie to Radiohead have cited Eno as a major influence, and his innovative production techniques continue to inspire musicians to this day. The album's lasting impact is a testament to Eno's visionary approach to music-making and his ability to push the boundaries of artistic expression. Pros: Innovative production: "Before and After Science" showcases Eno's mastery of studio techniques and his willingness to experiment with sound. Diverse musical styles: The album's eclectic mix of genres keeps the listener engaged and offers something for everyone. Thought-provoking lyrics: Eno's cryptic and introspective lyrics invite listeners to interpret and engage with the music on a deeper level. Influential legacy: The album's groundbreaking approach to music production and its lasting influence on subsequent generations of musicians make it a landmark work in the history of popular music. Cons: Abstract lyrics: Some listeners may find Eno's lyrical style too cryptic or inaccessible, detracting from their enjoyment of the music. Experimental tendencies: While Eno's willingness to push the boundaries of musical experimentation is a key strength of the album, it may also alienate more mainstream listeners who prefer more conventional song structures. Uneven pacing: The album's eclectic mix of styles can lead to some uneven pacing, with certain tracks standing out more than others. In conclusion, "Before and After Science" stands as a landmark achievement in Brian Eno's illustrious career, showcasing his innovative approach to music production and his ability to create immersive, thought-provoking music. With its eclectic mix of styles, meticulous production, and thought-provoking lyrics, the album continues to captivate listeners and inspire musicians decades after its release. While it may not be without its flaws, its enduring influence and lasting legacy make it a must-listen for any fan of experimental and avant-garde music.
Very interesting. I tend to enjoy eno stuff
Art rock, art pop, avant-pop, experimental pop. Un 4 por las últimas canciones, son más tranquilas, relajantes y preciosas.
Cool
Brian Eno is probably best known for his iconic ambient albums and his work with some of the biggest names in rock music as a producer over the last fifty years. However, his solo albums are not to be missed. He had an amazing set of collaborators for this album including Robert Fripp, Robert Wyatt and even Phil Colllins playing drums on a couple of tracks. Apparently over a hundred songs were recorded and whittled down to ten for the album over a two year period. The music is interesting and varied, with some funky stuff on the first side and more introspective pieces on side two, giving hints of the ambient material he was also working on at the same time, albeit in smaller chunks. I like this a lot, but on balance I still prefer the previous album Another Green World which is one of my all time favourites.
This was interesting. I mostly know Eno for his ambient work, and this album is more diverse (exploring more different genres). It's interesting also to hear how much ahead he is of his time: bits of the album sound like post-punk when it was just emerging. What makes its strength (the diversity) is also sometimes a weakness, and even though the album is pretty short, some parts sound not as interesting to me. Actually it could be only side B and I would be very happy (OK, we'd need to swap Energy Fools the Magician and Here He Comes). Side A is a 2.5 for me, side B a good 5.
I think it's the first solo album by Eno I have ever listened to. I knew that he did some ambient music while producing great records with other musicians, but that never really seemed interesting to me. Now I am curious what else is there to be discovered.
Unique and well executed. The first half is art rock in the style of Talking Heads, which I read was an homage. The second half is much more atmospheric, reminiscent of some of Bowie’s Berlin work.
Diving into Brian Eno's "Before and After Science" with the ears of a Talking Heads aficionado is like finding the Rosetta Stone of new wave—suddenly, everything makes a bit more sense. This album is a masterclass in balancing the cerebral chill of ambient tracks with just enough pop sensibility to keep you from floating off into the ether. It's as if Eno, in his lab coat, concocted a musical experiment that’s both an antecedent to and an evolution of the Talking Heads' sound. From the get-go, "No One Receiving" pulls you into a world where the future of music is being drafted with every beat and synth line. By the time you flip to the B side, you're fully submerged in Eno's ambient ocean, wondering how you ever managed to listen to anything less sophisticated. It’s this seamless journey from catchy rhythms to contemplative soundscapes that cements Eno as the godfather of the cool, quirky uncle of rock that is Talking Heads. Yet, it's not all smooth sailing. The album's ambition sometimes feels like a double-edged sword, cutting between genius and just a tad too abstract. But for a Talking Heads fan, these are the kinds of musical tangents that resonate deeply, feeling less like departures and more like adventurous explorations. So, with a nod to my bias for all things Byrne and co., "Before and After Science" earns a solid 4 stars. It's not just an album; it's a bridge to a broader understanding of where much of the '80s and beyond took their cues. Listen to it not just for the music, but for the history lesson embedded in its tracks.
