Oedipus Schmoedipus

Aside from Jarvis Cocker popping up on one of the songs and some of the introductions, most of the songs sound pretty much the same. Very much a product of its time as well. A lot of it feels like background lounge music. Actually, some of the sings remind me of the background music of a snooker game I played in the mid 2000s. There are some songs that don't sound like lounge music, but they instead sound like the music version of a bad trip.

This was not for me. Miles was an ok song, most of this was just sound collages though. And if it was just that it would’ve been better than sound collages with annoying dialogue throughout. I don’t understand this one at all.

What a wacky and different album with song and speaking. Really enjoyed it 7-8/10 idk.

I completely fail to understand why this is on a list of albums a person should listen to before they die. What the absolute fuck is Dirty Barry? Miserable. Vermillion Kisses also fucking sucked. There is too much garbage like this on this list. I think I'm going to quit

Eclectic, that's for sure! My thing? Not so sure.

Oedipus Schmoedipus is an album by former Bad Seeds and Magazine member Barry Adamson. The music is a mixture of lounge, jazz and post-rock. It's like a soundtrack for a film noir.

Hell yeah. This is a unique medley of music is an inviting experimental flurry of familiar and odd sounds and songs.

I liked this better than Moss Side Story

This album is the personification of that "Mr. Incredible becoming unsettled" meme.

Admittedly I did not give it a fair shake and only listened to a couple songs. However, this is the fourth of July and I want some Lee Greenwood damnit.

The strength – its cinematic feel – is also a weakness, in that there’s no, you know, movie. Vibes and textures are effective enough, especially if one’s all into neo-lounge. "Business as Usual" is f-ing spooky. One’s not exactly sure how to feel about “Miles;” pleasant as it is, seems a tatty sort of knock-off. “Vermillion Kisses” is silly. Best cuts are early ones, but even they are no great shakes.

I respect Adamson - especially for Magazine - and admire the craft in this, and understand how this might work well as a film soundtrack. The words I caught are funny and entertaining; Jarvis Cocker’s opening turn is a grabber. Those elements aside, this left no more impression on me than passing air.

Hands up who has owned this for nigh-on 30 years? Just me then?! Surprised to see such an obscurity here, still play it quite regularly for the vibes (literally). I really enjoy its "cinematic" style even though this has its detractors in the peanut gallery here; also features one of Nick Cave's finer tunes and the fabulous voice of Billy Mackenzie. Funny how I knew Barry Adamson from this but not Magazine until recently! Hope you all enjoyed it

kinda all over the place.

# 267 : It's not as bad as the cover, or the other reviews would have you believe, however, I feel like sometime this list mistakes "you must listen to this ALBUM before you die" with "Hey this was popular once, or had a couple hits on it" with importance.

I can see there is talent but it just drones to my ears

Maybe better than the other one but still confused and bored me. Don’t get the concept

- Hmm, weiß nicht digga - War für mich in manchen Teilen zu narrativ und zu unmusikalisch. Versteht mich nicht falsch. Ich finde Filmmusik und auch Songs und Alben mit inhaltlichen Konzepten mega. Aber hier wars mir dann doch zu dolle oder auf eine Art und Weise, die mir einfach nicht gut gefällt. - Wenn es dann stringent musikalisch wurde, wars häufig irgendwas zwischen Acid Jazz-Fusion, Electronic-keineahnungwas. Schon irgendwie spannend, aber leider für mich die gute musikalische Art von spannend. 2/5

- Fühlt sich definitiv an wie ein "soundtrack to an imaginary film". Und da wäre es wahrscheinlich auch besser aufgehoben, denn als Album zum Runterhören fand ich es zwar nicht total schlecht, aber es hat mich zwischendurch schon etwas Überwindung gekostet weiterzuhören (z.B. "It's Business As Usual"). - Insgesamt wars okay

This was kind of a slog for the most part - not much more than background music - but there was just enough interesting variation and creative flourish to spare it from a score of 2. Wasn’t interested enough to listen through a second time, though.

As with Moss Side Story, I loved this. It's amazing, I think. Each track paints such a picture. I'm going to listen to Soul Murder now because I want more Barry Adamson!

I am totally diggin’ what this Barry Adamson cat is puttin’ down!

Wowee! Whatever I was missing in Adamson's Moss Side Story, I have found in spades in Oedipus Schmoedipus. A compelling listen from start to finish. Hands down, this is a thumbs up!!

No idea what I was getting into, but Set Controls For the Heart of the Pelvis came out of the gate with such a groove that pegged my ranking needle on a 5. Incredible! Then that familiar Spooky sample opened Something Wicked This Way Comes and I added that to my favorite Halloween songs playlist in the first thirty seconds. Really nice, atmospheric, right up my alley. Barry Adamson was sorely missing from my consciousness. Terrific!!!!

I quite enjoyed this, once I got past the first track, which I didn't like (mainly due to Jarvis Cocker I think). Very atmospheric, never boring, the 50+ minutes flew by in no time at all. It's somewhere around 3.5, but I'll round it up to 4 stars I feel.

Really weird, but good

wild and interesting album. 4 stars.

okay

Making another soundtrack to an imagined film because nobody will let me make a soundtrack to a real film

Was alright for the first couple. till the jazz shit

Very... meh. Not awful, but not particularly good either. Some really good tracks, but it went on too long

"Music" is a stretch. 1/5

Very interesting album. Not entirely sure how i feel about it but i think it was an experimental success

надолго меня не хватило

Weird stuff. 5/10

It’s a film score from a rock artist. Not bad, but it only seems to be on the list because it’s one genre imitating another (rock to film score). 3/5

At certain times, Barry invites you to a soft or lively dance in a ballroom with a jazz group playing in the background. At other times, Barry invites you for a late-night car ride. And at another point, he puts you to sleep on a bed of nails, along with your own mental discomforts. This was, without a doubt, a very ambiguous and intriguing experience.

