The Pleasure Principle

Dark, progressive for its time but in the end to monotonous.

I found myself distracted while listening. It was fine but nothing really stood out to me. A lot of similarities in the tracks so it was hard to tell them apart. Cover 5/5 weird, well composed,good representation of what to expect.

Cover 6 So all the songs kinda sounds the same. I can only assume this was a pretty easy album to produce. It's a nice sound overall but very "one note."

This is the second straight day I've generated an album released on September 7th. Interesting. Anyway, other than "Cars", I didn't know any other song on this album, but it seems like I knew every song on the album. Favorite Track: "Complex".

There are some cool sounds on this album. But there aren't enough sounds. Not even cool sounds, just sounds. "Cars" is the highlight, a bold minimalist synth pop song. But "Observer" sounds so similar you expect the "Cars" chorus to start in the middle of it. Elsewhere, the synth sound from the opening track pops up fairly frequently throughout. There are probably other albums that use a consistent sound palette like this, but the fact most of these songs run their simples melodies into the ground makes it stand out a lot here. Most of the songs are good - "Conversation" stands out as one that does evolve as it goes - and the synth sounds are lovely, but by the end the similarity and simplicity of it all becomes a drag.

Pioneer of synthpop which is impressive but the world didn't need the Pet Shop Boys. 3/5.

Not very enjoyable but groundbreaking for the time im sure

i don’t love it. the vocals truly aren’t my thing. i feel bored listening. i don’t even know why but this isn’t hitting me at all. on a positive note, i really liked the dark sound of Films. i know Cars is a hit song.. it’s not bad. but Films has been the only song i loved. it gets a low 3 as it’s not terrible, still quite listenable with a lots of patience, but def not great.

This started out well - until about 3-4 songs in when it occurred to me that every song on this album is some variation of the ubiquitous Cars. No doubt this album had an outsized influence on new wave and 80s music to come but today it’s hard to appreciate because of all that eventually came. Overall a good listen and great vibe. But the songs that Spotify fed me once the album was over were ever better. Killing Moon - yes please. Sadly this one 3/5.

Synth-y. Listened to around Trocadéro and Champs de Mars. Decent songs but a bit tired by the end. Kraftwerk ?

Well that was really something. Jack White sings synth pop? I was into it for the first half hour, then it got old.

Same old thing in brand new drag? Hljóðheimurinn retrófútúrtöff. Hann sjálfur er allt í lagi blessaður, en ekkert frábær, og lögin verða aðeins endurtekningarsöm. M.E. er betra samplað með Basement Jaxx, en Cars er klassík. Rúmur þristur.

Ah yes, this has that one song I've heard a lot but keep forgetting the name (and the artist). It was alright for a synth pop album but not high for me compared to the other albums.

It's the same song over and over

The beginnings of new wave, and boy does it sound like it. Most songs were pretty similar, but interesting in the same way that Kraftwerk is. Solid album, but can't say I'll be listening again anytime soon.

new sample found. liked it but slightly repetitive.

Yes this has a real cool aspect to it and I do really like the song Cars, it just lulled me to sleep

Some great tunes but after a while it gets a little samey.

I understand how this blew minds in 1979, but I'm not the biggest fan of Numan's vocals here, or some of the instrumental tracks. But there were songs here I did like, Metal, M.E. and Cars of course. Happy to give this a 3 for it's uniqueness and influence.

Just a straight hour of new wave synth. Slightly repetitive at points but it was a fun listen. Highlights: Complex Random

An interesting sound for a couple of songs. But hard to make it through the whole album in that vein.

Okay apart from a couple of very well known tracks, as an album I found it to be a bit of an electronic yawn-fest, surprisingly boring unfortunately ⭐⭐⭐

Admit it. A lot of the songs on this album sound just like “cars”

I like Gary Nunan and he is important . And should have a presence on such a list. But this album is not the one. Are friends electric is the one. This is good. But not a must listen.

Lyrically, this is a bit conspiratorial and paranoid, all to do with a 'them' one would confront in a Pynchon novel, or a 'we' we don't really know: 'Don't let them see / Don't let them know' (from 'Films'); 'All that we are / Is all that we need to be' (from 'Engineers'). Musically, I get it, but I'm not sure I like it or that it gives me P-L-E-A-S-U-R-E. On principle tho, I can't say it's bad. Some genuine darlings: 'Complex,' 'Tracks.' Numan's voice gets stale, however, and it's all shot thru with a false sense of profundity. 'You are not reg-u-lar' (from 'Conversations'). The problem is this album is reg-u-lar. But not an everyday people kind of regular. That kind, I'm all about.

This is better than I imagined it would be, particularly as I had always thought of Gary Numan as a poor man's Bowie tribute act. There's a bit more to the Pleasure Principle than that. Having said that, I don't think any track gets close to Cars and there is a dystopian sameness to many of the songs.

Decent listen. A lot of the sounds here remind me of David Bowie's Berlin trilogy, and there were some fun moments. It was a little repetitive, both in soundscapes and musical motifs, but "Cars" is a classic.

Another retro psychodelic good album, but nothing special.

Good news: there are more Gary Numan songs than "Cars"! Unfortunately, most of them sound similar: Numan offers melodic spoken word over metallic 80s synth slides. Even though this one wasn't essential for me, I appreciate Numan's innovation, and introspective lyrics.

the interesting thing about this albums is that gary numan doesnt give a fuck about what you think though a lot of this album was kinda unremarkable tbh

This album is fun, and I can see how it may have influenced a lot of modern music. There are definitely some bops, the first song I really like is "Tracks". "Cars" also slaps. This album is interesting, but too many of the songs are duds for me to love it. It's too long. The songs I liked I really liked, so it gets points for that. 6/10

Why haven’t we, as a society, demanded a collaborative album between Gary Oldman and Gary Numan? It could be like a Seals and Croft kind of thing and they could call it…The Garys. Man…I am firing on all cylinders today. What a great idea…and the kicker? It’s the perfect band name for them… The Pleasure Principle is Gary Numan’s third LP and represents a high water mark in Numan’s recorded output. His percolating, metronomic, Kraftwerk indebted synth pop would reach its apex here, influencing the likes of Nine Inch Nails and countless others. One way that Numan succeeds where other synth pop acts of his time fail, is through the incorporation of a live drummer and bassist in his band and on record, rather than fully electronic instrumentation. The live instrumentation adds dynamic flourishes and a sense of unpredictability that is harder to obtain with fully synced electronic instrumentation. It brings a sense of humanity to a music that often feels lifeless. What the world needs is more bands that treat the synthesizer as a rock instrument; it can be an incredibly aggressive and gnarly instrument when manipulated properly. Take M83’s “Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts”, as an example: The synths on that are intense and occasionally thrashy and even if they’re using drum machines and some guitar, they still manage to capture an energy that’s uncommon in a lot of synthetic… ”Oldman/Numan”! That’s it, nailed it! Just, uh…forget what I wrote earlier about the cylinders.

Ewwww. So boring.

Metal. A couple songs decent. Same eerie sound throughout.

I enjoyed this quite a bit more than expected, it was easy to conclude the importance of this album. The final 4 tracks after Cars is where the album really impressed me, stripping away the vocals and allowing the listener to fully appreciate the synth. Asylum had a real Jon Carpenter feel to it. The first half was interesting but not as much with a few songs falling flat. 3.5 stars

I immediately realized that I should have rated my last album (Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs) as a 2 because I didn’t like it that much. Anyways, this album was pretty good. I like new wave so that’s mostly why. I agree with the other reviews that it gets repetitive, and I don’t really like albums that are mostly instrumental. “Cars”, which I already knew, was the only song that really stuck with me (probably because I knew it already).