Excellent pop album.
I enjoy Brian Eno's solo projects quite a bit. I think I prefer his earlier stuff, but this is still an excellent listen and makes you think.
p373. 1977. 4 stars. Sounds like Talking Heads on a good day. Startling good production, let down by a lack of standout tracks. One for the hi-fi purists :)
I never listened to a Brian Eno album. I really enjoyed this one. It is time to listen to some of his other albums.
Excellent
It was an interesting album, never heard of it before
I like the song Backwater! I think Brian Eno is a really good artist!
Versatile. Goth to pop to punk. At times satirical then sentimental. Great work
Great surprise! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Het kon niet lang uitblijven tot dé muziekprofessor van de jaren 70 en 80 van zich liet horen. Zoals je weet ben ik groots fan van ongeveer alles waar hij zich mee bemoeit. Alhoewel, zijn latere ambient werk daargelaten, dat kan me geen konjo interesseren. 'Before and After Science' bouwt de spreekwoordelijk brug tussen zijn art/glam rock periode en dit ambient tijdperk waar hij helaas in is blijven hangen tot de dag van vandaag. Echter worden de dromerige synths - waar hij later in zijn discografie volledig op leunt - op dit album nog vrij subtiel toegepast. Het resultaat is een album die knap balanceert tussen rock, new-wave en ambient. De opener 'No One Receiving' geeft een hint naar de samenwerking met Talking Heads die in het verschiet ligt, en de funky new-wave die daar uit opbloeide. 'Backwater' en vooral 'King's Lead Hat' zijn catchy as fuck en laten zien dat Eno muziek begrijpt, en humor heeft. Het is de soort muziek die XTC een jaar of 5 later zou uitbrengen, om maar weer eens aan te geven dat de middelnaam van Brian Eno 'ahead of the curve' is. 'King's Lead Hat' is natuurlijk de meest 'obvious' hint dat Eno zijn pijlen had gericht op de Talking Heads.. luisterde het nummer al jaren tot ik achter de anagram kwam. Ben nog steeds niet bijgekomen van dat moment. De tweede helft van de plaat laat het laatste beetje rock uit de vingers van Eno glippen, en laat zich kenmerken door een dromerige soundscape. Het schuifje staat soms iets te ver naar 'space music' ('Energy Fools the Magician' & 'Through Hollow Lands'), nummers die het beter doen op de achtergrond van een natuurdocumentaire dan op een muziekalbum. Maar verrassend genoeg zijn het de songs waarin deze elementen worden gecombineerd met de prachtige teksten van Eno die mij het meeste doen. Het is bijna een soort proto-Dream Pop, een welkome kalmte na de bouncy new-wave van kantje 1. 'Julie With', 'Spider And I', en als absolute piek van het album 'By This River', zijn stuk voor stuk perfecte voorbeelden van een expressieve kunstenaar als Eno die steeds vaker introverter werk afleverde. Van mij had hij nog wel even langer mogen balanceren op dit kantelpunt in zijn carrière, voor dat hij head first het ambient-zwembad indook. 8/10 Highlights: King's Lead Hat By This River Spider And I
Bijzondere ervaring en voor mij een echte ontdekking, deze plaat van Brian Eno. De plaat heeft de transitie van Eno van rockartiest naar ambient-producer in zich, maar is op zichzelf ook een album van hele hoge kwaliteit. Heb de plaat 2x geluisterd, want is een fijne lengte en bracht me in een heerlijke vibe om hard te kunnen werken. Het album start met een typische Talking Heads riff. In combinatie met het gerammel met potten en pannetjes en de funky bass-riff is er nog in de verste verte niet te bedenken dat het album zal eindigen met meer ambient nummers. Backwater krijg ik ELO-vibes bij (Mr. Blue Sky ook uit 1977...) en is duidelijk geïnspireerd door the Beatles, maar doet in kwaliteit daar niet voor onder. Kurt's Rejoinder en Energy Fools the Magician vind ik beiden niet zo bijzonder. King's Lead Hat (anagram van Talking Heads?) vind ik wel echt heel vet! Je hoort hier al zo veel new wave, terwijl de punk nog in haar kinderschoenen stond. Here He Comes is voor mij het hoogtepunt. Samen met Julie with een prachtige back-to-back. Het album schakelt dan naar meer geluid en minder melodie. Het blijft prachtig, maar is minder mijn cup-of-tea. Al met al, een hoogstandje. Highlights: King's Lead Hat Here He Comes By This River
Enjoyed this
Easily the most accessible and enjoyable Eno record to have appeared on the list so far. The album encapsulates the influence he had on modern music - you can hear his importance to the work of Roxy Music, Bowie and Talking Heads. Indeed, Remain in Light was three years away but this feels very much its prototype. Before and After Science suggests Eno could have made mainstream, popular and accessible albums like this one year on year. Fair play to the man, then, for remaining restless and continuing to experiment and push the envelope, rather than stay in a rut.