Un album où les ambiances créent des mondes, pour moi analogues à l'univers de David Lynch: on oscille entre le familier et le décalé.

A second soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist. This must be Barry Adamson's USP. It's an interesting gimmick, but I still have no idea what the reason for this approach would be. Whilst Moss Side Story was evocative of a murder mystery, this would go better with a dark psychological thriller. It is also more enjoyable in its own right, separated from the soundtrack gimmick. It includes vocals from two iconic and cool frontmen - Jarvis Cocker and Nick Cave. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: The Sweetest Embrace Date listened: 09/06/24

This was a very unusual album, each track wildly different. I liked a few but I really disliked a few as well. Good on him for being creative but I don't think I'll visit this album again. Fave Track: Something Wicked This Way Comes Rating: 2

Weird and wonderful

3.5 pretty good not amazing

4.3

Film noir In album form, but also with creepy serial killer vibes not my thing had its moments.

a groovy background music album Favorite track: something wicked this way comes, it's business as usual

I liked the Jarvis Cocker song but that was about it

From the other reviews on here, I was expecting some sort of hellishly unlistenable soundscape, but that wasn't too bad. At least it was trying something. It would have scored higher but one of my least favourite things in music is a horny Jarvis Cocker

Alan Wake-ass music. Creepy.

I love these albums that seem to get a lot of low review scores, and then surprise, it's awesome. This had moments that sounded like background or elevator music, but they still groove and there were a few really haunting tracks as well. What a banger. 4/5

3-

Por qué me parece que ya había salido este disco? En todo caso, conocí a Barry Adamson gracias a David Lynch y Trent Reznor en Lost Highway. Igual creo que es un buen disco si estas de ánimo para esto

Weird not fun just weird and all over the place

Background music, but that's not such a bad thing. Some of it I didn't like, but I think I might give this a re-listen.

Is it Electronic? Is it Rhythm and Blues? Is it Jazz? Is it Experimental? Well.. Er, yes? Maybe? I don't know! I'm so confused! Help! Really interesting album... Do I like it? No. Was it a fun listen? Hell yeah! Such weird lyrics though; Barry, what were you smoking when you made this my friend?

Pretty good. Somewhat uneven.

fun & interesting, but a little long - also, i just dont like a skit all that much :/

Quite nice

This was a surprising one. I can't say I didn't enjoy parts of it, but I don't think I fully get it.

Struggle to find joy with this one.

Hard to describe. One recognizable song with many identifiable samples in it. 4/5

Fun, loved the interlude

I’ve never heard of him or this album, and I hope to never hear of him again. I was able to listen to a couple of songs without cringing, but most of them were a painful experience. Maybe I’m not at a high enough level of consciousness if so, I hope I never reach whatever level that would take.

I really liked the last Barry Adamson on this list but am quite surprised to see another entry from him. This album is cinematic and atmospheric but a little cheesy and more than a little upsetting. I don't think I'd go see this movie.

This was an interesting album. I really liked the first half of the first song, it would be a great intro or bumper song for a broadcast, then the lyrics come in and take it a totally different direction. Lyrics were a common issue with this album as I liked most of the instrumentals. They covered so many genres of movies themes, some were really spooky/horror. Also a weird coincidence that this is the second album in a row with a track called "something wicked this way comes" (TLC was the other) Favorite track "Set controls for the heart..." 3/5

Strange conceptual shit. Couple good tracks

The album is kind of all over the place. Alternative? There’s literally a jazz standard on here. Some tracks are really good, but as an album…

Album is good. Not sure i needed to listen to it before I die....but here we are.

I enjoyed 75% of this a lot more than I thought I would. but the parts that yanked me out of my enjoyment cost it a point. I never expected this to be as old as it was.

Seriously, what the fuck is this doing on a list of albums that everyone should hear? Its not good. 1/5

A little too creepy at times. Overall, interesting to listen through once.

Interesting experience. This is the kind of weird shit eclectic shit I expected there to be more of on this list. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I'll ever listen to it again.

Wow. Front to back I've never been able to feel a story through music as vividly as this album. Set the Controls as the front and ending credits does a great job. Something Wicked feels like a character introduction. It's business as Usual introduces conflict and dirty Barry turns it up a notch. The track is noisy, claustrophobic, sinister, and kinetic. Achieved in the Valley of Dolls is clever and triumphant. Vermillion Kisses is a worthwhile interlude. The big bamboozle is big and boisterous. The Sweetest Embrace is the finale and mourns the ending of the story and the death of innocence. Then the album ends with a well-timed credits track, it doesn't overstay it's welcome and leaves the listener on a positive note. I think that the three songs with lyrics were all excellent. The album gives enough space that it isn't a 50-minute assault. It builds things up and the transitions, like that between the smooth tracks like Miles or a moment of Clarity, feel organic. Rather than a roller coaster with twists and turns, it feels like a lifetime with ups and downs, fasts and slows. This album surprised and impressed me over and over again. I won't be listening to it often, but I will certainly revisit in whole when I want to experience the rich soundscape that it is. As a concept and as it is executed, I believe that it is near perfect.

Weird at times, but I ended up liking it overall. Based on the wiki description I thought it was going to be bad.