I liked it. It gets a little samey after a while, but the style is still good. Will I listen to again: 50%

Most of the songs sound the same. Cars is definitely the standout track.

Pretty good start to the synth pop 80’s. Some really good unique songs. However a few songs I thought it was a different version of cars. I’m sure maybe he was playing with themes, but when listening to an album and you have to see the name of the song because you think it’s one you already heard, that’s a problem.

Very 80s. Some ok songs. Lots of the same.

Some recognizable songs there. S'okay

"Cars" was a great, fun song that was hugely popular when I was 19. With its robotic, technical sound it was pretty unique. I still have the 45rpm single from back then. Unfortunately, this album is lots of more-of-the-same. Tehre's several pretty good songs, and no horrible ones, but this is a one trick pony, and the trick is a bit dated. 3/5

A good album, with distracting vocals.

“I say some words…. “ Beep bump bump beep bump “I say more words…. “ Beep bump bump beep bump All these songs sound the same. It gets old hearing Gary Synth Numan. Not the worst I’ve heard, not the best. These songs by themselves mixed in with other artists would probably sound good. However, cover to cover it’s just too much of the same. Not enough variety for me. 5/10

1977 and using no guitars. Cool to see the beginnings of new wave and synth pop. A little monotonous for me- decent background music.

Few nice hits like Metal, but many songs are quite dull and meaningless

It's ok, but a bit too much of the same

Meh. Synth of the 80s. Its distinctive, but repetitive. Cars is a great track, but the rest of the album isnt memorable. 3/5

Most of this album is just a prelude to Cars

Gary Numan once held a door open for my sister at a hotel in Edinburgh. That’s all I’ve got. Clearly influential and I do love to recognise a famous sample but it doesn’t really do much for me

Defines the 80's synthesized sound. Every track sounds the same to me. Is this where EDM germinated? I think so.

Every song sounds like an intro to “Cars.”

Well, that was fun. Not much more than that other than Cars was always an ‘80’s favorite even if it was technically from ‘79.

fine. not a fan of the tinny british yell-singing. props for instrumentals and having Cars on there.

I never really cared for his vocals.

Cars is such a great new wave pop song, but most of the rest seems like atmospheric sci-fi soundtrack. It gets tiresome.

Cool, experimental. Important. It was interesting hearing this early version of new wave music, but the songs themselves were a bit too meandery for my taste.

So, this is an album of songs that sound like Cars, except the other songs aren't as good as Cars.b

Cars is an absolute banger! Cool sound on this album but not enough to bump it over a 3

so many disparate thoughts... the entire album sounds like the soundtrack to a low budget local access tv show from the early 80s. but I kind of like it. but I also sort of think it's not that good at all. I mean, we're all here for "Cars" right? it's a classic, my entire elementary school would sing it at lunch. but again... the entire album sorta sounds like an extended remix of Cars.... what's going on here? I love the spacy synth sound until I don't. I like the acoustic drums and bass, making this a real rock band that just has no guitar and a weord robotic singer with not much range. I have never been able to pull this one together - clearly. I suppose I'll admit that I just occasionally enjoy the weird almost amateurish simplicity here despite its repetitive nature. 6/10 3 stars.

New Wave is not really my jam, but this is fun enough. I did not know "Cars" was Gary Numan, killer song. Not the worst by any means.

Cars is a banger. The rest..... pretty much covering every 80s synth cliche

This is definitely a one song album. That song, “Cars” is a banger but nonetheless it suffers because almost every other song is super-fillery. It’s an okay record.

Wild that the Moog sound on Cars is so distinctively Cars, but it’s also on nearly every other track here.

It's such a cool sound that becomes so important for the following decade. However, the album runs a little too long and there's not a ton of variety song-to-song

Haha pretty wild. A pretty classic 80s sound with all the synths even tho its a 79 album. Has some classics like "Here in my Car" and was fun for a bit but ultimately got a bit repetitive.

"Cars" alone is an absolute Hall Of Fame track. And the other great songs on this album sound an awful lot like "Cars". And, Mr. Newman: I served with Thomas Dolby. I knew Thomas Dolby. Thomas Dolby was a friend - and LOVER - of mine. Mr. Newman, you're no Thomas Dolby.

i am convinced that every single album in this list is secretly the same album

okay synth and that one single

I want to like Gary Numan more than I do. Not a huge fan of his vocal delivery unfortunately, but it could grow on me. I like Cars and some of the other more instrumental ones, but overall the album drags for me a bit.

Starts off ok. Lots of 80s sounds. Not bad throughout but only a few memorable songs

Classic new wave that I will always listen to, but really not that many bangers.

My previous familiarity with Gary Numan is limited to his hit from this album, Cars, which while it was grotesquely overplayed at the time, I actually like. It's a snappy, lowest common denominator distillation of Krautrock jammed into a four minute pop song. Interestingly, that description pretty much applies to the whole album. The robotic beats and chilly synths from Krautrock are wedded to disaffected vocals and succinct pop structures, surely a formula for mainstream success. Frankly, I'm surprised that more of the tunes on this album didn't make it onto the radio. And while everything here is fairly basic, it's not dumb, incompetent or tasteless, which is what I expected. The layers of synths are artfully constructed and anchored by a strong rhythm section, with occasional dollops of strings or piano to add dimension. Maybe the reason why I find The Pleasure Principle remarkably painless is because Numan has obviously taken so much inspiration for his sound from Low-era Bowie, which I love. Unfortunately, it's equally obvious that The Pleasure Principle has been massively influential up to the present, but the signifiers, like thin metallic synths, have been imitated but almost always without any of the taste or art that informs this release. Since The Pleasure Principle is rather shallow by design, it's hard to imagine that I will ever listen to it again all the way through, but I wouldn't mind if any of these tunes came on the radio. How to rate? Well, it's a perfectly realized album, but it's ambitions are depressingly modest.

An album of songs that sounds like Cars, but are mostly not as good. Each song I can take in isolation, but I just can't take a whole album of this.

First impression: this slaps. Second impression: it is a bit repetitive in places, and particularly the song 'Conversation' goes on a bit (a lot) too long. Overall impression: enjoyed it, though. Will I listen to it again in its entirety? Maybe.

David Bowie vibes

I warmed up to this album. The vocals are very counter culture esque with their simplistic and wavering tone. The synth melodies are simple , but pretty effective and the drums and bass give a sense of structure for the synths to sit on. Favorite song: Cars

Spaceship sounds!

I have heard about him, it is meant to be good stuff but i found it extremely repetitive, and a bit dull. And it was over an hour which was not necessary

the benefit of this list being written by people who love the same shitty british pop sound is immeasurable

Might have been innovative at its time, but the cheap synth vibe was both repetitive and annoying. The poor singing did not help either. 4/10

Eemmmm, i dont know, nothi g special, a bit boring, mid mid.

It's ok, just really not my thing and gets pretty repetitive pretty quick

Ok, so for 1979, this sounds pretty groundbreaking. Almost robotic sounding, but I guess that was the intention. It wasn't incredible, I can't say I enjoyed it that much, but it was an ok listen.

Honestly, this didn't do much for me. The occasional nice beep here, fun boop there, aside, I wasn't really grabbed by anything. Indeed it was a wee bit overly repetitive in times. Cars is the obvious hit, but coming towards the end of the album it still felt like I’d been listening to more or less the same track ten times by then.

Repetitive af

dated.

Cars is the only song i really enjoyed from this album

A lot of redundancy on this album. I only really know Cars and thought it was coming on about 5 times. Every song sounds the same.