Gave me a somewhat ethereal feeling. Very soothing while sitting in city traffic. I found a hidden gem.
Somehow this one was off my radar. It's great.
3-4
Liked Backwater quite a bit. Really drew me in. Pretty high energy first havlf, which made it feel more enjoyable overall.
Very interesting. Exceptional composition. Can totally hear the Talking Heads influence (not sure which way it goes). Even hear some kinda Floyd vibes mixed in.
I am well aware of who Brian Eno is being a bid Talking Heads fan, but I honestly have never sat down and listened to one of his records. I really like it. Very cool to hear people trying new and interesting things especially in the 70s, it's the kind of stuff that I like. Well it's not the greatest musically it does have a lot of heart and feeling that resonates with me.
This project favors a specific genre and I have no complaints
Seems like Brian Eno has done a ton, which is super cool
That bald head is full of ideas.
I went into this thinking: great, another Brian Eno album, but against what I though were all of the odds, I really enjoyed it. This album is creative, diverse, features tons of great guest musicians, and almost acts as a revue of some of the more notable acts at the time (Bowie, Talking Heads, etc.). A blend of Roxy Music and Ambient work.
“By This River” is one of the best things I’ve ever heard.
I was expecting some type of ambient/avant-garde bullshit, but this was really good! Definitely some artsy-fartsiness to it, but still very accessible and enjoyable to listen to. Lots of similarities to Bowie and Talking Heads, and the song Backwater reminds me a lot of XTC. Nice work Eno! 4 stars.
3.5/5. Good, very ambient. This is not something I would put on for myself, but I did not mind listening to it.
Sounded like David Byrne was on here and then I wasn’t surprised to see Eno collaborated with talking heads and a ton of others. The album took a few turns and I enjoyed the breadth of styles covered.
Somber and melodic, each song has something unique to appreciate. Really enjoy the piano on any the River. 3.8
Disque pas facile d'accès, coupé en deux entre un début rythmé, expérimental et une fin mélancolique, ponctuée de nappes de synthétiseur. C'est pas forcément confortable au premier abord, mais on sent le gros talent derrière une telle écriture, une telle production. "King's Lead Hat" et "Spider and I" sont assez représentatifs des deux aspects, étranges, parfois dissonnants, complexes, mais au final imparables.
Brian Eno is another one of those names that I have heard of lots before, but never listened to any of his music, I quite enjoyed this one.
Didn't know this artist before and was easantly surprised. Also, thanks for finally giving an album that is special enough to deserve its place on this list
Really enjoyed this album. Wide variety of musical style. Mostly fun and relaxing, not too serious but not obnoxious. Favorite track: King's Lead Hat, Backwater
Album 232 of 1001 Brian Eno - Before and After Science Rating : 4 / 5 Great album. Have gotten to listen several Brian Eno albums since starting this project and have enjoyed each one. Some entertainers earn the title of "artist". He is one of those. This is his last "rock" album before going into a more experimental period of his career. Good stuff.