First three tracks are great, particularly "Something Wicked This Way Comes" which I knew I had heard before. It's on the Lost Highway soundtrack apparently. That whole soundtrack is actually kinda similar to this album, including the presence of Atticus Ross, the guy you know is in Nine Inch Nails but couldn't pick out of a lineup. Anyway that's the end of the good bits. Apparently this artists whole deal is to make soundtracks to films that don't exist. The tracks with the vocal samples/takes are weird to the point of being disturbing ("It's Business as Usual" and "Dirty Barry" on top of that list). I see what he's going for but it would make a lot more sense if there was a film to attach to all of it. I think that's a good thing but I certainly don't want to listen to those types of tracks more than once. The whole middle of the album is mostly just this type of thing. The ending is slightly better, but the lounge singer with what sounds like some sort of a Korg sample backing track in "The Sweetest Embrace" makes me think of some really forced scene out of a Tarantino or Lynch movie. Again, it belongs in a film, so I guess it works. This is an art piece, not really an album you want to sit down and listen to for its musical quality. It absolutely achieves the feel of a soundtrack. I've been rating albums based on the criteria of wanting to listen to them over again, and I have no desire to listen to this again really. It gets an extra star for accomplishing what I assume is its goal.

It was designed to be a movie soundtrack and ends up being background music. Interesting in places but not for me. I don't think this should be in a list of important albums.

I like some of it, but did I need to hear this before I die? Is that a rhetorical question? Favorite song: the big bamboozle

Boh, non capisco

Good grooving tunes, Not really something I must listen to. 3 stars

Horrible experience to listen to, BUT bonus point for being a creative idea

This is an oddity of an album, starting with the fact that I hadn't heard of Barry Adamson before. He's regarded as a musician, writer, composer, photographer, and filmmaker, who's worked with Magazine, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Depeche Mode. His solo albums tend to be described as soundtracks for imaginary films, and Oedipus Schmoedipus is no exception. Much like a soundtrack album, various styles are at play, ranging from funk, lounge, big band, and spoken word. Not all of it works, such as the dissonant nature of "Dirty Barry" with the horn blares and "It's Business as Usual" combining found audio recording with piano string manipulation reminiscent of Henry Cowell's "The Banshee". But it's at least kept interesting throughout the runtime, with the tracks aligning to how such a movie would sound. Overall it's a very niche album where I'm not sure of its inclusion on this list of albums you must hear before you die, but I don't regret listening to it once. In that sense, it's much like a movie you see once and probably not revisit unless you genuinely want to.

Nr. 167/1001 Set The Controls 2/5 Something Wicked 3/5 The Vibes 2/5 It's Business As Usual 1/5 Miles 3/5 Dirty Barry 1/5 In A Moment Of Clarity 3/5 Achieved In The Valley 3/5 Vermillion Kisses 2/5 The Big Bamboozle 2/5 State of Contraction 3/5 The Sweetest Embrace 3/5 Set the Controls Again 2/5 Average: 2,31 Interesting, in that you don't know what the next song will bring. Jumping from something that sounds like a crime thriller to an upbeat swing number to a song that sounds like a fairytale audiobook. Still I won't listen to this ever again.

Ok as background music. Some of it was a bit much. 2/5

Has some really really great moments! 3.75

Really interesting! So 90s in places, sometimes lapsing into a more classic style of jazz. Didn’t hear Nick Cave’s vocals at some point? I think I did

All a bit weird. Maybe good of you know that sort of thing.

I don’t know what I thought this was going to be, but 90s templates and layers was not what.

Kind of cool to have an album that’s like a fake movie score, but ended feeling kind of like stock music?

Interesting for sure. Very weird. Loved one song I’d heard before, but overall just way too weird for me.

It’s fine for moody, jazz influenced soundtrack-adjacent work. Some good samples. I’d never heard of the artist and missed hearing the record back in the day, so not having the benefit of repeated listening, it’s hard to judge. It has a cool vibe. Adamson is a fan of instrumental music and is clearly inspired by his musical influences, sharing that love unabashedly all over this record.

The handsome prince did WHAT??!? This album was just ok. Kinda all over the place

i thought this was gonna be like a cool cocteau twins 90s new wave goth album based on the cover but ts was so lame

Some background chillin and some oddities

Had a few good moments. Interesting. Please let the next thing be a 5 I’ve never heard of, I need a win!

Never heard of this guy, but see that he worked with MAGAZINE and Nick Cave. First listen, I LOVE THIS ALBUM, instant fav and I'll dive deeper into his catalog. 4 stars no problemo.

Áhugaverð ....

I should hate it, I wanted to hate it, but this thing is a goddamn journey. A good party.

had no idea what to expect with this. artsy. would put on while cleaning the house or doing homework.

Artsy af

Very very cool

Fine i gusse? Idk i'm too adhd for this instrumental shit anyway

Neat

Interesting concept album. A little uneven, but not bad listening.

Interesting album but probably wouldn’t listen to that often

I thought the first two tracks were ok. I recognized the one from Lost Highway, not from the film just that I had heard it before. The rest was forgettable, although some of it could also could be fitting in a Lynch or film noir soundtrack. Quite a blend of styles, but seems to be primarily Art/Jazz which is evidently a thing, just not my thing. 2/5

If Sophocles were a music producer no doubt this would be the theme music of Oedipus Rex. You can just imagine him walking around Thebes with this playing and him saying “yeah, I killed my father and mounted my mother! You fuckin plebeians got a problem with that?” Still…this was a tough listen and certainly not worthy of making the list. Interesting yes. Strange yes. And I appreciate the Nick Cave connection with Adamson being a former member of the Bad Seeds. But nothing I’m gonna repeat listen. Schmoedipus indeed.

Did I need to start my day picturing what Joe Cocker’s O face looks like? I did not. This album was hard to pin down, I guess you could say. It transitioned from what can only be described as ‘evidence for a murder trial’ into something you’d hear while on hold with AT&T.

Listening on headphones on a plane and the dude talking on the first track freaked me the fuuuuck out. Some grooves on this I guess, but do not anticipate another listen in my future.