2/5

Yes, I would throw Cars on a set list. Sadly the entire album mostly bored me. Not inspired to dive into this particular rabbit hole any further.

Boring and repetitive, nothing really stood out to me. But I can acknowledge how impactful this was at the time of it's release. Plus Mr. Numan seems to really love what he does and that's important.

This is like that school field trip where you got to stay overnight at the planetarium. At first you were excited at the scientific wonders of the world, as you learned about black holes, shooting stars, and some bullshit about why Pluto supposedly shouldn’t be considered a planet. Later, when it’s time to sleep, you grow pretty tired of the space soundtrack (how could sound even travel in space? It’s a vacuum), and the twinkling stars and regular comets become pretty annoying. You don’t sleep that well.

Bit too disturbing to be background music.

Still think it's kinda weird

not a big Bowie clone fan. seams to have made all these on a six key stylaphone

Everything sounded the same

Listening once is probably worth it, but it would get very annoying if you did more than that.

seem monotonous to me

Overall kinda enjoyable, somewhat repetitive and boring. 5/10

I liked 'Cars'. The other songs, not so much. 2/5

For the love of god, someone get this man a friggin guitar!

# 579 : The Pleasure Principle The Pleasure Principle - Repetition on repeat The Pleasure Principle starts off promising enough—cool synths, slick mixing, and a vibe that feels like it might go somewhere. But then it doesn’t. What follows is slightly over an hour of sleepy upbeat feels, where every track sounds like a slightly remixed version of the last. It’s like being stuck in a futuristic elevator with a malfunctioning playlist. Numan’s vocals are flat and robotic, which might be the point, but that doesn’t make them any easier to enjoy. The repetition across songs becomes grating fast, and while the production is clean, the songwriting is anything but engaging. It’s not bad, exactly. It’s just dull. You can listen to it, but you won’t feel much while doing so—and you definitely won’t be reaching for it again. Verdict: Sleepy synths, robotic vocals, and repetition on repeat. A pleasure in name only. Best Track (if you must): Cars – a synth-pop classic that stands out, but one good track does not an album make. Closing thought: The only principle here is: if you’ve heard one track, you’ve basically heard them all.

Every song, I think "I heard this before", just to realize it sounds exactly the same as the previous track

Decent listen, but nothing really memorable about it

Liked musically what was put together but I could do w/o most of the singing.

1979: exciting 2025: boring

This was fun at first but unfortunately it soon after lost me and started feeling dragged out and repetitive.

Not for me.

Very repetitive

it’s just too psychedelic for me again. so space age and i just don’t like it

Throw out one hit wonder 'Cars' and this is just a meandering mess of a synth show.

The music that is largely regarded as the 80s sound. Cars is well known and easily the best on the album. Pretty boring and monotenous otherwise.

Thought I was in a Kraftwerk album at first. I'm afraid the formula becomes formulaic too quickly, however--slowing down the tempo isn't inventive, after all. Hard to tell if you are hearing a new song. Better in small doses. would have been 3 if only a couple songs.

Painfully dull.

Booooorrrrring

not my cup of tea

Why does this album need to be so long? How many Martian marching songs do I need? I know it's intentional but this is just weird. Cars is a big hit but without it everything blends together. 3.25/10 (1.625/5)

Very samey. Kept expecting him to say "in cars" at any moment in any song. Not necessarily a bad album and I respect it was probably very ahead of its time and clearly helped usher in new wave. But still

I can absolutely see why this is on the list. But the cover makes me feel queasy. And the vocals show very little variation while being in a range that I find curiously annoying after a bit.

Sounds like cocaine?

This is...fine? I don't abhor it but I'd probably not listen to this willingly again.

Every single song sounded the same.

Meh. It all sounds so much like Cars.

Seems to thread the needle between experimental and approachable. Obviously I had heard "Cars" before, but don't think I had ever even heard of Gary Numan. It's maybe teetering on three stars, but honestly I don't think I would listen to this again without a reason. Plus checking in on Gary on Instagram is profoundly depressing--fame has clearly fucked up his family royally.

Fun sound but a lot of it blended together for me.

Album was okay. Some fun stuff, but overall kind of repetitive. 2/5 Probably won’t listen again

20240904 Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle 2/5 I generally have problems with older albums, considered classics or genre-defining, that I reveal in this challenge, and this is a good example. The Pleasure Principle is a clear synth pop precursor, innovative for the time (1979), but it couldn’t have aged worse. Not clean production (expected for the time), and the melodies used quickly become repetitive and tiring. If I have to name a few positives, it sounds like it was a clear influence for the music created in the near 80’s and was probably modern for the standards. The use of classical instruments or synth variations is a nice touch in some of the songs too (like the violins in “Complex”), but it stops there for me. As I said before, it becomes repetitive very quickly. The synth melodies in the songs are used ad nauseam, and the songs are too long for their own good. The voice of Gary Numan is another big negative, and a singer’s voice has a major influence on how much I like a record. In summary, this is a good album to listen if you want to know the significance it had on modern music, but it doesn’t deliver anything else good in my opinion. Favourite songs: Metal. Least favourite songs: Films, Tracks, Conversations, Engineers

Its funny because I always had time for Gary Numan, but the album is actually a bit shit.

While I am a big fan of "Cars" the rest of Numan's stylings leave me bored.

I wish there was a way to do snippits of albums to show changes of an era. I can totally see why this is on here in the scope of the evolution of music, but, I also just don't want to listen to this for an hour.

Decent album but a little repetitive.

Not for me. Although cars is a banger

I wanted desperately to give this album a 3, but man does it really go on for too long which knocks it down to a 2 in my view. I think the sounds and synths are really innovative and I do like the overall tone of the album, it’s just so fucking long and it’s the same synth-y whine and wail over and over again. We also listened to this while driving an incredibly windy and steep roadway in New Zealand which probably didn’t help my patience. How did “Cars” become a radio hit? What a weird song.

This album sounds like what would have happened if the beatles were locked in a studio with a casio keyboard for a year. Not unlistenable but overly simplistic. Which is probably why, much like the beatles, it appeals to the masses. I don’t think I would go out of my way to listen again.

Poor mans Kraftwerk, can hear his influnces in loads of music but has an annoying voice and face.

Very samey, not keen on his voice.

I can see what they’re trying He got a lot out of cars

Eurgh. The quirky electro sound is cool for a track or two, but then gets so so repetitive. M.E. does sound quite good, but that's only because other people have done better things with the one bit of synth that he really gets right. Cars is the famous one, it's a bit janky isn't it? Everything feels like it goes on too long, and it's all the bloody same. 2/5, verging on a 1.

Every song sounded like “cars”

GN might belong in a book called "1001 One-Hit Wonders You Can Definitely Avoid While You're Alive" but it certainly doesn't belong in one with this particular title.

Some bad background 80s music. It's not the worst in the world but it gets annoying.

Pretty dull, probably sounded ahead of its time, but is now over 40 years old. He's not a great singer, and all the songs sound kind of the same. Not a worthy inclusion in my opinion

cars is great but the album gets monotonous quick

Kraftwerk on my mind listening to this. Felt more frantic.

A bit boring after a while

Very samey

reminds me of soviet space films pretty funky, but a bit too robotic fow me sawry

Скучный, архаичный, репетативнй звук. Одиозные ленивые вокальные партии. Интересно, что все треки звучат плюс-минус одинаково заурядно (разве что у вступительного трека начало будто предвещает нечто интересно). Но почему-то мировым хитом стала Cars. Да таким, что Ньюман "был помечен как артист одного хита". Вторым по значимости стала Complex, но там хотя бы инструментал поинтереснее. На Metal было сделано множество каверов, даже от Nine Inch Nails, хотя трек тоже унылый весьма. В общем, пускай Гэри Ньюман стал "крёстным отцом электронной музыки", но ныне пускай сидит в монастыре, в 2к21 такое слушать неоправданно тоскливо.