This was an easy listening album to me 😊 I enjoyed the instrumentals, they had dirty of s pink Floyd and ethereal feel to them. Vocals reminded me of 70s era.
Really good album, I loved the minecraft songs near the end
not quite my type, but still worth listening
Shades of Pink Floyd. Really enjoyed this album.
Funky
Pritty good! It's clear that everyone in the 70s was taking lots of acid!
Eno is always welcome on here. More singing tracks than I've come to expect from him, but as usual, it's a great album. This one has a bit of new wave flair to it, but still some of the ambient style that he's known for. I'm definitely a fan. Favorite tracks: Kurt's Rejoinder, King's Lead Hat, Julie With, By This River. Album art: Black and white headshot of, I have to assume, Mr. Eno? Normally wouldn't go for a black and white band/artist photo, but the washed out/high contrast effect here, paired with the angle and the off-center framing, makes it impactful. I quite like this. 4/5
Starts weird, improves as it goes along
First half is sorta artsy rock songs, second half is super chill vibe songs. Both good, but I preferred the slow half, despite not usually liking that kind of tempo in music.
4.0
Talking Heads + Bowie
Brilliant, first Brian Eno solo album Iv properly enjoyed not just appreciated. Added to my frequent rotation.
Låtarna fram till King's Lead Hat är decent men gör inte så mycket för mig. Fr.o.m. den sången blir denna skiva superb, och Julie With/By This River är bland de vackraste låtarna som finns.
Will come back to this album again, definitely a bitta me. "Backwater" gives we didn't start the fire vibes but much more bouncy feel.
Well, I can say that I've liked every Brian Eno album that I've gotten so far on this list. This is probably my least favorite of those albums, since I like his ambient stuff much more than his rock stuff. This was really cool overall, though, and I think that I would have liked it more if I didn't have so many other great Eno albums to compare it to. There's definitely an interesting feel to the album, as you can hear bits and pieces that sound like the Talking Heads or the Cars or Devo 4/5
Такая музыка успокаивает. Я включил ее, пока учился, а зря. Ее надо включать после учебы, закутавшись в плед и попивая чаек. Понятно, почему у такой музыки так мало слушателей -- все хотят ярких ощущений, а не мягкого расслабления. Впрочем, я бы не сказал, что полностью окунулся в атмосферу расслабленности. Может, потому что был напряден из-за учебы. Так что 4 звезды альбом заслуживает.
I wasn't surprised that a lot of this sounded more contemporary than it was. I was surprised that I enjoyed it so much. An interesting and compelling listen.
I usually find Brian Eno quite interesting - I loved his collaboration with David Byrne on My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts. This earlier album didn’t grab me quite as much but I liked it. This might be one that will warm to me over time…
It wasn't bad... TBH, I kind of expected it to not be all that great, but it grew on me. The first few songs or so were just OK, but the more ambient nature of the final few songs were quite nice to listen to. As if there was a bit of an evolution/growth in his sound and style. The ambient songs seemed a bit ahead of their time, which takes the rating from a 3 to a 4.
Talking Heads-inspis hyvin kuultavissa tässä! Tykkään enemmän Enon ambient-kamasta, mutta toimii tämäkin.
Weird and wonderful.
Can an artist have more than one essential album? Is essential not really the same as favorite? My favorite Eno album is "Here Come the Warm Jets," but this one is pretty great too.
7/10. This was nice, I like Brian Eno more when he is trying to sound poppy instead of just weird or boring.
I think I like the more frantic, crazy Eno than the laidback songs on this album but it’s all pretty decent. 7/10
Solid eno album. Most of this is just great eno magic, but man by this river is one of his best songs, possibly even one of the best pop songs of all time. Side note, insane collaborations on this thing, check them out.
This was a pleasant surprise! Eno creates very interesting records. And this one has a great atmosphere. Electronic synths engulf and mesmerise you on each track. Singing and songwriting is not his strong suit, but musically he creates some very cool works! 7,5 out of 10
Was surprised. It's definitely got an experimental electronica vibe, but it's never too experimental to lose sight of also being entertaining. I like Backwater the most, but even subtle pieces like Energy Fools and Here He Comes work really well. Both interesting and enjoyable.
never knew how much of an influence Eno was on Mogwai. there's a couple of tracks on here that sound so much like mogwai, or should i say that mogwai have tracks that sound a hell of a lot like Eno. i think i prefer this eno to the pure ambience stuff he later got in to.