Well this was an interesting listen! I can see why Lynch enlisted his talents to score Lost Highway. Still have a hard time understanding why this is an album I must listen to before I die… though I briefly considered a 3 based on the whiplash experienced going from the insanely weird/creepy/terrifying It’s Business As Usual to the upbeat/jovial Miles. At the end of the day I can give props to someone who is scoring movies that were never made, but not likely something I will revisit. 2.25/5

I mean, it's fine. I didn't make it very long, though. Each song seems to be a single mildly interesting idea that's just repeated until it becomes numbingly dull. This isn't for me. I also really don't like the skeezy spoken vocal parts. They're really gross.

A wide variety in this album. The first few songs were kinda rock, then Business as Usual was a weird ambient, almost horror soundtrack like song. Next we moved into a smooth jazz thing. Then more experimental stuff. It felt like less of a cohesive album and more of a collection of disparate songs. Not a bad listen though

Jeg tror, at jeg foretrækker denne frem for den sidste vi havde med gode gamle Barry - måske fordi jeg vidste, hvad jeg skulle forvente denne gang

Endnu engang nød jeg egentlig pladen, men det er satme all over the place og jeg kan ikke regne ud hvad det laver på listen. TO Barry Adamson plader virker altså som et weird valg

Nu er jeg også ved at få nok af fiktive soundtracks 😅

Cool weird spoken word/sound clip/soundtrack with a ton of talent and styles. It’s a ride.

not bad for background music, but not something I'd pick to listen to every day

Nope. Complete waffle

Curioso disco.

Interesting and varied enough for one listen, but I don’t need to return to this one. A few of the tracks got on my nerves but most were chill, a few cool bits

What, a mashup of Henry Mancini, Marilyn Manson, Barry White monologues and Ye? Soundtrack for an imaginary film - know a dumb idea when you have one - no fun on this one at all.

Never heard of the guy. My better half screamed 'Enough of the Jungle drums' in the middle of Dirty Barry. As previous the algorithm provided better songs.

Disappointed I can't leave negative stars.

It's good for background music but meaningless for anything else.

Wow. Nobody can accuse this album of having all tracks that sound the same! I LOVED track 1, thought tracks 2 and 3 were meh, then had to skip track 4 because it was so creepy. Really struggling with how to rate this because I have very strong feeling in both directions about various tracks. Guess that makes this a 3?

Overall I quite liked this. Some weird stuff butmmore accessible than expected. An artist I’d never heard of. Nice sampling of the 1970’s on-hit wonder “Spooky” by the Classics IV on track 2.

Also hated this, but I appreciated its inventiveness. One star for existing and a second star for trying something new.

Some good stuff in here. Extra star just for Nick Cave and Jarvis Cocker.

What in the David Lynch

Interesting album. This one was all over the place. Didn't know what the next track would bring.

Too many tracks I hit skip on. It did have some really good songs, but this definitely doesn't belong on a list like this

I actually have no idea how I feel about this after listening. It's pretty long and it jumps around so many ideas, even if individually they can be fairly interesting, as a whole it feels too disjointed.

don't know what to say - some of it is surprising gold (Miles, The Sweetest Embrace) other songs are crap. Overall, needs a couple of listens 0 there is room creativity here.

I usually enjoy experimental albums, especially if they're written with some over-arching story and them in mind. Unfortunately, I think this album takes the experimental side of things too far. The songs feel so disjointed that the theme/story were lost to me, which made it hard for me to listen to the discordant sounds of some of the songs. I think experimental albums are fun and interesting. But I don't believe at all this is an album someone has to listen to before they die.

So groovy. Loved learning the history behind this record and the strange context it came from

Epic

Good album. Various styles mixed and mashed but works well some nice guest appearances

Unexpected.

#17 Barry Adamson - Oedipus Schmoedipus Acid Jazz, Trip Hop Trip Hop, Dark Jazz, Spy Music, Lounge, Spoken Word Bit of an odd choice for this list. I'm not sure why this album is here over other more important and well known acid jazz albums. It's good, don't get me wrong, but it also doesn't really have a good idea of what it wants to be. Favourite Track: Achieved in the Valley of Dolls Least Favourite Track: Dirty Barry

Yeah? And?

Interesting concept, well produced. I would watch this fictional movie based on this 'Soundtrack'

Vielseitig schräg

This album wa impressive because it oscillated between funky fun 90s music and some of the most unsettling and eerie tracks I’ve ever gotten on this list. Like vibes ain’t nothin but the vibes was fun and then business as usual made me turn on all of the lights in my house. I was dozing off in the second half due to sobering up but I remember enough to give this a 4 comfortably.

Nope

Creepy album cover for a seemingly innocent jazz album. My expectations were met but oh my lord did I think this was going to be something else. Also like working my way through and it and oh my God this turned into creepy jazz.

This was kind of cool but just ok for me. Instrumental vibey tracks.

Some really interesting ideas on this album. But like the other Barry Adamson album on this list (Did we really need two?) it's still the fact we're listening to a few film-score tracks for different non-existent movies. Lots of sound that might be better if they were, indeed, used in movies instead as music on an album

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Barry Adamson before. I’m not entirely sure what to expect of this album. The name Oedipus Schmoedipus makes me a little wary. Oedipus was a bit of an odd fellow, wasn’t he. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Sweetest Embrace This was a really pleasant album. It felt alt-rock at times, and instrumental jazz at others but somehow it works really well. It even has tracks that sound closer to an orchestral soundtrack. The lack of vocals in a lot of the songs really helps the music shine, and the tracks that do include singing can be appreciated all the more for it. This album is so versatile, spanning many genres yet tying together fantastically. This surprised me, and I like it a lot.

I thought this was fine. A bit jazzy a vibey in parts, a bit old school movie numbers in others with some grating voice overs and a decent Nick cave song near the end. Overall though fairly forgettable there are other albums in the 1001 I've liked less but thought they deserved their place more.

nope

Big fan. Interesting and novel.