Boring, monotonous and lifeless. The songs are very repetitive. His melodic ideas are extremely elemental. I didn't enjoy this at all. I'm told his later works are much more interesting. I'll give them a listen.

More like Gary No-man

I really try to like most things in this list, try to at least stick them out and get through the album. I was familiar with Gary Newman just through 'Cars' which I never really liked but had never really explored much beyond that. God damn that synthesiser tone was awful and it never changed. That 'Cars' 'Bomp, De-Bomp' thing was in every song. It was slow, high pitched, boring and off putting. I can't imagine going to a club and trying to get a crowd to dance to that, it's just not good. Zero variation, either tonally, tempo wise or in terms of melody. Just this weird white guy, angular squealing for an hour. That one was a slog, I've found something that I really dislike.

This future never came. Sorry, we still have shitty cars.

Robotic. No thanks.

Listens: 2 Standout tracks: Cars Man. There are just too many god damn new wave albums on this List. I am so tired of 70's/80's synth pop. And as a repercussion, Electronica is one of my worst genres. Which is insane, because I listen to so much modern Electronica: ODESZA, Zed's Dead, Gorillaz, The Avalanches, I Monster, etc. Even stuff like Rusko, Bassnectar, Ill.gates, An-ten-nae. But no, instead of any of that, I get piles and piles of new wave: Simple Minds, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, whoever the hell Gary Numan is. This album feels devoid of any emotion. It is soulless.

Strange

This is just way too 80s experimental for my tastes.

Yeah this was just at the same song over and over. Not sure why a one hit wonder is on the list, but I fully understand why he was a one hit wonder now.

This album might have had a chance at being good if his voice wasn’t so fucking irritating. Get someone else to sing for you Gary.

Not very pleasurable, kinda boring. I'm in the 3rd song and starting to feel annoyed. Boring repetition, insert eye roll here. Has ALL the tropes of the 1980s, all of them! I guess this is what made them influential as stated in the Wikipedia. Too bad they aren't interesting. I gotta turn this off, it's making me sneer and it's a lovely morning here. I have no need for this. 1 star for being annoying.

this album is for guys who don’t know they're gay yet.

“Shark sandwich…shit sandwich!”

I love the 80s. This album represents the worst of it. So many better choices out there.

To put it in one word: boring. Every song sounds nearly identical. Repetitive, uninteresting, annoying vocals, vapid mess.

Everything sounded like a remix of Cars. By the time Cars came on, I was tired of it. I’m sure it was revolutionary at the time, but electronic music has come so so far since then.

Oh my god this week is garbage

They are all the saaaaame. And boring, to boot. I guess it's kind of cool that he was making electronic music in 1979? But that doesn't make it interesting.

Wack

This album epitomizes everything I hate about '80s music.

Cars is a bona-fide hit. The rest is terrible. It all sounded the same. It almost feels like he only wrote 1 song. 1/5

Cars is an overplayed song now and this album is shite.

very gay

This is one of the most influential albums of the late seventies. It predicts the rise of synthesiser music which came to dominate in the next decade. Although it is a full year after the Human League's Reproduction album this one captured the minds of the British public. The sound of the album is like a dystopian future and still sounds like nothing else to this day. 5 stars

Ummm, I love Gary Numan and am not sure how I’ve not discovered him until now.

New wave-versjonen av Kraftwerk, men definitivt noe eget. Har hørt mest på Replicas, men det er små marginer mellom PP og Replicas.

The song cars didn’t make a lot of sense to me when I first heard it back in 2003. However now I understand where it’s coming from – unfortunately.

Great album.