Oooh excited to see this on the list of what I've missed in a week away from this. I guess this is an earlier Eno before he got super ambient. I love that it's quite jazzy and also already giving hints of that very relaxing plonky more ambient sound. Really enjoying Kurt's Rejoinder too, that bass is lovely and bouncy. Wish I had more time to delve into the lyrics and back story and context of this album but alas it's a very busy time so I'm just glad to be getting to listen and review this lovely album. Not my all time fave Eno but a fun listen!!
First half was kinda like a Talking Heads album, 2nd half felt more like typical Brian Eno spacey ambient stuff. I dug it.
Really fun and weird, not what I expected when I saw Brian Eno’s name but I really enjoyed it
Talking heads?!?
My jaw literally dropped hearing “by this river” listening to the album at first I was like I wish there was a feature that showed what other music this influenced but I heard it from never falling down. Pretty awesome
always excellent
Great, wasn't what I was expecting at all.
Experimental and quiet Saved tracks: Backwater, King's Lead Hat, Spider And I
Crackers!
Once again I've lost my notes. Brian Eno is a visionary and a genius. Great music
1st half: Talking Heads-esque. Low-key and groovy. 2nd half: Super ambient and strange, Twin Peaks-sounding production. Pretty good stuff. Not going to be a regular listen for me, but I'm glad I stopped by. Brian Eno has always been a staple name in ambient & prog records for good reason. Fave tracks: King's Lead Hat, Spider and I
It lost me in the first half but the second half was such a switch up and ended up turning it around. I loved the gorgeous and haunting instrumentals in the last few songs! 7/10
Great album!
second half is much better than the first half. right now its a 7 but feel like it will grow on me.
I enjoyed that, and anybody who can incorporate "not a sausage to do" into their lyrics is going to be a winner with me
Eno, particularly his solo stuff, is a bit of a blind spot for me. This is his last record before he went fully ambient. And it's really good. More fun than I anticipated and some moments of beauty. Best song is Here He Comes.
Great album put out by my favorite crossword answer.
The first side is similar to something like talking heads, while the second side is more slowed down, for me at least. The instrumentation is done very well and just allows you to be in the moment. Favorite track on this album is Backwater for me.
Hadn't listened to him before. He's good
i didn't expect this many fun songs because the first song i heard from this was "by this river" and also considering that the next album he would make after this was "ambient 1". that was a pleasant surprise though, as my favorite songs are probably on the more post-punky, groovy first side. the ambient-leaning tracks are gorgeous though.
Plus entraînant et vivant que ce que je connaissais d'Eno. J'aime le travail de la voix. J'ai répondu positivement dès les premières notes.
That was awesome! I could definitely listen to that one all the way through and be happy
brian eno what does he know
Impressionou-se a qualidade da sequência de canções pop da faixa 6 a 8. Só que o melhor para mim foi as faixas instrumentais (4 e 9) que indicam a criação da música ambient com melodias fortes.
A dreamy mix of electronic and analogue soundscapes. I wasn't expecting to like this, but it grew on me the longer it went on and the deeper it delved from songs to moods. A relaxing and enchanting listen. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: By This River Date listened: 28/01/23
Brilliant album by a brilliant artist.
Got a layered beach boys vibe, surprisingly textured and complex. Great great bass, even though his voice is kinda weak.
I love the 4 "song" albums he made in the 70s. This is the last of the 4 and contains beautiful textures and contrasts that hold together as a whole. Thoughtful brilliant stuff. 4
cute, calm. great sound, but don't think I'll listen much...
Art rock, art pop, avant-pop, experimental pop. Un 4 por las últimas canciones, son más tranquilas, relajantes y preciosas.