Not bad but actually was more excited about what Spotify cued up after it finished...lol

Good stuff.

Entirely too much moaning. Adamson’s album, styled as a soundtrack to an imaginary movie, works well when it leans into the instrumental aspects of a score. The spy/noir jazz is smooth, deadly, and bombastic, and definitely worth listening to again. However, some of the more experimental tracks are too avant garde for the casual listen, and are deeply creepy and/or sexual. Overall, a tongue-in-cheek, darkly comedic noir soundtrack that lands in some places and misses in disturbing ways. Stand out tracks include “The Vibes Ain’t Nothing But The Vibes”, “In A Moment of Clarity”, “Vermillion Kisses”, “The Big Bamboozle”, and “The Sweetest Embrace”.

När det blir Nick Cave relaterat blir det genast bättre.

I listened but I don’t remember liking it…

I liked parts of this one, sort of.

Didn't like most of it. I kept losing interest and it kept pulling me back with weirder songs.

had to listen to it like 4 times to make up my mind and it got better each time

i’m confused, humored, and enlightened

This was not my first taste of Adamson, but wow is this one incredible. He mixes so many different styles on this one. There is a DJ Shadow like quality to this, only more in the "art rock" vein. Not his best, but an excellent part of his catalog 9.1/10

Some cool tracks, some ugly tracks.

Some decent stuff, but a bit weird for my taste. 3/5

It starts strong, but by the time you get to Dirty Barry, you're wondering what's happening, and then you're inexplicably thrown into a spoken word segment, before resuming the rest of the music you were hoping for. Maybe there's a grander tale to be told here, but I'm missing it. This album is a little all over the place, too disparate and incoherent for me. Despite that there are some good tracks: Set The Controls, Vibes, The Big Bamboozle, other tracks do have some great moments but they just never seem to come together.

This guy again. Another phony soundtrack. I like this one better, but not by much. 2 stars for the Dacid Lynch connection. I can't ant possibly give it any more than that.

a bit under control but it was a fun and interest listen and had few songs i kinda liked but overall not music i gonna replay anytime soon

tem umas músicas legais mas ...

Don’t know why this is here honestly

I love me some Barry Adamson. I love his style, I love how he blends dark jazz with lounge and trip hop in cocky, too cool for school attitude. I think I slightly prefer Moss Side Story over this one, but they're both a lot of fun.

Interestingly weird noir soundtrack, but nothing that made me lose my suspenders.

I can't see why there's 2 Barry Adamson on this list, but a little friday spy music never killed anybody! Cool stuff!

A lot of fun listening to this one.

lo trovo ripetitivo e a volte noioso, non è il mio stile per niente. C'è anche una punta di jazz che in questo contesto non mi piace molto. Ho apprezzato la canzone "the sweetest embrace"

Was always gonna be quirky! Set the Controls.... I liked it Something Wicked... Chill out Jazzy The vibes - slow chill out It's business - interestingly creepy Miles - talented. Piano jazz Dirty Barry - not too experimental jazz Overall, for the artistry and innovation, I'll give it 4

No like, what the actual fuck?

Matrix vibes Cinematic Attic is Ross!

Some of this could be a Bond movie soundtrack, mid century lounge, jazzy funky cool sound, love it.. Then "It's business as usual" and "Vermillion Kisses" We get a little musical theater.. Well it's different I give ya that. Falls somewhere in the middle for me, I don't think I'll listen to entire album but I did bookmark a song.

Dark, mysterious, occasionally unsettling compilation of music and songs/ spoken word / scary people.

Like an eclectic mix tape. Some real highs and some deep lows.

I didn't really like this much. It was too jarring the different styles of music and the lack of any sort of flow. And I didn't find any of the parts that were decent that compelling, either. Not for me.

Outside my normal listening realm, but good.

When “Something Wicked This Way Comes” came on it took me directly to Lost Highway, which is funny because I don’t know this artist by name or reputation. The whole thing smacks of David Lynch. But to look at his pedigree and similar artists I’m not at all surprised to find that I like it. I was also not surprised to find Nick Cave guesting on the penultimate track. From the moment I started listening to this album I wanted to throw on Let Love In. They kind of go hand in hand. The spoken word track was a little too bizarre for me. But otherwise I really enjoyed this from start to finish.

This was decent. I wasn't super interested in every track, but it had a few good moments. Not something I'd be against listening to again, though I don't think I would seek it out.

I'm not super into "cinematic" music, but this was decent. I liked "It's Business as Usual" quite a bit though. When the music is darker, I'm more into it. 3/5

imaginary soundtrack haunts hurts hovers like petals falling down

not for me

The album got off to a great start. My immediate reaction was that this album was going to be a 4. But as the album dragged on, I became progressively more uninterested and frustrated that is was still playing, counting down the tracks until it was over.

Something I would have played in college. Noise, spoken word... Otherwise unremarkable.

it ok

Bizarre, in a good way! Very experimental jazz, but I enjoyed it. 3.4

Kinda cringe.

A few nice jazz tracks interspersed with absolutely horrific noise 1/5

Wow... That was terrible

Listened to the first half, decided it wasn't for me. It's all over the place musically, but with the underlying theme of "background." Reminded me a lot of Muzak in the 70s.

Man this sucks…. totally hit or miss… first couple were good miles was my favorite. Just eary and creepy

Really strange album. It starts off with some absolute nonsense spoken word stuff, but eventually mixes in some borderline great jazz music. Overall not a fan though. 2/5 Might listen to "Miles" again.