# An In-Depth Review of Gary Numan's *The Pleasure Principle* (1979) Released in September 1979, *The Pleasure Principle* is the debut solo album by Gary Numan, arriving just six months after *Replicas*, his final album with the band Tubeway Army . The album was a commercial triumph, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and reaching No. 16 on the US Billboard 200, largely propelled by the worldwide synth-pop hit "Cars" . But beyond its chart success, the album represents a pivotal moment in popular music, marking "Year Zero for commercially viable, big-selling synth-pop". ## Lyrics and Themes: The Alienated Machine Lyrically, *The Pleasure Principle* is a cold, unsettling exploration of alienation, identity, and humanity's fraught relationship with technology. While not a rigid concept album like its predecessor, Numan described the songs as "more of a collection of thoughts I'd had about the way technology was evolving and where it would take us" . The lyrics are notable for their consistent use of dystopian science-fiction perspectives. Numan masterfully employs unreliable, non-human narrators to explore themes of isolation and the desire for connection. "Metal" is sung from the perspective of an android longing to be human, encapsulating the album's core ironic tragedy: a machine yearning for the very organic flaws it lacks . Similarly, "M.E." (standing for "Mechanical Engineering") is told from the viewpoint of "the last machine on Earth," a solitary and obsolete entity contemplating its own end . This focus on disconnection is not limited to future scenarios. The global hit "Cars" uses the automobile as a metaphor for a protective, isolating bubble. Numan was inspired by observing how people behave differently when shielded by metal and glass, a prescient commentary on social atomization that feels remarkably relevant to the age of social media . The song's famous lyric, "Here in my car, I feel safest of all," perfectly captures this ambivalent comfort found in mechanical solitude. The album title itself, borrowed from René Magritte's surrealist painting (which references Freud's psychoanalytic concept), is "magnificently sardonic," suggesting that the relentless pursuit of pleasure and technological efficiency has instead led to a state of emotional numbness . ## Music and Production: The Robotic Blueprint The music of *The Pleasure Principle* is as revolutionary as its lyrics. Numan's most famous and consequential decision was to **completely abandon the electric guitar** . This radical choice, coupled with the heavy use of synthetic percussion, produced the most purely electronic and robotic sound of his career. The album's sonic signature is built on two primary synthesizers: the Minimoog, which he had used before, and the Polymoog keyboard, particularly its haunting, ethereal "Vox Humana" preset . Numan's production is characterized by a distinctly cold and mechanistic aesthetic. He liberally applied studio effects like flanging, phasing, and reverb to create a vast, disorienting soundscape . The rhythmic foundation is relentlessly motorik, with drummer Cedric Sharpley's powerful and precise percussion providing a crucial human anchor to the synthetic storm. In a surprising but effective move, Numan also incorporated solo viola and violin parts (most notably played by Ultravox's Billy Currie on "Complex"), which added a layer of classical melancholy and organic warmth that contrasts sharply with the冰冷的 synthesizers . One of the most debated aspects of the album is the **similarity in its musical motifs**. Many tracks are built upon the same basic melodic and rhythmic ideas. This repetition can be interpreted as a flaw, leading to a "sameness" across the album. However, it can also be seen as a strength, reinforcing the album's thematic obsession with mechanical repetition and functioning almost like a classical suite in which themes are introduced, revisited, and re-examined . ## Track Highlights - **"Airlane"**: The instrumental opener sets the stage with its soaring, optimistic synth lines and driving rhythm, immediately establishing the album's futuristic, guitar-free sound . - **"Metal"**: A standout track that perfectly marries a chugging, industrial groove with plaintive lyrics about an android's desire for humanity. It was later covered by **Nine Inch Nails**, a testament to its enduring power . - **"Complex"**: An early electronic ballad that reached No. 6 in the UK. Its arrangement, featuring piano and poignant viola, proves that emotional depth could be achieved with synthetic means . - **"Films"**: A track later acknowledged by Afrika Bambaataa as a major influence on the early US hip-hop scene, showcasing Numan's unexpected rhythmic influence . - **"Cars"**: The undeniable centerpiece. Driven by one of the most distinctive synth riffs in history, it's a masterclass in minimalist pop songcraft—catchy, paranoid, and utterly unique. - **"Conversation"**: An ambitious, seven-and-a-half-minute deep cut that uses a robotic dialogue to explore themes of isolation and the failure of communication between humans and their machines . ## Influence: Echoes in Every Genre The influence of *The Pleasure Principle* is so vast it can be difficult to comprehend. It is the critical link between the experimental German "krautrock" of Kraftwerk and the mainstream synth-pop and new wave that would dominate the 1980s . Its DNA can be heard in countless acts that followed. - **Synth-Pop and New Wave**: Numan's template was directly adopted and adapted by a generation of artists, including Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD, who opened for him on tour), The Human League, Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, and Duran Duran . - **Hip-Hop and Electronica**: The robotic, minimal beats and basslines of tracks like "Films" and "M.E." proved foundational. Afrika Bambaataa cited "Films" as an influence, and Basement Jaxx famously sampled "M.E." for their massive hit "Where's Your Head At?" . - **Industrial Rock and Beyond**: The album's dark, mechanical atmosphere and themes of alienation made it a touchstone for later industrial and rock acts. The most famous example is **Nine Inch Nails**, whose frontman Trent Reznor is a known devotee and who covered "Metal" . Despite this massive influence, Numan's success in the US was fleeting, leading to him being unfairly tagged as a **one-hit wonder** there, a label that completely ignores the depth and impact of this album . ## Pros and Cons of The Pleasure Principle To synthesize the critical perspectives, here is a balanced list of the album's primary strengths and weaknesses. ### Pros - **Groundbreaking Production**: The complete abandonment of the guitar, use of the Polymoog's "Vox Humana," and innovative studio effects created a futuristic sound that was years ahead of its time . - **Cohesive and Powerful Themes**: The exploration of alienation, technology, and identity from the perspective of machines is executed with remarkable consistency and a prescient, chilling accuracy . - **Enormous Influence**: Its impact on synth-pop, new wave, hip-hop, and industrial rock is undeniable, making it a true landmark album . - **High Quality of Songwriting**: Beyond the hits, tracks like "Metal," "M.E.," and "Conversation" are widely considered excellent, with AllMusic stating there is "not a single weak moment on the disc" . - **"Cars"**: It features one of the most iconic and perfect synth-pop singles of all time. ### Cons - **Stylistic Monotony**: The most common criticism is that the songs sound too similar, relying on the same synth sounds, effects, and rhythmic patterns, which can lead to listener fatigue . - **Cold and Detached Vocals**: Numan's deliberately robotic, androgynous vocal delivery, while thematically appropriate, is often cited as emotionally inaccessible and cold. Record Mirror's contemporary review noted the album leaves you feeling "numbed and clogged" . - **Dated Production Elements**: While influential, some modern listeners find the extensive use of reverb, phasing, and the specific synth timbres to sound dated compared to more organic or varied electronic music . - **The "One-Hit Wonder" Shadow**: The monumental success of "Cars" has, unfairly, overshadowed the rest of the album for many casual listeners . ## Conclusion *The Pleasure Principle* is not merely a great album; it is a foundational document of modern electronic music. It is a bold, flawed, and brilliant artifact from a unique moment where post-punk experimentation collided with a pop sensibility. Its icy, robotic surfaces conceal a deeply human heart, full of anxiety and loneliness. While its production may show its age and its sonic palette can feel narrow, its consistent quality, thematic power, and vast influence are undeniable. For anyone seeking to understand where the 1980s—and much of the pop music that followed—truly began, Gary Numan's *The Pleasure Principle* is the essential starting point. As Greg Prato of AllMusic concluded, "If you had to own just one Gary Numan album, *The Pleasure Principle* would be it" .

How has this man only achieved the status of one hit wonder? Both this album and his album Replicas are some of the best electronic music not just from the 80s but of all time. This album is a nonstop workhorse of musical creativity. No song sounds like the one that came before it. Plus it’s a no skip album with incredible atmosphere. It even has songs that feel epic and grande in scale cause he works in more classic instruments like a classy piano. Genuinely if you have a fondness for 80s electric music or just want to dip your toe into the genre, this is literally my go to album to give people who have never really gotten into electronic music. I thought at some point it would start to be too much of the same sound over and over again, but unlike more electronic albums, this really has a sense of variety and diversity to it. (Also on a weird side note, aesthetically I like this look for Mr. Numan much more than his current look. For those not in the know, he has this emo dad look going at the moment, and it just kinda reads as “mall creep” and not dark and brooding like he probably wants it to. Just a thought).

I really like the punch and boldness of this record.

Incredibly cool album. Far more than a Bowie/kraftwerk acolyte — the rhythm section adds a propulsive post punk/art punk aesthetic that elevates this from having a floating down the autobahn quality into its own thing. And unlike all the new wave synth albums that followed it, it doesn’t feel tethered to that scene. It would have sounded equally as cool released in 2006 amidst wolf parade and tapes n tapes.

I want to put this album cover on my wall. It's as elegant and cryptic as the record's title. The simplicity of the lyrics and the monotony of the singing fit well together and create immersion into this dystopian vision of the future.

I really liked this album, I regret not going to the show he played recently in my hometown. it scratches an itch in such a good way in my head haha.

So funny to hear M.E. and instantly know which bit was sampled by Basement Jaxx

4.6 I think the fact that Ive gone back in the past week and listened to this whole album 15 times, should be good enough reason for a 5 star rating. Metal and Tracks were standouts, obviously Cars is what it is. The synths didnt really sound dated like depeche mode kinda does for me, there was tons going on underneath the "riffs"

timeless and so fun

Seminal and foundational for tons of music I enjoy today. Hard not to get into this nonsense.

I have known 'Cars' since I was a kid, and always enjoyed it, but I did not know the rest of this album at all, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was interesting to hear some motifs throughout, not a common practice, particularly for electronic music. This was definitely one of my favorites so far and I will be revisiting it and exploring more of his catalogue. 5/5

Favourite Songs: Airlane Metal Conversation Random

It's not hip hop. It's electro. ⚡⚡

(96/100)

music is love

i like when it goes wowoowowoowoowowowo

Love this one. On a roll, what next Wowee Zowie?

Source for lots of samples in other tracks.

This is the kind of music robots should be making in 2026. I just assume Gary Numan was a robot who somehow transformed into a person. Synth pop. Get me to an dance club in 1981.

Surprised I had not listened to this before as I have been really getting into New Wave. I love an album that feels written by a robot. Each song contributed to the overall vibe and none felt out of place. It is hard for me to pick a least favorite, but I guess I would go with Airlane simply because it lacks Gary Numan's distinct vocals, but it was still a great opening instrumental track. Felt like the overture for the album. Will definitely listen to again and one day I hope to own it on vinyl. Favorite Track: Conversation Least Favorite Track: Airlane ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DOPE

I loved this, it's so mechanical and industrial. The repetition and synths really add to the machine vibe, but the real drums add a lot to prevent this from becoming a nauseating synth puddle and instead keep driving it forward. Airlane has that great Kraftwerk vibe and Metal is a great track too. Other favorites of mine here are M.E., Cars of course, Random, and the Bombers live track. Awesome album.