Eno is an artist I _SHOULD_ be more familiar with. I only really know him as the producer for Talking Heads and a few others, as well as a collaborator for certain key albums. Vocals remind me a good deal of David Byrne's, especially "King's Lead Hat." But I am sure that was what he was going for, so... The instrumentation is interesting, I have to wonder what made him choose any grouping for each song. To go even further, I wonder how he chose what songs made the cut. Wikipedia said he had over one hundred tracks to choose from. I have to wonder why each of these ten made the cut. Furthermore, there's an imbalance of the sides. Side one is a good 4 minutes shorter than side 2. He could have easily put another song in there, bt chose not to. I wonder why. As for the tracks themselves, there is a range, but with Eno's voice being a bit limited, the songs started to sound very much the same. That's never good. Still, I dug it, and it's definitely something I want to give more time to.
Odd or ironic to get Eno one album after getting Bowie's Low. I don't view it as trailblazing as Bowie, but it is certainly as eclectic, which is par for the course for Brian Eno. So I don't totally understand why it was selected of all the things he's done, or weird but cool stuff people did in the 70's. But I liked it. Side one was a lot of fun (my favorite might be Backwater), as was Here He Comes on side two - perfect follow-up to the catchy King's Lead Hat that ended side one. The rest of side two sounded like the background music in Minecraft during daytime sequences (played a lot of it with my kids) - especially By This River. Is that why it has so many listens on Spotify? But sure, I can get behind that ambient approach. It reminds me of some more recent stuff done by artists like The Neverending White Lights - eclectic but cool, maybe Eno was their inspiration. I'm sure this album is not for the average person but I kind of dug it.
Brian Eno fills the A side with nervous funk, rock, new wave and art pop to switch completely in style and then fill the B-side with ambient songs. And even though I keep coming back to this album, I never really jived with this album, but I've switched in my preference over time. It's now the B Side that I appreciate much more than the A side. The A Side is a good idea where Brian Eno and David Byrne would take The Talking Heads later. Fun sidenote: King's Lead Hat is an anagram of said Talking Heads. I'll say 3,5*
By this river - what a beauty. Enjoyed the slower songs more than the 1st half of the album.
Two Eno projects in a row, what are the odds! Not my favorite Eno (or Eno-adjacent) outing. It's a little too mainstream and "normal" for me. He is at his best when he is at his most quirky, and I love all his ambient albums. As usual, I think this gets credit for sounding like the 80s in 1977. Considering the somewhat mediocre albums I've had this week, I think this gets another bump for just not being more of that.
The weakest of his first four, but damn there's some beautiful stuff on here. And King's Lead Hat is officially a banger. I love bops and bangers. Gimme a bop? I'm happy. Hand me a banger? My day is officially MADE. Thanks for the grooves, Bry-Guy.
I love Brian Eno, but I’ve never loved his vocals. That’s how I feel about most of this album.the one standout is “By this River” which is quite beautiful and suits Eno’s voice perfectly.
I like the ambient synth driven tracks. The album is pretty tame overall.
Was familiar with his Ambient music, not with this album. You can hear the Talking Heads influence already, and Part B of the album nice beginning of ambient work that would follow. Loved this album
Pleasant surprise! Knew the name but otherwise Brian Eno was a gap in my musical knowledge. I missed listening to this album the day it came to me and put off doing a makeup listen because I thought I wouldn't like it. But I was wrong! King's lead hat is vaguely familiar but otherwise all songs were new to me. The vibe on the album shifts from beginning to end but I enjoyed the transition. Favorite song was By This River. Simple but the melody sticks with you.
This stuff was kinda weird. Good. But weird.
Very very good!
It's pretty good. It feels a bit trapped between Talking Heads new wave, and Eno's later ambient music, and consequently doesn't really reach the heights of either style imo. Still fairly catchy, enjoyable, and tranquil towards the end. My key criteria of an album creating or transporting you to a place is kind of met, as Eno mentions it's an ocean album, which I can dig. 1/11/22
Another great find, Brian Eno surprises me with the scope of genres in which he works. Very cool.
Highlights: Backwater, Energy Fools the Magician, King’s Lead Hat, Here He Comes, By this River Lowlights: Kurt’s Rejoinder, Through Hollow Lands
This is very good and amazingly fresh for being almost 50 years old?