Remarkably cool and a fantastic new discovery! 4/5

actually BETTER THAN EXPECTED. i came in expecting some shitty indie rock album (no clue why?? average reviews are quite low) i enjoyed this. this album, for me and my tastes, was different and sort of weird. but i liked it. some songs DO feel like "background music" as reviewers comment, but others feel like "a soundtrack for a movie that doesn't exist" like others say. overall, a fun experience. 6.5/10

Not really sure what genre this one was. Okay, only really enjoyed the songs with hip-hop inspired drum beats.

Album 293 of 1001 Barry Adamson - Oedipus Schmoedipus Rating : 4 / 5 Favorite Track : Vermillion Kisses / The Sweetest Embrace Conceived as a soundtrack to an imaginary film. Interesting and unique. It is great and then sucks and then great again. A bit of so many things. Some trippy stuff. I was so ready to pan this album then here I am liking it. Another one of those silly British bands.

это очень странная работа, но что-то в этом есть

Надо ещё как-то вернуться. Потому что интересный конечно концептуально чувак, но мне кажется, я что-то упускаю.

я понял, что ничего не понял

Interesting. Diverse. Smooth jazz to Jim Morrison to therapy session. Got thru most of it. Won’t go back.

it's dark and cinematic, very 90s, loads of samples, very gynophobic and sex charged. It feels like you've heard every song before somewhere, but then added a bunch of sex/romance stuff on top of it. It's not for me, I wouldn't want to listen to it again.

Yeah... Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this genre today? Couldn't really enjoy any of the songs.

iiiiii liked it!!!!!

Very cool, apparently his Moss Side Story is even better. Off to have a listen.

not my thing but I've listened to it

rollercoaster - some I loved some I loated

Tried to hate this. Can’t say that I did. Don’t care to listen to it again but I played it through. I didn’t think any song grabbed me but it kept me interested. Also, I have Visage on my playlist. Did not realize Barry Admason was in Visage an ok New Wave band.

I liked a couple songs but the vibe was very…. Off putting

Tandon Scale Rating: 1 Standouts: Something Wicked This Way Comes, Miles, The Big Bamboozle, Set the Controls Again Foot Notes: 1 What a fricking weird project this is “soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exist” it sounds like a detective movie at times 2 Filled with skippers for me Would I Listen Again: no for me dawg Album Cover Rating: (1-5) 1.5 Album Name Rating: (1-5) 4

Oooff. Yeah I would have turned this album off if I wasnt trying to listen to the whole thing. I understand the move sound track idea, but this doesn't have anything interesting or strong to me to be next to these other albums. Feels like background music.

Strange.

I thought this sounded like a score! I can see it working in that context, but didn't enjoy it just as an album to listen to.

This album has potential but i think i need to be in a different headspace to listen to it. It's definitely on the 'out there' spectrum.

fine, vermillion kisses was an interesting listen but not revisiting otherwise

Can't believe I'd never heard of this guy before now. Had to look him up and see more of his works. Saw this came out early 90s. Sorry I missed it then, it would have been a staple of my more drug-addled days.

Weird as hell, but a fun ride.

When I saw that the name of the first track was called Set the Controls for the Heart of the Pelvis, and that Jarvis Cocker was involved, my interests were piqued. Yet it came as a sort of surprise that, for the first half, Oedipus Schmoedipus barges through with a relentless energy, picking up a fusion of rock, dance and trip-hop tropes and mixing it with the soundtrack scoring tendency that Barry Adamson had mastered at this point. Its momentum shifts and stylistic changes threaten to halt the trajectory but it is ultimately balanced out and what stands is a surefire collection of frequent greatness. Favorites: Set the Controls for the Heart of the Pelvis, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Vibes Ain't Nothin' But the Vibes, It's Business as Usual, Miles, Achieved in the Valley of the Dolls, The Big Bamboozle, The Sweetest Embrace.

another adventurous listen. mr. adamson seems to have invented a genre all to his own, that of pseudo soundtracks. multiple genres are displayed here along with soundbites of what seems to be a movie. pretty interesting and always a good listen when he is involved.

Yeah, I kinda like these. They're fun.

Too long, and most of it was uninteresting

I haven't heard of this artist before, but turned into a fun musical journey

Very interesting, cool concept. Unfortunately it leads to some of the tracks just sounding like background music and the tracks with talking over them are annoying. A few tracks were great though.

Eerste nummer is nogal meh, maar het tweede nummer is juist wel fijn. Een soort jazzy instrumentaal nummer. Nog nooit van deze man gehoord, blijkbaar de bassist van Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. The vibes ain't nothing but the vibes, is puur vibes man, vibe vibe vibe Best wel veel nummers zijn zeeeeer jazzy, heel erg fijn! Dingen als Dirty Barry zijn mij dan weer te abstract. Dat is te experimenteel/jazzy voor mij. Dat is meteen mn grootste kritiekpunt, er zijn ontzettend vette nummers hier, maar ook zoveel rare experimenten die flink mislukken wat mij betreft. Ik ga dan toch voor de som der delen: lekker gemiddeld. Wel echt blij dat we eens een album hebben dat geen britpop of rock is zoals 60% vande lijst. En ik denk voor de durf en het experiment dat dit album is ik het uiteindelijk toch 4 sterren geef, simpelweg omdat het echt iets anders doet, veel van de nummers een soort film noir ervaring bieden en ik gewoon van jazz houd. FAVO: Something wicked this way comes, The vibes ain't nothing but the vibes, Miles, The sweetest embrace

That got real weird real quick

Great discovery. He also listened to Massive Attack

opet neka soundtrack muzika

I enjoyed this one, a completely new one on me. Something a little different but very catchy, if a little dark in places. Vocals reminded me a bit of Jarvis Cocker

Enjoyed the first track. Not so sure after that but didn’t finish the album so this could be an unfair rating. 2*

Interesting enough. Not great though.