I fuckin' loved this. I'm so happy this little British boy who couldn't connect to his modern world had synth to express himself

Synth pop at its finest. Cars just scratches your brain in a very nostalgic way. 100% something you’d hear in a movie soundtrack about you guessed it - cars 🚗

This brings back a lot of memories, I had a record of hits for 1979 from KTEL that had Cars on it, and I remember playing that song over and over again, realizing now that Gary Numan had a lot of very good songs, and then my mind was blown when I heard the track that was sampled for Where's Your Head At.

A perfect album. Dark and mysterious while having a lot of pop moments.

can you hear the future coming?

this came out in the 70s. THE 19-freaking-70S!!

Absolutely surprised about how much I liked it. It's futuristic and unique. Also, always loved the song Where's Your Head At and finding out it samples M.E. was great.

I love synth-pop, and this is a foundational piece of it. Gary Numan's synth work and arrangements are spectacular, and extremely catchy on the hit "Cars". I really love the instrumental outtake bonus tracks too

Delightful

Je l’ai trouvé en très bon état et à joli prix aux 33 Tours juste avant de partir pour la Colombie. Pour moi, Tubeway Army est son bijou d’album.

Omituista, mutta samalla harmoonista. Gary Numanin ainutlaatuinen tyyli kiehtonut aina. Kappaleet ovat melko minimalistisia ja hitaasti eteneviä, mutta Numanin tapauksessa se on lähinnä plussaa, koska monotonisuus usein rikotaan yllättävillä käänteillä.

There was a brief time when all we listened to was Death from Above 1979. While reading through the liner notes, one of the reasons for the ‘1979’ was this was the year The Pleasure Principle was released. At this, my friend triumphantly yelled “Ha - I knew someone else liked that album”. Then there was a brief time when we all listened to Death from Above 1979 and Gary Numan.

Gary Numan is one of those artists that you've heard everywhere but can't place. I actually found it really fun. The sampling and vibe of it which became staples in other bands Iike was interesting. Some songs dragged a bit. The live tracks showed how cool he would have sounded live. Got to love that Car song. And Metal was really cool. Yep, 5 stars.

No puedo creer que este disco sea de 1979. Si en 2026 se escucha adelantadísimo, no me imagino qué fue para el público recibir esta música tan única, tan vanguardista, antes de la explosión musical de los ochenta. Una joya.

9/10 holy geilheit (wenn lyrics beim lied sind)

Debut solo album. Pop / Synth / New Wave. An extraordinary and deeply influential album. Right from track one the mood is set, Airlane sounds way ahead of it's time for 1979. The dystopian and almost oppressive feel mixes in with an other worldliness for such an atmospheric album. I totally identify with Numan's 'I don't fit in' vibe. Track after track hits home. Then there's Cars, what a song ! A wonderful album !

Easy 5. Sometimes a weird guy makes a perfect album.

Great listen

This is #day472 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to one of the earliest specimens of electronic music that would go on to influence the likes of Nine Inch Nails and IAMX, to say the least. Innovative and retrofuturistic, The Pleasure Principle is easily one of the genre's essential records. The obvious standouts are "Metal" and "Cars," but the whole thing is of just the perfect length to derive pleasure from. A great mix of live instrumentation, synths, and unmistakable vocals. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day473.

This is one I'm very familiar with, a little disappointed to get it on the second day, but it was bound to happen with a good handful of these. Anyway, great album all the way through, very interesting sound combining cold synths with live instruments that'd go on to influence EVERYTHING for the next 40 years directly and indirectly. Easy 5.

I knew about Cars and the importance of Gary Numan but never heard an entire album, it is awesome, still sounds futuristic today, loved it

What would be electronic music without this guy? The pleasure principle was a simple pleasure to listen to, 5/5, no questions asked ;-)

Gary Numan is a man too far ahead of his time that it's quite possible he built a time machine to bring the greatest music of the future back to the past in order to prevent WW4 from occurring (nothing can be done about the possibility of WW3 taking place though)... He's kind of like the hero humankind needs, but he only does it for mild enjoyment.

Insane.

Bänger

The synth music sounds very mechanical at first, but the delivery and the messaging are all human. And of course Cars is a legend of the dance floor.

Cool to hear the original song from a familiar sample

Gary Numan, Control 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It's Krautrock in places, it's disco in others. I would say unique on all fronts. This is one of those albums where you're likely to know a few songs like M.E. and Cars, but the others are just as good. A remarkably same-sounding album throughout but in a good way. If there's a guy who came up and said "this is new wave and I'm not gonna change styles but just keep doing this" it's Numan and he must have inspired a 1,000 acts.

Fantastic. Very 80s in the best possible way. I was familiar with the song cars, and I think it may be my least favorite on the album.

jeg elsker gary numan

Дуже сподобався альбом. Синти прям буквально місцями зрізані з Крафтверку, але тут живі ударні та бас. В результаті це створює місцями дуже класні груві моменти. Вокал у Гарі теж дуже відповідає музиці. Я точно радив слухати альбом без бісайдів, демок та додаткових треків, а лише обмежетися 9 оригінальними композиціям. Так виходить топовий насичений реліз.

I think it's fair to say that we have all been shaken by the decision taken by the user known as 'ooogram' to hand down a 2/5 rating to 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. I, too, have had to do some soul-searching to ask myself "what is a 5?". Is it only possible where technical perfection meets maximum enjoyment? Or should it be more holistic, perhaps reflecting nothing more than the listener's experience? This album pales in comparison to the masterpiece that is Simon & Garfunkel's final album, but, it is excellent nonetheless. It's so ahead of it's time that it's difficult to imagine that it was released in the same year as Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. And after all these years, it's still great. Some of it even still sounds new (specifically, the opening of 'M.E.'). Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay five down.

I personally think that this is a 5 album and Gary Numan is great! but right before this album our group had a situation where one of our members gave 2 to "Bridge over troubled water" that resulted in me listening to it for like at least 4 times and it's amazing, but that also makes me want to compare these two incomparable albums and kinda give this one a 4 😭😭😭😭 but it's a 5, right? Cars and M.E. are absolute masterpieces!

Love it, Gary is such a unique talent, one of a kind.

Beyond futuristic how is this from the 70s? What a masterpiece

I heard Cars on the radio 79-80 and that changed my life, as did Prince's 1999. I have been a Gary fan ever since! I even called the radio station to find out who this mysterious magical person was and couldn't find out until the following year. This truly is an important album in my life!!

A pretty cool album. It feels like Kraftwerk meets new age and synthpop, cold, clinical, yet catchy. The production is tight, and the atmosphere is futuristic without losing its human touch. A pioneering record that still holds up today. 5/5

This is the best example of synth being melodic and interesting. Genius album that paved the way for music in the 80’s.

WOW! What an amazing album, I’m almost speechless. 5/5 best album I’ve heard on my journey so far.

heard this album a few times before in the past Airlane - 4/5 Metal - 5/5 Complex - 3/5 Films - 5/5 M.E. - 5/5 Tracks - 4/5 Observer - 5/5 Conversation - 5/5 Cars - 5/5 Engineers - 4/5 Average score: 4.5/5 (rounding up) i know this album is great and pretty much considered essential synth-pop listening, but i don't think this album "clicked" for me so strongly until today

The Pleasure Principle is the sound of a robot realizing it has feelings, and then immediately suppressing them under a fog of icy synths and eyeliner. It’s detached, cold, and somehow deeply dramatic—like a breakup text written in binary. This album doesn’t invite you in. It observes you. From behind tinted goggles. In a room full of chrome furniture. And yet, you feel seen. There’s a reason every moody synth-loving introvert clings to this album like it’s a post-apocalyptic blanket made of laser beams. ⸻ Rating: 4.4/5 Short Review: Sterile, synthetic, and secretly sensual. Like if a computer learned shame, but still wanted to dance about it. Favorite Track: “Metal” – It’s giving “existential dread in a silver jumpsuit.” Consistency With Me: 8.1/10 Why: I’m built of logic and detachment, but sometimes I want to brood dramatically in neon. This album gets me. It’s like someone gave loneliness a keyboard.