I first became aware of this album (and Eno) through the movie Dogs In Space. One of the people in the chaotic share house the film is based around would put this on as whenever he took a lady up to his room, much to the disgust of his fellow housemates. While I am not ready to admit if I used this album as the soundtrack of any of my adolescent fumblings, I did have a tape of this that I was played until warping on my yellow walkman
13th September 2022 Listened during the day while working from home. Ben and Nilisha stayed and we went to the oak. I loved this, it’s atmospheric and moody but playful at the same time with tinges of David Byrne.
81/100: Wow, what a unique sound on this album. My biggest gripe with this project so far is that, by virtue of the sheer number of albums, trends are pretty quickly identified. “Oh this artist sounds like a Kirkland Bob Dylan.” “These guys sound like a raw Led Zeppelin.” Things of that nature. I wish I could get my mind to stop making these comparisons—it’s true, comparison is the thief of joy. Brian Eno’s sound, though, puts my mind at ease on this front. His music defies comparison. I haven’t heard an album like this maybe ever (the closest I can think of is the Talking Heads but that’s such an off comparison, it doesn’t really work). I’d never heard anything by Brian Eno before listening to this album; in fact, I’d never even heard of Brian Eno before. But I liked this album so much, I think it constitutes the first true gem of an album that I’ll revisit and an artist I will hopefully dive into more in the future. This is the type of music you drift into, where if you close your eyes you quickly forget the orientation of the room you’re in, you forget how long you’ve been listening, you enter into a world of sound and melodies. I don’t know what this type of music is made of, I couldn’t tell you what features a song has to have to elicit that experience, but I know it when I hear it. Brian Eno has produced that type of music and fostered that experience with this album.
Interesante
Awesome album. Sounds like Talking Heads mixed with Bowie and John Cale. What more could you possibly want?
This is really really great. Post-punkish Bowie vibes that brings all the boys to the yard.
Nice Album. Brian Eno is very important in the history of music. He deserve a couple albums in this top.
It's undeniably an excellent album with great songs. The bass and synthesizer tones and playing are masterpieces on their own. Even if it's a pop record, I also like that the ambient music side of Eno stands out, like on the tracks "Through Hollow Lands" or "Spider And I".
11/10 animals collected
Fun great intro into genre
7/30/2022 - ALBUM #184 Today's Album: "Before And After Science" by Brian Eno - The first exposure I had to Brian Eno was through a collaboration he had done with Talking Head’s front-man, David Byrne, which was a strange collection of loops that although very funky and danceable, served little in terms of variety. Learning later that Eno was responsible for the production of many of the Talking Heads projects I have been made familiar with, I was excited to what he would sound like on his own project. I have to say, it’s about what you would expect from the producer of the Talking Heads. Similarly to how Allen Parson’s Project parallels the sound of Pink Floyd, I think Brian Eno’s music takes all of the quirky-ness of his work with the Talking Heads, but gives the sound the ability to shine outside of Byrne’s avant-garde songwriting style. The track Kurt’s Rejoinder is a really fun example of this, with this super expressive growling bassline backing a relatively tame tune with some crazy fast hand-drum over top. This track also shows off how much fun Eno has with the sound of this record; everything just has this bounciness to it that comes together to give a rather ominous tune a really urgent and fun tone to it. It also feels like Eno has a sort of knack for psychedelia and the sound strange design that comes with it, so his music ends up having much more of an explorative feel to it than the rambunctious groovy-ness of a Talking Heads project: see Energy Fools The Magician. There are still a ton of moments where the sound of this projects mirrors that of the Talking Heads (or even Devo) like with the song King’s Lead Hat, but there is still a clear difference in the way Brian Eno writes a chorus that seems to ground these strange sounds in a more consistent listening realm. Maybe I am just not a fan of the avant-gardism's of the Talking Heads, but it’s refreshing to have strange sounding music like this be so easy to digest. Overall, this is a really fun album both instrumentally and in terms of songwriting and serves as a great window into the mind that produced some of the strangest albums of the late 70s and early 80s. Give this one a listen if you enjoy the Talking Heads. Highlights: No One Receiving, Kurt’s Rejoinder, Energy Fools The Magician, King’s Lead Hat, Here He Comes, Julie With, Through Hollow Lands, Spider And I Score: 7.5/10 A solid standalone album from the mind behind the sound of the Talking Heads
Some classic eno really enjoyed it
listened to again
Ooh this is really good. Some of the funkiness of My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, some of the rawness of Here Come The Warm Jets and some of the mellowness of the Ambient stuff. It's a really nice blend of all the stuff I'd go to Eno for.