Interesting concept.

I mean... I find this very lightweight musically, doesn't do much, doesn't go anywhere. Grand use of samples and great soundscaping, but very linear. Superficial? Made it half way. Not terrible music, not offensively bad, just a hackneyed waste of time to listen to. Harsh.

Some of this was kind of okay but most of it was terrible. I don’t need to listen to music to make me feel anxious, I’m plenty anxious on my own.

Very weird. Too weird and all over the place for me.

Didn’t actually mind it. Got too hyped up as being bad. Plus I’ll like anything Jarvis is involved in. Simpsons: No

Assumed this would be horrific from the album title. It wasn't as bad as I expected. But found it quite boring, and really dragged on. I'll give it 2 stars for not being terrible, and for some great song names that sound like something we'd come up with.

кино ебаное. буквально. Барри Адамсон рил гений, сделать альбом как фильм это надо уметь. я в целом люблю такую кинематографичную музыку, арт рок или вроде того, под которую закрываешь глаза и музыка визуализируется у тебя в голове. а концепция этих альбомов вообще заключается в том, что это саундтрек к несуществуещему фильму. тут блин в альбоме скримеры есть, саспенс какой то. я реально пару раз шуганулся. очень сильная атмсофера, погружает шо пиздец. ещё и музыка на некоторых треках разрыв ебала. но только как же сложно послушать этот альбом. я не нашёл его ни на одном стриминге, на ютубе он забанен, даже блин в перезаливе в вк, где у него 2 прослушивания (реально 2), и то заблокирован второй трек альбома. но в целом остался прям под впечатлением. короче пизда оценка - 9/10

That was weird and bad.

Sorry Barry Adamson, I had a good time with your last album that's on here. But this one went above my head 😂 I think my fault, not yours

what the fuck

PINK FLOyd esque, more experimental, random

I found this more diverse in sound, but as a result, much more disjointed than Moss Side Story. Enjoyable but not some evocative. Favorite track: It's Business as Usual

Somewhat interesting but a slog

I don't think I liked it but this is the experience I'm here for

not sure what I'm listening to, but funny around

I couldn't get into this. Just weird, eclectic lounge or soundtrack music.

Confused

Não sei o que dizer... Só sentir

Oh boy. Well, when you go into an album called Oedipus Schmoedipus I guess you gotta be prepared for strange. This album was weird to say the least. Not necessarily weird bad though, you can tell everything on this album is very intentional - I just don’t think I really understand it. I also don’t feel inclined to want to understand it though.

Just why?? Yeah never heard of this artist and I wish it had stayed that way . If I didn't hear this for a 1000 years, it would still be too soon. Waste of my time

Really liked it, really weird but in a really interesting way

Some songs were okay, but some were highly annoying

Encefalic Trip

2/5 nope

Kind of felt like 90s computer game music at points.

Not quite as bad as I thought it might be, based on the song titles. But I was also working so didn't really hear the lyric.

neke cudne vecina jako nice

Achieved in the Valley in the Dolls i The Sweetest Embrace su solidne, al ostalo je ili elevator music ili neki artsy shit koji mi ne pase bas.

Fabulous album of potential movie soundtracks, a complete surprise to me as no idea who Barry Adamson was. Now I can't get tracks like Miles out of my head. It's not just the memorability of the tunes, it is their diversity and the imaginative arrangements. Instantly likeable

Eeeeeediupis. Smeeedipus

Pretty sporadic

Pretty good but pretty weird

4/5. It's hard to understand what kind of genre this is but each song has a dark undertone that I love the vibe of. A review I saw described the songs as "homicides if taken form" and what a great way to describe them. Even the upbeat and calm ones feel more psychopathic than the dark and heavy ones. This is great backdrop music for drive through a dark wood or in an abandoned town, if you wanna scare yourself even more. The only negative is that I don't want to get scared all the time and this isn't always a mood lol but gosh darn what a mood!

When I finished Murder Ballads, I asked myself "If Nick Cave took a shit on the floor, would it make the 1001 albums list?" Turns out, it didn't even have to be Nick Cave, his bandmate would do. Jokes aside though, this guy clearly has musical talent that comes through on the tracks where he isn't trying to shock or weird out the listener. I can see why only David Lynch actually used his movie-soundtrack style music in an actual movie soundtrack. 3/10, not for me.

Maybe a couple alright songs but mostly pretty weird. 4/10

Something Wicked This Way Comes State of Contraction The Sweetest Embrace

burner!

I loved this film!

Like a lot of others, I’m intrigued at this albums inclusion on the list. Another reviewer made the point that most of these odd picks are late 90’s, early naughties, usually British albums that have not been vindicated by history. I am left wondering whether or not this was nixed from later editions. As music, this is mostly enjoyable. The weirder tracks worked well at telling what little story is discernible and the more regular tracks were mostly fun little cod-Jazz, although I could have done without the version of Miles, the only actual Jazz standard on here, which Adamson has misnamed, intentionally or not, I can’t tell. My biggest problem is with the concept rather than the music. Making a soundtrack to a fake movie is unique, or would be if Adamson hadn’t done it four or five times by this point. But it doesn’t actually sound like any film scores I’ve ever sat down to. It’s supposed to be a Noir I guess, but so much of the songs sound so un-Noir-ish that it took me a couple of tracks to get that concept. Although, I praised the use of weirder tracks to tell the story, thinking specifically about the tracks with narration, I’m not sure they actually work as either music to be listened to independently of the album’s context, or as incidental music for a film. It’d be a little weird to have scenes from a film just pasted over the soundtrack with little rhyme or reason. The only album I can think to compare Oedipus Schmoedipus to is the other late 90’s British mostly instrumental music I’ve had the chance to listen to recently, Fatboy Slim’s Better Living Through Chemistry. And I think the difference is ultimately down to personality. I get more of Norman Cook in his music than I do Barry Adamson. The only thing that we have to base Adamson’s personality on is the concept, which is just a bit weird, and the titles, which are just a bit weird. And I’m not even sure he wrote all of the titles himself, because Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Pelvis is 100% a Jarvis Cocker line. It just doesn’t feel as if Barry Adamson puts much of himself into his music, and for that I’m not sure how I feel about the album as a whole. I’m gonna go 3 stars out of five, because I enjoyed it more than I didn’t, but this is the instance so far that I most wish we could give half rankings, cos this is definitely a 2.5 if ever there was one

Industrial lounge music?