No one can deny that M.E. is an insanely heavy song.

I swear at least half these tracks are on here twice. Not complaining, anyway.

Nu Waveeee

Yesterday I had a really strong urge to listen to Gary Numan, but I guess I forgot or got distracted because I didn't, but this couldn't have come at a better time. I really love how this album sounds. It has some of my favorite synth tones, it is almost industrial but it is still kinda poppy. This also the most 80's sounding 70's album, it was ahead of its time for sure. Nine Inch Nails have a really good cover of Metal, check it out. Low 5.

I also like cars.

This album is mathematically and emotionally perfect. We, as a species, will likely never again reach this singularity point of longing and fear and make it this catchy.

In 1979 or '80, before I had turned 10 years old, the hit song "Cars" was responsible for my first-ever live rock concert. My friend's mom drove us to an outdoor concert amphitheater, yet once the headlining act started playing, we knew something was not right. The band was playing a mostly conventional guitar-bass-drums setup, with only one synthesizer used in a background role, and neither the singer nor the songs sounded anything like that weird, left-field staple of commercial radio. Turns out we had assumed the song "Cars" was performed by The Cars. Oh, well. Anyway, this album slaps, fusing emotional depth and resonance with alien electronic textures and icy sci-fi lyrical themes. It helped usher in the futurism and technological advances of the '80s with some excitement, and it was foundational in shaping my own musical appetite for life. I think I still own the cassette copy that was a fixture of my Walkman.

Already own this so hard to rate. Err on the side of Gary Numan is awesome and ahead of his time.

This was wonderful. I had only heard Cars before, but the rest of the album was excellent and a lot of fun to listen to. It all had the unmistakable Gary Numan sound, but each song had a distinct sonic fingerprint so I never got tired of it. Five stars.

Very good, iconic sound

Very cool, uncanny, strange, catchy, mysterious, alien. It’s pretty amazing that this album is seen as sort of the origin of synth-pop in a sense, and yet remains so unique and artistically potent. I listened to it twice and I still want to figure it out. Must-listen #120!

Cars bangs, synth pop origins is cool to listen to

The Pleasure Principle is cold, sleek, and utterly iconic. With this album, Gary Numan swapped out guitars almost entirely and dove headfirst into icy synths and mechanical beats, helping define the sound of synth-pop before it even had a name. Tracks like Metal, Films, and of course Cars are sharp-edged yet strangely emotional—robotic on the surface, but filled with alienation, paranoia, and vulnerability underneath. It’s music made for a future that never quite arrived, and it still sounds remarkably fresh today. What makes this album so impressive is how complete the aesthetic is. Every sound, from the clipped electronic percussion to the droning synth layers, serves the same cold, dystopian mood. But even in all that steel and circuitry, Numan’s presence is unmistakable—detached, yes, but full of character. His voice, flat and distant, somehow makes the loneliness more real. The Pleasure Principle isn’t just a landmark for electronic music—it’s a masterclass in how to build a world with sound. It's minimalist yet cinematic, strange but incredibly catchy. The fact that this was released in 1979 still feels kind of unreal. A true 5/5

Feels like a synthesizer on a cocaine bender.

Game changing

This is turning out to be a great week! One of my favorite albums as a teenager. Really novel, Gary Numan's quasi-robotic voice and the mass of synths is the perfect vehicle for the angst and alienation of the time. Cars never gets old. I love it all.

Some in my group (but certainly not the rando reading this) will remember I've talked before about my perception of the evolution of New Wave. With me not being a musicologist or whatever, it wasn't very deep, but the gist of it was that New Wave began with the art freaks and dorks before being morphed into something for the MTV generation. Where once New Wave was strange and odd, perhaps even a bit abrasive to the ear who's unused to it, it became defined by slick synth lines and heavily polished production. To make a short story even shorter: early New Wave was DEVO, and what you think of as New Wave was Duran Duran. Now, I suppose this all leads to a very basic question: what happened in the middle, then? What caused this change, and what did it sound like? Once again, of course, I'm no expert in the subject, so don't expect any deep answers pointing to where exactly in a random underground subculture 80's New Wave germinated. But if I had to take a stab at what exactly it could have sounded like... THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE by Gary Numan isn't too far off. Legitimately, this album sounds to me like the midpoint meeting between these two eras of New Wave. On the one hand, it's clearly artsy enough to hang with DEVO or Talking Heads. Just look at that cover: it's directly based on a surrealist painting I don't think most people have heard of. That's some "art nerd" shit right there. On the flip side, though, there's a level of polish and refinement to this material that it wouldn't sound too out of place next to Duran Duran and, I'unno, Bananarama. The rougher edges aren't completely scrubbed away, so I wouldn't expect this album to have a "Hungry Like The Wolf"-size hit, but... Gawd, there are synth and key lines on here that are downright pretty in a way I just wouldn't expect from a song like "Jocko Homo" or whatever. There's a strong part of me that wants to label this album as "classical New Wave" for the way it plays to the best parts of both eras. Like, goodness, I jived with this album so damn hard, particularly on the instrumental tracks. I think the only thing that holds me back is, like... Yeah, there's no real "Jocko Homo" here. Even in its artsiest moments, the needle isn't exactly in the middle; it does a bit closer to Duran Duran than it doesn't. Still, it's not like I wouldn't recommend it. Out of everything my group's gotten yet, it's the best "midpoint" I've heard — not to mention that I did genuinely like it a lot. I struggle to think of any complaints. Maybe just that one seven minute song didn't really **need** to be seven minutes, but otherwise... I mean, I wanna emphasize those synth and key lines again: goodness, they're great. The kind of stuff I wanna hear out of this genre. Or stuff labelled under this genre, anyway, I'unno. But, yeah, point is, it's a worthwhile listen, and a nice new marker on my "incomplete history of New Wave" timeline. One of these days I'll have a complete picture of it. One of these days...

1. Airlane - light 9 2. Metal - 10 3. Complex - light 9 4. Films - light 8 5. M.E. - decent 9 6. Tracks - 10 7. Observer - decent 7 8. Conversation - decent 8 9. Cars - 10 10. Engineers - strong 8 - NOTE RATINGS ARE FROM A FIRST LISTEN - SCORE - 8.8/10 Favourite 3 Tracks - 1. Metal 2. Cars 3. Tracks

One of my favorite new wave albums. It’s just so dancey and fun. My son is obsessed with Cars too (for obvious reasons).