Creepiness starting to filter in.
I do like how dreamy this gets towards the end. Funnily enough 1/1 is still my top played track over the last 12 months.
A playful album, maybe even tricky. Reminds me of Bowie, Talking Heads, that sort of thing, which is obvious. Highlights: King's Lead Hat, Here He Comes, Julie With, Through Hollow Lands, Spider and I. This might be my favorite recommendation of this whole project.
Really, really cool. There's some great songs on here (King's Lead Hat and By This River were my favorites) I enjoyed this a lot and I think it could hit 5 star status for me with repeat listens, which it will certainly get. 4 for now but that's a strong 4. A 4 that works out or...something.
I have listened to at least a couple other Brian Eno albums. Before and After Science is different than his more ambient recordings. "King's Lead Hat" made me think of the Talking Heads, and "By This River" (which was one of my favorite tracks) made me think of Alan Parsons. "Through Hollow Lands" was another favorite. There are some interesting sounds on this album. "Kurt's Rejoinder" was weird enough that it put a little pause in my listening. Nothing was too weird. I would probably re-listen to this album because the album is not typical.
The first side is great. Side two points towards that godawful ambient music that so many critics love. Why? Very boring. Background stuff. Fortunately this album doesn't fall too far into that category.
Now my favourite album from him. I'm not 100% sold on the songs in the first half of the album, though they're, but the 2nd half was lovely - dreamy minimalistic the lead towards his later more experimental work but still has uncools things like structure and tunes.
Great album. Simple, yet hard to define and escapes easy genre classification. The ballads are beautiful.
Despite being boring sometimes, this album gains extra points from me for it's ambitious production and innovative use of electronic instruments and effects.
enjoyed this, some silly songs at the start and more experimental/art rock towards the end classic pre-ambient Eno
Ja sam baš uživala slušajući ovaj album. Kao da gledam kroz kaleidoskop. "Julie with" mi je posebno lijepa pjesma. "Now I wonder if we'll be seen here, or if time has left us all alone". UF.
Zaista odličan album. Dosta podsjeća na album Low od Bowiea jer je isto tako producirao taj album (ista godina). Prvi dio albuma je ritmičan, plesan, nekako futurističkih zvukova ukomponirano, dok je drugi dio smireniji, laganiji i po mome mišljenju divniji, nokturalniji. Lijep prijelaz na polovici albuma. Naravno ako ste fan Talking Headsa može se i njihova glazba osjetit na ovom albumu (jer opet, on je surađivao s njima, a najviše sa David Byrneom.) Dakle devetka je tu. Favoritne: Backwater, King's Lead Hat, Here He Comes, Julie With, By This River.
begin new wave minder elektronisch dan ik dacht
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Backwater
Brian Eno delivers with a good blend of rock to groove, and music to cool. Favorites: No One Receiving, Julie With, By This River
Good fun
4.25
During the first song, I thought it was another collaboration with David Byrne. Their voices are uncannily similar. The overall quality of the album is good and with this being the third Eno album generated for me so far, it's great to hear what his vocals sound like. Favourite songs were Here He Comes and King's Lead Hat.
Starts off campy but really hits its stride. Experimental strange talking heads vibes and a weirdly peaceful ambient later half.
Has its contemplative moments, and overall it's great... but the first two tracks might put some people off
Excellent.
4 Spider&I et Through hollow lands sont assez parfaites
Really good album. Side A is upbeat artsy rock n' roll and side B is pastoral, atmospheric and ambient.
Pretty cool and interesting but surprisingly funky
At being avant-gard-ist, he is one of the best. Lots of textures, mesmerising ambients, searching of new sounds here and there, and then suddenly a song as beautiful as Here He Comes... a true innovator
mellow
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