I've never heard anything like this. At times, creepy and subdued like Boards of Canada, and other times laying down an intriguing vibraphone laden track. Reading about the artist it makes sense he's influenced by movie scores.

Vibes/5

It felt like this was supposed to be the soundtrack in a James Bond movie shot from the Villains perspective and their rise to villain hood? I enjoyed the vibes, I did think they were trying something pink Floyd esque with Dirty Barry, with the discordance. It was a bit much for me. Otherwise tho, fun one time listen for me Stand out for me was “Achieved in the valley in the dolls”

A unique and enjoyable soundscape. I didn't expect to hear Jarvis Cocker on there, so that was a nice surprise. Was also a bit surprised to actually recognise bits and pieces from throughout the album. Interesting, at the very least.

This almost alternates between quite good and WTF. Altogethter , it's 3/5 in by book.

Very good

Après deux albums de lui, je peux dire que je ne suis pas sûr d'être un grand fan. Certaines pièces sont super bonnes et sonnent vraiment comme une pièce d'un film où il y aurait de quoi d'important qui se passe. D'autres sonnent comme un prétexte pour faire une pièce un peu plus weird qui s'en va nulle part. C'est un concept intéressant, mais selon moi l'atteinte du but visé n'est pas tellement concluante. 5/10

pretty cool and interesting but then got purely instrumental towards the end and kinda weird idk

Weird. 2 stars? Maybe 1?

A bit of late 70s sound most rendered as muzac. Filler tracks consist of layers of of bustling random noises that are mostly made from instruments, typical for this period.

Liked the gospel-y elements of "Set the controls..." "Business as usual" was weird, it made me physically uncomfortable to listen to. Enjoyed some tracks, but some were too experimental for me. Strong musical/movie soundtrack vibes. 3*.

A bit odd. Didn’t hate it but certainly odd.

Holyyy moly that was unexpected and niceeeee, didn't know who he was until I heard the Nick Cave cameo

3 stars - some interesting stuff

I think this is the first album to ever scare me, as the son It's Business As Usual had me looking over my shoulder, and wasn't a pleasant experience, but in a good way, as it was really effective horror if it got me that wrapped up in it. I'd say the album as a whole is cool, it's got this neat spy thing going on that was surely a big inspiration to artists like Portishead and Goldfrapp. I'd say it started to drag a little near the 3/4s mark, but pulled me back in enough with the Nick Cave appearance. Just don't listen to this album at night, is all.

One of the most unique albums I’ve ever listened to. Like watching a film through my ears. Very fun!

Soundtrack de una película imaginaria. Está bien. Un 4, venga.

Kind of boring

A lot better than Moss Side Story, Adamson's slightly too on-the-nose concept album. A little bit MIDI and dated in places, but this has a seedy, smokey atmosphere that perfectly suited Lynch's movies of the era. The Big Bamboozle is such a torpedo; comes out of nowhere and hits you with its John Barry swagger.

Wild ride. Cool jazz, weird sounds, creepy spoken word...

3/5

Sure, ok. Skimmed this. I think I get it.

I can see vestiges of entertainment here, sure. Good title for the album.

Didn't like. Wasn't taken in by the hooks, felt plodding and boring. Didn't make it to the end.

Interesting

The music was ok but why put a bunch of half ass spoken word nonsense in there? I dont know what the hell i just listened to but it wasn’t worth 56 minutes of my time.

Barry Adamson is talented but weird and not my thing at all. The other album we had of his got a 1 because you can't ask me to connect with a fictional soundtrack and the same applies here. Most soundtrack albums are average anyway, fake ones are worse.

Astonishing. Two albums on this list by this guy, who writes film soundtracks for films that don't exist. Ironically, one of the tracks was subsequently featured in a real film. Quite a bit of variety in the soundscapes he creates, somehow manages to get guest vocals from Jarvis and Nick Cave on here which was an unexpected treat, but I can't bring myself to give this any more than a 2.

Kind of Jazz? Rock? album. Not very familiar with this sound. Instrumental. *Set The Control For The Heart of The Pelvis : Like this one -8/10 *Something Wicked This Way Comes : Cool drums, bass, fun -9/10 *The Vibes Ain't Nothing But The Vibes : More chill, very sexy talking voice, cool vibe -8/10 *It's Business As Usual : This man left his wife?, bro kind of scary, she wants him so baddd -5/10 *Miles : Why is it cheerful now, a bit boring at first the rest not bad -6/10 *Dirty Barry : Spooky, long, not much -5/10 *In a Moment of Charity : Slow -5/10 *Achieved in the Valley in the Dolls : Cool bass, more fun -7/10 *Vermillion Kisses : Kind of interlude -Do not rate *The Big Bamboozle : Head bob -7/10 *State of Contraction : Wait??? -5/10 *The Sweetest Embrace : With singing!?, this man really leave his wife, cool voice tho -9/10 *Set the Controls Again : Not much -5/10 Overall this album is like 6/10 as for Fantano scale it would be a HIGH 6. It's started of really good for the first 3 tracks but the rest is mixed. Cool vibes but he left his wife, so sad.