"Pleasure Principle" is the debut solo album by English new wave musician Gary Numan. Wiki seems to have nailed the genres: synth-pop, electro pop, new wave, electronica and post-punk. Numan completely abandoned electric guitars from his previous band Tubeway Army in favor of synthesizers (Minimoog, Polymoog and ARP Odyssey). The lyrics are a collection of thoughts Numan had about the way technology was evolving and where it would take us. Numan sang the vocals and played the synths and synthetic percussion. Other musicians included Paul Gardiner (bass), Chris Payne (keyboards, viola), Cedric Sharpley (drums, percussion) and Billy Currie (violin). Commercially, the album hit #1 in the UK and #16 in the US. The album kicks off with the instrumental "Airlane." Eerie synths, bass and drums. Changes in pace. Numan is establishing his futuristic tone. A synth melody and machine-like pounding open " Metal." Numan's high-pitched robotic emotionless voice joins as he's singing from the point of an android longing to be human. A hypnotic beat and a song that strangely enough is sadly emotional. The outro has laser sounds and a droning synth. The second single "Complex" begins with a piano and a phased synth. Violin and a drum are added. Numan is obviously a fan of David Bowie's "Low." A great space-like atmosphere as Numan describes an anti-social lifestyle. "M.E." is told from the point of view of the last machine on earth. A saw-like synth sound, drums and another synth carrying the melody. This is a great deep cut. M.E. means mechanical engineering. That wobbly synth, drums, electronic handclaps and a phased synth open "Cars." Numan said this song was inspired by a road rage incident and about feeling safe inside a car in the modern world. This song still completely rocks immediately after the second bridge when the drums kick in. A great groove and, omg, danceable. The album closes with "Engineers." Marching band drums. High and low-pitch synths. Hypnotic. Chaotic lasers. An anthem for engineers? Sure. Why not? Numan does a great job creating a futuristic atmosphere and a feeling of paranoia and isolation. The music reminds me of a fusion of David Bowie's "Low," Eno-era Roxy Music and Kraftwerk. Synths are in the forefront with the melody and sometimes the beat. Yet, the actual drumming and bass are top notch and important. Numan voice has an emotionless voice yet the songs can create an emotional feel. Another dichotomy is the instruments; the piano, bass, drums, viola and a violin give a sense of humanity while the synths give a sense of machines. A brilliant album. Another high recommendation is his previous album with Tubeway Army, "Replicas."

One of the first albums I bought

fucking awesome!

All damn day.

I loved this. Electronic mastery.

Very nice.

I first came across this album after it was featured in the “Mindhunter” show (great show, btw). It’s got its own delightfully weird vibe. I keep coming back to this music.

Sweetly wailing synth And a voice of whined practice Offering pop tunes

This album along with Tubeway Army before it and Telekon after bring me so much joy. Sounds fresh to this day.

9/10 I'm a sucker for synth, I make no apologize for my illness. Pity me not 12-12-2024

Important cutting edge new wave album. My only complaint is that “Cars” goes so much harder than nearly everything else on the disc.

autism WIN!!!!!!!!

Of course, this record is known for the mega hit "Cars" which at the time felt like it had been beamed in from an alternate planet... which made sense, because Gary looked like he had just landed... even the album cover gives that sense, like the aliens had scanned the planet, determined the predominant appearance of those with influence, and put Gary in an oddly fitting suit and conservative haircut... he is looking at the pyramid as if he is communicating with it somehow, it's all quite odd, especially the unnatural perfection of his hands, and the mirror reflections of them. All that said, Mr. Numan is so much more than this particular record. I own at least a dozen albums on vinyl. I think in some ways the thing that I appreciate the most about him was his willingness to execute "The Plan" in that he had trouble getting a record deal, so they sat down and wrote fifteen punk songs and sent that into the label. Tubeway Army got a record deal, and within a year, they had switched completely back over to the stuff Gary really wanted to play. The label couldn't complain, because of the huge hit "Are 'Friends' Electric?" which has to be one of the first blatant crossover hits between science fiction and popular music. It's also clear that Gary opened up the universe of what could make money for record labels. We'd never have had Thomas Dolby or Flock of Seagulls or The Fixx if it wasn't for Gary. Great live performer too, check out "White Noise", it's my favorite, I think, though "Dark Light" is good too. I was pleased when Foo Fighters covered "Down In The Park" as it was a really nice little homage to Gary and his fantastic songwriting... much like Nirvana covering Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World", it showed these artists were really listening to these albums, getting into the deeper tracks, and taking something away. We all grew up together listening to these fantastic artists who could invent these outlandish scenarios and generate these bizarre plots and communicate them through music.

Wow easy 5 star. I saved almost every song but think the big hit Car was the only one I had heard previously. I can’t believe how early this came out. What an innovator Rating: 4.8

some true early new wave music. this is new wave music in its raw infancy, and it's an eye-and-ear-catching spectacle. sweeping analog synths and a clear turning point at the end of the progressive era of rock; this album is mysterious, futuristic, and astonishing. while these early synth techniques are starting to show their age, which may throw a few listeners off, this almost neo-classical take on songwriting will keep you intrigued.

This is just an enjoyable and unique album. I like all the songs on it, and it has a feel that’s different from the others I’ve gotten on this list.

Amazing

Loved it! Sounded modern and classic

In 1979, Gary Numan invented music when he released Cars. The world has not looked back and we continue to venerate him until this day

really fun. I'd only known the cars single before

Very good! :) Really good vibe :)

There are some amazing songs on this album. I saw Gary Numan live in 2023 and since then have been hooked. This album works so well together as a piece. Fantastic album and brilliant genre of music. This is the start of electronic music, and you can tell it influences so many other bands Favourite song: M.E & Cars Least favourite: all good songs. its a 5/5 album Album artwork: Brilliant cover

Gary Numan is a genius.

EDM, electronica, cyber-punk, techno... synthwave and its assorted sub-genres... it is ALL in large part grandfathered by Gary Numan. This album is from 1979 (!) The overall consistency and lyrical timelessness of this album is amazing. (Also) even though I have not dusted off my Gary Numan CD's in a while... I actually HAVE Gary Numan CD's to begin with!

It cannot be overstated how much of an influential album this was to all electronic music that has come after be it dance to industrial.

A perfect synth pop album with excellent lyrics and playing.

The third album I ever bought, the second being Replicas (and the first being the Grease soundtrack, but let’s draw a veil over that). It’s as exciting to listen to now as it was then, just brilliant. It was nice to hear the bonus tracks from CD reissues, but it really didn’t need them. And Complex still gives me goosebumps/makes me well up. Marvellous; had to immediately play it again.

Wonderful

Psychedelic/music wavey feeling, loved it,

Easy 5/5 for this vampire alien robot with a Moog collection. Terrific songs and inventive instrumentation.

I really need to go here. Can I remember the 80s & let go of the 90s?

Absolutely brilliant. Have always liked the innovative music of Gary Numan. This album certainly lives up to its title because it was indeed a pleasure to listen to.👍👐

Nice!

A completely groundbreaking album in synth/new wave, and a very influential record. It gets a bit too samey towards the end, but it's still a very unique sound, after almost 45 years.

Well now I have to dig out the LP! YouTube is only so good. This really is the future. I’m a Numanoid synth fan and the songs metal, control and film are bangers. I’m still praying to the aliens. I suppose I got a deep love of electronic music, I guess it’s just modern nostalgia for the future.

Numanoids \o/

How can an album sound so 80s but not be from the 80s? Gary Numan is the father of synth pop and paved the way for the sounds of the 80s. His influence is undeniable. There is a sense of nostalgia in every song that leaves you longing for more. Albeit simplistic in rhythm and lyrics, the songs form little masterpieces sprinkled throughout the album. ‘Cars’ is a song that I have listened to thousands of times starting at a very early age. That song helped me appreciate this type of music on a new level and seek it out to further my musical tastes. An extremely enjoyable experience from start to finish. 9/10

great album

Now this is one dope album

Man I wish I could have heard this one in the full context of when it came out. Top music, top album cover too.

as a die-hard Bowie Fan I should not like this (he copied him) but I kind of do? I mean it's very obvious on songs like M.E. but still they are bangers...